From Thug to Idol: Transmigrating to a Survival Show

Werewolves?

"A furry kink?" June muttered under his breath. However, Casper heard him, eliciting a chuckle from the taller idol.

The furry duo exchanged glances before addressing the panel of judges.

Zeth presented the next slide, and maybe June's guess wasn't too far off.

In the slide was a pair of furry werewolf ears, which were comically large, and they looked like something you'd find in a Halloween costume store.

The other members pursed their lips to suppress their laughter.

June, too, couldn't help but shake his head in disbelief.

"Don't worry," Sehun said. "This is just an exaggeration. However, we do want to employ a more realistic werewolf concept by involving wolf-ish movements in the chorus."

A new slide was shown, showing a stage bathed in blood-red light. It looked like a scene reminiscent of a B-grade horror movie.

These two didn't do such a great job looking for their reference photos.

However, as they continued with their presentation, it was clear that this would be a performance to remember.

"For the bridge, we're taking it up a notch," Zeth proudly said. Then, he crouched down, surprising the members and judges.

Then, he leaped around the room, imitating wolves with exaggerated movements.

Once again, this kid was blessed by the gods. He actually looked pretty epic while executing the move.

However, as June imagined the eight of them doing the movement on stage, he shivered in disgust.

It was a sight not fit for the eyes.

"And that's why Red Moon should be our title track," Sehun ended before taking a bow.

The other members clapped, yet they still held back their laughter.

The judges merely talked among themselves, not saying anything about their presentation.

"The next team, please," Chul said.

Ren and Akira quickly stood up, quarreling to take the stage. However, Ren reigned in the end, causing Akira to sit in a bitter mood.

"Judges, fellow members, allow us to present the best option for our title track—Caffeine," Ren confidently said.

They showed a photo of a cafe in a warm, cozy setting. They then showed barista uniforms, complete with aprons and colorful berets.

They had gone for a somewhat more predictable approach, but it had its own charm.

Jisung, despite feeling a bit shy, addressed the judges. "Ladies and gentlemen, we're taking you to the edgiest cafe in town. Caffeine, like its bitter name, will show a story of a rebellious part-timer who's had enough of the corporate evils."

"And we're here to stir things up with a cup of strong brew," Ren mischievously added. "We're going to embrace the angsty teenager vibe, and our cafe will be all about breaking the boundaries."

June raised his eyebrows in surprise. It was actually a pretty cool concept, but still, debuting as angsty teenagers while the group came from a show like Rising Stars didn't feel too appealing.

"The rebellion should burst during the beat drop," Ren continued. "And we can thrash this cafe, throw coffee cups all around, and break the walls!" he excitedly said.

It seemed like the judges were pleased by their suggestion, though, nodding while conversing quietly.

"Alright, thank you for that. May we have the next team?" Chul asked.

"Should we go?" Casper asked.

Before June could even answer, Jaeyong and Akira had already raced to the front.

June shrugged. "Let's just go last," he said.

Team Restart definitely took a more serious route, which was evident because of their experience being real K-pop idols years ago.

They started with an all-black backdrop, setting their presentation for the powerful and fierce concept they had chosen for their title track.

"It can't be denied. Restart already sounds like a hit—similar to the trending songs in K-Pop today," Jaeyong started off. "It has a strong bass line and an impactful drop, which is why we have chosen these outfits."

They showed black leather outfits, complete with studs and spikes.

Akira stepped forward. "We're going all-in with fierce and dark aesthetics. Picture an all-black leather-clad gang ready to conquer the stage."

If June had cat ears, they would have definitely perked up.

"Gangs?" he whispered.

"With a synchronized, powerful dance, we can show that we are more than eager to show our talents," Jaeyong continued.

The two of them continued to show photos that they'd described to be part of a gangster's lifestyle, and June couldn't help but shake his head in disappointment.

If this was how a gang lived, then he would have been a happier gangster!

They presented a gangster's life to be so glamorous. It definitely wasn't an accurate representation. They showed motorcycles, aesthetic warehouses, and chandeliers. In reality, gangsters had cars from junk shops, actual warehouses, and busted lights.

To drive their point home, Jaeyong played a video on the big screen, showing a group that had already debuted with a similar concept. The video depicted a group clad in all-black, performing intricate and intense choreography that perfectly complemented the dark, fierce theme. They watched attentively as this other group successfully captured the essence of the concept Team 'Restart' was proposing.

"That song was nominated by an American award show," Akira boasted. "So, we'll leave you with that."

Zeth groaned after their presentation. It couldn't be denied that they had convincing points.

"Okay," Chul sighed, looking a bit tired. He didn't even bother looking up as he called the next team. "The last team, please make it fast."

June and Casper stood and hooked their presentation to the large monitor. Fortunately, Casper was literate with media and gadgets, so they were able to create a nice presentation.

Most of the members were passively watching the two of them, looking particularly bored since they didn't like the idea of Oasis being their title track.

The judges, too, didn't seem to like the song as they conversed among themselves, not even bothering to look at the presenters.

Chul, on the other hand, appeared to be laughing at something on his phone.

June pursed his lips and looked at all the inattentive people in the room.

So, with annoyance coursing through his veins, he banged his fist on the table before them, startling everyone in their seats. Even Casper was surprised by his sudden outburst.

Then, when he finally got their attention, he put on a fake smile and said his opening statement...

"The world is fucked."