Chapter 35
Chapter 35
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Translator: TrueDetective
Chapter: 35
Chapter Title: 11. The Thin Line Between Idol and Return (2)
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Namgoong Joon was there that day?
Holding a recorder, no less?
I didn't fully buy Tang Sa-cheon's story right away.
But there were some suspicious circumstances that rang true.
When we said we planned to release the recording file to clear up the controversy, Namgoong Joon had replied:
-The recording file? Oh, the whole thing isn't much anyway, so you're putting it online, huh.
Yeah.
He already knew the full contents weren't a big deal.
The only ones who knew about that day's conversation were me, the Heavenly Demon, Shin Tae-eul, Tang Sa-cheon, and the Masked Expert.
Just those five.
And right before he left after getting the CEO's call, Namgoong Joon had definitely been about to say something.
-Oh, uh, if it's about repaying a favor... I might be able to do that.
-Please don't misunderstand. Actually, I...
Maybe back then, Namgoong Joon had been about to admit he'd recorded it and hand over the file.
There were these suspicious hints, but that didn't mean I could just swallow Tang Sa-cheon's words hook, line, and sinker.
The surest way would be to check with Namgoong Joon directly.
But the real problem was something else.
If Namgoong Joon really had been there that day.
Then the Heavenly Demon had known not just about the Masked Expert, but also Tang Sa-cheon and Namgoong Joon, and still hadn't said a word.
That would make things feel off somehow.
I initially thought the recording leak was some sasaeng fan's doing.
But Tang Sa-cheon, who snuck into the hot spring that day, was a trainee who'd built up five years of internal energy, right?
As for Namgoong Joon, even if his internal energy level was weak for five years of training, it should've been a familiar presence to the Heavenly Demon.
'Did he hide it on purpose?'
But what would the Heavenly Demon gain by keeping that from me?
I just stared at Tang Sa-cheon for a moment before asking.
"Was it really Namgoong Joon? You sure?"
"Hyungnim, I trained with that guy for a full five years. No way I wouldn't recognize him."
Fair enough. Guys who look like Namgoong Joon aren't exactly common.
And for Tang Sa-cheon, who'd tasted a million volts, it'd be stupid to lie now when it'd be so easy to catch.
Next up, time to ask the Heavenly Demon.
I turned to him, arms crossed, and said.
"Did you hear? Apparently Namgoong Joon was there that day too."
"Yeah. I heard."
The Heavenly Demon showed no sign of panic even hearing Namgoong Joon's name.
He'd kept it from me, but maybe there was no malice.
"Nothing to say to me?"
"There is."
"Out with it."
"When are you giving Cherry back?"
"...My bad. Let me be direct."
I let out a small sigh and continued.
"Heavenly Demon, are you hiding something from me?"
Instead of getting annoyed at my question, the Heavenly Demon smirked.
"You're doubting this seat."
"If there's something you're hiding, just say so. I won't pry for details."
Hearing that, the Heavenly Demon uncrossed his arms and tilted his head.
Uncrossing his arms meant my words had piqued his interest.
"Interesting. You won't pry? And why is that?"
"I've come to rely on you quite a bit lately."
The Heavenly Demon furrowed his brow, as if my words were unexpected.
It was partly said to draw his interest.
But partly true as well.
Under a crazy CEO who tried to sacrifice his own agency's idol to summon the Heavenly Demon.
The only one I could trust was the Heavenly Demon.
Among the members, there was some lunatic following that mad CEO.
And the ex-members weren't people I could lean on.
For reasons I couldn't pinpoint, the Heavenly Demon was awfully lenient with me.
He'd used his demonic gaze before, but never outright violence.
He could snatch my smartphone away in an instant if he wanted, by force, but he didn't.
Even if there was some ulterior motive, the trust built up while living together was real.
So.
"I don't want to get stabbed in the back by someone I trusted."
This was me saying I believed he'd let a little prodding like this slide.
The Heavenly Demon let out a short laugh.
"Does knowing ahead change anything? Even if this seat decides to discard you later, there's nothing you could do."
Nothing I could do?
"You got summoned here against your will too, didn't you?"
I shot back casually.
"You're doing idol activities, so if you're using me, you must have unavoidable circumstances."
"So what?"
"I'll understand."
"Understand?"
"If you warn me now, I won't resent you later. I'll think it was unavoidable."
"How impudent. Why would this seat need your understanding?"
His tone chilled, so I deliberately replied playfully.
"We're sworn brothers, aren't we?"
The Heavenly Demon laughed in disbelief.
"Guys who trust others so easily always went first."
His words said that, but I couldn't read any displeasure from him anymore.
'He bought it...'
Something I'd realized from dealing with the Heavenly Demon so far.
He had a weakness for righteous, upright behavior.
I didn't know why the Heavenly Demon, leader of the Demonic Cult, was like that.
The first time I said I'd take responsibility as an adult for the ex-members.
When I hesitated upon learning the murim public enemy was the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult's song.
He'd shown a subtle expression.
I was unsure then, but now I knew.
'He respects the upright and reckless.'
As long as I defied the CEO and sided with the ex-members.
As long as I upheld justice and loyalty, I was convinced the Heavenly Demon wouldn't harm me.
Even if he was deceiving me.
After a moment of silence, the Heavenly Demon shook his head.
"You're just like him in how you act."
"Pardon? Like who?"
"Never mind. Fine... As you said, this seat is hiding something. Guess I'll tell you."
The Heavenly Demon paused briefly before continuing in a low voice.
"This seat is not in perfect condition."
