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An abrupt, calm voice said, “Hurry up, Roe, we were called in.”
Kim Soleum lifted his head from his desk to see Eun Haje leaning in the doorway of D-squad’s office. She had a coffee cup in hand, half-filled. She took a sip as Kim Soleum looked at her in surprise.
He hadn’t heard about any assignment. Chief Lee was the one who normally handed them out, alongside the manual. He stood up with unease, causing his shoulders to be tight. Dread filled his stomach, his lips drawn into a thin line as he prepared himself for entering a Darkness.
Eun Haje clapped him on the shoulder as he caught up. They walked out of the office together, heading toward the elevator. Standing there, waiting for them, were Park Minseong and Lee Jaheon.
Kim Soleum wanted to think that this would be a routine mission. Ghost stories popped up all of the time. Kwak Jekang was nowhere in sight, so surely this wasn’t an assignment given by the lab. Hopefully, it meant that the fatality rate wasn’t only 2% or below.
Chief Lee was holding a small pamphlet. As soon as Kim Soleum walked up, Lee Jaheon handed it to him. He looked at Park Minseong briefly in confusion, but the man responded, “We already read it over.”
We, likely meaning that Eun Haje was also included in it.
Kim Soleum opened up the packet just as the elevator dinged. There were a few agents already inside, one of them reading out of a manual that looked the same as his own.
He walked inside along with the rest of D-squad. They shuffled in one by one, shoulders bumping due to the compact area. No one was uptight or tense; their faces were not pale, and their eyes did not appear bloodshot. Because of that, Kim Soleum thought that this didn’t look bad.
As he read the manual, he realized that it wasn’t a bad one at all. Fatalities didn’t often occur in this ghost story, which could be a miracle in and of itself. However, that didn’t mean it was an easy ride.
The Milky Way’s Sweetheart
Baekilmong identification code – Qterw-D-13154512
Space is large and expanding, but occasionally the Milky Way Galaxy is chosen to offer up candidates to participate in a once-a-year event on the runway, so someone will be crowned the Galaxy’s Sweetheart.
A random number of those who entered the Darkness will be chosen to elect participants. Two people, of different designations, will go forward and be judged by their looks and appearances.
Audiences from all across the galaxy, as well as field agents who were not elected to participate in the runway, will vote in the contest.
The winner of the runway will be granted prizes, most of which the field agent may keep. Any losers will be forced to undergo a punishment that tends not to be fatal.
Kim Soleum’s lips twitched into a smile as he read the next line. How predictable of this horrid company.
The person who wins, if they are affiliated with Baekilmong, must ask to receive high-grade essence as part of their prize.
Baekilmong would only have so many agents enter a low-grade Darkness if it meant that there was a way to obtain high-class Dream Essence. This runway must hold a lot of prizes that were valuable not only to the average person but also to a corrupt organization.
The elevator dinged, its doors opening. Kim Soleum folded the manual and placed it in his pocket, accidentally jostling Braun in the meantime. He quickly helped the charm sit back safely in his pocket, but that didn’t stop the show host from running commentary.
– Be gentle please, friend. I am precious goods, am I not?
Kim Soleum agreed with a hum, not wanting to argue with his good friend.
He needed to focus on what was in front of him: mainly, the fact that he wasn’t sure if he would help elect the people who would participate in the runway, or if he would be a floater who was only part of the audience.
He stepped off with the rest of the agents. They all put on their field masks, knowing that protocol was crucial when large groups of them were brought in. Kim Soleum spotted Director Ho messing with what looked to be a bedazzled sash with the title of ‘Galaxy Sweetheart 1863’ on it.
This was truly happening, wasn’t it? This wouldn’t be called off.
“Remain calm,” Lee Jaheon said as they were squished into the room. Many agents showed up to fill Earth’s quota. “Find each other if you can once we are transported.”
It was routine to find allies, fulfil whatever you needed to in order to escape, and try to make it out with others. Your life was the most valuable, but saving your teammates was secondary, and anyone outside of that was not a priority at all.
Lee Jaheon was a blunt lizard. He didn’t sugarcoat that all Darknesses were dangerous. There were many ways to die, and once they entered a ghost story, those ways skyrocketed. Many deaths in Darkness were awful and gruesome.
Agents saw horrifying, terrible things with every week that passed. Kim Soleum knew he would not be immune to this. He had already seen things, but had been somewhat shielded since he was in a higher-ranking team filled with capable people.
The last thing Kim Soleum heard was Ho Yuwon announcing, “Please do remember to elect those who have the best chances at winning!”
The sash from the previous Earth winner was snipped in half. Ho Yuwon grinned widely as the scissors cut across the word ‘sweetheart.’
The room seemed to fill with white, but that was just from Kim Soleum’s perspective. His vision blanked, the room around him disappearing. His stomach churned, the feeling of falling plunging him straight into darkness.
He had been pulled into a stadium. He gasped when he was assaulted with bright fluorescent lights of neon colors. One color was focused on each group. His feet stumbled over the trimmed grass beneath him.
He looked to his left to see Lee Jaheon, but that was the only person who remained the same. Everyone else around him had been swapped out, or, more than likely, he and Lee Jaheon were transported to a different place from the rest of those who represented Earth.
Baekilmong employees and an unidentified person without a mask filled the small group. They stood in the grass, which had a lined white box drawn around them. It didn’t feel very over the top yet, just a nearly empty field that had small groups of dozens of species, each representing a planet or category in the galaxy.
