A short-term project group aimed solely at achieving the highest efficiency results in a short period of time to escape from this place.
For this to be accepted, we must ultimately acknowledge that reality existed separately and could be returned to.
'The question is whether this bastard can reach that point.'
I closed my mouth. And Cheongryeo slowly opened his mouth.
"Alright."
It worked.
'It's done.'
I clenched my fists and suppressed a sigh. There was no need to show that I was relieved.
"Then the survival show…"
I was going to tell him to cancel it. If it weren't for what he said next.
"Hmm? That is already scheduled to happen."
"… !!"
How did this bastard know…
"Cancel it."
"Hmm? I'm not the president of a broadcasting station… It's difficult now. Haha."
I wanted to beat him up just once.
As if he had sensed it, he finally came up with a useful reason.
"Aren't survival shows pretty popular anyway?"
"…"
I touched my chin.
"Of course."
Wasn't there a living witness here?
If it appealed to the right audience, there was no better way to gather firepower in the short term than through a survival show.
The problem was that he was the one holding the sword hilt.
"As long as you don't do anything stupid."
"What nonsense are you talking about?"
As long as he didn't trash Cha Eugene on broadcast just because he treated him badly. Bastard.
Cheongryeo shrugged his shoulders, probably guessing it through even though he didn't say it out loud.
"Well, I think there was a misunderstanding here."
He snickered again.
It made me feel muddy because it seemed like that bastard was looking at me with pity.
"If I don't intervene, do you think that hoobaenim's group members will definitely be able to debut?"
"Yes."
This guy must have seen that crazy version of Idol Inc. He was saying something obvious.
Was there any way that a guy who debuted through that crazy situation wouldn't be able to survive in this agency?
'If we get properly coached, there'll be no problems.'
"Hmm…"
Cheongryeo stroked his chin.
"Then shall we make a bet?
"What?"
"Who will debut here more, VTIC members or TeStar members?"
Bullshit.
"Is this a bet? And, I've gotten two together so far."
"I have two right now as well."
"…"
In the first place, wasn't the VTIC capacity half that of TeStar?
"Hmm, have you lost confidence?"
This guy was really…
I nodded.
"It would be better to do it in proportion. Fairly."
"Is that so? You must feel confident."
The guy kept laughing like 'haha'.
"Alright. Hoobaenim, then… Let's make a plan."
And then he held out his hand.
"…"
I shook the hand he held out.
It was a temporary alliance.
But then, strength came into my grasp.
"However, if we get to the end and there's nothing…"
The guy's expression disappeared.
"If hoobaenim's reasoning is wrong…"
"… !"
Cheongryeo narrowed his eyes.
"From then on, I will do exactly as I planned."
"…"
What was he saying?
'That won't happen.'
I nodded silently. And I also tightened my grip.
"Haha, if this were real, it would be a real mess."
"It'd be a nightmare."
In this way, in reality, a mix-and-match survival game that everyone in the fandom could enjoy was accomplished.
And after a few days of preliminary work…
The article was reported in late February, and teasers began to be posted on WeTube.
• * *
The preview teaser was a typical large agency survival style.
First of all, LeTi's new headquarters was shown as a palace with great camera work.
[LeTi, the cradle of global idols representing Korea]
[Producer: Never before.]
[Artist Team Leader: It's the best ever. It's amazing how we got them together like this.]
[FluffySweet Sohyun: But, will it be possible to win the hearts of the public in the end?]
[FluffySweet Sohyun: That seems like a different problem.]
Officials saying meaningful things.
And then a huge title came out.
[Who will be superior?]
The initials were nicely grouped together in 3D graphics.
[WiS]
[Survival show to select LeTi's next generation]
[〈Wise]]
Wise.
'Wise' was created by mixing 'Who is' and 'Why' to capture both the meaning of 'Why should I debut' and 'Who is that member?'
-It's a LeTi survival show after all.
I thought so. I got heated up after recalling Cheongryeo's words.
There were already cameras lined up in the waiting room below the stage.
