Chapter 11

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Translated by Sylph

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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Light suddenly burst out from the slot, and the movement stopped in a silver space that wasn’t there before.

“Hmm.”

First, I had a good hunch as I saw the word ‘great success’.

Will a more effective trait come out this time? Preferably something that helps on stage…….

[Trait: ‘What you say makes sense (C)’ acquired!]
Invokes emotional agitation in the listener.
Activation probability 35%, default state: active.

How should I accept this trait that would suit a troublemaker?

Does it mean I should stir up public opinion on the internet with this?

No, looking at the expression ‘listener’, that’s not it either.

Let’s think for a moment…….

“…….”

As I calmed my mind, I thought it was a pretty good trait.

Due to the nature of the program, a survival participant often delivers words directly to the viewers, such as in self-introductions or rank announcement ceremonies.

At that time, it would be advantageous if the viewer felt some kind of emotion rather than just passing it by indifferently, so it was a decent trait.

Furthermore, looking at the expression ‘listener’, it might include singing in the delivery method.

In this case, it’s definitely a gain. Because it’ll be easy to create a sense of immersion on the stage.

Good. It’s much better than not having it.

I quickly organized the situation and then checked the status window.

[Name: Park Moondae (Ryu Gunwoo)]

Level: 8

Title: None

Vocal: A-

Dance: C

Appearance: C+

Charm: C

Trait: Infinite Potential, What you say makes sense (C)

!Status Abnormality: Debut or Death

Remaining Points: 1

One point obtained thanks to the achievement achieved because the first stage was broadcast.

And the achievement of 500 singing practices was only 3 times away.

I plan to level up today to obtain an extra point and distribute the points I have now immediately.

The highest priority is…….

“Let’s take appearance.”

It’s time to cross the threshold of Grade B.

I manipulated the status window without hesitation.

‘…I hope the number of mentions increases from the next content.’

I thought unconsciously and prepared for bed early.

Filming starts again tomorrow. Since it starts from early morning, let’s save stamina from now on.

Considering the order, tomorrow they will probably film the 1st team battle or self-introduction videos.

* * *

“Idol Inc. has started again! Participants, did you all rest well?”

“Yes!!”

The prediction was right. I looked around the filming set among the participants who answered the MC’s question energetically.

Signboards were placed here and there in the grand auditorium, the place where we first showed the theme song.

It was a composition that anyone who was a viewer of the previous season could expect the 1st team battle to proceed.

Besides me, several other participants seemed to be already concerned about that point, as I could see them exchanging glances.

Even if it’s uncertain whether they can do it together, it didn’t seem bad.

Should I try to recruit someone too?

“…….”

Come to think of it, I don’t have any participants I’ve become that close with. Let’s just focus on the MC’s words.

“The stage you will prepare today is right here~ the team battle!”

“Ooh!”

As expected, everyone reacted with that kind of expression.

“Since it’s the first team battle, everyone must have a participant they want to work with, right?”

Seeing how he’s starting the topic like this, the next sentence will start with ‘But’.

“But! Being able to show teamwork no matter who you meet is what an idol should be. In this evaluation, you cannot form teams arbitrarily among yourselves!”

The program, which made them form teams themselves in the first season and then edited it as if they were ostracizing someone, causing about five people to go down, spoke well.

“Then how will we form teams? First, everyone, please pick a ball from this box!”

“It’s scary?”

Lee Sejin (Gold grade), who was standing behind me, whispered.

In this seat where the production staff placed us, he seemed to have done it because he wanted to create reaction cuts, with me being the only person he had talked to.

I can’t ignore him while the camera is rolling.

I roughly nodded and then followed the person in front to pick a ball from the box.

‘Number 12’

It seems we form teams by number, or we choose teams in this numerical order.

“Participant Number 1, who are you? Please raise your hand! Ah, it’s Participant Lee Hongsu!”

A participant of the Silver grade clumsily raised his hand.

The MC raised his hand and pointed to the signboards placed in the auditorium.

“Participants can choose one of the signboards in order!”

It was the latter. The MC smiled and drew a line with his arm.

“Then the contents of the signboards, please reveal them!”

Ping-.

The signboards lit up and letters appeared. They were somewhat high-tech, but what was more important was the content.

The names of famous agencies were written on each signboard.

“Here are the names of agencies that lead KPOP around the world! You can choose one of these agencies. However, the capacity is 14 people!”

The MC spread his hands wide.

