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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 33
Chapter Title: The Documentary Shoot
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A sigh escaped her.
In truth, when this plan was being formed, Ha-ra had been focused solely on getting closer to Se-heon. Appearing on TV hadn't even crossed her mind.
But now, looking at the script, she was utterly bewildered. The shooting schedule, starting from the trip to Eonyang, was so detailed it was practically a close-up documentary on Team K.
When Team K came to Eonyang, everyone except for Rae-young, the teleporter, had ridden in a van, and a producer had been assigned to Ha-ra. It turned out every member was getting a camera crew.
Ha-ra desperately wanted to run away. It was only a little while ago that she’d fled, terrified, from shooting a public service announcement about Magic Stone management with Yoon Se-heon!
Kwon Wook smiled at the flustered Ha-ra and asked.
“So, you hate filming so much you’d rather give up on becoming S-rank and live as an E-rank forever?”
*Can't I?* Of course, she wanted to live as an S-rank. But wouldn't living as an E-rank be better than having her face plastered all over television?
Someone like Kwon Wook had been on broadcasts for over a decade, so he probably wondered why she was making such a fuss, but for an ordinary person like Ha-ra, it was just plain scary.
Besides, she still couldn't get used to Kwon Wook cheering her on, telling her to "do a good job." The fact that all these people had been gathered for her quest—that is, for her love life—was still unbelievable.
Clasping the script, Ha-ra rubbed her face with her hands, dumbfounded and mortified.
[The Constellation ‘Cupid’ advises you to enjoy the feeling of being the main character.]
*Please, just shut up...*
[The Constellation ‘Cupid’ advises that love is what makes you the protagonist of your own world.]
*He's really just saying anything now.*
Ha-ra's eyes glazed over.
Including the public broadcasting staff and Team K, there were at least thirty people gathered in front of the Eonyang Gate.
All of them had been assembled by Kwon Wook, who had found out what kind of quest Kang Ha-ra had received in the Yeouido Dungeon.
“The concept is solid, so don't worry. I've already discussed everything with the broadcast station.”
Kwon Wook thumped his chest, telling Ha-ra to just trust him. But that only made it more embarrassing and awkward. Ha-ra hesitated before asking.
“What concept?”
“A concept that will definitely get you a date—mmph.”
“Could you please keep your voice down?”
Ha-ra whispered quickly, having clapped a hand over Kwon Wook's mouth. Just then, Bok-hee, who was nearby, whistled as he walked past. "Ooh, look at the chemistry between you two."
Ha-ra's eyes darted around frantically before she asked.
“The other members of Team K don't all know, do they?”
*Mmph, mmph.* Kwon Wook pointed at Ha-ra's hand, indicating he couldn't speak until she moved it.
When Ha-ra removed her hand, Kwon Wook shrugged, making a fuss for no reason. "Phew, I almost suffocated."
“I told you it was confidential. Of course, they don't know.”
“Know what?”
Ha-ra turned around. It was Lee Rae-young. Team K's teleporter.
“Our little Rae-young is here?”
Kwon Wook smiled and reached for Rae-young's beanie, but was immediately blocked.
Rae-young glared coldly at Kwon Wook and warned him.
“Don't touch me.”
“Aigoo, our Rae-young is so prickly. Did you just get here?”
“Yeah.”
Rae-young glanced at Ha-ra and sighed.
“I knew there was a reason you were working people to the bone with this documentary and special training nonsense.”
Ha-ra flinched. Rae-young was the one who had helped the most with Ha-ra's special training. While Ha-ra practiced her running, Rae-young had studied her skill and figured out its mechanism was similar to a laser.
After a few days of practicing power control and learning how to react to fast-moving opponents like Rae-young in between her running sessions, her skill proficiency had already surpassed 50.
“I'm sorry...”
“Why are you apologizing? Do you even know what I mean? I just hate watching this guy stir up trouble.”
Rae-young was only twenty-four. But she consistently spoke informally and pointed fingers at Kwon Wook.
“What are you planning, using a newly awakened, innocent person like this?”
“Aww, my little Rae-young. If you keep slandering Wookie, Wookie's gonna be sad.”
Kwon Wook made two V-signs in front of Rae-young, wiggling them as he grinned. Rae-young's brow furrowed deeply.
Ha-ra felt awkward and stepped back.
“Don't trust this guy. He's a really insidious person.”
“Um...”
Not knowing what to say, Ha-ra just smiled.
It didn't seem like Rae-young was expecting an answer anyway, as she tossed the donut box she was holding to Kwon Wook.
“I was wondering why the hell you wanted me to bring a donut box, and I find stones inside?”
“You looked? Tsk, tsk, our Rae-young. Always snooping through Oppa's things.”
“You crazy bastard. Then you should've packed it properly yourself.”
Kwon Wook snickered and took the box. Then he glanced at Ha-ra, just as someone from the other side called out her name.
“Ms. Kang Ha-ra! We need to get some B-roll shots now. Could you come over here?”
“Ah, yes!”
She'd never thought she'd be so happy to see a broadcast staff member. Flustered, Ha-ra gave the two a quick bow and bolted in their direction.
