Lying down with eyes wide open, Gang Rojun’s excitement was at its peak.
‘I-it worked.’
It was because of the answer displayed on his phone screen by ‘AI Automation.’ They were familiar phrases, but to Gang Rojun, they looked like ‘Japanese? Totally possible.’
‘AI Automation is really insane!’
Rojun would have sprung to his feet and bounced around the room if there hadn’t been other people inside. But he somehow held it in.
‘So if I press Allow, I can instantly use Japanese? To the point of putting a native Japanese person to shame??’
During ‘Bereavement,’ during ‘brake,’ and always even now, it had always been that way, but once again, he couldn’t easily imagine himself after using ‘AI Automation.’ His heart beat fast.
Yeah, this was the true taste of whaling.
Then Rojun’s gaze shifted. He looked again at the phrase related to coins displayed on the screen.
-[To derive the desired result, 350 coins are required.]
‘350. That’s definitely expensive—no, it’s not. 350 is cheap. We’re talking about perfectly learning Japanese, after all.’
While 350 was an amount that made his hands tremble in terms of raw coins, it was impossibly cheap when thought of in reality. Gang Rojun currently earned 8 coins per day. If he added the random gift coins that popped up.
‘Roughly… about a month to gather 350?’
That was the simple calculation, but it might not even take a month. In reality, it had taken Rojun slightly less than two months to gather 500 coins.
In other words, he could have Japanese for less than a month’s worth.
And at a native level, at that.
‘The number of coins differs depending on the difficulty of the result, so if I learned at a somewhat ambiguous level, it’d be cheaper. But if I’m going to learn anyway, perfect is obviously a hundred times better.’
Gang Rojun thought for a moment. Did he need Japanese right now? He didn’t. But.
‘How can I resist this?’
Rojun was brimming with desire. This was the danger of whaling. Soon, Gang Rojun made up his mind. Just go for it. He could always gather the spent coins again. Besides, if he was going to invest, now before his idol debut was better. Because as his world gradually expanded, there would be even more to invest in.
Soon, Gang Rojun.
-Swipe.
moved his finger and touched the ‘Allow’ button. The phrase immediately changed.
-[Using 350 coins.]
-[Applying… Application complete!]
Then Rojun felt a familiar pain in the wrist where he wore his smartwatch. However, it was a bit stronger than usual.
“Urp!”
How to describe it—it felt like static electricity discharging dozens of times on his wrist. But it didn’t last long.
“……”
Lying there as the pain subsided, Gang Rojun rolled his eyes.
‘That’s it??’
While the pain was stronger than usual, it was simple enough. Gang Rojun immediately opened a search site and searched for ‘Japanese lyrics’ in the search bar. Looking at the Japanese that immediately popped up, Gang Rojun…
-[さよなら ありがとう 声の限り]
-[悲しみよりもっと大事なこと]
muttered the translation that naturally came to mind under his breath.
“Goodbye, thank you, at the end of that voice. Something more important than sadness.”
It didn’t end there. All the Japanese lyrics in the search results flowed as smoothly as if they were Korean. Even though it was his first time reading Japanese, it was the easiest thing in the world for the current Gang Rojun. Then Rojun muttered his current state in Japanese.
“Does this make sense? Wow—this works too.”
Japanese flowing freely as if he were a native. How could he describe this feeling? There was nothing special about it. It was as if there were a language button—press once for Korean, press again for Japanese—and Rojun’s brain output Japanese with ease.
Gang Rojun realized a chill was spreading across his entire body.
‘Catharsis is hitting, for real.’
It was more than understandable.
Because Rojun had obtained with a flick of a finger what others had to study for years or even decades. And while lying in bed, no less.
Right then.
-Bzzzt.
His phone vibrated. Looking at it, it was a notification sent by the ‘AI Simulation’ app.
-[You have achieved the Hidden Mission ‘Try using 300 or more coins!’ 30 coins have been gifted to you!]
The corner of Gang Rojun’s mouth shot up as he recovered 30 coins in an instant.
‘Nice, AI Simulation.’
Rojun, his pleasure reaching its peak, grew curious about other things. What about English? He immediately experimented with ‘AI Automation.’
-[AI Automation: I want to learn English perfectly to the point of being no different from an American.]
