Prince From Another Dimension Becomes An Idol [EN]: Chapter 132

#132.

Do Jae watched the screen, tense.

It might be the field he was most confident in, but in a way, it was also the field he was least confident in.

The major historical events before the ancestors weren’t significantly different between the Korean Empire and the Republic of Korea.

However, afterward, things diverged quite a bit.

Even then, some things remained the same, but there were considerable subtle differences.

This was because it was more difficult to remember subtle changes to existing knowledge than to acquire entirely new knowledge.

‘I’ve been lucky so far.’

Things he had been strictly educated on as a prince often appeared in the questions, and there was also a lot of content from books.

In the case of Chinese character problems, it would be odd if he didn’t know them.

Also, to save face, he had been solving past quiz show questions in his spare time before going to bed, which helped.

‘Now, five people left…’

He hadn’t been aiming for the win, but having come this far, he felt like he wanted to win.

It was because he only needed to get a few more right.

The prize money for winning was 10 million won [approximately $7,500 USD], which was quite a large sum.

Because of this, the remaining five participants were also shining their eyes sharply, trying to win at all costs.

“This is a more meaningful question because it’s March. In March 1910, before his martyrdom in China’s Lushun Prison, Ahn Jung-geun [a Korean independence activist] left a phrase as a calligraphy piece, worrying about the future of the country.”

Do Jae quietly looked at the phrase written in Chinese characters.

Even if it were written in Korean, the difficulty would be quite high, but the production team had written the choices in Chinese characters.

‘Ahn Jung-geun…’

Do Jae knew him because he had studied history separately after coming to the Republic of Korea.

‘He’s a great man even in the Korean Empire.’

Perhaps those who are destined to be great are different in some way.

He was someone who had been quite a prominent politician in the Korean Empire as well.

‘His life in the Republic of Korea was the same in its devotion to the country, but it was a very difficult life.’

Do Jae had also studied what he had done in the Republic of Korea, but he didn’t clearly remember exactly what phrase he had written in prison.

“Hmm…”

Do Jae pondered for a moment.

The five participants also hesitated to write down their answers for their own reasons.

Some were being cautious even though they knew the answer, and others had no clue at all.

In the heavy atmosphere, the announcer gave a hint.

“The answer is also a phrase from the Analects [a collection of sayings and ideas attributed to the Chinese philosopher Confucius], Book 14, ‘Xian Wen.’”

“…!”

Do Jae quickly analyzed the choices.

‘That’s not something that appears in the Analects, and that’s not from Book 14… The last one isn’t about the country.’

As he considered this, Ahn Jung-geun’s handwritten letters that he had seen in a history book flashed through Do Jae’s mind.

‘That’s right. That’s it!’

Do Jae’s eyes sparkled.

The announcer immediately asked Do Jae.

“Have you decided?!”

“Yes, I have decided.”

The announcer nodded with an ‘Oh’ expression at Do Jae’s confident voice.

“Okay, time’s up. All the participants have made their choices.”

“Challenger Kang Do-jae’s choice is! Number 3. Can we hear why you chose number 3?”

“見利思義 見危授命 (gyeon-ri-sa-ui, gyeon-wi-su-myeong). When you see a profit, think of righteousness; when in danger, give your life. Even if it is an old promise, if you do not forget it for life, you can complete your personality. I remembered seeing the calligraphy in a photo before, and the other options were not from the Analects, Book 14, so I chose number 3.”

As before, Do Jae explained without hesitation.

Admiration arose on the faces of the announcer and the participants.

Ki Joon was also among them.

“Are you saying you can distinguish whether it’s from the Analects, Book 14, or not?”

“I studied a little when I was young.”

It wasn’t just a little; he had memorized it from dawn till night.

Do Jae deliberately understated it.

‘They’ll really think I came from Cheonghak-dong [a remote village known for traditional scholars].’

It wasn’t out of humility, but he knew that revealing his knowledge would only make the members suspect that he came from Cheonghak-dong.

Of course, it seemed too late already.

“Oh… I heard you’re young, but you studied the Analects! Amazing. I see… Wow. Okay. Challenger Kang Do-jae is confident. What will the answer be… Let’s check what answers the participants have chosen!”

As the announcer shouted “Show us!” in a loud voice, the correct answer and the faces of those who got it right appeared on a split screen.

“…!”

“Oh! Two people! Now there are two people left! Kang Do-jae and Jung Bo-ri, who has a doctorate in engineering from Korea University!”

“Wow…”

Admiration arose among the staff and participants.

Ki Joon watched the screen with his mouth open.

The announcer asked Ki Joon for a message of support.

“Ah. I believe Do Jae will do well on the next question as well. I will sincerely support him from here.”

Do Jae smiled at the calm message of support.

The announcer immediately announced the next question.

“The next question is related to the Olympics. Which of the following is not a sport in the Paralympics?!”

As the choices appeared, tension flashed across the faces of Jung Bo-ri and Do Jae on the screen.

***

[I won on 1 vs. 99 that I told you about yesterday]

In the car returning to the practice room after finishing the broadcast.

Do Jae was leaving a message for his mother.

He had stated to the broadcasting station that he would donate all of the prize money of ten million won to a foundation for children.

‘Now I’m well-off…’

When he first came to the Republic of Korea, Do Jae had to find money somehow because ‘Kang Do-jae’s’ family was struggling.

Also, he could only watch his mother working hard.

However, now Do Jae’s family was quite well-off.