Watching Ha-ra's retreating back, Rae-young turned her head back to Kwon Wook.
“What are you planning to do with those? Lie on camera that they came from Eonyang?”
“No, just in case. We can't have something go wrong in the dungeon, not when the broadcast crew is here.”
That morning, Kwon Wook had claimed he'd "forgotten to pack something" and asked Rae-young to bring a donut box from his house.
Wondering why on earth he'd bring donuts all the way to Eonyang, Rae-young had peeked inside the box.
Two A-rank Magic Stones. There was only one place where A-rank Magic Stones could suddenly appear. As the one who had teleported Kwon Wook to Sejong City not long ago, Rae-young narrowed her eyes.
“This is a D-rank dungeon. There's no reason to bring A-rank stones.”
“It's really just in case. They're the only ones I had. Rae-young.”
Kwon Wook brought his fists together in front of his face and asked, feigning pity.
“All Oppa has is money. You don't trust your Oppa?”
“...Should I just kill you?”
Rae-young clenched her fists. Kwon Wook giggled and shook the donut box.
“I'll put them to good use, Rae-young.”
Rae-young scoffed. It had already been five years since she'd joined Team K, heavily indebted to Kwon Wook. But Rae-young knew better than anyone what a shady character the man feigning such a cheerful demeanor truly was.
Rae-young's gaze shifted back to Ha-ra.
*It would almost be better if he was just trying to exploit her for some massive gain.*
*Well, I've got my own problems to worry about.* Rae-young thought, shaking her head.
＊ ＊ ＊
“So, you awakened your skill in the Yeouido Dungeon, correct?”
“Ah, yes. That's right.”
The documentary's concept was simple. It was about Team K helping Ha-ra, who had awakened her skill in the Yeouido Dungeon, to adapt to dungeons.
A concept Kwon Wook had gone all the way to Jeong Yu-jin to get approved.
The fact that Ha-ra was undertaking an S-rank awakening quest was a secret, but the cover story of her suddenly gaining a flight skill was plausible enough.
As a result, the broadcast naturally had to focus on Ha-ra.
“I heard you originally worked a desk job.”
“Yes. I was in the Magic Stone Management Division.”
“That's right. That day in Yeouido, we were both swept into the Gate while filming a public service announcement for Magic Stone management.”
“Ahaha, yes...”
Yoon Se-heon was, in a word, a professional.
As soon as he saw Ha-ra, he greeted her and showed her a list of questions he had prepared, asking which ones were okay and which were off-limits.
She had received a questionnaire beforehand, but looking at these questions, which were even more detailed, Ha-ra was impressed.
Moreover, he showed no awkwardness whatsoever on camera. While filming a scene of them walking through Eonyang's Amethyst Cave Dungeon, Se-heon explained fluidly what kind of place this dungeon was and what the government primarily did here.
“Instead of amethyst, this place produces D-rank Magic Stones. That's why government-affiliated organizations also manage this Eonyang Dungeon consistently. It was originally an abandoned mine, but now, in addition to promoting regional coexistence...”
He spoke so well that even Ha-ra found herself listening, completely captivated.
“There are very few Hunters in the country with flight skills, but it's still surprising that the decision was made to move you directly from a desk job to dungeon deployment.”
“The Hunter's Agency is trained to be practical, so the approval was swift.”
Kwon Wook, the leader of Team K, replied with a smile.
Since the dungeon hadn't been fully cleared yet, monsters would pop out every now and then. The most common monster was the werewolf, and the afternoon shoot ended with a shot of Kwon Wook practically toying with one.
“That's a wrap for the afternoon shoot! Let's meet up after dinner!”
“Yes—”
As he was thanking everyone for their hard work, Kwon Wook swiftly pulled Ha-ra close. It was because of the still-squirming werewolf.
“Ha-ra, can you scan that thing?”
“Uh...”
He was talking about her ‘#HAPPYYOURDAY’ skill.
Instead of the werewolf's birthday, Kwon Wook told her the dungeon's creation date.
“This dungeon appeared on October 8, 2003.”
When she substituted the creation date for a birthday, information about the werewolf surprisingly popped up.
[Werewolf (D)]
HP: 103/103
Skill: Howl (D), Claw (D)
It was brief, but Kwon Wook shook his head, astounded.
“All I can see is its rank.”
With that, Kwon Wook gestured. He meant for her to try hunting it.
But Ha-ra flinched for a different reason. It was because Kwon Wook was holding her, his arm lightly wrapped around her shoulders.
*Th-This is too close.*
Ha-ra squirmed.
But Kwon Wook seemed to interpret it differently, tightening his grip on her shoulder.
“It can't move right now, so give it a shot.”
“But the broadcast crew is on a break...”
*Wouldn't it be too gruesome if blood splatters?* she thought, glancing at him for his reaction. Kwon Wook just shrugged.
“Those people probably came here prepared for it.”
“Just because they came prepared doesn't mean it's okay.”
Ha-ra's eyes widened. The one who said that, while removing Kwon Wook's hand from Ha-ra's shoulder, was none other than Yoon Se-heon.
[The Constellation ‘Cupid’ is pleased.]
