“It’s okay. I guess I was just too nervous during the recording.”
Although Roy had told Kim Chan and Lee Doha all about the secret he was hiding, he still couldn’t reveal it to the others.
Because of that, Roy had to indirectly explain that he wasn’t feeling well.
Kim Chan and Lee Doha’s expressions changed. From Roy’s reaction, they realized that the accident up ahead wasn’t an ordinary one.
This won’t do.
The traffic’s completely jammed and doesn’t seem like it’s moving anytime soon.
It’s better to just get off and walk.
Today, since they came dressed casually for practice, everyone was wearing a cap.
Hwang Guman made a quick decision.
Considering how high the kids’ Hunter Levels were, it seemed far more efficient to move their bodies and head to the dorm on foot.
“Go with the kids. I have to drive the car.”
Ki Yonghyeon patted the steering wheel lightly as if to tell Hwang Guman not to worry.
“Then I’ll leave it to you. Everyone, let’s get off.”
It seemed that Hwang Guman wasn’t the only one who had this idea—others in nearby cars also started getting out as their errands became urgent.
“Roy hyung, I’ll support you.”
The moment Roy got out, Kim Chan immediately came beside him.
Except for Ber, the other spirits were also exhausted from using their abilities.
The three spirits hung weakly over Roy and Kim Chan’s heads and shoulders.
“Piiiik!” (I want to use my pursuit ability too!)
Ber, feeling useless and left out, let out a dissatisfied cry.
“Ber doesn’t look happy.”
Kim Chan, who was supporting Roy by putting his arm around his shoulder, looked at Ber with concern.
“We’re moving like this—how are we supposed to get to the dorm? Let me carry you.”
As Kim Chan tried to carry Roy in the proper way, Song Doyoon didn’t hesitate and sat down right in front of Roy, showing his back.
Although Song Doyoon was taller than Roy, the two were similar in build.
Being a Hunter in the 300s, Song Doyoon could easily carry not just one but dozens of people like Roy.
Still, something made him reluctant to carry Roy so casually.
“I’d rather not be here at all than leave you in his hands.”
Before Roy could refuse, Kim Chan clicked his tongue and hoisted Roy onto his back.
“Hyung, this must be super comfortable, right?”
“…Yeah.”
It was hard to deny—Kim Chan’s broad back felt reassuring. Because the spirits kept drawing on Roy’s magic power, he was starting to feel dizzy.
Even though he couldn’t express it, walking was getting harder and harder.
Being carried by Kim Chan was embarrassingly comfortable.
“I can carry you too, Roy hyung!”
The others were surprised to see Roy quietly let Kim Chan carry him. Even Lee Hajun, who was usually calm, approached Roy with a look of disbelief.
“…Let’s get to the dorm quickly. At this rate, everyone will know who we are.”
Even though their caps were pulled low, their naturally outstanding looks couldn’t be fully hidden.
At first, people were preoccupied with the vehicle control accident up ahead, but little by little, some began to look toward Roy and the group.
“Excuse me…”
One person gathered courage and approached, but Hwang Guman waved his hand dismissively.
“You must have mistaken us. Kids, head to the dorm quickly. I’ll follow behind.”
Hwang Guman’s level wasn’t very high.
If the kids matched his pace, they’d arrive much later at the dorm.
He naturally blocked the gathering crowd and gave the kids a desperate look.
“We’ll go ahead!”
Kim Chan moved first. Roy could feel his hot breath on the back of his neck.
He really wasn’t feeling well; his arm dangling in front of Kim Chan was weak.
“Let’s move this way.”
Han Jihoo took the lead, breaking through the path.
Moving at a fast pace by pushing off lightly from the ground, those who tried to approach after recognizing the group were left staring with wide eyes.
“I feel alive now that we’re back at the dorm.”
Thanks to using magic power without holding back, they arrived at the dorm faster than they would have by car.
Song Doyoon collapsed onto the sofa and brushed back his hair.
“How’s Roy hyung doing?”
“…His face is pale.”
Just then, Song Doyoon spotted Kim Chan trudging over with a gloomy expression.
Kim Chan had just taken Roy to his room and was returning.
“I have some Recovery Potions. Should I bring one to him?”
Han Jihoo jumped up.
He remembered that after the welcoming ceremony, someone had stocked the dorm with several Recovery Potions just in case.
Roy usually didn’t show any signs of illness.
Ever since their levels rose, small ailments hardly occurred.
Even with their intense practice schedule, Roy rarely showed weakness, so seeing him listless worried everyone.
“No, Jihoo hyung. It’s better to leave him alone. He fell asleep as soon as I laid him down.”
“Really?”
Kim Chan stopped Han Jihoo, who was about to rush for a potion.
Kim Chan already realized that Roy wasn’t simply sick but exhausted from overusing his abilities.
