Chapter 71
Chapter 71
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Translator: TrueDetective
Chapter: 71
Chapter Title: Become My Family, Become My Idol (1)
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Grha. (Meaning "hello, you bastards.")
This family head's name is Dang Sa-cheon.
To the world, he's known as the head of the Sachun Tang Clan and the assistant manager for the Nine Great Halls.
Various phrases describe this family head: the tragic Kichi trainee, Lion6's yin energy guy, Nine Great Halls U-Live hao-cheon man, Zhuza Ha-gil's menhera dude, and more.
But his true identity is the Hao Clan Leader's right-hand man, plotting to devour the idol industry using the Heavenly Demon.
Hmph, surprised?
Let me explain step by step.
While working as the head manager at the mega-evil agency Kichi, Soi's big bro one day learned of the cult leader CEO's atrocities.
The cult CEO's Heavenly Demon gacha pull, using his own idols as sacrifices.
Because of this, the so-called excommunicated disciples—members of the former Nine Great Halls—lost parts of their bodies and got kicked out of Kichi.
Somehow, the Heavenly Demon ended up in this world.
But the cult CEO flat-out denied summoning him!
Enraged by what happened to the excommunicated disciples, our Soi big bro intercepted the masterless Heavenly Demon.
The Heavenly Demon, now Soi big bro's servant, soon debuted as a Kichi idol.
The reason? To later establish the Hao Clan and swallow the Nine Great Halls whole.
How could Soi big bro's scheme not send shivers down your spine!
This family head initially failed to recognize Soi big bro's true worth, challenged him, and got utterly crushed.
Yet Soi big bro showed mercy, taking this family head as his closest confidant and promising to debut him in the Five Great Families.
Even for someone who opposed him, if talented, he employs them—that magnanimity and insight.
Thus, this Dang Sa-cheon swore eternal loyalty to the Hao Clan Leader and vowed to follow him for life.
To carry out the Hao Clan Leader's orders: monitor the Five Great Families and recruit anyone unconnected to the cult CEO.
"That's why I've gathered you all here."
Dang Sa-cheon spoke, snapping Jeokgal Ryang, Hwangbo Yun, and Paeng Ha-buk out of their daze as they stared blankly.
The 10-year veteran ballad singer Jeokgal Ryang (29) wore an indescribable expression before asking Dang Sa-cheon,
"Are you insane?"
"Such harsh words."
"No...."
The choreographer sitting next to Jeokgal Ryang, Paeng Ha-buk (23), chimed in with disbelief.
"I came thinking Soi hyung called me. If I'd known it was you, Dang Sa-cheon, I wouldn't have shown up. Wow, dragging someone all the way to Tongyeong just to spew this bullshit...."
"Jeokgal sunbae said to meet in Tongyeong due to his schedule."
"Sorry, I didn't know it'd turn out like this and made you come all the way here."
"Tongyeong's nice, sunbae."
Dang Sa-cheon tilted his head in confusion, watching Paeng Ha-buk's attitude shift dramatically before the awkwardly apologizing Jeokgal Ryang.
"No, but Paeng Ha-buk. Didn't Jeokgal sunbae say anywhere was fine as long as he was coming too?"
"Sh-shut up, Dang Sa-cheon!"
Paeng Ha-buk yelled, his face flushing red in panic, but Dang Sa-cheon firmly shook his head.
"Sorry, but I can't shut up. I still have questions."
"Can you drop that speech pattern?"
Jeokgal Ryang grimaced for a moment but soon wore a resigned expression.
"Never mind, fine. This is all that Sa CEO's karma."
"I'm not with the Sa CEO. I'm with Soi big bro."
"Who the hell is this Soi guy anyway?"
"The future Hao Clan Leader of the idol industry...."
"He's Kichi's head manager, in charge of the Nine Great Halls."
Paeng Ha-buk added an explanation from the side, and Jeokgal Ryang sighed, roughly getting it.
