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In the end, I also ended up participating in “Surviving on a Deserted Island.”

All the cast members signed the appearance agreement, and filming wrapped up there.

Whether they liked it or not, they were picking up food to eat…

Unbelievable, crazy stories started pouring out.

“I was going to learn a few things before heading to that deserted island… but the CEO told me not to. He said it’s better not to know.”

“Right. If they had shown it a few times on variety shows, it might have been fine, but suddenly lighting a fire with a fire steel would look too weird.”

“Please take care of me during the main filming, senior.”

“Likewise, it’ll be more fun if I team up with you guys. I’ll make good use of you.”

Han Seo-jin, who I thought was just a clueless airhead, turned out to be a cold-blooded strategist.

“PD Choi. Are you cutting that part? The part where the daughter said something.”

“Oh, that’s a small comedic moment, so I think it’s fine.”

“No, I think it’d be better to cut that part.”

“Okay… I’ll trim that part appropriately.”

Kim Guk-min, who I thought was just a nice guy, was pulling PD Choi’s strings and exerting his influence.

“Yuna, why are your cheeks so cute?”

“…Are they swollen?”

“Not just a little, they’re totally swollen, like Ho-bbang man. So cute.”

“You’re lucky you don’t have any fat on your face. I wish I could look as old as you.”

“…”

The two girl group members were having a power struggle among themselves.

The production team, unfazed by such scenes, packed up the cameras and cleaned up the set.

‘…What is this place?’

Pure chaos, nothing else.

Everyone except me already had a rough idea about the program.

Their personalities, tones, and actions were all an act.

If they quit being MCs, girl group members, or whatever and went into acting, they’d be huge.

With that level of acting, scamming someone would be a piece of cake.

As I turned my eyes away from the overwhelming scene that made my head hurt just by looking at it, an assistant director approached me.

“Ah, Hero Jeong Gyeoul. We’re having a company dinner at a meat restaurant later. Would you like to join? We’ll have separate tables for drinkers and non-drinkers, so you can participate too.”

“I…”

“You should join the first dinner to get closer and have a good time.”

Maybe he took it as a negative response, so the assistant director added more.

It was unnecessary.

“I’ll join.”

There’s no way I’d turn down free meat.

Whether the two girl group members were creating chaos with their power struggle,

or Kim Guk-min was bossing PD Choi around,

or Han Seo-jin was planning and fitting me into her schemes,

I eat. Therefore, I exist.

Even if the world ends tomorrow, I will eat one piece of pork belly today.

***

Celebrities’ company dinner.

Even though you’d think they’re no different, there’s an inexplicable sense of anticipation.

After all, celebrities are mysterious beings to ordinary people.

But…

Heroes are just as mysterious to celebrities.

Jeong Gyeoul, who was planning to quietly eat meat and go home, became the center of attention as everyone threw in a word or two.

As she picked up a well-cooked piece of meat with her chopsticks, actor Han Seo-jin said,

“Wow… you really eat well. Do all heroes eat like that?”

“No, it’s just me who eats well.”

As she was about to put it in her mouth, Winter chimed in.

“You eat like that and still don’t gain weight? I’m jealous…”

“…If you exercise more than you eat, you won’t gain weight.”

“How much do you usually exercise?”

“Until I’m on the verge of death?”

“Wow…”

As she made a face like she was fed up and was about to eat, Kim Guk-min spoke up.

“It’s good to eat well, huh. Oh, can we speak comfortably? It’s better to quickly get rid of the awkwardness since we’ll be spending every day together for the next month.”

“Yes.”

Already speaking comfortably but asking if it’s okay to speak comfortably—what a weird guy. I shut him down with a short answer and was about to bring the meat to my mouth again when…

“Hero, you’re in the Physical Category, right?”

This time, it was PD Choi Yong-seok.

‘…It’s ridiculously hard to eat one piece of meat.’

As the most enjoyable time kept getting interrupted, I unknowingly furrowed my brow.

But I didn’t forget to answer.

After all, we’ll be seeing each other for a month.

It wouldn’t be good to start off on the wrong foot.

“My base is the Super Ability Category.”

“Base? I thought heroes only had one category. Was I wrong?”

“Usually, that’s correct.”

“…It sounds like Hero Jeong Gyeoul isn’t your usual hero?”

For a moment, I wondered if I should say it or not… but since the Satan Church issue was already resolved, there was no need to hide it.

“I can handle all three categories.”

“…Oh, I see.”

“That’s… amazing!”

Though they seemed to stutter in disbelief, whether others believed her or not didn’t matter to Jeong Gyeoul.

She was just satisfied that she finally had a chance to eat the meat.

‘…It’ll come out during filming anyway, why lie like that?’

‘She seems a bit dumb… I can use her as my background prop.’

