Chapter 98: Roy’s Hidden Truth

Gong Taecheon led the members further inside the dormitory.

The members who had casually stepped out craving ice cream had unexpectedly gotten caught up in the attack and returned shaken, so it was easy to understand their frightened state.

However, as previously mentioned, the members’ debut showcase date had been set.

Starting tomorrow, they had to dive straight into styling and practice to prepare the best stage possible.

Their schedule was packed with interviews and photoshoots in between.

“…The ice cream’s all melted.”

Kim Chan opened the shopping bag in his hand and wore a disappointed expression.

He had bought it to share with the members waiting back at the dorm, but it had almost turned into liquid.

The staff had packed it with ice packs, but standing outside in the muggy heat caused it to melt.

“We can just freeze it again. Give it here, hyung.”

Lee Hajun took the ice cream container from Kim Chan’s hand and put it in the freezer.

“Hajun seems more like the hyung than I am.”

“That’s because I learned from what the hyungs do for me.”

Despite his young age, Kim Chan smiled faintly at Hajun’s effort to comfort the disappointed mood.

“Schedule starts at 3 AM tomorrow, guys. You won’t get much sleep even if you try now.”

The sun was already waning. Gong Taecheon swallowed the thought that the coming days would likely have them sleeping only a few hours a night.

He didn’t want to scare them so much that they couldn’t sleep tonight.

“Roy hyung, if you get scared while sleeping, come to our room.”

“…I’m fine.”

Han Jihoo grabbed Roy’s wrist as he was about to enter his room, wearing a worried expression.

Since everyone else had roommates after today’s ordeal, Roy was the only one using a room alone, so they were concerned.

“I’ve got the spirits with me.”

“Pii!” (Right! Why treat us like invisible spirits!)

Ber let out a loud cry from Roy’s shoulder as if to assert his presence.

“Yeah, yeah. I forgot the spirits were here. Sorry, everyone.”

Han Jihoo noticed the sharp looks from the spirits and bowed with his hands together.

The spirits, who had realized he was their mana source on the first day at the dorm, quickly softened their sour moods.

“Sleep well too.”

Roy gave Han Jihoo a light wave with his right hand before entering the room.

Click.

The sound of the door closing echoed, and only then did the faint smile that had lingered on Roy’s lips completely vanish.

‘Earth, have you found the culprit?’

{…We lost them.}

He asked, thinking they would have found someone by now, but the reply came in a gloomy voice.

Roy’s expression turned serious.

Earth’s ability was godlike, literally divine.

If even Earth couldn’t track down the culprit, it meant their skills were formidable.

{But it seems like the person came from the Continent of As.}

‘What makes you think that?’

{The mana that makes up the worlds here and there is subtly different. You probably noticed it too, hero.}

That’s right.

Unlike the Continent of As, this planet’s science had advanced much more.

Magic and alchemy were relatively undeveloped.

{It looks like there are more people who came over like Joel. There are already two. We don’t know how many more have crossed over yet… My gut feeling is not good.}

Earth was a protector of this world. It was understandable that it felt upset about suddenly being invaded.

“Ris, you couldn’t find anything either?”

“Pii…” (Sorry, contract holder…)

Roy didn’t mean to embarrass Ris.

If Earth couldn’t find anything, then it would have been difficult for Ris too.

He guessed his wording was poor.

“I didn’t say anything wrong. The culprit must be excellent at hiding. Earth couldn’t find them either.”

{Why me…}

Trying to comfort Ris, who had retreated into his shell, only seemed to hurt Earth’s pride this time.

“I’m terrible at expressing myself.”

Roy quickly reflected. Even if his intention was different, it was a problem if the other person felt bad.

{No! But what I’m most worried about right now is…}

Earth’s voice trailed off. Roy felt he knew what was coming.

“You’re saying I’m in danger?”

{Gasp. How did you know? Can you read my mind?}

Of course not.

He just had a good intuition.

The culprit had hidden among the fans and caused the incident.

Since it was in front of Bada Entertainment, their target was either him, Kim Chan, or Lee Doha.

The two had no connection to the Continent of As, so it was easy to deduce the culprit was after him alone, the only person who had crossed over from the Continent of As.

“I don’t mind getting hurt, but I’m worried the members might get hurt too.”

“Pii!” (The contract holder can get hurt but not others!)

Aqua, quietly wagging her tail while listening, suddenly barked out.

Roy was the most important person to her, no matter what anyone said.

She had lost Roy once before, and that shock still left a trauma deep in her soul.

Waves like a tsunami started rippling around Aqua.

