Chapter 23
Chapter 23
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Translator: TrueDetective
Chapter: 23
Chapter Title: 9. Even the Heavenly Demon Must Do Fan Service (1)
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The second condition Ja-ha had proposed to me when I permitted him to call me Master was this.
Bring cup ramen every day at midnight.
The reason Ja-ha wasn't in his room was because of his promise to the Heavenly Demon.
Even so, I hadn't expected him to actually keep that condition.
"Wow, they say Japanese cup ramen has more chunks, and it's true."
Watching Ja-ha grumble as he tore open a packet of chunky soup mix somehow put my mind at ease.
Just moments ago, I'd been surrounded by masters using Void Grasping Technique.
But being with Ja-ha made me feel like my usual self.
The Heavenly Demon seemed to feel the same, unusually watching Ja-ha instead of N-Tube.
"Somehow, it feels better watching a fool with no thoughts."
"Right?"
"W-What? Why are you suddenly roasting me?"
"It's a compliment, you simpleton."
"It feels like you're teasing me, though...."
Ja-ha eyed me and the Heavenly Demon suspiciously but still put water in the coffee pot.
'Is Ja-ha really clueless?'
If his internal energy was barely cultivated.
There was a high chance he wouldn't even notice changes in his own body.
He'd been so flustered when his body changed due to the demonic arts before.
I couldn't imagine Ja-ha hiding something.
"...So, what's with all the stuff you brought?"
Ja-ha had been pulling things out onto the table since earlier.
Taeguk had said he went out to get something— was this it?
"Stuff you brought from Korea?"
What Ja-ha had unpacked were side dishes.
Kimchi was a given, but even perilla leaf canned goods.
He never touches stuff like this normally.
Seeing him lick his lips while opening the perilla leaf can, he clearly had an agenda.
"We're gonna do a U-Live while eating!"
"You're turning on a stream?"
"If I'm gonna eat anyway, might as well stream to ease the guilt."
I'd wondered why Ja-ha prepared cup ramen for himself too—turns out he planned to stream.
Ja-ha rolled his eyes and added.
"Plus, we're kinda close now, so it'd be fun to stream together."
When the Heavenly Demon first joined Gupailbang, Ja-ha had opposed it and thrown shade.
But now, he seemed to like the Heavenly Demon and wanted to get closer, like bros.
Taeguk might feel a bit jealous.
Anyway, just because they could use martial arts didn't mean they weren't idols anymore.
I prepared the U-Live.
As I set up the pad and camera, the Heavenly Demon grumbled.
"If there's anything I need to watch out for on stream, tell me now. I don't want to hear your nagging."
He must've held a grudge from the song dictation variety show.
I sincerely wrote out precautions and stuck them in front.
Ja-ha glanced at it and muttered as he read.
"No going out during stream, no advertising specific products, no mentioning ex-members, no badmouthing the CEO, national pride talk limited to one verse... no martial arts on stream? What's this? Hwajin's hilarious."
Ja-ha, you wouldn't laugh if you were in my shoes.
Just then, the water boiled.
Ja-ha poured it into the cup ramen and closed the lid.
He positioned the cup ramen and the two so they'd show well on camera.
He entered the title and hit broadcast— the U-Live alert rang immediately.
[Gupailbang] ●U-Live Started!
Gupailbang: Tastes good, 0 calories
Chats poured in even on the black screen as soon as it started.
-Who's this?
-Who?
-Eating show?
-At this hour?
-Definitely not Ja-ha
It was famous among fans that Ja-ha doesn't eat past 6 PM.
Once the feed went live and Ja-ha and the Heavenly Demon appeared, chats exploded.
-Ja-ha????
-Ja-ha black hair insane
-Hwajin's here too!
-Are they close?
-Believe Heavenly Demon always believe Heavenly Demon believe Heavenly Demon believe Heavenly Demon believe Heavenly Demon believe Heavenly Demon believe Heavenly Demon
"Hey, peasants~"
Ja-ha greeted the screen, and chats filled with hellos.