He faintly heard Kang Yihak ask, “Are those lizard people?”
Kim Soleum purposely did not look at Lee Jaheon, trying his best not to give the man away. Chief Lee was the best boss he ever had. He considered himself incredibly lucky to be part of D-squad. He did not want to be the reason why Lee Jaheon couldn’t continue to operate as he wished.
So, Kim Soleum followed Kang Yihak’s eyeline. He did his best not to gape as he noticed a small lounge of lizards standing on their legs like any sort of homosapien might. He instinctively looked down to his chest, toward the pink rabbit charm, to find comfort in the absurdity that was his life.
Baek Saheon's words were muted in Kim Soleum’s ears because the rabbit was gone from his pocket. “Does this mean that those crazy conspiracists were right?”
He tuned out the discussion between Baek Saheon and Kang Yihak. He was too caught up in the fact that Braun had disappeared. He pulled at his front pocket, as if he would find the rabbit plush deeper inside. Of course, he didn’t. There was nothing to find.
Was he becoming co-dependent on Braun? Perhaps. Braun understood him in ways that all others did not. Braun was also far away from home. Braun was like him. Braun was his friend. They protected each other. Without Braun, could Kim Soleum make the right decisions?
He was pulled from his thoughts when someone familiar stood next to him. She looked at Kim Soleum with little to no patience, his nails tapping on her thigh in annoyance or worry.
“Butterfly,” he mumbled, his thoughts still stuck on the fact that Braun was missing.
“Roe Deer,” Jin Nasol returned, giving him a once-over. “Do you understand that we’ll be elected soon?”
He frowned, and wondered if she said what she meant. Her words didn’t compute in his mind; the sentence didn’t make any logical sense.
Kim Soleum parted his lips, ready to ask what she meant by her words. It was true that they would have to elect two people from their group, but he already knew who he was going to vote for, and that wasn’t exactly what Jin Nasol had said.
He was pulled away from his conversation when he felt a tap on his shoulder. Go Yeongeun gave him a friendly smile behind her mask. The hand that tapped him was now waving its fingers.
“Good afternoon, Goral.”
“I see you’re doing well,” she replied, her eyes bright behind her mask.
It had been a few hazardous weeks since Manor of the Blind, it felt like a lifetime ago. This scenario was deeply reminiscent of how it worked out. Baekilmong sent them all into the Darkness with very little information or time to prepare for it, and expected them to come back with A-Grade Dream Essence.
It brought up bad memories of what was considered interesting enough to display. Kim Soleum glanced away from his acquaintance to look at the others around him. There were only eight of them here, and together, they would soon elect two people to represent Earth on the runway.
He analyzed each person carefully, his mind whirling. He already knew who he wanted to elect, but he had to seem open to the idea of other options so that he wouldn’t chosen to be sent out to deal with the punishment of losing.
Lee Jaheon and Jin Nasol were both people he had some trust in. They did their jobs well, and wouldn’t die without giving it their all. Kim Soleum didn’t find himself worrying about them too much; he wouldn’t have to help them since he didn’t expect to vote for either of them.
The other people who had to choose who to elect to be part of the runway were Baek Saheon, Kang Yihak, Go Yeongeun, Lee Seonghae, and a final person who was turned away from them. Assumably, four people of each gender were in the group. They would have to elect which of them would go forward and try to win the prize.
The manual made this Darkness not seem scary. Kim Soleum knew that it was all a lie. This ghost story would leave them with scars. If a punishment occurred, enough to be highlighted in the manual, then anyone who went onto the runway but did not win the title as Galaxy Sweetheart, would return a different person.
Kim Soleum knew he was not going to be elected—he wasn’t anything much in comparison to others. He was of average looks and height, and most of the time, he was pale and sweating due to being terrified.
His eyes narrowed as he landed on his fellow rookies. Baek Saheon and Kang Yihak had stopped talking about lizard people, but they were still staring in shock at the other groups around them. The galaxy was full of aliens, it appeared, and it was a surprise to those who did not know of the Space Shop.
He didn’t think that Baek Saheon was someone who would willingly be elected in this dangerous situation, but perhaps he was vain enough to want to participate no matter if he would get punished if he didn’t win.
Chief Lee was also not someone Kim Soleum was going to elect. He had heard people say that Lee Jaheon was a nice-looking guy, but Kim Soleum did not experience that for himself. He couldn’t see what others saw, so he didn’t trust their words without proof. He also didn’t want to send his boss onto the runway, only for him to possibly lose and face the punishment.
It was already decided that he would elect the unknown man of their group. Kim Soleum would not put either of the people he knew up. In all likelihood, what was deemed attractive would vastly differ in this event.
The Earth did not have high chances of succeeding, so he would elect those he didn’t care as much about if they lost and were thus punished.
He then looked at the four women. He didn’t want any of them to be chosen to represent Earth alongside the unknown man. He had favorites, and dammit, why didn’t anyone he hated appear? He would have gladly elected Ho Yuwon to represent them.
Jin Nasol could win, he admitted, but she didn’t have a personality that was seen as charming. She cursed, was cutthroat, and tended to say things that did not go over well. Kim Soleum appreciated her, but in a competition like this, he wasn’t sure how well her personality could do, even if she was a gorgeous woman.
Lee Seonghae could also win. She was cute, and seemed innocent until she spoke. Kim Soleum liked her despite the fact that she could easily kill him if she just so happened to wish for his untimely demise. Honestly, she was Kim Soleum’s second choice to be chosen to represent the Earth.
