Chapter 9: Challenge Dream King!

“Are you guys having fun today?”

“Pfft! Sure, but I kinda wish they’d at least finished the race.”

“Hahaha! Do you care more about PD Cha suffering than the viewers getting Korean beef, hyung?”

“Well, it’s fine if the viewers get some beef. But honestly, I’d love to see PD Cha, who’s been torturing us with these crazy obstacles, squirm a bit!!”

Do-yoon couldn’t help but laugh at In-hwan’s blunt honesty.
The others nodding in agreement made it even funnier.

“Honestly… I’ll admit it! PD Cha deserves to cry a little! Doesn’t he just use that brain of his to make things harder for us every day? Always teasing us!”

“You’re right!!”

“Hmm, hmm.”

In-hwa, the only woman, chimed in, and Do-yoon couldn’t hold back his honesty either.

“If you think about it, it’s true, right? Variety show PDs always mess with their guests. They should get a taste of their own medicine.”

The cast was relaxed, chatting about random topics like worrying about the viewers or wanting to stick it to PD Cha.
They were confident—after all, it seemed obvious the remaining viewers would crash out, and the cast could easily win just by finishing.

Originally, they’d planned to go easy for fan service, winning by a slim margin.
But with no viewers completing the course…

“We were gonna do a close victory… but since no one finished, that’s out the window…”

“Should we just go all out?”

“Yeah, like Kim said, it’s better to give it our all. Acting cool just because the viewers failed might make us look like we’re mocking them.”

As expected, they decided showing off their composure could backfire and spark criticism, even if only from a few.
Better to give their best effort and avoid controversy.

While they bantered and adjusted their strategy, the ninth viewer fell at Stage 2.
Only one remained—a woman.

“…Wow, it’s such a waste that she’s not a celebrity…”

“Right? You think so too??”

As the final viewer, Gyul-woo, took the stage, Do-yoon felt her presence even from a distance.
In-hwa, nodding, started probing him.

“If she debuted as an idol, what do you think? From your idol perspective, would she make it?”

“As an idol? Well… she’s a bit old for it… but honestly, with that face, age doesn’t matter. She’d be a visual powerhouse and dominate everyone, right?”

“That’s it?”

“Yeah, that’s it. Top celebrities have this… aura that sets them apart. But her aura? It’s stronger than even the top-tier stars.”

“Wow, really…”

In-hwa stuck out her tongue, floored.
That unreal appearance radiated a top-star aura.

And for someone who was just a regular person to have it…

‘She’s a born celebrity.’

If Do-yoon was saying this about someone untrained, imagine her potential after proper lessons in the industry.
As an actress? Hollywood.
As a singer? Her visuals alone could land her on the Billboard charts.
A music video would rack up hundreds of millions of views, good song or not.

To In-hwa, she was the kind of beauty who could conquer anything with her looks alone.
A woman so stunning that even another woman felt no jealousy—just awe.
Was this what they called a “nation-toppling beauty”?

Her looks would work East or West, no question.

“She’s definitely joining the industry after this, right?”

“100%. I bet agencies will be blowing up her phone after this airs.”

Do-yoon was certain that after her appearance on DreamKing, agencies would see her potential and come calling.
And most likely, they’d see her in the industry again soon.
Viewers across the country would demand it, and no one in the industry would let a gem like her slip away.

In-hwa and Do-yoon speculated about her future as they watched her.
Not once did they consider she might complete the course.

She was a woman—strike one.
A rookie viewer—strike two.
And her delicate frame? Strike three.

For all those reasons, they assumed she’d fail.
Hence their relaxed attitude.

The viewers were done, so the cast just had to cruise through.
Maybe they’d bring back a few viewers for a loser’s revival round, but with this skill level, they’d likely fail again.

Victory was theirs.

Or so they thought.

Beep!!!

Until she started running.

The moment she hit the buzzer, she launched forward, using the momentum to arch her body like a bow, leaping through the air and grabbing the second horizontal bar in one fluid motion.

“W-What the heck!?”

“What… what is that!?”

“No way…!!”

Do-yoon, In-hwa, and In-hwan’s eyes widened.
Even the two older cast members, loosening up nearby, froze and gaped at the sight.

“What… what’s going on?”

“Her jump is unreal!!”

It was a jaw-dropping twist!
A delicate, elegant beauty who looked like she’d never touched a gym suddenly unleashed a girl-crush performance, soaring to the bars, swinging with momentum, and clearing them with ease.
Everyone was stunned.

“7… 7.25!!! Fastest time ever!!!”

The MC, ever professional, didn’t miss a beat, checking the stopwatch and shouting her Stage 1 time.
The DreamKing cast, their earlier confidence gone, now watched her anxiously.

“No way, what is this?! She’s that pretty and athletic?! That’s cheating!!”

“Noona, have you seen her at Taereung? She’s as good as you!”

“I’ve never heard of a beauty like that at the training center…!!”

“Wow, insane!”

“Ugh… is she a secret weapon or what…?”

The cast’s composure shattered.
Meanwhile, PD Cha’s face lit up with excitement, despite the sting of the promised prizes.
He instinctively knew the impact this moment would have.

‘This is a ratings bomb!!’

Jackpot. Absolute jackpot.

The proof?

“Waaaaah!! Holy—!! What is that!?”

“She’s killing it!!!”

“Kyaaa! So pretty! Unnie!!!”

“Beautiful and athletic?! That’s not fair!!!”

The audience and other viewers erupted, eyes wide, cheering instinctively at her performance.
The sight of such a stunning woman dominating the course was overwhelming.

As they cheered, she cleared the Stage 2 rotating log in a flash, tightrope-walking it with ease.

“Passed Stage 2! 11.29 seconds!!!”

Whew!!!

Next up: the rotating net of Stage 3.
Even Kim Soo-man, the veteran, had to cling and spin at least once to cross it—a stamina-draining beast.
But for me…!

I leapt instantly, feeling the sensation in my toes.
Time seemed to slow.
Chaak!
My feet hit the rope, knees bending, waist bouncing to kill the recoil.
I stood on the net like a circus performer on a tightrope.

Normally, impossible.
But with my maxed-out talents and skills, I could run on it.

So, I ran!!
Tat tat tat!!

“W-What?! She’s running on the net!!”

“How?!”

“She’s stepping only on the ropes!!”

“Tightrope walking?!”

“PD Cha!!! Did you bring a national treasure or something?!”

“Is she really a regular person?!”

“Y-Yes!! I’m really just a regular person!!”

“How is that possible, you punk!!!”

Hyung In-hwan shouted, dumbfounded.
My speed was cheetah-like, nimble and agile.

“Passed Stage 3!! 17.67!!”

It was truly a spectacle.