Chapter 88

If we can't debut, we'll get a disease that will kill us 088

...The Extreme Fear Experience team, surprisingly, formed groups in a rather common-sense manner.

"Two, two, three, that should work."

"Phew..."

The cowards' faces brightened up a bit at the thought of not being alone, especially Kim Raebin's.

"Then... how should we divide up?"

"I want to go with Hyung Cheong-woo!"

"Me too!"

And suddenly, Ryu Cheong-woo's popularity skyrocketed.

'...Indeed, he is particularly reliable in this area.'

Ryu Cheong-woo glanced around and then chuckled, saying,

"Ha ha, then including me... hmm, Raebin and Moon Dae, let's go as a group of three?"

"Thank you!"

"Hey~ That would be no fun! Hyung Cheong-woo, you have to be in a pair for it to be interesting!"

Daesejin started to stir the pot.

'That kid is really something.'

It seems the fear movie acting was all part of the act.

"Hmm, is that so?"

"Of course!"

...And due to Daesejin's persuasion, Ryu Cheong-woo agreed, leading to a setup where the last person to win rock-paper-scissors would choose all the groups.

"Wow, it turned out like this."

'Shit.'

The most unbelievable thing was that Daesejin survived until the end.

'Usually, the one who says such things ends up failing, right?'

Daesejin grinned and quickly formed the groups.

So, I ended up...

"Uaaaaa!!"

"Let's go! Let's go!"

Paired with Daesejin and Cha Yujin, I was about to explore the haunted house.

It was a combination that made my eardrums feel like they would burst before we even started...

I barely managed to ask Cha Yujin,

"Didn't you say you weren't scared of horror movies?"

I thought she wasn't afraid of ghosts but was weak against creepy things. But Cha Yujin was jumping like she had stepped on a live frog with every step.

"Watching is fine! I just don't like the real thing! Fake ones are okay!"

"..."

'In a way, this is completely fake...'

But this isn't something I can persuade her about, so I'll let it go.

Instead, I asked Daesejin,

"Why did you choose me?"

"Well... it's a call of conscience? I wanted to be in a group of three, but it wouldn't be fair to have a strong heart in the group?"

"..."

"So I decided to show the glorious overcoming of three cowards!"

He's barking like a dog.

...Hmm, don't forget there's a camera on our foreheads.

"...Let's move first."

"Right. Let's go~"

"We need to hurry..."

We need to think about the shortest distance.

"But Moon Dae, where do you think the 'ominous signs' might be?"

"..."

That was also a problem.

In this 'Invitation to the Haunted House,' each group had a mission to find and photograph 'ominous signs.' At least one!

"They said if we find and photograph a lot, we'll get a gift! Let's explore and give it a try!"

"...I like that!"

Cha Yujin, who seemed to be hooked on the idea of gifts and exploration, started to show off.

There's no reasoning with her.

"...Then, let's go through the corridor and enter the smallest door."

The largest and most noticeable room probably has staff waiting, so...

"Usually, they hide these things. We should start with the less noticeable ones."

"Wow, good idea~ So the one who came up with the idea should lead, right?"

"..."

I really want to quit.

But being in front is better than being at the back, so I chose the lesser evil and stood at the front.

"Right."

"Wow~ That's cool! I'm scared, so I'll go at the back~"

Daesejin, who didn't want to put Cha Yujin at the back, went to the back himself, showing a determined look to get more reaction shots.

"Let's go!"

"Let's go!"

"..."

I slowly moved through the corridor. Inside the dark wooden building, the musty smell of mold stung my nose.

"Moon Dae! There's blood over there!"

"!!!"

I almost cursed. I just turned my head and gritted my teeth.

"Don't scream so much...!"

Daesejin obediently looked apologetic.

"Got it, sorry~?!"

"Uaaaaa!!"

"??!"

...I turned my head to the front.

There was a woman. She was wearing a uniform that looked like it belonged in a 50-year-old B-movie.

But she had no feet.

And no eyes.

Just covered in blood.

"Kyaahhhh!!!"

"Kheeeehh! Run!"

...As we ran into the next room with the screamers, I realized this group was already doomed.

* * *

"..."

When we came out, the sunset was setting.

It meant we spent an hour getting out of that crazy haunted house.

'A 25-minute course.'

I had no idea how embarrassing it would look on TV...

"..."

"My throat hurts."

"Yours too? Mine too."

The two of us, who had screamed our lungs out, were drinking electrolyte drinks given by the production team.

Of course, Daesejin, who was half-joking, got what he deserved.

Seon Ah-hyun, who seemed to care about the ragtag group that took twice the expected time, spoke up.

For reference, Seon Ah-hyun and Lee Sejin, as a duo, took 20 minutes to take three photos and find the exit.

...It was a wake-up call in many ways.

"Was it... okay?"

"...Yeah. Just okay."

This was an experience I couldn't understand why anyone would pay for.

