Chapter 49

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Translated by Sylph

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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The personality type questionnaire on the tablet was mainly like this: explaining a situation and choosing an action.
Of course, they were all K-pop specific situations.

[1. You have been selected as a performer for TaKon, a world-class K-pop concert presented to global fans in 21 countries!
While devoting yourself to blood-and-sweat-dripping practice, a completely new idea suddenly occurred to you!
However, only one week remains until the performance. Your choice?]

First, let’s ignore the indirect advertisement for their own concert that was blatantly squeezed in.
If we cut to the chase… it was basically a question of whether to flip over what you were doing and do it again when the deadline was not far off.

‘Of course, I wouldn’t.’

Do you think this is some school assignment?
If there was one week left, everything from the stage set to the costumes would have been fixed, but because an idea came up, let’s flip everything over?

‘For a start, it seems like it would take… at least 5 years to have the status to flip it.’

It meant it was a situation that was mostly impossible.
No matter how much I wanted to appeal my desperation, this was not passion but recklessness.

[⑤ It’s a pity, but there isn’t much time left. Let’s finish the preparation perfectly.]

I pretended to worry as much as possible before choosing this option. At the same time, I muttered while looking at the camera so that it couldn’t be edited out.

“If I were doing it alone, I’d want to give it a try… but since the stage is a comprehensive art, I think I have to consider the situation. I’ll organize the good ideas well and try using them right next time.”

Since I added this much seasoning, it would be hard to catch a strange character again. I moved on to the next question.

[2. You are to receive the Rookie Award at ToneA, Asia’s largest music award. However, while moving to attend the awards ceremony, a member is seriously injured in a traffic accident.
Fortunately, you only suffered a minor bruise. If you leave immediately, it seems you can attend the awards ceremony. Your choice?]

“…….”

Of course, f*ck, I should recuperate my body.
A passenger was seriously injured right now, so what are you believing in to go to the awards ceremony with just a bruise?
But no matter how I looked at it, the option of going to the awards ceremony with will and effort seemed like it would pop up as positive.

‘It’s crap.’

I suppressed my eyebrows from twitching and chose the neutral answer.

[④ Look for a way to deliver the acceptance speech remotely from the hospital.]

“It would be better to go in person, but the aftereffects of a traffic accident may not appear immediately. I think I have to confirm my body condition clearly through a checkup so that there’s no setback in future activities.”

Even as I added the supplementary explanation, it was ridiculous.

‘Is it going to be like this the whole time?’

Yeah. It was like that.
Surprisingly, all 10 questions were assuming such ridiculous situations.
Only the production team would know what on earth this had to do with the K-pop concept.
I suppressed a sigh and solved the rest of the questions.

After passing Question 9, which was related to an advertisement (implicitly mentioning the company’s own products), the last question finally appeared.
It was finally the end. I quickly scanned Question 10.

[10. You appeared on to select a global K-pop idol who will be active worldwide.
Through endless effort and overcoming, you finally stand before the last hurdle. A huge Casting Call is calling you. Your choice?]

“…….”

They put this here?

The moment I realized I was double-baited, the tablet screen changed.
It entered a countdown from 3.

‘What kind of countdown only gives 3 seconds?’

I could feel the firm will to pull out a reaction from a terrified participant.
The numbers disappeared in an instant. And without time to think about anything else, the phrase popped up immediately.

[Choose now!]

At that moment, the front door burst open without notice.

“…!”

“Hello?”

A familiar face was standing outside the door.
Wait. Let me correct that. Only I was unilaterally familiar with him.
Because… I had photographed him a lot.

“Nice to meet you.”

A member of VTIC opened the door and entered with a smiling face.

“…!”

It was the appearance of a giant I never imagined.
I reflexively bowed my head and greeted him. If the greeting was just a little late, my limbs would probably be torn apart on the internet.

“Ah, I’m enjoying the broadcast.”

“Thank you.”

The VTIC member reached out and asked for a handshake. I shook hands with both hands as if I had met the president of a client company.
Cold sweat trickled down my back.

‘How on earth did they recruit him?’

No matter how well did, VTIC’s agency didn’t have an investment stake, so how did they make him appear?
Is VTIC conducting an exclusive reality show on Tnet? Did they catch a T1 subsidiary advertisement?

‘…No, that doesn’t matter.’

The important thing was that I had to be careful with my words. I didn’t know what kind of screenshots would circulate on SNS if I misspoke once.
I sat down again after confirming that the VTIC member sat down. And I calmly checked the opponent.

‘Was he the leader?’

I remembered the name and the popularity scale, but I didn’t remember other positions well.
For now, I only remembered that his individual indicators were good even within that team, and the demand for his fancams was good because he danced well.
His activity name was Cheongryeo.

“First, I’ll introduce myself. I’m Cheongryeo, serving as the leader in VTIC.”

He seemed to have a separate real name, but of course, I didn’t know it.
Anyway, he didn’t seem to think that ‘Park Moondae’ wouldn’t know him. He just introduced himself once for the sake of the broadcast picture.

“I’m Park Moondae. I look forward to your kind cooperation.”

I didn’t know what kind of cooperation I was looking forward to even as I spoke, but I greeted him appropriately and politely.

‘Should I have been more surprised and made a fuss?’

I was so flustered that I inadvertently forgot the reaction.

