NOVEL WEB Chapter 10
The moment I stepped into the set for the first time, I was flustered.
The set was much larger than I had expected.
There were so many participants as well.
And on top of that, dozens of eyes were simultaneously fixed on me, leaving me startled.
Above all else…
‘There’s only two spots left…?’
Only the 1st and 99th ranks were available.
I quickly scanned both spots with my eyes, weighing their pros and cons.
First, the 1st rank.
…It’s flashy. Definitely a cut above the other spots in both design and position.
Being at the highest point and right in the center means getting a lot of camera time.
In contrast, the 99th rank.
It’s at the bottom, in a corner, and the chair is pretty shabby compared to the 1st rank.
‘…Okay.’
I finished my brief contemplation and moved my feet.
Clop, clop.
Thud.
Of course, I chose the 99th rank.
Though the 1st rank seemed good at first glance, everyone here knew it was a blatant trap.
Sitting there means I’d be tested every single moment.
One little slip, and I’d drop into the abyss.
As for the 99th rank?
If things go well, I could spin a growth story and grab more screen time, and I’d look like I’ve improved with just a bit of effort.
So, I didn’t regret sitting in the 99th rank at all.
No? I liked it more.
But…
“…?”
Why did the atmosphere around me become so weird as soon as I sat down?
Above all, why is everyone so unresponsive when the cameras are rolling?
Feeling something was off, I greeted the surrounding participants again.
“Nice to meet you all…?”
“Oh, yes! We’re looking forward to working together…!”
“Nice to meet you, haha. Let’s do well…!”
I got responses only a few seconds after I greeted them.
I tilted my head at the awkward reactions from the people around.
“Ah~ so she ended up in the 99th rank after all.”
“Right? She doesn’t seem that brave.”
As soon as Ha Ye-rin sat in the 99th rank, Na Ah Ah’s production team expressed their disappointment.
Especially Shin PD.
“Ah~ if only she had sat in the 1st rank, it would have looked so pretty.”
The concept he wanted to assign to Ha Ye-rin was ‘queen.’
He even had the stylist put extra effort into Ha Ye-rin’s makeup, aiming for her to sit in the 1st rank with an overwhelming presence.
But reality shows never go as expected.
Contrary to Shin PD’s hopes, Ha Ye-rin sat in the 99th rank instead of the 1st.
Of course, the professional Shin PD didn’t wallow in despair over Ha Ye-rin’s choice.
After all, seeing someone who obviously belonged in the 1st rank sitting in the 99th was a good twist for the show.
And…
“…Next one out.”
…There was still one participant left in Na Ah Ah.
Ha Ye-rin’s presence was a trump card for the production team—a deadly weapon. In other words, an asymmetrical force.
But the production team’s ultimate weapon wasn’t just her.
Boom!
[JJ Entertainment]
As Shin PD gestured, words appeared on the screen….
Clop.
Soon, another asymmetrical force made her entrance.
“JJ Entertainment…?”
“Did they send another one from the Big Three?”
Upon seeing the name of the agency on the screen, the stage began to stir.
And rightly so.
These big companies like the Big Three usually hesitate to send their trainees to such audition programs.
With one participant already from SAV, now JJ is joining too. That means all three major agencies except YW are part of Na Ah Ah.
“…Who’s coming out?”
“Who knows, JJ is famous for keeping their trainees under wraps.”
The participants whispered among themselves, speculating about the identity of the upcoming JJ trainee.
But unlike the noisy crowd, I stayed silent.
Not knowing anyone around me… and since I knew who was about to come out.
‘Looks like she was the last participant all along.’
My Idol Academia, which had caused a sensation and recorded high ratings.
In my past life, I didn’t have time to devote to TV programs, so I couldn’t recognize any of the 100 participants or who among them would debut.
Even so, there was one participant I knew.
She would not only debut as the overwhelming 1st but also hit it big as a solo artist once the girl group formed in Na Ah Ah disbanded.
Clop.
Finally, the sound of small footsteps began to echo, capturing the attention of all participants as the JJ trainee made her entrance.
“……!!”
Soon, the room filled with whispers and hushed gasps.
A small stature, elegantly dyed platinum blonde hair, fair skin, and above all… a delicate appearance that invoked a protective instinct.
