Chapter 95: Kkoribyul and Comet Squad

‘……I just thought of something.’

During the live broadcast, Lee Doha, who rarely spoke, suddenly raised his hand, causing the chat to explode.

[I thought we’d never hear his voice except for greetings.]

[I’m so curious about what he’s going to say.]

“Hyung, what is it?”

Kim Chan, equally curious, grabbed Doha’s arm and shook it back and forth.

“Star tail.”

However, Kim Chan’s smiling expression froze completely at Doha’s next words.

Han Jihoo, who was also hosting the live, couldn’t hide his trembling eyes either.

“Am I hearing this right?”

Song Doyoon turned his head and fiddled with his ear.

The word spoken by Doha in his mid-low voice was enough to cast a chilling atmosphere over the room.

“Haha… Haha. Doha’s got some sense of humor.”

The chat stayed silent for a moment.

Han Jihoo busily darted his eyes around, trying desperately to break the awkward mood.

“Roy hyung, do you have any ideas?”

“…Me?”

Why me of all people? Roy couldn’t think of anything. When Doha said ‘star tail,’ he even thought it was okay.

But judging by everyone’s reaction, they were all horrified.

{Doha’s fine at everything else, but naming sense? Not so much.}

Even Earth seemed horrified by the word Doha had spoken.

“Yeah. Roy hyung, what fandom name have you thought of?”

When Roy hesitated, Han Jihoo pressed again.

Roy suddenly felt like he was standing at the edge of a cliff, completely blank.

His mind went white enough to resent Jihoo for a moment.

‘Earth, think of something.’

That’s when Earth’s presence came to mind. Earth was deeply involved in this world—more so than the dramas, movies, and variety shows Roy had devoured.

{Hmm… I do have one.}

‘Then just say it already!’

Not only Han Jihoo but the other members were all staring intensely at Roy.

[Why are you taking so long?]

[Roy, you’re not going to say something like ‘star tail’ too, right?]

[Just thinking about going around calling the fandom ‘star tail’ is making me tear up already ㅠㅠ]

‘I really have nothing on my mind right now. Anything’s fine. Just say one.’

Roy practically begged Earth silently. Anything was better than enduring this heavy spotlight.

{Comet Squad! Because ‘star tail’ means comet tail!}

To Roy, ‘star tail’ and ‘Comet Squad’ sounded about the same, but he had to say something.

“…I think Comet Squad sounds okay.”

But his voice lacked confidence. After saying it, Roy cautiously glanced around.

He didn’t understand why he had to be so careful, but it came naturally.

The pressure of not disappointing members or fans weighed heavily on him.

“Comet Squad?”

“Actually, not bad.”

“Really?”

Though he had expected the cold atmosphere like when Doha mentioned ‘star tail,’ Han Jihoo and Kim Jaewoo’s reactions surprised him.

[It’s a nostalgic kind of name.]

[Saying Comet Squad is way less embarrassing than star tail, that’s for sure.]

Maybe because Doha’s initial suggestion was so shocking, even the fans took ‘Comet Squad’ quite positively.

“Then I’ll share what I thought of as well.”

As the atmosphere settled again, Han Jihoo breathed a quiet sigh and continued the broadcast.

‘Thanks, Earth.’

{Ah, no problem. But if the fandom name ‘Comet Squad’ is chosen, does that mean you owe me something?}

‘Can I really owe you anything?’

{Of course! I’m still messing with Joel’s body right now.}

‘That sounds like something a villain would say.’

{Isn’t that guy an enemy of the hero anyway? And from my perspective, he’s basically an intruder. It’s not like I’m completely breaking his mind; this is fine. If I don’t watch out, he might get stabbed and die somewhere.}

Roy rubbed his throbbing temples as the gap between Earth’s voice and words made his head hurt.

One by one, the other members started sharing their fandom name ideas.

“We’re about to start voting now. Just a moment.”

Gong Taecheon, who had been waiting nearby, set up the voting program and created a link.

“If you click on the link I just posted, you can vote for the fandom name. Voting will last for 30 minutes.”

[This is the first time I’ve seen a vote like this.]

[Yeah! I’m voting right now!]

The chat speed was too fast to catch all reactions.

Also, many fans watched without saying a word.

“Personally, I like the fandom name I suggested the most, but I’ll follow whatever you all decide!”

Han Jihoo cheekily asked for votes for his suggestion.

“Star tail is really pretty good, too.”

Doha, though not showing it, was secretly shocked.

He had thought hard about the fandom name but met fierce reactions from both members and fans.

As one by one the members pitched their suggestions, the 30 minutes flew by.

“Wow. The first place is way ahead!”

[Guys, sorry.]

[But your naming sense really is ㅠㅠ no words.]

Roy blinked rapidly in disbelief.

The fandom name he suggested—Comet Squad—was winning by an overwhelming margin.

