Chapter 32
Chapter 32
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: TrueDetective
Chapter: 32
Chapter Title: 10. Heavenly Demon, Are You... Something? (4)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The CEO asked with a resigned look on his face.
“How... exactly can I help you?”
“Find the leaker and secure the full recording file.”
“That’s not too hard...”
Right. It wasn’t hard at all.
Taking down rumors online or tracking down leakers was something I’d been doing all along.
I’d thought it strange that the CEO hadn’t handled it himself when the recording first surfaced, but it seemed he’d planned to use this to rein me in.
Fat chance.
There’s nothing scarier than an office worker who’s made up her mind to go all out.
The CEO seemed to send a few messages on his phone, then nodded as a reply came in.
“We’ll have it for you by the end of the day.”
“That’s fast.”
“If we’re helping, we might as well do it right.”
He added with a hint of regret.
“I’d originally planned to make you do the full initiation rites first...”
“Would you?”
“I figured you might, surprisingly. You’re the soft type.”
“Me?”
“Even for Jun’s sake. You’re pretty attached to your idols, aren’t you? You go that far for members who’ve already left. And Jun’s still active.”
“...”
He sure had no qualms bringing up the departed members right in front of me.
Did he think I still didn’t know what had happened to them...?
Or did it not matter even if I did know about their breakdowns?
Maybe he was just testing the waters.
I replied without a flicker of emotion.
“Is the CEO’s obsession with the Heavenly Demon that intense?”
At my words, the CEO grinned like a sly fox.
“Touché. Should I thank you for not making me go through with the full rites?”
Suddenly, I didn’t want to see that smiling face anymore.
I’d gotten what I wanted, so it was time to go.
I glanced at the Heavenly Demon, and he caught my meaning, rising from his seat.
“We’re done here.”
The CEO stood to follow, looking even more disappointed than before.
“Leaving already? The talk went well—why not stay longer?”
“Got a schedule.”
“I thought your afternoon was free.”
“My premium free trial ends today.”
“Free trial?”
“Mukbangs I still need to watch.”
“...N-Tube, got it. Just pay and watch.”
The Heavenly Demon raised one eyebrow at the CEO’s words.
“You must be loaded.”
“Enough to make only Heavenly Demon ads pop up on N-Tube.”
“I haven’t shot any yet.”
“You will soon. We’re picking something that fits your image.”
Ah, so that’s why variety shows were packed but no ads—he’d been shopping around.
What kind of ad would suit the Heavenly Demon? I was already anxious.
“If you’re really that busy, at least have a meal...”
“...A meal?”
“The expensive kind. I’m the CEO, after all. Worlds apart from what a manager can afford.”
He was tempting him with lines straight out of a kidnapping playbook.
“...How expensive?”
But the money-grubbing Heavenly Demon hesitated anyway.
I stared at him intently, tapping the smartphone in my shirt pocket.
Finally snapping out of it, the Heavenly Demon shook his head firmly.
“If you want to buy me off, buy a mala tang joint.”
“Shall I?”
“Your money bragging’s gone too far??”
The Heavenly Demon flew into a rage, and the dinner invite fell through.
“Then I’ll see you out, Heavenly Demon.”
“Damn... Next time, dinner for sure.”
Give a carrot, then the stick—you’ve gotta follow up with merch.
Toward the disappointed CEO, I magnanimously offered.
“You can have the Mukkukmun.”
“...!”
Even torn in half, the merch seemed fine—he saw us off with a satisfied look.
On the way back home.
The Heavenly Demon asked.
“What do I gotta do to get as rich as that CEO?”
...He must’ve been pretty pissed he couldn’t buy his own mala tang shop.
* * *
Back at the dorm, Namgung Jun greeted us with a face full of worry.
He was the only member without an afternoon schedule, so the dorm was quiet.
“Heavenly Demon, um... are you... okay?”
“Just coming back from the CEO’s.”
At the mention of the CEO, Namgung Jun visibly relaxed.
Watching that expression felt oddly off.
The CEO didn’t give a damn about Namgung Jun’s image.
Yet Namgung Jun clearly believed the CEO stepping in would fix everything.
But I didn’t feel like rubbing it in his face that he wasn’t even on the CEO’s radar.
“Sorry, Jun. We were supposed to get close, and right away the Heavenly Demon causes trouble.”
“Huh? Oh, no, not at all. It’s fine. Really, don’t worry about me.”
Namgung Jun hesitated after saying that, then cautiously asked.
“You don’t think I sent that link because I was worried about my image, do you...?”
“No. Of course not.”
The moment we faced each other back at the dorm.
I knew right away.
Namgung Jun wasn’t desperate at all.
Even with a scandal tying straight to the group’s image, he was purely worried about others.
No such naive idol exists.
At least not among those who debut after five years as trainees.
-I was pretty shocked too. Jun worked harder than anyone as a trainee... I never thought he’d turn so listless after debuting.
Even the CEO felt that disconnect.
‘This guy isn’t Namgung Jun.’
What stood before me wore Namgung Jun’s face, but it was something else.
