Chapter 8- star

Buff-八錄 (Buff-Palrok)

A group-type monster with 8 different enhancement abilities. Normally, it looks like a large buffalo. It cannot use these abilities on itself, so it exchanges them with its comrades. The efficiency increases with stacking. Be careful, as the danger increases with the size of the herd.

Following MS Han Jo-seop’s declaration of war, Choi Kang-sik diligently browsed real estate listings and the internet to find a new home to replace his destroyed rooftop apartment in the commercial building. However, it had already been days, and he was still stuck at a jjimjilbang (Korean bathhouse). It wasn’t that the jjimjilbang was bad. He could get everything there except clothes: baths, sleeping quarters, restaurants, computers, barbers… They even had dedicated jjimjilbang uniforms, so he didn’t have to worry about laundry. But it was still a poor living condition.

‘What’s the point of meeting the top MS in Korea if…’ Choi Kang-sik sighed deeply. “I’m homeless.”

‘No compensation for rooftop apartments…’ If you lost your home due to a monster attack, the government provided support. However, Choi Kang-sik’s rooftop room was considered an illegal residence and wasn’t recognized as official housing. For that reason, he didn’t receive any support funds. It was true that Choi Kang-sik had accumulated a considerable amount of money quickly through broadcasting, but housing prices were not easy to tackle overnight. Deposit, monthly rent, jeonse (lump-sum lease), half-monthly rent… He was looking into various options but hadn’t found anything suitable yet. Ultimately, money was the problem.

[A certain God asks if he’s a beggar]

[A hasty certain God bursts into laughter]

[A certain God covers its mouth, stifling a snicker]

…Choi Kang-sik questioned daily whether they were gods or devils. ‘Maybe they’re intentionally testing my faith…?’

“Mom. That MS. He’s really here.”

“Oh my! I thought it was just a rumor.”

“Should we go talk to him?”

People who spotted him in the jjimjilbang whispered. It was one thing for them to wake him up or ask for a handshake. But some even badgered him to admit that his broadcast was rigged, so Choi Kang-sik couldn’t rest peacefully. He glanced around and sighed.

‘I just came to the jjimjilbang casually, not expecting this.’ He hadn’t expected to attract this much attention. There had been no problem when he dragged the alcohol-soaked MS Yu Il-am there. People didn’t even recognize him; they just treated him like a drunk, which embarrassed Choi Kang-sik. Popularity was fleeting! He was experiencing that firsthand now.

Still, getting a motel room to avoid some inconvenience wasn’t wise at the moment. Because,

• How poor is this MS?
• Get some food and cheer up. ㅠㅠ
• Hey. Go buy some ramen.

‘…It brings in money, you see.’ It was sympathy votes, perhaps. Viewers who heard of his plight were sending donations. Even if not as much as during the broadcast, the amount was nothing to scoff at. He didn’t even envy the strict government support funds.

“Young man. Make yourself at home.” The warm-faced jjimjilbang owner was also incredibly generous. This was because the income from customers who came to see Choi Kang-sik was quite good. Thanks to that, his board and lodging were free. Usually, guests staying over 12 hours were politely asked to leave, but he was openly treated as a special exception. No, she even meticulously provided him with various things to ensure he wouldn’t leave.

“This shouldn’t be happening… Ahem.” Choi Kang-sik couldn’t refuse and settled in. This went on for several days.

“Parachute! You despicable bastard!” The handsome man, looking good even in the loose, sky-blue striped jjimjilbang uniform, flared his nostrils in protest. His name was probably,

“Han Jo-ssi?”

“It’s Han Jo-seop!”

“Whatever your name is, why are you spouting nonsense, even coming all the way to this peaceful jjimjilbang?” Choi Kang-sik responded with a listless tone.

“It’s not nonsense! If you’re a hunter, then build your viewership and recognition fairly through monster hunting!”

“My livelihood is in crisis here.”

“Crisis?! How is this a crisis?!” Han Jo-seop erupted in frustration. He had a collaborative hunt filming scheduled with MS Kim So-yoon this morning. So he had investigated his rival’s status beforehand, but…

‘A jjimjilbang, seriously?!’ Han Jo-seop had even taken a break from broadcasting until today to train his psychic powers. To recover from past humiliation, he had even incorporated weight training, finally achieving chocolate abs. Yet, this rival was just idling away! He was even realizing a “creative economy” by earning money while lying down.

The young man replied with a wide yawn. “Hey, Han Jo-ssi. Do you know how sad it is to not have a home?”

“I don’t want to know!” Han Jo-seop’s stomach was boiling. ‘Endure it, endure.’ The more you endure, the sweeter the fruit of victory. This is the only time the Parachute can be so carefree.

‘He’ll regret it bitterly later… Hmm?’ The handsome man’s eyes narrowed, questioning warily. “Parachute. What does this mean?”

“What do you mean? Stop getting worked up and try peeling this egg. They say it’s directly boiled in this jjimjilbang’s famous charcoal kiln; it’s quite tasty, you know?” A playful answer returned.

Snap.

Something broke inside Han Jo-seop’s head.

“Follow me! We’re moving together in my car! Right now!”

“Hey. You’re getting what you wished for, moving together, so what’s your complaint now?” Choi Kang-sik, sitting in the passenger seat, asked the driver with an incredulous tone.

‘He’s been like this ever since we showered together.’ Was he severely shy because they weren’t childhood friends? He regretted slightly that he hadn’t just endured the minor inconvenience and used public transport. The boiled egg he’d eaten earlier felt indigestible from the discomfort.

