JYC Entertainment

The effects of the internet article continued for several days.

The number of YouTube channel subscribers exceeded 230,000, and the number of fan club members on New Continent TV surpassed 55,000.

Since that day, the average viewer count has been between 3000-3500.

This is almost the level of Mia and Lark’s average viewer numbers combined.

Considering that you need to be at the Output level, which is just below the top 3 of New Continent TV, to hit an average of 10,000 viewers, this was truly amazing growth.

And to achieve such an astonishing change in less than half a year!

Now Hani’s name has become familiar among viewers who know New Continent TV well.

“Hehehe, the points are insane. My precious!”

[Um… I hate to say this, but it reminds me of a monster’s line from a movie.]

I didn’t care about the helper’s scolding.

The existing 600 points or so suddenly ballooned with the special mission clear.

That alone was 2100 points… Add to that the water balloons and fan club registrations pouring in over the past two days.

Is that all?

The YouTube channel subscriber count grew significantly again, and the video of the duel with the weapon-wielding criminal that had been stuck around 2.3 million views slightly surpassed 2.5 million thanks to new influx.

The YouTube highest views mission cleared because of that.

These are all points!

It’s literally raining points from the sky!

[Calm down.]

“How can I calm down looking at this! The points, the points! There’s over 3500 of them.”

Especially, the fan club registration numbers that had been stagnant increased greatly, which was the secret to acquiring such an enormous amount of points.

It was an astonishing achievement that made even me rub my eyes in surprise several times.

‘With these points, the direction I was thinking for the song is possible.’

There are two days left until the JYC Entertainment audition.

I recall the regrets and lingering attachments from a few days ago.

After investing points in abilities as I thought, I visit the academy.

“Alright, today is the final check. Tomorrow, don’t think about anything and rest well to adjust your condition. Let’s start with Hani first.”

“Fighting, unnie!”

“Show us.”

16-year-old Arin and 17-year-old Sea’s cheers continued from behind.

Cute kids.

Listen once.

I’ll let you hear a song beyond what you expected.

“T-This is!”

“Ah!”

“Wow!”

The teacher’s shocked expression along with Arin and Sea’s eyes widening like rabbits.

After finishing the song with my best effort, I smiled.

Just seeing their reactions was enough.

The JYC Entertainment audition, preparations are complete.

Let’s give it a try.

‘Ah? Come to think of it, I wasn’t planning to pass.’

I wonder if I got too fired up.

---

Seongnaedong, Gangdong-gu, Seoul.

It’s a close distance that only takes about 5 stops even if you take the subway.

Today we decided to move by the director’s car specially.

“Here, it’s good for your throat, so everyone drink a cup.”

“Yes!”

“Thank you.”

The director hands out quince tea in a thermos.

I sit in the passenger seat and Sea and Arin take the back seats.

A somewhat excited atmosphere.

The director encourages everyone saying if they can just demonstrate their usual skills without getting nervous, they can pass.

“Oh!”

“Wow, it’s cool!”

“……”

Thanks to it being so close, we were able to arrive quickly.

The two girls exclaiming in admiration at JYC Entertainment’s cool building.

It’s really an innocent sight.

On the contrary, as an adult worn down by the world, rather than the cool exterior, I was instinctively punching numbers in my head calculator wondering how expensive such a well-located building would be.

“Alright, let’s get out.”

The audition starts at 10 AM and the current time is around 9:20 AM.

Nevertheless, the surroundings were bustling with crowds of people.

Could it be that all these people are here to participate in the audition?

Needless worry comes first.

If it’s like this, can they really finish today?

“It’s really amazing every time I come here. So many people wait all day in front to see celebrities once.”

The correct answer came out of the director’s mouth.

As it turns out, most of the enormous crowd are fans of JYC Entertainment artists.

With time to look closely, the races and nationalities were diverse.

Starting from East Asians like Japanese and Chinese to Southeast Asians, Europeans, people from the American continent… I’m newly impressed by how popular K-pop really is.

