Chapter 108: Survival Hero (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 108: Survival Hero (3)
"Hum-de-hum~"
Ellie hummed to herself as she scrolled through videos on the smartphone Jeong Yeon-woo had bought for her.
It was a bit pathetic to be sitting on a warm southern island just watching internet videos, but she was savoring her vacation to the fullest.
She was currently on the yacht they had arrived in. The bag Jeong Yeon-woo had brought, filled with his personal belongings, had become Ellie’s sanctuary.
He had packed plenty of snacks for her three-day stay and even provided a power bank that would keep the phone running for 72 hours straight.
Because Ellie was so small, the smartphone screen felt like a 100-inch TV to her, if not a full-blown movie theater.
She had crumpled up some of Yeon-woo’s clothes to make a comfortable seat and was now lounging back, munching on potato chips from a cylindrical can while watching the screen.
"It’s really delicious, hehe—"
On the screen, Jeong Yeon-woo held up a greasy fish to the camera with a bright smile. Ellie snorted.
"That kid... he’s all grown up now, even knowing how to look out for his fans."
Acting as if she were the one who had raised him, Ellie puffed out her chest. She licked the salt off her palm and approached the smartphone to change the video. The large screen was nice, but the lack of a remote was a hassle.
She switched the stream to Im Jin-ah’s feed.
Tents, a barbecue, and beer. While the other participants were struggling in the wild, her team looked like they were out on a casual camping trip.
Ellie ignored the video and checked the chat.
People who looked like hired part-timers or die-hard fans were posting compliments like 'Unnie, you're so cool' and 'This is the Im Jin-ah class,' but their comments were quickly buried under a mountain of criticism.
The insults were creative and diverse, but the general sentiment was the same: people were outraged, asking what kind of "survival" show this was supposed to be.
Counter-arguments popped up, claiming she was just being rewarded for playing the game well, while others posted suspicious theories about how Im Jin-ah’s situation was too good.
The suspicion was natural.
As soon as the show started, Im Jin-ah’s team had sprinted straight to a prime location as if they already knew the island's geography. There was a stream nearby and a wide, flat patch of land perfect for a tent.
Furthermore, there were fallen, dried-out trees nearby that were perfect for firewood. Im Jin-ah had even shown off a handful of wild berries she claimed to have found off-camera.
Since it happened off-camera, no one knew where she had actually gotten them, and none of the surrounding cameras showed any bushes with berries.
"If you look around, there's plenty to eat."
Clips of Im Jin-ah showing off her handfuls of berries to the camera were already spreading through online communities, with people posting detailed analyses.
"Aieee—it’s a total shitshow."
Ellie tsk-tsked as she read the toxic chat, then began tapping away at the keyboard herself.
Because of her size, it looked like she was pounding on a wall, but the characters appeared on the screen one by one, clear as day.
She wiped her sweatless brow with the back of her hand as if she’d just finished a grueling task, then pressed Enter with a satisfied look.
The comment was instantly buried by the flood of other messages, but Ellie giggled, satisfied just to have left her mark.
Then, a comment mentioning her flashed by. Ellie puffed out her cheeks and dove back into the fray, starting a keyboard battle.
After fighting with random strangers for a good while, she suddenly gasped and checked the wristwatch inside the bag.
"Oh boy, I’m going to be late. Gotta go, fast."
Thinking that Yeon-woo would throw another fit if she didn't do what he asked, Ellie turned off the smartphone, unzipped the bag, and flew out.
She clung to the walls like a ninja, peering around cautiously, but Yeon-woo was the only person there who could actually see her. Although a B-rank Hero had been assigned to the yacht for security, their mana detection wasn't sharp enough to pick up Ellie’s presence.
Feeling like she was starring in her own solo stealth mission, Ellie slipped out of the yacht and began reading the emotions drifting around the island.
"Hmm, this piss-like flavor is definitely Im Jin-ah."
Ellie, who could absorb emotional energy, fluttered toward the location where she sensed Im Jin-ah.
She flew carefully to avoid being caught by any cameras and eventually reached Team 1’s campsite.
