Free Web Novel“It took a full twenty hours to complete the grade evaluations.
No sooner had he stepped outside than Yeonwoo and Taeeon’s sharp glares rained down on him. Roy pretended not to notice and returned to his seat, but he felt as if he were sitting on a bed of nails.
‘What is this? My whole body’s tingling.’
Now that he looked, those staring at him weren’t just Yeonwoo and Taeeon. Both participants and staff were sneaking glances his way. The bitter part was that it wasn’t awe in their eyes, but looks you’d give a madman. Even he had to admit he’d behaved like one.
‘But it was dramatic, right?’
His goal had been to make a powerful first impression. He’d achieved that. Satisfied with himself, Roy sat down—and immediately heard Hangyeol’s voice again.
[That concludes the grade evaluations. Thank you for your hard work, everyone.]
Hangyeol announced that from the next shoot on, they’d begin living together at the dorm. After informing them to pack their things and return here in a week, filming was officially over.
“Ugh, my whole body aches.”
No sooner had the wrap-up been called than Roy stretched and stood—only to be smacked hard on the back, twisting his body.
“Argh!”
“Are you insane? You can’t live like that—can’t live!”
“Ow, why’d you hit me!”
“You need a smack to wake up! That’s why I hit you!”
“Ow! It hurts!”
“Where do you come off failing to tell heaven from earth and running around like a colt!”
Smack, smack! As soon as filming ended, Yeonwoo had rushed over to scold Roy.
“Ah! Ow! Hey, can a contestant beat someone like this?!”
“You deserve it!”
“Ow! Taeeon hyung, save me! He’s hitting me!”
Roy hid behind Taeeon, squealing to Yeonwoo. But rather than protect him, Taeeon slid aside instead.
“What? Have you two teamed up behind my back?”
Roy looked up at Taeeon, betrayed—but his expression soured further.
“Lee Roi.”
Taeeon even called him # Nоvеlight # by his full name. Taeeon was usually gentle, never angry enough to drop hyphens and call someone by full name. If he used Roi’s full name, he must be furious.
‘E-emergency...!’
Alpha guard dog mode! The scary, angry Taeeon gave him goosebumps.
“Hyung! Hyung, I’m sorry! It’s all my fault.”
Roy clasped his palms and begged. Judging by Yeonwoo’s glare, he seemed angry that Roy hadn’t taken the evaluations seriously. He must think Roy was just goofing off like the others.
“I’ll really do my best next time.”
Though Roy had tried his hardest today, the two higher-graded brothers might not be satisfied. He’d been thoughtless. When he humbled himself, Taeeon’s fierce energy visibly subsided—surprised that Roy admitted his mistake and felt genuine remorse.
“You’re sorry?”
“Yes. I won’t do it again. Promise.”
Roy offered his pinky dramatically, nodding.
“Really?”
“Really.”
He vowed that from next time, he’d do his utmost even if he got injured.
✧
One week later. The 202 Star Hero participants gathered again. Staff guided them toward their assigned dorms.
“Aww, our little puppy’s still a baby—crying about being away from his mom.”
Yeonwoo playfully patted Roy’s suitcase as he pulled it. Before leaving home, Roy had tearfully said goodbye to Roze—his eyes were red and puffy. How could he not cry when Roze sobbed so hard she could hardly breathe?
“I wasn’t crying just because of that.”
“Okay then. I’ll pretend I didn’t see it.”
Seriously. Park Yeonwoo, just shut up. Roy clamped his lips shut in annoyance. Taeeon stifled a laugh beside him.
“Roy, what floor are you on?”
“Fourth. Hyung?”
“We’re on the first. Yeonwoo and I share a room.”
“Share a room?”
It seemed they’d grouped by grade. That was troubling—connections matter in a survival. Early on, people tended to band with their roommates.
‘But I got an F...’
While higher-graded participants forged friendships, Roy was stuck building loyalty with the weakest. He squeezed his eyes shut, swallowing regret. The future looked pitch black.
“But at least there’s two of you together. I’ll head up first.”
“Need help with your bags? Yeonwoo, can you—”
“It’s fine. Am I a kid?”
Taeeon thought seventeen was still a kid, but knew Roy would hate him saying it.
