Genius Idol’s Strategy to Conquer the Entertainment Industry

Chapter 46

Before I could even get up from my seat, congratulations were pouring in from all directions.

Ban Yo-han, who was the closest to me, hugged me so tightly that I could ignore the mental chaos caused by the ‘I hope you get eliminated’ comments.

I lightly shook hands with trainees like Seo Moon-gyeol and Seo Chan-bin, who reached out to me.

Jing Xiao, who was on the other side, ran over in a flash and shouted congratulations, hugging me from behind as if trying to pin me down.

[HP –5 due to excessive contact]

“You, you! Are you trying to assassinate me right now?”

“What’s assassination?”

“Trying to kill me!”

“You won’t die from something like this.”

Jing Xiao cheerfully chattered, tightening his grip around my arms as if to prove his joy.

I could distinctly hear the unsettling sound of my bones misaligning, accompanied by the ominous notification of my HP decreasing once again.

I wanted to tell him that if he hugged me twenty more times like this, I might actually die.

After a while, I safely hugged and shook hands with the trainees from Team Hyesung and others, finally making my way onto the stage.

I exchanged formal greetings with the trainees ranked 15th to 19th who had already gone up on stage, then stood in my designated spot.

Jena smiled and said, “It seems like it took you the longest to get up here, Raon.”

“I’m sorry.”

Jena seemed a bit taken aback by my apology.

“No, no. I didn’t bring it up to make you apologize, but to show that you’re quite popular.”

Although I believed that most of what had just happened was merely business conducted in front of the camera, I smiled and replied regardless.

“I feel like I’ve done all the hugging I’ll ever need to do in my life just now.”

“We haven’t hugged yet, though.”

“Pardon?”

Despite her playful tone, Jena hugged me gently.

Already tall, Jena’s high heels made her a full handspan taller than me.

Maybe because of that, it felt like I was being embraced by a truly reliable adult.

Thanks to that, my confused heart somewhat settled.

“Let’s hear your thoughts now,” Jena said with a warm smile, as if she understood what I was going through.

“First of all… I’d like to thank everyone who helped me stand here.”

I had prepared more words in advance, but half of them had vanished due to the recent events.

“I never imagined something like this would happen in my life.”

It wasn’t just a cliché.

Who in the world would imagine entering a game and participating in an idol survival program?

I continued speaking.

“There were many difficult and challenging moments, but that’s why I think it was more enjoyable. Thank you for giving me such a high ranking, and I’ll work even harder from now on. Thank you very much.”

* * *

Even after I sat in the 14th chair, it took a long time for all the remaining seats to be filled.

Ban Yo-han was 11th, and Seo Moon-gyeol was 9th.

Although these were not low ranks, they were far below expectations, surprising and puzzling the trainees when the rankings were revealed.

Considering the significant reduction in their screen time, it was understandable.

With overseas votes, which had allowed multiple votes through some method, now blocked, and with the early voting allowing up to ten votes at once, the influence of the so-called “public picks” was significant.

“Public picks” usually refer to votes cast by those with a moderate level of interest and curiosity in the program, rather than a deep commitment. Naturally, the trainees who appeared more frequently on camera had higher voting rates.

Even so, the fact that their ranks were higher than mine, despite not having bad screen time, proved that their unique star qualities were still valid and effective.

After the announcement of Na Yoon-jae as the 1st place winner, they revealed the 64th, the last survivor.

“……”

Finally, it was clear who had survived on the bizarre pyramid and who remained below as the eliminated.

The unchosen trainees looked particularly small from the high vantage point.

Among the eliminated were many trainees from Team Hyesung.

While many didn’t cry, just as many did, and I had to greet each one, feeling a peculiar sense of emotion.

People get attached even to a flat robot vacuum that only moves according to its programming.

I wasn’t particularly strange for feeling regret and sadness about not seeing these NPCs anymore.

Thinking like that, the discomfort I felt while watching the departing trainees eased somewhat.

We returned to the dormitory.

Since the next training camp starts tomorrow, today is my last day staying in this temporary dormitory.

As Ban Yo-han watched me pack my scattered belongings, he asked subtly.

“Are you really not coming back here?”

“One should have some shame. Anyone would think I’m the son of this house.”

“Well, you almost were.”

“…”

I had nothing to say to that. I had been living far too comfortably. I should have been more considerate.

“It doesn’t seem like you’re looking for a separate place.”

Sharp guy.

But after two unexpected homestays, I had gained a strange sense of confidence.

I’ll figure something out next time too.

Just because I don’t have a place doesn’t mean I’ll sleep on the street.

…I seem to have accepted the situation of not having a place quite naturally.

