Chapter 6
Chapter 6
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 6
Chapter Title: Genius Idol's Entertainment Industry Conquest Strategy 6
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The number one seat wasn't number one for nothing.
Sitting up straight with perfect posture felt completely comfortable.
This was impressive. Even chairs costing hundreds of dollars didn't make it this easy.
'My back got wrecked from gaming... I just want to take this chair home.'
Thankfully, the trainees who entered after me didn't eye the top seat and quietly took their places in the 90s range.
If it were me, I'd have at least tested a pushover like 'On Raon' sitting in first place. But with no guts like this, what could they do?
Thus, all 100 chairs found their owners without issue.
During the break, Pick Heart's main PD, Jo In-soo, came out and gave a speech along the lines of, "You guys are going to suffer like hell from now on, but after that, we'll make you world stars, so follow along without complaints even if we push you hard," before vanishing again.
I let that old-man rant slide and enjoyed the view from the top, scanning the trainees' names and the backs of their heads.
Then, the screen with the red heart logo changed.
The trainees, who had stiffened at the PD's appearance, let out gasps of admiration.
They already knew who it was. Don't keep it to yourselves—let me in on it too.
Click-clack. The sound of heels echoed. Someone was ascending the stage.
"Woooaaah!"
Before her figure was even clear, trainees were jumping up and cheering wildly.
Not just her alluring looks, but the aura radiating from every step proved that Jena was someone extraordinary.
As the applause that had started when the screen changed died down, the woman in the stunning red suit stood center stage and picked up the mic.
"Hello. I'm Jena, the new director at Pick Heart Entertainment for Pick Your Heart Season 3."
Applause poured in for Jena once more. Whispers rippled through the crowd.
"Whoa... she's so pretty."
"Light Jena. God Jena."
The contestants' reactions were on point. They had to be, or they'd lose screen time.
"Following Season 1, I've returned as Pick Heart director, and somehow, we've gathered 100 trainees for Season 3 as well. Nice to meet you all."
"Nice to meet you!"
The trainees' response was enthusiastic. With the massive success of the senior groups from past seasons, they were filled with hope that they could achieve the same.
"In Seasons 1 and 2, Pick Your Heart selected debut members entirely based on viewer votes."
Lies.
"This season too, only the trainees chosen by fans—who will closely watch both your on-stage and off-stage performances—will survive three rounds of eliminations and continue chasing their debut dreams."
At the harsh word "elimination," the excited trainees bowed their heads, sighed, or hardened their expressions.
Watching their reactions, Jena drooped her eyebrows sympathetically before composing herself.
"Dozens of idol groups debut each year, only to be forgotten just as quickly—that's the reality of the music industry. So for Pick Your Heart Season 3, we've introduced two key differences from previous seasons."
As Jena finished, the words 'GLOBAL' and 'SELF PRODUCING' appeared on the screen.
"As you can see, Season 3's goals are globalization and self-producing."
The trainees murmured lightly.
"First, aiming for rapid overseas expansion, we've greatly increased the number of foreign trainees this season and extended the final debut group's activity period to 2 years and 6 months to lay the groundwork for smooth international activities."
Sounds like they were short on domestic trainees and hastily scouted abroad. But whatever, I'll buy it.
"Note that overseas fans can vote via the app this time."
I can see it now: the app servers crashing, tanking the app store rating to 1 star.
Explanations followed on self-producing and expert evaluations.
So that's what the expert evaluations mentioned in the quest and articles were about.
"To ensure the completed group's skills, we'll add expert evaluations to the existing votes for trainees performing at the final debut evaluation stage. We'll select one trainee each for vocal, performance, and rap positions—capable of lyric-writing/composing, choreography creation, rap making, etc.—as sub-leaders within the group."
A buzz erupted among the trainees.
"Even if you're outside debut range by votes alone, a skilled trainee scoring high on expert evaluations could enter the top 10 as a responsible sub-leader. Don't forget this—give your all in every evaluation."
The more I hear, the easier it seems to rig. Am I the abnormal one?
"No one knows yet which of these 100 trainees will debut."
But the PD does.
"While filming this program, you'll all shine with growth like your seniors. Now, let me introduce the Pick Your Heart mentors who will support that growth with all their might!"
As 'Pick Your Heart Mentor Team' appeared on the screen, about five people ascended the stage amid a shower of applause from the trainees.
The names... Muk Hye-seong, Han Ji-hee, Seok Su-young, Lee Chang-yeon, Joo An.
Jena and the mentors lined up looked impressive, to put it bluntly.
Excited trainees whispered.
"This lineup is insane."
"Whoa, Muk Hye-seong rarely does shows like this. What kind of pull do they have?"
