I immediately realized what kind of man he was. Now I understood why Blue Star had said something like, “Ugh, that asshole showed up.”
I’d encountered plenty of people like him before—those so intoxicated with narcissism that they got angry when others didn’t give them the recognition they believed they deserved. People who believed it was only natural for others to embrace them.
It was so absurd I didn’t even feel the need to respond. While I stood there saying nothing, Lim Hee-seop stared down at me, scoffed, and turned on his heel to walk away.
Watching him walk off, I came to a neat conclusion.
“He’s insufferable.”
“Right? Best not to get involved. He’s just got a good PR game going on, that’s all.”
After that, the rest of the cast arrived—everyone except Park Gil-seon.
Yoo Ji-won looked like he was completely used to this kind of filming. Apparently, he’d become so popular that he’d even appeared on national TV multiple times.
“You don’t care at all, do you, hyung? I even told you the exact air date!”
“Maybe I just forgot.”
The MCs for this program were celebrities named Seo Chang-hyuk and Lee In-seo. I didn’t know Seo Chang-hyuk, but I recognized Lee In-seo. He used to appear often on shows I watched even before the emergence of Awakened individuals. Seeing a celebrity in the flesh felt surreal.
I was curious, sure—but I hadn’t had much interest in the show itself, so I only learned the details once we were already on set. I was handed a script, which turned out to be barely two sheets of paper.
The moment I read the line, “Hello. I’m Choi Ga-hyeon, your hero who protected the world,” I crumpled the script on the spot. Like hell I was going to say that with a straight face.
Blue Star, who picked up his script beside me, read about ten seconds before calmly closing it.
The camera started rolling early. The director said it was to capture some behind-the-scenes footage before entering the dungeon, but that wasn’t the real issue.
“What’s your hobby, Choi Ga-hyeon?”
The moment the camera was on, Lim Hee-seop practically transformed into someone else, like he had a split personality. He bent at the waist in front of me with a gentle voice, asking the question, and I felt a chill run down my spine. So this is what a real actor looks like, I thought. There wasn’t even the slightest hint of hostility around his eyes.
If only I could open his status window.
Then I’d be able to tell what this guy was really thinking in a heartbeat. Moments like this made me realize just how convenient my life had been lately.
Feeling uncomfortable, I tilted my head back slightly in response. Since the camera was on, it didn’t seem wise to openly reject him.
“Just reading.”
“You actually have time to read? I’m so busy with work, I can’t even dream of that. My only real hobby used to be horseback riding, but I can’t find time for that anymore. It’s such a shame. Do you read magazines too? I recently modeled for one—want a copy?”
His nonstop monologue left me exhausted. The first half sounded like he was criticizing me for being too leisurely, but the second half was drenched in syrupy kindness. It was subtle—too subtle for someone not paying close attention to even notice.
I wondered if he was still bitter about my earlier comment, but it didn’t seem like that was the only reason. There was something else.
While I was mulling over how to respond, I saw Baek Tae-beom naturally approaching my side.
Could someone really look that good just from a quick hair styling and a bit of makeup? All he wore was a plain white tee and jeans, and he looked like a statue rivaling Apollo in beauty. Sorry to Apollo, but he’d understand. Anyway, as soon as I saw Baek Tae-beom, Lim Hee-seop looked like a squid in comparison.
And I realized then—I could sense inferiority in Lim Hee-seop’s gaze.
The moment Baek Tae-beom arrived, Lim Hee-seop stiffened and turned his body away sharply.
Baek Tae-beom mumbled,
“What’s up with him?”
“Nothing.”
“Did he say something weird to you?”
“Not really.”
Not that it mattered. I wasn’t paying attention.
Baek Tae-beom leaned in like he was about to kiss me, but perhaps conscious of the camera, he instead tilted his head and gave a light smooch by my ear before standing back up. The sheer cunning of it made me want to applaud. I was almost certain that if I checked, he’d have nine tails growing out of his ass.
Right then, Park Gil-seon arrived. She stepped out of the vehicle looking tired, exchanged a few words with the director, then strode toward us.
The moment she began approaching with long, confident strides, Baek Tae-beom made a face like he’d just seen something revolting.
“Why are you coming over here?”
“Why should you care where my steps take me?”
Park Gil-seon replied smoothly, then looked down at me with a gentle smile. There was wisdom behind it, and without realizing it, I found myself smiling back.
“Have you been well?”
“Thanks to your concern.”
It wasn’t a lie—Hansung had taken good care of me. They blocked all kinds of articles about me living with Baek Tae-beom, and every other week, whenever a package arrived, it was always filled with food or restorative health supplements from them. Even when I hit burnout, I could manage daily life thanks to that support.
