Chapter 51

If I can't debut, I'll get a deadly disease - Chapter 51

‘A noticeable participant.’

Chungrye smiled as she finished filming with the participants of "Ajuja," but she remained skeptical about their long-term success.

Those currently in the top ranks of the program were indeed doing well thanks to the power of audition variety shows. However, their competitiveness in the real market was a different story.

‘They might just look good within the program’s story.’

After all, many had been eliminated from internal company competitions and ended up on audition programs.

Chungrye, who had been talking about lunch, inadvertently mentioned a participant.

“Park Munda?”

“A, chicken feet?”

While a younger member laughed, Chungrye did not.

“The survey answers matched mine completely.”

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

“…To some extent.”

“Wow, really?”

Chungrye, ignoring her shocked younger member, felt a bit disappointed.

‘It would be good to have someone like that in the team.’

Park Munda clearly thought the survey options were stupid. He seemed to have tried to give neutral answers on camera.

“Hmm, if he has a similar personality to you, he must be quite… cold?”

“Realistic, I mean.”

“Right.”

A type that doesn’t get absorbed in others’ situations and can’t think unrealistically. A talent more suited to a regular company than an entertainer.

Generally, idol trainees, especially talented young ones, possessed both the strengths and weaknesses typical of the arts and sports fields.

In a good sense, they were less cold.

However, the reality they would face as young adults was a capitalist society dominated by adults.

“Well, it’s good to have someone like you as a leader.”

“Yeah? Thanks.”

While some might see it as self-flattery, Chungrye agreed with her younger member.

‘It’s better to have someone who can keep a cool head to manage the atmosphere.’

Just like in VTIC, where she was the leader.

In that sense, Park Munda was a pretty good candidate for the next debut group.

‘He’ll probably get better at dancing with time.’

And with his personality, even if he was a senior, he would naturally have more influence in the team. Chungrye, who had experienced this herself, could vouch for it.

‘It would make working together easier.’

It would be good for both the team and the company.

However, even though VTIC had received some shares by renewing their contract with the company, there was no need or room to pay more attention to the next boy idol group.

After all, once they debut, they would be competitors.

She had given a word of advice out of conscience, which was enough.

‘If he has any thoughts, he’ll contact me.’

With that short conclusion, Chungrye mentally crossed off the ‘completed schedule’ and cleared her mind. It was a busy season.

* * *

Inside the "Idol Corporation" filming site, not long after the ranking ceremony began.

The format was the same, but the number of participants had drastically decreased.

Only 20 could make it.

This alone created a tense atmosphere.

And there was still one factor that could cause a change in this limited number.

“Please stand up, the leaders of the two 1st place candidate teams in the 3rd team battle!”

This was the benefit of winning the team battle. One member from the 1st place team, agreed upon by the team, would automatically advance to the next round.

Our team, Gold 1, had already reached an agreement. We had submitted our choice during the pre-interview before filming.

“Our ‘Daltohase’ team has… selected Ha Iljun.”

However, after Daesejin finished speaking, the leader of the ‘Huskya’ team, Ryu Cheongu, remained silent for quite a while.

It seemed there was a problem.

“‘Huskya’ team, please announce the selected team member.”

The MC’s urging sounded like it was done with enthusiasm, but that was probably just my paranoia.

Ryu Cheongu slowly spoke.

“Our team has selected Choi Woon-gil.”

“…!”

Wow, he’s really going all the way.

‘Is he unexpectedly tough?’

Honestly, I didn’t think he would do this. This means Choi Woon-gil boldly gave up his 50% free pass and switched.

And because of this, the situation became ambiguous.

We had already informed the production team of our choice before filming.

It seemed the production team hadn’t confirmed a last-minute change when Choi Woon-gil defected.

However, the production team, now pretending to be flustered, quickly held a meeting and signaled the MC.

The MC, looking at the production team’s notebook, slowly completed his lines.

“An unexpected situation has arisen. According to the rules, if a participant voluntarily withdraws, their benefits are naturally nullified. However, considering the special circumstances of ‘Casting Call,’ we will give the ‘Huskya’ team an additional 3 minutes to deliberate!”

“…Understood.”

Ryu Cheongu bowed and sat down, gathering his team members.

And I inwardly sighed.

‘…It’s over.’

This team is clearly going to win.

‘If they don’t give the benefit after setting up the screen like this, it won’t make sense.’

The production team isn’t stupid; they wouldn’t set up the scene like this.

In the end, Gold 1 will have to survive on their own.

‘The automatic win is out of the question.’

Looking at Gold 1’s face, trying to hide his tension, it seemed he also felt the subtle tension.

And as expected, the 1st place was not the ‘Daltohase’ team.

“Congratulations! The 1st place is… the ‘Huskya’ team!”

“Thank you.”

