Chapter 1197: Extremes (8)

"We had such a wonderful time."

"Delicious food, an amazing performance... It was the best day I've had in Antarctica. I don't want to go back to the station."

The foreign guests gathered at the entrance to Sejong Hall waved with deep reluctance on their faces.

Chile, China, Brazil, and more.

After waving to the people trudging toward their snow vehicles, we turned to the final guest.

"I had a wonderful time."

Professor Eric Kimmer from the American station clasped my hand.

"If I had more time, I would have stayed to learn your secret. It is truly unfortunate. I'll have to learn those penguin gestures from Doctor Pang later. And thank you very much for giving us the opportunity to speak about Antarctica. It was incredibly valuable."

"You're very welcome."

"Well, then."

The penguin researcher, wearing goggles and a fur hat pulled low over his head, grinned and left the station.

While Doctor Pang Gwiin went to see him off, we turned toward the person lingering in the entrance hall.

The freckled face beneath her red hair had crumpled miserably.

"Oh, Amy."

We opened our arms to the Souffle.

"It's a shame, but it's time for you to go."

"I don't want to."

We laughed as we gave the whining fan, who insisted she did not want to return to her station, a light hug.

Then Amy stared intently at us.

"...?"

"I'm trying to memorize all five of your faces as much as possible before I leave. There are nothing but ugly men at the station. They all look like pareiasaurs."

"Pareiasaurs?"

"Ugly dinosaurs."

"Ah..."

We leaned our faces closer so she could get a good look, and the Souffle's eyes sparkled as she concentrated.

She stared especially long at her favorite, Ri Hyuk.

At that moment, someone shouting "Amy!" outside mixed with the rumble of the snow vehicle's engine.

"It really is time for me to go now."

She pouted.

Ri Hyuk stepped forward as our representative and cleared his throat.

"Goodbye, Amy. I was so happy we could spend such a wonderful time together."

"Me too!!"

"I hope your research continues to go well."

The Souffle beamed.

She looked so happy that smiles naturally spread across our faces as well.

"Amy! Time to go!"

The shout came again from outside.

Amy put on her goggles, pulled down her hat, waved, and ran outside.

"Goodbye—"

We were still waving when Amy, who had been running away, suddenly came back and shouted as though she had something to tell us.

"I forgot one thing! I'm preparing a special gift for you!"

"A gift?"

"Look forward to it!"

"What kind of gi—"

Before we could finish asking, she ran outside again and climbed into the snow vehicle.

Through the lightly falling Antarctic snow, we watched the American team's vehicle recede into the distance.

Junghyun asked,

"What kind of gift could it be?"

"Who knows."

I could not possibly guess, so I only shrugged.

As we watched the snow vehicles and boats from various countries shrink into distant specks and turned back toward the interior of Sejong Hall, Biju smiled warmly.

"Shall we have some hot tea?"

"Sounds good. My hands are cold from standing by the entrance."

"I want cocoa, hyung."

I nodded, then asked Biju as he walked ahead of us,

"Aren't you exhausted too, Biju? Cooking must have drained you."

"We all did it together."

Biju smiled with his eyes and looked out the window at the Antarctic landscape.

"Besides, Antarctica is the kind of place you might only get to visit once in your life."

"True."

"I think this will become an incredible memory once some time has passed."

We all nodded with warm smiles.

He was right.

Antarctica was one of the most difficult regions in the world for humans to access.

Outside the summer season in which we had visited, blizzards raged across the land, and the cold was dangerous enough that even a few minutes of exposure could prove hazardous.

Moreover, numerous international agreements existed to protect this land, so it was not somewhere one could casually visit as a tourist.

That meant, since we were already here, we should make as many different memories as possible...

"...So why don't I feel refreshed at all?"

"Me neither."

We did not know the exact reason.

The whoooosh of wind blowing from somewhere sounded almost as though it were mocking us.

We looked at one another.

"..."

"..."

Then we snorted and shook our heads.

"Nah~"

"Surely not~"

"Tha—"

As Junghyun tried to add something, we glared and mimed zipping his mouth shut.

"No, I was just—"

"Screech!"

"Screeeeeech!"

At the furious cries of the penguins, Junghyun scratched the back of his head.

"Maybe Antarctica and I just don't get along."

After the foreign guests left.

When all the members of King Sejong Station gathered in the kitchen, the NewBlack members became flustered.

"We'll take care of the cleanup!"

