006

I'm tired.

My eyes feel stinging.

They kept the participants at the set while these ignorant bastards judged all 77 participants.

They divided the participants into groups even at break time and only sent them to the restroom.

Most likely, it's because it's difficult to get hold of so many energetic children, but because of that, my patience is running out.

If I saw the status window from a position where I could see it from all sides, every performance would be boring.

I went to the filming of the active idol performance and watched it until I was sick of it, but the trainee's performance couldn't have been good enough to impress me.

Of course, there were two or three times when I was impressed.

I looked up at the two men sitting on the overly glamorous sofa.

They're the current 1st and 2nd place now. They are both from the same famous agency, and they did very well. The status window was impressive, too.

They both made their debuts, with one of them taking first place.

If I stick with those punks, my chances of making my debut will increase—. But the thought of playing with a teenager group that would have been a good match 10 years ago at this age made me dizzy.

Let's think about it again when the team battle comes out.

Fortunately, the evaluation is coming to an end.

"Participant Ryu Cheongwoo…9th place!"

I got pushed. The last participant squeezed through the top ranks, which were already packed. If things continue in this way— my current rank will be 22nd.

That was a fairly good defense I put up.

The number of participants whose skills are better than mine is, in fact—7 participants.

I should keep managing it so that the overestimation doesn't come up again.

"Thank you!"

The former representative of the national archery team, who left a soft impression, smiled as he walked off the stage.

I heard that he won a gold medal in the team event at the Olympics, but I'm not sure. I recall him only as a part of the group's debut lineup.

Anyway, he was a good talent that the agency would like because he wouldn't go to the army.

Wait.

Come to think of it… Do I have to enlist in the military?

In the past, I had received the 4th grade in my body and had to drop out for community service at the city hall.

Filming finally ended just as my mind wandered to a scary topic that I had never thought of before.

"Cut! Thank you for your hard work! Participants, let's move right away."

"Yes~"

Applause and responses rang out from throughout the place.

My head was spinning as I followed the staff's guidance.

As soon as this filming is completed, I must check to see if 'Park Moondae' is included there.

"Get your rank ticket~ You can take it on board!"

The accommodation was a 10-minute walk from the set. After the huge success of the first season, it was a newly built dormitory on a mountain behind the broadcasting station.

But I needed to use transportation, and the reason was obvious.

They are trying to pick a cut for broadcast.

That means they had varied modes of transportation based on their rank.

"Participants! If you were in the Top 10, please come this way~."

"Wow, Limousine!"

"Wow~ I really like it!"

"This is amazing."

Behind the top-ranked participants in the black limousine, who gave the camera a thumbs-up, the lower-ranked participants could be seen.

People who were ranked 51st to 77th moved by walking.

They did their best to act happy and humorous, but I could see that they were holding back tears all over their faces.

There were always cameras following the participants.

There is a possibility that their misery was used as a way to pique their interest.

To be honest, it's a bit gross.

"Oh, it's good?"

From the 11th to the 25th, premium bus vehicles were waiting.

Lee Sejin smiled broadly as he got into the bus first.

I waited for a while to ensure we wouldn't end up sitting next to each other by accident, then entered the bus slowly.

Someone quickly followed and got on the bus from behind, making a thumping sound.

Then he hesitated and sat quietly next to me.

It was Seon Ahyun.

"….?"

Why are you…?

Well, never mind. It was nice to be quiet.

They quickly arrived at their dorm. We also used different floors for each rank, just like last season.

The caste system will stay the same until the team battle mission comes out.

A spacious five-person room was arranged from the 11th to the 25th ranked. I got pushed up in the rankings by five people, but this means I won't have to share a room with Lee Sejin, who is ranked 20th.

I was lucky.

"Wow~ Me! I'm going to use this bed!"

As soon as I entered the bedroom consisting of two bunk beds and one single bed, a man randomly jumped into the single bed.

I guess he wanted to look fun and cheerful for the camera.

I moderately grabbed the bottom of the bunk bed.

Then, once again, Seon Ahyeon placed his luggage on the bed above me.

"…."

He looked up and bowed his head. It's as if I have a subordinate who follows me—.

After that, we changed into the training clothes we were given and went to gather.

When I think about it now, I think it was because aspiring celebrities were harder to deal with, while a relatively quiet, normal person was more comfortable with me.

I left him alone because I didn't think he would be a problem.

However, I should avoid being close enough to the point where we would both pick the same team because I could be criticized for my personality by arguing.

"You're going to start training in earnest from now! It's called~ Customized movement class!"

The MC introduced a system that everyone already knew with an exaggerated tone.

"Everyone, your scores for vocal and dance have been decided based on the grades you got from the judges!"

"Yes!"

"There are upper, middle, and lower groups in each class; each level aims to improve their skills through specialized training. "

Until now, it was similar to other auditions. The next thing was the problem.

"And you can change classes in real-time at any time!"

"….!"

"It all depends on your hard work and dedication!"

For example, if you absorb the tutor's lessons in "Intermediate Vocal" like a sponge and become good at it quickly, you will be moved up to "Advanced Vocal" the next time you train.

Of course, it also meant that if you didn't do well, your class would drop right away.

After ten days of this, the final grade is determined based on an individual evaluation of the theme song.

It meant that they would burn children's mental mercilessly in order to gather as much footage as possible.

"This badge… Participant Park Moondae!"

"Yes."

As expected, I received 'Advanced Vocal' and 'Beginner Dance'.

It was a little embarrassing to have a gold vocal badge and a dull bronze dance badge on my shoulder.

The badge was overly exaggerated, making it look cheap.

For reference, there were cases when they didn't provide badges at all.

On the Internet, this case was called an 'absolutely worthless person.'

"If you don't have a badge… It means you're not a part of any grade. You will take a beginner's class together, but you also have to take extra special training at night."

To be honest, receiving a camera was a great opportunity for a beginner.

However, if you are the person involved, you will think differently.

A former child actor with trembling hands over there was a good example.

It was said that he was in a thriller movie that 10 million people watched 10 years ago, but he kept saying that he couldn't be active after that because of unfavorable things that happened to him.

That participant is judged as out-of-class for dance and their vocals are also a beginner. In the status window, each is an F grade and a D grade.

He most likely came out with the intention of making a comeback in broadcasting rather than being an idol.

What was a little surprising was that the name over there was also 'Lee Sejin'.

Though I didn't know that there were two people with the same name, it's clear that the one who made his debut is the other.

Why don't I think he's Lee Sejin, who made his debut?

Just by looking at him, it seems that he will be thrown away after being used as a topic of discussion at the beginning.

Most importantly, he made it clear that he hates getting hurt.

'The PD will like it.'

Eventually, the huge screen lit up when all the badges were distributed.

"Now, the song that you will be practicing will be revealed. For the next ten days! You will do your best to master this song and present it to the shareholders of Idol Joint-Stock Company!"

