Chapter 113
“…I don’t think I can do it.”
Oh Yoori, seeing Han Gyeoul shaking her head frozen in disbelief, smiled softly as if to reassure her.
“There’s no need to think of it too complicatedly. Just consider it as gathering the current opinions into one.”
“Current opinions?”
“Yes, the opinions circulating among the trainees.”
When people gather, be it company, school, academy, or meetings, public opinion is bound to form.
Of course, Girl 100 was no exception.
“Girl 100, while being quite closed-off to the extent of prohibiting communication devices like smartphones in their secluded dormitory life, cannot completely prevent outside information from seeping in. In fact, the more closed off they are, the faster rumors spread once they start.”
“…Huh? I haven’t heard any of that.”
“…”
Yuri couldn’t help but be flabbergasted by the overwhelming cluelessness of Han Gyeoul, which detonated in conversations like a landmine.
“…There might be a slight exception, though.”
Nonetheless, she tried her best to change the topic as if it were no big deal.
“Anyway, many trainees have noticed the ongoing controversy surrounding Girl 100 by taking the risk of being penalized to secretly hide smartphones or learn about outside news through their managers. And that news has spread as rumors, so most are aware of the current crisis. Public opinion has formed.”
“I see, public opinion has formed.”
Gyeoul felt no discomfort in realizing that she was the only one unaware of this opinion.
“The point to pay attention to is how this public opinion flows. Winter sister might not know… but anyway, it goes without saying that most trainees feel a significant amount of anxiety and dissatisfaction.”
“…I think I get it. If vote manipulation is true, it would make competition and effort feel meaningless.”
That part was a sentiment that Han Gyeoul shared as well. No matter how hard she tried, the thought that achieving her results was utterly impossible left her feeling despondent.
“Exactly. While trainees aren’t expressing it actively, they have a negative stance toward the current Girl 100. Though not everyone feels this way.”
Han Gyeoul found herself questioning Yoori’s contrasting statements.
“Not everyone?”
Yoori nodded, as if acknowledging the legitimacy of her confusion.
“It would be perceived differently by the 11 who have secured their debut.”
“Ah. Then, the other kids may not look favorably upon the 11 or those who seem likely to be in the 11?”
“Maybe it’s not surprising that people might not view the kids that look like this in a positive light?”
As Han Gyeoul made her unexpectedly sharp observation, Oh Yoori said with admiration.
“That’s a very accurate point. How did you come to that conclusion?”
“It’s a bit different, but I have a similar experience in context… it was really hard.”
“….”
With every word being a minefield, Oh Yoori started to wonder what kind of life Han Gyeoul had lived. But that was a story for another time. Oh Yoori didn’t have much time left.
“As you predicted, Older Sister Gyeoul, the trainees are subtly splitting into groups. It’s between the top ranks, who are suspected of benefiting from vote manipulation, and the mid-low ranks. And this kind of conflict is preventing a common voice from emerging. Everyone in Girl 100 must be dissatisfied, after all.”
“Yeah, those 11 kids or anyone benefiting from the vote manipulation probably don’t feel completely at ease either. If this controversy continues, not only the project group but Girl 100 itself could be canceled midway.”
Oh Yoori smiled satisfactorily at Han Gyeoul’s neat summary.
“Right. This is where I want Older Sister Gyeoul to ‘incite’ action. I hope you can steer both opposing groups to criticize the production team of Girl 100, which is a common enemy, so they can express their dissatisfaction with a united voice.”
Han Gyeoul clearly understood what Oh Yoori was asking of her. However, she felt negative about whether she could actually do it.
“Uh, but Yoori, I’m really sorry to say this, but wouldn’t it be better for you to do it rather than me? I’ve never stepped out in front of others and I’m not good at talking, so I’m not confident in leading anyone.”
In response, Oh Yoori shook her head, seeming troubled.
“I considered doing it myself. It’s actually my area of expertise. But, I don’t have the position or the time for it.”
“Yoori, why not?”
Oh Yoori said with a bitter smile.
“I’m the whistleblower who blew up the smoothly sailing Girl 100. It can’t look good for the trainees dreaming of debuting in Girl 100, and it doesn’t look good for the production team either. Having such a negative image makes it difficult to be the one to incite action.”
That was a penalty that Oh Yoori found hard to overcome, no matter how skilled she was in acting and winning people’s favor.
“Plus, I don’t have free time either. My participation in the common filming for Girl 100 is limited, and to prevent any additional exposure or mockery, there are surveillance personnel following me. Right now, I barely shook off that personnel to create a tiny window of time.”
“I can’t do it. My participation in the 공동 촬영 for Girl 100 is limited, and I’ve got personnel monitoring me to prevent any additional exposure or mock scenarios. Right now, I’ve barely managed to shake off that personnel to create this brief moment.”
