Chapter 14

[AUTHOR’S P.O.V]

Queen Aurora sipped her tea, enjoying the warmth and aroma it created. She looked up and observed how quiet the hunters were, and she could tell they were anxious.

It wasn't the first time she had received such a reaction. Nonetheless, she wanted to learn more about the hunters, whom Dymaster deemed heroes.

"How have you, ladies and gentlemen, been lately?" she inquired.

She could tell by the expressions on their faces that her questions had taken them off guard. Was it the wrong question to ask? She pondered.

"Nothing special, your highness," Yumi responded, "we've just been doing our usual hunting and mission work."

"I see! Do you all live together?" inquired King Schmmok.

"No, your highness," Heric replied, "Angela and I live apart from Yumi and the other boys."

"Oh, are you perhaps a family?" Queen Aurora inquired.

The Arkane members exchanged blank stares, unsure what to say. "No, your majesty, we're just friends, good friends," Yumi explained.

"What made you decide to live together?"

All of the inquiries made every second a horrible misery. They were at a loss for words because it was a difficult question to answer.

They can't just admit that they've been dragged into this game and have decided to work together to survive in order to return to their home dimension.

If they did, they would think of them as psychos, and being judged by royalty is something you don't want to happen, especially on your first meeting.

But, thankfully, Joseph was intelligent enough to respond without faltering, stating, "In order to make our jobs easier, we decided to live together; having them around just makes everyday fun."

Hearing him respond for the sake of everyone made them sigh with relief. And it appears that the Royal Highnesses were pleased with it as well. They responded with a smile and a nod.

A tap on the window door interrupted our chat, and in strolled Mr. Smith. He bowed and apologized, "I'm sorry for interrupting, your highnesses."

"What seems to be the problem?" inquired King Schmmok. Mr. Smith moved closer to the King and whispered in his ear; it appeared to be a private matter.

After receiving the news, the king grimaced and let out a long sigh.

"I see," he remarked, his face troubled. The king's expression conveyed the significance of the news. However, as he lifted his head, he saw the hunters' attention drawn to him.

He knew he couldn't solve the problem on his own. It was for a big occasion, and he couldn't take any chances.

"There's something I'd like to ask for help with, and I'm wondering if you hunters can help."

They were all eager to listen, and the King was relieved when they agreed to assist him.

His issue was related to his daughter's birthday celebration. In two weeks, Princess Pinlet Pastel will turn ten. A child's tenth birthday is one of the most expensive and significant events in the Houndlet Kingdom.

Toddlers are expected to be more accountable for their activities at this age, and children of this age are considered old enough to understand the repercussions of their acts as well as right and wrong.

Her parents gave her permission to choose her own gift for her tenth birthday. She had requested that a live musician perform at her party.

Fortunately, they found someone to fulfill her wishes, but they were informed that the musician they hired had canceled the event due to illness.

They wouldn't have canceled if it was simply a cold. The musician had apparently caught cancer, a fatal disease, and was advised by his personal doctor to rest.

The Royal Highnesses understood the musicians' situation, but this raises another issue. It took about a month to find a professional musician because there weren’t many of them.

They weren’t sure if they'll be able to find another in time for their beloved daughter's birthday celebration, given that they only have two weeks to begin searching.

The Arkane lads looked around to see if any of their peers wanted to volunteer. They ARE K-pop idols, artists, musicians, and professional entertainers.

They hesitated, but after hearing the dilemma, Heric intuitively stated, "Maybe the boys can help; I mean, they're idols; they can help be your musician's replacement."

The remainder of the hunters, particularly the Arkane members, were taken aback. The unexpected suggestion, on the other hand, perplexed the Royal Highnesses.

"Can they?" King Schmmok wondered.

Now that the king was interested, they had no choice but to comply. Heric saw their dissatisfied expressions and realized he had said or done something unneeded for them.

He gulped regretfully and lip-synced an apology.

"What does Heric mean by idols? Is that another term for musician and performer?" The Queen inquired, and it was at this point that they realized they couldn't back out.

"Yes, your highness," Milton said, "we sing, dance, and some of us can play instruments."

"Well, that's perfect! We don't have to worry about finding a replacement when the replacement is right in front of us!" said Queen Aurora, her eyes twinkling with hope.

