Chapter 65
Chapter 65
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 65
Chapter Title: Episode 23. Audio Star (1)
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The Pobokjeoldo rehearsal kicked off.
Today's rehearsal was going smoother than usual.
It was probably because of the new face, Nemid. Not just the staff, but even the comedians on stage were putting in extra effort to avoid any slip-ups and make a good impression.
Jo Woo-kim PD raised his voice.
"Okay. That's a wrap on rehearsal. If only we always put in this much effort."
Everyone let out an awkward chuckle.
Of course, they'd been giving it their all up until now. But today, they were especially focused to look good in front of Nemid.
With rehearsal done, the audience started filling the seats.
Nemid opted to watch the Pobokjeoldo corner from the audience instead of backstage.
There's a world of difference between viewing from behind the stage and sitting in the crowd. Kang Han-do had deliberately seated her there.
He wanted to show her his performance firsthand.
Nothing grand about it. He just wanted to let her see, "This is the kind of work I do."
Finally, the curtain rose on Pobokjeoldo.
The audience cheered and applauded, hyping up the show's start.
The Game World corner used to slot in around the middle, but as the program kept gaining popularity, it got bumped to the latter half.
The hotter the corner, the further back it went. Not an ironclad rule, but a strong trend.
Once the preceding corners wrapped up, it was finally Game World's turn.
Kim Sang-hun gathered his team like a true leader.
"Alright, let's do this. Hands in. One, two, three!"
"Fight!"
"Let's crush it this time too!"
It was their tried-and-true pre-performance ritual from Game World's early days.
Huddling up like this and pumping each other really helped.
They took the stage. The moment Kang Han-do appeared, Nemid couldn't help but clap lightly without thinking.
She'd seen his acts plenty on TV. But this was her first time watching live.
Kim Sang-hun, playing Player 1 in an adventurer outfit straight out of the game, approached Kang Han-do.
"Let me see. You're the weapon merchant NPC, right? Hey, mister. Gimme a weapon. A longsword."
"Heh heh. Which of these two?"
The two longswords Kang Han-do pulled out looked worlds apart.
One was a gold-plated gold sword. The other was a battered longsword with a dulled edge.
"Uh, that one. The gold sword. Looks powerful."
"200,000 gold."
"Gasp, that's steep. I'm short on cash... Eh, no choice. Gimme the one next to it then."
"300,000 gold."
"What?! Why's that longsword pricier?!"
"Despite the looks, this is a legendary sword. One swing and it drops boss monsters. Powerful stuff. You buying?"
Kim Sang-hun fell deep into thought.
"Fine. If I'm buying, might as well go big. Legendary sword it is, mister."
"Here you go. Trash sword—er, legendary sword."
"Hold up. Did you just say trash sword?"
"Huh? Nah, must've misheard."
Kang Han-do delivered his deadpan act flawlessly. Not just the expressions—his gaze, the little hand gestures too. His HSL-honed mugging was now pro-level perfection.
Kim Sang-hun took the so-called legendary sword (maybe) with suspicious eyes.
Then Lee Yo-su, playing Player 2, stepped up.
"Mister, show me some weapons."
Kang Han-do pretended to fall head over heels for the sultry Lee Yo-su.
"Got this killer weapon in. Gold sword. Just 500 gold."
"Store rip-off!"
Kim Sang-hun jumped in.
"Hey, mister! You sold me some legendary-or-trash mystery sword for 300,000. And her? 500? You messing with me?! Plus, you said 200,000 earlier!"
"Seemed like a good time for a sale."
"No lies! Cough up my hard-earned 30,000 gold!"
"Should've timed your visit for the sale."
"Then gimme this sword! It's on sale now, right? Cheap?"
"2 million gold."
"It's even pricier!!!"
Kim Sang-hun wailed. Laughter exploded from the audience.
In that moment watching the stage, everyone's happiness levels spiked above average.
The man delivering laughs to the people—that was Kang Han-do.
* * *
After the stage wrapped.
Kang Han-do finished greeting his seniors.
Meanwhile, Nemid was handing out drinks to the staff, saying they'd worked hard.
"Ah, Han-do-ssi! Great job. Here's some coffee. Or soda instead?"
"When'd you get these?"
"I stocked up before heading to the studio today. Kept 'em in an icebox. Then right before recording ended, I dashed out by car to grab them. Small cans, but handing them out makes all the difference in impression."
