Chapter 6

If I don't debut, I'll get a deadly disease 006

I'm tired.

My eyes were heavy.

The producers made sure the participants couldn't leave the set while they were judging all 77 contestants.

Even during the break times, they only let us go to the bathroom in shifts.

It must have been inconvenient to manage so many energetic teenagers, but as a result, my patience is wearing thin.

For someone who can tell everything with just a glance at the status window, every performance was unbearably boring.

I've seen enough of current idol performances at events, so there was no way I'd be deeply moved by trainee performances.

Of course, there were a couple of performances that left an impression.

I glanced at the two people sitting on the overly ornate sofa.

They are currently in 1st and 2nd place. They're from the same famous agency, and they definitely did well. Their status windows were impressive.

Both will debut, and one of them is in 1st place.

If I beat them, my chances of debuting will increase, but the thought of playing a teenage ranking game at my age is absurd.

Let's think about it again when the team battles start.

Fortunately, the judging is almost over.

"Ryu Cheong-woo is... 9th place!"

They pushed him. The last contestant squeezed into the already crowded top ranks. This means... my rank is now 22nd.

He did a great job.

Actually, he surpassed about 7 contestants who were better than me in terms of skill.

I need to manage my overestimation so it doesn't show.

"Thank you!"

The former national archery team member, with a gentle appearance, smiled and left the stage.

He won a gold medal in the Olympic team event, but I don't remember much. I only remember that he made it into the debut group.

At least he won't have to go to the military, which the agency will like.

Wait.

Now that I think about it, do I have to go to the military?

In my previous body, I got a 4th-grade exemption and did social service at the city hall.

Just before this scary topic, which I had never thought about, took over my mind, the filming ended.

"Cut! Great job! Participants, please move right away~"

"Okay~"

Scattered applause and responses came from various places.

My head was spinning as I moved according to the staff's instructions.

I need to check if 'Park Moon-dae' has to undergo a medical examination as soon as this filming ends.

"Take your rank card and board!"

The accommodation was a 10-minute walk from the set. It was a new facility built on the back mountain of the broadcasting station after the success of Season 1.

However, we used transportation, and the reason was obvious.

They wanted to cut scenes for the broadcast.

The mode of transportation varied according to rank.

"Participants! Please come this way if you're in the top 10~"

"Wow, a limousine!"

"Wow~ It's really nice!"

"Amazing."

Behind the top-ranked participants who boarded the black limousine with a thumbs-up for the camera, the lowest-ranked participants were visible.

From 51st to 77th place, they walked.

They tried to act positive and humorous, but the effort to hold back tears was evident.

The cameras relentlessly pursued these participants.

They were experts at extracting dramatic moments of unhappiness.

Honestly, it's a bit creepy.

"Ooh, good one?"

For 11th to 25th place, a premium bus was waiting.

Lee Se-jin boarded the bus first with a big smile.

To avoid sitting with him, I waited a bit and then boarded.

Someone hurriedly followed and sat next to me awkwardly.

It was Seo Ah-hyun.

"......?"

Why are you...?

Whatever. It's quiet, which is good.

* * *

We arrived at the accommodation in no time. As in the previous season, different floors were used based on rank.

This quasi-caste system will continue until the team missions start.

For 11th to 25th place, spacious 5-person rooms were assigned. Since the rooms were divided by rank, I was separated from Lee Se-jin, who was 20th. Lucky me.

"Wow~ I claim this bed!"

As soon as we entered the bedroom with two bunk beds and one single bed, one of them jumped onto the single bed.

He probably wanted to look playful and cheerful on camera.

I took the bottom bunk.

Then, Seo Ah-hyun quickly put his luggage on the top bunk.

"......"

He bowed his head when I looked at him. It feels like I'm dragging a puppy around...

After changing into the provided training clothes, he followed me to the assembly.

It seems he was intimidated by the aggressive aspiring entertainers. A quiet civilian is more comfortable for him.

Since he's not someone who will cause problems if we're linked, I let him be.

However, I shouldn't get too close to avoid being criticized for my character if we argue.

"From now on, you will enter the main training phase! It's called~ Customized Mobile Classes!"

The MC introduced the system, which everyone already knew, in an exaggerated tone.

"Based on the scores you received from the judges, your vocal and dance levels have been determined!"

"Yes!"

"Each class is divided into upper, middle, and lower levels, and you will improve your skills through level-specific training."

This part was similar to other auditions. The next part was the problem.

"And your class can change at any time based on your real-time performance!"

"......!"

"Everything depends on your effort and dedication!"

For example, if you suddenly improve in 'Intermediate Vocal' by absorbing the training like a sponge, you will move to 'Advanced Vocal' from the next session.

Of course, if you don't improve, you will be demoted.

After ten days of this, the final ranking will be determined through individual evaluations of the theme song.

It means they will mercilessly burn the teenagers' mental states to create content.

"This time, the badge goes to... Park Moon-dae!"

"Yes."

As expected, I received 'Advanced Vocal' and 'Lower Dance'.

Wearing the golden vocal badge and the dull bronze dance badge on my shoulder felt a bit awkward.

The badges were so exaggerated that they looked cheap.

By the way, there are cases where no badge is given at all.

On the internet, this is called 'waste level'.

