Anxiously awaiting the interview results!
Anxiously awaiting the interview results!
Mystery Rich Building.
Reception desk employee Kim Jin-seo was, honestly, a little flustered.
No.
She was very flustered.
'...She was really an interviewee?'
She scanned the girl in front of her once more.
A little girl whose outfit looked like she should just buy a chocolate milk from the convenience store and go home.
But this little kid.
An interviewee for the '14-Day Desert Island Survival Project'?
And a streamer?
"...Haah."
Kim Jin-seo pressed her throbbing temple firmly.
'Lord. Why do you give me these trials.'
Most of the interviewees who visited the building arrived in luxury imported cars, adorned in designer brands.
Because they were all streamers who had made a name for themselves.
In comparison, this kid was just...
Small and cute.
Not just a little cute, but seriously, insanely cute.
To the point where, looking at her, you felt like meddling and wanting to take care of her.
Isn't a desert island too dangerous?
Can't you just hold eonni's hand and go to an amusement park instead?
Kim Jin-seo's thoughts went off on a tangent.
Finally shaking off her wandering thoughts, she thought to herself.
This little kid.
No, the streamer named Reels is still a guest who has visited the esteemed Mystery Rich building.
And she herself is the reception desk employee.
Kim Jin-seo then, with a polite tone, changed her attitude professionally and began the guidance.
"Well then, please follow me."
"Yes."
The little kid named Reels followed along with short, quick steps.
Dulleong.
Dulleong.
Dragging Crocs bigger than her feet across the marble floor.
......
Arriving at the elevator, Kim Jin-seo swiped her employee card.
Ttirik.
The private elevator doors slowly opened.
"Wow."
A small exclamation of admiration burst from beside her, and Kim Jin-seo turned her head slightly.
Reels was peering inside the elevator with sparkling eyes. Her appearance was so cute that her gaze automatically went to her.
"...Is it fascinating?"
"Yes. This is my first time riding an elevator with glass walls on all sides."
The high-speed elevator began to move.
34th floor.
The floor where Mystery Rich's private office was located.
Kim Jin-seo suddenly became curious.
Why this cute little creature had applied for desert island content.
"But, Reels-nim."
"Yes?"
"Aren't you scared of going to a desert island? There might be snakes, you know."
She couldn't send this angelic kid to a dangerously perilous desert island.
'I'll scare her so she gives up on her own. She looks like a kid anyway.'
Little kids are usually afraid of snakes.
That was Kim Jin-seo's thought.
Reels, who had been looking at the view outside the window with wonder, smiled brightly.
"Snakes are a good source of protein."
"...Pardon?"
"I heard they're super delicious. They taste like chicken, apparently."
"......."
Kim Jin-seo's temple throbbed even harder.
*
The elevator soon arrived at the 34th floor.
Ding.
As the doors opened, a wide lobby revealed itself.
And.
"Whoa..."
There were a ton of people.
"Noona applied too? On a desert island, you can't even wear makeup."
"I wouldn't have applied if it wasn't for Mystery Rich's content."
"Well, just showing my face on broadcast makes it worth it anyway."
Most of them looked like famous streamers.
The interviewees were exchanging greetings, seeming to know each other.
Honestly, I don't really know who they are.
Except for documentaries, I'm not particularly interested.
I'm just guessing because they're wearing clothes with luxury brand logos.
Standing in the long line, I unwittingly pulled my hoodie sleeves down to my fingertips. My heart is pounding.
Hoo... don't be nervous.
Just think of it as a convenience store part-time job interview.
Relax. Relax.
Calming my mind, I looked at the long line stretching ahead.
'Is this person an interviewee too?'
A man of massive build was standing in front of me, his physique enormous.
He was incredibly tall. 190cm?
Broad shoulders, and his arms were as thick as my thighs.
But that bear-like man.
Keeps glancing over here.
"...."
Why is he looking at me so creepily?
Don't tell me.
Is he into... Lolitas who like little kids?
Every hair on my body stood on end, and my body flinched.
If that huge guy threatened me, I'd probably pee my pants right there.
At that moment.
The huge man slowly turned his body towards me.
"Gasp...!"
I instinctively stepped back.
I clenched my fist and assumed a battle stance.
'Should I kick him in the groin?'
No matter how much they train, since they're a man, they wouldn't have overcome their weak spot.
I can vouch for that as a former man myself.
Gomachkom.
If you get hit in the groin, you can't move.
But without a word, he rummaged through his pocket.
Tuk.
He held out a candy in front of me.
It was cola flavored.
"...Uh?"
Avoiding my gaze, the man mumbled.
