GIJS

Chapter 161 Refreshing Refreshing

If episode 3 of 'Dynasty' focused on the competition, episode 4 covered the new status announcements and the accommodation life during the preparation period for the third round of competition. Just like last time, the 7IN members gathered in front of the TV in their accommodation to watch the live broadcast of episode 4.

"Why does it feel like the TV screen is getting bigger and bigger?"

"Wow, it does seem so."

"Hehe, it's nice being a noble."

"It says QHD next to the TV! Isn't that supposed to be really good?"

"Haha, that's right~ QHD means the picture quality is excellent~"

"With this, we can even see our pores!"

"...T, that's not good... Pores..."

However, contrary to Yuchan's concerns, the members' faces on the screen showed only soft, fluffy skin, not pores.

Just like the members, fans were eagerly waiting for the live broadcast of 'Dynasty' episode 4.

It was finally the moment when 7IN would rise from being slaves and commoners to the ruling class of nobles.

[Finally a nobleㅠㅠㅠ] [Ugh, I'm still pissed thinking about that terrible slave accommodationㅠㅠㅠ It was cute seeing them all huddled together, but that was all] [They must have had a tough timeㅠㅠㅠ] [Exactly... Thinking about it makes me hate Kim Seok-hoon even more] [But isn't it a problem even if they become nobles?] [Whyㅋㅋㅋㅋ It's better to be in a higher rank] [No, our kids are too softㅠㅠㅠ] [Even if they become nobles, they might still be shaken by others and act even kinder...] [I had the same thought...] [Their kindness is a problemㅠㅠㅠㅠ] [Sometimes it's okay to be a bit fierce] [Ugh, whether it's TEIBO or the tablecloth, those guys are too much] [I hope if CHILLIN can't do anything, at least they get some proper education from Velocéㅠㅠㅠ]

Fans thought that the 7IN members wouldn't be able to be strong against TEIBO.

However, Gunja's appearance in episode 4 dispelled those worries.

Gunja was excellent at managing slaves. His ability to control TEIBO members like his own limbs was reminiscent of a noble of a prominent Joseon family.

Fans cheered with joy at Gunja's performance.

[What's thisㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ Gunja is something elseㅋㅋㅋㅋ] [Lolㅋㅋㅋㅋ He's really managing the slaves well??ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ] [ㅋㅋㅋㅋLook at that gazeㅋㅋㅋㅋ so disdainful] [I'm worried, what should I do?] [He's a scholar, but a high-ranking oneㅋㅋㅋ] [He really has a dignified presenceㅋㅋㅋ Just extending his hand is enough] [That's the attitude of someone who has controlled others before, right?] [Gapmoe levelㅠㅠㅠㅠ] [So kind to fans but ruthless to bad slaves, I love it so much] [I really like that gaze] [I wish he'd look down on me too, make me do things without saying anything] [You too? I do tooㅎ;;] [I want to be punished with caning until I faint in front of Gunja] [I want to be confined in Gunja's grain storage with a knife to my neck] [I want to provoke Gunja and get my limbs twisted] [I want to be grabbed by the collar, feels like my heart will explode] [Damn, grabbing by the collar;;; I imagined it] [Crazy fansㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ For real, keep it moderateㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ]

Surprisingly, 7IN and Velocé members' interviews also took up some of the footage.

[Hyun-su: Gunja... surprisingly manages the slaves well, huh?] [Yuchan: ...Gunja hyung... is sometimes scary...] [Pael: I'm glad I'm his senior, haha—.] [Taewoong: I'm glad he's a friend.] [Siwoo: Haha, if you turn him into an enemy, it'll be a big problem~]

The 7IN members reviewed the footage on the large screen and marveled.

"Even after watching it again, Gunja's scenes managing TEIBO friends are amazing."

"Haha, that's an exaggeration."

"What kind of life did he live to control people so well?"

"Hmm? If he's a noble, isn't it natural to have a few slaves at home?"

"...Huh?"

The members tilted their heads, but Gunja continued speaking casually.

"But not all slaves were treated harshly. I tried to show warmth to those who were kind and sincere."

"Oh, that's good to know."

"But TEIBO friends don't seem to have good personalities, do they?"

"That's true."

"Hyung, don't be so scary to us... okay?"

"Haha, don't worry."

Gunja laughed as if to say there was no need to worry.

"You are all kind and sincere. Besides, you're not my slaves. As long as you maintain that attitude, I will always be kind to you."

"It feels like you're telling us to continue being good from now on..."

"Scary, scary. How could I do something bad because of Gunja?"

As expected by PD Kim Seok-hoon, episode 4 of 'Dynasty' generated a hot public response.

Despite the significant portion showing Gunja making TEIBO members suffer in various ways, the public did not show rejection.

Fans were naturally thrilled, and even the general public, who weren't necessarily 7IN fans, mostly reacted with a sense of poetic justice.

The public seemed to have already considered the Chinese team, especially TEIBO, as villains. This was quite natural, as TEIBO was the team that had shown explicit hostility towards 7IN from the start.

However, responses were mixed regarding the Japanese team, SHINO and AKIRA.