"Whoa, whoa! It's fine. You should rest."

"Come on! You treated us to such a great meal. We should at least do this much."

"Uh..."

Wearing aprons and rubber gloves, NewBlack waved their hands frantically in protest.

The senior researchers called over the younger staff.

"Hey, take the NewBlack members somewhere and give them some tea. People need a chance to rest."

"Uh, we..."

"Go rest already. Hurry!"

Pushed back by the other researchers, the NewBlack members retreated.

Not all of them did.

"Um, Junghyun."

"Yes?"

Junghyun stood perfectly still even as the two strongest male researchers at the station tried to push him.

"Please let us push you."

"Ah, okay."

Only then did Junghyun awkwardly go, "Whoa," and step backward, making everyone burst into laughter.

He wore the expression of a man who had never been pushed by anything in his entire life.

"But is it really all right if we don't finish cleaning? We should be the ones to—"

"It's fine, so go and rest!"

Even as they left, the members kept looking back with expressions that said, We should be doing this.

The King Sejong Station crew chuckled.

"They looked so much like celebrities when they were singing, but now that I look at them, they're all babies. Babies."

"How old is Wooju? Twenty-six? Twenty-seven?"

"I heard Jiho teasing him earlier and saying twenty-seven."

"Twenty-seven is a baby. Practically an infant."

"Absolutely. I don't even remember how old I am anymore."

They chatted as they washed the dishes.

The researchers' gazes toward the nation's idols were filled with warmth.

We should at least do this much for them.

NewBlack might have come to Antarctica because of a ratings promise they themselves had made, but their attitude toward filming was full of sincerity.

In truth, not everyone had welcomed NewBlack.

-To be honest... when I see Antarctica on television these days, it feels like people treat it as nothing more than variety-show material.

King Sejong Station was, strictly speaking, a place for scientific research.

When entertainers casually said things like, "Should we take a trip to King Sejong Station~?" on television, scientists could not help feeling conflicted.

Because of that, some of the older researchers had privately shown discomfort even when they heard NewBlack would be visiting.

And yet...

"The more I see them, the more decent they seem."

"Right?"

Everyone had opened their hearts after seeing the careful attitude NewBlack displayed when they first arrived.

They had tried to follow the station's rules and film without interfering with the scientists.

And that was not all.

They must have been exhausted today.

They had prepared an enormous amount of food and even performed in front of everyone.

Moreover, giving the scientists an opportunity to speak about Antarctica before millions of people and seriously conveying their message was another reason the researchers had opened their hearts.

Now I understand why there are so many heartwarming stories about NewBlack.

They were not merely famous. They were national stars who understood how to make people like them.

"Phew."

"We're done."

Just as they finished washing the dishes and wiped the sweat from their foreheads...

"Excuse me..."

Producer Gu Jaeyoung approached them.

"We have quite a lot of free time before dinner. Would everyone happen to be available?"

"Pardon? Yes... I suppose."

"Ah, I was thinking of holding a few simple minigames. King Sejong Station's researchers versus NewBlack."

Everyone smiled and nodded.

I'm exhausted right now.

I'll send the younger ones.

Then someone raised a hand and asked,

"I have a question. If it's a game, there must be prizes, right?"

"Of course."

At Producer Gu Jaeyoung's gesture, an assistant director held up a sheet listing the prizes.

A caricature of a monk was drawn at the top.

"Who is that monk?"

"He's the CEO of Lemon Entertainment. The sponsor of the prizes."

Everyone bowed their heads to suppress their laughter.

Only one technician with a smooth, gleaming head stared off into the distance.

Then one of the crew members examining the prize list shouted,

"Whoa. This is insane. First prize is a trip to Hawaii!"

"Hawaii?!"

"And it's for more than ten nights!"

Perhaps it was because they were stationed in the freezing polar region.

The moment Waikiki Beach appeared before their minds' eyes, everyone's gaze turned hazy.

No.

It blazed with fire.

I must win it!

As everyone enthusiastically announced their intention to participate, one crew member raised a question.

"But this might be a prize for us, but isn't it meaningless to NewBlack?"

"That's true."

The researchers nodded.

Isn't it only a prize to us?

NewBlack had enough money to buy a mansion in Hawaii, let alone travel there.

Producer Gu Jaeyoung readily agreed.

"Yes. So the members will receive different rewards. Points from us."

"Points?"