Go Yeongeun, he decided, was not a person he would allow to be chosen. She was one of the few people he saw as a close acquaintance. They bonded due to starting at Baekilmong at the same time, and unlike Baek Saheon, she didn’t have killer instincts to sabotage or sacrifice others in order to succeed.
Then there was Kang Yihak, Kim Soleum’s first choice. She would probably step up willingly at the chance of earning any kind of prize. Kim Soleum, of course, had ulterior motives. If Kang Yihak were to win, she would likely sell off any items she won, giving Kim Soleum the opportunity to buy them.
He only hoped that the others agreed with him. He didn’t want to say his reasoning, because that sounded impersonal. He liked Kang Yihak, even if she did seem a bit bizarre. He didn’t wish her any harm, but compared to the others, she would benefit Kim Soleum the most if she won.
“So are we all voting for the chief of D-squad or what?” He was startled to hear Kang Yihak’s voice so close to him.
She had crept up on him while he was lost in his head. He eyed her, slightly terrified. Kang Yihak was a wild card, which was also why he wanted her to go up. He didn’t do well when he was in a room with those who held motives he didn’t understand.
Lee Jaheon blinked at Kang Yihak, similarly surprised. Kim Soleum wanted to pat him on the shoulder, and ease his nerves. It sounded insane. Chief Lizard? He wasn’t the type to go on a runway.
The lizard’s tongue peeked out from his mouth, and hit his eye before sliding back into his mouth. That right there proved to Kim Soleum that Lee Jaheon was not the right person to send up.
Baek Saheon, though, quickly agreed with a nervous look about him, “I agree. The man…” He cleared his throat with an embarrassed look as he turned away from Lee Jaheon. “That man gives us a high chance of winning.”
Even Go Yeongeun, whom he trusted like no other, nodded her head hesitantly. “He would give us a good shot. He is very handsome. His eyes are quite something— I mean, they’re very striking, appearance-wise. Anyone would be mystified to see them...”
Those red things? The ones that never blinked?
Kim Soleum sometimes wondered if field agents were not mentally well. Baekilmong took a toll on all of them, huh.
He was so thankful that a voice of reason finally made its way to be known. Jin Nasol cleared her throat, giving the group a stink eye. Lee Seonghae and Lee Jaheon were the only ones who did not waver in their place from her authoritative look.
Jin Nasol intervened by saying, “Chief Lee does not have a suitable personality to secure our win.”
That was ironic, no? She butted heads with Lee Jaheon often. Neither of them should be elected, in Kim Soleum’s humble opinion. The fact that he liked both of them, well, that was also important.
“I agree,” Kim Soleum said quickly, wanting to speak up before anyone else decided to argue. “Chief Lizard is not the best choice.”
Jin Nasol nodded, like this was a natural thing. She raised her hand, her nails sparkling under the bright blue lights focused on their group. She never got to continue speaking, though, because of the unknown man who hadn’t introduced himself until that very moment.
“Baekilmong agents don’t have the full say-so, do they?”
Kim Soleum hadn’t paid the man much mind before, but now he was. He paused, shocked, as he realized why the man didn’t mingle with them. He had turned away on purpose. The man was wearing two jackets, his outer layer covering the fact that he was a civil servant.
The man had blue eyes, a relaxed yet somehow vengeful-looking smile, and a scar across his neck. The scar was covered by his jackets, but Kim Soleum still spotted it. It was hard to miss, the skin a different color and texture from any other part of his body.
“An agent from the bureau,” he uttered without much thought.
The agent grinned, and introduced himself, “Agent Choi. And you are?”
Kim Soleum twisted his lips, looking down at the hand that was out toward him. He couldn’t believe it—this was Agent Choi. The Agent Choi from Dark Exploration Records. As soon as Kim Soleum saw the man’s scar across his neck, he thought it must be him, but hadn’t allowed himself to actually think so.
“Roe Deer,” he responded after a belated moment.
Agent Choi smiled tightly as Kim Soleum took his hand. Kim Soleum freaked out internally that he had met another named character from DER. Would this continue to happen? Probably, yeah. He was stuck in a ghost story with no way out at the current moment.
He took back his hand, and fumbled to stand up straight. He stepped back, and stood next to Go Yeongeun, his emotional support friend. She would probably enter his pocket if he asked, right? He could imagine her being a little good luck charm, one that didn’t have the morals of a twisted entity like Braun.
“Is no one else willing to share their name?” Agent Choi asked the question rhetorically. He continued without much pause, “I see. Well, I already know who I am voting for. Do we want to talk about it, or should we vote blindly?”
Kim Soleum gulped, asking nervously, “You already know who you’re choosing?”
“Well, yes.” Agent Choi’s eyes flickered between Kim Soleum and Jin Nasol. “I think it's obvious, don’t you?”
The way he spoke made Kim Soleum feel as if he had entered the wrong Darkness. Agent Choi’s words almost sounded flirtatious, but that must be Kim Soleum misinterpreting it. Agent Choi was known for being a charmer, that’s all this was.
The wink Agent Choi sent at Jin Nasol was just… It was just Agent Choi being himself. That was all. Agent Choi was a popular character, even after his demise at Looky Mart, because of his spirit and skills. He haunted the narrative, too, because he was one of the few agents at the bureau who lasted years entering Disasters.
Weirdly enough, though, Lee Jaheon spoke up at that very moment. He concurred, “I know who to vote for.”
