Chapter 13 : The Taste of Fame

“Yes, Chief Choi. It doesn’t really matter… It’s just that I’m not exactly a smooth talker.”

Yuseong called Chief Choi of the Special Operations Office as he was leaving.

“I’ll do it roughly well enough. Ah, no, I don’t want to do too much. What do you think I am, some kind of celebrity?”

Yuseong’s prediction proved correct.

Cheonghwa had high hopes that Yuseong would become an overnight sensation.

They were even willing to stir up the media for that.

“Just one detailed interview, and only one. I don’t want to do it with Goryeo Ilbo; they’re too outdated. Anyway, since I agreed, I’m hanging up now.”

Yuseong ended the call and stepped outside.

The moment the automatic door opened, camera flashes exploded.

The noise was like a flock of birds suddenly taking flight.

Shin Jia, startled, hid behind Yuseong.

“Well, looks like you’re some kind of celebrity now.”

Among explorers, some were as famous as celebrities, but until his return, Yuseong had been far from that world.

Because of his odd personality, rumors had quietly spread among the explorers.

“Is it true that you single-handedly subdued Gwak Cheongrae?”

“When did you sign a contract with Cheonghwa?”

“What exactly is a Gift?”

“Why are you so good-looking?”

A weird question came from an entertainment magazine, but most of the questions were exactly what Yuseong had expected.

This place, passing through as the first checkpoint, was originally an Interview Zone set up with the hospital’s cooperation.

It was a ridiculous scene orchestrated by the hospital, the media, and Cheonghwa all working together.

“This is Lee Seola from the National Magazine. Your nose is really high—are you sure you’re Korean?”

“I like kimchi.”

“Excuse me?”

“I’m Korean.”

Yuseong patiently answered the reporters’ questions.

“I heard Gwak Cheongrae was armed with an automatic rifle. How did you dodge the bullets?”

“I got shot.”

“Then your injury…?”

“Got one.”

“Excuse me? So are you saying you have regenerative healing powers?”

“Nope. Next question.”

There were many reporters but only one mouth to answer.

“I heard you didn’t have an explorer’s license. What are your plans moving forward?”

“I’m going to participate in the Abyss expeditions. I just got my license yesterday.”

Yuseong held up the license strapped to his wrist.

The reporters recognized it was a Grade C license, not a D grade, and once again flashes erupted.

“This is the Justice People news. As far as we know, explorer licenses usually start at D grade. Without even taking the exam, you’re starting at C grade—is this a special favor from Cheonghwa Group?”

“No, what kind of reporter are you? Don’t you know the rule about starting at C grade once an external achievement is confirmed? If you’re going to make noise, step aside.”

“Ah, s-sorry.”

“I’m Dispatch Song Woo-hyun. Do you have a girlfriend?”

“Hah, who told you that’s the first question? Ask me something decent.”

Questions of a lower caliber poured in, and the reporters bickered among themselves.

Yuseong was dumbfounded, and Shin Jia behind him chuckled.

Just then, someone noticed the basket Yuseong was holding.

“What do you have in your hand?”

“This? It’s Pilapple.”

Yuseong picked one out of the basket.

He peeled it and took a big bite.

With a crisp sound, a fresh aroma filled the air.

“Really! This is delicious.”

The reporters stared with their mouths agape at how pleasantly the scent spread and at Yuseong enjoying it so much.

Angel didn’t know, but his mouth was full.

“Pilapple, you say…”

“It’s fruit that grows in the Abyss.”

“Whoa!”

Several reporters stepped back in surprise.

A brief silence followed, then another round of flashes.

“Are you really eating poisonous Abyss plants?”

“Do you have poison resistance?”

“Is there no cross-contamination in the heat of the Abyss?”

“Hey, do you think poison resistance means some kind of virus? What do you think this is?”

Even the reporters were just as ignorant about food.

“There’s no poison. And it tastes good.”

“Taste? Don’t you think this is too dangerous? The characteristics of Abyss creatures are still largely unknown.”

