Chapter 24
Chapter 24
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Translator: TrueDetective
Chapter: 24
Chapter Title: 9. Even the Heavenly Demon Has to Do Fan Service (2)
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-JahaMarryMe: What the lololol Do I have to pay my own money to go to the fanmeeting and see a dropout member's face? Lololol
└BigBangTheory: Right? Lololololol
└JahaJahaTrueFan: From the live, it seemed like even Jaha didn't know, I'm worried
└MurimIdolWTF10thGen: Yeah, it's worrying. Having to face Gamemem and Pimem ㅠㅠ
└JahaMarryMe: Dude lololol If Jaha's Gamemem, would the Jongnam Sect come as guests? Use your brain~
└MurimIdolWTF10thGen: Who knows? If they paid to make them drop out, they'll pay to invite them to the fanmeeting too lololol
└JahaMarryMe: All the gullible idiots who believe in that live lololol Well, they even contracted a talentless guy like Namgoong Joon with money, right?
└MurimIdolWTF10thGen: Yeah, your fave's vocal parts got stolen by my fave who has no talent for it? I can feel your trapezius twitching from jealousy all the way here?
└JahaMarryMe: What's twitching is your fave's pitch lolololol
└MurimIdolWTF10thGen: Pretending to be chill with that fake laugh, but we can tell you're grinding your teeth replying lolololol
└108ArhatsTrueFan: Mentioning rumors and stirring fandom fights gets you demoted. Read the Witaxi notice please
-LoveOurBaldHeadNo: I thought it was great we get to see Gupailbang complete right away with the special guest, but some people don't like it ㅠㅠ
└WorldRank0TopSword: No, I'm excited for Gupailbang complete too. If you've been stanning since debut, you'd feel the same?
└108ArhatsTrueFan: I wanna see Gupailbang complete ASAP. Even if I don't get fanmeeting tickets, just seeing one article pic of them together would be nice
└JongnamSect3rdGenBurned: I cried ㅠㅠㅠㅠ We didn't even know if they were dead or alive, and now complete lineup ㅠㅠㅠㅠ
└MurimUnification: What? If you stanned from debut you'd know? They suddenly dropped out and ghosted schedules how many times? Forgot how hard the kids worked rearranging routes every time?
└WorldRank0TopSword: I used to resent them, but now I just miss them more? None of the dropouts have done well outside the group either……
└GupailbangCompletePrayers: Agree with above
-NamgoongFamilyServant: Late stan so I don't know well, but does Gupailbang usually have dropout members as fanmeeting guests? The group I stanned before cut ties completely with dropouts and avoided overlapping schedules, that's why I'm asking
└ForbesTopMonkLikeMan1: First time for us too with dropouts at fanmeeting. We had no news on them before
└NamgoongFamilyServant: But inviting them to fanmeeting means it wasn't a bad breakup?
└ForbesTopMonkLikeMan1: Hm… sorry, dunno about that
└NamgoongFamilyServant: Huh why not? They wouldn't drop out for no reason right?
└ForbesTopMonkLikeMan1: They did drop out overnight for no reason;;
└NamgoongFamilyServant: ????
└108ArhatsTrueFan: It's literal. They were active fine then suddenly left the group one day. Don't know if it was a bad split or circumstances. There's cases like Shin Tae-eul too, but judge for yourself from the videos
-Ofailbang: Will Shin Tae-eul come to the fanmeeting too?
└BigBangTheory: Too busy clinging to guys and girls to come lololol
└WhatShaman: Shin Tae-eul doing lives like that and showing up at fanmeeting would be embarrassing
└DevilishEntryWhat: Hope he comes to fanmeeting and clears up the misunderstanding. Heart sinks every time bully rumors about the kids pop up
└WorldRank0TopSword: Rep wouldn't add dropouts as special guests without thinking. Maybe to end the rumors once and for all?
* * *
-Special Guest: The Expelled Disciples Seven^^
Staring at the last line of the rep's SNS post, my head cooled right down.
'This is a probe.'
Just like how Heavenly Demon and I tested the rep and Shin Tae-eul publicly in the murim.
The rep threw out bait too.
It was obvious this special guest thing was bogus.
Shin Tae-eul had been with me just moments ago, and knew nothing about the fanmeeting.
By posting this, he knew the dropout members would react somehow.
Last time on the rooftop, the rep had said to come straight to him if there was something to say.
'He really wants to drag out the dropout members somehow…….'
Even if the dropouts showed at the fanmeeting, it wouldn't end well for them.
If they had any brains, they wouldn't fall for this provocation.
He posted knowing full well they wouldn't come……
If they don't show, he'll spin it into some negative PR.
Kichi showed generosity by featuring dropout members at fanmeeting, but they ghosted unilaterally—easy headline.
Suddenly, I recalled when those kids dropped out abruptly.
Kichi treated its celebs exceptionally well.
