Chapter 141

Seo Han Gyeol opened his eyes and found himself staring up at an unfamiliar ceiling.

“Where am I...?”

Looking around, Han Gyeol soon realized that he was in a hospital. He had been chasing after the carrot Roy had dangled in front of him, so this was strange. As he gazed blankly at the ceiling, he slowly turned his head. The white walls and the unmistakable scent of disinfectant filled his nostrils. Then he happened to glance at the printing on his sleeve.

[Seoul Awakened Hospital]

“No way...”

He’d fainted suddenly, and now here he was, waking up in the Awakened Hospital. Clearly, all the hardships of the past few days had finally paid off. As Roy had said, he had awakened. Han Gyeol bolted upright and began to pat himself down. His body felt unusually light, brimming with energy.

“This is insane.”

He could hardly believe that he had truly awakened. Clenching his fists in delight, he wondered what rank he’d received. What ability had emerged? He was filled with questions, desperate for someone to appear and explain everything to him. But then...

“Well, apart from feeling better, nothing’s really changed?”

He’d imagined that awakening would grant him spectacular powers and make the world look completely different. In reality, Awakeners were still just human. Having watched so many awakened people on the Star Hero set, he’d built up foolish expectations. Nevertheless, he was satisfied enough. His only remaining wish was to be rated at least C-rank.

“My big brother’s going to freak out.”

If he told everyone he’d needed Roy’s help to awaken, his brother might feel betrayed. And he would no longer be able to continue his entertainment career. It wasn’t his choice—once you awakened, the public wouldn’t allow you to stay in show business.

“I never thought I’d retire this fast ... ha ha!”

His heart fluttered, so he put on a cheerful tone and muttered to himself. Then a single word crashed into his mind.

Penalty clause.

“Wait... hold on.”

What would happen to his ongoing drama, film, variety show, and ad contracts? Had there been any special clause about awakening in his contracts...?

“This is a disaster.”

He realized he’d acted recklessly. He’d awakened to escape the Blood Fiend only to find himself now threatened by huge penalty fees. Just as he was about to dash out of the room to borrow a phone, the door swung open and Roy appeared.

“You’re here.”

“Roy! Do you have your phone with you?”

“Yeah. Why?”

“I need to borrow it to call my manager—it’s urgent.”

Han Gyeol grabbed Roy’s hand, but Roy didn’t respond. It wasn’t a difficult request—so why?

“Roy? Can I borrow your phone?”

Despite Han Gyeol’s repeated pleas, Roy simply stared at him in silence, then shook his head firmly.

“No.”

“Huh?”

“We have somewhere we need to go. And if your brother finds out, he’ll fire me.”

Before Han Gyeol could ask what that meant, Roy suddenly hoisted him up. Dangling upside-down over Roy’s shoulder, Han Gyeol flailed in panic.

“Aaah...! Roy, what are you doing? Hey! Explain!”

“I told you we have somewhere to be.”

Roy carried him not toward the door but to the window.

Dr-r-r-k—

The window slid open, and Han Gyeol’s body stiffened with dread.

“R-Roy, c’mon... you’re kidding, right?”

“Stay still. You might fall if you move.”

From his inverted view, Han Gyeol saw Roy step onto the window sill. He pounded on Roy’s back in protest, but—

“No, Roy! Wait— wai—”

Fwoosh!

Suddenly, he felt weightless as the world below began to drop away at terrifying speed.

“Kyaaaaaan!”

And that was how Han Gyeol was kidnapped.

✧

To where?

A sheep ranch in Pyeongchang County, Gangwon Province, at 850 meters above sea level.

Beeeeeh—

Even in mid-summer, a chilling wind swept across the open pasture. It was almost as fierce as a typhoon, whipping the grass into waves.

Whi-ooooo—!

Roy stood by the railing, beaming as he stroked a sheep.

“Baaah~! Look at this one! It must have heard me calling and came over.”

Next to him, Han Gyeol stood with drooped shoulders and a gloomy expression.

“Why the long face? Things rarely work out when you rush. Cheer up.”

“......”

Neither the sheep, the wind, nor the peaceful scenery offered Han Gyeol any comfort. He had learned the truth during his abduction.

“I thought I’d awakened...”

“If it were that easy, everyone would be awakened by now. But this time it’s real. I just know it.”

“......”

“Stop standing there looking so glum. Feel this wind—it’s amazing, right? Feels like coming home, doesn’t it?”

“......”

