“Even if I’m not there, I’m sure it’ll run well on its own.”
As soon as Lee Hyun left the tent bar, he was swept along in the festival’s crowd— people who came with their families, students from other schools, and Korean University students who dressed up and were wandering around.
The campus that had been quiet was now clamorous. It was a place where the excitement of youth could be felt!
As if to breathe in that excitement, Lee Hyun took in a deep breath.
“Ah, how nice. The air is filled with the scent of money!”
A stage had been set up in the grass plaza where he had always unpacked his lunch, and bands were performing there.
Multiple teams from the Virtual Reality Department participated in the athletic meet, song festival, and play.
The results were disastrous!
They were eliminated in the preliminaries in the athletic meet, it was impossible for them to sing high notes in their performance for the song festival, and they said an audience of only a few elementary school kids had come for the play.
“Seems like those noonas didn’t practice.”
[T/N: Noona is a friendly, casual term for ‘older sister.’ Like hyung and oppa, it can be used for a non-family member.]
An elementary school kid wearing glasses with a sharp gaze even said something like this. “How sloppy.”
It was a play criticized by even elementary school kids!
That was the conclusive trigger that sent all the Virtual Reality Department’s support towards the bar.
* * *
It appeared that the other departments had done a lot of preparation in advance, as they were hosting a variety of events.
The Department of Veterinary Medicine brought the characteristics of their department to life and were selling beef.
In the Department of Social Welfare, the students were pushing the wheelchairs of the disabled and elderly as they guided them. It was said that the department accommodated them in a nearby hotel or in their own houses as they personally gave them a bath and performed a meaningful deed that gave the people a gift.
In the Clothing Design Department, clothes they had made themselves were sold cheaply.
The music students were on the side of always having high popularity. Since the pretty female students were performing, there was a swarm of male spectators and they were a big hit.
Stages were set up here and there, and even the small events were unceasing.
Even a flea market that sold off unused products was lively.
It was when Lee Hyun’s steps took him towards the flea market behind the main stage, someone beside him grabbed his arm and dragged him.
“Look, it seems like 1 more volunteer has appeared.”
An announcer was in the middle of conducting Slave Dating on the stage.
The event crew had been choosing Slave Dating participants from the audience, but Lee Hyun had pushed through the crowd and barged in.
A total of 30 male students were participating in the Slave Dating!
The announcer pulled the mic close and shouted.
“It’s time for them to show off their respective honed skills in the talent show. Your master can change depending on how cool a talent you show, so slaves, you should do your very best! Then let’s start with participant number 1.”
Lee Hyun received number 23.
He tried to resist and not go up on the stage, but because of the crowd’s jeers, he inevitably went up.
‘A fricking talent show, my luck today is the worst.’
What the hell was there that he was good at!
Well, the only thing he knew how to do was martial arts.
Lee Hyun’s face hardened more and more whenever the other participants showed off their singing, dancing, playing musical instruments, magic shows, or comedy skits.
He was scared of the frosty look in the audience’s eyes!
He wasn’t a person with an extroverted personality, and he didn’t have any individual skill, so his anxiety increased even more.
Stage fright. Since students from the same school were watching, it was more repulsive.
‘Let’s dance. Should I do the national gymnastics, at least?’
Participant number 6 did the national gymnastics first.
“Boooo!”
“Boring! Throw him off!”
Lee Hyun was relieved.
‘It’s lucky I didn’t do the national gymnastics. Then should I sing a song? Seems like the classic ‹ I will love you until the end › would be good.’
Participant number 14 sang that song first.
I could not even laugh~
I remembered your laugh each time, so I couldn’t even cry~
Since if I’m sad, you might be pained~
Although Lee Hyun thought the participant had an outstanding singing ability, he wasn’t able to get a high score.
Now the problem wasn’t getting a good score. He just needed to pass this situation somehow.
“Now we’ll watch participant number 23’s talent show.”
Suddenly it was time for Lee Hyun’s turn. Since it was a short talent show, there wasn’t time for him to think leisurely.
“Get me a knife…”
“What?”
“I will show you apple peeling.”
“An apple. Is there an apple prepared? Yes, they’re saying they can get one with a knife prepared for you shortly. Participant number 23’s talent show is apple peeling. Everyone, please enjoy.”
The nicely ripening apple and fruit knife the event crew gave him!
Lee Hyun rubbed the apple as he turned it around and around. Then, in a single moment—
Sliiiceeeee.
In a single breath the knife cut the apple and the peel slipped off.
When the blade grazed by, the apple peel fell, as if taking off its skin. There was no break in between or any residue left behind.
“Did you peel it already?”
“Yes.”
“You peeled it really quickly. In any case, we’ve seen a nice trick!”
The announcer praised him to drum up the amusement. It was because of the thought of seeing a new trick after only watching commonplace talent shows of songs or dance.
The audience also applauded moderately.
‘Phew. Looks like I was able to pass.’
7 more people did their talent shows after Lee Hyun, and then it was time to set the prices of the slaves.