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“…What are you talking about? A survival audition program for Awakened Ones?”

“There are Awakened Ones who failed the exam, and there are also those who gave up on becoming Heroes to make a living. Many Awakened Ones can’t live the life they wanted for various reasons.”

To PD Choi, it sounded like gathering Awakened Ones for a program where the winner would be made into a Hero.

Awakened Ones who couldn’t become Heroes.

Awakened Ones who want to become Heroes.

An audition exclusively for Awakened Ones.

The proposal Director Kang made seemed impossible.

The Korean Hero Academy already exists, and there’s a Hero Certification Exam.

Even if we exclude the Academy, which is for students who awakened at a young age…

You can’t just make a profession that requires a certification exam the prize for winning.

Being a Hero isn’t as simple as releasing an album.

PD Choi frowned upon hearing Director Kang’s idea.

“It’s impossible. You must have talked to the Association, right? Even if we set the Association aside… If Hero qualifications were given out like that, Hero aspirants would rise up. They wouldn’t even mix with active Heroes.”

The standard route for Korean Heroes is to awaken at 17, attend the Hero Academy, graduate, pass the Hero Certification Exam, and then start working.

Of course, there are also Awakened Ones who couldn’t attend the Academy on time and later challenge the dream of becoming a Hero.

They have to pass a slightly more difficult certification exam than the Academy students before they can start working.

But… if a broadcast program appears that promises to make the winner a Hero, would they accept it?

Massive backlash from the industry is expected.

We don’t even need to mention the public’s condemnation.

“The prize isn’t a Hero Certification.”

“…Then there’s no reason for Awakened Ones to sell their faces and personal lives to appear on the program. Sure, there might be a few who want to show off their talents and get attention, but that’s it. That number wouldn’t be enough to run an audition program.”

If the prize isn’t Hero Certification, then that’s another problem for the program.

Money? Fame? Popularity?

Of course, there are Awakened Ones who aim for that…

But fundamentally, being a Hero is a profession that requires a sense of mission, a strong work ethic, and risking one’s life.

It would just become a meaningless program filled with mediocre people jumping into the industry for money.

“Every Awakened One in the country, no, the world, will be eager to apply. I’ll make sure of that.”

“…Director Kang, I don’t remember you being the type to be filled with dreams and hope.”

Just as PD Choi was starting to feel disappointed in Director Kang…

Director Kang, as if expecting that reaction, smiled and began to reveal his cards.

“Jeong Gyeoul. You know her, right?”

“Huh? Suddenly? Of course, I know her well.”

“You must know Jeong Ha-yul too, right? What about Park Seol-hwa? Kim Yu-shin? Jang Gil-yong and Lee Ha-yoon?”

“…What are you trying to say? How many people in Korea don’t know those Heroes?”

Lee Ha-yoon isn’t technically a Hero yet, but she’s an S-Class Awakened One.

She definitely deserves to be mentioned alongside them.

“They will all be judges. The prize is personal training from them. If they want to attend the Academy, our company will support the tuition. If they want to take the exam, we’ll provide support for that too.”

“…?”

All of Korea’s S-Class Heroes participating as judges?

If that’s true, not just Korea, but Awakened Ones from all over the world would book flights to Korea to participate.

But… while Park Seol-hwa and Jeong Ha-yul don’t have a strong aversion to broadcasts…

Jeong Gyeoul has experienced media bombardment before.

Jang Gil-yong has never appeared on a broadcast before.

Getting all of them to sit on the judging panel is like a dream.

Director Kang’s story circled back to a hopeful producer’s dream.

PD Choi had seen many PDs like this.

PDs who stuff top celebrities into a mediocre format and think they can pull off a pilot.

Nine out of ten leave the broadcasting industry.

The broadcasting industry isn’t so forgiving for PDs with their heads in the clouds.

“If that were possible, every PD would have already tried it. Having one S-Class Hero increases viewership by roughly 5-10%. Hasn’t the broadcasting industry tried to recruit them? They’re not short on money, they don’t need popularity, and they have no reason to waste their time on broadcasts.”

