Chapter 31 - 30

Chapter 30

The day after the second episode of aired,.

The dormitory was filled with the sounds of trainees packing their bags.

"I packed a comb and all my clothes. Hmm. Should I pack shampoo and lotion too?"

"You'll be back in a week anyway, so aren't you taking too much with you, hyung?"

"I'll change into some more comfortable clothes and bring other things just in case? I like organizing things."

"Aha."

The same was true inside cell 31.

Kang Si-yoon takes meticulous care of everything, from clothes to lotion.

And Heo Yu-bin is lying on the bed, rolling around with his bag roughly packed.

I chuckled at the two's distinctly different personalities.

'I'm glad that there was some subtle harmony.'

Until the first global vote closes, the next stage of will not open.

A crossroads of fate that determines survival and release.

Only those who survive here can advance to the second team battle.

While the votes are being counted, episodes 3 and 4, the first team battle, will air.

During this time, trainees are forced to take a break.

Naturally, I use this period to return to my home, which I have been away from for a long time.

Kang Si-yoon neatly packed the last of his luggage and put it into his carrier.

"Ah, that's it. Yubin, are you going home right away?"

"Yes!"

"Then let's take the subway together, like we said yesterday. What about Karis? "

Kang Si-yoon and Heo Yu-bin's home is in the same Gangseo-gu.

The studio I returned to is in Gyeonggi-do, so it's in a different direction from the other two.

"I should go back to my studio too. Don't worry. Korean public transportation is well engraved in my head."

"Well, I'm not worried about your knowledge of public transportation."

Kang Si-yoon tilted his head and smiled.

"Did you bring your mask? "

"Mask?"

"If you go out to take a bus or subway in your current condition, you'll 100% get stuck in the crowd. Your visuals are too flashy."

"Ah."

I realized it too late.

Immediately after returning from , the only thing on my mind was that I had to participate in .

I applied in a hurry, and when I received the notification of acceptance, I came with only light luggage.

I had no idea that Karis von Walden would receive this much attention from the beginning.

"It's only at times like this that you become a useless idiot."

"Sorry. I forgot my mask."

"I only brought one; what should I do? "

"I, I only have one..."

"It's okay. Just stop by the convenience store."

My roommates looked apologetic for not being able to lend me, but I simply shrugged.

Since the filming location for is located in a remote area, we have to take a bus to get back.

This is a problem that can be quickly solved by stopping by a convenience store as soon as we get out of the city.

"It would be nice if we all went together, but it can't be helped."

"I created a group chat, so you can contact me there! "

"Okay."

The area in front of the filming location of was lined with large buses.

The trainees, excited at the thought of enjoying their freedom for the first time in a long time, boarded the bus with light steps.

"Karis, be careful on your way home. Call me when you get home."

"I am not a child."

"Karis hyung-nim, you have to be careful! Always be careful of people and cars! "

"I'm old enough to know better."

Kang Si-yoon and Heo Yu-bin were worried about me until just before getting on the bus heading to Gangseo-gu.

I was 28 years old in the real world, and I lived an extra 10 years in the Grand Quest Saga, so it wasn't all that bad to be treated like a baby.

After seeing my roommates off, I set out to find a bus that said 'Southern Gyeonggi'.

It was not too far away, so I found it right away.

'Hmm?'

A trainee was seen loitering around there.

It felt a bit familiar, but I couldn't tell because the face was covered by a mask.

But the trainee who glanced in my direction immediately waved and ran towards me.

"Hello, Karis-nim!"

Yoo Minha, who still shows off his energy, took off his mask and smiled.

Although I was a little taken aback by the unexpected appearance, I maintained a calm expression and responded with a smile.

"Nice to meet you."

"Are you going to Gyeonggi-do by any chance? Awesome! My family home is in Gyeonggi-do too."

"What a coincidence! But why weren't you on the bus and instead here?"

"Oh, that."

Yoo Minha was troubled for a fleeting moment.

It was so fleeting that an ordinary person might not notice it, but it was clearly visible to the body vision of Karis von Walden, who had been enjoying the battlefield.

"Unfortunately, all my friends live in different places! I have to go to Gyeonggi-do alone."

"Just like me. All my roommates are going to Seoul."

"Ah, ahem! Since it has come to this."

A fist suddenly appeared in front of me.

Yoo Minha turned his gaze elsewhere and coughed several times.

It's really cartoon-like behavior.

"Shall we ride together? "

"I can't go home without riding this."

"I, I meant to ask if I could sit down with you! "

"It doesn't matter if you do that."

"Thank you!"

Yoo Minha was really happy, like a child, at my acceptance.

We got on a relatively empty bus and sat down side by side in comfortable seats.

Since I had some idea of Yoo Minha's talkative personality, I expected the conversation to blossom.

"Where do you live, Karis nim?"

"I'm in Seongnam City. What about you? "

"It's relatively close! My hometown is Yongin. I was born in Seoul, but we moved when I was in kindergarten and have lived in Yongin ever since."

"I see."

After this short conversation, Yoo Min-ha drifted off into dreamland.

I was amazed at the sight of his face as he fell asleep, snoring loudly in an instant.