No ambition, no resentment, nothing.
No pride in being an idol, even.
So why was “it” doing idol work in Namgung Jun’s body?
‘But that anxious look earlier was real...’
He’d seemed genuinely worried about whether the ex-members were really coming back, feeling like an outsider in the group.
There was truth in those words.
Was he anxious about their return for some other reason?
“You’re not Namgung Jun, are you?”
...If only I could just ask outright.
This Namgung Jun seemed mentally fragile—I wasn’t sure how he’d react if his cover was blown.
“Namgung Seya.”
Then the Heavenly Demon casually called out to Namgung Jun.
Even though they’d grown closer, Namgung Jun still looked at him with rigid deference.
...Even as a third-month rookie, Namgung Jun was the senior.
The Heavenly Demon smirked faintly.
“I’m shooting an ad soon.”
The Heavenly Demon was the type to brag about himself too.
No wonder he was mad at the CEO.
Namgung Jun’s eyes widened in pure, unjealous surprise.
“Really...? Congrats, Heavenly Demon. But with... the controversy, or rumor, or whatever... you’re still getting ad offers?”
“The CEO’s handling it. What can I do? And he’ll fix that mess too.”
“This fast?”
“Grab the leaker, squeeze the full file out of them, done.”
“The recording? Yeah, the full thing’s not a big deal, so they want it out there.”
“Right. How’d you know?”
“I’m an idol too. So, what ad’s coming for you, Heavenly Demon?”
“Something befitting my presence.”
I eyed the Heavenly Demon coldly as he cleverly repurposed the CEO’s words, but then he dropped something unexpected.
“So, let’s do it together.”
“...Do what?”
“The shoot.”
Namgung Jun blinked blankly, barely managing to ask.
“Together?”
“Yeah.”
The Heavenly Demon smiled benevolently.
“You’re my bro, aren’t you?”
Watching N-Tube on premium free trial, but paying for Oflix?
“No, even so, an ad...”
Even Namgung Jun, who wasn’t big on ads, teared up quick.
No surprise—the CEO had lined up a solo gig.
Even I’d be touched if an attention hog like the Heavenly Demon offered that.
The Heavenly Demon, pleased with Namgung Jun’s reaction, swept his hair back over his shoulder.
“Keep this benevolence of mine to yourself. I’ve got zero plans to spill it on Choi Choi So or whatever for a popularity boost.”
“...”
The Heavenly Demon’s obvious ulterior motive was so transparent it almost seemed pure, so Namgung Jun probably thought he was just being modest—still looking grateful.
He’d definitely go on Choi Choi So and spin an episode starting with “Heavenly Demon hyung told me never to tell...”
Anyway, prepping stories for his own variety appearances wasn’t bad.
Clear this scandal, reveal on Choi Choi So that he’s shooting the ad with Namgung Jun, and image recovery would be swift.
“I’m... really touched. You’re in hot water too, but taking care of me...”
Namgung Jun looked sincerely impressed.
The Heavenly Demon chuckled.
“Yeah. Where else you gonna find a badass like me?”
There was a word I couldn’t let slide.
“Badass?”
“Earlier, I called petty types losers. So generous types are badasses.”
“...Manager hyung, I’m scared I’ll get badass controversy now.”
“That’s why I confiscated your smartphone.”
“Good thing.”
“What’s good about it? Repaying kindness with enmity?”
I should put kid locks on the Heavenly Demon’s phone too.
Then Namgung Jun pondered briefly, as if resolving something, and spoke.
“Ah, um, about repaying the favor... I think I can.”
“Gonna give me your phone?”
“No way! No, hear me out—don’t misunderstand. Actually, I...”
Just as Namgung Jun started to continue, my phone blared loudly.
“Why’s your phone screaming?”
“CEO’s calling.”
“Ah.”
Well, he’d bragged about handling it quick, so probably the leaker was caught.
I picked up and asked right away.
“Found them?”
-We did.
But the CEO didn’t stop there.
-Found them, but...
“Why trail off?”
-A slight problem cropped up.
A problem even with the CEO on it?
I felt a bad vibe and pressed.
“...What kind of problem?”
-You’ll get it now, but... Gu File Bang fans have built up some internal energy too...?
Oh no.
The CEO continued in an awkward tone.
-The leaker bolted with qinggong or something. Ridiculous.
“...CEO, can I say one thing?”
-Go ahead.
“You’re the absolute worst. You only know wuxia, play favorites with the Heavenly Demon, do jack as head manager, spread your cultivation manual worldwide but can’t even qinggong to catch a leaker—I’m quitting this company.”
-...Miss Gu?
“Yeah.”
-That wasn’t one thing.
“True.”
-Bring Heavenly Demon to Anyang. We’ll keep tracking the leaker.
“You’re the absolute worst—”
And the call cut off.
The CEO figured he’d done enough.
“Let’s go.”
“Where to?”
“Anyang.”
The Heavenly Demon’s face lit up noticeably.
Poor guy—Anyang Mala Tang was in Daehakro.