Chapter 395
Chapter 395
Step-by-step drama and a story of survival.
From the addition of new participants with unique colors—unusual for an in-house survival show—to high-impact performances that naturally drew comments like "That’s so LeTi," the show was a hit.
Ahead of the finale of Wise, which had become a hot topic as a thrilling survival show (though not quite as trashy as Idol Inc.), the viewers' attitude was as follows:
-
Speculation was rife regarding the whereabouts of the viewer votes, which had seemingly vanished from mention at some point.
The truth was revealed in Episode 9, which aired just before the finale.
At first, everyone thought it was just a "filler" episode, showing minor behind-the-scenes stories and the trainees practicing for the final stage.
The episode showed how close the trainees were, the trial and error they faced, and what they did for fun during breaks.
It was a well-placed mix of answers to various questions circulating among viewers. Naturally, the typical survival show tension dropped, but many reacted favorably, calling the production team "experts who know what the viewers want."
However, the production team's trump card was revealed at the very end.
Past the various behind-the-scenes clips that brought smiles and the practice room cuts of passionate participants sweating and working hard…
The camera moved to the stage.
Even more shocking was the "LIVE" indicator displayed in the top corner.
The viewers, who had grown accustomed to the low-key, spin-off-like flow, were caught off guard by the sudden live broadcast screen.
[Participants, we have an urgent announcement before the finale.]
CEO Kim Tae-in, sitting in the judge's seat, picked up the microphone again.
As the camera captured the bewildered yet tense participants, the CEO’s voice continued.
[The results of the viewer votes are in.]
[!]
[The choice of the public is the absolute measure of evaluation you will face as you move forward. Those who do not meet that evaluation...]
The CEO deliberately took a breath before finishing his sentence.
He said exactly what everyone expected.
[...will be eliminated.]
Viewers wailed as they watched the participants on stage trembling or casting their eyes downward.
At the same time, the sudden tension and curiosity about the voting results caused viewership concentration to skyrocket.
Such was the power of a survival show.
The CEO, unable to see the real-time comments filled with crying emojis and exclamations, slowly announced the results.
[First, those in the safe zone.]
The CEO announced four names in a row: Kim Rae-bin, Oh Yoon-shin, Jung Woo-dan, Han Kyung-mo...
"Lower than expected," "The fans weren't desperate because they were CEO picks," "They lost out on cumulative votes because that crazy orchestra was in the very last episode"...
Various reactions and critiques flew about, but everyone seemed relieved by the word "safe."
However, looking at the remaining eight, they fell into confusion.
With only twelve people left and the viewer vote tallies never having been revealed before, it was impossible to draw a clear line.
[I will now announce the bottom tier.]
Amidst tense background music, the CEO announced the names one by one.
[Park Nam-ho.]
It started with participants who hadn't stood out much—members people more or less expected—but the structure gradually led to more unexpected names.
The atmosphere of people being sad yet somewhat accepting was shattered when the last bottom-tier participant was called.
[And... Ryu Cheong-woo.]
[......]
The person in question stepped forward with a calm expression, but the comments were anything but calm.
A former national athlete, a lucky totem, and a new face with a crazy presence whose skills had improved in the blink of an eye—pushed out in the voting?
For a few seconds, the reaction was explosive, claiming it made no sense, but people soon grasped the situation.
He was pushed out because he was a new face.
Even as the panicked viewers poured out their posts, they didn't think the CEO would actually eliminate everyone he just called.
And as they hoped, the CEO spoke again.
[The Bottom 4 determined by your votes were originally scheduled for immediate elimination.]
That meant they weren't being eliminated immediately anymore.
[However, for an idol group to be complete, one more element is needed besides the fans.]
[And that is the idols themselves.]
Regardless of the viewers' outcry, the CEO continued his announcement with a serious, melancholic expression.
[Therefore, we will listen to their opinions.]
The screen showed the members looking up in shock.
[Wise participants, you will vote for two participants you wish to continue with.]
