The day we received the DM with the Collaboration proposal.
The Seocheon Flower Garden Promotion Team replied to Boiling Hell immediately.
Sender: @seocheon.garden
Recipient: @boiling_hell
Subject: [Collaboration Proposal] Boiling Hell X Seocheon Flower Garden – Mutual Exchange and Joint Content Creation
Hello, this is the Seocheon Flower Garden Promotion Team.
First, we would like to thank everyone at Boiling Hell for proposing this collaboration….
Kind and cautious, but this was business.
It was daunting to face a giant channel of a completely different style, almost ten times larger than ours. Still, we couldn’t let them take full control.
‘Of course they think it’ll be fun to work out with us.’
The image of the relatively weaker Promotion Team from Seocheon Flower Garden struggling and getting crushed under dumbbells?
It was a fun scene anyone could picture.
‘Not that kind of thing.’
After much deliberation, the Promotion Team visited the Agriculture Team Office.
The Agriculture Team Representative was a bit surprised by the unexpected visit, but since the recent promotional videos turned out well, they were quite cooperative.
“Are there seeds that can withstand the heat of magma?”
It sounded like a rather strange question, but she soon thought of the right seeds.
“There are. However—”
“However?”
“I’m not sure what the germination rate would be.”
Soon, Facilities Team Shinsomi, who had just returned from the Great Celestial Treasure Storehouse, brought over a jar containing five or six seeds, black and charred like burnt wood fragments.
“A long, long time ago, when Ggotgam Officer first came to this land. Back then, there was truly nothing here. But.”
Their solid shape almost looked like pieces of rock.
“I heard these seeds were sleeping underground.”
“…They’re alive, right? The shell’s so thick, I can’t really tell.”
In the past, Hallakgoong almost got tricked by the Agriculture Team with boiled seeds.
As Hallakgoong inspected them carefully with a magnifying glass, the Agriculture Team Representative’s lips twitched slightly.
“Of course! Would we leave dead seeds in the Great Celestial Treasure Storehouse?!”
The Agriculture Team Representative finally blurted out in frustration.
But after a deep breath, Representative Shinsomi calmed herself and explained more about the seeds.
“These seeds could be called the origin of Seocheon Flower Garden. They were the only traces of life found when Ggotgam Officer first cultivated this land.”
At her words, Mujae spoke with concern.
“Then these must be Seocheon Flower Garden’s native seeds. Is it really alright for us to take such precious things?”
“It’s fine.”
Sara, who was sprawled on the sofa next to the Agriculture Team Representative, answered instead.
She seemed so delighted by the fact that Boiling Hell had proposed the collaboration first, as if she could forgive and accept anything in the world.
“The name of that seed is ‘Seed of Fireheart Stoneflower.’ It means the heart of fire, and a flower blooming from stone. Where would be more fitting for it than Boiling Hell, with its cauldron that boils sinners?”
Sitting up straight, Sara grinned slyly.
“Supreme King Cho-gang is going to fall right over when he sees that.”
“……?”
Right after the big workout session at the Boiling Hell yard.
The Negotiator and the Promotion Team gathered in the conference room again.
Supreme King Cho-gang was nowhere to be seen.
“So these are the seeds?”
Before coming to Boiling Hell, they’d already mentioned it by email.
That they had seeds that could be planted in a place filled only with magma and rock.
The Negotiator, freshly showered and looking refreshed, brought the jar close to his eyes.
His intense gaze seemed as if it might devour the seeds.
“They look black, like stones from the Boiling Hell yard.”
“They’re also very old seeds from Seocheon Flower Garden.”
Back in the palace conference room, Mujae and Hallakgoong could finally take off their Insulation Suits.
Before they could do the second live broadcast of planting Seocheon Flower Garden’s seeds in Boiling Hell, there was something else to do.
When the Negotiator shook the jar, the water inside sloshed.
“Are they always kept in water?”