"Of course, we'll compensate each member with 10 gold coins. But if you manage to please my daughter, I’ll be paying a much higher amount," King Schmmok proposed.

Ten gold coins were a lot, and there was a chance they would receive more. What's fantastic about earning money in this world is that the coins you acquire here may be transported back and utilized in the earthly realm.

The boys exchanged glances as they debated whether or not to accept the deal. But, knowing how much they'd be paid, they nodded one by one, leaving the final result.

"We'll take the offer, your highness," Seongho said.

***

When they returned home, Heric immediately apologized and bowed to them. It disturbed the boys and presented additional problems for them because of what he said to the King and Queen.

"I'm so sorry! I wasn't thinking clearly; I panicked when I saw them panicking! I'm sincerely sorry!"

The boys couldn't help but sigh. The act has been done, and the pledge was made. But they didn't blame Heric for it and instead were looking forward to the upcoming event.

"All we have to do now is choose a song to perform and practice," Jun said.

"You really don't have to go all out; something simple will do," Yumi advised.

"Wait, how do we know if it's finally the princess's birthday if we're in our dimension? Will this realm still keep moving at a slower pace or will time stop?" Jeongmin Inquired.

"Good question, because if it does freeze, we'll have plenty of time to practice!" Sujin exclaimed.

"It doesn't freeze," Angela replied.

Yumi inquired, "How do you know that?"

"I made a reservation here before, thinking that when I leave this realm, time would stop here, but when I returned, I just lost my reservation, and it was already the next day; it was such a waste," She complained.

"Well, do you guys have anything scheduled for the next few weeks?" Heric inquired.

"Fortunately, no, we're free for the next month, hopefully," Milton explained.

"Hopefully?" Yumi inquired, perplexed.

"We usually have unexpected schedules planned, but we can just practice at night," Seongho remarked.

"I hope you're not overworking," Angela said with concern.

"Don't worry, we're used to this," Joseph assured her.

The boys decided to begin practicing for Princess Pinlet's birthday the next day. A few members gave numerous suggestions based on the princess's preferred music genre, which appears to be musical.

"So, let's go with a song that goes well for the genre," Jiho proposed.

"Why don't we do the performance we did for *MAMA? You know, recycle things," Jiwoo proposed. (*Mnet Asian Music Awards.)

All of the members agreed that Jiwoo's suggestion was an excellent one. It will speed up the completion of the work. With a little backstory, their performance will be more akin to a musical.

It was going to be a long rehearsal session with the three songs for this performance, but they'll enjoy it. They then began honing their performance after their brief meeting.

—2 weeks later—

[YUMI'S P.O.V]

I paced back and forth in the living room, nervously anticipating the arrival of my friends. Being back in the app realm after 2 weeks has made me anxious, to say the least.

Although this feeling was not for myself but for someone else, it was nevertheless unsettling. Today is the birthday of Pinlet Pastel, the princess of Houndlet Kingdom.

And it appears that the gathering will include roughly fifty guests. They were all royalty, whether they were in their 50s, teenagers, or children.

These guys will perform in front of royalty, and their performance will very likely determine their destiny. People will like us if we do good, but if we do poorly, they will judge us.

The doorbell rang a few minutes later, and I dashed to open it. Angela and Heric stood behind it. They noticed my anxiety when I puffed out the nervous tension.

"Are you okay? You look tense," Heric asked as I returned to the living room, and they followed me inside.

"I'm just nervous for the boys," I said shakily, my pulse pounding swiftly.

"You're not alone; I'm feeling the same way for some reason," Heric remarked.

"Those boys will do just fine!" Angela assured us. Her demeanor appeared the calmest of the three, and seeing her this way perplexed me.

"How are you staying so calm, Angela? They'll be performing in front of the royal family and the entire royal audience.”

"Because I saw them perform online in the Earth realm, and they are absolutely phenomenal!" she exclaimed.

I do have to admit, they are what she said they were. One of the most in-sync and brilliant performers in the K-pop industry, so why am I still so nervous?

"Speaking of them, where are they?" Heric inquired.

"They'll be arriving later for some reason, but they told me to go ahead to the party with you two," I explained.

"And we should. There's a carrier waiting for us outside; if that's what the boys said, then we'll just have to follow it and trust them," Angela remarked.

