Chapter 50
Chapter 50
According to the hint System had shown, the production team was going to get caught in the upcoming 3rd competition vote.
I hadn't just recalled it; I had seen it firsthand.
The morning of the ranking announcement filming. It was before I received the President's message to come observe an audition.
I had been eating some stir-fried seaweed stems from a side dish shop that Kim Sanho had personally shopped for, planning my next steps.
'Wasn't there a way to view the hints again?'
But even as I stared into empty space thinking that, System remained silent.
I had figured as much and was about to drop my expectations, but I tried one last time, just in case.
'View hints again.'
[View Hints Again] Would you like to use this?
Hint List
1. Tutorial―1
2. Tutorial―2
3. Prologue―1
4. Prologue―2
So it wouldn't work unless I wished for 'view hints again' intensely and precisely. How finicky could it get?
'More importantly, if you have features like that, let me know in advance.'
Anyway, to test the newly discovered function, I clearly thought, 'replay hint 1.'
Then System began to show off its capabilities firsthand.
Meaning my mouth moved on its own.
―Sanho, let's definitely debut.
―Yes.
Right, the first hint was this.
It seemed to trigger with slight variations to fit each situation. Flexible on top of being a weapon system. Good job, seriously.
'If this was Hint 1, then Hint 2...'
I set down my chopsticks and thought.
'Replay Hint 2.'
Then the same scene I had seen months ago unfolded before my eyes.
When I closed my eyes and came back after scanning the '<MAKE100%> manipulation articles,' Kim Sanho was looking at me with worried eyes.
―Hyung... you need to manage your blood sugar.
―That's not it.
By then I had already achieved my goal, but my curiosity continued.
I then thought of number 3.
And that result was happening right then, as I stood among the crowd of trainees, uselessly gleaming, listening to the MC.
'When the hell is that halo going to turn off?'
When I saw Han Neuti walk into the salon where I had arrived first and was waiting, radiating a dazzling light, my impression was this.
'It really doesn't suit him.'
Maybe I felt that way even more because of Han Neuti's stiff expression that appeared every ranking announcement day.
Still, since I could use it as a flashlight in a pinch, it was more convenient than Hint 1.
And the last remaining hint, number 4.
I didn't even consider trying this one.
Because if my guess was right, Hint 4 was definitely the moment I dragged Jaehyun out of Lee Jaeyoung's room. Meaning, I was scared I'd suddenly run toward Jaehyun.
...But back to the point.
The System's Hint 2, which I saw again, had the exact same content as that day.
<QTen 'MAKE100%' 3rd On-site Voting Manipulation Scandal? Claimed to be a 100% handcrafted idol group... Viewers fuming>
The production team manipulated the 3rd on-site vote count.
<'MAKE100%' Entire Debut Team Pre-Selected, Final Stage Meaningless... Disgraceful Early Termination Decided>
They would end up not holding the finale and be cancelled early.
If it proceeded like that, my plan of 'seizing recognition and safely returning to Sorasum' would succeed without a hitch.
But there was one thing bothering me...
─I knew those bastards would pull this, save our Gyumin, waaahhh
└He would've been eliminated even without the rigging... Still, crying over a first-round elimination is a bit much...
Gyumin wasn't eliminated in the 1st round but the 2nd.
Which meant.
'The future could change even more.'
Then I'd be in big trouble. If the manipulation wasn't exposed, I would just be a simple eliminated contestant.
Apart from my sinister plan, I did feel a bit of a desire for this situation to be exposed to the whole world.
'I absolutely have to create a justification this time.'
At this point, one question might arise.
Why on earth did the production team need to manipulate the 3rd on-site vote, which was not even the final but just a passing stage?
The answer was easy.
It was because of the unique nature of the 3rd on-site voting.
<MAKE100%>'s on-site voting had a structure where the selection range narrowed over time.
In the 1st round, they voted by team; in the 2nd, one trainee per team; and in the upcoming 3rd, they voted for just one trainee.
What did that mean?
The 3rd on-site voting results were essentially the core fan ranking.
To manipulate the final debut team more smoothly, fixing that metric was a must-pass checkpoint.
Having thought that far, a single conclusion emerged.
'I'll take first place.'
The production team would try not to give me first place easily, so if I snatched it, they'd definitely consider manipulation.
To do that, song selection was crucial again this time.
Let's go with a concept that's advantageous on-site and intense.
"Unfortunately, the four of you here have no choice."
...Of course.
When was there ever a choice.
"In this round, the <Muse> battle, the composers will personally bestow songs upon their muses!"
The MC, holding cue cards, led the applause with an excited voice.
I clapped and listened carefully to what followed.
"The most important thing when a composer writes a song is inspiration, right? In that sense, our four trainees here who achieved 99% should make excellent muses. What do you think, Producer Kim Ik-hyeon?"
"We just got here and found out the ranking results... The trainee I had in mind is fortunately among the candidates. I'm satisfied."
"Oh, I'm getting really curious who it is."
"Your heart must be pounding, right?"
Kim Ik-hyeon looked at us and winked.
Lee Jaeyoung standing next to me put his hand on his chest and reacted as if struck by an arrow. He must have worked hard to pull that face.
"Haha, since it's impromptu matching, I can't predict the results either. I'm really looking forward to it!"
After that, the four composers decided the order of selection in a traditional way.