Her manager instincts were spot on.
Kang Han-do said to Nemid out of the blue.
"Sorry."
"Huh? Why the apology all of a sudden?"
"Honestly, I thought you weren't manager material. But you're doing way better than I expected."
This was their first time working together, of course.
But Kang Han-do could tell right away.
Nemid had what it takes as a manager. It just clicked.
Nemid shrugged.
"Wanna know the secret?"
"What is it?"
"Just keep a positive mindset. Believe it'll all work out. That alone sparks courage out of nowhere."
Nemid's signature infinite positivity—that was her edge.
'I should pick up some of that while working with her.'
Positivity's a good thing.
Even for Kang Han-do, whose job was making others laugh, he had to be happy first.
You can't spread joy if you're miserable yourself.
That was his creed.
* * *
Jo Woo-kim PD, practically living at the broadcasting station these days.
He stroked his chin beard in the bathroom mirror.
"Time for a shave."
His beard didn't grow fast. But with his packed schedule, he kept forgetting for days on end.
Thus, the scruffy chin beard became his trademark. Without it, people said he didn't look like himself.
Still, he couldn't skip shaving forever.
Just then, a guy finishing up in the bathroom spoke to him.
"Need a razor? Got some disposable ones left. Want one?"
It was Woo Sang-cheol PD, Jo Woo-kim's cohort.
"Disposables kinda suck. Always get nicks."
"That's cheap ones. Mine are premium—no cuts, use away."
"You're just giving it free? You're not the type to hand out even small stuff without strings."
"You know me well."
Woo Sang-cheol PD chuckled softly.
Being cohorts, they knew each other inside out.
"Got a favor to ask."
"What?"
"You know the show I direct, right?"
"Course. Audio Star."
The late-night terrestrial talk show topping ratings—that was Audio Star.
Fixed MC Ryu Jin-wook plus three panelists. They invited guests weekly for music-laced talk.
"Ratings have been slipping lately. So I'm aiming to boost 'em big time. Thinking of booking some Pobokjeoldo comedians as guests. Could use your pull."
"Our guys?"
"Yeah. Pobokjeoldo's killing ratings, and they've got big names. Save me here—just this once. I'm lending you a razor."
"You punk. Trying to settle a favor with a disposable razor?"
"So what do you want? Cash?"
"Don't even joke about risky stuff. Nah, kidding. Friend in need? I'll help if I can. Then you'll owe me one later."
That's how they rolled—helping each other out.
"Anyway, who from our crew? You must have candidates."
"Three teams in mind. First, 'Shall We Meet Now?' team. Second, 'Come On In!' team. Last, 'Game World' team. Thoughts?"
"All top-billed teams riding high."
"To pump ratings, need that lineup. I rate 'em equal. Whichever schedules align, I'll book the whole team."
"Guess you'll sync with agencies then. Not my call."
"Just getting your input. Which team can shine in talk, show personality? You've vibed with 'em on Pobokjeoldo forever—you'll know who pops on variety talk."
"Hmm."
He'd be lying if none came to mind.
Jo Woo-kim PD had two ace teams in recent sight.
Not one, but two.
"'Shall We Meet Now?' and 'Game World' team. One of those."
"Oh yeah?"
"Schedules should be fine. Most are fixed only on Pobokjeoldo, guest elsewhere sporadically. Except Han-do. Now, which one?"
Jo Woo-kim PD pondered.
His thoughts trailed him out of the bathroom and down the hall.
That's when.
"Oh my, Jo PD-ssi?"
A lovely voice caught Jo Woo-kim PD and Woo Sang-cheol PD's ears.
Turning, Jo Woo-kim PD immediately recognized her.
"You're Han-do's manager, right? Name was..."
"Nemid here. Had business nearby, so I stopped by. Didn't expect to run into you. And who's this?"
"Woo Sang-cheol PD. Cohort with Woo-kim."
"Oh, really?"
Jo Woo-kim PD introduced Nemid to Woo Sang-cheol PD.
"Han-do's manager, huh. We were just debating which Pobokjeoldo team to book for Audio Star."
Audio Star. Nemid knew the show.
Hearing that.
Nemid wasn't one to stay quiet.
"Mind if we three chat seriously?"
Nemid's eyes gleamed.
This was...
The scent of opportunity!