Translator: Dreamscribe
Lying down, Kang Rojun's excitement was at its maximum, his eyes wide open.
'T-this really works.'
It was because of the answer displayed on the phone screen from 'AI Automation'. Though they were familiar phrases, to Kang Rojun, it looked like "Japanese? Totally doable."
''AI Automation' is seriously insane!'
If there had been no one else in the room, Rojun would've jumped up and down. But he managed to hold back.
'So if I press 'Allow', does that mean I can immediately speak Japanese? Like a native speaker??'
Whether it was during 'Farewell' or 'brake', and now again, it was always the same. His heart was pounding fast.
Yeah, this is the real taste of microtransaction.
Then Rojun's gaze shifted. Among the words on the screen, he spotted something related to coins again.
-[To achieve the desired result, 350 coins are required.]
'350. Definitely expensive- no, wait, actually it's cheap. You're mastering Japanese perfectly, after all.'
350 coins were a staggering amount in terms of in-game currency, but thinking realistically, it was unbelievably cheap. Currently, Kang Rojun earned 8 coins a day. Plus, with randomly appearing gift coins included...
'Roughly… it'd take about a month to collect 350?'
That was the simple calculation, but it might not even take that long. In fact, it had taken him just under two months to collect 500 coins.
In other words, for less than a month's worth, he could gain Japanese proficiency.
Even at a native level, at that.
'Since the coin amount differs based on the difficulty of the result, if I choose a mediocre level of learning, it'd be cheaper. But if I'm going to learn it anyway, it's a hundred times better to go for perfection.'
Kang Rojun paused to think. Did he need Japanese right this moment? Not really. But still.
'How am I supposed to resist this?'
Rojun was overflowing with desire. This is the danger of microtransaction. Soon, Kang Rojun made up his mind. Screw it, let's just go for it. The coins could always be earned again later. And if he was going to invest, it was better to do it before his idol debut. As his universe expands, there would only be more things to invest in.
And so, Kang Rojun.
- Swoosh.
Moved his finger and tapped the 'Allow' button. The text changed immediately.
- [350 coins will be used.]
- [Applying... Application complete!]
Then, Rojun felt a familiar pain in the wrist where he wore his smartwatch. But this time, it was a bit stronger than usual.
"Mmph!"
It felt like dozens of static shocks erupting on his wrist. But it didn't last long.
"..."
As the pain subsided, Kang Rojun lying down rolled his eyes.
'That's it??'
Though the pain was stronger than usual, the process was still simple. Kang Rojun immediately opened a search site and typed in 'Japanese lyrics'. Looking at the Japanese that instantly popped up.
- [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]
Softly recited the translation that naturally came to his mind..
"[Goodbye and Thank you at the top of my voice] [What's more important than grief?]"
And it didn't stop there. Every single line of Japanese lyrics from the search results flowed through him as easily as Korean. Even though he was reading Japanese for the first time in his life, it was now the easiest thing in the world for Kang Rojun. Then, Rojun described his current state in Japanese.
"Does this even make sense? Wow- this works too."
Japanese flowed from his mouth freely, just like a native speaker. How could he explain this sensation? Nothing particularly special. It was just like there was a language button in his brain, and pressing it once would switch to Korean, and again to Japanese. His brain now output Japanese effortlessly.
Kang Rojun noticed a shiver spreading throughout his body.
'This is truly cathartic.'
And rightfully so.
What takes others years or even more than a decade to study, Rojun had acquired with just the flick of a finger. While lying in bed, no less.
At that very moment.
- Vrrrr.
His phone vibrated. It was a notification from the 'AI Simulation' app.
- [You have achieved the Hidden Mission: 'Use more than 300 coins!' You have received 30 Coins as a gift!]
Rojun's lips curled into a grin as he instantly regained 30 coins.
'Nice, 'AI Simulation'.'
Kang Rojun, whose euphoria had reached its peak, grew curious about something else. What about English? He immediately experimented with 'AI Automation'.
- [AI Automation: I want to master English perfectly, to the level indistinguishable from a native American.]
The result appeared quickly.
- [AI Analysis in progress... Analysis complete!]
- [To achieve the desired result, 400 coins are required.]
