Chapter 78
Translator 8uhl
Chapter 78
Chapter Title Water Buckets and Branch Hunts
Heo Yubin had drawn the water card.
Given the format where each card provided missions matching the pictures on them, the water bucket relay felt like a perfectly reasonable game.
Why did I have to be the first runner?!
Where did you start from?
From way over there at the end. I filled it up as much as I could, but isnt this inhumanly heavy?
Heo Yubin was struggling to hold up the bucket with his slender arms.
Hed already spilled a good amount of water while running, leaving clear wet stains on his clothes and pants.
If I have to do this one more time, Im seriously going to die.
It must be a mission to fetch water and fill something.
Too exhausted to even speak properly, Heo Yubin gave a faint nod.
I gave him a sympathetic look and offered some words of encouragement.
I hope you nail it on the first try.
Why did I have to draw water of all things!
Letting out a desperate wail, he grunted and took off running again.
The other tents were probably total chaos too.
The production team had realized that pushing the trainees around yielded entertaining moments, so there was no way theyd let this opportunity slip.
The cards besides the wood one were water, fire, earth, wind, and superpowers, I think. My memorys fuzzy on the exact missions.
As I brought the axe down smoothly on the first log, I pondered the other tents missions.
My sword skills from Grand Quest Saga hadnt gone anywhere, it seemed.
The crown princes powerful strength was a big help too.
Not a bad workout, all things considered.
Shifting my bodys center of gravity effectively made the swings much easier.
The first log didnt split clean in half, but with each strike, the axe bit deeper.
By the third log, I managed to split it with a single full swing.
There was a satisfying thud when the axe came down, and the feel in my hands was exhilarating.
Just as I hit my stride and chopped through more than half the stack
Huff, huff. Dude, this is heavier than I thought. I had to drop it a few times along the way.
Kang Siyoon came sprinting back, arms full of branches, panting hard.
His hands were caked in dirt, so hed clearly been searching diligently.
Im already more than halfway done.
You could totally do a survival show later. Youve never done this before, right?
Of course not. When would I have ever chopped wood?
I set the axe down for a moment and counted the branches Kang Siyoon had gathered.
Five, six, seven. Good haul, Siyoon.
I wanted to grab ten or more, but theyre surprisingly heavy and prickly. Tough stuff.
At this rate, fifty will be no problem. Ill join you as soon as I finish the firewood. Hang in there.
Got it. Dont get hurt. Im heading back out.
Good luck.
Once Kang Siyoon left, I resumed chopping in silence.
As I went to load the seventh log
Karisnim! Im back!
This time, Hashimoto Ken burst through the bushes.
Good work, Ken.
The branches were so well hidden. I only managed six.
Six on your first sweep is plenty good.
Hehehe!
Hashimoto Ken grinned like a puppy and flashed a peace sign.
Hed been darting around the campsite enthusiasticallya green leaf dangled from his bangs.
Ken, is that leaf on your forehead for decoration?
Ah, when did that?
Ill get it for you.
I brushed the leaf off, and Hashimoto Ken bowed deeply in thanks.
Thank you, Karisnim! Ill go find more!
Be careful not to get hurt.
Yes!
I picked up the axe again, chuckling to myself.
Their personalities are so differentits fun.
If no one could carry a ton of branches at once, Ji Yuncheol would surely show up soon too.
Id noticed his vague reactions earlier, so I was curious what our chat would be like.
.
?
Ji Yuncheol dumped five branches with a thud and just stared at me silently, sweat dripping down.
The only sound was birds chirping in the quiet, making it awkwardly tense.
I broke the ice first.
Something wrong?
No, not really.
Then?
Ji Yuncheol eyed the branches Kang Siyoon and Hashimoto Ken had gathered.
Then he asked me,
How many did the others get?
Hm, Siyoon got seven. Ken got six.
I got the fewest.
He looked a bit shocked.
Hed seemed quietly proud until moments ago.
But the second he heard he was last, his eyes drooped slightly, giving off a downcast vibe.
I watched him drop his gaze to the ground.
He was taller than me and a super popular trainee, so Id overlooked it, but Ji Yuncheol was only seventeen.
It wasnt obvious unless you looked close, but little things like this could tank his mood.
To boost his confidence, I made an unusual suggestion.
Want to try chopping firewood, Yuncheol?
Is the axe heavy?
Hard to say until you pick it up.
I turned the axe handle toward him.
