GIJS

Chapter 57

Lord Prime Minister!

Right after the live mission ended.

The Jeju production team, led by PD Park Yoonsu, was thrown into a state of emergency.

"Where did Gunja go, where is Gunja?"

"We're looking for him right now, but..."

"The VJ who was filming him should know."

"Well... There were too many people, so he lost him."

"How does a VJ lose track of the participant—?!"

"Sorry, we'll find him quickly."

When the personal broadcast mission ended, no less than 80,000 viewers had gathered in Gunja's room.

Although it was an anonymous personal broadcast competition, everyone who watched the broadcast knew. The contestant wearing the Hallabong mask was Gunja.

Even after the mission ended, around 60,000 viewers were still gathered in the live channel.

[Gunja killed it again today!] [But where did Gunja go? LOL] [Please get an interview with Gunja] [LOL What's the VJ doing?] [Why are they filming random nature scenes? LOL] [Why is the camera just showing scenery?] [Is Gunja the one holding the camera? LOL] [LOL] [Give us an interview;] [He said he's like a cow and then really got swept away by the current? LOL] [Ahhh, bring Gunja back quickly; I'm getting anxious;]
All the viewers were asking for Gunja, but his whereabouts remained unknown. Each time a chat message appeared asking about Gunja, PD Park Yoonsu grew more anxious.

"Ugh, where did he go at a time like this..."

Due to the prohibition on personal phone use, there was no way to contact him directly. They tried asking his close friends, hoping they might have an idea, but they too shook their heads.

"We don't know either."

"We were keeping an eye on him until the rap battle, but as soon as it ended, a crowd gathered..."

"...Gunja hyung, he'll be alright, right...?"

PD Park Yoonsu let out a deep sigh, hearing the other participants ask about Gunja's well-being.

"Sigh, I don't know either."

But he was sure Gunja would return in time for the gathering. Gunja might be unpredictable, but he's never been late.

Still, every minute felt precious to PD Park Yoonsu. Even getting a short interview would create buzz and clips. And yet, he had disappeared at such a critical moment.

"Gunja, are you eating well?"

While everyone was searching for Gunja, he was wide-eyed, meeting his second benefactor.

[Prime Minister (40)] [Appearance: S (S+)] [Singing: B- (B+)] [Dancing: B (A)] [Charm: S+ (SS)] [This is your second 'benefactor.']
"—!?"

The status window filled with the letter 'S,' but what surprised him more was her name.

So now even women can rise to the rank of Prime Minister.

What a righteous world this has become!

As soon as he confirmed her name, Gunja naturally knelt and bowed deeply. It was the proper etiquette towards the first high-ranking official he had met since arriving in this world.

"My lord."

However, this time, it was the Prime Minister who was surprised by the deep bow.

"...Uh, you know who I am?"

"Of course. How could I not know?"

"Oh... This is a bit embarrassing."

Saying this, the Prime Minister pushed her sunglasses up close to her forehead.

Her surprise was understandable.

The Prime Minister was the ultimate trendsetter who shook up South Korea several times just 10 years ago.

However, after starting life in Jeju Island with her husband seven years ago, not many people recognized her in disguise.

Today was a rare outing with her husband, so she had disguised herself thoroughly with a hat, sunglasses, and a large mask. And then she had spotted Gunja.

She had also become a fan of Gunja after watching "Idol Star Athletics Championship." His performance had been so impressive that she couldn't just pass by.

But she had no idea that Gunja would recognize her too.

"This is surprising. I haven't been on TV for over five years now..."

Of course, to Gunja, the Prime Minister was not just a once-famous celebrity but a high-ranking official. But there was no way the Prime Minister knew that.

"It's fascinating."

"Fascinating? How could I not recognize you, my lord?"

"Hmm?"

At Gunja's use of 'my lord,' it was her husband, Nauri, who reacted this time.

"I'm the one called 'my lord.'"

"Excuse me? What is that supposed to—?"

At that moment, a new status window appeared in front of Gunja, quickly solving the mystery.

[Nauri (43)] [Appearance: ? (?)] [Singing: C (B+)] [Dancing: F (F)] [Charm: SS (SS)]
"Oh..."

So this gentleman's name is Nauri?

"Anyway, it's nice to meet you like this. Technically, we're juniors and seniors, aren't we?"

Gunja smiled brightly as he shook hands with the Prime Minister.

It was a meaningful moment for Gunja too. He never expected to meet the Prime Minister in Tamla.

For a moment, he wondered if she had been exiled here, but that couldn't be the case. Tamla was no longer a place of exile.

And to think that the great Prime Minister was his second benefactor made him even happier.

"Hmm, so what's next?"

"We'll gather at the meeting point for a bit, then we'll have some free time."

"Is that so? Hmm—."

At Gunja's words, the Prime Minister furrowed her brow as if deep in thought and exchanged whispers with her husband, Nauri.

"...Honey, are you okay with it?"

"I'm totally fine."

From the way Nauri nodded with a smile, it seemed they reached an agreement easily.

"Then, Gunja, would you like to come to our house for dinner?"

"To, to the great lord's residence!"

Gunja's face, which had brightened at the Prime Minister's suggestion, quickly darkened.

He desperately wanted to accept the invitation, but he already had a prior commitment.

"...I'm sorry, but I have another appointment..."

"A-another appointment?"

Gunja nodded with a gloomy expression. Meanwhile, Nauri looked as if he found the whole situation simply delightful.

