Ding Dong Daeng Magic Classroom!
I stepped into the broadcasting station's waiting room, gripping Monica's hand tightly.
"This body is the Demon King, you know. Even so, flower arrangements are a bit..."
I tried a timid rebellion, but Monica, now wearing glasses, said triumphantly,
"Come on, take a look."
"?"
Monica showed me the ad photo from the Sugar Powder shoot a few days ago.
"In this ad, your smile looks unnatural, doesn't it—even to a kid like you?"
"That's true..."
The photo of me holding a donut and forcing an awkward smile reeked of stiffness.
"But look at Sera next to you. She's smiling like a real angel."
"......"
"Look at Sera. Dressed like an angel, smiling like one."
"But I—I'm the Demon King! A big smile would break my character!"
Monica's relentless pressure and explanations backed me into a corner.
"Ha! How much do you think that Sugar Powder donut company paid you, Eunha?"
"Ten—ten million won?"
"No way! Three hundred million! Three hundred million! You earned that in one day!"
"......"
"And you smiled all awkward like that! Do you know what everyone's faces looked like on set that day?"
I knew, since I'd been there.
"But I'm not used to dresses or smiling like that—what do you expect? I thought I'd die of embarrassment!"
"A pro! Does their job in any environment!"
"I'm a mage..."
"Mages are the flowers of mass media! Entertainers of entertainers! No, it's true!"
"......"
She wasn't wrong, so I pouted.
"You'll do the same this time?"
"...I'll try."
"Not try—a pro delivers the best results, right? Didn't you say pros speak through results?"
I had said that, but it was for magic tournaments...
Monica convinced me that broadcasting was part of a mage's job too.
"Honestly, you need that money to maintain the magic tower and buy gear. Right or wrong?"
"...Right."
"Then today, we do it for real?"
"...Got it."
"Good."
Monica smiled and started pulling short skirts from her bag.
No matter how you look at it, this has nothing to do with pro mentality...
As I stared at her skeptically, she imparted her wisdom.
"Mages convert ether through their mental core to cast spells, right?"
"Yeah...?"
"That process is like an actor immersing in emotions."
"Hmm..."
"Don't grumble—think of it as new training. Who knows? It might boost your mental core's resolution."
I knew she was sweet-talking me, but it made sense.
Boosting mental core resolution, huh.
If I thought of it that way, I could endure the embarrassment.
"Got it. I'll do my best."
Monica beamed at my resolve, though it twisted my mood a bit.
What could I do? I'd promised to help, and I'd run my mouth.
The main PD for Ding Dong Daeng Magic Classroom, Jang Taeksu, was a veteran in the magic world.
Now voluntarily stuck in a low-viewership kids' show like this, but he'd once been the mastermind behind Weekly Mage Rankings, Foundation League, and KML League.
"PD-nim, all three are really coming this time?"
"Yeah. Yu Eunha's coming too."
Taeksu cleared his throat and shrugged.
"But as you know, she's only seven. Leave most to Isara and Seong Jiho— she'll just be set dressing."
"Her character's too strong for that, though?"
The writer spoke, but he shook his head.
"Honestly, kids like Sera and Jiho have been trained since they were little. You raise kids too, right?"
The writer's face stiffened at Taeksu's words.
"......"
"A seven-year-old with zero broadcast experience. Don't expect too much. As long as she doesn't derail the flow, we're golden."
"True..."
As Taeksu and the main writer wore serious expressions, an assistant director chimed in.
"Sunbae-nim, my friend knows Yu Eunha personally—blew up on personal streams. Says she's got real star quality..."
He pondered briefly.
"Really? Mages do mature fast..."
After some thought, Taeksu tweaked a few segments around Yu Eunha.
"Have her take phone consultations too. Gauge her there, adjust next corners live."
"That ups the accident risk... You okay with that?"
He patted the flustered main writer's shoulder.
"Don't worry—cleanup's my specialty. You focus on directing; I'll take responsibility, like always."
He said that, but he was a bit worried.