"Eat it."
"......."
I alternated looking at the candy and the man for a moment.
Then I bowed my head obediently.
It was because I'm the type who never refuses something free.
And my mouth was feeling a bit bored.
"...Thank you."
I tore open the wrapper and put it in my mouth; a refreshing cola flavor spread.
Omnyomnyom. Mashisseo.¹
He was a kind person.
*
After a long wait, my name was finally called.
"Reels-nim."
"...!"
I, who had been squatting down in the hallway, was startled and jumped up from my spot.
I quickly crunched and swallowed the cola-flavored candy I had been holding in my mouth.
Because it might seem rude to be holding a candy in my mouth during an interview.
After all, when it comes to interviews, first impressions are everything.
Yeah. You bet.
Following the employee's guidance, I entered the interview room.
Dal-kak.
As soon as the interview room door opened.
"...Uh?"
The atmosphere inside stirred.
A long table.
Filming equipment and cameramen.
And three men sitting at the table.
In the center, naturally, was Mystery Rich.
Just like I'd seen in his videos.
With a handsome face, an expensive watch on his wrist, and wearing a friendly smile.
Next to him were Mystery Rich's friends I often saw in his videos.
One of them, arms crossed, looked at me and widened his eyes.
"Hey. What's this, a kid walked in?"
The other man also had a baffled expression.
"This guy is crazy."
He said to Mystery Rich.
"Why are you letting a little kid like this interview for content even adults can't handle?"
How unfair.
Even if I look like this, I'm twenty years old.
Ever since my body changed, I'm completely treated like a child.
I'm a proper adult!
Feeling awkward, I was just fidgeting with my hoodie sleeves.
Mystery Rich was silently looking at me.
With all those eyes on me, I felt intimidated for no reason.
I'm an I.²
After observing me squirming for a good while, Mystery Rich suddenly chuckled.
"...That's seriously fascinating."
"What is?"
When the man next to him asked, Mystery Rich rested his chin on his hand and said.
"Reels-nim, even though she looks so young, she's 20 years old."
"...Huh?"
"Really? You're lying."
How unfair.
Why won't anyone believe me?
From the bus driver ajussi.
Not stopping at the reception desk assistant.
Even the interviewers.
I'm telling you I'll pay the adult fare, so why won't you accept it!
In the end, I pulled out my wallet from my pocket.
"I have my ID."
"Really?"
The man who had been crossing his arms held out his hand, half-jokingly.
Meaning he wanted to see if it was real.
With a face full of unfairness, I approached him and handed over my resident registration card.
[Resident Registration Card]
06XXXX-4XXXXXX
Seoul City, Eunpyeong-gu...
"...Uh?"
The man's expression hardened.
The man next to him also leaned in.
"Whoa, shit."
"It's real?"
"Born in 2006?"
"Crazy."
In the photo was a girl with exactly the same spaced-out expression I had now, looking blankly at the camera.
And the last digit of the resident registration number.
Clearly, it used to be a 3.
But now it was changed to a 4.
I don't know the reason either.
When I checked it at home, it was already changed.
Anyway, it was fortunate.
At least it meant I wouldn't get dragged to the police station over my ID.
"Whoa... It was real."
After getting my ID back, I patted my chest in relief for no reason.
On the other hand, the interviewers still seemed unable to believe it.
"That thing is really an adult?"
Thing?
What did you just call me?
Don't point at people like they're objects.
They stared intently at my face again, as if amazed.
I could tell just by looking that they were thinking something like, 'She's totally a little brat.'
Mystery Rich, who had been looking at me intently, suddenly burst into laughter.
"Puhahaha... This is seriously insane."
He rested his chin on his hand, looking amused.
"Reels-nim is a total veteran of survival games, you know. Even though it's all just from turning on the broadcast a few times with no mic, no cam."
"...Huh?"
I blinked in surprise.
He saw that?
That sleep-inducing broadcast?
The one with zero viewers?
Suddenly my face felt hot.
To think Mystery Rich saw my cringe history.
Embarrassed, I spread my palm and fanned my hot face to cool it down.
To be honest, it would be a bit embarrassing if my broadcast time was zero hours, so I was just trying to fill some time.
All I did was turn on some survival games I liked to play a few times.
Mystery Rich still looked extremely amused.
"No, seriously, it was hilarious, you know? Other streamers, when they play survival games, they usually try to push the story, kill monsters, and see the ending, right? But Reels-nim just settled on an island alone. And she didn't even try to leave."
"Th-That's because! The scenery was pretty...."
I have something to say about this too.
The island was really beautiful.
The emerald sea was pretty, and the lush green forest was pretty too.
