[Title: Are you gonna watch The Hero Has Returned?]
Author: Online Wraith
Views: 237,861 Recommendations: 693 Bookmarks: 123
TL;DR: The title says it all.
[Comments]
— Of course I’m watching. The lineup is f***ing insane.
┖ I heard Blue Star’s actually appearing on public broadcast. No way I’m missing it, lol.
┖ The moment Blue Star’s name got dropped, the ratings were basically guaranteed.
┖ For real, lmao.
— I don’t think I can catch it live T_T planning to watch the replay instead.
┖ I’ve got overtime that day too T_T
┖ Y’all are like lighthouse beacons in the dead of night.
— Wait, Oh Kwon-hyuk’s coming on too…?
┖ Yup, apparently every Hunter who was there that day is gonna appear.
┖ How’d they even get him? Doesn’t Oh Kwon-hyuk hate doing this kind of stuff?
┖ Must’ve made some kind of deal.
— I’m seriously hyped for Baek Tae-beom showing up, lololol.
┖ Isn’t he the one who wrecks everything the second someone rubs him the wrong way?
┖ Warning: This Hunter is capable of smashing people to pieces.
┖ But like, isn’t he kinda mellowed out now, aside from always fighting with Oh Kwon-hyuk?
┖ If people didn’t know any better, they’d think Beom was just a puppy or something.
— What time is it airing?
┖ Look it up yourself, smh. It’s 6 p.m. on the weekend.
┖ What’s this, kindness? My heart just fluttered.
***
[Title: Is this lineup for real?]
Author: That’s Unfortunate
Views: 412,004 Recommendations: 1,903 Bookmarks: 688
Park Gil-seon, Lee Myung-won, Baek Tae-beom, Choi Ga-hyeon, Oh Kwon-hyuk, Blue Star, Yoo Ji-won? And the MCs are Seo Chang-hyuk and Lee In-seo, right?
[Comments]
— What about Aquila?
┖ Sadly, she’s overseas, so she won’t be able to join the broadcast.
┖ Noooo, I was a huge fan T_T
— I heard there are gonna be surprise guests too.
┖ There’s a rumor it might be Lim Hee-seop.
┖ Omg really? I freaking LOVE Lim Hee-seop!!!!!!!!!!!
┖ Who’s Lim Hee-seop?
┖ You don’t know Lim Hee-seop?? He’s that super famous actor-Hunter who’s in Stairway to Hell right now.
┖ You mean 2Hee-seop, right? lol
— Choi Ga-hyeon’s been pretty much MIA since that day, but he’s showing up???
┖ I heard he got injured so badly his face was unrecognizable……
┖ Doesn’t seem like that’s the case though.
┖ I’m so excited. I totally became a fan of his after that day.
***
[Title: Heard Hunter Park Gil-seon is retiring]
Author: Dwarf Kkikki
Views: 265,943 Recommendations: 312 Bookmarks: 576
True or not? Who’s telling the truth?
[Comments]
— You believe that tabloid crap?? I worked with her not long ago and she looked like she had 30 more years in her, easy.
┖ 22222 She didn’t become the Hansung Guildmaster for nothing. I actually think she’s more of a beast than Beom.
┖ What kind of job were you doing together…
┖ Tell us, master.
┖ There are things in this world better left unknown… unless you wanna get hurt…
— Honestly, no one in Hansung compares to Park Gil-seon, right?
┖ What do you mean, lol. Lee Myung-won, Baek Tae-beom, and Choi Ga-hyeon are all in Hansung too.
┖ None of them really feels like a Guildmaster type though, haha.
┖ If Baek Tae-beom ever becomes Guildmaster of Hansung, I’ll eat my own damn hand.
— It’s Lee Myung-won who should retire, lololololol. Guy looks more like he’s gonna drop dead from overwork than Park Gil-seon.
┖ Are you from the Hansung Guild?
┖ Yep, lololololololol speaking anonymously here, but our Vice Guildmaster is so pitiful. I’ve never once seen him without a cup of coffee.
