Prince From Another Dimension Becomes An Idol [EN]: Chapter 48

#48.

Buyeo, South Chungcheong Province.

The December morning, just as dawn broke, was so chilly that white breath puffed out as soon as you opened your mouth.

Usually, it would be a quiet time without people, but today the entrance to Busosanseong Fortress was bustling with cast and staff.

Do-jae and Woo-cheol, standing behind the camera, waited while watching the performers filming with curious eyes.

“Okay! Today, we’ve arrived at Busosanseong Fortress.”

“Wow! It’s amazing.”

“Wow.”

“Wow. The scenery is so beautiful, but I’m already worried about what kind of hard work we’ll be doing here.”

The regular members of were a mix of comedians, actors, and singers.

As it was a popular entertainment show, its members were also top-notch.

“Wow… It’s different to come to the set. It’s so amazing.”

“You liked too?”

“Of course! I used to watch it with my grandma every Sunday when I was in elementary school. Well, I haven’t watched it much since I became a trainee……”

‘It was a bit boring in Season 2, too,’ Woo-cheol said in a very small voice so that no one around could hear.

After all, most of the production team for Season 3 was different from Season 2, but you never knew.

Do-jae chuckled and nodded.

Just looking at Woo-cheol, you could tell how long-running was and how much it was loved by people of all ages.

“Come to think of it, what about you, hyung [older brother or male friend]? Didn’t you like it too?”

“Ah…. I don’t really watch comedy shows.”

To be exact, it was because he didn’t have much time to watch TV while taking imperial successor lessons.

Even when he had time, he watched music shows rather than comedy shows.

‘Kang Do-jae’s tastes were similar, so I don’t remember enjoying watching .’

Woo-cheol shook his head at Do-jae’s answer.

“Wow. You really weren’t interested in anything other than becoming a singer, hyung.”

“I’ve seen collections of popular videos. I looked it up a bit before coming this time.”

“Then you must be less nervous, hyung. Ah, I’m getting nervous now that I’m actually here. At this rate, it’s not worth me coming.”

He was so sleepy in the car that he didn’t realize it, but now that he was on set, he seemed to feel nervous.

Woo-cheol moved his body slightly to shake off the tension.

Do-jae patted Woo-cheol’s shoulder.

“You’ll do well.”

“Of course. Otherwise, I’ll get a lot of nagging from Heung-min hyung.”

The member wanted to cast was ‘Kang Do-jae and one other person.’

Gyu-seong and Gi-jun had no interest or will to appear on entertainment shows in the first place, so the other members who could go on were narrowed down to Woo-cheol, Heung-min, and Louis.

At first, they tried to send out Louis, who had a unique character, but he was a minor, which was a problem.

Because filming usually lasted until late at night.

So, what was left was Heung-min and Woo-cheol.

Choosing one of the two was quite difficult.

Woo-cheol was slightly more popular with fans, and Heung-min had the entertainment sense to appeal better to the older cast members.

Furthermore, both of them liked and didn’t want to miss this opportunity.

The company’s position was to reflect the members’ opinions as much as possible.

Because if the company chose without giving them a chance in a similar situation, it could be seen as favoritism.

‘Competing with other teams, but competing within the team means this…….’

Do-jae thought anew.

They got along well, but there was a subtle tension between Heung-min and Woo-cheol over who would appear.

After 고민 [agonizing/worrying] for two days.

In the end, Heung-min gave up the opportunity.

“I get nervous more easily than I thought when I’m not on stage. It was like that at the first fan signing event…. I have to adapt quickly there.”

“……”

“And I think it would be good to promote our team by having handsome guys go out. I’m pissed that Park Woo-cheol is a handsome member!”

It was a largely joking remark.

Woo-cheol looked a little surprised and touched by Heung-min’s decision.

The members also nodded at Heung-min’s decision.

Heung-min having a solo dance break time at the awards ceremony stage must have also influenced Heung-min’s decision.

‘Heung-min hyung has a solo dance then.’

Since it was the set that he came to in that way, Woo-cheol resolved to do well without being nervous.

“Hoo……”

Do-jae looked at Woo-cheol, who was taking a deep breath, with serious eyes.

“Woo-cheol-ah. Do you want to hold hands?”

“Suddenly? That’s gross. I’m not that nervous……”

“I’m trying to keep you from running away.”

“Ah, hyung. Please forget about it! It was because of the stage then.”

Do-jae said, “I know,” and laughed.

Woo-cheol, who noticed that it was a joke to relieve tension, also laughed.

“Okay. Please prepare to enter now.”

One of the approaching PDs [Production Directors] spoke to Jung Gil-joo and the two of them.

Do-jae and Woo-cheol checked their hand mirrors one last time and headed inside the camera’s view.

***

“We’ve invited a special guest after a long time! It’s an idol who has a deep connection with today’s filming location, the fortress!”

“Are they pretty?”

“Ah. Jung-hyun, get a grip.”

“Who is it? I don’t know idols well……”

Even though they had greeted each other before filming, the cast members pretended not to know with feigned ignorance.

Comedian Im Jun-hong, who could be seen as the main MC [Master of Ceremonies], introduced Do-jae and Woo-cheol.

“Rookies of the year! Fortress-dols [Idols who performed at a fortress]! MOST’s Kang Do-jae and Park Woo-cheol! We’ve invited the two of them!”

Do-jae and Woo-cheol went to the center amidst the cheers of the cast members and greeted them politely.

Hana, the oldest actress, reacted blankly, honestly saying she didn’t know who they were.

The other cast members scolded him and introduced the two.

“You don’t know because you don’t take the bus! There’s no one who doesn’t know these guys among people who take the Gyeonggi bus!”

