Chapter 19

If I can't debut, I'll get a disease that will kill me 019th Episode

To be honest, I was quite nervous until I turned on my smartphone to check the reaction to the first episode.

'I thought it might have become too much of a laughingstock...'

However, surprisingly, the viewers showed more goodwill than mockery.

Especially when the chorus of "POP☆CON" started, the public opinion completely turned around.

In a favorable tone.

-So cool

-So cute 😭 You were really focused

-To be honest, you came here to do this, didn't you? 😂

-Well, if you came, you should work hard. It looks good

-No, the interview and the person are different 😂

-So cute

‘Is this considered cute?’

I did prepare the song strategically.

But I thought it would be at the level of ‘you tried hard, so I’ll let it slide.’ It turned out to be an unexpected gain.

Isn’t it a rule for audition show viewers to despise those who can’t perform?

It was a bit confusing, but I soon understood the situation.

‘Thanks to the good performance right before.’

First, the traditional expectation that a singer should sing well was satisfied, so as long as the dance wasn’t embarrassingly bad, it could be viewed leniently.

Moreover, the character was highlighted even more with the added humor.

The character was a bit... perplexing, though.

‘Even though I deliberately chose only generic answers, it turned out like this.’

Basically, it was to avoid giving any room for criticism.

Additionally, to emphasize the main vocalist position, I responded calmly to everything.

In the interview, I didn’t mention any personal opinions and only said objective things that wouldn’t contradict social consensus.

‘But... they interpreted it as a lack of soul.’

Anyway, as long as it led to Seoul, it didn’t matter if I took the KTX or a bus.

‘I cleared the first stage well.’

It was clear that I had secured some initial recognition. This wasn’t just a hunch; there was a visible achievement.

The status window popped up while I was watching the broadcast.

[The Beginning of Fame (2)!]

10,000 people have remembered your existence!

: Points +1

[The Call of Fame!]

50,000 people have remembered your existence!

: Rare Trait Draw ☜ Click!

The unit jumped to 50,000 with just one broadcast.

‘The sense of reality is fading.’

I decided to check the rewards that appeared in the popup later and instead opened the search bar to enter some keywords.

[Re-Listing! Idol Corporation Ratings]

The results came up immediately.

[Average Rating: 3.7%, Peak Rating: 6.8%]

Oh my.

‘...Is this the first episode of a failed cable variety show series?’

It seems I successfully drew attention.

Objectively speaking, it wasn’t an incredibly high rating.

However, the fact that 100,000 people remembered Park Munda means that he left a significant impression, regardless of whether it was positive or negative.

Now, let’s take a closer look at the ‘positive or negative’ aspect.

After checking the overall public opinion trend of the first episode, I immediately confirmed my evaluation video clip.

[100% Pure Amateur Participant's Surprise! Park Munda]

I felt like my limbs would fall off.

‘...I need to erase this from my mind quickly.’

I started with the best comments.

-What? Popcorn here? 😂 (????7326 / ????181)

-I was about to fall asleep but I’m wide awake now. I’ll buy and hold until you skyrocket, Munda. (????4522 / ????294)

-Yeah, this season’s main vocalist is Park Munda. (????2061 / ????372)

"Hmm."

First... the comments that were embarrassingly positive at the top were a good sign. They were a bit unfamiliar, but... I was grateful.

However, the relatively high ratio of ‘dislikes’ was a risk factor.

Compared to other participants who received favorable editing, like Cha Yujin, it was about 1.5 times higher.

This meant that a fair number of people had a negative reaction to the ‘Park Munda’ shown on the broadcast. It was probably because he came across as antisocial.

So, what is the most efficient appeal I can make at this point?

I can’t do much about the negative image that has already formed, but many idols have used it as a gimmick to provide humor.

Just off the top of my head... hmm, there’s at least one in every popular idol group.

So, the one thing I need to do in the next shoot is:

‘I need to appear more approachable.’

I immediately thought of the next search term.

[Idol Corporation PR Video]

The next shoot was for the PR video.

With 3 days left, I need to find as many meaningful examples as possible before then.

