Trapped in the Idol Universe

“‘You say you can see the future?’

‘Yes.’

Abilities related to precognition were as rare as elemental types. Of course, her conduct was frivolous and her stamina weak—high maintenance, to be sure—but she was a fairly reliable comrade.

“We’re matching up as a team for the first time, after all.”

This was a moment when teamwork mattered more than ever. Cooperating with someone you’d never trained with before carried significant risk.

“Rather than gambling on an uncertain future, wouldn’t it be better to prepare more safely?”

Fortunately, my words proved persuasive, and one by one the team nodded in agreement.

“Well, that’s not wrong.”

“No need to take needless risks.”

The gloomy mood began to lift. Seizing the moment, Roy decided to lighten the atmosphere further.

“All right, now that misunderstandings are cleared, why don’t we go around with quick self-introductions? It’ll help us figure out everyone’s abilities.”

Thus began the I Am Ground self-introductions. As team leader, Roy spoke first.

“I am Iroi. I’m 18 years old and element-type fire attribute.”

Everyone’s eyes widened in surprise.

“Element-type?”

“But why...?”

It seemed they wanted to ask why I’d been killing blood fiends with a rock instead of using my skill.

“My skill control is clumsy, and I was afraid I’d cause an accident.”

My nonchalant answer subtly changed their expressions. Fire was the trickiest attribute—its power could harm allies if uncontrolled. Just as they were about to accept my explanation, Yeonwoo piped up obliviously.

“Huh? But at your school, you also... oppa!”

Sensing a breach of etiquette, Roy quickly clamped his hand over Yeonwoo’s mouth. Yeonwoo was the only one who knew I didn’t ‘not’ use skills but simply ‘couldn’t’—the infamous outcast at Seogak High. Yet he tried to blurt it out.

“Haha! Next person? Clockwise, then?”

Roy forced a laugh and passed the turn. Yeonwoo struggled for a moment, gave me a reproachful look, then nodded and fell silent when Roy shot him a warning glare:

‘Maknae, take a hint?’

Released, Yeonwoo looked pitiful, and the turn moved on past Taeeon to the next person. The information we gathered was roughly:

Plus the element-types: Iroi, Taeeon, Yeonwoo—and mental-type Gwakhyeol. We’d picked standout participants in the rankings, and our synergy was surprisingly good. Luck, perhaps?

Quietly pleased at the birth of our dream team, Taeeon leaned in.

“But shouldn’t we pick the Queen first? Then we can plan strategy.”

“I was just about to say that.”

In this survival game, strategy was as crucial as abilities. Who became Queen would decide our mission’s success.

“Normally, you’d entrust something important to the team’s strongest member, right?”

“If that’s the case, there’s no one but me.”

Yeonwoo slapped his knee and boasted. Some glanced at him in disbelief—three A-ranks here, yet a B-rank was making all the noise. Roy ignored him. Why?

“Then I’ll take it.”

I was truly the one best suited. Faced with B and F ranks, the team fell silent. Taeeon again stepped in to ease the tension.

“All right, now that that’s settled, shall we open applications? Anyone who wants to be Queen...?”

No sooner had he finished than Yeonwoo and Roy shot up their hands.

“Could you lower your hand a bit? What if the other team sees...?”

“What? I just raised mine because you did, hyung.”

“What are you talking about? You raised yours before me.”

“Is that so? Then first-come, first-served.”

“Is there order in first-come, first-served?”

Just as they were about to bicker again, Anna and Gyebokji raised their hands, too. Thus began the Queen election, in alphabetical order. First, candidate one: Gyebokji.

“Hello, I’m a mental-type awakener specializing in illusions, and I can escape any situation.”

“Escape? Didn’t expect that—”

“Exactly.”

Roy mocked the first candidate; Yeonwoo eagerly chimed in. Taeeon warned him.

“Defaming another candidate is against election law. One more slip—”

“I’m sorry.”

“Whasorry.”

Next, candidate two: Park Yeonwoo.

“I’m element-type light attribute. When I shoot, it’s always a bullseye—no worries.”

“But you can only shoot one shot, right?”

“Tsk.”

Roy’s question drew a groan from Taeeon.

“Hey, that’s a question, not defamation.”