[The Japanese team is lacking presence] [Are they good or bad? It's unclear] [What are you talking about;;; Isn't the fact that they colluded to make CHILLIN into slaves in the preliminary competition enough to label them villains? They've been villains in my mind since then] [But seeing them greet and smile at CHILLIN after that doesn't seem too bad, right?ㅠㅠ] [Nihonbo detected] [No, it's not Nihonbo;;] [Originally, those who are secretly bad are more frightening] [I feel uncomfortable watching Uncle Akira's dance] [Those uncles always come down from the stage, tapping their kneesㅠㅠㅠㅠ It's pitiful...] [So what?ㅋㅋㅋㅋ Forgot the group rigged votes?] [Anyway, I don't like the Japanese team either. I don't like anyone but the Koreans]

Due to their lack of presence and ambiguous friendly attitude, the Japanese teams had a peculiar level of recognition.

The 7IN members also did not have significant wariness towards the Japanese teams. They did not show intense hostility like TEIBO, and at this point, they were not seen as major competitors in terms of performance.

Meanwhile, at Dynasty Castle, the preparation process for the third round of competition began.

In the main hall where everyone gathered again, MC Jeong Hae-jin announced the theme for the third round.

"This is finally the last competition before the final live broadcast. The theme for the third round is... 'Weakness Mission'!"

"Weakness Mission?"

At the word "weakness," the seven teams looked at each other with uneasy faces.

"Isn't it better to highlight strengths in competitions...?"

"For a weakness mission... it seems like there will be tasks to address those weaknesses."

"Hmmm, what could our weaknesses be?"

"There must be many weaknesses if you look for them. But who will determine these weaknesses?"

Jeong Hae-jin's next words clarified Ji Hyun-su's curiosity.

"A weakness mission is, as the name implies, a competition to address your weaknesses. If the previous competitions focused on strengths, this time, each team will have to compete in areas they consider their weaknesses! You all need to take charge of one team and think about their weaknesses to determine them. Now, we'll start selecting which team will point out your weaknesses!"

The draw began. 7IN drew Guardians, the team they had competed with in the first round.

"Wow, Guardians."

"Identifying their weaknesses shouldn't be too difficult."

The weakness of Guardians was well known not only to 7IN members but to everyone. Their performance and live singing were excellent, but their choreography was critically weak. So, determining their weakness wasn't hard either.

"Friends, we need to practice dancing this time."

"Noooooo—."

"Even if you don't like it, it's necessary. If you want to be an idol, you need to know how to dance."

"We'll help a lot. Don't worry too much!"

"Sniffle..."

The Guardians members nodded gloomily but accepted their weakness.

In the subsequent draw, SHINO from Japan was chosen to determine 7IN's weakness. This was the first time 7IN had been matched with a Japanese team after always being involved with the Chinese teams.

"Oh..."

"SHINO... it's ambiguous."

"But isn't it better than TEIBO?"

"Not sure. Plus, TEIBO members became docile after Gunja managed them like crazy."

"True... now they even smile just seeing Scholar Hyung's face."

"Scary guys..."

SHINO, after a moment of contemplation, shyly walked over to the 7IN members and spoke.

"Um, um, weakness..."

After hesitating for a while, SHINO's leader Sasuke carefully spoke.

"Cheongnyang..."

"?"

"Ah, 청량 (cheongnyang)."

SHINO's keyword for 7IN was "cheongnyang" (freshness). 7IN had never performed a fresh stage before. They had always showcased heavy, oriental-themed stages or hip-hop-inspired performances.

Thus, "cheongnyang" was indeed a sufficient keyword for 7IN's weakness.

"These guys are surprisingly clever."

"Why? Is it really that hard to pull off a fresh concept?"

"We haven't done a fresh stage before."

"Ah..."

"And the most important thing is, it's different from the narrative we've built so far."

From the preliminary round of 'Game of Thrones', the first round's 'Great Rebellion', and the second round's 'Our Power Difference', 7IN's stages had all centered around a struggle for the throne. Thus, producer Ji Hyun-su intended to continue this flow into the live broadcast stage for the third round.

But if "cheongnyang" is incorporated, this flow would collapse. You can't have a fresh concept and still be in a war or defending the throne.

"Well, it does seem a bit strange to have the cute tyrant holding a magic wand and dancing."

"Yeah. For this time, we'll need to create a special stage that deviates from the narrative."

"Hmm, fans expecting the narrative might be disappointed..."

"Well, it can't be helped. If SHINO really intended to do this, they're really smart."

However, Gunja seemed pleased.

"It's actually a good thing. This is a chance to show a new side of ourselves."

"That's true."

"Freshness. Something refreshing and vibrant, like summer grapes."

"Right. Gunja knows well."

"If that's the case, it's definitely possible."

"Really?"

Gunja, as if to reassure them, lightly danced to a freestyle rap.

"Wormwood rice cakes on Dano (端午) summer days!"

"Eh..."

"Shiny perilla oil, today is the day even the school closes!"

"Wow..."

"Valley in the front, deep mountain behind! Today is a day to play all day!"

"Well... Hmm... I'm not sure if that's fresh..."

The members thought they needed to explain the concept of "idol freshness" to Gunja again.

Thus, the preparation for 7IN's first "freshness performance" began.