“No, our Agriculture Team advised us to keep them that way to increase the germination rate.”
While Hallakgoong explained the ‘Seed Sprouting Method’ to the Negotiator, Mujae stood back a little. Sensing something odd, Zack approached Mujae.
‘Are you okay? Are you sick?’
“No. I’m fine.”
His exaggerated wave was suspicious.
As Zack tried to check on Mujae again, the other lions who had finished their showers entered the conference room.
“Come in, we were just about to explain tomorrow’s plan.”
“It’d be nice if we did the same thing tomorrow.”
“Then we shouldn’t have done lower body today!”
The Iron Bachelors, including Zack, burst into laughter.
They seemed very satisfied with today’s workout.
Only Mujae and Hallakgoong forced awkward smiles.
The Negotiator didn’t miss the moment and spoke up.
“If we finish planting the seeds quickly, let’s all work out together. It’s very refreshing!”
“Of course. We’ll even lend you our camera. Insulation Suits? Who needs them!”
“Ahahaha, I’ll see about trying it tomorrow….”
With the answer he wanted, the Negotiator smiled in satisfaction.
He took out a tablet and, after a few taps, a screen displaying what looked like a map of Boiling Hell appeared on one wall of the conference room.
-Ziiiiiing
“After receiving your email, I thought about it a lot. These special seeds you brought from Seocheon Flower Garden! Where should we plant them for the most meaning? Would the yard we film in the most be best? Or maybe around the Cauldron that boils the sinners?”
At the very center of the map he pointed to, there was a gigantic cauldron-like place spread out. Its massive size—serving as the execution ground for punishing all sinners—made everyone shudder.
Of those present, only Mujae, who had almost experienced it himself, lowered his head.
Noticing this, the Negotiator quickly shook his head.
“Still, we can’t possibly take our honored guests to such a dangerous place… So! This is the place I thought of!”
The Negotiator spread his arms wide.
But everyone just blinked in confusion, not a single cheer.
The Negotiator, surprised by the unexpected reaction, dropped his arms.
“What’s this? Why is the reaction like this?”
“Where is this?”
“You have to tell us where it is!”
“Here! Right here!”
He pointed beyond the window wall.
What he indicated was none other than the magma view—the Magma Falls that flowed right in front of the conference room.
The Promotion Team’s jaws dropped.
“You mean that Magma Falls?!”
“That’s right! Just imagine, if we plant the seeds all along the falls, how amazing would it look?”
But it wasn’t just the Promotion Team who was shocked by his suggestion.
“Are you crazy?”
“Then we really shouldn’t have done lower body today!”
It was a joke before, but this time they were serious. They were genuinely angry.
“Rock climbing the day after a leg workout? You’re out of your mind.”
“You’re telling us to experience hell for real.”
“With these legs, you want us to climb that waterfall tomorrow?!”
…They had every right to be angry. The Promotion Team also sincerely sympathized with their pain. Just as they were about to express it, Mujae, rolling his big eyes and watching for cues, spoke up.
“Then, maybe we could postpone it for another time….”
“That sounds fun!”
Hahahahahaha!
Once again, the Iron Bachelors exploded with laughter.
It was as if the thought of their own future was so funny it could drive them mad.
Clutching their bellies, they only stopped laughing once tears streamed down their faces.
Even Zack couldn’t easily join in on this one.
‘Madness.’
This change from pain to even more excitement was a sight the Promotion Team could hardly understand.
But they just seemed to be enjoying themselves.
“Then, let’s meet tomorrow morning!”
And so, the second live broadcast meeting ended, filled with chaos and joy.
Except for Mujae.
“…Mujae.”
“Yeah?”
That—
Zack and Hallakgoong had both noticed it.
Every time the topic of seeds came up in the meeting, Mujae lowered his head and fiddled with his hands.
When someone as confident as Mujae was so withdrawn, it could only mean one thing.
“You’re hiding something, aren’t you?”
Mujae’s big eyes filled with fear.