"If you admit your mistake quietly, I’ll let it go here."
"Yuri didn’t do anything wrong."
"You’re just as shaless as Ryujin-scrub!"
The sound of voices that had beco all too familiar, bickering with each other, reached Ryujin’s ears as she got her makeup done.
"Haah··· why are those idiots fighting again?"
"Sion got her pudding stolen again this morning!"
"Again?"
"Yes, so it’s the Third Pudding War right now!"
The Pudding War.
Surprisingly, it was one of the few regular fights in the Iam dorm where Lee Sion was the victim.
Lee Sion had a habit of stacking up ergency rations in the dorm, neat and orderly, like she was—
'What is she, a squirrel?'
Most of the ti, they were things she’d stolen from the company pantry, or gotten through bartering with staff.
-This is a picture of Ryu Ayeon drooling in her sleep in the dorm.
-Whoa! We should post this on the official SNS.
But after it ca out that most of it was photos capturing the mbers’ cringe-worthy dark history, there was also that minor incident where she got thoroughly beaten up that night in the dorm.
Anyway, sotis Lee Sion would make up her mind and bring back rare, fancy snacks, and those were the ones she’d hide away tight, saying she had to eat them on a good day.
And the mber who would sohow, like a ghost, always sniff out the things Lee Sion hid was Kurosawa Yuri.
Because of that, there was a periodic fight between Yuri trying to steal them and Lee Sion trying to stop her, and the other mbers usually called it the Pudding War.
It got that na because Yuri wasn’t really interested in other snacks, but the mont Yuri saw pudding, Yuri would try to steal it.
And so, before anyone knew it, the Pudding War had made it all the way to round three.
The other mbers watched the two fight like it was so exciting variety show, and Ryujin, too, pretended she wasn’t listening as she perked her ears up and followed their argunt.
'It’s like a radio.'
In the past, if she had to choose, Ryujin preferred a calm, quiet atmosphere, but after Agbaek, she didn’t hate noisy places either.
If anything, now when she was alone, it felt awkward.
After the guerrilla concert—the Third Kingdoms third round—wrapped up, the company gave the mbers a short three-day break.
Ryujin also stopped by her family ho for the first ti in a while and spent ti with her family, and she suddenly rembered how startled she’d been by how quiet the house was.
A dorm that was always loud—people causing a scene over who got the bathroom in the morning, or making a racket to wake up mbers who were still asleep—had beco familiar to Ryujin before she even realized it.
That the first thing she thought of even during a short break was laughing and chatting with the mbers in the practice room—she had to admit it was ridiculous.
But—
-Ryujin, you can’t leave us behind···.
-Idiot. Where would I even go?
-But··· there are rumors you’re going to KJ Entertainnt.
-Who said that?
-People at the company said it···.
Her head got complicated again as she rembered what happened during the break.
'Am I the only one thinking about it?'
During the break, Ryujin visited Logic Entertainnt—her original agency—for the first ti in a while.
To see the trainees she used to practice with, and the staff she’d known since she was young.
And in the middle of those etings, how shocked had she been when a close trainee junior, by coincidence, told her not to go to KJ Entertainnt?
'So much ti has already passed.'
She’d been so insanely busy that she’d forgotten, but before she knew it, more than half of the one-year contract period had already gone by.
-Ryujin’s the one thing holding their launch up, right?
-That’s true. They weren’t even thinking about debuting a new girl group within two years, but Ryujin blew up, so they’re rushing to prepare.
When she overheard staff chatting like that, she imdiately understood why the juniors had begged her in such a desperate voice not to go to KJ Entertainnt.
Originally, Logic didn’t have any plans to debut an idol group for the ti being.
And it made sense—just a year ago, the boy group they’d debuted did way better than expected, so all of the company’s support got poured into backing that side, leaving no room to worry about a new group.
So when the company told them they’d have to wait at least two years to debut, Ryujin and the other trainees had no choice but to look for opportunities elsewhere, and that was why they joined Idol Ground 100.
Out of them, the only one who survived and actually debuted was Ryujin, but hearing that, because of Ryujin, Logic was preparing to ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ launch a new idol group again—there was no way her mind wouldn’t feel unsettled.
'I have to do better.'
Ryujin felt like a heavy burden had been placed on her shoulders.
At Logic, she was the trainee leader.
On Idol Ground 100, she was always the leader, and after debut, she held the leader position in Iam.
At so point, everyone started expecting her, naturally, to carry responsibility as the leader, and Ryujin didn’t run from it.
If it ant becoming the idol she’d dread of since she was young, she was confident she could shoulder anything.
But this ti, it was a little different.
"Those Japanese are treacherous to the bone—ever since ancient tis, I’ve never once heard they kept their word!"
"Are you being racist right now! No matter how gentle Yuri is, even Yuri can’t tolerate racism like this! Aren’t you scared of the anger of 120 million Japanese people, Sion?!"
