Chapter 51

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Translated by Sylph

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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‘A participant who stands out.’

Cheongryeo smiled, but regardless of having finished the filming with the participants, he was skeptical about their long-term success.
It was true that the current top ranks of that program were doing well due to the power of the audition variety show. However, their competitiveness when they actually came out to the market was a different story.

‘It might just be that they look like they’re doing well within the program’s story.’

After all, many of them were cases of failing in their agency’s internal competition and being pushed into an audition program.
Cheongryeo was about to continue talking about the lunch menu, but inadvertently spoke of a participant who came to mind.

“Park Moondae?”

“Ah, chicken feet?”

Even while hearing the laughter of a younger member, Cheongryeo didn’t smile.

“All of his questionnaire answers were identical to mine.”

“Heol! Really? That’s amazing. …Is his personality similar to hyung’s?”

“…To some extent.”

“Gasp, really?”

Cheongryeo ignored his astonished younger brother and felt a bit of regret.

‘It’s good to have one of that type in a team.’

It was clear that Park Moondae thought the options in the questionnaire were stupid. It was evident that he had taken care of the broadcast and picked neutral answers somehow.

“Hmm, if he has a personality similar to hyung’s, he’d be very… cold-hearted?”

“You mean realistic, right?”

“R-Right.”

A type that doesn’t get immersed in other’s affairs and can’t think unrealistically. A talent more suitable for a general company than a celebrity.
Most idol aspirants, especially talented young kids, possessed all the unique advantages and disadvantages of the arts and sports fields.
In a good or bad sense, it meant they were less cold.
However, the reality they would face was an adult society dominated by capitalist logic.

“Well, it’s good that a person like hyung is the leader.”

“Is that so? Thanks.”

Some might see it as self-praise, but Cheongryeo also agreed with his younger brother’s words.

‘It’s better for a cold-headed person to set the atmosphere.’

Just like VTIC, where he served as the leader.
In that sense, Park Moondae was a fairly good candidate for the next debut group.

‘After rolling for a year or two, his dance will be okay too.’

And with that personality, if he were an older member, his voice would naturally become stronger in the team even if his years of experience were short. Cheongryeo could guarantee it because it was something he had experienced himself.

‘Then it would become easier to work together.’

It was a good thing for both the team and the company.
However, just because VTIC received some shares while renewing their contract with the company, there was no need or leisure to care more about the next male idol.
Because they would be competitors anyway once they debuted.
He had offered a suggestion out of conscience, so it was enough.

‘If he’s interested, he’ll contact us.’

With a short conclusion, Cheongryeo crossed out the ‘already finished schedule’ in his head and put it away. It was a busy season.

* * *

Inside the filming site, not long after the ranking announcement began.
The format was the same. However, the number of people had decreased significantly.
Only 20 people could survive.
That alone created tension in the venue.
And there was still one element left to cause a fluctuation in that narrow number of people.

“Will the leaders of the two candidates for 1st place in the 3rd team match please stand up!”

It was the team match victory benefit. A survival ticket where one person agreed upon by the 1st place team would unconditionally advance to the next round.
On our side, the agreement had already ended with Gold 1. It had also been submitted during the pre-interview before filming.

“Our team has… selected participant Ha Iljun.”

However, even long after Big Sejin’s words ended, Ryu Chungwoo, the leader of the team, remained silent.
There seemed to be a problem.

” team, please announce the selected team member.”

It must be my victim complex that the MC’s urging sounded excited.
Ryu Chungwoo opened his mouth slowly.

“Our team had selected participant Choi Wongil.”

“…!”

Wow, he really did something to the end.

‘Was he unexpectedly a tough guy?’

Honestly, I didn’t know they had secured that. Then it meant Choi Wongil boldly gave up the 50% free-pass ticket and switched.
And anyway, thanks to him, the situation became ambiguous.
Because they had already delivered who they selected to the production team before filming.
Seeing the mood, it seemed that changing it hurriedly after Choi Wongil escaped was also not confirmed by the production team.
However, now the production team made a motion of having a hurried meeting as if they were flustered, and then sent a signal to the MC.
The MC slowly completed the line after looking at the production team’s sketchbook.