"Faces!"
"Yes."
Perhaps because we haven't even debuted yet, the makeup staff's tone didn't have the feel of a service job. However, it was less mechanical than Idol Inc.
'Is it because there are so few people?'
I looked around at the remaining faces.
There were a total of 14 people sitting on the floor of this building right now.
This number was the 7 members of the debut group plus 7 other trainees.
'There are many faces I saw back then.'
On my first day here, I realized that many of the people the director had summoned were included here.
Were they instructed to do this?
'I can see Shin-Oh and Ju-Dan as well.'
I didn't know if the existing VTIC members were like that originally or if Cheongryeo put them in, but they were here anyway.
I crossed my arms.
'Cha Eugene and Kim Raebin are also scheduled to appear on time.'
The problem was the other guys.
The remaining TeStar members… That is.
Of course, I looked at all the people I could find on the internet to see where they had dispersed before the start of the survival show…
"…"
In many ways, it was the two youngest members who were involved in the situation right now. Let's start like this.
'Because there is one more chance.'
I briefed my brain once more about the structure of this survival system that I had heard about from Cheongryeo.
-From the outside… It will seem like everything revolves around the boss's perspective.
Soon the main camera started rolling, and lights and people appeared on the stage.
14 people entered side by side.
The scruffy-faced CEO who was sitting in the judges' seat right in front of the stage started the briefing.
He was the face of a popular singer-songwriter group in the 90s.
"You will no longer be treated with respect as a trainee, but as a fellow singer. Understand?"
"Yes."
"Great. Then, I will explain the rules of this program to you, the gods of LeTi."
After intentionally pausing, the explanation continued.
"This is a survival show."
"… … !"
"What?"
Even though I heard that there was money in the company, the acting was quite good. There were 14 people to begin with, so it was natural to expect that there would be some who were eliminated.
I just stood there with a stiff expression on my face.
"Who will be eliminated, how many people will be eliminated, who will debut, how many will debut… It's all unknown."
Didn't the words before and after mean the same thing?
Anyway, everyone swallowed with a proud look on their faces.
"You run towards your dream, but to achieve that dream you have to overcome a lot of competition."
"…"
"So from now on, whoever wins the competition will survive."
-Honor class, inferior class. At first, they'll divide it like that.
It was literally just like I was told.
Task number 1, of which everyone was notified in advance.
[Show a solo performance.]
This was the main content of episode 1.
"You have to do well, but star quality is just as important as doing well. You must show your charms, which cannot be converted into numbers, as a standard for evaluation."
Even if the judgment was shit, it meant that things wouldn't work out if you were unattractive.
"Yes!"
Those who responded energetically came out one by one and performed dances, songs, or talent shows before entering.
'They interpreted the meaning of performance broadly.'
I watched the stage while controlling my facial expressions so that I didn't get caught.
The quality… It was very good for a trainee. But—
'There is a bit of a difference from the debut group.'
I laughed inwardly.
'They were informed late on purpose.'
In episode 1, the remaining 7 trainees were added as food to boost the 7 members of the debut group.
In these rookie days, there was a huge difference between practicing for a week and practicing for a month.
They wouldn't have said it directly though. They must have encouraged differences to the extent of secretly spreading rumors among the debut group.
Like this:
-Did you hear about the solo performance? Oh, not yet? No, guys, you should just practice~
'I was only there for 3 months, so there was no need to pick up on rumors.'
Anyway, the honors and inferior classes were almost the same.
The debut group was an honors class. The rest were inferior classes. I watched Shin-Oh and Ju-Dan go to the inferior classes. Cheongryeo's expression didn't even change.
'Hmm.'
Was he trying to create a striking image?
It was then.
"Next performance… Ryu Gunwoo."
"Yes."
It was my turn. I got up and moved.
I was the 9th person to perform. It was an ambiguous order.
First stage.
'Actually… It's not that important.'
In a survival game like Idol Inc. where a large number of people fell in half in an instant, a single hit was important, but I had to look at it from the bigger picture.