Besides, everyone has different ways of enjoying games.
Mystery Rich, still unable to suppress his laughter, rested his chin on his hand and stared intently at me.
"That's why I'm so surprised."
He chuckled.
"Honestly, I thought you'd be a hairy man."
"...."
Mystery Rich continued, looking at the papers on the table.
"The application form itself was weird from the start."
He read the characters one by one, clearly, as if reading from a textbook.
"Reason for wanting to participate in this content."
Then, looking at the document, he giggled for a while before continuing.
"It looks fun."
The interview room went quiet for a moment.
The cameraman, Mystery Rich's friends, everyone was gauging the atmosphere. In the silent atmosphere, Mystery Rich held his stomach and laughed.
"Puhaha... Just six words and that's it. This is the first time I've seen someone submit a Mystery Rich content application form like this in my life. Isn't this seriously insane?"
Only then did the cameraman filming and his friends burst into laughter.
"Phew. Looks like the Mystery Rich channel still has a long way to go."
"Whoa. That's crazy. We better work harder."
Overwhelmed by the wave of embarrassment, I avoided their gaze.
This is obviously them making fun of me.
No, I didn't think they'd actually call a hakko³ for an interview.
That's why I just half-assed the application form. So unfair.
Fidgeting with the edge of my hoodie sleeve out of shyness, Mystery Rich looked at me with a meaningful gaze.
"But Reels-nim."
"...Yes?"
"Do you really want to go to a desert island?"
"Yes."
"Is it the prize money you want?"
He tapped the table with his finger.
"Or the fame?"
His eyes had changed slightly.
He was still smiling like before.
But I felt like he was peering deep into my soul.
I felt an indefinable pressure from him.
I guess big-time streamers automatically learn Conqueror's Haki too.⁴
I hesitated for a moment, then opened my mouth.
"Having both would be nice, but..."
"Oh."
"Wanting to actually go and see was a bigger reason."
The man next to him asked back with a hint of amusement in his expression.
"...Pardon? You say you want to go to a desert island?"
Is this guy stupid?
Of course I want to go to a desert island.
Escape this noisy world, listen to the scent of fresh grass and the chirping of insects, and fall asleep watching the stars embroidered across the sky.
How romantic is that?
Imagining my solo desert island life, I got a bit excited.
"You know, that desert island romance. Catching fish with a spear, building a shelter stitch by stitch, struggling to make a fire."
"...."
The interviewers' expressions were strange after hearing my words. I ignored them and chattered animatedly.
"Don't you think it would be incredibly fun? Going back to caveman days and living like my brother!"
The interview room fell silent.
Then Mystery Rich slowly smiled.
"Who is 'my brother'?"
"My brother. Grylls hyung...."
"Aha. That person."
After that, the interview ended quicker than I expected.
The question was, if I could bring one item to the desert island, what would it be?
Of course, I said I'd go empty-handed.
That would be cheap cheat items.
"Good work. Please be careful on your way back."
"...Yes."
I gave a slight bow to them and left the interview room.
Dal-kak.
As soon as the door closed, all the tension drained away.
"Haah."
I honestly have no idea.
Did I do well?
Or not?
To be honest, from the middle I got excited and started rambling.
"...Ah."
Suddenly I wanted to do a blanket kick.⁵
What have I done in front of Korea's number one Nutuber?
From the middle, the interviewers' expressions were weird too.
...I messed up.
I pulled my hoodie hood down firmly and walked out of the building.
Gangnam streets were still bustling with people.
Expensive cars.
Shiny buildings.
Well-dressed people.
"If I fail, I'll just have to find a part-time job again."
I sighed involuntarily, worrying about living expenses.
If it was just me, maybe, but Baby's food costs are no joke.
I think his food expenses are more than mine.
But.
Can I even do manual labor with this body?
I looked down at my arm.
Thin.
I felt like I'd break my wrist just carrying a single brick.
"Is a convenience store possible?"
But this was also a problem.
With this face, if I worked part-time at a convenience store, there'd be tons of nasty customers.
Trying to trade soju for pigeons.
Asking for cigarettes when I clearly look like a minor.
Getting naggy when I ask customers who leave their trash to clean up.
With my current appearance, which looks easy to push around, everything seems overwhelming.
At that moment.
Ttiring.
My smartphone in my pocket rang.
"...?"
I turned on the screen without much thought.
And froze on the spot.
[You have been selected as a final participant for the '14-Day Desert Island Survival Project'. Congratulations.]
I blinked my eyes, then rubbed them and looked at the screen again.
The acceptance message was still there.
"...Huh? Really?"
