1. Survival
Everywhere was blue. The sky, the sea, the tall grass, and even the leaves.
Summer, when the whole world was covered in blue.
Amidst the bustle of vacationers swimming and sunbathing, in one corner, staff members dressed in black were busy setting up cameras and equipment.
And in the middle, there were still four lines of boys and young men who looked young, waiting for filming to begin.
They were contestants of the idol survival audition program
Every year, broadcasters are churning out all sorts of survival programs.
'A journey to find the best idol' or something like that.
The first audition that starts at a travel destination rather than a studio. A new format, refreshing visuals and visual beauty.
The concept of this program was to make viewers feel like they are on a comfortable, fulfilling, and colorful package tour.
'Even so, it's not 'healing' for the participants, but 'killing'....'
Participants Baek Yuri, who bought a plane ticket with his own money and flew to Jeju Island, stared blankly at the blue sea with a self-deprecating smile.
The cool, salty sea breeze pushed away the muggy air.
"Let's start filming!"
The camera turned on, and a square box was placed in front of the participants lined up. Everyone, both excited and nervous, focused their eyes on the box.
The PD explained to them in a relaxed voice as if he was filming a rural healing entertainment program.
"Okay, this box contains notes with the names of various props. Just draw one like a lottery. Then, we'll give each person a selfie with the prop written on the note they drew and give them a sticker sheet."
The assistant writer came forward and demonstrated.
"Apple!"
She pulled out a note, read it out loud, and spread it out so that it could be captured well on camera.
Then, the youngest writer took out a red apple from a large box and handed it to the assistant writer.
"The props are related to fairy tales or legends. And the 40 contestants who came before you are already hiding on the beach with one prop each."
The PD continued with a detailed explanation.
The first mission is 'Find a partner and busk.'
For example, the apple that the assistant writer just picked is a prop related to the fairy tale Snow White. So, you have to find your 'partner' participant who is hiding on the beach with other props related to Snow White.
Things like the magic mirror or the poisoned comb from Snow White.
It was a mission that was advantageous for those who had read a lot of books, whether Western or traditional fairy tales. Someone muttered quietly, "I'm already ruined!"
Baek Yuri, who had been a bookworm since childhood, listened to the explanation with a sense of relief.
"This mission is conducted in pairs. The contestants who find a partner must busk together and get 30 stickers as quickly as possible."
This time, the assistant writer showed a heart-shaped, colorful sticker.
"All the beachgoers who are currently at the beach have applied in advance. Each of them has five stickers. I have already informed them in advance to put stickers on the teams they like after watching the busking. Multiple votes are also possible."
Baek Yuri looked around the beach in surprise. He thought they were just people who came to have fun, but that wasn't the case.
It was rumored that they had rented and controlled the entire beach for filming. Upon closer inspection, she saw that there were indeed people holding papers with stickers on them.
There were no particular restrictions on the busking genre. They could sing using the sound equipment that the production team had installed in advance, or they could dance or show off their strengths.
"The five teams who first collected 30 stickers will...!"
The PD paused for a moment as if emphasizing what was to come later and then said.
"We will give you a chance to challenge for the center of the Signal Song stage!"
Wow!
Wow! Awesome!
Excited exclamations erupted here and there. Baek Yuri, who had been standing calmly, also widened his eyes in surprise.
A candidate for the Signal Song Center.
This was an opportunity that absolutely could not be missed.
The Signal Song Center was such an important position that it was said that if you stood there, you would definitely debut.
Just by becoming a candidate for the center, you could get some screen time in the early episodes.
You can start off by making a big impression on viewers, so it would be advantageous for you to rise to the top of the online voting.
'They say it's healing, but it seems like it's killing from the first filming.'
The participants lined up and drew lots one by one.
The participant who drew the glass shoes cheered, "Ah! Ah, Cinderella!"
The participants who drew the bundles of rice or dried persimmons asked the other participants what they were and were then warned.
"It must be
The partner of the person who drew the bundles of rice would be holding the same bundle of rice, and the partner of the person who drew the dried persimmons would be wearing a tiger doll mask or something.
While they were guessing the fairy tales or legends of the other participants, Baek Yu-ri's turn came soon.
He opened his eyes wide when he saw the piece of paper he had drawn and spread it out so that it could be seen clearly on the camera. Then he read the contents with a big smile, as if he was excited about the prop.
"I drew a rabbit ear headband!"
Most of these boring scenes of 40 people drawing lots were sure to be edited out.
If you make your reaction bigger, it will be less cut off.
Baek Yuri waved the note and moved to the side to receive the prop. He put the headband on his head and made a V sign with his hand toward the camera that followed him, smiling playfully.
'I find this mission very fun and exciting. I wonder who my partner will be and I'm so excited for the future. I feel happy and joyful as if I'm on a trip.'
It's so that you can feel the atmosphere.
This is probably what the production team, who insist on healing, wants the most from the participants.
The participants who received the props, self-cams, and sticker boards ran to the beach as soon as the whistle blew. The voices of the participants looking for their partners were loud.
