“Where did you get something like this?”
“Of course, I asked Min Kyung noona for it.”
What fell from Kim Chan’s arms were various disguise tools: a wig, glasses, even a fake mustache.
“Do you think people won’t recognize us if we wear these?”
“Of course, of course.”
Kim Chan already looked like he was over the moon at the thought of going out.
No matter what was said, it seemed impossible to calm him down.
“Then can I meet Choi Eunhyu too?”
“Eunhyu? Of course you can.”
Choi Eunhyu was also familiar with Kim Chan.
Roy felt relieved and arranged to meet Eunhyu, picking up a pair of round glasses that spun around.
“I’ll just wear these.”
“You have to cover your hair too. Your jet-black hair is your trademark, you know?”
“99 percent of Koreans have black hair; how can that be my trademark?”
“Your hair isn’t just black; it’s dyed black! Not normal black, you know?”
Kim Chan refused to argue further and quickly placed a wig of messy dark brown hair over Roy’s crown.
“For Doha hyung, use this.”
‘…Doesn’t that look even more eye-catching?’
Kim Chan then stuck a fake mustache onto Lee Doha’s philtrum.
His smooth skin and fake mustache looked strange together, but Kim Chan just smiled brightly.
Lee Doha seemed to have given up on everything and left it all to Kim Chan.
“But what about the spirits?”
“Por…?” (Could it be they’re going to leave us behind…?)
Until now, since Roy had been unable to go out, the spirits also stayed indoors.
For spirits who loved to roam freely in nature, living in the dormitory felt like being trapped in prison.
“Beep!” (Contractor, what does this mean!)
Ber, sensing something bad, flew over and clung to Roy’s face.
“Maybe invisibility…?”
“Hmm~.” (That’s difficult.)
Kim Chan rolled his eyes and Solum spoke up.
Although Kim Chan couldn’t actually hear Solum’s voice in his head, he caught the meaning from Solum shaking his head slightly, indicating difficulty.
“The others might be able to cover themselves somehow… Solum, can you shrink yourself too?”
Solum nodded slightly and soon shrank to the size of two palms.
“Gah…!”
Kim Chan collapsed, clutching his chest at the sight of the baby leopard with big, bright eyes.
“Beep?” (What? You’re saying Solum is cuter now?)
Ber, who used to throw a fit just from hearing the word “cute,” now got jealous whenever other spirits looked cuter than him.
“Come on, get in here.”
Roy put Ber, who was puffing up the fur on his forehead, into the pocket of his hoodie.
Quick-witted Aqua also slipped inside.
Ris flew up and nestled inside the hoodie’s hood.
Although they looked tangible, the spirits were as light as feathers.
“So, Solum, will you come with hyung?”
Hyung? Without even knowing Solum’s age…
Kim Chan knelt down in front of Solum, desperately stretching out both hands as if begging.
Solum, whose fluffy tail lightly tapped the floor, obediently climbed onto Kim Chan’s palm.
Kim Chan’s pure heart had an effect.
Spirits are sensitive to souls.
Though not as much as Roy, both Kim Chan and Lee Doha had unusually pure and clear souls for humans.
“We can’t go out the front door.”
Roy, who naturally tried to open the dorm door and go out, showed a puzzled expression.
“…This way.”
Lee Doha, who had already gotten up and finished preparing, opened the window.
“You just go out here. The director approved it. Just be back before 10 PM.”
In fact, Seo Hyojin opposed letting just these three go outside.
Their popularity had skyrocketed thanks to the program, to the point that fans now waited in front of the company.
‘These guys are stronger than me now.’
Still, Hwang Guman’s words couldn’t be contradicted.
As he said, the three had become strong enough not to need separate bodyguards.
‘Whatever happens, don’t cause trouble, don’t get caught on video, and behave properly.’
In the end, Seo Hyojin had no choice but to allow them some freedom.
She understood they needed at least one proper day to rest after working nonstop.
“This way.”
The three easily climbed out the window. Since they went down the back of the building, no one at the front gate saw them.
They slipped into a different alley and headed straight for the main road.
“Roy hyung, what are you going to buy?”
They had each received 200,000 won in allowance.
While that might be little to some, it was a fortune for both Roy and Kim Chan, who had been penniless until now.
“Beep.” (I want to buy something.)
“Shh. Don’t make any noise. Don’t stick your head out like that either.”
Ber escaped from the pocket and made a crying sound. Roy opened the pocket.
‘Speak in your mind only. What do you want to buy?’
Roy communicated with Ber telepathically, but there was no reply for a while.
{Ber says it’s really hard to only speak in his mind!}
‘You can communicate with me though.’
{Is that so?}
‘Then try crying softly. As quietly as possible.’
“Beep…” (I want the game console I saw in the video yesterday.)
Ber let out a barely audible cry. In Roy’s mind, the game console he mentioned floated into view.
“How much is a PS5?”
“Huh? Hyung, you want a game console? But it’s way beyond our allowance.”
“How much is it?”
