Song Doyoon was actually glad to be sharing a dorm room with Kim Chan, who was the same age.
Since they had been trainees from a young age, he hadn’t had many peers to comfortably bond with.
He wanted to room with Roy as well, but he passed on that idea because he felt Ber would probably set his hair on fire while he was sleeping.
“Alright then, so everyone’s agreed on the room arrangements?”
Han Jihoo smiled brightly as his suggestion was accepted and stood up from his seat.
“Let’s unpack first and then party! I ordered a catering buffet.”
“Beep-beep!” (Contractor, you have to get along with that guy no matter what!)
The more Ber lived here day by day, the more he realized the greatness of money.
On the Continent of As, he’d never known what it was like to lack funds.
Roy, too, was poor only when he was first summoned, but ever since being hailed as a war hero, he had been treated with respect wherever he went.
Recalling the taste of premium Korean beef he had recently tried, Ber immediately understood who needed to make a good impression here.
“Beeeep.” (Please take care of me, money holder.)
“Ber, are you seriously extending your hand to me for a handshake right now?”
The spirits basically stayed only around Roy, like aloof cats who rarely allowed anyone to pet them unless in a rare good mood.
So when proud Ber flew over to Han Jihoo and offered his right wing, Kim Chan felt betrayed.
“Ber, you’re only acting friendly because of the food, aren’t you?”
“Beep?” (No way! The great Spirit King of Fire would never do that!)
Knowing Kim Chan wouldn’t understand, Ber puffed out his chest anyway.
“Pohrr…” (What should I do with that guy who’s making the Spirit King look bad…)
Aqua sighed deeply, pressing her right hand to her forehead.
Ber hardly displayed any dignity befitting a Spirit King, and her blood pressure threatened to spike from the stress.
“Let’s just go unpack first.”
Roy grabbed his luggage and headed to his room, not caring whether Ber was flattering Han Jihoo or not.
“So, which room should I sleep in? Anywhere’s fine. Even the smallest room is okay.”
“Hold on.”
Han Jihoo, still excited from shaking Ber’s wing, introduced the rooms to the members.
The largest room was assigned to the twenty-year-olds, and the next biggest to the nineteen-year-olds of the same age.
The remaining three rooms were about the same size, so Lee Hajun waited for Roy and Min Junyoung to pick their rooms first.
“I’ll take this one.”
Roy chose a room with an especially large window.
He liked the view from the window, which reminded him constantly that they were somewhere other than the Continent of As.
It was a landscape that helped keep his feelings of vengeance sharp rather than dulling them.
{Hero, you already look like a successful Hunter Idol!}
‘Really?’
On Earth, Joel had grown fond of wandering around in his body.
He only left Joel’s body during sleep time because if he stayed in Joel’s mind too long, Joel’s soul might shatter completely.
Even after regaining control of his own body, Joel repeated a cycle of collapsing into sleep due to overexertion while Earth was awake.
{I predict something will happen again tomorrow.}
‘You mean a dungeon connected to the Continent of As will open?’
{Yes. That’s highly likely.}
Tonight, a representative from the Association, who would act as their road manager, was also coming to the evening party.
‘I hope no trouble breaks out in front of so many people.’
Tomorrow was the day they would officially debut and finalize the group’s name and fandom name, which were currently being actively voted on online.
‘Please, let the best option win.’
Five group name candidates flashed rapidly through Roy’s mind.
They all had good meanings, but many felt awkward to introduce as their own group’s name.
“Roy hyung, have you finished unpacking?”
“Just a moment.”
Roy’s suitcase lay wide open because he was chatting with Earth.
Having lived here for a while, he had accumulated much more luggage compared to when he first arrived with just the bare essentials.
“Ris, help me out.”
“Pii!” (This is super easy!)
At Roy’s request, a gust of wind swept through the room.
What would have taken a long time alone was quickly finished with Ris’s help.
“What’s going on?”
“Oh, someone from the Association showed up. Totally unexpected.”
***
After finishing unpacking, Roy opened the door to find Kim Chan standing there.
He seemed to have run to tell Roy as soon as possible.
Since the dorm was quite large, the distance from the living room to the rooms was considerable.
“What kind of person is it?”
Roy became curious at Kim Chan’s urgency.
This person might be someone Roy needed to be very cautious around from now on.
Because he was the one dispatched by the Association to investigate the abnormal phenomena.
“Come here first. Everyone’s gathered in the living room to greet him.”
As Roy walked leisurely, Kim Chan grabbed his right arm and pulled him forward.
“So, how should we address you?”
“…Whatever you’re comfortable with.”
Inside the living room, the members had surrounded the unfamiliar man, creating an almost hearing-like atmosphere.
Han Jihoo asked the first question, and the man, clad entirely in black, responded in a stiff voice.
{Huh? I’ve seen someone dressed like that somewhere before.}
The man was literally dressed in head-to-toe black. A black cap, long-sleeved shirt, long pants, and even black socks.
