After the “Halloween Festival” ended, the participants headed to their rooms, all looking drained.
Scaring someone—or being scared by someone—took a heavy toll on the body.
I felt the same. As soon as I got back to the dorm, I fell asleep without even washing up.
But I hadn’t fallen asleep just to recover my strength.
“We need to go see a real ghost.”
That’s what Jeong Noeul said. What on earth did he mean?
“…Oh, creation.”
Suddenly, the Star Hated by All opened his mouth.
“I will never forget this incident.”
“I said I was sorry….”
The Star was currently in his true form.
…and was carrying me on his back, climbing the stairs.
“Useless human wretch… How can you be so weak. Papa’s creativity is truly pathetic…!”
He muttered with clenched teeth.
I didn’t particularly want to be carried by the Star either. But when I woke up, my body wouldn’t move properly.
Apparently, moving around in a demon’s body had taken a sudden toll on me.
According to the Star, that was the reason.
“…Still, you’re quite sturdy. Judging by your condition, you’ll recover quickly.”
“I do go to the gym regularly, you know.”
“Hmph.”
The Star came to a stop.
“We have arrived.”
“Thanks for the ride.”
I looked ahead.
Jeong Noeul and I had agreed to meet at 3 a.m.
It was late, but we had to choose a time when everyone else would be asleep.
The meeting place was Jeong Noeul’s room.
I reached out and rang the doorbell.
Clatter!
There was a loud sound, the door lock disengaged, and Jeong Noeul appeared.
“Welco—what the?!”
Jeong Noeul, who had been about to greet us cheerfully, looked startled.
“Why is Satan—no, Star-nim carrying you, Eunyul-hyung?”
“Ha ha… I guess I overdid it a bit on set earlier.”
“W-well, come on in.”
The Star and I entered Jeong Noeul’s room.
<La la la, sheep are the fluffiest in the whole world~>
We saw the Traveler from Asteroid B-612 singing a cheerful tune.
<Oh! Hello, everyone! Long time no see!>
The Traveler from Asteroid B-612 spotted us and waved energetically.
Lying in bed, drawing sheep—he looked just like a little kid.
“It’s been a while.”
I responded with a smile.
“…To show such disgrace in front of a young Constellation…”
The Star seemed unable to bear the shame of carrying me.
<Huh? What happened to you?>
Seeing my condition, the Traveler from Asteroid B-612 jumped up.
<Hey old man, take better care of your contractor. There aren’t many humans who can even get along with you.>
“Silence. But this is good timing. Do you possess any Authority related to healing?”
<Hmm… Want to lie him down here for a sec?>
The Traveler moved the sketchpad with the sheep drawing and patted the bed.
<You transformed into a demon, didn’t you?>
After a glance, he had diagnosed my condition instantly.
<This much, I can heal with my Authority. But it might sting a little.>
Shrrrk—
The Traveler gently touched my leg.
“Oof!”
For a moment, it felt like my bones had shifted…
<All done!>
The pain vanished quickly.
“Oh… I can move now.”
My leg, which had felt like stone, came back to life.
<Hehe. No need to thank me.>
The Traveler from Asteroid B-612 said, then turned to the Star.
<It’s kinda funny, you know. Even if Constellations of my level came at you en masse, they probably couldn’t win. And yet, with your Authority, you can’t even make a single flower bloom.>
“…Healing magic requires borrowing Papa’s Authority. Before I fell to hell, I was the most skilled in healing magic in all of the heavens.”
<Heh, is that so?>
Letting out a big yawn, the Traveler stretched.
<Anyway, I’m going to bed now. I usually sleep earlier, but I stayed up to say hi.>
The Star doesn’t sleep, but I guess the Traveler from Asteroid B-612 needs to?
<I’m not fundamentally a god like the old man here. I’m a Constellation born from a fairytale. I need to store up strength every day.>
He explained, then looked at Jeong Noeul.
<You said you didn’t need me for this one, so I’m heading off. You’re good, right, Noeul?>
To the Traveler’s question, Jeong Noeul shrugged.
“Of course.”
<Good. That’s a relief. Well, goodbye everyone!>
The Traveler from Asteroid B-612 waved at the Star and me.
His figure gradually dissolved into light.
“No need for this body to carry a mortal anymore…”
Sparkle!
A flash of light.
Bzzzz—
The Star turned into a fly and landed on my shoulder.
“What the… Does the Star-nim usually hang around as a fly?”
Jeong Noeul stared at him curiously.
“Ah, yeah… He says this form is his favorite.”
“Ohh… Wait a sec, then could it be—!”
Jeong Noeul clapped his hands.
“I think I saw a video of you on YouTube before! Some masked woman reviewing a photo of you with a fly buzzing around!”
“…‘Entertainment Cashback.’”
“Right, that was the channel!”
He even remembered the video title:
‘Talking About the Nation’s Idol, But There’s a Fly on His Shoulder.’
Of course I remembered that title.
The Entertainment Cashback channel was apparently more serious about investigations than I had thought.
Besides the commentary video from the second prelims featuring me and the Star, they were doing in-depth dives into the structure of CYB.
They had even collaborated with a male actor participant to expose signs of domestic abuse, and dug into the past controversies of active celebrities.
‘…Just who are they, really?’
Considering they uncovered things that even daily newspaper reporters missed, I was deeply curious about who ran that channel.
