PD Woo Hanseok’s verdict rang through the vast hall. Businesslike, yet clear. The cameras focused on Number 10, whose eyes had gone wide.
His flushed face stiffened in real time.
From denial to shock, from shock to recognition.
A gloom quickly settled over Number 10’s rigid expression, and PD Woo Hanseok’s words kept circling in his mind.
“Number 10, you have been ‘eliminated.’ Please leave ‘PT100’ as you are.”
Number 10 let out a small breath and ran a hand through his hair.
“It’s over, huh. Phew—”
How could he describe this feeling? Countless emotions were swirling inside Number 10. There was some relief, but regret was still greater. If he had been eliminated right from the start, that would be one thing, but to come this far and then be knocked out. Biting his lower lip, Number 10 glanced at Number 1 standing beside him. No, at Kang Rojun.
“…If I hadn’t gone up against him, I would’ve survived. Damn it.”
Of course, if Number 10 had not competed against Rojun, he likely would have survived this round. He had simply met far too strong an opponent midway through.
But what could he do?
In this industry, one could never ignore something called “luck.”
Veterans of the entertainment world went so far as to say luck was everything. So Number 10 had no real reason to feel wronged. Number 10 turned his gaze away from Rojun and looked at PD Woo Hanseok in front of him.
“…Thank you for your work.”
PD Woo Hanseok lowered his head slightly in a calm tone.
“You worked hard, Number 10.”
Number 10 stepped down from the stage just like that. His steps were slow. The reluctance to leave was painfully clear. Now Number 10 would stop by the dorm, gather his belongings, and leave “PT100.” The other contestants watching his back felt a chill run down their spines. Because Number 10’s exit procedure was so simple.
“Whoa—he’s out just like that?”
“That’s scary. Ha, please! I don’t want to be eliminated yet!”
And because they could see themselves in his place.
At that moment.
—Swoosh.
PD Woo Hanseok lifted the tablet and continued the briefing.
“For reference, more than 50% of the total votes for the ‘Choreography Team’ went to Number 1.”
The contestants began murmuring.
It was only natural. It meant Kang Rojun had taken more than half of the total vote share. Viewers had been allowed to vote for all ten choreography teams, but if they disliked them, they could vote for only one team. In other words, votes had poured in for Kang Rojun. This reflected many things. Rojun’s current popularity, his influence, and so on. It would not be an exaggeration to say Kang Rojun had crushed the second screening vote.
Though he did not show it, Kang Rojun was surprised inside as well.
“More than 50%?? That’s insane.”
On the other hand, PD Woo Hanseok had expected this number to some extent.
“That god-tier visual is probably a big reason, but Number 1’s villain character and his unexpectedly strong skills must have played a part too.”
This was why so many variety shows assigned characters to their cast members and gradually built up their stories. Stories drew people in, and if those stories were entertaining as well, people were sucked in instantly.
That was exactly what Kang Rojun was right now.
At that moment.
—Bzzzt.
Rojun felt a short vibration near his wrist. There was a high chance it was a notification from “AI Simulation,” but he had to resist checking it for now.
“Then, I will continue with the announcements.”
Because PD Woo Hanseok was still handing down death sentences.
“Number 21, you have been eliminated. Please leave ‘PT100’ as you are.”
The faces of the contestants whose eliminations were called were not much different from Number 10’s. Some contestants even had reddened eyes. Thanks to that, the atmosphere was like a funeral, but PD Woo Hanseok coldly called out the names of the seven eliminated contestants who would be leaving “PT100.”
Soon.
“That is all.”
All seven eliminated contestants had been announced.
“The thirteen remaining on stage have all passed. Congratulations.”
It should have been a time to rejoice, but for some reason, the contestants watched one another’s reactions. It was partly because eliminated contestants had just been made, but also because if they jumped around in this situation, there was a chance viewers would mark them as unlikable. PD Woo Hanseok, who was well aware of this, lowered the tablet.
“I will now announce the contestants who survived through the repechage.”
The three contestants who had miraculously survived at the edge of the cliff were called. The reason he deliberately announced this was simple. It was to instill a sense of warning. The meaning was that they had narrowly escaped death, so they should work even harder.
After finishing the announcement, PD Woo Hanseok changed the subject.
“The thirteen surviving members of the ‘Choreography Team’ will be Group 1 from now on. Remember your team members and your group.”
When he signaled to the staff with his eyes, the doors to the hall opened again within minutes, and the remaining contestants who had been waiting near the dorms entered in a rush. The seventy contestants had already become sixty-three. Once the voting for the vocal and rap teams ended, that number would shrink further.
Looking at the dozens of contestants who had come up onto the stage, PD Woo Hanseok opened his mouth.
“The survival announcement for the ‘Choreography Team’ has just ended. Thirteen contestants survived. After this, thirteen from the ‘Vocal Team’ and twelve from the ‘Rap Team’ will survive as well. In the end, thirty-eight contestants will remain. The surviving teams will be divided into Group 1, Group 2, and Group 3.”
