Becoming An Idol Wasn’T On My Plan [EN]: Chapter 155

155.

Originally, there are many underhanded methods. Most of them are difficult to accept logically, though. I was going to answer with a nonchalant attitude if the production team said anything, but I’m very relieved that it didn’t get any uglier than this.

“Sunbae-nim [senior colleague], how about trying this?”

I whispered to Gyeong-woo the trick I was going to use if what I did didn’t work.

“…Even that far?”

“There’s no shame in victory.”

“I didn’t know you had such a strong competitive spirit.”

Actually, if it were my usual personality, I’d be fine whether I won or not.

“There, there, another intellectual is using dirty tricks…”

Ryui-deun grabbed Chae Ha-min next to him and whispered loudly as if to make sure everyone heard.

“Vicious philosophy students. Han-ho hyung [older brother/male friend] was dirty earlier too…”

Kang-hee also grabbed Do-hee and said it as if to make sure everyone heard. Vicious and wicked, I’m just living according to the methods recommended on the show.

I don’t know how it will be edited, but right in front of me, Gyeong-woo was answering the question ‘Is this person female?’ with ‘Unexpectedly, it might not be, but as a result of deep exploration, it might not be enough to answer that it is, but it was impossible not to recognize the limitations of the fact that it is unknowable.’

In other words, that means yes.

Even if it’s not a guaranteed win, it’s good to prepare such lines in advance so you don’t make mistakes, and it’s good to nitpick even the slightest slip of the tongue.

After achieving a smooth victory, I received a piece of paper with the grade A+ written on it.

“We’re playing a total of three games, and we’re giving A+ to the first place and B, C to the rest in order.”

“…Give B a + too! Why discriminate! Is only A human?”

“Ah… it’s a subject I don’t want to retake, this is a big problem.”

Do-hee and So-young muttered in order. Oh dear, not getting an A, those lazy people. Maybe they were absent or late submitting assignments.

“There, there, the intellectual is looking down on us as if we’re funny.”

“…Down with philosophy!”

The Physical Education and Dance departments joined forces. Teaming up so pettily and uglily from the first game, it’s not a good look.

“…I don’t think we should be saying that, though.”

Gyeong-woo muttered quietly, feeling a prick of conscience.

“Freedom of expression.”

“That’s right. The Constitution recognized it.”

“Ah, maybe we’re the ones without freedom.”

That cannot be accepted. There’s no way there can be freedom to give up freedom.

“Gyeong-woo’s mentality is weaker than expected. That’s why he can’t be a gentleman. You have to roll around at the bottom to know ‘Ah… this is the taste of life.’ Anything is fine as long as it’s not a crime!”

…Ah, crime is not okay. I had a plan to steal the report card if my grade was low. It’s a shame it’s only a half-baked lawless zone.

* * *

# Broadcast Edit

The Philosophy Department team almost monopolized A+, and occasionally the Dance Department team took A+, and the final race arrived. A short video message arrived for the escapees who were gathered in teams in various parts of the College of Humanities.

The Philosophy Department team, drinking coffee in the College of Humanities resting area, was checking the letter sent by a black silhouette on a tablet.

― A mysterious video letter suddenly arrived?!

‘Ah, ah, students, we just received an anonymous tip. There is a student preparing to cheat during the exam! As a professor, I will not stand idly by while this happens in the Escape Theory exam! Just wait!’

“……Dong-hwa, are you a cheater?”

At Han-ho’s words, Ji Dong-hwa smiled and shook his head. Gyeong-woo put his arm around Ji Dong-hwa with suspicious eyes.

“Tell hyung [older brother/male friend] honestly. Honestly.”

“I’m not stupid enough to cheat.”

Han-ho’s constipated expression is zoomed in, and then the screen switches to a lecture hall and shows a black and white screen.

A scene where someone hurriedly steals a piece of paper from the lecture hall and runs away. Only a slight silhouette is visible, and it is impossible to know who it is.

The race screen that started again after the video with the question mark.

“The final exam is ‘Final Exam’ set in the entire College of Humanities!”

The most important rule in ‘Escape’ was neatly displayed with subtitles along with the explanation. The team with the best grade in the game becomes the winner and gets the ‘gold,’ today’s prize for winning. It is also permissible to exchange grades with others through missions or exchanges. And those without grades at the end of the game will fail.

I don’t know what kind of exam legalizes stealing other people’s grades, but this is the jungle-like world of Escape, and foolish humans cannot survive.

However, the interesting point is that the team with the highest total score wins, but the gold is distributed differently according to the score within the team. Since there are twice as many report cards as there are people, the goal is to create a mess by causing conflict between individual and group interests.

On top of that, one more thing.

“There is a terrible student who is cheating! Those people know what the grade exchange mission is and how to win easily. The cheater should win with tact! If it is revealed in the final vote, all the gold will be returned to everyone!”

As soon as Han-ho heard those words, he grabbed Ji Dong-hwa’s arm from behind, and Gyeong-woo, who was next to him, also looked down at Ji Dong-hwa with a threatening look.

“Cheater. Tell me, what are you thinking?”

“I was imagining the Philosophy Department winning and eating beef.”

“Liar! You’re planning to stab us in the back! To get the most gold! If it’s distributed according to grades, you could get 90% of it!”

