Another Stupid Isekai

We were stopped by a group standing on the edge of the city center plaza. They had some sound specialists and makeup artists among them, who immediately surrounded me.

– We need to do your makeup, and put a microphone on you, si that ok? – asked some women in English.

– Y-yeah – I agreed, and then they started powdering me.

A guy gave me a belt with a microphone, and instructed me to wrap it around my waist, then take the wire underneath my hoodie, and pin it in the collar, so it would actually register my voice. I couldn’t do it because the makeup artist wouldn’t let me, as they kept putting stuff on my face.

It lasted for a few minutes. From the corner of my eye, I could see Tihana, with a smirk on her face. I really wanted to get my revenge. Throw her into water or something. Make her regret pulling this whole thing on me.

When I was finally made presentable, I could install the sound device on myself. The sound guy fixed it afterward, and I was immediately grabbed by the two girls, who started pulling me towards the area where they were shooting the show.

I was not the only one. I noticed Martin in the same situation. He wasn’t looking as badass without his armor, but still, the muscle mass and size were impressive. He was in a group with the younger guy in shorts. There was also a Sparkle member with them. Slightly taller than Yurin, also blonde, with hair almost reaching her shoulders. She had very very high cheekbones, that alongside her eyes were making her look very exotic, at least for me.

The giant had to also notice me, as he waved with his big-ass arm. I would wave back, but my hands were occupied.

– Hi! – I said louder instead.

We arrived at the spot mostly at the same time as the first two groups.

– I didn’t know you liked TV shows – said Martim with his big smile.

– I’ve been kidnapped – I told him.

This statement made the muscular Korean smile.

– I’m Kim Eun-seok – he introduced himself in English, extending a hand.

I shook it.

– Peter.

– This is Nana – he presented the Sparkle member in his group.

– Hello – she said and waved.

All this time the cameramen were running around, trying to film us. Eun-seok told us where to stand, which was important as more people gathered. One of the twins managed to recruit Nobuo to his team. The serious samurai gained a lot of attention from the people. Some girls couldn’t help but smile.

Tihana also was in the cast. I had no idea of her role, as she seemed to not be part of any team.

Besides that, we had a single American soldier and a single Indian soldier at that moment in time. I noticed Alice coming with the other female member of the cast. She had Razzle with her, and as soon as people noticed them, the members of Sparkle went crazy, covering their mouths, laughing, and clearly being scared. It was this weird mix of excitement and fear.

The last two recruits happen to be Nil and Eshe. Sanders was in the other twin’s team, and Eshe happened to be in the host’s member of the cast.

They all got threatened in the same way as us. Provided with a microphone and powdered up.

[0)ᴠʟ We exchanged brief and awkward greetings, and then the host stepped into action.

– First of all, Welcome everybody – he said in Korean, but then repeated greetings in English. – As we all assembled our teams, I believe we should introduce the hunters to our viewers. Why don’t you start Eun-seok?

The guy laughed and began his presentation of Martin.

– Dear viewers, this is Martin. Martin is one of the better know hunters in Ark – he said in Korean, peaking at the giant who kept smiling.

– And what’s your team’s name? – asked the host.

– Our team name?

– How about we go with Him? – asked Nana

– Team strength? – asked the host with a smile on his face. – This is so you Eun-seok.

This had to be some kind of an inside joke because most of the cast laughed, and only us, hunters had no idea what was going on.

– Then what is your team’s name? – sked the muscular guy, pretending to be angry.

– Our team? – asked the host again and looked over his shoulder at Eshe. – We are a team Model.

– Model? Did you look at the mirror this morning? – asked Eun-seok, then he switched to English to speak to Eshe. – You should expel him from your team. He is too ugly.

– He has a beautiful soul – she replied to that.

The host clearly understood as he kept bragging about how beautiful his soul was. After that, the two soldiers were introduced. They were kinda two randoms so I’m gonna ignore them. Next was Nobuo’s turn.

The twin stepped out and presented the samurai.

– Dear viewers. This is a legendary samurai from Japan. A merciless warrior, proud of his incredible skills. The leader of the Bushido group, called Nobuo Adachi –  he spoke in a theatrical manner. – And our team’s name is Samurai!

Hi finished in a strange pose, crouching a bit with right hand extended and open palm. This brought another wave of laugher from both cast members and the girl group. Even the filming crew laughed. Only us hunters had no freaking idea what was going on. Especially others since they couldn’t even understand what the Koreans were talking about.

Then Song Jia presented her team, Wild cats, with Alice and Moon, the member of Sparkle.

Sander’s team name was Champions, and the one to introduce the former boxer was Yang Young-soo, the other twin.

Our team was the last one, so So-min had to step out, and awkwardly present me.

– This is Peter, and our team’s name is Se-chingu.

‘Se chingu’ means three friends, so we officially became the Three Friends Team.

As she had no idea who I really was, she couldn’t give me a better introduction, but the host Yoo Dong-hyun, knew some stuff.

– Weren’t he the one who appeared on the news? – he asked her.

– Yyyy – he clearly didn’t know the answer and looked at me for help.

– Yeah, I was on the news. I’m the barrier guy – I spoke in Korean.

This brought a lot of attention to my person, and my introduction became more like an interview of where did I learn to speak Korean, and what’s my role in Arc. I said that I’m focusing on alien languages, and cooperating with the research mission, plus I know a thing or two about barriers.

Technically this wasn’t a lie. Fortunately, Tihana couldn’t correct me, because if she could, she probably would, to burry me deeper into this uncomfortable situation.

Finally, the interview ended which also meant the end of the introduction part.

– Ok everybody! – shouted Yoo Dong-hyun in English, to hype people up. Then he continued in Korean – It’s time for our first mission!

– You will be choosing your first mission – explained the director of the show, fortunately for us, in English. – You will pick one from those written on the pieces of paper.

He presented us with a few folded A4 pages of different colors.