Chapter 76

Originally, the act of rubbing sticks together to create fire was an extremely difficult skill.

It wasn’t just about brute force; it required considerable technique.

Of course, Seoyeon was aware of this fact.

She just exerted a bit more strength; that was all.

“…”

Seoyeon threw away the stick that had split in her hands. The camera operator was bewildered by her actions.

Was the stick so dry that it could break this easily?

No, even if it were a dry stick, seeing it shatter like bamboo was truly astonishing.

‘Just like the game pad mishap.’

Seoyeon reflected on her mistake. But at that moment, she had been startled. This time would be different.

“Gently…”

She softly turned the stick diligently. The same action repeated for 5 minutes, then 10 minutes.

“Is this some sort of freeze frame?”

The cameraman momentarily thought as much. How could a human hold the same posture and move so identically for 10 minutes?

Moreover, continuing to rub the stick like this would certainly hurt the palms and require immense effort, yet…

“Isn’t he hot? Not a single drop of sweat.”

Seoyeon’s stamina was definitely not ordinary. That much was clear.

“See? It’s not going to work, right?”

Already, Park Jung-woo had gathered sticks of the right thickness. Dressed casually in a white sweatshirt, he still exuded the aura of a leading actor.

‘Certainly, his appearance is impeccable.’

The cameraman captured Seoyeon and Jung-woo fully on screen. The two actors who gained attention with their roles as Princess Yeonhwa and Yoon Seoil.

Producer Shin emphasized capturing their chemistry well.

“Almost done.”

“Take a look.”

Jung-woo set down the stick intended for making the shelter.

‘Why is there so much sawdust?’

It looked less like an attempt to start a fire and more like an effort to shave the wood.

The thought crossed his mind.

“I’ll…”

Jung-woo stopped his sentence when Seoyeon looked at him. She narrowed her eyes, as if perhaps sensing an attempt to steal her thunder.

“Just don’t keep rubbing it like that. Grind it against the groove.”

“What?”

With a sidelong glance, Seoyeon’s piercing gaze continued.

“Just give me the stick a moment. Seriously, stop saying you won’t!”

Jung-woo, saying this, took the stick from Seoyeon and inspected its tip.

It was cleanly sheared off as if cut by a grinder.

“You should try rotating this one against the groove you carved in the log. Keep steady pressure.”

“…Understood.”

Jung-woo handed Seoyeon a stick with a pointed tip—one of the ones he brought—then directed her to place it against the groove carved into the log Seoyeon had been working on.

‘Even so, it won’t ignite so easily.’

The method Seoyeon was attempting seemed to be the Fire Flow method.

A common technique involves pushing or grinding pieces of wood against each other to produce fire.

This is the method the protagonist in the movie *Cast Away* struggled with, which Jung-woo knew well. That technique involved shaving rather than rotating the wood.

‘Still, her posture is pretty remarkable.’

Jung-woo observed Seoyeon, who was earnestly rubbing the stick, her black tresses flowing over her shoulders. In a comical way, her intense focus on such a mundane task painted a picture-perfect scene.

“Done.”

‘Huh?’

At that moment, Seoyeon exhaled in awe.

‘Already?’

Sure enough, a wisp of black smoke curled up from the stick.

‘Not this easy, was it, simply by guidance?’

Tada, tada—the wooden stick emitted a crackling sound as black smoke spiraled upwards, leaving Jung-woo speechless.

“Amazing, isn’t it?”

Seoyeon, seeing this, declared proudly to Jung-woo.

Though it was true that Jung-woo offered his assistance.

“Have you read the *Survival Series*?”

“?”

Jung-woo didn’t know what the “Survival Series” was, but he nodded. Seoyeon just observed the ember for a moment before giving a slight nod.

‘Rubbing against the groove was key.’

Now that she understood, it was enough for her. Just as she thought this,

“Wow, you’ve lit a fire?”

With an astonished gaze, Bang Ha-yoon, who had also stayed behind for the [Uninhabited Survival] program, spoke.

She had gone out briefly with Park Jung-woo to gather sticks for a shelter.

‘She’s not just some pretty face, is she?’

Judging by her figure and face, Seoyeon certainly didn’t look like someone to tackle tough tasks. Jung-woo had felt he would have to cover for Seoyeon in her assigned roles, yet here she was, already starting the fire without his help.

“Didn’t hear she was helping out for [The Chaser], where she played the convenience store part-time worker. Now I understand why they’re pushing her,”

Honestly, Bang Ha-yoon was curious about why Seoyeon was featured in the promotions.

She had been cast as a convenience store worker, after all. Why were they pushing her so hard?

“As long as she continues this.”

Just as Ha-yoon observed Seoyeon,

“What is it? Already lit a fire?”

Team Leader Jung Dae-hyun and the exploration team returned.

***

Setting up the shelter didn’t take long.

After all, Jung Dae-hyun had filmed [Uninhabited Survival] many times, and building shelters was fundamental.

“First, we’ve secured the tools: a saw, a knife, and lastly, some salt.”

These might seem like little things, but they were essential survival items.

We found three saws, enabling quick construction of the shelter.

“Wow, this reminds me of camping in the military.”

Once the shelter was completed, actor Park Hee-joon, famous for playing Detective Seo Kwang-il in [The Chaser], made this remark.

“Mr. Park, weren’t you from a special forces unit?”

This led into the show’s progression. Likely, this part was outlined in the makeshift script.

While the show is largely unscripted, certain necessary segments were outlined. For instance, promotional mentions for [The Chaser] and introductions of Park Hee-joon and Seoyeon.

“Mr. Park, you haven’t served in the military yet, right?”