“…H-hello…”
“……!”
As everyone stared at her with entranced eyes, she seemed overwhelmed and lowered her head, teary-eyed.
Only then did everyone come to their senses and welcome her.
“Ah, hello-!!”
“Nice to meet you-!!”
“Wow…! This is my first time seeing someone from JJ, haha…!”
Though everyone squeezed out smiles to welcome her, awkwardness was written all over their faces.
‘It must be disorienting to see someone so overpowering appearing as a competitor.’
She was someone they’d have to compete with for one of the six debut positions.
“Um…, where is my seat…?”
“Oh, the seat…”
In response to her question, someone pointed to the 1st rank at the top of the pyramid.
“Um, there’s only one spot left…”
As she saw that, she seemed to finally grasp the situation and began to panic.
“Um… Oh, how can I possibly…”
After hesitating at her spot for quite a while, she finally decided there wasn’t much choice…
“So, I’ll just… take it without shame…”
Tiptoe- Tiptoe.
Thud.
She climbed straight to the top of the pyramid and sat in the 1st rank.
Sitting in the 1st rank, she looked shy and awkward as if she didn’t belong there.
But…
‘…It suits her.’
I’m sure everyone thought the same thing.
Sitting in the 1st rank, she was displaying an incredible presence…
Her petite frame combined with the magnificent throne truly created a sight of…
‘A princess.’
Yes, a princess.
Still a bit clumsy… but with the charm and allure to captivate the audience, she looked like a princess.
I glanced at the name tag on her outfit that showed her agency and name.
[JJ Entertainment Yoo Seol.]
Yoo Seol.
The name of the girl who would win in my Idol Academia.
Though I alone knew she would dominate Na Ah Ah, at that moment, it felt like everyone could intuitively sense it as they gazed up at her.
In their eyes were not just adoration but also sharp restraint.
That same sentiment was echoed by the girl sitting in the 2nd rank.
‘Honestly, she doesn’t lag behind Yoo Seol if just considering affiliations…’
Her name was Seo Yoo-jin. I couldn’t recall if she’d made the debut team later.
But…
‘What if she can’t manage her expressions with the cameras rolling?’
It was incredibly concerning because she was glaring at Yoo Seol in the 1st rank without hiding her feelings.
Everyone could see the jealousy and envy in her eyes.
Looking younger than me, it seemed she struggled to control her emotions… if she got caught on camera, she’d fall from grace in no time.
‘No matter how talented SAV is, she could end up not debuting.’
I watched her with a touch of pity in my eyes.
But just then…
Swish.
“…!”
As if she had eyes on the back of her head, Seo Yoo-jin, who had been staring at Yoo Seol in the 1st rank, suddenly turned to look at me.
Her spot was in the 2nd rank, while I was in the 99th.
With a distance that wouldn’t randomly allow eye contact.
So, she must have intentionally glanced my way.
What was peculiar was…
She was looking at me with the same gaze she had on Yoo Seol.
‘…Huh?’
Seeing those eyes filled with jealousy and envy, I couldn’t help but feel flustered.
Looking at me like that means she considers me a rival like Yoo Seol…
‘She puts me on the same level as Yoo Seol?’
I tilted my head in confusion for a moment…
“……”
“……”
Only then did I realize I was also drawing attention like Yoo Seol.
‘…Ah.’
At this moment, none of the participants knew each other’s singing or dancing skills.
That meant the only measure for ranking them at this point was their looks.
And I… am pretty.
I sometimes forget that I am pretty.
So, I scanned the faces of the participants again, judging my looks against those of the other contestants from a third-party perspective.
It didn’t take long for a result to emerge.
Based purely on appearance… I was equal to or surpassing Yoo Seol, who was predicted to win in Na Ah Ah.
In fact, I was also strikingly different from Yoo Seol, with a more powerful and cold image, standing out even more.
I was obviously giving others the urge to restrain and envy me.
‘Get a grip.’
There’s no one on my side here.
Everyone is smiling but wielding sharp daggers concealed within.
Everyone here is like that. They’ve all bet everything to be here, and….
“Now, we will begin the ranking evaluation-!!”
Our war has finally announced its prologue.