She headed outside first, to the front door. I let out a sigh. This was not because I was worried about the boys; it was because I was worried about the outcome of their performance. Royalty is no laughing matter, and it's not good if we disappoint them.

They have been provided the best since birth, and if the outcome of this performance falls short of their expectations, we will not only shame ourselves but also the Pastel Royal Family.

Heric observed my reaction and tapped me on the shoulder. Trying to console me with a reassuring grin. I sighed again as I followed Angela out of the cabin.

The stars shone brightly in the night sky, illuminating with the moon. It was such a lovely evening. I should have faith in the boys.

Arkane is a K-pop group that has received numerous honors and awards. Instead of doubting the outcome, I should believe and be confident in it.

We were escorted to a large ballroom when we arrived at the castle. The music of the orchestra played in the background as we arrived, mixing in with the chatter of the guests.

Everything within seemed surreal. The interior design, the vastness of the room, the outfits, the atmosphere, and the food and beverages served. It was like attending prom all over again, but this time it was considerably more opulent.

"Damn, this place is packed!" Heric exclaimed, surprised.

"It's a royal birthday celebration; of course it'll be crowded," Angela said, adding, "Come on, let's get some snacks and drinks to cool us down." And we did. We ate cakes, drank wine for adults, and talked as we waited for the celebration to begin.

After a few minutes of waiting, the sound of trumpets signaled the start of the birthday party.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you our birthday celebrant, Princess Pinlet Pastel!"

As the orchestra played, everyone applauded for the princess as she entered the room, all dolled up.

In her bubblegum pink outfit and curling hair, she looked stunning. As she proceeded down the aisle, the guests congratulated her.

I've never seen somebody wear an expensive-looking gown to a birthday party, but then again, this is royalty.

Butler Smith extended his hand for the princess to hold on to as she climbed up onto the stage shown in front. She smiled and turned around, waiting for the ovation to die down before welcoming everyone loudly.

"Good evening, everyone! Thank you all for coming to my birthday party! I am absolutely overwhelmed and excited to see you all celebrate my 10th birthday with me! I hope you all have a fantastic night, and please enjoy!"

Everyone applauded at the end of her short message, and the princess bowed, her smile never leaving her face. I couldn't help but look around for the boys while this was going on.

The celebration was already starting, and they still hadn't arrived; things were not looking good.

"They haven't arrived yet; where the heck are they?" I asked the two.

"I just hope they don't abandon us; that'll cause us trouble, which I'm not up for," Heric replied softly.

Angela chuckled faintly as she observed her two friends in distress before returning her attention to the princess in front.

"To begin this celebration, we'd like to give our daughter a special gift as a congratulations for turning 10," the Queen said, shifting her gaze to Mr. Smith, who nodded and exited the room on the other side.

I couldn't help but huff uneasily at this point. The present will be distributed, but the PRESENT has yet to come! Heric and I both felt the same way, but Angela kept her head straight and composed.

I tried calling them via the gaming app, but no one answered. Until Butler Smith loudly announced: "Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you our performers for this celebration, Arkane!"

The royal family sat in front of the stage for the performers to perform on, and to my amazement, Milton entered the room on the stage.

He was dressed in hip-hop garb, including baggy jeans, a shirt, and an oversized jacket, and he held a spray can. When he walked in, gossip could be heard from across the room. His attire was out of the ordinary in this world.

But he put on a smile which made every woman in the ballroom blush. His charm immediately drew the attention of the audience.

He knelt and waited for his cue, then music blasted across the room by the speakers, signaling the commencement of their incredible, one-of-a-kind performance.

It's safe to say the boys pleased not only the princess but also the entire audience inside the ballroom and the people of Houndlet Kingdom watching live from the town square.

I couldn't believe I was able to witness their performance for free! They were truly born to be performers, as my friends kept bragging to me. They rapped and acted in addition to singing and dancing.

It is fair to say that the boys were well compensated, and they became nationally recognized as both hunters and performers.

We all enjoyed the party once they received their diamond reward, with music from the orchestra and snacks served.

They even played the three songs they performed. Every guest was vibing and grooving to the music. Their songs were so catchy, I'm afraid they'll linger in my brain after this event.