“An unexpected situation has occurred. Principle says if a voluntary withdrawal occurs, the participant’s benefit naturally disappears. However, considering the special situation of ‘Casting Call’, we will give the team an additional 3 minutes for discussion!”

“…Understood.”

Ryu Chungwoo bowed and sat down to gather the team members.
And I clicked my tongue inwardly.

‘…It’s over.’

Even without looking, that team is 1st.

‘If they don’t give the benefit after pulling out the screen like that, the picture won’t live.’

The production team wasn’t stupid, so there was no way they had set the stage like that.
In the end, it meant Gold 1 had to survive on his own.

‘The bye-victory has gone down the river.’

Looking at Gold 1’s face, which was trying hard not to look nervous, it seemed he was also feeling an implicit coldness.
And sure enough, the 1st place was not the team.

“Congratulations! 1st place is… the team!”

“Thank you.”

However, the ridiculous situation didn’t end.

“According to the additional agreement of the team, the participant who receives the unconditional survival benefit is… participant Cha Yujin!”

Those crazy people had given the benefit to Cha Yujin.

‘It’s one of two things.’

The agreement fell through, or Cha Yujin was incredibly disliked.
Anyway, that was for them to take care of, and the team’s atmosphere was like 2nd place.

“It’s a bit disappointing.”

“T-That’s true.”

“Hey hey, no! We’re receiving ranks fairly!”

Gold 1 was shouting as if he were being cheerful, but honestly, it wouldn’t be strange if he was pouring double insults at the guys inside.

‘I would have already done it.’

The 1st place announcement of the team match ended like that.
And the real ranking announcement began.

“18th is… participant Kwon Heeseung!”

As if the atmosphere loosened by the ‘Casting Call’ was a lie, the air started to tighten the moment the rank was announced.

“T-Thank you…….”

Gold 2, who was called early, went up to the platform with a blatantly relieved expression.

‘That guy is also continuing steadily.’

I didn’t know he would go to the final. Although he was barely making it.
In that way, the ranks up to 10th were announced without any special anomalies. It meant the people who deserved to pass passed.
If there was anything surprising, it was that Lee Sejin A rose slightly.

“11th is… participant Lee Sejin~ A!”

It was a decent result considering he blatantly fought in the last team match. Perhaps he received an unknown correction thanks to fighting with Choi Wongil, who was marked as a villain.
Beside me, Big Sejin was sending applause to Lee Sejin while brushing down his chest.

“Ah, I’m jealous.”

Big Sejin muttered slightly longingly, as if he were worried about failing.

“…….”

Is that level of deception not enough?
By momentum, he was a guy who would pass no matter who looked at him.
It was certain that he was muttering ‘Please call me late’ inside.
It was a truly professional camera awareness.

“Congratulations~”

On the platform, the MC announced the ranks one by one while taking an appropriate pause.
Most of the participants I was close with were called and went up on the platform.
And Park Moondae’s name was called no later than before.

“Thank you.”

I sat in the 6th place.
It was a slight downward trend compared to last time.

‘As expected, my rank dropped.’

It wasn’t that the number of votes decreased. It’s just that my votes didn’t inflate as much as the top ranks’ inflation.
The reason for the inflation was simple.
Since you can vote as much as you spend money, the more fans became aware of the negative votes, the more they bought votes in anxiety.
And this tendency had no choice but to become stronger the more the participant looked desperate.

‘If you’re nervous, pay more.’

Anyway, the production team bastards adopted the method of squeezing the wallet remarkably well.
However, compared to other top-tier participants who had controversies regarding screen time, ranks, or the past, there was no situation to find fault with ‘Park Moondae’ recently.

‘Is it unavoidable?’

