It didn’t start with Noeul being confused. When fans clicked on the first uploaded video, each member of The Dawn appeared one by one in Halloween costumes, accompanied by fitting background music. [KYAAAAAA KYAK KYAK MY WISH CAME TRUE KYAAAAA] [Daepaseong... I never stopped believing... └They’re almost crying though... └└Girls only cry at times , you know...] Kim Sunghyun appeared first, holding a rugby ball as an American quarterback. Sung Jiwon followed, dressed as an angel with a halo and wings. Then Seo Hoyun walked in, looking almost too normal in a high school uniform with his bangs neatly down. And finally, the youngest in the group appeared in a Cardcaptor Xri costume, waving a pink magical staff. [Thankyouthankyouthankyou ohmygod thankyou] [Is this real? tlqkf Cardcaptor Jung Dajun is ADORABLE] [Sunghyun as quarterback ㅠㅠ what is this madness] [Sung Jiwon didn’t have to go this hard with the angel look but thank you for doing it anyway...] [I’m literally too excited right now—Seo Hoyun with bangs omg] [Seo Hoyun looks so much like an actual high schooler lolololol seriously though, it’s so different from the usual uniform stage outfits] A crisp white dress shirt, a beige knit vest, and dark gray slacks. With bangs falling just beneath his eyebrows and a subtle, modest style, Seo Hoyun looked so convincing that no one would question it if someone said he really was a student. [Ah... the school uniform... I can die happy now......] Among fans, Seo Hoyun’s school days were a total mystery. Sung Jiwon had been well-known ever since his D.go trainee days, Kim Sunghyun had exploded in popularity during Shining Star, and there were occasional eyewitness accounts of Jung Dajun here and there. Kang Ichae was generally accepted as the "foreign exchange student type" because of the persistent rumors. But when it came to Seo Hoyun, not a single story had ever circulated. Even as time passed, Noeul couldn’t dig up the tiniest detail, and they had all but given up—until the man himself appeared wearing the exact uniform from his former high school. [If Seo Hoyun walks into a convenience store dressed like that, they’re checking his ID. Actually, I just wanna be the one checking his ID.] [Why is HoGyung giving off such innocent energy today... like that oppa hanging out with his friends by the third-floor snack bar... Why do I suddenly feel personally attacked...] [HoGyung... I don’t know if I should say this... But every time he gets sick, his pure-sensitive-boy vibes hit an all-time high...] While most people were losing their minds over Seo Hoyun’s costume, some fans were busy laughing. [Hoyun is seriously a copy of Joo Woosung lol true friendship confirmed └Why?? What, is this a costume pair thing?? └└Nope (see pic)] Thɪs chapter is updatᴇd by novelFirｅ.net Starting about ten years ago, WH Entertainment had been throwing large-scale Halloween parties every year—invite-only, exclusive to company artists. Even now, related articles and photos were circulating across every forum and SNS platform in real time. And, unsurprisingly, the one dominating all the buzz was Black Call’s Joo Woosung. Wearing a white dress shirt and slacks, hair slicked back with pomade, a cheap cape thrown over his shoulders, and plastic fangs in his mouth, he insisted he was a vampire. [Both put in the least effort but look the hottest └LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL omg LOLOLOL] Even Kang Yeonhoo from Hi-Five had covered his face in yellow face paint to show his dedication, but Joo Woosung—naturally blessed and born without an ounce of desperation—took five minutes to get ready and still stole everyone’s attention. [This year’s Halloween is too good wtf] [LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL legit 5-minute costume Joo Woosung wins LOL this is hilarious LOL seriously cat-faced guys have to do vampire at least once, it’s the national rule] By that point, one member still hadn’t shown up on screen. [Where’s Kang Ichaeㅜ] [Kang Ichae Jeonwoochi Kang Ichae Jeonwoochi Kang Ichae Jeonwoochi] And just when people were starting to wonder— With a flourish of his robe and the beat of traditional Korean music that made your shoulders move on their own, Kang Ichae appeared. [KYAAK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!] “What is a Taoist priest?” He smoothed the sides of his gat with his thumb and forefinger, then gave a wink. “It is one who brings joy to his fans.” And with a graceful