It was already late, and everyone was asleep. Ellie perched on top of a camera installed in a tree and surveyed the area.
The area in front of the tent where they’d had their barbecue was a mess, likely from partying too hard.
"That Yeon-woo guy might have a nasty personality, but as far as his cock... no, no, as far as his tidiness goes, he’s top-tier."
Having grown accustomed to a clean environment while staying with him, Ellie clicked her tongue and looked elsewhere.
"Aha~ found it~"
In a spot completely hidden from the cameras, she spotted a box concealed by bushes.
Ellie immediately flew down into the lidless box and began rummaging through the contents. It was filled with food you’d find at a convenience store, and there were even cigarettes.
In a corner of the box, she found the jar containing the wild berries Im Jin-ah had bragged about.
"Good things should be shared."
Ellie flashed a wicked smile. She grunted as she heaved the jar onto the very top of the supplies and then cleared away the bushes that had been hiding the box.
Her arms felt stiff from the exertion, so she rotated them to loosen up before returning to the camera she had first perched on.
There were many cameras installed, but she was certain this was the one that had been streaming earlier.
"This is the evidence, you keyboard warrior bastards!"
Ellie framed the shot with her thumbs and index fingers like a director, then began kicking the camera repeatedly to change its angle.
Fortunately, it was a small camera, only about half her size. Under her relentless kicking, the camera’s head slowly turned.
She sat on top of the camera one last time to check the framing, then returned to the yacht with a satisfied face.
When she turned on the smartphone to check the stream, the camera view had indeed changed, and the chat room was in an absolute frenzy.
"Sigh~ you lot sure work hard at being losers so late at night."
Ellie cackled as she sat down, started a movie, and went back to her potato chips.
Morning dawned.
I felt refreshed after getting a handjob last night.
Well, Eom Soo-hyun, the one who actually gave it to me, looked like she hadn't slept a wink.
Seeing her with hollow eyes, unable to even meet my gaze, made me feel a bit guilty. I’ll have to make it up to her.
I checked the fish fillets I’d been smoking all night. To be honest, it was more about using the smoke to prevent them from rotting until morning than actual smoking.
I took a bite to test it; fortunately, it hadn't spoiled.
The taste, though... it wasn't like it had been aged in an oak barrel, but the woody scent was overwhelming.
Still, it wasn't inedible. As we were finishing our breakfast, a drone flew over to film us.
I held up a piece of the shriveled fish toward the camera, made a face to show how bad it tasted, and then prepared to start the day.
I took a few sips of water from the makeshift purifier and passed it around. Finding a plastic bottle to hold water was actually better than the survival bracelet.
It’s ironic that one of the main culprits of environmental pollution is one of the best tools in a survival situation.
Perhaps because of the bitter fish, everyone drank a lot of water.
"Is it okay to drink this much?"
"We only have to last until tomorrow. And we can always get more water, so it’s fine."
I took the empty bottle and placed it back under the purifier.
Meanwhile, Eom Soo-hyun, who had gone to fetch more water, poured it into the top of the purifier and went back for another round. It would be nice to have a large 2-liter bottle, but I should be grateful for what we have.
While I tidied up the area, Anna Gyeom checked the firewood stacked near the campfire.
"It’s still not dry. Should we build up the fire more?"
"No, we might have to leave for a game, and there's a risk of a fire starting while we're gone. Let's put it out for now."
Perhaps because they had experience hunting monsters and clearing dungeons, they were adapting easily after just one day. At this rate, we could probably stay for a week and still have a good time.
After everyone took turns washing up, we were sitting around chatting when a signal flare went up.
This time, it was quite far from us.
Sensing the distance was almost malicious, I suggested we take our time. Our stomachs were full and we were well-hydrated, but it was still best to conserve energy.
Since the distance meant we were practically late already, the other two agreed, and we walked to the gathering point.
"Team 4 arrives with total composure! They walk in with the confidence that they can win even with a penalty!"
"Haha, we were just too far away, so we're late."
I gave a bitter smile at the MC’s words and bowed to the gathered Heroes, apologizing for making them wait.
