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Season 3: Chapter 178: Inspiration (1)

A few days before the new Fake National Team episode aired and even before the main tournament began…

“Ah, Hui-Chul? Please come in.”

Hui-Chul visited the studio where the Fake National Team production crew worked.

“Have a seat.”

Hui-Chul took a seat and his girlfriend also sat next to him.

PD Jang came in, greeted them, and got straight to the point. He took a few deep breaths before he began speaking.

“During the filming process... we learned a bit about Hui-Chul’s situation and the pain you are going through.”

“Ah...”

Hui-Chul’s expression didn’t change much. It seemed like he just thought the inevitable had come.

With Hui-Chul’s calm reaction, PD Jang felt slightly relieved and poured out what he had prepared to say.

“I was deeply moved by how you overcame trials in such an environment and achieved your current success.”

Hui-Chul nodded silently.

“I am fundamentally a media person. I believe in using the power of media positively, and I think that’s my mission.”

Sensing where this was going, Hui-Chul’s girlfriend tightly held his hand.

Hui-Chul firmly shook his head.

“No.”

“...!”

“You want to broadcast it, don’t you? No. Even the Fake National Team program wouldn’t have been approved by the old me. This crosses the line.”

The simple refusal left PD Jang speechless for a moment, but who was he? He was a man who once conversed with walls to revamp a broadcast during his time at the broadcasting station.

“I believe that Hui-Chul’s story can be an inspiration to many people. Isn’t that meaningful? It could inspire the second and third generations of Hui-Chul to lead Civil Empire.”

“How exactly is it inspirational?”

Hui-Chul’s voice grew harsh.

“What part of my situation is supposed to inspire anyone?”

“...”

“A second or third Hui-Chul? There’s no need for such a thing to exist, nor should it. Who wants to be that?”

PD Jang swallowed dryly and was rendered mute.

“Who would want to run toward a victory that no one recognizes while suffering from a terminal illness, as if bound by a curse? Sigh.”

Hui-Chul sighed and finally brought up what he had dreaded.

“I am always grateful to you, PD Jang. Our team gained such recognition and the luxuries we now enjoy are thanks to the Fake National Team program.”

Hui-Chul seemingly tried to make up for his emotional outburst.

“I don’t know if you’re aware, but exposing my vulnerabilities on broadcast isn’t easy. It’s unfair to the people around me too.”

Hui-Chul’s eyes turned to his girlfriend, and PD Jang’s gaze dropped to the floor.

‘So it’s not possible after all?’

What PD Jang most wanted to show on Fake National Team was the theme of overcoming challenges. How these individuals overcame their struggles and continued to pursue their dreams.

PD Jang thought it was his last chance and muttered, “Life is meaningless...”

“Pardon?”

“You asked how it could be inspirational. I think Hui-Chul’s life can show people the meaning of life.”

“Meaning?”

“Nowadays, it’s not just me. Most people live without knowing the meaning of life. No, it would be fortunate if they didn’t know. Instead, they believe in some other strange idea as life’s meaning.”

“...”

Hui-Chul leaned back as if telling PD Jang to go on with his nonsense.

Seizing the opportunity, PD Jang poured out everything he had been holding back.

“These days, only the glamorous lives shown on social media seem meaningful. It’s like owning a sports car and living in a penthouse is everything! The media makes it look that way.”

“What does that have to do with me? Besides, that kind of life is a good life too.”

“Of course, it’s a good life. But is life meaningless if that’s not the case? Why does everything else become pointless? Do countless people who do simple jobs and commute every day become worthless? Why are celebrities the center of the world, and if they don’t get the world’s attention, they’re meaningless? Without the Fake National Team, would Korea’s victory be meaningless?”

“...”

Hui-Chul’s eyes wavered.

“No, right? It’s not like that! Hui-Chul, you’ve made it this far, haven’t you? You’ve found your own meaning, right? So, I want to shout it out to the world! I want to show them! What about a life like this?”

PD Jang felt convinced. Hui-Chul’s attitude toward life would breathe new life into the countless small lives that made the world go round.

“Even if we don’t accumulate great wealth or get the world’s spotlight, we have meaning... I want to show that.”

Hui-Chul bowed his head without saying anything.

PD Jang clasped his hands together again and pleaded, “So, please... allow us to broadcast it, and I will make sure it’s of the highest quality.”

“Sigh.”

Hui-Chul sighed and suddenly brought up something unexpected.

“Someone once said this.”

“... Pardon?”

“If they won the championship, they would tell their story.”

Who was he talking about? PD Jang didn’t understand for a moment.

“They said they would tell their story if they won, and they did. That person had a pain no less than mine. That’s what they said.”

“...!”

PD Jang realized who Hui-Chul was talking about.

“You’re right, PD Jang. It can be inspirational.”

“...!”

“It is inspirational.”

So Almond had influenced Cookie? Even back then? PD Jang hadn’t heard this story before and couldn’t have imagined.

‘So it’s possible?’

PD Jang looked into Hui-Chul’s eyes, waiting for an answer.

“I will do the same.”

“... So?”

“Reveal it if we win.”

“...!”

Win? PD Jang didn’t dare to say that the odds of winning were too slim. When Almond had said it, no one thought he would win either.

Instead, PD Jang smiled and shook Hui-Chul’s hand.

“Got it. I’ll prepare it and wait.”