* * *

The PR video shoot for ‘Idol Corporation’ was live.

However, the process of preparing the PR video was recorded like a variety show, serving as filler content for the ranking announcement ceremony.

“Everyone! Are you all ready?”

“Yes!”

The participants enthusiastically responded to the MC’s cliché question.

‘...I feel like I see this scene at every shoot... Am I imagining it?’

Anyway, the important thing is that the participants have become more desperate.

“I’m glad to see everyone doing well! So, do you know what we’re preparing today?”

“PR video!”

“Self-introduction!”

“Correct!”

Everyone must have come to realize this after seeing the reaction to the first episode.

They must have realized that no matter what they do in front of the camera, it’s as good as nothing if it’s not broadcast.

‘So, they must be desperate for a live PR video that will be broadcast immediately.’

It wasn’t a fair competition at all.

With the recognition already determined by the first episode, the live competition was almost a foregone conclusion.

However, every season, someone always managed to turn things around with their PR video, so everyone seemed to be preparing their videos with all their might.

Of course, with 77 amateurs in a live broadcast, all kinds of controversies inevitably followed... but no one seemed to care.

The participants probably thought it was fine as long as it wasn’t them, and the production team would be happy with the increased buzz.

“You will all be conducting a live broadcast for yourself only on Tnet’s global Vtube channel at 8 PM tonight!”

“I’m really nervous.”

Nearby, Daesejin, who was standing close to me, whispered.

He didn’t look nervous at all. What a liar.

“Oops, I made a mistake!”

“?!?”

“It’s not a live broadcast for you only!”

The MC encouraged the participants with a wave of his arm, and the confused participants let out a scream.

“What do you think is the dream of an entertainer?”

“Dream...?”

“It’s advertising, everyone!”

“...!”

The MC spread his arms wide.

“You each have to choose one item to advertise and promote both the item and yourself!”

“Huh?!”

These guys are really trying to take advantage of us.

The so-called ‘collaboration items’ are just T1 products, which are part of the Tnet group. They probably hope to get some viral effect, and if not, it’s no big deal.

It’s one of the most capitalistic marketing strategies in the crazy business of ‘Idol Corporation.’

‘Was this hastily inserted by someone higher up?’

The series was left to rot, thinking it was a failure, but now that it’s getting attention, they’re jumping on the bandwagon.

Anyway, the MC’s words sounded reasonable.

“This item might feel like a burden to promote, but remember that it can also be used as a prop to showcase your charm!”

“Oh~”

The participants seemed to be convinced. After all, there’s not much they can do if they don’t agree, so it’s a wise attitude.

“Now, how will you obtain this prop?”

“Running?”

“Rock-paper-scissors?”

“Karaoke?”

Examples from past seasons and similar programs were suggested. The MC shook his head with a regretful look and announced the answer.

“It’s... a treasure hunt!”

“Wow?”

“The production team has hidden treasure balls containing items all over the dorm. You have 15 minutes to find as many as you can!”

Daesejin whispered with a slightly impressed look.

“This might be fun?”

“...Yeah.”

It’s a setup that seems fun for the viewers, but it’s perfect for a fight among the participants.

With 77 people searching one building, there will definitely be emotional conflicts.

Of course, the filler content for the ranking announcement ceremony is meant to relieve tension, so it probably won’t get too serious.

But they can still subtly hint at things.

‘I can already see all kinds of speculation and rumors appearing on the internet.’

“Ah! As befitting an audition show, the treasure balls also have different grades. Please pay attention and carefully examine the balls!”

They probably painted them in gold, silver, and bronze.

“Alright, get ready...”

Everyone got into position to run.

“Start!”

“Ah!!”

With a scream, 77 people rushed into the dorm. I slipped away and changed my direction.

‘I’ll go in through the back door.’

No matter how I think about it, if I go in through the main door, I won’t get anything.

If I go in through the side door, I’ll face less competition from other participants.

Then, Daesejin and Gold 1 followed me closely.

They were grinning like sly foxes.

“Thanks, Munda. The bus is comfortable.”

“You’re smart, sir.”

“...”

