Chapter 38: Star Mission: Grand Operation (2)

“Huh? This is good.”

Everyone stared at me in disbelief.

“Jeong Taewoo, you really think that’s delicious?”

I took another bite of the hamburger and nodded.

“Yes, it’s sweet and sour. It’s actually really good.”

Gwansu’s eyes widened as he spoke.

“Wow, judging by his expression, I don’t think he’s lying… Should I try a bite?”

I glanced at the PD, since taking a bite could be a problem with the loyalty game rules.

The PD seemed to think for a moment before giving an ‘OK’ sign with his hand.

Encouraged by this, Gwansu said,

“Then I’ll just have one bite!”

And carefully took a bite of the hamburger.

“Ugh! How can you eat this? Is there something wrong with your taste buds?”

“Hahaha! Jeong Taewoo has a great sense of humor for variety shows. You were just pretending it was good to trick someone into eating it, right?”

Kim Jeongguk said with a laugh.

‘It was actually delicious, though…’

The atmosphere had somehow turned it into a situation where I had endured disgusting food just to trick someone into eating it.

“Ahaha, yes… that’s right.”

And so, after eating the bizarre food known as the pineapple hamburger, I didn’t eat anything else.

Because there was really nothing else that looked edible.

‘Ugh, no matter what, I can’t eat bugs.’

It was the next person’s turn, Kim Jeongguk.

“Jeongguk, be a man and just pick one. Just one!”

To the playful words of Hihi, the studio’s comedy character, Kim Jeongguk replied with a laugh.

“Alright~ In that case, I pass!”

The turn went around, and with none of the food touched except for the pineapple hamburger I ate, it came to Yoo Jaeseung, who was fourth in line.

His gaze swept over the various ‘bizarre foods’ on the table.

“Wow, if I don’t eat, it looks like Kim Cheolmin will have to, won’t he?”

At his words, the basketball player Kim Cheolmin, his face pale, looked at Yoo Jaeseung with a desperate plea.

“Well, fine. I’ll just eat one. I’ll take this.”

He pointed to one of the bizarre foods on the table. Everyone’s eyes turned to his choice.

“The food Yoo Jaeseung has chosen is the ‘Green Health Smoothie’.”

“Health? Does the word ‘health’ even apply to this visual?”

Jaeseung protested.

The PD continued the explanation.

“This smoothie is made from kale, spinach, celery, cucumber, and a few crickets, all blended together. It is a very high-protein and extremely healthy smoothie.”

“Pwahahaha! He said crickets!”

As Hihi burst out laughing, Yoo Jaeseung’s face turned red and he walked towards the PDs.

“Hey, PDs. You didn’t just say crickets, did you?”

“That is correct.”

“Wow, this is insane.”

The studio erupted in laughter at Yoo Jaeseung’s flustered reaction.

Of course, given the nature of variety shows, it was likely an exaggerated reaction for entertainment,

but as someone witnessing it firsthand, it was genuinely funny.

The change in Yoo Jaeseung’s expression, the tremble in his voice, and the reactions of the other cast members combined to create a perfect variety show moment.

In order, Song Jihee, Jin Seokjin, and the fencer Lee Changseop each chose and ate one of the ‘bizarre foods’.

Their reactions were all different.

Song Jihee bravely took on the challenge but teared up after eating, while Jin Seokjin’s funny face as he forced it down drew laughter.

Lee Changseop, with the determined expression of an athlete, wolfed it down.

The special item they obtained for their efforts was a golden coin with a ‘W’ written on it.

“This coin is called the ‘One More Chance Coin’. Only one person undertaking the impossible challenge can receive an extra opportunity.”

The PD announced the next part.

“Alright, we will now move to the location for our first mission game, the fencing game.”

Hihi said playfully.

“Seokjin, why are you even looking at the item? It’s not like you can use it!”

“Hey, I could be amazing at it!”

“Old man, are your knees okay?”

Everyone burst into laughter, and we began to move in a friendly atmosphere.

As we boarded the bus, Kim Jeongguk asked me.

“Taewoo, I really love soccer. If you have time later, would you like to come play with us?”

Yoo Jaeseung chimed in.

“Jeongguk, I told you, you’re bad at soccer. Why are you trying to bring Jeong Taewoo there?”

“No, I am good at soccer. That time was just a mistake!”

Kim Jeongguk loved soccer, but among the studio members, he was teased for being terrible at it.

He was revered as the ace in games,

but when it came to his favorite sport, soccer, he often showed clumsy and awkward plays.

“Haha, if you invite me, I’ll come.”

“Oh, really? Hahaha, let’s go to the gym together later too, Taewoo!”

‘Huh? Why the gym all of a sudden?’

‘I don’t even like working out at the gym that much…’

I had forgotten. The man in front of me was someone who lived and breathed for the gym.

As we continued our back-and-forth banter, we arrived at the mission location.

“Whoa, what is this place?”

As everyone got off the bus and gasped in awe, I let out a gasp of my own.

‘Wow, this is really incredible.’

The scene unfolding before our eyes surpassed all our expectations.

“Yes, the fencing mission you will perform here is ‘Surpass the Speed of Human Reaction’.”

The PD began his explanation.

