Chapter 22
Translator 8uhl
Chapter 22
Chapter Title The Premiere Broadcast
But, Senior.
Yeah?
The junior writer, sporting impressive dark circles, pointed at the whiteboard.
The smooth surface was densely packed with trainee info, editing directions, and key points to highlight, all jumping out at her.
What if we push these kids like this and they flop hard, crashing and burning?
Less than half of them will even survive from that bunch.
Huh?
The writer took a sip of vending machine coffee and flashed a knowing smile.
You mustve done your homework before joining, right?
Yeah? We monitored all the previous survival shows.
Then you know better than anyone. No matter how much the production team rigs it and shoves screen time down their throats, todays viewers see right through it.
Back in the firstgen survival days, everyone fell for those edits, but now, with viewers leveled up from years of experience, they spot even the tiniest cuts.
So why do we still push like this and edit to fit the narrative? Simple. Its a showcase. Heres our trainee pool. They look decentwhat do you think? The ones viewers vibe with climb higher, and the ones they dont? Their growth caps right there.
Hmm.
The junior tapped a marker on the desk, deep in thought.
Put simply, its like sorting the gems from the junk early on.
Exactly.
We push the ones who seem like theyll pop from the initial boosts even harder. And if dark horses rise without our help, we slot them into the spots left by the dropped trainees. Thats it, right?
Spot on.
The writer set down her paper cup and stepped up to the whiteboard.
Among the trainees marked with red stars, one number especially caught her eye.
A standout with points that set them miles apart from the rest.
The kind of talent who could become a oneofakind character never seen in any survival show beforeif played right.
And just to be clear, were not deliberately burying anyone or hyping others up, okay?
Honestly, I was a bit shocked. You edited it almost asis. Just varying screen time.
Yeah. Heres my take If theyre truly desperate to debut, theyll monitor every episode, figure out their flaws, and nail what to emphasize next. Thats why we make trainees watch the first episode togethermakes sense now?
The junior propped her chin on her hand and sighed.
Trainees have it rough. Constant monitoring.
The more desperate one wins. Thats just how it is.
When I applied here, watching three programs wore me out. These kids have to obsess over every episode theyre in. Even if you paid me, I couldnt do idol life.
Uncertain how theyll appear on screen.
In that highpressure setup, who has the stronger mentality?
Who grasps the production and viewer vibes fastest?
All that decides survival or elimination.
The start wasnt bad, at least.
It kicked off with the standard countdown I remembered.
3, 2, 1!
The boys energetic shouts filled the auditorium.
Kang Siyoon and I joined in with gusto, but Heo Yubin, next to me, was so tense he botched the timing with a squeak.
Eeeek!
Haha! Yubin, thats a hundred percent clip material.
Any rat holes around? Im so embarrassed I could turn to dust and vanish right now.
No such magic exists in this world, Yubin.
Aaaah.
Brushing off the dazed Heo Yubin, Idol Training Simulation Episode 1 proper began.
Trainees onsite gulped nervously, on edge.
At home, National Managers stared at their TVs, chatting feverishly in communities.
Whoa, my hearts seriously gonna burst. Already adopted my fave but what if they butcher their screen time from Ep 1?
PD pick? If PD pick, screen time guaranteed, otherwise just pray If not today, theyll shine next week, gotta believe
Caught in that preview where Kangwoo chewed them out lololol Honestly, more worried they got buried under hate edits and couldnt show real skills
Unless its edit fraud, screen times guaranteed My fave from another show got total 15 mins across first 5 eps lololol
Insane
DYING to see Yoonpay and Sma in ultra HD. Previews got me losing my mind, tears incoming
Fr lololol first time preview woke my eyes up since birth
pic pic Side by side and the face combo is lethal
They drop a 2nd team battle like this, these two eat everyone lmao KNets gotta pair em if theyve got brains
Best looks in survival history combined
Eyes wide open love it, tons of screen time today for sure?? Please
Stir some agro, build a fandom, theyll air it for sure
National Managers top concern faves screen time.
