Second Try Idol

Chapter 326: Break (22)

The first ones to brave the courage test were Joo-Han and Yoon-Chan. This wasn't some highly-planned content by the agency. It just spontaneously happened while we were messing around. Therefore, we didn't have much in terms of filming equipment.

In fact, the only thing we had to record with was a phone, which meant we couldn't broadcast both Joo-Han and Yoon-Chan's adventure and our reactions simultaneously through the Q-app. So, we decided Joo-Han's team would take the livestreaming phone with them, while we'd stay back and watch while reacting live.

Su-Hwan was handling another phone to capture us as we watched, probably planning to edit this footage later for our official UTube channel.

[Guys, there's really nothing much out here. But I've heard this mountain has some mystical energy and attracted lots of shamans for prayer.]

[...Is that really true?]

[Apparently so. Oh, and Yoon-Chan, don't go that way. The owner told me earlier that his family's graveyard is over there, and we are not allowed there.]

- Whoa... a graveyard... ??

- Why are we even doing this, ah, I‘m terrified, but can't stop watching because it's them...

- It's already so creepy with how dark the screen is...

- What’s that behind them?

- lol Yoon-Chan looks genuinely scared, it’s hilarious hahaha

- Joo-Han 😂 Don’t mention such things so casually hahaha

- Is it just me, or does the faint light from the lodge make it even creepier...

“Look at him choosing the scariest things to say.”

“Seriously. I could never joke about such things if I were out there." Goh Yoo-Joon shivered at the thought.

Meanwhile, Jin-Sung didn’t dare to flee and stayed within the frame Su-Hwan was capturing. However, he was completely wrapped up in a blanket while shivering. Though the live broadcast was too dark to see much, the gloomy atmosphere made it look a lot scarier than it actually was.

[Where should I hide this?]

[Hold on, they are watching our live video right now. We can't show where we’re hiding it, so just wait here, Yoon-Chan.]

[What? Are you going alone? Okay, then.]

Despite the supposed terror of the courage test, both Joo-Han and Yoon-Chan were so nonchalant that it was almost laughable. Just look at them.

- Why is he going alone UGHHHH

- They should stick together... Why are they splitting up ??

- Joo-Han is one thing, but Yoon-Chan isn't even bothered being alone...?

- If Jin-Sung were here, he'd be in tears and making a scene lmao

- ??? You are leaving me... hyung... sob... don’t leave me... sob... here bow wow bow wow

- LMAO 😂😂😂

Both Joo-Han and Yoon-Chan, one holding the camera and the other waiting alone in the shadows of the forest, seemed utterly unfazed. Since they weren’t scared, the viewers felt less frightened too.

Everyone but Jin-Sung seemed okay.

“Is the scary part over? Did the hyungs come out yet? Is it still dark? ...Waah! It’s still dark... Hyung....”

“But it really is quite dark. I’m starting to feel a bit spooked now. What are we going to do?”

While Goh Yoo-Joon wasn’t freaking out like Jin-Sung, the dimly lit forest and the ambiguous lighting made him a bit uneasy. Perhaps if it were pitch black, it might have been less scary since nothing would be visible. However, the dim glow from the sparse bulbs hanging in the forest only added to the creepy vibe.

[Did you guys know that these bulbs have been flickering since we got here? They are running on a generator, so a weak voltage must be causing this.]

Yoon-Chan, ever the optimist, casually threw out that comment and set off a frenzy in the chat room. This sent Jin-Sung over the edge.

“Aaaaah!!! I heard what Yoon-Chan hyung said... that flickering light, that’s the pol... pol... what is it... what do you call that phenomenon?”

“Poltergeist phenomenon[1]?"

“Aaah! Don’t even say it!"

“What am I supposed to do then?"

“I’m so scared. I need a break. I am going to watch Pororo[2] for a bit."

“Right now?" Goh Yoo-Joon handed me the phone with the live broadcast on and took his own phone and Jin-Sung into the kitchen. I could faintly hear them singing the opening song of Pororo.

“I love to play the most..."

Without realizing it, I hummed along to the song while I continued to watch the screen. Joo-Han had hidden the 'treasure' paper and then came down and talked to Yoon-Chan.

[Did I keep you waiting for long?]

[No. But what should we do, hyung? I chatted with the viewers for a bit, and it looks like the viewer count has dropped... Maybe the talk wasn't interesting enough.]

[Oh, no, that's not it. They probably just stepped out for a bit. They will be back, right, everyone?]

The drop in viewers was probably because they couldn't handle Yoon-Chan's casual remarks about scary things and needed a breather, just like those guys watching Pororo over there.

About five minutes later, Goh Yoo-Joon and Jin-Sung came back. Shortly after, Joo-Han and Yoon-Chan returned as well. The phone was put back on the tripod, and there was a strange smell of nature coming from Joo-Han and Yoon-Chan.

“How was it? Was it really scary to be there?" Goh Yoo-Joon asked.

Joo-Han and Yoon-Chan both shook their heads.

“Not really, there were lights and nothing particularly scary."

“But it was a bit chilly since the place is deep in the woods."

“When you two went up there, Goh Yoo-Joon and Jin-Sung were so scared they went to watch Pororo."

Goh Yoo-Joon laughed heartily and grabbed onto Joo-Han, seemingly trying to shake off his fear more than anything. “Pororo was pretty fun."

After a bit of banter, the viewers who had stepped away started coming back, and the viewer count returned to normal.

“Alright, now it's your turn, Yoo-Joon and Hyun-Woo."

“I didn’t hide it too well on purpose, so it will be easy to find."

“Alright. Let's go, Goh Yoo-Joon."