I heard some of the Heroes Han Byeong-sin had brought along grumbling under their breaths, but I ignored them. Yeah, I don't care about you guys.
I glanced at Im Jin-ah, who was wearing a smug, obnoxious smile.
If Ellie did what I told her to do, the internet should be in an uproar right now.
Judging by her face, the PD hadn't told her anything yet.
In contrast to her, the PD looked haggard, as if they’d stayed up all night facing some massive "problem."
That’s what happens when you play favorites with the contestants.
I chuckled inwardly and looked at the game the MC brought out.
Today’s first game was 'Key in the Barrel.'
As the name suggested, you had to retrieve a key from a barrel to open a treasure chest. However, the barrels were filled with all sorts of strange things—sticky liquids, eels, or piles of earthworms.
As expected, since we arrived last, we were assigned the final number.
I’m sure whatever’s in ours is disgusting.
Han Byeong-sin is so petty. His plan is simple: put me on a TV show and humiliate me. It’s a childish prank that he hasn't outgrown since his teens, but he probably can't help himself.
Well, what’s he going to do? Assassinate me? Hurt me?
I have Lee Ru-da backing me.
One punch from the Madam would be enough to rip off not just Han Byeong-sin’s head, but Im Jin-ah’s too. One of South Korea’s greatest powers is my benefactor; they wouldn't dare do anything truly dangerous.
The best they can do is find solace in watching me get humiliated on TV.
"And in Team 4’s barrel is—eek!"
The MC, who was revealing the contents of the transparent barrels, let out a girlish scream and scrambled backward.
The barrel was crawling with cockroaches.
"... ..."
Even for Heroes, cockroaches seemed to be a bridge too far; everyone grimaced.
Eom Soo-hyun and Anna Gyeom stared at the box with blank expressions before locking eyes.
"Uh... let's leave Yeon-woo out of this."
"B-but Soo-hyun, you can't go because you can't participate in consecutive games."
Eom Soo-hyun, bless her heart, was the first to suggest leaving me out. I knew she’d look out for me after that handjob last night.
However, Anna Gyeom’s face turned pale with disgust as she looked at the cockroaches.
"But you want a boy to put his hand in that barrel? You're a woman."
Now, now, let's not have any gender discrimination here.
At Eom Soo-hyun’s words, Anna Gyeom looked at me and bit her lip.
"But... the cockroaches..."
"Are you really going to say you're a woman and you're scared of cockroaches?"
"... ... Yes... I'm so sorry. I don't think I can do it."
Eom Soo-hyun frowned, clearly finding Anna Gyeom’s cowardice pathetic.
I raised my hand to get their attention.
"I'll do it."
"Don't. There's no need to force yourself to do something so horrib—"
"It's fine. I'm not really afraid of cockroaches."
I cut her off and stepped forward without waiting for an answer.
Eom Soo-hyun moved to stop me, but Anna Gyeom held her back.
Ignoring their bickering behind me, I stood in front of my assigned barrel. The cockroaches were swarming inside.
Im Jin-ah, who had been assigned a barrel of sticky green liquid, gave me a mocking smirk.
I gave her the same smile back and looked down at the writhing mass of insects.
"On my count, everyone start at once! 3! 2! 1! Go!"
At the MC’s shout, the Heroes—except for Im Jin-ah—grimaced and plunged their hands into the barrels.
Me?
I didn't like it either, but I’d endured far worse things than a barrel of cockroaches during my torture training. To be honest, when I was actually captured, the "torture" was just being beaten, which was almost disappointing.
Without a moment's hesitation, I thrust my hand into the barrel and quickly snatched the key.
I was lucky; as the cockroaches moved around, I’d caught a glimpse of the key at the bottom.
The MC stared at me, speechless, and the other Heroes who were still rummaging through their barrels stopped to gape at me.
I pulled out the key and shook my hand, sending the cockroaches that had clung to me tumbling to the ground.
The nearby Heroes recoiled in horror. I casually flicked a cockroach off my shoulder and walked toward the treasure chest with ease.
What? Not what you expected?
I smiled at Im Jin-ah, who was staring at me blankly.