GalaxyTL
After the announcement about Challenge! Golden Bell started circulating around the school, I immediately thought it had nothing to do with me.
'Why are they suddenly bringing up Golden Bell?'
Sure, the idea of a special episode featuring middle school prodigies sounded good, but actually signing up for it? That was a completely different matter.
So, why did I end up signing up for it, you ask?
“D-Dong-hoo, do you know about the Red Mask story?” “What?” “They say the Red Mask shows up and kills people... and her mouth is all ripped open!” “...”
It all started with something as trivial as Kang-sik’s fear.
“That Red Mask urban legend ended a long time ago.” “She’s back! I heard she was locked up under the Great Wall of China, but she escaped!”
Despite Min-hyuk's rational correction, Kang-sik stubbornly continued with his tale.
“They say someone stuck their hand into the prison there and had it cut off! It’s supposed to be terrifying.”
Just as Min-hyuk said, the Red Mask urban legend had run its course. As I began to think about how odd it was that it was being revived, Kang-sik looked at me, dead serious.
“But! They say the Red Mask is terrified of Golden Bell... because it’s gold! That golden bell is her weakness!”
It sounded like some kind of yokai-sealing method straight out of a school horror story. No one said anything.
Even Ye-rim, who looked like she couldn’t listen anymore, stayed quiet.
Why?
“I'm serious!”
Because Kang-sik looked so earnest.
“So, you're saying the Red Mask escaped from a prison under the Great Wall of China and is now killing people, but the only way to stop her is through Golden Bell?” “Yes, exactly! You’ve got it, Min-hyuk!” “...”
Min-hyuk glanced at me. His eyes were pleading, asking me to calm Kang-sik down. I just shook my head.
‘It’s true what they say about smart kids sometimes having a screw loose.’
Was Kang-sik one of those?
As I scanned the room, I realized something.
‘Hah.’
Not just Min-hyuk and Ye-rim, but the entire class was looking at me in an odd way.
‘So, is this whole charade to get me to enter Golden Bell?’
It might have been a stretch, but the look in their eyes was full of expectation.
‘Cute, really.’
Min-hyuk and Ye-rim were sitting there quietly, watching Kang-sik go on and on about the Red Mask.
In a way, it felt like this was all some well-orchestrated play.
“So, you absolutely have to do it! Because of the Red Mask!” “Is that so?”
Well, whatever.
Rather than explaining that the Red Mask doesn’t exist, I chose the faster route.
“Alright, I’ll sign up. But you know, there’s a chance I won’t make it, right?”
After all, it wasn’t just any regular Challenge! Golden Bell episode—it was a special for middle school prodigies, meaning my chances of being selected were slim.
Usually, there were about 100 participants for Golden Bell, and with so many brilliant students from various schools applying, I figured my odds were low.
But—
“Dong-hoo, you applied for Golden Bell, right? They sent confirmation. You made it in, and they’re even sending a practice book for the questions.”
The very next morning, I was informed that I had made it into the top 100.
Just as I was about to ask why, it hit me: the broadcast stations were always chasing after the next big thing.
‘Makes sense.’
It was around the time when Challenge! Golden Bell had started losing some of its appeal. They were probably counting on my presence to boost ratings again.
Fortunately—or unfortunately—Golden Bell didn’t clash with my schedule. That was part of the reason I signed up in the first place.
‘And, honestly, I was curious.’
To be fair, I couldn’t say I wasn’t at least a little interested.
Being the top student at my school meant I qualified, and if I got lucky enough to ring the bell, I could make my parents proud, right?
‘Once I start high school, I’ll be even busier. Might as well take the chance while I can.’
Kang-sik may have been the catalyst, but ultimately, it was an opportunity worth taking.
And with that, my appearance on Challenge! Golden Bell was confirmed.
As soon as I shared the news, Seok-ho hyung immediately expressed his concern. There was only one way to respond to that.
“They said this is the only way to seal the Red Mask.”
After all, a fugitive needs to be put back behind bars. It was the right thing to do, considering the circumstances.
+++++
Tap tap tap.
The sound of fingers drumming on the table echoed loudly in the silent meeting room. It was the only thing breaking the stillness.
“Keep thinking, don’t stop.”
With The Swordsman Baek Dong-su heading toward its conclusion, the highest ratings it had hit so far were 28%.
They were so close that it felt like they just needed one strong push to break through, but frustratingly, no one could think of how to do it.
SKS drama director Choi Do-seon, who had slicked his hair back neatly, looked around the room.
‘Even the writer doesn’t seem to have any bright ideas.’
Writer Kwon Jae-ho sat with a furrowed brow, deep in thought. Seeing him like that, Choi’s thoughts ran deeper.
‘There’s got to be a way...’
