There Is No Rainbow (6)

The table is packed with food. Boiled pork slices, blood sausage, seasoned raw fish, beef heel muscle, and more—there isn't a single empty spot. This is despite the fact that we only ordered two bowls of gukbap.

"...It really is delicious, though. I like it."

If only I could ignore the constant staring.

The kitchen staff keep peeking out at us. Outside, a crowd is slowly starting to gather.

"Right?"

Kang Hyun eats his gukbap. I wish he'd take bigger bites; the amount he scoops up with his spoon is pitifully small. On top of that, he eats incredibly slowly.

This is driving me crazy.

"Do you actually eat a lot on a regular basis?"

I wonder if he can even meet his basal metabolic rate eating like this.

"I blend most of my meals. Except for meat."

"Is gukbap just an extension of that?"

"Oh~ exactly. It's easy to eat when you mix it all in."

Listen to him go, 'Oh~'.

Anyway, he is currently mixing the boiled pork, blood sausage, seasoned raw fish, beef heel muscle, and radish kimchi all into his soup. Honestly, at this point, it's a bizarre culinary abomination.

"...Sure."

How he eats is none of my business. Annoying someone while they're eating only sours the mood.

I place a slice of boiled pork on top of a spoonful of gukbap and shove it into my mouth.

It tastes great, but as expected, it's hard to eat as much as I used to.

Chewing slowly, I open a social media app on my smartphone.

The real-time trending topics are completely dominated by Kang Hyun and me.

#DaesunGukbap

#SeolHawoon

#KangHyun

#LabyrinthExplorationNaN

One post in particular catches my eye.

It's a photo of Kang Hyun and me sitting and eating. Judging by the remaining amount of gukbap in the bowls, it was probably taken about two minutes ago.

Don't run over here.

"Apparently, office workers nearby are taking half-days," Kang Hyun says, wiping his mouth with a napkin.

"I think we should request backup."

"Agreed."

I quickly send a text to PD Kim A-rang.

[PD-nim, we're at Daesun Gukbap in Dongjak-gu, and there's a huge crowd outside...]

[Kim A-rang: K.]

[Can you come pick us up?]

[Kim A-rang: K. Wait there~]

"...Did you enjoy your meal?"

As we finish up, the kitchen staff shyly approach our table.

"Ah, yes. It was delicious. Thank you."

"Then, could you..."

The owner places several sheets of paper on the table. The large one is likely for the restaurant, and the others are probably for gifts or personal collections.

"Could we get your autographs~?"

"Of course."

We both sign about fifteen sheets of paper. We take photos, too.

One with the owner, one with the staff, and one altogether.

"Oh my~ you're both so handsome~"

"And Imalol-ie is so much taller than on TV~?"

Who the hell is Imalol? Do they think Je-Mal-Olh is my actual name?

[Kim A-rang: I'm outside.]

"Let's go."

"Yes."

"Thank you for the meal."

After saying our goodbyes, we step outside.

A massive roar erupts. Before we know it, the entire main street is packed with people. I lean on my cane and offer a wry smile.

"Look over here, please!!!"

"Ha-woon! Ha-woon oppa!"

I grab the hands of a few fans reaching out to me. The moment our hands touch, they look like they're about to faint from an electric shock.

This is a very strange feeling.

"Je-Mal-Olh hyung! Just one photo, please!"

People raise their smartphones, trying to capture themselves and me in the same frame. I naturally strike a pose for them.

"Hyun! Hyun oppa! Hyun oppa!"

"Over here, please look over here just once..."

The situation is much the same on Kang Hyun's side.

We spend quite a while interacting with the crowd.

"Thank you. Thank you so much."

After expressing our gratitude, we finally climb into the staff van.

"There are really a lot of people."

"Yeah."

"......."

I watch them from inside the car, then slowly roll down the window.

"Waaaaah!" A massive cheer erupts.

I roll the window back up. The cheering stops instantly.

I roll the window down again.

"Waaaaah!" The cheering erupts once more.

