Seon Ahyun and Keun Sejin were begging to eat before we went into the filming set, so we met up at a restaurant.

“Oh, Moondae Hi~”

“Oh, hello…”

However, even if both of them had food in front of them, their expressions looked quite dark.

One became a reaction vending machine for social life, and the other had a face that seemed like it could be squeezed out at any moment.

‘It must be because of the negative vote.’

It was the best guess I had.

I was thinking of just leaving it alone, but I ended up asking one question since I wondered what was going on while eating.

“Are you worried about the voting?”

“H-Huh?”

“Both of you look like you don’t feel good.”

Hearing that the two looked at each other’s faces out of reflex.

Perhaps because they were in a bad mood they didn’t realize the other also felt the same.

“Oh, Moondae Ghost~ No, well…… It’s hard not to worry. I’ve been looking at the internet too much, haha.”

Keun Sejin chatted soullessly. At that, Seon Ahyun also nodded with a sullen face.

“I-I’m afraid I’ll get hated a lot……”

Oh, my.

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It seems they looked up articles they didn’t have to look at. Seeing the atmosphere, it was clear that they couldn’t leave social media all night and kept on searching their names.

Now that we are entering the filming set, they will be able to check how many people don’t like them in numbers, so I could understand that the rice couldn’t properly go down their throat

‘…Still, you have to eat before you go in.’

After thinking for a while, I eventually sighed and said.

“Since it’s an audition program, don’t you think there are more people supporting you than those who don’t? The fact that a lot of your votes got cut off can also mean that you look promising*.”

(T/N: I don’t think I have to explain this but I’ll do it anyway. Basically he is saying that the reason they are getting negative votes can also be because they are good to the point that others see them as a threat to the person they support, which is why they aim to bring them down)

“……!”

Right now, even in the previous team match, the team with the highest-ranking players ended up in third place in the on-site voting.

“It means you don’t have to pay attention to it unless it really goes down a lot.”

Of course, I wasn’t saying that they should ignore it. But it would be better to have a place to win mentally.

As expected, Keun Sejin recovered first.

“That’s true.”

Then while holding the spoon he smiled bitterly and muttered to himself.

“…I really have to achieve something this time. My trainee period was too long…… Anyway, let’s eat well, cheer up and go strong!”

He quickly finished his speech that came out of nowhere and resumed eating combatantly.

Seon Ahyun still looked anxious but he also ate aggressively when he said, ‘Isn’t it better to eat and go?’

‘It’s hard to eat one meal at a time.’

I sighed and continued eating.

The situation for other participants was obvious because they were latecomers who were affected by the editing, but these kids were well-known and had never been smashed by editing.

‘The atmosphere of today’s shoot is no joke.’

And this prediction was exactly right.

“……”

From the participants in danger of being eliminated to high-ranking participants, everyone had the same atmosphere around them in the set.

Because after the ‘if you don’t like them, kick them out’ voting system was announced, the slander and rumors against the participants had gotten worse.

Cha Yujin was the only one who was excited. Rather than the confidence that comes from being first, I think his situation was just a personality problem.

“Why didn’t you go with me?”

Even on the day he came to me about seeing the advertisement, he was so excited to go out on his own and told me about it. It was a really great personality.

Soon after, filming began.

“〈Re-listed! Idol Joint-Stock Company〉, welcome to the 2nd ranking announcement ceremony!”

I don’t know how it would seem during the broadcast, but the ranking announcement ceremony was held in a more depressed atmosphere than ever.

“The first ranking with the newly introduced system, 〈Selling Stocks〉, will be announced today. The ranking was determined by how many people bought and sold.”

Gulp. I could hear people swallowing their saliva and giving small prayers.

I think the grown-ups were doing something they couldn’t with children.

“Before that, we should announce the 1st place winner for the last team match right? I told you that there is a huge prize waiting for the team that placed 1st in the finals.”

Even in the heavy atmosphere, the MC said everything she had to say in a cheerful voice.

“That’s right, their 〈Selling Stocks〉 will be invalid!”

“…What?”

“Oh my.”

In an instant, the surroundings were filled with astonishment.

“The team that wins first place will be evaluated in a number that does not include the negative numbers they gained through 〈Selling Stocks〉!”

The reaction did not get bigger, but rather died down helplessly. And someone softly murmured.

“That’s too unfair.”

Certainly, it was something that they wouldn’t do if they respected the participants. It’s like the production crew was taking off and adding benefits as they pleased.

“In the first place, the negative votes were shown in episode 6 without prior notice, so what else do you want?”

“The first place is… Congratulations! ‘Gigantic’ team who reinterpreted 〈Fingerprint〉!”

The team chosen by Choi Wongil eventually took the final first place.

Perhaps Choi Wongil, who was certain to be eliminated due to the 〈Selling Stocks〉 system, was given a rescue signal.

Choi Wongil cried out of relief, but that wasn’t actually a good thing.

‘He’s in trouble.’

If he had fallen down because of negative votes, the sympathy opinion of the public was likely to rise.

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However, if he was lucky enough to compete like that, the negative public opinion is likely to flood in unless he did something huge in the next team match.

Anyway, the first place announcement came to an end with an appropriate speech.

“Then, let’s start the ranking ceremony!”

The total number of successful applicants this time was 30. Like the last ranking announcement, they began announcing from the 28th place, leaving 2 participants behind.

“28th place, Park Joonkyung.”

In fact, there wasn’t any significant change until the 20th place. No one had too many votes cut off or no one got too little cut off. The participants who could compete in the rankings were called without any twists.

