Just as the ten agencies were streaming into *The 100%* campus, PD U Hanseok in the hall with the stage was personally overseeing the setup around it. Dozens of staff members, including him, were bustling about.
“PD-nim!! Please check the framing!!”
“Yeah!! Coming!!”
The final winner announcement had ended, and now it was time to shoot with the agencies included. Thus, seats for the ten agencies were being arranged in a fan shape toward the front of the stage. Miniature models of the agency seats had already been made. They had the feel of white D-shaped lecturer’s podiums.
The agencies’ names were emblazoned in front of the models.
In a way, since this was the final setup for *The 100%*, PD U Hanseok had been meticulously inspecting it with utmost dedication, and before long, a staff member approached him.
“PD-nim, all the agencies are on standby.”
“Really?”
U Hanseok, pushing up his glasses, asked back.
“They’re all here?”
“Yes, all ten have attended.”
“Okay—let’s go.”
After telling the surrounding writers to wrap up the setup, PD U Hanseok and several staff members moved out. Their destination was a large conference room in a building near the hall. All ten agencies participating in today’s shoot had gathered here.
A low hum of voices.
Agency officials gathered around U-shaped tables. Executives at team-leader level or higher, and employees. Each agency had roughly three to four people. So altogether, they easily exceeded forty. They were top-tier domestic agencies, yet perhaps because they had all prepared thoroughly, their expressions were stern. They had already been informed that the final winners of *The 100%* were Rojun, Sihu, Gang Min, and Do Gyeong. Perhaps that was why they looked deeply solemn.
And quite understandably so.
*‘We’re taking them no matter what, no matter what.’*
Every single agency was brimming with greed.
*‘We have to catch them somehow. If these kids debut, they’ll chew up the entire competition. And that’s not all? The road to Japan is already paved, so we can cross over right away without any build-up.’*
They were massive agencies. They had likely crunched the numbers long ago, and they possessed data accumulated from making countless idols fail or succeed. So how could they not covet the kids from *The 100%*?
*‘The initial capital poured into raising an idol is completely saved. And every single member is exceptionally talented, especially Rojun. Looking at him alone, he’s an idol, writer, actor, lyricist—a complete gift set.’*
On top of that, the immense interest from Korean and Japanese fans was a bonus.
*‘If we’re chosen by the winners, it’s like hitting the Powerball. But…… since it’s the final winners who choose, it’s disgustingly nerve-wracking. Ugh—’*
Thanks to that, the silent battle of glances thrown by the over-forty agency officials was fierce. Each had prepared a great deal, but the others must have come no less armed. This place was already a battlefield; the only things missing were knives and guns.
Then.
—Swish.
PD U Hanseok and the staff entered the conference room packed with agency officials. The buzzing atmosphere quieted down, and all eyes converged on U Hanseok.
“Hello.”
Having finished a brief greeting, U Hanseok proceeded to brief the agencies. He explained the filming method for today, the upcoming process, and the like—things he had already told Rojun and the other successful candidates. Of course, he also explained that the final selection day would be broadcast live. Several agencies murmured, seemingly surprised by the briefing, while some remained composed, as if they had expected it.
“Next, regarding today’s shoot—”
U Hanseok, scanning all the agency officials, smiled slightly.
“Before shooting with the final successful candidates, you will first carry out a simple game in the hall.”
The agencies were greatly bewildered.
“G-game???”
“We weren’t told about this.”
“What kind of game is it??!”
In contrast, U Hanseok answered in a relaxed tone.
“Well, just the sorts of things you usually see on variety shows. It wouldn’t be fun to go straight into self-PR without anything beforehand, right? Anyway, *The 100%* is a variety show too. You earn time for your self-PR based on the game results. I’ll give you ten seconds for each successful attempt.”
Questions rained down among the increasingly murmuring agencies.
“Wh-what if we don’t succeed even once in that game??? Does that mean we can’t do our self-PR at all?”
“No, each agency will basically be given thirty seconds. Think of it as additional time.”
In other words, thirty seconds were simply given to each agency, but if they wanted more, they had to somehow succeed in the game to earn time. U Hanseok added an explanation.