-Ja-ha hi!!!!!!
-Ja-ha marry me
-Hi oppa
-Streaming from Japan?
-Hi Hwajin~
-Good evening Heavenly Demon-nim^^
-Hello Heavenly Demon-nim~
The Heavenly Demon nodded at the screen.
"Yeah. Hope you've all been well."
-Heavenly Demon speech so funny
-Feels like greeting grandpa
-Oppa when do you stop with that speech?
-I love how cute the speech is keep it
-What are you two eating?
"So, what we're eating~"
Ja-ha, who'd been reading chats, lifted the steaming cup ramen to show.
"Cup ramen. Just poured the water."
-Cup ramen????
-First time seeing Ja-ha eat cup ramen
-Ja-ha cup ramen this late... you sure?
-Eat if you want then work out lol
-Ja-ha too skinny~ needs muscle~
-Eat then exercise Ja-ha!
Ja-ha's fandom is strict about self-care.
They like him for his diligent image.
Ja-ha hates disappointing fans, so it's surprising he's eating cup ramen for a stream with the Heavenly Demon.
Ja-ha replied cheerfully.
"I've lost some weight prepping comeback. So I'm bravely eating!"
-What's that in front?
"What's in front? Side dishes to eat with the cup ramen."
-Prepared well lol
"And the Heavenly Demon hyung wanted cup ramen."
-Hwajin????
-Hwajin and cup ramen don't match lol
-What about Nahani?
-Don't bring up other members on Ja-ha stream
-Nahani would just meditate in the back anyway lol
-Nahani true flower vase
Like a U-Live pro, Ja-ha smoothly skipped other members and changed topic.
"Right, Heavenly Demon hyung said if I bring cup ramen at midnight every day, he'll teach me dance."
"Correct."
The Heavenly Demon confirmed nonchalantly, and chats sped up again.
-Cup ramen every day...?
-Heavenly Demon likes cup ramen? lol
-Hwajin teaching Ja-ha dance
-Ja-ha's dancing improved lately
-So Hwajin's Ja-ha's teacher?
Ja-ha, scanning chats eagerly, pointed at the screen when his desired question popped.
"Yep! Heavenly Demon hyung's my teacher. Call him Master now. Heavenly Demon Master!"
-Ja-ha's the senior?? lol
-???: No respect for senior
-Ja-ha no bias lol
Ja-ha read a few more chats, shared minor updates, when the Heavenly Demon spoke gravely.
"Huashan, this isn't the time."
"Not the time?"
His words startled me—I looked at the Heavenly Demon.
He blurts sensitive stuff even on camera.
Surely not bringing up the Masked Expert now.
Of course, it didn't take long to realize it was needless worry.
The Heavenly Demon pointed at his smartphone timer.
"Three minutes passed."
"Oh, right."
-Thought something happened lol
-Idol prioritizing ramen over stream
-Heavenly Demon really loves ramen lol
-Chewy or soggy noodles?
"Hyung, peasants ask: chewy or soggy noodles?"
"Hmm? This is only my second time eating it."
-What??
-Second time means only once before?
-How do you live to 24 without ramen?
-Hwajin you really Chinese conglomerate heir?
-Heir to conglomerate is Heavenly Demon
-Don't mention rumors in front of kids
The conglomerate rumor was still around.
Some well-off fans tried debunking it.
"Heavenly Demon hyung conglomerate? Maybe. I saw him use a black card at the convenience store."
As expected of the original princess (Terror Mouth), the rumor generator Ja-ha, pouring oil on the Chinese conglomerate rumor.
That black card was the CEO's.
Ja-ha suddenly eyed the Heavenly Demon suspiciously.
"Come to think of it, you said that convenience store was your first time too?"
Well, he'd lived in the Central Plains until then....
"Hyung, you're not really a conglomerate heir or anything, right?"
