Trapped in the Idol Universe

Gwakhyeol was treated by the Earth Guild’s healer and then immediately moved to the dorms.

What on earth had happened while I was scaling the outer wall? All I wanted was to share the joy. But when Gwakhyeol suddenly passed out, I was caught off guard too.

In the end, the interview the two of us were supposed to do, I had to do alone. Judging by the studio’s bustle, our team must have been the first of the three groups to emerge.

‘That voice sounds like Taeeon hyung and Yeonwoo hyung.’

Their tone was rather strained—it must have been tough. I just have to make it through safely. Because in the third evaluation, I’m definitely riding their coattails to success.

I pressed my lips shut and stared at the studio, then sighed as I thought of the remaining 48 teams of contestants.

‘When will this ever end?’

Will it finish today? Once the interview’s over, I’ll have to react to other contestants’ screams. Imagining being stuck here over ten hours made my vision go black.

‘I should’ve just passed out too.’

Clearly, survival shows aren’t my thing.

✧

Sunday morning.

Jegal Bi opened his eyes and let out a deep sigh. The day had arrived.

‘Damn I Roi.’

Before dawn’s light had fully faded, Bi started his day with a curse under his breath as he staggered out of bed. He had to go fetch the tomato.

‘A secondhand trade at dawn.’

What kind of worship is this, starting at six AM...? As an atheist, he neither understood nor wanted to understand.

‘Should’ve said no.’

When he arranged the meet-up, he thought it’d be fine. Now that he was getting up, it really wasn’t. The time was 5 AM. Why did he have to rise before any cult devotee? He felt a bit wronged.

‘I shouldn’t have answered that call from I Roi.’

Because of that call, he was now in this hellish situation. Bi, tasked with uncovering a pseudo-cult church, scraped the sleep from his eyes, pulled on a cap, and left the house. Luckily, the meeting spot wasn’t far.

The cafe where he was to meet Hojin was a 24-hour place near Samgakji Station. Since Hojin said he’d come straight after worship, it had to be within walking distance.

“Yaaawn~”

Bi boarded the train to Samgakji and rubbed his heavy eyelids, yawning. It was his first time on the first train—and there were more passengers than he’d expected. The ones he needed to watch were those getting off at Samgakji.

[Next stop: Samgakji. Please exit to the left.]

Soon the train pulled into Samgakji. When the doors opened, a couple of passengers from his car hurried off. Bi slipped out behind them. Other riders from adjacent cars also headed the same way.

‘Which of these is the pseudo-cult member?’

He trailed the people heading for the stairs, glancing around. Everyone looked normal, making it even harder to single anyone out. Then he spotted a familiar back among the crowd.

It was Hojin.

‘Oh, shit.’

Bi ducked down at once. No matter how Hojin hid his face under a cap and mask, Bi would recognize him—those delicate features and long limbs weren’t common. Keeping a safe distance, Bi quietly tailed him.

✧

Soon they arrived at the Salvation Church. Expecting a creepy, shady hideout, Bi was surprised to see a sleek, modern exterior—he could have sworn it was a trendy cafe if not for the cross on the roof. A banner reading “Preparing to Open” hung on one side, suggesting they planned a church cafe.

‘They’ve got some nerve.’

It got worse: the church sat smack in the middle of a large apartment complex. Bi’s jaw dropped at their brazenness.

‘Well, I’ve come this far—might as well go in.’

Blending into the group, Bi tried to enter. He was curious what absurd spiel they used to enchant people. A cluster passed by, and he followed in their wake—only to be stopped by a man at the gate.

“Hey there, have you been invited?”

“U-uh?”

Caught off guard, Bi stammered. The group he’d followed passed through without a glance. The man grew firmer.

“No invitations, no entry.”

“But I know someone inside—”

“Please leave.”

Why demand an invitation from me when everyone else gets in?

‘Do I reek of rejection?’

