Chapter 77
Even events that are not related to the contest like this, I like the development of leaving it to such probability and luck.
It's not for nothing that the title gives off the game's vibe.
This time it was a card draw.
'If everything was actually made up of random items, it would have been a worse game than
I stood in front of the table the production team had prepared, shaking my head.
Just like reading a tarot card, we just have to pick one card out of several cards.
I picked up a card on the left end and got on the bus.
"Hyung-nim! What did you pick?"
Heo Yu-bin, who followed right behind me, took the seat next to me and asked.
I turned the card over and showed it to him.
"The tree came out."
"Oh, I'm water!"
"What? Who said tree just now?"
Kang Si-yoon, sitting right in front of us, waved a card with a tree on it.
"It seems like we're destined to be on the same team again this time."
"Oh, really, Karis. You, I told you to stop liking me? It's so annoying."
"I was the one who drew the card first. Siyoon, you should stop following me."
"You knew I would pick this, so you picked it first."
"What kind of logic is this?"
"This is the logic that leaves you speechless, Karis."
Kang Si-yoon winked while delivering lines in a historical drama tone.
It was so uselessly refreshing that I lost my mind.
'If it's a tree card... I guess I've had some decent luck.'
I looked back on past memories and predicted future situations.
Now, we will film the content that will be included in the 3rd ranking announcement ceremony for episodes 9 and 10, which will feature the 3rd competition.
The place we are going is a campsite.
It is a format that extracts the trainees' entertainment scenes through outdoor activities.
It is similar to Sports Day, but unlike back then, when people would fight and bump into each other, the camp content mainly consists of group entertainment.
Depending on the card, the missions provided to each group are different.
As we complete the mission, we will be given ingredients to prepare dinner.
In short, whether each group will have a lavish barbecue party or a shabby barbecue party depends on how well we carry out the missions given to us.
"Karis hyung-nim, can I sleep for a bit?"
"Don't just drool, Yubin. There are cameras installed inside the bus, so your sleeping image will all be captured."
"Ahhhh. I'll, I'll try my best not to sleep!"
Heo Yu-bin clenched his fists, showing strong will.
He fell into a deep sleep just 10 minutes after the bus entered the highway.
With his mouth slightly open, he drooled without mercy.
Because I couldn't sleep, I wiped Heo Yu-bin's mouth with a tissue every time I found drool dripping down.
Somehow, I feel like I'm raising a younger brother.
About an hour later,.
"We have arrived!"
We arrived at the campsite, where the sun was shining gently.
The bluish green foliage looked like a painting.
"Oh my, my back. It's been a while since I've had a long bus ride, so my back hurts."
"Your back hurts after only an hour, Siyoon? You'll be in big trouble when you get older."
"If I am going to get sick when I get older, get sick now."
"Don't try to convince me with nonsensical logic."
"Heh."
While we were having a pointless conversation, the production team gave us some instructions.
"There are a total of 6 tents set up at the campsite. Go to the tent with the same picture as the card you picked before getting on the bus, check your teammates, and complete the mission."
The road to the cluster of tents felt like a trail.
Because the path was a bit narrow, we couldn't go in a group, so we walked slowly, one by one.
'There's no one here yet.'
I was the first to arrive at the tent with the large tree picture attached.
Following that, Kang Si-yoon walked in leisurely while whistling.
"Siyoon. It's not good to be too conscious of the camera."
"Did I get caught?"
"If you don't notice this, there must be something wrong with that person's eyesight."
Just as I was wondering who else would have pulled out the tree card, a rustling sound was heard in the distance.
"Huk, huk! Karis nim! Siyoon nim!"
"Oh, Ken! Slow down! You don't have to run!"
"I want to run and go!"
Ken Hashimoto joined as the third member.
He laughed as he wiped his forehead, where sweat was dripping down like rain.
"I'm so happy to be on the same team."
"I enjoyed the third round, Ken. You put on a great show."
"That's right! It was so much fun. I was also greedy for first place in the individual vote, but that's okay!"
As Heo Yu-bin went to another tent, it felt like a younger brother of similar material had come here.
And soon the last member of the tree tent arrived.
"... The more I look at him, he really does grow taller."
"Wow, he is huge."
A new figure, quite different from Ken Hashimoto, who is relatively small in stature, appeared between the grass.
"Hello."
Ji Yoon-chul bowed quietly and greeted us.
Kang Si-yoon, Ken Hashimoto, and I were on the same team during the first competition, so we became close friends.
On the contrary, Ji Yoon-chul has never been on the same team as any of us.
"Oh, oh. Nice to meet you! This is my first time greeting you in person like this."
"...yes."
Perhaps because of this, Kang Si-yoon, who would normally have burst into a cheerful smile and asked to shake hands, looked somewhat awkward.
I suddenly remembered what Kang Si-yoon had said during the first competition.
'He clearly said it in a way that he's checking him.'
Kang Si-yoon is a trainee who is confident in dancing.
As befitting his trait of being a 'practice bug', he was often seen honing his skills by maintaining a huge amount of practice.
It seems that he continues to perceive Ji Yoon-chul, who has such natural talent that his name is already known to the other trainees, as a threatening rival.