***

[Fake National Team ep.7 Inspiration]

[Now premiering!]

After an hour of waiting, the Fake National Team episode began.

— Is Chi-Seung playing caveman again?

— I can already see it coming

— Let's go~~~

— Expecting Think Tank’s fuss lol

— The Viking match was legendary for real

Viewers expected the episode to mainly talk about the victory over the Vikings, but this episode started a bit differently.

— ??

— What's this situation?

— lol it’s already funny

Almond could be seen wearing a white cap and holding a megaphone.

“Ah. Ah.”

Numerous players lined up in front of him.

— Is this a disciplinary action?

— What’s this? lol

— What crime did they commit to Almond…?

Almond’s voice echoed through the megaphone.

“Everyone here is just ──.”

Beeeep.

The middle part was muted. Whatever it was, it made the faces of those who heard it very gloomy.

— ??

— Correct! Bugs!

— Can’t play games?

— What is this? lol

“Start!”

With Almond’s signal, the scene immediately cut to players collapsing while screaming.

“Huhuhurk...!”

“Aaaargh!”

Then, a person’s voice, altered and hidden behind a mosaic, spoke during an interview.

“It felt like... I had to do it because it was killing me. Oh, this guy... If he’s a leader... shouldn’t he set an example? Be a role model? But this is on broadcast ──”

Beeeep.

The voice mosaic effect interrupted again.

Boom!

[Fake National Team]

[Fake Athlete]

The title appeared and the intro ended.

— What the heck is going on? lol

— Already excited lol

— Fake National Team is killing it~

[Viking Match D-4]

[Curve Shot Training]

The scene took place before the match against the Vikings. Everyone lined up holding their bows as Almond walked around and adjusted their stances.

— Cool

— Almond is the boss lol

— Wasn’t he a newbie?

— Now Almond is teaching?

Of course, only Almond could proficiently handle curve shots so he taught them. Cookie had arranged this special training session.

“Not like this, like this.”

“Ah... I see.”

“No, not like that. Like this.”

“What does ‘like this’ mean?”

Swoosh.

When Almond shot a demonstration, the arrow curved around the obstacle and hit the bullseye.

“Like this.”

“...”

Almond wasn’t particularly talented at teaching.

— lololol

— ??? It’s easy, right?

— Is he Bob Ross?

— Bob Almond is killing it~

— Like this lol

Almond crossed his arms and, acting like he had a great solution, made a declaration.

“Join the running tomorrow.”

“... Running?”

What was he talking about?

“Yes, morning running.”

“What does that have to do with this...?”

“Then shoot.”

Swoosh.

The arrow curved, but missed the target by a long shot.

Almond shrugged and simply said, “Join the running,” before moving on.

— ??

— Is this it? lol

— What does running have to do with this? lol

— lol

— He says it so matter-of-factly I almost believe him

— Random method lol

— Does running improve archery? lol

Buzz.

The screen changed and the player who had been training appeared in the interview room.

[Were you offended at all?]

The words appeared on the white background. The player shook his head.

“Ah, no. He can shoot curve shots. I have no issue with that, but...”

The player hesitated for a moment before speaking cautiously.

“Running? Ah... That was hard to accept.”

He whispered as if it was a big secret.

“Don’t post this. He might make us do it for two days straight.”

— lolololol

— It’s already been posted lol

— Why are they so scared of Almond? lol

— What’s with running??

Buzz.

The screen remained in the interview studio, but the person in the chair changed.

[Were you offended at all?]

The interviewer asked Coffee the same question.

He sighed at the question.

“Actually, this kind of combat training is the assistant commander’s job. I was a bit offended. I had to be the learner.”

Coffee was quite honest in his interview.

“He should just be less handsome.”

— lolololol

— For real lol

— It’d be worse if it’s Almond

— Almond is too much

— Coffee is likable lol

— So they showed perfect teamwork after this~~

Then, the question changed.

[Did you also train?]

Coffee nodded.

“I did. Everyone except the inspection unit had to learn curve shots. Although only certain people would use it in actual combat, everyone had to learn it.”

— Oh, everyone did it?

— How much did you plan, Cookie…?

— Everyone did it

— So they might use it again later???

— Cookie’s army-building plan lol

[Do you know about the running?]

Coffee laughed awkwardly at that question.

“Ah... haha? Running...? How did you know about that? But I wouldn’t do that. I’m the assistant commander, not an ordinary soldier. I...”

Buzz.

Suddenly, the screen changed and showed a lot of people. All of them wore the same uniform and looked displeased. Coffee was also among them.

“Ah. Ah. Everyone.”

A voice echoed through a megaphone. The person in the front wore a white cap.

— Is he a drill instructor lol

— The intro lol

— He never even enlisted lol

— What’s this atmosphere? lol

— Almond wielding power lol

— Fyi: A non-enlisted person’s discipline is scarier

— lol

It was Almond.

“Everyone here is not talentless in curve shots.”

The screen zoomed in on Coffee, who looked embarrassed.

“You all are just more talented at running.”

— ???

— ?

— I thought he was giving a motivational speech lol

— I thought he was giving encouragement lol

— Insane lol this is it?? lol

— “Position makes a man”

— Did he learn that tone from Ah-Sung? lol

— lol

— Too much lol

“So let’s run hard. Start!”

Until everyone mastered the curve shot, Cookie had given Almond absolute authority.