Chapter 111
I returned with a huge amount of ice cream from the village youth association chairman.
It was lunchtime, so everyone else had returned as well, and they were stunned when they saw what I had brought.
"How on earth did you get Häagen-Dazs on this island?!"
"There's Natuur, too? This island doesn't even have a convenience store?!"
"Wow... Seriously... Teacher Kang always exceeds my expectations."
I explained what had happened to them.
They were dumbfounded when I said the village youth association chairman had given it to me, but honestly, who doesn't like ice cream for dessert after a meal?
Their bewilderment quickly turned into delight.
"Let's eat it after lunch."
I put all the ice cream in the refrigerator.
The freezer was packed full.
Would we be able to finish it all by the time we went home?
"If any of the staff would like some, you're welcome to come and have it. Of course, it's not free. We'll give you a mission, and only those who complete it can have some."
"What?!"
Producer Jang Woo-gyeong was flustered, but we cast members stood our ground.
Just as we'd won beef by completing missions, if they wanted ice cream, they could finish the missions we set for them.
Jang Woo-gyeong and Ppuhong didn't know what to do, but eventually nodded.
The actors enjoyed the sight.
"As expected, you understand broadcasting."
"They must want to show themselves being put through it, too."
"Because it gives the audience catharsis."
The three actors spoke among themselves, then gave me a thumbs-up.
It meant I'd done well.
It wasn't really for the sake of the show; I just didn't want to give away free ice cream.
"But how are we supposed to do the missions?"
"Teacher. Do you have anything in mind?"
"Something I have in mind... How about beating me one-on-one at Halli Galli?"
Go-stop would actually be best.
But that would be difficult to air, so let's go with this.
"Wow. That sounds fun."
The actors nodded.
Then they each prepared a mission of their own.
Kim Hyun-woo chose a fishing competition.
They would go out together, and whoever caught something first would win.
Lee Bin chose chicken fighting.
And Kang Sora chose a game of gonggi.
"If you've got the guts, come and take me on!!"
Lee Bin's bold shout.
It brought to mind Zhang Fei at Changban Bridge.
At any rate, the staff sprang into action as soon as he shouted.
Even if they weren't particularly craving ice cream, what staff member could ignore a hint from a producer who knew this would help with filming?
"Teacher. Please go easy on me."
Jang Woo-gyeong sat down in front of me.
"But is Actor Lee Bin good at chicken fighting?"
"Yes. When I appeared on another program last time, I beat ten people at it."
"Wow. No wonder he's so confident... Then what about Ms. Kang Sora?"
"She won a gonggi game on that same show. It was a New Year's special, and that's when she became famous."
"Ah-ha."
I already knew Kim Hyun-woo was good at fishing.
"But Teacher, are you confident? I've never lost at Halli Galli, either."
"Haha. I see. Actually, neither have I."
Go-stop was what I was best at, but back at the orphanage, I'd also made a name for myself as the undefeated king of Halli Galli.
"Heh-heh. Then let's begin!"
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.
.
"Why..."
Producer Jang Woo-gyeong backed away.
Next up was the camera director.
"Wow. Teacher Kang, you're no joke!"
"I'm pretty good."
"Heh-heh. I've never lost at Halli Galli anywhere I've gone! I'll take you on!"
"Yes. Then let's begin."
A short while later, the camera director lost, too.
Next was the youngest member of the directing team.
"Ho-ho-ho!! My friends call me the Queen of Halli Galli!"
"I see. Let's play."
They were eliminated in no time.
"Eek..."
The youngest member of the directing team lost, too.
Several others, including Ppuhong, challenged me after that, but I won them all without incident.
"Wow, Teacher. How are you so good at this?"
"Heh-heh. Back when I was at the orphanage, they called me the undefeated king of Halli Galli."
"Wow... That's no joke."
An AD, marveling at those whose pride had been badly wounded and who were crumpled in a corner, looked around.
It seemed everyone was done.
I'd beaten everyone, but some of the other actors had lost, too, and several people collected their ice cream.
"This is really good."
"Wow~! It's so sweet~!"
Seeing the winners intoxicated by the sweetness, some of those who had heard me felt their desire to challenge me return.
Some of them had already lost to me.
"Right... It was a fluke. Just a fluke...!!"
"How could anyone keep winning like that?"
"Exactly, right? I'll win this time!!"
"Heh-heh. I saw it! I've figured out Teacher's winning pattern!!"
Those who had lost to me stepped forward again.
Perhaps they wanted to prioritize their pride over the ice cream, because they challenged me once more.
"Teacher! Let's have another round!"
I was happy to accept a rematch, but if I left things alone, it would never end.
"That's fine, but let's raise the stakes a little."
"W-what are you planning...?"
"If you beat me, I'll give you two ice creams. But if you lose...
...."
"You'll sleep outside."
"Gasp..."
"Urgh..."
"S-sleep outside...?"
"It's summer, so you can sleep on the wooden platform. No one's face will freeze crooked, so there won't be a problem."
Those who planned to challenge me tensed up.
But that lasted only a moment.
"Sounds good!!"
"I'll take you on!!"
And so, five new people challenged me.
And their outdoor sleeping arrangements were decided.
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.
.
Filming ended.
The people who had slept outside did wake up looking like homeless people in the morning, though.