wave of his hand, the hanbok fluttered in the wind, briefly covering the camera— A familiar tune that tugged at childhood memories began to play, and when Kang Ichae returned to the screen, he was wearing a sailor uniform top, white shorts, and an adorable beret. [??????????????????????????] [Holy shit LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL] [?? LOLOLOL what the fuck] “I reaaaally~! love Noeul~!” [Cardcaptor Kang-I‘Chae’ri] [LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL YOU—LOLOLOLOL] The transition had been so natural, it was almost unsettling. And somehow, it worked. [Well, I mean, he is Kang-I‘Chae’, so being ‘Chae’ri’ makes sense... yeah yeah] [Why does this suit him so well, this red-haired demon That’s the most confusing part] [Wait, why’d you change costumes, Kang Ichae what are you doing What. Are. You. Doing.] With his eyes wide and innocent, moving around like he had no shame whatsoever, Kang Ichae was the definition of a born idol. He pulled out a decorated card from his pants pocket and tossed it in the air. Then, swinging his tiny winged magical staff like a baseball bat, he smacked it. [No like seriously LOLOLOL is that how you use a magic wand LOLOLOL] [Ichae, you’re not playing baseball right now, are you? Still, 4th batter Kang Ichae or shortstop Kang Ichae both sound amazing] [LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL God this kid is too cute LOL] [Somehow this makes sense since he said he was getting anime coaching from Jung Dajun lately └Was that the lesson? Just swing your wand like a bat?? └└LOLOLOLOLOLOL okay makes sense—he’s totally Cheongbeom’s baseball-loving disciple] Then, a brilliant burst of light exploded, surrounding all the members of The Dawn. 【Originally, the Halloween costume votes turned out : Sunghyun: Quarterback Hoyun: School Uniform 【But thanks to Taoist Kang-I‘Chae’ri’s mischief—.】 The Halloween costume icons on screen started creeping over to the other members’ names. 【Sunghyun: School Uniform 【Everyone’s roles have been swapped!】 [LOLOLOLOLOLOLOL Daepaseong finally did something right wtf LOLOLOLOL] Cheap CGI swept in as each of The Dawn’s members passed by, acting out their new roles with exaggerated expressions. Sung Jiwon, now an American quarterback, with ridiculously puffed-up shoulder pads. Jeonwoochi Jung Dajun, spinning in circles while chanting “Ehem,” “Eolssu” like a Buddhist monk. Seo Hoyun, wings swinging annoyingly, slouching on one leg as a lazy, disheveled angel. Kim Sunghyun, suddenly scholarly, glasses pushed up his nose as he quietly flipped through a textbook in a neat school uniform. And Kang Ichae, still twirling his magical wand with a wink and cutesy sparkle. As Kang Ichae’s wand tapped the screen, cracks spread across it with a sharp crack, and the screen turned pitch black. When the members of The Dawn reappeared, they were all wearing cat-ear EEG headbands in the familiar Daepaseong practice room, seated around a semicircular table. The brainwave game had begun. “The cat ears you’re wearing are devices that detect brainwaves. Each member ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ will take turns telling a scary story. The person whose ears move the most will get a punishment. Whether the story is made-up, heard elsewhere, or true—it doesn’t matter.” “What’s the punishment?” asked Kim Sunghyun. “You have to watch a horror movie. Alone.” [This is a targeted attack. └LOLOLOLOLOLOLOL omg LOLOLOL] [Dancer line are scaredy-cats, vocalist line is unfazed, this is hilarious LMAO ㅠLOLOLOL] [Kang Ichae pretending to scream in fear is the most infuriating thing ever] Kim Sunghyun and Jung Dajun fought back hard, but were quickly dragged into place by staff. Ultimately, with tears brimming, Jung Dajun decided to go first, muttering that it was better to get it over with. He told his scary story and ended up trembling afterward. “Hyung, why are you so quiet?! Don’t you have a story?” Still trembling and rubbing his arms, Jung Dajun looked at Sung Jiwon, who had been quietly listening with his ears perked up. “Hmm... I don’t really have anything.” After thinking for a moment, Sung Jiwon suddenly made a sound. “Oh! Actually—now that I think of it.” “When I was in middle school? I used to practice alone a lot...” [Sung Jiwon makes anything sound dreamy...] [Wow, even angels can speak Korean these days] His voice flowed gently as he continued. “But one day, I was tired, so I lay down in the practice