Becoming An Idol Wasn’T On My Plan [EN]: Chapter 111

111.

A silence hung over the stadium. I sat alone in the center, feeling like a general awaiting his final battle.

Well, now that I think about it, that’s a bit cheesy. It’s not like this is a big deal.

I guessed the caster was ad-libbing, as the situation wasn’t in the script.

“…This is, the final question. If you get it right, you’ll win three gold medals as a reward. Wow, even I, as the one asking, think it looks difficult.”

Please correct yourself. The previous questions were also difficult if you didn’t have knowledge in those fields.

“D Team’s Ji Dong-hwa has overcome problems in various fields such as philosophy and science! Will he be able to reach the finish line of the quiz marathon!”

Please give me the question. I want to return to my members in triumph, with the screams of the broadcasting station guys as my spoils.

“Now, here is the final question!”

Tense background music. I straightened my back and sat cross-legged, waiting.

“This time, it’s literature.”

I had a feeling it would be an annoying question.

“In Dostoevsky’s ‘The Brothers Karamazov,’ Dmitry is suspected of murdering his father.”

…Was there even a point to make a question here? I thought the plot was that he gets imprisoned, escapes with the help of another character, and flees to America.

“At this time, a woman reveals a letter in which Dmitry threatens to kill his father, which decisively helps to convict Dmitry, but she eventually helps Dmitry escape because of her love-hate relationship with him. What is the woman’s exact name?”

This is a terribly petty, trashy question that has no meaning as a quiz.

They even added a descriptive trick.

First, in Western countries like Russia, it is common to call people by their ‘pet names’ instead of their full names, so the woman is usually called Katya or Katchenka in the story. You might make a mistake if you mistake the pet name for her real name.

Second, they asked for the name and added the adverb ‘exactly.’ That means they want the first name, middle name, and last name. Usually, no one memorizes the full name of a character, so it can be difficult to answer if you’re suddenly asked.

Haa… that’s a relief. I wouldn’t have been able to answer if they had asked the meaning of a new slang word. I guess they can’t do that for the sake of the quiz show’s reputation.

I looked through the various archives in my head and the files in them. The best way to improve memory is to create a certain structure in your brain. Some people create it in the form of a search engine, and some in the form of a room. Me? A library. My sanctuary since my parents were around.

I pulled out a book and quickly scanned it.

Then, I moved my hand and carved each letter. When I had carved all the letters, I immediately raised it.

‘Katerina Ivanovna Verkhovtseva’

Unfortunately, I don’t know Russian, so I can’t write it in the original.

* * *

“…Oh my god.”

It’s not like he’s an encyclopedia. I don’t think you could find out that quickly even if you searched.

Jung, the writer who came up with the idea of including a quiz show as a mid-break segment for the first time, was very embarrassed.

‘…No, well, even if you can memorize paper, that’s fine. But why is he becoming an idol without studying!’

“…That is correct!”

At the caster’s shout, the Golden Bell music, which had been prepared when the 97th question was solved, filled the venue.

“Ah, Writer Jung. Shouldn’t we adjust the reward to one medal, even if we have to ask for understanding?”

“…That’s true. Otherwise, the interest will be cut in half until we choose the final winning team.”

“But… we can’t just do it without any reward.”

As Ji Dong-hwa wanted, the production team’s worries deepened.

* * *

Music flowed with magnificent celebratory explosions, and I had a brief interview with the caster.

“D Team’s Ji Dong-hwa, you not only took first place but also solved all the problems. How did you feel?”

Well, I don’t know if the caster noticed, but it was a beneficial time to face the naked face of the broadcasting station guys’ pettiness. I was able to strengthen my clear sense of purpose to protect the members from their clutches.

…That’s what I wanted to say.

“Well, I was embarrassed because the questions from question 90 onwards were not in the distributed information book, unlike the announcement. But I wanted three medals.”

So, unless they do a complete edit, let’s do the interview in a way that reveals their true colors. In particular, let’s mention the three medals, just in case they suddenly come and change their minds.

“Ah! So, the questions kept flying to me like a last-minute script. Then, were those last questions things you already knew?”

The caster was very grateful and conducted the interview in a way that helped me.

“Fortunately, yes. If not, I wouldn’t have gotten three medals.”

“Wow… I was sincerely impressed. I came out to be a caster for the sports competition, but I’m watching an amazing quiz show.”

The caster held up the microphone and applauded, asked a few questions, and I answered briefly.

“Yes, then, Ji Dong-hwa’s luxury quiz show, it was almost like ringing the Golden Bell, I watched it very well. Thank you.”

At the caster’s greeting, I bowed 90 degrees and moved to where the players were gathered.

But, perhaps naturally, I could see a group of people running from there. Our members and TOT members were all running with bright smiles on their faces.

“Wow! Dong-hwa did it again!”

Chae Ha-min.

“Our junior did what a junior should do!”

Jun-seong.

Everyone, I appreciate you congratulating me, but why are you rushing so aggressively? I felt a bit scared by the momentum, so I took a step back.

And Jun-seong, who was looking at me like a beast aiming for its prey, shouted loudly.

“Catch him! Catch him!”

With those words, they grabbed me, lowered me down, and threw me up. A toss. I felt dizzy from the violently shaking scenery.

“He’s so light! The weight of what’s in his brain must be 0, Composer!”

Joyong, Yaeon.

It would be easier to think that it’s because I don’t know much. Because there’s still so much I don’t know.