"Everyone who was hot in Seasons 1 or 2 is here."
Anyway, I have to show my pathetic singing and dancing in front of these legends.
'Sorry in advance.'
"Shall we all greet the Pick Heart Entertainment President, who will be watching over you?"
Here, they called voting fans and viewers the 'President.'
President, huh. A title to make viewers feel like they hold the power.
"Pick Heart Entertainment President! Please take care of us!"
The mentor evaluations that followed were the first round, where trainees from each agency showcased pre-prepared songs, dances, raps, etc., to the mentors.
The result: the group gets split in half like that.
"Choi Entertainment's Na Yun-jae trainee will be with Mentor Seok Su-young, and Kim Se-jong trainee with Mentor Joo An."
"Thank you!"
"Do your best."
"Yes!"
Pick Heart divided the trainees by mentor.
Han Ji-hee mainly picked well-rounded trainees needing fine-tuning.
Seok Su-young took those with decent average skills but weak dance; Lee Chang-yeon, similar levels but weak vocals.
Joo An selected rap-position trainees and those with basics but not quite up to Seok or Lee's standards.
Finally, Muk Hye-seong took the ones in serious trouble.
If dance or vocals—or anything—was disastrously subpar, they went to Muk Hye-seong.
Dividing by weak areas seemed efficient.
'I know exactly where I'm headed.'
Having completely forgotten even the shoddy basics from trainee days, plus my stats... yeah.
The next up were the Japanese trainees.
"Hello! We're Nagase Ritsu from Star Stage."
"Noma Haruto!"
"Azumi Ren!"
The Japanese trainees introduced themselves in mostly comfortable Korean pronunciation, and Jena responded warmly.
"We'll watch your stage right away."
As the trainees prepared, the mentors flipped through files and murmured among themselves—too quiet to catch from up here.
"Japanese guys."
"These kids didn't train in Korea—they're straight from Japan, right?"
"Yes."
Being in first has perks, but this sucks. Can't hear a word the mentors say.
The folks below must catch everything. Must be fun.
Not that I'd risk the 90s seats for it.
Moments later, music started.
Couldn't see the mentors' faces, but the atmosphere chilled in real time—it was obvious.
Utterly subpar, not even close to Korean idol standards.
With each part ending, trainees and mentors alike sighed "Oh no, oh no." Some turned away, unable to watch.
Seok Su-young lamented.
"What do we do with this?"
Having heard rumors in real life about Japanese idol survival shows, I kept calm, silently clapping on beat.
After the stage ended, heavy sighs rose from the mentors.
Silence hung, then Jena took the mic as representative.
"To debut as an idol in Korea, you're still lacking a lot."
"No matter what you try to do, nothing's properly structured."
"Star Production—all of you will receive guidance from Mentor Muk Hye-seong."
The Star Production trainees, knowing who Muk Hye-seong had taken so far, looked glum.
Nagase Ritsu, seeming the leader, recovered quickest and bowed.
"Thank you!"
Though these Japanese trainees slunk off with slumped shoulders, considering Season 1's male bias had burned through many trainees already, the overall level including foreigners was decent.
Average enough not to get trashed by the public?
"Aren't you tired?"
Seo Chan-bin, seated in second place, leaned toward me curiously during the break between stages.
Tired? No way.
Far from tiring over time, it was restoring stamina.
Probably the most energized I've felt since possessing this body.
Body at ease, mind relaxed—a gentle tone flowed out naturally.
"There are so many great stages, so even if my body's tired, my mind isn't."
"Wow. You haven't gone up yet, right?"
"Yeah. Kinda nervous not knowing when."
"Fighting!"
"Yeah. Fighting."
Regardless of true feelings, we exchanged warm encouragement when a staffer called from below.
"True Entertainment Oh Hyun-jin, independent trainee On Raon, Wes Music Kim Jun-woo, Yoon Myung-soo—come down and wait!"
Finally my turn. But called with Oh Hyun-jin... coincidence?
"Do great!"
"I'll do my best."
Since I'm only level 3 now. Can't promise excellence.
Descending with seemingly casual steps, I felt the trainees' eyes on me.
The guy who wrote 100th but snagged first place—finally performing. Curiosity piqued.
Heading to the lowest rear stage area, a staffer explained.
"Order: Oh Hyun-jin trainee, On Raon trainee, then Wes Music. Oh Hyun-jin, wait here; On Raon and Wes Music folks, come here. Light practice okay, but keep volume down."
"Got it."
While another trainee's evaluation went on stage, I put in my earbuds.
No custom molds—just battered ones taped to stay put.
"Why..."
Oh Hyun-jin, starting to say something while looking at me, shut his mouth at Jena's call for the next trainee and turned away.
Why what? Spit it out.