Translator: Dreamscribe
A massive hall resonated with the vibrant rhythm of 'Produce', a mix of intense drums and cheerful beats. Two dancers on stage were in the middle of flashy dance, and Kang Rojun, standing at the center, was as well.
-♬♪
He was proudly showing off the dance of 'Produce'. Gestures with his hands and feet, shoulders shaking powerfully in time with the beat. Overall, 'Produce' gave off the feeling of a cheerleading routine.
A brief pause followed by arms spread and shaken, or a big kick with both feet.
But perhaps because trendy moves were added to the cheerleading style, the dance featured lots of fresh and dynamic movements, even outside the wave segments, blending flashy body movements with novelty.
Simple yet complex.
However, Kang Rojun performed as if 'Produce' were his own song. There were no mistakes, no offbeat moves, no missteps, no stumbles. He was no different from the two dancers. No, rather, he was radiating more presence, fully embodying the role of center.
The lights flashed dazzlingly.
Lee Han-na, staring blankly at "No. 1 Villain" on the shining stage.
'What on earth is he?'
She was momentarily confused. Since the stage formation was in a ㅅ-shape with No. 1 in the center, he looked like an idol.
'...Are the ones on the sides just backup dancers?'
That's how professional Kang Rojun looked right now. Around this time, the rhythm that had been hitting her ears strongly started to soften, and the movements of Rojun and the two dancers on stage also shrank. They were adjusting the intensity. In the meantime, the dancers standing on either side of Rojun were flustered.
With question marks in their eyes, they seemed to be saying,
Why is this guy so good?
Regardless, Kang Rojun remained focused on the dance. The build-up was over; now it was time to explode with movement.
-♬♪
The rhythm quickened, the lights turned even more chaotic with multicolored flashes, and the sound thumped deeply. The hall entered a trance. At some point, dozens of 'Produce That 100!' staff members were watching the stage like an audience, and PD Woo Han-suk, in a daze, slowly removed his glasses.
"...How could that kind of energy come out from just a few days of practice?"
A genuine exclamation filled with sincerity. From PD Woo Han-suk's perspective, Rojun's dance was incredibly skilled and dazzling.
'He's not just winging it... each move is precise, and the details are alive.'
What kind of trick did that villain pull?
Just as PD Woo Han-suk's head grew more tangled, the song 'Produce' moved into the instrumental break after finishing the first verse. It was the first time the dance went all the way through to the end of the first verse. But Lee Han-na, watching the stage as if broken, had no intention of stopping. Naturally, the performance transitioned into the second verse.
The two dancers decided to show their true abilities.
Up to now, they had been going easy to match the participants' level. But once they unleashed their real skills, the quality of their moves drastically improved. So was Kang Rojun now being overshadowed?
No, not at all.
As the second verse began, Kang Rojun unleashed a force that was twice as captivating. More powerful, more fluid, more dazzling. The song 'Produce' was reaching its climax.
As he entered the chorus of the second verse, Kang Rojun felt something internally.
'As expected, this is fun. It's hard to describe this feeling, but it's just enjoyable. Like my emotions are bursting out.'
He felt free.
His body, his heart, his mind.
Nothing could stop Rojun now. So he looked only forward and charged ahead. The chorus of the second verse, many times more explosive than the first, unfolded. Kang Rojun and the two dancers extended their right and left legs alternately, then performed a move that looked like flying into the air.
Kang Rojun's black hair swayed attractively.
The current performance captured on camera was vividly transmitted to Team 1 of twelve people in the waiting room.
All the participants slightly opened their mouths.
"..."
"..."
They only stared at No. 1 on the large monitor. No, it was more like witnessing a revelation. No one said a word. Not only because they were shocked into mental paralysis, but because the image of No. 1 on screen was no different from the idol they had always dreamed of becoming.
The song 'Produce' was nearing its end.
Still awkwardly standing, Lee Han-na kept her widened eyes fixed on Kang Rojun. She didn't want to miss even a second.
And then.
-Swish.
With both arms spread toward the ceiling, Rojun slowly lowered himself into a seated position, marking the end of the dance. It was his first time performing the full routine, and as the music cut off, a profound silence descended over the vast hall. Lee Han-na, PD Woo Han-suk, and the dozens of staff didn't so much as flinch.
The first to move were.
-Clap clap clap clap.
The two dancers who had performed with Rojun. They smiled and applauded him.
"Wow, that was surprising."
"You're incredibly good, you know??"
Thanks to that, the ice broke. Many others who had been frozen snapped out of it and joined in the applause.
-Clap clap clap clap clap clap!
Of course, PD Woo Han-suk too. His expression was full of a smile brimming with interest. In contrast, Lee Han-na wore a serious face. Meanwhile, Rojun, slicking back his black hair dampened with sweat, gave a deep bow to everyone.
"Thank you."
Most of the staff gasped. His appearance at that moment was like something out of a pictorial. Cameras focused on Kang Rojun on stage, capturing full shots, bust shots, and close-ups. Amid this, still in shock, Lee Han-na, with her hands covering her face, let out a hollow laugh.