The result appeared quickly.
-[AI Analyzing… Analysis complete!]
-[To derive the desired result, 400 coins are required.]
Gang Rojun muttered internally, his eyes gleaming.
‘English is more expensive? Anyway—let’s devour English as fast as possible too.’
After that.
The next morning dawned. It was Friday, July 31st, the last day of July, and the day Episode 3 of ‘Produce 100’ aired. Gang Rojun woke up even earlier than usual and began performing missions. Even while running, he spat out Japanese as if talking to himself.
‘This is insane, for real.’
It came out smoothly without a hitch.
With a deepening smile, Gang Rojun completed his daily missions.
-[Owned Coins: 200]
His coins had decreased a lot, but since they had been somewhat replenished by yesterday’s bonus coins, it was fine. Later, when he entered the cafeteria after showering, dozens of contestants had very excited faces.
‘Everyone’s restless. Well, it’s because Episode 3 airs today.’
No one put down their phones. Even when talking, even when eating, dozens of contestants kept glancing at their phones.
It wasn’t strange.
Because the internet was currently plastered with articles about ‘Produce 100.’
《Will ‘Produce 100’ Episode 3, Finally Opening, Break 15% Viewership?》
《‘Produce 100’ Dominates Communities, SNS, Nutube… The Hottest Is Still No. 1 / Photo》
The whirlwind had blown all week, but today, perhaps because it was the airing day of Episode 3, the number of surging articles had multiplied several times over.
And that wasn’t all.
Nutube, where ‘Produce 100’ related content already dominated the real-time popular videos, was nearly saturated.
-!Official Trailer! Let’s Break 15% Viewership! ‘Produce 100’ Episode 3 Preview | Produce 100!
-Comprehensive Gift Set!! Introducing the 70 Contestants You Will Produce! | Produce 100!
In countless communities, the faces of the 70 ‘Produce 100’ contestants had already been flooding around.
[Guys, who do you like best in Produce 100?? Excluding No. 1]
-Why exclude No. 1 LOL he’s devouring everything right now
-I think No. 58 is cute, has a vibe that triggers protective instincts
-Agree agree No. 58’s vocals were good too LOL but as expected No. 1 is.... too otherworldly....
-No. 1 is crazy handsome, a villain, and boosting viewership all at once LOL but I’m keeping an eye on No. 71
-I quit the idol scene but Produce 100 dragged me back LOL No. 71 is cute too
-No. 1, honestly, is totally an idol scene disruptor
-Finally Produce 100 is today!!! T_T TT_TT
Offline, not just online, ‘Produce 100’ could be heard here and there.
“Deputy Kim, drinks after work today??”
“Ah—I’m going to watch ‘Produce 100’ today.”
“Ah! Right!! That’s today, right??! I forgot!”
“You watch? Who’s your bias?”
“Ha, there are still too many kids… but as expected, it’s No. 1.”
“No. 1’s visuals are really out of this world. But I don’t like him because he’s kind of a villain.”
Companies, as well as cafes and restaurants, etc. The fact that ‘Produce 100’ could be heard anywhere was proof of the current craze.
And at this moment, at a large entertainment agency, one of the nation’s top actresses was arguing with the CEO.
“Enough, I’m doing ‘Rental Lover’.”
“Ha—are you really going to do this??”
It was Choe Rina.
“What do you mean? I already explained everything. ‘Rental Lover’ is directed by PD Jeong as the main PD, and the writer is skilled so the quality is fine.”
“Even so, damn it! It’s a one-act drama, a one-act! What are you going to do entering a one-act drama now!”
“I’m on break anyway, so I’m saying I’ll give up my break and work?? And whether it’s a one-act or a short film, another director might take a liking to me and a bigger project could come in? The female lead character is good too. I can’t give up.”
“Hoo—I’m going crazy. Who’s the writer?”
“I don’t know.”
“What?”
“I don’t know, seems like a rookie. I saw them but their face was covered so I just greeted them.”
“What the hell!! In this picture, you should be the one grabbing them by the collar and dragging them! Jeong Suryeong is just fishing for you!”
“CEO. I didn’t decide this roughly; I decided it seriously. It’s a work I’m greedy for as an actress, and if I miss it, I’ll keep thinking about it. Would you prefer that? That I get depressed?”
