Chapter 27
Chapter 27
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Translator: TrueDetective
Chapter: 27
Chapter Title: 9. Even the Heavenly Demon Must Do Fan Service (5)
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The Heavenly Demon casually signed the album Shin Tae-eul held out and handed it back.
Shin Tae-eul moved aside without a word.
As I stood there clutching my Post-it note, the Heavenly Demon snatched it from my hand.
He slipped his hand under the table and incinerated it with Samadhi True Fire.
I always think this, but internal energy is really so convenient.
The CEO hadn't shown up at the fan meeting, but it never hurts to be cautious.
I deliberately avoided looking toward Shin Tae-eul and turned my head to the right.
As another Beggar Clan disciple moved up to the Heavenly Demon's spot, I overheard the conversation at Jaha's seat next to him.
"Oh, noona, you were here last time too, right?"
"Huh, yeah. Jaha remembers me, noona?"
"Of course. The nickname you wanted me to write last time... 'Marry Me, Jaha!' Right?"
'Marry Me, Jaha'—that...?
Jaha Marriage was a notorious Beggar Clan disciple even I, who religiously checks Witaxi, knew well.
The problem was she was infamous for all the wrong reasons....
Just then, I heard the Beggar Clan disciple now in front of the Heavenly Demon snicker.
A late bloomer who hadn't quite bulked up yet timidly offered his album and gift.
"Hwajin-ah, happy birthday."
"Sure. Want me to write your nickname or something here too?"
The disciple's lips quivered at the Heavenly Demon's question.
"Should I...?"
"Go ahead."
"Then write 'WuxiaIdolWhat10YearFan'."
For a moment, the fans getting signatures on both sides fell silent.
Soon, I realized what this silence meant.
These two... they pick fights every time they cross paths on Witaxi.
It's said that enemies meet on a single log bridge, but rival fans run into each other at signings.
Jaha Marriage glanced over, perhaps hearing WuxiaIdolWhat10YearFan's voice.
WuxiaIdolWhat10YearFan stared straight ahead with a sweet yet somehow twisted smile.
The Heavenly Demon said with a troubled look.
"WuxiaIdolWhat10YearFan, we can't write curses on signatures."
"Oh, really?"
"How about 'WuxiaIdolWhatStrawberryHotteokFan'?"
"...I don't mind, but why strawberry hotteok?"
"I ate some in the waiting room earlier. It was delicious."
While the Heavenly Demon carefully drew a strawberry hotteok on the signature, I could feel Jaha Marriage staring at WuxiaIdolWhat10YearFan.
...They won't fight here, will they?
Still, with her fave Jaha right there, Jaha Marriage didn't cause any trouble and moved to the next seat.
The signing order was Lee Tae-geuk—Joo Jaha—Wi Hwajin—Baek Na-han—Namgoong Jun—Best Swordsman.
I grew anxious and moved behind Namgoong Jun.
But even when Namgoong Jun's turn came, the two didn't cause a major scene.
Just that when they went down, I noticed they ended up in adjacent seats.
WuxiaIdolWhat10YearFan, who had sat first, seemed to say something to Jaha Marriage.
What are they talking about? Cold sweat broke out.
Perhaps noticing my anxiety, the Heavenly Demon glanced at me and sent a transmission.
[Don't freak out. They won't cause a scene here for the sake of their sect's face.]
Is this an idol stage or the martial world?
Then, a sudden thought flashed through my mind.
At the end of the signing line, spotting the pink tracksuit getting a signature from the Alliance Leader, I whispered the idea into the Heavenly Demon's ear.
After hearing me out, the Heavenly Demon looked up at me and snickered.
"You sly bastard."
* * *
Witaxi nickname 'ZhongnanAllIn' was a Beggar Clan disciple who'd stuck exclusively to Zhongnan Sect from Gu Pa Il Bang's debut.
After the sudden departure of his entry point, first-gen Zhongnan Yuk Jong-nam.
A brief hiatus, then switching to second-gen Zhongnan Shin Tae-eul—but even he left.
Now, in a state of enlightenment, he awaited the third-gen Zhongnan recruitment—a forced all-fan.
ZhongnanAllIn had bought a few Martial World Public albums out of loyalty to Gu Pa Il Bang but hadn't aimed for the fan meeting.
But what was this twist of fate?
-Special Guest: Excommunicated Disciples 7^^
The belated CEO fan meeting notice.
Excommunicated Disciples 7. Meaning, attending meant seeing both faves at once.
Seeing Yuk Jong-nam and Shin Tae-eul together in one lifetime.
