Chapter 2

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Translated by Sylph

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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‘Idol Inc.’

It was a survival variety series that was a huge hit around that time.

After the trend of auditions where dozens or hundreds of idol aspirants were gathered and eliminated through voting, many programs followed that format.

‘Idol Inc.’ was also one of those mass-produced shows, but there was a reason why it became particularly famous.

It was because it became more vicious in a capitalistic sense.

First, let’s look at the advertisement slogan for Season 1.

[Your idol stock grows as much as you buy!]

That’s right. It meant that you could vote in the name of ‘stock’ as much as the money you spent.

That program was in its third season that year.

After Season 2 completely flopped for some reason, they came out with an ambitious subtitle called ‘Re-listing,’ treating that season as if it had never existed.

Thanks to that, many people mocked it, saying Season 3 was an unreasonable overreach and would fail.

…How was I? I didn’t think about anything because I was busy preparing for the exams.

Anyway, contrary to people’s expectations, Season 3 became an unprecedented hit.

Despite the immense controversy and criticism, it caught both the buzz and the viewership ratings, producing a male idol group that entered music sites with 80,000 listeners and sold 600,000 copies in the first week.

So, I intended to go on this show too.

Today, I went out for that first step.

“Yes, it’s all done! I didn’t trim the sides much, just as you ordered.”

“Yes. Thank you.”

Now I finally looked like someone who matched my appearance. I thought as I looked at my well-groomed hair in the hair salon mirror.

Whether it was the effect of eating and sleeping well for the past few days, the gaunt, depressed feeling had already largely disappeared. Thanks to that, it was okay to trim the shaggy bangs and reveal my forehead.

Just then, the lady sitting next to me getting a perm gave me some lip service.

“Oh my, it suits the student so well~ You’ve become so handsome!”

I expressed my gratitude and proceeded to pay in cash at the counter.

‘I’m glad there was some money in the bank account when I went to check.’

Looking at the history, it seemed he couldn’t use his parents’ insurance money, but I was sorry, I would have to use some.

‘…When I earn money, should I pay back the principal and donate it to a child welfare organization?’

It felt a bit bitter. After getting a copy of the resident registration and opening a phone, I investigated various things, and it seemed that this ‘Park Moondae’s’ suicide wasn’t an impulsive act.

He had even moved out of his room (the rent was overdue, so he barely got any deposit back) and cancelled his phone.

Even on his own birthday.

He must have really wanted to die.

…Well, I could understand. Because I was like that too.

‘I hope you are in a good place.’

I offered a short silent prayer and finished my sentiment. Then I immediately walked out of the salon door. Near noon, the sunlight stung my eyes.

There was still much to do to achieve the purpose of my outing.

‘First, let’s make it certain.’

I already knew all the missions, debut members, twists, and even the theme song of this program.

Of course, the details were a bit lacking because I was preparing for the civil service exam I would fail, but even so, it was hard to find a more suitable gateway than this right then.

It was a program that would grow large enough that even if I only passed the second round, I could try to get into some small to medium-sized agency.

However, if there was a decisive problem, it was that the public audition for recruiting participants for this season had already ended.

But I knew a small hint. I planned to utilize it as much as possible.

My goal was to become a participant in that survival program whose recruitment audition had already ended.

And within a week at that.

Not at the broadcasting station, but at a karaoke bar around here.

* * *

—Ajusa? Oh, Idol Inc. One of the writers there is a total psycho.

This was some nonsense a guy giggled and talked about at a photo club after-party.

He was the type to spread various rumors, saying he heard it from a relative who worked at the broadcasting station, so he wasn’t exactly a guy I liked.

—They said she recruits participants in places like karaoke bars. That one near the broadcasting station… you know. SungX-dong? She went around the karaoke bars there, recruited ordinary people, and got scolded by the PD. It means she overstepped her bounds as a junior. Isn’t she a total airhead?

The guy continued to chatter heatedly about the recruitment in a disorganized manner after that.

Talking nonsense at a drinking party was a common thing, but a guy who talked only about himself so uninterestingly at a group after-party was rare.

‘Who invited this bastard?’

‘Let’s not invite him again.’

‘Yeah.’

People shared a conversation with their eyes in discomfort.

Of course, I didn’t believe this nonsense either. I was just focusing on the free alcohol.

But surprisingly, there was someone who cross-validated it.

—That ordinary person she recruited is Lee Goyoon.

—…Huh?

Lee Goyoon was a female idol who debuted through Season 1. She gained popularity with her innocent appearance and a bright, cheerful, and eccentric image using a thick dialect.

Appropriate exclamations came from around.

—Wow, she’s the one who debuted, right?

—Yes.

—Oh… how did you know?

The senior from the Department of Journalism and Broadcasting, who was about to graduate, continued calmly.

—Because that ‘airhead’ is my older sister.

The guy’s words instantly became slurred. Contempt based on interest from around poured onto him.

—…Ah, haha, no, that expression was…….

—But she never got scolded by the PD. Instead, she gets paid more.

—…….

After that, the guy sat silently with his mouth shut.

