Two teams of girl group mbers stood in a straight line on the stage. As active idols, they whispered among themselves while glancing at Kang Rojun.
“Wow- look at Number 1. He's handso, but pretty too??"
“Yeah, I can’t take my eyes off him either.”
Since they hadn’t yet been handed microphones, they had more freedom to whisper.
“How can a face that small have handsoness, prettiness, and masculinity all at once??"
“Just based on looks… among all the trainees and male idols I’ve seen, he’s number one.”
Even to these girls, who interacted with boy groups daily, Number 1, Kang Rojun, was so visually striking that their jaws practically dropped. The only reason they were whispering was because of the caras and the many eyes watching. Without that, they would’ve been making an even bigger fuss.
At that mont, PD Woo Han-suk signaled to the caras, and a few of them briefly captured the ten girl group mbers on stage. By this point, all ten had gone silent. Once enough footage had been taken, PD Woo Han-suk picked up the gaphone again.
“Now, we’ll call out each girl group mber’s na. Please stand with your assigned team. First, Ha-young, you’re with Numbers 1 and 10...”
As PD Woo Han-suk finished his briefing, the ten girl group mbers on stage began to move. The fox-like woman approached Kang Rojun and Contestant Number 10.
“Hello, I’m Ha-young.”
The girl group mber who introduced herself as Ha-young wore a fitted short-sleeved top and had a strikingly sharp nose. Her hair was long, reaching down to her waist. Seeing her, Kang Rojun found it fascinating.
'A girl group mber, I’m seeing one for the first ti. They definitely have a different vibe.'
Though the judges were also celebrities, he had never seen an idol before. Plus, Rojun was at the peak of his youth. It would’ve been strange if he had no interest in the girl group mbers standing before him. However, he suppressed his curiosity as much as possible.
“Yes, hello. I look forward to working with you.”
Rojun greeted her briefly and clearly. Ha-young, a rookie girl group mber, unintentionally stared at him. Then she gasped.
'I almost reached out to touch his face without realizing... Is this face even human?? And up close, his physique is amazing too?'
anwhile, the red-haired Contestant Number 10 also finished introducing himself.
“Nice to et you! Ha-young-ssi, I’ve seen you on TV!”
The other teams exchanged similar greetings. With ten dance teams and ten girl group mbers, the pairing was perfect. Watching the finalized groups, PD Woo Han-suk stepped in again.
“The girl group mbers have already been inford beforehand, so they’re familiar with the evaluation song. As I explained earlier, the girl group mbers will take on the female parts of the evaluation dance, while the contestants will perform the first and second verse sections individually.”
At that mont, the staff brought sothing out.
The mont Kang Rojun saw it, he caught on imdiately.
That must be for dividing the dance into first and second verse sections.
And he was right. However, since this was a survival show, they didn’t need to select both participants. In Dance Team 1, Kang Rojun stepped forward first to make a choice.
'I got the second verse part.'
Naturally, Contestant Number 10 took the first verse part. The other teams followed suit, assigning dance sections accordingly. Once most of the roles were confird, PD Woo Han-suk spoke again.
“We’ll be sending the evaluation dance videos to your phones. You’re free to practice however you like. However, the dance trainers will not help you with the evaluation dance. Their role is only to provide feedback on your fundantals, strengths, and weaknesses.”
PD Woo Han-suk’s directing style was known for its high degree of freedom. Since the concept of 'Produce That 100!' was to show raw, unfiltered content to the viewers, this approach made sense.
“You’ll have about a week of practice ti. Training starts tomorrow, the 14th, and will continue until next Tuesday, the 21st. Then, on the 22nd and 23rd, each of you will have ti to rehearse with your girl group partner. It won’t be long, just about half a day.”
This ant that they would swap partners depending on whether they had the first or second verse part.
“After that, from the 24th to the 26th, we’ll conduct the second round of evaluations for vocals, dance, and rap over three days. Sowhere in between, our show’s first broadcast will also take place.”
PD Woo Han-suk then explained the judging process for the dance section. In short, the girl group mbers would perform both the first and second verse dance during the evaluation filming. However, once the first-verse contestant completed their part, they would step aside, and the second-verse contestant would take over to complete the performance.
Listening to the briefing, Kang Rojun felt a slight sense of nervousness.
'Hmm- performing back-to-back like that will definitely make comparisons clear.'