He hesitated a bit, then gripped it with both hands.
Hup!
A short grunt escaped Ji Yuncheol.
You okay?
Heavier than I thought.
The blades iron, so yeah, it would be.
I see.
Ji Yuncheol nodded slightly, still holding the axe with both hands.
He glanced at the branches hed brought.
His eyes held a hint of anxiety, sunk in unease.
From his tone earlier, hed thought hed gathered a decent amount.
But realizing it was the least, he deflated noticeably, if subtly.
Like he had to be the best.
Truth is, you dont need to be perfect even in these minigame segments.
Everyone has weaknesses.
Even Koreas biggest celebrities have flaws they hide.
People always say no ones flawless.
No need to stress over a little game like this.
But watching Ji Yuncheol, I could tell he was hyperaware of others.
Or maybe he just hated being a burden.
I suggested gently,
Its heavy, but worth a shot just to try.
Okay, Ill give it a go.
I stepped aside and back.
Ji Yuncheol clenched his lips slightly.
Hup!
With a quick grunt, he swung the axe down with all his might.
It had speed, but the aim was off.
Tick.
.
Close, but you missed.
Ji Yuncheol stared at the tiny wood chip hed nicked, his eyes gloomy.
His shoulders, already slumped from the axes weight, sagged even more.
His best shot had barely grazed the top edge of the log.
This was the guy who stayed stonefaced after great contest results.
Or shrugged off dropping a rank at announcements.
Yet now he looked utterly dejected.
I patted his back lightly and took the axe back.
Firewood might be too tough.
Sorry.
No need to apologize. Ill finish quick and come help, so hold out a bit.
Okay.
Ji Yuncheol let out a small sigh.
Dont worry too much. Finding branches isnt hard. Well knock it out together later and clear the mission easy.
Yeah.
If me helping feels like a burden
No. Im grateful, actually.
Bowing his head, Ji Yuncheol slowly headed back into the woods.
Feels like theres a wall there.
As Karis von Walden in Idol Training Simulation, Id gotten close to almost every trainee fast.
Kang Siyoon and Heo Yubin went without saying.
Even firsttimers like Yu Minha, and tough nuts like Song Hyeongbin and Chae EungyuI was on good terms now.
But with Ji Yuncheol, itd take a little longer.
To get meat, we needed to clear the mission, so I rapidly split the remaining logs.
As I finished stacking the last pile, Kang Siyoon and Hashimoto Ken returned with 17 more branches.
Man, this is brutal. Branches are getting scarce.
WWater I want water.
Firewoods done, so Im joining now. Siyoon, what areas are left?
Ken and I covered most of the right side So Yuncheols spot and the campsite outskirts should wrap it up.
I nodded and recounted the branches.
Weve got 35 now. Fifteen to go. Piece of cake.
How much time left?
14 minutes.
Took longer than expected. Lets link up with Yuncheol first.
We scoured the campsite and found Ji Yuncheol.
Ah.
Spotting me, he waved two branches enthusiastically with long strides.
Found two more.
Good job. Well done.
Thanks.
Ji Yuncheol started to smile faintly, then saw the pile and let his mouth droop.
In his usual flat tone, he asked,
How many left?
Thirteen now.
Got it.
Time was running short.
They werent easy to spot, making the search tricky.
Over here!
Ken, you missed one at your feet!
This way, this way!
Thanks to Kang Siyoons heroics, we gathered the rest and made it back to the tent.
The timer was closing in on 29 minutescutting it close, but success.
Meat time!
Cant wait for BBQ!
Everyone buzzed excitedly at the crew, but one mission remained.
No way, another one? Im so sad right now, guys.
Meat! Give us meat!
Hungry.
Even Ji Yuncheol muttered softly.
The crew ignored us and handed over a new mission card.
Kang Siyoon read it aloud again.
Youve got the BBQ, so now just grill it up tasty? The wood tent has all the firewood materials ready. Light the branches and logs you gathered, and youre set!
He trailed off, shooting us a worried look.
They want us to start the fire ourselves?
Siyoon, finish reading.
My head hurts. Ahem. Pick a random mission from another tent and succeed to get charcoal for BBQ. Fail, and youll have to make fire yourselves.
We gotta nail this. No confidence in firestarting.
Same here, Ken.
The crew offered five cards.
No one had claimed picking rights yet.
Ill do it.
Ooh, Yuncheol?
Please be easy!
Ji Yuncheol raised his hand to volunteer.