"Yeah... So what do you want to ask? Let's hear why you're pulling this stunt."
"As I said, Soi big bro plans to establish an agency called the Hao Clan. This family head is set to debut in the group Five Great Families there. But we haven't gathered all the members yet. So."
Dang Sa-cheon extended his hand with a sinister smile creeping onto his lips.
"Won't you become idols?"
"...Are you really okay?"
Having heard something so absurd, Paeng Ha-buk's anger subsided into a worried look.
"You've been through a lot, huh? I heard you got pushed back in debut order by Namgung Jun and kicked out of Kichi...."
"That happened?"
Jeokgal Ryang, who had been extremely irritated, softened a bit upon hearing Paeng Ha-buk's mutter.
"The kid must be shocked. Get some therapy for that. You look decent enough, and you're young, so start over after treatment."
"No. This family head was shocked, but I'm perfectly sane. My desire to debut in the Five Great Families with you all is sincere."
"Even if we assume you're sane a hundred times over. You're saying you called us to debut in the Five Great Families? Because our surnames are from wuxia novels?"
"Yes."
"Then why'd you call me? I've been debuting for over 10 years, huh? You little shit."
"Um...."
The first-year Kichi trainee Hwangbo Yun (18) cautiously raised his hand.
"Uh... I'm not a Hwangbo, just Hwang with the name Yun. Can I go now?"
"No, you can't."
"Why not?"
"No one around the Sa CEO has Five Great Families surnames. We need five for the Five Great Families."
"...So you called me just to make up the numbers?"
"Exactly."
"...."
Hwangbo Yun's eyes dimmed before he politely asked the other two.
"Uh, Jeokgal sunbaenim, Paeng seonsaengnim. Any chance this is a hidden camera?"
Jeokgal Ryang made a face like that was impossible.
"Nope. Eunsaja-rim owns this place."
"Huh? What do you mean...."
"This omakase spot's owner hates TV."
"R-really? The exterior seemed so attention-seeking though...."
"That's the mystery. He never does food show shoots either. Hidden camera? No way. Doesn't even take celeb autographs. That's why I recommended this place."
At Jeokgal Ryang's words, Hwangbo Yun recalled the composed Eunsaja-rim owner serving the food and nodded in understanding.
"Ah... The owner was so calm. Even seeing Jeokgal Ryang sunbae, no fuss—that's why."
"Hey, Dang Sa-cheon. The owner's hot. Scout him instead of us."
Paeng Ha-buk joked, but Dang Sa-cheon asked sternly,
"What's the owner's surname?"
"Stop obsessing over surnames! Only you Kichi kids use real names. That's what stage names are for."
Hwangbo Yun seemed lost in thought before hesitantly speaking up softly.
"Uh, didn't you say the owner hates TV? Idol might be a stretch then."
"...Yun, you got some fourth-dimensional vibes too?"
"What about that guy over there?"
Jeokgal Ryang spun his glass and pointed with his chin at someone just entering the restaurant.
A straightforward, honest-looking guy with a pale complexion scanned the room, seemingly searching for someone.
"Looks kinda church oppa, but not Kichi's type, right? Huh? What's that? The long-haired hottie next to him is even crazier. He looks like that guy from your company. Heavenly Demon or something. Wait... is that a Heavenly Demon cosplayer...? ...But why are they coming this way? Was I too loud?"
Jeokgal Ryang rambled alone, then sensed the awkward silence from the other three and turned around.
Dang Sa-cheon, Paeng Ha-buk, and Hwangbo Yun stared blankly at the approaching pair before jumping to their feet.
"Hyung!"
"Soi big bro."
"Soi hyung?"
"...Huh?"
Soi—the one who's to become the Hao Clan Leader?
'...From what Dang Sa-cheon said, he seemed as crazy as Dang Sa-cheon, but he looks pretty normal.'
