Chapter 79
[3rd Place]
Name: Lee Juha
Age: 20
Vocals: A
Dance: A
Appearance: A
Keywords: Rapidly rising, crazy charm, big gap
Voting rank: 3rd place
“Gasp!”
When his face suddenly appeared, Juha was startled in surprise. It was 3rd place, the same as his actual ranking.
‘A, A, A.’
Vocals weren’t at Son Saesun’s level so A, dance wasn’t at Choi Taeri’s level so A, appearance also wasn’t at Choi Taeri or Yoo Youngin’s level so A.
S-grade was just special, but Juha’s report card with all A’s was truly impressive.
In other words, it meant he was a skilled person certified by AI. While relieving, it was also somewhat deflating. It proved that Juha slipping from the debut group in the past or his previous 15th place ranking really wasn’t due to lack of skill.
It was a system that would be like harsh punishment for participants like Yoo Youngin or Seo Eunwon who weren’t particularly skilled but had high rankings, but it was actually beneficial for Juha.
[2nd Place]
Name: Na Junho
Age: 22
Vocals: A
Dance: S
Appearance: A+
Keywords: Manly man, powerful, otherworldly physique
Voting rank: 2nd place
If Choi Taeri was a dancer with modern dance fundamentals, Na Junho was a street dance-focused talent. Though Juha knew he had been a famous dancer before, seeing him confirmed as S-grade made Na Junho seem newly impressive. Moreover, his appearance was also A+.
Since Na Junho was 2nd place, 1st place was obvious.
[1st Place]
Name: Choi Taeri
Age: 20
Vocals: A
Dance: S
Appearance: S
Keywords: Likely to win, crazy charm, no rivals
Voting rank: 1st place
Setting aside vocals being A, having both dance and appearance at S-grade was certainly surprising. This was confirmation of why he was called Eoltae.
Only one person got S-grade in vocals: Andrew Son. Two people got S-grade in dance: Choi Taeri and Na Junho. Two people got S-grade in appearance: Yoo Youngin and Choi Taeri. No one else received S-grade in anything.
“Now the ranking announcement is finished. As I mentioned again, this AI ranking is unrelated to the actual rankings.”
Though Park Jusung spoke as if this ranking was nothing special, most trainees’ expressions were dark.
Though it might be unrelated now, this ranking would eventually influence voting somehow. Especially for cases like Yoo Youngin and Seo Eunwon, it would be shocking for both them and their fans. Their core fans would work hard to shield My Idol’s handful of skills, and the individuals would pull themselves together and focus on practice to build growth narratives.
Also, for participants like Choi Musin or Son Saesun whose rankings were unreasonably low compared to their skills, this gave them a chance for a comeback. Of course, for fans of Taeri, Juha, and Junho, it provided objective indicators to promote with “our kid has good looks and outstanding skills too,” so everyone was given various big and small talking points.
Ultimately, what the production team wanted was to subtly stoke the flames and create buzz. They were laying groundwork for clickbait with stimulating titles like “Yoo Youngin, 1st place in first competition, actually ranked 14th?”
“For everyone who was surprised by the AI evaluation, I’ll introduce the most human mid-mission.”
‘There’s another mission?’
Well, since they had analyzed and ranked everyone, they needed somewhere to use it.
Following Park Jusung’s guidance, text appeared on screen.
[People and Love]
“What could it be?”
For an idol audition that led trends, it seemed like an old-fashioned word.
“This mission is a volunteer performance.”
“Volunteer performance?”
‘Volunteer work.’
Juha stared quietly at the text on screen.
“Now, while passing through the midpoint of competitions, you’ve really received a lot of love. We’ve created an event to catch your breath and repay that love.”
They wouldn’t be doing volunteer work just for that reason.
“The teams you’ll see now are mid-mission teams composed by AI. You’ll do the mid-mission together with the team members shown on screen.”
As soon as Park Jusung finished speaking, a list appeared on screen.
Team 1: Choi Taeri, Lee Juha, Nam Suchang, Jo Munseok, Choi Musin, Baek Cheonsan, Go Suhyeok
Team 2: Na Junho, Yoo Youngin, Jo Yeseong, No Sewon, Kwon Ikhyeon, Yeo Hun, Min Giyeong
Team 3: Andrew Son, Seo Eunwon, Jang Chaemyeong, Choi Sangwon, Yoon Chansol, Woo Huigyeong, Park Geonho
Team 4: Kim Namhong, Yeom Sangyeop, Kang Sangwook, Ji Daon, Hwang Yul, An Mubin, Seonwoo Hwaseong
When the names appeared together, Juha and Taeri looked at each other and smiled.