“Weren’t you busy? What made you decide to join the shoot?”
“Who knows.”
Park Gil-seon chuckled softly, glanced once at Baek Tae-beom, and shrugged her shoulders.
“There were circumstances.”
Circumstances? What circumstances? But before he could ask, they had to move toward the dungeon entrance at the director’s instruction.
The entrance resembled a typical cave you might find near a mountain. It didn’t look natural—it seemed more like a passageway that had formed with the dungeon’s emergence.
Seo Chang-hyuk and Lee In-seo delivered a short opening segment at the entrance. Even with the camera right in their faces, they held their heads high and spoke confidently—it was impressive. They gave a brief introduction of the cast and then spotlighted the special guest, Lim Hee-seop.
Lim Hee-seop smiled effortlessly and delivered his lines to the camera with a shy tone, like it was second nature to him.
I was fidgeting, annoyed by the mic clipped to my clothes, and only managed a brief greeting when it was my turn. Not that there was much to say anyway. There was no way I could say something like “the hero who saved the world” with a straight face, so I simply introduced myself by name. Lee In-seo jokingly called me out.
“You’re too modest. Couldn’t you tell us more about your role in defeating Angrboda? I think everyone would love to hear that.”
“I just, uh…”
Glancing toward the director, I saw no indication—no signal whatsoever. It was up to me. I panicked, eyes darting around. This kind of thing still wasn’t something I was used to. I felt my face flush with embarrassment, and I instinctively reached toward Baek Tae-beom’s sleeve standing beside me—
—but Lim Hee-seop slid right in, oh-so-smoothly.
“I know all about Choi Ga-hyeon’s accomplishments.”
“Oh my, you must know him quite well?”
“Of course. I’m a huge fan. If it weren’t for Choi Ga-hyeon, we wouldn’t even be here today, right? Sure, everyone here contributed a lot, but I know for a fact that Choi Ga-hyeon played the biggest role.”
Lim Hee-seop smiled calmly and gave me a look full of admiration. A chill ran down my spine.
Seo Chang-hyuk chuckled and asked him, “So how does it feel meeting him for the first time?”
“Like I could float away. Honestly, if I could, I’d ask him to sign my back.”
“Aren’t you a little too into him?”
“Haha, really? But I’ve always wanted to spend some time together…”
Lim Hee-seop said it bashfully.
I stood there, unsure of how to respond, when I suddenly felt a distinct wave of hostility. I glanced up at Baek Tae-beom. His expression had gone dangerously dark.
“But I guess, with Baek Tae-beom right next to him, I might be a bit out of place, huh?”
“Aah, that’s true~ Baek Tae-beom’s love for Choi Ga-hyeon is legendary~”
Lee In-seo jumped in with a playful tone, saying how the two of us were known for being just like lovebirds, their affection overflowing.
At her comment, Baek Tae-beom’s expression began to soften slightly.
But the very next words from Lim Hee-seop froze his face solid again.
“Still, maybe just this once—you could let me borrow Choi Ga-hyeon? I’d really like to try clearing a dungeon with him.”
Lim Hee-seop smiled kindly as he said it.
Something felt off.
It became clear that the emotion beneath his words was inferiority—jealousy laced with resentment, pushing him to wedge himself between me and Baek Tae-beom.
But why? Why direct it at me instead of just challenging Baek Tae-beom directly?
Sure, Baek Tae-beom was an exceptional person. Set aside his personality, and he was basically flawless. Still, if Lim Hee-seop felt that threatened, wouldn’t it make more sense to confront him rather than target the person standing beside him?
I whispered to Baek Tae-beom.
“You know this guy?”
“Hell no.”
Baek Tae-beom bared his teeth.
“All I know is that he’s got a death wish.”
“What are you two whispering about?”
“So, Baek Tae-beom—will you let Choi Ga-hyeon go, just this once?”
“I’m afraid that’s not possible.”
Baek Tae-beom wrapped his arm around my shoulder and answered coolly.
“I can’t live without him.”
“Ohh~” Lee In-seo gushed. Seo Chang-hyuk burst into laughter. “That’s some serious love right there.”
I suppressed a bitter laugh. No one seemed to even consider the possibility that we were actually together—just because we were two guys.
Lim Hee-seop said, feigning disappointment,
“Then I’ll try again next time.”
“Next time?”
“If Choi Ga-hyeon ends up in danger inside the dungeon, maybe I’ll get the chance to save him.”
“Ha ha, that’s a good one!”
Sorry, but as long as Baek Tae-beom is next to me, that’s never going to happen. Over my dead body.
