“Team Leader Jeong Noeul has expressed interest in purchasing participants Ryu Eunyul and Min Heejae.”
Chaeya spoke while looking around at the team leaders.
“Is there anyone else who wishes to participate in the auction?”
“I do.”
Han Iro raised his hand.
Several other team leaders also raised theirs.
“Very well. Then we’ll proceed with the auction.”
As Chaeya finished speaking, my photo and valuation were displayed on the screen.
“We will begin with the auction for participant Ryu Eunyul, who has the relatively higher valuation.”
“Alright…”
I murmured, clenching my fist tightly.
I’d let Min Heejae go to Jeong Noeul, and I would go to another team.
‘Wait… If that happens…’
I looked between Jeong Noeul and Min Heejae.
‘What if Noeul gets hurt by Heejae…?’
Min Heejae was the type to sneak into someone’s room and leave behind weird letters.
If he did something strange to Jeong Noeul….
‘Damn it…’
I frowned.
“Play, play, Jeong Noeul.”
Min Heejae muttered with a smirk.
<Hey, creature.>
Suddenly, the voice of The Star Hated by All rang out.
<I understand your unease, but times like this call for caution. First, identify your enemy.>
Right.
I had forgotten to check the status window.
I looked at Min Heejae and muttered inwardly.
‘「Min Heejae Status Window」.’
Ding!
With a cheerful chime, Min Heejae’s status window appeared before my eyes.
[Min Heejae]
― Title: “The Return of the Saint of Music”, “Trader of the Underworld”
― Constellation: “The Ten Kings Who Rule the Underworld”
― Constellation Rank: F
― Base Abilities
Expression (My stage is the black and white keys): S+
Atmosphere (To keep from crying in death): A―
Creativity (Music is the universal creation): S
Self-esteem (Whatever it takes for the goal): S
― Special Skills
[None]
― Abnormal Status
[Can I remain in your memory? LV.EX]
[Can I let you hear my voice? LV.EX]
[Can I lay my hand over yours? LV.EX]
[Can I float by your side forever? LV.EX]
[Can I become your most precious pain? LV.EX]
‘What…?’
I couldn’t hide my confusion.
There were way too many strange elements in this status window.
“Why are you staring at me like that?”
Noticing my gaze, Min Heejae asked.
“I’m glaring at you!”
I shot back on purpose and turned away from him.
Then I sank into thought.
Min Heejae’s constellation was The Ten Kings Who Rule the Underworld.
That meant ten constellations were backing him, and each of them ruled the underworld.
And yet, his Constellation Rank was only F?
<…Even I don’t understand that.>
The Star Hated by All spoke in a frustrated tone.
<The Kings of the Underworld govern human life. There’s no way they’re F-rank constellations.>
‘Is it possible we’ve misunderstood their identity?’
<A constellation gains power from their divine name. The more they are invoked by creations, the stronger their divinity becomes… In other words, a divine name reflects the constellation’s prestige. An F-rank constellation’s divine name would be insignificant.>
That made sense.
Even Madojin’s constellation had a cheap-sounding divine name like “Long-dead Ancestor.”
‘Also…’
His base abilities were absurdly high.
It didn’t make sense for a participant with such stats to have gone unnoticed until now.
‘And…’
He had no special skills.
Special skills were directly related to a constellation’s authority.
Having none meant that Min Heejae hadn’t received any divine power.
‘Meanwhile, his abnormal statuses…’
Were devastating.
I had never seen so many abnormal status effects before.
And all of them were EX-level, with creepy descriptions to boot.
‘…He seems cursed.’
Maybe he gained tremendous stats in exchange for a curse?
<That’s not possible.>
The Star Hated by All responded flatly.
<That could have happened during the era of the Gates. Back then, constellations were desperate in the fight against the Demon Gods. They pushed their contractors’ bodies to the brink for power. But things are different now. Papa would never allow such a method of support.>
The Savior Who Is One and All held absolute authority.
Even The Star Hated by All had only joined CYB with The Savior Who Is One and All’s permission.
If that permission hadn’t been granted, I wouldn’t have been able to make a contract or join CYB in the first place.
Then what was this situation?
‘Should I use Burning Devil’s Eye?’
But I only had one use left…
…Just then—
“I’ll pay 5 more cost points.”
Han Iro’s voice rang out.
“Ughhh!! I have money too!”
Jeong Noeul shouted in frustration.
“Another 5 cost! I’m not losing him!”
“Oh ho. Then I’ll pay another 5.”
“I’ll pay more too! Let’s all go bankrupt together!”
Han Iro and Jeong Noeul were fiercely bidding to acquire me.
Other team leaders had backed off from the skyrocketing cost.
Jeong Noeul was clearly annoyed at Han Iro’s persistent bidding, while Han Iro seemed amused by Noeul’s reaction.
“You really are incredible, Eunyul.”
Min Heejae said.
“To think they’re fighting so hard over you… But the one who’ll end up with you in the end will be me. I just know it.”
“Please be quiet….”
I muttered and looked toward Han Iro.
I felt bad for Jeong Noeul, but the best outcome would be for Han Iro to win and separate me from Min Heejae.
‘It pricks my conscience…’
But there was no helping it.
After seeing that status window, I couldn’t bear the idea of being on a team with Min Heejae.
He had excellent stats, but far too many red flags.
While I was thinking, my eyes met Han Iro’s.
He hesitated, then nodded as if something clicked.
