Chapter 73: Dungeon Clear: Roy’s Power-Up Gamble

‘How can I get my powers back quickly?’

Roy also desperately wanted to regain his former abilities.

Besides, he still hadn’t reunited with the Spirit Kings of Wind and Earth.

[There’s a reason I chose K Corporation out of all the Hunter Idol survival programs!]

‘Really?’

Roy had entered Bada Entertainment and signed a contract because of the sudden Button Gathering Mission that Earth had given him.

Then, naturally, he applied for the audition at Hwang Roy’s suggestion.

But when he listened to what Earth said, it all felt as if things had played out exactly according to Earth’s intentions.

[K Corporation is loaded with cash!]

‘Cash?’

[Money, money!]

Roy knew Earth wasn’t as young as her voice sounded, but every time she used slang, he couldn’t help but be surprised.

He was also worried that Ber and Aqua, who didn’t yet know the foul language of this world, might pick it up.

[Now that there are only 30 contestants left! The production team will spare no effort to raise the contestants’ levels!]

‘But we’re only in the level 50s. How?’

In Roy’s estimation, he’d need to reach at least level 300 to get close to his former strength.

If he had his original powers, he’d even think about challenging High Cycle’s leader, Kim Taejin.

‘So at least level 341.’

That was Kim Taejin’s current level.

Even among all the Hunters in Korea, he was the overwhelming top, unmatched by anyone else.

There was a reason High Cycle was called Korea’s undisputed best Hunter Idol.

Ordinary Hunters tended to look down on Hunter Idols, but in the face of Kim Taejin’s might, everyone fell silent.

‘It’s partly thanks to Kim Taejin that Hunter Idols have such a high status.’

He was the very person who proved that becoming a Hunter Idol could let you level up faster than ordinary Hunters.

He’d beaten out countless others who entered the Hunter industry before him to take first place, all thanks to his fans.

‘Could I really become like Kim Taejin?’

[Of course!]

Roy still couldn’t forget the time he’d practiced together with Kim Taejin.

Even when Roy managed to pull off a move that anyone would find difficult, Kim Taejin would give him a puzzled look, as if wondering why Roy couldn’t keep up.

He wasn’t just overwhelming in Hunter abilities—his dancing, singing, and even looks put everyone else to shame.

Only someone like that could earn the love of tens of millions of fans.

For the first time, Roy felt a wave of self-doubt.

[Trust Earth’s eyes!]

. There wasn’t even any time to hesitate.

Earth dressed it up as fate, but to Roy, it just sounded like he’d had no other choice.

[I am helping you, Roy-nim! But if you didn’t have any basic talent, you wouldn’t be able to grow at all!]

Even if it was just Earth’s bias, Roy had no choice but to believe it.

‘……Thank you for saving me. If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t even dream of revenge.’

Roy offered Earth his heartfelt gratitude.

Kairus’s attack had been fatal.

He’d been forced to use his powers so recklessly that his mana had backlashed while it was sealed.

To make matters worse, the blade had twisted after piercing his heart.

If not for Earth, Roy would have died right there.

No matter how much he cursed Kairus, death itself would have been the end of his life.

‘Please take care of me from now on, too.’

If Earth had been there in front of him, Roy felt like he would have reached out his right hand.

If she really looked like a little girl, as her voice suggested, he probably would have patted her on the head just like he did with Ber and Aqua.

[……I’ll be counting on you too, Hero!]

‘Hahaha.’

‘Had Roy’s feelings gotten through?’

No sooner had Earth finished speaking than a holographic hand appeared in front of Roy.

There was nothing to touch, but Roy shook the virtual hand anyway.

It was a moment when the bond between the two grew even closer.

***

“This mission is a Dungeon Clear Mission!”

“Waaaah!”

No sooner had Kim Hanbom finished speaking than the contestants erupted in cheers.

Dungeon Clear Mission.

It was called the flower of the Hunter Idol survival program—a mission usually carried out when there were only a few contestants left.

“We’re finally going to be high level!”

The reason the contestants were so excited was simple.

It was because the production team was now giving them a golden opportunity to power-level.

In truth, the Hunter Idol survival program run by K Corporation was riskier than other programs.

After all, the entry requirement was level 0.

Compared to other survival programs that usually recruited contestants below level 50, the cutoff here was extremely low.

“You’ve all been waiting for this, haven’t you?”

Kim Hanbom smiled as the contestants got excited.

He still felt bad about not being on the island when that sudden Dungeon appeared.

He’d only missed it because he didn’t have any filming scheduled, but if anyone had been hurt, he would have been wracked with guilt for a long time.

“This time, the mission will be conducted together with our Roa Guild!”

Hunters appeared around Kim Hanbom.

Every single one was a well-known core member of Roa Guild.

“Amazing…….”

