Chapter 97
Chapter 97
Translator: Penny
Chapter 97
MC 1: Now, let's announce the total expenses for Day 1.
MC 2: First, Yeonho-ssi, you spent 2,000 won on food, 2,250 won on essential purchases, and 500 won on miscellaneous expenses, totaling 4,750 won.
MC 2: Next, Yehyeon-ssi, you spent 2,000 won on food and 1,500 won on essential purchases, totaling 3,500 won.
MC 1: Reve Yehyeon-ssi is currently in the lead. Wow, you two are really keeping your expenses down!
MC 2: But it's too early for either of you to feel disappointed or relieved. The real game starts on Day 2.
MC 1: So, who will pull ahead on Day 2? Stay tuned to find out!
-I think Reve will win... Seeing him munch on lettuce like that shows he's got serious grit.
This isn't a game you can win with sheer determination alone.
The MCs took turns announcing each team's first-day expenses on set. After a brief commercial break, the second day's story immediately began.
Altair's Side
KJ: The cheapest way for us all to eat together is probably snacks, right?
Cha Yeonho: Pizza and soda would be fine too, you know.
Ju Hyeongjin: We need to save money, Hyung. A bag of snacks is enough for us.
Ju Hyeongjin and KJ shook their heads firmly at Cha Yeonho's suggestion.
Cha Yeonho: Does everyone agree? Snacks are okay?
Gwon Taehyeok: Of course.
Kim Seogyun: Winning is more important than filling our stomachs. We need to achieve our greater purpose.
I Sumin: Let's get cheap bagged snacks, not the fancy ones. We have to save money, remember?
Yeonho, simply grateful for his members.
The second day's mandatory purchase item, "Treat the people around you," came with the condition that "the treated individuals must be satisfied," making it a rather challenging task.
However, Altair smoothly completed the mission by proactively suggesting that snacks would be sufficient, thus relieving Cha Yeonho, the mission executor, of any burden.
- Wow, truly ideal teamwork!
- Our kids are all such sweethearts and angels! ㅠㅠ
Meanwhile, Reve...
Reve's Side
Yoon Eden: Let's get chicken! Chicken!
Kim Dobin: Chicken! Chicken!
Seo Yehyeon: Don't you guys even have a burning desire to win?
Wielding the "the treated individuals must be satisfied" condition like a weapon, they were demanding delivery menus costing over 10,000 won.
- The cheapest option is definitely snacks, right? vs Let's get chicken! Chicken!
Both are leaders.
I'm overflowing with venom, but the members have none. ㅋㅋ
Yoon Eden: Hyung, listen to me. Don't you know the saying, "If you hoard it, you'll lose it all"? If we end up with significantly more money left over than the other team, and then we get hit with a balance swap during the mid-term check, we'll just be doing them a favor.
Seo Yehyeon: Okay, let's say we spend recklessly like you want. But what if the balance swap doesn't happen?
Yoon Eden: At least we'll have spent our own money, so it won't feel as unfair.
☠☠☠x100
The Reve members were pushing for a strategy of spending as much money as possible to avoid losing out on a balance swap. Everyone except Seo Yehyeon.
To persuade the dissenting Seo Yehyeon, Yoon Eden grabbed him and delivered a speech that was subtitled "Serious Nonsense and Plausible Bullshit," sending viewers into fits of laughter.
- Eden's talent is insane. He's got a knack for making total bullshit sound incredibly convincing.
[Yuje: Now that I think about it, he's right. It's actually quite persuasive.]
[Seo Yehyeon: No, absolutely not...]
[Kim Dobin: Chicken! Chicken!]
[Are these guys teammates or enemies?]
The sight of Yuje being convinced by Eden's nonsense, Kim Dobin chanting for chicken, and Seo Yehyeon clutching his forehead in exasperation was pure comedic gold.
[Gyeon Hajun: Guys, chicken's a bit much. It's over ten thousand won. Let's just settle for PizzaXCool.]
[Seo Yehyeon: Hajun, even you...?!]
When even Gyeon Hajun, the one person he'd trusted, betrayed him, Seo Yehyeon clutched his head and let out a desperate wail.
