Chapter 153
Chapter 153
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 153
Chapter Title: Deserted Island Feast
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BOOM—!!
A cloud of dust billows up as I land on the ground.
I hadn't planned on crashing down like an idiot, but the slope was too steep, and my foot got tangled midway.
— Viewer Crazy bitch crazy bitch crazy bitch crazy bitch!!! — Viewer SKREEEEE!! —Zzzt, zzzt.
"Hoo—"
As I slowly push myself upright, a gust of hot wind conveniently sweeps away the dust clouding my vision.
"Hand over your neck."
"Hup...!"
"W-Who...?"
— Viewer That's not it!!!! — Viewer No way, she ran down that hill? Does that even work??? "Hand it over nicely while I'm asking."
"Eek!"
—Thud!
The moment I stomp the ground, I close in on them.
Slap—!
A contestant crumples after getting smacked with the flat side of the rubber knife.
— Viewer Goddamn it, Bang Jang-ryeon, that's not how you use it ㅠㅠ — Viewer They said there's a special solution on the blade, you idiot Slap—!
Slap—!
..
..
Beep!
Participant 666 acquires 5 points ◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "...Congratulations, Participant 666."
"Yeah."
"In a game with over 600 entrants, you alone scored 77 points."
"It was a team effort."
"Looked like a one-woman show to me?"
—Zzzt, zzzt.
"Hoo— Just hand over the goods."
— Viewer Ajossi please — Viewer ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ Game Master B, in his black suit and mask, stares at me with utter disbelief.
"All the other participants you faced forfeited the survival game, save for one."
"Want me to make it two?"
Crunch.
"Gasp."
Game Master B flails his arms wide in exaggerated shock.
As if he's some kind of clown, every move he makes is over-the-top and ridiculous.
"I wanna slap you silly."
— Viewer ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ — Viewer Someone sew Bang Jang-ryeon's mouth shut "And kill that godawful music. What is this, disco on a deserted island? You've got some weird taste."
"Haha, thought you'd like it. Too bad."
Snap!
With a flick of B's fingers, the thumping speakers fall silent.
"Well then, the moment you've all been waiting for."
He rubs his white-gloved palms together briskly and steps toward me, then pulls a sheet of paper from his pocket and hands it over.
Everything about him grates on my nerves.
I unfold the paper. It's a list of prizes.
1. Disposable cutlery set: 9P 2. Beer 500mL (1 can): 10P 3. Drinking water 2L: 12P 4. Watermelon (1 whole): 14P 5. Sandwiches (3 pieces): 15P .. .. "Nothing special here."
"Haha, didn't I tell you? It's a simple game, so we kept it casual."
The food items are all perishable, and the rest are meh—nothing game-changing.
"Ga-eul!"
"Yeah, coming?"
Guess Nella finally made it down from the cliff top to the beach.
"Good work out there."
"Haha, my friend did all the heavy lifting."
"Take a look at this."
She snatches the prize list and scans it quickly.
"Whoa. Nothing but junk?"
"Right?"
"Haha, that stings my heart."
B clutches his chest in yet another over-the-top act.
Best thing on here is hammocks, honestly.
"Two hammocks, one mosquito net, one watermelon, five eggs, and Sprite plus fruit cocktail, please."
"Excellent choices."
Snap!
B snaps his fingers, and a staffer rummages through boxes behind him, pulling out the items.
"Friend, I get the hammocks and net, but why the rest?"
"Two hammocks alone are 80 points. Gotta burn the rest on food."
Even with 177 points, no real treasures.
At least hammocks and a net mean escaping those damn bugs—a solid win.
"What about the remaining 50 points?"
B's voice drips with amusement as he drums his fingertips together, dying to know my pick.
"Iron shovel, please."
"Pardon?"
"It's here. Item 17, iron shovel, 30 points."
B tilts his head but fetches and hands over the shovel anyway.
"Friend, what's the shovel for?"
"To bash the other team's heads if they show up."
"Eek!"
I grab the shovel and glare at B, who launches into another dramatic flinch.
"Convert the rest to beer. That it?"
"Yes, prizes distributed."
"Cool, we're out. Nella, let's go. I'll whip up dinner."
"Haha, yeah!"
Days on a deserted island are short.
No infrastructure means everything from scratch—even meals take hours.
"Nella, set up the hammocks and net. I'll hit the sea real quick."
"What? No, it's getting dark. Absolutely not. Eat what we have."
The tide's receding; sun'll drop fast.
But night sea calls to me.
"It's fine. I'll forage in the shallows. You know your job's more crucial, right? Hammocks alone dodge all the ground bugs."
"True, but... night sea's too risky, Ga-eul."
"Just grabbing from the shallows. No worries."
After tons of protests, Nella finally relents with raised hands.
"Sigh, fine. You're Ga-eul—you'll manage."
"Snowy, help Nella. Pretty please."
"Okay!"
I send Snowy over, slap on my phone's dive case like always.
"Kids, let's go."