She'd caused plenty of incidents this year.
Her extreme actions could ruin the recording.
Maybe check on the kids...
As he approached the waiting room, whining echoed out.
"Why do I have to wear this again? I've said a hundred, a thousand times I hate skirts!"
"Jiho-ya, cake."
Sera's words cut the whining short.
"You think I'll fall for cake...?"
Her voice suggested she already had.
"Hmm..."
He'd thought she was more mature and serious—just a magic-obsessed seven-year-old after all.
Guess she's out as main...
Taeksu clicked his tongue inwardly.
He'd considered centering on Yu Eunha, but no.
Even for a low-viewer kids' show, you couldn't push a kid who didn't get broadcasting.
Brace for edits at least...
He'd have to totally edit her out.
The broadcast began with a brief intro on Yu Eunha, followed by Isara and Seong Jiho's talk.
They had perfect broadcast poise beyond their ten years.
Experienced pros, leagues ahead of the whiny seven-year-old.
"Now, today's guest! Shall we bring out pro mage Yu Eunha!"
"Whoa... pro mage..."
"Jiho-ssi? Amateur or not, greet her excitedly."
"...Yes."
Yu Eunha emerged from behind the set in a black skirt and black dress shirt.
The crisp skirt drew eyes.
She'd caved to cake after all.
Demon King in a skirt with cute hair...
Her neatly tied hair amplified her girlish charm, so he focused shots there.
Visuals good, but content's the issue.
Just don't disrupt—as cameras swarmed her, Taeksu thought.
He was a pro, reading audience needs perfectly.
Plenty wanted info on the elusive Yu Eunha.
More work, but gotta do it.
The seven-year-old sparkled under lights.
No media exposure ever—he'd package her perfectly today.
Main character: serious magic-lover. Low-angle for Demon King vibe.
The low-angle solo shot made her imposing, heavy presence un-childlike.
Lighting team's on it.
Cool, textured light bathed her in the dim set.
As if rewarding them, she exuded gravity, stared at the camera adeptly, and said,
"To summon this one—consider it an honor."
She smirked and stepped in.
"......"
Her childish lines and staging devoured by sheer aura.
The whole set stared, mesmerized—even Seong Jiho missed his cue slightly.
What is this kid? The same whiner from before?
Taeksu glanced at the assistant, who shot back a see? look.
Holy... it's real.
Taeksu itched to rush and edit that shot—darker tones for a lifetime cut.
As Taeksu pondered her, filming flowed smoothly.
Hard to believe it was her debut.
Next: viewer calls.
Viewer calls started.
Her turn—she shone brighter.
"Good choice. Water over earth or stars, obviously."
Overwhelming charisma, but warm to the water aspirant.
She wielded broadcast flair masterfully.
"Yu Eunha-ssi, earth magic's no joke? Elemental advantage aside..."
"Heh, you who groveled like a frog before this one dares say that? Amusing."
"That time was...!"
"Complain after you go pro."
"Agh!"
Seong Jiho taking hits—Taeksu's lips twitched up; it had been a while.
"What about star magic...?"
"Yeah, you were in real danger from stars too?"
Isara and Seong Jiho's pincer—she smoothly played her next card.
"Now, let's see the next letter~"
Incredible poise for a newbie—she led naturally.
Sly but not hateable; media-adapted perfectly.
"...Next letter from young Lee Ha-ni."
"Hmm..."
For the next question, she pondered then said something unexpected.
"All magic is but one way to illuminate the world—none lack beauty."
Her first smile, then,
"Forgiveness for the wounded, longing for a shining future—all beautiful. Don't fixate on attributes; they're mere surface."
"......"
As Taeksu marveled at the smooth broadcast, the assistant sidled up.
"Give her the main corner next?"
Taeksu pondered, then nodded.
"Yeah. Let's try."
That skill? Trustworthy.
NerTube buzz at least—500k views, maybe a million with luck.
He handed her the magic analysis corner expecting that.
Those ten-odd minutes sparked waves beyond Taeksu PD's imagination.