Chapter 58

If you can't debut, you'll get a disease that will kill you 058

On the internet, the rumors about Park Munda were quickly corrected.

Thanks to the person involved coming forward to clarify, there were almost no people needlessly nitpicking.

However, only the persistent ridicule of the trolls who couldn't vent their anger on the "justifiably hated Park Munda" remained.

- If his appearance changed, it must be plastic surgery, right? A delusional loser got plastic surgery and acts like he's someone special, what a concept! Haha, his delusions are shattered.

- He pretended to be cool and independent on TV, but he's just a loser, isn't he? Or maybe he's a tampon thief?

- Yeah, Park Munda is still a dropout. I don't support adults who didn't even finish high school.

Anyway, the finals are just around the corner, and the fans were seething as they saw people trying to tarnish his image in any way they could.

- Humanity is shattered...

- Park Munda hasn't done anything wrong, so why do these psychopaths keep targeting him?

- He absolutely has to debut... If Park Munda doesn't debut, I'll be so upset I can't live.

- I have all the PDFs, just waiting for Park Munda's agency to be established.

Gold 1, Ha Iljun's post came at that moment.

Ha Iljun had immediately set up an SNS account after his elimination and was posting about his program participation and practice logs.

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[The finals are coming soon! I'll be watching live too!]

+) I support the October 31st members and especially #ParkMunda! During the evaluation, he didn't sleep for a week and practiced, making him a legend among us. Fighting!

#AjuCompany #LiveWatching #HaIljun #Traveler

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Ha Iljun mentioned Park Munda out of sympathy and to create a topic, but the content was problematic.

No one knew that Park Munda had stayed up all night during the evaluation.

Since the internet was already buzzing with mentions of Park Munda, this SNS post became a perfect trigger.

- True night owl...

- Is he crazy? What did he do for a whole week...

- It must be an exaggeration.

- Isn't it about not sleeping properly and working hard?

- He was a legend among trainees, but did he really need to exaggerate it so much?

Eventually, Ha Iljun responded to the many questions on his SNS.

- I always support you, Ha Iljun! By the way, about the Park Munda participant you mentioned, did he really not sleep for a week?

└Ha Iljun: Yes! We were in the same room. Park Munda always came in late at night, ate a snack, and left. He only started sleeping right before the evaluation, saying it was for condition management. Haha.

Park Munda's fans were shocked.

- Our guy is so serious...

- What can we do... I thought Park Munda was a genius and just naturally got better. But he didn't sleep at all? Why didn't it show on TV...

- Every time Park Munda appeared, they made him look like he was just there for fun. Haha...

- Thinking about it, someone without passion couldn't come up with ideas and grow every time.

- He must have gritted his teeth and worked hard. Ah... I'm so glad people finally understand. Thank you, Iljun.

After the shock, the fans were driven by a sense of mission to get Park Munda to debut. They posted promotional articles and increased their efforts to promote the stock.

Some fans even started looking into filing third-party complaints against trolls through their own lawyers.

- I can't take it anymore.

- Let's file a complaint to set the tone!

Originally, even if they proceeded as quickly as possible, the results wouldn't be seen until the finals, so they planned to start once an agency was established. However, some passionate fans couldn't stand the abuse Park Munda was receiving.

So, they started this to warn the trolls and unexpectedly discovered something.

- What is this?

While trying to identify the trolls, they found their group chat.

It was revealed that some of them had broken into Park Munda's apartment.

They were taken to the police without any significant results and were soon released, but they managed to get one thing.

It was Park Munda's resident registration.

Of course, Park Munda had already cut it up and put it in a recycling box.

He never imagined that crazy people would break in to piece together the torn document from the trash.

They used the registration to dig up Park Munda's dropout status and high school, posting it online.

They didn't reveal that he was an orphan because "there was a chance for sympathy," but their chat was full of insults.

- These people are really...

- How can someone live like this?

The fans, who were processing the complaints, were angry but kept the information quiet.

However, as always, when many people are involved, it leaked.

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[(1st Place!) Park Munda is an orphan (1373)]

: It's said that a stalker broke into Park Munda's apartment and found his resident registration. Both parents are deceased, no siblings.

[Group chat screenshot] [Taped registration photo]

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Of course, many people criticized the post, but the views didn't lie.

Soon, news articles started appearing.

[〈Idol Corporation〉 Participant Park Munda, Overcoming Family Tragedy to Challenge the Audition.]

This also faced massive criticism and was taken down a few hours later, but the information was already out.

However, this unexpectedly had a positive effect.

Cursing Park Munda would make one a trash.

Moreover, for those who are emotionally sensitive, the tragic past of an audition participant became a natural selling point.