Ji Dong-hwa’s expressionless face is zoomed in, and the subtitle ‘Unfair’ is attached below it. However, the problem is that he doesn’t look unfair at all.

“You can’t do this without evidence.”

“This is the feeling of society, you can’t develop it with education.”

“Haha, experience the evils of witch hunting firsthand. The height of social injustice!”

“Hey, burn him, burn him first. No trial, summary execution.”

CG synthesizes Han-ho and Gyeong-woo with medieval judge costumes, and Ji Dong-hwa is dressed as a pitiful witch.

“I fed you grades, and you stabbed me in the back like this.”

“Haha, that’s right. You have to get stabbed in the back at least once in your life.”

― …Really?

“It’s a rite of passage, a rite of passage. Originally, in this case, the most capable person is burned and then mourned later.”

Ji Dong-hwa is zoomed in, his arms are tied, and his shoulder is grabbed by Gyeong-woo, smiling. And slowly opened his mouth.

“…You mi……”

The cut is briefly cut, and only the white letters ‘Editing for the protection of idol rights’ float around.

* * *

In an awkward silence, the Philosophy Department team reached a reconciliation.

“…I’m still suspicious. I’ll be watching you, criminal.”

Did you give the presumption of innocence to the dogs?

“Shh. We’ve got enough broadcast footage. I’m tired.”

At that, Gyeong-woo shook his head with a disappointed expression and shouted weakly.

“Hyung [older brother/male friend]! Why are you being like this to me these days! Why won’t you accept me? Am I really sulking?”

It seems that Gyeong-woo’s madness was hidden behind his gentlemanly image.

“Even if he’s a villain, would he eat 90% of it alone? Judging by his personality, even if he eats 90%, I think he’d take us to a meat restaurant?”

Wow, that’s wise. As expected of a wise person.

“Then let’s go for now. It’s over if we win. The lowest of our grades right now is two B’s. We can aim for the Dance Team’s A+ with this.”

Without thinking, we started from Humanities Building 1 and looked into classrooms everywhere. According to the rules, there are staff members in the classrooms, so if you find them, you can exchange them for missions.

“…It’s more advantageous to split up here.”

Gyeong-woo muttered that while glancing at me. The society that was returning to trust and faith has collapsed.

“Wouldn’t too much suspicion be poisonous?”

“Yeah… that’s right. What you’re saying is right, but isn’t it more infuriating to be backstabbed by trust?”

“That’s right. It’s better to be poisoned by suspicion.”

Han-ho, who was persuaded, glared at me along with Gyeong-woo, so I ignored them and ran forward. Sartre’s saying that other people’s eyes are hell is absolutely right.

“Oh, oh, that cheater!”

The College of Humanities at this school is well connected between buildings, so it’s easy for first-timers to think of it as a maze-like structure. It’s a building where you get confused about where the road leads and where you’re standing.

I led the camera staff and disappeared with a swoosh.

“I tried to escape.”

Since I’ve had a little bit of broadcast experience, I muttered my thoughts in a small voice.

“The structure of the College of Humanities at this school is unique, so you can continue to move from one building to another to some extent.”

I never thought old knowledge would be used like this. It’s absurd, really.

The basic rule of this game is to win the game prepared by the staff, or to get the best grade by having someone touch your back and request a grade exchange. It’s subtly enjoyable because it’s like the struggles of failing students who have no intention of studying to get good grades. It’s an experience I’ve never had in my life.

…Hmm, I hear footsteps.

I carefully hid behind the stairs and watched who was passing by. Pink hair flashed by. I slipped out and snatched the grade envelope on her back.

“Hyaaak!”

The rabbit is loud.

“D, Dong-hwa! That’s, no!”

“Let’s exchange grades.”

Chae Ha-min dropped her face at those words and muttered.

“…Ah, I’m doomed.”

Chae Ha-min took out the report card so that the grade part was not visible from the envelope and held it out.

“…Which one of the two will you take?”

When I grabbed the report card on my left, Chae Ha-min made a face as if the world was collapsing. And when I moved to the other side, she tried to maintain a blank expression, but the corners of her mouth twitched.

“…It shows, Ha-min.”

“Huh, huh? What?”

Chae Ha-min pretends not to know, but she’s a little cute. When she does something that pricks her conscience, it shows like that.

I grabbed the one on the left.

“I’ll take it.”

And I handed Chae Ha-min my report card.

“I hope everything goes according to plan.”

Chae Ha-min, hearing my words, raised her head, which had been lowered, and nodded with a bright expression.

“…Of course.”

She’s so cheerful for someone who had her grade exchanged, Ha-min.

Now I have to collect A+’s again. It reminds me of the old days, and it’s really not good.

* * *

Chae Ha-min took the report card, put two on her back, and put one in her pocket.

“…Ah, I have to escape well, this is a big problem.”

Ji Dong-hwa, who was walking behind, had only one report card on his back. Basic rule number 1, if you have more than 2 report cards, you must have 2 on your back.

“Everyone, I think Dong-hwa is a little bit, evil. He’s usually very nice, but he’s always like that when he plays games. He betrayed me before… if he does that again today, I’ll do it myself…”

Chae Ha-min muttered that and shook her head again and ran again. Chae Ha-min can’t figure out how he can naturally deceive everyone.

“Ah, Dong-hwa said this morning that there’s a good place to hide here.”

I can’t keep hiding because I have to get broadcast footage, but it’ll be okay for a while.