Chapter 324
The meeting between the Man Team and the Gamer Team takes place in virtual reality.
It’s much more vivid than a video conference, has no distance constraints, and if you just add a function to the map, the system can even handle automatic translation—truly a wise choice.
Still, there are many who insist that signing contracts in person is better, but these people are figures tied to gaming, and above all.
The other party is a foreigner. From the production staff to the hosts.
After entering the capsule, Seo Jun input the invitation code he’d received and moved to someone’s lobby.
No separate app was needed. The lobby was the ultimate metaverse.
“Hello.”
“Hello, Seo Jun-nim.”
This was Oliver, the producer of this special program.
“Hello, PD-nim.”
“Nice to meet you. You’re early.”
“Am I?”
“Yes. Could it be because you’re so familiar with capsule controls? Hahaha.”
“Hmm…….”
Even Seo Jun, whom Tae-u called the world’s worst technophobe, was familiar with capsule controls.
To begin with, he rarely forgot things after doing them only once.
He just didn’t read manuals. Really.
“It was a joke. Hahahaha! It’s simply that Seo Jun-nim keeps his appointments and is a rather diligent person, that’s all. Ah, for the record, I’m well aware you’re not good with machines.”
“Why?”
How does he know?
Did that spread around too?
“A producer must know everything about their cast, inside and out.”
Fair enough.
“Bear-nim and Ryan-nim seem comfortable with capsules as well.”
Hadn’t Ryan already revealed himself as a Challenger?
And it’s famous that virtual reality is used in the military.
Coming from special forces backgrounds, it’s no wonder those two would handle capsules well.
“That’s true. So you must be even more careful. Can you be absolutely certain you’ll win?”
“We don’t know the rules yet…….”
“Yes.”
“I’ll win.”
“Hahahaha!”
It wasn’t the PD’s laugh.
The sound came from behind, not in front.
“Hello, Seo Jun streamer-nim.”
“Hello, Bear-nim.”
It was the host, Bear.
“You’ll need to be even more careful in the game.”
Bear smiled coolly as he threw Seo Jun’s words back at him.
That remark about being stronger in the real world.
‘He even showed his synchronization rate, though.’
But strength, in its usual sense, and survival ability aren’t the same kind of strength.
“Well, we’ll see.”
“Hahaha! I enjoyed the historical records.”
“Thank you.”
He laughs heartily. Then Ryan entered, and after exchanging greetings, they and the producer took their seats.
For reference, even in virtual reality, he sparkled.
Ryan was a star-like person.
“And the last cast member?”
He meant his team member.
Strangely, people always seemed to want to surprise Seo Jun.
They asked if it was okay to keep it a secret, and he didn’t particularly care.
It was highly likely the person who’d be on his team would be a stranger.
So it didn’t matter who it was.
That producer had to make the show a proper success; he wouldn’t bring aboard some weirdo.
It would be nice to know beforehand, but they could just get to know each other gradually.
So.
“Oh! They’re arriving now.”
“Yes.”
There should be no problem, definitely.
Hmm.
Looking at the last person entering, Seo Jun let out a silent groan.
Because there was a problem.
Whether it was a big problem, not really.
But it did send a slight chill down his spine.
“Hello, Seo Jun-nim.”
That was because the gaze that person fixed on him was quite overwhelming.
Right.
A rival.
It was the look you give a rival.
It had been the same when they did Lios.
Seo Jun had sensed all of it and had immediately felt it was no coincidence he’d appeared in the historical records.
“Hello, Baek Do-yul pro-nim.”
Why are you appearing here.
And as teammates, no less.
* * *
“First of all, as this is a special program, more than usual—far more!—we will pour our utmost effort into safety.”
The producer first rattled off a list of points about their safety.
It was an obvious matter, really.
You can never be overly cautious about safety. No, you should actually strive for that.
Moreover, Baek Do-yul and Seo Jun commanded astronomical appearance fees.
Seo Jun gazed at Baek Do-yul, sitting beside him and listening intently.
‘Should I be thankful he’s not a divine sword user?’
If he had been a divine sword user, broadcast or not, Seo Jun would have prepared immediately to assassinate him.
It was truly dangerous.
He’d never take it lying down, but wasn’t it just a hassle?
If he got targeted on public broadcasting for the pitfalls of reckless online streaming all because of a divine sword user, only Seo Jun would suffer.
Imagine if a special feature article ran: ‘Who Turned the Divine Sword User Into This?’ or something.
“Yes. Even with these preparations, there will certainly be danger. It’s truly dangerous, so please pay close attention and take the safety training that follows seriously.”
“Yes.”
Listening to the explanation, it didn’t sound terribly dangerous.
They would go to a remote region, but it was an area already surveyed in advance.
It was a wilderness where anything could happen, but not the kind of terrain with jungles or crevasses.
“First, you will face off in the wild.”
“What’s the method of competition?”
Baek Do-yul, unable to contain his passion, asked.
“Survival is the program’s theme.”
“Yes.”
“So the side that survives better will win, right?”
That was obvious.
The producer grinned and explained the criteria.
“But as it is a competition, we will decide the winner by a slightly special method. Bear, Ryan, listen closely as well.”
It seemed he was revealing it to those two for the first time as well.
“You will each be dropped on two separate deserted islands.”
Deserted islands.
The backdrop of survival. It was standard.
Much safer and easier to control than places like jungles.
But that didn’t mean they could take it lightly.
“The distance between the two islands is considerable. You can never travel between them by swimming alone. No matter how much of a veteran you are.”
Is that really so?
Seo Jun was curious, while Bear and Ryan began contemplating it seriously.
