Chapter 59

If you can't debut, you'll get a disease that will kill you 059th Chapter

The first stage that the participants performed was a new theme song.

Due to the endless success of the season, a second theme song was hastily inserted to fill the lineup.

‘I feel like I’ve heard this before.’

Park Munda hoped that he had heard this song in the future. Otherwise, it would mean plagiarism.

In any case, despite not knowing the song, the audience's reaction was tremendous. Just seeing the participants come to life on stage was enjoyable.

Of course, the reactions of the viewers watching on screen were different.

-? What song is this?

-Just sing ‘Baro Na’ why did you choose a strange song when there are hit songs?

-Kids, let's debut! 😢

-Whatever the song, Sunahyun does well; that's an undeniable fact.

-Yujin, be the center forever.

-Ah, I'm so nervous my heart feels like it's going to jump out! 😢

-Munda, let's be happier after debuting.

The comments cheering for the participants quickly filled the page, almost too fast to read.

“Wow.”

“Sweating.”

The participants, who had just performed on stage for the first time in front of thousands, were breathing heavily but enjoying it.

‘I don’t even know what I did.’

Park Munda, who had hastily practiced at the last minute, focused all his attention on not making mistakes, and his eyebrows twitched.

It seemed like there were a lot of people, but the stage was far away, making it feel almost like a hologram. It didn't feel real.

Before the participants could regain their composure and the tension could set in, they had to quickly change their costumes and run around to keep to the schedule.

Meanwhile, on stage, the MC was taking over to keep the show moving.

“Ah, what a fantastic first performance!”

Since the live broadcast would last over three hours, different people were assigned to host each part to minimize fatigue.

“Many more performances are prepared! Please stay tuned!”

The MC, who had hosted various audition shows, skillfully ad-libbed to fill the time until the VCR started.

“What order did the participants decide on for their team performances in this final?”

Soon, a light-hearted video was shown where the participants played a mini-game to determine the order.

‘I didn’t get much sleep because we filmed this at midnight.’

Park Munda, who was listening to the commotion below the stage, recalled the situation.

Unfortunately, they chose a primitive method like a chicken fight, and Ryu Cheongwoo won easily.

‘Was it a predetermined result?’

What was surprising was that Sunahyun performed well. By staying until just before Ryu Cheongwoo, Park Munda's team secured the second priority.

Of course, they couldn't choose the remaining open slots without tension. The production team filled the slots from the bottom up, pushing the order forward.

This was a cruel survival method that inevitably appeared in such shows.

However, the participants, who were already seasoned, skillfully avoided the trap. They exaggerated their reactions and laughter to maintain a relaxed atmosphere.

[Changju Park: Oh, oh?!]

[Sejin Lee (Big): Oh my~]

Park Munda heard Big Sejin laughing and pushing the order from above.

He also heard the opposing team, who had been pushed to an unwanted slot, making puzzled sounds.

“Wow, that’s scary.”

Big Sejin, who was attaching a microphone to Park Munda’s costume, whistled.

Although they were on the rise, they weren't yet guaranteed a debut, so they were more nervous before the team performance.

Big Sejin, who rarely showed it, was trembling. Park Munda clicked his tongue.

“Kim Raebin has some calming pills.”

“Nah, I’ve never even tried them.”

As Big Sejin waved his hand at Park Munda, other team members, who had finished changing their costumes, ran over.

“Park team, let’s go~”

A staff member shouted and ran to the side. Due to the need for staff both on and off stage, there were not enough people, and gaps appeared everywhere.

“Are we going too?”

Just as the participants were about to follow, Sunahyun raised his hand.

“Wait, let’s cheer and then go!”

“Sure.”

Park Munda extended his hand without hesitation.

The other team members quickly placed their hands on top. Even Sejin Lee reluctantly put his hand on.

“Cheer!”

The short but effective pep talk ended.

“I want to say a famous quote, but let’s hurry and run~”

The team members laughed at Big Sejin’s playful words and ran down the corridor.

Meanwhile, in the same performance hall.

After the VCR, which didn’t show the final order, the MC finally moved on to the next segment.

“After a fierce battle to determine the order, let me introduce the first performing team……”

Instead of the VCR, the participants' profiles appeared on the screen.

[Sunahyun (2), Kim Raebin (5), Park Munda (6), Sejin Lee B (7), Sejin Lee A (11), Hee-sung Kwon (18)]

“Team ‘Challenger’ will be the first to take the stage!”

The profiles disappeared, and the participants, who were high-fiving, were shown on screen.

-???

-What? Why are you already out?

-Kids? Kids?

-Why are you doing the opening? 😢

The fans, who were initially confused, soon realized the situation.

-You idiots, being broadcast first is always an advantage.

Since the voting was already happening and not after the performance, being first was definitely advantageous.

Of course, only if you were confident in your performance!

The viewers' reactions quickly changed.

-Right. Being first is the answer.

-Ah, you guys figured it out earlier, didn’t you?

-You guys are smart.

-I trust the kids; I’ll just follow them. ^^

-I already trusted them!

Moreover, starting first was a bold choice.