“About 700,000 won for the console alone.”
Roy gently patted the pocket containing Ber. He was willing to buy it if possible, but 700,000 won was impossible.
“Beep…” (Contractor, we’re totally broke now.)
At Ber’s disappointed cry, a vein bulged on Roy’s temple.
“Roy hyung! Whoa!”
From afar, Choi Eunhyu raised his right hand and loudly called Roy’s name before covering his mouth with both hands.
“Why is he coming out of there?”
“I called him. When I asked earlier if I could meet you guys, you said yes.”
“Oh, right.”
Kim Chan’s voice was full of doubt, and Roy admitted everything honestly.
As soon as they got permission to go outside, he had messaged Choi Eunhyu.
‘But are our disguises really good enough?’
Roy asked Kim Chan doubtfully. Even though he had worn the messy wig as instructed, it felt useless.
Despite wearing a cap and mask, Choi Eunhyu was more conspicuous.
Their proportions stood out among ordinary people.
The four of them, dressed oddly, attracted even more attention from passersby.
Two girls even stopped in their tracks, whispering and staring at Roy and his group.
It was not a good feeling.
“Let’s get inside quickly.”
“There are lots of good restaurants in that building! Shall we go there?”
“Sure.”
The three quickly moved as Choi Eunhyu led the way.
The girls who had been hesitating tried to follow but lost them as the four moved almost at a brisk walking pace.
Fortunately, the restaurant they entered had a private room available.
It was a fusion Korean restaurant with reasonable prices.
“Have you been well?”
“Hehe. Yes.”
Roy poured water for Choi Eunhyu and greeted him. Eunhyu smiled sheepishly, scrunching his nose.
“Honestly, it still doesn’t feel real. So I’m living in the company’s practice room.”
***
While the two reunited, Kim Chan chose and ordered some appropriate dishes.
“Is it okay to order this much…?”
They ordered about eight different dishes at a glance.
When Choi Eunhyu’s eyes widened, Kim Chan smirked and pulled out a card.
“This card was given by the boss. He’s generous with meal expenses.”
“That’s great. Our company’s meal allowance is 5,000 won per meal…”
“Is it even possible to eat on 5,000 won?”
“Most of us go to cheap lunchbox places near the company. They’re inexpensive.”
Roy knew Eunhyu’s agency was one of the big ones.
Despite having plenty of money, they still limited meal costs to 5,000 won per meal.
Bada Entertainment’s welfare seemed pretty decent, at least Hwang Guman never gave them any dirty looks over food.
“Oh, right. That guy, you know.”
Hungry, Eunhyu devoured the food as it was served.
Every time food came out, Eunhyu served the others first but made sure to get his share as well.
“Who?”
“The guy who had a really bad relationship with Roy hyung.”
“Lee Chulhun?”
“Yeah! Why couldn’t I remember his name…”
Choi Eunhyu nodded vigorously, sipped his water, glanced around cautiously, and whispered.
“That guy got arrested for assault.”
“Really?”
Kim Chan raised his voice in surprise, still chewing a piece of grilled short rib patty.
“Yeah. It was assault against Kangchul, the guy who always hung around him.”
Kangchul had been desperate to take down Chulhun even when he failed to make the cut this time. Seems like he finally caused trouble.
“A senior from our agency knows someone at Lee Chulhun’s agency. Because he assaulted Kangchul right in front of fans outside the agency, they couldn’t smooth things over.”
‘What a dumbass.’
Roy clicked his tongue lightly.
Feeling bad about the heavy topic, Eunhyu soon changed to lighter subjects.
“Hyung, I really enjoyed the meal. Thank you.”
Eunhyu bowed slightly toward Roy.
Even though it was Hwang Guman’s card paying for the meal, Roy planned to deduct the amount from his own allowance.
“Let’s keep in touch often.”
“Yes! I’ll support Roy hyung until the very end! Since I lost to you and rose up, you really have to debut for sure!”
Eunhyu smiled brightly, bowed, and quickly left.
Since they had permission to go out briefly, he had to return to the company soon.
“Still, it’s a relief. They said the debut team was formed.”
Eunhyu’s agency planned to launch a Hunter Idol boy group in the second half of next year with him as the main member.
Although Eunhyu failed this time, his fanbase was sizable enough to make it possible.
“So, should we go shopping now?”
Kim Chan rubbed his hands together, unable to hide his excitement.
Roy lightly patted the pocket holding the sulky Ber, who was upset about not being able to buy the game console.
‘Buy whatever you want within the budget. Everyone gets one.’
Roy wasn’t greedy for material things. His joy was in eating delicious food, which Hwang Guman took care of without needing his allowance.
“Beep…?” (Contractor, then can I spend 50,000 won…?)
After paying quickly, Ber peeked his face through the pocket’s edge.
Although spirits had no greed, Ber strangely developed a lot of wants after coming here.
Roy lightly patted Ber’s head and was about to follow Kim Chan and Lee Doha ahead when—
“Uh…?”