Trapped in the Idol Universe

The next morning.

Before his alarm could even ring, Roy’s eyes snapped open. His condition was perfect. After sleeping in a comfortable environment for the first time in ages, he’d passed out the instant his head hit the pillow. But why did he feel this chill? The room was far too bright for dawn. Roy hurriedly reached for his phone.

[10:11]

“Aaah!”

It wasn’t that the alarm hadn’t gone off—he simply hadn’t heard it. He threw back the covers and bolted upright. Through the window, he saw chaos: the other contestants had already begun the morning mission.

“Gotcha!”

“That’s mine!”

“We saw it first, so it’s ours!”

No, no, no! Clutching his head, Roy peered out the window in silent agony. He’d set his alarm for 6 AM but slept so deeply he missed it entirely.

Damn it.

He raced from his room without even washing his face. The hallway was eerily quiet—unpurchased contestants couldn’t participate in missions. Realizing his mistake, Roy dashed back to grab his tablet. As he’d discussed with his teammates, he first “purchased” Taeon. Tapping the button cost him 300,000 points, and an announcement crackled through the dorm.

[Team 1’s Lee Roy has purchased Kim Taeon (A).]

He sprinted to Taeon’s room—but it was empty. He tried Yeonwoo’s room, same result. Before the mission revealed, everyone except the team leader had moved to the training ground. No time to waste, Roy bolted toward the auditorium, where the first mission blazed across the screen.

[The early bird catches the... bird.]

No further instructions. A twist on “The early bird catches the worm,” apparently meaning “the early bird catches a bird.” Roy was about to dash outside to observe other teams when...

“Roy!”

Taeon entered the hall.

“Where were you?”

“At training. We got up before dawn and moved. Only the leader and purchased members can train individually during mission time.”

Roy realized why his teammates’ rooms had been empty.

“But why are you so late? We thought something happened to you.”

“Well...”

He couldn’t confess he’d overslept. He averted his eyes, scrambling for an excuse. At that moment, the battered members of Team 7 burst in.

“Got it!”

“Producer, is this right?”

Beep! Beep! In the Team 7 leader’s hand, a golden bird chirped tenuously.

Bird...?

Roy and Taeon’s eyes followed the bird transfixed. It moved oddly—clearly an item. A status window popped up.

[Hermes’s Courier Bird (C): Can deliver messages and distract. ※If infused with mana, can become invisible.]

Indeed, an item. Junseo—a production assistant—nodded and announced their reward.

“That’s correct. Team 7 earns 100,000 points.”

So the mission really was to catch a bird! Roy’s jaw dropped, and Taeon was equally stunned.

“A bird... we have to catch a bird?”

One teammate had earth affinity, one fire. Shaking earth drove the bird away; firing flames would cook it. The worst possible combo. If only Yoil were here—he was far faster.

Roy and Taeon exchanged silent glances. Suddenly Team 4 arrived.

“Got it!”

Beep beep! Already a second bird. Not wasting a moment, Roy and Taeon bolted outside.

“Two left!”

“But how do we know where they are?”

“Let’s head to where everyone’s gathering!”

When Roy awoke, the dorm area was noisy—but it wasn’t Teams 4 or 7, so the remaining birds were likely nearby. They raced back to the dorm. A riot of teams—3, 5, 6, and 8—were wrestling over a single bird, pulling each other’s collars and ankles in a full-blown brawl. Beep! The culprit golden bird sat atop a tree, tilting its head. When it met Roy’s gaze, it fluttered off. 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

“Hey?!”

“Chase it!”

“If we lose it, we’re done! The first bird went toward Wasteland Mountain!”

Wasteland Mountain? Roy and Taeon locked eyes. Too many competitors here—they must be chasing the other bird. Better to go after the one heading up the mountain.

“Let’s go to the mountain.”

“Right.”

They sprinted, but at the trailhead they ran into Team 2.

“Hello! Here for this?”

Beep! The Team 2 leader, Yo-sam, held the bird calmly. Yesterday’s ally was today’s rival. The bird sat quietly in his hand.

“What can we say—you’re late. But...”

Yo-sam smirked before continuing.

“Team 1’s not so special, after all.”

That stung. Their first mission ended in complete failure.

✧

So they changed plans: confirm the mission first, then buy teammates. This time, Roy woke at his alarm. He met Taeon at the auditorium, where no team had yet purchased anyone. He caught Yo-sam’s eye—Yo-sam waved smugly, and Roy vowed revenge. Moments later, the second mission appeared.

[Rescue a person trapped in ○○!]

Below the screen lay colorful plastic capsules.

We have to draw one.

Roy dashed for them, Taeon close behind. Others swarmed in, but Roy beat them by a hair. Eight choices lay before him. Time was short. He yanked the blue capsule. The crowd surged, and chaos erupted.

“Where are you?”

“Roy, I’m here!”

“Stay put—why follow me?”

“I was worried you’d get hurt...”

Roy slipped past the throng and opened his capsule.

[Ice]

Combined with the mission, they had to “rescue someone trapped in ice.”

“Ice?”

“Who’s trapped in ice, I wonder?”

Record heatwave persisted—ice would melt instantly, even if hidden indoors. Lucky Roy, he thought, clapping himself on the back. No need to use his skill this time.

“Got it, let’s go!”

Just then, Taeon reminded him of something.

“Roy, you need to purchase another member.”

“Oh, right.”

He checked his tablet: remaining points and available teammates appeared.

“You can melt the ice, right?”

“Yeah, I’ll do it. We need someone who can search quickly.”

“Then obviously Seo Hyunwoo?”

Roy shook his head. Yoil’s speed was unmatched, but he had to move himself. This mission required someone who could find the target anyplace indoors. Their teammate Seo Hyunwoo could manipulate shadows.

“Let’s get Hyunwoo.”

“Seo Hyunwoo (A)?”

“Yeah. He can see anywhere, as °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° long as there’s some light—he can sense shadows.”

Roy’s logic impressed Taeon, who nodded. Then Taeon murmured, perplexed.

“You know a lot about how these productions run, don’t you?”

“I’ve done this before. Isn’t that basic?”

“Oh...”

Suddenly, Taeon felt like a rookie.

“So, Hyunwoo it is?”

Roy purchased him.

[Team 1’s Lee Roy has purchased Seo Hyunwoo (A).]

Announcements from other teams followed, but no one brought Hyunwoo—no one.

“What...?”

Something was off. Roy glanced toward the production side; Junseo and the writers exchanged sly smiles—only seen when a scheme was afoot. A chilling thought struck Roy.

Could “the person” the mission refers to be the teammate you purchase today?

Roy’s eyes widened. Junseo nodded subtly.

“Aaah, damn it...!”

“Roy, where are you going?”

“Follow me!”

That man would never help him. He was utterly unpredictable. And Roy still had to do this four more times. He felt like crying.