“……I’m going crazy. Agh—fine, fine. I give up, I lose.”
In the end, the CEO raised the white flag. Of course, neither Choe Rina nor the CEO knew how ‘Rental Lover’ would unfold going forward.
“But if you whine about flopping after doing that one-act drama, just you wait.”
They didn’t know the exact inside story.
That same night.
It was exactly 9 o’clock. The place was inside the splendid home of top actress Choe Rina overlooking the Han River. Choe Rina was seen sitting on the sofa with her legs up, perhaps because she had no schedule today.
“Ah, it’s starting.”
She raised the volume of the turned-on TV and took a bite of a pre-sliced apple at the same time. On the table was the script for ‘Rental Lover.’ Choe Rina, currently in pajamas, was watching ‘Produce 100.’ The TV was of course on the ‘JTVM’ channel, and Episode 3 of ‘Produce 100’ had just begun.
“Wow—to think I’d watch a survival audition program like this.”
As if she herself found it absurd, Choe Rina let out a short laugh before quickly focusing on the TV. ‘Produce 100’ Episode 3 started by repeating the latter part of the previous episode.
-[“You’ll come out one by one and draw a ball, and after checking the assignment, hold it up so everyone can see. That will be the second-round evaluation assignment.”]
PD Woo Han-seok briefing the 70 contestants including No. 1. The camera angles briefly captured the contestants’ faces one after another. Gang Rojun was among them. It was somehow an odd picture. Gang Rojun displayed on the TV, the script for ‘Rental Lover’ on the table in front of Choe Rina, and Choe Rina, enthralled by ‘Produce 100’ without knowing a thing.
In any case, a square box was visible on screen.
PD Woo Han-seok’s voice was heard again.
-[“No. 1, please draw first.”]
A shot of the contestants looking at No. 1. Gang Rojun captured in the angle. An indifferent expression. Choe Rina admired No. 1 once again.
“That outrageous face is mixed with a bit of decadent beauty too.”
She didn’t know, but the real-time OpenTalk for ‘Produce 100’ with over 200,000 people was in an uproar too.
-He really doesn’t look human LOL what the hell is he
-Fuck he’s so handsome
-A visual that seems like it should exist in fantasy, not reality LOL
Gang Rojun on TV moved. He walked boldly with heavy steps, plunged his hand into the square box, and pulled it out. In his hand was a gray ball with writing on it. No. 1, or Rojun, held the gray ball he had drawn above his head at PD Woo Han-seok’s request.
-What??? What’s written on the ball?
-What came out??
-Ah, show it properly
Top actress Choe Rina stared intently at the TV and muttered.
“What did he draw? Vocals again??”
Soon, the ball Gang Rojun drew was shown in close-up.
-‘Choreography’
Dozens of contestants immediately began buzzing. Though several were shown, for some reason the red-haired No. 10 was caught last. Then Rojun’s face again. Even though he had drawn choreography, there wasn’t much change in his expression.
-[“That’s enough. You may return to where you were with the drawn ball.”]
He returned to where he had stood. Around here, a full shot of Gang Rojun. At the same time, the interview voices of other contestants overlapped.
-[“Honestly, I was kind of glad No. 1 drew choreography. I somehow felt like he wouldn’t be good at dancing.”]
-[“No! His visuals are god-tier, he can’t be good at dancing too!”]
-[“I kept praying, please don’t let me be grouped with No. 1!!”]
Soon, the angle shifted to the red-haired No. 10 standing to Rojun’s right, but.
-[“Next, No. 10, please come out and draw.”]
The real-time OpenTalk was filled with nothing but talk of No. 1. Dozens or hundreds of chats were posting every second.
-Didn’t he say he wouldn’t do training?? That’s why he got the villain character
-Right No. 1 declared he’d do training by himself like a lunatic??? But how will he do choreography???
Countless curiosities or dismissals were exploding.
-That’s what I’m saying LOL he’ll probably show off with national calisthenics or something
Meanwhile, Choe Rina, crunching on her apple, was most interested in No. 1.
“Choreography? I’m strangely excited but worried.”
Then, as if she herself found it absurd, Choe Rina let out a short laugh.
“Ah, worried? Why am I worried? What am I even saying right now??”