Chapter 5

===================

Translated by Sylph

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

===================

An intro that the entire nation would be familiar with slid by, and then a lively vocal struck the ear.

I took the iconic starting pose I remembered.

One of the judges spat out the water he was drinking.

—Ah, me too! Because I like you~

This! Feeling where the heart beats~ is like popcorn!

POP! POP!

The bursting beat is ringing out~

This feeling overflowing in the heart!

Chhap, chhap, chhap. Only Youngrin, who had requested the dance, was nodding seriously at the simple footwork. It seemed she was the only professional here.

Before long, a part that half of my peers could dance to came out.

—POP! POP!

You are my Popcorn~ (Oh Yeah!)

My heart

CON CON CON CON

Control it~

The chorus of by SoftSweet, released ten years ago, vigorously hammered the eardrums.

Known as a CSAT-forbidden song, it was the main culprit that ruined the listening comprehension tests of that year’s examinees with its bizarre lyrics and crazy addictiveness.

For reference, I also took the CSAT then. I couldn’t retake it because I had no money.

—POP POP!

The bursting Popcorn~ (Ooh~)

It was also famous for all sorts of people posting cover dances, and the difficulty was just that plain.

To be more blunt, it was at a level even a lower-grade elementary schooler could dance to if they practiced.

I probably would have only been cursed at if I had brought it out during its peak ten years before. But then, I had selected it thinking I could pass it off as a joke by weaving it with a nostalgia filter.

Of course, I was currently dancing hard with a serious face.

Even as a joke, if I, a participant, were blatantly grinning, it would be unlikable.

I had to give the impression that I prepared hard within the range I could dance, anyway.

Of course, I really did work hard. Because I had raised my level even while practicing this through the achievement of and .

Seeing the judges who were clapping and bursting into laughter, I felt like I had made a bit of a mistake… but I didn’t know. They would judge it as they pleased.

I stopped the dance after doing the last movement of the first verse.

When I bowed while catching my breath, applause came as if they had regained their senses a bit.

“Thank you.”

Youngrin picked up the microphone first, but the choreographer was the one who cut in.

His eyes were bloodshot from how much he laughed. It looked like he had even cried from laughing.

“Wow, man……. I never dreamed that would come out. Weren’t you ten years old when Popcorn came out, Moondae-ssi? Did you prepare it for a talent show back then?”

“It wasn’t that, but I prepared it because I’m a fan of SoftSweet-sunbaenim.”

“Keuha!”

For reference, SoftSweet’s most recent album release was four years ago.

It had been so long since their prime that it became unique for a twenty-year-old to say he was a fan.

It was at a level where even being an opposite-sex idol wouldn’t be a point of contention.

Sure enough, the choreographer who asked burst into laughter again.

Beside him, Mudie muttered pleasingly.

“Ah… he’s cute~”

“He worked hard, he worked hard at least!”

the male idol judge added.

It was an expression where the suspicion that had been there when I said I had no career earlier had cleanly vanished.

Only then did Youngrin finally open her mouth.

“That doesn’t mean you did well, though.”

I knew it would be like that.

It was a situation where close-ups and sound effects would be added through editing.

And that line would likely appear with a ‘thud’ in a red caption three times larger.

I roughly anticipated the editing angle and waited for the remaining evaluation.

“First, it’s visible that you lack proficiency when moving your body. Even if you receive good reviews with the current atmosphere, future missions will be burdensome.”

“I’m prepared for it.”

Not me, but the status window.

Whatever the swallowed words were, Youngrin nodded heavily.

“And she added while relaxing her expression.”

“I thought I had said ‘Thank you’ about ten times that day. I wondered if it would go at that frequency in the future too.”

Around the time I was gauging that, the judges were exchanging opinions without using microphones so that I couldn’t hear.

At that point, another cruel element of that program appeared.

There, they ranked from 1st to 77th even in the first evaluation. And they assigned seats according to those ranks.

And they did it immediately using the temporary ranking that came out as soon as the evaluation was received.

And if the next participant did better while the seats were full, the rank was pushed down and one had to give up their seat.

It was also a trademark of that program to film the scene where those in the lower ranks were pushed one space at a time and ended up sitting in the last place and crying.

Fortunately, it didn’t seem like I would end up in that state.

My rank was… around 24th?

“Participant Park Moondae’s rank is…… 17th!”

It meant that even if they had overevaluated me to about 5th place to film a scene of pushing me on purpose, it was actually similar to my expectation.

‘It seems I went up four or five more steps due to the atmosphere.’

When the judges’ rose-colored glasses came off after time passed, I might have had to busily give up my seat to middle and high school students.

It was a bit funny to keep bowing my head while thinking listlessly.

“Thank you.”

“I’ll teach you strictly, so raise your rank more next time.”

The choreographer said with a smirk. He would probably change his attitude immediately if my skill didn’t improve, but I had the status window.