"Huh?"
...This was outside my expectations.
"What does that mean?"
"It means this seat doesn't have my former power. I'm so weakened I can no longer be called the 'Heavenly Demon.'"
Hearing such words from the Heavenly Demon, who had lorded over all creation, felt dissonant.
As if reading my thoughts, he curled one corner of his mouth.
"Of course, even incomplete, I'm nothing like vermin like you."
"Ah..."
"But my senses aren't as sharp as before. If they were, I'd have spotted the Masked Expert right away, but I didn't."
"Why did this happen?"
"Probably some restriction came with being summoned here."
"...Isn't this dangerous if the CEO finds out? You sure it's okay to tell me?"
"You asked."
"True, but I didn't expect this was what you were hiding."
"Who could do anything knowing this? This seat is still the strongest in this world."
"Right."
"And."
The Heavenly Demon brushed back his hair and continued.
"This seat will soon recover all lost power."
"How?"
"Figure it out. Nicely."
"..."
His reply lacked effort, so he was probably getting annoyed with me.
Time to dial it back.
"Don't doubt this seat anymore."
"Understood. For now, let's go see Namgoong Joon."
As I bowed politely to the Heavenly Demon, Tang Sa-cheon, who'd been listening in a daze, cautiously raised his hand.
"Uh... what are you all talking about? It sounds like the Heavenly Demon is really the Heavenly Demon?"
"Didn't you hear everything at the hot spring?"
"I did hear the CEO talking about summoning the Heavenly Demon that day, but..."
"You heard, so why ask?"
Tang Sa-cheon's mouth gaped open for a moment.
"Th-then he's really the Heavenly Demon? From the Central Plains?! Crazy! You debuted the real Heavenly Demon as an idol?!"
I gave Tang Sa-cheon, who was freaking out, a cold look before asking the Heavenly Demon.
"If we leave him, he'll blab everywhere. What do we do?"
"Normally it'd be slaughter and erase traces, but seeing his mental state, we can just let him be."
"I agree."
"Mentioning slaughter so casually, like it's routine...!"
Tang Sa-cheon hugged his shoulders, face pale, trembling.
"Hyungnim So, what the hell are you...! Managing a righteous idol group while debuting the real Heavenly Demon as a concept idol—what an insidious idea!! Ah, this Tang Sa-cheon... I can't even guess what you're plotting, hyungnim. It's too scary...!"
The Heavenly Demon watched Tang Sa-cheon ramble on, then finally clicked his tongue like he couldn't stand it.
"What was that CEO thinking, keeping a guy like this for five years?"
Right?
* * *
Keychi Entertainment, a major agency—its CEO, Saibi.
His home was an old mansion that seemed to defy time, with almost no modern amenities, not even a TV.
The only exceptions were a smartphone and laptop for work.
The CEO sat there, ear tuned to the conversation flowing from Tang Sa-cheon's USB plugged into his laptop.
-Heavenly Demon, this time I want a real answer.
-About what?
-Why are you doing idol stuff?
Why the Heavenly Demon was an idol.
The CEO had wondered that too, so he turned up the volume.
In the slightly louder voice, the Heavenly Demon replied.
-You really want to know that badly?
-From my position, you're just as suspicious as the CEO.
-I don't like being lumped with that sly fox.
"Too much."
Hearing himself trashed, the CEO chuckled softly without displeasure.
Both Jeom So-i and the Heavenly Demon were essential talents to achieve his own dream.
Whether they hated or resented him, it didn't matter.
'As long as those two stay alive...'
The recorded conversation continued.
-So you'll tell me?
-Fine. I'll spin the tale of why this seat became an idol.
He held his breath, waiting for the next line.
-After arriving here, this seat learned that the 'Nine Great Sects' command legions of followers. ...So this seat decided to become an idol.
"......?"
It felt like something was skipped.
Thinking he'd missed it, as he reached to rewind, Jeom So-i's indignant voice came.
-You're doing it again—stopping midway!
It really had cut off.
The Heavenly Demon's brazen voice followed.
-This seat has privacy too, you know.
-No, what does the Nine Great Sects having tons of fans have to do with you becoming an idol?
-That's exactly it.
-It?
-The fans.
-Fans?
-Masses of them. Ideally more than the Nine Great Sects.
'Hheavenly Demon... I'll make you the world's top idol, no matter what.'
As the CEO reaffirmed his devotion to the Heavenly Demon, the recording played on.
Finally, the crucial part came up.
-I told the manager too, but this seat wants to know how to return.
-You planning to go back?
-Someday. So I need to confirm if the CEO really summoned this seat.
"Hmm."
The CEO smiled faintly.
He'd heard the leak but hadn't jumped to conclusions.
But hearing "confirm if the CEO really summoned this seat" next.
"You really meant to return, huh. Troublesome..."
The CEO would do anything for the Heavenly Demon.
But only to keep him in this world.
After all the sacrifices to summon him.
He couldn't just send him back.
'Though... I'm not even sure anymore if I really succeeded in summoning him.'
It was odd.
'Normally, a summoned being bends easily to the summoner's will...'
Suspicious, but it didn't matter if he hadn't summoned the Heavenly Demon.
As long as the Heavenly Demon existed.
This world would swiftly become the murim.
"So, there shouldn't be a way back..."
The CEO closed his laptop and gazed at the scroll hanging behind him.
He reached out and touched it.
Ripples spread, and his hand slipped inside without resistance.
A chill wind brushed his fingertips through the scroll.
The CEO muttered, looking troubled.
"How do I get rid of this?"