"That’s what Admiral Yi Sun-sin said."
"!"
Behind Ryujin, who was still getting her makeup done, Lee Sion and Kurosawa Yuri were locked in a fierce debate.
"Gasp! Sion just pulled out Admiral Yi Sun-sin’s shield!"
"The captain is seriously vicious. If Yuri argues back now, Sion is obviously going to accuse Yuri of insulting Admiral Yi Sun-sin···."
"Sion just cornered Yuri."
And the way the other mbers watched their debate like it was a sports match, adding comntary on top of it, weighed on Ryujin’s heart.
Teammates who sotis did things so stupid it was absurd, and pushed through things that made no sense until they pulled it off—people who now felt so natural that it would be weird if they weren’t there.
It would be a lie to say she didn’t want to keep being with the mbers.
If soone asked her to na the happiest mont since she started trainee life to beco an idol, honestly, it was right now.
If Seo Ryujin at Logic was in a position where she couldn’t show a single crack and had to lead everyone forward, Iam was different.
From Lee Gahyeon, who was a bit unreliable but still always tried to take care of the younger mbers as the oldest, to Ryu Ayeon, who could be annoying sotis but, on stage, was more dependable than anyone.
The youngest mbers who followed what Seo Ryujin said even if it was hard, and Lee Sion and Yuri, who gave Ryujin headaches but made her laugh just as much.
Whenever she was with the mbers, she’d find herself wanting to keep promoting as Iam with these people forever.
But when she thought of the trainees at Logic who’d struggled with her, and were looking only at her, she couldn’t do that.
"Dokdo is Korean territory!"
"What···?"
"Two hundred ri following the boat route southeast of Ulleungdo—no matter what anyone says, Dokdo is Korean territory."
Pfft.
While Ryujin was worrying about what happened during the break, she suddenly heard Yuri’s solemn voice behind her and burst out laughing without aning to.
"Yuri just flipped the table!"
"It wasn’t an easy call, but Yuri did it."
"The captain is flustered!"
"The impact is on a completely different level than a Korean saying Dokdo is ours, isn’t it?"
As always, it started out like they were about to grab each other by the collar, but by the ti you snapped back to reality, the Pudding War had turned into a full-on skit.
'Yuri wins.'
Maybe Yuri had been frustrated about getting swept up in the “pro-Japan” witch-hunt last ti in the Second Pudding War and losing without even being able to argue back, because it looked like Yuri’s prepared counterattack had locked this one in as Yuri’s victory.
"It’s not wrong, but··· you’re saying that that easily?"
"It’s fine! It’s not even Yuri’s land, so Yuri can acknowledge it all Yuri wants!"
"Nggh!"
Lee Sion couldn’t argue back and completely deflated at Yuri saying that since it wasn’t Yuri’s land, Yuri could acknowledge it as Korean territory as much as Yuri wanted.
"It’s not fair, it’s not fair!!!"
"Stop ssing around and get ready already."
Ryujin’s makeup was already done, and she nudged Lee Sion with her foot to get her up.
"Seo Ryujin! As the leader, one of your mbers got wronged—are you seriously just going to let this slide?!"
"Yeah."
"Of course. You’re nothing but the company’s hunting dog—acting like you didn’t see your mber’s pain!"
The company’s hunting dog.
That was one of the nicknas Lee Sion used for Seo Ryujin.
[The company’s hunting dog spotting prey]
(a gif of Seo Ryujin smacking Lee Sion on the back)
⤷Is it just , or does it feel like Ryujin’s strike skill is leveling up day by day?
⤷ㅠㅠ Sion is so pitiful. She’s just fighting for the mbers’ human rights?
⤷You vile Ryujin-scrub! Let Sion go!
⤷(Never let her go!) Let her go!
⤷Ryujin’s nicknas are No-Fun, petty, hunting dog—does that make sense?
⤷There’s Seo-leader too, but that one isn’t funny, so let’s just skip it
'Who would’ve ever imagined it?'
Back when she was a trainee, Ryujin would sotis think about what kind of nickna she’d get after debut.
From “God Ryujin,” which even she thought was a little embarrassing, to all kinds of other nicknas—days when she’d get excited, heart pounding, picturing it.
But now, thanks to Lee Sion, who was currently rolling around on the couch screaming about how unfair it was, she’d only ended up with humiliating nicknas she’d never once imagined.
Smack!
"Kyaaaah!!"
"If you’re not going to let it slide, then we’ll have to go over all the horrible crap you’ve done up to now first. I still haven’t forgotten you secretly got a palanquin ready behind our backs."
"···Right, this isn’t the ti for this. We should hurry and get ready for today’s shoot···."
The mont Ryujin ntioned the palanquin, Lee Sion’s eyes wavered, and she quickly avoided eye contact, busying herself like she was getting ready for the shoot.
It was so ridiculous that Ryujin let out a hollow laugh.
