“Yes. Thanks to you. Are we starting the shoot right away?”
Lee Hajun replied with a friendly smile to PD Shimjun’s words.
Seeing the staff busily moving around, he wondered if filming would begin immediately.
“No, originally we would, but there’s a slight delay. It seems the High Cycle team got into a minor accident on the way here.”
“Our seniors got into an accident?”
Kim Chan’s voice rose in surprise.
Since they were all top-tier Hunters, injury was unlikely, but if there were any civilians among them, things could have gotten serious.
“Ah, to be precise, it wasn’t the car High Cycle was riding in, but the one in front of them that had the accident. So they’ve let us know they’ll be later than expected.”
“Whew, that’s a relief.”
Upon Shimjun’s clarification, Kim Chan and the other Kkoribyul members breathed sighs of relief.
Starting off a shoot with an accident was never a good sign.
If news about it got out, the fandom might kick up a fuss, and there was a real chance their hard-won broadcast could be cancelled.
Seeing the relieved members, Shimjun chuckled softly and added a word.
“That being said, until the High Cycle members arrive, you can have some free time. You can look around the area if you’d like.”
Shimjun flashed a sly smile.
The way he motioned with his eyes seemed to be hinting at something.
“Thank you.”
Han Jihoo, representing Kkoribyul, thanked Shimjun.
With his quick perception, he realized that surveying the surrounding area would probably be helpful for the filming.
“Everyone, come here.”
***
After Shimjun returned to where the production team had gathered, Han Jihoo gestured to the members.
Hwang Guman, Gong Taecheon, and Ki Yonghyeon were unloading the members’ luggage from the van.
Shimjun hadn’t even told them where their lodgings were yet, only that they should leave their stuff here for now.
“This place gives me a weird feeling.”
Gathered together in a huddle, the members put their heads together.
The first to speak was Lee Doha.
His half-drooping eyelids were unchanged, but each time he blinked, a sharp light flashed in his eyes.
“Weird, huh? Well, since the PD gave us free time, how about we take a look around? The area seems deserted, but you never know what might happen.”
“I’m in.”
At Han Jihoo’s suggestion, Song Doyoon shot his right hand up.
Wandering around was a lot less boring than just sitting around here.
“Then I’ll get some work done on the new track.”
Lee Doha stepped back a little.
After their debut song’s successful promotions, Kkoribyul was now hard at work on their Mini Album.
With his outstanding composing and lyric-writing skills, Lee Doha was participating fully in the entire album production process.
“Then I’ll join Doha for song work too. What about everyone else?”
Han Jihoo was just as deeply involved in the album production as Lee Doha.
At Han Jihoo’s question, the remaining members looked at each other.
“I’ll go with Chan and check out that area. The spirits seem a bit restless.”
Roy subtly pointed toward the edge of the cliff.
Ber, perched on Roy’s shoulder, cried out as if it had been waiting for this.
“Biiik-!” (Let’s go see Heis and Charles!)
Roy’s precious companions were close to the spirits as well.
Especially Ber, who, perhaps due to its personality, got along particularly well with Heis.
“Then how about I go this way with Junyoung-hyung?”
As Roy specifically picked Kim Chan, Song Doyoon slung an arm around Min Junyoung’s shoulder.
“Then I’ll look around with Jaewoo-hyung.”
Seeing the chance, Lee Hajun quickly moved next to Kim Jaewoo.
“Alright. But don’t do anything dangerous. If anything feels off, signal right away. Everyone has their phones, right?”
Han Jihoo nagged at the members like a worrywart mom.
“Yes, Mom Jihoo.”
Song Doyoon called Han Jihoo by his nickname in a playful tone.
Han Jihoo, not minding it at all, smiled back at Song Doyoon.
“Chan, let’s go.”
“Yeah.”
At Roy’s voice, Kim Chan, whose expression had darkened for some reason, gave a short reply.
In truth, Kim Chan had realized from the moment Roy spoke to him that this was related to the mud monster.
Roy’s meaningful glances had said as much.
That was why he’d silently agreed to go along when Roy asked.
“Fia—.” (This way, contractor.)
As they started moving away from the gathering spot, Lys took the lead.
Lys followed the traces of Heis carried in on the wind.
“Poruru.” (I sense something strange.)
It was then that Aqua, sitting atop Roy’s head and wagging her tail, suddenly pointed toward the top of the cliff.
‘Is that where Earth said the egg is?’
After discovering the suspicious egg, Earth had immediately informed Roy.
And whatever Earth said to Roy, the Spirit Kings could hear as well.
“Bii?” (This smell feels oddly familiar?)
Ber, flapping his wings elegantly next to Lys, tilted his head.
‘Ber, is there something you’re remembering?’
Earth wondered the same.
If any beings could know about the egg, it would be the Spirit Kings, who had lived through countless ages.
Since the egg wasn’t something originally from this world, there was a high chance it had crossed over from the Continent of As for some reason.
“Biiii.” (I’m not sure yet. I think I need to get closer to figure it out.)
Finishing his sentence, Ber immediately picked up speed.
The curiosity that had started when he heard Earth’s words only grew stronger as he sensed the mysterious magic.
Following Ber, Roy and the other Spirit Kings also picked up the pace. However…
{You need to go all the way up there!}
As they came upon a sheer cliff, Roy stopped in his tracks.
“Wow. This height is no joke.”
They were at least 500 meters away from the cluster of production staff.