'If Kang Si-yoon wants to succeed in his debut this time, he has to show off his talent in dancing. However, there is a genius in that field named Ji Yoon-chul.'
In the end, they are rivals standing on the path to debut. You can't help but recognize them as your destined opponents.
I spoke first to hide the strange atmosphere that Kang Si-yoon was giving off.
"It looks like all the members are here, so let's go inside the tent first. The weather is getting warmer."
Inside the tent, there were four folding chairs and a makeshift table.
Kang Si-yoon picked up the mission card on the table and read it out loud.
"Welcome, Tree Tent Trainees. Wood is a very important resource when camping. You need to make a fire to keep bugs away, cook food, and keep your body warm at night. You need to experience firsthand how difficult it is to obtain this precious resource."
"Something feels ominous."
"I feel anxious even while reading."
Kang Si-yoon and Ken Hashimoto began to show discomfort at the series of comments reminding us of the importance of trees.
Meanwhile, Ji Yoon-chul was staring blankly ahead without saying anything.
Kang Si-yoon glanced at me, perhaps slightly concerned about Ji Yoon-chul.
It's as if he's asking with his eyes, 'Is he really okay?'
I looked at Ji Yoon-chul carefully and smiled faintly to myself.
'His personality is still the same as before.'
Ji Yoon-chul, both in the past and present, has had the least amount of screen time among the top trainees.
Why is it that a trainee with an amazing physique, a natural talent for dancing, and good looks doesn't have any screen time?
"Yoon-chul, do you have any idea what the mission is about?"
"... I'm sorry. I don't know."
"Oh, I see."
I tried to ask him a direct question to break the ice, but Ji Yoon-chul was as reserved as an iron fortress.
'Even in the last episode, whenever someone spoke to him, he always responded in this way. Although I didn't have time to figure out the exact reason.'
Looking at his unchanging attitude, it seems clear that Ji Yoon-chul is somewhat stiff and has a tendency to avoid talking to people.
But it was ironic that there were some parts that didn't match his poker face.
For example, like the giant stuffed rabbit we saw when we were tearing off the name tags,.
Then, I heard Kang Si-yoon read the rest of the instructions.
"The trainees of the tree tent must gather wood. Collect a total of 50 branches with our logo stickers spread throughout the campsite, and split 10 logs using the firewood splitter to complete the mission. The time limit is 30 minutes. As a reward for completing the mission, you will receive the highest quality beef and pork for the barbecue. Oh?"
"I love beef and pork! They're delicious!"
"Hey, if we don't succeed in this mission, we won't be able to eat! We absolutely have to eat meat! There's no point in coming to the campsite if we can't eat barbecue!"
"That's right!"
Kang Si-yoon and Ken Hashimoto were shocked by the news of meat.
Ji Yoon-chul, who was sitting next to me, didn't say much but nodded with bright eyes.
"Then we need to divide up the roles."
I stood up and swung my arms a few times.
"We don't have much time. There are only four people in our tent. We can reduce the number of people who have to chop firewood to one; three people will have to go around the entire campsite and search for 50 sticks."
"I've never chopped firewood before."
"I don't know either."
"...me too."
"Don't worry. I'll take care of the firewood. Siyoon, Ken, and Yoonchul, just search for the branches quickly and collect them. Can you do it?"
As I moved my gaze and made eye contact with each person, they all clenched their fists and expressed their confidence.
"I'll collect wood in no time! Hey, but are you really okay with chopping firewood? "
"It is quite possible."
"I know you're strong, but I heard that chopping requires skill."
"If I keep swinging an axe, I'll get the hang of it."
Kang Si-yoon looked quite anxious but nodded his head anyway.
"Okay, then we'll run around hard, and you'll be the one chopping the firewood. Just don't get hurt."
"I looked outside and saw that there were gloves and protective gear for chopping firewood. I guess it'll be okay."
We took the timer that was inside the tent and went outside.
And then the count was counted in front of the production crew.
"3, 2, 1. Let's go!"
The timer started ticking.
"Ken, you look straight from the right! Yoonchul, go around the entire area in front of here! I'll go left!"
"Okay, I understand!"
"...Fighting."
I watched my team members quickly run to their respective areas.
The most urgent task is to determine where the branches have fallen, but will they all be able to be collected properly?
'Then, should I give it a try too?'
Because safety is a top priority, I wore gloves and knee pads.
When I picked up the axe that was given to me for chopping firewood, it felt a bit lighter than the Durandal I used in
Of course, compared to the strength in the game that was aided by stats, it was on a different level now, but it still seemed like I could swing it to some extent.
'I've been swinging my sword in the game since the beginning, so this is definitely possible.'
The moment I took a deep breath, and placed the first piece of firewood on top of the wide log.
"Don't drop, don't drop!"
I could hear someone screaming pitifully in the distance.
Soon, Heo Yu-bin, soaked in water all over, passed by our tent in a half-crying state.
Water sloshed from the large bucket he held in both hands.
"Karis hyung-nim! I hate water so much!"
"Um, cheer up, Yubin."
"What the heck is this, seriously!"
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