The whistleblower, who identified themselves as one of the writers for Idol Annals of the Dynasty Season 1, proved their identity by providing parts of the draft plans and photos from the filming site.

The subsequent exposé was filled with all sorts of revelations.

It was revealed to the world that when Idol Annals of the Dynasty was first planned, instructions had come down from the higher ups to provide special favors to MYTH artists. It also came to light that during ‘Shining Star, K-Civil Service Exam,’ a dedicated one shot camera had been assigned exclusively to Parte.

≫ The cast of ‘Shining Star’ is given about 10 pages of prep material in advance. However, certain idols were provided with a 20 page ‘answer key’

Unlike the general preparation materials, where the study content was shuffled randomly, the cheat sheet contained the actual questions presented in the broadcast, organized in the exact order they would appear.

The answer key file was exposed as well. My suspicion that Song Minil might have had the question list turned out to be correct.

There were also claims that they had been pressured to manipulate votes, though the writer said they refused that request. Instead, there had apparently been an internal agreement within the program to push Parte.

This arrangement continued into Season 2, after the whistleblower had left the program. Screenshots of messages with junior writers revealed that assigning the best locations for the busking competition or increasing the budget for stage sets was also part of this ‘agreement’.

MYTH, which had initially responded by calling the allegations groundless, fell silent when further revelations followed.

When MYTH tried to play down the whistleblower as a mere staff member rather than a person of interest, and treated them as a troll spreading false facts to gain attention by riding the program’s controversy, the enraged writer released audio recordings.

“—That’s not what we agreed on. Why are there questions that were never shared in advance?”

“Since there are variables in the broadcast production process...”

“—Isn’t that why writers exist? To decide those things ahead of time? If you’re not even going to handle that properly, why are you getting paid to be here?”

“—Even so, we’re taking good care of you, Mr. Minil, and we’ve secured enough solo screen time...”

“—Looking after me? How? You gathered dozens of people. My seat is way in the back. There’s no way I can stand out!”

And there, as the finishing touch...

“—Sigh, there’s no trash can on this floor.”

...My own voice was in it too.

“Is this why you told me to show off my knowledge?”

Even Lee Cheonghyeon came running to me to ask.

Song Minil was truly unlucky. See? I told you to watch your mouth, didn’t I?

The public sympathized with the hardships of ordinary employees much more easily than those of celebrities. Since the former was closer to their own lives, it was a natural reaction.

≫ You get scripts handed to you, get one shots, have staff cater to you over the phone

So what exactly are you dissatisfied about that you’re throwing a tantrum like this? Because a question you didn’t know came up? Every single person there filmed under the same conditions, idiot

≫ You’d have to be ready to leave the industry to expose something like this

└ It really must’ve been that bad... I’d feel miserable working there too

≫ Minil, what were you thinking when you saw Gawoon unable to even lift his head on IDC...?

They said it was so kind of you that you introduced Gawoon everywhere and helped him get recognized. Don’t you think it would have been better if he hadn’t been recognized like that?

≫ That attitudeㅆㄱㅈ ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

His words and actions are insane.

His tone is exactly like those young boomers nuisances you see so much lately.

≫ Meanwhile, because they were busy pushing these guys, Spark didn’t even get half of Parte’s reaction shots and had to busk in a department store. Is this for real?

If it were me, I’d have sent 100 sarcastic Bubble Pop messages mocking Parte and the production team and caused a personality scandal, then written a handwritten withdrawal letter

Song Minil, who belittled the writers’ work and spewed out verbal abuse, was torn to shreds. Criticism also intensified toward MYTH, which had shattered the stereotype that ‘agencies are always the weaker party’ by negotiating with idols’ appearance as leverage.

In the midst of this storm, I unintentionally received reflected benefits.

≫ Someone said the voice passing by sounds like Iwol, is that true, Sparklers??

└ It sounds like him, but Iwol isn’t the type to talk to himself... it’s ambiguous.

└ Is he not the type to say, ‘I wonder where my socks are~’? Unexpected.

└ Why is that unexpected?ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

≫ I’m pretty sure it’s Kim Iwol.

Appeared on the same program + while everyone else wiped their answer boards with marker erasers, only Spark used wet wipes + in the behind the scenes cam Cheonghyeon and Verion were there and Seongchan mentioned that Cheonghyeon was left with him because Iwol hyung went to throw out trash

└ Is your name Conan?

└ Are you a detective?

≫ If the outside noise was recorded on a phone call inside a room, the soundproofing must be terrible.

Wouldn’t everyone walking by have heard what Song Minil was saying?

└ Seeing how Song Minil went quiet after Kim Iwol said that, it’s practically confirmed. Judging by how Iwol stayed silent until now, it looks like he gave a warning and let it go.

└ Warning, my footㅋㅋㅋ He just happened to be passing by.

