Chapter 2
"Thank you!"
The applicants left the stage with energetic greetings.
ﾠ
'This audition was a failure as expected.'
The rookie development team leader sitting on the judges' seat rested her chin on her hand with a bored expression.
She flapped the judging sheet around for no reason.
'We have to debut them this year...'
At the end of last year, the planning of the debut group began in earnest.
The company decided to prepare the plan with some leeway, but the plan went awry.
"TP rookie boy group expected to debut this summer"
The information leaked to the media.
Of course, it would have been nice if they had released a correction right away...
"TP male idol debut.... Will they fill the empty spot of Clicker?"
"Pink Lime's younger brother group debut... Anticipation at its peak"
"TP rookie boy group, will they take the empty throne of K-POP?"
They received more attention than expected. The higher-ups also gave instructions to speed up the project since it has already come to this point. Now that the unrivaled top clicker has gone into a hiatus due to various issues, this is the opportunity.
'It's a shame to just let this much buzz pass by.'
This is a new attempt for TP, which doesn't have a main boy group.
There are many good trainees in the company, but...
'There's no visual center.'
Of course, they can boast that the looks of TP trainees are absolutely not inferior to those of other agencies.
Even so, there's no one who can become the identity of the group.
The team leader was thirsty for a new face.
But today was no exception.
'There's no applicant who stands out.'
They say that talents from open auditions are as hard to find as unicorns. As expected, the saying goes.
"Ugh..."
'I'm going to go after just a little bit of time today.'
"Applicants 211 to 220."
The next applicants came up to the empty stage.
"!"
The applicant wearing the number 212 caught her eye.
'What's with that?"
It wasn't that he stood out.
No, I guess that's okay too.
"Applicant 211, Kim Min-woo!"
The first applicant's unaccompanied song started while she couldn't take her eyes off applicant number 212.
The vocals weren't bad.
'But that level of skill is common.'
The star quality is disappointing, too.
The team leader put down the pen at the first verse of applicant number 211.
Her gaze naturally turned to the next contestant.
Applicants who participate in auditions usually dress up as pretty as possible.
It doesn't mean that they dress up in a flashy way, but at least it's rare for someone to wear black from head to toe like applicant number 212.
Of course, it's even more so for someone to come with their face completely covered by a hat like that.
'A former trainee?'
The team leader tilted her head.
There are cases where applicants with a history of public trainees hide their faces and participate in auditions for other agencies.
She scanned applicant number 212's appearance.
'That hat is a brand famous for its small sizes. But you're wearing it so low? How small is your head?'
"Yes. I heard it well."
"Thank you for listening!"
At the judges' sign, applicant number 211 stopped singing and bowed.
"Okay, next person."
"Hello. I'm Kwon Yoo-hyun, number 212."
A soft, low-pitched voice.
The voice is not bad.
The team leader sat up straight.
"Please show us what you've prepared."
"Yes."
Soon, a familiar interlude began to flow.
-No need to prove
An impromptu dance song randomly given to the dance applicants.
The song that was playing was <2 prove>, famous for its hard choreography among Clicker's many hit songs.
'Your physique looks good. You'll suit the group dance well.'
Fixing her gaze on number 212, while fiddling around with various things on the evaluation sheet.
The applicant listened to the song quietly and then started moving his body.
Let's see how good he is...
'...Hmm?'
She tilted her head slightly and rubbed her chin.
It was clear that he wasn't a trained trainee.
His movements were alive and sharp.
Typical Ttuktak. [Clumsy and not good at dancing. Dancing like a wood/no flexibility]
'But there's no mistake in the choreography. The beat is right.'
But that's all.
She thought she found a good applicant after a long time.
The team leader, who was licking her lips in regret, was about to put down the pen.
212 suddenly stepped back and bent his knees.
'What are you going to do?'
Whoosh-
Then, in an instant, he jumped high and did a half spin in the air.
A perfect finish, even a light landing.
Everyone in the audition room's mouths dropped open.
"Wow... Huh."
An applicant who had been absentmindedly clapping without realizing it awkwardly covered his lips and bit them. While everyone was stunned by his dazzling acrobatics, the team leader's eyes were elsewhere. I suddenly wanted to stand up and clap my hands.
"Hahaha."
As number 212 spun in the air, the hat covering his face flew away.
...It's crazy. It's completely crazy.
She was overwhelmed with emotion.
An aura that seemed to change the flow of the surrounding air. Slightly upturned eyes, a straight nose, and a sharp, angular jawline. The visual radar rang frantically in her ears.
"Thank you."
"Uh...yes. Thank you for your hard work. Next applicant."