I roll it back up.

"What are you doing, hyung?"

"...They came all this way to see us."

I grab Kang Hyun's face and push it out the window. "Waaaaah!" Kang Hyun grins sheepishly and waves his hand.

"Shall ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠we head out now?" the staff member in the driver's seat asks.

"Yes."

"Please."

The van starts moving. Perhaps hit by a food coma, Kang Hyun immediately leans his head against the car window and dozes off, while I continue to look out at the massive crowd.

It feels awkward.

How can there be so many people who like a guy like me?

Is it because none of them have ever seen my true self?

One young kid has even made a placard and is waving it frantically.

I roll the window down slightly and give him a thumbs-up.

"W-Woah! Whoaah!!!"

The student-looking kid's face flushes bright red as he jumps up and down in excitement.

"...Amusing."

I feel a strange sense of pride.

Inside the subspace of Astroal Merchandise.

I sit on the chair behind the counter, laying out trading cards.

"Ugh. I wish I could get something decent."

Eleven Koreans, fourteen foreigners. All of them are low-grade explorers. Kim Du-gyeom is literally the only Rare-grade card here.

〔What kind of merchandise are these?〕 Aro asks, its eyes sparkling with curiosity.

"Just some things. They're called trading cards. They've been popular in the military for a long time."

Figures, explorer cards, shoes, uniforms. There were plenty of guys who collected all sorts of things.

I don't know why.

If I had to guess, maybe they were afraid of leaving nothing behind if they suddenly died?

Maybe they felt that the continuous act of 'collecting' something would somehow extend their lives?

"They might look useless, but they're practically artifacts."

Among the cards released by the Explorer Association, those rated 'Gold' or higher possess special functions. This is because they are coated in a magic stone solution and inscribed with a special formula.

Each card has a different function, and Kim Du-gyeom's card is essentially a natural air purifier.

"Strangely enough, the more expensive the card, the greater the effect."

〔That is because they gather people's belief.〕

"Exactly. The rarer it is, the more attention it gets. The more expensive, the more attention. That attention aggregates into belief, triggering a 'natural formula'."

Formulas are powered by Cognitive Images. However, the source of Cognitive Images is far more diverse than one might think.

When the shared desires of many people gather, it can warp and change reality. Trading cards are a medium that effectively channels this collective unconscious power.

The Association turns famous explorers into cards, collectors invest wealth to acquire rare cards, and people perceive expensive cards as 'valuable' and 'special', projecting unconscious admiration. This attention and desire gradually strengthen the card's formula.

It is a kind of naturally occurring magic.

〔Master, you seem to have a deep understanding of magical formulas.〕

"I study a lot."

I don't show it on broadcasts because it's boring, but visiting the library is part of my daily routine. I have a lot of knowledge stacked up in my head.

〔Did you start this collecting hobby voluntarily, Master?〕

"No. Actually, I..."

I used to think it was foolish.

But now...

"...I'm more of an imitator."

If you force yourself to immerse in it, you eventually become like that. If I think of myself that way, I can carry on the hobby.

This, too, is the power of Cognitive Images.

〔A new merchandise business. I shall launch it.〕 Aro suddenly becomes serious.

"...Were you inspired?"

〔Yes, Master.〕

Aro grabs a suitcase and snaps it open. *Click!* My eyes widen at the sudden reveal of its contents.

"It's here, finally!"

The Ink Journey. On the outside, it looks like an ordinary coat. The size even seems a bit too small for my body, but when I infuse it with mana...

Whoosh!

It particle-izes, floats into the air, and wraps around my entire body.

Pop!

The coat materializes with a perfect fit.

"...Nice. I'll give it a five-star rating."

〔Understood, Master.〕

Aro blinks its eyes seriously.

〔Please create collectible merchandise to sell here.〕

"What?"

And here I thought it was going to make them itself.

"Then again, with your hands, what could you possibly make..."

On the day of the Labyrinth Exploration NaN shoot.