Even so, making a controversy was a crazy thing. Because the one who controlled the level in editing was not me but the production team.

‘It’s a bit of a waste that I just passed the “Casting Call”.’

It was a bit disappointing, but it was already a ship that had passed. Anyway, the moment VTIC popped out, it was ruined to pull out Moondae-centered screen time.

“Congratulations~”

“Yeah. Thanks.”

Big Sejin, who finished in 7th place with a slight increase, asked for a high-five while grinning. It was a very standard reaction of a fellow participant.

‘Judging by his momentum, he’ll also debut.’

Except for the negative votes attached during the school violence controversy, Big Sejin had more votes than Park Moondae.
As expected, it seemed the voters had gathered.
To think that good deeds would threaten my back.

‘Was it a sucker’s act after all….’

I had no choice because we were on the same team at that time. Still, I couldn’t help but feel a bit of bitterness. I clicked my tongue inwardly and turned my gaze back to the MC.

1st place was Cha Yujin.

“Wow!!”

Cha Yujin laughed excitedly while receiving the 1st place badge, then suddenly straightened his attitude seriously and delivered his thoughts and gratitude.

“By coming here… I’ve learned a lot and thought a lot. I will work harder and stronger to create a cool appearance in the future. Thank you so much for 1st place.”

The grammar was still strange, but it was a serious voice that he had never shown before. It was an aspect that could create synergy with his recent screen time.

‘That’s why he got 1st place.’

The fact that he didn’t seem to be aiming for it proved that he was indeed the guy with the highest talent stat here.

“Participant Cha Yujin, the 1st place stock chosen by the shareholders! Congratulations once again~”

With appropriate applause, Cha Yujin went up and sat in the 1st place seat.
The remaining survivors were the lowest two seats.
And even until now, Gold 1 had not gone up to the platform.

‘At least he was included in the candidates.’

The situation was hopeful even until the four candidates for 20th and 19th place appeared on the electronic board and Gold 1’s face was seen. Because the probability was 50%.
And the occurrence of Gold 1’s name being called was…….

“20th! The last participant to advance to the final stage of is… Seo Taemun!”

…Nothing.
Like during the team match 1st place, the 50% probability betrayed Gold 1 once again.
It was a result that made me wonder if he had a grudge against the 50% probability.

“I will return with pride in having come this far. Shareholders who voted for me, thank you very much!”

In the end, Gold 1, Ha Iljun, concluded his participation in the audition at 21st place.

“Hyung!!”

“Hey, contact me!”

As soon as the MC’s closing remarks ended, the eliminated ones had a less formal send-off time. Since they had been rubbing against each other for several months, most of them would have three or four close guys.
I got to greet Gold 1 after Gold 2 and Seon Ahyun, who were shedding tears.
As the camera was running, it was extremely burdensome to talk after the two who were deeply soaked in sentiment.
Let’s just shake hands appropriately.

“Moondae~”

However, this side also had a significant emotional build-up as he started with a hug.

‘I can’t even push him away.’

As I was feeling uncomfortable, Gold 1 spoke calmly.
Words that seemed to have suppressed his disappointment.

“I think you’ll debut. Hang in there.”

“…….”

If someone had told me, who just entered ‘Park Moondae’s’ body, that I would be in a complex mood after receiving a well-wish from an idol aspirant several months later, I don’t know if I would have believed it.

‘Good grief.’

I returned the well-wish instead of a sigh.

“You too, hyung.”

“What?”

“I think hyung will also debut soon.”

Gold 1, Ha Iljun, let go of the hug and grinned.

“Right? I told you I’m ready to be successful.”

I don’t know. Whether he could actually achieve results with the ambiguous final rank of 21st.
However, I just nodded.
Surprisingly, it was not an action that came from the thought of finishing it appropriately because the camera was running.

“Thank you for everything.”

“I was the one who was thankful!”

20 participants remained after 57 were eliminated. Now only the final stage was waiting.