A Disease That Kills You If You Don't Debut - Chapter 002
'Idol Inc.'
It was a survival audition series that was riding a huge wave of popularity around this time.
After auditions that gathered dozens, hundreds of idol hopefuls and eliminated them through voting became a trend, several programs copying that format emerged.
This 'Idol Inc.' was also one of those mass-produced shows, but there was a reason it became particularly famous.
Because it was even more viciously capitalist.
First, let's look at the advertising slogan from season 1.
[Growing in proportion to your purchase — your idol stock!]
That's right. It meant you could vote under the name of 'stock' as much as you spent money.
That program was now in its third season.
After season 2 completely tanked for some reason, they pretended that season never existed and came back with the ambitious subtitle 'Re-listed.'
Thanks to that, many people scoffed that season 3 was delusional and doomed to fail.
...And me? I was busy preparing for exams, so I didn't give it any thought.
Anyway, contrary to people's expectations, season 3 became a massive hit.
Amidst rampant controversy and criticism, it firmly grasped buzz and viewership, producing a male idol group that pulled 80,000 concurrent listeners on music sites and 600,000 copies in first-week sales.
That's why I'm going to try appearing on this program too.
I went out today for the first step of that plan.
"Yes, all done! I didn't thin out the sides too much, as you requested."
"Yes. Thank you."
I finally look somewhat presentable for my appearance, I thought while looking at my neatly trimmed hair in the salon mirror.
Perhaps because I'd been eating and sleeping well these past few days, the hollow, depression-ridden look had already faded considerably. Thanks to that, I could push aside my shaggy bangs and reveal my forehead without issue.
The auntie sitting next to me getting a perm offered a lip service.
"My, it suits you so well~ You look so tall and handsome!"
I gave my thanks and paid in cash at the counter.
'I was relieved to find I had some money in the account when I checked at the bank.'
Looking at the records, it seemed to be insurance money from my parents that hadn't been touched. I'm sorry, but I need to use some of it.
'...I'll fill the principal back once I earn money and donate it to a children's welfare organization or something.'
It was a bit bitter. While getting a copy of my family register and activating a phone, I looked into various things, and it seemed this 'Park Moon-dae's suicide wasn't an impulsive act either.
He had even given up his room (rent was overdue, so he barely got any deposit back) and canceled his phone.
On his own birthday, no less.
He must have really wanted to die.
...Well, I understand. I was like that too.
'May you rest in a good place.'
I observed a brief moment of silence and wrapped up my sentiments. Then I immediately opened the salon door and stepped out. Close to noon, the sunlight stabbed my eyes.
There was still a lot to do before achieving my goal for this outing.
'Let's make sure of things first.'
I already know this program's missions, debut members, plot twists, and even its theme song.
Of course, the details are a bit lacking since I was busy preparing for the listed public offerings to fall, but still, it would be hard to find a more suitable gateway than this right now.
It's a big enough show that just passing the second round would at least get you picked up by some small or mid-sized agency.
However, there was a decisive problem: the public auditions for this season's participant recruitment had already ended.
But I knew a slight hint about that. I planned to use it to the fullest extent possible.
My goal was to become a participant on that survival show whose recruitment auditions had already closed.
Within a week, at that.
Not at the broadcasting station, but at a karaoke place around here.
* * *
-Idol Inc.? Ah, Idol Inc. One of the writers there is a total psycho.
This was some bullshit spouted by some guy giggling at the photo club after-party.
He said he heard it from a relative working at the broadcasting station, and since he was the type to gossip about this and that, he wasn't exactly someone I liked.
-They scout participants at some karaoke place or something. You know, near the broadcasting station... what's it called. SeongX-dong? They go around karaoke places there, scout ordinary people, and got chewed out by the PD. Tried to act big when they didn't have the seniority. Totally a crazy bitch, right?
That guy kept rambling heatedly and incoherently about the scouting.
Nonsense at a drinking table was common enough, but it was rare to see someone this boring, only droning on about their own stuff at a group after-party.
'Who invited this guy?'
'Let's never call him again.'
'Yeah.'
People exchanged glances with tepid agreement.
Naturally, I didn't believe this bullshit either. I was just focusing on the free booze.
But surprisingly, someone cross-verified it.
-The ordinary person they scouted was Lee Go-yoon.
-...Huh?
Lee Go-yoon was a female idol who debuted in season 1. She gained popularity with her bright, cheerful, and quirky image, using a homey dialect that contrasted with her refined appearance.
Appropriate exclamations came from around.
-Wow, she's the one who debuted, right?
-Yeah.
-Oh... how did you know that?
She was a senior in the journalism and broadcasting department about to graduate, and she continued casually.
-That 'crazy bitch' is my older sister.
The guy who'd been running his mouth suddenly became tongue-tied. Interest-driven contempt poured down on him from those nearby.
-...Ah, haha, no, that expression was...
-But she never got chewed out by the PD. Instead, she gets paid more.
-......
After that, that guy sat there with his mouth shut.
