‘Hajun won’t get eliminated anyway. I’m the one at risk.’
[But what’s wrong with the Hero? Although, according to Earth’s current data, there’s a chance of elimination in the first ranking ceremony—]
‘I don’t need to hear it.’
The only reason Kim Chan couldn’t showcase his skills properly during the initial evaluation stage was because he got startled by a monster crawling at his feet.
As far as Roy was concerned, Kim Chan’s singing ability was among the best of all the contestants.
And since he’d completed his first stage successfully, it was likely that his existing fanbase had grown even larger.
“The ranking announcement ceremony will take place tomorrow. Please follow the guide to return to your dorms!”
Roy gave a quick nod and headed with Hajun and Kim Chan to the dorms assigned to Bronze-ranked contestants.
Although they were all staying in the same building, the floors were separated by rank.
The production team had already arranged for contestants to be directed to the appropriate floors.
“Uuugh…”
“I’m so tired…”
The moment the dorm room door opened, Kim Chan and Hajun threw themselves onto their beds.
“Wash up first. If you sleep like that, tomorrow’s going to be even worse.”
Roy rolled up his sleeves and began removing the boys’ socks.
“Beep!” (Contractor, you’ve turned into a total babysitter.)
Ber crawled out of Roy’s arms and flitted busily around the room.
“Sorry, hyung…”
“My body won’t move…”
Though Kim Chan and Hajun looked apologetic, neither had the strength to get up.
“Ber, you be quiet too. Go lie down on the bed.”
Roy reached out and caught Ber mid-flight, placing him onto the bed he had been using.
Their luggage had already been neatly placed in the corner—likely moved earlier by the production staff.
“I’m not even asking you to shower. Just wash your face and hands before you sleep.”
Roy grabbed Kim Chan by the scruff of the neck and dragged him toward the bathroom.
Kim Chan crawled into the bathroom on all fours like a zombie.
Once Kim Chan had managed to wash up, Roy helped him back to bed, then moved half-asleep Hajun to the bathroom next.
“Thank you, hyung…”
Hajun offered a grateful whisper after finishing up. Roy finally took his own shower and turned off the lights in the room.
From both beds, the sound of deep, steady breathing soon filled the room.
***
“Wow, what is all this?”
As the contestants entered the set, their eyes widened.
It was by far the most extravagant space they’d seen so far.
“The first place seat is no joke.”
“You think I’ll ever get to sit there?”
Among the many seats, one in particular stood out—placed at the very top, a single, oversized chair dominated the space.
Unlike the other rows that had several seats lined up, the topmost tier had only one.
The chair itself was lavish—crimson red, embroidered with gold thread, exuding presence.
The bold number ‘1’ emblazoned above it only added to its impact.
“But… wait, the number of seats…”
What drew the contestants’ attention next was the total number of chairs.
Although they hadn’t been given a full explanation yet, it was obvious that the number of chairs represented how many would advance to the next stage.
“…There are only 70 seats?”
“No way…”
A total of 100 contestants had made it through the first and second auditions.
They knew a large number would be cut at this first checkpoint, but hearing that 30 people would be eliminated still hit hard.
Some contestants’ faces turned visibly pale—especially those with lower ranks or weaker stage presence.
Everyone mentally calculated their benefit points from recent missions.
Contestants who had been in low-ranking teams looked increasingly anxious.
“What do you think our ranking will be…?”
Hajun’s expression darkened.
Roy, walking beside him, patted Hajun on the back as if to say not to worry.
Hajun had the title of youngest contestant.
His dancing and vocal skills were solid. He was also an A-rank Hunter.
Plus, his youthful, adorable looks were gaining attention across online communities and social media—something Kim Chan had casually mentioned.
Kim Chan actively monitored fan reactions through his agency.
Not just for himself, but also for fellow agency members like Roy and Doha, and others he had formed bonds with.
“Yeah. Hajun, you’re actually pretty popular.”
From behind, Kim Chan slung an arm around Hajun’s shoulders and gave the top of his head a playful tap.
He wanted to ruffle Hajun’s hair, but it had been carefully styled for filming.
“But I think we get to choose where to sit this time.”
Perked up by his hyungs’ encouragement, Hajun stopped in front of the mountain of chairs.
Other contestants who had entered earlier were already settling into various empty seats.
Chairs numbered 1 to 70 were arranged in tiers, with higher numbers positioned lower down.
“So… where should we sit?”
Hajun turned to Roy and Kim Chan with a confused expression.
Neither of them seemed ready to make a decision either.
He felt like sitting too high up might make people say he didn’t know his place.
But if he chose a seat with a low number, he’d look like he lacked confidence.
“The middle seats… are already full.”
