Chapter 48

If you can't debut, you'll get a deadly disease - Chapter 48

The team "Huskya," led by Ryu Cheong-woo, practiced in a tense atmosphere due to the ongoing conflicts among team members.

[Choi Won-gil: (I didn't expect) Sejin-hyung to react so sensitively.]

[Gi Jeong-gyun: Is there some kind of victim complex?]

[Ryu Cheong-woo: ...Sigh.]

The inserted interviews and background music only added to the uncomfortable atmosphere.

There were no participants without ambition, so the practice didn't stop. However, it didn't proceed smoothly either.

Instead of focusing on the parties involved in the conflict, the production team concentrated all the growth stories on Cha Yujin, who was isolated from the conflict.

Park Moon-dae appeared here, playing the role of a mentor who helps the protagonist grow.

[Park Moon-dae: Is something bothering you?]

Several quick cuts showed Park Moon-dae talking to Cha Yujin in various places and giving her snacks.

Although he provided snacks like a mother giving rice cakes to a tiger to quickly resolve the situation, thanks to Cha Yujin's interview saying "Moon-dae hyung helped me," the scenes looked quite good.

-??

-What is this? Haha

-Are they close?

Seeing this unusual scene, even Park Moon-dae's fans were taken aback.

While Cha Yujin and Park Moon-dae were on the same team in the previous team battle and the stage was successful, there was no indication of personal friendship.

Moreover, why did the production team focus on our guy instead of the proven leader, Ryu Cheong-woo?

However, the doubts quickly subsided because cute additional content is always welcome.

-He takes care of the food so well

-As expected, Moon-dae is a man serious about eating

-Moon-dae: An unexpected healer

-Why do I see my grandmother in a 21-year-old (soon-to-be) idol?

On screen, Cha Yujin successfully completed the stage, showcasing her intense focus and passion, which was a departure from her usual innocent image.

While she might receive some criticism for hogging the screen time, she left a more definite impression. The narrative of her inner growth and desperation was compelling.

Park Moon-dae, who saw Cha Yujin taking all the screen time he wanted, felt a bit sour, but his fans enjoyed seeing his kind and reliable personality on screen.

Even general viewers had positive reactions.

-Park Moon-dae seems more mature than expected

-There's a reason he gets along well with team members.

└Indeed, his first impression was quite unruly, but he's surprisingly good.

The cuts featuring Cha Yujin, which were clearly given more screen time, drew all the attention.

Park Moon-dae was left with a good but subtle image.

As a result, the next day after the 10th episode aired, Park Moon-dae, who was checking the internet, felt a complex and subtle emotion. He was in a position to complain about the screen time.

'It's good to continuously improve the early image. But... he still didn't capture the desperation.'

Cha Yujin needed that image. However, the only stage left was the final.

And there was no reason for the production team to give Park Moon-dae a narrative in the final.

So far, they had only given screen time to characters who made the show more interesting.

'Should I give up?'

While clicking his tongue, Park Moon-dae mentally organized the remaining shooting schedule.

Then, he suddenly remembered an event that would happen during the next shoot.

'Wait, could that work?'

Of course, the broadcast was entirely dependent on the production team's editing. But it was worth trying to capture some usable content.

Park Moon-dae made up his mind.

'There's no harm in trying.'

Incidentally, Seo Ah-hyun, who was about to suggest eating chicken, didn't notice that Park Moon-dae was deep in thought and had quietly put down her smartphone.

* * *

"Wow, it's getting a bit warm."

Daesejin muttered as he entered the shooting location.

It was already late April. The first shoot started in winter, and time had flown by.

'I've completely adapted.'

Moving the body of "Park Moon-dae," which was no longer unfamiliar, to change into a uniform, he thought with a wry smile.

At that moment, Daesejin, who glanced over, spoke.

"Hey, you seem taller?"

"What?"

"You must be working out a lot. You've bulked up a bit."

That comment made him realize something.

Over the past few months, he had grown taller and gained some muscle, so there was almost no difference from his original body.

"I've heard that you can grow taller even after 21, but this is the first time I've seen it happen."

"Me too, it's my first time."

"Ah, I see."

He shrugged it off.

'About 177 cm, I think.'

Recalling his height measured a few days ago, he sat down in the waiting area. It was now strange to see no unfamiliar faces around.

"Hi, Moon-dae~"

"Hi, hyung!"

'If I go back to my original body, I might need an adjustment period.'

It was an incredible situation. He casually greeted everyone and took out his smartphone.

He planned to turn it off since he had to return it soon.

However, a new notification appeared on his smartphone. It was from an anonymous SNS account he had set up to gauge public opinion.

Clicking on it, a post with thousands of shares appeared.

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

[Park Moon-dae's original singer of the trot song posts on SNS lol (link)]

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

This wasn't unusual.

As the program heated up, even unrelated celebrities were starting to mention the participants.

Following the link, a large photo of a trot singer making a heart sign with her fingers and smiling widely appeared on the SNS.

In the background, a TV screen showing Park Moon-dae singing the trot song could be seen faintly.