ZhongnanAllIn sobbed.
'I should've bought 100 albums!!'
ZhongnanAllIn prayed daily at his shrine of clear water for a fan meeting ticket.
If sincerity worked, great—but no such luck.
Miraculously, he bought a scalped ticket at a premium and strutted into the venue.
Only to find his adjacent seats occupied by infamous Witaxi troublemakers: Jaha Marriage and WuxiaIdolWhat10YearFan.
After signing ended and the stage cleared for the talk show.
A tense exchange went down on ZhongnanAllIn's right.
"We keep running into each other at places like this."
"Yeah. Lucky draw for you?"
"I'm not that lucky—bought about 100 and hit the jackpot. How many did you buy, Jaha Marriage-nim?"
"How many was it? Too lazy to count, but I collected all Jaha's photocards this time."
"You collect photocards too. I got a bunch of Jaha, but if you've got them all, you don't need more."
"Jaha photocards—the more the merrier. If you haven't finished Jun's set, want some of mine? Got extras."
"Nah, I gotta pull them myself."
Both smiled warmly, spoke friendly, but an icy aura hung in the air.
If he could, he'd swap seats.
The pink tracksuit on his left was off too.
She was texting on an old flip phone when staff pointed out no phones allowed—she smashed it right there.
There was that legend of a hardcore mom fan at a past Gu Pa Il Bang concert who, called out for her pro camera, crushed it one-handed and kept watching.
But seeing a phone smashed next to him up close was dizzying.
'Jong-nam-ah, Tae-eul-ah. When are you coming out? These people are weird.'
Without you two, I'd have gone home.
Soon the stage cleared fully, six chairs set for the talk show.
'Huh...?'
Why only six? With dropout members, shouldn't it be 13?
ZhongnanAllIn grew uneasy.
'No way they canceled...?'
As the talk show wrapped with no sign of exiles, the fan seats stirred.
But as more time passed, ZhongnanAllIn calmed instead.
Cold logic: they left because they hated Gu Pa Il Bang.
No way they'd show up nicely.
Still, ignoring fans still waiting like this? How many came hoping for the full group.
Tears welled up right then.
The screen behind the members capturing them suddenly went dark.
"Huh, what's this...?"
The Alliance Leader's confused voice came through the speakers mid-MC.
At first I thought it was Hwajin's birthday event, but even the Leader didn't know—must be a company surprise.
The dark screen popped back on.
ZhongnanAllIn gasped.
-Gu Pa Il Bang~
-Ga! (Drink!)
-Hello, we're the Excommunicated Disciples~
Yuk Jong-nam's smiling face filled the screen.
Behind him, dropout members clustered.
ZhongnanAllIn scanned their faces quickly.
'No Tae-eul...!'
Of course, Shin Tae-eul joined after Yuk Jong-nam left and was the last to depart—no link to these six.
Half joy at seeing Jong-nam, half regret at missing Tae-eul.
Mixed feelings, ZhongnanAllIn clamped his mouth and stared.
Yuk Jong-nam opened with his old fresh smile.
-First, thanks to the CEO who invited us to the fan meeting, Gu Pa Il Bang members who allowed it. Above all, thanks to you lowly fans who waited for immature us!
-We wanted to see your faces in person, but as non-members now, showing up would be too shameless—so we're sending our hearts via video call.
-Sorry for worrying you all this time...
Just a few words, and some fans already teared up.
Fidgeting beside Yuk Jong-nam, Mad Sword suddenly jumped forward.
The handsome face-hider who'd stirred scandals everywhere for baring it shamelessly.
His black mask pulled under his eyes looked unfamiliar.
The sunken eye sockets ached even ZhongnanAllIn, indifferent to Mad Sword.
-D-don't hate us... th-thanks...
Stammering urgently, he darted behind Jong-nam—heartbreaking.
Jaha Marriage next to him dabbed tears with a handkerchief.
Even if she'd trashed other members as a Jaha stan, she was still a Gu Pa Il Bang fan at heart.
Then Jong-nam shared some updates.
ZhongnanAllIn missed most through tears.
But the bombshell stopped them.
-We're on screen now, but soon we'll meet you all on stage as full Gu Pa Il Bang.
...Full 'Gu Pa Il Bang' on 'stage'?
Not just fans stirred—even stage members flinched watching the screen.
Jong-nam gazed beyond a moment, then grinned.
-Thanks again to cult CEO-nim who gave us this second chance.
Anyone could hear a done deal with the CEO—ZhongnanAllIn hiccuped in shock.
