Chick 202
by Cristae202
Joorim stared at the kneeling, middle-aged man as though he were regarding an insect.
A chill ran down Hwang PD’s spine, and he blinked in bewilderment at the sudden wave of goosebumps.
“Daddy!”
At that moment, Groo shot her hand into the air.
“Scout me, Daddy! He wants to scout me!”
She huffed haughtily through her nose.
Relief softened Hwang PD’s voice.
“Yes, yes, I would like to cast Miss On Groo in this upcoming variety show. Naturally, it will proceed only with the guardian’s agreement…”
“You’re doing another variety show?”
You did one already, didn’t you?
Groo nervously fiddled with her hands at her father’s less-than-enthusiastic tone.
“Can’t I?”
“It’s not that you can’t, it’s just…”
Joorim’s words trailed off.
He was reminded of the previous “One-Day Guildmaster” filming debacle—how troublesome it had been to have her appear without any warning.
“So Groo has to go to the countryside?”
“The countryside?”
As Groo’s face lit up, Hwang PD seized his chance to break into the conversation.
“Yes, yes! It’s nothing strange—just an observational variety show about rural life. A healing concept where families can comfortably gather and watch together.”
“Ah.”
Hwang PD was gaining reputation with observational variety shows filmed in countries around the world. Joorim had seen them now and then on TV.
Usually, it was celebrities working hard in everyday settings overseas…
While picturing celebrities making gimbap and serving food, Joorim found Groo clinging to his knees, half climbing into his lap.
He pushed Groo’s hair behind her ear and held her soft hands, playing with her small fingers.
“You want to go to the countryside?”
“Yes!”
Clinging to his leg, Groo swayed her body as she recited the promises Hwang PD had dangled to entice her.
“I want to see moo-cows, and I want to see little amphibians. And I want to see how full of stars the countryside sky is…”
In tune, Hwang PD bustled over to show just how pretty the filming location was, eager to display the photos on his phone.
But Groo only glanced at them, then looked up at Joorim.
“Can’t I?”
“…Hmm.”
From his expression, Groo could tell her father was torn—unsure whether or not to let her go.
Groo waited anxiously for his judgment.
The show itself sounded fun, but the truth was, she had to go to that “countryside” for another reason.
‘If Groo doesn’t go, she’ll become Groot…’
Groo slyly eyed Kazuki.
Dad had said sabu was unwell. He hadn’t said where or what was wrong, but surely an elixir could cure him.
For that, she needed the acorn to grow tall…
‘But it won’t!’
She’d tried everything—warm sunshine, turning the soil, adding nutrients—but the elixir wouldn’t grow past 34%.
She was even considering replanting it in her own head, when Hwang PD had appeared, having gone so far as to rough it outdoors just to persuade them.
All to take Groo to the countryside!
It was then, like a bell ringing in her head, that Groo found clarity.
The last time the elixir had suddenly grown was at Yeonham Temple.
In other words, a secluded countryside spot filled with mana!
Mana tended to pool in places without many people—and where mana gathered, strange phenomena followed.
Because of this, these days, most rural areas saw a drastic decline in population, not just among newcomers but also tourists.
Government support measures had increased to mitigate risks, but changing an image of danger, once entrenched, was a difficult task indeed.
Therefore, if Hwang PD was to be believed, this variety show would…
“I want to capture on screen the true Korean countryside, places completely untouched by public attention…!”
With Joorim looking on, Hwang PD’s passion carried him away.
“As you saw, Korea is full of beautiful spots. But since the Cataclysm, no one pays any attention to out-of-the-way places like these. Before the Cataclysm, it was common to dream of moving to the countryside—and camping equipment would sell out at every mart.
“But after the Cataclysm, all interest in rural life simply died.
“Today’s kids don’t even go to visit their grandparents in the country. They think it’s too dangerous. I still remember how packed the roads were during the holidays before the Cataclysm… I’ve done interviews with various officials, and no matter how hard the local governments try, they struggle to get people back to the countryside. It wasn’t easy before the Cataclysm, but now it’s a whole different dimension. Yet when people stop coming to villages, those villages wither and die.”
Recall the rural townships he’d visited, Hwang PD’s voice grew plaintive.
“I’m not trying to be some great revolutionary, but I hope viewers, just for a moment, might remember the villages they once knew. But for that, I need a little buzz, embarrassing as it is. One big TV moment, and a spot can be reborn, whether as a tourist destination or anything else. Fame brings more fame, and people draw more people, right? You know how it is.”
He explained how the countries featured on “World Mart” had reaped massive publicity benefits.
His voice betrayed his deep affection and conviction for the project.
“The observation variety show format depends not just on editing but mostly on the cast. It’s why I don’t intend to use Amakusa Hunter as just another boisterous guest. Maybe you feel what I’m aiming for? My vision is—bring the most out-of-place, famous figure to the deepest Korean countryside. Imagine it! A handsome man who looks every bit a tattooed gangster, struggling through rustic chores.”
