Constellation, I Want To Be An Idol – 25.2

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This season’s CYB male idol category’s third preliminary round, the “Entrance Exam,” was receiving significantly more attention than last season.

This was because it was being held on Jeju Island.

Since the final gate closed, there have been noisy discussions in the political arena about the budget for purifying contaminated areas.

Jeju Island had suffered the most damage from monsters within South Korea’s territory.

Thus, the budget for purifying these contaminated areas was substantial, and ongoing conflicts over budget allocation were prevalent.

A consolation performance in Jeju Island?

It was a decision that was enough to gain attention both in the entertainment industry and socially.

Therefore, besides posts focused on CYB or individual participants, internet communities were flooded with posts containing societal perspectives.

The comment sections of internet news articles were ablaze.

Before the performance began, Chaeya, having finished her makeup and resting in the dressing room, was sitting on a sofa.

She was looking at the comment section of a heavily trafficked news article.

Seeing the distribution of comments, there was a bizarre sight of gender and age groups not leaning one way, engaging in conflicts.

Reduce the budget for purifying Jeju Island. The claim that magic corrupts human bodies is just a government conspiracy to brainwash citizens. The tax money for purification goes straight into the president’s pocket. Is purification really happening? No, it’s not. Wake up.

‘It feels like each letter is sprouting black mold…’

With that thought, Chaeya continued scrolling through the comments.

Coming here to comment about the government, all these grandpas seem like they’re slightly drunk, peeing on someone else’s wall LOL

↳ Have you ever even cared about the taxes your parents pay?

↳ Oh crap, I got pee on me;;

I support CYB. The entrance exam has always invited local residents as audience members, and holding it on Jeju Island is a meaningful event.

↳ 22222

↳ It’s all a conspiracy.

↳ It stinks here!!

I restarted Neoverse like fifty thousand times just to watch it…

↳ I’m gonna watch the TV live broadcast too!! Planning to kill my bro and take the remote ^~^

The government should expose the corruption in the Jeju Island purification project! Aren’t you ashamed to face the citizens?!

↳ Delusion

But it was unexpected that Aiden would be the overall mentor… I thought he had no more interest in entertainment activities…

‘It’s a mess…’

Chaeya laughed hopelessly.

Bang.

Suddenly, the dressing room door opened, and Aiden, who had finished his makeup, entered.

Chaeya was startled and quickly stood up straight.

“Good day, senior!”

Seeing Chaeya bowing 90 degrees, Aiden waved her off.

“Enough, enough. Why be so old-fashioned?”

‘…And yet you’re the eldest old-timer.’

Thinking that, Chaeya straightened up.

She once admired Aiden.

After all, he was a member of the famous Codess

During his active days, Aiden contributed as the eldest brother of Codess, leading the team to become the top boy group in the country.

Of course, he didn’t receive as much spotlight as Rowen, even then.

Running down this path fueled by shallow admiration, it was perhaps inevitable to face such a grim reality.

Aiden, as Chaeya personally confirmed, was a person whose inside and outside were completely different.

Outwardly, he acted like a carefree industry veteran, but inwardly, he was someone who coldly calculated profit and loss.

Also, he was a petty person who couldn’t tolerate even a minor mistake from others, remembering the name of a junior idol who forgot to greet him and subtly ruining their career until he felt satisfied…

Aiden taking on the role of the overall mentor for this season’s CYB was part of his groundwork for starting a new agency.

While it was reasonable to think of it as a business strategy, there were too many rumors swirling around.

“You’re training the CYB vocalists this season? You should try to avoid it at all costs…”

“You know you can’t stand it if your superiors mess up, right? Be careful around Aiden.”

“…That guy, he’s damn shady.”

These were the comments Chaeya heard when she told her senior colleagues that she was assigned as a vocal trainer judge for this season’s CYB.

‘I didn’t want to do this because I hated dealing with such things…’

Chaeya bit her lip, recalling the face of the agency director who had forcibly scheduled her for the CYB judging panel.

“This season’s CYB is noisy because of the consolation performance in Jeju Island… Do you know?”

Aiden asked while checking his makeup.

“Yes, it’s been quite loud in many ways.”

“Everyone’s so strange.”

Looking at Chaeya, Aiden laughed.

“People are trying to do something good, but why are they acting like this? Is it because I’ve been in the entertainment industry too long? I can’t understand ordinary people.”

“I also think going as far as conspiracy theories is too much.”

Even as she responded, Chaeya felt repulsed by the elitism and mockery in Aiden’s words.

‘Everyone’s just an ordinary person, what’s with…’

She felt nauseous.

‘Surely he wasn’t always like this…’

That was the only certainty she had.

The entertainment industry was not a world where one could survive on superficial pretenses.

Even if someone hides their true nature, it eventually comes to light.

Above all, Chaeya didn’t want to believe that the person she idolized was rotten from the start.

‘People are shaped by their circumstances…’

Chaeya was convinced.

She had seen it happen firsthand.

Several peers who debuted after competing in last season’s CYB became distorted with arrogance due to their newfound status.

‘I wonder how this season’s participants will turn out.’

With that thought, Chaeya checked the time.

“Senior Aiden.”

Chaeya spoke up.

“It looks like it’s time for you to go on stage.”

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“Hey, Ryu Eunyul.”

Ha Min hit my body and asked.

“Are you nervous?”

I replied as if squeezing the words out.

“…How can I not be nervous…?”

I wanted to stick my fingers down my throat and vomit out all the tension inside me!

The performance had just begun.

“The divine spotlight! ‘Count Your Blessings (CYB).’ I am Aiden, who has taken on the role of overall mentor for this season.”

Ha Min and I were practically collapsing into our chairs in the participants’ waiting room, monitoring the stage situation.

I wanted to tear off the chain around my neck.

Jeong No-eul, Kim Joong-ho, and even Madojin were watching the monitor broadcasting the stage situation with tense expressions.

Aiden announced that the third preliminary round would be judged based on audience reaction, votes, and the judges’ scoring.

He didn’t forget to mention the local residents of Jeju Island, who either died due to the S-level gate or are still living with those scars.

“Now, let’s not waste any more time and start the stage. The first team to perform is….”

Aiden paused, smiling subtly.

“Please welcome them with applause!”

…It’s starting.

With that thought, I straightened up.

“We are H.I.R.!”