Very short and to the point, as always. Kim Soleum looked to his chief for help. A rope, at least, to pull him out of this hole. Why were people suddenly claiming they knew who to elect? Weren’t people supposed to be ill-prepared for this?
Kang Yihak hummed, groaned, and then bemoaned, “I suppose I understand what you two see.”
What the hell. No, that was wrong. There was nothing to see here. Stop looking at me! Kim Soleum wanted to scream at her. He would not be giving her any money, so why was she looking at him?
Baek Saheon instantly said, “I will not vote for that bastard.”
Kang Yihak giggled, and elbowed Baek Saheon’s ribs. The brunet winced from the action as the woman continued, “Just think about it this way: if Roe Deer doesn’t win, he’ll have to go through a punishment. Isn’t that a win for you, Goat?”
In horror, Kim Soleum watched as Baek Saheon was swayed to the dark side. This was the worst thing to happen to him all day. Baek Saheon nodded seriously, squinting his eyes. He mumbled something quietly, but Kim Soleum couldn’t hear it.
Sometimes, he despised that he made his roommate fear him. It wouldn’t have led to things like this. If Viper were here, he would choose to be elected, and might even win because he had an intense aura. He was one of the more popular characters of DER, after all.
“So it’s been decided?” Lee Seonghae’s voice was soft. Her green eyes stared into Kim Soleum’s soul. “You should try your best to win, then.”
Why were these people cheering for his demise? Kim Soleum wanted to cry. Sob. Blubber hysterically on live television. He was not the right fit for this!
As six pairs of eyes focused on him, it then clicked in the back of his mind. He was being chosen because he was the weakest link. He would lose, endure the punishment, and return with a pat on his back, thanking him for his sacrifice.
Kim Soleum was not Lee Seonghae or Jin Nasol, two of the top Baekilmong field agents left alive. He also wasn’t Lee Jaheon, one of the prized chiefs of the company.
Kang Yihak, Go Yeongeun, and Baek Saheon were the remaining options. Agent Choi was out, probably in an attempt not to strike even more disastrous chords with the bureau. The civil servant couldn’t die here.
Baek Saheon and Go Yeongeun were both very adept rookies, and would climb through the ranks if given enough time. They didn’t cause bumps in the road or create drama, just as Kang Yihak didn’t. They were not threats to Baekilmong’s reputation.
That left Kim Soleum as the perfect choice. He was constantly being talked about. He was the infamous rookie who avoided contact with others in hopes they didn’t notice him. It didn’t work at all. He still heard the whispers when he walked into work.
But that’s what confused him. If they were going to pick the weak links, the ones who caused problems at work, why was Jin Nasol the other choice?
Jin Nasol was the perfect employee. She was part of A-squad for good reason. She was ruthless and cold when she needed to be. Jin Nasol was what every Baekilmong director wanted their human employees to be like: she got the job done.
It only left one conclusion: Jin Nasol was expected to win the title as Galaxy’s Sweetheart. Kim Soleum hoped that she would win, because if she didn’t, he didn’t want her to go through a punishment with him. Even if it didn’t kill them, it wasn’t said to be something that wouldn’t hurt.
“We’ll win,” Jin Nasol said confidently, looking away from the others to appraise Kim Soleum's stature.
Only one person could win, in the end, though. Kim Soleum bit his lip, missing Braun’s soothing, cheerful voice. He would be telling Kim Soleum that he didn’t need to worry, he would help out his good friend.
He hated Jin Nasol’s gaze, sincere and confident, lacking all fear. She folded her arms across her chest and almost seemed to relax. Kim Soleum supposed that some people just held more self-worth than him.
He was surprised when Go Yeongeun said to him, “You will do well in this competition!” His eyes widened at her tone, the way it sounded truthful. “Roe Deer will perform greatly.”
He didn’t take the words to heart, but he found it kind of Go Yeongeun to say. She might have believed what she said. The others who planned on electing him to represent Earth would not be able to say it with the same tone.
“Thanks,” he mumbled, half-embarrassed.
This was a job. A routine Darkness, even. So what if it didn’t happen often? It was still a Darkness that had a manual. He wasn’t going to die here. He would survive even if he didn’t return the same as whence he came.
Time passed between the announcement of the chosen electors. The blue lights on their group never faded. It made it difficult to look around the stadium, to the seats.
The stadium was large, larger than any stadium on Earth. So many seats would be filled soon. For now, no one was there. Instead, there were signs of where each group’s audience would be seated. He tried to memorize the seating chart, knowing who to look for once he was part of the main players in this Darkness.
Lee Jaheon seemed very unconcerned as time passed. Kim Soleum found himself assured by that. Chief Lizard would never change. It was grounding in a strange way. And the way that the other rookies chatted with each other, small snippets of conversations, was easing.
Lee Seonghae spoke with Jin Nasol quietly off to the side. Lee Seonghae seemed the most displeased with who would be chosen to enter the runway. Kim Soleum wondered why, but then again, he supposed it was due to Lee Seonghae liking Jin Nasol. How long had they worked together?
The person he kept eye on the most was Agent Choi. He relaxed once everyone had chosen who would be elected as the representatives. He didn’t appear to carry any weapon, but it seemed that no weapons were allowed in this Darkness.
Kim Soleum wanted to ask Agent Choi questions. Why choose him? It's not like Agent Choi saw his face. Field agent masks made it hard to tell who was who, as it covered at least the top half of every agent's face. His roe deer mask was no different.
