Chapter 363
Chapter 363
Next week.
The outline of how the production team backstabbed us only began to take shape toward the end of Episode 2.
‘I figured as much.’
Since the show was slated for five episodes, blowing all the coins at the start of Episode 2 would have messed up the pacing.
Thanks to that, the impact of the betrayal was magnified, coming right after all that peaceful, healing footage.
The moment TeSTAR was laughing and cheering while opening the penalty note:
[Kim Rae-bin: Early this morning, a mysterious night visitor broke in… and made off with all of TeSTAR’s precious <Carrot Coins>?]
[!!!!]
…The camera caught every single one of our faces in close-up as the smiles vanished the moment the coins were stolen.
The real-time reactions were explosive.
…Then, accompanied by a typing sound effect, the show’s plan was reconstructed from the production team’s perspective.
[The Full Story of the Incident]
[40 Days Ago]
The production team sat around a table, engaged in a serious discussion.
[PD: No, these guys have been burned too many times! They’re definitely going to be on high alert (to avoid getting tricked again).]
[Writer Lee: Exactly, exactly.]
[Writer Park: We need to take a very structural, delicate approach.]
[An atmosphere akin to a wild animal capture team]
These guys really went all out, filming even this part.
“Wow.”
“They went that far?”
Disbelieving laughter broke out here and there. Everyone was currently watching the broadcast together while traveling in the van.
Regardless, the production team on screen continued their briefing, laughing among themselves to a suspenseful BGM.
[PD: First, let’s look at the members with a moderate level of alertness.]
Then, captions popped up like a mission briefing.
[Difficulty: ★★]
[Seon A-hyun, Bae Se-jin]
[Characteristics / Once fooled, they tend to go along with it.]
“Me?!”
“U-Umm….”
“Pfft, hahaha.”
A ripple of light laughter spread at Bae Se-jin’s flustered reaction and Seon A-hyun’s embarrassment.
[PD: For these two, you just have to convince them once with logic.]
[Writer Park: Right. They’re such kind people that (it’s possible).]
[Writer Lee: They’re moral. Very moral.]
And then, that specific comment came out.
[PD: Let’s just… tell them to sue us if we backstab them.]
[LMAO]
The writers’ jokes about being sued continued in the meeting.
“…!”
[It worked perfectly. ^^]
“Uuugh…!”
While the two were turning red with a sense of betrayal, the screen quickly moved on to the next target.
[Difficulty: ★★★]
[Ryu Cheong-woo]
[Characteristics / Doesn’t show it on his face]
“Haha.”
Ryu Cheong-woo laughed awkwardly as he watched a compilation of his own gentle expressions pass by on the screen.
[Writer Park: We just need to create an atmosphere where it’s like… there’s no real reason to deceive him, right?]
[Writer Lee: Even if he doesn’t believe us, he doesn’t make it obvious, so it’s actually fine(?)]
The editing made it sound like nonsense, but they had surprisingly hit the nail on the head.
[Difficulty: ★★★★?]
[Cha Yu-jin]
[Characteristics / Unpredictable American Grandson]
[Writer Lee: I honestly have no idea… but wouldn’t he just not care whether it’s a scam or not?]
[PD: Okay.]
[And Cha Yu-jin really didn’t care….]
On the screen, a montage of Cha Yu-jin’s bright mukbangs and driving scenes flashed by. He looked busy just enjoying whatever he was doing.
‘Consistent as always.’
I glanced at the real-time reactions, which were flooded with ‘LOL’s, before looking back at the screen.
Five stars appeared.
[Difficulty: ★★★★★]
[Lee Se-jin]
[Writer Park: I feel like… he already knows everything.]
[(LOL)]
[PD: No, isn’t he actually waiting for us to backstab him? He’s a guy who knows variety.]
[Writer Lee: We still have to try and fool him. If we just play it off, he’s definitely someone who will play his part to fit the ‘healing’ theme.]
They were right. These guys had surprisingly good analytical skills.
[Characteristics / Dead serious about variety]
On the screen, a cut-scene of Keun Se-jin enjoying the healing variety show to the fullest (200%) passed by.
“Looking good~”
‘Hmm.’