└ He just happened to be passing by, and the phone hung up immediately? Can you still say that after seeing how Song Minil kept bringing up Lee Cheonghyeon’s family and mocking him until the middle of the broadcast that day and then shutting up for the rest of it?

└ Our boy doesn’t have a loose mouth like a certain center, so he doesn’t add fuel to the fire on Bubble Pop just because he’s annoyed... Be grateful Iwol never once complained about being disadvantaged while the so called beneficiaries got special treatment

≫ You never know how life turns out

Back in Season 1, Iwol got so much hate for supposedly receiving special treatment and abusing power, but now in Season 2, the situation is completely reversed

└ While our boy was walking a gravel path and clearing away stones, the real silver spoons were complaining about motion sickness while riding a bus

It’s the principle that if you’re standing next to food waste, even a common pebble looks like a beautiful natural object... or something like that.

Suddenly, I became the King of Perseverance, an unparalleled figure who remained unshaken between morally questionable senior Allover and the broadcaster’s favored sons, Parte, just silently doing my job through rain, wind, and even cracked skulls.

MYTH eventually posted an apology. The Idol Annals of the Dynasty team also posted a notice apologizing to the groups harmed by unfair processes.

“There are a lot of posts saying they’re filing complaints with the broadcasting review board.”

Beside me, Jeong Seongbin’s brows drooped as he monitored the situation. He looked conflicted.

“Don’t worry too much. The program won’t be canceled halfway through.”

“Even though the favoritism issue has been exposed this much?”

“They’ll probably say some editing was unavoidable for the [N O V E L I G H T] sake of entertainment. Other shows don’t air raw footage either. Unless paid votes were manipulated, this’ll likely be seen as within the broadcaster’s discretion. Have you ever seen someone punished just for ‘evil editing’?”

Though it would be difficult for a next season to be produced. Honestly, if this season could be our last instead of appearing on Idol Annals of the Dynasty again, I’d welcome it.

“Actually, this worked out well.”

“Huh?”

Jeong Seongbin looked puzzled. I closed my laptop and said,

“We had a lot to prepare for the live stage, right?”

“Ah...”

“Until now, it was just suspicion, but now it’s different. Everyone knows there was discrimination, so to lessen their burden, the production team will provide as much support as possible. Since there’s only one stage left, taking good care of us will be beneficial for them so public opinion doesn’t get even worse.”

Though not completely, Jeong Seongbin agreed with me to some extent.

“There’s no point in discussing things that have already passed. Let’s think about the benefits we can gain moving forward. Got it?”

I patted his shoulder. Jeong Seongbin ran to Park Juu with a face full of determination.

After the controversy over Parte’s special treatment and Spark’s exploitation on Idol Annals of the Dynasty, I received many messages. Mostly, they were concerned texts worrying about our mental state.

Ha Seomyeong sunbaenim:

[I saw the articles. It’s so upsetting, but I’m glad more people are starting to recognize you and Spark.]

[Become a big shot and take revenge on them all, Mr. Iwol.]

[Got it?]

[I believe in you.]

Heerang sunbaenim:

[I saw the articles. Are you okay?]

[I’m cheering for Spark and Iwol hyung!!]

Seongchan sunbaenim:

[Man, I can’t say everything through messages.]

[Let’s have a meal with Verion and Spark soon.]

[Heerang found a good restaurant.]

[I’ll steal CEO Moon’s card and come over, just you wait.]

Gu Jahan sunbaenim:

[If you’re upset, want me to ask my company if they have any plans to start an idol business?]

Me:

[I’ll only accept the sentiment, thank you!]

Gu Jahan sunbaenim:

[No.]

[What’s so hard about just asking?]

Me:

[I am truly, sincerely okay.]

Aside from the chill down my spine thanks to Gu Jahan, it was heartwarming. Modern society was still worth living in.

Yesterday, we even ate beef on the corporate card. There was a bittersweet episode where Manager Chanyoung cried, saying he was sorry the agency lacked power, and Manager Daeyeon had to take him outside.

After receiving so much support and eating our fill, we gathered in the meeting room, thoroughly healed from all directions.

We only shared light greetings with the staff who came to film. No one looked well enough to engage in small talk.

When they said they had no face to look at Spark, Jeong Seongbin smoothed the atmosphere by saying it was fine as long as they filmed us beautifully.

If I hadn’t heard the dedicated team shouting in rage on our behalf, I would have laid down on the meeting room table.

Fortunately, the filming of the meeting scene began in a calm atmosphere without any raised voices.

“Everyone.”

Lee Cheonghyeon spoke in a solemn tone.

“The time has finally come.”

Park Juu’s eyes sparkled. My hands also started to sweat.

After a long wait, the time had arrived to bring out Spark’s long cherished business project.