Thanks to that, I could enjoy my drink comfortably. I think I was drinking somaek while listening to that senior share the scouting story instead.
Anyway, it was quite an amusing situation, so it stuck well in my memory.
When the desired candidates fell short of the quota in the survival show's recruitment auditions, didn't she say they go around karaoke places near the broadcasting station for about a week after the auditions end to check?
-Aren't kids who do street karaoke better? Easier to scout too.
-There are already too many aspiring singers there, so they actually avoid it. They deliberately try to scout ordinary people because they need fresh characters unlike typical survival contestants.
It meant they weren't necessarily trying to select participants who were guaranteed to debut, but rather scouting completely clueless ordinary people to add entertainment to the show.
These days, aspiring idols would be trained by their agencies not to talk carelessly.
Ultimately, it also meant these ordinary participants might be sacrificed for the show's entertainment.
'Of course, that's not what's important right now.'
What's important is the high probability that the writer was still using this method in season 3.
'It's hard to let go of something that's succeeded once.'
Maybe because season 2 flopped, the preliminary audition pool worsened, so she might be trying even harder.
So let's think objectively.
This 'Park Moon-dae's body was skinny, but his face was handsome and his height was decent.
Moreover, his singing wasn't bad either, so there was definitely a possibility they'd at least probe a bit once they met him.
And also......
'I need to raise my level.'
I had to achieve practice achievements and invest in stats. I needed something outstanding to even have a chance to beg them to pick me.
I grabbed the mic and selected a song. Then I casually glanced back at the karaoke room door I'd entered through.
The door was made entirely of glass.
They probably wanted to give a bright, open feel targeting people in their 10s and 20s, but at the same time, it was an interior that made it easy to look inside from the outside.
That's why I chose this karaoke place.
The person I was waiting for was a writer working in broadcasting.
If she had to go out and scout ordinary people during a busy period preparing for the show, she'd likely start from places near the broadcasting station that were easy to check first.
So right now, this karaoke place was the optimal choice.
Without hesitation, I reserved ten songs in advance, pressed the intro skip, and began singing.
* * *
[Achievement Unlocked! 〈10 Attempts〉]
Level 1 -〉 2
Acquired 1 point!
Not long after, I achieved an achievement. It was the achievement for singing 10 songs. Of course, I knew it was the easiest one and would be quick to achieve.
This time, I invested the point in singing as well. So C+ changed to B-.
Like before, I tried singing the same song once more as a test, and this time I could feel the base quality itself had improved.
My tone became deeper and my vocal volume increased. It seemed growth where the letter grade changes felt like this.
At this rate, it seemed like I'd be able to raise my stats absurdly fast in the beginning, but there was something I needed to focus on before that.
"Ah, so you're that kind of person."
I didn't expect to get caught right away like this.
When I roughly calculated the timing, I started earlier than I thought was appropriate, but this was an unexpectedly quick catch.
I accepted the business card the woman with glasses held out.
The woman had a tired complexion, but she was deliberately putting on a bright voice.
She seemed to be trying to give me a good impression, and as expected, she seemed to have succeeded in piquing her interest.
The name I expected was written on the business card.
[Ryu Seo-rin]
The name of that senior from the journalism and broadcasting department was 'Ryu Seo-jin.'
'Even at a glance, those are sisters' names.'
"What's your name, student?"
"I'm Park Moon-dae."
"Your name is unique too. Really think about it carefully. You seem to have star quality. Our show is really good at discovering people with star quality."
"...Thank you."
I didn't react too eagerly. If I looked too interested, it might seem like I was aiming for this situation.
Normally, they'd filter out anyone at the preliminary profile stage, but they'd probably want to weed out anyone who came deliberately.
It seemed like a decent approach, as the woman continued talking.
"You have a handsome face, and you sing well too. If you just appear on our show, I think you'd do really well. ...Hmm, do you want to go film a test video today?"
"Pardon?"
Perhaps wanting to finish the verification in one go, the woman pushed a bit.
"That's right. Try contacting your parents. They'd be happy to hear their son was scouted for a broadcast and is going to the broadcasting station."
"...I don't have parents."
The moment I said that, a small spark flew in the eyes of this woman, presumed to be a writer.
She seemed to have judged it as a stimulating material.
Well, selling sob stories was an essential element in survival shows. As long as they didn't get criticized for squeezing it dry, it was actually better.
She'd think it'd be a waste to let go since she might be able to use it.
But the writer quickly hid that expression. And more softly, as if sympathizing, she said.
"Oh my... I'm sorry. I said something unnecessary."
"It's fine."
"I just meant to come take a look comfortably, thinking of it as touring the broadcasting station. It's not often you get to have this kind of experience~"
"...Hmm."
Should I gradually accept?
I hesitated for a moment as if wavering, then slowly nodded. Then the woman's face openly brightened.
"Ah, good thinking! The broadcasting station is right in front of here!"
Like that, I achieved my first objective.
It was a smoother start than expected.