They had already shared the actors’ schedules, and it had been confirmed that additional filming through side scripts wouldn’t be a problem. The only issue was that the necessary script still wasn’t written.
What could they do to push the ratings up in one fell swoop?
The answer was obvious.
They just had to use the card that always guaranteed a ratings boost.
‘Kim Dong-hoo.’
Bringing Kim Dong-hoo back on screen would do it. The problem was how to do it.
They knew the answer, but they needed the perfect execution. As everyone pondered in silence—
Bang!
Suddenly, writer Kwon Jae-ho slammed his hand on the table and stood up.
“Overlap! We can have a duel scene between Baek Dong-su and Ja-un, cutting back and forth between the past and present! That way, we can naturally bring Kim Dong-hoo back into the show!”
His words were disorganized and abrupt, but strangely enough, everyone in the room immediately understood what he meant.
It was like they were all connected, like antennae from some alien species.
They looked at Kwon with trust in their eyes.
“That could work! The final episode is approaching, so we could definitely pull off something like that!” “And we can tie it into Ja-un’s death scene, bringing him back to his pure, younger self!” “Yes, that’s it! That’ll do it! Director, let’s move forward with this plan!”
The meeting was quickly wrapping up, and Choi Do-seon nodded in satisfaction.
“Alright, let’s go with that.”
It was such a simple idea—to just use Kim Dong-hoo—but they had wasted so much time overthinking it.
“Contact the actors right away and ask them about their availability. If it works, let them know we’re adding extra filming.”
The script.
With that, Choi Do-seon looked at writer Kwon Jae-ho, his eyes asking when the script would be ready. Kwon answered with firm determination.
“I’ll have it finished the day after tomorrow.”
+++++
The week after I decided to participate in Golden Bell, I was reviewing the practice questions when I opened the script for The Last Supper.
‘I couldn’t really focus on this with all the Romance Mode stuff.’
Since I had it open, I figured I might as well finish it.
Soon, I was fully immersed in the script.
From the crown prince’s perspective, I saw the world through his eyes. The first thing I saw was a man bowing deeply before me.
This man was brought in to teach me, a scholar who was supposed to show the utmost respect. And yet, he dared to act insolent in my presence.
“Love is cruel, Your Highness. It blinds people.”
His stern tone made me frown.
“I asked to learn about knowledge, not life’s philosophies.” “I hear that the recent influx of ladies into the palace has been... distracting you, Your Highness.” “...”
I didn’t like the words coming out of his mouth. Sure, he might have passed the national exams and raised his status, but did that mean he should act like he was above me?
‘Just because you teach the crown prince doesn’t mean you’re above him.’
I wanted to throw him out immediately, but now that wasn’t an option.
Because the sister of this arrogant man was the very woman I loved.
“Your reprimand feels less like advice and more like lecturing.”
Moments like these made me wonder what it really meant to be a benevolent ruler. Did it mean letting insolent fools like him live just to speak their minds?
He didn’t even realize that by protecting his sister, he was neglecting his own duties. I wanted to call him out on it, but I wasn’t in the mood to drag out the conversation.
Whether the rooster crows or not, the dawn always comes.
Besides...
‘This isn’t just my love.’
It was the end of a bleak autumn, and the cold winter was approaching. Outside, I could see leaves slowly falling, drained of their strength.
Winter was coming.
What was wrong with securing a partner to survive such a cold season?
“Soon the royal marriage decree will be issued, and the selection of—”
I cut myself off. Why bother?
How could a mere subject stand in the way of my love?
I stopped speaking and left the room.
The more forbidden it is, the more we desire it.
I remembered the stern look in my father’s eyes when he told me to forget the woman I loved. I didn’t know why, but it didn’t matter.
And as if to prove it...
“It’s you... in the end, it’s you.”
When I found out that the woman selected as the crown princess was the very one I loved, I wanted to go to her right away.
I wanted to pour my love, my passion, and my soul into those star-filled eyes so no one else could touch her.
‘No, not yet.’
But the reason I could restrain myself was because I thought there was still time. Yet, as if mocking my patience, the last thing I saw was...
“What... what happened here?”
A cold bride, slowly dying.
Fwoosh!
The script ended there, and I was suddenly snapped back to reality.
‘This is heavier than I thought.’
In my past life, I hadn’t really watched dramas, so I didn’t realize how tragic this story was.
Just as I was reflecting on the depth of the script, my phone buzzed with a message from Baek Sang-ha, the martial arts director.
Dong-hoo, do you have time next year? There’s a boxing tournament, and I thought you might be interested. You’ve been in great shape lately, and amateur matches use headgear, so it’s safe. Let me know if you’re up for it.
Next year?
‘That’s during my break.’
Should I finally put my heavenly martial body to proper use?
The message made me think it might be worth considering.