Chapter 77
Translator 8uhl
Chapter 77
Chapter Title Tree Tent Mission
Idol Training Simulation was packed with gambling elements everywhere.
Even events unrelated to the competition were all about probability and luck.
It wasnt for nothing that the title evoked the vibe of a game.
This time, it was a card draw.
If everything had really been made up of probabilistic items like this, it wouldve been a bigger trash game than Grand Quest Saga.
I shook my head as I stood in front of the table the production team had prepared.
Just like drawing tarot cards, all I had to do was pick one from the lineup.
I casually picked a card from the far left and boarded the bus.
Brother! Whatd you draw?
Heo Yubin, who had followed right behind me, immediately claimed the seat next to mine and asked.
I flipped the card over to show him.
Got the tree.
Oh, I got water!
What? Who just said tree?
Kang Siyoon, seated right in front of us, waved the tree card.
Looks like were fated to be on the same team again.
Ah, seriously, Karis. Stop liking me already? Its getting annoying.
I drew the card first. Siyoon, you stop following me around.
You knew Id draw this and picked first on purpose.
What kind of logic is that?
The logic that shuts down Kariss arguments.
Kang Siyoon delivered his line in a historical drama tone and winked at me.
It was so unnecessarily refreshing that it left me speechless.
Tree card, huh... Not a bad stroke of luck.
I recalled past memories and predicted what was coming.
Now, for episodes 9 and 10 where the third round content would be revealed, we were filming material for the third ranking announcement.
Our destination was a campsite.
It was a format to capture variety show moments from the trainees through outdoor activities.
Similar to a sports day, but unlike the physical clashes back then, campsite content focused mainly on team variety.
Missions assigned to each team varied by card.
The better you succeeded at the mission, the more ingredients youd get for dinner prep.
In short, whether each team had a lavish barbecue party or a pitiful one depended on how well they completed their assigned mission.
Karis brother, can I sleep a bit?
Dont drool, Yubin. Cameras are everywhere inside the bus too, so your sleeping face will all be captured.
Ughhh. IIll try my best not to!
Heo Yubin clenched his fist with fierce determination.
But just 10 minutes after the bus hit the highway, he was out cold.
Drooling shamelessly from his slightly open mouth.
Since I couldnt sleep, I wiped the drool from the corner of his mouth with tissue whenever it trickled down.
It felt oddly like childcare for a little brother.
About an hour later.
Weve arrived!
We reached the campsite, where sunlight filtered gently through the trees.
The lush greenery looked like a painting.
Ow, my back. Havent ridden a bus this long in agesmy backs killing me.
If your back hurts after just an hour, whatll happen later, Siyoon? Youre in for trouble when you get older.
Thats why Im feeling it now, ahead of time.
Dont try to convince me with that nonsense logic.
Heh.
As we traded banal banter, the production team relayed instructions.
There are six tents set up in the campsite. Go to the tent with the same picture as the card you drew on the bus, check your teammates, and then tackle the mission.
The path to the tents felt like a narrow trail.
It was a bit cramped, so we couldnt go in a group and had to walk single file, slowly.
No ones here yet.
I arrived first at the tent with the large tree emblem.
Kang Siyoon strolled up next, whistling leisurely.
Siyoon. Being too cameraconscious isnt good.
Busted?
If someone didnt notice that, their eyesight would be the problem.
Just as I wondered who else had drawn the tree card, rustling came from afar.
Huff, huff! Karisnim! Siyoonnim!
Oh, Ken! Take it easy! No need to run!
I want to run!
Hashimoto Ken joined as the third member.
He wiped sweat pouring like rain from his forehead and grinned.
Im so happy to be on the same team.
I watched your third round performance, Ken. You nailed a great stage.
Right! It was super fun. I wanted personal vote 1, but oh well!
With Heo Yubin off to another tent, it felt like a similarmaterial little bro had come our way.
Soon after, the final member for the tree tent arrived.
...The more I look, the taller he really is.
Yeah, huge.
A figure towering in stark contrast to the relatively petite Hashimoto Ken emerged from the brush.
Hello.
Ji Yooncheol bowed politely in greeting.
Me, Kang Siyoon, and Hashimoto Ken had built rapport from being on the same team in the first round.
On the flip side, Ji Yooncheol had never teamed with any of us before.
Uh, uh. Nice to meet you! First time greeting in person like this.