First of all, all stages would be broadcast.
'Here, only images are taken stably.'
I grabbed the head microphone and waited quietly.
A song came out.
• * *
LeTi's president, who was currently sitting in front of the stage for the survival show, actually didn't have much interest in each of the trainees.
What he was interested in is the company's growth and greater success.
Fame and wealth come from there!
'That's business.'
Having already gone more than a decade without releasing an album, the former singer and current businessman had crossed his fingers.
Still, he had eyes to see. Because these good seeds were carefully selected.
The president quickly skipped through the rehearsal and practice videos, scanning the people he identified mainly based on the documents he had received.
[Summary of candidate list]
The types that had been refined by various experts did not deviate easily. And he himself had no time to waste on every single one.
Moreover, this one in particular was just as described. The guy who came out in front now.
-21-year-old Ryu Gunwoo.
After going through the new product details, this was the description written in the first line of the feature.
-Visual image pursued in the project
'He looks very handsome.'
Even among the good guys, he was a strikingly handsome guy.
He had a nice facial structure, and there was an atmospheric, intellectual feel.
It seemed like if he showed himself a little dissatisfied, the public would foam at the mouth and vote him out.
'Okay.'
The stance was set. It would be fun to be a bit harsh first.
The president crossed his arms.
"Start."
The lighting outside the stage disappeared, and a spotlight shone brightly on Ryu Gunwoo.
Elegant music began to play.
"Hmm."
It was jazz-pop.
Under slightly dim lighting, a white face puts his mouth in front of the standing microphone.
[In a sweet life
There are things you need.
Music, dancing, wine, maybe roses]
Pop songs had been a popular choice for performances recently, especially for aspiring idols.
It was more focused on the tone of voice rather than high notes. Because there were many songs with a structure that was good for a suitable lead vocalist.
And if the song was chosen to show the best of one's skill, that would have been the best, but this time was an exception.
[Life in the Clouds
Twinkle stars]
There was no nervousness, no awkward tone, no clumsy vocalization.
The sound that rang in the microphone was as complete as the original song, with no regrets.
"… !"
Not a single sound of amateurism. The tone flowed like deep wine.
[When the piano sounds
Blooming in white smoke
Jazz…]
The president reflexively glanced at Ryu Gunwoo's next written evaluation.
-High-level vocal skills
… Only evaluating him as a person with "high-level vocal skills"? Wasn't that more of a devaluation?
-3rd place in total evaluation at the end of this month
But he could dance here, too?
And…
-Disadvantages: /
It was blank. He was thrilled.
[Hmm umumm, Lalala-la…]
A perfect gemstone without any flaws, a high-quality product that had not lost a single image, shined on the stage.
And the stage was still full of voices. Until the first verse ended with a soft and weighty technique.
[Twinkle stars]
With that single, unaccompanied high note, the sound that had filled his ears disappeared in an instant.
All that remained was a handsome face speaking from a standing mic.
"…"
For a moment, the silence felt horribly empty…
The president was silent, not intentionally, but he was truly at a loss for words.
'How… …'
Where did this guy come out at the age of 20?
It was then.
A low voice rang out.
"Thank you."
"… !"
"Ah."
Clap, clap… !!
In response to Ryu Gunwoo's thank you, applause erupted from all over, albeit a bit late.
This atmosphere of being overwhelmed.
'… Just now!'
And the president grabbed the microphone.
They could edit the detailed review later and include it in the interview. He had to say this now.
He had a certain feeling. The feeling of a broadcaster and businessman!
"Our Gunwoo-ssi… You've only been a trainee for 3 months, right? You were originally a college student."
"Yes."
"What university were you a student at?"
The young man in front of him answered calmly without any change in his expression.
"I went to Yonhee University."
That's right, this was where the cutscene will go. And the boss laughed inwardly.
'Be thankful.'
By giving this amount.
"Then why did you want to be a singer?"
He intentionally avoided calling him an idol. This was so that the dance aspect wouldn't have room to interfere with any other thoughts.
