Dungeon Hunter
Chapter 33

An Entertaining Show

While Kang Oh was cleaning up Maumbharat Palace, PD[1] Park Jin Cheol was filming again.

"Miss Seol Hee, let's start filming" Park Jin Cheol said.

"Hoo."

Kang Seol Hee weakly sat down on the chair located in front of the camera. He looks very oppressed.

"Take one, action! Ms. Seol Hee, I heard you made a bet with Mr. The oga?" PD Park Jin Cheol asked from behind the camera.

As soon as the camera started recording, Kang Seol Hee, like a professional, turned her pouting expression into confidence.

"Yes. I intervened to find out Mr. Oga's true identity, a mystery that intrigued our audience!"

"How intervention?"

"I bet with him. If Mr. Oga fails in the search the viewer chooses, then he should show his face, but instead, if he succeeds, then I will receive punishment for his choice," Kang Seol Hee said with a smile. 

However, contrary to his outer expression, he felt very different on the inside.

'Ming. I only do it because our viewers have a right to know. Plus, it'll make the show more fun, but...'

He did not suggest the idea to the writers out of spite or as an attempt to insult him.

The audience was curious about Oga's true identity, and it was an easy way to interest the audience.

However...!

'I didn't know that one of the conditions for appearing on our program was that her identity should be kept secret!'

PD Park Jin Cheol has approached him, upset that he is the reason they broke their contract.

And he also told her that one of the two should receive punishment. 

Park Seol Hee was not in a position to refuse, and that was why they recorded more footage.

'I hope you fail!' he cursed Oga in his head while smiling in front of the camera.

However, it was decided that he was the one who would be punished.

* * *

The couple who have completed their subjugation of the dungeon, gather at the GBS studio.

"Good work everyone," Jeon Seong Gook began.

"Should we see which team succeeds and which team fails?"

The big monitor lights up with the result.

Of the 4 teams, 3 of them have completed the audience mission.

The teams that failed were Lee Min Joo and Park Bae Shik.

"Well, Mr Bae Shik, what happened?" Jeon Seong Gook smiled mischievously as he asked.

"Ahems. If only people would donate..."

Park Bae Shik proposes a rationale that matches his status as a famous broadcasting jockey.

"so. Then you must accept your punishment. Now, please get them out."

The staff took out two cups of Shikhye (a Korean sweet rice drink).

"One is salty and one is sweet. Now if I say three, please drink at once."

Jeon Seong Gook started counting to three. 

"One two three!"

Lee Min Joo and Park Bae Shik simultaneously drank Shikhye.

Blaah!

Park Bae Shik coughs Shikhye. How unfortunate it is; if he is streaming, then the donations will flow profusely.

“And there is one more person to punish,” said Jeon Seong Gook, and Kang Seol Hee's face became pouty.

"Miss Kang Seol Hee, Mr. Oga, please step forward."

Jae Woo and Seol Hee did it.

"Mr Oga wins the bet. So, you must accept your punishment, Lady Seol Hee. Is that true?"

"Yes." Yeah."

"..."

Jae Woo nodded, while Seol Hee remained silent.

"Then, Mr. Oga, please choose your punishment for Miss Seol Hee" said Jeon Seong Gook.

"The punishment is..."

Jae Woo waited for a while; he could see Kang Seol Hee gulping.

"To shave both his eyebrows. Like Mona Lisa!" Jae Woo stated.

"I'll shave it for you. Very neat!"

He became very pale. He wanted her, a TV announcer and a woman, to shave her eyebrows!?

Kang Oh, who saw the changes to his skin, looked at him coldly.

'I won't be lenient with you just because you're a woman!'

But suddenly, Jeon Seong Gook cut him off.

"Let's rest!"

Jin Cheol had given the order.

"Stop. We continue after a short break," Jin Cheol said right after Seong Gook. 

A sudden announcement removes an uncomfortable atmosphere, as well as gives people a break.

Jin Cheol approached Kang Oh.

"Sir Oga, can we talk?"

Jin Cheol took him to a remote corner.

"What's wrong?" ask Jae Woo.

"I spoke to Ms. Seol Hee; she's not trying to hurt you, Mr. Jae Woo" said Jin Cheol.

"So?"

When Jae Woo sees her, his Hyper Intuition does not go away, as with Eder. In other words, Kang Seol Hee had absolutely no intention of hurting him.