Still, filming ended without incident.
But that didn't mean we could return immediately.
"They say the wind is too strong for the boats to run. Just as expected of you, Teacher."
"The boats won't be running for about three days. So let's get plenty of rest here until then."
Filming for this episode was over.
Since we couldn't leave the island for three days, all we could do was hang out here.
I opened the laptop I'd brought.
I could spend the free time grinding some dungeons...
"Teacher Kang. Would you like to go fishing?"
"Fishing? I didn't bring a fishing rod."
"You can use mine."
"Let's do that."
And so Kim Hyun-woo and I headed for the rocky shore on the island.
Just as we'd found a decent spot and started moving our rods through the water,
Kim Hyun-woo spoke.
"The president told me yesterday. He said he'd successfully signed Ari."
"Yes. I heard, too."
The president had left on the last boat.
Before leaving, he'd met with me and told me he'd successfully signed a contract with Yu Ari.
"It doesn't seem like he plans to put Yu Ari to work as a child actor right away."
"That's for the best."
Yu Ari's acting was outstanding.
But it was practically still unprocessed talent, so it needed to be properly honed.
"We've agreed to take care of that."
"When you say 'we'..."
"Senior Kang Sora and I. That's why... Teacher."
He cautiously began to speak.
"Do you think we can do it? I mean, can we do a good job?"
Could they become the teachers of a child with overflowing talent?
What if they ended up rendering that light useless instead?
That was what he feared.
"Here."
I took a card from my pocket and held it out.
When he looked at the card and turned it over, I told him about his future.
"The two of you alone probably won't be enough."
"I see..."
"But you don't need to worry about that part."
The two of them weren't the only ones who wanted to raise Yu Ari properly.
The president of Twin Entertainment felt the same way.
The three of them would join forces to raise Yu Ari, and before she became an adult, Yu Ari would become Korea's greatest actress.
And she would go on to become known overseas as well.
She would become a true world-class star, so there was no need to worry too much.
"I see... I see. That's a relief. Truly."
"It won't be a major problem, so don't feel pressured."
"Hahaha. If that's what you say, Teacher, I have to believe you. Uh... But, Teacher."
"Yes?"
"I think the bobber just moved..."
"Oh."
He was right.
When I pulled on the fishing rod, I felt a heavy weight catch in my hand.
I reeled it in quickly, and something came up.
"Wow. A bigfin reef squid."
It was a squid about as big as my forearm.
This would be delicious as sashimi.
"Let's catch a few more."
We caught six bigfin reef squid and two flounder.
When we returned to the lodgings, those who wanted to relax were relaxing, while those who had work were working.
"What did you catch? Oh. Bigfin reef squid!"
"Let's eat this as sashimi. And let's use one of them to make squid-and-pork-belly bulgogi for dinner later."
"Perfect... It would be nice if we had some soju, too."
"I think they sold it at the village market."
"Then I'll go buy some."
Lee Bin headed out.
In the meantime, I looked to one side.
Yu Ari, who had come over while we were fishing, was learning various things from Kang Sora.
"Wow! Noah hyung!"
It felt a little awkward hearing a girl call me hyung...
"So. I heard you signed the contract?"
"Yeah!! The president said Twin Entertainment is your company!"
"To be precise, I'm not the only investor. Anyway, we'll raise you well, so don't worry."
"Yeah! Thank you, hyung!!"
"No need to thank me."
If you grew up well, Twin Entertainment's value would rise, so it was good for me, too.
I gave Yu Ari, who was grinning broadly, a casual wave.
"Come and have some sashimi!!"
Before I knew it, Kim Hyun-woo had sliced the squid into sashimi, and even the staff gathered around at his shout.
"Wow. Thank you so much."
"We'll enjoy it!"
"How can we ever repay you?"
"Haha. You staff share your food with us, too."
Even though we'd been stranded on the island for three days.
No one was anxious.
The reason was simple.
"Don't worry. Everyone will get off the island safely."
A casual fortune-telling was enough to put everyone at ease.
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.
.
We escaped the island.
Or rather, after three days, the wind died down enough for us to take a boat off the island.
"Thank you for all your hard work!!"
"See you next time!!"
After saying goodbye to the filming crew, we headed for the parking lot.
"Let's go, Teacher."
Cheolhon, who had come with me to work as my manager and bodyguard, began driving.
When we arrived home, he grinned.
"Teacher. You really worked hard."
"What are you talking about? You worked hard, too, Cheolhon."
"Oh, come on. What did I even do?"
"Anyway... Tell me if you're planning to see your girlfriend."
He hadn't been able to see her for nearly a week because he'd been with me.
He nodded with a smile and went inside, and I went inside my house, too.
Whew, that's a lot of laundry.
Laundry first...
-Brrrrring!!
My phone rang.
I wondered who it was, and saw...
"Ms. Yu-na?"
It was Han Yu-na.
What could have happened all of a sudden?
-Noah! How have you been?
"I've been doing fine, as always. But what is it?"
-So... Last time, we went to the Land of Dreams and Hope, right?
"Oh. Dazney Land? Right. Why are you suddenly bringing that up...?"
-Would you be interested in going to the Land of Thrills?"
The Land of Thrills?
"You don't mean Gyeongju World?"
-Yes!
This was an absolute must.