“Check out this sheep, it’s awesome!”

Unlike his usual bubbly self, Roy was frantic at Han Gyeol’s sullen mood. He even brushed his forehead, worried he might have a fever. But no matter how hard Roy tried, Han Gyeol remained downcast. Finally, Roy led him to a nearby bench and sat down beside him to offer earnest comfort.

“Awakening doesn’t happen easily. It’s not because you’re talentless or stupid.”

Maybe it was hard for him to accept failure after succeeding as a child actor. Life rarely goes as planned. Still, Roy persisted in reassuring him.

“You can’t want it too badly. When you finally let go, that’s when your chance comes. So relax a bit.”

Roy set down his backpack and began pulling things out.

“I didn’t know what you’d like, so I brought everything I could.”

The previous night, Roy had searched for every wind-related game he could think of. Where else would you find a brother like that? Han Gyeol owed him big time.

“To clear your head, let’s have some fun before heading back. Feel the wind! Breathe it in!”

Roy gave Han Gyeol’s back an encouraging pat. At last, Han Gyeol spoke, though his voice was barely audible.

“Maybe it’s a good thing—no need to worry about penalties...”

“What was that?”

“I said, what do you want to do?”

Han Gyeol had muttered something, but Roy just pulled a kite out of his bag.

“You ever flown a kite?”

“......”

Han Gyeol fell silent again, his face saying it all. A gale-force wind today? Flying a kite in this? If it crashed into the ranch, or hurt the sheep, what a nuisance that would be.

“Roy, that’s probably not a great—”

Beeeeeh! Baaah!

Suddenly, all the sheep bleated in unison and stampeded toward them. Han Gyeol jumped up in alarm.

“?!”

The flock scattered as if chased by something. Roy’s expression hardened as he stared toward a distant hill. A few sheep lay bloodied on the ground, and above them, something human-shaped crouched.

“What’s going on? Did they fight among themselves?”

Han Gyeol frowned, spotting the same scene.

“I have to call the boss.”

As Han Gyeol tried to move away, Roy grabbed his wrist and stopped him.

“Don’t go.”

“But we need to tell someone the sheep are hurt—”

“They could die! Can’t you see?”

Han Gyeol followed Roy’s gaze and saw something humanoid barreling toward them at high speed.

“What... is that?”

“What do you think it is? A Blood Fiend. You watched the filming; how do you not know?”

“What!? Why is it here?”

If he’d known, he wouldn’t have come. Before he could react, Roy reached for his spear of fire—but then he froze.

“Wait. We’re on a mountain.”

Roy turned in shock. Han Gyeol, sensing something was wrong, asked,

“What? What’s the problem?”

Problem? Plenty of them. Roy had once incinerated half the artificial forest built for Star Hero’s set in Paju. Now he was going to set fire to a mountain? If he burned this place down too, he’d be stamped permanently as a villain. Public opinion was merciless.

“I can’t. I won’t do it.”

“What?!”

Han Gyeol went pale. The Blood Fiend was closing in fast.

“We have to stop it!”

“I said I can’t!”

“But you’re S-rank!”

“Exactly why I can’t! With wind this strong, if the grass catches fire—”

They’d both be dead, Blood Fiend included. Roy regretted not bringing Kim Hojin, his honorary firefighter, along.

“Then what do we do?”

“Do? Run!”

Roy grabbed Han Gyeol’s hand and sprinted in the same direction as the sheep. Who said S-rank elemental Awakeners were invincible? This world had far too many illusions about them. Not all elementals were unstoppable.

Han Gyeol, unbelieving, kept asking mid-flight,

“There’s really no other way? You’re supposed to be S-rank! An elemental!”

“And you expect me to use fire in a gale?”

“We have to try something!”

“I’m not a Blood Fiend hunter!”

Typical human. They were supposed to capture the fiend, but instead Han Gyeol yelled at him. Meanwhile, Roy quietly pondered alternatives—and then a bright idea struck.

Shhaah!

He skidded to a halt, leaving a long trail of shoe prints in the dirt.

“What are you doing? Why stop?”

“Bro, there’s only one way I see.”

“What is it? Anything, let’s try it.”

“Okay. You agree?”

Roy faced Han Gyeol, gripped his shoulders firmly, and without hesitation pulled him forward—toward the charging Blood Fiend—as if using him as a shield.

“?! What are you— You said you had a plan!”

“I am. I’m doing it right now.”

The plan was simple: you awaken, bro.

“Easy, right?”