Chapter 383
Chapter 383
The day of filming for LeTi’s returning in-house survival program, Wise.
The atmosphere had shifted.
The outline of the debut lineup is finally starting to take shape.
I could tell just by the greeting the CEO gave before filming started.
“You’re doing well. Let’s be a bit more daring.”
“Yes, sir!”
The criteria wasn't how positive he was.
“Jae-hyun, especially you—be careful not to overpace yourself with vocal practice.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
It was about how specific he was.
It was about how much attention he was paying.
It was at a level that any trainee who had started their social life early could easily sniff out.
“Um… your piercings look really cool today.”
“…? Thank you for the kind words!”
Thanks to that, Kim Rae-bin—who had essentially received the ‘CEO’s Pick’ sentence, signaling he would adapt perfectly to this agency in every way—found other participants cautiously starting to strike up conversations with him.
The dynamic is so different from Idol Inc. It’s actually quite entertaining.
And then there was me.
“Are you mentally prepared? I’ll see you on the podium.”
“Yes.”
This was another form of high praise.
He wouldn't say something so cruel to a prospective dropout when the cameras were off. Thanks for letting me know in advance that I passed.
“Starting recording now—”
This shoot kicked off with a bang: announcing the division of the participants into the Elite Class and the Lower Class, based on the winners and losers of the previous evaluation.
“Phew…”
“Thank you!”
Joy and sorrow intersected.
However, the most brutal part was scheduled for the next segment.
The elimination announcement.
The CEO called me and one other guy—the ‘Outliers’—up to the podium.
“Since you are already outliers, only those who have performed significantly better than the fourteen people standing over there can survive. And that person is…”
The CEO skillfully dragged out the tension before speaking with a stiff face.
“Ryu Gun-woo.”
“That is all.”
With that, the participant who had lost to Kim Rae-bin was dropped from the show then and there.
The atmosphere turned icy, but the CEO didn't seem interested in warming it up with words of encouragement.
He had said this to me, after all:
“The moment you find yourself as an outlier again, you won't be able to avoid elimination. Work as if your life depends on it.”
It meant if I became an outlier again, I was dead.
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
I welcomed it.
That meant he wouldn't rig the game to force me into being an outlier again. No matter how I looked at it, the CEO didn't seem to want to eliminate me midway through.
It’s a confirmation that the production team won’t pull any cheap tricks in the next performance mission.
How kind of them.
I bowed my head. Then, I checked the current headcount.
Excluding the one guy the CEO had personally kicked out mid-way during the last stage for a bad attitude…
Fifteen people.
Since the number of people had actually increased compared to the start, I figured more people would be eliminated in this performance. They needed to trim the numbers to keep the tension alive.
It was at that moment.
“However, every event and performance has a maximum capacity. …It cannot exceed fourteen people.”
Oh?
“Therefore, if an outlier is reinstated, the person with the lowest achievement among the existing members will be eliminated.”
Right now?
The CEO then called out a few names from the Lower Class, listing their strengths and weaknesses, before declaring:
“Participant Park Jong-hoon of the Lower Class, you are eliminated.”
“…….”
A sudden announcement of an additional elimination.
The guy whose name was called staggered at the shocking result, and the participants standing around him covered their mouths in shock.
Talk about amping up the tension.
“Please leave the set now. Participant Ryu Gun-woo, you may return to that spot.”
“……Yes.”
I guess that’s why he sent the other outlier away immediately without trying to create a warm atmosphere.
He wanted to drive the mood to this razor-thin edge.
He must have tasted blood with the buzz this show is generating.
Since being cruel gained them popularity, he must have become greedy to be even more extreme. It wasn't exactly a good sign.
In the end, even if it’s not Idol Inc., are survival shows destined to head in this direction?
Toward the formula where being cruel enough to break the kids' mental state is equated with being ‘exciting’ and ‘intense.’
It leaves a bitter taste in my mouth… though it’s not necessarily bad for me.
I waited for the guy to vacate the spot, then carefully stepped into the empty space in the Lower Class.
The guys standing next to me were frozen, their faces a messy blur of wanting to welcome me but also feeling sad for the other guy. I decided to just shut my mouth and keep a similar expression.
Best to avoid giving them anything to nitpick.
When I turned my head, I saw that all the guys I had previously teamed up with were in the debut group. Since Chae-yul and Shin-o’s team had won as well.
I nodded inwardly.
The lineup looks good.
I could already anticipate the interview questions: ‘Weren’t you worried about being the only one in the Lower Class?’ One bit of clickbait like that would be sweet for extra screen time.
“Good work, everyone.”
Once the brutal hierarchy sorting and elimination announcements were over, the lights on the stage dimmed. The microphone recordings were also cut.
“Hyung, I’m so glad.”
