Chapter 68

68

I confidently fixed my name tag and walked with Kim Sung-hyun. Joo Woo-sung, who was also participating this time, came forward with one of the Black Call members.

[The archery rules are simple! Each team has two participants who each shoot three arrows, and one arrow is shot by the ace member.]

"Who's your ace?"

"Obviously, it's me."

"Is that so?"

Joo Woo-sung shook his head. When this scene was caught on screen, the cheers from the fans were incomparably louder than before.

I knew Black Call was quite popular, but it was a bit surprising to feel it directly.

An announcer approached to interview Joo Woo-sung and asked seriously with a microphone.

"Mr. Joo Woo-sung, you were the first place in the archery category of 'The Champion is Mine' last time, right? Can you share your thoughts on this year?"

"Haha, I'll do my best again this time."

Joo Woo-sung gave a textbook answer that left no room for criticism, but then our eyes met. He smiled playfully.

"I'll win at least against him."

"……"

My eyebrows twitched. The camera didn't miss this. My extremely annoyed expression was displayed on the main screen, and laughter filled the venue. The announcer's energetic voice continued.

"Yes! The two of you, known as close friends in the entertainment industry, have a fierce rivalry burning! At this point, we should also hear from Mr. Seo Ho-yun, right?"

"He is a respected senior."

I corrected the mistake without missing a beat, but Joo Woo-sung clicked his tongue.

Sure enough, once the bait was thrown, the entertainment industry would keep milking it.

[That's what it means to be real friends.]

[When I hear close friends talk, I get goosebumps.]

I denied it sincerely, but it seemed that no one, including the on-site crew, believed me.

"Mr. Joo Woo-sung's determination is directed at Mr. Seo Ho-yun. Mr. Seo Ho-yun, can you share your own determination? What mindset will you bring to the competition?"

The announcer smiled and held out the microphone. If being known as close friends and bickering didn't hurt my image, I might have been more honest, but I decided to play it safe.

I slightly bowed my head to get closer to the microphone and said,

"I'll just do my best."

[Ohh~~! Mr. Joo Woo-sung, you don't consider him your rival!]

How did it come to this?

[That's a very confident statement, isn't it? It's like, 'I'm definitely first place! There's no way he can be first!' Right?]

[It's intense!]

Joo Woo-sung let out a slight snort and picked up his bow. I did the same.

I heard that Joo Woo-sung won first place in the last competition and created many memes, but I had to win first place no matter what.

I didn't have the luxury to worry about Joo Woo-sung, who wasn't even my preliminary opponent.

I pulled the string of the bow without nocking an arrow. Hmm, not bad.

Just then, Kim Sung-hyun, who had just finished a short interview with the announcer, approached and whispered,

"Apparently, the distance has been increased this time?"

"What?"

"It's not 15 meters. It's 25 meters."

"What, that wasn't mentioned."

As I frowned, the crew kindly explained.

[There's a change from previous years, right?]

[Yes. The idols were so good at archery that they kept breaking the camera lenses! The production team has had to cry many times. So, this is a special measure by the production team.]

[The distance is changed from 15 meters to 25 meters! Will any idols break the lenses this time?]

"10 meters... That's quite a big difference."

Kim Sung-hyun muttered worriedly. It seemed his concern was justified, as most of the members from the other groups who started first only scored 5 or 6 points.

[Indeed, the increased distance makes it more challenging, right?]

[The average score has dropped significantly! It used to be around 7 or 8 points. Now, the average is 5 points!]

After two groups, the highest score was 8 points, indicating that the increased distance was quite challenging.

[Mr. Joo Woo-sung is up!]

[Oh, Mr. Joo Woo-sung looks so relaxed~. Is this the confidence of last year's gold medalist?]

Joo Woo-sung waved to the fans with a natural motion, took his stance, and drew the bowstring. As his face filled the screen, the venue buzzed.

Thwack!

The arrow flew in a parabolic arc.

[Wow, Mr. Joo Woo-sung, 9 points! 9 points!]

"He's doing well."

I nodded and watched closely. The other Black Call members scored around 7 points, but due to the lower average scores from other groups, they quickly advanced to the finals.

[The team that was excluded from e-sports is up next?]

[Did they recover their stamina by eating ice cream?]

"Are they just saying anything now?"

"Seems like it."

Kim Sung-hyun and I tilted our heads as we walked out. Our opponents were Nightmare. We decided that Kim Sung-hyun would shoot first, and I would follow.

Kim Sung-hyun took his stance and slowly raised his arm. The cheers from the Sunset fandom were heard.

Whoosh!

[8 points! 8 points!]

[Oh~, indeed, Mr. Kim Sung-hyun, you have great physical strength! It seems the only thing you can't do is games.]

"…Ah."

Kim Sung-hyun, who was about to draw the bowstring again, burst into a hollow laugh upon hearing the commentator. His concentration seemed to waver, and the arrow scored 7 points.

"Kim Sung-hyun, focus!"

"Sorry!"

At my sharp voice, Kim Sung-hyun regained his composure and drew the last arrow. The arrow, flying in a parabolic arc, hit 8 points.

[Still, Mr. Kim Sung-hyun! What's the current score?]

[The score is 23 for The Den and 19 for Nightmare!]

[Oh, if you do well, you can catch up.]

Considering the increased distance, it wasn't a bad score, so I patted Kim Sung-hyun's back as he returned.

