Chapter 139
Chapter 139
As expected, the dance initiation segment—where the two of them unexpectedly counterattacked the MC—wasn't cut and aired in its entirety.
[DJ Rendered Speechless by the Pouring Praise]
[23 Years on the Variety Path: An Overwhelming Defeat to a First-Time Pink Fairy]
The editing mostly focused on making a fool out of the MC, but it still managed to deliver a solid impact.
[Are all rookies these days like this?]
[I’m scared… I’m so scared!]
…I even got captions like that, along with CG of my wings burning in neon colors.
After vowing not to burst into laughter every time they appeared on screen, the members, who had finally regained their composure, twitched their lips and cleared their throats.
"Haha, ahem. You guys did great on the show."
"You were, cough, magnificent!"
"Hyung, you’re a scary person. You’re cool!"
"…Uh, thanks."
It seemed Cha Yu-jin had creatively interpreted the caption 'scary' as 'threateningly talented.'
Anyway, embarrassment aside, it turned out well. The real-time viewer reactions were also quite positive.
Just then, the two members of VTIC appeared on screen and performed a cool dance. However, only ten seconds later, they were seen crawling on the floor, unable to handle the comments.
"…Hmm."
That was pretty funny in its own way.
'VTIC fans should be reasonably satisfied too.'
As I was giving a generous evaluation, the Doppelgänger Team Battle began with a twist.
[Since you share the same body, you have to take the penalty together! You’re doppelgängers, after all! Therefore, <One Mind, One Body>!]
It was entertaining, but there wasn't much to harvest as "best cuts" from the first 30 minutes of this game. It just showed us playing the game hard, a few natural shots, and our bewildered reactions to VTIC’s self-destruction.
"Why don't you have your wings on??"
"I took them off because they’re dangerous~"
"Aha!"
With that light conversation, the monitoring of this week’s Saturday Party came to an end.
"You two did really well on variety."
"It, it was fun…!"
It was a generous assessment, but it felt a bit early to hear it since next week’s footage hadn't even aired yet.
"Aww, thank you! Please make sure to tune in next week too~"
"Haha, alright."
Ryu Cheong-woo replied with a smile to Keun Se-jin’s banter. He had a face that couldn't even imagine what kind of sight he would witness next week.
The internet reaction was also moderate, mostly fans expressing anticipation for next week. Among general viewers, the dominant sentiment was favorable, thanks to the strong entrance: 'Those two from TeSTAR are pretty funny~'
Hmm, this was perfect. The effect would be better when expectations weren't too high.
I stretched and stood up from the sofa.
'I’ll have to wait one more week.'
As long as no major problems occurred, everything was going smoothly.
However, the situation I had feared finally arose.
Public opinion regarding me began to waver.
While Park Moon-dae waited for the next episode of Saturday Party, the internet became noisy once again.
As Park Moon-dae had predicted, the case of the person who leaked Choi Won-gil’s recording hadn't been properly resolved.
This time, the whistleblower posted a full article. It included proof of being a staff member and testimony about Choi Won-gil’s notoriety during Idol Inc.
However, it didn't last more than a few days. Due to metadata they failed to delete, the whistleblower’s identity was exposed.
=========================
[Crazy, the Choi Won-gil whistleblower is trash]
: (Screenshot) See the original image address in the corner here? The end looks like an ID, so I Googled it and their whole history popped up. Shiver ㅋㅋㅋㅋ
They’re a jobless pathological liar who mocks the deceased.
The staff ID was also stolen.
(Screenshot)
=========================
Immediately after, the company posted a notice regarding legal action. The general consensus became: 'The leaker is someone who doesn't even know Choi Won-gil and just happened to overhear and record the conversation while working a one-day part-time job.'
Simultaneously, Choi Won-gil’s agency began posting anonymous correction posts on various communities, revealing the whistleblower’s identity in the most provocative way possible.
[Choi Won-gil Rumor Spreader = Famous Troll Who Mocks the Deceased]
[The Identity of the Choi Won-gil Whistleblower is More Horrific Than Imagined]
Once that work was done, public opinion finally began to shift toward sympathy for Choi Won-gil.