"Ha... haha, wow- what a whirlwind. What did I just witness?"
Even she, a veteran choreographer with over ten years of experience, had never seen anything like this. Kang Rojun looked at her as she processed what had happened. A few seconds later, Lee Han-na exhaled lightly and asked No. 1 toward the stage.
"No. 1-nim, what exactly did you do?"
"I just performed the dance."
"No, I mean- how could you do it that perfectly? Not just perfect, but taking care of details, dynamics, and everything."
Rojun's reply was calm and brief.
"I practiced."
"...That's it?"
"Yes."
"You learned everything with just two days of practice? At a pro level?"
"Yes."
It was Lee Han-na who became flustered. Even active idols rarely pick things up that fast. And an amateur, practically a regular person, pulled it off? It was hard to believe.
Regardless, Kang Rojun was unfazed.
'Well, I did actually practice.'
In fact, over the past two days, he had been getting the feel for the 'Produce' dance, and last night, out of curiosity, he ran 'AI Automation'. The instructions were the same as with 'brake'. So, the result?
-[To derive your desired outcome, 25 coins are required.]
Compared to 'brake', the price was quite cheap. For Rojun, who could earn that in three days, or even in one day if a Hidden Mission popped up, 25 coins was nothing.
'Might as well learn it while I can.'
He tapped to approve. The 'Produce' routine was already underway, and just like with 'brake', there was a chance of unexpected developments. That's how Rojun learned the entire 'Produce' dance perfectly in mere seconds.
The charm of microtransactions that erase hard work.
Lee Han-na, unaware of this, walked over to Rojun and the two dancers and asked,
"...Can I see it one more time? My brain's short-circuited, I couldn't properly evaluate it."
Rojun gave a simple nod.
"Yes, that's fine."
The song began again.
As expected, Rojun's performance was just as impressive this time too.
A few minutes later, sitting down again, Lee Han-na unconsciously muttered to herself.
"Unreal visuals, dance comprehension, copying ability, stage presence. He's already idol-level."
Offering high praise, Lee Han-na then looked at Rojun on stage and asked,
"What exactly is your identity?"
Rojun shrugged his shoulders.
"I'm 'No. 1.'"
That villainous or eccentric charm, no one else on 'Produce That 100!' could replicate it. Lee Han-na lowered her gaze to the tablet and wrote an A next to Rojun's profile.
"No, that's not right."
She erased it and changed it to an S. Then added a few more. Eventually, it became SSS.
At that moment.
"No. 1."
From behind the cameras, PD Woo Han-suk spoke up.
"So, are you going to pass on the training for this 'Produce' case too?"
As if it were obvious, No. 1 replied.
"Yes, I'll pass."
At that same time, his wrist vibrated.
With Kang Rojun's performance, the first evaluation for Team 1 concluded. As Team 1 gathered back on stage, Lee Han-na read out the assigned grades.
"No. 15, B."
Although it started with a B, the rest were filled with Cs and Ds. What was strange was that Lee Han-na didn't say a word about Rojun, to whom she had given an SSS.
"You can consider the grade you were called as reflecting your current skill level, and the amount of practice will be determined accordingly. Of course, whether it's B, C, or D, you all need to practice like your lives depend on it. If you're lacking, then stay up all night if you must. You'd better be prepared. There's no time. Practice starts today, immediately."
Lee Han-na gave instructions for Team 1 to gather at the practice room in an hour.
Naturally, Rojun was excluded.
Just as all of Team 1 started glancing at Kang Rojun, the first evaluation shoot concluded. As soon as PD Woo Han-suk finished his brief wrap-up, Team 1 disbanded. Rojun didn't return to Room 105 right away but stopped by the restroom first.
To check the 'AI Simulation' app.
He saw that a notification had arrived.
-[You've completed the Hidden Mission 'Captivate the Eyes of Giants!' A reward of 20 coins has been granted.]
Smiling at the reward he received,
-[Coins Owned: 455]
He had already recovered the coins he spent on 'Produce'.
'So sweet, seriously sweet.'
Rojun then invested some coins into stat enhancements.
-[Appearance (100/100)│Singing Ability (11.5/100)│Rap (8.8/100)]
[Dance (16.1/100)│Eloquence (9.3/100)│Acting (6.2/100)]
Afterward, he checked his messages. The first message he saw was from PD Jung Soo-ryeong. It roughly said, "The actors' preliminary meeting is confirmed for next Monday."
'If it's Monday, August 17th, that means there are 5 days left?'
In five days, he would meet the cast of 'Rental Lover', including S-Class top actress Choi Rina. Just thinking about meeting celebrities, and the fact that he would need to reveal his identity to them, made Kang Rojun's heart start pounding.
"Whew- what kind of expression am I supposed to make?"
Ten minutes later, Rojun returned to Room 105 and found his peers getting ready to go out. But for some reason, No. 19, 37, 58, and 88 all wore somber expressions. As soon as they saw Rojun, No. 37 forced a smile.