“Huh?”
Kazuki absentmindedly pointed at himself; Joorim chuckled, and Groo nodded with conviction.
The positive response made Hwang PD beam.
“Doesn’t the thought just make you expect so much fun and laughter? Before the Cataclysm, spending summers in rural villages was called a ‘village-cation.’ I want to resurrect the ‘village-cation,’ showing city dwellers—clumsy and out of their element—enjoying the challenges of rural life. Besides, isn’t Groo the princess of the world’s top guild?”
At the word ‘princess,’ Groo lifted her head, and Hwang PD smiled warmly.
“With both Amakusa Hunter and Orchestra’s princess, we’d capture both buzz and meaning.”
“……”
A brief silence fell.
Hwang PD, having poured out his enthusiasm, licked his dry lips.
Was this enough? Could he really win On Joorim over with just words?
He recalled the On Joorim who’d once descended from the Tower.
Then, he’d been the very image of a chilling blade; now, he seemed a languid predator, even something of a benevolent king.
Probably because of Groo—that was the only conclusion.
As Hwang PD pondered, Groo gave him a solemn nod.
“……?”
Hwang PD looked more confused than ever, not understanding the silent exchange, but his heartfelt speech had deeply moved Groo.
‘Groo… Princess!’
The word “princess” resonated with her.
No one had ever called her that so sincerely before.
She would help this kind man, go to the countryside, and raise the elixir!
But there was something she had to do first. In Sergey’s words, she needed to “land the finishing blow.”
Groo wrapped her arms around Joorim’s neck as she sat in his lap.
“Can’t I? Even if I do this, can’t I?”
She peppered his cheeks with kisses, and though Joorim turned his face away, he couldn’t hide the gentle curve of his lips.
Kazuki and Hwang PD smiled, savoring the tender father-daughter moment.
“If it’s an observation variety show, you’d have to stay in the countryside for a while…”
“Yes, about a week, I’d say…?”
Hwang PD minimized the duration as much as possible.
With a soft sigh, Joorim muttered under his breath,
“Will you be all right without Dad?”
Ah! Groo’s head shot up.
So that was why he was hesitating! Because they’d be apart so long!
But Groo quickly found her answer.
“Uh-huh. Because—”
She smiled and pointed at him with her finger.
“Daddy will go with me too.”
After much discussion, the program title was finalized as “Awkward Village-cation!”
The cast: On Joorim, Amakusa Kazuki, Lee Romi, Seo Wooju, and On Groo.
With every connection called in for this golden lineup, and production helmed by the pioneer of observational variety, PD Hwang Uncheol, the station pledged full support.
Following several production meetings with cast and crew, the shoot began at the edge of a small village in Gokseong, southern Jeolla.
“Eonni—!”
Groo, clutching a stalk of dogtail grass, dashed along the paddy field embankment into Lee Romi’s arms.
The trailing observation camera caught the scene.
On camera, Lee Romi appeared in billowy work pants and a loose shirt.
She wrapped Groo—similarly attired and wearing a grandma-style vest—in a tight embrace before letting go.
“Groo, have you ever been to the countryside before?”
Shake, shake.
“Is that so? I actually lived in the countryside until I was your age.”
Despite her cosmopolitan looks—often mistaken for a Seoul native—Lee Romi had been born in a rural town near Namhae.
“So just trust your eonni.”
With a proud smile, Lee Romi opened the old countryside gate.
Creeeak—
The hinges screeched noisily, and in the yard, Kazuki could be seen busy tending a fire in the cookstove.
“Let me help!”
“No, no. This is too tough for girls. I’m all right~”
Groo, who had never seen a traditional cookstove before, watched with fascination, then padded over to the porch and poked her father’s thigh as he lay on his side with his eyes closed.
“Daddy’s a man.”
“……”
Joorim simply kept his eyes closed, though it didn’t look like he was asleep.
“Daddy, what are we doing here?”
“……”
“Daddy, are you asleep?”
“I’m not asleep.”
“Are you going to sleep?”
“……”
“Hmm? Daddy~”
Joorim finally cracked open one eye and shoved a boiled ear of corn into Groo’s mouth.
“Mmph!”
Chomp, chomp. Groo gnawed at the corn, but as Joorim closed his eyes again, she stared in shock.
How could someone be this lazy?
It was the rawest display of laziness, wholly unaware of the cameras.
Groo cast about uncertainly with wide eyes, but kind Kazuki only smiled cheerfully—
“It’s fine. Groo-chan, stay there where it’s safe~”
—as he got the fire blazing.
Was this really all right for Orchestra?
The antis were probably saying, “I knew On Joorim would be like that,” laughing away. Yet Joorim seemed utterly unconcerned, reaching new heights of indolence.
Meanwhile, the production crew, filming it all, were secretly pleased.
For a family-oriented observational variety, in that instant, the diligent, ever-cheerful mom and the incompetent, lazy dad roles had fallen perfectly into place.