room. I must’ve dozed off. My body felt heavy, and I thought, oh... maybe this is sleep paralysis.” “Then I started hearing sounds. Scratch, scratch... Something tickled my cheek, too.” [Cancel what I said about dreamy └LOLOLOLOLOLOLOL fuckkkkkk LOLOL] “Please just say it was a bug!! Anything but this!!” “I thought it was strange, so I rolled my eyes slowly, and—” Kim Sunghyun and Jung Dajun were freaking out, but Sung Jiwon just kept going. “—there was this long hair hanging down...” “Someone was standing upside down on the ceiling, hair dangling down, staring right at me...” “STOP!! STOOOOOOOOOP!!!” Ahahaha—Sung Jiwon burst out laughing. “So? What happened after that?” Jung Dajun’s eyes were teary, and Kim Sunghyun had his ears covered, shaking his head. But Kang Ichae, curious despite everything, asked what happened next. “Mm... I just lay there until sunrise.” [Oh my god even the one who asked—Kang Ichae—his ears twitched] [This is the scariest story holy shit LOLOLOLOLOLOLOL] “I shouldn’t have asked, I shouldn’t have asked... That was fake, right? You made it up for the show, right?” “Mm... yeah, something like that...” “Hyung, why are you talking like you’re not sure?!” [So that’s what Sung Jiwon is... An angel, yeah... But the kind you should fucking RUN from] [“Do not be afraid...” I AM FUCKING TERRIFIED] “What about you, hyung? You’re way too calm. What would you do if you saw a ghost?” In the midst of the chaos, Jung Dajun turned to Seo Hoyun, who had been listening was none of his business. “Throw salt on it and go back to sleep.” [LOLOLOLOLOLOL THIS CRAZY GUY LOLOL └Oh my god he’s so dependable LOLOLOL] [But Seo Hoyun’s too strong LMAO his ears didn’t even twitch once the whole time... What does it take to rattle this guy...] [Hoyun is immune to aegyo, to embarrassing past stories... What even gets a rise out of you?] “Don’t lie, you’re too lazy to even throw salt.” Seo Hoyun just shrugged at Kim Sunghyun’s completely accurate counter, and the others burst into laughter. Kim Sunghyun suddenly jumped to his feet and placed two folding chairs across from each other at the semi-circular table. “Hul!! It’s a one-on-one match!!” “A one-on-one match?!” “Waaah. K-High School boy versus an angel with no tears left to cry?” Jung Dajun and Kang Ichae stirred in excitement, and even Sung Jiwon chimed in with a comment. [That’s not even a real rule] [Why are they acting like it is, I’m crying LOLOLOLOLOLOL] [The way Sung Jiwon joined in at the end makes it even funnier omg ㅠLOLOLOLOL] “Seo Hoyun, get over here.” With a challenging curl of his finger, Kim Sunghyun called him over. For the first time, the cat ears on Seo Hoyun’s head twitched ever so slightly. Letting out a small laugh as if this might actually be fun, Seo Hoyun strolled over and flopped into the chair. The halo attached above his head bobbed along with the movement. “How do we determine the winner of this one-on-one?” “Hmm, just like the basic rule—the person whose ears move the most loses.” After confirming the rule, Seo Hoyun settled in, and Kim Sunghyun also took his seat. And so began the offensive of Seo Hoyun, the master of verbal warfare. “Seo Hoyun, remember that time—” Seo Hoyun interrupted Kim Sunghyun and tapped his cheek with a finger. “You’ve got something on your face. So careless.” [There’s nothing there you asshole] In fact, there really wasn’t. [LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL SEO HOYUN IS SO DAMN SHAMELESS LOL] Flustered, Kim Sunghyun rubbed his cheek with the back of his hand to check, and Seo Hoyun, in the softest voice imaginable, began speaking. “Sunghyun-ah, by the way...” “Did I hurt your feelings?” Kim Sunghyun was already getting pulled into it before he’d even had the chance to try anything himself. And once he was in, there was no going back. “I’m sorry if I made you upset.” “I think about you a lot, you know...” Seo Hoyun kept saying the most hollow, insincere things one after another, like wringing out a dry sponge with zero soul, and eventually, Kim Sunghyun surrendered. He buried his face in his large hands, huffing in frustration, while Noeul exploded on his behalf. [Oh my god I’m SO MAD [LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL KIM SUNGHYUN’S EARS STARTED GOING WILD... Sunghyun-ah... what were you even going to say... └We’ll never know. The end. Shush...] Just a few minutes of facing Seo Hoyun, and Kim Sunghyun looked like he hadn’t slept in days when he stood