It was one of the reasons why MOST was cast.

The aftermath of the promotional video taken at City Hall was more tremendous than expected.

“You danced at a fortress? Here at Busosanseong Fortress?”

“No. At Haengjusanseong Fortress.”

“I saw that on the internet too! It was amazing! It’s so exciting! It’s so unique to dance at a fortress.”

“Oh, oh. Are you going to do it at Busosanseong Fortress today?!”

All eyes were on Do-jae and Woo-cheol.

“We’ll do it if we don’t get a penalty.”

Woo-cheol, who was expected to say that he would work hard as a rookie, answered playfully, causing laughter from the cast members.

It was an answer that could be given because he knew the atmosphere well.

“Wow. He knows entertainment!”

“These days, kids are scary. Scary.”

Woo-cheol’s shoulders rose at the cast members’ positive reactions.

Do-jae also smiled pleasantly.

“Then I’ll explain the game to get ‘camping supplies’ today.”

The PD came out at the right time and explained today’s game.

“The winner of the opening game, Im Jun-hong, will form a team. The game is to find the five blue water bottles that we’ve hidden all over Busosanseong Fortress and be the first team to reach Nakhwaam Rock at the top.”

“This place is huge! How do we find them!”

“First of all, you have to be fast to get to Nakhwaam Rock first?”

“Ah…. Jun-hong hyung will take all the young friends.”

The cast members made various remarks at the PD’s explanation.

And as the cast members expected, Do-jae and Woo-cheol, who had no choice but to be faster than the others, became a team with Im Jun-hong.

“The winning team will have a very luxurious dinner tonight. The losing team will have a random penalty.”

The PD explained the rewards and punishments of the game for the last time.

‘Random…….’

Do-jae’s face hardened.

***

Im Jun-hong is a comedian who debuted over 20 years ago and has been the top entertainer with the popularity of Season 3 for several years.

For Do-jae and Woo-cheol, who were new to entertainment, it was a great relief to be on a team with him.

Im Jun-hong also seemed to have chosen the two as teammates, intending to help them.

“Okay…. Let’s go quickly! It’s much better because we started 5 minutes earlier than the other teams.”

Do-jae and Woo-cheol nodded at Im Jun-hong’s words.

However, it wasn’t really that advantageous.

Because there were several ways to get to Nakhwaam Rock, choosing the path was more important.

“The road splits from here…. Which way is faster?”

Im Jun-hong muttered as if he realized it late.

“Ah…. Wow! What is this?!”

The VJ [Video Journalist] followed Woo-cheol, who strode towards the sign.

What Woo-cheol pointed to was the sign.

The sign, which should have indicated which way to go to Nakhwaam Rock and how many kilometers were left, was covered.

“Wow. The production team is too much! To make us get lost!”

Im Jun-hong said in an exaggerated voice after discovering the sign.

Do-jae, who grasped the situation, tried to recall his memories.

‘I definitely memorized the internal geography of Busosanseong Fortress…….’

The social and geographical education he received from the imperial family was different in depth from general education.

It wasn’t for nothing that he had to study from dawn till night.

‘The roads are so different that it’s confusing.’

The restored roads were different, even though it was the same Baekje historic site.

‘But what’s certain is that it’s to the west.’

It didn’t matter if he was wrong anyway.

Entertainment was a place where there was fun even if you were wrong.

‘I hope I’m right.’

But Do-jae was serious.

Thinking that he could never be last, Do-jae pointed to the right.

“This way. Shouldn’t we go this way?”

“What’s there? Is that way faster?!”

“Yes. Maybe.”

“How do you know?!”

“That’s…. Just a feeling……”

“What?! I’m worried because these friends are too confident?”

Im Jun-hong, who shook his head as if he didn’t believe Do-jae, twinkled his eyes playfully.

“Then let’s do this!”

“Tell me.”

“If our team loses, Do-jae will take responsibility! Let’s 몰아주기 [shift the blame/responsibility] the penalty!”

In fact, anyone would have easily believed Do-jae’s words at any other time.

Because there was a force in Do-jae’s words that made you feel like you had to.

But this was entertainment.

“Yes?”

Do-jae asked back in embarrassment.

What Do-jae was worried about when appearing on was the random penalty.

But they were going to 몰아주기 [shift the blame/responsibility] the penalty.

“Oh? We’re choosing at this important! First fork in the road! You’re not saying we should go to the right without taking responsibility, are you?!”

You could see that they were trying to 몰이 [gang up on] Do-jae.

There was no way that Do-jae, who was of high status, had ever been ‘몰이’ [ganged up on] by anyone.

Even among the members, Do-jae, who was called a righteous young man, was the object of praise, not ridicule.

‘I just said let’s go to the right…. Is this what entertainment is!’

Do-jae was flustered and embarrassed, which was out of character.

He gave Woo-cheol a look of help, but Woo-cheol smiled and helped Im Jun-hong.

“Okay! Then we can go to the right without 고민 [worrying]! And without taking responsibility! That’s great?”

Im Jun-hong and Woo-cheol burst into laughter and headed to the right.

Do-jae also hurriedly followed the two.

‘Okay. This is the right way anyway.’

But even if he chose the right path, he had to find five blue water bottles.

At this rate, even if he was late because he couldn’t find the water bottles, it would all be Do-jae’s fault.

Do-jae’s pace quickened as he didn’t want to receive a penalty at all.

***

“Aaaaaaah!”

A little later.

A loud scream echoed through the desolate winter forest path.

“Do-jae hyung!”

“Im Jun-hong!”

And then, urgent voices calling out Do-jae and Im Jun-hong followed.

It happened on a steep uphill road just before reaching Nakhwaam Rock.