It was a song that would be played everywhere until the next year.

Even though I was studying for a civil service exam and had already stopped using social media, I still remembered the chorus's moves.

It wasn't on the same level as 〈POP CON〉 however, it was still a movement worth following.

"The song for this season is…〈Shining Star〉!"

Along with the catchy beat, lyrics that were moderately overwhelming and childish enough to bear began to flow out.

I'm standing on the stage

You won't know me yet

STAR LIGHT swaying inside me

I will come to you like a flash of light

The choreography was performed by a dancer who appeared on the screen.

There were a few exclamations and a mysterious groan here and there during the performance.

And I realized it, too.

The difficulty of the chorus was fake.

For the sake of popularity, it was made difficult to follow, and the intro was made dirty and complicated.

I couldn't even think about memorizing it, so verse 1 went by in the blink of an eye. And then the chorus started.

What's shining on the stage today?

It's me!

Yes, the shining star you will create.

It's me!

I finally wake up and shine

Look at this moment~

I shine the most!

Even the choreography for the chorus looked like it would make me trip if I tried to do it.

I made up my mind right away.

"Status window."

Let's just… Let's not sleep.

"…Activate 'Sleeping only after you die'."

Calories. I had to calculate the calories well.

What I mean is that I should have known earlier that I would be burning a lot of calories since I don't sleep.

I was so hungry on the first night that I almost got angry.

'T, t, this… Would you like some?'

And Seon Ahyun gave me a chocolate bar. I spoke casually after saying a few words of gratitude.

He's the same age as 'Park Moondae' and I felt really refreshed after talking casually to such a young child.

From the next day on, I tried to eat and drink three times a day as much as I could. The meals, well… It tastes like Jjambap, but it was good that there was no limit on the amount. (t/n : 짬밥 (Jjambab) means military meals)

On the ninth day.

I memorized all the choreography. From beginning to end.

Being able to spend all night without fatigue certainly worked.

In addition, I was able to level up multiple times.

[Name: Park Moondae (Ryu Gunwoo)]

Level: 7

Title: None

Vocal: A-

Dance: D

Visual: C+

Talent: C

Characteristics: Infinite potential, Sleeping only after you die (D)

!Status abnormality: Debut or die

Points Remaining: 3

There were a lot of achievements that could be done up to 500 times, so it was a good thing.

'Until today… 5 people.'

Five people have already been moved from a beginner level to an intermediate level.

Very few people have dramatically improved their skills after only a few days of training, so most of them must have ruined the first evaluation and now have found their skills.

Even if they included me in this, it was more likely to be tied up and passed by.

Then it was pointless to be promoted. I had to show that I had improved my skills more dramatically, even if I had enough scenes to use.

It's because the choreographer scolded me from the first day.

– Again!

– Foot, bend your left foot!

– Why are you swinging your arms? Hold it up!

As soon as the class started on the first day, the choreographer stopped talking and tortured the participants in all directions.

Thanks to this, the atmosphere became heavier, as if at a mourner's house.

And at the end of the class, the choreographer pointed me out and talked to me.

And when the class was over, the choreographer pointed at me and said to me.

– Moondae-ya.

– Yes.

– If you keep doing this with your choreography, you won't have any answers for the next evaluation.

– …

I wasn't exceptionally bad at this class.

Because it was a 'beginner' class in the first place, if I had to ask, would it be about average? It's not like I'm a bad dancer; it's just that I was at the level of an ordinary person who works hard.

But I was a person with a high rank in the first place. So this was a matter of expectations.

It's not surprising that these are the same lines as last season.

– No, I think so. I gave you the wrong rank. I guess you never had the skills to get that rank to begin with.

That's correct. He knows that, and maybe he did it just for broadcasting fun.

– Let's do it right, okay? Get a hold of yourself.

– Yes.

Most of you won't suddenly learn basic skills that you didn't have before after just a few days of training unless you're really lucky and talented.

But I can, so I just nod my head as if I had made up my mind.

The criticisms and advice that didn't help were not encouraging.

But it needed to seem to hurt my feelings in other people's eyes.

So I had to live with this provocative material, even if it was a waste.

"Thank you for your hard work!"

"Yeah. Don't give up."

The choreographer nodded at the greetings of the participants, who were drenched in sweat.

And after confirming that the staff had organized the camera, he looked into his phone and left the class.

This is the end of the morning dance class.

After eating, it's time for vocal class.

For lunch, there was Bulgogi and Seaweed Soup.

I ate as much as I could eat. And after a simple shower, I went to the advanced vocal class alone.

Oh, come to think of it, I have a confession to make.

"Then Moondae should sing it~"

I ate raw for my Vocal. (t/n: 날로 먹는 means that someone gets something easily without working hard.)

007

Judge Mudie was the trainer for the Advance Vocal.

She gave me a generous score on my first evaluation, and she also said nice things about all the other participants. So there were also good words said during the training.

Of course, this doesn't mean that she never gets angry in any situation.

"Wongil-ah, that's not it… Haa."

"…."

The participant who kept missing the same beat bowed his head for the fifth day in a row.

He seemed to be trying to hide his anger instead of his regret, but it didn't matter.

Because the important thing to remember is that even a good coach will struggle to hide their frustration when watching a participant make so many mistakes.

And here's the main culprit.

"Moondae-ya, do you want to sing this part?"

"Yes."

When the trainer pointed it out, I moved forward, and the electric piano started playing the accompaniment. Then, I started singing the part before the chorus along with the music.

"I draw the future like a shooting star~."

When the trainer nodded in response to the clear voice and accurate beat, the participant who had failed earlier stomped his feet in frustration.

Yes. The flower bed was the reason I sang this theme song so well from the beginning.

It was unavoidable that those who already knew this song would have a different starting point than those who didn't.

Even though I wasn't listening to the demo, I listened to the complete song. It was okay to just sing based on what I remember.

Moreover, my voice was perfectly suited to this song, and the trainer was pleased with how I sang it because it didn't sound dirty.

Even now, some people were whispering as they looked at Mudie's happy face.

"…He's really good."

"I know."

What's worse is that the sample comes from "ordinary people," which means that the standard set by Advance Class is higher, so the other guy would suffer more.

Even more so if the participant is only good at singing.

As confirmed in the first evaluation, two participants had A-grade vocals this season. And both of their dances are below grade C. Everyone, including me, was in a tough condition.

Also, that 'Choi Wongil' participant, who is currently being scolded, was one of those two A-grades.

It's funny that he is the same middle school boy who tried to identify me before the filming. However, he was actually a first-year high school student, and not a middle schooler at all.

In any case, at an age when his self-consciousness was high, he deserved to be angry because this was something that he had been hearing from his trainer for several days.

He was compared to the person he ignored as soon as he met him.

"That's right!"

As soon as I finished singing the pre-chorus part, the trainer tapped the keyboard as if she was feeling better. Even when he heard the sound of the light hitting, Choi Wongil didn't raise his head.