┖ Holy crap……
┖ Damn…… that’s too relatable. Kinda hits me in the feels.
┖ Sounds like something out of a novel titled Even as an Otherworld Hunter, I Still Gotta Slurp Coffee Like a Corporate Drone.
***
[Title: Did you see Yoo Ji-won’s stream this time?]
Author: CoolDdukKkungya
Views: 234,111 Recommendations: 599 Bookmarks: 833
I was seriously dying to spill spoilers, lmao.
He was dishing out behind-the-scenes stories from the shoot and then went, “Ahaha~ You really have to see this one for yourself~”
The way he balanced teasing and withholding info was next level—I finally get why he’s a ten-million-follower streamer.
***
[Title: You guys watch Yoo Ji-won’s stream?]
Author: Moranghae
Views: 190,442 Recommendations: 418 Bookmarks: 490
LMAOOOOOOOOOOOOOO it was hilarious.
Tried to steal a sip of Choi Ga-hyeon’s coffee, and almost got their face smashed in by Baek Tae-beom. Looks like Baek Tae-beom’s leash is still on tight…
Oh Kwon-hyuk wore short sleeves and slacks—heard he looked like a legit model. And the one who really slayed was Park Gil-seon, but no one’s saying what exactly she did that was so epic.
***
The shooting location—that is, the dungeon entrance—was in one of the most remote parts of South Korea. It took a three-hour drive to get there, so after getting ready at the crack of dawn, I couldn’t help but sleep the whole way in the car.
When Baek Tae-beom shook me awake, the sight that greeted me was a lush, green landscape filled with the scent of grass.
“Where… is this?”
“We’ve arrived, sir.”
The driver’s voice snapped me out of my daze. As I stepped out of the car with Baek Tae-beom escorting me, staff members swarmed in. Several vehicles were already parked at the base of the mountain, and the entire production crew was buzzing with activity.
“Come this way—we need to start your makeup.”
“Makeup? Me?”
“Yes, Mr. Choi Ga-hyeon.”
Startled, I glanced around. Both Lee Myung-won and Baek Tae-beom were also being all but dragged away by staff.
And among them, shining like a spotlight, was Blue Star, who was watching us with twinkling eyes that were hard to ignore. He had his hair tied up high in a ponytail, wearing white skinny jeans and a black jacket that couldn’t be more out of place in the mountains—but somehow, it worked perfectly. He looked like a rock star, and I couldn’t help but be impressed.
“You’re here, Ga-hyeon?”
“Uh… do we have to prepare something?”
“Huh? Of course. We’re going on camera, you know.”
Even knowing that, I still wasn’t sure if this was normal. The whole setup made me feel like a celebrity or something. Sure, the line between Hunter and entertainer was blurry these days, but still—this was next-level. The staff, the production team, the equipment—it all made the atmosphere feel surreal.
Compared to me, who was still mentally processing the chaos, Baek Tae-beom looked like he had long since accepted it. His face carried the resigned calm of someone who’d given up.
Blue Star was practically giddy watching him.
“Alright, Ga-hyeon, sit down. I wanna watch.”
“I don’t think there’s anything worth watching, though.”
“Chop-chop.”
I surrendered to her urging and sat down in the chair.
Getting my makeup done at the base of a mountain, in front of a huge mirror, with stylists swarming around me—it was the kind of experience you couldn’t buy.
Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted someone applying foundation to cover Lee Myung-won’s dark circles. Blue Star was trying and failing to suppress his laughter.
When they told me to close my eyes, I did so and asked Blue Star,
“What about Oh Kwon-hyuk?”
“Huh? Why are you asking me about him?”
“Just… since you two are close, I figured you’d know.”
“Why the hell would you think we’re close? Don’t be gross. He came early, did everything, and now he’s sleeping in the car.”
See? You totally know.
I held back a smug retort and fought the ticklish sensation of the brush sweeping across my face.
The stylist doing my makeup murmured in awe,
“Your skin is amazing. Big eyes, lovely lips… high nose bridge… You really are Choi Ga-hyeon, right? You could be an actor.”