“Hyung, how do you feel? Our fans will be using the fandom name you came up with.”

Roy and the members’ contract lasted seven years.

From this moment on, they would be known as the group ‘Kkoribyul’ for about seven years.

That was an exceptionally long activity period compared to Hunter Idols who debuted through TV survival programs.

Usually, groups disbanded or members split into different units after about two years.

“All credit goes to the brilliant idea that came to me…”

Roy faltered mid-sentence. He couldn’t mention Earth’s existence.

“I’ll pass it on to Ber.”

“Beep?” (Are you talking to me?)

Ber, perched on Gong Taecheon’s shoulder watching Roy broadcast, let out a curious cry.

Aqua blinked wide-eyed, glancing back and forth between Roy and Ber.

“Ber’s red feather just reminded me.”

Roy quickly made up that excuse since he couldn’t tell the truth.

Yet, it sounded quite plausible.

Ber flew over and sat on Roy’s lap, flicking the feather that stood up on his forehead.

[Aaah!]

[You’re going to break the wall ㅠㅠㅠㅠ]

The adorable antics of Ber caused the chat to go wild.

“Time has flown by. It’s sad to end, but the broadcast time is up.”

Ber hopped around the members’ heads, putting on a good show for the fans.

The spirits seemed to have acknowledged that these members were Roy’s comrades here, showing great chemistry.

Especially Kim Jaewoo blushed whenever Ber approached, earning the nickname ‘Spirit Fool’ or just ‘Spiritb’ for short.

“Well then, we’ll wrap up by greeting you with the group name chosen by Comet Squad.”

Han Jihoo quickly signaled the members.

Before starting the live, they had decided how to end the broadcast once the group and fandom names were settled.

“One, two, three.”

At Jihoo’s cue, the members all stood, striking various heart poses with their hands and shouted in unison,

“Kkoribyul, shining forever with Comet Squad! We greet you!”

Though the line was a bit cheesy, Roy strangely felt his heart pounding.

The fans had become as precious to Roy as his comrades and fellow members.

Thanks to them, he had even leveled up, so calling them comrades wasn’t wrong.

“See you next time!”

Jihoo smiled brightly, waving both hands.

Only after the broadcast ended did Jihoo turn to Roy with excitement.

“Roy hyung! You said yesterday you had no ideas when I asked about the fandom name, right?”

‘Did I say that?’ Then was Jihoo pushing him for a fandom name even though he knew Roy had nothing in mind?

Roy’s eyes sharpened, recalling yesterday. Noticing Roy’s discomfort, Jihoo quietly took a step back.

“No, I was just trying to help. If you said it out loud first, maybe other members wouldn’t say what you thought.”

Jihoo genuinely meant well.

When Doha’s fandom name suggestion crushed the atmosphere, the first person Jihoo thought to turn to was Roy.

“But the result was good, right? The fandom name you said was the final choice.”

That was true. Roy relaxed, nodded, and Jihoo ruffled his hair vigorously.

“Your hair’s getting messed up.”

“It’s our last schedule today anyway.”

Roy was the second shortest after Lee Hajun.

Even then, only by 1 cm difference.

Considering Hajun was still growing, Roy was likely to become the shortest member soon.

‘Being 178 cm and still the shortest? Doesn’t make sense.’

***

When Roy checked online, his height was not small at all—above the average male height in Korea.

On the Continent of As, Roy was often treated like the youngest because of his noticeably short stature compared to his comrades, and Han Jihoo was no exception.

“Suddenly, I want ice cream. Anyone want to go get some with me?”

At that moment, Song Doyoon unexpectedly mentioned ice cream.

‘There was a really good ice cream shop near the company.’

Just hearing that made Roy’s mouth water.

It had been a long time since he’d been to the handmade ice cream place near Bada Entertainment.

Apparently, Roy wasn’t the only one thinking about that.

Kim Chan, bright-eyed and lively, shouted,

“There’s a really good ice cream shop near our company! Right, Roy hyung?”

Without hesitation, Roy nodded at Chan’s lead.

If he hadn’t remembered, maybe not, but once it popped into his mind, it felt urgent not to go right away.

Song Doyoon and Kim Chan were already getting up to go buy ice cream. Roy quietly thought of joining them.

“It’s dangerous if you go out by yourselves.”

“I’ll take care of them.”

After the broadcast ended, Gong Taecheon watched the reactions and looked worried.

Ki Yonghyeon jingled his car keys.

“Yonghyeon hyung, you’re so thoughtful! Kuu~.”

Doyoon, about to go out, gave Yonghyeon a thumbs-up.

Yonghyeon pulled his black cap lower to hide his expression.

“Can we stop by the company on the way? I want to see the boss.”

Kim Chan looked up at Gong Taecheon with pleading eyes and an earnest voice.

“No longer than two hours.”

“Yes!”