I rested my chin on my hand. In my case, I’d already provided enough footage with the dog…
‘Will it just pass by like this?’
It didn’t.
Blood-red stars appeared on the screen again.
[Difficulty: ★★★★★]
[Difficulty: ★★★★★ + ★!]
Then, with a slamming sound effect, text appeared.
No way.
[Park Moon-dae]
“……!”
“Bwahahaha!”
I decided to ignore them.
The screen excitedly poured out more captions.
[AKA Tibetan Moon-dae, Moon-puppy]
[Characteristics / Constantly suspects the production team’s schemes]
[PD: It’s almost like an instinct for him.]
[Writer: Is it because he’s a puppy? He really has a nose for this, pfft (LOL)]
…What followed was a compilation of me questioning the production team’s motives.
[Park Moon-dae: Are you sure the bus destination is a rural house?]
[Park Moon-dae: Didn’t you just lend us these coins?]
[Park Moon-dae: Making us bet with the production budget is….]
[Suspicion]
[Doubt]
[He never believes us…!]
“Hahaha!”
“Park Moon-dae’s face…!”
“…….”
It was only because of the CG and editing; I’m sure I didn’t look that blatantly suspicious.
[We will fool him. No matter what…!]
Anyway, the grand BGM ended with the production team’s firm resolve. The screen cut away for a moment.
Then, curious voices rose from around me.
“Wait, what about Rae-bin?”
“Yeah, why only Rae-bin…”
Then, with a somewhat pathetic BGM, the next scene appeared.
[Appendix]
[Difficulty: ★]
[Kim Rae-bin]
“…!”
[PD: I really like Rae-bin.]
[Writer Park: Me too.]
[Writer Lee: He’s like the dream character for every variety producer.]
On the screen, countless clips of Kim Rae-bin convincing himself of things with a question mark floating over his head flashed by.
“Pffft!”
“Oh boy.”
“…….”
I stole a glance to the side. Kim Rae-bin’s pupils were shaking again. I decided to pretend I didn’t see.
[Thank you, Rae-bin. — From the entire production team]
Anyway, after that, the events of Episode 1 were reconstructed from the production team’s perspective, and thriller-style humor exploded.
[The Eyes of Suspicion]
[Writer Lee: This won’t do. Moon-dae and Se-jin are still (suspicious).]
[Junior Writer: !! Director! Director, that dog at your house!]
[Decision made to deploy a fellow species]
And finally, the moment we fell for it, the production team was shown hugging and cheering as if they’d just scored a goal in the World Cup.
[Waaaaah!! ↗ (Ecstasy)]
[This is how it all went down. ^^]
“Wow, these people, seriously.”
They really were annoying, even seeing it again.
After that, the sight of TeSTAR suffering from insane prices everywhere before finally being dragged to a vast carrot field and collapsing was nothing short of a black comedy.
It was clear that people were both pitying us and finding it hilarious due to the sudden shift in pace and atmosphere.
And then, a masterful insertion of a preview.
It was the image of Kim Rae-bin holding a shovel in the middle of the night.
The dialogue was also perfect.
[Kim Rae-bin: I’m going….]
[K-boom!]
Ending with edited-in thunder and lightning, the program concluded with a cheerful BGM.
The stark contrast made it stand out even more.
“Rae-bin’s face looks weird!”
“I-It’s probably just the lighting, Rae-bin….”
“I am fine….”
I shook my head as I watched Kim Rae-bin bury his face in the sofa, his face bright red.
‘The clickbait is insane….’
Anyway, for a few days, people screamed and made hilarious guesses about Kim Rae-bin’s atmosphere, which looked like he was going to bury someone.
And then, for a few more days, more sensible theories emerged.
But it was neither.
‘It’s finally here.’
[Park Moon-dae: (I can’t take it anymore.)]
The reconstructed footage of Kim Rae-bin and me forging coins during our midnight escape finally aired the following week.
And the viewer response was explosive.
But why am I the psycho and Kim Rae-bin the scam victim?
This settled it. My variety show image was now firmly established as a weirdo. In plain terms, a madman.
I suppressed a sigh.
‘Well, at least I’m not a bad guy, so that’s a relief.’