Naturally, as the public's attention shifted, the sympathy and high praise for Park Moon-dae’s character began to wither.
And there were people who had been waiting for exactly that moment.
=========================
[The current situation where opinions are divided regarding Park Moon-dae and Choi Won-gil]
: This is a behind-the-scenes video from Idol Inc. released after the show ended. (Screenshot)
During the first team battle, Park Moon-dae ended up taking the bridge part that was originally Choi Won-gil’s. The scene where Park Moon-dae glances at Choi Won-gil while saying he’ll arrange this part himself.
For reference, Park Moon-dae blew up because he arranged this part into a super high-pitched 'Saint' version by himself.
(Screenshot) Choi Won-gil’s flustered face.
'Park Moon-dae screwed over Choi Won-gil' VS
'It’s just a feeling and wild speculation'
What do you guys think?
=========================
The majority of the comments told them to stop talking nonsense, but there was plenty of malice trying to ride the wave.
Of course, this post was deleted before long due to reports and rebuttals. However, it was inevitable that it left a bitter aftertaste for the fans.
Even after that, posts maliciously pointing out Park Moon-dae’s past actions would pop up among popular posts, only to disappear after a fight broke out.
The reaction they were aiming for was this:
[Everyone was making a fuss about Park Moon-dae having a good personality, but he doesn't. How spiteful.]
Due to Park Moon-dae’s quick response and TeSTAR’s own star power, a full-blown backlash didn't occur, but it was a precarious few days. Fans spent each day on edge.
It was at that exact timing that the second episode of Saturday Party featuring Park Moon-dae began to air.
'Please, let us catch just one thing on him.'
'Please, it’s okay if it’s boring, just let nothing happen.'
Amidst these crossing desires, the second episode of the 'One Mind, One Body' segment on Saturday Party began.
At first, it was just moderately funny.
[Wow~ It’s not ending!]
[Why is everyone so good??]
The sight of idols and actors fiercely diving into the games was heartwarming and easy to watch. The show also softly highlighted Keun Se-jin taking care of an actor returning from a penalty, saying they had 'already become best friends.'
The strange signs began from the next game.
[The next game is… ‘Stay Still’! The person who remains unfazed and stays still the longest in any situation wins!]
It was a game where the team with the person who could hold a mouthful of water the longest without spitting it out would win.
And Park Moon-dae was the sole survivor at a table that had turned into a mess of water cannons.
[…….]
[No, Moon-dae-ssi, you are awake, right?!]
[Is this even possible??]
Even when a staff member suddenly screamed and did a sexy dance, or a monkey popped out of the DJ booth, or a circus performer riding an elephant passed by while juggling fire, he didn't react.
Park Moon-dae’s face, staring into space without a hint of agitation, was the definition of serenity. Compared to the crazy situations he had faced so far, an elephant was nothing.
'At least elephants actually exist in the natural world.'
It was the sorrow of a fantasy novel protagonist being threatened by a status window.
And that caption was attached to Park Moon-dae’s head for the first time in a while.
[Se-rene]
A Tibetan Fox CG even appeared behind him. Thanks to his cheeks being slightly puffed out from the water, the synchronization was uncanny.
[※ Unprecedented Situation]
[Right now, the production team… says they’ve run out of things they prepared!]
[Whoa!!]
[That’s insane, seriously!]
It was a complete victory.
Park Moon-dae swallowed the water and bowed to those around him. And he gave the viewers pure joy.
But it didn't end there. The MC started to make a move. He targeted Keun Se-jin.
[Now then, the person for this penalty is… Lee Se-jin-ssi!]
[What??]
[Hey, that’s not right!]
[There are three people who were eliminated before Se-jin!]
[At that decisive moment! Because you were eliminated there, the team’s strength crumbled~ Ah~ look! Because Se-jin-ssi burst out laughing, these two laughed right after him~]
The MC tried to draw a flustered reaction from Keun Se-jin by framing the situation with plausible words. However, Keun Se-jin grinned widely.
[Ah, sounds good!]
[…!?]
[Se-jin-ah?]
[Are you okay with having scribbles on your face as an idol?]
[The team’s victory is more important than that!]
[?!]