After wandering in the air for a while and landing on the ground, I couldn’t help but stagger for a moment because I was dizzy. Well, it’s tiring. It’s been a while since I’ve concentrated so much and overworked my brain. I decided to take the members’ advice to take care of my body.

“Eden hyung.”

Ryu Eden, who was walking next to me, nodded.

“Yes, Dong-hwa hyung!”

“Carry me.”

I don’t have any strength in my legs, so I hope you, the safety keeper, will suffer.

As I was being transported on Ryu Eden’s back, I could feel other people’s eyes on me.

However, unfortunately, I had suffered so many more humiliations thanks to the other members that I wasn’t particularly affected.

“Excuse me, just a moment! D Team, everyone! I have something to tell you!”

A staff member rushed over and stopped us from being transported.

“We didn’t expect that you would solve all 100 questions this time, so… three medals seem like too much, so we’re going to make an adjustment.”

Those damn things. If I had known that, I would have dropped out when I was alone. I wasted my energy for nothing. Since the performers have no choice but to follow the staff’s decision, I gave up halfway.

However, Yaeon, who was listening with me, didn’t think so, and shouted with an exaggerated smile and a loud voice.

“Oh my, Staff, you’re being too harsh, reaaaaally. Our baby collapsed because it was hard to solve 100 questions. You can’t give us all three medals!”

…Our baby? Oh dear, that’s a very inappropriate designation.

The reason why Yaeon is making such a loud noise is probably because, just like I went out of my way to solve the last question, she wants the broadcasting stations to eat shit. Since we’re going to accept it anyway, she’s trying to let the people watching the situation know. I don’t know if that’s okay, but whatever.

“Noooo! How can you do thaaaat! You’re not going to reduce it to one medal, are you? Oh my gosh! Aigo! [Korean exclamation of frustration] Our medals!”

Jun-seong also joined in and deliberately raised his voice as if he was wronged. He was joking and pretending to be broadcasting, pretending to be very polite, pretending to be an entertainer, but Jun-seong and Yaeon’s intentions were too transparently observable. Very crazy people.

As if the leader’s voice was a red cloth guiding the cow [a metaphor for provocation], the other TOT members also raised their voices in surprise. I think this is all possible because they’ve been eating broadcast food for quite a long time [familiar with broadcast practices].

“No, no, we’re not just going to take away two medals. Just one! We’ll give you just one more!”

A slightly buzzing sound was heard from the fan seats. Especially from the TOT fan seats. Since the size of the singer and the size of the fan seats are proportional, it seems like they are talking about it subtly. However, it was easy to predict that the broadcasting company guys, whose way of treating fans didn’t seem very upright, wouldn’t bat an eye at that.

“That’s all because we have circumstances, I’m really sorry.”

It’s a very polite way of delivering the announcement for a broadcasting company. It seems like a person in a low position is coming out like this because of the orders of the higher-ups, which is unfortunate.

I carefully got off Ryu Eden’s back. I staggered a bit because I lost strength in my legs while getting off, but there were no major problems.

“Oh, our baby is staggering because he’s worked so hard. Oh my, well, what can we do. Two medals are actually a big prize!”

Shut up, Yaeon. I don’t think my mother would have done that even if she were alive. Of course, I nodded because I agreed with the latter part.

“Ah, thank you so much for understanding. I fell in love with you when you were breaking through the quiz show like Jangbi of Jangpan [a historical figure known for his bravery] a while ago. Fighting!”

The staff member held my hand tightly and expressed his gratitude repeatedly. The higher-ups are the ones who planned it wrong, but why are the lower-level people suffering to fix it? It’s a dirty aspect of society.

After the staff member left, Yaeon and Jun-seong high-fived each other and whispered something to each other. It’s a spectacle.

“But, Dong-hwa hyung, were the last questions not on the paper?”

At Lee Hyun-jae’s question, I nodded. Taking Jun-seong as an example, I also told him in a whisper about the broadcasting station’s petty behavior. In the meantime, the members were curious about it, so they put their heads next to Lee Hyun-jae’s ear and tried to listen to me. Strange beasts, it’s okay to tell them one by one, why.

“But then Dong-hwa, do you memorize the names of the characters in those last questions and go around?”

Ryu Eden asks with a shocked expression. What does this puppy think of people, who memorizes such things and goes around.

“It’s not memorizing, it’s remembering.”

It’s the limit of a puppy who hasn’t realized how great the human brain is.

“As expected, the man who is most confident in his brain in his body!”

“The man who put his brain forward as a body part to show off!”

Chae Ha-min and Ryu Eden shouted in order, making a fuss. Ha, anyway, it’s tiring. I want to rest a little.

* * *

In the last remaining archery match, the members, including Chae Ha-min and Ryu Eden, fought hard, but unfortunately, they did not win. In the first place, archery is not a field that you can do just by practicing for a while.

Since I had nothing to do now, I just sat and watched all the games.

“It was amazing, really, Ji Dong-hwa. How did you get first place!”

In the meantime, I had a pleasant conversation with the God Eight members. In the meantime, I noticed that Lee Ji-hyun was watching me, but I left him alone because I was annoyed.

And after some time passed.

“Everyone, it’s time for dinner!”

It was time to treat the fans to a meal. This time, the company bought it.

『I Didn’t Plan to Become an Idol』

Ttoon Modern Fantasy Novel

(Ju) Joara