People watched the stage preparation with anticipation.

[All team members: Let’s eat well~]

The participants, sitting in a franchise café and drinking beverages, were shown on screen.

- Munda, you’re drinking a strawberry shake… I want to pinch your cheeks, you’re so cute.

└I reported it. (Reason: Pervert)

└It’s not Munda’s fault, it’s too much.

└I’ll report it.

└You guys are crazy. 😂

The tension in the comments also eased with the relaxed scene.

The participants were chatting in the video.

[Park Munda: Do you have any preferred concept?]

[Hee-sung Kwon: Me, me! I want to do something we haven’t done before!]

[Sejin Lee (Big): Me too!]

[Sunahyun: Me too!]

[Park Munda: Hmm… Okay.]

The subtitle ‘Mr. Park, the Rabbit Class Teacher’ appeared.

-😂😂

-The kids are all so innocent, it’s a comfortable watch.

└What about Sejin? 😂 What about Sejin? 😂 What about Sejin? 😂 What about Sejin? 😂

└Even Sejin is innocent. Send Choi Won-gil away.

└Stop criticizing Sejin and Won-gil. Hypocrites. 😂

-The kids are innocent, but the viewers are not.

Of course, the participants looked even more innocent on screen because they were re-filming for PPL after deciding on the concept.

[Kim Raebin: I’d like a concept that fits well with the working title ‘Final’.]

[Sejin Lee (Big): Wow, that’s good too!]

[Sejin Lee (Actor): So, what kind of concept do you think would fit?]

After a moment of silence, the subtitle ‘Team members in deep thought’ appeared.

The silence was broken by Park Munda.

[Park Munda: How about focusing on the ‘final’ image, but more specifically, the ‘last moment’ feel?]

[Sejin Lee (Big): Ah, like the last one left. That kind of feel?]

[Park Munda: Yes, but not too heavy. It would be better if the audience can enjoy it without feeling too serious.]

Sunahyun raised his hand. Note that Sunahyun’s stuttering, which had been a recurring issue, was finally removed from the subtitles after several episodes of the production team being criticized.

[Sunahyun: Then… something like ‘■■’?]

Exclamation marks appeared above the participants' heads on screen.

[Kim Raebin: I want to do it…!]

[Sejin Lee (Big): Oh, me too! It sounds fun.]

[Hee-sung Kwon: It’s a great idea, isn’t it?]

Sejin Lee, nodding, was also shown on screen.

[Park Munda: Then our theme will be… ‘■■’.]

Wow! The screen transitioned to the participants clapping and smiling.

The theme keyword was not mentioned again.

Only a few shots of the participants practicing and receiving praise were shown.

[Eagler (composer): Your voice is really good!]

[Sunahyun: Thank you…]

Sunahyun, blushing, bowed and returned to his seat. Park Munda, who followed, aced his part on the first try.

The composers looked at each other and chuckled, then asked Park Munda.

[Eagler (composer): Could you sing from the beginning to the end again?]

[Park Munda: Sure, I’ll try.]

Of course, the scene of him singing from the beginning again was not shown, and instead, an interview with the composers was inserted.

[Eagler (composer): I like it all. This team is really good. The song arrangement is like, ‘Oh, this is so good?’]

[Eagler (composer): There’s almost nothing to change. Just do it like this (and it will be good).]

A few shots of the other team members recording in a warm atmosphere were also shown.

Since it was the final, there were no forced, strange cuts, and the editing felt less malicious.

However, the lyrics of the recording parts were carefully chosen to be unremarkable, making it impossible to guess the theme.

As a result, the viewers were rolling around, curious about the censored words.

-What is it?

-Tell me too.

-Show me what you showed them…!

-Ah, I’m so curious. I have to watch the performance. 😢

-What brilliant idea did they come up with that got edited out?

-It feels like they cut it to hide the preparation.

-If it turns out to be nothing, it will be funny. 😂

While the viewers were chatting, the ‘Challenger’ team, which had already decided on the main dancer without any conflict, was shown quickly practicing the choreography, and the VCR ended.

‘Please check the stage now!’

When the screen abruptly ended, the viewers were a bit confused.

-Is it over?

-Just like that, the stage?

-The stage is starting.

As the viewers were slightly confused by the abrupt end, the screen switched back to the performance hall, showing the screen behind the stage.

The black screen crackled, and blue and red glitches appeared, followed by white text.

[Challenger]

: Challenger.

: A person who tries to defeat the current champion in a game, fight, or sports match.

A moment later, the screen went dark with a sharp mechanical sound.

Then, the theme melody of the song began to fill the performance hall.

8-bit style.

Beep one beep beep one beep one ding!

The overt electronic sound started with a single melody and gradually built up harmonies.

Like a classic game evolving into a modern console game, the melody quickly became three-dimensional.

The moment the theme melody completed one cycle, the screen behind the stage opened.

Whoosh-

From the black stage, the participants walked out with blue and red lasers.

As they took their positions, the 8-bit melody transformed into a small accompaniment and faded away.

“……”

The audience, reflexively, stopped cheering and closed their mouths.

The figures on stage slowly formed their positions.