‘It would be nice if I could get a scene where that choreographer is moved.’

I bowed once more and headed toward the set where the seats were placed.

The seats with ranks engraved became larger, more luxurious, and softer as they went higher. I could feel a difference so clear it was almost vulgar.

The 17th place where I would sit was a leather chair that a corporate executive might sit in.

When I sat down, the participant who was sitting two spaces away in 15th place greeted me. He had a genial impression and looked about Park Moondae’s age.

“Hello~”

“Hello.”

“You sang so well!”

“Thank you. I think you must have done well too.”

“Yes? Ahaha!”

Since I hadn’t seen him properly, I couldn’t guarantee it, but I meant it seemed likely given his rank, and it seemed to have communicated well.

The participant laughed out loud and then pointed to the name tag attached to his chest.

“I’m Lee Sejin!”

“……!”

I almost let out a sigh. I answered with the most brazen face possible.

“I’m Park Moondae. Please take care of me.”

“Please take care of me too~”

When I looked forward after naturally ending the conversation, the next participant entered at a good timing. But I was thinking of the name I had just heard.

Lee Sejin.

It was a name that debuted through this program. So, should I call him a guaranteed victory connection?

But there was a problem.

That guy would have a drug scandal break out the next year after that ended. And for distribution at that.

I definitely saw that name on the 9 o’clock news at the gukbap restaurant near my studio apartment.

[Lee Sejin from ‘Idol Inc.’ Arrested on Suspicion of Drug Distribution.]

…I decided not to talk to him from then on.

Timing was important for cutting someone off. Then should I look at the status window, taking advantage of the break?

[Name: Park Moondae (Ryu Gunwoo)]

Level: 5

Title: None

Vocal: A-

Dance: D

Appearance: C+

Talent: C

Trait: Infinite Potential

!Status Abnormality: Debut or Die

Remaining Points: 1

First of all, a point was created, perhaps because I leveled up with the stage just then. It seemed to have been thanks to clearing the achievement.

And the Dance and Talent items also seemed to have been created by the stage just then.

They had been in an inactive state during practice, so did they only appear when officially recognized? I didn’t know the clear criteria.

Anyway, although I had felt it vaguely while practicing… Talent was fine, I supposed, but it seemed ‘Park Moondae’ also had had no talent for dancing.

If Dance was D, it seemed to be just an average person’s level.

It seemed I would have to invest points into Dance two or three times in the future to even try something.

On the other hand, the Appearance item showed a new possibility of the status window. Even though I didn’t invest points, the evaluation went up when I paid attention to my actual appearance.

It meant that I could raise my stats separately from the status window’s level-up effect. It was a quite positive element.

Lastly, one more unique pop-up was floating. Small, right next to the status window.

[Successful Stage!]

You have impressed the majority!

: General Trait Draw ☜ Click!

‘Another strange thing has appeared.’

Still, seeing that there were words like ‘Success’ and ‘Impress,’ it had a strong nuance of being a reward.

I clicked the draw while pretending to fix my hair. Then something quite interesting appeared.

It was a drawing of a gray slot machine. The slots next to the already pulled lever were spinning rapidly.

However, the speed gradually slowed down. Soon it became to the extent that I could even slightly check the contents of the slots.

A few slots were bronze-colored, and most were gray.

[Strong Heart]

[Eraser of Bad Luck]

[Crocodile Tears]

[Sleep is for the Dead]

[Look at Me!]

[…….]

“…….”

No, it was good that I could guess what kind of traits they would be as soon as I saw them… but weren’t the names too crude?

I looked at the slot machine with my expectations cooled. Anyway, it seemed it would stop soon.

Dung, dung… Dung!

Confetti burst out from the slot machine.

The slot that stopped was bronze-colored.

[Trait: ‘Sleep is for the Dead (D)’ Acquired!]

When activated, one did not feel tired even if they did not sleep.

Experience acceleration bonus +30% during 00:01~04:00.

Lasted for one week, single-use.

“……!”

Surprisingly, I had gotten a trait that had seemed very useful. The name was… a bit like that, but.

Anyway, it had said it was a ‘draw,’ and it was in the literal sense. To think even the essential elements of an RNG game appeared, how interesting.

I confirmed that ‘Sleep is for the Dead (Inactive)’ was added to the trait item at the bottom of the status window. I would think a bit about when it would be most effective to use it.

“Participant Kang Minjo is… 56th!”

The evaluation was progressing steadily.

No debut members had appeared yet, except for the drug suspect candidate next to me.

I watched the next participant enter.

A slender physique with long limbs came up onto the stage.

Seeing that he was alone, he was a participant with no particular connection to other trainees.

A murmur spread among the participants sitting in the rank seats. Of course, it wasn’t because this participant came up alone.

“Wow!”

“Amazing.”