I gestured for Goh Yoo-Joon to come with me as I picked up the phone fixed to the tripod.

“...Whoa, we’re going already?” He hesitated to go and looked a bit frightened, but didn’t waste too much time and followed me.

“Be careful, hyung!" Jin-Sung yelled as we stepped out the door.

Goh Yoo-Joon tried to smile as he took the phone that was recording. “As long as you guys are having fun, I can handle this kind of fear."

I looked around and pointed toward the trail leading up the mountain. “There, the path with the lights, that's where we’re heading."

“Wow, it looks even darker in person."

“I know, right? How did they even go up there?"

The atmosphere was silent and the moist air made it seem like a place you wouldn't want to enter, scary or not.

“Guys, it looks completely different in person compared to what you see on the screen. I’m not sure how to describe this type of fear."

“It kind of feels like when you go to an amusement park and venture into a corner that's not well-decorated, and suddenly it's all quiet. It feels like that kind of silence." Goh Yoo-Joon's comparison was oddly specific but apt. The dim lighting and frequent flickering made it feel like a closed-down local amusement park.

“Should we give up? Haha!" Goh Yoo-Joon asked.

“Be quiet. Let's go."

Goh Yoo-Joon was clearly scared. I grabbed him by the wrist and headed toward the trail. Since Joo-Han and Yoon-Chan had hidden the treasure paper, we had to find it to complete our mission.

As we entered the trail, the reluctance I felt before entering vanished. “We've seen the path on video, so we should be able to find it quickly. Don't be scared, everyone."

“Umm."

Goh Yoo-Joon desperately tried to find reasons not to be scared by communicating with the viewers. I pondered for a moment.

‘Is this supposed to be like a horror special? But I feel like this is going to be lame and boring.’

I recalled how Joo-Han subtly steered us toward a spooky vibe. Historically, his decisions and intentions had never gone in a negative direction. Yoon-Chan might have decreased viewer numbers with his scary story, but Joo-Han probably thought that if we were going to do scary content, it should have at least one or two genuinely frightening elements. I could almost see Joo-Han disapproving of our live broadcast.

I looked at Yoo-Joon babbling away and blurted out something. “But you know, ghosts like this kind of talk."

“...Dude."

“They think we’re talking about them and come over."

“Ah, great, now the viewers will leave because of you!"

“Oops, sorry. Come back, everyone."

We continued our trek up the mountain while engaging in occasionally scary banter. We soon reached the spot where Yoon-Chan had stood and talked to the viewers. A bit farther ahead, a container shed was visible.

“Why is there a storage box here?"

“It's probably a place to store tools for chopping wood or other equipment. I know this because my uncle has one," I said, reaching out a hand to Goh Yoo-Joon. “If you’re scared, you don't have to go inside. Just give me the camera and I will go alone."

But Goh Yoo-Joon recoiled in horror and shook his head. “No, let's go together. It's dangerous to go alone. I will shine the light for you. You can do the searching."

I wasn't sure if he was worried about me or scared of being left alone, but either way, Goh Yoo-Joon clung to me.

“Okay, I’m opening the door. Here we go, everyone."

“Yep," Goh Yoo-Joon answered on behalf of everyone.

I hesitated no more and turned the doorknob.

Creeeak—

The door swung open with an unpleasant noise. As I reached for the wall near the door, my hand found the switch and I turned on the light.

“There is light in the shed. It’s less scary now. Let's find the treasure paper."

As I looked around to search for the paper, Goh Yoo-Joon joked from behind, “No, wait. Haha... It's still scary though, isn't it, everyone?"

Ding ding ding! Drrring! Tick! Ding ding!

“...What the heck?"

The bright light inside the shed suddenly started flickering wildly.

‘What's going on here?’ I turned around in confusion, and Goh Yoo-Joon, who had just been by my side, was nowhere to be seen.

“Hey, Goh Yoo-Joon?"

Not only inside the shed, but even the bulbs hanging on the trees visible through the open door began flickering as if they might go out any second.

Bang!

“Ah!"

The shed door slammed shut with a loud noise.

“...”

This couldn't be someone's prank, and Goh Yoo-Joon wasn't the type to pull off something like this. Could this really be a poltergeist phenomenon...?

I nervously chewed on my lip and headed for the door.

“Uh, who's there...?"

The person walking through the door was clearly an old man, but when the light flickered in the blink of an eye, he transformed into a man of my age. The odd part was his hair, which kept changing from pastel pink to blue and back again. Whatever this was, this guy, or creature, wasn't human.

He grinned and said, “One hundred and thirty-two days left.[3]"

“What?"

“Your memory will return."

What was that supposed to mean? As I faced this bizarre situation, I felt compelled to approach the man. The moment I took a step forward, everything was over.

“...Hey, when did you walk over there?"

The man vanished. The light stopped flickering, and the door that had shut closed was open again. Goh Yoo-Joon was back in the shed, searching for the paper with his phone and casually striking up a conversation with me.

1. A paranormal activity involving physical disturbances, such as unexplained noises or objects moving on their own. These occurrences are often attributed to ghosts or other supernatural entities, and are typically characterized by their sudden and inexplicable nature. ☜

2. All time kids’ favorite show in Canada! It’s a popular South Korean animated television series aimed at preschoolers, featuring a little penguin named Pororo and his animal friends as they embark on adventures. The show is well-loved for its entertaining and educational content, teaching children about friendship, cooperation, and problem-solving skills. This show was even more popular than Baby Shark back in the early 2010s! ☜

3. Oh my gosh, I never thought Hyun-Woo would have a time limit! :0 ☜