“Exactly. If you could get all of them on the judging panel, even a rookie PD and a junior writer could create a program that instantly becomes a masterpiece.”

“Then why are you…?”

The expression on PD Choi’s face was one of utter confusion.

It was as if a question mark was floating above his head.

“Like you just said, having just one S-Class Hero would boost ratings. Awakened Ones from all over the country would flock to receive personal training from that one person.”

“…So?”

“At least one is half-confirmed.”

“Wait, really? You should have said that first…”

The appearance of one S-Class Hero is confirmed.

From that point on, if the program doesn’t succeed, the PD would be called an idiot.

‘Right… Director Kang isn’t the type to talk nonsense without a plan.’

Finally, PD Choi started to listen to Director Kang.

Before, it felt like he was trying to bring a delusional junior PD back to reality.

Now, as a director, he focused on the story.

“But who is that one person? Park Seol-hwa? She’s been busy making potions, so I doubt she’d come out… Is it Jeong Ha-yul?”

“It’s Jeong Gyeoul.”

“Of course, it’s Jeong Ha-yul… Wait, Jeong Gyeoul? Why her? She said she’d never do variety shows again, and she hammered that into my chest…”

PD Choi looked even more surprised than when the idea of an Awakened One audition was brought up.

When Jeong Gyeoul had to leave “Monster Restaurant” due to professional reasons…

She declared proudly that she’d never do variety shows again, looking so relieved.

And now, Jeong Gyeoul is returning to variety shows?

“Did you find her weakness? Are you threatening her? This is serious! I’m saying this for your sake, Director Kang, stop right now. You’ll really die. I did two programs with that Gyeoul. If you think she’s like other Heroes, you’re in big trouble.”

“Haha, I almost died.”

Director Kang shuddered as he recalled the time when a hand was at his throat.

He breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing that Jeong Gyeoul owed him a favor, making it possible.

“Anyway… if Jeong Gyeoul is in, Park Seol-hwa is likely to follow. Casting Jeong Ha-yul or Lee Ha-yoon would also be easier. At least two are possible, so let’s develop it further from there.”

“…I’ll work hard.”

The roles were set.

***

The guild master’s office of the Daehyun Guild, which appears whenever you start to forget about it.

Park Seol-hwa and her secretary, Kim Soo-jeong, were having a serious conversation.

“Why should I go out for that? There are plenty of A-Class folks who like that sort of thing. We can send some of our guild members.”

“Really? Then I’ll confirm it that way.”

“…What’s with that reaction?”

“It means I have nothing to regret.”

Secretary Kim had suggested to Park Seol-hwa to appear on broadcasts more than once or twice.

It was for the guild’s external image and Park Seol-hwa’s personal image, but Park Seol-hwa had never accepted Kim Soo-jeong’s suggestions.

Every time, she tried to persuade her using various methods, but this time, she was letting go so easily, which seemed suspicious.

“If I don’t go on that Awakened One survival thing, you’re saying I’ll regret it?”

“Did I? Then you heard correctly.”

“…No, seriously, what’s going on?”

“Finish double your potion quota today, and I’ll tell you.”

“Hey, isn’t this a casting offer for me anyway? Why are you…”

“Fine, don’t do it. Should I throw this in the shredder?”

Secretary Kim waved the proposal and turned around.

It looked like she was about to walk out immediately.

“…1.5 times.”

“Deal.”

“…If this is nothing, you’re really dead.”

“Just read it.”

Secretary Kim, with a relieved expression, threw the proposal to Park Seol-hwa and left the guild master’s office.

“…Damn, I feel like I’ve been tricked.”

Park Seol-hwa, with a disinterested expression, flipped through the proposal, but when she reached the last page, her eyes widened, and she ran out.

“Hey! Kim Soo-jeong! Where are you? We’re definitely doing this! We’re doing it!”

 

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