'I've never seen anyone fall asleep so quickly in my life.'

So, instead, there was nothing left to do.

As the bus slowly entered the highway, I turned on my cell phone and checked the public opinion that I had not been able to check yesterday.

After exploring the community for about 10 minutes, my thoughts are...

'Hmm. That's exactly what I expected.'

In episode 2, the production team openly declared war on how they would build the image of Karis von Walden.

At first, they used editing that only highlighted the visuals, but in episode 2, they inserted several hints that people didn't come here just because of the visuals.

As someone who came from overseas, his dreams are full of earnestness.

He admits that he is a little less skilled than others and practices hard to overcome it.

And that passion doesn't stop at toxicity but leads to a clear improvement in skills, so it even hints at the possibility of talent.

Viewers who could not have missed it immediately started sending reactions like these.

―Suma ya, you really were sincere every moment. I've never seen anyone practice winking so much that their face convulsed.

―It definitely seems like his skills are better than the level test. Didn't he only practice for a week or two??

└ㅇㅇ If he had already learned this in a short time, then he is honestly talented

└The people who criticize Suja nim have never seen a real Ttuktak, so that's why

[뚝딱 = clumsy and/or not good at dancing.]

└Ah, seriously, those kids who don't have any dancing talent at all, the person teaching them will give up on them because they know there's no answer.

└Ah ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ Suma got a 1st tier from the beginning. That means his skills have improved significantly in the eyes of the judges,,,, It's amazing that they're still making incompetent rice cakes

―Honestly, at first glance, I thought he was just relying on his face, but he was also full of poison. I'm sorry, Suja nim.

└Thank you, Suma ya. I'm sorry. I love you.

└ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ Why is this line always included in every article related to Karis?

└But if your face is like this, it would be strange to throw it away, even if you can't dance at all

└We must welcome you with both hands and feet

└ it's fun to just look at the face, xoxoxo

The Tier 1 rating was useful in many ways.

Thanks to the image that it is not easily given to those without some level of skill, it proved the potential of Kris von Walden.

It also gave strength to the claim that he did not participate in the survival show because he only trusted the visuals.

While watching the live broadcast, I thought back to what Kang Si-yoon had said.

'I'm relieved that it won't be filtered out in a negative way.'

I don't know.

What would have happened if this SSS-grade appearance had not existed?

For now, things are progressing as hoped.

If you think that the public opinion up to now is a build-up, the content of the first team match will be the watershed for the ranking announcement ceremony.

Center. Stage reaction. 2nd place out of the entire team.

If we combine all the results, it seems that we can fan the flames even further.

"Umm...."

I heard Yoo Minha tossing and turning in the seat next to me.

I recalled his level test and final ranking stage, where he had shown unexpected skills.

'It looks like a screw is loose somewhere, but there's definitely something there.'

I don't know what kind of relationship he has with Baek Si-hwa, but I have a feeling that the truth will come out as progresses.

Looking out the window, it seemed like there was still some time left until we arrived.

I turned off my phone and closed my eyes for a while.

I couldn't believe how long it had been since I last slept on public transportation.

About an hour had passed.

"We've arrived~."

Yoo Minha and I got off the bus in a half-asleep state.

The moderately shining sunlight was warm.

"Haaam. I slept well. Did you also take a nap, Karis nim?"

"I also slept on the bus for the first time in a long time."

"Hehehe, me too! Oh, by the way, the mask—?"

"I forgot to bring it, like an idiot."

Yoo Minha, who heard what I said, smiled faintly and took out a black mask from his bag.

"It's a good thing I always carry a spare just in case!"

"Oh, thank you."

I received unexpected help.

When I got off the bus and looked toward the station, I noticed quite a crowd of people.

Since Karis von Walden's blonde hair is already a sight to behold, I have to be as discreet as possible to get home.

"Oh, by the way, we haven't exchanged contact information yet! "

Yoo Minha laughed heartily as he handed over his cell phone.

"Can I get Karis nim's number in return for lending the mask? "

"I meant to give you my contact information even if you didn't say so."

"It is an honor!"

After exchanging numbers with Yoo Minha, I went down to the subway station.

No matter how much the face was covered with a mask, the aura of height and hairstyle continued to attract the attention of people around.

"I think I should take the subway from here to the other side. Karis nim, can I contact you whenever I'm bored? "

"You can contact me at your convenience."

"Okay! I'll definitely send you a message later. Be careful on the way back! "

Yoo Minha greeted with a loud voice and bowed at a 90-degree angle, seemingly oblivious to the gazes of those around him.

I tried to wave my hand, trying to get caught up in the atmosphere... but it seems like it'll take a while to handle that level of energy.

I took a breather as I boarded the relatively empty subway.

'Let's go home and rest for a few days. I've used up too much energy.'

But the next day, my plans for relaxation were beautifully ruined by two text messages.

"...."

[Kang Si-yoon: Hey, do you want to go hang out in Gangnam with Yubin today? Let's get some fresh air for the first time in a while.]

[Yoo Min-ha: Karis nim! (Emoticon) I feel so sore from staying at home with my family yesterday. Do you want to play basketball today?? I'll buy you lunch!! ]

—