The most neutral choice would’ve been a seat with a middle-rank number.
But apparently, everyone thought the same.
Seats numbered 20 to 50 were completely packed.
Even the 1 to 20 range had people scattered like stepping stones.
“Jihoo hyung is sitting at number 10.”
Lee Hajun’s gaze stopped at Han Jihoo, who sat confidently in seat number 10.
“Doha hyung is over there too.”
Lee Doha was sitting just below Han Jihoo, dozing off again.
His hands rested on the armrests to avoid messing up his makeup.
“Should we sit up higher…?”
“If someone with that actual rank shows up, we’d have to move. It’s such a tricky situation.”
After agonizing over it, Hajun finally spoke up.
Roy started calculating.
Realistically, his rank would be somewhere around the 50s at best.
He figured it was better to sit lower and move up than the other way around.
“I’ll go sit in the 60s. You two head to the 10s.”
“Huh? Why?”
“Because I’ve got zero chance of getting ranked in the 10s, but you guys look like you might.”
Hajun and Roy stared at each other in disbelief.
Kim Chan stood awkwardly between them, blinking silently.
“Over here, guys!”
Breaking the silence between the three was Han Jihoo’s booming voice.
He spotted them, stood up from his seat, and waved his right hand enthusiastically.
“Uh, uh… what do we do?”
All the contestants turned to look at once.
Hajun, flustered and red-faced, grabbed Roy and Kim Chan by the arms and shook them.
“I guess we have no choice.”
If they turned and sat somewhere else now, it would only draw more unwanted attention.
Roy was the first to head toward Jihoo’s seat.
Kim Chan and Hajun followed behind Roy like ducklings trailing their mother.
“Why were you standing down there? There’s plenty of space here.”
Jihoo didn’t seem to realize Roy’s discomfort and looked genuinely excited.
Seeing Jihoo’s cheerful face, Roy was momentarily at a loss for words.
“When did you get here?”
“Me? Third or fourth, maybe?”
The order of entry was decided by the production staff.
Everyone had waited in the makeup room, getting their hair and makeup done, before entering the set one by one under staff guidance.
Jihoo had been among the earlier arrivals.
“Long time no see, guys.”
Doha, who had been dozing off, opened his eyes and twisted halfway around to greet Roy, Kim Chan, and Hajun.
Since they had been in different mission teams and lodgings, this was the first time they’d seen each other properly since arriving on the island.
It hadn’t actually been that long, but it certainly felt like it.
“Hyung, why are you going way over there? Come sit next to me.”
Roy had been searching for the lowest number chair on the same level and was headed toward seat 25.
Jihoo’s chair was number 10.
That meant Roy was going to sit far away—not at either extreme, but not close either.
“I don’t think I deserve to sit that high.”
Even 25 felt like too high of a number for Roy.
He was already regretting not choosing a lower-ranked seat, even if it looked awkward.
“Oh come on, don’t say that. Sit here.”
Jihoo got up from his seat and walked toward Roy with long strides.
With his height and long legs, he closed the distance in no time.
“There’s a seat right in front of mine that’s perfectly empty.”
Hajun and Kim Chan had taken seats 18 and 19.
Judging by Jihoo’s behavior, they figured if they sat far away, he’d just keep calling them over.
As a result, Roy ended up in seat 17, just below number 10.
His expression turned sullen.
He knew he should be managing his expression, but his thoughts showed on his face before he could stop them.
“So this is your spirit? It’s super cute.”
Jihoo, used to Roy’s sulky expressions, didn’t mind at all and turned his attention elsewhere.
Sitting on Roy’s shoulder was Ber, who had been napping.
Feeling Jihoo’s intense gaze, Ber slowly opened one eye.
“Pi.” (What the heck. Who’s this handsome guy?)
“Pfft…”
Roy let out a deflated laugh at the voice he heard in his head.
“What? Why are you laughing? What did your spirit say?”
To Jihoo, all he could hear was a pleasant birdsong.
“Ber said you’re handsome.”
“Really?”
At first, Jihoo smiled brightly at the compliment—but then his expression turned skeptical.
“Wait, hyung… are you laughing because my looks made your spirit compliment me?”
Roy looked troubled.
Now that Jihoo said it, he could see how it might come across that way.
In reality, he’d just found Ber’s comment randomly funny.
“It’s just that… even a spirit thinks your face is handsome, which is kind of amazing. That’s what made me laugh.”
Roy’s words came out a little too fast.
But Jihoo wasn’t genuinely upset.
He liked teasing Roy like this and had said it half in jest.
“Hearing you admit I’m handsome still feels pretty great.”
“Piihii.” (Smooth talker, this guy.)