The unexpected events began in the top 20.

“The 20th place is… Participant Choi Won Gil!”

“Wow.”

“Awesome.”

He was ranked higher than Gold 2.

Perhaps his fans were worried about the negative vote and gathered up a lot of normal votes.

Choi Wongil added an apology after his long speech.

“…Also, I deeply reflect on my immature attitude… I’ll show you my best side from now on, hick.”

Then, he sat in the spot for his rank in tears.

‘Isn’t it better to apologize by picking up gold 2?’

Well, that wasn’t me to worry about. Let’s just worry about my ranking.

To summarize the rankings after that… Lee Sejin plunged, and Kim Raebin succeeded in his revival and settled in sixth place.

And the participants who were in Choi Wongil’s team, including Keun Sejin, rose. In the atmosphere where they were on a rise anyways, the negative vote being excluded led to an even sharper rise.

Looking at the flow, I thought I would probably fall a little. So, even if I got called quickly, I was prepared to respond immediately.

But there was no need for that.

My rank had gone up.

“The 4th place is… Participant Park Moondae!”

“…?”

It was an unexpected save in the middle of all this mess.

I didn’t expect to go under top 28 just because I wasn’t in 5th place, but I didn’t expect to be called for 4th place.

When I jumped up in bewilderment, something even more embarrassing was waiting for me.

“Congratulations!”

Ryu Chungwoo who got up and approached me patted my back with a pleased look. Cha Yujin also came in and congratulated Ryu Chungwoo.

“Congratulations!”

“On the way, I was just going to pretend I know them and go……?’

Since the stage response was so good, it seemed that they closed the distance between us at will.

In particular, Ryu Chungwoo seems to have played a part in the lack of close participants in the last team match.

I roughly accepted the greeting, and even high-fived Seon Ahyun, who was standing awkwardly, and went up to the podium.

I felt like I was some kind of rare insider. It was very unfamiliar.

“…First of all, thank you to all the shareholders who bought stocks. I’ll keep in mind that my rank is really high compared to my abilities and always do my best to achieve the results that you have invested in.”

As soon as the standard appreciation was over, the MC rushed in.

“Participant Park Moondae, the shareholders are entertained with the ideas you come up with every stage. Do you have any idea of what you want to try next?”

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It was an extremely difficult question. It would probably be easier to act with aegyo than to answer it.

Let’s just talk about it moderately and comprehensively.

“….Next time, I want to try something more fun.”

“Haha, are you slowly missing 〈POP☆CON〉? Participant Park Moondae, I look forward to your next performance.”

There was an MC who makes fun of popcorn?

Of course, I couldn’t stare at the MC, so I quietly bowed my head and went up to my seat.

The fancy sofa given to the fourth place honestly seemed embarrassing. But my back was honest, so I waited for the remaining ranking announcement more comfortably.

“Third place is~ Cha Yujin!”

“Oh my.”

“You were first place.”

Cha Yujin, who ranked 1st place in the last ranking announcement, fell two places.

But he didn’t seem to care much. He came up with a bright impression of ‘I’m happy to get a high rank’ and settled on the sofa.

And the long-awaited battle between first and second place.

It was Ryu Chungwoo and Seon Ahyun who made it to the finals.

‘Is he about to faint?’

Seon Ahyun staggered as he stood on the podium. He looked as if he would immediately faint if he won first place.

“The 1st place of glory for 〈Re-listed! IdolJoint-Stock Company〉 is… Congratulations! Participant Ryu Chungwoo!”

“Thank you!”

The first place was Ryu Chungwoo. In fact, I figured this would be the case unless something unusual happened.

He was a graduate at a national university and had a favorable image in the broadcast, so he shouldn’t have been too affected by the negative voting.

After Ryu Chun-woo and Seon Ahyun finished their speech, the announcement for the participants in 29th and 30th place continued. They took so much time that I almost had a backache from sitting in the sofa

But the real highlight came next.

“If you weren’t affected by the 〈selling stocks〉 system, this is the rank you would have received!”

Because the production crew revealed all the votes and the reduced votes, rearranged them, and displayed them on the screen.

There were sighs all over.

“I can’t see.”

I also quickly found ‘Park Moondae’ on the screen.

[Bought: 893,452/Sold: 12,257]

[Total ranking: 4th / Bought ranking: 3rd]

3rd place?

When I checked who was originally 4th place, which was my current rank, it was Seon Ahyun.

Perhaps there was a significant difference in negative votes due to the similar number of votes at the top.

However, I felt a different emotion than regret.

“Surprisingly… I’m reluctant.”

[Sold: 12,257]

Yes. Obviously, the results were good, but looking at the ten thousandths of people who wished for ‘Park Moondae’ to drop was… I felt a little strange.

‘This is a bigger blow than I thought.’

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…Wait!

‘Let’s stop talking nonsense.’

My goal was to avoid sudden death by debuting.

What did it mean to worry about one vote out of 90 when just thinking about it wasn’t enough?

‘Let’s thank the 890,000 votes for helping to prevent my sudden death.’

I defined the situation and stopped my thoughts

However, when I looked around, most of them had a ‘I’m freaking out’ face no matter how they ranked.

‘This team match will turn out really well.’

I could already imagine the teary eyed children.

***

“Please wait a minute!”

The production crew was also embarrassed by the portrait-like atmosphere, and the filming of the next team match, which should have originally been done as soon as the ranking announcement was over, got temporarily suspended.

Instead, the production crew came out with a strange mini-plan.

〈Idol talent show〉

…It was tacky plan that seemed like it was planned last minute.