Being on the same team as Taeri was satisfying, but relationships with other trainees would be key again. Though Juha hadn’t become close friends with Jo Munseok, he was confident the latter wouldn’t cause trouble at least. It was interesting to be on the same team as Choi Musin for the first time, whom Yunha had shouted about so much.
As already known, Choi Musin was quite clever, so once teams were decided, he immediately started reading the room.
Baek Cheonsan and Go Suhyeok were 17 and 18 years old respectively, above average in both talent and looks, and though quiet, had personalities that blended well anywhere.
‘The problem is Nam Suchang.’
Juha looked at Nam Suchang, who was smiling broadly as if satisfied with the team composition.
24-year-old Nam Suchang, who had debuted with boy group RU and spectacularly flopped 3 singles and 1 full album before coming here, was causing discontent among trainees with his subtle territorialism. On broadcast he was the “hyung who already knows everything” or a comedic “back-in-my-day hyung” character, but in reality he was known as a “young old-timer.”
With 3 years of trainee experience and 1 year of activity experience totaling 4 years, it remained to be seen how much Nam Suchang would cry “back in my day” in front of Juha, who had spent 6 years as a trainee. Though he started later than Juha, he might act territorial based on his activity experience, so caution was needed.
“Next, we’ll proceed with drawing volunteer locations. Team representatives whose names are written first on each team list, please come to center stage.”
Following Park Jusung’s guidance, Choi Taeri, Na Junho, Andrew Son, and Kim Namhong came forward. In the glass container on the prepared table were a total of 8 plastic balls in red, yellow, blue, white, and other colors.
“Please pick a ball you like and open it. First, let’s start with AI ranking 1st place trainee Choi Taeri.”
Taeri picked a white ball. Then Na Junho picked blue, Andrew picked yellow, and Kim Namhong picked red.
“Now, Choi Taeri trainee, please open your ball first.”
[Hospital]
‘Doesn’t seem too bad.’
Juha thought while looking at the text.
Places with children and teenagers would be most comfortable, but hospitals weren’t bad either.
Na Junho drew children’s facility, Andrew drew elderly facility, and finally Kim Namhong, who opened his ball last, turned pale upon seeing the text inside.
“Ah, Kim Namhong trainee. What did you get? Oh my, military base!”
Park Jusung, since it wasn’t his problem, shouted “military base” with a bright smile.
“What…”
“Is that possible?”
“Military base?”
Even other team members were dumbfounded.
Elderly people usually like when young people come and perform for them, and children and teenagers were likely to be My Idol viewers. Hospitals would vary by ward depending on the age of admitted patients, but they might know My Idol too. Even if they didn’t, it could be a small source of energy in the somewhat peaceful and quiet hospital life. But military bases were completely incomprehensible. Unlike girl groups, if a bunch of similarly-aged young men went there, they couldn’t possibly be welcomed.
The production team’s cruelty in including this in the list while clearly knowing the despair of team members who would draw it, their greed for ratings, seemed disgustingly obvious.
‘They’ll say it’s the picker’s fault.’
Juha sneered. Since there were 8 balls, there would be 8 pre-arranged locations. The production team would probably excuse themselves saying they never expected someone to pick the military base. Juha thought while focusing on the screen on stage.
“Please check the facility names corresponding to each team on screen.”
The moment names appeared on screen, this time Taeri’s face hardened.
Taeri’s team’s volunteer location was ‘Se-X Central Hospital.’ Though the name was censored, any Korean would think of ‘Semun Central Hospital.’ In other words, the place where they had to dance and sing was where Taeri’s grandfather was hospital chairman and most of his family worked as doctors.
Juha instantly whipped his head around to look at Taeri. Apparently completely unexpected, Taeri’s pupils trembled.
“Oh?”
“Isn’t that Taeri’s family place?”
Clueless team members murmured happily. They seemed to expect benefits since it was better than a hospital with no connections at all.
“Each team must perform the ‘My Job is Idol’ main song at their assigned volunteer location. Stage composition is up to team members. The team that places 1st in the volunteer mission will receive 10,000 additional votes for each team member at the next ranking announcement.”