“We’re getting help from those people?”

K Corporation had even created a plan so that the winners of the program could debut and enter the market as high-level Hunters.

“This mission is also known as the Level Power-Up Mission. You’ll go through three stages and reach a level that’s completely different from anything so far.”

A plan outlining the three stages appeared on the giant screen.

“Is that even possible?”

The contestants’ jaws dropped.

That’s how unrealistic the plan on the screen looked.

“We couldn’t possibly do it on our own, right?”

“No……”

No wonder—the first stage was from level 50 to 100.

The second was from 100 to 200.

And the third was a whopping 200 to 300.

With such an ambitious plan to level up by at least 50 to 100 at each stage, some contestants started to wonder if they were dreaming.

Once you passed level 200, you could easily join any mid-sized guild.

Of course, high-level started at 300, but even among all Hunters, less than 10% reached 300.

“This mission might take a long time.

But with me, the production team, and these people here, it’s not as unrealistic as it sounds!”

Kim Hanbom’s voice was persuasive.

And with his own abilities and his background as Roa Guild’s guildmaster, he couldn’t be ignored.

“Who are these people?”

‘Did they have a hidden card?’

The contestants’ gazes all followed Kim Hanbom’s finger.

He was pointing behind where the contestants were standing.

“Kyaaaaaa!”

“Look over here!”

“Now I can die without regrets……”

A crowd of people in all kinds of outfits stretched out endlessly.

At a glance, there must have been at least several thousand.

“These people are our fans?”

The contestants soon realized who the crowd was, thanks to the signs they were holding.

The contestants’ eyes darted around, searching for the signs with their own names.

Roy was no exception.

‘There’s… a lot.’

But there were even more than he’d expected.

There were dozens of people holding up signs with Roy’s name, cheering for him.

“I didn’t expect so many people would come to support you all.”

This was why Hunter guilds nurtured Hunter Idols.

Buffers were expensive.

There was a limit to how many a normal Hunter guild could have.

But as soon as someone was called a “fan,” Buffers would use their buffing abilities for the Hunter Idol they supported, regardless of their own worth.

‘From this mission on, we’re bringing in Buffers.’

Fans and Buffers were absolutely essential for a Hunter Idol to grow.

How many fans who were also Buffers you had could determine your Hunter Idol’s abilities—it was no exaggeration.

Now that there were only 30 contestants left, the production team had drawn their hidden card to make them grow explosively.

“I’ve never seen this many Buffers gathered before.”

“Me neither.”

Even among all Hunters, Buffers were a rare minority.

Some Hunter Idol groups included a Buffer among their members, but the effect of having 1 Buffer compared to 10, or 10 compared to 100, was completely different.

It wasn’t just ten times better—it could be a hundred times or more.

“Is this the power of K Corporation?”

“That, and it shows just how popular our program is right now.”

Even for fans, the moment they appeared on a broadcast, they had to be paid an appearance fee.

This mission was a Dungeon Clear Mission.

One that continued until the contestants reached a certain level.

No one knew how long filming would take, but paying thousands of Buffers their appearance fees would clearly cost a fortune in production.

“Now, contestants, please step apart and stand individually!”

As the contestants’ hearts fluttered at the sight of their fans, Kim Hanbom’s order came down.

The production team stood holding placards with the contestants’ names.

As the contestants followed the placards and split up, an unexpected announcement rang out through the microphone in Kim Hanbom’s hand.

“Fans, please line up behind the contestant you’re supporting.”

The contestants’ eyes shook fiercely.

Only then did they realize what Kim Hanbom’s order really meant.

“This means, depending on how many Buffer fans you have……”

“Your level will be decided.”

Han Jihoo’s words were finished by Song Doyoon, who was standing next to him.

Expressions of joy and despair flickered across the contestants’ faces.

Some contestants had endless lines of fans, while others could already see their lines running out.

“Pii-!”(Contractor, it’s so packed here!)

“Forrr!”(Everyone, come this way!)

[As expected, my predictions never miss!]

Ber and Aqua flitted around Roy, fluttering their wings and tails.

Roy smiled as he looked at the fan standing at the very front of his line.

“It’s been a while. Have you been well?”

“Of course! Lately, there’s been so much juicy gossip to pick up, I haven’t even noticed time passing!”

The person who greeted Roy with a bright smile was a familiar face to both Ber and Aqua.

“Pii?”(Will you share that amazing mana again this time?)

Ber flew to perch on Shin Jimin’s shoulder, tilting his head.

He’d really enjoyed the feeling when Shin Jimin had buffed him last time.

It was a fleeting taste of the freedom he hadn’t felt since his powers were sealed.

“Forrr.”(As the Spirit King, you must maintain your dignity.)

Instead of greeting Shin Jimin, Aqua flew up and sat on top of Roy’s head.