Chapter 18

If I can't debut, I'll get a disease that will kill me 018th Episode

"Wow, I'm really nervous!"

"I hope we get a lot of screen time."

The voices of the sweating teenagers echoed through the dormitory auditorium.

'They have good energy.'

It was late at night, and I had come all the way to the set, wearing an uncomfortable uniform and sitting on an uncomfortable metal chair for the shoot.

After all, with cameras all around, it's hard to show any discomfort. I was the same.

Gold 1, 2, and Big Sejin, who were tired of chatting among themselves, came here and were enduring their complaints.

"Mr. Moon, how do you feel about the first episode?"

"Ah~ I'm ready to become a ranking evaluation legend, you know?"

"Amazing! Mr. Moon!"

"Cut it out..."

My life, which can't ignore such pointless talk, is truly a legend...

I want to drink something cold.

'...Ah, there are drinks.'

Looking now, I saw that an ion drink was placed under each seat. The way the brand was clearly displayed suggested that they finally got a product placement.

It was a no-name brand, but it didn't matter. I opened the drink and gulped it down.

And I almost spat it out.

"..."

Now I understand why they put in the product placement.

It tastes terrible.

"The countdown is about to start! Please count down from 10!"

With the staff's call, the logo on the front beam projector screen disappeared, and numbers appeared.

"10! 9! 8!..."

As the countdown ended and the theme song "Just Me" started playing, cheers and applause broke out from various places.

Thus, the highly anticipated first episode aired.

* * *

The first episode was a special two-hour broadcast.

This means that the participants had to sit on metal chairs for 120 minutes, only moving to react for the broadcast.

But it doesn't seem like the participants were paying attention to such things.

The important thing is one thing.

'How much screen time did I get?'

Of course, there were far more disappointed participants.

What about me?

Well, let's review the content and reactions I found online after the shoot.

First, various online reactions, including criticism articles and best comments about "Ajuja," were openly broadcast on the screen.

Then the subtitles appeared.

[Countless controversies!]

[How did the real filming of "Re-Startup! Idol Corporation" proceed?]

The viewers reacted the same way as before.

They kept watching while complaining about the show.

- Seriously, they just air it without filtering out stuff like that. Typical cable channel lol

- Feels like eating spicy popcorn

- Only kids would watch this boring show

Fortunately, the opening passed quickly, and the first participant appeared.

[Oh, I'm so nervous!]

'Oh, Choi Won-gil.'

That's right. Choi Won-gil's group evaluation was the first to air. Choi Won-gil, a typical maknae, received a significant amount of screen time.

'I'm sure the first participant was someone else.'

And the first participant didn't get any screen time afterward.

'He probably won't appear in the future.'

Overall, it was the same.

The production team had already made their selections. Some participants didn't even get reaction shots.

Interestingly, the participants from my previous team received a lot of screen time.

Starting with Choi Won-gil, the evaluations of Big Sejin and Gold 1, 2 aired before the first part ended.

It felt good. It would be nice to be highlighted as a good team when the team battles start.

'Of course, the most important thing is my screen time.'

If my evaluation wasn't completely cut, I should have appeared in the first episode.

And fortunately, I did.

[The next participant is entering the stage now!]

My screen time first appeared at the end of the first part.

Seeing Park Moon-dae walk onto the stage on screen was a strange feeling. It's like watching someone imitate what I did.

Big Sejin and the Golds started patting my back and shaking my shoulders from behind.

They're making it impossible for me to get lost in the moment.

"Hey, you're on! Can you see it?"

"...Yeah, it's me."

If you keep shaking me, I won't be able to see even if I have eyes. But I can't say that, so I just respond appropriately and focus back on the screen. The conversation with the judges was playing.

[Yes, participant, please introduce yourself.]

[...I'm Park Moon-dae. Nice to meet you.]

As soon as Park Moon-dae's greeting on stage ended, an interview clip was inserted. This was a positive sign, indicating that effort was put into the editing.

[Q: Is there anything you want to say?]

[Park Moon-dae: No. (Silence)]

[Park Moon-dae: Nothing special.]

The BGM without any humor and the cold sound effects were an added bonus.

"..."

Let's see... It seems to be the answer to a question about whether I had any complaints about my team members.

They edited it this way?

This editing negated the positive sign in just 7 seconds.

'This is cold.'

The judges' bewildered reactions were exaggerated even more on screen.

[No, that's it?]

[Yes. I don't have any notable experience to introduce.]

As soon as that answer ended, another interview clip appeared.

[Park Moon-dae: (Before appearing on this show) I have no experience in the entertainment industry.]

[Q: Have you received any training?]

[Park Moon-dae: No.]

At this point, I thought it was over.

I deliberately spoke in a way that would be hard to cut, but they turned it into a one-liner.

The online reactions were also brutal.

- The answer is really insincere

- Concept troll?

- You seem unmotivated. Why not just stay a nobody?

- Probably here to get laughed at or become a meme

And the judges' bewildered whispers were all subtitled.

