Everyone was sensitive about their sleeping arrangements, so their gazes sharpened as they looked at PD Shimjun.
Though they didn’t mean to do anything drastic, there was an unspoken pressure—at the very least, he ought to provide proper accommodations.
Kkoribyul, being a rookie, was doing her best to relax her gaze, but Yoo Jaeri looked ready to shoot fire from her eyes.
“PD-nim, no matter what, our sleeping arrangements need to be proper…”
Yoo Jaeri finally decided to address PD Shimjun directly, lifting her right foot to take a step forward.
At that moment, PD Shimjun pulled out a marble from his chest and tossed it to the ground.
Puff—
With a light popping sound, a massive tent appeared right before their eyes.
The family-sized tent looked big enough to fit six grown men sleeping side by side at once.
“I’m really not such a villain, am I? Look here. I even laid out mats inside. Of course, I’ve also prepared artifacts for heating.”
Truthfully, no matter how much PD Shimjun pursued realism, he didn’t want the artists filming to fall ill. Besides, these were national celebrities—if something went wrong, the station would be flooded with CS complaints.
“This will do just fine.”
Roy, who disliked awkward silences, nodded as he inspected the tent. He wasn’t just being polite. Compared to the times he’d slept on battlefields, the tent PD Shimjun set up might as well be a hotel.
Though he’d grown used to comfortable living after crossing over to this world, Roy was originally more accustomed to roughing it.
Moreover, as long as spirits were with him, he could sleep soundly anywhere. Even if PD Shimjun hadn’t provided a heating artifact, he could have simply asked Ber or Solum.
“Mmm—.” (I like this spot.)
Solum nimbly moved and curled up in the outermost part of the tent.
Though it was a sandy beach, the sensation from the ground seemed to put her in a good mood, her tail swaying gently.
“I’d like to sleep on the outside. Is that alright with everyone?”
Resigned, Roy spoke up about sleeping arrangements, but nobody shook their head. In truth, the best spots were in the middle or deepest part of the tent.
If someone got up at dawn to use the restroom, those on the outside would be disturbed as well.
“I don’t mind. It’s what Solum wants, right?”
Yoo Jaeri shrugged. She was a deep sleeper anyway, so it didn’t matter to her.
She wasn’t picky about where she slept, either.
“…But, I snore a little.”
Lee Doha, who had quietly watched the situation unfold, shyly raised his right hand.
Hunters tended to be light sleepers, so he was worried he might disturb others.
“I snore too, you know.”
Yoo Jaeri patted Lee Doha’s shoulder reassuringly.
“I’ll ask Ris for help. Then you’ll barely hear any snoring.”
At that, Han Honghyun secretly sighed in relief at Roy’s words.
Yoo Jaeri’s snoring was notorious even among High Cycle.
“Then, everyone, rest here and I’ll see you at 5 AM tomorrow. There’ll only be one camera set up outside the tent, so don’t worry too much.”
Perhaps thinking things had settled, PD Shimjun finally spoke after quietly watching the scene.
Filming people as they slept would get high ratings, but it was a clear invasion of privacy. After his closing remarks, PD Shimjun disappeared, and the Red Team gathered to decide their sleeping spots.
“Roy will sleep on the very outside, Doha and Jaewoo here, and Honghyun and I on the inside.”
Even the youngest in High Cycle, Hong Chulhee, was the same age as Roy.
So, High Cycle tended to speak casually with Kkoribyul’s members when off camera.
Kkoribyul members also found it harder when High Cycle used formal speech with them.
“Should we ask Aqua for help with washing up?”
Not only the Red Team, but the other teams were given identical tents. Even though the tents sat on sand, there was no need to drive in stakes.
Expensive equipment included artifacts that automatically secured the tents.
“Wow, a spirit shower. This is my first time experiencing this.”
Across all Hunter professions, Spirit Summoner was the rarest.
While fighting alongside spirits was one thing, getting help with daily life was a first even for Yoo Jaeri.
“Aqua, could you help us out?”
“Poruru!” (This’ll be a piece of cake.)
As Arra flicked her tail strongly up and down, several streams of water rose around them and wrapped around each person.
“Ugh, what a weird feeling.”
Yoo Jaeri, ever expressive, shuddered. The streams, at just the right temperature, seeped under her clothes and swept over her body.
“I’d love to have this ability.”
Han Honghyun gazed upward in wonder.
The water swirled over his hair as if he didn’t need shampoo, then gathered into a single mass and vanished, leaving his hair instantly fluffy and dry.
No need to towel off—the remaining moisture was all collected.
“Well, good night, everyone.”
Thanks to Arra’s help, the Red Team finished up before the others and entered the tent to settle in.
Kim Jaewoo glanced from side to side and bid everyone goodnight.
“Sleep well, juniors. Ris, I’m counting on you for my snoring.”
Yoo Jaeri squeezed her large frame into the sleeping bag and asked Ris for help.