Roy glanced in the direction of the crew and the other members.
Since most of them were Hunters, if they tried to watch closely, they could easily see what Roy was up to.
Roy worried that someone might try to stop them for doing something dangerous.
***
After a moment of hesitation, Roy finally spoke.
“Let’s get up there quickly. Lys, please.”
“Piit!” (Leave it to me, contractor.)
While Kim Chan was still psyching himself up to try climbing the cliff, Roy made his request to Lys.
Whooosh—
“Huh…?”
Before Kim Chan could even prepare himself, his body began floating upward like a balloon filled with helium gas.
Whooosh—
His body, having barely left the ground, was swiftly carried up the cliff.
The sensation was like being on an amusement park ride, and Kim Chan’s shoulders tensed up.
The feeling of having nothing underfoot was foreign, even to him.
“There’s supposed to be an egg here?”
***
After a short while, when he set foot on top of the cliff, Kim Chan looked around and voiced his confusion.
“Looks like there’s nothing but rocks, hyung?”
Only massive rocks greeted them at the top. But unlike the flustered Kim Chan, Roy was calm.
“Earth set up a kind of barrier here. Come this way.”
Already knowing about the barrier from Earth, Roy grabbed Kim Chan’s arm and led him forward.
“Huh?”
There had definitely been a giant boulder, but when he followed Roy, his body passed right through it.
“Can anyone else come in like this too?”
Normally, if there’s a rock in front of you, you wouldn’t just try running into it.
But the world is big, and there are plenty of people who think unconventionally.
Worried that Earth’s effort to hide the space might be pointless, Kim Chan voiced his concern.
{Only those I allow can enter!}
“Earth says only people she allows can pass through.”
Both Earth and Roy explained at once, resolving Kim Chan’s doubt.
Of course, Kim Chan could only hear Roy’s voice.
“Ber, do you know what this egg is?”
Inside the space behind the boulder sat a huge egg, firmly in place.
“Bii—.” (It definitely feels familiar… but what is it?)
As Ber drew near the egg, the other Spirit Kings also gathered around him.
“Umm—.” (Ber, I can sense an energy similar to yours here.)
Solum sniffed, searching for the scent of magical power.
Though all magic might seem the same, each living being carried its own unique aura.
But the magic radiating from the mysterious egg carried a burning heat, just like Ber’s—hot enough to scorch everything.
“What about Heis and Charles?”
“Is Charles here too? Will I finally get to see him in person?”
Kim Chan, not knowing exactly how to interpret Roy’s description of Charles, thought of him almost like a celebrity.
Even though Kim Chan himself had recently become the hottest celebrity around.
{The Mud Magician keeps teasing them, playing tag.}
Meanwhile, Earth, having heard Roy’s question, explained why they couldn’t see Charles and Heis.
“They seem to be in the woods over there.”
“Ugh. Roy-hyung, but… doesn’t it feel like there’s black smoke rising from that forest? I really don’t want to get any closer.”
Kim Chan shivered as he turned in the direction Roy pointed. The moment he caught sight of a hazy blackness in the woods, it was as if a cold block of ice grazed his neck—he couldn’t help but get goosebumps.
“Hmm… Let’s check out the egg first for now.”
Since Earth hadn’t said it was dangerous, it seemed that even though Heis and Charles were having a hard time, they were still chasing after the Mud Magician unscathed.
“Bii?” (Don’t tell me this egg is…!)
Just then, as if he’d figured something out, Ber gave Roy a signal and approached the egg.
“Poruru.” (Contractor, don’t get any closer. It might be dangerous.)
Arra blocked Roy’s path. She too was searching her long years of knowledge for clues about the egg, but unlike Ber, she hadn’t even found a lead.
“Por.” (Ber, do you really know what this is?)
Aqua shot Ber a suspicious look.
Just then, after circling the egg restlessly for a while, Ber suddenly rushed toward it.
“Ber!”
Roy could feel the energy coming from the egg was anything but ordinary.
Earth had already told him that Heis had almost been badly hurt when he first approached the egg.
He couldn’t help but feel anxious, even if just for a moment.
Especially since, after being brought here, Ber had almost been extinguished when Roy was powerless at the start.
Remembering the danger from back then, Roy instinctively reached out his hand.
Fwooooosh—
“Biiiii!” (I know what this flame is!)
Before Roy could stop him, brilliant flames burst from the egg, enveloping Ber completely.
‘The heat… it’s too intense! I can’t get any closer!’
Ever since he’d reached level 300, he could barely feel heat or cold.
It was as if his surroundings always shifted to Roy’s body temperature.
But now, beads of sweat were forming on his forehead from the overwhelming heat.
He had to save Ber, quickly…!
Roy’s eyes shook violently as he stared at Ber and the flames.
But—
“Biiiii! (This is it!)”
Unaware of Roy’s worry, Ber flapped his short wings inside the flames as if reveling in them.
“Por!” (What is it? Stop dragging it out and just say it.)
Aqua, confronted by flames—the exact opposite of her energy—summoned a wall of water around her.
As water droplets hit the fire, thick steam rose, shrouding the area in a dense fog.
“Biii!” (What this is, is—!)
But Ber, having completely forgotten the seriousness of the situation, reveled in the attention, knowing everyone was waiting for him to speak.
A vein bulged on Roy’s forehead, even though he usually found all the spirits’ antics adorable.
But Ber’s behavior this time was really starting to get on his nerves.