Chapter 133

Because of its subject matter, Star Hero was rated for viewers aged 15 and up. Warnings that brutal scenes might occur—and that those of a sensitive disposition should refrain—had been emphasized repeatedly. The audience call also carried the same cautions: three separate warning pop-ups before registration.

Yet there was always at least one person who ignored such warnings. The staff was certain that person was Hojin.

“Sir, please breathe. Breathe.”

At that moment, footage of Team 4’s contestant viciously dismembering a Blood Fiend played on the screen. Though masked, the viewer’s pale skin showed. Judging he might collapse, a staffer hurried over and supported Hojin to his feet.

“Can you stand? It’d be best to go down and rest for a moment.”

A healer happened to be on site. The staffer keyed the walkie-talkie and reported to Junseo.

“We have a patient. Looks like hyperventilation—he can’t calm down.”

A brief reply crackled back: escort him down immediately.

Watching from just behind, Saeon thought, Does he have some illness? I didn’t see anything that would warrant that reaction. If he could panic at something this minor, he was unfit as on-site personnel—completely disqualified. Even if Iroi grants him full authority over Special Team 2, that doesn’t justify planting an unqualified person in the Detention Bureau.

I heard he’s an A-rank Elemental Awakener... Saeon mused, regretting a wasted talent—when suddenly—

Whoosh!

Gripping the railing, Hojin leapt straight down.

“Kyaa!”

Startled, the staffer sat down hard, and terrified screams rose from the audience.

“?”

Saeon, too, was taken aback. Despite his fragile demeanor, Hojin’s movement had been decisive. Why had he jumped?

“What... what’s going on?”

The staffer, snapping back, peered over the stairwell in horror. Hojin was sprinting toward the center of the auditorium. Saeon watched his back: astonishingly, Hojin was running straight for the blue gate. Chaos erupted below at the sudden intrusion.

“Hey! Stop there!”

“You can’t go that way!”

No one who would obey calls to stop would have leapt off in the first place. Saeon propped his chin on his hand and observed. A few burly staffers gave chase, but even they couldn’t catch the A-rank Awakener.

Just as the studio teetered on pandemonium, the Grand Guildmaster stepped forward to block Hojin’s path.

“Return to your seat. If you refuse, we will restrain you.”

Of course—there was no way the FM wouldn’t intervene.

“Sorry, but I have to help. Our Roy has no one but me. I have to protect him...”

Hojin babbled as he tried to push past Minguk, who stood in his way.

“Isn’t that Butler Kim?”

“Wow. He almost flew just now.”

“But why is he doing that?”

“Looks like he’s trying to fight.”

The audience stirred at the standoff, unable to hear the exchange. But Saeon heard it distinctly.

Who’s “helping” whom? And Hojin’s behavior felt extreme, unnatural. He maintained focus, watching—when an unexpected figure stepped up: Baek Eun-seong.

“Guildmaster, let me handle this.”

Eun-seong, who cared only for treating patients, joined the fray. Perhaps he’d recognized Hojin from the Apgujeong Blood Fiend incident when the Awakened Hospital treated the victims.

“Mr. Hojin, let’s step outside and talk.”

Seeming casual, Eun-seong placed a hand on Hojin’s shoulder and activated a skill. A faint glow escaped between his palms—an ability to calm the agitated.

“Shall we go out?”

“No. If I go out, I can’t see. Roy might be in danger...”

Still anxious, Hojin kept glancing at Team 1’s screen. Though overshadowed by S-rank Awakeners, Hojin trembled but held firm, as if poised to dash through the blue gate at any opening.

When the standoff with the guildmasters dragged on, Junseo the PD hurried over.

“What is he doing...!”

He advanced as if to eject the audience member, but couldn’t finish: the interloper was someone he himself had inscribed on the audience list—the favorite’s closest ally!

We’re done for.

Saeon thought it was the end—until the PD’s attitude abruptly shifted.

“Ha ha! Must have slipped off your chair~ Oh my, you slid all the way down here.”

“...PD-nim?”

The writer, watching above, mirrored Saeon’s bewildered expression. Undeterred, Junseo continued.

“Sorry. I’ll have another seat ready right away.”

