The reason six of the seven remaining contestants in front of the stage smiled with resignation was simple. Kang Rojun’s name was the only one that had yet to be called. Rojun, who had proven his overwhelming popularity in every vote so far and was the most well-known of them all, both domestically and in Japan.
His name.
“The final winner!!! Rojun!!”
The announcement rang loudly throughout the hall. From the moment Kang Rojun remained, the six contestants had accepted reality.
-Clap clap clap clap clap clap!
They applauded Rojun while somehow maintaining faint smiles. But—
‘······It’s over.’
‘I wanted to become one too.’
‘Ha— I wanted so badly to be among the winners··· Ah, I think I’m going to cry.’
The disappointment, frustration, and emptiness surging from deep within their hearts could not be helped. It was already an incredible achievement to have made it this far, but precisely because they had come this far, they had wanted to be among the final winners. Yet none of the six had heard their names called.
Several of the contestants applauding had tears welling in their eyes.
Watching those contestants, Kang Rojun—who was receiving the attention of dozens of staff members and cameras—lightly clenched one fist.
‘Nice!!’
Even though he had heard people around him say things like, “You’re guaranteed to win,” directly experiencing that moment himself brought a clear sense of catharsis.
The final winner, Kang Rojun.
Right before becoming an official idol.
Compared to his ugly past, he was shining almost excessively. After bowing toward the cameras, Rojun turned around and met the eyes of each of the six contestants applauding him. Then he murmured quietly.
“Let’s meet again at work.”
The words carried the hidden meaning that they would soon meet again in the field. A strange sort of comradeship welled up in the contestants, and they gave Kang Rojun a thumbs-up.
“Yeah, congratulations, hyung.”
“I should debut before you, hyung.”
“Even if you debut before me, do you think you can become more famous than hyung?”
“No way. Hyung’s on a whole different level.”
It was a brief exchange. At that moment, PD Woo Hanseok, who had been watching, made a request.
“Rojun, please come up onto the stage.”
Leaving the six contestants behind, Kang Rojun climbed onto the stage. Sihu, Dogyeong, and Gangmin were waiting there. Rojun’s place was the first of the four spots. Only after Kang Rojun took his place was the perfect picture of the four finally complete.
-Shaaash!
-Paah!!
Fireworks burst around the stage, while something resembling flower petals scattered down from the ceiling. On the enormous screen behind the stage, the faces of Rojun, Sihu, Dogyeong, and Gangmin were already displayed. Around then, a gift arrived for Rojun. Of course, it had been sent by the ‘AI Simulation’ app.
-[You have completed the hidden mission ‘I’m the Final Winner!’ As a reward, you have been given 50 coins.]
The cameras filmed the final winners, including Kang Rojun, for quite some time. From the left and right, front and back, full shots, bust shots, and so on. Of course, there were also cameras filming the six eliminated contestants. They would now be leaving ‘Produce the 100,’ and PD Woo Hanseok spoke to them without the broadcast cameras recording.
“You’ve merely been eliminated from ‘Produce the 100.’ As idols, however, this is only the beginning. Let’s see each other again soon.”
The eliminated contestants each greeted Woo Hanseok with expressions ranging from tearful to ordinary to bitter, then left the hall. Afterward, filming focused on the four final winners. They struck poses for commemorative photographs in deliberately staged compositions, gave individual interviews, and so on.
At first, Sihu, Dogyeong, and Gangmin could hardly believe it, but from this point onward, their broad smiles never left their faces.
They could finally feel, deeply and truly, that they had passed.
The four finalists then gathered in front of PD Woo Hanseok. Smiling broadly, Woo Hanseok ran a hand through his disheveled hair.
“I’m deeply moved myself. Congratulations once again.”
The staff members behind him made a great commotion. Amid the shouts of congratulations, Woo Hanseok’s voice grew considerably more serious.
“As you all know, the schedule for ‘Produce the 100’ isn’t over yet. The name of our program is ‘Produce the 100,’ and there’s still one last bit of producing left for the viewers to do: deciding where the final winners will make their home.”
Several cameras moved in closer from the side.
“Before I announce the upcoming schedule, let me make one thing clear. Originally, you were supposed to spend several months handling schedules under ‘Produce the 100’ after the broadcast ended, but we’ve decided to scrap that plan. You’ve already shown far more than the initial concept called for, so this is enough.”