The handsome man, also looking uncomfortable, said, “It’s nothing!”

“Really?”

How long did they drive? Han Jo-seop, stopped at a red light, said casually, “Ahem! Hey, Parachute. Do you really get muscles like that naturally just by carrying a camera?”

“You try carrying one for about five years and tell me.”

“……”

Han Jo-seop became even more displeased. He had been quite confident until just before stripping down for a quick shower at the jjimjilbang. Yes, until before he stripped.

‘Insane! This is ridiculous!’

But the moment he saw Choi Kang-sik’s bare upper body, his confidence shattered into microscopic particles. Overwhelming visuals! He was a Greek sculpture in the flesh. The Parachute’s muscles were definitely not temporary protein water balloons built in a short time. Han Jo-seop shuddered with a deep sense of defeat.

“No way…?”

Choi Kang-sik, who had scored an inexplicable victory, narrowed his eyes.

“……”

“……”

“Parachute. Don’t say anything.”

“Really? Come on, Han Jo-seop. Are you a child? Getting so competitive over something like this.”

“Ugh! Damn it…”

“It’s okay, it’s okay. A man’s pride is precious, isn’t it?”

Thanks to him, he had gotten a very good opportunity. MS Kim So-yoon. Nobody could even hand her a business card. But Han Jo-seop had, in a way, brought him the fortune of broadcasting with such a superstar.

‘He’s a grateful nuisance.’

“Parachute, get out.”

While the two men chatted, they arrived at their destination.

“This is…”

“Gimpo Airport. It was the representative airport of South Korea before Incheon Airport was built. But that’s all in the past now.”

The place was a ruin. Destroyed airplane wreckage lay haphazardly across a wide, flat plain. Choi Kang-sik swallowed a groan.

‘A dangerous area, then.’

The historical fact that this was an airport wasn’t important to him. What Choi Kang-sik carefully observed was the scattered metal debris. Underground resources were incredibly precious. In the current era, where most of the land was occupied by monsters, recycling was not an option but an obligation. Yet, this place was neglected. Even though it was near Seoul, the airplane wreckage wasn’t being recovered for recycling. Therefore, there was only one reason.

“Mr. Han Jo-seop. What kind of monster habitat is this?”

A dangerous monster must live there, preventing anyone from daring to take the airplane wreckage. Han Jo-seop scoffed at the question. “As expected, the Parachute can’t help it! There’s no hurry to share such minor information during the broadcast. It’s polite to greet first, isn’t it?” He pointed to the group waiting, who seemed to be bustling about.

“Hey. Just admit you don’t know.”

“……”

“Anyway, let’s go.”

‘Whew~ A famous MS is definitely different.’ Their scale was incomparable to his, who only broadcasted with a single cameraman. From staff to equipment and vehicles, everything was large-scale and high-quality. In particular, the protagonist’s visuals were stunning…

Swish.

A beautiful young woman stepped forward like the wind and bowed her head. “Haha! Sorry I’m late, unnie. I should have come earlier to scout.” Han Jo-seop smiled brightly at the beautiful woman leading the entire group, flaunting their familiarity.

“…How relaxed.” Choi Kang-sik decided to quietly follow. He was, after all, an invited guest. He had that much discretion. MS Han Jo-seop? The main star of this program was someone else entirely. Without this beautiful woman who came to greet them, such a large-scale staff, equipment, and vehicles wouldn’t have been possible.

“You came quite fast.” The woman, approaching like an assassin without footsteps or presence, looked down at the two men with black eyes narrowed like a snake’s. An atmosphere like a dark, murky swamp. Her unique charm was captivating, drawing men’s attention, but Choi Kang-sik’s interest was fixed not on her face but on her feet.

‘This woman, she’s flying?’

Below her black coat, adorned with numerous flashy military medals, black leather boots, like knee-high socks, floated about a span above the ground. He wasn’t looking at her psychic power because it was신기하다 (novel/mysterious/amazing). It was the practical application of psychic power in real life. It sounded easy, but psychic power consumed a lot of mental energy, making it difficult to maintain constantly like this. It meant she had to have considerable skill and talent to support it.

“Isn’t it rude to keep staring at a lady’s legs?”

“Ah! My apologies. Nice to meet you. I am…”

“MS Cameraman, right? I’m MS Kim So-yoon. Ignore the fools who call me ‘unnie’ or ‘goddess’. I saw your broadcast. It’s a 3-day, 2-night all-nighter, so brace yourself.” She delivered her words crisply and clearly.

‘A 3-day, 2-night all-nighter?’ Choi Kang-sik had not heard that at all. Judging by Han Jo-seop’s pale face, it seemed this was news to him too.

‘I see. It’s a variety survival show, then?’ The young man chuckled and replied, “3 nights and 4 days are perfectly fine.” Saying so, he boldly extended his hand for a handshake.

The beautiful woman looked at his hand for a moment and then snickered. “We’ll see if it’s fine. Especially since gentlemen often pretend to be strong by reflex, which can be troublesome. Like collapsing during a broadcast, perhaps?”

“That’s a prejudice.”

“Is it?”

“Yes.”

The two men and woman clasped hands.

“I’m MS Kim So-yoon. I hope you’re not just all talk.”

“I look forward to working with you too.”

[A certain God feels excited seeing their clasped hands]

[A hasty certain God suggests tripping him]

[A certain God’s heart pounds]

‘…That’s not it at all, you know?’ I promise this is a very wholesome broadcast.

[A certain God is very disappointed]