Free Web NovelRoy spent the winter break with his family.
Though it was a short time, he and Roze became inseparable siblings, and they even welcomed a long-haired stray cat that sometimes jumped over the wall as their fifth family member. The new pet’s name was Rabbit.
The household staff were puzzled by why a cat would be called Rabbit, but the reason was simple: Roze called her that. Roy, who adored his little sister, didn’t mind at all whether the cat was called Rabbit or Goat. He was the kind of devoted brother who would pretend to die if Roze told him to.
And today was the entrance ceremony for Roy’s Awakener High School.
“Roy~”
“Yes, Mom! I’m coming down now!”
He’d grown close enough with his parents to call them comfortably by informal titles.
“Oh my. But where’s Roze? Manager Kim, have you seen Roze? She was right beside me a moment ago.”
“Well...”
Manager Kim’s gaze drifted up to the second-floor landing. There, Roze stood hugging Rabbit to her side as she made her way toward Roy’s room.
“Oh dear. You really can’t help her.”
Just as Roy had become a doting brother, Roze had become a clingy little sister. She hovered in front of his door and then crouched down at the threshold. She looked forlorn at the thought of the brother who played with her every day going off to school again. This time, it was a boarding school. He used to go to school in the morning and come home in the evening, but this new school only let him come home on weekends.
Roze’s lower lip /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ trembled as she waited, just then the door opened.
“Roze, why are you sitting out here?”
Roy scooped her up in surprise.
“Meow!”
Rabbit slid down from Roze’s side.
“Oppa, now you go to hakgyo? Roze can’t go, too?”
Tears glistened in her upturned eyes. Roze had turned five when the year changed, but her late birthday still made her a baby in spirit. Roy kissed her rosy cheek and gently stroked her face.
“I’ll come home every weekend to see you. Should I bring fish-shaped bread when I come?”
“Mmm... choux ring.”
“Got it. Promise.”
Roy extended his pinky and Roze hooked her stubby finger around his. At the promise that he’d come back as soon as possible, Roze’s mood lifted and she wrapped her arms tightly around his neck.
“Oppa, have a good trip. If you miss Roze, just call me every day, okay?”
“Okay. I’ll call you every day.”
The household staff watching the affectionate siblings couldn’t help but smile. Before the accident, hearing Roy’s voice had been an annual event; now, seeing him so much brighter, many privately thought it was for the best.
“All right, I’ll be off.”
Escorted by so many well-wishers, Roy climbed into the car.
✧
Seoul Awakener High School.
All minors awakened at an early age nationwide were required to attend an Awakener school. There was one in Seoul and one in Busan, but since everyone awakened at different times, few students entered exactly on opening day. There were usually more transfer students than new students, and more middle-school graduates than transfers. Last year, an article noted that fewer than twenty newbies enrolled across all grades, and Roy had long since given up hope.
Now I really can’t avoid it.
Public interest in Lee Gong (a.k.a. Roy) showed no signs of cooling. He’d thought that as long as he stayed out of sight, interest would die down, but that was arrogance. The disappearance of the first S-rank in ten years only fueled people’s obsession.
└ “Here comes the resurrection parrot again.”
Roy was used to attention. As a Shooting Star, he’d done live streams and busking just to get noticed. But that was when he was prepared—now he knew nothing, so he hesitated to reveal his identity. Yet despite his efforts, rumors sprang up before the entrance ceremony even ended: Lee Gong had appeared in Busan. Students whipped out their phones and gasped.
“Hey! Lee Gong popped up in Busan!”
His name started with “Lee,” ended with “Lee,” he was a Fire-element S-rank, and no other S-rank was enrolling today—surely it had to be him? Roy hurriedly pulled out his phone.
└ “Sick rhyme lol.”
“Busan kids are so lucky. If I moved there right now, would they transfer me?”
“There was someone with a similar name in first grade. Thought it was them. Oh well~”
“Aah, I want to see an S-rank too!”
Roy looked around bewildered at his classmates.
No, it’s me. It must be me...
He had no idea what was going on, but on his first day a faker had appeared. Word was this impostor even demonstrated their power in front of everyone. Roy had survived every rumor in the entertainment world, but an impersonator was a new challenge.
Is this what they call MZ?
They said high school survival was harder than showbiz, and it was true. As a Shooting Star, Roy had seen idols expelled over school violence scandals—forced transfers, months of recovery, shocking stories. But this Caiaphas of a Busan Gong was playing for keeps.
I’m wide awake and he’s still impersonating me. Is this the Wilderness’s law?
His pulse raced and adrenaline surged. How should he overcome this hurdle? He’d been focused on finding the members; he never expected a stumbling block so soon. He wanted to shout to his classmates that the impostor was fake, but he lacked the courage. Right now, he was S-rank in name only, worthless.
Should I expose him? No, I can’t.
He wrestled with himself until a boy’s excited voice broke through.
“Whoa, shit! Lee Gong’s signing autographs right now!”
“What?!”
Roy’s eyes lit up involuntarily, then he swayed, clutching the back of his neck. An autograph session at his entrance—that impostor’s attention-seeking was too much, and Roy fainted.
✧
The next morning, Roy’s eyes were bloodshot as he headed to class. He’d lain awake all night seething at his stolen fame. But after refreshing the online forums all night, he pieced together what had happened: the faker sneezed and accidentally shot flames from his nose, and his name just happened to be Lee Gong. Still, the impostor wasn’t entirely blameless; when Busan Gong was suspected, he hadn’t denied it.
How does that bastard plan to face the consequences?
But that was none of Roy’s concern. In fact, thanks to Busan Gong’s trolling, his own school life had become peaceful. What mattered most now was locating the members.
Should I ask Dad for help?
It would be the quickest way. A conglomerate chairman would have no trouble finding people.
But what do I tell them when they ask who I’m looking for?
In the Wilderness, Roy was indeed the chaebol heir with a cute little sister, but his social life was abysmal. If he’d known, he would’ve added “good peer relationships” to his profile. They say chaebol kids stick together, but in reality, they weren’t all that. Sure, he fit in, but his “friends” weren’t exactly friends. For now, the chairman’s help was on hold.
I want to find them quickly.
Roy’s legs trembled with impatience. Just then, a group of boys at the back of the classroom were chattering.
“I want to see Godgong’s skill with my own eyes. I’d do anything just to see it.”
“Me too! I’d crawl between his legs if I could!”
“You’re crazy—why crawl there?” frёewebnoѵēl.com
Roy’s brow furrowed at their lowbrow chatter.
Yes. That Busan Gong.
He still got angry every time he heard the name. A mere impersonator could use skills, but an S-rank like him couldn’t even produce a spark—how was that possible? It was unbearably humiliating to be outdone by someone ranked lower. He’d never felt a wall in his life before, so this stung. Then last night, Roy had the status window appear in front of him.
【“Skill Restriction” status: only basic skills available. To unlock, satisfy the following condition:
– Gather companions (0/4)】
Skill restriction. Gather companions. Unlike everyone else who used their skills freely upon awakening, he’d been the exception for this very reason.
Is this the resurrection penalty?
This wasn’t a game, but it was a human-made world. In games, when you die and come back, you often can’t use skills for a while. And the word “companions”—in the Wilderness, that likely meant the members...
Well, it can’t hurt to try.
His mind raced. He glanced around the classroom. Despite it being a new semester, most students were transfers from the middle school division, so cliques were already formed. That left only him and his desk partner sitting alone. Roy didn’t hesitate and called to his partner.
“Hey.”
“Yeah?”
“You—become my companion.”