But the cameras were still rolling, and a quick-witted bastard immediately started managing his image.
I’m talking about Cheong-ryeo.
“Hyung!”
“You worked hard!”
I dealt with the other guys running over as if I were genuinely happy to see them, while asking Cheong-ryeo in a low voice.
The progression is quite brutal. You said it wasn't like this before.
I know. It’s become a bit… vulgar in its expression compared to before. The intensity is higher, too.
Then, the guy smiled brightly and put his arm around my shoulder as if encouraging me.
People will love it. Right?
“…….”
As always, he had a talent for phrasing similar thoughts in the trashiest way possible.
Anyway, perhaps thinking they had tightened the noose too much on the participants, the production team lightened the mood a bit for the next content.
An event followed to adjust the pace, changing the program’s tone to something softer and more exciting.
It was the exact time slot I had been excluded from last time because I was an ‘outlier,’ spending my time doing housework instead.
Last time was a public service announcement… what about this time?
It was a photoshoot for the album’s concept photos.
There were seven concepts in total.
“Now—discuss among yourselves and choose the concept you want!”
A battle of wits, concessions, and conflicting opinions ensued. Since many of them already knew each other, there was a lot of pushing roles onto others under the guise of ‘recommendations.’
Me?
“I’m fine with anything. I haven’t tried any of them, so I don’t have a preference. They all look interesting and good.”
“Ohh! If you say so, Hyung….”
How many photo concepts had TeSTAR’s Park Moon-dae shot by now? There was no way I’d be picky here.
It didn't matter what I got. I’d just coolly concede and take a good photo.
However….
“That’s it! Press down a bit more so your inner mouth is visible—”
“…….”
I… I didn't know the concept with the keyword ‘Tooth’ would be a vampire.
Who the hell put such a far-fetched concept into a survival show for kids who haven't even debuted yet? I can see why VTIC blew up in the first round.
Still, thanks to my experience, I don't think I did a bad job, and the feedback was quite good.
I handled the interview well, too.
“I’ve only ever taken photos before. Being the actual subject like this feels different. Still, I tried my best while recalling my experiences from when I used to take photos.”
It was the ‘I’m just a college student in a photography club’ meta.
Well, isn't this a fresh and good story?
It might seem a bit hypocritical, but I couldn't exactly say something crazy like, ‘Haha, I’ve done this so many times I’m sick of it,’ so I chose the next best thing.
“I think the photos will all turn out great! Good job, everyone. I enjoyed today’s shoot!”
“Wooo!”
Anyway, after the event ended with a handful of restored warmth… the performance mission struck like a hook that very night.
They’re relentless.
“Wise. It’s already the fourth performance. Your theme this time, where you must show an even more improved side of yourselves, is…….”
The CEO made the announcement to the participants, who now looked like they were about to have indigestion from nervousness every time they were called to the stage.
“The Position Battle.”
“…!”
“A battle…?”
As expected, the general framework remained the same. The main progression I had heard from Cheong-ryeo hadn't deviated yet.
Now, for example, the meaning of that Position Battle was this:
—For the next content, we’ll be doing a group performance of a new song, and this is a preliminary competition to decide which part you’ll take.
Then, the positions to be fought over were revealed on the electronic display.
[Vocal A, Vocal B]
[Dance A, Dance B, Dance C]
[Rap A, Rap B]
Parts divided into a total of seven categories.
And the CEO called out the Elite Class without warning.
“An anonymous evaluation panel voted after seeing the pictorials you shot. The Elite Class has the right to choose their parts first, in the order of who received the most votes.”
“Ah….”
Between those turning pale and those brightening up, the first name was called.
It was an obvious choice.
“Shin Jae-hyun.”
The guy stood up with a humble bow and moved immediately.
[Dance A]
Next was Cha Yu-jin.
One by one, the members were called, and after some deliberation, they each took the remaining spots.
Looking at the now-filled positions, the CEO nodded and spoke.
“Now, each of you in the Elite Class has all the authority to create this Position Battle stage.”
“…!”
“Which song you choose, what kind of performance you do—it is entirely an individual choice.”
In short, it was ‘Go ahead and make a stage however you want.’
And at this timing, the seven members of the Lower Class were inserted as challengers into the stages created by the Elite Class.
“Go ahead and try to take the stage away.”
If so, since the total number of people was still fourteen, it seemed like they should be matched one-on-one, right?
Wrong.
“You may apply for any part you want, regardless of how many applicants there are. However….”
No matter how many people joined or what happened… there would only be one winner.
—Only the one person who wins can perform the new song.
The nervous participants looked around at each other while staring at the parts.
They haven't even told us the specific parts of the new song yet.
In the end, who you were up against was the most important thing.
Of course, there was an order here as well, based on the pictorial votes.
“The first participant from the Lower Class to choose a position is… Ryu Gun-woo.”