Even so, he would not only let it escape. 

"Md. Seol Hee is the face of GBS. Dungeon Conquering Man has the potential to become a regular program, so it would be beneficial to everyone if your relationship with him did not deteriorate. So please calm her down," Jin said Cheol. 

This was Jin Cheol's reason for being lenient to her, even though Seol Hee had bet and lost.

"I'd rather not."

'Why should I?'

"We'll refund your money for your problem."

"Return me?"

Kang Oh is tempted. 

"I'll listen to what you say."

“First, when Dungeon Conquering Man becomes a regular program, I promise I will increase your appearance cost significantly.”

"I'm good."

It was still uncertain whether Dungeon Conquering Man would become a regular program or not, so what difference would it make if the cost of his appearance rose?

Unlike Jin Cheol, Jae Woo does not believe the show has the potential to become a regular program. 

Jae Woo is not too attached to the program. He was, of course, interested in the cost of his appearance. 

“I said 'first', didn't I? And I will add a bonus of 500,000 won ($500 USD) for today's appearance fee.”

As expected, Jin Cheol knows Jae Woo well, as well as the fact that money is the most effective bargaining tool to fight him!

However, his offer this time was not high enough. 

"Should I use a hair trimmer or razor?"

"1 million won ($1,000 USD)! And let's say I owe you."

“You have a deal,” Jae Woo smiled and said.

It was not like Kang Seol Hee had committed a crime or anything, and she also had no malicious intent behind her suggestion.

Because of this, he was willing to release it easily for a 1 million won bonus, and help from one of the GBS producers. 

It would be nice to shave Seol Hee's eyebrows, but there is no practical benefit to doing so. 

"I understand. I'm just going to scrawl his face. It's okay, right?" ask Jae Woo.

Jae Woo has reduced the sentence significantly. 

"You made the right decision." Jin Cheol beamed.

A few moments later.

They started shooting again.

"Now, Mr. Oga! Please choose the punishment!" jeon Seong Gook.

"The punishment is..." Jae Woo started.

"Dyed-up face."

"I'm sorry?"

"Eh?"

Since he changed his original punishment, both Seong Gook and Seol Hee asked back.

“If you are unhappy, I can always shave your eyebrows back,” Kang Oh smiled mischievously and said.

"No, I'm fine with this!" Shouted Kang Seol Hee.

"Well, are you really sure about this?" jeon Seong Gook once again.

It was as if his eyes were saying, 'Aw, man. Shaving his eyebrows was definitely a better idea!'.

"Yes, I'm sure" Jae Woo replied.

He also believed that shaving his eyebrows was a better punishment, but he agreed to only scribble his face according to his agreement with Jin Cheol.

"Ehem. I get it."

"Phew."

On the other hand, Kang Seol Hee's once hideous face returned to its normal color. Does this feel like it almost escaped death?

Compared to shaving his eyebrows, doodling his face was nothing; he would take over it anytime, anywhere. All he needed to do after that was to remove it!

"Then let's continue the sentence" Jeon Seong Gook said.

As Jae Woo approaches Seol Hee, a staff member comes and hands him a brush filled with squid ink.

"That's not a permanent marker" Jae Woo said, his voice full of regret.

"I'm sorry. Please let me go."

He clenched his hands together and pleaded.

"I've got it, so turn around and close your eyes."

 Kang Seol Hee turned her back on the camera and closed her eyes.

Swish, swish.

Jae Woo carefully moves the brush and starts to doodle his face.

The more he moved the brush, the louder the laughter of the cast.

Especially Jeon Seong Gook who held his stomach with one hand and covered his mouth with the other.

Ddooks.

At some point, Jae Woo stops moving the brush. He finally finished his art.

"I'm done" Jae Woo said. 

His voice sounded fresh.

"Ehem, then..."

Jeon Seong Gook held back his laughter and did his best to continue the broadcast.

"Miss Seol Hee, please open your eyes and turn around."

Kang Seol Hee gradually turned around.

"Jeez."

"Ha ha."

When he saw his face, the staff member laughed or was surprised.

Jin Cheol also closed his mouth, content to express his laughter with his eyes.

Even the camera supervisor responsible for recording it could not control his expression as his lips curved upwards.

Look at that woman!

Jae Woo draws thick 'L'-shaped sideburns on both sides of his face! He even drew a mustache and a beard! And there were also large spots next to his nose!