Jong-nam's words continued.
-And Hwajin-ah, happy birthday. Thanks for the courage you gave us. The cake we sent together is your gift—picked your taste. Eat well, see you next.
-Lowlies, see you next!
Screen off with Jong-nam's beaming face—replaced by Heavenly Demon's impassive one on screen.
'The dropouts know Hwajin...?'
Same batch trainees maybe.
Whatever courage he gave his fave, that arrogant face suddenly looked different.
Then, at screen edge, a manager carried a two-tier cake onstage.
Probably Jong-nam's gift—looked like...
'Wedding cake?'
Could've grabbed it from a nearby wedding.
Hwajin has that taste, huh.
Heavenly Demon took the cake from the manager, faced the fans, and spoke.
"Excommunicated scum, lowly fans alike—thanks for remembering my forgotten birthday, all of you."
"It wasn't forgotten! It was a surprise!"
Jaha snapped back indignantly, ignored as Heavenly Demon continued.
"I've received all gifts—now speak your desires."
Desires...?
Fans and members alike looked baffled, so he cocked his head.
"Didn't you offer tribute because you have desires?"
So... he's offering fan service?
First idol to straight-up say 'name your wish' after gifts.
Nearby manager facepalmed.
Beggar Clan disciples puzzled, he pointed a long, beautiful finger at ZhongnanAllIn.
A staffer rushed over with a mic.
ZhongnanAllIn gripped it dazedly as Heavenly Demon said.
"You first."
"W-what?"
"What you desire from this seat."
Like... aegyo or something?
Would he give 100 million if asked?
ZhongnanAllIn hesitated ambiguously, then cautiously said.
"Hea... health?"
"You want me healthy?"
"N-no, Hwajin, you stay healthy!"
"That's your wish?"
Th-that's lame, he says.
Heavenly Demon pointed at adjacent Jaha Marriage.
"You?"
Mic passed, she chirped brightly.
"Me? Nothing particular from Hwajin~"
Doesn't he know she's a Jaha stan?
Plum blossom merch dangling everywhere.
"You then?"
WuxiaIdolWhat10YearFan smiled sheepishly, gripped the mic, and murmured.
"Hmm... Don't we all just want Hwajin to have a happy birthday?"
"Truly?"
Fans murmured at his question.
Most agreed.
"Health is enough!"
"Hwajin-ah, don't get sick!"
"You promised a thousand years of Gu Pa Il Bang~"
"Take it off."
Some selfish asks mixed in.
Heavenly Demon gazed at the fans, faint smile.
"Birthday wishes without ulterior motives—it's been ages."
Is this guy really a Chinese tycoon...?
"Even so, this won't do. I received, so I must repay."
"Take it off!"
"I've prepared modest counter-tribute—take it on your way out."
"Take it OFF!!!!"
"Then, after Martial World Public stage finale, we'll end here. Good work, all."
With that, red fabric descended from above—the Martial World Public encore began.
* * *
The fan meeting ended safely.
Other members looked a bit confused, though.
During signing, I'd asked the Heavenly Demon to transmit to Shin Tae-eul.
Contact the dropouts for a video call setup.
Inspired by Jaha and Namgoong fans maintaining polite public faces for their faves.
The CEO's fave?
Heavenly Demon.
So CEO wouldn't tarnish his image.
Dropouts acting chummy with Heavenly Demon tied their images to his.
World runs on 'birds of a feather.'
Even if dropouts blabbed about full-group return, CEO couldn't outright deny.
It'd weird out Heavenly Demon's 'gave them courage' image.
CEO posted special guests on SNS whimsically—hoisted by his own petard.
But.
"What was that at the end? 'Speak your desires'?"
I asked; he shrugged nonchalantly.
"On my birthdays, followers offer tribute, then name who to kill—that's tradition."
"You planned to take hit orders at a fan meeting!?"
"So I asked what you desire."
Absurd.
"Anyway, CEO knows now—you won't heed him."
"No, Heavenly Demon-nim."
"No?"
"Could've made it exposé call: 'No talk of appearing, CEO solo move.' But I asked them to thank CEO."
"So, not picking sides—instead, mutual gain?"
"Yes."
"Why? You'll clash with CEO eventually."
"Not yet time."
He tilted his head slightly.
"Not yet?"
"If CEO really did something to dropouts."
If he silenced Ami...
"To avenge properly, wait for the moment."
"Hmm."
"First, hear Shin Tae-eul's story."
We both looked up.
'Yongsan Sauna' neon flickered purple.