Trapped in the Idol Universe

Her son said there was a drug that even ordinary people could take to awaken.

“There are pills that make you grow taller and pills that make you lose weight, so I thought there had to be something like that.”

She knew how desperate her son’s desire was—if it hadn’t been too expensive, she would have bought it for him.

“Around third grade, one day he must have seen something weird online. He bought ‘Awakened blood’ secondhand and drank it, and we ended up in the ER.”

Roy flinched at that. There was even a third grader near him ready to do the same—and Hojin was a high schooler.

“But it cost a lot, so he said he was fine. ‘Mom, don’t worry. I’ll earn the money later and buy more,’ he said.”

She had two younger children below Seong-bok in age. Money was tight, so she didn’t press the issue. He was an adult now and could afford it with a part-time job, she believed him.

“But I should have stopped him then. If I’d known he’d go that far... sob.”

Her voice trembled until she was quietly sobbing. Roy’s heart sank; he quickly handed her a tissue.

“If it’s too painful, you don’t have to—”

“No.”

He tried to edge out of the conversation, but failed. Her story continued.

After that, her son began leaving early every Sunday.

“He said he was looking for a late-night convenience-store job. I thought nothing of it, but it turned out he was going to the church.”

She was surprised, but figured that if he’d even go to church, he must really want it, so she let him be.

“One day, he started wearing a ring I’d never seen before. It looked expensive, so I asked, and he said it was a conduit connecting him to the New Heaven.”

A ring? Roy’s unease grew—Hojin had been wearing a ring just like that.

“Could you describe it in detail?”

“It was a silver ring engraved with black crosses.”

Exactly like Hojin’s ring.

“That ring reaches Heaven?”

“That’s what Seong-bok said.”

Roy’s bad feeling was confirmed. He’d thought it was just fashion. The cult’s ring. The woman had felt uneasy too, and tried to stop him from attending the church, but he’d recoiled as if possessed.

“He was the sweetest kid—never once got angry. But mention the church and he turned sharp. He said denying the New Heaven would be another karma—whatever that meant.”

She’d avoided the church topic to keep peace, and they’d drifted apart.

“One day he came back from the church in high spirits. We’d never talk first since our big fight, but that day he came right up to me and spoke.”

Secretly, one of the church elders was friends with the person who made the Awakening pills.

“He said once he’d cleared all his karma, he’d be gifted the pills—so he had to go to church.”

Wait—so the Awakening-pill story tied in here...? Roy was stunned.

“She said, ‘Soon you’ll awaken, and once you do I’ll spoil you....’”

The woman broke down again. Her son’s health rapidly deteriorated: high fever, seizures. They rushed to the ER, but he died soon after. The presumed cause was acute drug poisoning. He could never have chosen suicide—only the Awakening pills made sense.

She’d asked the police, but there was no investigation.

“They said there wasn’t enough evidence. No proof the church supplied the drugs, so they couldn’t pursue it.”

She’d come to the church seeking justice, but they wouldn’t even let her in. She was left with only suspicion and no proof.

Roy could barely smile. Awakening pills and the church.

My instincts were right.

He remembered the “Chaos” MV: vintage glass bottles of mysterious blue liquid, people collapsing one by one after drinking it. At first, fans thought they’d gone to heaven. But after the full-length “Pandora” MV, interpretations flipped:

Humans turning into blood fiends.

As the world view expanded, the villains’ scheme emerged: blood fiends were manufactured, not born. Shooting Star’s comeback followed—mocked at first, “Chaos” was later praised for its intricate lore, high-quality CG, and visionary direction. All elements combined to launch their meteoric rise.

And I know the first catastrophe that will strike the Wilderness.

The church incident was the story’s starting point.

✧

It was only natural for a protagonist from another world to stop the catastrophe! Better to strike before their preparations finish. If he could find the pills his brother took, he’d have evidence to investigate.

Then I can ruin their plans before they run rampant. 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

He’d help the woman and buy himself time—a two-for-one deal. Roy resolved to try again. But with the fierce guard at the front, this time he’d infiltrate from the back.

He left the café and crept around to the church’s back gate. He could almost hear hymn singing inside.

Easy. He’d climbed a 40 m cliff bare-handed; scaling a 4 m wall blindfolded would be no problem. He stretched, planted his feet by the wall, and sprang up—

“Ugh...!” Someone yanked him by the collar; he tumbled embarrassingly to the ground.

“Ow, my butt.”

Beside him crouched a familiar face: Galbi. In a small voice, he scolded Roy—

“Are you crazy? What did you think you’d do in there?!”

Then he dragged Roy up and pulled him in the opposite direction.

“Hey, let go! If you’re not going to help, play by yourself. I’m busy.”

Roy tried to shake him off, but Galbi’s grip tightened.

Well, look at you.

He tried to push back, but then met Galbi’s gaze. Roy owed him because he’d been left to watch Roze during the Star Hero shoot. So he let himself be dragged.

Only after they’d left the church grounds did Galbi release his wrist and turn to speak—

“Sigh... I knew you’d do this.”

He sighed deeply, tone mocking. Honestly, if anyone deserves a scolding, it’s him. He’s sacrificing himself to stop the Wilderness’s catastrophe, and Galbi gives him grief instead of support. Unbelievable.

Roy gaped, and Galbi continued in exasperation—

“I told you to ignore that place. But of course you wouldn’t listen.”

“When did you say that?”

“I said don’t poke around and get hurt.”

“That’s the same thing, idiot!”

Galbi burst out.

“I said don’t go in there—”

“I said don’t poke around so you don’t get hurt—”

“It’s the same, dumbass!”

Galbi shouted. Roy, always keeping calm, flared up in return.

“How is that the same?! And it was your fault I almost got hurt! Can’t you see this?”

He held up his scraped arm from the earlier yank and glare.

“‘Are you Lord So-and-So?’ Don’t talk about ‘getting hurt’ over a scratch!”

“And what if I am?”

“Ha! If you’re lord, I’m your slave!”

Galbi muttered under his breath—

“You have no idea what’s inside there, barging in like that.”

“Quit mumbling and speak up. You just insulted me.”

“How’d you know?”

“Argh, I’m pissed off. If you came just to pick a fight, go away. I’m busy.”

Roy turned to head back to the church—until Galbi yanked him by the collar.

“Ughk!” Roy’s voice choked as he tripped to a halt.

“Hey!”

“What!”

“You really want to die?!”

This time Roy was genuinely angry, glaring fiercely. Galbi shrank back but didn’t relent—

“You think I want anyone dying in there? I think someone’s already died.”

Roy’s expression froze.

“...They died?”

“Yeah. That card you gave me at the café—I saw it there. Someone was bleeding.”

“At the church?”

“Yeah.”

He’d thought the Wilderness was just gearing up—but maybe it was far worse. He already knew of two victims. Roy felt renewed urgency.

“So don’t say I didn’t warn you—”

“Galbi.”

Roy cut him off and suddenly took his hand.

“You’re my closest friend, right?”