“It has to have that survival feel, after all. You all understand, don’t you?”
It was unexpected, but the agencies had no choice. It was an easy level compared to *The 100%* participants. Wasn’t the fact that they couldn’t get eliminated enough? Anyway, the agency officials’ heads grew complicated. Largely—no, entirely—because every agency had prepared self-PRs that absolutely exceeded thirty seconds.
*‘Damn U Hanseok, take it easy for once.’*
Everyone had come bearing their company’s special orders, so the pressure steadily mounted.
*‘Argh—what’s with this game all of a sudden. Thirty seconds?? How are we supposed to say all of this in that time!!!’*
*‘This is crazy, if it’s like this we’ll have to kill ourselves in the game??’*
*‘If this fails, we’ll get ripped apart even after going back to the company. I’m really going mad.’*
A picture of the agencies, who had always been in the dominant position, now flailing desperately as the subordinate party was soon to be completed. This was, of course, exactly what PD U Hanseok had intended.
“Isn’t it nice? It entertains the viewers, and if you work hard, it’ll help with image renovation too. Of course, if the game is too difficult, you’re welcome to give up before starting. Is there anyone here who would give up?”
“……”
“……”
As if there could be. The agencies clamped their mouths shut. Several agencies were already condensing their prepared self-PRs down to the essentials in case they botched the game. Soon, the smile of PD U Hanseok, who had been answering the agencies’ questions, deepened.
“Then we will move in thirty minutes.”
Several tens of minutes later.
The ten agencies moved to the hall with the stage. Their spots were already set up, and U Hanseok and the staff first held out square boxes to the agencies.
“Shall we decide the game order first??”
Of course, filming had already begun. With cameras rolling, the tension on the agency officials’ faces multiplied several times over. Regardless, *The 100%* production crew was thrilled. While they were in the middle of deciding the game order, the writers asked PD U Hanseok,
“But PD-nim, what if we don’t get any usable footage for the broadcast??”
As if asking what was so hard, U Hanseok shrugged his shoulders.
“We just skip it. How many times have we filmed and not used the footage?”
“Aah—”
If it was usable, they could edit it as provocatively as possible and air it; if the footage was all trash, they could cut it all and simply replace it with a single caption. That was all.
In any case, the game order selection was finished.
Next, PD U Hanseok put his hand into a different square box in front of the watching agencies. It was to decide which game to play. After rummaging around for a few seconds, he pulled out a ball.
“It’s the person guessing game.”
It was a game where a photo of a famous person was shown, and the one seeing it had to quickly say the name within a few seconds. Sighs erupted from several agencies.
“Ha—we’re doomed.”
“I’m really bad at this.”
“Same here.”
PD U Hanseok, having taken his place on stage, called out the first agency.
“‘GN Agency,’ please come up.”
Three people awkwardly climbed onto the stage. The woman who looked the oldest was team-leader level. Soon they sat in the prepared chairs, and staff including U Hanseok and the writers positioned themselves in front.
“You’re ready? We’re going right away.”
The game began abruptly. U Hanseok quickly raised one of several cards. However.
“……”
The female team leader seated first only opened her eyes wide, unable to shout the name. She flapped her mouth like a goldfish. U Hanseok had no mercy.
“Wrong!!!”
“Aack!! Team leader!”
“Ugh—i-it suddenly slipped my mind!! PD-nim, please give me one more chance!! Just one!”
“No can do. GN Agency gets thirty seconds for self-PR!”
GN Agency, the first up, died a heroic death. The female team leader tried desperately to get another chance, but it was out of the question. In the end, GN Agency left the stage as they were. Gloomy expressions. Dark clouds also gathered on the faces of the other agencies watching them.
From then on, the game continued.
“Ki-Kim Daesoo!! No, Taesoo!”
“Wrong!”
“Why! That’s right!”
“Isn’t that Lee Taesoo, not Kim Taesoo?”
“……Ah, damn it.”
There were agencies that did fairly well in the game, but quite a few messed it up like GN Agency. The best record was EY Agency, one of the nation’s top three idol agencies, which succeeded on seven cards. Adding seventy seconds to the base thirty, they obtained one hundred seconds.