Baek Yuri didn't forget to explain while looking at the self-cams every now and then while moving his feet.
"Hello, this is Baek Yuri. When I think of rabbits, the first things that come to mind are
Even if these scenes are not included in the main broadcast, they can be edited separately and uploaded to YouTube. He shouldn't pass over anything carelessly.
Nowadays, rather than viewers sitting in front of the TV and waiting to watch the main broadcast, there are probably more people who watch clips uploaded to YouTube and OTT platforms whenever they want.
As the contestants started to find partners one by one, Baek Yuri became increasingly anxious. The tiger had already been taken by the contestant who had picked dried persimmons, and the turtle and giraffe were nowhere to be seen.
"Aren't you
"Yes? It's not me!"
He asked the person wearing the green hat, but it wasn't. As he was running around looking for a partner, someone shouted loudly.
"Raaaaaaabbbiiiiiiit!"
When he turned to where the voice came from, there was a very tall person with a straight face and a distinct presence. His skin was pale, and his pitch-black hair covered the nape of his neck.
Even from afar, he could feel an extraordinary aura.
'A participant!'
But he looked like a water ghost, soaking wet from head to toe, as if he had fallen into the sea.
On top of that, he was wearing a hanbok (traditional Korean overcoat) on top and a pair of pants with a fancy flower pattern on the bottom, which was very embarrassing.
'Even the cuffs were tied strangely...!'
Since the first shoot was in casual clothes, there were some participants who intentionally wore something flashy, but that's a bit...... isn't that too unbalanced?
"Raaaaaaabbbiiiiiiit Teacchhheerr!"
Still, seeing that he was looking for a rabbit, Baek Yuri thought that he must be his partner, so he hurriedly approached him. However, the other person did not have any props such as a turtle shell or a turtle doll.
Was there a tale like
As he approached him, wondering, the other person opened his mouth.
"Teacher! I am the second son of the Dragon King from the Dragon Palace, Neoul. I came to find Mr. Rabbit. Are you Mr. Rabbit?"
Dragon Palace! It's Byeoljubujeon!
[*Byeoljubujeon
The Tale of a Turtle: A novel of the Joseon Dynasty; the writer and period are unknown; a story in which a terrapin captures a rabbit and brings it to an underwater palace in order to obtain its liver for the sick dragon king of the sea, but the rabbit is able to run away thanks to its wiles.]
'But why the sudden situational drama......?'
He glanced back and saw that a camera was filming in this direction, perhaps because the situation seemed interesting.
"Hmm..... Yes!"
First, he thought he should match the situation, so he answered confidently. Then, the other person knelt down and began to beg earnestly for some liver.
'I guess the production team ordered this?'
The prop seemed to be a durumagi instead of a turtle shell. It was strange that he was suddenly wearing a hanbok at the beach. It wasn't a prop that the production team gave him to wear.
Durumagi

'The concept of the son of the Dragon King...'
When he looked closely, he was a classic handsome man who looked like the faces of legendary male actors during their Rise days.
It wasn't unreasonable to give him a prince concept.
"Hey... Is this Byeoljubujeon? By the way, it looks like you fell into the water. Are you okay?"
When he asked to confirm, he was asked if he knew Byeoljubujeon.
What? Usually, if you ask if it's true, shouldn't you answer 'yes' or 'no'?
He was the one who asked first? Of course he asked, right?
And the contestant fell into the water, shouldn't someone have at least given him a towel? He was soaking wet?
In the midst of the confusion, the other person continued the skit.
"If you give me your liver, I will definitely repay your kindness. I can even let you live a life of luxury in the Dragon Palace, enjoying wealth and honor for the rest of your life."
"Yes? No! I don't need....."
Oops.
He's not used to situational dramas, so he answered too honestly reflexively. On top of that, he was worried about the person kneeling on the stone floor, which ruined his immersion in the play.
Doesn't it hurt to kneel like that on such a hard surface?
Even if the production team told you to do it, you have to do it without getting hurt. If you hurt your knees like that, it'll be difficult to dance.
As you get older, each and every joint is so precious.
When he told him to stand up, he obediently stood up. Then he skillfully delivered his lines and continued the situational drama.
"Then what can I do for you to give your liver?"
It seemed that he was either an aspiring actor or had acting experience. His facial expressions were superb.
'What are you saying?'
It's necessary to adapt to the situation, but isn't it strange to suddenly say that you understand and ask for the liver? Say that I left it at home? Say that I don't have it? What should I say so that it doesn't become boring?
Countless thoughts passed through Baek Yuri's head in a short time.
"I'll give it to you if we debut together successfully...."
Okay. Let's go with the feeling of a youth movie.
It was better to see the image of them cheering each other on and working together rather than competing against each other. Because idols are groups, not individuals.
Satisfied that he had answered well and moved on, Baek Yuri asked to shake hands with the self-proclaimed 'son of the Dragon King'.
Not even dreaming of how dangerous the joke of giving him a liver if he succeeded in his debut was.
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