Free Web NovelAt that moment, the obsessive talent scout Abangmyo was filming his solo video for the official website.
A one-minute self-introduction.
It was supposed to be a simple clip: name, age, special skill, a bit of aegyo.
For someone with survival-show experience, it was a piece of cake.
“Just tell us your name and attribute, then immediately show us your skill.”
That was before anyone remembered this was an Awakeners’ Survival.
“...My skill?”
Abangmyo tilted his head in confusion.
Contrary to expectations, the production team had asked for a skill demonstration from the start.
“If you need any props, they’re over there—feel free to use whatever you like.”
Junseo pointed to a selection of items: withered plants, fruit, wooden breaking boards, statues. All neatly arranged.
Why on earth were those there...?
Roy merely blinked, taking no action.
“Mr. Roy?”
Junseo called again.
A tilt this way?
This time Abangmyo tilted his head the other way.
Still clueless, he listened to further explanation.
“Oh—are you worried about it? There’s a shield in place, so you can use big flashy skills if you want. Go wild.”
But Roy only blinked again.
Junseo’s pupils trembled.
What is it...? What’s the problem?
He recalled that Roy had been seriously ill two days ago.
The shock when a participant from the blood test carried Roy into the staff dorm at dawn... The image of Roy standing at the door, coughing up blood, was like a scene from a horror movie.
Fortunately, Eunseong treated him the next day on set, but Eunseong never gave 100% healing unless it was an emergency—he said natural recovery boosted immunity.
I should have begged him to fully heal Roy, even if it meant clinging to his leg.
Junseo regretted it deeply. Clearly Roy hadn’t fully recovered.
Clutching his chest, he asked, “Is it difficult for you to use your skill right now?”
He wanted to postpone filming another day, but he couldn’t—the second evaluation started tomorrow.
Delaying the self-introduction sequence was all he could do.
“Roy, if you’re still not fully recovered, you don’t have to show your skill—”
“R-really? You mean it’s not mandatory?”
Roy’s face lit up visibly.
“It’s not required? Phew, thank goodness.”
Roy wiped his chest and breathed a sigh of relief.
Since he’d heard about the one-minute self-introduction, he’d guessed he couldn’t hide his attribute any longer.
He just hadn’t expected to have to use his skill so soon, so he’d been caught off guard.
But if he didn’t have to show it— freewebnσvel.cѳm
Just as he was feeling lucky, Junseo revealed a hint of reluctance.
“Of course, it would help you appeal more if you showed it—”
Those words sent Roy’s heart plummeting again.
“You’re already excellent in other ways, so it’ll be fine.”
—Junseo returned to his original spot.
He smiled happily at Roy.
That man is really...!
Roy’s heart pounded wildly on that unwanted roller coaster.
He forced a composed expression and managed an awkward smile.
“Then I’ll just do the introduction. As you know, I’m still a bit... cough, cough.”
Roy suddenly coughed and began acting as if in pain.
He had been worrying how to get through this, and now it was perfect.
He’d supposedly escaped dramatically from an unknown cave, suffered a mysterious high fever, and had only just recovered.
Everyone on the production team knew that. So if he appeared to hold back, no one would think it strange.
“I’m a bit disappointed, since I was hoping for an early buzz—but this time, I guess I’ll just have to keep it low-key.”
Rumor had it other contestants were doing handstands to fly, or smashing statues with their hips.
It hurt to turn down such opportunities.
At least the introduction video would air after episode 2, so hopefully they’d get more airtime in the rankings segment.
Thus ended the unbearably dull one-minute self-intro.
No one yet knew how big a stir this video would cause.
Filming continued.
“Next, we’ll give you time to call someone you love.”
At last, the moment they’d been waiting for arrived.
The phone Roy got back after a week felt oddly unfamiliar.
“You may call only one person, and you have one minute total—including connection time.”
“Excuse me? One minute?”
Including connection time? That’s over the top.
Roy shot Junseo a resentful look, but Junseo didn’t budge.
“Countdown starts—”
“Wait, hold on! I haven’t even turned my phone on yet.”
