Trapped in the Idol Universe

“Why? Is that someone you know?”

Roy asked eagerly. The two had known each other in the original world, so in this place Taeeon might have met Yeonwoo before him.

“Well... I mean, I do know him?” Taeeon replied ambiguously. If he did know him, he’d say so; if not, he wouldn’t. Seeing Roy’s puzzled look, Taeeon instead showed him a photo.

“Is the person you’re looking for this one?” The image showed Yeonwoo in a school tracksuit bearing the school emblem, wearing a black chest guard, drawing a bowstring.

“What?!” Roy’s eyes went wide. Taeeon looked surprised at the reaction.

“Is that him?”

“That’s him! What? How did you find this?! He’s your friend? Introduce me to him, hyung. Huh? Huh?”

Roy clung to Taeeon’s arm, begging for an introduction. He looked so adorable Roy almost gave in—but Taeeon’s expression grew uncomfortable.

“Sorry. I do know him, but the thing is...”

“Then he’s just an acquaintance? Fine. Just let me meet him. I’ll handle the rest.”

Roy, still buzzing with hope, felt he could meet Yeonwoo more easily than expected. But every assumption he had proved wrong.

“You want me to introduce you to a national team member?” Taeeon asked incredulously. How? Even if it was Roy’s request, he wanted to help—but this was beyond his power. How could a mere civilian get a national team member’s number? Roy himself looked puzzled.

“A national team member? Who?”

“Park Yeonwoo.”

It made no sense: Roy knew his face but not that he was on the national team. Taeeon blinked in confusion; Roy was genuinely astonished.

“Yeonwoo-hyung is on the national team?”

“Yeah. He was selected as the youngest archery representative for the Paris Olympics.”

Taeeon showed Roy an online article.

[Busan High’s Park Yeonwoo Selected as Youngest Archery Olympian for Paris]

[Archery Team Begins Live Training at Jincheon]

“No way. What the...?” Roy covered his mouth, moved by the news. Park Yeonwoo was unbelievably cool.

✧

And so they confirmed Yeonwoo’s whereabouts.

‘The problem is how to meet him.’

On a peaceful Monday, an awkward atmosphere hung between the three at a café in Sangam. Hojin, seated right next to Roy, glared at Taeeon.

“Hyung, relax your glare. The boss isn’t a bad guy anymore. We’re friends now.”

“Friends? Roy has no friends.”

“....”

Taeeon’s remark hit hard. Roy gulped down his iced americano.

“Anyway, we’re friends with the boss now. So you two should get along, too.”

“Did you apologize to him?” Hojin asked. His first encounter with Taeeon at the hospital had been intense.

“I apologized. And I thanked him, of course.” Taeeon spoke up, unwilling to remain silent.

“Since that day, my life belongs to Roy. He’s my savior.”

“...Oh?”

“Ah, come on! That’s not it!”

Roy cried out as if seized by a fit at Taeeon’s cult-like words. But Hojin, pleased by the answer, extended a hand to shake.

“I’m Kim Hojin, nineteen, attending Sangam Arts High.”

“I’m Kim Taeeon, second-year Business major at Korea University, and I run a small café in Sokcho.”

“I didn’t see a small café...”

“Ha ha. Come visit again with Roy. Next time I’ll treat you with French organic lemons.”

“...!”

Hojin’s fingertips trembled. That day’s memory was one he never wanted to recall. He let go of Taeeon’s hand and glowered again.

‘He’s sulking.’ Anyone could see it, but Taeeon had no idea.

“Anyway, since you already know each other, be friendly.”

“Okay. But didn’t Roy say he can’t go out on weekdays?”

Ouch. Roy had used that excuse just a day ago to ask for help finding Yeonwoo.

“Ahem. That’s not important now. It’s Park Yeonwoo that’s the problem, Park Yeonwoo, got it?” Roy tried to intimidate them by changing the subject, and Hojin chuckled. Roy always switched topics when cornered.

“But Roy, why do you want to meet Park Yeonwoo?” Hojin asked. Roy, expecting this question, delivered his prepared answer.

“He’s an older brother I knew as a kid, {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} but we lost contact. I have something I must hand to him.”

“I see. You’re so thoughtful, our Roy.” Hojin gently patted Roy’s head.

“But the problem is Yeonwoo-hyung probably won’t recognize me.”

“Why? Didn’t you say you know each other?”

