Chapter 20
Chapter 20
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Translator: TrueDetective
Chapter: 20
Chapter Title: 7. Public Enemy of the Martial World (3)
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Upon arriving at the Japanese airport, we spotted Japanese fans holding up placards.
A quick glance around showed they were mostly Jaha's personal fans.
Thanks to his tsundere vibe, Jaha was the top of the popularity charts in Japan.
“Ume Wanda-sama~! (Plum Blossom Wanda-nim~!)”
“Odogai X na kawaii. (Odd-eye X is so cute.)”
It seemed his heterochromia had only fanned the flames of his popularity.
The Heavenly Demon remarked as if he couldn’t comprehend it.
“What the hell is this odd-eye thing that’s got these island nation beggars going so crazy?”
Island nation?
How much time had he spent on the internet?
“Odd-eye means the two eyes are different colors. Jaha’s eye color changed because of you, Heavenly Demon.”
The Heavenly Demon’s face twisted in even greater confusion as he shot back.
“This seat’s eyes are both red, so shouldn’t I be twice as popular?”
“Only one side being red looks cooler.”
“……!”
While the Heavenly Demon touched the corners of his eyes, lost in thought, Jaha was putting his all into fan service.
Being so sensitive to popularity, Jaha always got extra motivated in Japan.
But today, he seemed even more excited.
“Minna! Oresama o matte itashita ari ga to! (Guys! Thanks for coming to see me!)”
“Kyaaak, Jaha-ssi!!!”
“Itta ga stage de shimai~ (I’ll totally crush the stage later, so make sure to come to the showcase~)”
“Kawaii~! Joon-myeong!”
“…I don’t know the island tongue that well, but.”
The Heavenly Demon watched Jaha chatting with the fans through clouded eyes and spoke up.
“Even to this seat’s ears, that Mount Hua bastard’s island speech sounds seriously off.”
“If the fans like it, that’s what matters.”
But the next moment, Jaha started conjuring plum blossoms in front of the fans, so I had no choice but to intervene.
Even as Jaha got dragged away by me, he kept throwing K-hearts.
“Guys, make sure to come to the showcase later!!”
“Sorry, excuse us!”
Grabbing Jaha and pushing through the crowd, we reached the vans waiting in front of the airport.
There were three vans in total, waiting for us.
Leaving the screaming fans behind, I shoved the members into the vans one by one.
I boarded the last van with Jaha and the Heavenly Demon.
“Jaha, I told you not to use that anymore.”
Jaha had experimented with the Plum Blossom Divine Art a few times and seemed to grasp the principle. Now he could freely summon plum blossoms not just while dancing.
“Why kill the kid’s vibe? You said as long as the fans like it.”
The Heavenly Demon in the next seat looked pleased, but as Jaha’s manager, having an idol who could produce flowers was a nightmare.
“You might think it’s just for show now, but if people find out Jaha really has that power, it’ll cause a huge uproar.”
“Nah, hyung. They’ll think it’s all fake like you said. No one believes it’s real. Even when Hwajin-hyung filmed himself jumping off the balcony, right?”
No, Jaha. That was real.
“But Jaha, you… aren’t weirded out? The Heavenly Demon taught you something strange.”
“Not really? Getting odd-eyes and superpowers makes me feel like the main character. Oh, except having to live with black hair.”
Maybe I should be glad Jaha was this simple-minded.
“But then, do I have to call you Master now, hyung? You taught me some demonic art or whatever.”
“Hmph. This seat never took on a worthless disciple like you.”
“Master!”
“I’m not your master.”
“Sifu!!”
“Egad!!!”
…Seeing them like that, I was actually more worried about the other members than Jaha.
It was bizarre.
That day, after the showcase ended, not a single member asked Jaha what was going on.
Not even me.
Why wasn’t anyone saying a word about Jaha’s hair or eyes?
I felt uneasy, unable to read what they were all thinking.
Glancing out the window, I saw we were almost at the showcase venue.
The Heavenly Demon and Jaha were still bickering about master-disciple stuff.
The Heavenly Demon clicked his tongue as if giving in.
“Tch. You want to serve this seat as your master that badly?”
“Yeah.”
“Then there are conditions.”
“You’re so picky. What are they?”
The Heavenly Demon held up one finger.
“First. Perform the nine prostrations.”
“What’s that?”
“In Korea, it’s nine bows, but that’s not the original meaning.”
“Then what?”
“But this seat wants you to bow nine times. You’re an idol leading the Hallyu wave, so do the K-nine prostrations.”
“What… Anyway, got it.”
“Second. Boil cup ramen every midnight.”