In other words, the total number of survivors from the second screening would be thirty-eight. Half of the seventy would be gone. The contestants were busy murmuring with tension. Regardless, PD Woo Hanseok moved on to the next agenda.
“There are a few things I need to inform you of. First, our ‘PT100’ will be launching on Netflix.”
The eyes of the dozens of contestants widened sharply. Kang Rojun’s did too.
“Wow—Netflix!”
“If it launches on Netflix too, the attention will be insane, won’t it?”
“Th-then does that mean people overseas can watch ‘PT100’ too?”
At the question thrown his way, PD Woo Hanseok shook his head.
“No. For now, it will launch on domestic Netflix first. Of course, we are also discussing overseas launches. However, the launch on Netflix Japan has been confirmed.”
It would be uploaded on Netflix Korea first, then Netflix Japan would follow one or two weeks later.
“It won’t take very long. I’ll inform you of the detailed schedule when it gets closer. For reference, word seems to have already spread in Japan, and we are getting reactions. We’ve been continuously monitoring their social media, and there is a lot of talk about ‘PT100.’”
Interest and excitement began to appear on the contestants’ faces. It was not strange. They had never even imagined entering Japan. Then a few contestants glanced at Number 1 standing at the front.
“If it’s going on Netflix Japan too—doesn’t that mean Number 1 is seriously going to hit it huge?”
“He’s already sweeping Korea, and now Japan too. I’m jealous… seriously damn jealous.”
“Crazy. I heard Number 1 is good at Japanese too. Did he aim for this?”
PD Woo Hanseok, who had been briefing them on the Netflix matter, moved on.
“The first official theme song for ‘PT100’ has been completed. This will not be the end of the theme songs. With the theme songs completed later on, surprise performances in Korea and performance schedules in Japan have also been decided.”
He added that it would not be an enormous production like a concert, but literally a surprise performance. Even so, the contestants had no choice but to gape.
“J-Japan too??!!”
A short while later.
PD Woo Hanseok continued briefing the members of the “Vocal Team” and “Rap Team.” Episode 4 of “PT100,” which would air tomorrow night, the voting scheduled for the following week, and so on. On the other hand, Kang Rojun’s Group 1, the thirteen whose passing had already been decided, left the hall. The twelve other than Rojun chattered about the things they had just heard from PD Woo Hanseok.
The Korean and Japanese Netflix launches, the theme song, and even surprise performances using that theme song.
Kang Rojun’s heart was pounding as well.
“Netflix surprised me enough, but now I’m going to perform too?? I’m already nervous.”
Of course, it would be an amateur stage, not a professional one, but even so, Rojun had never imagined performing in his entire life. It was only natural that his nerves exploded. Kang Rojun walked in the direction the writers, including Kim Sehui, guided them. Of course, several cameras followed as well. The place Group 1 arrived at was a studio with several monitors attached, overall closer to a recording studio.
Writer Kim Sehui, who resembled a hamster, called out to the contestants with high energy.
“From now on, we’re going to let you hear the completed ‘PT100’ theme song! Only Group 1 will hear it first, so if possible, watch what you say around the other contestants! Before explaining, let’s listen first!”
Writer Kim Sehui sent a signal to the staff member sitting in front of the control equipment. When the staff member pressed something, music quickly filled the studio.
—♬♪
It began with intense drums. Afterward, a lively rhythm joined in. It was a dance song that made one’s head nod on its own. Rojun’s impression while listening to the “PT100” theme song was simple.
“It’s exciting. A good song to listen to while driving.”
The other contestants seemed to feel similarly, as almost all of them were bobbing their heads. The song was roughly three minutes long. When the music stopped, Writer Kim Sehui spoke again.
“Everyone in Group 1 will have to practice the choreography for this theme song! The choreography video will be sent to Group 1 all at once next Monday, after Episode 4 airs this week. There will also be help through choreography-related training, and you can just practice hard on your own too!”
Writer Kim Sehui said the period would be roughly one week starting from next Monday, then mentioned the third screening.
“After practicing, the thirteen members of Group 1 will go on stage for a surprise performance in Korea, and that performance will be the third screening. Naturally, the performance will be broadcast, and the judges’ evaluations and viewer voting will be the same as in the second screening.”
One contestant asked a question.
“Will it just be us?”
“Yes! The already-decided Group 1 will begin the performance first, and afterward Group 2 and Group 3 will follow in order.”
The “Vocal Team” and “Rap Team,” whose fates had yet to be decided, would become Group 2 and Group 3. According to the explanation, the third screening would involve all the contestants going on stage with the choreography for this “PT100” theme song. It would keep the survival show feel, but unlike the second screening, group practice would also be necessary.
It had the feel of everyone matching their movements together and being evaluated by group.
They were comrades and enemies at the same time.
Writer Kim Sehui added in a high-energy voice.
“In the third screening, the number of survivors from Group 1 will be eight in total!”
In other words, five out of the thirteen would die.
Afterward.