— Viewer Isn't this too dangerous? — Viewer Sun sets in seconds "Night sea's got the best stuff. Catch before dark anyway."
Sun dipping low, but island heat lingers stubbornly.
Splash!
Body lightens the instant I dive in.
—Bubble.
— Viewer Kerou kerou — Viewer Prettier every time Each kick propels me forward smoothly.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Pffoo! Haa, now that's living."
Ding!
[Croaker Bass]
>82cm [Croaker Bass]
>63cm [Lobster]
>77cm [Sea Grapes]
>68g "Kyaah."
— Viewer Kya insane ㅋㅋㅋㅋ — Viewer Is this for real ㅋㅋㅋ — Viewer Gonna taste so damn good Splash, splash.
Steps feel light.
Like Dad trudging home with chicken on payday, just to see his kids' smiles.
"Soul food croaker bass, two of 'em. Night sea's the way."
— Viewer Would've died if it got darker — Viewer Fr just watching is terrifying Fine with bass, but hope Nella digs the lobster.
"Snowy! Nella!"
"Friend!"
Roll roll.
— Viewer ㅋㅋㅋ Snowy rolling again — Viewer Nella's face half-dead ㅋㅋㅋ Heading to our spot, Snowy rolls a coconut right to my feet.
"Picked that for me?"
"Yeah!"
"Aw, thanks, cutie."
"Yay!"
Squatting to pet Snowy, I glance at Nella—she finally looks relieved.
Snowy's been a handful, huh.
"Nella, check this out."
"Kyaa!"
Show her the skewered lobster, and her eyes go wide as she squeals.
First time hearing her like that. That good?
"OMG, a lobster this big? Never seen one!"
"You earned it today. Let's stuff ourselves silly."
She nods vigorously.
Wish there were long-lasting spices, but nada on the list.
Gotta devour it all tonight—tomorrow it's trash.
"Hahaha! Love it, Ga-eul."
Her heartiest laugh yet.
"Grab a bunch of rocks, heat 'em up, toss the grub on. It'll cook itself."
"On it!"
While Nella hunts stones, time to prep the bass.
Slice thick fillets, crack eggs from prizes into coconut bowls.
Whisk roughly with twigs, dip fillets, slap on hot slate.
Sizzle—!
Mouthwatering sounds echo.
— Viewer Listen to that sizzle — Viewer Just live on the island already Nella returns hauling small rocks while I finish prepping.
"Heh, smell's already killer."
"No flour's a bummer."
"This is plenty."
"Yeah."
B really stuck to one-day perishables. Dirty trick.
Sizzle—!
Nella loaded extra fuel while I was gone—fire's roaring.
"Haa, starving. Starving. Starving."
"Hold on a bit. Half-cook and get sick with no meds? No thanks."
Nella's eyes track the drippings falling from the slate.
"Nella, mind the fire so it doesn't burn. Gotta feed Snowy."
"Got it."
Split the watermelon, scrape some flesh into coconut plates.
Dump in fruit cocktail and Sprite—fruit punch done.
"Come eat, cutie pie."
"Yippee!"
Snowy zooms over from rolling on a coconut.
"Here, try it."
"Sniff!"
Laps the punch, coughs, rubs nose with paw.
"Oops. Too fizzy? Can't handle?"
"Twinge!"
Nose sting from carbonation.
"Got seaweed—I'll cook it up."
"Yummy!"
After a few more nose rubs, Snowy adapts and chows down happily.
"Eat up."
"Yeah!"
Butt-wiggling while eating—likes it, good.
Crunchy watermelon munching fills the air.
"Nella, done yet?"
"......"
"Nella?"
"Huh? What?"
She snaps out of staring at the fire.
"Nella, you're drooling."
"Ack."
Starved, poor thing.
She hands me chopsticks; I flip the bass cutlets—golden perfection.
"All good. Dig in."
"Wooow!"
"Beer too?"
Pssht!
Crack a can for her; drool threatens again.
"Ga-eul, hurry!"
"Coming."
Fill coconut bowls with bass fritters and lobster tails—Nella beams.
"All the tail?"
"Yeah, eat up."
"Yay!"
Feels like raising two kids.
"Ahaha. Friend, cheers!"
"Sure. Cheers!"
"Cheers!"
Gulp, gulp, gulp.
Nella chugs desperately, throat bobbing.
"Kuh! Too happy."
Watching her devour, I sip mine—not great, honestly.
Would've rocked if colder.
Bittersweet, but friends make it perfect.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ CRASH!
Island night sky thunders wildly.
One annoyance gone, worse ones roll in.
"Ga-eul, rain's coming!"
"Yeah. Patch the camp."
"Where you going? Why the shovel...?"
Nella spots the shovel in my grip and gapes.
"They show up at dinner, keep pissing me off."
"What!!? Ga-eul, wait!"
— Viewer Bangjang hold back!!! — Viewer Bangjang-ryeon causing trouble again!! Mega disaster!!! — Viewer Emergency emergency!! CRASH! RUMBLE—!
"Be quick."