More screen time meant a huge edge in the global vote opening with Episode 1.
Kang Siyoon and I chatted quietly while watching.
Level test in actual order?
So far, yeah. No major issues. But
One thing bugs you its flying by too fast?
I nodded silently.
96 traineesimpossible to show everyone even briefly.
Even accounting for that, our scenes zipped past.
Mine was basically a blinkandmiss.
Meanwhile, Heo Yubin clutched his face.
I didnt even appear! What do I do, hyungs? Am I screwed? Total editout?
Unlikely, Yubin. You got good feedback in final grading.
What if they cut level test cuz nothing to see?
Dont overthink. Watch. Only 10 minutes in.
Idol Training Simulation kept tension high.
As they explained tiers could erase names, reactions exploded.
For real insane?? Tier 3 and below, no names???
lololol starting by shattering their mentals from the jump, top class
Hands clasped praying rn. No name wipe and screen time cut from Ep 1 Fave plz
lololololol KNet Ep 1 edits on Australopithecus level How savage later? Already worried
As feared, level test trainees crumbled under pressure.
Too many mistakes onstage. Even tense, hide it to show true skill. Such a shame.
Sorry. Ill do better next time!
You must keep that promise. Honestly, tough as is.
Judges sharp feedback turned the mood grim.
Finally, all got Tier 3, heads bowed.
Q Current feelings?
Honestly, pretty hopeless. Losing names from the start, called by numbers. Confidence tanking.
Its fine! bright smile If I hadnt messed up, no such result. Next stage better, Ill earn my name back. Trainee 24 fighting!
Responses split starkly.
Shaken ones voiced anxiety.
Ambitious ones stayed upbeat over defeat.
Those types get more practice footage.
No production hates desperate arcs.
I bit my lip lightly, eyes glued.
True to raw level test order, no edits.
Meaning my turn approached.
Haa. Kinda tiring.
More dropping below Tier 3 than expected?
Too tense.
Judges chat during reset played short.
Some disappointed faces, others sighing regret.
Trainees who couldnt beat nerves, lackluster stages
But this one prepping now? Different vibe?
Explorer spotting rare beast line dropped.
BGM switched to epic, mismatched grandeur.
Q Scary coming to Korea alone?
??? Not at all. Thrilled to experience culture I admired.
Q Korean that fluent how?
??? Selfstudy power. Webtoons, webnovelsgrinded. Romance fantasy? So fun.
Q Tense for level test?
??? No tension. Prepared hard, no mistakes.
Familiar voice hit my ears.
Kang Siyoon poked my side.
Whoa, romance fantasy power? Preinterview too?
Good its out, but embarrassing.
Whats to be shy? You yelled to judges you love fantasy.
That air too?
Obviously.
Character I aimed for from the start landed.
Unique, perfect agro for my Korean skills.
But watching myself? Mental resistance low.
Next contestant, enter.
At cue, Karis von Walden strode onstage confidently.
His entrance lit the screen vibrant, flowers blooming in showers.
.
.
Hahaha! Oh man, insane!
As Heo Yubin and I gaped, Kang Siyoon slapped his thigh laughing.
Heo Yubin clapped, hollering.
Karis hyung! You look so hot! Effects perfect! Epic! Best for visuals!
Ththanks.
Even as a guy, Id fall!
Their volume rose I couldnt lift my burning face.
But my inner self issued cool orders.
Own this character boldly.
So I feigned madness, chin up, sly smile.
.
Foreigner?
So handsome.
Whoa, seriously handsome.
Closeups on trainees faces Id missed.
All muttering handsome unconsciously.
Crowning it Baek Chaehyun, judge, mouth agape, staring.
Karis is handsome!
Face rep confirmed! Visuals insane!
Handsome, hyung!
Park Sehan, Hashimoto Ken, Oh Taeyoung joined the chaos.
Contagion spread auditorium erupted in cheers for flowerframed Karis von Walden.
Yeah, screen time secured for sure.