Save a Failed Idol's Life-Chapter 135:

To summarize the MC’s explanation, the votes from the audience who came today, the views of the stage videos that will be released in advance, and the rankings given by each team will be reflected in a 1:1:1 ratio.

I expected something like that, but… it was too unfavorable for us.

It’s obvious that having an overseas fandom is an advantage for the views.

I was angry to think that we could lose to Vesper, whose stage completion was quite disappointing.

“Sigh…”

The others didn’t look very happy either.

[Next, we will announce the second mission to prepare for the next stage-!]

What are they trying to make us do? I glared at the screen with a crooked line, then realized that we were filming and tried hard to smooth out the wrinkles on my forehead.

[It’s the unit battle!]

Huh? I looked at the TV screen with a curious expression and the MC continued to explain.

[All participants will form units according to their profile positions submitted in advance. They will be divided into Vocal A group, Vocal B group, Vocal C group, Dance A group, Dance B group, Rap A group, and Rap B group.]

[Please note that there is an additional C group for the vocal position, as there are many vocal position members!]

“Oh?”

I was intrigued by the thought that this was not a typical team battle.

[The rules are very simple. Each unit will be randomly selected by position, and if they lead their unit to victory, points will be given to their respective groups, and the rankings will be determined by those points!]

[In addition, the most outstanding member of each unit, the ACE, will be selected, and bonus points will be given to the group that the member belongs to!]

So, this is like… sleeping with the enemy. They are ultimately our enemies, but for now, we are one team within the unit.

Why do we have to do such a hassle? I wondered, but this was also something that could only be done in a competition program, and I thought it would be interesting from the viewers’ perspective.

After listening to the detailed explanation that followed, the number of units that each team could belong to was limited to five. This was probably because we were five.

The victory points were one thing, but… wouldn’t we be at a disadvantage for the ACE member?

The teams with 8 or 9 members had an obvious edge.

‘Well, this kind of unfairness… there’s no use in complaining.’

If it was already decided, it was better to accept it cleanly and find a way to deal with it.

[We will now announce the group assignments!]

[We will announce them in order from Vocal A group to Rap B group. If your name is not called, please ask the staff nearby for confirmation!]

[Vocal A group]

Lee Hwijin

Lyle

Seokhyun

B8

Son Seong-won

Sung Hayoon

The group results were displayed on the screen in seven splits, starting with Hwijin and Seong-won being in the same group.

Kyunghwa and Seon-woo were in the Vocal C group, I was in the Dance A group, and Yi-jun was in Rap B group.

Among the participants I knew by name, the noticeable ones were… Hwijin in Vocal A group, Shim Naru in Vocal B group, BK in Rap A group.

The rest of the groups, except for the vocal groups that were mixed with two groups per team, had a clear criterion.

[Dance(A) – Climax, Vesper, AtoX]

[Dance(B) – Floss, Playground, P2CK]

[Rap(A) – Vesper, Playground, AtoX]

[Rap(B) – Floss, Climax, P2CK]

The only thing that puzzled me was…

‘Why can’t I see Kang Yu-geon’s name, even if I can understand Oh Chanhyung’s?’

I briefly wondered, but it was time to leave as soon as the MC finished explaining the rules.

“Thank you for your hard work! The edited video will be uploaded on YouTube at midnight, so please promote it!”

As the staff guided us, we were practically kicked out to the parking lot, where a minivan was waiting.

“Come on, you must have worked hard today, so go in and rest!”

The manager quickly loaded us in and headed straight to the dorm.

I quickly checked my phone and sent a message to Yu-geon.

[Me] Your name wasn’t in the unit lineup 10:32 PM

[Me] What’s going on? 10:32 PM

He used to check his messages as soon as I sent them, but this time he didn’t read them until we arrived at the dorm.

‘I thought I wrapped it up well, why is he like this?’

I stared anxiously at the screen and contacted Hwijin.

[Me] I enjoyed your performance 10:51 PM

[Me] Did something happen to Yu-geon? 10:52 PM

Then, after about five minutes, a powerful emoticon was sent from Hwijin. It was a yellow bear crying its eyes out.

[H] (Emoticon) 10:57 PM

What’s going on?

[Me] What really happened? 10:58 PM

Then, this time, four or five different pictures of sobbing bears arrived in a row.

[H] (Emoticon) 10:58 PM

[H] (Emoticon) 10:59 PM

[H] (Emoticon) 10:59 PM

[H] (Emoticon) 10:59 PM

[H] (Emoticon) 10:59 PM

Stop crying. Stop bawling and talk to me.

[Me] You have to talk for me to understand 11:00 PM

When I said that impatiently, Hwijin finally threw me a meaningful remark.

[H] If Floss leaves, can you take him to Climax? 11:02 PM

What the hell is he talking about? It would be a hassle to take someone else’s pillar and put it in our living room.

Where are you going; why are you coming; don’t come;

I was already having a headache with Kang Yu-geon. Just tell me what’s going on.

[Me] Why are you saying that all of a sudden? 11:04 PM

I was so dumbfounded that I glared at my phone with a grim expression, and Hwijin whimpered and replied.