With eyes gleaming, Kang Rojun murmured to himself.
'English is more expensive? Anyway, let's acquire English as soon as possible too.'
Later.
The next morning arrived. It was Friday, July 31st, the last day of the month, and the day Episode 3 of 'Produce That 100!' would air. Kang Rojun woke up earlier than usual and began his mission. Even while running, he muttered Japanese to himself like a habit.
'This is insane, seriously.'
It came out smoothly without a hitch.
With a deepening smile, Kang Rojun completed his Daily Mission.
- [Coins Owned: 200]
Although the coin count had dropped significantly, the bonus coins from yesterday helped replenish some of it, so it was fine. When he finished showering and entered the dining hall, the dozens of participants had very tense expressions.
'Everyone's nervous. Well, of course, it's Episode 3 today.'
No one let go of their phones. Even during conversation or while eating, the participants kept sneaking glances at their screens.
It wasn't strange.
The internet was currently flooded with articles about 'Produce That 100!'.
"Episode 3 of 'Produce That 100!' finally airing, will it surpass 15% viewership?"
"'Produce That 100!' dominates communities, SNS, YouTube... The hottest contestant is definitely Number 1 / Photo"
Though the craze had been ongoing all week, today, being the broadcast day of Episode 3, led to an even greater flood of articles.
And that wasn't all.
YouTube, which was already saturated with 'Produce That 100!' related content, seemed to have increased several times.
-!Official Trailer! Let's Break 15% Viewership! 'Produce That 100!' Episode 3 Preview｜Produce That 100!
- Complete Gift Set!! Introducing the 70 contestants you'll produce! 'Produce That 100!'
On numerous community sites, the faces of the 70 contestants of 'Produce That 100!' were already flooding the posts.
[Who do y'all like most from 'Produce That 100!'?? Except Number 1]
- Why are you excluding Number 1 ㅋㅋㅋㅋ he's killing it right now
-I thought No.58 was cute, with a kind of protective instinct-stimulating vibe
- Agreed, agreed. Number 58's vocals were good too ㅋㅋㅋ but Number 1 is just... totally on another level...
- Number 1 is super handsome, a villain, driving up the viewership, doing it all ㅋㅋㅋ but I'm watching Number 71 closely.
- I quit fangirling, but 'Produce That 100!' dragged me back into stan land ㅋㅋㅋㅋ I think Number 71 is adorable too.
- Number 1 is honestly like a chaos agent in the idol world
- Finally, it's airing today!!! TT TT TT TT
Not just online, but offline too, 'Produce That 100!' was being talked about everywhere.
"Manager Kim, wanna grab a drink after work today??"
"Ah- I'm heading home to watch 'Produce That 100!'"
"Oh! Right!! That's on today?? I totally forgot!"
"You watch? Who's your fave?"
"Ha, there are still too many contestants... But of course, Number 1."
"Number 1's visuals are totally untouchable. But to me, he feels a bit like a villain, so I'm not into it."
From companies to cafés and restaurants, etc., you could hear 'Produce That 100!' anywhere, that was undeniable proof of the current craze.
And at that very moment, at a major entertainment company, a top Korean actress was in an argument with the CEO.
"I have already decided. I'm doing 'Rental Lover'."
"Ha- are you seriously doing this??"
It was Choi Rina.
"What do you mean 'doing this'? I already explained. 'Rental Lover' is directed by PD Jung, and the writer's script is solid, so the artistic quality is good too."
"But still, damn it! It's a one-act drama, a one-act! What are you trying to do, going into a one-act right now?"
"I am resting anyway, and I'm saying I'll give up my break to work! And even if it's a one-act, if another director sees it positively, it could lead to something bigger, right? The female lead character is solid too. I'm not giving this up."
"Sigh- I'm going crazy. Who's the writer?"
"I don't know."
"What?"
"I said I don't know. Seems like a rookie. I saw him, but their face was covered, so we just exchanged greetings."
"You-you're seriously!! From the visuals alone, you're the one who should be dragging them by the collar! Jung Soo-ryeong totally baited you!"