"Wongil, you should sing it like this, okay?"

"…."

Given his abilities, I don't think it's possible to make that many mistakes. But unfortunately, after I cleared the whole song on the first day, he continued to argue, and in the end, it seemed like his mental was shattered.

Let's see, this is roughly how the first day seems to have started.

– Wow, I'm glad you got praise for your singing again, Hyung-nim. You have to hurry up and come up from the Beginner Dance!

– I think you fit this pure song well because you're kind of amateurish.

He used to say vague things that got on people's nerves. It was a subtle nuance, but if the opponent got mad, he would be treated like an idiot.

Also, it was all said later when the microphone was turned on.

But in the end, I couldn't stand it and got pissed off by him—.

– You're very lucky. I'm jealous. It's the most important factor in the entertainment industry. It would have been nice if you could dance with luck, that's too bad. But still, fighting!

– After all, I think it's right that there are lucky people above those who work hard. Most of the people here are desperate for their lives. But no matter how you participated, you got such good reviews.

It has gotten to this point.

Now, it's embarrassing to fight in front of everyone and be ignored. However, it is unavoidable because he can't do what he knows on purpose.

You might not know this, but this is also a matter of life and death for me—.

"Calm down, don't be too nervous, and let's try again."

"…Yes."

Choi Wongil tried to start singing again, but then he made another mistake.

That's too bad.

Even until the end of the vocal class that day, I received compliments from the trainer and sharp gazes from several participants, including Choi Wongil.

Because it had been so long since I had been evaluated for this rank, I was a little tired, but it wasn't too bad. But, of course, there would be no such check if it were a real X.

Then the last day of training ended with both classes remaining in the same condition and the practice achievements continually increasing.

On the morning of the last day, the participants in the Advanced Vocal class recorded a song.

Anyway, they will put them into a group, and their names will not be mentioned, so it won't mean much.

Instead, let's focus on the afternoon.

It was time for the long-awaited ranking evaluation.

The lights on the set are turned on.

"Everyone, how have you been?"

"Ah~ it was hard!"

"I'm just… I slept soundly because I was tired."

"Did you work hard on the teaching?"

"Of course! Oh, I hope today will be worth it."

The judges sat around the chairs and greeted each other properly.

Even though they were already done greeting each other in the waiting room in the morning, the conversation was like the show's opening scene.

The place where they came in and sat down was set up to look like a multi-to-one interview room. (t/n : 다대일 means the interviewer will be more than 1 person, and they will interview you. (Other interviewees will not be interviewed with you))

The set was recycled from the previous season, and special effects were prepared.

The judges, who were asked to show their reaction as much as possible in advance, pretended not to know and spoke naturally.

"It's totally— like that here. I think it feels like we will have a very important interview."

"It's true about the important interview~ It was a Grade Interview!"

"Is this an interview for joining Idol Joint-Stock Company?"

As soon as the judges are done talking, the light on the desk in front of where they are sitting turns on.

"Whoa!"

The words 'SHINE YOUR STAR' were written in colorful cursive on the desk.

As they did in other seasons, the judges started to applaud when this season's catchphrase turned out to be grand.

But this time, surprisingly, the wall began to move.

"Huh?!"

"What is this!"

With the skillful reaction of the judges, the walls of the interview room set went down to the floor. The wall then disappeared, revealing the full open set.

"The re-listing of the new Idol Joint-Stock Company! The first gateway is—the full public evaluation!"

"Whoa!"

What filled the backs of the judges was an open-air theater-like audience. And the front seats of the audience were filled with participants.

Participants, who thought it was just a temporary seat to wait, were shocked, which was in contrast to how the professional MCs looked.

"The 77 participants who practiced the same song will evaluate each other as an audience!"

In fact, the participants could see each other's stages even during the first evaluation.

However, everyone's expressions hardened because they didn't know they would openly evaluate those who practiced the same song throughout the same period as audiences.

This was because during the last season, they entered the practice room alone and received a separate evaluation.

"The Grade Evaluation order is in reverse order of rank!"

"….!"

"77th place, Chu Seonggu-gun, please come forward!"

The participant who was called to the stage looked like he was half-dead. People looked at him with sympathy and whispered, but Park Moondae didn't say a word.

As with Seon Ahyun's first ranking evaluation, the editing can make sympathy seem like a gimmick.

It was a feeling that came from the experience of periodically searching the idol community to set a price for filming data.

"Yes, thank you for your hard work."

"…Thank you…"

Naturally, the 77th participant missed most of the first verse and completely ruined the evaluation.

"…."

The next participant was also half-crushed on the stage in a cold and tense atmosphere.

After evaluating five or six people in this way, the judges couldn't hide the discomfort on their faces.

It was a cruel and dry arrangement.

However, the production team had nothing to lose.

'Anyway, if they can't do it, they'll have to take a provocative cut to make up for the appearance fee.'

They were used as disposable cards.

However, it was also meant to shed more light.

Like a participant who has the mental power to grip and digest the stage even when the minds of those in lower ranks are falling apart.

Or the participants who showed significant growth in this short period of time.

There was also a guess that it wouldn't matter if the participants with the worst skills were very good-looking or well-known since their terrible skills wouldn't attract attention to them.

Interestingly, some participants met both the former and the latter.

"Participant Lee Sejin, you must have worked hard."

"You're doing great!"

"H, h, huh—. T, thank you…."

It was Lee Sejin, who used to be a child actor. He followed the song to the end with a red face and barely breathing without missing a beat.

It wasn't enough, and it was awkward to say that it was "digested."

But when people of a similar rank who rolled up the stage were put before and after him, it looked much better.

Park Moondae had a moment of doubt.

'Is he the Lee Sejin who is debuting?'

Of course, he couldn't say for sure, so he ended his thoughts right away by putting the participant on the watch list.

'I should stay away from drug dealers.'

And the boring middle-class evaluation section followed.

The participants' skills gradually got better, and some of them stood out from time to time.

But it was hard not to get tired of hearing the same song more than 40 times.

After the tense mood at the start subsided, everyone showed their skills, and the judges regained their composure and began to feel bored.

"Well…"

"I think it's fine."

When the boredom reached its peak, it was Park Moondae's turn.

Seon Ahyun raised his fist to Park Moondae with a blank face. It was such a grim expression.

He had just finished the evaluation and had thoroughly digested the song.

"F, f, fighting…."

"…? Huh, yeah."

Why is he suddenly so friendly?

Park Moondae was surprised, but he greeted him back calmly. It was a victory of social consciousness.

He walked slowly onto the stage. It was so unfamiliar to him that his head felt somewhat heated with a sense of excitement.

"22nd place, Park Moondae!"

"Yes."

The judges' attitude became uninterested in him.

'You're good at singing, but you can't dance.'

After a few days of trying, the choreographer's expectations for Park Moondae disappeared. He even thought bluntly.