Beyond the bewildered captions, Keun Se-jin pointed his index finger at Park Moon-dae.
[Moon-dae-ya!]
[……?]
[If you keep doing well, I’m going to take the penalty no matter what!!]
[…!!]
[Even if the team wins, you’re getting all the penalties! Think carefully!]
It was madness for the sake of victory.
[Sacrificial spirit…?]
Even the captions were confused. But Park Moon-dae wasn't flustered.
[Fine. I’ll take all the penalties, then.]
[!!!!]
[Winning as a team is what’s important. We have to catch the doppelgängers.]
[Guys, you’re too immersed!!]
[You know this is a variety show, right??]
[We must win, catch the fakes, and get out.]
[The fakes are important! But this footage will follow you for the rest of your lives?!]
[If we don't catch the fakes here, there’s no future for our team.]
[Oh my god.]
There was no reasoning with them.
The two of them went out together and got cat whiskers and raccoon markings drawn on their faces. They looked cute, but their eyes were burning.
[True Madness]
While the captions were also burning, the next round proceeded.
[This round is… ‘Gayo Encyclopedia’! What year is it now? 1988~ You just have to listen to a song released this year and guess the title!]
And as per the pattern, Keun Se-jin, who had predicted this game and studied for it, began to sweep up the correct answers.
[Correct!]
[Yay!]
At the moment when the victory of Keun Se-jin’s team seemed certain, this time, Park Moon-dae started his self-destruction.
[Ah… Moon-dae-ssi, wrong!]
[…Junior-nim, what are you doing……?]
[I’m going to record the highest number of wrong answers so I can take the penalty.]
[!!!!]
Beyond the captions that were practically falling over in shock, Park Moon-dae clenched his fists.
[Lee Se-jin will also taste the penalty the better he does.]
[Wait.]
[Guys, this isn't how these rules were meant to be used!]
It was a catastrophe. Eventually, as the game progressed, the other cast members who got swept up in the atmosphere completely accepted the method of targeting those who performed well with self-destruction to make them take penalties.
The viewers were rolling.
Even though it was a setup where they were sacrificing themselves for the team's victory, the situation—which flowed strangely because they were so over-invested in a variety show that lacked any sense of reality—was just hilarious.
[Hey, let’s go.]
[Sigh.]
Even the regular cast members got caught up in the mood and sacrificed themselves. The sight of them walking to receive their penalties with their arms around each other's shoulders, faces full of resignation, was pure comedy.
And as the crowning touch, another incident occurred in the final game that decided the ultimate winner. An So-hyun of Malang Dalkom gave up on her self-destruction threat at the last minute.
[I’m sorry, Moon-dae-ssi! Young-rin unnie has a fear of heights! I don't think this is right!]
[!!!!]
The over-investment ended with a betrayal like that. Young-rin successfully raised the flag, bringing victory to her team.
[So the real ones are… the Party Team!]
[Waaaaaaa!!]
Park Moon-dae’s dazed face, looking utterly forlorn, was truly funny.
The TeSTAR-centered clips of this episode hit the trending videos the moment they were uploaded to WeTube.
[(Saturday Party) ‘Smite those doppelgängers!’ A collection of TeSTAR’s over-investment.zip | Legend <One Mind, One Body> | SBC]
The image of 'Park Moon-dae, who underhandedly snubs people while pretending not to and calculates everything,' which the antis had been working so hard to build up, was smashed to pieces by the wave of 'Over-invested Tibetan Fox, 4D Moon-dae strikes again.'
'It worked.'
I let out a sigh of complex meaning and turned off my smartphone. It was… quite embarrassing, but satisfying.
'The atmosphere is properly set.'
The effort of asking VTIC to overreact on purpose had definitely paid off. Because of that, TeSTAR’s actions looked even more uniquely strange. It was the effect of their reactions.
And thanks to this hilarious image being firmly attached, it didn't seem like public opinion would fluctuate over minor things for a while.
Then, something suddenly came to mind.
'…I can proceed with a light heart.'
I felt it was okay to start moving forward with the task I had planned since the beginning of this promotion.
First, some preliminary work was needed.
'Let’s start by organizing the settlement amounts.'
It was finally time to open up and see last year’s results.