[Oh, I see. Your application form shows you have nothing.]

[That's right.]

The tense expressions and whispers of the participants who had already been judged quickly passed by. I wonder where they cut this from.

The next words of the judges also had a sarcastic effect.

[Let's see your performance then.]

[Yes.]

On screen, Park Moon-dae grabbed the microphone, and the instrumental started.

And at the first note,

[Boom! It's the sound of an ice water dispenser~]

An ad came on.

The special privilege of cable, mid-show ads.

"Wow!"

"Bro, don't worry too much."

Exaggerated reactions and concerns poured in from around me.

"Are you okay?"

'You, who haven't appeared yet, are worried about me...?'

The atmosphere is too intense; it must be the camera's fault.

I calmly replied.

"As long as I'm on screen, it's fine."

Of course, it was a joke. Whatever I did, if the editing is bad, it's over.

But...

I secretly smiled.

'They don't seem to want to completely kill it.'

The fact that a mid-show ad was inserted during the evaluation means that they can afford to break the flow.

In other words, the content after the ad won't make the viewers angry.

The short mid-show ad quickly ended, and the instrumental started again.

By this point, the online opinion was already at rock bottom.

- I'm not that interested, but they're even showing ads lol

- Give more screen time to the good ones, not the bad ones

- No concept trolls allowed

- I don't want to see the ones who think they're good in a survival show

And as soon as Park Moon-dae started singing with the microphone, the comments stopped for a moment.

[I remember the me I knew...]

[...!!]

The judges' wide-eyed reactions and the participants' sudden heads-up were cross-edited continuously.

-?

- What?

- Huh?

- Why is he good?

- Hahaha, he's actually good

To be honest, I was also surprised like the online reactions.

'...He's good.'

With the editing, it looked like a hidden genius had appeared on the audition.

Even the ambiguous hand movements, which couldn't be called choreography, were cut well and looked impressive.

The editing was more favorable than I expected.

'I guess they're trying to create a twist by lowering expectations and then showing a good performance.'

[It's like a daily party, uh~]

At the high note in the latter part, a clip of the judge, Mudi, covering his mouth appeared.

'That's not from my evaluation, is it?'

Is this to counter the bad interview?

While I was thinking this, the online opinion quickly changed.

- Wow, he's really good

- It makes sense for him to want to escape being a nobody

- Nice high note

- His voice is so good, I'm surprised

- It's been a while since I've heard someone sing "Party in Me" so well. Park Moon-dae? I should buy his stock

The production team even emphasized the short silence after the song ended.

[Thank you for listening.]

[...]

The silence and the close-ups of the other participants' reactions made it an unnecessarily dramatic scene.

The explosive reactions of the judges were quickly highlighted, and the choreographer's words were given a large subtitle as if they were a famous quote.

[Do you know how well you did?]

[...I practiced hard to sing well.]

[No, this is just a natural talent. You have a good talent.]

The problem was that, with such editing, my reaction to this statement seemed very dull.

And it seemed intentional.

[Have you ever had any special lessons?]

[No.]

[None at all? Not even at a school?]

[No.]

Just looking at the online reactions, it was like this.

- Haha, it doesn't seem like he practiced hard

- Moon, your answers lack soul

- Where did the soul go when you sang?

The fact that the comments now included jokes, suggesting that 'Park Moon-dae's' reactions were no longer seen as malicious, was positive.

Hmm. The general direction is set.

'Playing the role of a clueless, laid-back, talented civilian.'

I'll get some flak, but it's not a bad start.

No, it's actually good.

If the team battle editing isn't too crazy, I should be able to pass the second round with this initial recognition.

'With this flow, they might even package and present my dance appropriately.'

With a hopeful premonition, the content started to appear on screen. It was about the judges requesting a dance.

The online reactions in this part were ambiguous.

- So, he can't dance, right?

- Wow, but they're asking him to dance

- It's going to be serious, I think

- I'm already embarrassed

[Yes. Is this song possible?]

[...?]

But as soon as the scene of Park Moon-dae immediately requesting a song and the staff being shaken by this appeared, the comments started to get excited again.

- What?

- What did he request?

- Why is the staff waving their hands lol

- I can't even imagine what it is

And as the ridiculously cheerful "POP☆CON" started playing, both the editing and the comments went wild.

[!!!!]

With the screen filled with exclamation marks, the judges spitting out water, and Park Moon-dae dancing "POP☆CON" with a serious expression, the atmosphere went to another level.

"..."

"Ha ha ha ha!!"

The voices of the participants laughing from all sides echoed.

Honestly... I was embarrassed.

'No... I just wanted to look like I was trying hard on an easy song.'

I came out looking like a lunatic who's serious about popcorn.

I was worried that I might become an internet meme like this, but the score would reveal the truth.

- Hahaha

- Moon is so cute? Hahaha

- He's really serious on stage, though

- He's really trying hard Hahaha

'The reaction... is good?'

The reaction was better than when he was singing. Good grief.