Yeonwoo’s face flushed—he knew he’d been mocked. Next, candidate three.

“I’m Anna. Honestly, I wasn’t that interested, but since everyone seemed keen, I applied. Is that okay?”

“Your sincerity—”

“Iroi.”

“No, it’s so honest I feel the sincerity...”

She’d silenced them. Roy puckered his lips and shot Taeeon a glare.

“I’m physical-enhancement type. I can handle most guys with my fists. If you assign me, I’ll do great.”

Despite her pretty looks, Anna was a boisterous tomboy. Her supporters cheered loudest, making Roy uneasy. He jumped in.

“Candidate four, Iroi! As you know, I’m F-rank. But have you considered this might be a smokescreen?”

“No, not once.”

Roy glared at Yeonwoo’s interference, then continued.

“I’ve never showcased a skill during filming.”

“That’s exactly why I’m perfect for Queen. Who’d expect an F-rank to be Queen? We’ll catch them off guard!”

I really believe I can do it! I want it so badly! Please pick me! Roy needed the camera time—being Queen was idol center. As he clasped his hands with longing, a status window appeared.

【Casting skill ‘GodsLighting’.】

“Huh? I didn’t mean to go this far...”

Startled, Roy flinched and rolled his eyes, catching the team’s gaze.

“Catching them off guard... sounds like a good plan.”

“Who’d expect an F-rank to be Queen?”

“And just look at that face—made for Queen, right?”

“Queen Iroi!”

Those who’d ignored me now took my side. Thus, the F-rank leader became Queen Iroi.

✧

While the participants held their second survival meeting, dorm assignments were completed. Thanks to many eliminations, the dorms were now comfortable—three-person rooms instead of six. Through Junseo’s consideration, Roy ended up sharing with Yeonwoo and Taeeon.

“Can I wash up first?”

“Oya~”

“O... what?”

Unlike their smooth banter, Taeeon only blinked.

“Hyung Taeeon, can I wash up first?”

“Huh? Sure. But didn’t Yeonwoo just say something?”

“Me? What?”

“He just said ‘oi’...?”

Sigh, that country bumpkin from Seoul. Roy shook his head and fled to the bathroom. Sure enough, he heard scolding about how he got into a Korean university despite not understanding simple speech. Locking the door, Roy crouched in a corner. He’d asked to wash up first because he needed a moment alone.

“Show me the skills I can use.”

When I spoke to the status window in my mind, a translucent UI appeared. The skills I could use were five:

GodsLighting, Juhwaipma, 24-Hour Kiln, FireNado, and FallingFlames. Despite some ominous names, I examined them one by one.

【Juhwaipma (走火入魔): Demon’s Flame. Twists the target’s mind with fire until they speak the truth.】

“...”

Burning one’s heart? But the word ‘truth’ troubled me.

‘Seems like a confessional torture skill.’

Weren’t I supposed to be a fire-attribute awakener?

‘If I complain about the descriptions, everything becomes fire attribute?’

It felt strange—earth could cause earthquakes, light could form arrows of light...

‘Why do I only get skills like this...?’

Pressing my forehead, I moved on.

【24-Hour Kiln: Extreme Heat Hell. Area skill. Spreads a massive field of flames that incinerates everything around.】

Finally, a proper skill! Yet the lame name stuck in my throat.

‘Shouldn’t 24-Hour Kiln and Extreme Heat Hell swap names?’

Annoying. If I had to speak these names, I’d have quit long ago.

【FireNado: Fire Vortex. Spins at high speed, continuously inflicting burn and combustion damage on enemies.】

‘That’s more like it~’

I applauded in admiration. This felt S-rank. And the last skill was instantly appealing.

【FallingFlames (落火): Flame Rain. Area skill. Flames fall like petals, dealing continuous flame damage over a wide area but not harming humans.】

If only the next window hadn’t popped up.

【Some skills cannot be used due to insufficient proficiency:

Insufficient proficiency? Locked?

‘What is this nonsense?’

I’d unlocked these by finding all the members—why were they locked again? I felt enraged.

“....”

After a brief, disheartened stare, another window appeared.

【Do you want to unlock skill locks? Train diligently to increase proficiency!】

Who is this rude jerk...! This thing was infuriating.