'It's getting annoying.'

"We'll begin the grade evaluation."

The boring prelude came out.

Park Moondae started the first move. Then, he turned around by pulling both arms in a big move.

"….?"

The first person to feel out of place was the choreographer.

'Is the line different?'

Until the last face-to-face class just two days ago, Park Moondae had no such thing as a 'dance line.'

The sense of matching the point of connection and disconnection, the point of giving and taking power.

If that is the difference between rhythm and dance, then Park Moondae's movements were rhythmic.

Obviously, it was—.

'Why…are you good at dancing?'

008

Strictly speaking, Park Moondae's dance wasn't all that impressive. It's just enough that he can fit in a group dance and wouldn't be stood out.

To put it another way, it gives the people who watch him participate in group dances enough enjoyment.

'Even if I call it a debut song right now—'

It looks like he won't be pushed by the other members. What an incredible development!

The choreographer was slightly excited by the unexpected situation but soon calmed down.

'He can't suddenly have a talent he didn't have in two days.'

So, if he had used his brain a little, he would have tried to match the impact of the first introduction with only the early performance.

'In a little while, he'll lose the rhythm again….'

"…."

But it didn't go back. Park Moondae entered the chorus with the same level as the beginning.

No, on the contrary, the tempo control in the chorus improves as the song continues.

He's not like the majority of the lower-class participants, who move weakly. It's not a dance that roughed up the joint, but it did catch a certain angle.

– The one who is shining on stage today… It's me!

In addition, he also sings the whole song honestly, without skipping or missing any parts.

Even though the technique was lacking, it was clean and powerful, and there wasn't a single note that was flat or out of tune.

Judge Mudie lightly tapped the pen next to the choreographer.

It seemed like she was just doing it unconsciously, but this must mean that she likes it so much.

Even in his ears, who doesn't know much about vocals, he thought Park Moondae was the best among participants so far.

– Look, at this moment–I'll shine the brightest!

No, he's at a great level.

A clean tone enters his ear.

'How much effort does an amateur put into dancing while singing and still being so stable?'

The choreographer thought about it casually.

He treated those who were 'good, promising, full of potential' differently from those who were not.

And now, inside the choreographer's mind, Park Moondae's grade, which had fallen because he wasn't good at dancing, was changed.

'Since he can sing well, he must be worried about singing steadily while dancing. Is he busy learning the choreography?'

But the feeling of discomfort hasn't entirely disappeared.

'…It's hard to dance like that in two days without any reason.'

Meanwhile, Park Moondae finished the song without losing tempo and strength until the end of the second verse.

The judges' seats were silent.

Despite his doubts, he suddenly felt positive emotions rushing through his head.

It was admirable.

"Whoo, whoo, thank you."

Soon after the song ended, Park Moondae's face was turning red, and he was breathing hard as if he had used up all his strength.

Instead of the brazenness in the first evaluation, in which he boldly selected songs and didn't change facial expressions, this time, he had a face full of enthusiasm.

It had the kind of look that made people think, 'Ah… he worked hard.'

Such a gap had the effect of making the viewer burst into tears for no reason.

Especially Mudie, who was sitting next to the choreographer and looked like she was about to pour out a bunch of compliments at any moment.

The choreographer thought that the other judges would do the same thing, but not as much as she would.

But no one else could have saved this impact as much for the broadcast as he did because he's the one who has been going to dance class for half a month.

So, the choreographer pretended not to notice the production team's indirect look when they told Youngrin to give the first evaluation.

First, he spoke into the microphone by opening his mouth.

"Moondae-ya."

"Whoo… Yes."

"Good job."

"…"

It was a more definite compliment because it was simple. Park Moondae smiled instead of answering.

It was a smile that was sure enough to make him look mischievous, unlike the participant who had been quiet for half a month.

As expected, a good twist wins.

There was no way this method wouldn't work for the idol audition program.

Even though I was out of breath and felt like my heart would pop out of my throat, I felt relieved and at ease.

Especially because the judges showed a good reaction.

"Oh, my, it was admirable."

"Well, Moondae-ssi, there is nothing I can say to criticize you today~."

"You did a great job."

It felt like I was one step further away from sudden death.

'As expected. Investing all three points accumulated during filming in dance was the right answer.'

So, the current grade for Dance is C.

To be honest, the sensation of leveling up was much greater than when I was leveling up my Vocal ability.

It was a feeling I learned right away through experience, even though my body couldn't match what I knew in my head.

The sensation of suddenly being able to use muscles I couldn't use before was also clear all over my body.

To the point where I can feel pleasure in it.

Maybe this is similar to the participants in the Intermediate class who can't go to the Advanced class.

I even memorized the choreography without sleeping for the first week, and by the end of that time, I had it down to the point where I could perform it without thinking about it.

If I limited it to this song, it might be better than most participants in Intermediate Dance classes.

'I did it in a single leap without any intermediate process.'

As long as it's not edited, I'll pass the first elimination round with this.

It looks like I'm making good progress toward survival step by step.

Then the question that I expected came up.

"By the way, Moondae-ya, what the hell did you do in two days?"

I can tell that Judge Mudie asked, "Why?" with the shape of her mouth in response to the choreographer's question.

The choreographer adds explanations as if answering them.

"He can dance all of a sudden? We haven't seen each other in two days, but suddenly."

"That's—"

I took a deep breath and lightly brushed my hair on purpose. It must make me look embarrassed.

"I asked a good friend."

"A good friend?"

"It was Seon Ahyun."

In other words, it was a smoke screen. (Smoke screen = it is intended to hide the truth about your activities or intentions.)

I can't say I've leveled up with the status window, so I'm trying to move on emotionally instead.

And at the same time, my roommate was Seon Ahyun, who was in the Advanced Dance class.

It's not like there is no such thing as a sudden improvement after receiving helpful advice from your peers, so I decided to give it a shot at least once.

– By any chance, do you have time?

– D, do you talk to me—?

– Yeah. I'm sorry, but if this situation happens, can you do this—.

– Y, yes! I will do it!

– …Yeah. Okay.

In addition, I was lucky that Seon Ahyun taught me too hard. To the point where he would have been sorry if I couldn't make improvements.

I was a little embarrassed because he taught me for almost two hours by splitting every move with passion.

I was merely trying to match it up roughly—.

In any case, it wouldn't hurt Seon Ahyun in any way to have an image that helped inexperienced participants who have no idea what they're doing. Well, it's not bad.

Should I make the situation somewhat more dramatic? Let's add some more useless words.

"…Ahyun is very kind."

"Hey, are you saying I'm not kind then?"

The choreographer poked right in.

But with a smile on his face, he looks like he's making a joke.

I feel like it went pretty well. There was a warm atmosphere among the judges.

"Do you remember what I said during the first evaluation?"

Youngrin of 'SaintU' asked softly. It didn't seem like a real question but rather a sentence that started a conversation.