The original plan for ‘Produce the 100’ had called for sixteen episodes. But two more episodes had been added, along with the mini-concert schedule and even the release of a theme song that had never been planned. This also included the attention drawn by Kang Rojun’s various abilities. In short, they had already received plenty, so wanting anything beyond that would be greedy.
The broadcaster, JTVM, had wanted to push for more, of course, but Woo Hanseok had openly opposed it.
“In other words, once filming for ‘Produce the 100’ is over, you’ll move straight into the entertainment agencies you’ll be joining. Naturally, you’ll have a brief period to rest and prepare.”
Their parting had been brought forward sooner than expected, but Woo Hanseok continued before anyone could feel down about it.
“Now, as for what comes next. We’ll be filming with the agencies we’ve selected. We received applications from countless agencies, and narrowed them down to ten. They’ll brief you on various things, including their own PR and their vision for the future. Just as the contestants have fought it out in this survival show, the agencies will now wage war against one another, and it will be included in this week’s broadcast of Episode 17.”
In other words, the agencies’ self-promotional pitches would also be broadcast nationwide.
“While you’re giving the matter some serious thought, the agencies that have finished their PR presentations will also receive votes from the viewers. These votes are simply meant to help the four of you make your choice, so the voting period will be shorter than usual. It will begin on Friday night, after Episode 17 ends, and continue through Sunday. The results will be announced next Monday.”
The image the agencies presented to viewers was quite important. This was essentially preliminary research for that purpose.
“The day you make your final choice will be Friday, November 20. That day is also the broadcast date of Episode 18, the final episode of ‘Produce the 100,’ and the last broadcast will be live.”
Live? The eyes of three people, including Kang Rojun’s, widened. They had never expected a live broadcast. Rojun was the first to ask a question.
“By live, you mean the kind we know—”
“That’s right. A live broadcast, live transmission, streaming, all of that. In the final episode, viewers will watch your final choices live. To make that possible, you’ll need to prepare a few stages as well. Think of it as your final greeting to the viewers as the final winners.”
Dogyeong, whose handsome face had a naturally cocky air, raised his hand and asked in a dry tone,
“When will we film with those agencies?”
Woo Hanseok checked the time and answered immediately.
“This afternoon. We have about four hours left.”
A short while later.
After filming the final winners, Kang Rojun, Sihu, Dogyeong, and Gangmin headed back to the dorm for the time being. It was past noon. The six eliminated contestants were nowhere to be seen, and Sihu sprawled out on a lower bunk and let out a long breath.
“In this huge place, it’s just the four of us now.”
Dogyeong sat hugging a chair to his chest and scratched his head vigorously.
“Ah— I still haven’t gotten used to it.”
Gangmin, standing beside him, agreed.
“Right. Doesn’t it feel like the PD might suddenly walk in and say, ‘It was all a hidden-camera prank!’?”
“If that happened, I’d be seriously pissed.”
Sihu, the oldest of them, raised himself from where he had been lying down.
“Anyway, starting today, the four of us are a group.”
“Yeah. Let’s give it everything we’ve got.”
“Ha— I’m already getting nervous. The future is so unclear I can’t even imagine it.”
“But hyung, Rojun. Why are you so quiet?”
The gazes of the other three soon landed on Kang Rojun, who was sitting on a single bed with his legs crossed. Like the others, Rojun had been lost in fantasies about the future.
“No, I was just thinking— idols? Or maybe the entertainment industry? Either way, it’s probably going to be a complete jungle, right?”
At the question, Sihu, Dogyeong, and Gangmin grew serious.
“I’ve heard it’s like the animal kingdom in there. Honestly, I’m half excited and half scared. I wonder if there’s a hierarchy thing······?”
“Probably. I saw it on an online community. Apparently, they subtly ostracize and bully rookies. Maybe they even mess with them. We did just take over the music charts recently.”
“Come on— that’s a bit much. I heard music-show PDs ignore rookies a lot more. That’s what worries me.”
“Then what do we do? Just charge right at them?”
“······Dogyeong. Do you want to ruin your career in your first year after debuting? We should just keep our heads down and endure. What do you mean, charge at them?”
As various theories poured out, Sihu, the eldest, summed things up.
“I don’t know about idol hierarchies, but the PDs probably won’t be that bad, even if they aren’t completely free of it. We’re not total nobodies anymore. Right, Rojun?”
Why was he asking me? Then Kang Rojun realized that he had engaged in more outdoor activities than any of them. Drama shoots and so on. Still, explaining everything one by one would be complicated, so he decided to keep it simple.