'If it's sung this well and the corrections are done properly, it will definitely produce an amazing picture.'
Then everyone would want this guy to become a singer…
"I thought that I could challenge myself to do other good things even if I just graduated from college."
It exploded here.
'Come now!'
Ryu Gunwoo looked at him without much change in expression.
It seemed like he wasn't aware of the camera. Words came out naturally.
"In life… I've never been this happy."
And a faint smile spread over his face.
"So, I think this is the right answer. And I can't just leave the right answer and choose something else. This is it."
"…"
A simple taste, without any sense of entertainment, and without any decoration, like a true student.
A valuable Item for trainee survival.
This… it was done!
The president picked up the microphone with an exhilarating feeling.
"See, guys? The period is not important. What's important is that mindset."
He raised his hand and pointed to the trainee on stage.
"That clear sign that you will debut! That's the first sign."
And that was a nice way to say it.
"Congratulations. Ryu Gunwoo-ssi. There's nothing more to say. You're in the honors class."
This was the highlight.
"… Thank you."
Ryu Gunwoo answered a little late, probably because his throat was tight, and bowed his head.
'He's a good guy to use.'
He smiled inwardly.
But it was the same for the opponent.
'How can the superiors all have the same ideas no matter how big or small they are?'
It was about effort and mindset.
Ryu Gunwoo, who had adjusted his answer to allow the president to say as much as he wanted, was nodding inwardly.
• * *
[Congratulations, really! The first shoot was the best!]
"Yes."
After filming was over, the agency sent us back to our homes instead of the survival dorms, saying that not all of the footage had been filmed.
'Thanks to them, I have time to think.'
Coincidentally, Ryu Chungwoo went on a membership training. Seeing as he took pictures of the mountains and sent them, it seemed like his hobby continued here as well.
And I sat in my room, lost in thought.
… But I never thought that Kendall would make 'that statement' at that moment.
[If things continue like this, I think your debut will go smoothly?? Hyung!]
I stayed silent for a little bit. And then I clenched my chin.
"That's how it should be."
[Yes… ?]
I had to do well.
Otherwise, things would be embarrassing.
I recalled my prior conversation with Cheongryeo.
-But in the end, hoobaenim has to be the one debuting.
-That's right.
In the end, I was the one who had to collect experience points due to the ghost of the system again.
Then the guy lifted his chin and spoke like he was serious.
-Would you like to be able to debut no matter what?
-What?
-Hm, no. I said it wrong. This is not a recommendation. Of course, it should be that way.
-…
-Haha, are you really taking care of your pride here?
Fuck. I realized that if I tried to stop this bastard because I was offended, I would be a fool who couldn't understand what was right.
-Is that possible?
So this was what happened.
[Th-then the results will be manipulated??]
"… In the worst-case scenario, yes."
If it looked like he was going to be eliminated, that bastard would end up using his hands to enter the group through the back door.
I suppressed the feeling of crumbling.
'That won't work.'
People had pride, so why should they suffer the embarrassment of receiving the grand prize but not being able to debut?
"That will never happen. I will plan well and attack, so don't worry."
[O-of course! I trust you too!]
OK.
Just like in Idol Inc., I had to plan every moment properly. I gradually predicted my image and drew up the future composition.
'I'll probably focus my image as a student from a prestigious university and go for special positions. That's what the question was about.'
Then… I guess I should mainly show my adult side. And it would be better to quietly cooperate with the group assignment.
It would be okay to look a little naïve. The president had a strong say, so I had to appeal to him.
"Hmm."
[Well, I think it will go well!]
"Okay."
After coming up with a few alternative plans, I went to sleep that night.
And that very week…
In
So, without having enough time to observe and plan a storyline, the footage shot that day was quickly edited and the second trailer was released right away.
And the moment the profiles of the 14 people were released…
-C-c-c-crazy. A guy with glasses has appeared
-ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ Fuck, great job!!
"… ??"
I… realized reality. Didn't I experience it through being a data collector and through Idol Inc.?
An idol's first impression was their appearance.