"Those without badges... are outside the ranking. They will attend the lower class but also receive special training outside of regular hours."

Honestly, if you grit your teeth and do it, it's a more advantageous position to get camera time. It's good for creating stories.

However, the actual participants might think differently.

A good example is the young actor whose hand is trembling.

He appeared in a thriller that was seen by ten million people ten years ago but couldn't continue his career due to unfortunate circumstances.

His dance is outside the ranking, and his vocal is in the lower level. His status window shows F for dance and D for vocal.

He probably came here to revive his broadcasting career rather than to become an idol.

The surprising part is that his name is also 'Lee Se-jin'.

I didn't expect there to be someone with the same name. Of course, the one who debuted is the other one.

Why don't I think this one is the Lee Se-jin who debuted? Because he looks like a card that will be used and discarded for early hype.

He can't hide his frustration.

'The PD will like this.'

Finally, after all the badges were distributed, the giant screen lit up.

"Now, the song you will practice will be revealed. For the next ten days, you will do your best to master this song and present it to the shareholders of 'Idol Corporation'!"

It's a song that will be played everywhere until next year. Even I, a public servant who cut off media, remember the chorus and dance.

It's not at the level of 'POP☆CON', but it has followable moves.

"The song for this re-listing season... 'It's Me (Shining Star)'!"

A catchy beat and appropriately emotional yet tolerably childish lyrics started to flow.

- Standing on the stage

You won't know yet

The STAR LIGHT inside me

I'll come to you like a flash

A dancer appeared on the screen and performed the choreography. Gasps and odd groans came from various places.

And I realized.

The difficulty of the chorus was a fake.

To make it easy to follow for mass appeal, they made the introduction disgustingly complex.

I couldn't even memorize the first verse. Then the chorus burst out.

- The one shining on the stage today

Is me!

Yeah, you make the Shining Star

It's me!

Finally awakened, shining

Watch this moment~

I'm the brightest!

Even the 'choreography' of the chorus, when I saw the footwork, looked like I might fall.

I immediately made up my mind.

"Status window."

Just... don't sleep.

"Activate 'Sleep is for the dead.'"

* * *

Calories. I need to calculate my calories well.

What I mean is, I should have realized earlier that not sleeping and being active would burn a lot of calories. I almost got angry from hunger on the first night.

'W, would you like to eat this?'

And Seo Ah-hyun gave me a chocolate bar. I was grateful and ended up talking to him.

He's the same age as 'Park Moon-dae'. Talking to a young kid made me feel like I was rejuvenating.

From the next day, I stuffed myself with three meals and drinks. The food was... like fried rice, but the unlimited quantity was good.

On the ninth day.

I memorized the entire choreography. From beginning to end.

Being able to use the night without fatigue was definitely effective.

Moreover, I leveled up a few times.

[Name: Park Moon-dae (Ryu Geon-woo)]

Level: 7

Title: None

Vocal: A-

Dance: D

Appearance: C+

Talent: C

Trait: Infinite Potential, Sleep is for the dead (D)

!Abnormal Status: Death if not debuted

Remaining Points: 3

It was fortunate that there were quite a few achievements up to level 500.

However, I deliberately didn't allocate the points.

It wouldn't have a big impact if I did it now.

'Until today... 5 people.'

Already, 5 people have been promoted from lower to middle dance.

It's rare for someone's skills to improve dramatically after just a few days of training, so most of them probably failed the first audition and are now finding their true level.

If I were included, I would likely be grouped and passed over.

That would make the promotion meaningless. I need to show my improvement more dramatically.

Moreover, I have plenty of usable scenes.

I was scolded by the choreographer from the first day.

- Again!

- Left foot, bend it!

- Why are you swinging your arms? Grab them up!

On the first day, as soon as the class started, the choreographer let loose and mercilessly criticized the participants.

As a result, the atmosphere became increasingly heavy, like a funeral.

And just before the class ended, the choreographer singled me out.

- Moon-dae.

- Yes.

- If you keep this up, you'll have no chance in the next evaluation.

- ...

I wasn't the worst in this class.

It was a 'lower' class, after all. If I had to say, I was probably in the middle. The level of a non-dancer who works hard.

But I had the highest initial rank in this class. So it was a matter of expectations.

Sure enough, a similar line from the previous season came out.

- No, I had the same thought. I think I gave you the wrong rank. You didn't have the skills to get that rank.

That's right. He probably knows but is doing this for the show.

- Let's do it properly, okay? Focus.

- Yes.

It's rare for someone to suddenly develop basic skills after a few days of training, unless they have a natural talent.

But I can, so I just nodded.

The empty criticism and advice didn't move me, but it was important that it looked like it hurt.

Such dramatic material should be used.

So I need to wait.

"Great job!"

"Keep it up."

The choreographer nodded at the participants, who were panting and sweating.

After confirming that the staff were tidying up the cameras, he left the class, looking at his phone.

The morning dance class is over.

Now, it's time for the vocal class after lunch.

For lunch, we had bulgogi and seaweed soup.

I ate as much as I could. After a quick shower, I moved to the advanced vocal class alone.

By the way, I have something to confess.

"Then, Moon-dae, let's hear you~"

I'm currently eating my way through vocals.