Tokyo: The evil god doesn't want to be the top star

Taking into account multiple factors, Xia Fan's image of "the great devil of the Celestial Dragons" has taken shape in Akimoto Manjiro's mind.

"However, Xia Fan alone is not enough... We need to find some suitable 'background boards'..."

"Even if they are not that good... in the early stages of the show, they still have to be promoted by me, and then be eliminated in a touching way..."

After making a five-pointed star mark on Xia Fan's registration form, Akimoto Manjiro signaled the assistant director to continue reporting the information.

"…These are the fifty trainees in Group I."

But until the end of the report, there was no other "perfect supporting actor" like Xia Fan who made his eyes light up.

"Well, let's move on to the second agenda... How is the confirmation of the program mentor selection going?"

Akimoto Manjiro, looking a little disappointed, simply skipped the questioning session and announced that he would move on to the second topic.

Chapter 191 Fox Alms

2024-07-13

According to the program rules, four well-known artists of different types will be invited to serve as "mentors" for these trainees.

In talent shows, the role of "mentor" has multiple functions and is quite complex.

They are not only judges who have the power to evaluate and score, but also professional teachers who guide trainees to improve their talents...

In the subsequent stages of the program, the mentors will also lead trainees from different groups to compete on a "cooperative stage".

During this process, the program team can also hype up the "deep affection between teachers and students" or "master-disciple rivalry" at various stages such as practice and elimination to increase the program's selling points and popularity.

"Well, Kimura Goro has no problem with his schedule, he has already confirmed his participation..."

"Hirai Shouta and Oda Masaru said they have no objection, but the agency has not yet given a final response."

Assistant Director Souta glanced at the contact information on his phone and confirmed them one by one.

"Well, with Kimura Goro, the original boy band idol, as the 'representative producer', the basics of the show should be fine."

"With the addition of Hirai Shouta and Oda Masaru, there should be a lot of exciting interactions."

Akimoto Manjiro breathed a sigh of relief.

The number of four mentors far exceeds the one hundred and one trainees for the entire program.

After all, a group of unknown and face-blind trainees is certainly not enough to attract viewers to watch the show.

Well-known artist mentors who have their own popularity and traffic can initially arouse the audience's desire to watch the show, and enhance their understanding and sense of involvement in the show.

Of course, for well-known artists, they can also achieve various goals such as accumulating popularity, increasing exposure, transformation, and improving their status by participating in such large-scale talent show variety shows.

The trainees who participate in the program are naturally happy to connect with the "mentor's" connections, laying the foundation for continued support in the entertainment industry after the program ends.

Under this mechanism, the program team, mentor artists, and trainees can be said to have achieved a certain degree of "win-win for all parties."

"But it's a bit too monotonous to have only male mentors... How is the feedback from female mentors?"

After thinking for a while, he asked Assistant Director Souta again.

"Ito Kanako did express her willingness to participate, but she is a rapper and has the same 'characteristics' as Hirai Shouta, so she is a 'lower-level substitute', so we have not confirmed her yet."

"And Leo, she has to participate in the N-station tour and can't make time for it."

"As for the other female artists who have sent invitations, there has been no response yet..."

Assistant Director Souta scratched his head and became distressed.

The three male mentors were chosen early on because they were co-operating artists of J-company, S-company and A-company.

However, the candidates for female artist mentors have not been confirmed yet, either because of duplicate personalities, insufficient schedules, or scandals.

"By the way, didn't Company B agree to let Yayoi Tsuki participate in our show at the beginning of the year?"

Akimoto Manjiro suddenly asked, remembering something.

"Yayoizuki..."

Hearing the name, Assistant Director Souta gave a wry smile.

"You know that she just released her 'farewell album' and announced that she would suspend her music activities..."

"Besides, even if they didn't suspend their activities, with Yayoi Tsuki's current popularity, Company B would probably regret not wanting her to help its competitor's talent show."