"Good job."

Next was my turn. I picked up the bow and took my stance. Although I had practiced a lot, it was a bit nerve-wracking with everyone's eyes on me.

A Nightmare member, whom I had seen often during Shining Star, spoke to me.

"Did you practice a lot?"

"A bit."

"Ah, I couldn't practice much because of my schedule…"

"Is that so?"

Because of the schedule, he couldn't practice. It didn't seem like he had any ill intent, but it sounded like he was laying the groundwork for a low score.

But it was a form of intimidation, nonetheless.

I nocked an arrow and replied,

"That's a shame."

The surrounding noise died down. The distance was a bit longer than during practice, but I felt I could hit it. I raised and lowered the bow while drawing the string. The camera focused on me.

'Bro, did you do archery in high school?'

'No.'

'What? Is this your first time?'

'Yes, it's my first time.'

I remembered how the members and even the trainer were surprised when I first went to practice. I released the bowstring. With a whoosh, the arrow shook and pierced the air.

Thwack!

It hit the exact center of the target. The crew jumped up.

[Wow!]

[Now, Mr. Seo Ho-yun, 10 points, 10 points!]

[The first 10 points since the distance was increased!]

I seemed to have a natural talent for archery.

Cheers erupted. I looked at the Nightmare member, who was staring with his mouth open, and said calmly,

"It's a shame you couldn't practice because you were busy."

Ding!

[Seo Ho-yun, catching the provocation brilliantly (23, Rejuvenation)]

Got it now?

*** 10 points, 9 points, 9 points, 9 points.

I hit them consecutively and waved casually. Without calculating the total score, it was clear that Nightmare had won. I high-fived Kim Sung-hyun and drank some water. The other members were cheering from a distance.

"Seo Ho-yun! Seo Ho-yun!"

"Seo Ho-yun, the milk-white charm machine!"

'Should I kill them…'

Yeah, guys. I'll give you first place here. I quickly calculated while passing the archery preliminaries and semifinals.

'If I get first place in archery… and just one more first place in the final relay, I'll be fine.'

Kim Sung-hyun was there, and I was confident in running, so in other words…

I had to get first place now.

[Finals! The archery finals.]

[Wow, The Den's momentum is really scary this time. In fact, The Den couldn't participate in 'The Champion is Mine' in their debut year, so this is their first appearance. Despite being their first appearance, they are excelling in track and field, e-sports, and archery!]

Joo Woo-sung walked over, taunting.

"Hey, Seo Ho-yun."

"Really embarrassing…."

The Black Call member behind him looked very disappointed, but Joo Woo-sung didn't seem to care.

"You're doing well?"

"I practiced a lot."

[Oh! The two archery aces are having a conversation!]

The crew was curious about our conversation, but they couldn't hear it from there.

Joo Woo-sung smiled and patted my shoulder.

"Take it easy, Ho-yun."

"Okay."

"You're even more insolent today."

Joo Woo-sung's upturned lips became crooked, but I wasn't going to back down. It might just be an honor for you, but I'm putting my life on the line.

[Wow! Although we can't hear the conversation, the expressions on their faces show a fierce mental battle!]

[They are the best of the best friends. They can't lose to each other in this.]

No, we're not.

"Seo Ho-yun, do you… have any friends?"

"Let's stop the introductions and sit down."

"……"

Joo Woo-sung grumbled and sat down.

Kim Sung-hyun, who shot first, recorded a good score.

[The Den's Kim Sung-hyun, still very stable! 8 points, 7 points, 9 points!]

[Black Call is not to be underestimated! 8 points, 7 points, 7 points! The total score is 24 to 22! The Den is slightly ahead!]

"Please get ready now!"

"Okay."

Just as I was about to stand up, the announcer, as if the script had changed, came over for another interview.

"Mr. Seo Ho-yun, can I get an interview? What do you expect the total score to be?"

"I can't predict, but I'll do my best."

"Haha, a textbook answer!"

I didn't want to give them any unnecessary handles. I gave an appropriate answer, but it didn't seem to be the reaction they wanted, so the question was directed to Joo Woo-sung.

"Mr. Joo Woo-sung?"

Joo Woo-sung, who was checking his bow, looked at the announcer and approached as if he had just remembered something.

As if he was happy to be interviewed at this moment.

"I'll do my best, but…."

"……?"

Joo Woo-sung looked at me ominously.

'What are you looking at.'

I glared back, and Joo Woo-sung showed a somewhat suspicious smile.

"If Ho-yun loses to me, will you. do. a. face. plant. do. a. face. plant.?"

"……"

'Shit…'

My expression soured. Joo Woo-sung's act of being cute was rare, so the fans were already screaming and waving their banners, but… this was clearly a deliberate move to shake me.

'Is he?'

"If I win, will you. be. my. girl. be. my. girl.~!"

Joo Woo-sung didn't stop at the first verse.

He winked for the camera and hummed as he walked away. My sour face was the second to appear on the screen.

[Wow, was that a variation of the charm Seo Ho-yun used to do?]

[Yes! Mr. Seo Ho-yun's expression is…! It's full of murderous intent! His fingertips are trembling slightly, right?]

[Mr. Joo Woo-sung has effectively shaken Mr. Seo Ho-yun's mental state! It's a despicable but very effective strategy!]

It was a 'despicable and effective strategy' that even the crew admired.