[H] (Emoticon) 11:06 PM

The bear was still crying. Oh, stop crying and talk to me! As I frowned and glared at the screen, Seon-woo, who had just washed up, stepped back with a gasp.

“Hyung, are you mad? Or did you see something weird?”

“Huh?”

When I looked up at Seon-woo as if he was talking nonsense, Seon-woo quickly handed me a mirror.

I looked like I was so angry that I couldn’t control myself.

“Ah… It’s nothing.”

I was sorry for Seon-woo, but this was not something I could talk to him about. Maybe Kyunghwa would understand… But I didn’t want to attack Kyunghwa’s disguise rashly when nothing was certain yet.

His weak disguise wouldn’t be able to withstand this much stress without any problems.

Right now, the priority was to wait for the first round view count video and the final teaser video that would be released at midnight today.

‘I should calm down now. If they messed up the editing again, my blood pressure would skyrocket.’

I didn’t realize how thirsty I was until I craved a can of beer, but I had to resist. Instead of beer, I brought cold water and gulped it down. After washing up, it was already 12 o’clock.

That’s when Yi-jun burst into the room.

“The teaser is up. Anyone want to watch it with me?”

“Me!”

Seon-woo raised his hand enthusiastically!

“Woof-!”

Pposili also joined in, jumping around at Yi-jun’s feet. If Yi-jun was here, Kyunghwa must be here too.

The four of us sat on the sofa, making a fuss, and Seong-won quietly came out and sat on a single seat on the sofa.

“What’s up?”

Yi-jun teased Seong-won with a tone that could be either playful or provocative, but Seong-won ignored him without paying any attention.

“Just turn it on.”

“Geez.”

Yi-jun frowned and Kyunghwa snatched the remote and turned on the TV.

He connected YouTube to the NBS official channel and, as they had announced in advance, the stage video and the final teaser that they had recorded today were uploaded at the exact time.

The first episode was airing next week and the ranking would be announced in the second episode two weeks later… The counting period was about five days.

“Let’s quickly like our stage video first.”

I urged Kyunghwa as soon as I thought of it, and he nodded and pressed like and played the stage video.

We had already checked it through monitoring, but we achieved everything we intended. The directing, the arrangement, and the stage were all the best.

We showed a stage that was flawless anywhere, so we could only hope that the ranking would not be determined by the size of the fandom.

“We’ve increased the views and liked it, so let’s watch the teaser now.”

Yi-jun was curious about how he came out and urged Kyunghwa impatiently.

“I’m going to watch it anyway.”

Kyunghwa clicked on the final teaser, sticking out his tongue briefly as if he was annoyed.

[The breathtaking bloodbath of the boys with boiling hot blood!]

Why do you like blood so much? There was a reason why someone got hurt by a sudden lighting accident.

It was like a massacre, starting from the teaser, with all this blood, blood, blood.

[I can’t lose. I came out to win.]

[Wow~ So fierce, really.]

These were clips from the leader group interview that had already been released.

[Towards the best spot, the hot passion and sensational stage of the representative K-POP boy group!]

Then, the team’s stage that we filmed today was briefly shown for 2-3 seconds, and the audience’s reaction popped up on the screen.

The Rise fans, who were dressed in white code and gathered in one place, were also included in the teaser.

It made my heart ache for some reason.

Then, the notice that the pre-release video views would affect the ranking and a short hint of the unit battle that would air from the third episode came out.

“Wow!”

The screen showed Shim Naru’s appearance on Teenager Singer and Seong-won’s appearance on Star Discovery, as if they were competing for the best position in each category.

[How can I be losing in vocals? That doesn’t make sense, does it?]

Shim Naru smiled sweetly at the staff as he walked past, looking smug. The trailer ended with this scene.

[I really want to go home.]

Of course, this time too, the screen went black with BK’s famous line and the logo appeared.

“How do you feel? You’re on the big screen in the trailer.”

Kyunghwa asked Seong-won jokingly, and Seong-won carefully lifted Aeongi, who was snuggled in his arms, to cover his face.

“Meow.”

Aeongi meowed briefly, as if he didn’t understand.

“You’re making your brother embarrassed.”

I scratched Aeongi’s forehead gently and got up from my seat.

Anyway, the trailer was well-made. Seomg-won’s highlight scene from Star Discovery filled the screen for three seconds.

Even people who didn’t know him would be curious about who that pretty boy was.

“I’m going in first.”

I had a meeting with the company tomorrow. So I wanted to ask Hwijin more about what happened to Kang Yu-geon and Floss.

I wasn’t sure if I could do anything for them, even if I listened.

Why would he say he would take Floss if he came out?

I quietly closed the door and checked the message from Hwijin.

I could use the replay service if I had to, but then Hwijin or Yu-geon would know that I knew what was going on between them.

[H] Are you asleep already? 11:43 PM

Am I asleep? I quickly replied to Hwi Jin.

[Me] I’m not asleep yet 12:26 AM

[Me] I came to the hostel and did some organizing and checked the video, so I saw it late 12:27 AM