His thick eyebrows had been connected with the squid ink, forming thick eyebrows.

At last...

"Now, smile," he said, and Kang Seol Hee smiled.

And as a final touch, his teeth turned black and white!

This is when Kang Seol Hee earned her nickname, 'Dirty Old Man Seol Hee', a title that will remain a stain in her broadcasting history forever.

* * * 

Kang Seol Hee continued the broadcast until the end with a face full of scribbles.

Of course, he himself had no idea how bad his face was at the moment.

“I really hope this becomes a regular program. Could it be not?” 

Kang Seol Hee gave her closing statement.

"Ehem. Of course you can. Why not, if it's this fun?" Jeon Seong Gook looked at him and gave his own closing statement.

"Then, we'll meet again next time."

"Bye bye!"

"Cuts. Good work everyone."

Park Jin Cheol clapped.

There are statements like "Good job." or "Thank you for all your hard work." or "Dude, let's clean up and go home." sounds from the crew as they start packing. 

Kang Seol Hee quickly looked for a mirror.

And...

"Gyaak, my face!"

The scream that echoed.

Jae Woo grinned and prepared to go home.

"Master Oga."

Soo Ah approaches Jae Woo.

"Thank you for all your hard work" Jae Woo said.

"Thank you for today" said Soo Ah.

"For what?"

"It's..."

Soo Ah gave him a piece of paper.

The character code is written on it. In Arth, the character code has the same function as a real-life mobile phone.

"If it's okay with you, I want us to be friends."

"I understand. Let's hunt together next time."

"OKAY. I'll hold you back for that!"

Soo Ah waved her hand and left. Jae Woo kept the paper.

'Maybe 23 years of long solo flying will finally come to an end ...'

He sure is counting his chickens before hatching.

The shoot was, in many ways, quite an interesting experience.

* * * 

A week had passed since Dungeon Conquering Man was filmed.

- Hello, Oppa.

As soon as he accessed Arth, Asu sent him a message.

If you know their code or are registered as friends, then users can message each other.

- Hi. You came in early today.

Kang Oh and Asu had spoken several times throughout the week, so they were getting closer.

Asu called Kang Oh 'Oppa', and Kang Oh spoke more familiarly with him.

we ended early today. So I'm going to Spider Queen, Alishi's Nest to hunt. Hehe.

- Good. Be careful with optical illusions.

- Okay!

Kang Oh finished his conversation with Asu and called Eder.

Peong!

The cloaked skeleton, Eder, appears.

"Welcome back."

"Yes. Let's explore the Lakern Mountains today."

Kang Oh's main line of business is to make money playing games.

And he specifically invested in finding a hidden dungeon, where he was guaranteed to find great wealth.

But even with his Hyper Intuition, he was unable to find the hidden dungeon every day.

Although he had spent the past week going to places he suspected of being hidden dungeons, unfortunately, he had yet to find a single one.

But then he heard that a secret area called the 'Hidden Cave by the Wind' was located somewhere in the Lakern Mountains from a middle-aged man in the Adventurer Guild.

Therefore, he planned to search the Lakern Mountains this time around.

"Let's go."

"okay."

Kang Oh and Eder used the gate, passed through Berkura City, and immediately arrived at the Lakern Mountains.

The Lakern Mountains were a vast field, inhabited by monsters lower than level 100.

His field was much wider than a dungeon, and there were a few places he needed to look. It would also be more difficult to find a hidden dungeon here due to those factors.

Still, Kang Oh trusted his Hyper Intuition. If there really was a hidden dungeon here, then his Hyper Intuition would lead him there, even in this vast expanse of land!

"Hoo. There must be a hidden dungeon here this time."

Kang Oh looked at the peak of the Lakern Mountains from afar.

Kang Oh stood at the front, his demon sword tied to his back, while Eder who was wearing a robe was at the back; they started climbing the mountain. 

Meanwhile...

Two eyes were watching them.

"We have a few guests" said a scar-faced man, looking at the backs of Kang Oh and Eder.

He has red eyes, a sign that he has killed a law-abiding user.

"You're right. That's an expensive-looking sword."

A skinny man beside him looked at Kang Oh's sword and licked his lips. He also has red eyes.

Their names are Halt and Itar.

They are PKers (Player Killers), malicious users who kill other users and steal their stuff or blackmail them for money.

[1] PD \= Program Director