This was because MOST had started receiving settlements, and Do Jae was also earning quite a bit in royalties like Ki Joon.

‘…Kang Do-jae might have thought wisely, actually.’

With a decent appearance and some talent, becoming an idol was the right choice to change his situation without anything to his name.

He wasn’t a great rich man yet, but if he had no problem making a living, he wanted to give back to those who needed love as much as he had received.

His mother was still working, but she wasn’t working while struggling with financial difficulties like before.

She was just working to the extent that she wasn’t overdoing it since she was still physically healthy.

It was also his mother’s will to feel sorry for receiving only pocket money from Do Jae without giving anything in return.

Instead, a hefty set of Korean beef [Hanwoo], which was given as a prize, was securely loaded in the trunk of the car.

He was planning to share it with the members.

‘It feels good to have won in many ways.’

Do Jae smiled as he saw his mother’s message of joy that arrived shortly.

“But the last question was really difficult. How did you know that?”

Ki Joon, who was talking to Jung Gil-joo in the driver’s seat, suddenly asked.

Ki Joon thought the question about the Paralympic sports was too difficult.

But even for that question, Do Jae didn’t guess but knew everything and got it right.

When he heard the explanation, he was rattling off the sports.

“That is…”

The Korean Empire had also hosted the Olympics.

At that time, all the members of the imperial family had naturally participated in the opening and closing ceremonies…

Therefore, Do Jae had memorized all the sports, regardless of the Olympics or Paralympics.

‘I’m glad that all the sports are the same as in that world… I was lucky.’

However, Do Jae couldn’t answer that way, so he mumbled.

“I remember seeing it on TV.”

“Ah…”

“Do Jae, you’re really smart. I knew you were a brain, but this is… Shouldn’t you take the college entrance exam again?”

Jung Gil-joo made a fuss.

But it wasn’t just a fuss.

He was even thinking that it might be right to take the college entrance exam again.

“Why the college entrance exam…?”

“You just went to cyber university without taking the college entrance exam back then. Your grades weren’t that good, but that must have been because of your trainee life…”

“Ah… I haven’t studied for the college entrance exam separately. And it’s not like education is important, what.”

Of course, education wasn’t important as Do Jae said since he was a celebrity.

However, the signboard of a prestigious university still worked favorably for anyone in Korean society.

It wasn’t for nothing that they praised ‘So-and-so from Korea University,’ whether they were an actor or a singer.

“Still… It’s a shame for nothing. I think you would have done well if you had studied.”

It seemed that Jung Gil-joo had the same thought that Ki Joon had for a moment.

Ki Joon quietly nodded as if agreeing.

Only Do Jae had no regrets about other fields.

Even within the imperial palace, Do Jae was proud of his excellent brain and intelligence.

He was praised for his deep knowledge in various fields, and he graduated from the best educational institution in the Korean Empire with excellent grades.

‘But what I wanted to do was sing.’

And these days when he could sing to his heart’s content and stand on stage were more than satisfactory for Do Jae.

***

Shortly after.

When Do Jae and Ki Joon arrived at the practice room.

The members were in the practice room, each practicing individually.

Now, it was a habit for them to practice on their own even without Ki Joon or a separate practice schedule.

Furthermore, they were in the middle of activities, and they had more opportunities to show their faces on various TV shows than usual, so they also had the idea of ​​sharpening their individual weapons.

“Oh! You’re here?!”

“How did it go? Did Do Jae do well?!”

Woo Chul and Heung Min greeted the two happily.

Gyu Seong also shone his eyes as if he wanted to know the results.

“Where did Louis go?”

Instead of answering the members, Ki Joon asked back.

“He’s resting in the studio for a while. I told him to go because he still seems to have a cold. So Do Jae, how did it go? How many stages did you go to?”

“Hyung [older brother/male friend]. Ki Joon hyung went with you…”

Gyu Seong said to Heung Min.

While saying that not asking was a consideration for Ki Joon, Heung Min then asked about Ki Joon’s performance.

“I went up to question 3.”

“Oh… You went further than I thought.”

“Are you teasing me?”

Ki Joon glared at Heung Min as if he was dumbfounded.

Heung Min chuckled and told him to tell him Do Jae’s performance quickly.

“Do Jae became the last one and won.”

As Ki Joon answered, Do Jae, who was standing still, smiled lightly and said.

“Tonight’s dinner menu is Korean beef.”

“You did so well! Do Jae-ya!”

At Do Jae’s words, Gyoo Seong shouted excitedly as if he was about to clap.

“You got a prize. No, that’s not the problem. I knew hyung would do well, but… You really won?”

“What. Are there any that you guessed right?”

Woo Chul and Heung Min poured out questions one after another.

“Not really…”

“He knew everything and got it right. You guys will be very surprised when you see the broadcast. I was really surprised today.”

Ki Joon said again, unable to hide his admiration.

The members also opened their mouths and exclaimed, “Wow…”

“Do Jae hyung’s fans will really like it after the broadcast.”

“Even before, they said he had an elite feel.”

“Now it’s been proven.”

“Hyung. What are you lacking? Face, head, personality… The world is really unfair.”

It was when the members were putting Do Jae in a praise prison.

The door burst open and Louis, with swollen eyes, entered the practice room.

“Hyungs! We…!”

“Why, what’s wrong.”

“What’s going on, why are you so out of breath?”

The members looked at Louis in surprise.

Louis held up his cell phone.