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I felt disillusioned with human relationships.

Is it really this hard to just have fun without mixing work into life?

Is there really no one who wants to meet me unless it’s for work?

Come to think of it, whenever I met others, there was always some purpose behind it.

The last time I sat in a cafe for hours without any agenda was back when I was a kid, Hayan.

“I’ve wasted my life…”

Of course, if something urgent happens, or if I’m in danger, or if it’s my wedding or funeral, everyone will come.

…Maybe?

…They’ll come, right?

…They should come, right?

I don’t know what the future holds, but what I want right now is someone to hang out with the unemployed Jeong Gyeoul.

As I was lonely picking at chicken bones, thinking I’d have to spend another day playing with actors on Netflix or characters in Valorant, PD Choi called.

The timing was incredibly coincidental.

It felt like the perfect moment, as if someone was watching me.

After Hero Daily reporter Kim Bitna, are we getting a new stalker for our sisters?

This might actually be fun.

A top-tier PD in the country as my stalker?

That’s a title worth breaking.

I pushed aside my delusions and answered the call.

This is a precious call; if it gets disconnected, I might have to go to his house.

Even if it’s not about meeting up, I’ll hold onto hope.

Maybe the Uninhabited Island team got together again.

“How did you know to call me first?”

“…Huh? What are you talking about?”

Oops, I answered too quickly and couldn’t shake off my delusions.

Well, since we’re here, I might as well ask what’s on my mind.

“No?”

“…What are you talking about?”

“Really?”

“…Yes?”

PD Choi just kept asking back at my sudden questions.

‘Huh…’

So it really was just a coincidence?

“…Sorry. I must’ve misunderstood. What’s up?”

“Ah, it’s about what we talked about last time.”

Now it was my turn to ask back.

“…Yes?”

“…Don’t you remember?”

“…Huh?”

I know I answered PD Choi’s call while half-asleep.

But wasn’t that just about the Uninhabited Island team getting together?

“Your voice sounded like you were half-asleep…”

“It’s because of you that I suffered so much on the uninhabited island.”

“…Sorry.”

Jeong Ho-min, Master, Jeong Ha-yul.

The three of them put me on a variety show.

They all got scolded by me for that.

But the one who took me to the uninhabited island was PD Choi.

We’re both victims, so I didn’t say anything, but if he’s going to complain about me answering the call while asleep, I can’t help but feel annoyed.

‘He didn’t actually complain, but I still feel guilty.’

How can someone sleep for over 30 hours?

That’s hibernation.

….

Is that why my name is Gyeoul (winter)?

I thought of a dad joke that even dads wouldn’t laugh at and focused on the call with PD Choi.

“Anyway, what’s up?”

“This time… due to an unfortunate accident, the program got derailed.”

“Right? It was a huge mess.”

“It was an unavoidable situation, like a natural disaster. The broadcasting station sent their thanks, and the production team reviewed everything, but there were no issues with the pre-scouting or preparations.”

“You could say that. Things like the Demon Realm and monsters aren’t something ordinary people should experience or even have to experience.”

If you dig into the details of the uninhabited island incident, you could blame the British side.

I don’t know the details of the filming permits and contracts between them.

But on the surface, we entered legally with the British Navy’s escort after getting proper permits for the uninhabited island, and then the accident happened.

‘But then the British would feel wronged too.’

They probably checked for magic waves, dungeon appearances, and the existence of monsters before allowing us in, but how could they have known the Demon Realm would suddenly burst out?

Anyway, that’s how it is.

But why is he laying the groundwork like this?

He’s really laying it on thick. His tongue might touch the phone.

“It was literally an ‘accident,’ something hard to assign legal responsibility for, but socially, we put a lot of effort into the aftermath and spent a lot of money.”

“…So?”

Surely he’s not asking me to pay up, right?

If that’s the case, I’ll throw a monster at the broadcasting station.

“Knowing the circumstances, the agency representatives and cast members have kindly agreed to continue the contract.”

“…Huh?”

So, you’re saying we’re doing the variety show again? With the same members?

“Of course, Hero Jeong Gyeoul’s decision is the most important. If you agree, we’ll proceed as planned. If not, we’ll scrap it. It’s centered around you, Hero.”

