Trapped in the Idol Universe

“Are you okay? I’m sorry.”

The moment Han-gyeol hit the floor, the Blood Fiend’s attitude turned polite.

On closer look, the face was familiar—it was the program’s assistant director.

“I only meant to give you a little scare...”

Pleased with his makeup, he reached out a hand.

Han-gyeol flinched and recoiled reflexively. Had that hand been specially made up too? Dark veins stood out on its back, as if grabbing it might turn him into a Blood Fiend as well.

“Ha ha! I’m fine. I’d feel bad if I grabbed you and messed you up~”

Han-gyeol politely declined and got to his feet. As he brushed off his clothes, he slid next to Jun-seo and asked cheerfully, “So—are you setting up a hidden-camera prank?”

“Yes. Is that okay?”

“Okay” doesn’t begin to cover it. He’d nearly attacked a person. In his spotless “Good-Deed Generator” record, this would’ve been a stain. If his legs hadn’t gone limp, his reflexes only slightly slower and the AD might be sporting a nasty bruise now.

“But isn’t this too dangerous?” Even a civilian like him almost lost a hand. What if their target used their powers?

“If any participant uses their ability...” Han-gyeol’s gaze cut to the AD—almost as if this might be their last meeting. The AD waved him off, laughing. “If I thought that’d happen, I never would’ve volunteered. I’ve got protective gear.”

He lifted his shirt to show an A-grade chest plate that auto-generated a shield on detecting danger. Han-gyeol recognized it immediately—he owned the same. He wore his during action scenes to absorb impacts and prevent injuries up to a point; he’d heard it could stop a single life-threatening blow.

“Oh? I have one too. Heck, with that, there’s no problem. It might even be fun, right?”

“Right? Oh! Han-gyeol-ssi, want to join in?”

“Me?”

“Yes! There’s one set left. You’re an actor—you’d make it even more realistic than me!”

Han-gyeol had once starred in the Blood Fiend film Seoul-bound. Though he hadn’t played a Fiend, he and the cast used to prank each other in costume. Tired of his fixed image, he craved a new challenge. Showing the crew this side of him could only help. After a moment’s thought, he agreed.

“I’d love to join~”

He even dared hope it’d bring him closer to 1-Chonyang.

✧

But that hope shattered the instant filming began.

“This is the worst....”

Like a tragic heroine, Han-gyeol sank to his knees, patting at his chest where the cotton-candy prop had vanished.

“I almost died....”

“What on earth are you doing here?”

A contemptuous glare pierced him—he’d never felt so humiliated. Han-gyeol couldn’t even reply.

“W-well, hic...”

His regret traced back just moments earlier. At the AD’s invite, he’d gone to the special-effects make-up room, reborn as a Blood Fiend, eager to prank the participants. Jun-seo had explained:

“When the participants arrive, we’ll guide them to the interview room. You hold the reflector behind them; when the AD does the first scare, you make your second entrance.”

“Oooh, the script is great.”

“Thanks in advance~”

The AD and the writer, already set up in a modest interview room—a single camera, the AD in Fiend make-up, and the youngest writer with an interview sheet—greeted him warmly. It looked like an empty lot, but it was a virtual set—safety in case a real ceiling collapsed, even with gear.

“Wow, it really feels real.”

“Right? First time in here myself.”

“That seat over there?”

“Yes—stay close to the wall; participants might attack suddenly.”

“Okeee~”

Han-gyeol sat with the reflector; only the center seat remained. Soon the first participant arrived: Tae-eon.

“Hello~ Did you sleep well?”

“Yes. How about you?”

“I slept fine, but there’s a cold going around staff. Everyone’s sick.”

“Cough, cough.”

“That’s why we’re all masked...”

Both AD and Han-gyeol wore masks and hats.

“Are you okay?”

“I’m fine. Cough. Shall we start?”

Han-gyeol nodded. After brief pleasantries, the interview began.

“If you hadn’t Awakened, what would you be doing now?”

Off-topic for a survival show, but Tae-eon answered earnestly.

“I Awakened late but started working early, so I have a main job.”

He was a famous Sokcho attraction.

“I’d probably still be running my café?”

As he smiled, the AD removed his mask, cleared his throat, ripped off his hat, and stood.

“Keeeek!”

“Uwaaah!”

Tae-eon crashed to the floor, and Han-gyeol lunged with the reflector.

“키에에엑!”

Before he knew it, Tae-eon vanished, replaced by a neat little grave.

“...Excuse me, Mr. Tae-eon?”

“Sorry, it’s a hidden camera prank. Mr. Tae-eon? You can come out now...”

Thunk-thunk—the AD, Han-gyeol, and the writer pounded the grave. Finally it split, dirt tumbling, and Tae-eon’s clean face peeked out, smudged with soil.

“A prank...?”

He sighed, brushing earth from his face.

“Why would you do this....”

The first prank was a success. Next up was Yeon-woo.

“Hellooo!”

He sat where Tae-eon had. The writer asked:

“If you hadn’t Awakened, what would you be doing?”

“A lot of training, I guess—archery.”

The writer swiftly changed tack.

“Then who among the participants is the top contender?”

“The winner? I thought it’d be me at first, but now it’s Ddonggang-a—”

“키에에엑!”

“Ah!”

The AD sprang up. Startled, Yeon-woo hurled his chair at the Fiend. Sizzle! Metal struck electricity, sparking. Thwong! The chair fell with a faint burnt smell.

“What is this?”

He noticed the writer and the Fiend smiling.

“A hidden camera?”

Realizing he’d been duped, Yeon-woo felt wronged—but one more prank remained. Han-gyeol threw the reflector:

“Ah! Ah! Ah!”

About thirty needle-like beams of light shot down.

“...!”

Buzz—thankfully the gear held, or Han-gyeol would be a human roast. Exhausted, Yeon-woo left. The final target: the talk of the town, “1-Chonyang,” Roi.

“Hello.”

Roi bowed and sat. The AD had switched his entry order with Han-gyeol for variety. The writer asked:

“You’re hugely popular—feel it?”

“People recognize me; I’m grateful.”

“Secret to your popularity?”

“The secret? Well...”

“Cough, cough!”

Nearby, a cough. Thud—the reflector dropped; the staff’s head drooped unconscious. Roi’s eyes widened. As he rose to help,

“키에에엑!”

Han-gyeol convulsed, arms twisting grotesquely. His hat flew off, revealing hideous Fiend make-up.

“Hee-hee! Bet he’s surprised!”

Pride vanished in an instant. Clang!

“Cough...!”

The shield shattered and the impact slammed him.

“Kyah!”

“Han-gyeol!”

The staff, not Roi, screamed in shock.