“Right? Didn’t I tell you he’s gorgeous?”
Blue Star chimed in proudly.
Embarrassed, I wrinkled my brow slightly, only to get scolded for moving.
Well, if they don’t want me to move, maybe they shouldn’t gossip about me right in front of my face. I was dying to clap back.
I wonder if Baek Tae-beom’s holding up alright.
When they told me to open my eyes again, all I saw was green—endless, soothing green. Guess I really was getting some healing out of this.
Then, from the biggest van on set, a massive man stepped out, bent over with one hand rubbing his forehead.
Jet-black hair tied in a loose half-up style, a black T-shirt, and slacks—he was a giant, but his presence didn’t pale in comparison to any top model. His expression looked like frost in midwinter.
He kneaded the back of his neck, eyes scanning the area until they landed on mine.
The frozen look softened slightly.
I raised a hand in greeting to Oh Kwon-hyuk.
He gave me a slight nod.
“You’re here. You’re late.”
“I’m not late. You’re just ridiculously early.”
I replied, half exasperated, and Oh Kwon-hyuk curled one side of his mouth.
“What about Baek Tae-beom?”
As I pointed behind me, Oh Kwon-hyuk strode past and walked off in that direction. I didn’t even have to turn around to know what was about to happen. A few murmured words exchanged—and then a loud thud! followed by a gust of wind blasted from behind. At this point, their scuffles weren’t even surprising anymore. Everyone, not just me, seemed used to their brawls; even the staff remained unfazed.
“Where’s everyone else?”
“You probably know more about Hansung’s Guildmaster than I do… Yoo Ji-won hasn’t shown up yet, I think?”
And as if on cue, a car silently glided into the set.
It looked exactly like Blue Star’s van and came to a smooth stop near the line of parked vehicles. From the driver’s seat stepped out a man who looked to be his manager. He moved with practiced ease, opening the door like he’d done it a thousand times.
The man who exited the van had soft, wheat-colored hair and green eyes. The upward curve of his lips gave him a friendly, likable impression, and the balance of his face and body proportions made him look unmistakably like a celebrity. He wasn’t quite on Baek Tae-beom’s level, but he was undeniably good-looking.
Still, despite his striking appearance, Blue Star’s face twisted into something unreadable.
“Great. Asshole’s here.”
“Asshole?”
I barely got the word out before the man spotted us and strolled over with a relaxed smile.
“Hello. You’re Hunter Choi Ga-hyeon and Hunter Blue Star, right? You guys are early.”
Lim Hee-seop spoke like he already knew me, his tone casual and friendly, as though we were well-acquainted.
But the truth was, I hadn’t gone near a TV in months, and I’d barely touched the internet. As unfortunate as it was, I had absolutely no clue who this man was.
Besides, unless someone looked better than Baek Tae-beom—and let’s be real, who did?—my standards had been set way too high thanks to him and Blue Star. Even if I had seen this guy before, I wouldn’t have remembered.
When I failed to respond and just flicked my eyes toward Blue Star, he met my gaze, lifted one eyebrow, then smirked slightly as if he’d figured something out.
“Oh~ nice to see you again. I’ve been watching your drama lately.”
“I’ve been enjoying your latest song too.”
He nodded in acknowledgment, then turned to me, clearly expecting a greeting.
Caught off guard, I froze, unsure what to say.
Blue Star jumped in with a sympathetic tone laced with amusement.
“Our Ga-hyeon’s really bad with faces. This is Lim Hee-seop. Go ahead and say hello.”
I saw Im Hee-seop’s expression falter for just a moment. The confidence he’d been radiating crumpled.
“You don’t know who I am?”
“Uh… y-yeah, I mean… no…”
“How could you not? Do you not use the internet or something?”
Lim Hee-seop’s voice carried a biting edge as he looked down at me. I could feel the pressure in his stare.
“Or do you just not own a TV?”
It was clear—he was trying to put me down.