[!!!]
Cuts of the participants who weren't in the bottom tier looking at each other in distress alternated with the CEO's serious face.
As an in-house survival show, Wise used the existing tight-knit relationships and group consciousness among the trainees as another selling point.
And the final bit of drama, utilizing that very element in reverse, had just erupted.
[Depending on your votes, the two people with the most votes will survive until the finale.]
[The results... will be revealed next week, before the Wise final stage.]
The camera slowly pulled back, capturing the entire frozen stage.
Then, it faded out.
Colorful advertisements began to play, but the viewers couldn't stop commenting.
This was a time before Idol Inc. Season 1 had even aired.
Wise began to burn its final flame before the finale with unparalleled, spicy drama.
I thought to myself as I stepped off the stage.
‘Oh.’
The production team is actually doing their jobs.
Honestly, if they had just glossed over it with some behind-the-scenes footage, the buzz would have died down. Going for something provocative was the right choice.
‘The word choice was decent, too.’
They weren't told to vote for who to eliminate, but who to save. This much is acceptable. It’s not at the level of abandoning one's humanity.
Though, if someone who survived through a peer vote causes trouble after debuting, it could be a problem... but I don't need to consider that here.
I’m aiming for the group that will yield the highest efficiency in the shortest time.
‘The problem is that Ryu Cheong-woo’s position has become a bit awkward.’
Since a cartel has already formed among the existing trainees, there’s a limit to the votes he can get.
‘I’ll have to handle this.’
So, as soon as I took off my microphone, I went to find the guy who, even after today's live broadcast, hadn't said who he was going to get rid of.
Cheong-ryeo.
"Was this the 'natural' way you were going to send them off?"
He replied with a smile, not looking flustered at all.
"Of course. I have to use a method this easy."
"......"
"The final result is right before them, so they're easily shaken by even a small shock. Planting a single choice in their heads is incredibly simple."
Ensuring they would never give their vote to a certain someone.
‘It’s a rational judgment, but...’
I frowned.
"The reason you didn't tell me is..."
"Because I thought my hands would get tied up with my junior, who would try to do some prep work if I told him in advance. You're not the type to just sit and wait, are you, Junior?"
"......"
Fuck, I can't even argue with that.
"You can understand, right? Then let's do it like this from now on. I'll remove the elements that need removing, and you, Junior, try to attach the elements you want to keep."
He was talking about Ryu Cheong-woo.
Then, he added, pretending to be kind.
"But if you really can't do it, just say so. I'll do it for you."
I looked at him, dumbfounded.
"It's not 'doing it for me,' you should do it. Is there a better card in the bottom tier right now than Ryu Cheong-woo?"
I don't know what kind of nonsense he's talking when we have the same goal.
At that, Cheong-ryeo chuckled.
"Is that so? All right. Then I'll change it to: if you can't do it, I'll do it."
"......"
I let out a short laugh.
"Fine, I'll try it first."
Did he think I’d get angry here? If things don't work out, I'm in a position where I'd have to use even a cat's paw. I have to squeeze every last drop of use out of this bastard.
"Good."
The smiling guy then walked leisurely down the hallway and disappeared. It looked like he was going to see other trainees.
A pop-up flickered over his retreating back.
[Then... will you also persuade the other trainees, Hyung?]
There was one thing to check before that.
I pulled up the pop-up window that had appeared on stage earlier.
[Quest: Fame Collection Activity 2/N]
│■■■■----->│
- 50% Achieved!
Reward: You have received a package....
This had popped up as a mid-term settlement once I reached 500,000 cumulative Fame Exp.
Of course, except for about 100,000 points, I had dumped it all into the Colleague Gacha.
‘It was a feature in Section 127.’
I had seen it during the test play.
Had they said they prepared clear intermediate rewards to encourage and entice players to keep playing?
‘The item is probably random.’
I went to my mail and checked the package image labeled "Progress Reward."