“For reference, you can’t see each other with the naked eye. So, once you arrive at your deserted island, you won’t be able to tell which direction your opponents are in.”
“I see.”
“In that situation, you will explore the island to find the flags we have hidden, build a raft, explore further, approach your opponent’s island, and plant your flag on their beach first. That’s how you win. Here, the flag must not get wet. If it does, you must dry it at your original island and set out again.”
So that was why. As if swimming was impossible.
Trained people cross the Atlantic Ocean. Though, of course, not without rest.
Anyway, they were making it cumbersome.
This wasn’t just telling them to survive. It was telling them to survive first, and then accomplish something beyond that.
“What will we be given?”
“The Man Team will be given exactly one item per person that they want, excluding basic clothing. The Gamer Team will be given two items per person.”
An advantage.
Because they weren’t survival experts.
But.
“Hahaha! Do you perhaps think that’s too stingy?”
“Perhaps?”
Baek Do-yul answered with an uncertain voice.
In truth, the producer had asked the question while looking at Baek Do-yul’s face.
“Yes. It might feel insufficient. But on a deserted island, the value of each of these tools, one by one, will be truly immense.”
That was correct.
So he should step up.
“PD-nim?”
“Yes?”
“We don’t need an advantage.”
Baek Do-yul turned his head sharply to stare at Seo Jun.
“E-excuse me? Cast member? What do you mean?”
“I mean our team wants to receive the same, one item per person.”
“Uh……. Um……. No…….”
Oliver’s instincts screamed a warning. Madly.
This was a crisis.
How many of Seo Jun’s videos had he watched?
If he mishandled this, there could be a tremendous provocation, and one of the two hosts could suffer endless agony.
Giving up the advantage was fine.
First, be calm.
‘Fortunately, Bear and Ryan are just laughing it off.’
“Hoo, are you truly alright with this?”
“Yes.”
“What about Bear-nim and Ryan-nim?”
“I don’t mind either.”
“Whatever’s convenient.”
Seo Jun was greatly underestimating the wilderness.
But it was fine. The goal of the wilderness stage was never to give the Gamer Team a chance to win anyway.
Giving them items was more like making sure they wouldn’t struggle too much.
But if he said he didn’t need them himself.
“Very well. However, cast member Baek Do-yul must also agree. Now, let’s have a brief discussion time. Discuss what items you want while you’re at it.”
* * *
Baek Do-yul was holding a grievance.
He hadn’t come this time to compete against Seo Jun.
Quite the opposite.
Sure, he might internally compete a little when going hunting or something, but nonetheless, he had come ready to cooperate properly.
Even though there wasn’t much time left to prepare for the real league.
There would probably be a few weeks left even after all the filming ended, but it would be tight.
Others were already starting to build teamwork.
But it was fine.
He believed that through cooperating, not just competing, with his soul rival Seo Jun, he could grow even more.
His coach agreed.
There was no room for doubt that Seo Jun possessed something extraordinary.
However.
Wasn’t this taking things too lightly?
How dangerous was survival?
They were alone in a space with only the two of them, but the cameras were rolling.
The producer had mentioned that content from the meeting could be aired after seeking permission if it was needed for the broadcast.
“Baek Do-yul pro-nim, it seems you have a complaint.”
“Let’s exchange greetings first. It’s been a while.”
“Indeed. I was disappointed not to see you even once in the historical records.”
What’s this? Was he taking a jab?
“Hahaha.”
Still, it would have been a disaster if he’d been seen there.
He acknowledges Seo Jun.
Especially how he found the shadow mastermind.
He himself had been beaten due to a lack of information, but even with the information, he probably couldn’t have found them the way Seo Jun did.
Truly a worthy rival!
“Then let’s talk about other things a bit later, after the meeting ends, and for now, Baek Do-yul pro-nim. Do you happen to have a different opinion on giving up the two items?”
He does.
Many.
What on earth was this confidence?
“It’s less a different opinion and more that our survival…….”
“Ah, Baek Do-yul pro-nim.”
“Yes?”
Why cut me off this time?
“Perhaps, do you need something besides a sword?”
“…….”
“The champion of the world?”
“…….”
“Even if it’s the wilderness?”
* * *
“Did you have a good discussion?”
The producer beamed at the participants who had gathered again.
Ryan nodded back at him with a satisfied smile.
“Let’s hear it then. The items each of you wants! To the streamer team, if you say two, we’ll give you two; if you say only one, we’ll bring you one.”
“Yes.”
“Who goes first?”
“Let’s start with our side.”
Ryan raised his hand slowly over his shining head.
“Yes.”
“The items we want are…….”
Would he say ‘nothing’?
“Are the items the streamer team wants. We’ll just take those as they are.”
“Aha. I understand.”
That’s a light pressure for them to also choose only one item per person.
Seo Jun gives a small smirk. And answers.
“Then may I state our choices?”
“Yes.”
Two survival tools to bring to a deserted island.
What would they choose?
“The first is a telescope.”
A telescope?
Were they planning to immediately figure out where the opponent’s island was?
A good choice, but if the other side also received the same item, had they considered that situation?
Following that, Seo Jun spoke the second item.
“……A sword.”
“Pardon?”
Oliver had been lost in other thoughts and missed the first part.
Still, he caught the talk about a sword.
‘He chose the item he needs most well.’
“A longsword.”
“Pardon?”
“Give us a longsword.”
“…….”
“Longsword. Don’t you get it?”
“…….”
Bear, Ryan, and Baek Do-yul all seemed to have their faces sour for a moment too.
Heh heh.
Was it fortunate this was being recorded, or should he stop the broadcast right now?
Oliver fell into serious contemplation.