There was no one with a burning personality in the preparatory group, so he just said it bluntly.

Some time ago, Yayoi Tsuki released "I Once Thought of Ending It All" for almost "free". She also admitted her deafness at the press conference and announced that she would stop her music activities indefinitely, which caused a stir on the Internet for a while...

After that, as her new song topped the charts and was played on a large scale across the country, Yayoi Tsuki's popularity, which was no longer in the spotlight, not only did not diminish, but reached new highs, making her a "one-of-a-kind" national female singer.

"After the meeting, try to contact her again. She has suspended her music activities, but that doesn't mean she has stopped all activities..."

"Besides, in order to get her to participate in this program, we exchanged a lot of resources with B Social at the beginning of the year. They can't go back on their word."

Akimoto Manjiro gave instructions to Souta unwillingly.

After all, it doesn't cost anything to ask.

If Yayoi Tsuki had joined the show as a mentor at this time, the ratings of "Idol Birth Festival" would have increased by at least 20 percentage points.

"Temporarily use Fujikanako as a backup. A female instructor must be selected within three days."

"The trainee list has been confirmed. Remember to arrange for them to take urine tests."

"The first recording of the program will officially begin in three days. Please prepare for the recording as planned."

"Nothing, meeting adjourned."

Rubbing his eyebrows, Akimoto Manjiro finally ended this long preparatory meeting.

……

Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine, Tokyo.

Behind the huge red gatehouse, there are about 10,000 vermilion torii gates stacked up to form a long corridor, leading from the shrine at the foot of the mountain to Mt. Inari behind.

This corridor, known as the Thousand Torii, is dotted with stone fox statues holding rice ears, keys, jade or scrolls in their mouths.

Near Mount Inari, foxes have been regarded as messengers of the "Inari God" for thousands of years.

Because it cannot be seen by human eyes like gods, it is called the transparent fox, or white fox for short.

It was early morning, and Yayoi Tsukishima, dressed in a red and white shrine maiden costume, was slowly walking down from the top of Mt. Inari along the Thousand Torii Gates.

Every few steps she took, she would squat down, close her eyes and touch the fox statues on both sides of each stone step.

It took the "shrine maiden" two hours of walking before she reached the foot of the mountain and the last vermilion torii gate.

"Ms. Yayoi, have you finished your morning lessons?"

A short priest in a white robe and with white hair and beard passed by, holding a cane.

"Greetings, Lord Wang Ren. I'm sorry to have caused you trouble these days."

Upon seeing the old man, Yayoi Tsuki, who was usually cold, arrogant and sharp-tongued, bowed to him unusually obediently.

"It's okay. According to the family tree, my Fushimi Inari clan has been on good terms with the White Fox clan for generations, just like family members."

"However, the faith has faded, the demon race's bloodline has decayed, and the white fox race has also become extinct. This is Fushimi Inari's eternal regret."

"Today, we can see the descendants of the white fox again, persisting in 'fox alms' on the mountain every day. The god Inari must be extremely happy."

The old priest known as "Lord Wang Ren" smiled and nodded.

In the ancient days when the white foxes lived in Fushimi Inari Taisha and served as "messengers of the gods", they often knelt down and worshipped at each step on the Inari Mountain Trail. This ceremony was called "fox alms."

But with the extinction of the white fox clan, even he had never seen a fox demon of pure blood, let alone "fox alms".

Chapter 192: Travel at Public Expense

2024-07-13

"After these days of training, you must have sensed the demonic power in your body."

"From now on, you don't need to stay at the shrine to do 'fox alms'. As long as you persist in following the 'secret method' to guide the flow of demonic power, I believe you will soon be able to control your pair of 'exquisite fox ears'."

As if facing the grandfather of his granddaughter, Lord Wang Ren patiently explained to Yayoi Tsuki.

"Does that mean I don't have to stay in the shrine all the time?"