"Wow, honey! You just got rejected by a guy!"

"Sigh, are you enjoying this?"

"Haha, it's been so long!"

"Indeed. It's been 40 years."

But it seemed the Prime Minister wasn't ready to give up just yet.

"Can I speak more casually?"

"Of course."

"Okay. What's this appointment you have?"

"I promised my friends I'd ride some more rides..."

"Huh, you must really like rides?"

At the Prime Minister's question, Gunja quickly shook his head.

Rides were torture for Gunja. He had only nodded because his friends had begged him to ride with them.

"Oh, I see?"

"Yes..."

"If you come to our house, we have a big dog and a cat."

"!"

"And when you eat watermelon on the bench in front of the house, it tastes amazing."

"!!"

"At night, we can eat steamed potatoes, steamed corn, and chicken soup with mushrooms, chat warmly, and look at the stars while listening to music."

"!!!"

"My husband is quite good with various instruments. The sound of instruments blending with the chirping of insects... It's a different feeling every time."

"!!!!"

"How about it? Doesn't it sound fun?"

Gunja almost drooled unknowingly at Prime Minister's temptation.

Wow, isn't that the epitome of perfect elegance!

Wiping his mouth with the back of his hand, Gunja nodded his head like a storm. If it weren't for the prior engagement, he would have run there immediately.

But a prior engagement is not called "prior" for no reason. No matter how much he disliked amusement rides, he couldn't act against his principles.

"...But I must keep my promise with my friends."

"Really? Then how about this? Bring your friends along."

"!"

"After all, it's free time. You're not the only one with free time, right?"

"Would that really be okay...?"

"It's fine; they can all come. The house is big."

At Prime Minister's words, Gunja's face lit up like a peach blossom.

"I'll go tell them—!!"

"Sure. Oh, but don't mention our names. I don't like causing a fuss."

"Yes, sir—!!"

As Gunja dashed off toward the gathering point, he suddenly remembered something and returned to the two, bowing deeply at a 90-degree angle.

"Thank you—!!"

Watching Gunja run off after his deep bow, Prime Minister and Nauri smiled contentedly.

"He's cute."

"Indeed."

Nauri nodded in agreement with Prime Minister.

"Isn't he the friend your sister mentioned?"

"Yeah, probably."

"She said he's really talented in music."

"Have you really never watched his broadcasts? He's all the rage these days~"

"That's just TV."

"Well, that's true, but..."

"Still, if your sister is so taken with him, there must be a reason."

"Who knows, she tends to get obsessed with odd things."

"Hmmm."

"Are you curious?"

When Prime Minister tapped Nauri's shoulder, Nauri flashed a friendly smile.

"Haha, well, a little."

"When he comes, let's try out a few things together~"

"Sounds good."

"Hehe, I hope he comes."

* * *

Gunja's heart felt like it was going to explode as he ran towards his friends.

Just a moment ago, the thought of having to ride that terrifying amusement ride again made him gloomy, but now things were different.

Meeting Prime Minister Daegam* and her husband had sparked new hope. [*His Excellency]

"Guys!"

"Gu, Gunja hyung!"

"Where did you go, you're just now coming back—!"

"Hey! The PD was looking for you everywhere!"

"You didn't get hurt, did you?"

As soon as they saw him, his friends started scolding him with concern, but Gunja had other business.

"We're free until tomorrow morning, right?"

"Yeah, that's right."

"That means we don't necessarily have to stay inside this... banishment... no, Tamlaland, right?"

"They did tell us to stay here if possible, but since it's free time, it shouldn't matter."

"Do we have to ride the amusement rides?"

"No, but there isn't much else to do, right?"

"There is!"

"Huh? What is there to do...?"

"Elegance! Seclusion in nature!"

"Wait, slow down and explain."

"Yeah, I have no idea what you're talking about."

His friends were right. He needed to calm down a bit.

Taking a deep breath and swallowing his saliva, Gunja continued more calmly.

"On the way back from the duel with Soul-less Jang, I met someone."

"Huh? Who did you meet?"

Gunja, who was about to say he met Prime Minister, suddenly remembered Prime Minister's request. She specifically said she didn't want her name mentioned to avoid causing a commotion.

"Just a couple of Jeju Island locals."

"Huh? And so?"

"We've all been invited to their house."

"Hmmm, what are we going to do there?"

"Eat watermelon on the veranda, play in the stream..."

"Ugh, that sounds so old-fashioned."

"Did they by any chance offer you medicinal chicken soup?"

"How did you know?"

"I figured."

The friends sighed and looked at each other.

"Hmm, should we just grant Gunja's wish?"

"Well, we did ride a lot of rides during the day."

"Gu, Gunja hyung had a tough time too..."

"Yeah, we should do something Gunja hyung enjoys now."

"But are they trustworthy people?"

"Of course! Yeongui... I mean..."

"Yeongui?"

"Yeong... they seemed like very pure people."

"Really?"

"Sigh, medicinal chicken soup... It's actually pretty good when you eat it."

"Veranda chicken soup is the best."

"Haha, I like chicken soup too. The ginseng in the tail is funny."

"Hey, what's with you mentioning 'tail' as an idol hopeful...?"

Seeing his friends easily persuaded, Gunja smiled brightly.

"You won't regret it."

"Alright, let's go then."

"Yeah! Let's go!"

And so, the seven boys started heading towards where Yeonguijeong* was waiting. [*Prime Minister]