The restrictions and isolation were stronger than I had anticipated, which delayed my approach to Han Gyeoul.
“Once PD Kim Seon-ye finishes shooting all the scenes to use as a means to put an end to the vote manipulation controversy, they’ll probably force me out of Girl 100 under the excuse of voluntarily stepping down. Team Leader Seon, who is glued to Kim Seon-ye’s side, is coming up with all sorts of excuses to prevent that situation, but it can’t last long. If PD Kim wants to keep the broadcast alive, getting rid of me is essential both short-term and long-term.”
Thanks to her explanation, Han Gyeoul fully understood. It seemed quite difficult for Oh Yoori to incite anything.
“Unlike me, Older Sister Gyeoul has the top-tier skills accepted by everyone, whether they’re in the upper or lower ranks. Despite her appearance on the show, she is humble and diligent, earning universal favor.”
“…Me, really?”
“Yes! If someone like Older Sister Gyeoul steps in, she can definitely steer the trainees and shape public opinion.”
“….”
Despite Oh Yoori’s assurance, Han Gyeoul couldn’t muster up the confidence and fidgeted, prompting Oh Yoori to pull out her trump card.
“Team Leader Seon also said that Old Sister Gyeoul could do it.”
It was Seon Taeyang, the limited cheat key of TwoBear personnel.
“…Teacher Taeyang?”
“Yeah! Older Sister Gyeoul is really amazing, so he told you to trust and rely on her. He said she’s a genius who excels at everything she does.”
Well, he didn’t say it quite like that, but Oh Yoori told a little white lie.
“I see, so Teacher Taeyang spoke of me like that.”
After picturing Seon Taeyang in her mind upon hearing Oh Yoori’s words, Han Gyeoul charged her confidence and declared resolutely.
“I’ll give it a shot! Incitement!”
“That was a great thought!”
As Oh Yoori clapped quietly in delight at her determination, Han Gyeoul awkwardly asked.
“But, how do I even incite?”
“You don’t need to think too complicatedly. Just mention the common dissatisfaction and anxieties that trainees have about Girl 100. Towards both the lower and upper ranks. If you voice it where everyone can hear, the conversation will naturally progress. At that point, simply suggest ‘Let’s raise our common voices.’”
“I’m not sure how to even bring that up. Honestly, I find it hard to even speak up….”
“….”
On this point, Oh Yoori felt it was tricky to offer advice. After all, it was such an easy and simple matter for her. However, she recognized that everyone struggles with different things, and a strategy was needed. Still, it remained a challenging prospect.
It was an incredibly easy task for Oh Yoori. However, she was aware that everyone struggles with different things, so a countermeasure was necessary. Still, it was just as perplexing for her.
Because of that, Oh Yoori, not quite her usual self, offered some advice.
“…How about checking out Oltube?”
“Oltube?”
“Yes, you can find things like how to speak to people and how to give speeches there, so I thought it might be helpful.”
“What should I search for?”
“Hmm… How about searching for persuasion, speeches, and revolutions? That should be enough for references.”
Even Yoori wasn’t fully confident in her words, but Han Gyeoul, who saw them as a guide, answered cheerfully.
“Thanks, Yoori! I’ll definitely do my best with that!”
“…Ah, yes. I’ll count on you, Older Sister Gyeoul.”
Just then, a frantic voice calling for Oh Yoori echoed from the hallway.
“Oh Yoori trainee! Where are you?”
“I guess my hiding didn’t go unnoticed. I’ll make sure to see you again! Team Leader Seon, keep up the good work! Fighting!”
“…Y-Yeah, fighting!”
With that, Oh Yoori appeared like a gust of wind and vanished just as quickly.
Han Gyeoul, staring blankly at the empty space left behind, steeled her resolve.
“Since time is limited, I need to hurry without hesitating.”
After being selected as an outstanding trainee, Gyeoul took out the tablet that was rewarded to her for dance practice. Though the device provided by Girl 100 had restricted access to Oltube and the internet, the crafty Kim Yujin had managed to bypass those limits to check comments on her videos.
Naturally, it was a secret from the filming crew.
Gyeoul operated the tablet and secretly played Oltube videos. As she searched for words like persuasion, speeches, and revolutions, the algorithm led her into uncharted territory.
‘Aux Armes, citoyens!’
“….”
‘Hasta la victoria siempre.’
“….”
‘Ein Gespenst geht um in Europa – das Gespenst des Kommunismus.’
“….”
Han Gyeoul, influenced by the stirring speeches that ignited people’s hearts, echoed the resonant phrases in her mind.
“…The history of all hitherto societies is the history of class struggles.”
And just like that, a red flag began to flutter in Han Gyeoul’s heart.