At Roy’s signal, Ris stirred up a breeze. A mysterious air wrapped around Yoo Jaeri and Lee Doha’s faces.
“This feels really strange.”
Only the two of them, being sensitive, noticed. An ordinary person wouldn’t have realized anything was happening nearby.
‘Alright, those two are set. Earth, after everyone falls asleep, could you take care of the camera outside for a bit?’
{Don’t worry, just leave it to me!}
‘Ris, can you make it so nobody senses me when I leave? And move me straight to the cliff side?’
“Mmm.” (That’s easy.)
Roy asked Earth and Ris for help, then watched for a moment before pretending to settle into his sleeping bag like everyone else.
It wasn’t long before the team’s breathing turned slow and even. Today’s schedule had really worn everyone out.
Besides, they all had to get up at 5 AM, so they seemed determined to get some sleep.
‘Earth, Ris, now.’
With a silent signal, Roy slipped out of his spot without a sound. At his cue, Aqua enlarged herself and slipped into the sleeping bag in Roy’s place.
With the blanket pulled right over her head, it looked for all the world as if Roy was still fast asleep.
“Captain, you’re here?”
“I’ve been waiting.”
“Hero, no matter how I look at it, this egg is weird.”
***
The moment Roy passed through the area disguised as a rock, two people and one being greeted him warmly.
Heis raised a hand in greeting, and Charles approached Roy, giving his shoulder a strong, friendly squeeze.
Earth was sitting in front of the dragon egg, observing it like a scientist holed up in a lab.
“You’re all still awake. Did you get any rest? What’s strange about the egg?”
Roy moved beside Earth and took a seat next to him.
Ber and Ris, who were outside the tent with him, climbed onto Roy’s shoulders.
“This pattern keeps darkening and fading over and over.”
When Roy was filming, Earth never spoke to him unless it was truly urgent.
Having voices ring out in his mind could disrupt Roy’s concentration.
“After you left, I grabbed a quick nap. This thing is really warm.”
Roy listened to Earth with one ear, while with the other he heard Heis tapping the sleeping bag and speaking.
Roy’s gaze shifted between the two before landing on the egg. Just as Earth said, the pattern on the egg was changing color in real time.
“Ber, can you still communicate with the egg?”
“Piii—.” (Hmm. No, I can’t. Even when I talk to it, there’s no response.)
From the moment they arrived here, Ber had been trying to reach out to the egg with his will.
But for some reason, only silence came back from the egg.
“It’s quiet on the Mud Magician’s side too. He should know we’re here, but there’s been no attack.”
Heis ran a hand through his hair with a heavy sigh. It had been a long time since things weren’t going their way like this.
Even after regaining his strength, he felt powerless.
“Tomorrow, at daybreak, I’ll go after him again. Earth, you guard the egg.”
“…I’m scared to guard it alone.”
Earth mumbled nervously, but she couldn’t just leave the egg unattended.
Especially since Roy was filming nearby.
“Ber, would it be hard to move the egg elsewhere?”
Ber tilted his head and thought for a while before shaking it.
“Piii.” (If we try to move it, something might go wrong. Dragons may be the strongest species, piiiik, but when they’re still eggs, they’re sensitive. Really, it’d be best to keep it somewhere like an active volcano.)
It was rare, but sometimes dragon eggs didn’t hatch and died.
And this wasn’t just any egg—it was the last dragon egg. Ber was reluctant to do anything that might endanger it.
“All we can do is hope Earth’s barrier keeps working.”
So far, no one had found this place yet—except Roy and Kim Chan.
Song Doyoon had seen the boulder up close, but he’d only found it a bit suspicious and didn’t try to approach.
Roy’s main concern was Kim Taejin.
Kim Taejin was such a strong opponent that Roy himself would be hard-pressed to beat him.
He’d notice anything odd the moment he got near the cliff.
“Sorry to put you all through this, but hang in there until we catch the Mud Magician.”
If it were up to Roy, he’d go after the Mud Magician alongside Heis and Charles.
Letting a monster that hurt people run loose was not in Roy’s nature.
“You’re working harder than us, Captain. If only the other companions were here… Things would go a lot smoother.”
Heis’ voice was thick with longing.
Just as he and Charles had arrived safely, he wished more than ever that the others would come soon.
“…I don’t know about the others, but Alyssa will be safe, Captain.”
Seeing Roy’s face darken, Charles tried to comfort him.
‘Brother!’
He could still vividly see his little sister sobbing as she died, stabbed by Kairus’ sword.
Even if he couldn’t meet her again, if only he could get word to her that he was alive, he’d have no other wish.
“More importantly, Captain, will you be alright filming without any sleep?”
As a Hunter’s level increased, their stamina rose enough to go several nights without sleep.
But that was only physically. Mental fatigue was a whole different matter.
“I’ll rest in between filming.”
Roy nodded, signaling he’d be fine.
Even in a reality show shoot, there would always be breaks. Given PD Shimjun’s personality, the missions might be tough, but he’d be sure to give them proper rest.
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