From Thug to Idol: Transmigrating to a Survival Show

876  Middle Of Nowhere

June still couldn't see anything.

"What the heck is happening?" he muttered. It was so fast that he couldn't even comprehend the situation! At first, he could smell the familiar scent of air conditioning with the lingering odor of the car freshener. The next thing he knew, darkness enveloped him as a dark sack was placed over his eyes. His pulse quickened, and his body tensed up as he felt himself being dragged out of the vehicle by a couple of strong hands.

It felt like an abduction!

"Settle there," a gruff voice ordered, pushing him onto what felt like a flimsy surface. June tried to reach up and remove the blindfold, but before he could, a voice boomed through a nearby speaker, startling him. n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

"Do not take off your blindfolds. I repeat, don't remove the blindfolds."

He could hear murmurs around him, but they were inaudible. June frowned and instinctively inhaled, trying to ground himself in his surroundings. The air smelled fresh, like grass that had just been cut. It reminded him of the countryside—a scent that was rare in his line of work. There was also a hint of something unpleasant, maybe cow dung, but it wasn't overwhelming. Instead, it was oddly comforting, as if he had just stepped into a different world, far from the urban chaos he was used to.

He reached into his pocket, hoping to find his phone, but after a quick search, he realized it wasn't there. June clicked his tongue. He still hadn't ended his conversation with Minjun. Moreover, he didn't have the chance to properly scrutinize the photo he had sent!

Before he could dwell on the situation, the voice from earlier returned, echoing through the air. "Now take them off."

June hesitated for a moment, then carefully pulled off the blindfold. His eyes took a second to adjust to the sudden influx of light. As his vision cleared, he realized that he was inside a small, cramped space. "A cardboard box?" he muttered. It was ridiculous. The sides of the box were tall enough that he couldn't see much beyond them. However, he knew that they were already in the 'village' that would serve as his home for nine days. Next to him, he spotted his backpack. Relief washed over him, and he quickly reached for it, hoping his phone might be inside. But before he could rummage through it, the voice interrupted him once more.

"Welcome to 'Everyday, Everynight,' lucky delegates." "Ten people, nine days, and a whole lot of fun. Are you guys ready?" There was no response. The voice chuckled, still finding the situation amusing. "Reveal the first person!"

***

"Is it on yet?" Jaeyong asked from the kitchen. "Yes!" Ren exclaimed. "Come quickly. The theme song is already playing." Jaeyong just placed the bag of popcorn into the bowl, not even bothering to unravel it, as he ran to the living room. His members, along with Jay, were seated on the couch, eager to watch the first episode of 'Everyday, Everynight.' They weren't the only ones excited. The variety show had taken the nation by storm with its first season, and after a successful run, everyone was eager to see what the second season would bring. What added to the excitement was the fact that the cast for this season had been kept a mystery. Speculations had been flying around, with names being thrown left and right, but no one knew for sure who would be on the show.

- Crap! This is so exciting. - Does anybody know who's going to be in this season?" - There have been speculations, but nothing is confirmed. - They say that it's a star-studded season! - Dang, over 500,000 people are waiting for it to start? - The producers must be elated. They're going to top the ratings once again!

"It's starting!" Akira called out, rushing to grab a seat in front of the television. As the opening sequence began, the familiar theme song played, and the screen lit up with vibrant colors, showcasing the variety show's signature style. Then, the screen went black for a moment before the words 'MORE INTENSE' appeared in bold letters, followed by an explosive montage of the previous season's highlights. The excitement in the room grew, with some viewers already getting goosebumps from anticipation.

Finally, the theme song ended, showing the first segment of the new episode. The camera panned over a wide field lush with green grass, the sound of birds chirping faintly in the background. There was a sense of calm that was immediately ruined by the sight of several large cardboard boxes placed in the middle of the field.

Akira narrowed his eyes at the screen. "Where is this?" he wondered aloud. "It looks like some sort of farm?" Sehun speculated. "A farm?" Zeth exclaimed. "Just because it has grass does not mean that it's going to be a farm. It looks like they're in the middle of nowhere!" "They have mountains behind them, too," Ren said. "In the last season, they went to a rural area for farmers and fishermen. Why does it feel like they're in a secluded mountain for this one?" "Shh," Akira exclaimed. "Ramil PD is speaking." As the camera zoomed in on one of the boxes, Ramil PD's voice could be heard narrating the scene. "Our cast has no idea where they are or what awaits them. But one thing's for sure—they're in for a surprise!"

The camera cuts to an overhead shot, revealing the layout of the boxes and the surrounding area. It was an isolated location, far removed from any signs of urban life. The viewers could almost feel the isolation, the silence only broken by the occasional rustle of the wind.

Akira felt a shiver run down his spine. "This feels…ominous," he muttered. "Reveal the first person!" Ramil PD announced dramatically.

The sound of cardboard tearing filled the air as the box flaps were pulled back, revealing a figure inside. The camera captured the moment perfectly, and the surprise was evident on the person's face as they realized they were being filmed by numerous cameras. "Casper!"