The audition continued as the staff member led it. However, the team leader couldn't concentrate at all. She stared intently at number 212. Kwon Yoo-hyun was calmly looking around and then going to get the hat that had flown far away. She kept covering the corners of her lips that were rising with her hand. He caught people's attention with his flashy outfit, and his face was revealed at an exquisite timing. The ending had to be impressive to be more memorable and deep. Thanks to that, she forgot about the dance that the applicant did earlier.
'That's a reckless gamble.'
That's why she's even more tempted.
It means that he knows exactly what he can appeal to. Is there a casting director who can tolerate this face, this visual?
***
"Would you please wait in the waiting room next door?"
Fortunately, it worked.
After the impromptu dance, I received an unusually simple tone check and was guided to the waiting room by the staff.
A small space with a camera and a large monitor.
They asked me to wait until the audition was over.
I was almost the last number, so it should be over soon.
'Still, it's a success so far.'
Luckily, a song I knew as an impromptu dance song came out. <2 prove>, which I had seen dozens of times as a cover stage. It was a song I had heard and seen so many times from rehearsals to the actual performance at almost every award ceremony. Since I knew the choreography roughly, I was able to find the right timing. My ears were burning, but...
"Whew..."
I touched my temple.
Still, I succeeded in catching the judges' attention.
No matter how much I flew and crawled in front, it would be useless if the judges didn't pay attention.
'I never thought I would use it like this.'
Martial arts, my only differentiating factor.
Since I lowered my expectations with the dance, the House Belt with its flashy movements would have looked more dramatic.
From the beginning, my strategy was to gamble solely on the status window. The only thing I have to show off now is my appearance stat. And my stat is A, so I wonder what the standard is.
'But my appearance right now isn't really worth looking at.'
On top of that, I had just finished my exam preparation period, so it was even worse. After a short thought, I chose a makeup shop.
- The director of Fine Salon these days isn't like before~
While checking the miserable state of my face, I suddenly remembered the words of the idol member who grumbled that he had to change the shop.
Now that I realized that 'before' was now, there was no time to hesitate any longer.
Even though it wasn't as popular as I remembered, it was still unknown whether same-day reservations would be possible.
...Of course, after barely making a reservation, I hesitated a little in front of the shop.
It was an inevitable choice for survival. The talkative director, who had been sparing even words, made my face look awkward.
'Professionals are definitely different.'
They made someone else.
Thanks to that, I was able to proceed with the audition stage as I had prepared.
"Have you been waiting long?"
Just then, the judge I saw at the audition opened the door and came in. A good-looking judge who had been smiling throughout the audition.
"Let's do a camera test first. Could you show me from the front and the side?"
Following the judges' order, the camera test was completed, and a brief Q&A session followed.
"From now on, please answer the questions I ask while looking at this camera~."
"Yes, I understand."
"What is your name?"
"Kwon Yoo-hyun."
"How old are you?"
"Twenty...twenty years old."
I quickly corrected myself.
I almost told my original age.
My conscience prickled a little, but... I can't lie.
"Um.... If you're twenty, you must have just graduated from high school?"
I was troubled by the judge's question.
In February of my 20th year, I was preparing to enter university.
"...Yes. I am waiting for admission."
"Oh! Can I ask what department you are in?"
"Physical Education Department."
"Oh, so~!"
An exclamation flowed out from beyond the camera lens.
"So you learned acrobatics while exercising?"
"Yes."
"What exercise?"
"Taekwondo."
"Oh! Good, good~."
The sound of pens being scribbled continued for a while.
The judge glanced at me and stared at me on the monitor, writing something down without stopping.
The contract was processed in an instant.
Was it because I had just turned 20 and was now an adult, so there was no need for cumbersome procedures?
"Please look at the contract and sign here."
"Yes."
The judge, who introduced as Team Leader Oh Min-joo of the Rookie Development Team, handed me the fan in a friendly tone.
-6-month trainee contract
I read the contract carefully and signed it.
At that moment, a firework exploded in front of my eyes.
[Main Quest Success!]
[You have successfully completed the idol trainee contract!]
Finally.
Then this damn penalty will be gone.
At that moment, another window popped up.
[Would you like to receive the reward?]
[Yes/No]
Why on earth is there a 'No' option?
Is it a trap that disappears if you press it wrong?
I pretended to touch my head and pressed the receive button.
[24:00:00 lifespan acquired!]
[34:00:03 lifespan remaining]
[Lack of lifespan penalty lifted.]
My head soon cleared up and my body felt light. How could I be so relieved when my lifespan increased by only one day? I felt complicated in return.
[Congratulations on completing your first main quest!]
[A special gift has arrived.]
[Please check your mailbox.]
... A gift?
After pressuring people like this, why is it here now?
I couldn't believe it, so I looked at the system window indifferently.
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