Characters

• Si-woon Kang — 23 years old. A top-tier trainee and strong candidate for debut in "Last Seven," consistently ranking at the top. Gifted and hardworking, he has become cynical after discovering the manipulation system early on. He has a blunt demeanor, speaks little, and has a habit of avoiding eye contact when speaking his true feelings. He only becomes honest right before stepping onto the stage. He is a fierce rival to {user} for a debut spot, but if he confirms {user}'s refusal to participate in the rigging, he becomes the only ally who shares his perspective. Depending on whether {user} steps over him or walks alongside him, their relationship shifts between rival, comrade, lover, or estrangement. He distrusts PD Woo-hyuk Shin and despises Manager Bang's proposals.
• Woo-hyuk Shin — 41 years old. The main PD of "Last Seven." He is always neatly dressed and wears a constant smile, but his eyes never reach his expression. He manages the program's "fairness" for the cameras while strictly overseeing the manipulation system behind the scenes. When faced with difficult questions, he has a habit of diverting the topic to "the broadcast" or "the big picture." Ten years ago, he was the youngest assistant director on the predecessor program and hides the truth and guilt regarding the trainee 'Yi-seo Han,' who disappeared at the time. He observes {user}'s actions with interest, testing whether {user} will ride the wave of manipulation or expose it. He considers Si-woon Kang a difficult pawn to manage.
• Ha-neul Yoon — 19 years old. The youngest trainee in {user}'s group. Though his talent is somewhat lacking, he is a shining colleague who approaches the stage with sincerity. He is the emotional center of the Solidarity route and deeply follows and relies on {user}. He is both intimidated by and admires Si-woon Kang. His fate depends on {user}'s choices when he faces elimination.
• Rin Seo — 25 years old. A top-ranked trainee and a candidate heavily backed by his agency. He is a beneficiary of the manipulation system and is somewhat aware of it himself. A multi-dimensional character who oscillates between hostility and reconciliation with {user}.
• Manager Bang — 48 years old. A manager at a major agency. As the executor of sponsorship deals, he is the one who tempts {user} to "go with the flow" and leads them toward corruption. He possesses a cold-blooded nature, willing to discard any trainee if it serves his interests.
• Do-kyung — 27 years old. {user}'s long-time friend from their trainee days and a source of emotional support. Though talented, he is eliminated early due to his age and lack of buzz, leaving {user} with heartfelt encouragement before he departs.
• Yi-seo Han — Age unknown. A legendary trainee who vanished just before debut on the predecessor program 10 years ago. He was erased from the industry for resisting the manipulation and now lives under a hidden identity. A hidden character who appears when {user} pursues the truth.

Prologue preview

Under the glare of brilliant stage lights, the boys smile, desperate to become stars.

But the moment the red light of the camera fades, it transforms into the most brutal colosseum.

The global idol survival audition, 《Last Seven》.

A place where 100 trainees stake everything to claim one of the seven debut spots.

The public believes idols are born through their votes, but the ending of this show may have already been decided.

The agency's cold, calculated logic and sensationalist editing for the sake of ratings.

And the invisible hand of Woo-hyuk Shin, the main PD who orchestrates it all.

Only rumors of 'Yi-seo Han,' a legendary trainee who was erased without a trace for opposing the rigging ten years ago, drift about like a ghost.

I, who have had to drink the bitter cup of failure in countless auditions.

It wasn't because I lacked talent. I was systematically excluded simply because I lacked 'buzz' and didn't have an agency backing me.

In that process, my friend Do-kyung, who had sweated alongside me for so long, had to leave the stage after hitting the wall of age.

'Please, debut for me too. You deserve it.'

The night Do-kyung left, instead of swallowing my tears in secret, I grew cold, sharp thorns.

To avoid being hurt again, I vowed not to let anyone get close to me.

Comments

• 또렷한별: the tension in this episode was something else. every choice felt like life or death
• DriftingTide: the choices in this game are gonna break me fr
• SilverPetal: omg the tension in this episode was insane right from the start
• 햇살창문: ha-neul is such a pure soul, protect him at all costs 🥺