Afterward, the ten girl group mbers exited, and two dance trainers entered. Both were well-known choreographers who led their own dance teams. PD Woo Han-suk provided additional details about the upcoming dance training and then concluded.
“The dance practice rooms will be open 24 hours a day. Feel free to use them whenever you want.”
With that, the dance segnt was wrapped up. Next ca the Q&A session for the contestants, making the staff busy running around. anwhile, the two dance trainers were talking with PD Woo Han-suk, their topic of discussion being Kang Rojun, who was still looking at the stage.
"Is that him? The only participant who won't receive training?"
“Yeah, Number 1.”
“His face is incredible. Is he even human? His handsoness is way beyond normal. Is that why he skipped training? Just relying on his face?”
“Well, we won’t know until we see him perform.”
“What was Number 1’s evaluation song again?”
“‘Brake.’”
The two dance trainers nodded as if they were already well aware. One of them responded,
“If he can actually dance well with that face, it’ll be killer. ‘Brake’ has a very sexy yet powerful choreography.”
A little while later.
Kang Rojun quietly left the performance hall alone. The other contestants, including Number 10, were still busy asking questions. Checking the ti, he realized it was already 5 PM.
'That took almost two hours.'
After arriving at the dorm building, Rojun headed not to his room but to the shared restroom. The reason was simple.
'It’s ti to fully utilize ‘AI Simulation’.'
Now that he knew which song he’d be performing in the next evaluation, it was ti to start his own training. Fortunately, the restroom was empty. Rojun stepped into the last stall and pulled out his phone.
The first thing he checked was a ssage from the production team.
“This must be the video they ntioned earlier.”
Attached was a dance video. Number 10 had likely received the sa one. It was a complete recording of the evaluation song, 'Brake'. After so searching, Rojun confird that 'Brake' was a song released about ten years ago. It was the title track of a solo album by a girl group mber who specialized in rap.
“A duet dance featuring a boy group mber… I think I’ve seen this before.”
It was a song that many modern idols often covered.
After briefly researching 'Brake', Rojun launched the 'AI Simulation' app. Familiar character models and buttons appeared on the screen.
The option Rojun tapped on was.
-[AI Automation]
This was the first ti he had activated 'AI Automation' since 'Farewell'. A familiar prompt appeared on the phone screen.
-[Through ‘AI Automation’ analysis, the desired outco can be achieved. What would you like to achieve? (Only options related to the desired occupation: Idol)]
But then, Rojun tilted his head.
"Huh?"
He noticed a ssage he had never seen before.
-[Tip: The more detailed your request, the more precise the analysis and the more perfect the result will be.]
Rojun stroked his chin.
“A detailed request?”
Thinking back, when he used 'AI Automation' during 'Farewell', his only request had been “I want to learn perfectly.” Was this suggesting that he should add more conditions? He interpreted it as a cue to refine the specifics of his instructions.
After spending a few minutes researching online, Rojun returned to 'AI Automation'.
-Swish.
He typed his command into the blank field.
-[AI Automation: I want to perfectly learn the male part of the second-verse dance choreography for 'Brake', but I want my dance to be fluid and relaxed while maintaining precise control over tempo and intensity.]
Is this enough? Then, he hesitated. The word “second verse” caught his eye. If he was going to do this, wouldn’t it be better to learn both the first and second verse dance choreography?
'Of course it'll be more expensive- but half-learning makes it sowhat ambiguous to call it completely mine.'
There was also the possibility of unexpected situations arising.
'For example, in a situation where I can't use 'AI Simulation', if the production team suddenly switches to verse 1 part.'
Well, the chances were slim, but it was still better to be prepared. He could always earn more coins later, and everything he learned this way beca part of Kang Rojun’s personal asset. With that in mind, Rojun changed his command to learn the entire male dance choreography for 'Brake'.
When he pressed confirm, the familiar loading circle spun on the screen. The response appeared in seconds.
-[AI Analysis in progress... Analysis complete!]
-[To achieve the desired result, 36 coins are required.]
-[※ The number of coins required may vary depending on the difficulty of the requested result.]
The cost was 36 coins. 'Farewell' had cost 30 coins.
'Not bad.'
Satisfied, Kang Rojun approved the coin usage. The ssage quickly updated.
-[Using 36 coins.]
-[Applying... Application complete!]
At that mont, he felt the familiar tingling sensation. As expected, it was on the wrist where he wore his smartwatch. He waited for a mont, wondering if there would be any differences this ti, since this was dancing rather than a song. However.