The agencies’ desperate game filming took roughly an hour.
“Call the kids.”
Next, the four final winners of *The 100%* entered the stage. Rojun, Sihu, Gang Min, Do Gyeong. The dozens of agency officials looked up at them. Once again, greed brimmed within them.
Gang Rojun.
*‘Wow—there are a lot of people.’*
Seeing the agencies scattered before the stage, he wore a calm face but was trembling considerably inside. At that moment, PD U Hanseok called out the first agency.
“EY Agency, please begin your self-PR.”
Immediately, the one hundred seconds EY Agency had earned appeared on the screen behind the children standing on stage. When U Hanseok gave the signal, the seconds began counting down, and a male executive among the EY Agency members who stood up from their seats quickly recited his briefing.
“Hello, we are EY Entertainment! As you all know, we have rich experience regarding idols and have achieved many great accomplishments! If you choose our EY Agency, we will support you with all our heart and soul, and properly support you so that you can spread your wings wide!! And……”
Despite being the record-holder, EY Agency found even one hundred seconds too short, and the large corporation’s self-PR was confident yet desperate.
Next up.
“Eoullim Agency, please begin your self-PR.”
The agencies’ self-PRs continued, and overall they touted strengths rather than weaknesses. Even so, the fans of the idol scene would likely know each agency’s strengths and weaknesses well. And so, the joint shoot with the agencies only ended when night had fallen.
“Great work!!”
Several agency officials tried to approach the final winners coming down from the stage, but—
“You can’t. Agencies cannot meet the final winners.”
U Hanseok blocked them at the source.
At the same time, in Song Mingeun’s studio.
The studio of Song Mingeun, judge of *The 100%* and hit-song maker. A chubby Song Mingeun sitting before his work equipment, and a woman sitting with her legs crossed on the sofa behind him, were visible. It was the megastar Bak Hyeonjeong, wearing a cap pulled low.
Bak Hyeonjeong, noisily sipping an iced Americano while looking at her phone, muttered,
“Ugh—*The 100%*’s new song took first place on the Japanese charts too??”
Song Mingeun let out a sigh and shook his head.
“Aren’t you busy? Why is a kid who’s about to release a new album here again??”
“That’s exactly why I came. I wanted to have some wine with oppa before getting properly busy.”
“What about my opinion?”
“I don’t care about that.”
“Are you crazy.”
Still keeping her eyes on her phone screen, Bak Hyeonjeong switched the direction of her crossed legs.
“By the way, releasing an album right now is utter hell. *The 100%* has occupied the music charts. Plus, the *Rental Lover* OST is stuck to them too.”
“Then avoid it. I heard some idol kids who were trying to come back this time pushed back their timing a bit.”
“What are you talking about? It’s times like these you have to dig in and produce results to be a real singer, right??”
“It’s going to be fucking tough.”
“I know. Still, now is the right time for me.”
“Do what you want. The title is *Heukbaek Sori*. Have you decided the subtitle?”
“Provisionally.”
“So when is the new album release?”
Only then did Bak Hyeonjeong raise her head and meet eyes with Song Mingeun.
“Next Monday.”
About two hours later, at *The 100%* campus.
It was late before anyone knew it. Gang Rojun had done a great deal of filming today. Normally he would do other work in the lounge, but perhaps because he was tired today, he immediately lay down on his bed.
*‘Keu—bed really is honey, honey.’*
Of course, Sihu, Gang Min, and Do Gyeong were also lying in bed. Sihu was looking at his phone, while Gang Min and Do Gyeong had fallen asleep the moment they lay down. Rojun turned on his phone while lying on his side. He had been about to look at the “AI Simulation” app, but Rojun suddenly thought of something and opened a different app.
Mobile banking.
Because of the income he had been thinking about before. He had some expectations, but they hadn’t been high. However.
“……Uh?”
Rojun’s eyes grew huge the moment he checked the result. Naturally. Because an amount he had never seen in his life was recorded in his account.
*‘T-Ten million??!!’*
Not just ten million, but several tens of millions.