He was caught staring, and as if Agent Choi could read his mind, he leaned forward and whispered, “Your lips give it all away, all plush, soft, and pink—I know you’ll win this.”
It made Kim Soleum want to run away. A shiver went down his spine as Agent Choi then pulled away, smiling at him innocently as if he didn’t say anything at all. Kim Soleum almost wanted to touch his lips, but that would just be giving in to it.
He wanted to throw something at Agent Choi. Maybe it would be worth it to rip off his mask and pound Agent Choi’s head in. It would at least relieve some of the stress Kim Soleum felt. He truly didn’t know what he was doing—he felt insane as his cradled heart raced in between his ribs.
He repeated, like a mantra, in his head that Agent Choi was the type to say things without meaning them. He was even flirting with Jin Nasol. Of course, she rolled her eyes at him, but it was still present. Agent Choi did what he wanted to, such as flirting with civilians and Baekilmong agents, as a coping mechanism.
That didn’t stop Kim Soleum from feeling his cheeks heat up. He lowered his head, trying to hide that he was affected by it. He hoped that it went unnoticed. No one seemed to point out when he was scared for his life, so that hopefully rolled over to when he was blushing.
He found himself glad that Braun missed this entire encounter. He didn’t know what he would do with himself if Braun had witnessed Agent Choi speaking to him. Braun would be running commentary about it the entire time. Kim Soleum couldn’t decide if it would be mocking or ridiculing, or if Braun would be laughing and teasing him about it.
He hid in between Go Yeongeun and Lee Jaheon. He sandwiched himself between two of the most loyal people he knew. They would be his shields until the next step was announced. Some instructions were unclear, but soon only Kim Soleum and Jin Nasol would move forward to the runway.
He was thinking about how he could mentally prepare himself for whatever punishment he would receive once he lost, when he heard a step.
Agent Choi moved again, this time, it was toward Jin Nasol. He was silent as he stared at her, taking in the mask she wore. He didn’t wear a mask, making it incredibly obvious when he scanned Jin Nasol up and down, taking in more than the items on her nails or the mask she wore to protect her identity.
Agent Choi commented after a while, “Gold accents, I see. You’re pretty high up on the ladder, if I’m not mistaken.”
Jin Nasol turned away from her conversation with Lee Seonghae. The pale blue-haired woman hovered behind Jin Nasol’s shoulder like a small guardian angel who was full of judgment. Lee Seonghae’s eyes were open widely, but not in an innocent appearance.
She didn’t say a word, her violet eyes only narrowing a fraction. The disdain in Jin Nasol’s gaze was clear, though.
Agent Choi seemed to lean ever so slightly closer. “If we were part of the same organization, I believe we would be on the same level.”
Jin Nasol raised an eyebrow, signifying she did not see them as equals. Her lips curled into an unkind smile. “I’ll have to take you down a peg, put you in your place.”
Kim Soleum expected Agent Choi to be annoyed by the A-squad member’s response. He wasn’t, which was worse than what Kim Soleum imagined.
Agent Choi’s smile only widened in response, his cheeks puffing out as if he was bashful from Jin Nasol’s words.
What the hell was going on, and why did Kim Soleum feel like he needed to give them private space? Get a room, basically! He wanted to put his hands over his eyes because it was as if he was seeing something indecent!
He was mortified by the expressions on Jin Nasol and Agent Choi. It made him incredibly thankful that the lights all shut off mere moments later.
The stadium went eerily silent. Everyone waited with bated breath, curious as to what would happen next. This Darkness hadn’t done anything horrifying to them yet, but it was probably only biding time, lulling its participants into a blanket of security.
Then, a small stage made itself known. Lights kicked on, showing the host of the runway. The host was incredibly short, half of Kim Soleum’s height. The alien-appearing figure looked similar to an ant. That was, if an ant was capable of standing on its hind legs.
The host announced in a cheerful voice with the only light focused on him, “Milky Way, are you ready to send in who will represent you?”
A deafening noise swarmed the stadium. Kim Soleum lifted his hands to his ears, trying to protect himself. It didn’t work. He felt blood trickle down his ears and drip down his neck. The roar of cheers was too loud, so inhuman that they felt almost godly.
The cheering tampered down, and with it, the host continued, “Those who are elected, stay inside the box you were placed in! All others, step outside onto the grass.”
Kim Soleum looked at Lee Jaheon in a panic. No—He wanted Chief Lizard to stay. He dropped one arm from his head to try to grab onto Lee Jaheon, but the man was already out, having crossed the white line in the grass.
Similarly, everyone else representing Earth did so as well. Kim Soleum dropped both of his hands in shock.
He was alone in the box with Jin Nasol as company. She didn’t smile at him, but her eyes seemed to soften as their gazes met. He smiled at her even though she didn't look all that comforting. He knew that she didn’t wish ill on him.
“You’re insane,” he murmured to her.
Jin Nasol could win, but why would she want to put herself at risk? Kim Soleum didn’t want to learn what the punishment for failing as a contestant would be. He tried to make sense of it, but it didn’t add up. This was a D-grade Darkness. Nothing was easy.
“Have you not learned that none of us are sane?” Jin Nasol said it cooly, her voice not stuttering even as the lights suddenly flashed on.
Kim Soleum jumped in place as the blue light returned, but that wasn’t the only thing that happened.