“Whatever it is, the right answer is probably to just run straight into it.”
“······Huh?”
“That’s what I always think. It won’t kill us, so let’s just charge in headfirst.”
“Ah—”
The boys all had different personalities, but perhaps Rojun’s words had struck a chord. They nodded solemnly. Even so, their expressions still showed that their worries had not vanished completely. Perhaps intending to change the mood, Kang Rojun changed the subject.
“Rather than that—let’s talk about the agencies.”
“Ah! Right!!”
Sihu held out the paper he had received from PD Woo Hanseok. The ten agencies that had made the final cut were listed on it.
-[Participating Entertainment Agencies]
1. GN Entertainment
2. EY Entertainment
3. Bigstar Entertainment
4. KRO Entertainment
5. Eoullim Entertainment
·
·
·
·
All of them had their own strengths and weaknesses, but regardless, all ten ranked among the larger entertainment agencies in the country. Naturally, all three of them, starting with Rojun, were familiar with them.
“Whoa— this list of agencies is insane. Seriously.”
“They’re actually coming to film with us to win our choice?”
“My hands are shaking. I can’t do this.”
Sihu, Dogyeong, and Gangmin grew sharply more nervous, while Kang Rojun remained relatively calm. Perhaps because he had never given the matter much thought before?
‘I became an idol all of a sudden, but these guys must have steadily imagined reaching this point. So they probably know the agencies well, too.’
Just as Rojun guessed, the three boys soon began pouring out information about the agencies. Dogyeong started them off.
“GN, EY, and Bigstar are unquestionably the big three.”
“KRO is big too, and Eoullim isn’t bad.”
“Even so, when it comes to the idol market, GN, EY, and Bigstar are definitely the big three.”
“Wasn’t GN a latecomer? They started out as an acting agency and only later added idols.”
“That’s true, but they have plenty of money. Almost all the boy groups and girl groups they launched did well.”
“Bigstar’s form has been kind of poor lately.”
An overwhelming amount of information poured out. Kang Rojun did not even have room to join in.
‘Let’s just keep my mouth shut.’
The only agency he knew fairly well was ‘Munhwa Drawer,’ after all. In any case, they still had about two weeks to decide on an agency, and there was no need to seriously deliberate until after the filming with the agencies ended a few hours later. After they had spent roughly thirty minutes discussing agencies, Gangmin brought up another subject.
“This might be getting ahead of ourselves, but should we come up with a group name?”
“A group name? Why all of a sudden?”
“We have some time before the next shoot, and it’ll be fun, won’t it? We can come up with a group name even if it isn’t final.”
“Should we?”
“Hyung, start us off.”
“M-me?? Uh, well······”
Sihu, who had been thinking heavily with his arms folded, slowly raised his head.
“Bad Guys.”
Kang Rojun immediately gave his assessment.
“That’s a really bad idea, hyung.”
The others joined in.
“Bad Guys? That’s harsh.”
“That really was bad, hyung.”
“T-then you guys try it too!!”
Gangmin and—
“Hmm— how about Big Four? Big Four.”
Dogyeong each offered a group name that had come to mind.
“I’ve got Rosigangdo. Combining the first syllables of Rojun, Sihu, Gangmin, and Dogyeong.”
Rojun shook his head from side to side.
“Is this pointless conversation really necessary?”
“Why? Big Four is good. Big Four.”
“It sounds like dried filefish, not a group name.”
“Hyung, what do you think of Rosigangdo?”
“It would suit us if we were carrying swords.”
Gangmin and Dogyeong answered almost simultaneously.
“What about you, hyung? You should throw one out too.”
“No, won’t the agency decide that for us later?”
“Still!”
“······Hmm.”
Kang Rojun scratched his chin and, apparently finding it bothersome, said the first thing that came to mind.
“Greenbee.”
Dogyeong quickly asked,
“Greenbee? What’s that? Green rain?”
“No.”
Rojun explained the hidden meaning behind ‘Greenbee.’
“It’s a pure Korean word meaning ‘a man one longs for.’”
The three blinked, then reacted at the same time.
“···That’s good??!”
Meanwhile.
Several vans were filing into the ‘Produce the 100’ campus one after another. A few of them had words emblazoned across their sides.
-‘GN Entertainment’
The ten entertainment agencies had come seeking the final choices of Kang Rojun and the other three.
-Vroom!!