Murmur, murmur-!

Without fail today too.

As soon as we get out of the car, the surrounding gazes focus.

People’s whispering.

Many voices are heard among them.

“Who is that? Did they just debut?”

“They seem to be a celebrity, but it’s a face I’m seeing for the first time.”

“Wow! I don’t know who she is, but she’s really pretty. Maybe she’s a group’s center or visual member.”

I’m sorry to betray your expectations, but I’m just a person here to take an audition.

Apologizing in my mind, I head towards the building entrance with the two girls.

“What brings you here?”

For some reason, the security guard asks in a slightly tense voice looking at me.

When I state my business that I came to take an audition, he guides me to the waiting room location with a slightly surprised expression.

“Fighting everyone! See you later.”

The director who finished parking waves his hand energetically like a parent with a child taking the college entrance exam.

Although I feel some moral guilt at that enthusiastic appearance since I have no intention of becoming a JYC Entertainment trainee even if I pass the audition, what can I do?

I already expressed my thoughts in advance and the director agreed to waive the academy fee in that state.

‘Let’s do what I can do.’

Even if I don’t become a trainee, just getting the title of passing will be of considerable help to the academy.

After all, JYC Entertainment is undoubtedly one of Korea’s top 3 representative agencies.

Of course, there’s one agency rising distinctively these days, but that should be considered an exception.

Rather than the power of the agency, it was a change that occurred because one of their artists became world class.

“Now, audition participants please come this way to check your name and attach a number.”

Going down to the basement, a long waiting line was waiting for us.

I stood in line with the girls and waited for our turn.

Soon when our turn came, the employee sitting at the counter touching the computer asked for our names.

“Lee Hani.”

“Han Arin.”

“Yoo Sea.”

The employee quickly confirmed our application status through a search, checked us off and handed us stickers we could attach to our clothes.

They were round stickers slightly larger than a fist, with different numbers written inside each.

“I’m number 74.”

“I’m number 75.”

“Looks like it’s just in order of arrival. I’m number 76.”

We attached the stickers to our chests and entered the waiting room.

It was quite a large space.

There were many tables and chairs for waiting applicants to sit, and small water bottles were placed on each table to wet their throats.

Looking around, I moved to an empty spot with the kids.

Murmur, murmur-!

There are always the same reactions where people gather.

Today I tried not to stand out as much as possible, so I didn’t wear makeup except for the basics and dressed comfortably in activewear-like clothing, but as soon as we entered the waiting room, eyes gathered one by one.

Wary gazes focused on my face and body.

They seemed to think a strong competitor had appeared.

This is… Should I explain that I have no intention of becoming an idol every time I receive these kinds of gazes?

“There are a lot of applicants.”

“Ugh… My heart is pounding. Look at this.”

“Drink some water and try to relax.”

More and more audition applicants gathering as time passes.

Checking the sticker numbers of people entering now, it’s already surpassed the 200s.

‘Even if they only allocate 5 minutes per person, 12 people takes an hour, so this is no joke?’

Thinking of the number 74, I start to worry if we’ll be able to audition today considering lunch time.

When I asked about my doubts, Sea, who is young but already has experience applying for 2 auditions, smiled lightly and said:

“They don’t need 5 minutes per person. From the judges’ perspective, if they feel someone is very lacking, they often stop them after 1 minute.”

“R-Really?”

“Oh no. If that happens to me, I might cry.”

“Arin, we worked hard. Let’s not think such negative thoughts.”

I thought it was quite a cruel decision, but I realize once again how strict this world is.

Right, everyone came here to achieve their dreams and goals, so that level of strictness is natural.

I newly feel the tension of the surrounding applicants and the passionate desire for their dreams burning in their eyes.

“We will now begin the audition. When I call your number, please move quickly to the front door. Now, numbers 1 through 5 please move this way.”

It became 10 o’clock.

The corresponding people stand up according to the employee’s call.

The audition was finally starting.