“I was joking. Take your time and let me know when you’re ready.”
Roy glared at Junseo and ground his teeth.
Actually, he’d already decided whom to call before coming here.
His little pinky even swore the promise: he’d call Roze first.
But as soon as he powered on his phone, it vibrated like crazy.
[Missed calls (27)]
[New messages (300+)]
Twenty-seven calls...? From whom?
The caller was Galbi.
“Are you insane?”
Roy nearly shouted, forgetting he was filming.
Junseo, chatting with staff, didn’t seem to notice.
Roy seized the moment to scroll through his messages.
[Galbi: Did you know Hojin’s been hunting awakener blood?]
The first message was ominous.
Huh?
Growing serious, Roy scrolled faster.
[Galbi: He glared at me like he’d kill me if I ever told you.]
[Galbi: Did you say you didn’t need him anymore?]
[Galbi: His eyes just rolled back. He’s in really bad shape.]
[Galbi: Why aren’t you picking up, damn it]
[Galbi: I think he’s in some weird cult church!!]
[Galbi: Bastard]
[Galbi: You blocked me, didn’t you, damn it]
[Galbi: What the hell am I supposed to be doing because of you]
Blood? A cult???
What the hell is going on?
“You said you didn’t need him anymore?”
I wouldn’t say that to Hojin unless I was out of my mind.
I knew how fragile he was better than anyone.
Realizing the gravity, Roy froze, speechless.
Then he thought:
Who the hell would target my hyung?
He leapt, unaware it might just be a side effect of gaslighting.
He didn’t know who approached Hojin, but they’d picked the perfect target.
There’s no one easier to fool than Hojin, I’m sure.
Roze knows that if a stranger approaches, she must cry “No, help me”—so why can’t hyung do the same?
Roy rubbed his throbbing forehead and pondered: Roze or Hojin?
An angel and devil brawled in his head.
We promised Roze. Would I make her cry again? Hyung’s not a child—he can handle himself. I can call him after filming.
But what if something happens to him? A cult... what if they do something terrible? I know his mental strength is weak.
This is driving me crazy!
Roy ruffled his hair in agony, then made up his mind.
“Director! I’m calling him!”
He immediately dialed Hojin’s name.
Roze would be upset, but he didn’t want anything bad to happen to Hojin.
“Please pick up. Please.”
Roy’s legs shook.
Each second felt like an hour.
Fifteen seconds passed.
Usually he’d answer before the tone even rang. Something must be wrong.
Thirty seconds later, the call connected.
Thirty seconds remained.
Roy had to calm and persuade Hojin within that time.
“Hyung!”
[“...Roy?”]
“You okay? Are you hurt? Galbi said he saw you. And that church thing... What is that? You’re not religious! You never looked twice at a church, then suddenly you’re going? Are you being threatened? Send me the name and address of whoever did this!”
[“Huh? No—”]
Forty-three seconds passed.
“I don’t have much time, so I’ll say this fast. I’ll be free in about three days. As soon as I am, I’ll come see you. Don’t do anything—just stay home.”
Fifty-one seconds passed.
“You know you’re the only one I’ve got, right? I didn’t ignore you because I was lazy—I literally didn’t have my phone. So don’t think weird thoughts and do as Galbi says, okay? I’ll definitely come! Kim Hojin, stay home!”
Sixty seconds.
The call ended.
Even Korea’s top hip-hop idols couldn’t spit bars that fast—staff were speechless.
A hush fell over the set.
A staff member’s low exclamation broke the silence. freeweɓnovel.cøm
“Wow... that was insane.”
Then the chatter erupted.
“His diction is perfect. No subtitles needed.”
“Was he a trainee? A rapper?”
“This is amazing. If we make a short of this, the views will explode.”
The murmurs turned to laughter. Everyone sensed a hit.
From prelims to the grade evaluations, even the first guild training, he surprised them ❀ Nоvеlігht ❀ (Don’t copy, read here) with the unexpected—he couldn’t let even a small corner of the show pass quietly.
Looks aside, isn’t this what star quality is?
This contestant is no joke...!
The staff unconsciously began to acknowledge Roy.