- How hard must it have been for a young person to lose his parents and still challenge himself like this? I hope Park Munda wins and becomes a champion.

- It's truly moving how composed he appears on TV. His parents in heaven must be proud.

- Park Munda, keep it up! Your singing is amazing!

Of course, like all information, once the hype dies down, Park Munda being an orphan could become a tool for ridicule.

But not now.

Thanks to this, Park Munda faced an overwhelming wave of support and sympathy as he entered the finals, inadvertently gaining the "desperate image and narrative" he wanted.

* * *

What's going on here?

When I finally checked the internet, a series of crazy situations had unfolded.

'Everything is out in the open.'

The four intruders seemed to be out of their minds, but I never thought they would piece together torn paper from a trash can.

And now, the whole nation knows I'm an orphan.

I was curious about how things got to this point, but there was a sense of relief.

'Well... it doesn't matter if others know I don't have a family.'

I had already mentioned it when I was cast for the audition, but it was too late because the production team never mentioned it.

The problem is that the timing of this revelation has created a significant momentum.

'Will I debut...?'

No, it's not about debuting... I might even win first place?

"......"

This... is not good. Debuting is fine, but winning first place is not.

'There's a minefield there.'

I felt cold sweat and stepped away from the computer.

I had searched it under the pretext of modifying the lyrics, but I didn't expect to find out so much.

"Bro, are you okay?"

Kim Raebin, who was searching with me, asked, understanding the situation. He was asking if I was okay with the orphan revelation.

"Yeah. I already mentioned it in an interview, but it didn't air."

I nodded. Kim Raebin looked relieved and suddenly had an idea.

"Bro, how about revealing your memory loss while riding this wave?"

"What?"

He knew about my memory loss from the morning after the situation was resolved, but why is he bringing it up now?

"Revealing it now would block all the malicious comments about you! And your votes will definitely increase..."

"No."

"Huh?"

If I get more votes and win first place, I'll get the minefield as a prize.

I couldn't say that, so I made an excuse.

"No evidence. It will just make things weird."

"Ah, if you post a diagnosis..."

"There isn't one."

"...You didn't go to the hospital after losing your memory...?"

"I'm fine, and I don't have the money."

Kim Raebin's face fell, and he quietly muttered.

"Okay..."

Got it.

Kim Raebin and I left the room with the computer. The camera immediately followed us.

"Did you find the right words?"

"Yeah. The meaning was correct."

The small applause in the practice room was a reaction to the broadcast, even though they knew we were just checking the internet.

"Alright, it's the finals tomorrow... Leader, a word?"

"Ooh!"

"Let's go around."

I quickly interrupted. The team members chuckled, cleared their throats, and started sharing their thoughts.

They seemed to be enjoying it.

Even Gold 2, who was almost certain to be eliminated, didn't seem to have given up. The hope probably came from the fact that the number of debut spots hadn't been announced yet.

There was only one person in the team who looked like he was going to be eliminated.

'Lee Sejin.'

The actor-turned-trainee, Lee Sejin.

He barely kept up with the practice, and his reactions and screen time were not impressive.

But he didn't resist much during this team practice. He just lacked social skills and didn't seem to enjoy it.

'I wish it was someone else instead of this guy.'

Now that I'm likely to debut, I'm evaluating who will debut with me. I sighed and dismissed the thought.

'Focus on myself.'

"Alright! Leader Park Munda, one last word!"

"Let's show everything we've prepared and leave no regrets."

"Ooh!"

Even a cliché statement got a good reaction. I shrugged and sat on the practice room floor.

The tension was rising.

'Tomorrow, it will all be over.'

A nearly certain chance to delete the abnormal state.

"Alright, let's practice again!"

The finals were just around the corner.

* * *

The final filming of 〈Rebirth! Idol Corporation〉 was taking place in a famous university's performance hall.

With a live broadcast, the hall, which could accommodate nearly 3,000 audience members, was already filled with a sticky heat.

Thousands of people were holding up signs and slogans for their favorite participants, waiting for the broadcast to start.

The MCs and judges took their seats, and some judges responded to the cheers from the audience with light greetings.

And at the exact broadcast time.

The broadcast started without delay.

"〈Rebirth! Idol Corporation!〉 Thank you all for joining us on this long 12-episode journey!"

In the dark, vast performance hall, Young-rin's voice echoed.

"Now, the only thing left is one decision to form the group! Shareholders, have you made up your minds?"

Shouts of "Yes!" and some "No" mixed with groans echoed from various parts of the hall.

"Then, let's introduce the participants. ...Do you have your shares?"

Screams and cheers filled the air as the stage lights came on.

"Please invest in us now!"

Episode 13 began like this.