Especially Gupailbang—the rep made the group for his own stanning, granting every wish, so there was huge resentment toward the dropouts.
They got spoiled by company favoritism and got kicked out for diva attitudes.
Or they made bank and quit idol life.
In Shin Tae-eul's case, he quit for acting but did an exposé live to squeeze more money from the rep—public opinion formed like that.
Even then, the rep posted SNS support for Shin Tae-eul.
Recommended him to big directors, slotted him into dramas and movies himself.
But when he got dropped soon after, I thought that was all Shin Tae-eul amounted to.
'I thought the rep was a scumbag but respectable.'
What kind of person is the rep really?
The guy who summoned the Heavenly Demon and made his idols cultivate inner power wasn't the rep I knew.
What happened with the dropouts that forced them to leave?
If the rep did something awful to them, could he boldly invite them as special guests like this?
"Ox bro."
Jaha's voice calling me snapped me back.
"Um, you know…… The ones coming to our fanmeeting… means they don't hold grudges against us, right?"
After checking the special guest, Jaha abruptly ended the live.
Even after shutting it off, he stayed silent for a while.
No subject needed—who he meant was clear.
Jaha still thought he was the member Shin Tae-eul sniped on broadcast.
With Shin Tae-eul in the Expelled Disciples Seven, facing him would be a sudden burden.
But thinking it over, if Shin Tae-eul showed, the rumors might vanish—positive spin kicking in.
"……."
I couldn't chime in easily.
I knew Shin Tae-eul didn't snipe Jaha.
I knew he wouldn't show at the fanmeeting.
Wish I could tell the truth, but couldn't mention the Masked Expert to clueless Jaha.
Saying I'm sure Shin Tae-eul won't come would look weird too.
So I changed the subject.
"It's your fanmeeting—cool with them as special guests? If it's uncomfortable, should I talk to the rep?"
"Nah, rep doing stuff like this ain't new. He's the one who debuted Heavenly Demon bro on our last broadcast day."
Fair point.
Kids who wouldn't bat an eye at the rep arbitrarily picking fanmeeting guests.
Suddenly, a loud slurp from the side.
Heavenly Demon obliviously slurping noodles.
"Eating so heartily??"
"Why. Want a bite?"
Ramen that good? Wouldn't get it even if I begged.
Then a knock from outside.
I reflexively glanced at Heavenly Demon; he nodded, chewing.
"Go see."
Meant it's okay to open—must be our kids.
No way the Masked Expert chased to my room; I was overreacting.
Opened the door: Alliance Leader and Taiji, even Namgoong Joon whom I hadn't seen.
Odd combo.
They had separate rooms, different ages, not much in common.
Yet all coming to see me together……
"You all here 'cause of rep's SNS?"
"I am, yeah."
Alliance Leader answered, glancing at Taiji and Namgoong Joon.
From the look, they didn't come together.
Probably bumped into each other here by chance.
Taiji spoke flatly under Alliance Leader's gaze.
"Saw the SNS… but live ended, so came to pick up Jaha."
So he saw that chaotic live.
Namgoong Joon came for SNS then?
But a 3-month Gupailbang rookie visiting me over dropout drama? Nah.
By his debut, 4-member lineup was set—no acquaintance with dropouts.
In a way, their exits let trainee Namgoong Joon debut, so maybe anxious.
Namgoong Joon flushed, flustered.
"Y-you were doing a live. But what's the rep's SNS about……."
…Dude doesn't even know his groupmate's live, or the bomb rep dropped on SNS.
Now I get why Taiji senses something off.
Watching closely, yeah, weird.
Barely any idol group awareness.
Practices diligently but nothing extra.
Even with more parts in Murim Public Service, no big joy.
Like his goal is something other than 'idol'……
As me and Taiji stayed quiet, Alliance Leader kindly explained.
"Rep posted on SNS that fanmeeting special guests are the dropout members."
"Whaaat?!"
Namgoong Joon's eyes spun in shock.
"Even dropouts gotta come to fanmeeting……."
That's your shock point?
His idol apathy—planning to quit?
"So what brings Joon to see Ox bro?"
At Alliance Leader's question, Namgoong Joon seemed to remember, mumbling.
"Uh, nothing big… but while walking, seemed like some accident."
"Accident?"
"Yeah, hot spring wall suddenly collapsed."
"……."
Knew he'd wreck something, but a wall?
Just "accident," no other mentions—Shin Tae-eul and Ami must've escaped fine.
More than that, wondered where Namgoong Joon wandered off to—turns out strolling nearby.
Listening to him, I eyed Alliance Leader's face.
No change in expression.
"Hot spring collapsed?!"
Jaha's startled voice from behind.
"Whoa, how? It was fine when we left."
No idea when he snuck behind me—Jaha's reaction clued me in.
Hearing hot spring collapsed, normal to freak like Jaha.
Not stay serene like Alliance Leader.
Me or Taiji either.