"Yes. Later, during the main filming of Newniverse, we're planning to let them spend those points. For instance, even if they lose a game with food at stake, they might get a chance to eat alone."

"Oh."

A wicked smile spread across Producer Gu Jaeyoung's rugged face.

"We could create a scene where everyone else goes hungry while one member eats alone, leading them to betray one another. We can manufacture all kinds of entertaining discord. Hohohohohoho."

Right. This man is Gu Jaeyoung.

Everyone blinked.

They had forgotten because NewBlack was so famous, but the man before them was also a celebrated producer whose face was known throughout the country.

Only a few years earlier, he had tormented the members of Living Together through every method imaginable.

"So you needn't worry. NewBlack's members will also take the games seriously."

Their gazes turned toward the NewBlack members sitting in the dining hall.

The five had placed squeaky toy hammers and brass bowls on the table as though practicing for the minigames.

Junghyun and Wooju were glaring contemptuously at each other.

Whoooooosh~

A silence in which one could almost hear the theme music from a Wild West showdown.

The staff of the Antarctic station began eating snacks as they watched to see how NewBlack played minigames.

Wooju extended a hand toward Junghyun.

"Cham-cham... cham!"

As Wooju rapidly waved his palm with an offbeat rhythm, Junghyun hesitated, and Wooju snatched up the toy hammer.

A movement as swift as an outlaw drawing his gun!

Oh!

But...

Clang!

With astonishing reflexes, Junghyun placed the aluminum pot over his head and blocked the toy hammer.

Good grief...

I think steam is rising from the toy hammer.

As everyone held their breath and watched, it became Junghyun's turn to attack.

"Cham-cham-cham!"

Wooju immediately dodged the attack's straightforward rhythm, but Junghyun had already picked up the toy hammer.

Junghyun! He just grabbed the hammer!

He simply wanted to hit him!

But Wooju's defense was faster—

Clang!

Clang?

Everyone's eyes widened at the tremendous impact.

"Goodness..."

"The pot is dented."

The pot Wooju held had been slightly dented by Junghyun's toy hammer.

Wooju grinned, set the pot down, and patted Junghyun's shoulder.

As if praising him for doing well.

"Oh. I suppose they agreed on that."

...someone said, just as Ri Hyuk patted Wooju's shoulder with an obnoxious expression.

Then he pointed at the dented pot.

Wooju jumped in shock, grabbed Junghyun, and began shaking him furiously.

Everyone burst into laughter at the sight, which resembled a fight between snot-nosed children.

"Hahaha!"

"Hahahahaha!"

But the station crew's laughter faded when someone continued,

"This isn't the time to laugh. We're the ones who have to get hit by that."

"..."

"..."

They turned toward one man.

"Doctor, do you think we'll survive that?"

"No."

At the sight of King Sejong Station's only doctor miming stitches across his forehead, Producer Gu Jaeyoung smiled.

"You don't need to worry. We aren't playing any physical games."

"Then why is NewBlack doing that?"

"I lied and told them we were."

"..."

"It's all for your sake. If those guys prepare in advance and start using their brains, you won't be able to beat them."

"Hahaha!"

"He's serious, though..."

The scientific minds who proudly considered themselves among Korea's finest intellects laughed at his words.

But Producer Gu Jaeyoung had been telling the truth.

"Huff..."

"Haaah..."

In the various team and individual minigames, Korea's greatest minds endured countless hardships.

That was absolutely filthy.

Filthy and underhanded. Let us never meet in a game again.

In everything from strategic rock-paper-scissors to numerous other minigames, NewBlack displayed the absolute pinnacle of shamelessness.

"Hohohoho."

"Hoho."

"Well? Wasn't that fun?"

The moment they began playing minigames with the NewBlack members, who had looked so lovely only around lunchtime, the researchers learned how frightening the world could be.

Petty interference.

Bluffing.

Plots to sow the seeds of conspiracy among the researchers and divide them.

Compared to NewBlack, who had been battered and rolled around the world of television variety, the scientists were like a lone flower blooming in a garbage dump.

Naturally, the garbage dump was NewBlack.

"Huff..."

After the games ended, the researchers collapsed onto the floor and chewed chocolate.

They could not endure without sugar.

However...

"All right! We will now distribute the prizes for the team and individual competitions!"

"Waaaaaaaaah!"

"Victory in the team event! King Sejong Station!"

"Waaaaaaaaah!"

The King Sejong Station crew, who had barely seized victory, hugged one another and jumped up and down.