Roy glanced out the window for a moment. It was midsummer, and the sunlight was dazzlingly bright.
Thankfully, the air conditioning inside the dorm kept it cool; otherwise, encountering someone dressed like that outside might have made him feel suffocated.
{Right! People involved in secretive work always dress like that!}
Following Earth’s hint, Roy guessed the man’s Hunter class.
The man seemed to notice Roy’s gaze and turned his head.
Meeting his eyes head-on, Roy instinctively lifted the corner of his mouth into a smile.
“Hello. I’m Hwang Roy.”
Since arriving here, Earth had repeatedly taught him proper etiquette.
After practicing countless times during filming, he had developed the habit of greeting anyone he made eye contact with, which still served him well now.
‘He’s strong. Probably an assassin-type.’
Though hidden by his clothes, his body looked very solid despite being lean.
His small face made him appear even taller compared to those around him.
“I’m Ki Yonghyeon.”
Ki Yonghyeon stood up from the sofa after Roy’s greeting.
When Roy approached and stopped, Yonghyeon extended his right hand first.
‘Really into black.’
Seeing him wear black leather half-gloves, Roy understood his definite taste.
“Looking forward to working with you.”
Roy smiled without losing his composure despite the firm grip in Yonghyeon’s hand.
He wasn’t sure why Yonghyeon suddenly seemed to want to test strength, but it was clear Yonghyeon was currently at a higher level than Roy.
“Manager Yonghyeon is twenty-seven years old. He looks really young, doesn’t he?”
Noticing the subtle tension between Roy and Yonghyeon, Han Jihoo naturally changed the subject.
Though Yonghyeon was five years older than Roy, he looked about the same age, which was impressive considering Roy himself looked young for his age.
“Actually, there’s an Alpha Room available if you want to use it, but he said commuting is more convenient.”
It seemed likely that Yonghyeon hadn’t volunteered for this job.
Chasing around a rookie Hunter Idol group was probably not a job any top-tier Hunter would want.
Especially since he also had road manager duties.
“Our company’s director will be the manager.”
The face of Hwang Guman flashed through Roy’s mind briefly, but having someone from Han Jihoo’s company as manager might be better.
After all, he held the title of director at a major agency.
“The catering should be here any minute.”
No sooner had Han Jihoo finished speaking than the doorbell rang. Five chefs in their uniforms came inside.
“I never imagined we’d be living in such a luxurious dorm.”
Kim Chan gazed at the dining room in awe.
It was so large that at least twelve people could sit at the table comfortably.
Surrounding the table were delicious-looking dishes laid out.
“Since it’s our first day in the dorm, it’s only right to have some good food and pop some champagne.”
Han Jihoo led Ki Yonghyeon and the members into the dining room.
‘At this point, I’m starting to think he’s doing the Hunter Idol life as a hobby.’
It was clear Han Jihoo’s motive wasn’t money.
If he wanted to make a lot of money, it would take quite a long time even after debut, considering how much he was spending now.
{Earth agrees wholeheartedly with your thoughts, Hero. That bottle of champagne must cost at least several million won.}
Earth confirmed Roy’s suspicions.
Han Jihoo had lined up bottles of champagne, seemingly enough for each member to have one.
‘…You really live well.’
Min Junyoung, apparently knowledgeable about champagne, looked surprised.
“Since we’re in the same group, my money is the members’ money too.”
“Hyung, are you serious? Did you just say that?”
Among Hunter Idol groups, some were famous for their close relationships.
High Cycle was a prime example.
Good relationships among members positively influenced the group; the problem was when relationships were bad.
In that sense, Han Jihoo’s big-hearted and easygoing personality played a major role in easing the tense atmosphere.
“Shall we all have a glass of champagne first?”
Purrng—
Han Jihoo popped the champagne bottle open with flair.
Roy felt his throat tighten as he looked at the golden-hued champagne filling the glass.
‘…This is definitely delicious alcohol.’
Having been one of Kairus’s closest aides, Roy had many chances to sample high-grade liquors presented to the emperor.
Thinking about comparing it to the drinks he’d tasted on the Continent of As made his breath quicken.
The champagne’s aroma tickled his nose, making his fingertips twitch involuntarily.
“Everyone, hold your glasses.”
Han Jihoo stood up and raised his glass high.
The others also stood, holding their champagne glasses filled with a reasonable amount.
Those underage received juice instead and looked gloomy.
“I’m so happy to debut together. And thank you for coming as our road manager, someone as great as Hunter Ki Yonghyeon.”
Anyone could tell this was the leader’s speech.
Roy quietly felt relieved.
If leadership had been assigned by age, he intended to turn the whole thing upside down somehow.
“So, here’s the thing.”
Han Jihoo unusually cut his words short.
He looked like he had something to say, so everyone stared intently at his face.