“Kim Hanbom, Hunter.”
“What brings the Chief of the Seoul Branch all the way here?”
Even after monsters appeared, Seoul remained the most densely populated area in South Korea, with countless infrastructures established throughout the city.
As the person responsible for overseeing Seoul, Chief Kim Kangtae was second only to the Hunter Association President in terms of authority.
Kim Kangtae was a middle-aged man with an intellectual appearance.
His sharp eyes behind rimless glasses subtly revealed that he was not someone to be taken lightly.
When he appeared, Kim Hanbom immediately forced a smile onto his face — a smile meant for public display.
“Long time no see. With this unprecedented situation unfolding, it’s only natural to come down to the scene.”
Fortunately, the Doubling Phenomenon had concluded, but similar incidents had already happened twice.
The second one was far more severe than the first.
“South Korea may not be a large country on a global scale, but it’s still a fairly vast land for us, isn’t it?”
“That’s right.”
Kim Hanbom lightly circulated the magical energy within his body, sensing tension despite Kim Kangtae not raising his presence overtly.
“Yet both times, these phenomena occurred around participants of the Survival Program. Isn’t that too much of a coincidence to ignore?”
Kim Hanbom swallowed the saliva that had surfaced in his throat.
He had also considered this possibility.
Kim Kangtae scanned the youthful faces of the participants who glanced nervously at him.
Though it was only the Association’s speculation, the strange phenomena currently occurring in South Korea seemed deeply connected to this Hunter Idol Survival Program.
“Whether it’s the participants or the staff, if there’s a connection, an investigation is only natural.”
“Uh, uh…?”
The participants and production crew exchanged startled looks.
Those who had entered with Kim Kangtae herded them into a corner.
“What are you doing right now?”
Kim Hanbom’s expression hardened.
The attitude of the Association’s gifted operatives was surprisingly coercive.
“Don’t tell me you’re planning experiments or something?”
In fact, during the early days after the gifted first appeared, experiments targeting them were openly conducted worldwide.
Despite their ability to fight monsters, many feared these gifted individuals because of their powers that set them apart from normal humans.
The harshest experiments took place in China.
Although not to the same extent, South Korea had a history of conducting risky experiments on gifted people as well.
As their numbers increased and voices calling for their rights grew louder, such acts became taboo.
Still, Kim Hanbom was not particularly trusting of the higher-ups in the Association.
“Whoa, whoa. Calm down, Guildmaster Kim Hanbom.”
Seeing Hanbom’s firm stance, Kim Kangtae raised both hands in surrender as a sign of peace.
“We’re only conducting a simple inquiry. If you don’t trust us, you’re welcome to accompany the investigation.”
“…Understood.”
Kim Hanbom had no choice but to lower his guard.
No harm had yet come to the participants, and Kim Kangtae was a person whose authority couldn’t be taken lightly.
“Alright then. Shall we proceed in alphabetical order?”
***
“…I’m totally wiped out.”
{Same here… That man is definitely not ordinary.}
Though Roy was the one directly questioned, the answers he gave were informed by Earth, so the two let out a heavy sigh as soon as they left the interrogation room.
“Roy hyung, you should head back to the dorm and rest for today.”
Roy was the last participant to be questioned.
The group that had gathered outside the interrogation room approached him.
At Kim Chan’s suggestion, Roy nodded with a tired face.
They had been questioned right after their battle with the As Continent guys.
The tension was so high that Roy thought he’d rather be fighting again.
‘They’ve noticed something strange.’
No fool would miss the fact that two abnormal phenomena had occurred around Roy.
Though it wasn’t clear yet that the incidents were directly linked to him, it was probably only a matter of time.
‘There’s another reason I absolutely have to debut.’
It was harsh to say to the others, but debuting alongside these people meant spending a lot of time together.
This would make it harder for the Association to pinpoint exactly who was related to the strange phenomena occurring across South Korea.
‘Still, let’s just rest for today.’
Roy felt as if he could fall asleep the moment his back hit the bed. Exhausted, he put his arm around Kim Chan’s shoulder and pushed the complicated thoughts aside.
***
[Dangheon-ah Final Mission Live Chat]
—[Last time, the Doubling Phenomenon showed up. Anything unusual today?]
—[Is that common?]
—[That diarrhea episode back then…]
—[…Don’t talk about it. PTSD incoming.]
—[Ttoyun, you really are my top pick but sometimes you’re just unbearable.]
—[Wow, more people running today than last time?]
—[Seems like a lot of civilians tuned in. Last time was really intense.]
—[Getting nationwide attention even before debut ᅲᅲ No regrets now.]
—[Huh? The kids are out!]
—[Everyone looks stunning today too.]
—[Are those spirits? Such cute little creatures?]
—[I guess there are many who see spirits for the first time. They’re adorable.]
—[Their outfits are different from last time?]
—[Looks like the production team put some effort in.]
—[Uniforms fit perfectly ᅲᅲ My heart’s racing like arrhythmia.]
—[Is there another jewel heist battle today?]
—[Who’s going to win?]
—[Obviously Roy. They’re basically a five-person team.]