'It's the sa.'
There was no noticeable difference. Just like during 'Farewell', the process was incredibly simple. Still seated, Rojun took a deep breath and stood up.
"Hoo-"
Then, he closed his eyes to check the effects of 'AI Automation'. The restroom stall was cramped, but that didn’t matter, he only needed to test it briefly. Rojun issued a command to his body: start performing the male dance choreography of 'Brake'.
Suddenly, he felt a beat naturally nodding his head in rhythm.
-♬♪
No one else could hear it, only Kang Rojun could sense it. Then, a husky female rap verse played in his mind. At that mont, he noticed his arms and legs gradually loosening.
Goosebumps ford on his arms.
Right now, he was both fluid and relaxed.
The first move was a loose, slouching walk. Then, as the beat suddenly picked up speed and intensity, his arm and footwork beca larger and more forceful. He adjusted his movents to fit the cramped space, but when he stopped, he let out a bewildered laugh.
"I felt this during 'Farewell' too… but this is seriously insane."
The next morning.
It was now the second day of the 'Produce That 100!' training camp. The official schedule started at 9 AM, but the current ti was 8 AM.
After the exhausting filming the day before, most of the 70 contestants were still fast asleep. The production crew had woken up earlier, but they hadn’t started moving around yet.
However.
‘Running. Go.’
Only Kang Rojun started early. Because he had to complete the daily mission. Starting with running. For reference, running stopped after reaching 60 minutes. Fortunately for Rojun. Anyway, Kang Rojun who was wearing just a t-shirt and sweatpants started running.
-Swish.
His running route was the park area beside the dormitory building, within the vast training camp campus. A few staff mbers spotted him.
“W-Wait, isn’t that Number 1? Is he working out right now??”
“Wow- damn, that face, and he works out too? Is he going for the hardworking athlete concept or sothing?”
“But honestly, Number 1 has a great physique. Whether it’s a concept or not, we’ll see as ti goes on. If anyone’s finished eating, we should get a cara on him ASAP.”
As Rojun continued running, a cara was soon assigned to follow him. It didn’t run alongside him but instead fild wide shots of him jogging.
By the ti he was drenched in sweat, Rojun had completed five missions through exercise and singing.
'Ugh- I'm dying.'
His whole body was screaming in pain, but he felt refreshed. The constant repetition made it fun, too. In fact, Rojun even pushed himself beyond the workout requirents set by the mission. Since he was at it, he figured he might as well get his body in top shape.
Whatever the case, Kang Rojun arrived at Room 105 around 9:30 AM.
All of his roommates had already gone out for breakfast, so the room was empty.
Before heading to the shower, Rojun opened the 'AI Simulation' app first.
-[Title: Side Job Tycoon]
-[User: Kang Rojun / Age: 24 / Height: 182.8 cm / Desired Occupation: Idol / Side Job: [1] Screenwriter 1 / Coins: 281]
He had spent so coins on 'AI Automation', but his balance was still in a comfortable range. After a quick shower, Rojun went straight for breakfast. The nu? Bulgogi. He ate heartily, and by the ti he finished, it was past 10 AM.
Soon, the staff began their briefing.
“Starting now, vocal, dance, and rap teams will begin their training sessions.”
It was the first class with the trainers introduced the day before. The contestants gathered with their teams and followed the staff’s guidance. Before long, the dorm was empty, except for Rojun, who had skipped training.
Of course, Kang Rojun already had a destination in mind.
Dressed in the sa casual outfit as in the morning, he packed only his phone and laptop.
A few minutes later, Rojun pushed open a glass door.
“This is the place?”
He had stepped into the dance practice room. It was spacious, with mirrors covering both the front and back walls. Though it was his first ti in a practice room, and he felt a bit out of place, Rojun instinctively scratched his chin.
-Swish.
He placed his laptop and phone on the floor. Then, after tapping his phone a few tis, a song filled the practice room.
-♬♪
It was 'Brake'.
Kang Rojun intended to go all out, making full use of the spacious room. He quickly got into position and let his body sync with the beat.
A few minutes later.
The song ended. Bent forward with his hands on both knees, Rojun panted heavily. He had just perford the entire first and second verse male choreography of 'Brake', so it was only natural. Catching his breath, he slowly lifted his head.
He looked at his reflection in the front mirror.
And then, he smiled.
'No longer a bad dancer.'
Of course, for now, it only applied to 'Brake'.
*****
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