"Ah, No. 1-nim, you're done filming?"
"Yes. But where are you all going?"
No. 37 answered again.
"They said we're about to film the voting results now..."
At that moment, Rojun recalled the 'Dance Team' shoot and went quiet. This time, it was the 'Vocal Team' and 'Rap Team' taking their turn. Once filming was done, one among those four might get eliminated.
"Good luck."
About 30 minutes later, the fate of the 'Vocal Team' and 'Rap Team' was decided in the hall. Of course, Rojun didn't know the result immediately. It wasn't until about two hours later that he found out.
-Swish.
The peers who had finished filming returned to Room 105, and all four had gloomy faces. Especially No. 88, tall and lanky, looked the worst. No. 19, 37, and 58 entered the room without saying much, while No. 88 took a deep breath and greeted Rojun and the others.
"It's been a pleasure."
No. 88 was the one eliminated from Room 105. With reddened eyes, he spoke sincerely.
"I've felt it for weeks now, how lacking I really am."
No. 88's gaze traveled from the others to Rojun.
"Please make sure to win in my place and debut as an idol. I'll be cheering you on as a viewer."
"..."
Kang Rojun felt an unfamiliar burning sensation inside, and he gave No. 88 a low but resolute response.
"I've received the baton."
A few days later, on Friday night, August 14th.
It was almost 9 p.m. Today was the broadcast of episode 5 of 'Produce That 100!' and only a few minutes remained before it aired. Normally, the campus would've been bustling with noise, but for some reason, the mood among the dozens of contestants gathered in the room was subdued.
Gloomy, one might say.
Because they had bid farewell to a roommate they had grown fond of. In some rooms, up to two members had been eliminated. This was true for Room 105, where Kang Rojun resided as well. The members of Room 105 had finished preparing to watch 'Produce That 100!' on their tablets. However, only four of them were present.
No. 88 had already packed his things and gone home.
"..."
"..."
The reason they weren't speaking wasn't so much because they were feeling down, but more out of consideration for No. 88. The absence of someone who was always there left a surprisingly large void. For reference, among the survivors, Nos. 19, 37, and 58, Nos. 19 and 58 were assigned to Team 2, while No. 37 was placed in Team 3. Like Rojun, they had heard the song 'Produce', but the practice videos wouldn't be sent to them until the following week.
This was to stagger the timeline between teams.
At present, only 38 participants remained on the 'Produce That 100!' campus, 13 in Team 1, 13 in Team 2, and 12 in Team 3.
Around this time, the ads on the tablet ended, and the opening of 'Produce That 100!' began. Episode 5 had started. The members of Room 105 forced some smiles to lighten the mood.
"...It's starting"
"Wonder what kind of scenes they've filled this episode with-"
"No. 1-nim! Please turn the volume up!"
Raising the volume, Kang Rojun also wondered what Episode 5 would look like.
'Whoa- over 300,000 people are in the live open chat. No way I can keep up with that.'
Whatever the case, once the title rolled, the first scene of Episode 5 showed the 13 members of Team 1 and their brief interviews, followed by interviews with the seven eliminated contestants.
-["I was just really unlucky, seriously. Of all people, I had to be up against No. 1. If it had been someone else, I would've survived."]
After bold claims from red-haired No. 10, footage followed showing the seven eliminated contestants leaving. Then the screen shifted again.
-["The first official theme song for 'Produce That 100!' has been completed."]
PD Woo Han-suk appeared, briefing Team 1.
-["This isn't the only theme song."]
The caption "Theme Song" appeared, and the voiceover took over.
-["This theme song and those to be completed in the future will lead to... surprise performances in Korea! And a confirmed concert schedule in Japan too!"]
Viewers went wild with excitement.
-Wowww!!! Are they finally performing??
-ㅠㅜㅠㅠㅜㅠㅠ I don't even know what kind of concert it is but I really want to see it.....
-But what's this concert in Japan about??
-'Produce That 100!' is pretty hot in Japan right now, you know
-I heard rumors that it's going to be launched on Netflix Japan
Next, scenes showed the contestants going about their usual routines despite eliminations, talking about the eliminated contestants in the dorm, getting excited over the show's viewership ratings, eating, going to training, and so on.
Then the camera angle shifted abruptly. And a caption appeared.
-[No. 1 is alone in the lounge.]
While all participants were in training, only No. 1 was sitting alone in the lounge. Busily typing on a laptop. To anyone watching, he exuded a strong aura not of someone dreaming of becoming an idol, but of a writer.
The caption changed.
-[What is No. 1 writing alone?]
Soon, the chat lit up.
-While everyone else is training, this guy's just writing? ㅋㅋㅋ what's he doing?
-Turns out he might actually be a writer ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
-ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ Acting like a writer ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ Nonsense, why?
-But even his focused expression is super handsome hahaha
-Writing's a bit much, he's probably just writing a diary
-No. 1, what are you doing??
The viewers' curiosity exploded.