Falling for the Omega Idol-Chapter 125: THE NEXT MISSION

HANEUL felt his heart race as he waited for his mother to pick up. He wasn’t sure why he felt so nervous—maybe it was because it had been four days since he’d last seen her. Or maybe it was just the overwhelming mix of emotions that came with being away from home this long after returning to the past and arriving in this world. But one thing was certain: he was genuinely excited to hear her voice again.

After a few more seconds, the call connected.

"Hello? Who’s this?" came his mother’s voice.

"Mom, it’s Haneul," he said, a small smile tugging at his lips just from hearing her.

"Haneul-ah!" his mother exclaimed, her voice instantly brightening. "Are you eating well? Are you sleeping enough? You’re not overworking yourself, are you? And how are the staff treating you? Are they kind? Did you make any friends?"

Her questions came rapid-fire, each one layered with concern and care. Haneul couldn’t help but laugh softly.

"Mom, I’m fine," he said, though he knew she wouldn’t stop worrying. "The staff is treating me well, and I’ve made some friends. Everyone’s been really nice so far."

Well, except maybe for one. And he wouldn’t be surprised if there were others who disliked him in secret, hiding it better than Park Mirae had. But his mother didn’t need to know that. There was no point in worrying her with things she couldn’t change.

"That’s good to hear," his mother replied, her tone softening. "Your sister keeps saying she can’t wait for the show to air. All of us are waiting for it, actually. Your father’s been asking when it’ll start as well."

Haneul smiled, imagining the scene. "Tell Haeun I’ll call her when I can, and let Dad know I’m doing okay."

"I will," his mother said, her voice warm. "But Haneul-ah, don’t push yourself too hard, okay? No matter what happens, we’re proud of you."

Her words hit him like a wave, giving him a mix of comfort and motivation. "I know, Mom. Thank you." After a pause, he added, "Oh, by the way, we’re only allowed 15 minutes per call here, so I’ll have to hang up soon. But I’ll try to call again later tonight, okay?"

"Only 15 minutes?" she repeated, her tone a mix of disappointment and understanding. "Well, make sure you do call later. And don’t forget to drink warm water! It’s important to stay hydrated, especially when you’re working so much."

Haneul chuckled. "I will, Mom. I promise."

The conversation continued, his mother’s voice a comforting presence as he filled her in on the little details of his life on the ship.

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Early the next morning, everyone gathered once again in the performance hall. The increased number of cameras clearly signaled that the upcoming event would likely be featured on the show. The contestants exchanged quick glances, some chatting quietly while others sat in silence, as they waited for the next announcement.

Haneul was once again sitting with Robin, Seojun, and Haru. Even though he and Haru were the only ones with cabins near each other, they’d still managed to have breakfast together that morning. The four of them were slowly forming a solid friend group, something that probably wasn’t the smartest move in a competition like this. But Haneul didn’t care. He didn’t want to spend his time here treating everyone like enemies. Of course, he was determined to win a spot in the final debut team. But he wouldn’t do it while stepping on others.

The murmurs of conversation around the hall gradually died down as someone stepped onto the stage. And it wasn’t just anyone—it was Yoon Jihoon.

"Good morning, everyone," Yoon Jihoon greeted with a warm smile. "Have you missed me?" he added playfully, earning a few chuckles from the contestants. "Since I traveled all the way to Busan, let me get straight to the point and tell you what your next mission will be."

He raised his hand, and the two large screens behind him lit up. The words Vocal Test appeared in bold letters.

"For this mission," Yoon Jihoon began, his tone shifting to a more serious note, "you’ll be divided into groups of six, which means there will be ten teams in total. There are five songs prepared, and two teams will perform the same song. After your performances, the live audience will vote for their favorite team. The team with more votes between the two will receive an additional 30,000 votes in the next elimination round. Additionally, the member of the winning team who receives the most individual votes will get an extra 20,000 votes."

He paused, letting the information sink in before continuing. "But that’s not all. Out of the five winning teams, the one with the highest overall votes will earn an additional 50,000 votes. So, not only do you need to work well as a team, but you’ll also need to stand out individually."

The room buzzed with nervous whispers and anxious glances as the contestants processed Yoon Jihoon’s explanation. The first thing that struck most of them was the possibility of earning an additional 100,000 votes for the next elimination round. They already knew the next elimination would rely heavily on public voting, and securing such a massive boost could practically guarantee their survival.

"As the name suggests, the next mission will be a vocal test," Yoon Jihoon began again. "This means the five songs you’ll perform will challenge your vocal abilities—and when I say vocal, that includes rap as well. But before I reveal the five songs, we’ll first divide you into ten teams."

Yoon Jihoon paused before he continued;

"Now, let me explain how the ten teams will be formed. The top five contestants from the first elimination will each get to pick their teammates. The first-ranked contestant will choose first, followed by the second, and so on. However, the top five are not allowed to pick anyone else within the top five. Once the top five have formed their teams, the remaining thirty contestants who weren’t chosen will be grouped randomly to form the other five teams."