"CEO-nim. I'm not making this decision lightly, I thought it through seriously. As an actress, this is a project I really want, and if I miss it, it'll haunt me. Would you rather have that? I'm already starting to feel down, you know?"
"...I'm going nuts here. Agh- fine, fine. You win, I give up."
In the end, the CEO raised the white flag. Of course, neither Choi Rina nor the CEO knew how 'Rental Lover' would unfold in the future.
"But if you do that one-act and come whining to me about how it flopped, I swear-"
They didn't know the full story.
That same night.
It was exactly 9 p.m. The location was the luxurious home of top actress Choi Rina, with a view of the Han River. She didn't seem to have any scheduled work today, and she was sitting on the sofa with both legs propped up.
"Oh, it's starting."
She raised the TV volume and took a bite of a sliced apple. On the table lay the script for 'Rental Lover'. Dressed in pajamas, Choi Rina was watching 'Produce That 100!'. The TV channel was naturally JTVM, and Episode 3 had just begun.
"Wow- can't believe I'm actually tuning in to a survival audition show."
Amused by herself, she let out a short laugh before quickly focusing on the screen. Episode 3 of 'Produce That 100!' started by replaying a part from the end of the previous episode.
- ["Each of you will come up one by one to draw a ball, check the task written on it, and hold it up so everyone can see. That will be your second-round assignment."]
PD Woo Han-suk was briefing the 70 contestants, including contestant Number 1. The camera flashed through the contestants' faces in short cuts. Among them was Kang Rojun. It was a strange image. Kang Rojun displayed on the TV, the 'Rental Lover' script sitting on the table in front of Choi Rina, and Choi Rina herself, clueless and absorbed in 'Produce That 100!'.
Whatever it was, there was an odd synchronicity.
Then PD Woo Han-suk's voice came again.
- ["Number 1, please go first."]
The camera cut to the other contestants looking at Number 1. The angle landed on Kang Rojun's face, expression calm and composed. Choi Rina looked at him and marveled again.
"That ridiculously handsome face has a touch of decadence too."
Though she didn't know, the 'Produce That 100!' open group chat, with over 200,000 users, was in absolute chaos.
-He really doesn't seem humanㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋwhat on earth is he
-F*** he's insanely handsome
-Looks like he came straight out of a fantasy, not real life ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
Kang Rojun on the screen began to move. Walking confidently, he stuck his hand into the square box and pulled it out. In his hand was a gray ball with text on it. Number 1, or Rojun, raised the ball above his head as PD Woo Han-suk instructed.
-What is it??? What's written on the ball?
-What came out??
-Ugh, show it properly already
Top actress Choi Rina stared at the TV and murmured.
"What did he draw? Another vocal task?"
Soon, the ball Kang Rojun picked was shown in a close-up.
-'Dance'
Murmurs erupted among the dozens of contestants. The camera flashed through a few of them, and then finally settled on contestant Number 10 with red hair. The angle returned to Rojun. Despite drawing 'Dance', his expression didn't change much.
- ["Alright, you may return to your spot with the ball."]
He returned to where he had been standing. A full shot of Kang Rojun appeared, accompanied by voiceovers from the other contestants.
- ["Honestly, I was kinda glad Number 1 drew dance. I thought he might not be that good at it."]
- ["Come on! His visuals are already god-tier. If he can dance too, that's just unfair!"]
- ["I just kept praying, please don't let me get matched with Number 1!!"]
Soon, the angle shifted to Number 10 with red hair standing next to Rojun.
- ["Next, Number 10, please come forward and draw."]
The real-time group chat was still filled with nothing but talk about Number 1. Dozens, hundreds of messages were popping up every second.
-Didn't he refused to take training?? That's why he got cast as the villain, right
-Yeah, Number 1 went full psycho mode, declared he wouldn't do training??? So how's he gonna do dance??
Tons of curiosity or skepticism were exploding.
-Exactly ㅋㅋㅋㅋ He's probably just gonna flail around doing the national gym routine or something
Meanwhile, Choi Rina, still crunching on her apple, kept her attention mostly on Number 1.
"Dance? I'm kind of excited but also worried."
Then she laughed to herself, finding her own thoughts ridiculous.
"Worried? Why am I even worried? What am I saying right now?"
*****
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