up from the chair. Still sitting confidently with his arms crossed and a smirk on his face, Seo Hoyun said, “Kang Ichae, come on.” [Is this even a ghost story segment anymore or just a targeted takedown party] [Like all little piglets do, I suppose...] [Where did Halloween go? This is just FreeXpression: The Fists Cry now. └LOLOLOL omg that show’s so old nobody in The Dawn’s demographic even knows it └└???? How?? Did he Kirby-suck it in like an old man?? But apparently Jung Dajun knows it too └└Wtf why does Jung Dajun know it LOLOLOLOL] “What’s your business with our dear Ichae, Hyung~?” “Do I have something on my face too?” As he hummed playfully and sat across from Hoyun, Kang Ichae asked with a smirk. Seo Hoyun looked at him calmly and said, “You postponed your laptop’s auto-update last night, didn’t you?” Kang Ichae flinched, completely caught off guard, then nodded slowly. “You had it set to automatically update at night when plugged in.” “Ahaha. You really know everything. I guess it did update then? Maybe it’s done by now?” “But you know, sometimes files get deleted during updates.” Kang Ichae’s relaxed expression began to crack. Seo Hoyun leaned forward slightly from where he’d been reclining. “Usually stuff on the desktop gets wiped.” A bad feeling crawled up Kang Ichae’s spine. He was the type to save files with names like realfinalfinal2realfinalnoactuallythisisfinalfinalpls.txt right on his desktop. This was more terrifying than any ghost story. “Did you check your files?” Kang Ichae’s face went pale in an instant. KANG ICHAE’S EARS ARE VIBRATING RIGHT NOW └LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL └└What a brutal counterpunch LOL] He shot up and bolted out of the studio. 【As comrades who’ve all lost save files to auto-updates, the production crew decided to understand his actions with warmth and empathy.】 [LOOK AT THIS SUBTITLE OMFG LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL] 【20 minutes later...】 “Huff, huff, haaah...” Kang Ichae returned, hair wild and breath ragged. Seo Hoyun greeted him warmly. [Wow, what a terrible personality] [LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL] [If Seo Hoyun ever acts nice to you, RUN—seriously LOLOLOLOL] “Huff... haah... there were still some files. I lost a few I worked really hard on though...” “Really? That’s a relief.” “Wha—why didn’t you say anything if you knew?! Do you have any idea how scared I was?!” “Do you know why any of your files survived?” Confused, Kang Ichae looked up, his eyes filling with suspicion. “Because I recovered them for you.” As Seo Hoyun finished speaking, a gasp of realization came from behind. “Oh! That’s right! Yesterday, Hoyun hyung was doing something on Ichae hyung’s laptop!” “You said some stuff got deleted yesterday, right?” With Kim Sunghyun’s testimony added in, Kang Ichae slapped both hands over his mouth in shock. “And you know what else?” Seo Hoyun’s lips curled into a sly grin. “Just in case, I made a backup.” “I’m the one holding your recovery files.” [LOLOLOLOLOLOLOL who TF steals a couple files just to fuck with someone this hard what kind of unhinged behavior is this LOL] As Kang Ichae lunged to hug him, Seo Hoyun casually turned his body to dodge, brushing his bangs aside with a flourish. “I want a cup of Ssanghwatang (a traditional Korean herbal tonic), with egg yolks floating on top...” “I SHALL PREPARE IT FOR YOU!!” “I’d really like it if our Ichae made it himself.” “...How do you make Ssanghwatang?” “Are you seriously asking me right now?” [Is Kang Ichae his servant now?] [LOLOLOLOL I’m losing it LOLOLOLOL the stars are wild tonight] As if waiting for the cue, “Parachute” started playing in the background. Every time the lyrics “You’re slave” and “No~ Yes~” played, the camera zoomed in dramatically on Kang Ichae’s face. And just like that, on this Halloween, Seo Hoyun gained a red-haired servant. He returned to his seat at the semi-circle table. Sitting next to him, Sung Jiwon asked with a gentle smile, “Hoyun-ah. If you knew the update would cause that, couldn’t you have just told Ichae to back up his files in advance?” Seo Hoyun’s lips curled slowly, like he’d just heard a very amusing question. “Why would I go out of my way to do that?” [LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL] [What the fuck LOLOLOLOLOLOL] There was no way Seo Hoyun, who had been so clearly holding a grudge against Kang Ichae, would ever let such a golden opportunity pass him by.