I’d been used to this kind of thing since Idol Inc. I decided to calmly accept this distortion.
‘The production team made some sacrifices too.’
In terms of their image, I mean.
Because the production team had edited themselves to be thoroughly annoying, they had actually received some flak until this episode.
And in this episode, they provided an immense sense of catharsis through the episode where TeSTAR turned the tables.
‘I’m somewhat grateful for that.’
It was editing that captured both TeSTAR’s buzzworthiness and their image.
‘The counterattack was successful, too.’
I nodded, thinking that it might be okay to work with them again next time.
…And after a satirical parody edited like a drama trailer titled ‘Animal Farm: Minting Coins’ went viral on social media.
Skipping past Episode 4, which returned to the healing theme… it was finally the last episode.
We gathered in the living room once again.
“It’s been a while since we all made time to watch TV together like this.”
“Truly~ It’s a bit tough because of the jet lag… but it’s fun!”
“Turn up the volume!”
This was because the production team had suggested filming a reaction video as content for WeTube for Episode 5.
There was probably only one reason for that.
‘There’s another twist.’
There was only one unresolved plot point, so there wasn’t much to think about. It was obviously going to be about who stole the Carrot Coins.
And I already had a hunch about who the culprit was.
“Hmm? Moon-dae, what is it~?”
“Nothing.”
I straightened my head and went back to watching the TV.
The beginning and middle parts were edited to be embarrassingly cute, showing us performing and acting charming in front of the elderly.
Our average age is in the mid-twenties now, so I wasn’t sure if this was okay, but anyway, the important part came next.
The moment we got on the bus to go back.
[PD: But everyone, in the end, you didn’t catch the culprit, did you?]
[Ryu Cheong-woo: Haha, you’re right. Are you going to tell us now after fooling us all this time?]
[PD: I’m sorry.]
Contrary to the PD’s exaggeratedly submissive voice, an ominous caption appeared.
[Could it be…?]
The scene shifted back to the production team’s meeting.
I nodded.
‘It’s about time.’
And I waited for Keun Se-jin to appear…
[PD: First, let’s exclude Park Moon-dae and Lee Se-jin.]
[Writer Park: People who are too quick-witted are a bit much. There needs to be an element of surprise so people won’t suspect them.]
“…?”
[Writer Lee: No, wait, wouldn’t no one suspect Rae-bin?]
[!!!!]
And after a moment of silence.
The perspective on the screen changed.
It was Kim Rae-bin… standing with the production team.
[The Day the Carrot Coins Were Stolen]
[PD: Rae-bin, you’re the culprit.]
[Kim Rae-bin: Excuse me??]
[PD: Well, you’re the one who picked the note saying the coins disappeared. So naturally, you’re the culprit!]
[Kim Rae-bin: …!!]
Captions flooded the screen behind Kim Rae-bin’s face, whose eyes looked like they were about to pop out.
[PD: And think about it. What did you do last night, Rae-bin? You gave us the lucky pouches, didn’t you?]
[PD: What does that mean? It means~ you moved the coins!]
Then a flashback scene played. A moment right before going to sleep, briefly exchanging camera data.
[Writer Lee: We’re just going to check the props~ Sorry, Rae-bin, could you give us those too!]
[Kim Rae-bin: Yes!]
And Kim Rae-bin had unhesitatingly handed over the pouches containing the Carrot Coins to the production team.
“…….”
To think they used a method like that.
‘It’s so plausible it’s speechless.’
That’s just a scam.
Bae Se-jin’s lips trembled.
“You, you…!”
“I am sorry! I didn’t know either!”
Yeah, it looked that way even at a glance.
‘Is that why he was blaming himself so much…?’
A montage of Kim Rae-bin breaking into a cold sweat and flinching every time the story of the stolen coins came up flashed across the screen.
[Park Moon-dae: If we catch the culprit, we should hand them over to the police.]
[Kim Rae-bin: That… is correct.]
[Culprit ↑]
It was pathetically funny.
Everyone seemed to feel the same way.
And anyway, Kim Rae-bin did try to argue back.
[Kim Rae-bin: I will confess!]
[PD: Wait!]