I was quite grateful because I could enjoy the drink comfortably thanks to that. I thought I drank somaek while listening to that senior tell the recruitment story instead.

Anyway, since it was quite an interesting situation, it remained well in my memory.

When there weren’t enough people who satisfied them at the recruitment audition for the survival participants, did they say they checked the karaoke bars near the broadcasting station for about a week after the audition ended?

—Aren’t kids who do street karaoke or things like that better? It’s easier to recruit them too.

—They say they avoid them because there are already many aspiring singers there. They said the reason they try to recruit ordinary people is that they need a fresh character who doesn’t seem like a survival participant.

It meant that they weren’t trying to pick participants who would definitely debut, but were recruiting completely ordinary people who didn’t know anything to add fun to the broadcast.

Since nowadays, all idol trainees would be trained by their agencies not to talk carelessly.

In the end, it also meant that this ordinary participant might be sacrificed for the fun of the broadcast.

‘Of course, that’s not what’s important right now.’

What was important was the high probability that the writer was still using this method in Season 3.

‘It’s hard to let go of something that has succeeded once.’

Perhaps because Season 2 had failed, the preliminary audition pool might have become worse, so she might have been working even harder.

So, let’s think objectively.

This body of ‘Park Moondae’ was skinny, but his face was handsome and his height was decent.

Furthermore, his singing was good, so there was definitely a possibility that she would at least try to poke him once if they met.

Moreover…….

‘I need to raise my level.’

I had to achieve practice achievements and invest in stats. I needed something extraordinary to even rub shoulders and ask to be picked.

I grabbed the microphone and selected a song. And I slightly looked back at the door of the karaoke room I had entered.

The door was made of full glass.

They probably wanted to give a bright and open feeling targeting those in their 10s and 20s, but at the same time, it was an interior that was easy to look into from the outside.

That was the reason I chose this karaoke bar.

The person I was waiting for was a writer engaged in broadcasting work.

If she had to go out and look for ordinary people even when she was busy with program preparation, she was likely to come to a place that was near the broadcasting station and easy to look into.

Therefore, this karaoke bar was the optimal choice right then.

Without hesitation, I reserved ten songs in advance and then started singing while pressing the prelude jump.

* * *

[Achievement Accomplished! ]

Level 1 -> 2

Obtained 1 Point!

Not long after, I accomplished one achievement. It was the achievement for singing 10 songs. Of course, I knew I would accomplish it quickly because it was the easiest.

This time too, I invested the point into Vocal. So, C+ changed to B-.

When I sang the same song once more as a test like before, this time it felt like the basic base itself had improved.

The tone became deeper and the vocal volume had increased. I guessed growth where the alphabet unit changed was like that.

At that rate, it had seemed like I could raise my stats ridiculously fast in the beginning, but there was something to focus on before that right then.

“Ah, I’m this kind of person.”

To think I’d be caught right away like this.

I started when I thought it was a bit early considering the timing, but it was an unexpected early score.

I accepted the business card handed over by a woman wearing glasses.

The woman looked tired, but she was intentionally making a bright voice.

It seemed like she was trying to give me a good impression, and as expected, she seemed to have succeeded in generating interest.

The expected name was written on the card.

[Ryu Seorin]

The name of that senior from the Department of Journalism and Broadcasting was ‘Ryu Seojin.’

‘They are clearly sisters’ names.’

“What is your name, student?”

“I am Park Moondae.”

“The name is unique too. Really, think about it well. I think you have star quality. Our program is really good at discovering people with star quality.”

“…Thank you.”

I didn’t show much enthusiasm on purpose. Because if I seemed too interested, it might look like I had aimed for this situation.

Usually, they would all be filtered out in the preliminary profile, but they would want to filter out the guys who had come aiming for it if there were any.

Whether it was a good approach, the woman spoke more.

“You have a handsome face and sing well too. I think you’ll really do well if you just come on our show. …Hmm, would you like to go today and try filming a test video?”

“Yes?”

Whether she wanted to finish the verification at once, the woman spoke as if pushing a bit.

“That’s right. Try contacting your parents. They’ll be happy if you say their son was recruited for a broadcast and is going to the broadcasting station.”

“…I don’t have parents.”

The moment I said that, a small spark flickered in the eyes of this woman, presumed to be a writer.

It seemed she judged it as provocative material.

Well, selling a sob story was an essential element in survival shows. It was even better since I would even get cursed at for squeezing out tears.

She probably felt it was too wasteful to miss it in case she could use it.

But the writer quickly hid that sign. And she spoke more softly, as if she felt sorry.

“Oh my… I’m sorry. I said something unnecessary.”

“It’s okay.”

“I just said it for you to come and see comfortably, thinking of it as sightseeing the broadcasting station. This kind of experience isn’t something you can have commonly~”

“…Hmm.”

Should I accept then?

I hesitated for a moment as if wavering, then slowly nodded my head. Then the woman’s face became overtly bright.

“Ah, you thought well! The broadcasting station is just right ahead!”

In that way, I achieved my first goal.

It was a smoother start than expected.