“Wow!”
10,000 votes, not 1,000, wasn’t a small number. Current ranking vote differences ranged from as little as 5,000 to as much as 50,000 votes. So 10,000 votes could change rankings.
That’s why this mission wouldn’t be easy. There was only one assigned song: the ‘My Job is Idol’ main song. In other words, they had to create stages that soldiers, children/teenagers, elderly people, etc. would enjoy using this ordinary song.
‘It won’t be easy.’
While Juha was pondering, Park Jusung continued.
“Also, each team’s MVP will be given the authority to choose team members for the 3rd competition.”
Juha looked around at his team members. Everyone would probably assume this team’s MVP would be Choi Taeri. But knowing Taeri’s circumstances, Juha was concerned in various ways.
‘At least it’s fortunate this is a mission before the official competition.’
A place with a father cruel enough to abandon his grown child halfway up a mountain and tell him to walk back. No matter how strong Taeri was, his mentality would definitely be shaken.
After Park Jusung finished and left the stage, break time was given. Taeri was naturally led by production staff toward the interview booth. Seeing Taeri’s unusually hardened face, Juha was worried.
Through the 1st and 2nd competitions, the production team had included stimulating missions and stories for ratings. If Juha was the target in the last 2nd competition, was Choi Taeri the target this time?
On the night they slept together on Juha’s house floor, Taeri talking about family was a wounded child.
Just as Juha overcame by facing Metabolic head-on in the 2nd round, the moment had come for Taeri to do the same. If it were someone else, Juha would coldly say anything must be endured for debut, but he couldn’t bear to do that to Taeri. Though Juha himself had suffered terribly during the last competition, he greatly hoped Taeri could go comfortably.
* * *
The interview staff welcomed Taeri warmly. Taeri greeted awkwardly and sat in the chair.
“Among eight volunteer location candidates, you picked hospital. Moreover, the designated hospital is connected to Choi Taeri trainee’s family, is that correct?”
“…Yes.”
“Wow, we found out after arranging it! I heard most family members are doctors – don’t they oppose Choi Taeri trainee doing idol work?”
The staff’s voice rose excitedly.
Taeri looked into the staff member’s eyes while listening to the question. Calm pupils. But Taeri intuitively understood they were asking while already knowing his entire situation and background. They were coaxing to find talking points.
Taeri opened his mouth calmly as if he’d been waiting for this question.
“Doctor is a good profession that deserves respect, and it’s true that most of my family are doctors. But that’s largely unrelated to my dreams, and I’m doing my best on my path.”
As he spoke, expression gradually disappeared from Taeri’s face. At Taeri’s unexpectedly hardened face, the staff momentarily hesitated, forgetting even their question.
“Um, I’m really sorry to say this, but it would be better if you didn’t include our family story. They’re not people who like this kind of thing, so if it goes on air wrong, legal problems could arise, and my grandfather is also very sensitive.”
Taeri spoke as politely as possible. Not just for himself, but for the trainees and production staff who had staked their lives on this program. Though Gnet was a subsidiary of a huge corporation, if legal disputes arose, usually the PD would take the fall. Setting aside the many lawyers in Taeri’s family, grandfather Choi Giseok, who had been the president’s personal physician, still maintained deep friendships with high-ranking officials. Most of them were Semun Hospital VIPs. Especially Choi Giseok valued family honor above all else.
So if during interviews it became known that the entire Semun Medical Foundation family was ostracizing Taeri, it was obvious Choi Giseok would rage and turn Gnet upside down.
In other words, while seeking stimulating entertainment, they’d have to prepare for program cancellation.
“That, I’ll discuss with the PD.”
The production staff seemed flustered by Taeri’s sudden serious tone.
“Please. I’m a bit worried. I’m really sorry for saying this.”
Taeri spoke as politely as possible to avoid offending the staff member. The staff looked at Taeri’s expression with a sour face.
“Anyway, since we got permission from Semun Hospital, filming will proceed. You can go now.”
“Yes. Thank you.”
Taeri bowed and left the interview booth.
He couldn’t know what scheme had led to this program getting location permission, and there was no one to ask. Because in that place where more than half his family worked, there was no one who supported Taeri.
He could only hope the reason for allowing filming wasn’t to openly mock him.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
