Chapter 67: Just Say You’re Jealous

Chapter 67: Just Say You’re Jealous

Chapter 67 Just Say Youre Jealous

After Seong-won came back from the bathroom, a moment of silence passed and the first round of the preliminaries was over.

I was so thirsty from sitting and waiting for my turn for two hours. And this was supposed to be faster than before. I couldnt imagine how long they made the contestants wait in the first round.

Alright, we will now begin the second round of the preliminaries!

The three contestants who got unanimous votes in the first round were automatically qualified for the finals.

There were eight spots for the finalists.

Out of the 30 contestants in the preliminaries, 15 were eliminated and 3 advanced to the finals, so the remaining 12 had to compete for five spots.

And to make things worse, one of those five spots was reserved for the winner of the revival round.

In the second round, unlike the first round, three contestants will compete by singing different parts of one song! You can check the monitor installed in your booth and you can only sing when the light of your color is on!

This wasnt some karaoke night where we could share popular songs. What the hell were they doing?

I didnt remember this being the case last year. They must have changed the rules this year.

Both the losers waiting for the revival round and the winners waiting for the second round looked unhappy.

Then how do we divide the parts?

One contestant asked in a complaining tone from a corner of the waiting room. As if he was waiting for that, the MC continued his explanation.

Well, well, you must be curious about how to divide the parts! Each of you will have the right to claim two parts. Two lines each.

The right to claim? What does that mean? Everyones face showed confusion.

Maybe this would make sense for a program with a younger audience or contestants.

But some of the contestants were older, and they all looked baffled.

The first two lines are sung by all the participants together, and from the second part onwards, you can claim the parts in the order of arrival.

So, for example

It was like they wanted us to compete for the high-pitched parts of the same song in a karaoke room, but on a stage.

Now, with some mind games added.

You must use up all your claims before the song ends, and the climax part is expected to be highly contested, so please use it strategically!

As soon as the rule explanation was over, sighs erupted from everywhere.

Why is it so complicated?

That was exactly what I wanted to say. We were relatively young, so we had an advantage in terms of understanding the rules and strategies.

At least from the perspective of the elders.

Well, then, lets start the song lottery!

One of the judges came out and picked a ball with a song number on it.

It was a ballad song released in 2010, with a very high pitch among female songs.

Thats definitely it depends on whether you can handle the high pitch or not.

The participants who were confident in their low-pitched range all prayed that they wouldnt get it.

Okay, now lets draw the participants!

A different judge from before stood in front of the participant lottery machine and picked three balls.

Please enter the booths, number 29, 11, and 21!

Thank goodness. Seong-won was on the neat side of handling the high pitch, but he wasnt confident enough for an octave battle.

His vocal was showing a stable high pitch based on the solidity of his low-pitched range.

Even if he went to the death high-pitch battle, he would be better off than the participants who only had raw low-pitch as their weapon

When I faced a contestant whose best weapon was a high-pitched scream, there was a possibility of a disaster.

Phew

As I swept my chest with relief, Sung-won frowned as if he was offended.

Why? Do you think I cant do it?

I answered as if he was talking nonsense.

That song is hard to sing even for women. If you sing it in the original key and your opponent is a woman, youll be at a disadvantage.

Then Sung-won pursed his lips and retorted.

Have you ever heard me sing high notes?

The winner of the first stage of the second preliminaries is, number 29! Congratulations!

The lights of the other booths went out, and number 21 and 11 walked onto the stage.

Even though he had a pitch problem, the other two contestants were too passive, so it was the expected outcome.

Maybe if the 29th participant hadnt used the strategy card, the 21st participant would have had a chance

He played smart. Hell get some hate for it, though.

But it was all according to the broadcasters plan anyway. They must be clapping their hands at the satisfying outcome by now.

Im not going to use any strategy cards.

Seong-won crossed his arms and lifted his chin.

Just use it if you get the chance. Everyone else does the same.

I dont need to use it to win. Just watch me.

He was so full of pride. Just then, the announcer on the monitor called Seong-wons number.

Next, the second stage participants are 14, 24, and 1!

Seong-won and I were so busy bickering that we missed what the mission song was.

Oh, look at that.

Isnt that an idol song?

Huh? I checked the monitor with anticipation.

[Second mission song: Boy I Luv]

It was an idol song, alright. But not a boy group one.

Can you sing that?

I asked Seong-won with a worried expression as he left the waiting room.

Just sit there and watch.

He always said that. It would work out or it wouldnt. Where did he get that attitude from?

Soon, Seong-won took his place in booth 24. The other participants also settled in their booths and the countdown began.

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It was a bright and cheerful song with a catchy sound and a thumping beat, typical of a girl group.

Among the female singers, the vocal range was not very high, so it wouldnt be too hard to sing Number 1 was definitely a male, and number 14 was vaguely familiar.

Then the lights came on in all the booths and the first verse began.

[Tonight, Ill be someone else]

[So shiny that you cant take your eyes off me-]

Number 14 was a female singer that I didnt remember well. Her voice was very low and husky, lower than Seong-wons vocal range.

This would give Seong-won an advantage.

I waited to see who would use their priority right for the next part, but no one did and the lights stayed on in all three booths.

[Tonight, throw away your worries far away]

[If you want to follow me, hurry up now]

[Dont you want to make me wait more-]

Should I use it this time? I wondered who it would be, but no one used their priority right again.

I could feel the other contestants struggling with this bouncy singing rap, while Seong-won led with his stable melody.

[What are you looking at, look at me now!]

[Ive become someone else for you, tonight]

Now the next part was rap. Number 1, who had barely followed the lyrics of this song he had never heard before, pressed the priority button as if he had misunderstood the rules.

Wow he really messed up.

It was a tricky part with a lot of off-beats, and he not only messed up the lyrics, but also lost the rhythm completely in the last three words.

[Today, you and, my, colla-bo, relation? Before this night, ends, hurry up and come, uh, waist?]

It was too pitiful to watch with my eyes open.

This would make it easy for me to advance to the finals.

I thought so carelessly and let go of my burden too soon.