“Oh, by the way….”
Jeong Noeul suddenly said.
“The reason I called you today is because I need help.”
“My help?”
“Yes. Because…”
Jeong Noeul opened his right hand.
Whoosh.
With a small sound, Abrilah’s Crown appeared in his palm.
“You’re the only contestant who knows that I’m the reincarnation of Abrilah.”
“…What’s going on?”
Just hearing the name Abrilah was enough to give me an idea of what came next.
With the power of Abrilah’s Crown, Jeong Noeul had exorcised all the wandering spirits on Jeju Island.
Given his track record, it was obvious what he wanted now.
“I’m planning to help all the spirits wandering this building pass on.”
…What are you, an exorcist?
That thought crossed my mind, but it was a good thing to help spirits rest in peace, so I had no complaints—just some concern about him overexerting himself.
“What do you need me to do?”
“Oh, right….”
Jeong Noeul began explaining.
Another name for Halloween is All Saints’ Day—a day meant to honor all saints.
But if you go further back in time, Halloween originated from a Celtic festival that celebrated death and spirits.
The Celts had a legend.
The Wild Hunt.
A phenomenon where countless spirits march in a procession.
“Halloween is when the boundary between the living and the dead becomes blurry. That’s why spirits become more powerful. In other words, something like a Wild Hunt could happen. Ordinary people might not see ghosts, but they could experience physical symptoms… or accidents.”
“You mean like a curse?”
“Something like that. Anyway, even though it’s not Halloween yet, the energy’s already in flux. A lot of people died in this building…”
“Wait… Have you been exorcising spirits alone this whole time?”
“Sometimes.”
Jeong Noeul grinned playfully.
“If I can see them, how can I ignore them? But I’ve been so busy, I haven’t exorcised many lately.”
“…Alright.”
I thought he had it tough, but I didn’t show it.
“You’re trying to sweep them all before the Wild Hunt begins?”
“Exactly. That’s why I need your help, Eunyul-hyung—and Star-nim’s, too.”
<To think I must exert my power for mere wraiths…>
I heard the Star’s voice in my head.
‘Oh come on. You’re kind of fond of Noeul, aren’t you?’
<Don’t be ridiculous, creation. Abrilah was beneath even the lowliest of insects to me, and his reincarnation is even more degraded.>
So shy, seriously….
“Alright.”
I said.
“I’ll help however I can.”
“Thanks, hyung!”
Jeong Noeul smiled brightly.
“Oh, and there’s a special guest joining us tonight….”
Huh?
This wasn’t a variety show, so what’s with the special guest?
I gave Jeong Noeul a puzzled look.
“You’ll see soon.”
With that, he put on Abrilah’s Crown.
.
.
.
“I don’t see anything?”
The moment I said that—
…Everything went dark.
‘Wh-what?’
It was like someone had covered my eyes.
“…Hey.”
Suddenly, a woman’s voice whispered in my ear.
A chill ran down my spine.
“You smell scared.”
“Uwaagh!”
I shot upright.
There was a woman chuckling softly in front of me.
She had a lively expression—but the white, flowing cloth she wore made her look almost unreal.
“…W-who are you?”
I asked blankly.
<You don’t know?>
She laughed mischievously and asked back.<I know you. You scream so sweetly. No wonder Heejae called you an instrument and wanted to claim you.>
“No way….”
…Min Heejae’s childhood friend?
“That’s right. She’s Heejae-hyung’s childhood friend. She’s currently acting as one of the ‘Ten Kings Who Rule the Underworld’….”
Jeong Noeul said with a smile.
“By the way, hyung, you freaked out so dramatically.”
“Erase that from your memory, please. Anyway…”
Even though she had inherited the divine title of “One of the Ten Kings Who Rule the Underworld,” at her core, she was still a ghost.
“…Why can I see a ghost?”
I didn’t use Burning Devil’s Eye, though?
“That’s probably because I’m wearing Abrilah’s Crown.”
Jeong Noeul said.
“When I wear it, my magic gets amplified. And with Halloween approaching, it’s hard to control.”
<That’s right, creation!>
The Star’s voice rang in my head.
<That cursed reincarnation of Abrilah is leaking magic! Even you’re being affected—! Agh! Help me, quickly!>
<Wow, it’s been forever since I saw a fly!>
The “King of the Underworld” reached joyfully toward the Star.
“Um… please don’t. That’s my Constellation.”
Calling a fly a Constellation is so embarrassing….
<Wait, seriously?!>
The King looked shocked and pulled her hand back.
<…Even a fly can be a Constellation? A fly that saved the world?>
<…Please make her stop talking.>
‘That’s enough—get inside.’
I took out a metal case from my inner pocket and opened it.
The Star flew inside.
“Then, shall we get started?”
Jeong Noeul stood up.
“Alright.”
<I’m ready!>
I followed Jeong Noeul, along with the “King of the Underworld.”
“…Now then, you two.”
Jeong Noeul unlocked the front door.
“Try not to be too shocked.”
And he opened the door.
What greeted us beyond it was—
“…Huh?”
<Wh-what is this?!>
Sunlight streaming through glass walls.
People bustling about.
And weapons in their hands.
…It looked just like the old days, back when this place was used as a Hunter office.
Little Pink Starfish 
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