The people who all stepped out of the box had disappeared. Kim Soleum didn’t have to think too hard about where they went—it was obvious as soon as voices began to mingle. The stadium seats were filled to the brim. His eyes widened as he saw a familiar white lizard amongst humans in the Earth section.
At least they were all safe. Next to the lizard was a faint sparkle of blue, and next to her was auburn. His heart seemed to slow, the anxiety uncurling from his chest. D-squad was safe, and they were sitting together. That’s all he wanted, really.
He had grown attached to many different people ever since he woke up in this world. Sometimes, he wondered if it was a bane. Making ties never ended well. What if he ended up just like those characters in books who decided not to return to their original life?
Kim Soleum received no time to think.
The host continued, rubbing their hands together around the microphone, “These are our wonderful participants! Only one of them will be crowned as this Galaxy’s Sweetheart.”
To lighten the mood, he took a moment to let the reality of the situation sink in. And then he decided to make light of it. Kim Soleum thought that Eun Haje should have been here. She would have done amazing at this. If no one else reached the title, then she deserved it.
But he had run out of luck. The host’s body trembled in excitement, and their voice grew deeper. “Within the hour, the show will begin! Until then, participants, pull yourselves together! All resources in your rooms will be at your disposal.”
He cursed as the feeling of falling overtook his body once again. His vision didn’t completely black out this time around, though.
He opened his eyes to see what appeared to be a dressing room. There was a vanity right in front of him, a revolving closet with no door, and a full-length mirror.
Jin Nasol got to work immediately. She took off her mask, placing it on the vanity. She then took out the chair, and sat down. Kim Soleum only stared, baffled that she was able to act so nonchalantly.
A moment, and then two, passed before Jin Nasol tapped her foot on the ground. “Sit down, Roe Deer. We have work to do.”
Kim Soleum would like to pretend that the next hour did not happen. He erased it from his memories. It wasn’t even bad, really. It was just— He never expected Jin Nasol to behave like she did. She was both mean and comforting at the same time.
“Why are you painting my nails red?”
Jin Nasol replied steadily, “To match your shoes.”
“Since when did I have red shoes?”
Kim Soleum hadn’t even noticed that Jin Nasol had placed clothes onto his lap. A pair of dark red shoes was by his feet, too. What was she? A bionic superhuman?
They were still both dressed in their suits, but he knew that would not last. Jin Nasol had been very prompt in everything she did.
Makeup was done first, followed by hair. Nails were, apparently, next. Jin Nasol’s nails were already done. As always, she stunned fake acrylic nails that were pearlescent and decorated with butterflies. On the other hand, Kim Soleum’s nails were bare.
“Red matches your eyes,” she said, as if it were a known fact. It was not. Kim Soleum’s eyes were dark, not red. Jin Nasol went on to say, “You already look good, but I’m going to try to make us look our very best so we have a higher chance of winning.”
Kim Soleum wanted to put his mask back on. He hated that Jin Nasol was so close. He felt vulnerable as she took his hand and began the process of cleaning his nailbeds.
They weren’t close. Kim Soleum only interacted with Jin Nasol a few times. He wanted to explain himself to her, but the thing was, he didn’t know what he would say. There was nothing to say. One of them needed to win, or else Baekilmong executives would be upset.
“Stop frowning,” Jin Nasol said without looking up at him. “You’re focusing on all the wrong things.” She glanced up. “Start working on your smile.”
He smiled, bright and fake, but picture perfect.
“Not like that.” She sighed through her nose. “Like the one you flashed at me when you said you’d listen to me explain what I wished for when I obtained that potion.”
That seemed very specific. Kim Soleum pursed his lips and tried to recall what he did. For Jin Nasol to remember it, it must have been different from his normal smile.
“If you think too hard about it, it won’t come out right.” Jin Nasol tsked as she took out the nail polish. “You’re too tense. Relax, will you?”
He was unexpectedly comforted by that. She continued to paint his nails, every stroke precise. When she dipped the brush back into the nail pot, she glanced up at him, and said, “There, that one is perfect.”
As Jin Nasol continued, he looked at her in confusion. He hadn’t realized he had smiled at her while she focused on fixing him up.
Time passed a little more smoothly after that, but Kim Soleum still tried to forget the way that Jin Nasol threw clothes at him. Too many things had to happen all in one hour. They had to rush everything, including outfit changes. Jin Nasol would take one look at his shirt, make a noise of disgust, and give him something else.
It was tiresome, and the runway event had yet to start.
They were only given a thirty-second warning before they were transported backstage. Kim Soleum had just finished putting on a tie when a strange alarm buzzed in his head. Jin Nasol looked at him at the same time, and they understood what it must have meant.
Jin Nasol finished strapping her heels on before she stood up and took his arm into her. Kim Soleum found the presence of another person next to him comforting. It reminded him of when he stuck with Baek Saheon in Manor of the Blind because he did not want to go through the terrors alone.
The backstage was filled with people. Everyone looked their best. The noise from the host, whose mic was loud enough even for them to hear, echoed through the chamber. Two participants went down the runway at the same time. Jin Nasol and Kim Soleum would enter it together.
That was the only solace he had as time ticked by. Their turn was coming up at any minute.
Jin Nasol poked him in the shoulder. “Why are you uneasy?”
Kim Soleum was sure that this was an odd experience for them both. Kim Soleum could do a lot—he did best when Braun was in his pocket, helping him get through the Darkness. He wanted to think that it was his fear that made him twitchy, but in truth, it was the act of being shown in public.
“I feel very exposed,” he admitted to her.