The Heavenly Demon, stirring his ramen with wooden chopsticks like it was someone else's business, tilted his head.
"This seat is not a conglomerate heir."
"Right?"
"This seat has no parents, so not second generation."
Chats seemed to freeze for a moment.
...No illusion. They actually stopped.
Putting Ja-ha and Heavenly Demon together for a stream might've been a bad idea.
Chats frozen, but Ja-ha replied casually.
"So you are rich?"
-Asking that here
-What did I just hear ㅠㅠ
-Please say it's a bit
The Heavenly Demon pondered, then asked back.
"Is the CEO rich?"
"CEO's rich."
"Then this seat is rich too."
"What logic?"
"CEO's money is this seat's money."
-What does that even mean lol
-CEO... watching this U-Live...?
-CEO if you're watching stop them lol
The CEO encourages the Heavenly Demon, doesn't stop him.
If the Chinese conglomerate rumor flares here, it'll just breed anxiety about upcoming members.
I sat across, pointed at the cup ramen, mimed eating— Ja-ha quickly picked it up.
"Anyway, let's eat. Kimchi and perilla leaves here too."
Saying so, Ja-ha habitually folded the lid into a bowl.
The Heavenly Demon's eyes widened watching.
"You! What is that!!"
"Huh? What?"
"I thought you were a blockhead who couldn't grasp Huashan's subtleties!"
"Did you just call me blockhead??"
The Heavenly Demon slid his opened ramen lid toward Ja-ha.
"Fold this seat's too."
"Ugh, conglomerate concept is hardcore."
-Chaebol was concept too lol
"Do it yourself, at least that much."
"This seat is your master. Master commands, yet you talk back."
"Master only when convenient."
For a bit, the Heavenly Demon learned from Ja-ha how to fold the lid into a bowl.
-Kinda cute that big guy folding lid
-Ramen really second time? lol
-Where does concept end
-Why so serious folding lol
-Heavenly Demon MBTI whatever it's T for sure
-Wow curious Heavenly Demon-nim what's your MBTI??
-Ja-ha's INFP right?
Ja-ha's an MBTI believer.
Believes T rational, F emotional.
Sure enough, spotting the chat, Ja-ha asked.
"This intrigues me too. Hyung, done MBTI? What's yours?"
A Central Plains guy who first-timed convenience store—knows MBTI? I haven't even done it.
But Heavenly Demon answered casually.
"This seat is ENFP."
"ENFP?!?!'
So shocked he yelled, forgetting it was live.
Chats exploded.
-Whose voice was that lol
-Staff or manager lol
-Heavenly Demon statement shocking staff: This seat is ENFP
-Heavenly Demon probably never did MBTI lol
-I'm ENFP but Hwajin can't be
-ENFPs show emotions on face
-When Ja-ha folded lid earlier shock clear
-ENFP: Vague money sense hard to save
-No money sense fits CEO money is mine
-That's just no sense?
Right. Heavenly Demon probably heard ENFP is good somewhere without knowing what it is.
Ja-ha didn't care if real or not.
"Wow, hyung ENFP? No wonder we click. I'm INFP."
"Is that so."
Heavenly Demon replied offhand, reaching for perilla leaf pickles— Ja-ha used chopsticks to separate one easily.
Chats went wild.
-That's the perilla leaf debate lol
-Ja-ha sweet must've practiced
-Don't spout nonsense above
-Oppas know perilla leaf debate? lol
"What's the perilla leaf debate?"
Heavenly Demon asked reading chats.
"The perilla leaf debate is—"
Ja-ha jumped in like he'd waited.
I'd wondered why perilla leaves— he wanted U-Live on this from start.
Ja-ha excitedly explained.
"Suppose hyung, your friend, and your girlfriend are eating together."
"What's girlfriend."
"Female friend. Lover."
Heavenly Demon frowned.
"This seat has no girlfriend."