“I’ve been born with an allergy to energy bars.”

“You mean…”

“Yes. I survive by eating what grows in the Abyss.”

The reporters’ faces lit up.

They’d unexpectedly caught an interesting story.

The man who caught Gwak Cheongrae was good-looking.

But not only that, he didn’t eat energy bars but hunted and ate strange creatures from the Abyss.

As if pleased, Yuseong smiled.

It was an amusing thought.

“That’s all the questions I’ll take.”

“What? Already?”

“Yes, I don’t think I’ll have time for more than one interview.”

The reporters were dumbfounded.

Contrary to their expectations so far, Yuseong wasn’t the type to cozy up to them. They sensed a distinct scent of rarity about him.

Yet Yuseong suddenly declared he was leaving.

“On your way out, how about doing a separate interview with us at ktbc?”

“No, do it with us. We at Goryeo Ilbo maintain good relations with Cheonghwa. It doesn’t have to be today.”

As Yuseong tried to leave, some sharp reporters thrust their business cards forward.

Reporters from other small media outlets also offered cards but with uncertain expressions.

Even Yuseong himself would have preferred to pick a major outlet.

But instead of accepting a card, Yuseong shook his head.

“Anyone want a chance to try some amazing Pilapple?”

Then he suddenly raised the basket full of Pilapple.

“It’s hard to get.”

A cold silence swept through.

Although Yuseong had just said it wasn’t poisonous, these were people who had basically lived eating energy bars their whole lives.

No one dared to eat an unfamiliar fruit that supposedly came from the Abyss.

“The interviewee will be chosen from among those who eat this.”

At that, the reporters’ eyes glittered.

They didn’t know Yuseong’s intentions, but this was a chance for an exclusive interview.

In the end, a bold Goryeo Ilbo reporter cautiously raised his hand.

“Haha, I’ll give it a try…”

“I’ll try it. I’m from All Daily.”

And there was one more person who raised her hand.

Lee Yul Hee.

“Yul Hee.”

“Stay still, Min Cheol.”

She stiffened nervously but bravely stepped forward.

The two looked like they had come to accept poison.

At their grim expressions, Yuseong barely managed to hold back a smile.

“Well then, you two try it.”

Yuseong tossed the Pilapple to them.

“Eat it and give me your honest review.”

When they actually received the violet-colored fruit, they looked scared.

“Review?”

“Umm…”

Of the two hesitating, the first to act was the Goryeo Ilbo reporter.

He thought it best to get the worst over with first.

Yul Hee made a regretful face, but the reporter had already taken a big bite.

He bit with gusto, juice splashing around.

The other reporters recoiled at the splash.

“Ugh, ugh… hmm…”

The Goryeo Ilbo reporter forced a smile, chewing what was in his mouth.

All eyes fixed on him.

“Really… the taste is…”

“The taste?”

Trying to smile, but his lips trembled.

“The taste is…”

“Bitter.”

“It tastes bitter?”

“It is bitter! Hey! Water! Bring water!”

He couldn’t endure and spat out the Pilapple. The other reporters gave looks of “I knew it.”

The Goryeo Ilbo reporter drank water brought from behind and rinsed his mouth, but the bitter taste lingered on his face.

“What kind of taste is that… could it be poison?!”

Unless there was poison, there was no reason for it to taste that bitter.

The color drained from the room.

Some cautiously aimed their cameras at the reporter.

“People don’t feed poison like this to others!”

He stared at Yuseong in despair, unable to believe it, but Yuseong burst out laughing.

“Hahaha.”

“Laughing… you’re cruel!”

“No, you have to peel it properly before eating.”

“…Excuse me?”

“You didn’t watch carefully earlier when I ate it.”

The reporter bit into the Pilapple still covered in purple peel.

Because the thick peel was packed with bitterness, this was no surprise.

Ashamed of blaming poison, the Goryeo Ilbo reporter kept swallowing repeatedly.