...Yes.
Maybe because of that, even Kang Siyoonwhod normally burst into cheerful laughter and offer a handshakeseemed awkward.
I suddenly recalled what Kang Siyoon had said during the first round.
He definitely mentioned feeling checked or something.
Kang Siyoon was confident in his dancing.
True to his trait Practice Bug, he was often seen honing his skills with insane practice volume.
Yet he seemed to view Ji Yooncheola trainee with innate talent already known to othersas a constant threatening rival.
If Kang Siyoon wants to debut this time, he needs to flaunt his dancing talent. But in that area, theres Ji Yooncheol, the socalled genius.
In the end, a rival at the crossroads to debut. He had no choice but to see him as a fated opponent.
To cover the odd vibe from Kang Siyoon, I spoke first.
Looks like all members are here, so lets head inside the tent. Weathers getting hotter.
Inside the tent were four folding chairs and a small table.
Kang Siyoon picked up the mission card on the table and read it aloud.
Welcome, Tree Tent trainees. Trees are a vital resource when camping. You need them to make fire to ward off bugs, cook food, and stay warm at night. Time to experience firsthand how hard it is to obtain this precious resource, right?
Sounds ominous.
Even reading it made me uneasy.
Kang Siyoon and Hashimoto Ken started frowning at the preamble stressing woods importance.
Meanwhile, Ji Yooncheol stared blankly ahead without a word.
Noticing him, Kang Siyoon glanced at me.
His eyes seemed to ask, Is that guy really okay?
I watched Ji Yooncheol closely and smiled inwardly.
His personality hasnt changed.
Ji Yooncheol, toptier trainee then and now, always got the least screen time.
With insane physique, innate dance talent, and good looks, why no footage?
Yooncheol, any guess on the mission?
...Sorry. No idea.
Hm, okay.
I probed lightly with a direct question, but he clammed up like a fortress.
Even in the previous run, he always responded like this when approached. Never had time to figure out why.
His consistent demeanor clearly showed a tendency to be stiff and avoid chitchat.
But there were ironic bits that didnt match his poker face.
Like that giant bunny doll from nametag ripping.
First, I listened as Kang Siyoon read the rest.
Tree Tent trainees must gather wood. Collect a total of 50 branches scattered around the campsite with our logo stickers, and split 10 logs into firewood. Mission success in 30 minutes. Reward premium beef and pork for barbecue??
Beef and pork! Yum!
Hey, if we fail, no dinner! We gotta eat meat! Barbecue at camp without meat is pointless!
Yeah!
Kang Siyoon and Hashimoto Ken flipped at the meat news.
Ji Yooncheol beside me didnt say much, but nodded eagerly with sparkling eyes.
Then we should divide roles.
I stood, rolling my shoulders.
Times tight. We have four in the tent. Even cutting choppers to one, three of us need to scour the whole site for 50 branches.
Never chopped wood before.
Me neither.
...Me too.
No worries. Ill handle chopping. Siyoon, Ken, Yooncheolscout and collect branches fast. Got it?
As I met each ones eyes, they all clenched fists with confidence.
Picking branches? Piece of cake! But seriously, you okay chopping?
More than enough.
I know youre strong, but chopping needs technique, I heard.
You pick it up swinging the axe.
Kang Siyoon still looked uneasy but nodded.
Okay, well hustle outside, you handle wood. Dont get hurt.
Gloves and pads for chopping are out there. Should be fine.
We grabbed the timer from the tent and headed out.
Counted down in front of the production team.
3, 2, 1. Go!
The timer started.
Ken, check right side all the way! Yooncheol, cover front area! Ill take left!
Got it!
...Fighting.
I watched the teammates dash to their zones.
Priority was spotting branch locationswould they gather properly?
Alright, my turn.
Safety first, I donned work gloves and knee pads.
Lifting the provided axe, it felt lighter than Durandal from Grand Quest Saga.
Of course, compared to game strength with stat boosts, this was worlds apart, but I could swing it decently.
Swung swords constantly ingame this should be fine.
Light deep breath, placed first log on the broad stump.
Dont drop it, dont drop it!
Someone wailed pitifully from afar.
Soon, a soaked Heo Yubin ran past our tent, halfcrying, bucket sloshing in his hands.
Karis brother! I hate water so much now!
Hm, hang in there, Yubin.
What is this, seriously!