“? Hyung, don’t you watch your diet?”
“Finally, the third.”
Ignoring Jaha’s objection, the Heavenly Demon paused dramatically before his last condition.
“Why stop mid-sentence?”
“The important stuff gets said after 60 seconds. It’s the rule.”
“Hyung, what’s your nationality even?”
“The final third.”
The Heavenly Demon lifted his chin arrogantly.
“Offer up your unique martial art. The Selfie Divine Art. To this seat.”
* * *
“Why do they make you take these photocard things so damn often?”
Back at the hotel after safely finishing the Japan showcase, the Heavenly Demon grumbled while snapping selfies.
Photocards.
Anyone who’s dabbled in idol fandom knows what they are.
Selfies or studio shots of members printed to credit card size.
They’re included in albums or handed out at fan cafes and events, and except for special cases, they’re random.
Meaning, even if you buy an album, the odds of getting your fave is 1 out of the number of members. For a six-member group, it’s 1 in 6.
“You spent all day last time just taking pics to put in albums. With the ones you took, you could open a shop.”
-Owner, did you call for Cherry~?
“Scram, you. Stay out.”
The photocards for the ‘Martial World Public Enemy’ album that started pre-selling on Weverse were studio-shot.
The selfies he was taking now were for the NO24 reservation pre-order benefit.
“They’re all different. Tomorrow you gotta shoot the Japan version too.”
“One per album, right?”
“Yes.”
“Then to collect all the existing ones, you need at least six albums, and now you’re adding more versions! How are you thieves any different from the Evil Factions?”
Facts. Nothing to say to that.
“But fans love it. More photocards, more blessings.”
“Devious…….”
The Heavenly Demon seemed to adjust his selfie angle again, then got annoyed and nearly hurled the smartphone at the floor.
He paused, then chucked it onto the bed instead.
“They say wipe the lens clean—how much cleaner does it need to be!”
“Why take it out on the innocent phone? Get a grip.”
-Owner, this time for real, did you call~?
Ignoring the AI that popped up out of nowhere, I continued.
“You should’ve just learned selfie skills from Jaha.”
“Pah! You saw that smug bastard’s attitude!”
Yeah.
The moment the Heavenly Demon asked Jaha to teach him the Selfie Divine Art,
Jaha shot back that teaching made him the master too.
And offered to pass on the skills in exchange for nine prostrations.
Naturally, the Heavenly Demon threw a fit and refused.
“That Mount Hua punk’s Selfie Divine Art is nothing short of miraculous…….”
Jaha had the most average looks among Gupailbang members, but his selfies turned him into a peerless beauty unmatched in the world.
Achieving that without Photoshop? Worthy of being called a divine art.
By comparison, the Heavenly Demon’s selfies were disastrous.
Well, he couldn’t even focus properly to start with.
“Practice step by step and you’ll get it. Everyone sucks at first, right?”
“This seat has always excelled from the get-go.”
Reincarnator……
“Someone’s coming.”
At that moment, the Heavenly Demon glanced at the door and said that, so I figured it was the inevitable visitor.
Sin Tae-eul would likely make contact during the Japan schedule.
The CEO wasn’t with us, and it was freer from prying eyes than Korea.
But when the Heavenly Demon added in a bored tone, I relaxed.
“It’s a Wudang Sect punk.”
“Taeguk? Alone?”
“Yeah. About to knock.”
“Must need something.”
It wasn’t uncommon for members to visit my room during overseas schedules.
They were awkward with foreign languages and tended to rely more on the manager in unfamiliar settings.
Even so, Taeguk coming alone was rare.
Sure enough, a light knock sounded, just as the Heavenly Demon predicted.
“Hyung Soeui, it’s me. Lee Taeguk.”
The Heavenly Demon casually reached out, and the door clicked open.
Telekinetic object retrieval was seriously convenient.
I called toward the door.
“Door’s open. Come in.”
With a polite “excuse me,” Taeguk entered and gave a slight nod to the Heavenly Demon too upon spotting him.
“You’re together.”
“Helping him with selfies. What about you, Taeguk? Need something?”
Taeguk stared at me quietly for a moment, then lowered his gaze slightly.
“I need to talk. Consult, I guess.”
“Consult?”
It was the first time Taeguk had ever asked for advice.
He’d listen to Jaha’s troubles but wasn’t the type to spill his own to others.
For him to suddenly come to my room like this, it had to be serious.
“Alright, what’s bothering you?”
…Was it okay with the Heavenly Demon here too?
I could feel Taeguk glancing between me and him.
But whether it was something we could discuss together, Taeguk’s mouth slowly opened.