“You’re like that on the broadcast too, but you’re very calm.”

“…I was so surprised that I froze.”

“Haha, is that so?”

Does that mean he doesn’t believe it right now?
Cheongryeo laughed just enough to lighten the atmosphere and went straight to the main point.

“The reason I came to meet participant Park Moondae today is… to deliver a Casting Call from LeTi, the agency of our VTIC.”

I expected that remark to come out. But I couldn’t help but think this.

‘Is the production team crazy?’

With LeTi’s name value right now, a guy who would escape could come out even if his rank was in the single digits.
Of course, there is no guarantee that one can debut as the next male idol even if they enter there. The agency probably already has more than one or two trainees.
However, because VTIC’s status was so high, it was perfect for young kids around 20 years old to fall for it. Even a VTIC member himself came.

‘Even a guy who already has an agency would sign with his eyes closed.’

Cheongryeo continued with lines that seemed prepared.

“Of course, it’s not a suggestion we give to all participants. Do you remember the questionnaire you just solved?”

“Yes….”

“In the 9 situational questions, participant Park Moondae is the participant with the highest response consistency with our VTIC members.”

Cheongryeo clapped his hands lightly.

“It can be seen that you share a similar talent image with the artists of our agency, LeTi.”

“…Thank you.”

Then it meant that people from different agencies were in each room conducting Casting Calls.

‘It’ll be easy to pull out a preview.’

Seeing that even VTIC came out, they must have scraped up all the named agencies that were close to Tnet, so the viewers would have no end to this fun.

“First, I’ll tell you about the advantages you can enjoy if you choose the LeTi agency.”

The words that followed were obvious. He roughly recited the welfare, achievements, and vision.

‘Is it for taking care of the agency’s image?’

It was impressive that he memorized it. Although as a leader, he would have already known it for external use.
Anyway, I nodded and let out exclamations as if I were listening to a very impressive story.
Cheongryeo finished the story at an appropriate line this time too and added humor as if he had prepared it.

“And as participant Park Moondae already knows, LeTi is also the agency of the Mal-lang-dal-kom seniors. Um… wouldn’t there be a chance to dance together?”

“Haha……, yes.”

This ghost of popcorn doesn’t seem to have any intention of leaving.
Anyway, thinking that I was tempted, Cheongryeo smiled brightly.

“Now then.”

Documents and a pen came up on the desk.
It was a contract. Looking at the stamped appearance and the form, it seemed like they were really using it.

‘Is it for real?’

Is there a need to be this sincere in directing? I scanned the contract with a bitter feeling.

“Will participant Park Moondae respond to the Casting Call of LeTi, VTIC’s agency?”

“…….”

Let’s think.
I was in the first group of 10 people. The remaining people were 30. 3 groups.

‘Then it means at least two more people receive LeTi’s Casting Call.’

What if there are two or more VTIC members here?
Then it means a total of 6 people including me receive this Casting Call.
Let’s say at least one more person besides me said okay.
LeTi isn’t an idiot, and if two or more people escaped and went to that agency, there was a high probability that they would group them together and let them promote once or twice.
Since didn’t just do well but was almost at the level of a syndrome now.

‘The agency can’t just throw away this fame.’

So, if I didn’t want to continue being an idol with ‘Park Moondae’s’ body, this might rather be a better choice.
Because there was a high probability that it would fizzle out after promoting for only a year or two.

‘After that, I can look for clues to return to my original body or… look for a new career path.’

If I stop promoting, I’ll be forgotten quickly. There are dozens of new idol teams debuting every year.
I lifted the pen over the contract.

“…….”

And, I quietly put down the pen and bowed my head deeply.

“I’m sorry… I want to continue challenging.”

“Ah…….”

Cheongryeo responded as if he were disappointed. Since his fan service was good on stage, his personality was good even in front of the camera.

“That’s a pity. Participant Park Moondae, I really thought you would do well in LeTi.”

“You flatter me.”

I greeted him politely once more.

“Is there a reason by any chance?”

Why did I refuse?
First of all… it would be a big problem if only I said okay.
Because they don’t let them do solo activities.
Even VTIC was only allowed unit activities. They probably think solo activities eat away at the group’s lifespan.
And… before I entered this body, even in the future 3 years later, LeTi’s new rookie male idol hadn’t debuted.
In other words, sudden death is confirmed.

‘Absolutely not.’

I would rather drop out of the program than wait for debut in LeTi. It makes my spine chill.
But since I can’t say this exactly, I should answer with another reason.

“Well……. Because there is such a thing as investment cost.”

“Pardon?”

“Since there are people who have purchased stocks for my debut so far, I want to at least return that investment.”

That’s right.

‘…If I’m going to be an idol anyway, it’s better to do it properly.’

If I debut in , it was a 5-year contract with a label under T1.
Then at least I would be promoting enough to satisfy the people who spent money and time for ‘Park Moondae’ to debut.
…Well, it was the same from my position. Since I didn’t have any other dreams or visions anyway.
The fact that people liked me was… a bit enjoyable.

‘Is it unexpectedly suited to my aptitude?’

Because the stage was also fun.

“I’m going to try harder so that I can debut here.”

This would be a decent answer.
I didn’t catch the timing to appeal my desperation because VTIC suddenly popped out, but I won’t be cursed at.
Cheongryeo listened to my answer attentively and then nodded his head.