As I was feeling a bit of self-pity and scrunching my face, Kang Ji-woo, who had just brought back something of mine I almost forgot, spoke.

“It’ll be really quiet here if you leave.”

“I don’t think it’s that bad.”

“No, it was really quiet here before you came.”

His words made my already complicated mind even more unsettled.

“Really?”

“Yeah. Moon-gyeol usually speaks little, Seong-ha suddenly became quiet this year, and I was the only one talking. It was lonely…”

I nudged Ban Yo-han, who was lounging nearby, with my toe and asked.

“What about Yo-han hyung? He’s noisy too.”

**New Characters and Terms:**

– None

“He’s treating me worse day by day. Kang Ji-woo, what do you think about this?”

Both Kang Ji-woo and I had grown accustomed to Ban Yo-han’s trivial and childish complaints.

We nonchalantly ignored him and continued our conversation.

“By the way, did you know this is the first time he’s been in this dorm with you?”

I hadn’t known that.

“So you three originally lived together?”

Isn’t it too spacious for just three people? No matter how good the company’s welfare is, that’s wasteful.

“No. Didn’t I tell you before? This dorm was originally for seven people. We were supposed to move, but we’re still living here because the lease hasn’t ended yet.”

Now that I think about it, I remember hearing something like that on the first day.

Then where did the remaining four, excluding Ban Yo-han who recently joined, go?

Perhaps my curiosity showed, as Ban Yo-han asked in a subtle tone.

“Do you know why there are only four trainees in our company?”

What? His voice was as mysterious as if he was hinting at the seven wonders of an otherwise ordinary company….

Maybe it was because Ban Yo-han was the one speaking, who seemed like he could hide a knife behind his back.

Just as I thought the game genre should change from a training game to a horror game, a quest notification popped up.

[Sub Quest Arrival!

▶ Quest Description: Haven’t you grown fond of living with Seed trainees? Based on your experience so far, Seed Entertainment is a good, albeit somewhat foolish, company.

However, it seems there are quite a few odd things about this company to make you feel truly grateful. What could be behind these seemingly suspicious acts of kindness?

It’s a time for everyone to get genuine, like the last night of a retreat. Though there’s no campfire to warm the atmosphere, listen to the heartfelt stories of the trainees. After all, games are about enjoying these small stories.

▶ Quest Trigger Condition: Average favorability of four Seed trainees +50 or higher

▶ Confirmed Reward: Hidden story of Seed Entertainment, ???]

[Do you want to proceed with the quest?]

[Y/N]

As an outsider who’s leaving this house tomorrow, I shouldn’t listen recklessly, but I’m curious.

If I don’t hear it now, it’ll keep bothering me.

Damn. How do they know I like these side episodes?

[If no decision is made within 3 seconds, the quest will automatically proceed.]

Of course, as always, the game didn’t care about my intention.

This crappy game, as expected.

The quest guide was unusually polite this time.

Anyway, as the quest automatically proceeded, Ban Yo-han spoke again.

It seemed my answer was replaced by the forced acceptance of the quest.

“There used to be more. Including the seven living here and the trainees who didn’t make it into the debut group, there were about twelve.”

“Then why are there no other trainees?”

The one who answered was Kang Ji-woo, who had been silent.

“They were kicked out.”

It was a chilling, heavy voice, something I never expected to hear from Kang Ji-woo.

At that moment, Gyun Seong-ha, who clearly came looking for me to play a few games before bed, opened the door suddenly. He widened his eyes as he realized the unusually tense atmosphere in the room.

Gyun Seong-ha, debating whether to leave or not, locked eyes with Kang Ji-woo, who had turned his head.

Without a word exchanged, Gyun Seong-ha quietly entered, closed the door, and knelt politely in one corner.

‘Why is he kneeling?’

I didn’t expect such a light conversation to turn so serious.

By this point, I resigned myself to whatever might come.

“Kicked out?”

Gyun Seong-ha’s expression noticeably stiffened at my question, clearly understanding the topic.

Even Ban Yo-han, who usually had a light smile on his face, looked serious now.

It made sense. How often does an entire group get kicked out despite being in the debut lineup?

Though I couldn’t even begin to guess, it was obviously serious.

Did they rebel against the company president like I did?

But Ban Ga-eul didn’t seem like the type of person to treat trainees unfairly or heartlessly.

“Where should I start?”

Judging that it wasn’t a topic to be harsh about, Kang Ji-woo softened his expression and chose his words carefully.

“Last year, I moved to this company, invited by Yo-han, and immediately joined the debut group. Moon-gyeol and Seong-ha were already in the debut group. If everything had gone according to plan, we would have debuted by now. But that’s meaningless now.”

“Why did it fall through?”

“That’s….”