He had nothing to hide behind. There was no good friend, and no mask. His face was going to be blasted for the entire stadium to see. If he were in his Baekilmong uniform, he wouldn’t care, but he wasn’t. He was dressed up in hopes of impressing enough people for them to vote for him.
“We’re always exposed,” Jin Nasol said, her nose crinkling as she gave him something akin to a reassuring smile. “That’s why we’re part of teams, because in the end, someone has to watch your back if you’re ever going to survive.”
Kim Soleum thought that Jin Nasol must like her teammates. He still recalled how upset she was when Lee Jaheon admitted to not helping an A-squad member while in the Cheerful Theme Park because they were on different teams. Jin Nasol liked those she worked with, which was only natural. Kim Soleum liked his team as well.
He never got around to responding to her. He was lost in thought, mulling over her words, and then they were being called out.
“Entering, Earth’s A and B.”
Jin Nasol had a badge wrapped around her shoulder that said Earth A, while Kim Soleum mirrored her with his that said Earth B. Each group was called a name, followed by A or B.
Only one person in this event would win. As they walked onto the stage, Kim Soleum hoped that it was Jin Nasol. She was confident with every step she took. Her aura was poised and deadly, as if she were a snake in the grass simply waiting to strike whatever moved first.
The lights hurt, but he toughed through it. He walked down the long stage, and tried to look out to the crowd as he kept pace with Jin Nasol’s strut. She occasionally did a twirl, her hair whipping in the air behind her.
He looked out to the crowd, hopeful of spotting a familiar face. He had to keep his shock under control when he spotted the bureau agent he knew as Agent Bronze sitting next to Agent Choi in the front row.
Agent Bronze, similarly, had wide, boggled eyes as he recognized Kim Soleum without any mask hiding his features. Agent Choi didn’t notice Agent Bronze’s look of surprise, paying too much focus on the runway.
Kim Soleum didn’t stumble. That’s all he could say once they reached the end of the runway and had to turn around to return to the back of the stage. Cheering and shouting filled his ears. It all hurt, but it wasn’t like it was in the beginning when his ears bled.
Once they made it back, Jin Nasol said, “I think you have this one.”
It made him buffer. He needed a few seconds to load the rest of the page. He frowned at her, asking, “What do you mean?”
She huffed, rolling her eyes. “You might win this. I think the cheering was louder than others before us.”
“Because of you,” he pointed out. “They were cheering for you.”
Jin Nasol huffed. She seemed annoyed. “Ignorance is bliss,” she muttered, side-eyeing him.
Of course, Kim Soleum had no idea that bets were allowed as part of the event. How could he know, when he never read this Darkness in the Dark Exploration Records wiki, and wasn’t able to participate as an audience member?
Because of that, he remained oblivious to the fact that Lee Jaheon told the collective to make a sizable bet on Kim Soleum winning. Even Ho Yuwon placed some of his personal money down in hopes of making some kind of profit. He didn’t care about the cash, though. He would exchange it for items after the show was over.
The event came to a close. Jin Nasol warned that they would likely be called up on stage and asked interview questions, but that never came. Not exactly, anyway.
Five groups were called at a time in order to be judged.
New voices joined the hosts once the judging took place. He heard the host explain that audience scores made up 50% of the votes, while each judge took up 10%. There were five judges.
The groups entered the stage based on audience rankings, standing with hopeful eyes. They wanted to win. Only one team would remain on the stage before four new groups took the place of those who lost. The judges seemed cutthroat, revealing paddles that announce a number 1-10.
Kim Soleum desperately wanted to look and see what was going on. One of the voices of the judges seemed familiar. It made him scratch the back of his head in thought.
Groups continued to pass them. Kim Soleum became more anxious with every elimination. He did not want to think about what punishment awaited him. He decided to focus on how he would drink horrible-tasting coffee when he returned to the office. The burnt coffee beans were nostalgic at this point.
As soon as his breathing calmed, Earth was announced as part of the four groups to make their way to the stage. Standing under a spotlight still felt unnatural, but he was getting used to it. How Jin Nasol didn’t give the light so much as a glance, made him think she was A-squad for a reason.
As soon as the judges' panel was revealed to him, Kim Soleum couldn’t decide if he was fucked or if he was lucky.
Sitting alongside four others was Braun in his TV Host form. His head was adorned with a cute, thoughtful emoji. He wrote down on a sheet of paper, not reaching for his paddles yet. This was either a great thing or a terrible thing for Kim Soleum.
The ant-like host of the runway announced each group. The judges would be quiet for a few moments, overlooking their notes, before suddenly taking out their paddles. Kim Soleum came to realize that they were the very last set.
Anyone who did not stand up to the highest-ranked group had their stagelight dimmed, and were transported to the punishment site. Kim Soleum’s breath hitched, his eyes wide in fright. He kept looking down at his pocket, which he didn’t have anymore. Braun was not a cute, pink charm, either.
It came down to just two groups, and Earth was one of them. The leader, a pair of humanoid aliens who had extra appendages, stood confidently. Jin Nasol coughed fakely, telling Kim Soleum to do the same. He stood up straight, hoping that they would win so that Jin Nasol could then be crowned as the Galaxy’s Sweetheart.
One by one, the judges revealed their paddles. It felt like the stadium had grown quiet as they awaited for the answers. Even the host of the event was watching, not saying a single word into their mic.
The paddles flipped over. 8, 9, and 8. Those were the same scores as the other group. Kim Soleum glanced at Jin Nasol in worry. She saw her confidence, and tried to replicate that.