How long has it been since the last one fell apart, and you’ve already planned a new program?

And you’ve even gotten the cast’s agreement?

I’m not too bothered by such incidents, but did the ordinary people not suffer any mental trauma from such a big event?

Well, celebrities aren’t exactly ordinary people…

In the hero industry, everyone except Awakened Ones is considered ordinary or civilian.

They’re really something.

While I was lonely picking at chicken legs, I had been thinking about contacting PD Choi to appear on a variety show.

I can take care of my own mental health, and I can ask my colleagues to hook me up, right?

If I can’t find people to hang out with in my daily life outside of work… then I’ll just meet them while doing something comfortable.

With miraculous logic, I decided to work and play at the same time.

The perfect stepping stone for that is PD Choi.

Healing, mukbang, gaming, exercise.

There are so many variety shows with these formats.

If I pick one, I can play, earn money, and meet people.

‘Except for observational variety shows.’

Would it be meaningful to watch the daily life of an unemployed person going home -> exercise -> home -> exercise -> home -> exercise -> home in a loop?

The ratings might plummet, and I could get cut immediately.

Anyway.

I’m more inclined to lead things on my own, and since I’m not confident, a broadcast might be better.

And PD Choi contacted me at just the right time.

“What did you say when you called last time?”

“You told me to get to the point because you needed to sleep, and you immediately agreed.”

If I was half-asleep, it’s like my subconscious answered.

Maybe my subconscious already anticipated this and wanted to go on the variety show.

That would mean my brain already had an idea about human relationships.

That’s kind of sad.

Anyway, it feels like a fateful revelation to do a variety show.

…Fate makes me feel like I’m going to get scammed again.

If I get scammed this time, I’ll destroy the Earth. Watch out, you gods.

Before I get arrested for blasphemy, I’ll destroy the Earth.

There’s no reason to refuse the variety show appearance.

But I won’t accept it right away.

The basic rule of business negotiation is not to show your cards early.

If the other party doesn’t know what you want, you can lead them to more favorable terms.

“Hmm… I’m not really feeling it. I’ve been pretty tired since that incident.”

“If Hero Jeong Gyeoul feels that way, then there’s nothing we can do. Let’s consider this matter closed…”

“Wait, hold on.”

“…Yes?”

Why so hasty?

At least try to persuade me.

“So, what are we filming? You should at least tell me what kind of program it is.”

“We’ve prepared a format called ‘Jeong Restaurant,’ where we showcase cooking using magic and superpowers…”

Wow… The top variety show PD in Korea has a new program about a hero running a restaurant.

Is ‘Jeong’ from Jeong Gyeoul?

‘How cliché…’

Celebrities running restaurants is an overused format.

These days, they run guesthouses, hotels, supermarkets, everything. Will that still work now?

PD Choi has even done a similar program before.

Won’t he just get criticized for copying himself and get cursed out?

“The program format is a bit…”

“I know it’s been overused, and there was some opposition among the writers. But! It’s food made by a hero using magic. And soon, Hero Jeong Gyeoul’s rank will be announced, right? Congratulations on S-Class.”

“…It’s going to get noisy again, thanks to the uninhabited island incident.”

“…I apologize again. Anyway, food made by an S-Class hero. Who would refuse? We’ll start with celebrity guests for tastings and then invite ordinary citizens later.”

It’s not bad.

I don’t mind being the center of attention.

If the attention helps the program succeed, that’s good too.

I’ll just ask for more appearance fees.

But there’s one big problem left.

“I can’t cook at all. Asking people to eat my cooking is a bit…”

“I heard from your family that you can cook a little?”

“Want to try monster meat?”

“…Huh?”

“I’m good at cooking monsters.”

“….”

There was no response for a while.

What’s wrong with monster cuisine?

Seeing PD Choi’s reaction, I had an idea.

Jeong Restaurant? Forget that.

We’re going with Monster Restaurant.

“Let’s do monster cuisine. Otherwise, I’m out.”

“…Huh?”

Underestimating my monster cooking! I’ll show you the fantasy cuisine from the Gourmet Club!

 

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