'Even if they paid me, I'd still think that.'

If I only got minimum wage, I'd never go in again.

"Moon Dae worked hard~ Hey, thanks."

"Thank you!"

Since it was all recorded, there was no nonsense about claiming he carried the team. I slowly nodded.

But at least we came out with photos, which was better than running away.

"Phewww..."

"We're back."

The last team, Ryu Cheong-woo and Kim Raebin, returned after 35 minutes, and the PD started talking again.

"Great job~ Now it's time for dinner!"

"Seriously... is dinner also extreme?"

"Of course!"

"Kheeeehh."

If there were no cameras, there would have been a riot. Instead, there were only sighs of exasperation.

"Extreme~ whole roasted pig!"

"Kheeeehh!!"

"Whole roasted pig!"

Fortunately, the production team wasn't completely clueless and seemed to know it was time to ease up.

Soon, a whole roasted pig started to turn over the fire in the field next to the haunted house.

'It's already cooked.'

From the heat, it seemed the fire was just to keep the meat warm.

Regardless, most of the members were happy with the impressive visuals, except for Kim Raebin, who still looked shell-shocked.

"Let's enjoy this~"

"Thank you!"

The taste wasn't as overwhelming as it looked, but the meat was always delicious.

* * *

The gift we received for the photos taken in the haunted house was... animal pajamas.

'Another set added to the collection.'

With the gifts, I had more than five sets.

Judging by the seven sets given, it seemed the production team wanted the members to wear these during the reality trip.

'Not too difficult.'

So, at 8 PM, all the members sitting in the living room of the cabin were wearing animal pajamas.

"Three cowards did well, so we're all wearing them."

"I like it."

"Cute, and I like it."

Seeing the members enthusiastically talking, it seemed they were already becoming proper celebrities.

Anyway, from now until bedtime, it was free time.

But of course, it didn't mean we could do whatever we wanted freely.

'It means they want us to come up with some content on our own.'

Whether it's a karaoke game, a board game, or writing heartfelt letters to each other, they want us to do something comfortably.

"Umm~ We're bored. How about a truth game?"

Like that.

"Truth game?"

"Yep. I saw a lie detector earlier."

"Really? That sounds good."

But then, Kim Raebin, who had been thinking about something, interjected.

"Hmm, since we spent the day playing, how about doing something productive in the evening?"

The ominous keyword made the members snap to attention.

"Productive...?"

"Raebin, you don't mean... making something...?"

"Yep!"

"..."

A brief silence followed.

But surprisingly, Lee Sejin spoke up.

"...What do you want to make?"

"A new song."

"-!? What?"

"A, a new song?"

"Yep. I actually worked on a song a while ago! I even brought a portable recording device, just in case."

Kim Raebin excitedly brought out his bag.

At that moment, everyone started to desperately try to talk him out of it.

"Hey, Raebin! This could be a spoiler~"

"Right. It's better to start after this activity is over."

"...? Is that so?"

Kim Raebin, looking surprised, put down his smartphone. He clearly hadn't expected this reaction.

'...He may lack social skills, but he's not stupid.'

Let's try to align with him.

"Is this new song not for the next album's title track?"

"Ah, no!"

Kim Raebin finally got the hint.

"It's for a fan song!"

"Ah!"

A lightbulb went off.

If we react with 'That's a bit...', it could be edited to make it seem like we don't want to make a song for fans.

Of course, it's not the production team's editing now. It's the fans' editing.

[Scene from today's Testa Reality]

[Good vs. Not so good, Testa's divided opinions]

...I could already see this dominating the community.

Fortunately, Daesejin spoke up.

"Fan song sounds great? I've always wanted to make one!"

Let's support him.

"Sounds fun. The timing is right too."

"...It's okay."

"Seems good."

The sudden change in stance made Kim Raebin look proud.

"Thank you...!"

It wasn't intentional, but this was the only time I saw Kim Raebin win politically.

* * *

On a quiet weekday afternoon, Testa's fans were enjoying revisiting the content poured into the activity period.

-This is the best music video interpretation on VTube (link)

-A reaction video of classical musicians to the magical boy theme!

-When did they do a high-five in red pajamas on a music show? :(

└It was last week's Music Night!

└Thanks! :(

After winning 1st place over VTIC, the aggro from Testa's fans trying to start a fight with VTIC fans didn't escalate into a major issue.

Since VTIC had already finished their domestic activities, their fans were willing to let it slide.

Thanks to this, Testa's fans were enjoying a relatively peaceful time when they received an SNS notification.

It was from Testa's account.

'Who is it?'

Due to the frequent visits by the members, the fans clicked the notification without much tension.

[Will you accept my heart? (VTube link)]

'Accept my heart?'

'...??'

'Not related to love, right?'

Fans, half worried and half confused, clicked the link.

And they saw the thumbnail of seven people in animal pajamas.

'...!!'