Embarrassed, Bi took a few steps back. Still curious, he tried peeking inside—but the man blocked his view with a look that said “Get lost.”

Fine, I’ll go because it’s pathetic and dirty. Bi pouted and headed for the front gate.

‘But I’m Jegal Bi. I’m not the type to back down.’

He sidled toward the perimeter wall. When the guard briefly looked away, Bi slipped behind the building.

Luckily, the back was poorly guarded, strewn with construction tools and materials—secluded enough.

‘Why is it so big back here?’

Tire tracks in the dirt suggested trucks came and went. Bi crept along the wall, inspecting the piled objects. He stopped at an old planter, intending to use his ability.

‘If I get caught using it out here, I’ll get expelled...’

Bi rolled his wrist nervously, then, “whatever,” reached into the planter. He closed his eyes and concentrated—memories of the planter flooded his mind.

Late at night, a black van. Suspicious men stepping out. The trunk opened, and they began moving boxes. He couldn’t see where they went, but whenever they shifted, he heard the clink of thin, hard objects striking each other—sharp, high-pitched, clear.

‘Glass bottles?’

Inside the boxes must be glass items. The men continued carrying boxes. Bi strained to read the faintly printed letters on them. Sweat beaded across his {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} brow.

‘Just a bit more.’

The man carrying the last box turned around—and Bi saw the three letters.

“Power...ping?”

What’s that? The planter’s memory ended there. Feeling unsettled, Bi decided to explore further. He saw the box carriers heading in the opposite direction.

‘Maybe it’s nothing.’

But it was just the path leading to the church’s front gate—the way he’d come in.

‘Nothing unusual.’

Bi peered down the path—then

“Hey, you bastard, what are you doing?”

A hand grabbed him by the nape.

Gasp.

Bi struggled, trying to shake the man’s grip, but the other was an enormous adult male. No matter his awakened status, a minor with only everyday muscles stood no chance.

“Let go of me!”

“You’re that kid from earlier. What are you up to?”

Bi, now held aloft, flailed and protested his innocence. But beyond shock, he was furious that he hadn’t sensed the man approach—he prided himself on that. He was a B-rank awakener, after all!

He tried using his power to pry the hand away—

Tingle!

Electric static crackled. Rejection.

“Huh?!”

Jegal Bi could view the memories of any object or person he touched—except one: a higher-ranked awakener.

‘So this man must be an awakener, too?’

Suddenly it made sense why he hadn’t detected the man’s approach. It wasn’t him being incompetent—the other’s aptitude simply surpassed his.

Luckily, the man still didn’t know Bi was awakened. Sensing the danger, Bi knew it was time to retreat.

“I—I just needed to use the restroom—and you wouldn’t let me in... I’m sorry. I was wrong.”

He put on his most pitiful expression—humility works best in these cases.

It did the trick. The man escorted Bi back to the gate and unceremoniously tossed him onto the street.

Thud!

“Don’t loiter—find somewhere else. If I catch you again—”

He clenched a fist the size of a wok lid, implying he’d turn Bi into a pulp next time.

“Y-yes. My apologies...!”

The look was terrifying. Bi scrambled up and fled at full tilt.

✧

That’s how he ended up taking refuge in the cafe. Bi replayed the gatekeeper’s throw on repeat, cursing inwardly. Yet he dutifully compiled every detail of what he’d seen and texted it to Roy’s chat.

‘That’s enough. I’ve done my part.’

At least now I’ve done enough to keep I Roi from losing his mind. All that remained was to pull off the “I forgot the ABC juice because I was busy grabbing the item!” prank.

Ding—

Moments later, worship finished, Hojin appeared in the cafe. He looked even more haggard than a few days ago—more frightening somehow.

“Hy-hyungnim!”

“Ah, uh... Gal... Bi, hi.”

Shit. He called me Galbi again. It’s annoying, but I have to swallow it to make it back in one piece.

As expected, Hojin got straight to the point.

“Um... where’s the juice?”