Just recalling the time she lost Roy stirred up her emotions.

“Aqua, it’s okay. I’ve recovered a lot of my power. This time, I misspoke.”

Roy’s words always seemed to wound Earth and the spirits as much as they did.

He almost thought it better not to say anything at all.

He reached out and gently stroked Aqua’s hair, which fluttered high in the air.

“I won’t leave you all behind. I’ll live happily with you until my time is up.”

Sure, he couldn’t avoid dying of old age one day, but he had no intention of being killed before then.

Unless it was him killing someone else first.

“…That bastard Kairus, I have to deal with him myself.”

If he didn’t return the pain and despair he had felt twice over, Roy wouldn’t be able to rest even after death.

The bitter resentment and regret would surely bind Roy to this world, preventing him from leaving.

***

Knock. Knock. Knock.

A steady knocking interrupted Roy’s communion with the spirits.

“Come in.”

Two presences entered.

They were among the people Roy was most familiar with in the dorm.

“What’s going on? We have to get up early tomorrow, so everyone should sleep.”

As expected, it was Kim Chan and Lee Doha. Lee Doha was unusually wide awake, and Kim Chan even had cold sweat on his forehead.

It didn’t seem like they came for an ordinary reason, so Roy sprang from his seat.

“Did something big happen?”

He knew the association had deployed people to catch the culprit.

Though Earth and Ris had lost them, maybe the association had spotted a suspicious person.

“No, it’s not that… We came to ask you something.”

Kim Chan sat on the sofa inside the room at Roy’s invitation and hesitated before speaking.

“Ask something? You could ask tomorrow.”

Lee Doha, who was very sleepy, had come to the room instead of going straight to bed, which was strange.

Once activities started properly, there would be little time to rest.

“You met a person named Joel back then.”

Roy’s pupils trembled minutely for a moment. Kim Chan and Lee Doha’s sharp eyes didn’t miss his flinch.

They had been waiting for this moment. If Roy didn’t ask himself, they would keep pushing him.

“I thought you might hide it if you could… so I’m asking now.”

If it had been someone else’s matter, they might have let it slide.

If the person didn’t want to talk, Kim Chan would’ve respected that.

But Roy was truly precious to Kim Chan.

Kim Chan had no family since he was from an orphanage.

Though he grew up with the other kids like brothers, they all bore an eternal loneliness that no one could fill, so they were busy just taking care of themselves.

“Something about today feels connected to you, Roy hyung.”

At those cutting words, Roy swallowed dryly.

Kim Chan was a full-fledged S-rank hunter, despite his gentle appearance.

Regardless of his upbringing, his instincts were sharp.

Lee Doha’s gaze was equally keen, alert enough to show no hint of sleepiness.

They were prepared to dig out every detail, no matter Roy’s reaction.

“…So I’m scared.”

Kim Chan clasped his hands and bowed his head deeply.

His heart raced ominously.

Though Roy hadn’t been hurt today, the image of a collapsed fan overlapped with his mind.

He didn’t know why.

“I’m scared you’ll get hurt because of something we don’t know.”

It was rude, but the reason Kim Chan had come to Roy’s room so late was to press him into revealing what he was hiding.

Only then could they understand what Roy was trying to handle alone and stop him from taking dangerous risks.

“…You probably guessed what I’m going to say.”

If it was an ordinary problem, Roy would have spoken honestly.

But the secret Roy held was so enormous and absurd that anyone else hearing it would think he was crazy.

“Believing is up to us. So just be honest. Tell me what you’re hiding.”

Kim Chan hadn’t told anyone about Roy bursting through the gate, not even Lee Doha.

Today, he had tried to come alone but had met Lee Doha in front of Roy’s door.

Looking into Lee Doha’s eyes, Kim Chan realized he cared about and worried for Roy just as much.

That was why Kim Chan felt safe telling Lee Doha a secret only he had known.

‘Earth, can I tell them about the Continent of As?’

It was hard to decide alone. He trusted Kim Chan and Lee Doha, but if this got out, Roy might not only fail to debut as a Hunter Idol but also get dragged to the association for all sorts of experiments.

{I’ll take one precaution. Can you shake hands with the two of them?}

Earth’s sudden request made Roy frown.

‘A handshake in such a serious situation?’

{Anytime is fine. Just as long as it succeeds before they leave this room.}

‘So that means I can tell them honestly?’

{Yes.}

Roy wanted to tell them about the Continent of As.

Here, he was an outsider.

Though it had lessened since summoning the spirits, the strange sensations that sometimes overwhelmed his body never fully disappeared.