Even in the face of Song Doyoon’s earnest eyes, PD Shimjun remained cool-headed.
His determined gaze made it clear that no matter what Song Doyoon said, he wouldn’t waver.
“Everyone here is a Hunter above level 300!”
On top of that, what PD Shimjun said was pretty convincing.
From the perspective of an ordinary person, Hunters in the level 300 range were almost impossible to consider the same species.
They performed feats comparable to gods from myths and legends, so it was natural to feel awe in their presence.
“Then, I’ll start the countdown!”
“Right now?”
The others, who’d tried so hard to maintain a calm expression, couldn’t help but panic as PD Shimjun immediately projected bright red numbers in the air.
The number that read 06:00:00 quickly changed to 05:59:01.
It was hard not to notice how quickly each minute and second ticked down.
“Little guests, please come this way~”
Though he spoke to the cast with a tone so sharp that a needle couldn’t slip in, when PD Shimjun looked at the children, his face was full of a gentle smile.
“Can we eat all of this?”
“Chocolate! Snacks! Jelly!”
Today’s guests were kids around six or seven years old—just the age to be craving sweet treats.
“Of course. But let’s eat only as much as the teacher gives out, okay?”
They’d prepared snacks with as little sugar as possible, but at that moment, a bright smile spread across the kindergarten teacher’s face as she looked at PD Shimjun.
Meeting her gaze, PD Shimjun quickly added,
“If you had told us from the start we could only eat a limited amount, that would’ve been fine…”
“But I want to eat it all…”
“Me too…”
The children had been told they could eat everything, but when he changed his mind, it felt like their big present had been cut in half right before their eyes.
‘So even PD-nim gets flustered sometimes.’
Roy glanced at PD Shimjun as he wiped the sweat trickling down his forehead.
He was the type to toss a bomb at the cast, but in front of the kids, he seemed powerless—it felt strange but also made him seem more human.
“Honghong, why do you look so cheerful? Do you have a good idea or something?”
Yoo Jaeri’s question echoed what Roy had been thinking, so Roy’s gaze shifted from PD Shimjun to Han Honghyun.
Just as Yoo Jaeri said, Roy also expected that Han Honghyun must have come up with some brilliant idea—after all, while everyone else looked gloomy, he alone wore a smile.
“Take a look at the kids’ faces and think. They’re sweating, right?”
“Sweating? It is a little hot, but what do you want to do about that?”
“What do you mean, what? There’s a cheat code right next to us.”
Han Honghyun grinned leisurely, resting one hand on Yoo Jaeri’s shoulder.
The Red Team, including Yoo Jaeri, tilted their heads in puzzlement.
Their eyes met each other’s, full of confusion like children.
“Ot!”
Kim Jaewoo, lowering his head, exclaimed.
Lee Doha and Yoo Jaeri’s eyes also turned to where Kim Jaewoo’s gaze stopped.
“There really is a cheat code!”
Yoo Jaeri’s expression brightened instantly.
Where the intense gaze of the Red Team was focused, a group of spirits huddled together.
“Bbeeek?” (Cheat code? I think I’ve heard that before.)
“Pororor.” (Isn’t that something from games?)
Just as Roy was learning more words from this world, the spirits were also picking up new things day by day.
Especially when Roy practiced dancing or singing, the spirits would all gather in front of the tablet PC to watch various videos.
“Piii—.” (Well, we are cheat codes, aren’t we.)
“That’s right. You’re my cheat codes. Ris, can you give us a little breeze?”
“Piit—.” (That’s nothing!)
At Roy’s request, Ris floated into the air and summoned a gentle breeze.
The soft wind cooled the children, whose foreheads were sweating from the heat of the studio lights.
“Oh? It’s not hot now!”
Though it was fall and the weather was pleasant, the lights placed everywhere for the shoot were a problem.
For children new to a filming set, the lights were both strange and, for some, a bit too warm.
“This is… almost too easy?”
Although it was almost indistinguishable from a natural breeze, Yoo Jaeri keenly noticed the flow of wind Ris had created.
“At this rate, Ris could just float the kids up on the wind and we’d win first place without even trying.”
Thinking it over, there really was nothing else they needed to do.
As long as the spirits were on their team, there was no way they could lose this mission.
It wasn’t long before everyone started thinking that the Red Team, with Roy, would be the winner.
They all knew, no matter how cute the spirits looked, just how powerful they were.
“Roy hyung, how about joining our team?”
Feeling the threat, Song Doyoon crept over and tried to persuade Roy.
“No, hyung, come over to our side. I’ll treat you really well!”
Then Lee Hajun grabbed Roy’s right arm and swung it back and forth.
Roy was about to pat Lee Hajun’s head out of habit, but instead clenched his fist.
“Everyone, you can’t do this~ Please go back to your own teams.”
Yoo Jaeri gently pushed Song Doyoon and Lee Hajun away, even going so far as to block Roy’s way completely.
Her stance and energy were like a general blocking enemies at the front line.
“Khrrr…
“…Okay.”
Song Doyoon and Lee Hajun retreated, holding back tears.
They knew it wouldn’t work, but they had to at least try.
Besides, there wasn’t time to just stand around chatting.
The Blue Team and Yellow Team had to find a way to beat the overwhelmingly strong Red Team.
How could they win against the Red Team?
Clearly, this mission was all about ‘Defeat the Red Team!’
Blue Team leader Kei’s eyes sparkled as he looked around at his teammates.