After exchanging a few words, those who thought they had figured out Jeong Gyeoul reduced their questions.

A 14-year-old hero full of bluster, fitting for her age.

They had already judged how to handle her.

There was no need to pay attention to Jeong Gyeoul here.

Jeong Gyeoul, too, ignored any conversations around her.

She just silently grilled and ate the meat.

***

Three days later.

Winter and Geum Yu-na arrived dragging suitcases that seemed heavier than themselves.

Han Seo-jin carried a travel bag so big it could block a person.

And then there was Kim Guk-min and Jeong Gyeoul with just ordinary backpacks.

The cast of “Surviving on a Deserted Island” gathered at Incheon Airport.

“PD Choi. Don’t we have a separate opening?”

“This program is pursuing ultra-realism, so there’s none of that.”

“If it fails, they’ll come to their senses, but unfortunately, I’ve never seen PD Choi’s program fail.”

Even though the main camera was still off, Kim Guk-min, who amazingly noticed a small camera rolling, joked around.

“You’ll probably never see that in your lifetime, right?”

Han Seo-jin naturally joined in.

The light-hearted chit-chat started with introductions and flowed into discussions about the luggage they brought.

Winter and Yu-na’s large suitcases stood out the most, making them the first targets.

“Wow, are you guys moving abroad?”

“Hehe, being girl group members, there’s just a lot to pack.”

“The sorrow of idols. Having to manage your image even on a deserted island. Must be tiring.”

“Thanks to the fans who love us, it’s not tiring at all!”

“There it is. The idol talk!”

“It’s all lies as soon as they open their mouths. Idols are all the same. Throw away that mask on the deserted island!”

“…Senior Guk-min, we want to keep promoting!”

Kim Guk-min continued with a mischievous smile.

“Are you saying that if you show your true selves, it’ll be hard to keep promoting?”

“No, no! That’s not it! We’re totally fine!”

“Puhahaha, I already felt your true selves at the company dinner. Don’t worry, just act like you usually do, and the fans will probably like it even more.”

Han Seo-jin and Kim Guk-min’s backpacks were also mentioned as the conversation continued.

The atmosphere was even more cheerful than the first meeting, even after Jeong Gyeoul left the dinner table.

But whether it was acting or genuine was hard to tell.

‘The shock of the first meeting was just too big…’

The conversation flowed, and finally, it was Jeong Gyeoul’s turn.

Whether forced or not, she felt a sense of responsibility for participating in the variety show.

To make it as fun as possible, or if not, at least as sincere as possible.

She was ready to answer.

“Gyeoul, you seem really nervous. You haven’t said a word since earlier.”

“…I was thinking about what to say when questions came.”

“What? Hahaha, a total variety show rookie. Don’t worry about that, just blurt it out! The production team will edit it anyway.”

For a moment, she considered doing just that but decided to filter her words.

‘If I just go with the flow, I’ll end up in a pit.’

Jeong Ha-yul had advised her never to trust the broadcasting station.

Editing is ultimately done by the broadcasting station.

It was obvious they’d edit for ratings, not for Jeong Gyeoul’s benefit.

“But Gyeoul, is that all your luggage?”

“Yes, I figured whatever I bring will just get taken away anyway.”

“…You sound just like Guk-min. I think we need to learn from you.”

Han Seo-jin glanced at her luggage and Winter and Yu-na’s, then shook her head.

“Now, please board the plane.”

Before they knew it, it was time to board, so they packed up the cameras and moved together.

On the way, Jeong Gyeoul once again felt the fear of celebrities.

“…Will this really increase our screen time?”

“Once we arrive on the deserted island, we’ll flip through the suitcases and decide what’s allowed and what’s not. That alone can take up 2-3 minutes. Did you all film your packing vlogs?”

“Yes, we asked the members to film it.”

“Hand that over to the PD right away.”

“Okay.”

The fact that their luggage would be taken was already expected.

Even though they knew whatever they packed would be taken, they still packed heavily to increase their screen time.

Only Kim Guk-min, who was saving his energy by sleeping, and the true variety show rookie Jeong Gyeoul were resting.

Han Seo-jin, Winter, and Geum Yu-na continued filming even inside the plane.

“Yuna, I’ll pretend to sleep with an eye mask for a bit, so film me.”

“Got it.”

Sometimes they filmed while pretending to sleep.

Sometimes they filmed while eating the in-flight meal.

“Winter, you’re holding the book upside down.”

“Oh, right… Please cut that.”

They seemed to have thought of various concepts in advance. The individual filming went smoothly.

After a while,

the members arrived at the Chagos Archipelago in the British Indian Ocean Territory.

“Wow! It’s not… a deserted island?”

“We have to take a boat from here and go further.”

“…”

 

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