“A lot of time has passed. I was really little back then—he might not remember me.”

No matter how young, could he forget that face? Hojin tilted his head. But the chance Yeonwoo wouldn’t recognize Roy was 100 percent—because they were meeting for the first time here.

“If he’s already settled in, it’ll be hard to get out.” They knew from the article that the archery team had moved into Jincheon Athletes’ Village for Olympic preparation. The village barred outsiders and beefed up security when summer Olympians moved in.

But Roy was nobody ordinary. Shooting Star’s versatile maknae could bite with his gums if he lacked teeth.

“Let’s go to Jincheon.” And so, after Sokcho, they decided on Jincheon.

✧

Jincheon County, Chungcheongbuk-do. Not at the main gate, but at a hill beside the village, an SUV appeared. The rough mountain road jostled the vehicle.

“Stop!” Roy’s voice made the driver halt abruptly. Screech! Hojin in the back leaned forward, worried.

“Roy, you really want to get out here?”

“Yeah. The map says this is the closest. If we get over that wall, it’s right at the archery range.”

Since the hockey venue would be empty—hockey hadn’t qualified for the Olympics—this was perfect. Roy unclipped his seatbelt, ready to descend; Hojin looked at Taeeon, as if begging him to protest.

“Uh... Roy, I don’t think this is a good idea. It’s too dangerous, and even if you grew up together, he’d remember your name, right?” Taeeon cautioned. Formally requesting a visit might work—he’d heard.

But Roy was adamant. If that method would work, he wouldn’t be climbing a hill.

“Don’t worry. I’m an Awakener. I can scale that with my eyes closed.” Despite his brothers’ protests, Roy climbed out of the car.

“Taeeon-hyung, if things get noisy inside, just cause a small tremor.”

“That’s illegal, isn’t it...?”

“It’s illegal. But if you don’t get caught, it’s legal.”

He said it so casually Roy almost believed him.

“Anyway, I’ll meet Yeonwoo-hyung and come straight back, so wait here. Got it? If you leave me, I’ll cry.” Was that a threat? Taeeon watched Roy with a reluctant expression; Hojin clenched his fists and nodded resolutely.

“Okay! Don’t worry, Roy. I’ll hold the boss here no matter what.”

“No one but you~” Roy winked at Hojin and stood before the eight-meter wall.

‘Alright. I can do this.’ He pulled from his bag a long rope with a grappling hook, swung it hard, and launched it over the wall. Clank. The hook caught, the rope snapped taut.

“Got it...! I’ll be back soon!” Roy tied the rope around his waist, grinned, and waved to the brothers.

“Be careful, Roy.” Hojin fretted the whole time he might fall; Taeeon watched solemnly.

Should they have stopped him? As adults shouldn’t they have intervened? But Awakeners must be remarkable—when Taeeon looked away for a moment, Roy had vanished over the wall.

“He really did it...”

In his twenty-one years of pristine living, Taeeon had never met someone as reckless as Roy. He should’ve sensed this when Roy taunted the blood fiends at the farm... But he was already hooked by Roy’s charm. Now he could only hope the kid wouldn’t get caught and would safely return from the village. 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

✧

Thump! After conquering the school wall and the village wall, Roy dusted his palms and reeled in the rope. He stashed the rope in his bag, hid it in bushes, and prepared to act.

‘First, I need to reach the archery range.’ The hockey arena was at the village’s most remote corner; the archery range was near the main gate, a good twenty-minute walk away due to the village’s vastness. Looking up, he saw the sun high in the sky.

‘Even though I started early...’ If he wanted to meet Yeonwoo today, he had to hurry.

‘Let’s go.’ With a mental map of the village downloaded beforehand, he strode without hesitation. Patter, patter. Then he heard dull thuds ahead.

“Ugh... ah!” And stifled groans. Clearly someone was being enthusiastically beaten. He’d heard about the rough hierarchies among athletes—it seemed they didn’t stop on weekend afternoons.

‘Hang in there, whoever you are.’ Salvation is self-delivered, after all. As an uninvited guest, best not to meddle. Roy moved stealthily to avoid any groups. Soon he saw the tennis courts and indoor training hall. From here on, he’d better stay sharp and avoid people.

But no sooner had he resolved that than he came face to face with a man.

“...!”

“Oh? I don’t recognize you.”

From the very start, it felt wrong.