Two people are fine, but... I’m getting annoyed.

Gold 2 and Seonahyeon, who were standing a bit away, were swept into the main door by the crowd.

Life is all about timing. Too bad.

* * *

“Oh, Munda~ You found one right away.”

As soon as I entered through the back door, I found a ball right at the threshold.

It was silver.

‘As expected.’

Daesejin nodded, looking at the opaque silver ball.

“The grades are divided into gold, silver, and bronze, right?”

“Hey, let’s use our proper language! Gold, silver, bronze! How great!”

“Wow, what a patriot.”

If you keep talking, I’ll leave you behind.

“...How about we search quickly? The others will be here soon.”

“Sure~”

“Having a practical Munda is a relief.”

I quickly moved on. The two followed surprisingly quietly.

First, the storage room.

“Thinking in reverse is easier. The places where the production team would hide... hmm, here?”

Daesejin smiled and pulled out a bronze ball from the chalk box in front of the camera.

“...!”

“Hey~ Is it really bronze?”

“Damn, my hands are cursed.”

Surprisingly... they’re useful.

These guys are quick. Thanks to them, we divided the area and searched the storage room in no time.

“Ah, found another silver one! Shall we move on?”

“Agreed.”

“Agreed.”

They make quick judgments. We moved to the next area without hesitation.

“Where to?”

“Let’s go to the dining room first. There’s a camera.”

“Munda has good eyes.”

“Of course, the guy who found the back door.”

“...”

It would be better if they didn’t say things like that.

There was no time wasted in the dining room.

All three started searching the areas around the installed cameras without a word.

When I opened the cutlery drawer,

“I found it.”

“Wow!”

“It’s gold.”

I got a gold ball.

“Why do you find gold first, Munda?”

“Can’t help it. Sir. Maybe Munda has golden hands.”

“Yeah. You’re born with it~”

“The others are coming.”

“Oh.”

I finally found a way to shut them up. Just give them something to do.

Anyway, after hearing the approaching footsteps, we quickly left the dining room.

“Upstairs?”

“Yes.”

We repeated the same search on the upper floor. It was efficient.

“Hey~ It’s good we came in a group of three!”

“That’s right! Honestly, Munda agrees, right?”

“Yeah.”

“Oh~”

To be honest.

I benefited from these two. With three people searching, the efficiency was high.

Overall, their observational skills and mobility were good, making the search and movement quick and easy. Their judgment was also good.

They didn’t have any strange stubbornness, and the distribution was clean.

“So, we found... 4 gold, 2 silver, and 4 bronze, right?”

Daesejin divided the plastic balls, about the size of a palm.

Gold 1 spoke carefully.

“That’s right. Hmm... Let’s each take one of each color, and since Munda brought us, let’s give him gold instead of silver. How about that?”

“I’m fine with that~”

It’s good that it ended cleanly, but I shouldn’t leave any room for a negative edit.

After experiencing the power of editing, it feels a bit uncomfortable.

“Then I won’t take the bronze. You two take two each.”

“Oh~ Thank you!”

“Okay!”

As we were collecting the balls, an announcement came from the dorm.

-200 seconds left~

By the way, we were hiding in the storage room next to the back door to avoid the incoming participants.

If we get caught here, it would be too ridiculous.

“Sir, they’re coming!!”

“Hey! Let’s go!”

We quickly slipped out through the back door and headed to the assembly point.

“Ah~ Nice farming~”

“Of course, our teamwork is flawless.”

These guys, now that they’re relaxed, are talking freely again.

At the assembly point, participants who had found one or two balls were already opening them.

There was no attempt to forcibly take them yet.

‘The cameras are clearly visible all around.’

It seems psychologically difficult to openly take a ball from someone else.

“Wow, shall we open ours too?”

“Sure~”

“Okay.”

We returned to our spots and started opening the balls.

Since Daesejin and Gold 1 had many balls in their hands, quite a few envious eyes were on them.

But two high-grade balls are better. Getting several ambiguous ones would just make it harder to choose.

I opened two gold balls.

And I froze.

“...”

Wait a minute.