The next judge revealed a 9. It was the same number. They were still tied. Kim Soleum looked at the judges in shock, his body vibrating in nervousness. He truly didn’t think he did well, so Jin Nasol must have been wonderful enough for both of them.
He widened his eyes, however, as the last judge to give their answer was Braun. Braun, whose screen crackled and popped, before turning into a giddy emoji. A loud static noise filled his ears, and before he knew it, the paddle had been revealed.
10.
The tie had been broken. It was in their favor.
The stadium erupted. All the lights on the stage blacked out except for the one that Jin Nasol and Kim Soleum stood under. His legs felt wobbly as cheers filled his ears, not allowing him to escape from the onslaught of winning.
Braun laughed joyfully, maybe even due to Kim Soleum’s expression. The other judges began to clap, explaining their reasons for what they did, and how they judged. None of it made since to him. How? Was Jin Nasol that stunning? She must be.
But it didn’t end there. The host reminded, “There may only be one winner. Who will be the Milky Way Galaxy’s Sweetheart? The audience has decided.”
Kim Soleum thought it was obvious: Jin Nasol would win. She was the one who he thought had the best chance to win. Maybe if she were with a different person, like Lee Jaheon, they would have already won. He already closed his eyes, trying to prepare himself for whatever horrors were waiting for him. If he breathed calmly, he wouldn't freak out.
Yet, it was not he who disappeared.
He opened his eyes as the silence continued. The audience seemed to all take in a breath as one of the remaining participants began to be transported to the punishment zone. Jin Nasol was gone in a flash, and she didn’t look surprised. Her expression was pinched, but not out of anger. It wasn’t rejection, but rather acceptance. She expected to lose, but why?
Kim Soleum felt like a deer in headlights as he was the last one standing. The cheering roared in his ears, a cacophony that became muted as he stood still in shock. He looked at the place where Jin Nasol had been, expecting it to be a fake stunt. She was gone. He stared at the place where she had been, waiting for her to return. She was the one who should have won; she didn't deserve the punishment.
He was the one who was supposed to endure that. Why hadn’t she won?
The host of the runway didn’t care that Kim Soleum was shocked and fearful because of the decision.
The host cackled, announcing, “The winner is the last one standing! Earth B, how does it feel?”
The ant-like host held up their microphone. Kim Soleum didn’t know what to say, so he awkwardly admitted, “I did not expect to make it this far.”
The host chuckled to themselves. “All people with charm seem to say that.” They held out the mic again after asking, “Do you know what prize you wish to obtain? Some prizes are mandatory, our sweetheart deserves the best, but what is that special something you desire most?”
Kim Soleum, being the stellar employee of Baekilmong that he was, did what he was told to say. This was why Baekilmong had dozens of agents enter the Darkness. “I truly only want one thing: high-class essence from this area.”
The host’s expression seemed confused. They didn’t say anything as a bizarre silence overcame the stadium. The host didn’t appear to understand what ‘high-class essence’ was. Kim Soleum wondered if he would have to specify it.
Braun intervened in his place. [I believe the Earthling is asking for Dream Essence, that pesky thing. It shouldn't be a problem to hand over after we collaborate.]
The host’s expression cleared up. They chuckled, louder than ever before. A set of fingers patted him on the back. “We’ll get that to you right away!”
Kim Soleum smiled at Braun and the other judges, internally dying inside.
That's when he heard a shout, "That's our maknae!" He turned toward the noise to see Eun Haje standing on top of her seat, hollering at the top of her lungs. "You look great, Roe!"
Why would you say that? He despaired, wanting to cover up his face. As if enough attention wasn't given to him, he was now being cheered for by his co-workers. It should have been Eun Haje earning the title of the Galaxy's Sweetheart. He would do anything to switch places with her. He felt like he was going to burst into a stream of confetti, ready to ruin the stage. When he noticed that Park Minseong and Lee Jaheon had been roped into it too, he thought he was going to die. Park Minseong was clapping his hands together while Lee Jaheon held a make-shift sign up in the air above his head.
At least he fulfilled his job, and his team had a little fun out of this.
Afterwards
When all was said and done, Braun settled back into Kim Soleum’s suit pocket. He patted the rabbit in between his cotton ears, and smiled when Braun stopped making a fuss over missing out on helping Kim Soleum prepare for the runway. It was better this way, but that did not stop Braun from whispering tedious critiques.
– I would have chosen a darker shade of red to go with your eyes.
Kim Soleum huffed at the judgmental tone. Did Braun have beef with Butterfly now?
—
Kim Soleum would later ask Jin Nasol what the punishment was for losing. He still felt terrible that she wasn't the winner.
She turned to him and said nonchalantly, "I had to push a boulder up a hill." Jin Nasol shook her head as he looked at her, and added, "Don't worry so much. It wasn't that bad of a punishment."
As she walked away, Kim Soleum concluded correctly that Jin Nasol was more powerful than Sisyphus.
—
When Kim Soleum’s new assignment was to infiltrate the bureau, he assumed that putting on a pair of glasses would be enough to hide his identity. Who all would remember him, right? A lot of events happened. The Milky Way Galaxy's Sweetheart was only a small blip on the bureau's radar.
After he passed orientation with Agent Bronze’s authority, Kim Soleum came to a stop as he was guided into Hyeonmu-1’s office. He was presented to Agent Choi, who smirked as soon as their eyes met.