The other reporters burst out laughing.

“Then I’ll try.”

Lee Yul Hee secretly sighed in relief.

If the Goryeo Ilbo reporter hadn’t eaten first, she probably would’ve made the same mistake.

Remembering what Yuseong did, she carefully peeled off the Pilapple’s peel.

Sure enough, under the violet skin was yellow flesh.

Though she’d never eaten anything like this before, instinct told her it would taste good.

Crunch.

Then, bravely taking a bite.

A fresh aroma spread unexpectedly through her mouth.

A bit sour, but ending sweet.

For a tongue accustomed to the bland taste of energy bars, it was surprisingly stimulating.

“So, so sour!”

“How is it?”

“Tasty…”

She had eaten premium energy bars before, but the taste of this fruit was incomparable.

The dense pulp held droplets of juice that burst with every bite, fresh and sweet.

She felt a warm energy spreading through her body.

Yuseong nodded at the message about his Stone Resistance rising.

“Of course.”

“Then, how about interviewing us…?”

“Good.”

Yuseong nodded decisively.

Lee Yul Hee and Kim Min Cheol’s faces brightened.

The other reporters looked on like scolded puppies.

“Shall we find somewhere quiet? You can come to our van first…”

“Oh, I have a car.”

“Then let’s arrange a time separately.”

“No, let’s just do the interview while driving.”

“Okay. Min Cheol, are you filming well?”

Yul Hee looked back at Kim Min Cheol.

He flashed an OK sign and smiled broadly.

The strange interview proceeded with Kim Min Cheol filming Yuseong and Lee Yul Hee’s conversation in the back seat.

The moment the Goryeo Ilbo reporter bit into the Pilapple peel, complained about poison, and scowled at Yuseong, it was all caught perfectly on camera.

No matter what happened to the interview, this footage alone would easily hit over 50,000 views.

“Oh, and can you drive?”

“Drive?”

“Yes…”

“Then please valet the car.”

Yuseong said and handed over the car keys.

The symbol of a Ferrari, a horse, was on the keys.

Lee Yul Hee casually pressed the button.

“They say it has automatic valet parking. But still, someone who knows how to valet should be in the driver’s seat.”

Yuseong remarked.

Shortly after, a rough engine roar sounded.

A supercar, looking expensive even in the parking lot, smoothly pulled up and stopped right in front of Yuseong’s group.

As expected of a supercar, the automatic driving technology was flawless.

Shin Jia marveled at Ferrari’s flashy appearance and clapped.

“Oh, as expected, Ferrari is red. The Chairman sure has good taste.”

“Yeah, the red reminds me of tteokbokki. I want to eat some tteokbokki.”

“What? Tteok, what?”

“Type! It’s a four-seater, lucky us.”

In the end, Lee Yul Hee took the driver’s seat, Yuseong the passenger’s, and Shin Jia and Kim Min Cheol sat in the back, with Kim Min Cheol filming their odd interview.

“Before we start, let’s make some promises.”

“Yes, Yuseong. Say whatever you want.”

“No distortions, no questions about the past. I can’t talk about my abilities in detail, and please refrain from personal questions.”

“Of course. All Daily isn’t exactly yellow journalism.”

“I’ve seen a lot, so please promise.”

“Promise.”

Lee Yul Hee felt Baek Yuseong was definitely not an easy person.

“So first, this energy bar allergy…”

The interview went on like that.

Yuseong wasn’t particularly worried about the interview.

There were many extreme stories in the world.

Gwak Cheongrae’s riot made front-page news, but that wasn’t a big issue these days.

It was a joke to use Pilapple to pick reporters, but the small outlet All Daily had limited influence, which was one of the reasons they were chosen.

People who watched the interview would probably just think, “What a weird guy,” and move on.

That was Yuseong’s expectation.

But his guess was completely off.

The next day, on the day he first visited the Abyss after returning, Yuseong’s interview video was all over Hot Night’s broadcast.