“PD-nim, what are you—”

“Could we place one more seat next to Han-gyeol’s waiting seat? That’d be perfect.”

“...Are you serious?”

Hojin, expecting to be dragged away, was instead treated like a VIP and escorted to his new seat.

✧

Now relocated, Hojin sat beside Han-gyeol. During the height of the survival challenge, Han-gyeol, too, could briefly leave the stage. It was his first time seeing a celebrity up close—but none of that mattered: Hojin’s gaze remained fixed on Team 1’s screen.

Only one thing grated on him: the conversation between Han-gyeol and his manager.

“Hyung, isn’t Roy looking great today?”

“She is. Lost some baby fat? Definitely more masculine than at the start of filming.”

“No, that’s not what I mean. Doesn’t she look different today?”

“Yeah. She’s looking more human today.”

“See? That’s all my doing.”

Despite himself, Hojin’s ears perked at the constant mention of Roy’s name.

“I forced her to pull down her cap this morning so she’d be visible.”

“Trying to look good or something...”

The manager left the rest unsaid, eyeing Han-gyeol with a disapproving gaze. Then they glanced at Hojin, who met their eyes.

“...!”

Startled, Hojin’s eyes snapped forward.

“Ah, sorry. We were too loud, weren’t we? We’ll keep it down.”

“Uh—my apologies~”

They gave sheepish smiles, but Hojin refused to look away. He couldn’t stand them pretending familiarity with Roy.

What are they so chummy about? Even an MC hardly interacts with contestants.

They sat far apart on screen. What’s their relationship? How did they get close? His heart pounded with renewed discomfort.

I didn’t come here just to gawk...

He almost rushed back to the cave. Sure, he’d cause a scene and get finger-pointed—but far better than hearing this chatter. Far better than risking Roy.

He was about to move when Team 1’s delayed footage arrived.

Shhaaak!

On screen, Roy scraped the ground with his spear’s tip, spun, and then swung it in a mighty arc, summoning towering flames.

Flare!

The flames swelled from the floor and instantly blocked the narrow passage.

In an instant—

키에에엑!

The fiends charging at the front couldn’t slow in time and plunged into the blaze, turning to black ash in a single moment.

As the terror that gripped his chest dissolved, Hojin slumped back in his seat—and that was how he ended up here.

“...”

In truth, he’d missed his chance to storm the stage. In any case, Hojin fixed his gaze on the screen and ignored the conversation beside him.

Roy retraced her steps and slipped into the left fork they hadn’t taken before. At that moment, he heard Han-gyeol and the manager again—quieter now, but in his A-rank-sharpened ears, still clear.

“So? What did Roy say? Didn’t she refuse?”

Roy refuse?

Before he knew it, Hojin was listening more closely to their conversation than to the screen.

“After filming, she said she’d give me an answer. But I think she’ll say yes to living together.”

L-living together?!

Hojin’s eyes darted sideways. He couldn’t bring himself to look away, needing to hear more.

“I didn’t feel she was especially keen on you.”

“No way. Roy’s just awkward with words—she likes me. She’s a total tsundere.”

“Roy likes you? Not just tolerating you?”

“She was my fan, I swear! She’s definitely back-in-love right now.”

“......”

“And hyung—there’s no tree that won’t fall after ten attempts, right? Just wait. I’ll win her over. You know who I am—Seo Han-gyeol.”

“...Han-gyeol. I have a lot to say, but I’ll hold back. I just hope you don’t get yourself in trouble over this.”

“It’s fine, it’s fine~ I’ll sign a contract and pay the fee. And Roy is so nice, living together would be completely—”

“Hey!”

As Han-gyeol continued coolly, Hojin finally exploded. He shot to his feet and faced Han-gyeol, eyes blazing red.

“W-why would our Roy live with you? Why? Why!”

His voice trembled with fury, his clenched fist shaking.

“...What?”

Han-gyeol looked up at Hojin in stunned confusion.

“Are you... some kind of sponsor or something?”

“Huh??”

Han-gyeol was left speechless, lips parting without words. Watching this, Hojin grew ever more certain.

“You... you trash!”

Thus began the disastrous first encounter between Han-gyeol and Hojin.