And I was number one.
Oh.
What was my brain even impressed about? It would be weirder if a fifth-year idol couldn't beat young kids who hadn't even debuted.
If I hadn't done well, I should have banged my head against the wall.
Instead, I gave a small nod and looked at the CEO.
“Please come forward and choose a part.”
Right. Got it.
I quickly ran the numbers in my head.
Usually, if they use alphabetical order, the criteria is….
Screen time, difficulty, or order of appearance.
But Cheong-ryeo chose Dance A… I see.
Then there was a slightly higher chance that Vocal A would have more impactful parts.
Even so.
I moved my feet without hesitation.
And I stood.
“……!!”
[Vocal B]
There was no other reason.
There was a concrete factor to consider right in front of me.
The competitor.
Because the guy in the Elite Class who was the best singer here, excluding me, had chosen this.
“Participant Ryu Gun-woo of the Lower Class will be competing against Participant Choi Tae-jun of the Elite Class for Vocal B.”
Choi Tae-jun. His stage name upon debut would be Bee-han.
How did I know?
Because he’s someone I’ve sold data on.
That guy was the former main vocal of VTIC, who had been swept away in the club scandal.
Though he had been kicked out due to the incident after renewing his contract, he was no ordinary guy, having served as the main vocal for a top-tier idol group for seven years until then.
But if I pointed him out….
It’ll definitely look daring.
And if I even managed to win, the narrative of the participant Ryu Gun-woo in this survival show would gain momentum once again.
We’re past the midpoint of the program. I need to seize the flow again.
I politely bowed my head to the former VTIC main vocal.
“I look forward to working with you.”
“……Um, yes.”
The guy who nodded reluctantly… well, I guess I should just call him ‘Club Main Vocal’ or ‘Ex-Main Vocal.’ Anyway, the fellow forced a smile.
I stood beside him.
Then I watched the situation slowly unfold as the Lower Class members chose their parts one by one.
“I’ll go with Vocal A…!”
It might be obvious, but even though they could enter any part without a limit, most of them pointed to the remaining teams that only had one member from the Elite Class.
Everyone does the probability math.
But even so, there was a team that no one dared to point to, even though there was only one person, as if it were a suicidal act.
“There are currently no challengers for Dance A.”
It was ‘Dance A,’ where Shin Jae-hyun stood.
They know his skills too well.
Since they were all trainees from the same agency and knew each other well, they had enough information to know their limits and play it safe.
Hmm.
I looked at Shin Jae-hyun, who was standing alone in front of the position display without a competitor.
And this was the point of divergence from the flow Cheong-ryeo had told me about in advance.
—The original format is like this: one from the Elite Class, one from the Lower Class. A one-on-one match.
Originally, this was a one-on-one setup with absolutely no such thing as a bye.
And in my opinion, even if they could give up on a one-on-one, there was no way they would allow a bye on a survival stage.
Then there must be another element.
—There’s a bit of a variable this time, isn't there?
What could it be?
“Of course, it won't stay like this. There are other competitors.”
“Ah….”
“No way.”
“It’s… the Viewer Supplementary Class.”
“…!!”
Right. The recruitment of new participants that they had even advertised at the very end of the program.
Looking at the participants who reacted instinctively, the CEO spoke as if delivering a sentence.
“Please come out.”
Bang!
With the sound of a small firecracker and an ominous BGM, another display opened up.
They’re using them already.
Well, if it got any later, the participants' fanbases would become fixed, and the supplementary class would feel too much like an excessive obstacle.
I nodded inwardly and clasped my hands behind my back, pretending to listen intently to the CEO’s words.
“Don’t think of the previous supplementary class. These participants are talents selected from a larger pool—the entire nation—after having fully witnessed the harshness of this program.”
He sure knew how to put a fancy spin on people hired in a rush over a single week.
Even if he said that, the probability of someone truly amazing showing up was infinitely low.
I should just check their stats and move on.
Without much interest, I watched the silhouettes appearing through the dry ice.
There were seven of them again, and as expected, no one particularly stood out…. Wait.
“…!”
As the smoke cleared and the figures were revealed, right in the center was a familiar face I had seen for years.
Lately, he was even someone I was living with….
[Ryu-Ryu-Ryu Cheong-woo-nim!]
What the hell are you doing there?
I struggled to keep my mouth from hanging open… Wait, the camera was zooming in on me. These bastards know he and I are related.
No, what the fuck.
What on earth was happening?
Ryu Cheong-woo was giving a small, slightly bashful smile. It seemed he was awkward since it was his first time on such a stage.
“The supplementary class is holding placards for the parts they have chosen.”
I reflexively looked down.
The placard he had chosen in advance was….
[Vocal B]
“…….”
It was my position’s stage.
[We’re screw—]
Shut up.