“But if the capacity is exceeded, the person with a higher grade can push out the person with a lower grade and enter instead of that participant!”

“Wow, the rule is brutal.”

Gold grade Lee Sejin spoke to me again and made a fuss.

“Even if I choose the same agency as you, you shouldn’t push me out, okay? I’m good?”

“……You’re Gold.”

I couldn’t understand why a guy with a high grade would assume he would be pushed out.

“Even Gold can be pushed by Platinum!”

“…I won’t push.”

“Oh~ The answer is refreshing.”

“…….”

Let’s not get involved.

For reference, there were 5 agency signboards. A composition where 7 people are bound to not be able to stand at a signboard and have to stand in a corner.

Interviews to be inserted are already expected.

[It was really scary.]
[Now it’s really survival.]

“Then we start moving from Participant Lee Hongsu, who picked Number 1!”

The 1st participant went and stood in front of an agency famous as a prestigious house for male idols.

My number is 12, so it’s quite early. I probably didn’t need to push anyone out.

But the fact that I couldn’t check the team members in advance was quite troublesome.

Because the quality of the stage and the editing direction will change depending on who the team members of this 1st team battle are, and the future situation will change.

Moreover, until Number 11 was called, there wasn’t a single participant I knew. It means there was no one in the debut tier.

I had to use my head well.

“Next participant, please move!”

After agonizing, I decided on the destination.

I headed to the signboard that the most high-grade participants had chosen so far.

Anyway, the agencies all had hit songs, and as long as I picked well among them, the song choice wouldn’t be a big problem.

So the team members were more important than the agency.

Since it’ll be better to have someone who is good for the stage to be decent, let’s calculate based on the 11 people in front of me even though it’s a lacking sample.

‘For now, I’ll go to the place where there are many high-grade people.’

As I moved toward a signboard with the ball, two Gold grade participants clumsily welcomed me.

They probably came with the word that both would choose the same signboard.

I only tried greeting both, but the sign of trying to look welcoming was clear.

You guys are also working hard.

“Oh~ Main vocal!”

I decided to gratefully receive the reaction above too.

Fortunately, both were participants who showed strength in dancing.

The problem was from after this.

“Next is~ Ah, Participant Lee Sejin!”

Lee Sejin, the child actor, also chose this signboard.

Lee Sejin, who held Number 15, came with a stiff face and stood behind the signboard.

The two Golds seemed to have tried to welcome him this time too, but it failed awkwardly because Lee Sejin turned around and stood at the back.

“Ah……”

The sound of being embarrassed was heard from the front.

Well, since he is right behind me, I should do at least this much gesture.

I turned my head and bowed my head to the child actor Lee Sejin. Lee Sejin also nodded his head slightly. It was a sulky response.

As expected, the feeling is not good. I wonder if someone would push this guy out.

However, after that, as Bronzes lower than Silver entered, the possibility became extremely low.

‘Damn.’

And some time passed to the 30s.

Seon Ahyun, who was holding Number 33, approached with a nervous expression.

“…….”

Well, it’s good if the number of Gold grades increases. He has a cooperative personality too. I waved my hand slightly, and Seon Ahyun waved his hand back like crazy with a bright expression.

It was a bit embarrassing.

The next impressive joining was Ryu Chungwoo of the Platinum grade.

He was a former national archery representative and one of the debut members I knew.

“I look forward to working with you!”

Ryu Chungwoo, who smiled broadly, stood 13th in line.

The remaining capacity was 1 person.

Unfortunately, the debut 1st and 2nd places I knew had gone to other signboards. It was that signboard famous as a prestigious house for male idols, where the 1st participant went.

Because that agency was particularly popular, the capacity was pushed out first.

Many people including Cha Yujin, who was 1st, or people who became topics with the first stage were included there.

Even Silver was pushed out there.

“I’m sorry.”

The pushed-out Silver grade participant nodded with effort and then approached this signboard. He looked very miserable.

“…….”

For reference, this guy is Choi Wongil.

After picking fights so hard, his mental state really seemed to have burst, and he dropped to Silver after messing up the grade evaluation.

It might be my imagination, but he seems to be avoiding eye contact with me.

“Heh, now someone should push to enter. All 14 people are full.”

“Oh dear.”

The two Golds who stood first in line whispered.

…I started to worry about the members of this team.

Even the one who pushed in from the 60s was this guy.

“The expelled person I will designate is… Participant Jung Hyungjung of the Bronze grade. I’m really sorry!”