Jeokgal Ryang blinked as the Hao Clan Leader approached with a blank face.
And promptly smacked Dang Sa-cheon on the head.
Jeokgal Ryang liked the Hao Clan Leader.
* * *
With half curiosity and half worry, the Five Great Families candidates stared at us across a table.
I rubbed my forehead and asked Dang Sa-cheon,
"Dang Sa-cheon... what the hell are you doing here...?"
He answered plainly.
"Recruiting for the Five Great Families."
"...."
I knew how badly Dang Sa-cheon wanted to debut.
I'd told him to investigate those three and recruit them as members.
But I never dreamed he'd gather all three in one place like this.
And in Tongyeong, of all places, running into Dang Sa-cheon.
"Did you check if they're connected to the CEO?"
"Yes. I told them about the Hao Clan plan and gauged their reactions."
"...The Hao Clan plan?"
"I said you'd swallow the Nine Great Halls whole, hyung."
"You told them all that? To people who might be the CEO's cronies?"
"Hyung. It's me, Dang Sa-cheon."
Dang Sa-cheon spoke confidently, as if to say not to worry.
"Only a total pushover would take what a lunatic like me says seriously."
"...."
If I found that logic convincing,
Maybe I was pretty objective.
"But hyung, what's your business coming all the way here?"
"I came to see the owner."
At my words, Dang Sa-cheon's expression turned subtle.
"You think Eunsaja-rim owner should become an idol too, hyung?"
"What crazy talk?"
"...Never mind. Eunsaja-rim owner went to rest after our course ended. The bell rang when you entered, so he'll be back soon."
No sooner had Dang Sa-cheon finished than the Heavenly Demon, standing behind me with arms crossed, murmured lowly.
"He's coming."
Footsteps descended from above.
I looked toward the stairs leading to the second floor.
A man with neatly combed gray hair peered down at us in surprise.
"Soi?"
Eunsaja-rim owner reacted like he knew me.
I was startled.
"...Who are you?"
Eunsaja-rim owner's face wasn't that of the sunbae I knew.
He descended the stairs slowly—the kind of face I'd hand a casting card to on the street.
Wait, looking closer, the vibe was a bit similar....
"Can't recognize me after so long?"
Eunsaja-rim owner untied the apron from his waist and tossed it over the railing.
"Or did I change that much?"
His playful smirk reminded me of the sunbae I used to know.
"Team Leader Park Hyun-seong... right?"
Eunsaja-rim owner chuckled softly, amused.
"Who else? You haven't changed, Soi."
"No, you've changed a ton, sunbae! It's like a complete transformation!"
"Well, yeah."
Sunbae shrugged and added,
"I did undergo a complete transformation."
"....Pardon?"
Did sunbae just say... he underwent a complete transformation?
...This pattern feels familiar.
Was there something else I didn't know about?
Sunbae tilted his head and muttered.
"Makes sense? I'd buy Soi not recognizing me, but you not knowing me is surprising."
You?
At that, I instinctively glanced back at the Heavenly Demon standing behind me.
The Heavenly Demon stared at sunbae, his face pale as a ghost.
"...Lord Heavenly Demon?"
Before I could ask if he was okay, sunbae placed a hand on my shoulder and faced the Heavenly Demon.
Before I could say anything, sunbae's mouth opened, and strange words poured out.
"Long time no see, Brother Hwajin."
The Heavenly Demon showed no reaction, so sunbae narrowed his eyes in a smile and continued.
"Can't recognize me after so long? Or too changed? Or... shocked that I'm alive and well, when you thought I was dead?"
The Heavenly Demon looked like he'd seen a ghost before finally opening his mouth.
"...It really is you."
His voice trembled as he uttered,
"Changhye."
The name from the Heavenly Demon's lips.
A murim man who arrived in this world before the Heavenly Demon.
Shaolin Abbot and the White-Haired Hero's master.
Changhye.