It was because the participant who had entered was extremely handsome. I could even hear the judge down below admiring him openly.

“He looks like a flower deer~”

Even to my eyes, his appearance was at a level where he wouldn’t have to worry about debut.

Should I have said he was at a grade that didn’t even need to come out on a survival show. He definitely would have done something after this program.

But looking at the name tag on his chest, it was an unfamiliar name.

[Seon Ahyun]

To think he hadn’t been able to debut even with that face, I wondered if he had no skill whatsoever. He was more handsome than most active idols whose fan cam data I had sold.

Hmm, if I were to convert it into the status window… wouldn’t all his stats except Appearance have been between F and D?

‘If I could see others’ status windows, I would know for sure.’

Surprisingly, as soon as I had that thought, a window really rose up next to the participant.

“…!”

So I could see others’ too.

[Name: Seon Ahyun]

Vocal: B- (A)

Dance: A (EX)

Appearance: A+ (S+)

Talent: B (A+)

Trait: Tenacity (Inactive)

!Status Abnormality: Lack of Self-Esteem

It was a brilliant status window. To the extent that I had thought he would easily enter the top 10 in this evaluation. Was what was in the parentheses the maximum growth value? If so, his future was also bright.

But the very last item caught the eye.

[Status Abnormality: Lack of Self-Esteem]

With that face? I would have just thought ‘I see’ if it had been Arrogance.

Anyway, being able to check others was a huge benefit. If push came to shove, I felt I wouldn’t starve to death even if I just hung around an entertainment company.

While I was interestingly examining the items, I heard the MC’s voice.

“Yes, participant, please introduce yourself!”

And Seon Ahyun picked up the microphone.

The hand holding the microphone was trembling.

“H-H-Hello…….”

“…!”

He didn’t stutter by mistake because he was nervous. Because it was an awkward way of speaking that gave a sense of incongruity.

It was a clear symptom of a stuttering disorder.

Furthermore, I could feel that he himself was very conscious of his speech impediment. I would have said that his anxiety and embarrassment were conveyed to the point of being burdensome.

So that was why. I understood this participant Seon Ahyun’s status window at once.

Still, with this level of appearance and skill, he could have handled the stuttering as a narrative, so why didn’t he debut?

Was the status abnormality called ‘Lack of Self-Esteem’ the problem after all? To know in more detail…….

[Lack of Self-Esteem]

: Despises oneself.

Reduces all stats by two levels.

“…!”

Suddenly another pop-up appeared. To think I could even check detailed items just by thinking.

‘How very useful.’

I would check my status abnormality again and see my remaining lifespan.

I was being cynical, but I was actually a bit surprised that the content of that status abnormality was more extreme than I had thought.

If such a debuff had been applied in a game, I would have quit. Since it happened to be the game of life and one couldn’t reset, he must also have been quite annoyed.

“Ahyun-kun, is it… difficult when you speak?”

“I… I, when I was… y-young, I had an accident…….”

“Ah…….”

Selling a sob story was starting on the stage.

To be precise, it seemed Seon Ahyun wanted to explain about his condition and the production team seemed to be trying hard to make it a sob story.

Artificial reactions were also bursting out from the participants around me.

In particular, the fellow who was nodding with a tearful expression as if he were very sorry was definitely going to be used as a reaction cut.

Because he was even saying such lines.

“What to do…….”

Reactions to such sensitive topics shouldn’t be approached like that.

If it went even slightly off in editing, words like ‘That kind of reaction is also violence’ would come out.

I just stared forward with an expression of ‘I see’ without much agitation.

The judges gave a few predictable well-wishes and then cautiously requested a stage.

“Then Ahyun-kun, can we see the stage?”

“Yes, y-yes…….”

The following stage wasn’t that bad. Just to the extent that it could have been seen well overall.

In other words, if the status window was correct, that participant had messed up more than his own skill.

“Participant Seon Ahyun is 18th!”

If one lacked mentality and strategy, this kind of situation occurred. To think he was at a lower rank than me with that status window.

Anyway, whether they felt his skill was decent or whether they didn’t want to say anything bad, the review was good.

“You did well~”

“I’ll look forward to the future.”

The judges trotted out various warm words. There was even someone who had raised a thumb.

But Seon Ahyun’s face, as he bowed deeply in greeting, was dark.

After coming out from the stage while trying hard to fix his expression, he came up to the seat next to me following the MC’s guidance.

“…….”

I felt like I should greet him…….

Seon Ahyun glanced at my seat but didn’t strike up a conversation.

I shouldn’t have come out in a scene where I ignored him.

However, I was too lazy to open my mouth. So I just bowed my head to the side.

Seon Ahyun was startled and kept nodding his head repeatedly.

“The next participants to receive evaluation are 5 people! Choi Jinsu-kun, Hong Seong-kun…….”

While counting the number of remaining participants in my head, I let out a weak sigh.

It was a long way to go.