Creator’s Favoritism

When I came to my senses, the demon who had been watching me among the crowd was nowhere to be seen.

During Hong Ji-sang’s and Hyun So-ra’s First Sponsorship turns, a restless atmosphere persisted in the hall.

As soon as I signed the sponsorship with the Sky Children’s Foundation, corporate PR staff kept glancing at me and whispering among themselves. They stared so blatantly that my face felt hot.

However, starting with Kang Chagyeong’s turn, which was right after mine, major corporations began making offers left and right. Thanks to that, the companies’ focus on me quickly faded.

Hyun So-ra, Korean Medical Hunters Association.
Hong Ji-sang, Taerim Cement.
Lee Chan-yu, KOVIS Construction.
Kang Chagyeong, Ieul Bank.
Yeo Wook, Samun Electronics.

As expected, all three high-rankers secured sponsorships with top-tier corporations.

Hyun So-ra’s and Hong Ji-sang’s sponsors were relatively smaller, and mine was not even worth mentioning. It was practically impossible to expect any sponsorship at my level.

As soon as the sponsorships for all new students were finalized, the gymnasium filled with a mood of closure. Most companies that failed to secure sponsorships left with sour expressions.

“With this, we conclude this year’s entrance ceremony for the Korean Ability Gifted School. Thank you all for attending.”

The principal looked at us, our faces drained of energy, and offered his first and last congratulations.

“Lastly, to our newly enrolled students… congratulations on your admission.”

It was the final announcement marking the end of the long entrance ceremony. Since most corporate representatives had already left, the applause echoing in the large gymnasium sounded rather weak.

The red lights on the ENG cameras placed right in front of the platform went out one by one. Except for official events like the entrance ceremony, all internal coverage of the Korean Ability Gifted School was strictly prohibited.

“To all broadcasting and press personnel: The entrance ceremony has concluded. All filming and coverage are prohibited from this moment on. Please exit.”

This announcement was repeated a couple of times to usher them out. People carrying heavy broadcasting equipment kept looking back at the new students with reluctant eyes. Only after they had all disappeared did the commemorative photo shoots for the sponsorship signings begin.

Except for me, the other five were taking photos with one representative each from their sponsoring companies. It was obvious these would be used for corporate promotions.

As I stood there awkwardly alone, Hyun So-ra gently grabbed my wrist. Her eyes were kind, silently urging me to come closer without saying a word. Just then, a PR staff member with a “Korean Medical Hunters Association” badge called out to Hyun So-ra.

“Hunter Hyun So-ra!”

“Ah, Sun-woo…”

Seemingly concerned about leaving me alone, Hyun So-ra hesitated, unable to let go of my arm. She was truly a kind soul.

“I’m fine. Go take your photo.”

I gently shook off Hyun So-ra’s hand and waved her away. As soon as I turned my back, a narration box quietly appeared.

「Tito yawns, having nearly finished the long work. He feels relieved to have completed the entrance ceremony episode before the webtoon’s opening.」  

‘Hmm…’

Given the situation, it seemed unlikely I’d appear in the webtoon anymore if I stayed here. After briefly observing everyone busy with their own affairs, I quietly put on my coat.

No one stopped me as I opened the gymnasium doors and walked out. The March night was cold with lingering winter chill. As I let out a deep sigh, white breath rose into the air.

“Su… Sun-woo!”

I turned my head at the sudden, familiar yet unexpected voice. Kang Chagyeong was running towards me, waving his hand.

Squinting at the bright flash that appeared with him, I tried to assess the situation.

Wasn’t the entrance ceremony episode supposed to be over?

“Ah… Kang Chagyeong.”

I looked at him with a bewildered expression. Kang Chagyeong spoke, panting heavily.

“It’s nothing else… I, I wanted to apologize.”

“Apologize?”

I asked, puzzled.

“For leaving you behind at the Yeouido Gate… I should have apologized earlier. I didn’t have the courage until now…”

Kang Chagyeong shifted his gaze around as if gauging my reaction.

I couldn’t help but laugh dryly. He scratched the back of his head, looking embarrassed.

“Did you forget? I asked you then. I asked you to take care of that director and assistant director. You kept your promise well. There’s no need to apologize.”

Kang Chagyeong seemed excessively timid for a protagonist. Despite holding the title of Korea’s youngest S-rank hunter, he somehow gave off the aura of a herbivore.

I patted Kang Chagyeong’s shoulder lightly, meaning to encourage him. After hesitating, he managed to speak in a small voice.

“Today, you were the most impres… sive.”

“Impressive? I couldn’t even properly kill a single unranked monster.”

As I muttered self-deprecatingly, Kang Chagyeong jumped up.

“No! You got a perfect score on the written test, and at the First Sponsorship… I’m not good at studying, and my personality is like this… I could never do what you did, even if I were born again.”

Kang Chagyeong’s expression darkened in an instant. Even as this was happening, the panels kept being drawn.