“It’s about a member…….”
I could guess what his consultation was about.
Probably something with Jaha.
He hadn’t said a word so far, maybe not wanting to show worry in front of Jaha.
On comeback showcase day, Jaha had been overly anxious about his hair color change.
Taeguk had come rushing in pale-faced too.
Now that Jaha was acting normal, maybe he just didn’t want to shatter the peace.
Taeguk treasured Jaha like a little brother……
But Taeguk’s next words weren’t what I expected.
“Namgung Jun is acting weird.”
“Namgung Jun?”
The sudden name caught me off guard, and I asked back.
“Not Jaha, but Namgung Jun?”
“Yeah.”
“Jun’s hair color didn’t…….”
“No.”
Not a hair color issue then.
With no one else around, Taeguk lowered his voice.
“Namgung Jun… doesn’t seem like Namgung Jun anymore.”
“Namgung Jun isn’t Namgung Jun?”
“Feels like he’s someone else. You’ve felt it too, right, hyung?”
Of course. I’d felt that vibe plenty of times.
Namgung Jun was originally one of KC’s long-term trainees.
Unlike me, he overflowed with talent and charisma, but couldn’t join Gupailbang just because of his “Namgung” surname.
When Sin Tae-eul quit Gupailbang, Namgung Jun was the first one floated as a replacement.
He was so appealing they were willing to break the group’s lore to add him.
But after a few variety shows post-debut,
Namgung Jun became just another idol.
In my eight years at KC, I’d seen tons like that.
No matter how great they were as trainees, the industry was like the martial world.
Plenty of idols crumbled after debuting.
Because of bullies like that Green Forest punk’s seniority games.
From sudden massive popularity they couldn’t handle.
Fan wars and hate comments they couldn’t endure.
Excessive public scrutiny stressing them out.
…Reasons to break were endless.
So I figured Namgung Jun had just broken.
I’d suggested breaks a few times early on.
But since he wanted to keep going as an idol, I let it be.
“I’ve felt off about him for a while now. Thought it might be my imagination, so I just watched till now.”
Taeguk wasn’t one to joke about stuff like this……
He must’ve seriously believed Namgung Jun was someone else and agonized before speaking up.
“Earlier, Jaha, Namgung Jun, and I went to the hot springs.”
“There’s hot springs?”
The Heavenly Demon, who’d been listening silently, suddenly cut in.
Taeguk dutifully answered.
“Yeah. They’re open late, so Hwajin, you should check it out.”
“Why’d you three go without me? Aren’t we a team?”
“We went to your room, but you weren’t there. Didn’t know you were with hyung Soeui.”
“You brat…….”
“Heavenly Demon, I’ll go with you. Anyway, the three of us went to the hot springs? Something happen?”
Taeguk paused, then replied in a slow tone.
“A while back, Namgung Jun took his shirt off on a variety show.”
“Yeah. Back then, he loved showing off his body.”
“His upper body was clean then. But today at the hot springs, Namgung Jun had scars on his back.”
“Scars…….”
“Scars can happen later, but these looked old. And you know he hasn’t been injured since debut, right?”
“…….”
That was true.
If Namgung Jun got hurt, I’d know first.
I’d seen that variety clip too.
Namgung Jun’s back had no scars. It shouldn’t.
But……
“If he’s not Namgung Jun, then who? And if not, why pretend to be him?”
“No idea.”
From Taeguk’s answer, it hit me.
“…You came to me to look into it.”
“Yeah. Once the doubt creeps in, teaming up feels… off.”
Uncomfortable. Lingering.
Anyway, I’d have to talk to Namgung Jun.
Whether he wasn’t the real one or just broken.
He always seemed so cowed.
“But why me, not the CEO?”
“Felt like it shouldn’t reach the CEO’s ears.”
Shouldn’t reach the CEO’s ears…?
Taeguk’s gut feeling, huh.
I hoped his instincts were wrong.
That Namgung Jun was Namgung Jun.
And that it shouldn’t reach the CEO.
“Got it. I’ll check it out.”
“…If I’m wrong, make sure I apologize to him.”
Seemed I wasn’t the only one hoping Taeguk’s hunch was off.
I patted his back like, sure.
“Yeah. It’s late. Head back to your room.”
“Okay. Good night, hyung Soeui. Hwajin, you too.”
As Taeguk greeted and turned to leave, he glanced back like he had more to say.
“Oh. Definitely hit the hot springs.”
How good could they be for him to recommend twice?
I chuckled, about to say sure, when Taeguk added shortly.
“Tae-eul’s waiting.”
The door clicked shut.