"I can't dance at all, so future missions will be hard for me."

Youngrin smiled faintly.

"I think I said it wrong. Park Moondae-ssi seems to be able to overcome it even though it is difficult."

"Thank you."

"Today, I enjoyed it very much. I hope you can move more relaxedly the next time."

"I will do my best to do that."

There's no way I'll be able to relax with just those words, but the audition program required me to answer clearly. It's kind of fun.

Anyway, it was successful. The judges gave me a favorable evaluation, and their expectations for me were reasonable.

I guess then my grade will be gold.

The theme song, like other idol audition programs, was the first content revealed to the public in the Idol Joint-Stock Company.

And, of course, those who do it well get a good amount of theme songs. This 'good participant' was judged by how well they did in this grade.

As you might have guessed from looking at the class division badges, the grades of gold, silver, and bronze were categorized into upper, middle, and lower levels.

"But the participants who don't even meet the conditions for bronze— are ejected!"

That sound has been present in every season, but it has never been realized, so I don't have to worry about it.

And above these three classes, there was one more class.

"Idol Joint-Stock Company has returned with a newer look; who will represent this re-listed season in the Platinum grade?"

It was the Platinum grade.

They used all kinds of metaphors on the internet, like games with multiple levels and games that asked their parents how they were doing, making this grade a Meme.

To be honest, I'm a little glad that the production team didn't name it Diamond.

Anyway, the other participants were tense as they waited for the MC to make an announcement.

They placed a box, and a badge symbolizing the grade was placed inside it.

I didn't have to think too much because I already knew what my grade would be.

Silver used to be from ranked 26th, but if I look at the numbers in the status window, it is now in the top 25. And I wasn't enough to be in the top 10 in the Platinum grade.

Well, then it's gold for me.

"All participants, please open the grade box!"

I opened the box with a small faint expression, trying not to let it show.

But then I hardened.

I saw a shiny, holographic badge made of Platinum inside the box.

It was a Platinum grade badge.

"….."

As I stiffened, Seon Ahyun, who was holding up his gold badge from the side, tilted his head and then looked surprised.

"W, w, whoa. Whoa!"

"What is this— Oh my gosh! That's amazing! Wow, that's amazing!"

Lee Sejin, who had been in 20th place before, looked inside my box while holding a gold badge and shouted.

Then, he slapped me on the back and shouted.

"You're really amazing! Platinum!"

I have no idea when we've been close.

Didn't we just say hi to each other on the way here and there? Since he was the first person to do that, I was hesitant.

I took a deep breath and picked up the badge from the box.

The other participants seem to think that I'm moved, but it's more complicated than that in my mind.

'Why Platinum?'

I knew that two or three participants from each season got a Platinum grade based on how much they improved, not how good they were in their skills.

But I don't think I was at that point yet.

And then I realized.

'…The order of grade evaluation!'

Because of this, there are fewer people who will jump out of the middle and lower ranks. So it seemed reasonable to me.

I think the fact that I had prepared for and practiced the dance overnight because of regression was a factor in why it was better than the equivalent status windows.

"…Hmm."

I rolled the badge in my hand.

I'm sure it leaves a strong impression, but the aftertaste was a bit strange.

'I think a lot of trouble will happen if I make a mistake.'

I didn't know what kind of editing would be included in the next evaluation if I made even one mistake. In the first season, the same thing happened to one participant.

No, after thinking about it, there was nothing to go on to the next evaluation. Even if the editing point is a little off to get the Platinum grade right now, I will get a lot of negative comments.

Choi Wongil, who is looking at me right now, would be a great target if he said in an interview something like, 'Honestly, I didn't fully understand.'

But it's crazy to show that you don't like it here.

'I can't help it.'

I slowly picked up the badge and put it on. When I turned my head, I saw other participants wearing Platinum badges.

As expected, the first and second places in the first evaluation were both in the Platinum grade. Aside from that, most of the people who sat on the sofa were also given Platinum grades again.

The top 10 participants seemed to have closed the gap between themselves and those who got a Gold grade.

I was the only one from the top 20. Damn it.

'I will need to concentrate a lot on fire.' (It means a term referring to criticism directed at a negative object or idea.)

—No, let's think positively. It's actually a good thing.

'There will be lots of footage.'

Anyway, there was a battle for the footage that was shown on broadcast until the stage fancam came out.

I would avoid being eliminated unconditionally at the beginning, so I could steadily move toward my goal of making my debut within a year.

'As long as I don't become completely unlikable around here.'

I made a firm commitment. Let's be quiet, so I don't get picked on by others.

Let's level up like crazy and beat everything to Dance and Vocal.

"Please come up to the stage, starting with the participants who received the Platinum grade!"

—And first of all, on the stage of the theme song, let's avoid going near the participants who have an unconditional A Dance stat.

Because if they compared us, things would get messed up.

009

On the theme song stage, the participants were set up in the shape of a fan, with the platinum grade group in the center. Of course, the higher the grade, the closer it gets to the center.

Aside from that, there were parts that only the platinum group could perform, so the grade preference was all that mattered.

However, everyone seemed to pay attention to the grade because getting one shot on the camera could change the initial ranking.

Besides, the production staff and trainers spoke and acted as if grades had great meaning, making it perfect for young participants to be swept away. And in other words, the number of people who talked to me went up five times when I got the Platinum badge.

As someone who had never experienced this kind of social hierarchy in high school, I was a little skeptical.

What steps will the production team, which has such a unique personality, take in the future to create an atmosphere like this—?

Fortunately, the vicious production team also had direct thoughts. Participants who got a Platinum grade and had a dance level of A or higher were moved to the front of the line at the start timing and during the dance break.

And the participant who wasn't very good at dancing was pulled back cleverly. Well, of course, this was also the case for me.

My dance break movements were slightly behind Gold because I saw Seon Ahyun and Lee Sejin (Gold) right next to me.

Come to think of it, child actor Lee Sejin got the silver grade. Judging only by the general public's reaction, it's unlikely that he's making his debut.

"Isn't it a little sad?"

So, I skipped over this close friendship with Lee Sejin (Gold). A little bit past the point of suspicion, the obstacle went down without any trouble.

"Not really."

I answered calmly. I think he means that the stage location isn't all that great for a platinum grade.

"Wow, I must have been very sad."

"You deserve it."

"Huh? Why do you think so?"

"Because you're a good dancer."

Lee Sejin's dance was an A-. The vocals were a C+, and if he hadn't messed up on the high notes, he might have gotten a platinum grade instead of me.

"Uhm, thank you!"

Anyway, Lee Sejin smiled widely as if he was feeling better. Then another voice came in.

"Can't you dance?"

It was the platinum grade participant who stood at the center of the front row. The blank expression didn't give the impression that the person had any ill intent toward me.

But the problem is that he was the one who came in first place in the ranking evaluation. And as far as I know, he was the final number one.