-Knew you're 100-year solo lol
-Feels sincere nice
-Probably really none lol
-Ja-ha maybe but Heavenly Demon definitely none lol
Ja-ha, seeing chats, bristled.
"Hey, I don't have one either? Hypothetical, imagine. Assume you have a girlfriend."
"No clue, but got it. Imagined girlfriend."
-This idol makes girlfriend pure fantasy creature
-Laughing so hard abs shaking lol
"Anyway, hyung's friend picks perilla leaf pickles, but two stick together."
"Troublesome."
"But hyung's girlfriend nearby separates one with chopsticks! How would you feel?"
Heavenly Demon's expression turned subtle.
"Definitely weird."
"Right?! Weird, right? I'd feel jealous normally?"
Ja-ha's the jealous type.
Heavenly Demon lightly shook his head.
"My friend the Huashan Sword Saint trained senses to extreme—could pick one anytime, yet picked two."
"Hyung, did you imagine friend too? No friends?"
"My girlfriend the North Sea Ice Palace Saintess wouldn't care if two or hundred leaves if uninterested."
"...That's your type?"
"Fool! Nonsense. Only knew one woman: North Sea Ice Palace Saintess!"
Huashan Sword Saint and North Sea Ice Palace Saintess—people from Central Plains.
Only one woman known. Really trained demonic arts solo for century? Solo image solidified.
"Anyway, for your scenario, both must be interested in each other."
"No, point is jealousy or not?"
Ja-ha fixated on jealousy even after that.
Heavenly Demon scoffed, no room for thought.
"Anyway, those two can't be together. Think righteous and demonic unite easily?"
"Told you imagine, now writing novel."
-Setting build-up insane lol
-MBTI F fits KTX speed F
-Perilla debate was epic love story? lol
-Remember Heavenly Demon wrote Martial Arts Criminal too lol
"So hyung, peeling shrimp instead?"
"Those two have servants for that."
"Conglomerate concept not over."
"Those two are conglomerate heirs."
-Feels trapped in massive conglomerate Heavenly Demon universe
-Anyway Heavenly Demon friends with Huashan Sword Saint dates North Sea Ice Palace Saintess conglomerate
-Hwajin lol then if Ja-ha and imaginary gf drowning who save first?
-IF worldline how far lol
Ja-ha peeked at chats and chuckled.
"Peasants hilarious. Me and hyung's gf drowning, who first?"
"Of course you."
"Knew it, Master."
"You're weaker than this seat's girlfriend, no choice."
"...Saved but not happy."
-Weakest Huashan sole disciple vs imaginary gf
-Heavenly Demon certified weakest lol
-Ja-ha don't lose to imaginary gf!!
-Heavenly Demon gf too strong lol
Post-'no parents' vibe had thawed sometime.
This mad statement fest would bury that one decently.
Then, an odd chat jumped out.
-Hwajin bday fanmeet?
'......?'
Hwajin birthday?
Heavenly Demon... has a birthday? The fake profile one? Fanmeet?
Odd combo tilted my head— similar chats followed.
-Oh yeah Aug 8 Hwajin bday
-Timing for bday good
-Guest real?
-Guest unimaginable
-Keychi no bias lol
-Heavenly Demon-nim bday gift want what?
-Full Gupailbang? Praying to win ㅠㅠ
Ja-ha, finally noticing, asked the screen confused.
"Fanmeet? Guest? What's that?"
-Hwajin bday fanmeet?
-Kids don't know?
-Didn't know guest either?
-CEO work lol
-Check CEO SNS Ja-ha lol
Bad feeling.
Quickly opened CEO's SNS.
This post:
-Martial Arts Criminal Fanmeet, 2022.08.08 scheduled.
Coincidentally Heavenly Demon's official profile and passport date.
Fake bday fanmeet no big deal.
CEO probably matched for Heavenly Demon stan.
Real issue below.
Under schedule:
-Special Guests: Exiled Disciples 7^^
The CEO invited ex-members to Gupailbang fanmeet.