[A Package Holding Countless Possibilities]
- It is the voice of the stars encouraging you.
In other words, something great could come out, but with my luck, I’d probably just end up with some Gold.
‘I must have accumulated about 4,000 Gold by now.’
Thinking of the useless scraps of text, I clicked to receive the package with a blank expression.
However.
[Package Contents - Invitation]
[Colleague (★★★★) is coming....]
Oh?
Starlight erupted from the package. It seemed it was giving me a colleague instead of Gold.
Not that I needed one.
‘If it’s 4 stars...’
I recalled the 4-star colleague I had seen before pulling Keun Se-jin.
[★★★★ Jang So-hyun / Lead Dancer]
‘She was a member of Malang Dalkom.’
I almost had a heart attack when I saw her while organizing. I didn't take her as a colleague out of fear I might trigger an Awakening, but I did put her in my inventory.
Anyway, based on that experience...
‘It seems people I know also appear among colleagues with 3 stars or more.’
I never saw any in the 1 or 2-star tiers, but from 3 stars up, familiar names I’d brushed past occasionally appeared.
[Ah, there was a mention in the description about finding colleagues with a 'bond.' Maybe that's being reflected?]
I had been making a similar guess.
‘Then, could it be this time too?’
Anyway, the light from the package soon faded, and the description was finally revealed...
A truly familiar name appeared.
[★★★★ Jung Woo-dan / Lead Vocalist]
"...??"
It’s the VTIC guy.
[It's Ju-dan, right?]
Yes, that Ju-dan.
‘What the...’
I moved my hand with the intention of just sticking him in my inventory for now... but there was no "Decline" button?
[Confirm]
Only this was visible. Is this an automatic registration?
[I guess so...?]
Well, it didn't really matter. If worst came to worst, I could just accept him and then delete him from the colleague list.
So, it was the moment I pressed the "Confirm" button.
Zzzzt!
...Star effects sparked from the button again.
"...??"
[Fortune Chance]
A strange phrase embossed in bronze appeared, and words began to spin inside a vintage pipe.
‘This is...’
A luck event from the game. And at some point, it stopped with a clack, like gears locking into place, to combine the words.
[Additional Effect - Awakening!]
And three seconds later.
[Colleague: Jung Woo-dan has successfully Awakened!]
"What."
What did you say?
This crazy system bastard gave me a bonus in the most fucked-up way possible.
As soon as I confirmed the situation, I sprinted down the hallway, searching the practice rooms.
‘I have to find him.’
If I mess up, I’m really screwed...!
After opening three or four different types of practice rooms according to priority with my mind racing, I finally encountered the guy who was banging his head against the wall of a choreography practice room.
Jung Woo-dan.
In other words... Ju-dan of VTIC.
"......"
"......"
The guy didn't say a word, nor did he take his head off the wall. I slowly approached him, trying not to draw attention from those around us.
‘Be cautious.’
My brain was spinning.
Just then, Cha Yu-jin, who was warming up in the corner, saw me and raised his hand high.
Wait, don't tell me you...
"Moon-dae Hyung!"
Of course.
"...Moon-dae?"
The guy who had been banging his head flinched at the familiar name and hurriedly looked up.
"Park Moon-dae... Junior?"
I’m doomed.
The guy who looked up scanned his surroundings with a confused face, and when he saw Cha Yu-jin and Kim Rae-bin behind him, he turned even paler.
"TeSTAR... wait."
"Um, Sunbae-nim."
"No, I mean..."
Cold sweat was trickling down his expressionless face as he muttered to himself.
But soon, he seemed to be soothing himself, mumbling something under his breath.
‘I should take him outside for now.’
I was just thankful there were no cameras yet.
However, before I could even gesture to Cha Yu-jin to help me pull him away by the arms, Ju-dan spoke.
In a much calmer voice.
"Where is the production team?"
"Why the production team...?"
"I'm quitting the show."
"...?!"
My mind went blank.