Free Web Novel“Roissi, are you really signing with First Entertainment?”
“I already did, didn’t I?”
“Really? So you’re debuting now? No wonder Seo Han-gyeol’s been coming every day~”
“Then this must be the last shoot, right? Before you go, please give me an autograph.” frёewebnoѵēl.com
“Me too! And a photo!”
All the participants gathered for the rank readjustment. But Roi heard the most absurd news here: he was going to debut. With First Entertainment, no less!
“......”
He was so stunned he couldn’t speak, yet everyone seemed to take it as good news. Even Yeonwoo and Taeeon got swept up and bombarded him with the same questions.
“What—are you seriously becoming a celebrity?”
“Are you going to act? I think idol suits you better, Roi.”
Tae-eon generously advised him to become a singer.
“That’s not it.”
“But what else could it be? Look at me—I came back again.”
“Even though you’re clearly hiding it, why are you still here? Are you that dense?”
“I wouldn’t know.”
When Roi looked away, Han-gyeol—like some crazed fan—waved and called his name.
“Roissi~!”
“Sigh......”
Knowing Han-gyeol’s eye wasn’t really injured, Roi couldn’t help feeling sorry for him.
‘Honestly, isn’t this just deceiving fans?’
He’d worried when he heard about Han-gyeol’s supposed injury. How did he learn it was an act? He’d gone to check on him last night when he heard Han-gyeol was staying here—and saw him dash out covering his right eye instead of the left. ƒгeewёbnovel.com
‘If you’re going to fake it, at least do it properly....’
Had he known Han-gyeol would cling this persistently, he would’ve devised another plan. Jun-seo, however, was thrilled. Thanks to Han-gyeol, he could leverage the rank readjustment announcement he’d originally planned to breeze through.
“How’s it feel today? Do you feel close to me now?”
“No.”
“Aww~ that’s a shame. I feel like you’re my little brother. I want to share all the industry secrets with you.”
“Wow. I’m not interested at all.”
When Roi gave no reaction, Han-gyeol pouted.
“Roi-ssi, you’re tough to read.”
“I’m just shy.”
“Well, everyone else here seems so formidable. But I won’t coast on my face alone, you know?”
“Not that kind of face.”
Han-gyeol always interpreted things his own way. Seeing that any further chat might only get him entangled, Roi quickly slipped away.
Then Tae-eon gently spoke.
“Roi, he’s going that far because he really wants to be friends with you......”
“Aren’t I being too rude?”
Tae-eon fell silent. Roi knew he was cold to Han-gyeol—maybe too cold. But there was a reason.
‘The moment I accept him, I become the caught fish.’
He’d experienced that power of the “caught fish” at the Detention Bureau. He knew if he treated Han-gyeol kindly, he’d be swept away by that overwhelming friendliness, only to be discarded when it suited Han-gyeol’s schedule. Better to leave him hanging—easier on his own mind.
And rumors... he’d just ignore them. Today was the day he finally shed “F-rank.”
✧
He hadn’t.
[I-Roi F]
“Why? Why am I still F-rank?!”
All his team members from the second survival round had good grades—he was the only one left behind. He’d even caught the Fiend that appeared then!
At Roi’s protest, Jun-seo was at a loss.
“This... it was decided by the Guild Masters.”
“So why? Why me...!”
There was only one reason: he hadn’t shown proper performance.
“But I caught the Fiend! You know that.”
“I know. But there’s no footage......”
They claimed no camera had captured his feat. All the judges saw was him leading the team and giving orders. Leadership was admirable, but couldn’t compare to teammates who’d shown direct contributions.
“I really did catch it! The team saw me!”
“But this is a broadcast.”
With all the talk of PD picks and favoritism, they needed evidence viewers could believe. Lacking footage, they couldn’t adjust his rank. Then they added fuel to Roi’s fire.
“It’s about your image. We’ll edit it the best we can, but this isn’t your real rank.”
“......”
“How about you shine in the third survival, then we reveal your true rank right after the show ends?”
What was he saying? Even if not A, Roi needed to climb to at least B by now to cement his growth narrative. With Kwak-hyeol’s exit, he was the only F left. Did they really give him F again?
Thud. Roi collapsed to the floor, despairing. No—my story...
“Roi-ssi, are you okay?”
How could he be okay...?
In that moment, Roi decided to grab Jun-seo’s sleeve.
“Then how about D...? Really no way?”
His big, watery eyes—like Puss in Boots—drew Jun-seo’s resolve wavering. Sure, he could have used “GodsLighting” to solve it, but you can’t overuse such a trick. Subtlety mattered when everyone was watching.
“Really? You can’t?”
Under assault by the world’s most handsome face, Jun-seo finally nodded.
“A D rank... might be possible. All right, I’ll raise you.”
“Wow! Thank you! You’re the best, Boss!”
Roi felt absurdly proud of a mere D rank.
✧
One week had passed since the rank readjustment workouts began. Airday for Star Hero returned. Now a named contestant, Kim the Butler settled in front of his TV for the live broadcast. In one hand, his phone displayed the Star Hero community.
[Title: Went to Tanosu in Ep. 6]
With one snap from PD Park, half the casts got eliminated ㄷㄷ
[Title: SHERO 1st Round Survivors]
(photo)
They say half of these will be cut in the next ranking, too
└ He withdrew due to health issues
└ True—if it were that Kim from next door, they’d’ve dragged it two weeks
Hojin knew the three had headed to Paju for shooting. Yet when Han-gyeol announced the cut names, he’d held his breath hoping Roi’s name wouldn’t be called. When the ranking ended, the screen switched.
[Han-gyeol: In a moment, when the music starts, please come forward and perform a dance to it.]
Finally, the long-awaited team-selection mission: random-play dance. What a brilliant企劃. Hojin thought only a star PD could pull this off. But one thing rankled: no preview clips this week. They said it might spoil the first ranking.
He understood the staff’s stance.
‘But really—teasing us with “random-play dance” then ghosting us?’
It felt like a betrayal, and he wasn’t alone. Many fans were furious at the station’s antics.
‘If they toy with us again after a whole week, I’ll show up and storm the place.’
As Hojin stared resolutely at the screen, he saw Roi warming up among the contestants.
‘Ah! That’s Roi.’
He regretted not watching live. Now awakened, Hojin felt a pang for missing his chance to compete. Moments later, a three-second signal sounded, and the first track began. The instant Roi leaped forward dancing, Hojin got goosebumps.
‘Unbelievable... my cat is a dancing cat.’
Hojin was transfixed by Roi’s new side.
[Title: All stats optimized for idol]
That dance...
It’s like heaven destined him to be an idol lol
└ That’s it
└ Totally
└ No way—they’re investing tons in him at First
└ What do you mean?
└ He’s got a waiting number just to be snagged
[Title: Watching the dancing cat, dance...]
Slaughter level
Overwhelming victory
[Title: Honestly, 1-Chonyang’s debut is locked, right?]
After this, if he doesn’t debut it’d be a national scam
[Title: Butlers, our Cat got a home page and it’s paradise]
(photo)
I thought this was Cat’s second life...
└ Crazy
└ Dominguk, Baek Eun-sung, Bella
└ Even the Big Three guild masters have fan cafés; this scale is first for him
The community was abuzz with reactions to Roi’s random-play dance. While the chorus called for his debut at once, the ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) rumor that had quietly circulated on set finally broke:
[Title: I-Roi slated to debut next year]
He’s set to join the seven-member idol group prepared by First Entertainment.
I heard Seo Han-gyeol brokered the deal.