His name is Cha Eugene. He was so famous that I had seen his face on TV countless times while eating at the Baekban restaurant in Gosichon. ( Baekban can mean simply steamed white rice or a full menu of rice, soup and side dishes. Gosichon is a Korean term used to refer to residents of civil service examinees.)

However, he was stranger than expected. How can he ask such a thing when the microphone and camera are both turned on?

With such a personality, he won first place.

Of course, the details in the status window and in every evaluation were great.

Nonetheless, there was a good chance that the broadcast editing was also favorable to him. Let's not get involved in this kind of material for nothing.

So I purposely laughed.

"Did you not see my evaluation?"

Then his expression turned sour. He seems to be the type of person whose conscience is prickled at this place, which is surprising.

"We have to prepare for our own performance. So I didn't really watch it."

"Then watch it next time and judge for yourself."

"All right."

Cha Eugene nodded his head, turned around, and looked ahead. Lee Sejin laughs with a look of bewilderment.

"I guess he has a unique way of speaking because he came from abroad?"

"I know."

The conversation didn't go further as Lee Sejin was also conscious of the camera.

Instead, I looked at the staff offstage. It seems to be getting solved as well.

"The rehearsal will start!"

The staff shouted. The setting seems to be complete.

I held my breath.

It was hard to wait on the floor while they packed equipment, but I didn't know I would have to do this myself.

It's 6 a.m. right now.

And they will record the actual performance at 4 p.m.

It seemed as if I was going to have a rough march.

It's currently 8 p.m.

This filming has been completed.

"Good job~!"

As I expected earlier… There was a lot of hardship.

"Whoo…"

"Ah… I will die."

One participant after another fell to the floor, making a sound of pain from the side. Everybody was dripping with sweat.

I was in the same condition as the other participants, but there was nowhere to sit down because the participants who had fallen first had filled the floor.

It was funny.

'I ran out of stamina.'

First, I rehearsed all morning and was exhausted. After that, I took a short break and then a lunch break.

The only thing on the menu was gimbap wrapped in silver foil. This was probably because they didn't have the necessary PPL yet.

After eating a bit, many stylists came to the filming set to do their jobs.

– Ah, I really don't have a place to put anything~

– Tilt your head this way!

– I'll do it quickly.

Even though they were annoyed by the poor conditions in the empty lot that was being used as a waiting room, they put make-up on the participants and smoothed their hair.

To be honest, there was no dramatic change for anyone, but it was enough for broadcasting.

After that, I put on a broadcasting uniform.

By this time, a camera was coming toward me.

– Do you like your clothes?

– …Yes.

Is there anyone here who would say no?

– What do you like about it?

– Since the design includes both uniforms and school uniforms, I think I can use it to make a variety of concepts.

I wish I could say it's a bit gross because 77 people are wearing the same clothes, but I can't.

As soon as I finished speaking, the participants around me started talking.

– I like that I can mix and match various accessories~

– Ah! It's good because it also goes well with the badge.

There might have been one or two camera shots here, but everyone was excited.

And the actual shooting.

Honestly, here— I don't know how the editing will go in.

– Let's do it again~

– Ugh…

I didn't think about that while I was dancing in a group in a place that was so hot that I thought I would get heatstroke about 30 times.

I think I've heard compliments, criticisms, and comments meant to motivate the participants, but it's all getting fuzzy in my head.

To be honest, my memory was vague. I don't know what kind of cut the production crew will use in episode 30.

I listened to the PD, trying to come to my senses.

"Everyone, you worked really hard—"

The main PD, who came out of nowhere at the end of the main stage, seemed to be giving empty compliments at first, but he gave some useful information after a few words.

"…And this performance will be on Music Night next Friday. You will start shooting again the next day. Until then, rest well and never forget that this is a great opportunity for you. You have to take this opportunity."

Anyone who sees it knows that they could grab the opportunity if the participants worked hard.

The participants responded enthusiastically to the PD, who could make the opportunity fit their liking.

"Let's work hard until the end."

"Yes!"

"Then see you next week. You did a good job~."

"You have worked hard!"

With their remaining strength, everyone cheers and claps. I applauded even though my hands were trembling.

"…."

Until next week's Music Night monitoring, I guess I should build up my stamina first.

The week went by in an instant.

My plan to build up my stamina was only half successful. The reason for this is because after the first filming, I suddenly got a fever, and for the next three days, I stayed under the blanket and took medicine for it.

It seems that Park Moondae's body couldn't stand several weeks of hard work.

Anyway, when I woke up in three days, I ate more food and started practicing dancing and training my stamina at the same time.

I can now say that I'm working hard because I'm holding dumbbells while watching Music Night.

So let's call it half a success.

[Siwon, did you enjoy SoulWe's comeback stage with an exciting EDM?]

[Of course, Siwon is so excited that my heart feels relieved~]

[Are you kidding me? Whoo~]

[Whoooo~]

On the screen, two idols are hosting with joy.

They seemed to be reading the prompters with a lot of effort, yet they still managed to deliver the cringy script.

Even though they are both busy, it seems like they are trying to split the time.

[Siwon-ssi! Now, instead of making jokes, let's talk about the next stage, shall we?]

[Yes. Did you hear the news, Yoonji-ssi?]

[What kind of news is it?]

[The news that shareholders have been eagerly waiting for! Right away~ Idol Joint-Stock Company has been relisted!]

[Whoaa!]

It's about to start. I put the dumbbell down and picked up my phone to go back to the page I had been on before.

As a huge portal site created the viewer's fireboard, it was the best page to watch the general Internet reaction.

Since it was not even a famous singer's comeback week, the page was dominated by the topic 'Idol Joint-Stock Company.'

['MusicBOMB' talk talk!]

– It said re-listed ㅋㅋㅋ. Is this for real?

– Stop talking about it.

– Wow, pretending to be season 3!

– ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ It's not a re-listed; it's a delisted.

– What? Why are you here all of a sudden?

∟ IJC is launching a new season ㅋ

∟Ah…

– ㅎ Am I the only one who came to see the comments instead of the boring performance?

Well, I did expect a lot of this kind of reaction.

Every time I clicked refresh, a different kind of ridicule poured out. It seemed that more people came than the previous Music Night's viewers.

And to sum up the reactions, they all said that Season 3 was going too far and would fail. Because Season 2 was too grand and flashy, the series seemed to have a strong reputation for being a failure.

As expected, there is also a mockery directed towards Season 2.

– This time, it's between guys? Are you going to be bigger in Korea? ㅋ

└ Korea doesn't allow same-sex marriages, so you can't beat the stronghold of season 2.^^ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

└ Fuck ㅋㅋㅋㅋ

This is the main reason why Season 2 ends up destroying itself because it was a mixed audition for idols, with both men and women participating.

But when I think about it now, it was a strange idea.

I wonder what kind of silly thoughts the production team had.