But the funny situation didn’t end there.

“According to the additional deliberation of the ‘Huskya’ team, the participant who will receive the automatic survival benefit is… Cha Yujin!”

Those crazy guys gave the benefit to Cha Yujin.

‘One of the two, I guess.’

Either the deliberation failed, or Cha Yujin was extremely disliked.

In any case, it was their own problem, and the ‘Daltohase’ team had a 2nd place vibe.

“A bit disappointing.”

“Yeah, that’s right.”

“No, no! We’re getting our ranking fair and square!”

Gold 1 was loudly pretending to be cheerful, but honestly, he was probably cursing the ‘Huskya’ guys inside.

‘I would have done the same.’

The announcement of the 1st place in the team battle ended there.

And the real ranking announcement began.

“17th place… is Kwon Hee-sung!”

The atmosphere, which had been relaxed due to ‘Casting Call,’ suddenly became tense with each ranking announcement.

“T, thank you…”

Gold 2, the second to be called after 18th place, went up to the stage with a visibly relieved expression.

‘That guy is also steadily advancing.’

I didn’t expect him to make it to the end. He barely made it.

The rankings up to 10th place were announced without any major surprises. It meant that those who were likely to pass did so.

The only surprising point was that Lee Sejin slightly improved his ranking.

“11th place… is Lee Sejin~ A!”

Considering he had openly fought in the previous team battle, this was a good result. He probably received some mysterious bonus for fighting with Choi Woon-gil, who was labeled as a villain.

Daesejin was wiping his chest and clapping for Lee Sejin.

“A, I’m envious.”

Daesejin muttered slightly wistfully, as if worried about falling.

“……”

Isn’t that enough to be envious?

Given the momentum, he was clearly going to pass.

He was definitely praying, “Please call me later.”

It was a truly professional awareness of the camera.

“Congratulations~”

On the stage, the MC was deliberately taking his time, announcing the rankings one by one.

Most of the participants with close relationships went up to the stage when their names were called.

And Park Munda’s name was called not much later than before.

“Thank you.”

I took my seat in 6th place.

It was a slight drop from last time.

‘Sure enough, my ranking has dropped.’

The number of votes didn’t decrease. It’s just that my votes didn’t increase as much as the inflation in the upper ranks.

The reason for the inflation was simple.

Since fans could vote as much as they spent money, the more they were aware of the negative votes, the more anxious they became and the more votes they bought.

And this tendency became stronger the more desperate the participants looked.

‘The more you’re scared, the more you spend.’

In any case, the production team’s method of squeezing wallets was ingeniously adopted.

However, in terms of screen time and ranking, compared to other controversial top-tier participants, ‘Park Munda’ recently had no particular issues.

‘Can’t be helped, I guess.’

Creating controversy would be a crazy move. The production team, not me, controlled the editing.

‘It’s a bit regrettable that I passed over ‘Casting Call’.’

It was a bit disappointing, but it was water under the bridge. Since VTIC had already stood out, it was unlikely that Park Munda would get more screen time.

“Congratulations~”

“Yeah, thanks.”

Daesejin, who had slightly improved to 7th place, was grinning and asked for a high-five. It was a very textbook reaction from a fellow participant.

‘This guy also seems likely to debut, given the momentum.’

Excluding the minus votes from the school violence controversy, Daesejin had more votes than Park Munda.

As expected, the voters had rallied.

I didn’t expect my predecessor to threaten my back.

‘Was I really a fool…?’

At the time, there was nothing I could do since we were on the same team. Still, it was a bit frustrating. I inwardly sighed and turned my gaze back to the MC.

1st place was Cha Yujin.

“Wow!!”

Cha Yujin, after receiving the 1st place badge with a joyful laugh, suddenly became serious and expressed his gratitude.

“Being here… I’ve learned a lot and have a lot to think about. I will work harder, become stronger, and show a better image. Thank you very much for 1st place.”

The grammar was still strange, but it was a remarkably serious voice, something he hadn’t shown before. It was a fitting appearance for his recent screen time.

‘That’s why he got 1st place.’

It seemed genuine, which was fitting for the participant with the highest charisma stat.

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

With appropriate applause, Cha Yujin took his seat in the 1st place.

The remaining survivors were the two lowest positions.

And Gold 1 still hadn’t gone up to the stage.

‘At least he’s a candidate.’

Four candidates for 20th and 19th places appeared on the screen, and the situation was still hopeful until Gold 1’s face appeared. The probability was 50%.

And the moment Gold 1’s name was called…

“20th place! The last participant to advance to the final stage of ‘Re-listing! Idol Corporation’ is… Seo Taewon!”

…didn’t happen.

Just like in the team battle, the 50% probability betrayed Gold 1 again.

It seemed like he had a vendetta against 50% probability.

“I will return with pride for making it this far. Thank