- Seo Yehyeon ㅋㅋ He's not the bomb; his teammates are all bombs ㅋㅋ
[Gyeon Hajun: Hyung, PizzaXCool's cheese pizza is only five thousand won.]
Yuje: Cheese pizza is meh. Can we get the potato pizza with a cheese crust?
Yoon Eden: How much would that be? 9,000 won? Hyung, can we add oven-baked spaghetti too?
Seo Yehyeon: Are you kidding me?! Are you serious?!
Yehyeon EXPLODES
- I've never seen kids like this before, LOL
- Guys, the other team has only spent 1,200 won so far!
- What's the point of Yehyeon angrily chomping on lettuce when his teammates won't cooperate? LOL
Seo Yehyeon: No team swaps? Team swap!
Yoon Eden: Wow, Yehyeon Hyung is ditching us. Daydream, Yehyeon Hyung is plotting his escape from Reve.
Yuje: Anyway, I won't be satisfied unless we get the potato pizza.
Kim Dobin: I absolutely need chicken to be happy.
Yoon Eden: Dobin, we can't spend all our money. Let's compromise on pizza with oven-baked spaghetti.
Kim Dobin: Aren't the prices similar?
Seo Yehyeon: Why are you guys making deals without me?!
Going Insane
Viewers burst into laughter at the stark contrast between Altair, who actively cooperated with the mission staff and even took the initiative to save money, and Reve.
- Our oppas are so embarrassing no matter where we take them...
- Why is Reve so hilarious? ㅋㅋ
The scene cut between Cha Yeonho watching the Altair members huddled together, sharing a single bag of chips with apologetic eyes, and Seo Yehyeon staring at the Reve members devouring pizza and oven-baked spaghetti with a look of utter exasperation.
[What are Altair's and Reve's remaining balances?]
[The two groups' fates have become intertwined!]
[KJ: What is this?! Aaaah!]
[Seo Yehyeon: I knew this would happen. Sigh...]
[Cha Yeonho: ...This isn't a dream, right? Please tell me it's a dream.]
[Yoon Eden: How could I have known it would turn out like this?]
[Find out next week!]
The brief preview of the mid-term evaluation day at the end left viewers eagerly anticipating the next episode.
[ Surviving on 20,000 Won ]: Midterm Evaluation Day.
"Ah, Hyung, just trust me. Our plan will definitely work. This is a high-stakes psychological battle."
"I'm more shocked that you guys ate that calorie-bomb potato pizza and oven spaghetti than by our remaining balance..."
"You're relentless."
We arrived at the studio well before the scheduled meeting time. When Altair arrived, we bowed deeply in greeting.
"Good morning!"
The Altair members returned our greeting with mask-like smiles.
Altair wasn't the type to initiate friendly conversation, but they also didn't openly antagonize Rising like Cha Yeonho did.
As a group from a major agency, Altair had garnered attention since their debut and solidified their top-tier status within just two years. In many ways, they were the complete opposite of Reve.
Unlike us, who had to hit rock bottom before climbing up, Altair had plummeted from the very top.
As soon as the cameras started rolling on set, Altair acted as if they had never been distant with Reve, creating a warm and friendly atmosphere.
"Hello, I'm Altair!"
"Dream of me! Hello, I'm Reve!"
After standing beside the MCs and giving their group greetings, they were asked:
"How much did you spend?"
"Well, we spent quite a lot. A lot."
"Oh no! We spent quite a bit too. You might regret swapping your remaining balance."
"Ah, you spent that much? We're in trouble."
They immediately launched into a high-stakes psychological battle.
No matter how much you spent, it can't compare to what we did.
The results of the mini-games were Altair with 2 wins and Reve with 1 win.
We had to win the next mini-game to tie the score and earn another chance.
"Hey, we absolutely have to win this next game to get one more shot."
"Don't worry about it. Just leave it to me."
"The next game is a General Knowledge Quiz! The topic is Korean History!"
As soon as the MC finished speaking, I smoothly leaned back, having been leaning forward eagerly just moments before.
"This Hyung's been out of the academic loop for too long to be any help. I'm leaving it to you guys in the Maknae Line—you're the current students."
"Hey, Yoon Eden! Weren't you just telling us to leave everything to you?"
"I've always been all-in on arts and sports. I never had the brains for studying."