Upon hearing the news, Yayoi Tsuki's fox ears stood up straight and her eyes became a little excited.

Since her "strange visit", the other party not only generously shared the ancient books and secret methods left by the white fox clan, but also taught her a practice method called "fox charity".

By sensing the "demonic power" of the white fox clan remaining in the fox statues day and night, she gradually learned to sense, control and condense this innate yet extremely unfamiliar power.

"That's great...but..."

While feeling delighted, Yayoi Tsukishiro looked back at the vermilion torii gate that meandered to the top of Mt. Inari, feeling a little reluctant.

This white fox clan has worshipped Fushimi Inari Taisha for generations. The days of training at this shrine not only gave her hope of regaining her hearing, but also gave her a sense of innate affinity...

When stroking the fox statues, Yayoi Tsuki's mind would occasionally emerge the spectacular scene of white foxes running all over the mountains, bowing down to the Inari god like humans.

"Inari Taisha is the eternal home of the white fox clan. You can come back and stay for a while anytime you want."

"By the way, your friend has been waiting for you at the gate of the shrine for some time."

Lord Wang Ren pointed to the mountain gate below, pounded his waist with one hand, leaned on a crutch with the other, and left slowly but quickly.

"friend……"

As if she had thought of something, Yayoi Tsukishiro joyfully walked down the stone steps and quickly passed the imposing red gatehouse...

"What? It's Miss Xiaoxi."

When Yayoi Tsuki found that the person waiting on the stone bench outside the shrine was her agent Konishi, a hint of disappointment flashed in her eyes.

"Why, you look at me like that, are you expecting someone else to visit you besides me?"

Xiaoxi teased, walked around the Yayoi Moon, and exclaimed in amazement.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk, she is worthy of being my Yayoi. Even in a shrine maiden costume, she is still so tempting to commit a crime."

"After a week of rest, my complexion has improved a lot. Is this a shrine or a beauty salon..."

Compared to when they parted in Tokyo, Yayoi Tsuki's face looked much rosier, her dark circles were gone, and her whole body exuded a delicate and healthy look.

This is an unexpected benefit of the beautiful scenery of Inari Shrine, the light diet, and the fact that she practices "fox giving" on time every morning and evening, which leads to a regular schedule.

"My health has improved a lot, so my rest this time has come to an end for the time being. I plan to find a place to travel."

Yayoi Tsuki tucked her hair behind her ears and said nonchalantly.

"Travel, you've already been to Inari Taisha, a 'must-visit attraction in Kyoto', where else do you want to go..."

"Wait...you're not wearing your hearing aids...you can hear clearly?!"

Looking at Yayoi Yue's small, pearl-like earlobes, Xiaoxi suddenly discovered something and her face changed drastically.

"Thanks to this rest, my hearing has improved compared to before. I can hear people talking normally, but I still don't want to listen to music for the time being..."

"Perhaps, the hard work in the entertainment industry caused endocrine disorders and psychological imbalance, which led to my deafness."

In order to avoid the other party making a fuss, Yayoi Tsuki found an excuse to get away with it.

"Great, great..."

But Xiaoxi had no time to pay attention to those details, she just repeated with sparkling eyes.

"Speaking of which, as a top agent, why are you not busy with work but coming here to see me, a leisurely person who is resting?"

As if she was not used to the increasingly sentimental atmosphere, Yayoi Tsukishima abruptly changed the subject.

Although Xiaoxi is her full-time agent, she is also responsible for several promising newcomers, so she should not be idle.

"When I think about you resting in Kyoto while I have to work 996 in a cubicle, who would have the mood to work..."

"So, I took the excuse that the company asked me to pass on a job offer to you and came here on a 'commercial trip'."

Xiaoxi winked slyly and took out a document from her handbag.

"A job offer?"

"How can a useless person like me who has suspended his music activities indefinitely get a job offer?"

Yayoi Tsuki took the document and found the words "Idol Birth Festival" written on the cover.