Forty-five explorers—five having been eliminated in the previous labyrinth—stand on the set. Yu Ji-in looks around at them with a bright smile.

"Today is the ranking announcement. Additionally, the combined total of weekly votes and profile votes will be announced every week."

We are heading toward the midway point of the show.

"Now, then."

Staff move busily behind the scenes, and Yu Ji-in speaks on cue.

"1st place."

The ranking has changed. Lee Jun-ho's face freezes. A collective gasp fills the room. The camera captures both of them simultaneously.

Kang Hyun steps onto the platform.

"2nd place."

"Lee Jun-ho!"

Lee Jun-ho smiles brightly, but his position is different now. Not the top, but below Kang Hyun.

"3rd place. Kate!"

Kate steps up. Her expression is cold. She smiles for the camera, but only briefly.

Lately, she seems different. Changed.

"4th place. Seo Ji-woo!"

Seo Ji-woo stands next to Kate with a look of regret.

5th is Ryu Yeon-hwa, 6th is Jo Woon.

The top six are familiar faces, but...

"7th place."

Yu Ji-in pauses. In that brief silence, my skin tingles.

It's me.

"Seol Ha-woon."

I silently clench my fist. Leaning on my cane, I climb the stairs.

Clap clap clap.

The explorers applaud. Lee Jong-su is overly enthusiastic, while Yun Hwa-rim whistles.

On the other hand, Im Hae-jun looks incredibly pouty. When I glance at him, he applauds, but he seems a bit jealous.

I stand on the seventh platform.

From 96th to 7th.

An 89-rank jump.

A Tra- ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠wow, holy crap.

I almost shout out loud, but I manage to hold it in.

A Trait Enhancement Ticket.

Let's stay calm.

I'll think about this after the shoot is over.

Don't get ahead of yourself, Ha-woon.

"8th place. Yun Hwa-rim!"

"Awesome!!"

The ranking announcements continue. Yun Hwa-rim is 8th, Kim Dong-ha 9th, Lee Jong-su 10th, Im Hae-jun 11th, Lee Shin-hye 12th, Jin Ho-jong 13th, Kim Woo-hyun 14th...

"And... Cut. Everyone, please step down."

Yu Ji-in is businesslike after the cut. She doesn't even talk to the explorers, standing there looking at her cue cards with a bored expression.

"There aren't many labyrinths left. It's a pity."

As soon as the camera light turns on, she transforms instantly.

"Not just us, but the whole world must feel the same. Shall we head to the next labyrinth?"

The next labyrinth.

I notice something about her outfit. Im Hae-jun seems to have ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠caught on as well, trembling with anxiety.

"Follow me."

All forty-five of us move together.

"Ssaboo, seriously, this isn't right... Her outfit... she looks like a Grim Reaper..."

Today, Yu Ji-in is wearing a pitch-black hanbok.

"Everyone, here. There are forty-five rooms."

Yu Ji-in gestures toward a long corridor lined with an almost endless row of doors.

"Please enter one by one."

"*Sniff.*"

I hear Im Hae-jun sniffling.

I limp forward and open a door.

The room is incredibly eerie. It has the yellowed linoleum floor with tape on it that I often saw when I was young.

A folding screen painted with bizarre beasts stands on one side, and in front of it is a ritual table with various items laid out like a doljabi game.

Slam!

The door closes on its own.

"...I wanted to do an easy labyrinth this time."

My body isn't in the best shape. I overexerted myself too much during the Space Labyrinth.

Although the Dream Bubble increases natural recovery, if my base recovery is 0.1, even a ten-fold increase only makes it 1.

"Hmm..."

I look at the items on the ritual table. They have price tags attached to them.

Fifty thousand coins for a single talisman. This is a blatant coin sink.

I channel mana into my optic nerves.

If there's a special item, it will definitely contain a unique mana signature.

Blue bubbles rise from specific objects.

"I'll buy this bag, the random box, and the walkie-talkie. Just these three."

There is no response.

Do I just pick them up?

I pick up the bag, the walkie-talkie, and the box.