By the time several hours of filming ended, it was around lunchtime, and the dozens of contestants, including Kang Rojun, all returned to the dorm. Fortunately, the members of Room 105 remained the same.
However, there were surely rooms where people had decreased.
A strange tension hung over the dorm, and PD Woo Hanseok immediately left the “PT100” campus.
Because he had to start editing today’s footage right away.
He had to attach the “Choreography Team” voting results filmed today to the footage for Episode 4, which would air tomorrow. It was a schedule no different from hell.
“Phew—I’ll be up all night again today.”
Around the time PD Woo Hanseok, whose dark circles would grow several times darker, headed to the editing room, Kang Rojun was looking at his phone while pretending to take a walk, perhaps because of the vibration from earlier.
“As expected, it was from ‘AI Simulation.’ Nice, a gift!”
The reason for the vibration had been bonus coins.
—[You have achieved the hidden mission “An Unrivaled Path!” As a gift, 20 coins have been awarded.]
He wondered if it was because he had taken more than 50% of the vote share.
Thursday passed like that, and Friday, the broadcast day for Episode 4 of “PT100,” dawned. As Rojun was putting on workout clothes for his mission, PD Jeong Suryeong called him.
“Writer, I’m sorry, but I think we’ll have to push back the meeting we were supposed to have today. An urgent production meeting came up. How about Sunday?”
“Yes. That’s fine.”
Urgency clung to her voice, showing how busy she was. Whatever the case, Friday passed quickly. Of course, perhaps because it was the broadcast day for “PT100,” both the media and public opinion were practically having seizures.
《[Issue Talk] ‘PT100,’ Aiming for 20% Viewership, Airs Episode 4 Tonight》
《The Frenzy of ‘Produce That 100!’… What Should You Watch for in Episode 4?》
For reference, among the “PT100” NeoTube videos, Kang Rojun’s first appearance scene from Episode 1 had surpassed ten million views.
《Number 1, the Villain and Poster Star of ‘PT100,’ Surpasses 10 Million Views on His Appearance Scene Video!》
Rojun’s other videos had easily passed one million views, and this “brake” stage had exceeded eight million and was running toward ten million. Videos of various contestants, including Number 58, were also getting quite a lot of views, but Rojun’s were in a league of their own.
Soon, Friday night fell.
“It’s starting, it’s starting!”
“Phew—I hope I get more screen time in Episode 4!!”
All the dozens of contestants on the campus side focused on Episode 4 of “PT100,” which had begun. As announced in the preview, Episode 4 began with the “Vocal Team” stages. Since there were so many stages, no other cuts were added, and once the fairly lengthy “Vocal Team” segment ended, the story of the “Rap Team” immediately went on air.
Room 105, where Kang Rojun was, was in a state of frenzy.
“Oh! Oh!! I’m on!”
“Why am I nervous when it’s not even my turn?!”
Kang Rojun was hard to find in today’s broadcast. The occasional interview cut was all. Since the main focus was the “Vocal Team” and “Rap Team,” it was only natural. On the other hand, his Room 105 batchmates—Number 19, Number 37, Number 58, and Number 88—had quite a lot of screen time. Rojun watched “PT100” with a more relaxed heart than he had during Episode 3.
“I never really got to watch their skills directly much, so I didn’t know, but everyone’s good.”
By the time the “Rap Team” stages ended, well over an hour had passed. Voting methods, voting period, and such were displayed on the screen, then Kang Rojun’s face suddenly appeared. It was a close-up that slowly pulled backward. When the angle changed to a full shot, twenty contestants standing on stage appeared.
It was the “Choreography Team.”
—[“The voting for the ‘Choreography Team’ has ended. Your survival will be decided here.”]
PD Woo Hanseok’s briefing continued. Passing and elimination, and that eliminated contestants would immediately leave “PT100.”
—[“The first group’s song was ‘brake.’”]
By this point, the real-time open chat, which had far exceeded two hundred thousand people, was practically going wild.
—Number 1!! Number 1 survives no matter what!!!
—I’m not really worried, but… if Number 1 gets eliminated, I don’t think I’ll watch PT100 anymore….
—LOL if Number 1 gets dropped as a twist, there’ll be riots the next day lolololol
—My eyes are purified by Number 1’s face again today….
—For visuals, Number 1 is seriously the top of the domestic idol scene
—I kind of want to see a picture where Number 10 passes and Number 1 gets eliminated lololol let’s see what happens
On screen, PD Woo Hanseok recited in a calm tone.
—[“Number 1, with an unrivaled first place in vote share, has ‘passed.’”]
The open chat messages rose even more insanely.
Right then.
—Bzzzt.
A short vibration rang out. Rojun glanced over his roommates, whose eyes were fixed on the tablet, then subtly lifted his wrist and looked down at his smartwatch. As expected, a notification had arrived.
—[You have achieved the hidden mission “One Step Closer to Becoming an Idol with Unrivaled Might!” As a gift, the item “Stat 5-Point Enhancement Coupon” has been awarded.]
It included a phrase he was seeing for the first time.
“Item?? It gives items too?”