I shrugged at Seo Yehyeon, who was glaring at me with wide eyes.
Kim Dobin, who had been saddled with the General Knowledge Quiz simply because he was a current student, scratched his head and said,
"But Hyung, I'm not exactly a brainiac either."
"Yeah, that much is obvious."
Altair patted Kim Seogyun—or whatever his name was—on the back, encouraging him with words of trust. He seemed to be the group's brains.
Our group's brains... do we even have one?
I certainly wasn't it. I'd gone to take the college entrance exam just to get the discount on the admission ticket, filled in one row on the OMR sheet, and then passed out.
When the MC announced the question, we stopped talking and listened intently. Who knew, maybe a question we actually knew would come up?
"Which of the following wooden structures from the Goryeo Dynasty exhibits a different architectural style? 1. Geungnakjeon Hall at Bongjeongsa Temple in Andong. 2. Eungjinjeon Hall at Seongbulsa Temple in Sariwon. 3. Daeungjeon Hall at Sudeoksa Temple in Yesan. 4. Muryangsujeon Hall at Buseoksa Temple in Yeongju."
"Is this supposed to be common knowledge?"
I didn't even know these temples existed in Korea!
Anyway, the first question was already at the highest difficulty level.
As we were glancing at each other, Seo Yehyeon suddenly raised his hand and shouted out the answer.
"The answer is 2!"
"Correct!"
I whipped around to face him.
"What? How did you get that right?"
"I memorized it when I was studying for the Korean History Proficiency Test. All the options except 2 are in the Column-Head Bracket Style. Option 2 is in the Multi-Bracket Style."
Good heavens, Seo Yehyeon was our team's brain! Come to think of it, even though he dropped out, he did get into university.
"Which of the following was NOT one of the Big Three political institutions of the Joseon Dynasty? 1. Office of the Censor-General. 2. Office of the Inspector-General. 3. Office of Royal Decrees. 4. Office of Special Advisors."
"Correct! Answer 3."
"That's right!"
Seo Yehyeon shone again. Wow, even a snail can roll over, I thought.
I'd been about to answer 1, so I was relieved I hadn't raised my hand. I resolved to keep my mouth shut for the next question too.
"Final question! This is a short-answer question. What is the oldest extant historical text, characterized by its Biographical Style, that reveals a consciousness of Silla's legacy?"
An Altair member shot their hand up first and shouted, "Samguk Yusa!"
"Wrong! The opportunity passes to Reve!"
All four pairs of eyes turned to Seo Yehyeon. Under our unwavering gaze, he calmly opened his mouth.
"Samguk Sagi."
"Correct!"
The moment the correct answer was declared, we all rushed at Seo Yehyeon, eagerly slapping him on the back.
"Wow, Yehyeon Hyung was so cool!"
"We won!"
"Wow, Hyung actually looked cool for once! For the first time!"
"You don't have to emphasize 'first time' so much."
However, thanks to Reve's crushing defeat in the final mini-game to determine the tiebreaker, the decision-making power reverted to Altair.
"I knew this would happen... Ugh... What now?" Seo Yehyeon sighed heavily, staring up at the ceiling.
"This Hyung's acting again—gasp!"
The quick-witted Ryu Jaehee had created a situation where Seo Yehyeon was pretending to have no remaining balance to avoid the exchange.
"Balance hint: Reveal the thousands digit!"
5
"Sunbae, you can't fall for this! We really don't have any balance left! We warned you that you'd regret the exchange!"
"Ah, please...!"
To add to the confusion, Kim Dobin vigorously fanned the air beside him.
One guy stubbornly insisted they had no balance, while the other laid bait, acting as if they had a massive amount left.
Would Altair fall for this elaborate psychological warfare?
"Our Altair will choose to exchange balances..."
📝 Translator’s Note:
You may notice that certain lines or phrases in this novel appear both in their original Korean (or Hanja) form and in English translation.
This is intentional — these phrases are classical idioms, divine titles, or poetic expressions that carry layered meanings.
To preserve their original tone and authenticity, the raw text has been kept for reference, while the English interpretation is provided right before or after it. This helps convey both the literal and cultural nuance of the original work.
but if you guys dont want tha raw for future chapters or my future other novels u can just text me on discord and say so discord name Mr.Penny