It wouldn't have happened if they had made season 2 with a male version as the standard or if they had made the female version again.

If that's the way it is—.

– I don't know~ Who else might get pregnant before marriage and remain a legend in the idol audition world?

└ Ah ㅋㅋㅋ Two seasons in a row!

└ Now is the time to laugh but fuck. At that time, I was almost truly traumatized. Crazy bastards, why are you crawling out on an audition program to piss off the innocent viewers?

└ Huh sudden acceleration

└ They're too immersed in the entertainment industry~

└ Yeah, it's not just entertainment; it's an audition that wastes money~

└ Even with everything going on, it still makes me nervous to think about how IJC became the romance of the century.ㅎ

Yeah. It was a premarital pregnancy—.

Pregnancy before marriage at a time when even dating can be fatal.

It also broke out among the participants.

The bigger problem is that the two contestants whose premarital pregnancies broke out were popular contestants who were leading Season 2.

Since the production team already made it a mixed group, it seems like they thought it would be better to use it to get people's attention than to get rid of it right away.

That's probably why they worked hard to edit the rest of the show like a romance reality show.

But that wasn't the end of it.

– To say you were pregnant while walking on two legs, you must have been a lunatic who will never be seen again.

– It's really a legend in IJC…Oh, it's not IJC but RJC (Ruin Joint-Stock Company) ㅎ

The male participant in the scandal involving premarital pregnancy was actually dating another female participant.

The female participant said that she was going to put up with it for the sake of her career, but after watching the pink episode, she turned her back on it and told the media about the messenger.

After that— it was terrible.

Portal real-time search terms, entertainment news pages, and even social media were all a mess.

I just—remember that IJC Season 2 didn't make it to the finals and ended early.

In addition, as long as these huge scandals remain fresh in viewers' minds, no matter what they do at the beginning of the program, they will be subject to mockery.

I stopped thinking about the past and looked back at the screen.

In contrast to the crazy comments, the Music Night MCs were still smiling.

[Idol stocks waiting for shareholders to invest!]

[Shine your star!]

And here comes the famous catchphrase.

[Now, invest in idols who are about to fly high!]

The number of comments on the post suddenly tripled at that point.

– Fly high, stock… Fantastic skyrocket… ↖Fly…high↗

This was also once popular on the internet. It seems to have been used very often when a participant who was intended to be successful failed due to some unfortunate event.

These comments, which are getting close to becoming plastered, were filled with several lamentations.

– Wow, you're using this again.

– Whoever decided the phrase is really heaven sense.

– Really. It seems like the old man who was a piece of trash tried to act hip but failed.

– Don't make Siwon say those lines, you crazy broadcasting bastard ㅠㅠ

I laughed bitterly.

"But you still watch it."

They watch it to curse at them.

It was hundreds of times better than indifference. Because there's no doubt that these early viewers will help spread the word. Season 3 is a huge hit because it is based on facts that have already happened.

After all, it means that by the time the finals are over, most of them (to put it in an IJC way) will grab anyone's stock and watch it until they cry.

But it won't be like that from the first stage.

I was very excited about what reaction would come out again.

After the MC's words, the TV screen showed the stage a few seconds later.

Youngrin was standing on the stage. The pinpointed lighting made dramatic shadows with a clear outline on the face.

Well, at first, Idol Joint-Stock Company was in a humorous position with a black comedy and a heartwarming B-style, but it seemed like they were trying to change their image by becoming crazy.

Maybe they're trying to cover it seriously.

[All shareholders! Do you remember the last delisting?]

"….?"

They smashed my prediction as soon as Youngrin opened her mouth.

[Everyone, for making your stock into pieces of paper— I'm so sorry!]

They put big subtitles in front of Youngrin, who shouted loudly.

[※This is an apology from the production team. Youngrin is not guilty.※]

[※We are still accepting claims for damages on our website.※]

"…."

Have they gone mad?

010

They didn't even talk about last season during the first filming, so I never imagined that it would come out here.

The comments section is filled with "?!" And then Youngrin naturally continued without changing her expression.

[To prevent the same disaster, the production team will give all the decision-making power to the shareholders!]

The lights on the stage are turned on intensely one by one according to Youngrin's words.

[The members? Shareholders, please choose!]

[Number of people? Shareholders, please decide!]

[Do you want a team like this? Shareholders, please bind it!]

[Or…]

Like a stage effect, the lights began to flicker.

[Do you hate to see that team member look young? Then remove them!]

– Did the production team go crazy?

One appropriate comment caught my eye.

Under the flashing lights, Youngrin is delivering a serious closing remark.

[Our company's life and death depend on the shareholders!]

[Idols Joint-Stock Company re-listed is starting now!]

The camera moves upwards.

The stage, which looked like a big star, was lit up with flashing lights that looked like a galaxy.

And in the middle of the stage, I could see the back of ten people standing in the spotlight. These are platinum grade participants.

The camera moved up and down once, zooming in on the participants. Because the stage was so big, ten people seemed to fill it up completely.

The intro started as soon as the camera stopped moving.

One by one, the participants turned around, and the camera caught their movement.

It was a single part that was a benefit of the platinum grade, but it wasn't a big deal because it only took less than a second for each of them.

'I'd rather pick the center like the original.'

I felt a strange feeling as I saw my cut pass by.

'Hmm, it looks like hands and feet aren't as shriveled as that.'

After the intro and the song started playing, the gold grade appeared around the platinum grade. It seemed natural with the power of editing.

Entering the pre-chorus, the lighting changed, and silver grade appeared on both sides, then bronze grade appeared from behind at the beginning of the chorus.

And the group chorus.

"Oh."

It was plausible. Thanks to the ghostly cut of the moment when the choreography didn't match, the movement seemed in perfect order.

In addition, there was a surprisingly positive response in the comments section.

Although most people were embarrassed by the fact that they liked it.

– Why do I like the song?

– It's RJC, but the theme song is always a God song.

– What a waste of the song. You'll give me another stone ㅠ

Of course, they didn't forget to comment on the participants whenever there was a close-up on the screen.

– Such young skin… It's a bit uncomfortable to see. ㅠㅠ

– I thought it was funny that he just hit himself in the neck, but did you see it? ㅋㅋ

– As expected, your skills aren't good if you're ugly either. ㅎ

└Please stop generalizing, because it will make the squid sad. ㅠㅠ (t/n : it seems squid in this part means ugly people)

└ㅈㅅ Even if you're good at it, being ugly will make you look bad. ㅎ

└This bastard, really.

└ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

Of course, there were also moments of admiration.

– Wow, he was handsome just now.

– Wow, why are you here?

– How did you cast him?

– If he looked like that, he wouldn't come out here.

Roughly—it was a reaction that appeared when participants with an appearance stat of B or higher were close-up.

Oh, I just saw a close-up of Seon Ahyun. As expected, the camera catches the side with the best face.

…Wait.