—[Nah, I saw Han Jihyu’s feet—they’re crazy fast. Doesn’t seem like a healer.]
—[I swear there’s a motor on his feet. Dyoha’s a swordsman chasing him but can’t catch him—makes no sense.]
—[Remember when they both got diarrhea and were totally out of it ᅲᅲ My stomach hurts just thinking about it.]
—[Ah, The kids are all giving Ttoyun a hard time. Please don’t do anything weird today.]
—[Aww, poor Ttoyun is upset? Look at his bottom lip sticking out like a little duck.]
—[It’s starting!!!!!]
—[This is so fun!!! Let’s survive today too!!! Zombies never die!!!!]
—[Kim Jaemini is amazing. No one expected him to reach the final mission.]
—[Same with Cheoldo. Anyone can see he’s an award-worthy actor, perfect for noir films.]
—[Wow, his clothes ripped! Thanks!]
—[Whoa, what a body. Insane.]
—[Wait, did Roy just steal Ttoyun’s jewel? Ttoyun looks so shocked ᅲᅲᅲᅲ]
—[Brutal, brutal.]
—[With that level, any hunter guild would want him.]
—[Anyone making the final lineup wouldn’t be surprising at this point ᅲᅲ]
—[Chan, can I use your abs as a laundry line? ᅲᅲᅲᅲ]
—[What’s the current score?]
—[Roy 1st, Dyoha 2nd, Chan 3rd, Jihyu 4th, Ttoyun 5th, Jjunyoung 6th, Jjaewoo 7th, Hajun 8th]
—[How much time left?]
—[One minute. Rankings probably won’t change.]
—[Nooo, my zombie ᅲᅲᅲᅲ]
—[Zombie, That’s a shame, he’s 9th right now. Makes no sense. Not even A-rank and still such luck.]
—[Countdown starting!]
—[…5, 4, 3, 2, 1!]
—[Real-time chat: Dangheon-ah, debut group confirmed!]
—[Tears ᅲᅲ You worked hard, my top pick ᅲᅲᅲᅲ]
***
“Good job, everyone!”
After filming, the participants bowed to the hardworking production staff and each other.
Some shed tears out of regret, but everyone wore expressions of relief.
Thankfully, no abnormal phenomena occurred today, so everyone was able to use their powers freely.
“My legs have no strength left…”
Song Doyun, who had run energetically throughout the mission, collapsed to the floor.
“How did Roy hyung not lose a single jewel to me?”
Doyun’s sharp gaze landed on Roy.
Today, he had focused all his efforts on Roy but failed to snatch a single jewel.
Not just Doyun, no one had been able to take Roy’s jewels.
Though the spirits looked cute, in that moment, they appeared like demons.
When Roy used his power sincerely, everyone else was left trailing behind him.
“Jaemin hyung.”
“Ugh… Roy…”
No matter what grumbles Song Doyun muttered, Roy stayed by Kim Jaemin’s side.
Jaemin, who had narrowly missed the final lineup, was drenched in tears.
“I’m not crying because I’m sad. It’s because I’m happy… really…”
Yet, as he said that, his lips twitched while tears streamed down his face.
“All my close friends are debuting… and I got this far only because of you guys…”
He lacked in appearance, singing and dancing skills, and hunter abilities alike.
He should have been eliminated much earlier.
But the friends he made early on were popular, and for the sake of the program’s buzz and ratings, the production team had no choice but to give more airtime to the popular participants.
Jaemin ended up securing a fair amount of screen time because of that.
“Hyung, sniff, what will you do from now on…?”
Though Jaemin wasn’t sad, Kim Chan and Lee Hajun’s faces were downcast.
“I think I’ll debut soon too.”
Jaemin gently ruffled Hajun’s hair as if to ease his worries.
In truth, the participants who made it to the final mission had gained a considerable fan base.
They had become talents any agency would covet.
“So don’t worry. And we won’t stop being friends just because we debut in different teams, right?”
“Of course not!”
Kim Chan, listening nearby, raised his voice.
They were friends for life.
Meeting such wonderful people felt like the greatest luck of his entire life.
“Huh? More people from the Association are coming.”
Jaemin’s words caught Lee Hajun’s attention, who was still wiping away tears.
His eyes widened.
The expressions of those gathered darkened.
They remembered the interrogation from before.
“Congratulations to all who debuted. Even those who didn’t make it are, in my eyes, respectable hunters.”
Despite the wary looks from the participants directed at him, Kim Kangtae smiled brightly and looked around at them.
“Now the production staff and agency representatives will gather to sign contracts. Our Association will also try to get a slice of the pie.”
Those chosen for the final group all already had agencies.
Three participants belonged to Bada Entertainment, while the others were affiliated elsewhere.
Since today was the final mission, agency representatives had attended as observers.
They, too, looked puzzled.
Only the executive producer seemed to know something, his expression unreadable.
“Those who didn’t make the final lineup, please wait a moment. We’ve prepared a place for you over there.”
Currently, the participants were gathered at the set outside the dungeon where the mission had taken place.
At the direction Kim Kangtae pointed to, the participants’ eyes, which had been dim, suddenly sparkled.
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