The NewBlack members applauded with disappointed expressions.

"Ah, we were seriously that close."

"Exactly."

They acted as though they were full of complaints and resentment, but every crew member knew.

NewBlack had let them win.

"Here is the first-place prize. Jeong Suyeon!"

The Souffle who had performed best in the individual competition accepted the placard and laughed boldly.

"Thank you! Thank you! Hahaha! Hahaha... Teehee."

Everyone burst into laughter when the Souffle, conscious of NewBlack's gaze, suddenly switched to a demure giggle.

The atmosphere was warm and cheerful.

While the award ceremony proceeded and the winners shared their thoughts before the camera, the NewBlack members returned to the kitchen and began working again.

Because the dinner menu was simpler than lunch, preparations went quickly.

"Everyone must be hungry, right? Come eat dinner!"

"Waaaaaaaaah!"

"Goodness, all of this..."

Braised kimchi with long strips of meat and kimchi pulling apart, stacks of rolled omelets, roasted seaweed brushed with perilla oil, LA galbi coated in sweet sauce, and more.

As all the perfect accompaniments to rice appeared, everyone let out cries of joy.

The Bulgogi Steak they had eaten for lunch had been a delicacy, but the dishes Biju had personally prepared tasted like food from heaven itself.

"Ahh."

"Now this is real home cooking."

Everyone happily stuffed themselves.

As the atmosphere reached its peak and the meal slowly drew to a close, the dining hall lights went out.

The NewBlack members subtly turned on the television and acted as though wondering, "What's this?" The researchers grinned.

Right. I knew this was coming.

They assumed video messages from their families would play.

It was a special episode scheduled to air before the Lunar New Year, after all.

Sure enough.

[Honey, it's me. Hyemin, say hello to Daddy. (Hi, Daddy~)]

[Son, are you doing well over there?]

Various faces began appearing in video messages, making them smile.

They had spoken face-to-face through video calls only yesterday, but there was something moving about family messages edited by professional producers.

[To my beloved Doctor Pang Gwiin.]

"That's my wife."

[Yesterday was our wedding anniversary, and it seems you still haven't realized it. Ha ha.]

Doctor Pang Gwiin froze.

One of the older crew members chuckled.

"Am I seeing things? There's a ghost sitting here."

"Who is this Doctor Pang Gwiin? There is no one by that name at King Sejong Station."

As Doctor Pang desperately ran off in search of a phone, laughter filled the room. Everyone warmly welcomed the messages from their families.

Jiho tilted his head and asked a staff member sitting nearby,

"Isn't anyone crying?"

"We haven't even been in Antarctica for two months yet..."

"Ah..."

"We video-call every day."

Since the shift rotation had taken place in December, they missed their families, but it had not yet reached the point of aching longing.

Then the final message played.

"All right, everyone..."

Wooju clapped his hands and began to speak, only to turn his head.

The video messages on the television had not ended.

"Hm?"

"Uh...?"

The NewBlack members blinked and looked at the producer.

Producer Gu Jaeyoung gestured for them to keep watching.

[Son!]

[Jiho.]

[Hey.]

A handsome family waved from the screen.

A broad, imposing businessman and his elegant wife, along with three sisters who were all strikingly beautiful at a glance.

Everyone turned their heads.

Jiho's eyes had gone wide, and he covered his mouth.

[Are you doing well? I miss my son so much.]

From the very first words, NewBlack's youngest member began shedding tears as though he had eaten unbearably spicy tteokbokki, making the scientists blink.

What is this?

Anyone would think his family were the ones stationed in Antarctica.

They wondered why a NewBlack member who lived near his family in Korea was reacting this way when an assistant director from Newniverse told them,

"The last time Jiho met his entire family together was nine months ago."

That's worse than Antarctica.

The NewBlack members immediately began crying at the messages from their families.

Then someone's grandmother appeared, and everyone looked toward her grandson.

Look at Wooju's expression.

He's already crying.

An elegant woman wearing glasses sat on a luxurious sofa and carefully took out a letter.

How deeply moving would its contents be?

As her hands, marked by the passage of time, unfolded the letter, someone whispered, "Oh no... I think I'm going to cry."

[Ah... well... you know...]

After clearing her throat, Madam Kim Deoksun began reading the opening of the letter in a bright, ringing voice.

[To my grandson, who must be freezing his ass off.]

Everyone burst into laughter.