"Guys, let’s start filming now!"
"Yes!"
And as if the manager knew exactly what the waiting room situation was like, Manager Yunsik opened the door right on cue and announced the start of filming, and the mbers answered energetically.
'Yeah. Let’s focus on this first.'
Ryujin answered just as strongly, pushed the complicated thoughts aside for a mont, and steeled herself to do her best again at the task she’d been given today.
***
"Team lead, is this really going to be okay?"
"The die is already cast."
A large studio in Paju.
KJ Entertainnt’s content team and outside filming staff had gathered there, getting ready to shoot.
And while looking over the set for a long ti, checking if anything was off, a team mber asked Content Team Lead Yunsik in an anxious voice if this was really going to be okay.
To that team mber, Yunsik answered with a resolute voice that the die had already been cast.
'Miyoung··· I’ll carry on your dream.'
The ratings demon.
Yunsik, who had been Kim Miyoung’s direct junior, respected Miyoung imnsely as a PD.
Because it wasn’t common to find soone who, for the sake of a show’s success, could burn not only family but even themself down as firewood.
On top of that, Miyoung was incredibly sharp at reading the flow of the tis and grasping what the public wanted, and every program Miyoung took on posted strong results—so even if you weren’t Miyoung’s direct junior, Miyoung was still a senior worth learning from.
But even Kim Miyoung didn’t have a spotless past.
-Is this really bad?
-Senior, are you out of your mind? A zombie hidden-cara prank on an idol survival show?
-···Yeah.
Maybe because Idol Ground 100 had gotten popular too suddenly during filming,
Miyoung once suggested they put a zombie hidden-cara prank into the program.
Of course, the other people were sane, so they all stopped it, and in the end, the zombie prank was scrapped—leaving behind nothing but a plan and becoming one of Miyoung’s cringe-worthy dark-history monts.
'It was too sudden.'
The hidden-cara prank itself wasn’t bad.
They’d used ordinary hidden-cara pranks on Agbaek, too.
But the zombie prank Miyoung planned wasn’t on that level—it was a massive-scale hidden-cara setup targeting the entire set.
Even now, when he thought about it, it was a plan full of holes in every direction.
"Let say this again to the zombie perforrs. You’re only supposed to chase the mbers—you absolutely cannot run at them, and you must never grab them with excessive force! And in dangerous areas···."
As Yunsik briefly fell into old mories, he heard a staff mber’s safety briefing in his ear.
In front of the staff mber in charge of safety, dozens of perforrs in zombie makeup stood obediently, being trained.
'Now we can do it.'
Seeing them, Yunsik regained his certainty.
Right now, Yunsik was trying to revive Miyoung’s sealed zombie hidden-cara prank for Iam’s in-house content.
Of course, it wasn’t Yunsik’s decision alone.
-Hmm··· with this plan, I think it’ll be fine.
-Is that so?
-Yes, but since there’s still a risk the mbers could get hurt, we’ll have to be careful about safety.
-Of course!
The CEO, Sanghyeok, personally reviewed the proposal Yunsik submitted and approved it.
Thanks to that, Yunsik’s zombie hidden-cara prank moved forward at lightning speed.
Even though the scale had been cut down far smaller than Miyoung’s original plan, it was still a bigger project than anything the content team had ever prepared, so they had to spend a while filming normal in-house content while they got ready.
[The in-house content has been kinda bland lately]
「The content team is getting full of themselves.
Why isn’t Lee Sion’s road to joining the UFC getting uploaded?
The behind-the-scenes footage is nice, but there’s no dopamine!
If the next content is like this too, the content team is dead」
⤷Isn’t what’s been uploaded lately just normal idol in-house content?
⤷If you wanted normal, you wouldn’t have beco an Iam fan
⤷Hurry up and give us a dopamine bomb!
⤷This is watchable, but it’s still bland
⤷Still, thanks to this in-house content, I’m satisfied because I learned how Raon’s funeral ended up in the competition
⤷I really didn’t know it was an actual requiem
After the auction content, the content team edited and uploaded things like the mbers’ auction highlights, or behind-the-scenes footage from the Three Kingdoms competition.
There were fans satisfied with that standard in-house content, but there were also a lot of fans who missed the dopamine-packed content they’d gotten before.
'Finally, the ti has co.'
The content team endured that long stretch and prepared for this zombie hidden-cara prank.
For today’s shoot, they even got support from KJ dia headquarters and booked the large studio in Paju that had been used for various variety shows.
They also got company support to recruit dozens of perforrs, and made props for the shoot—so for the past few weeks, the content team hadn’t even been able to sleep properly.
"Co at , Lee Sion···."
As all filming preparations neared completion, and at the sa ti, Iam’s mbers ca into view through the far entrance, Yunsik muttered the words without even realizing it.
The ti was approaching for Yunsik and the content team to finally pay back the demon who had smashed every piece of content they’d prepared up to now.
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