Just then, Producer Shin asked Park Jung-woo, who had been tending to the fire.

“Excuse me?”

“When are you going? Oh, seriously?”

“Ah, yes, I’m going. Of course, I have to go. I mean, why are you suddenly mentioning this…”

The military is a sensitive subject in the entertainment world, and with Producer Shin’s teasing question, Jung-woo sighed.

“My father says if I don’t go to the military, I’m not a real man.”

“…”

These words from Jung-woo caused Seoyeon to flinch slightly, as if pricked.

“Of course, you’re exempt from service, right?”

“Y-Yes, it’s only natural.”

Seoyeon said this while sharpening a stick she had collected with a knife.

‘Even in my previous life, I didn’t go.’

Seoyeon couldn’t serve in her previous life due to illness. It was around the same time when someone with a similar condition was drafted and a gun accident occurred.

“Isn’t ‘not a real man’?”

Seoyeon glared at Jung-woo.

Even though she was female now, it felt like her past self had gotten slapped.

Of course, to Jung-woo, this was baffling.

“Why is she glaring at me?”

“Rather, what have you been making since a while ago?”

“Oh, this?”

Seoyeon held up the stick. Its sharpened tip was extremely pointed.

“It’s a spear.”

“…”

A spear? Ever since she mentioned starting a fire, it seemed like Seoyeon had great expectations for this [Uninhabited Survival].

“There must be hunting to do. Although, there’s a sequence to follow.”

Since the shelter was built and fire was lit, it was time to hunt. Now was the best opportunity for her with her current energy reserves.

“Survival team, stay behind and gather some fruits, please. Can you see that tree over there? Those are coconuts.”

Jung Dae-hyun pointed at the trees filled with yellow coconuts.

“Since those are available, let’s pick them. They’re useful for various purposes.”

Jung Dae-hyun said this, looking at the survival team. Honestly, they seemed far from reliable for hunting.

Sure, talk about hunting, but just getting there was a significant obstacle.

Especially someone like Seoyeon doing the hunting?

“…”

Of course, Seoyeon somewhat understood Jung Dae-hyun’s thoughts. Yet, randomly volunteering now wasn’t a wise idea.

After all, this was a variety show. Outwardly, it might look like a reckless youngster taking initiative.

“Since the survival team doesn’t have much to do, let’s go together.”

Jung-woo, assessing Seoyeon’s expression, spoke.

“Excuse me?”

“Coconuts are quite dangerous to collect. I think it’s better to do that together and then go hunting afterward.”

Truly, collecting coconuts comes with significant danger. Consider that coconuts weigh over 1.5kg. With the palm trees standing 6 meters tall, imagine 1.5kg falling from a 6-meter height.

“Hmm, certainly.”

Bang Ha-yoon’s presence reassured Jung Dae-hyun, but he interpreted Jung-woo’s words differently.

‘Is he trying to secure screen time for that kid?’

Structurally, the show inevitably gave more weight to the exploration team than the survival team.

‘But…’

Advancing through the tropical rainforest is harder than expected. There’s a higher chance of accidentally capturing an unfavorable moment. Moreover, if high schooler Seoyeon embarks on dangerous activities, people may talk.

“So, if we’re going to pick coconuts, we’ll first need a long pole.”

Just as Jung Dae-hyun said this, Seoyeon held up her wooden spear.

“Your weapon’s too short, it won’t reach.”

Ordinarily, coconuts are harvested using poles, carefully slicing the clustered fruits and gently lowering them. Bang Ha-yoon was particularly skilled at this, which is why they had her in the survival team.

“To begin with, even throwing at a height like that won’t create enough force.”

Certainly, a valid statement. Watching Ha-yoon’s subsequent demonstration only reinforced this fact.

‘So, we’re supposed to tear the cluster off with the pole.’

Seoyeon quietly observed others collecting coconuts until she shifted her gaze to an empty tree.

Of course, Jung-woo noticed her peculiar demeanor.

“What is she up to again?”

Naturally, the camera operator moved along with her. They had learned from Seoyeon’s earlier unusual actions during the fire-starting attempt.

“If I aim correctly, wouldn’t all the fruits fall with just one throw?”

“Will that work?”

That’s not logical.

If it were that easy, everyone would have been doing it.

“The fruits are arranged in clusters; stones will just bounce off. Don’t you know how sturdy coconuts are….”

Krack!

Boom!!

The cluster of fruits fell to the ground. Jung-woo turned his gaze from Seoyeon, who had thrown the rock, to the fallen palm tree.

“…”

Approaching the fallen coconuts, Jung-woo noticed that some had cracked open.

‘What just happened?’

He rubbed his eyes.

Did she just penetrate the coconut with a rock? And severed the connecting part?

“Wow, it seems like shaking the fruits with a stone made them fall.”

Team leader Jung Dae-hyun eventually arrived, seeing the pile of fallen coconuts.

Of course, that was the common-sense interpretation.

“Ah, right. That’s true.”

Jung-woo replied then looked at Seoyeon, who shrugged.

It was like a silent “told you so” expression.

“R-remarkable.”

“Yeah, isn’t it? This will drop them much faster.”

“No, don’t do it again.”

“Why not?”

Seoyeon looked at Jung-woo, who frowned at her as if asking why.

Jung-woo pointed to the coconuts with his finger.

“Half of them are broken, right?”

“Ah, you’re right.”

Seoyeon agreed.

Definitely, collecting coconuts should be left to the experts.

“Alright.”

Then Seoyeon casually jabbed the fallen coconut with her finger and handed it to Jung-woo.

Jung-woo naturally took it.

“?”

Only then did he notice the hole in the coconut.

“…”

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