He was famous for his mischievous personality, but fans also knew he was fiercely competitive.
“Well, I see sand and seawater!”
Kim Chan answered in a booming voice.
Kei, slightly flustered, patted Kim Chan’s back as if to say, “Good job.”
As team leader, boosting morale was a must.
“That’s right. So, what can we make with sand and seawater that the kids would enjoy? Anyone have a good idea?”
With Kei’s sparkling gaze on them, Kim Chan, Song Doyoon, Irian, and An Jin-ho all wore thoughtful expressions.
“There are a lot of monsters in the sea, though.”
Then Irian, trying to be hopeful, spoke up.
“Would kids find monsters… cute?”
But when An Jin-ho fluttered his eyelashes and asked, everyone fell silent.
“Ah! I just had a great idea!”
Song Doyoon, who had been clutching his hair, suddenly lifted his bowed head.
Since none of the ideas so far were any good, everyone looked at him with anticipation.
“Everyone, sit down.”
Just as he was about to speak, Song Doyoon crouched down on the sand, worried that someone might overhear.
“I’ll write it out here.”
No matter how quietly he whispered, level 300 Hunters would hear if they concentrated.
Song Doyoon extended his index finger and began writing letters one by one in the sand.
“Song Doyoon, what’s gotten into you?”
Surprised by how decent the idea seemed, Kim Chan looked at Song Doyoon in disbelief.
“Wow, Doyoon, I think this is pretty good.”
“Yeah.”
“Guess your brain really does work better the younger you are.”
Kei, Irian, and An Jin-ho all hurried to praise Song Doyoon, whose shoulders soared with pride.
But there was something he hadn’t thought of.
He thought that by writing in the sand, the other teams wouldn’t see, but it was pointless with Roy around.
‘What’s Blue Team planning?’
Roy made the most of his abilities today, as always.
Although in reality, he’d asked Solum to help.
“Umm—.” (Even I could figure that out.)
Unlike before, Solum seemed a bit sulky that Roy turned to Earth first, and gently bit Roy’s finger without hurting him.
‘Then will you tell me this time, Solum?’
Roy, feeling apologetic, lifted Solum in both hands and nuzzled his nose against the spirit’s.
Solum quickly softened and licked Roy’s nose, soothed by his contractor’s gesture.
A warm scent of earth tickled Roy’s nose.
“Uuumm.” (They’re going to mix sand and water to make a huge, sturdy playground.)
‘That’s pretty good.’
It was the most realistic method unless someone had a better idea.
Like building a sandcastle at the beach—reliable and safe.
This time, Roy’s gaze shifted to the Yellow Team.
The Yellow Team seemed to be led by Kim Taejin and Han Jihoo, who were taking charge of brainstorming.
They also made no sound, only spelling out their plan in the sand.
“Umm.” (Looks like they’re planning to bring in wood.)
“otot.”
One side would use sand, the other wood.
“So what are we supposed to do? If the spirits do everything, there’s nothing left for us.”
Yoo Jaeri crossed her arms and grinned.
The Blue Team and Yellow Team were scrambling in panic, but the Red Team was so relaxed, they could practically take a nap.
“Still, we can’t just sit around doing nothing. Alright, boss us around if you must!”
To be honest, having woken up at dawn, they all wanted a nap, but for the sake of the show, they had to keep moving.
At Yoo Jaeri’s words, Ber puffed up his chest and strutted.
“Bbiheek—.” (Comrades, are you ready to follow Ber?)
Roy was honestly glad the other teammates couldn’t understand Ber at that moment.
“Porng!” (Please, just stay still. What are you planning with those flames?)
This time, it was Aqua who reined Ber in, tapping his back with her tail.
“Bbee?” (I just have to do a fireworks show!)
Ber was confident.
He believed he could make the kids happy with fireworks in all sorts of shapes.
“Ummm—.” (I can make a playground out of earth.)
“Piiit.” (Play’s my specialty. I can make the kids laugh all day long.)
“Pororu! Poror!” (A playground made of ice is the best! It’ll sparkle in the sunlight. It’ll look so pretty. The girls will love it even more!)
Somehow, the spirits seemed more excited than anyone.
Kim Jaewoo joined in, watching the spirits huddled together and chattering in their unique voices.
“Are you all plotting? Whatever you come up with, it’ll be beyond our imagination.”
With a content smile, Kim Jaewoo patted the spirits’ heads one by one.
It wasn’t quite like Roy’s touch, but the spirits could still feel his affection—it was as good as any cheering stick to their already overflowing enthusiasm.
“Pororong!” (Should we start right now, Contractor?)
Arra wagged his tail enthusiastically and asked for Roy’s opinion.
Looking at the busy Blue and Yellow Teams, Roy shook his head slightly.
“Let’s wait a little before we start. Also, I have a good idea. Everyone, could you listen to my suggestion?”
Rather than relying on the spirits alone to complete the mission, it would make for better TV if the team worked together.
Roy gathered the teammates.
“…Did you come up with a good idea?”
Lee Doha’s eyelids were half-closed.
For someone who loved sleep, today’s schedule was grueling.
His body could handle it, but mentally, he was exhausted.
And lately, he’d been writing, composing, and producing tracks for their new album, making twenty-four hours a day feel far too short.
Maybe that’s why Lee Doha stared intensely at Roy, his eyes filled with a single wish.
‘Finish this quickly.’
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