‘Ah… we’re rivals, huh?’
He looked like he’d just remembered the rooftop conversation during the 3rd preliminary.
‘You’re just now realizing we’re not friends but competitors…?’
He looked like that thought had just occurred to him.
‘Why now? Seriously? You even invited me to your house! Take responsibility! Choose me! Please!’
I desperately tried to send my feelings through my eyes…
“…I’ll withdraw.”
Han Iro raised his hand and said.
“Ha! I won!”
Jeong Noeul shouted victoriously.
“Participant Ryu Eunyul has been purchased by Team Leader Jeong Noeul.”
Chaeya said in an even tone.
With that, my photo disappeared from the screen.
Min Heejae’s photo appeared.
“Next, we will begin the auction for participant Min Heejae.”
‘It’s not over yet. If I went to Noeul, then maybe Heejae will go to Iro…’
I tried to stay positive.
“The auction is now closed.”
Soon after, Chaeya declared.
“Participant Min Heejae has also been purchased by Team Leader Jeong Noeul.”
…It ended in total failure.
Meeting Room.
We had 30 minutes of orientation before the special guest would be introduced.
“Eunyul-hyung, did I do well?”
Jeong Noeul grinned and asked me.
“…Yeah, you did great.”
I replied with a sigh and looked around at the team members seated at the table.
I couldn’t exactly blame Jeong Noeul for not knowing about Min Heejae’s madness.
‘But still…’
…the team situation was bad. Really bad.
Being on a team with Min Heejae was a problem—but it wasn’t the only one.
“I used most of my cost on you, hyung, but I don’t regret it!”
Noeul whispered and huffed proudly.
He’d spent almost all his cost on purchasing me.
He’d fallen right into the trap of the auction system.
With the remaining budget, the options for additional members were very limited.
Our team had six members, but apart from Jeong Noeul, me, and Min Heejae, the rest weren’t in great shape.
After reviewing everyone’s status windows, I came to a conclusion.
‘We might be a doomed team.’
And to top it off, everyone was smiling and laughing without a clue.
“…We might end up a failed team.”
At that moment, Min Heejae looked me straight in the eye and said.
“So don’t laugh—stay sharp.”
Could he read my thoughts?
He began echoing exactly what I was thinking.
‘But if he says that out loud, it’ll ruin the mood…’
Before I could stop him, he continued.
“There’s too much of a skill gap in the team. The good ones are very good, and the bad ones are really bad. It’ll be hard to find harmony on stage.”
“Hey!”
“Your own valuation wasn’t that high either!”
“Do you have to put it that way?”
As soon as he finished, the lower-ranked members erupted in protest.
“Did I say something wrong?”
Min Heejae tilted his head.
“Being bad isn’t a sin. Just like being good isn’t. Don’t worry—I’ll help you improve. But first, you need to feel the crisis.”
His bold words silenced the lower-ranked trio, who sat there with bitter expressions.
“Uh, um…”
Trying to change the mood, Jeong Noeul spoke up.
“…I’m the youngest, so can everyone call me hyung?”
He was really serious about being called “hyung”…
“Whatever works for you.”
Min Heejae surprisingly agreed without protest.
“If that’s more comfortable, I don’t mind. But as I said, keep the sense of urgency. Calling each other ‘hyung’ and ‘dongsaeng’ might lighten the mood, which could hurt us.”
“But… wouldn’t it be nice if we all just got along?”
Jeong Noeul said with a pout.
“It’s the audience who should feel relaxed and happy. We shouldn’t. ‘Getting along’ is now a banned phrase.”
“B-Banned?”
Min Heejae firmly crushed Noeul’s spirit.
“Well then…”
As the room went quiet, I spoke up.
“…Let’s talk about what each of us is good at. We should share information about our constellations’ abilities too.”
I already knew everything through the status windows, but the team needed to familiarize themselves with one another.
Not that I expected much from the lower-ranked trio.
Still, we had to at least find out what they thought their strengths were.
Then it was my turn.
“I’m—”
“Eunyul doesn’t need to say anything.”
Min Heejae smiled.
“…Because he’s perfect. You don’t have to say a word. It’s obvious.”
What the hell is wrong with this guy!?
<…Like an ogre licking its lips before a feast.>
The Star Hated by All muttered in my head.
<What on earth does he see in you…?>
Why does the word like feel so disturbing?
I shook my head to throw off Min Heejae’s sticky gaze.
…Thirty minutes later.
The orientation ended, and we headed toward the banquet hall where the special guest awaited.
“Eunyul-hyung.”
While walking down the hallway, Jeong Noeul tugged on my sleeve.
“Hm? What is it?”
“No reason!”
Grinning, Noeul kept pulling on my sleeve.
“You’re a really good person, hyung.”
“…That’s sudden.”
“I always thought so, but today I really felt it again.”
“Why…?”
When I asked, Noeul’s expression sharpened.
“About that guy.”
He pointed to Min Heejae walking ahead.
“You wanted to help him, right? That’s why you signaled me to pick him for the team…”
“What are you talking about?”
“Eh?”
Noeul blinked and stared at me intensely.
“You didn’t know?”
“Didn’t know what?”
“…You really didn’t know…”
He twisted his bangs in thought, then leaned in to whisper in my ear.
“…Something’s clinging to him.”
“Clinging?”
Noeul nodded. Then, in a voice full of certainty, he said:
“A ghost.”
Little Pink Starfish 
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