“Lights will appear on this giant circular structure every second. You must use these special épées to accurately hit the lit spot and turn it off.

You have three minutes, and if the entire group can turn off a combined total of 100 lights, the mission is a success. Anything less than 100 is considered a failure.”

‘It looks like an archery target.’

The circular structure the PD mentioned looked like a giant archery target.

It had several concentric circles drawn on it, with devices that could light up installed between each circle.

Yoo Jaeseung suddenly spoke up.

“Hey, shouldn’t we at least get a practice round?”

“Yes, we will give you 30 minutes of practice time.”

Yoo Jaeseung complained again at the PD’s words.

“Hey, that’s all you’re giving us? Most of us have never fenced before!”

Everyone nodded in agreement with Yoo Jaeseung’s point.

Thirty minutes of practice time certainly seemed far too short for everyone to get a turn, and although we didn’t know how big a number 100 was, it was clear we were at a disadvantage.

Why were we at a disadvantage?

Because apparently, you’re always supposed to be at a disadvantage at the beginning.

But the PDs didn’t budge at Yoo Jaeseung’s words.

“Fine, okay, so that’s how you’re gonna play it. Changseop, show them. Show them the skills of a fencing gold medalist.”

We had all agreed to speak casually on the way here, so the initial awkwardness was completely gone.

“Yes, I’ll give it a try.”

Lee Changseop, befitting a fencing gold medalist, stepped up confidently, but he ended with a low score of 15.

However, no one could say anything about this record.

Lee Gwansu complained.

“Hey, does this make any sense? Some lights turn off in less than two seconds, and sometimes five light up at once. How are we supposed to get 100?!”

Following Gwansu’s complaint, Jin Seokjin added.

“Yeah, and why are the lights so small? It looks like if you don’t hit them precisely, it doesn’t even count.”

“That’s why it’s an impossible challenge.”

“I’ll give it a try.”

The show’s official ace, Kim Jeongguk, also tried, but he too managed a meager score of 5.

“This doesn’t make sense. The circle is too big, and the lights turn off too fast.”

‘Hmm, it doesn’t look that hard…’

I’ve never fenced before, and the difficulty was clearly high, but if it was just about accurately touching the spot with the épée, it seemed like all you needed was quick reflexes.

‘And from my perspective, they don’t even look that fast…’

“Should I give it a try?”

I suggested carefully, and Hihi immediately responded.

“That’s right! Reaction speed is what’s important for that. Isn’t our Taewoo’s reaction time world-class?”

Song Jihee chimed in.

“Right, our Taewoo’s reflexes are as amazing as his face.”

“Hahaha, are my reflexes on the level of the gods?”

Lee Gwansu looked at me with an incredulous expression.

“What, is he saying his face is on the level of the gods right now?”

He thought for a moment, then continued.

“Wow, but I want to argue, and I can’t. Ugh, if you’re that handsome, you shouldn’t be good at sports too, but he’s even a soccer player? Ugh, ptooey ptooey ptooey. Just go ahead and have it all.”

“Alright, then I’m off to have it all.”

I held the épée and got into a ready stance.

Feeling the gazes of everyone around me, I took a deep breath and gathered my focus.

“Ready… start!”

At the PD’s signal, I focused on the circular structure with the épée in hand.

As soon as the first light appeared, I reacted instantly and touched it accurately with the épée.

The score went up with the sound of the light going out.

‘This is easier than I thought.’

When I was watching, I thought it had some level of difficulty, but actually doing it was much easier than I expected.

“Maybe it’s because he’s a goalkeeper, but even his fencing stance looks like a keeper’s.”

That was right.

I was subconsciously in a goalkeeper’s stance.

My center of gravity was low, feet shoulder-width apart, one slightly in front of the other, ready to move at any moment.

The hand holding the épée was extended forward, as if trying to catch a ball.

Lights appeared in succession, and I moved quickly, turning them off one by one.

5, 10, 15… as the score climbed, so did my confidence.

“What, he’s good at this too?”

I heard Lee Gwansu’s dumbfounded voice, but I didn’t lose focus.

20, 25… the score kept rising.

I started to get into a rhythm.

Predicting the pattern of the lights allowed me to score even more efficiently.

‘This is pretty fun.’

I thought, a slight smile playing on my lips.

It was then.

Suddenly, lights appeared at the top and bottom at the same time.

“What, that’s basically telling you not to even try!”

Unlike the previous times when simultaneous lights were close together, these were at the very top and very bottom.

‘I think I can do it.’

I quickly bent down to turn off the bottom light first, then immediately straightened up to turn off the top one as well.

As the two lights went out in quick succession, gasps of amazement erupted from the crowd.

“Incredible! How did he get both of them?”

“Wow, what is he? How does he move the instant the light appears? Without even any time to think…”

I smiled briefly at their reactions but immediately refocused.

I was now completely in the rhythm, moving and predicting the light patterns.

As I passed 30, the reactions from those around me grew even louder.

But it was as if I couldn’t even hear them, focusing solely on the lights.

In the final moment,

I stretched my body as far as it could go to extinguish the furthest light, and at the moment the light went out,

“Time!”

the PD’s shout was heard.

Looking at the final scoreboard, the incredible score of 42 was displayed.