“Unlike me, you’re so confident, and you speak so well… I just wanted to say you’re impressive.”

「Tito smoothly inserts Kang Chagyeong’s flashbacks between the dialogue. Panels quickly fill with images of Kang Chagyeong eating meals with his aunt’s family, trying to minimize his presence as much as possible among relatives indifferent to him.」  

I raised one eyebrow awkwardly, looking at the suddenly appeared narration box.

Although it wasn’t my intention, I didn’t want to unilaterally know such sensitive family matters.

Kang Chagyeong, who had stopped talking, now had a noticeably gloomy look in his eyes. Perhaps knowing he was recalling past memories, I felt oddly apologetic seeing such an expression.

‘No choice, I guess…’

I sighed deeply and tilted my head upward. Then, deliberately not looking at Kang Chagyeong, I muttered quietly.

“You know, I lived in a children’s center until recently. My parents aren’t around, and I lived with my grandmother, but she passed away. We were struggling financially too. I’m nothing special. I just pretend to be confident in front of people.”

I had never talked about my family, even to friends. Honestly, I didn’t feel like doing it now either, but it felt uncomfortable to be the only one knowing about Kang Chagyeong’s family situation.

As I lowered my gaze again, I saw Kang Chagyeong’s gentle eyes trembling slightly, as if taken aback.

“Um, I, I didn’t live with my parents either. I lived with my cousin at my aunt’s house…”

Only after hearing Kang Chagyeong open up directly did I feel slightly more at ease.

Listening to his story, I felt a strange sense of kinship. Knowing we were in somewhat similar situations, I could feel a small intimacy with him, who had seemed psychologically distant until now.

I added in a suddenly playful tone, “And honestly, I don’t have many friends either.”

“I don’t have friends too…”

Kang Chagyeong quickly responded, his voice tinged with excitement. I couldn’t help but chuckle at his reaction.

Though he might be niche, he was definitely a protagonist who would appeal to a certain demographic.

Kang Chagyeong awkwardly smiled back. Perhaps because we were similar in height, our eye levels naturally matched.

“Then shall we be friends?”

The moment I uttered those words, a particularly bright light burst forth with a ‘pop.’ Thanks to that, I could easily see Kang Chagyeong’s face even in the darkness.

He nodded with the brightest expression I had seen yet.

With a faint smile on my lips, I said to Kang Chagyeong, “I’m going to head back now. See you at school tomorrow.”

“Oh, okay! See you… tomorrow.”

I waved goodbye to Kang Chagyeong, who still looked awkward, then turned and slowly started walking toward the dormitory.

-Pop!

Due to the bright light flashing behind me, my shadow stretched long in front of me. It seemed Tito was finally drawing the last panel.

Just then, a beeping sound came from inside my coat. I hurriedly opened my jacket, and the slime peeked its face out.

The slime crawled out of the pocket, using the lining as support. As I stared at it blankly, I asked, “What’s your name?”

◉⌄◉

“What are you exactly?”

◉⌄◉

“…Are you completely stupid?”

◉⌄◉

Even after being blatantly insulted, the slime just blinked its eyes with its simple facial features. It had an expression that suggested there wasn’t even 1g of frontal lobe in its head.

It clearly couldn’t understand a word I was saying. I wondered where all its imposing presence from inside the cage had gone.

Although its name was likely covered by a black rectangle, it surely must have one. As I furrowed my brow, an inspiration suddenly struck me.

“How about I call you Nemo? From now on, your favorite song is ‘Nemo’s Dream.’ What do you think?”

◉ˇ_ ◉

“What the… Hey, did you just frown?”

I gave it a name and everything, and this is how it reacts? I was dumbfounded.

Ignoring my bewildered voice, the slime yawned slightly and then tucked itself back into my pocket. It seemed determined not to listen to a word I said.

Sigh.

As I climbed the stairs of the deserted dormitory, a groan escaped my lips involuntarily. Every muscle in my body, overworked throughout the entrance ceremony, was aching.

“Tito~”

Suddenly, I felt the blasphemous urge to call out the god’s name. It had only been a few weeks since this ‘prologue’ began, but both my body and mind were already exhausted.

“Tito, help me out. I’m dying here.”

It was impossible to predict how things would unfold from here on. I wasn’t even sure if I was acting properly.

“Show me some love.”

Only silence filled the dim corridor. I clicked my tongue while loosening the tie that was choking me.

Of course, I knew there was no way Tito would respond. I had no choice but to keep trying to find my own way, as I had been doing.

Just then, my phone vibrated in my coat pocket. It was a disaster alert about a medium-sized gate appearing in Jungnang-gu.

Looking at the phone with its terribly cracked screen, I eventually turned it off. I was too drained to even process any news.

As a result, I wouldn’t find out until the next day what kind of nicknames were being attached to me on various internet communities at this very moment.