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

[To the participant Park Moon-dae of "Aju-sa" who sang my song so well! I support you^^ Please debut! #Aju-sa #DuetWithMe #TrotMaster]

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

"......"

Well... it's good that the original singer is satisfied. The fans seem to be enjoying it too.

Just as he was about to scroll to the next page, another post by the trot singer appeared on the screen. This one also featured a large photo.

'Wait.'

That's a photo I took.

Checking again, it was indeed a photo I had taken a few years ago at an event.

It was a cut I had released to a fan site out of conscience because it didn't sell. The photo quality was good because the natural light that day was nice, so the singer might have wanted to post it on her SNS.

However, it felt off. As he turned off his smartphone, he realized the reason.

'I'm not supposed to be here, right?'

When he first entered Park Moon-dae's body, he had traced the movements of his original body. But there was no trace of his original identity.

But the photos I took are still here?

'This is strange.'

He immediately went to VTube and searched for the most famous straight cam he had taken.

[Young-rin's Legendary Straight Cam]

It's a straight cam of judge Young-rin passionately completing a stage in a heavy rain during her unknown days. This video helped Young-rin rise to fame.

A familiar thumbnail appeared at the top of VTube.

'It's there.'

The video existed.

Of course, it wasn't from his original account.

The account where he uploaded unsold data was deleted when he started preparing for the public service exam, which was about a year ago.

Indeed, a comment from the uploader was pinned at the top of the video's comment section.

-Posting because the original was deleted. Will delete if the owner claims it.

"......"

This almost confirmed it.

'I don't exist, but the data I took does?'

It was a creepy situation. The fact that he was in a state where he would die if he couldn't debut as an idol in a short time made it even more unsettling.

'Is this karma for selling data?'

It was a half-joking thought, but it was starting to feel less like a joke.

'What are you, really?'

Opening the status screen didn't provide any answers. It felt like he was talking to a fool.

What is this thing's purpose?

"Hey, what are you doing?"

"Just a moment. I'm thinking."

He quickly snapped out of his thoughts. Although he had found a contradiction, the shoot was about to start.

'I'll look into it more after the shoot.'

He finished his thoughts and returned his smartphone.

Getting distracted would only make him a target for attitude controversies. He needed to clear his mind.

Fortunately, he didn't need to try. As soon as the shoot started, the MC quickly took control of the situation.

"Welcome to the grand third ranking ceremony of 'Re-Entry! Idol Corporation'~"

The participants, now skilled from months of shooting, clapped in unison as the MC moved on to the main event.

"However, before we reveal your rankings, there's one thing! We need to see your sincerity first."

Here comes 'that' content. I can guess what the MC will say next.

'They'll check how sincere we are about this audition. With "Casting Call."'

That's right. This "Idol Corporation" series traditionally adds another provocative content around this point.

It's called "Casting Call."

In short, it's a session where Tnet and other moderately famous agencies come to cast participants.

However, if you choose an agency, you have to leave the program.

So, it's unlikely that participants who have performed well on the show up to this point will leave.

The participants aren't fools. If they can debut in a group with guaranteed recognition, there's no reason to go to a mediocre agency.

In the end, this is just an event to add tension to the program.

'But I can use that tension.'

I plan to try to guide the conversation and emphasize how sincere "Park Moon-dae" is about this program.

...Of course, there's a higher chance it will be cut in the editing.

"......sigh"

I heard someone swallow their saliva beside me. Most of them probably guessed it was "Casting Call" from the timing and the MC's words.

And for those who were in the lower ranks in the previous ranking ceremony, this was a moment of potential conflict.

If the chances of debuting here are low, they might want to grab another lifeline.

The image of measuring the likelihood of leaving can be somewhat mitigated with a statement like, "The agency that offered me has been my idol for a long time, and I want to start a new challenge. I will show you a better and more grown-up version of myself in the future."

'In fact, there have been consistent dropouts from the lower ranks.'

In the previous season, about five people left. Considering the show was prematurely canceled afterward, it was a wise decision to cut their losses. Only the top ranks were affected.

The MC, who had been dragging out the suspense, finally spoke.

"Right away~"

The large screen in front of us lit up.

'Will the list of agencies appear?'

As the participants started whispering about "Casting Call," the MC spread his arms wide and continued.

"Psychological test!"

"?!?"

"Through a prepared personality test, we will match you with the perfect KPOP concept~"

The participants, who had relaxed, let out a collective "Wow...."

"......"

I felt a bit disappointed.

'Was it just a variety show segment?'

Or maybe they will use this data to decide the next team battle.

In any case, I was fooled.

'Damn.'

The participants, guided by the staff, moved in groups of ten to separate small rooms.

It was good that we didn't have to wait because the names were called in order, but the letdown left a bad taste.

'I just drank kimchi broth for nothing.'

The room I entered was a modified one-person practice booth with a small two-person desk and a camera set up in the middle.

It was a typical space for a solo shot.

I sighed and sat down at the desk. A tablet with a questionnaire was already set up.

The trendy SNS design lowered the credibility.

'It looks like a template floating around the internet.'

I guessed it was hastily outsourced and started tapping through the multiple-choice questions.