“We don’t have any hands available right now. I heard that concept hunters can do their own makeup, do you need it?”

“No, no. I just realized that since I’m wearing stockings, I probably don’t need it. Haha.”

The hunter wearing the stockings closed the waiting room door with an awkward scratch of his head.

An awkward silence filled the small waiting room.

The man with the Pierrot makeup, sitting in the corner, suddenly got up, chattering.

“What, it’s only a day or two of work. Let’s get ready so we don’t be late for the shooting time.”

He acted as if such treatment was familiar. They began busily applying their facial makeup.

From a step back, Eunha watched their backs pensively.

“Now, let’s meet the rookie of the talk, ‘Windmaker!'”

With the MC’s introduction, spotlights turned on, almost stinging the corners of the eyes.

Based on the MC standing at the center of the studio, general hunters were seated to the left, and concept hunters to the right.

The MC introduced the hunters from the left.

“Where did the name ‘Windmaker’ come from?”

The spotlight fell on Windmaker. He was the hunter with the longest line at the fan signing event.

As his face appeared on the camera, intermittent screams burst out from the audience.

Most of the audience members were seen holding fans printed with his face. It was a moment to feel his considerable popularity once again.

“The fans named me that, seeing the wind coming from the end of my fan.”

“I see. Could you show us a little?”

At the MC’s request, Windmaker pulled a fan from his waistband and swung it slightly, and a green whirlwind formed.

Thud.

A watermelon, prepared a few meters ahead, was sliced into edible sizes.

Eunha sat in her designated seat, watching him intently.

Hunters of the rare type who could freely use water, fire, wind, etc., were a rare breed. To Eunha, Windmaker seemed to be a wind sorcerer, but in fact, it seemed not him but that fan that caused the wind.

“Wow, if you had swung it a little harder, the lady sitting in the front row of the audience would have gotten a bob cut.”

At the MC’s quip, an exaggerated laugh erupted from the audience, mixed with fervent cheers.
The spotlight moved to the side. Now it was time to introduce the concept hunters. The first in line was a middleaged hunter with thick clown makeup. He too was remembered for having a few fans during a fan signing event.

“Our guest I’m introducing is ‘Clown Uncle’! Hello.”

“Hellooo!”

Clown Uncle raised both hands and spat out a strange greeting, shaking playfully.

“Ah, yes, hello. Um, how old are you?”

“Fiftythreeee!”

He shook his head back and forth in a ridiculous manner. A sound like wind leaking out came from the direction of the audience.

Under the studio’s laughter, Eun Ha’s face became rigid.

‘…The same age as me?’

It was truly unbelievable. Moreover, a year younger than Lee Joon. The reality she thought she had accepted long ago suddenly woke Eun Ha’s mind sharply.

Though over fifty, he used the childlike ‘ee’ sound very skillfully, and surprisingly, he didn’t seem embarrassed at all. She even felt respect for his steadfast professional spirit.

The MC introduced the guests one by one in order, starting with Clown Uncle. One by one, their turns passed. The last in line was the Princess of Black Flame, Eun Ha.

“Next is the hot rookie, ‘Princess of Black Flame’. There’s something I’ve been wanting to ask. Do you have a black flame dragon in your left hand?”

The MC thrust the microphone towards Eun Ha. Her eyes narrowed under the probing lights.

Normally, like Clown Uncle, she should have recited a line that fit the concept. Eun Ha glanced down at the script card on the desk.

<Princess of Black Flame: Shall I show you? My flames are a bit hot. (Slight smile ☞ camera closeup)>

“……”

Lifting her head from the script card, Eun Ha found the MC, guest hunters, and the audience all looking at her.

Eun Ha moistened her lips slowly.

“……No.”

Ssss.

The studio was engulfed in silence at Eun Ha’s response.

“Uh, um. Yes, I understand.”

The MC, sensing the PD’s mood, smoothly shifted the conversation with professional skill.

“It reminds me of the Rococo era with this flashy dress. Where did you find something like this? Not in a department store… Rodeo street? Ah, Dongdaemun perhaps?”

Then a shout came from the audience direction.

“Jongno!”

The hunter sitting beside her covered his mouth, laughing. Amidst the swirling laughter, Eun Ha, expressionless, moistened her lips again.

“……I picked it up.”

The words acted like a trigger, and laughter exploded around her.

Afterward, during the break signaled by the PD, all the cast returned to their respective waiting rooms.

Of course, Eun Ha and the concept hunters were stuck in the cramped waiting room.

“Ugh. This feels awful.”

A man wearing traditional Korean clothing threw his hat on the floor.

“Life is damn hard. If I knew I’d be treated like this, I’d have refused to appear in the first place.”