Gold grade Lee Sejin chose this signboard.

Lee Sejin, who bowed his head repeatedly, pushed out a participant for the first time and joined this signboard.

Thanks to him being so sorry and acting jovially, everyone was in an atmosphere of letting it be.

“Oh Moondae~ Going for main vocal?”

“The one who suits it will do it.”

“Wow, cool~ ‘The one who suits it will do it’~”

“…….”

If the camera hadn’t been there, a fist would have flown.

I looked at Lee Sejin without an answer, and he grinned and hit my back once before moving to stand in line.

It was unfair…….

“Everyone, did you all choose the signboards you wanted?”

After assigning new signboards to the participants who remained after being pushed out from here and there, the movement was over.

At the signboard where I stood, there was no change since Lee Sejin (Gold) joined, except for one Silver pushing a Bronze.

As a result, if I summarize the grades of the participants here, it’s like this.

-Platinum 2 people, Gold 5 people, Silver 5 people, Bronze 2 people.

Overall, except for the 1st place team, it was the best distribution. The members also seemed to be secretly satisfied after realizing it.

Of course, it wouldn’t end here.

“Now, you must want to choose cool songs!”

“Yes!!”

There were 14 people, so there was no way they would be put into one team. They will be divided into 7 people each.

For now, the person to avoid is clear, and the person I want to be with is…….

I turned my head. Coincidentally, I made eye contact with Ryu Chungwoo.

Ryu Chungwoo nodded slightly. It seemed he was also thinking of forming a team with high grades. Good. Then, so that it looks as less petty as possible…….

“Now, before that… the person who chose the signboard first, please raise your hand!”

From here and there, the participants standing right behind the signboards raised their hands.

The MC said with a smile.

“The person who raised their hand, please press the button on the signboard once!”

“What?”
“Signboard?”
“Button, ah, there on the top, that square, oh that’s it.”

The participants buzzed with each other and then found and pressed the button on the top of the signboard in their own way.

Then the content of the signboard flickered and changed.

“Oh, what.”
“Is it a lottery number?”

On the screen of the signboard, 7 numbers were shown in two lines.

The signboard of the agency where I stood was the same.

[4, 7, 12, 15, 33, 37, 62.]
[17, 24, 27, 38, 41, 59, 72.]

“Can you see the numbers on the signboard?”

“Yes!”
“I see them!”

“If you buy the lottery with those numbers! …Haha, that was a joke. You become a team with those numbers! …Everyone, do you remember the number of the ball you picked for the starting order?”

“…!!”

“You are now a team among the order written on the signboard! And you will have a one-to-one match with the other team!”

At that moment, the filming set was filled with noise.

“Oh, hey, what was your number……. I was number 5, right? Heh.”
“Wow, what kind of…….”
“Are we separated?”

This signboard was not much different.

First, the Gold grade participant who pressed the button first cheered and hugged the same Gold grade who was right behind him. As expected, they came to do it together.

And then he turned around and shouted to me.

“Brother! Number 12~ We’re the same team!”
“Wow, awesome! We secured the main vocal!”

And soon after, someone grabbed my neck from behind and joined the place where the Gold grades were hugging.

“Our team is good?!”

It was Gold grade Lee Sejin. I see. Number 62 was that guy.

Between the three people who were making a fuss more, seemingly on purpose, I tried to match the order of the team members.

The remaining were 15, 33, and 37.

First, Number 33 is Seon Ahyun.

Fortunately, it turned out well. I turned around and spoke to Seon Ahyun, while slipping out from between the three people.

It was so repulsive that I almost got annoyed.

“I look forward to working with you.”

Seon Ahyun nodded hard. Good, who are the remaining team members?

It would be good if Ryu Chungwoo, who is in Platinum grade and a debut member, is here, was he Number 37?…….

“…….”

He wasn’t. Number 37 was Choi Wongil. It was certain as he was standing on this side with the order ball awkwardly.

Ryu Chungwoo seemed to have already gathered people and was trying to start the briefing over there.

‘Damn it’

And Number 15 was…….

Damn, it was the child actor Lee Sejin.

Similarly, he was looking at the three Gold grades gathered there with eyes that refused to communicate.

It’s ruined. This is a point where the editing will be totally destroyed.

Regardless of my prediction, the grade seen from the outside was overwhelmingly good.

Perhaps because of that, Seon Ahyun added words with a rare happy voice.

“T-T-The team members seem good.”

“…….”

Yeah, at least you should think positively.