"I'm first!"
Kim Ik-hyeon raised his fist high and shouted.
Allure, who got second, waved scissors with a disappointed look.
"I'm third."
Joo Yeonhee, who managed third place after facing off against rookie composer KDD, swept her chest in relief.
KDD, automatically losing the choice, just shrugged with no particular reaction.
"Now, Producer Kim Ik-hyeon, please call out the name of the trainee you want to gift a song to!"
"Jiwon! I love you!"
Without a moment to feel tension, An Jiwon stood beside Kim Ik-hyeon.
"Our trainee An Jiwon, now officially recognized as the contestant who monopolized Producer Kim Ik-hyeon's love, how do you feel?"
"It's awesome."
That An Jiwon kid was getting cooler by the day.
Following Kim Ik-hyeon, Allure selected a trainee.
"Allure?"
"I think I'll match well with trainee Lee Jaeyoung."
Lee Jaeyoung bowed as if deeply honored and moved.
"Then, Mentor Joo Yeonhee, among the two remaining, is there a trainee who would suit Composer Im Cheon-seon's song?"
"Yes."
"Then please make your selection right away..."
"Cha-gyeom, come here."
Joo Yeonhee looked at me and pointed to her side with her thumb.
"Haha, Mentor Joo Yeonhee! Were you in a hurry, afraid he'd be snatched away?"
The MC diligently delivered their line, whether they got cut off or not.
'Im Cheon-seon, huh.'
His style was far from intense.
Still, thanks to that, I avoided being the last one left, which was a relief. I was bowing my head in thanks and moving to Joo Yeonhee's side when...
"......?"
'What's with this atmosphere?'
Unlike previous times when they had reacted enthusiastically, the air was overly heavy.
When I belatedly looked around, for some reason, most of the people present on-site were all staring at something else, not me.
I turned my head to where their gazes were gathered.
'What the.'
Outside the studio, among the production crew all dressed in black, one writer was standing bolt upright.
I couldn't properly see her expression due to the distance, but judging by her flustered gesture, she seemed quite panicked.
'Did something happen?'
When I looked around again, I couldn't find anything that could be called an accident.
Only the information that Kim Ik-hyeon had his face buried in the script and KDD was frozen with his mouth open was added.
I didn't want to stay in an ambiguous spot, so I kept walking.
"Um, Ms. Joo Yeonhee..."
As I stood beside Joo Yeonhee, KDD carefully spoke.
"Yes?"
Joo Yeonhee answered.
Curious, I looked too.
KDD, who had been glancing back and forth between Joo Yeonhee and me, let out an awkward 'ahaha' laugh, then put his hand to his mouth as if to whisper.
"Yes, Mentor Joo Yeonhee has now made her selection."
At that moment, the MC resumed the proceedings.
"Maybe because it was an impromptu result, everyone seems really surprised. Right?"
That didn't look like just a surprised reaction to me.
"Then automatically, trainee Choi Junbin has become Composer KDD's muse. We'll look forward to a great stage."
The MC tidied up the atmosphere in an instant.
The trainees who had been staring at the writer in confusion turned their heads back at the MC's explanation, as if it was nothing.
Though the writer was still standing bolt upright.
'Should I care about this or not?'
While I was pondering, the MC immediately moved on to the next segment.
"Trainees other than the four chosen as muses unfortunately cannot hear the songs in advance. But we can give you a hint."
Seriously, could they just ignore everything and keep going like that?
"The muse trainees can listen to the song for just 30 seconds. After grasping the song in those 30 seconds, please select one trainee who best fits the song."
"......."
"After seeing the selected trainee, the remaining trainees can volunteer for the team they think suits them. Starting from higher ranks, and no more than six can be in one team."
Around then, the writer sat back down.
The problematic element seemed to have been resolved.
The MC, who had glanced in that direction, smiled and continued.
"Now, trainee An Jiwon, please come this way first."
When the MC pulled back the white curtain that had been behind him all along, a headset set up on the desk appeared.
Following the MC's instructions, An Jiwon moved to the desk and put on the headset.
An Jiwon, who had been listening to the song for a while, nodded.
"I'll take Neuti-hyung."
At the suddenly called name, Han Neuti's head snapped up, then he calmly walked out.
'Oh, it turned off.'
The halo System had attached to me lasted about 12 hours, then.
"Is it a dance-heavy song?"
"To go there, you'd have to be really good at dancing."
The trainees murmured behind him.
Next, Lee Jaeyoung was called out and selected a trainee in the same way.
The trainee he chose was a contestant who had mainly done mature stages so far.
'So that's the sexy concept team.'
In this way, just looking at the first selected trainee gave a rough idea of the concept.
"Now, trainee Seo Cha-gyeom, please come this way."
I sat at the desk and put on the headset.
When I made eye contact with the MC, she smiled lightly and gave a small nod.
Soon, the song began to play.
'.......'
Unfortunately, it wasn't the kind of song I had hoped for.
But the moment I heard it, someone's face flashed through my mind.
And that face... was extremely fitting for my current situation.
'That's right.'
There was another guy the production team was dead set on eliminating besides me.
And he suited this song incredibly well.
I took off the headset.
When the MC asked if there was a trainee who came to mind, I nodded, picked up the mic, and shouted loudly.
"Gyeonwoo!"
This stage could really succeed.
"Let's do it together!"