Chapter 34
Chapter 34
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Translator: TrueDetective
Chapter: 34
Chapter Title: 11. Just One Step Between an Idol and a Madman (1)
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Shin Tae-eul was one thing, the Masked Expert another.
And now Dang Sa-cheon too.
The fact that they all looked down on me because I lacked strength showed just how powerless I was without inner energy.
Even in wuxia novels, the waiter apprentices at inns were always the first to suffer at the hands of arrogant martial artists.
But I was a pro waiter—no, a pro manager.
I knew full well that I had to protect my own body.
The stun gun was something I'd bought not long ago.
Right before heading to the Yongsan sauna to meet Shin Tae-eul, I'd picked it up just in case.
I'd been wondering if it'd been a waste since I hadn't needed it.
But it had found the perfect use, so that was a relief.
However...
"...Could you move him inside?"
"He'll wake up soon anyway. Why bother."
The Heavenly Demon flatly refused the request to carry the unconscious Dang Sa-cheon indoors.
I glanced at the CEO, who smiled kindly and refused as well.
"Sorry. I've never lifted anything heavier than a wuxia novel."
Was that something to brag about?
That's when I noticed a few Beggar Clan disciples creeping closer.
"Are you guys filming something right now?"
"Whoa, it's really the Gupailbang CEO!"
"And that looks like the manager from Gupailbang."
"Does that mean it's really the Heavenly Demon over there?"
A crowd had already formed in a circle around us before I knew it.
Some recognized me and the CEO now that our masks were off.
Others were snapping photos or videos with their phones.
The CEO flashed an innocent, pure-hearted smile—like he'd never told a lie in his life—and replied.
"Hello. We're shooting a Gupailbang music video. This gentleman is the Heavenly Demon's stunt double."
"Ah~"
They seemed to buy it easily, probably because of the flashy stunts like leaping up to the second floor just moments ago.
Then some people appeared out of nowhere and started dispersing the onlookers, keeping them far enough away that they couldn't hear our conversation.
The CEO really was efficient. Good thing I'd blackmailed—er, asked—him for help.
They strung up yellow caution tape around the area, and that's when Dang Sa-cheon twitched, let out a low groan, and started to rise.
Perfect timing to wake up.
If he'd stayed out any longer, it definitely would've looked suspicious to the crowd.
"Urgh..."
Was his five years as a trainee all for nothing?
Even after taking two jolts from the stun gun, Dang Sa-cheon came to in no time.
Just how tough was a martial artist's body?
"You with us?"
"......"
Dang Sa-cheon scanned me, the Heavenly Demon, and the surrounding people with uneasy eyes.
"Lots of eyes on us. So don't try anything stupid—just sit there nice and straight."
In case he lunged right after waking, I kept a bit of distance between us.
Dang Sa-cheon glanced at the stun gun in my hand, stared up at me blankly for a moment.
Then he dropped to his knees in front of me and bowed his head low.
More precisely, he slammed his forehead into the ground.
I stepped back in surprise, and Dang Sa-cheon shouted loudly.
"House Lord, I'm utterly convinced!"
...What the hell?
"'Electrocuted,' you mean?"
"No! I was electrocuted *and* convinced."
"Convinced by what?"
"By Brother Ox's ruthlessness and pettiness!"
...Did he hit his head or something?
That was weird. I'd clearly zapped him in the side.
"After those two shocks from the stun gun, it was like my mind cleared right up."
"Yeah, well, it literally sparked too."
"House Lord, as a representative of the Tang Clan, I've always strived to be ruthless and petty... but I never knew there was a higher level than this Dang Sa-cheon."
He blabbered nonsense I couldn't even follow, his clenched fists trembling.
"Instead of diligently building up inner energy, you carry a stun gun bought with money, and without even giving me a chance to speak, you zap me twice in a row... How can a person be so cowardly...? How can such a despicable person even exist!!"
"...You're just insulting me now, right?"
When I asked, Dang Sa-cheon shook his head vigorously in denial.
"It's sincere. Truly sincere admiration. You're too good to be the head of the Tang Clan. Now I get why the CEO debuted Namgung Jun instead of me. With Brother Ox by your side, my amateurish concept couldn't possibly hold up!"
"...I want to pick apart everything you just said, but first: who the hell told you the Tang Clan has to be despicable?"
"Oh, that was me."
The CEO cheerfully raised his hand, admitting it.
This CEO really ruined lives in so many different ways.
I shot him a cold glare, and he continued innocently.
"But debuting Jun instead of Sa-cheon wasn't about the concept."
Dang Sa-cheon jumped in surprise at the unexpected words.
"Pardon? Then what was it?!"
"Well... on the final test day, Sa-cheon said he'd appeal as Tang Clan, and he slipped laxatives into my tea."
Ah, so he was just a psycho.
Dang Sa-cheon protested as if wronged.
"But that doesn't mean I could've used real poison."
"If it'd been real poison, I might've reconsidered."
The CEO was a psycho too.
"Luckily I noticed right before and didn't drink it... but it was a close call."
"Ah... so you didn't drink it......"
"? Why do you sound disappointed, Ox?"
Anyway.
"Forget the admiration crap. Where's the recording file."
"Since my body and soul have surrendered to you, Brother, you don't need to press—I’ll hand it all over."
"......"
This felt like I'd picked up someone even weirder than Shin Tae-eul...
Only the Heavenly Demon, whose head was full of flowers, watched the scene with satisfaction.
"He's handing it over willingly—why the long face? Didn't it work out?"