“Okay. If you need anything, just tell me.”
“I will.”
Taeeon looked troubled that Roy was the only one in a different room.
“I’m off. See you later.”
Only after Taeeon reassured him could Roy climb the stairs. Though there was an elevator, the line stretched outside—and waiting seemed worse than climbing. Thankfully his luggage was light; the climb wasn’t hard.
Room 44. In Korea, the number four signifies death—a remarkably ominous room number.
‘I have a bad feeling....’
He hesitated as if the door held a curse—when—
Creeeak—
“Uh? This is room, ahem, cough, gag, ugh!”
The door opened from inside, revealing a pale man.
[Kwakhyeol / F] fгee𝑤ebɳoveɭ.cøm
An F grade, of course. But that wasn’t the real issue.
“Cough, cough!”
“You okay?!”
“I’m fine, gag, ahem, cough. It’s nothing—”
“Nothing? You’re coughing up blood!”
Kwakhyeol was doing his name proud from the start. The handkerchief in his hand was soaked through with bright blood. It looked like he belonged in a hospital, not a dorm.
“Here—sit down.”
Roy helped Kwakhyeol to a chair and hurriedly offered him his water.
“Want to drink this?”
Cough, gag.
“Please—stop talking!”
He’s going to die...! Only Roy and Kwakhyeol were in this room. If the man died here, Roy would be the prime murder suspect. Hoping Kwakhyeol would hold on until more roommates arrived, Roy held out the water—just then, the door opened.
“Hey—”
“Ugh, gag—”
“Stop talking!”
Roy slapped a hand over Kwakhyeol’s mouth. The newcomer—a fourth F—gaped at the blood and at Roy’s own bloodstained hand. Then,
“-Room occupied.”
Creeeak. The door shut again.
“Wait, that’s not—come back!”
Roy shouted at the locked door. Meanwhile, Kwakhyeol, perhaps calmer, gripped Roy’s wrist with weary breaths.
“Are you okay? You were startled. I’m fine now.”
Christ. Only when his tension finally eased did Roy slump to the floor. His racing heart refused to calm. He closed his eyes tightly to regain his composure—when Kwakhyeol prodded his side.
“Eek! Hey, stop!”
Roy flinched and, without meaning to, snapped.
“Sorry, ahem.”
“No—please. Please, it’s my fault.”
Afraid Kwakhyeol might vomit blood again, Roy knelt and begged. Then he heard scuffling outside the door—and it flew open.
“You can’t come in—”
“Why not? This is 44—argh!”
Roy’s prediction was correct. The fourth roommate was also an F. Thus all four F-graded participants—F4—were crammed into this room.
‘So they really sorted us by rank.’
Roy’s heart went white at the worst-case scenario come to life. And these guys were all cowards.
“Is he dead?”
“I saw him choking that guy with my own eyes!”
“Ha-ha. No, everyone, that’s not it. This man saved me, ahem, cough.”
“Argh!”
“Ugh!”
Kwakhyeol coughed up a bucket of blood, and F1 and F2 dropped their bags and took off. Seeing them laughing as they bled felt grotesque. But Roy couldn’t let them spread lies. Rumors already branded him the Zone-2 Madman, a sociopath—add attempted murder? It’d be irreversible.
“Please!”
Roy blocked the door and pointed at the ceiling camera.
“Look up there! It’s all recorded. I’m not crazy—I wouldn’t kill someone! It was strategy!”
F1 and F2 didn’t answer—but their eyes spoke volumes. “He must be insane, right? No sane person would leave the safe-zone to play tag with fiends.” That’s what their looks said.
“I know what you’re thinking. You’re misunderstanding because of the grade evaluation. I’m not that crazy. It was all part of my plan!”
The more Roy explained, the paler F1 and F2 became. Kneeling, they began begging.
“P-please save me!”
“I swear I won’t tell anyone about what I saw. Never!”
No, it wasn’t me...!
‘My reputation. How will this look?’
He’d be stuck with these lunatics in one room—a rotten bit of luck. From the first day at the dorm, Roy missed Roze too much.
‘Roze, big brother’s doomed.’
Should I just quit Star Hero...? Roy felt the urge to withdraw immediately.