I compared the responses in the comment box with the participants in the close-up.

"…Did I make a mistake?"

It becomes difficult if there is a significant gap between the beginning buzz volume.

'Putting singing and dancing to the side, should I have made my appearance to be an 'A' class?'

Even if they took only one close-up on the theme song stage, it would have been a hot topic if the appearance was great.

Also, if only a few homepage masters were holding on to them, they would have been photographed at a product presentation, and their photos would have been shared on social media. (t/n: 홈마 or homepage masters is a master of an (idol) fansite usually who takes photos. Basically means fansite masters.)

There is a good chance that the first elimination could have been avoided if the fan base was stronger.

Given that there is a status window, I should have been able to show my skills as a growth type, right?

Considering that this season was ridiculed at first and skyrocketed after it aired, I put this strategy aside— I had forgotten that mockery was also part of interest.

I felt a chill in my heart and looked at the stage screen again.

A few close-ups passed even at the ending.

The one that stands out the most is Lee Sejin, the child actor. I could tell the production team was willing to work hard because they gave him a few seconds to develop the topic before the show.

When I think about it now, most of the debut members I know were of grade B or above, and their faces matched the set.

If the editing focused on participants with high visual stats, I'm in big trouble.

Park Moondae also looked pretty good, but he wasn't a man who stood out for his handsomeness.

As soon as I lost some confidence and tried to review my strategy, the screen suddenly changed. It was a mid-advertisement.

Then I heard a familiar voice.

[Idol Joint-Stock Company, relisted!]

Is this where the first ad appears?

Since filming was over a week ago, I thought they had enough time to edit it that way.

I focused on the advertisement because I was curious whether there was any hint of the editing direction.

[I hope there are many talented friends.]

[I have high expectations.]

[No (beep—) also comes out? The participants must be very nervous.]

It was a scene where the judges laughed and talked. I think they're saying everything that always comes out in the trailer.

[Amazing, it's just an amazing performance—]

[You look like you were born to do it.]

[Wow!]

[Where the hell did you come from now?]

Oh, my ranking evaluation has passed. This has reduced the worries of editing the whole thing. Only then did my shoulders drop a little.

It was my first mass media exposure, so I think I overreacted.

No matter how early it is, the battle usually doesn't happen until episode 4, so let's not be nervous and calmly add to my strategy.

Unlike me, who had regained peace of mind, the judges, who had hardened their faces, said harsh things without warning.

[Now this is… I can't even call it a stage.]

[You know that's an excuse, right?]

[It seems you just lacked preparation.]

[Aren't you embarrassed?]

And the faces of the participants, who were all showing serious faces and biting their lips, overlapped and passed one another.

…Looking at the background, it seems that they even use the expression they made since they were having a hard time practicing.

In the end, the cut made it look like something unexpected had happened.

[(Beep—) -ssi, (Beep—) -ssi, wait, wait—!]

[(The participant suddenly leaves the seat.)]

The face of the child actor Lee Sejin, who was crying, was shown up close.

[(The whole story?)]

As the screen went dark, the logo of Idol Joint-Stock Company came up magnificently.

The logo went off at the end of the changed theme song, and the MC's voice could be heard.

[The re-listing of the new Idol Joint-Stock Company! The first gateway to—(Beep—) evaluation!]

[Huh!]

The trailer ended with the participants covering their mouths as if they were shocked.

"…."

Comments kept pouring in as soon as I lowered my head.

It was understandable.

That evening, the Internet entertainment news comment box was turned upside down.

After finishing my workout, I warmed up my meal and accessed the portal website.

First of all, these were the titles of the articles that were shown on the main page.

[〈Idol Joint-Stock Company〉 who beg for forgiveness from the 'shareholders,' the new stock? 'Male Idol'.]

[Unveiled 〈Re-listed! Idol Joint-Stock Company〉, 'Shining Star' first release!]

['Please invest, shareholders!', the stage of 77 participants in the new season of 〈Idol Joint-Stock Company〉 ]

The title alone was moderately neutral, but public opinion can be seen by clicking on the article and looking at the response.

It's been a while since the comments section on entertainment news was blocked, and if you look at the emoticons that are visible, at least—.

'Frustrated' has exceeded 12,000. Obviously, they pressed this option instead because there was no 'Mad' expression, which meant that public opinion was going crazy.

There were also many columns.

[Idol Joint-Stock Company, adopting slogan for freedom]

['Buy me!', children who have become stocks.]

Let's click on one.

[It's not even 'Please pick me' anymore. Participants are no longer treated humanely in the program shouting to buy your idol stocks. A sadistic way of handing over the right to escape from life to death—.]

Well, I don't need to see more.

Because most of the comments about the program on the Internet and SNS were negative.

– These bastards have no real reflection.

– Fuck, from the first season, they said it was stock with all kinds of things, and they sold our voting rights and came back without dying. Do you like the money you make from selling kids? ㅋㅋㅋㅋ

But the production crew will be delighted because it's not like the participants are criticized.

Season 2 was disappointing because the popular participant and the content were both messed up.

However, due to the program's sadism, they suppressed the image this season, and the production crew turned off the pointless behavior.

Anyway, the survival program was always hard, no matter how harsh or arrogant it was.

Even from the participant's point of view, catching people's attention might be better.

Because thanks to the popularity of the program, there are comments like this.

[This IJC 3 Platinum Grade Summary.]

: I captured the 'Music Night' stage. It's because I feel sorry for the kids who are good at this, so please refrain from cursing in the comments.

Most of the comments were about handsome participants or had good facial expressions, but I also noticed a few people talking about Park Moondae, which made me feel weird.

It was mainly about being cute or popular.

– Park Moondae is cute, so I watched the stage again, but the camera didn't do a good job of catching him. ᅲᅲ But after seeing the trailer, I think he did well on the ranking stage, so I'm thinking about watching it.

"…."

It felt weird. It was the first time in my life that I had read an article that expressed open interest in me.

I felt it when I was selling data in college, but I was surprised that people would give their time and money just because they were likable, even though they didn't know them well.

I'm not sure if it's because I live a life without time or money.

But when I became the person involved, it felt even weirder.

However, it wasn't a bad feeling.

'…What else should I do next?'

I suddenly wanted to move.

I carefully looked over the people's responses to the participants and then made a list of the priorities for future stat distribution.

It was then.

[The beginning of fame!]

1,000 people remembered your existence!

: Draw General Characteristics Click!

I got a notification for this, too.

I read the pop-up contents. The 'draw' below felt like the one that popped up on the stage last time.

I immediately click, and a slot machine pops up.

Again, the gray box and the copper box were mixed together this time.

This time, I hope there will be characteristics that help me quickly improve my looks or skills.

I waited for the slot to stop with more anticipation than last time.

And the moment the slot was about to stop, suddenly another pop-up appeared.

[Slot machine is a great success!]

: You draw hero characteristics!