Of course, this also seemed to be a scenario the production team had anticipated.
[PD: If you get caught now, the coins will just evaporate!]
[Kim Rae-bin: !!]
[PD: But if you aren’t caught until the very end!]
[Kim Rae-bin: Ah, if I’m not…?]
The PD cheerfully shouted at Kim Rae-bin, who was already entranced.
[PD: We will double all the coins in this village and donate them to the village hall! As massage chairs!]
[Kim Rae-bin: Gasp.]
[PD: You’ll be a righteous thief! A Phantom Thief of Justice!]
[The decisive remark]
And Kim Rae-bin, who had frozen in place, was slowly zoomed in on.
“…….”
“…No way.”
The ‘no way’ became a reality.
[Kim Rae-bin: I-I understand!]
“Aaaah!”
“I knew it!”
“I am sorry!”
The Kim Rae-bin on screen eventually clenched his fists and gave his answer to the production team.
Then, a large caption appeared like a sentence.
[The Phantom Thief who steals Carrot Coins, Medieval Rabbit, deployed]
[Writer Lee: Let’s give him a mission to steal more coins and make him a complete accomplice.]
[LMAO]
[And so, it seemed like the perfect crime was being committed, but….]
It was shattered.
Because it was Kim Rae-bin who had gone to the hardware store in the middle of the night and explained the usage and collection methods to me in detail.
[????]
[PD: Rae-bin, why are you here?]
[The flustered production team]
In the end, the production team even went as far as to secretly call Kim Rae-bin out for an emergency meeting.
[PD: No, but why are you helping with that, Rae-bin? You’re a Phantom Thief!]
Kim Rae-bin answered with a serious glint in his eyes.
[Kim Rae-bin: Because I am a Phantom Thief, I was also able to engage in the illegal act of coin production!]
[PD: Wait a minute.]
[Kim Rae-bin: I believe this is the right direction because if the quantity of coins increases, the amount we can give to the village hall will also increase.]
[PD: ….]
A stamp was slammed over the PD’s open-mouthed face.
[Conclusion]
[They made someone who wouldn’t normally act, move.]
The viewers enjoyed the production team’s despair.
And I looked down at Kim Rae-bin, who was sitting on the floor.
“I am sorry! Hyung! I did not intend to deceive you, but they said all the coins would evaporate if I were caught, so I had no choice….”
“Sure.”
I just ended up laughing.
‘He worked hard.’
With his personality, he must have suffered quite a bit to do that. Though it resulted in great footage.
One thing was… a bit bothering me.
‘…To think it wasn’t Keun Se-jin.’
I wanted to take back everything I said to Bae Se-jin. Dammit.
Anyway, I patted Kim Rae-bin on the shoulder.
“Good job.”
“Yes!”
Kim Rae-bin finally relaxed his expression and answered brightly. On the screen, cheerful content was unfolding again.
[Good job, Rae-bin~]
However, no one else besides me was reacting to it.
“…?”
When I looked around, the faces of the others, except for Cha Yu-jin, were still sour. No… was it more like they were flustered?
‘What is it?’
They aren’t the type to act like this.
Just as I was about to open my mouth in wonder, the BGM on the screen vanished as if being sucked away.
[Cha Yu-jin: Yes! But…….]
[BUT]
[: However]
[Used when the preceding and following content are contradictory]
“…??”
[Did everyone enjoy themselves?]
[It’s not over yet.]
[3]
[2]
[1]
Then, the PD’s voice was heard over a black screen.
[PD: But it doesn’t necessarily have to be just one person, does it?]
“…!!”
What…?
[The Full Story of the Incident 2]
The caption appeared, and a close-up from a fixed camera followed.
And five different faces were caught by the same camera.
[Bae Se-jin: I-I understand.]
[Seon A-hyun: …! Then, did I… steal it?]
[Lee Se-jin: Oh~ this is fun, fun!]
[Ryu Cheong-woo: So, I just have to make sure no one finds out who stole the coins.]
[Cha Yu-jin: OK.]
Everyone received a card with an ‘I understand’ face, as if they had been given a very important mission.
And the content of the card:
[You are a Phantom Thief Spy!]
“…….”
Hey, wait a minute.