It was obvious since the spirits, except Ber, were also hanging weakly nearby.
“Is everyone hungry? Let’s eat some late-night snacks first. We barely had dinner.”
Trying to lift the gloomy mood, Kim Chan headed to the kitchen.
Despite Hwang Guman bringing kimbap during the tense recording session, no one had been able to eat properly.
“What should we make? Something tasty to bring to Roy hyung too.”
Song Doyoon quickly stuck close to Kim Chan.
“I’m good at making kimchi fried rice.”
Quiet until now, Kim Jaewoo raised his right hand.
Because of his shy nature, he spoke very little among the dorm residents.
But after sharing a room with Han Jihoo and Lee Doha, his true personality was starting to show.
He liked taking care of others, and since the members debuting together would be like brothers for years, being able to make delicious late-night food was a great happiness for him.
“Kimchi fried rice sounds perfect. There’s mozzarella cheese here too.”
Since the dorm was spacious, cleaners came once a day to help with chores.
They usually appeared like good housekeepers when the members were out, then vanished.
The fridge was neatly organized with side dishes and ingredients suitable for cooking various meals loved by all ages.
“Are you sausage fans? Or tuna? Or maybe pork?”
Kim Jaewoo pulled out ingredients for the kimchi fried rice.
“Ah, all three sound good. Can’t we just make all of them?”
Song Doyoon’s eyebrows drooped pitifully, unable to pick just one.
Kim Jaewoo smiled lightly.
The tear mole at the corner of his right eye trembled as his curved eyes flickered up and down.
“You’d do well on a cooking show. That apron suits you perfectly.”
Putting on the apron hanging nearby and washing his hands at the sink, Kim Jaewoo earned a thumbs-up from Song Doyoon.
“What can we help with? Just say the word.”
Kim Chan washed his hands next to Kim Jaewoo and nodded toward Song Doyoon.
The sour smell of kimchi wafting from the fridge only made their hunger grow worse.
“No, I’ll do the cooking, so everyone else go wash up. You must be all sweaty and uncomfortable.”
***
After practicing dance without a break, undergoing a mid-session check, and moving straight to the recording studio, everyone secretly wanted to wash up badly.
Song Doyoon hesitated but shook his head at Kim Jaewoo’s offer.
“I’ll help you, and Chan will too. The rest of you go wash and come out first.”
“R-Really…?”
The youngest, Lee Hajun, looked wide-eyed, nervous that the older members took the lead on cooking.
“Then we’ll wash up and take care of the cleaning afterward.”
Min Junyoung said this and went into his room first. Soon after, Han Jihoo, Lee Doha, and Lee Hajun disappeared as well, leaving only three people in the kitchen.
“I can really do it on my own.”
“That’d be boring. We can at least help with chopping ingredients, right?”
“Yeah, yeah. I’m used to chopping herbs and poison plants all the time.”
At Kim Chan’s words, Song Doyoon shrugged and mimed chopping.
“Thanks. Then cut these into bite-sized pieces. We’ll make kimchi fried rice, kimchi stew, and rolled eggs too.”
“Awesome. You can make all that?”
“Yeah, I like cooking.”
The menu grew from one to three dishes—hard to dislike for any Korean.
As the three chattered cheerfully while cooking, Roy, lying on the bed, groaned softly.
“Piii?” (Contractor, are you having a nightmare?)
Roy was half-conscious even before Kim Chan laid him down on the bed.
As the three Spirit Kings fully drew on their magic power, it was tougher than expected, but it was mainly because of the hallucinations clouding his mind.
{It seems the hero’s mind is linked to someone else.}
Earth’s worried voice rang out. Just as Earth had chosen Roy as the hero to prevent the destruction of both worlds, the opposing side saw Roy as a thorn in their side.
Right now, an unknown presence was targeting Roy.
Earth tried raising its power to expel whatever was invading Roy’s mind but to no avail.
“Piiik!” (Contractor, wake up!)
Ber lifted his wings and started slapping Roy’s cheeks.
“Por…” (Stop it, Ber. You’re going to bruise the contractor’s face…)
Aqua, who had been tracking suspicious traces following moisture in the air, tapped Ber’s back with her tail.
“Piii…” (But… the contractor still can’t come to.)
Ber had never seen Roy struggle like this since they arrived here.
The last time Roy groaned and suffered like this was during near-death training with his master on the Continent of As.
Finally, despite Aqua’s protests, Ber raised his wings high to wake Roy.
“…I’m awake now, so stop hitting me. My face hurts.”
Roy snapped his eyes open and stopped Ber’s actions.
His already husky voice sounded even rougher, as if sandpaper had scraped his vocal cords.
{Hero! Did you see something?}
Earth’s voice burst in his pounding head.
Roy nodded slightly.
He needed a moment to organize his thoughts—to understand what what he just saw meant.