"Yeah, but something feels off."
Dang Sa-cheon didn't seem to be lying to get out of this.
But I had a nagging feeling I'd overlooked something important.
Still, I decided to think about it later.
A pair of cops was approaching—someone must've called them.
"Excuse me, we got a report."
"Ah, yes. Thank you for coming......"
"Someone said they climbed the building and sprayed a fire extinguisher."
Yeah, fair enough reason to call.
While the CEO and I answered Cop 1's questions politely, Cop 2 eyed the Heavenly Demon up and down.
"Unique outfit. Were you filming a movie or something?"
"Yeah, they said it's a music video shoot."
"Figures~ This street has all these quirky buildings, so film crews come by a lot. But why the casual speech...?"
"Ah, sorry!"
I hurriedly wedged myself between them, dumping the explanation on the CEO.
"Sorry about that. He's from overseas. Heavenly Demon, these are police officers."
"What's police?"
"They work for the government offices."
The Heavenly Demon made a face like he couldn't believe it.
"How dare the government meddle in the affairs of the jianghu?"
"...You seem to have forgotten, but you're not a jianghu man right now—you're an idol."
"What's that got to do with it?"
"You're a worker who gets government protection."
"I see. My apologies. This Seat is a foreigner and doesn't know much."
The Heavenly Demon's modern manners were improving by the day.
Cop 2 tilted his head.
"Now that you mention it, that speech pattern feels familiar. Isn't he that idol the chief's eldest daughter always sings about marrying?"
Then Cop 1 chimed in knowingly.
"The chief's eldest likes that girl who the street's named after, Joo Ja-ha—and that mask over there is some rookie Heavenly Demon or whatever."
"Oh, a rookie? Tough break coming from overseas."
"Still, you should've gotten permits first if you're shooting."
At Cop 1's perfectly reasonable point, the CEO smiled brightly.
"We did get the permit. It must've just gone through—hasn't reached you yet."
He showed Cop 1 his phone screen.
Probably the permit or something; Cop 1's expression softened a bit.
He'd been texting someone earlier—must've pulled strings for the permit.
"Alright then. Good to know it was a shoot. Weird stuff happens on this street way too often. Last time, report of two high school girls fighting—turns out they trashed a whole restaurant."
"Kids these days are strong. Hopping two stories like it's nothing."
No wonder they weren't too shocked hearing about the Heavenly Demon and Dang Sa-cheon.
The Beggar Clan disciples who came here must've caused plenty of incidents already.
The cafe owner where the Heavenly Demon and Dang Sa-cheon had made a mess seemed sorted too—the CEO had handled compensation and hush money early on, turning it into a simple mishap.
But there was an unexpected snag.
"How dare the government interfere in jianghu affairs!!"
Dang Sa-cheon really wasn't right in the head.
Maybe the debut rejection hit him hard.
The Heavenly Demon, who had said basically the same thing minutes ago, now looked at him with pitiful eyes.
"Isn't that guy an idol too?"
"Eh... something like that."
"Something?"
"A stone-headed idiot."
"I see."
"Excuse me, is this some kind of street performance?"
I shook my head at the flustered cop.
Luckily, calming Dang Sa-cheon was easy.
I gave him a hard look, and he snapped to, answering the cops' questions meekly like a normal modern person.
"Congrats on the minion, Manager."
"What minion? Once I get the recording file, I'll never see him again."
"We'll see about that......"
The Heavenly Demon grinned.
Why grin like that? Gave me chills.
* * *
Long story short, we didn't get the recording file.
"I swear I left it in my car......"
"......"
"Urk... To think you'd look at a wretch like me with eyes that say you never expected anything from the start...!"
What kind of look was that supposed to be?
But truth be told, I hadn't held high hopes for Dang Sa-cheon anyway.
I'd figured out he was nuts in that short time.
"No file, fine—but you can take down the post you uploaded, right?"
"Of course. Delete it now?"
"Nah... Leave it up until we find a more effective way."
"Got it."
Taking it down without prep would just make people think the agency scrubbed it.
And if the original vanished, rumors could balloon even more.
Plus.
'The recording file... the CEO must've snagged it.'
Right after the cops left, the CEO said he'd done all he could and took off.
High chance he grabbed Dang Sa-cheon's file in the meantime.
Judging by the Heavenly Demon's meaningful vibe, he probably knew the CEO would.
So why not give me a heads-up?
The Heavenly Demon could be inscrutable sometimes.
He'd go along with what I wanted at first, but at crucial moments, he did nothing. Why?
Sometimes it even felt like he was testing me and the CEO.
"Um......"
Dang Sa-cheon cautiously spoke up, breaking my thoughts.
"You're not erasing the recording to release it publicly?"
"Yeah."
"May I ask why?"
"You recorded it too, right? The latter half is so ridiculous that if we release it, the first part'll just look like a script."
"......"
His silence meant he saw it differently.
Dang Sa-cheon, looking a bit flustered but not backing down, asked again.
"Then why come to me?"
"Why? You posted on the anonymous site."
"True, but... did you really have to come to me specifically......?"
"What're you talking about?"
Dang Sa-cheon gave me a strange look.
"There were others there that day besides me. Didn't you know?"
"Besides you, who?"
I'd thought it was a secret meeting with Shin Tae-eul, but apparently not.
As I pondered, an unexpected name came out of Dang Sa-cheon's mouth.
"Namgung Jun."
"...What?"
Dang Sa-cheon blinked his big eyes and added.
"He came out of there with a recorder too."