The Heavenly Demon Becomes an Idol chapter 7

Speaking of the former Jongnam member, Sin Taeul…

He was the second Jongnam member to be part of Nine Sects and had left the group when he revealed disputes and the CEO’s oppressive practices on a U-Live broadcast.

“Manager, long time no see.”

Sin Taeul greeted me first at the entrance to the private room.

I was taken aback, not expecting him to initiate the greeting.

Sin Taeul added awkwardly with a smile, “Have you been well?”

Had he stopped there, I would have ignored him and continued on to the private room where the Heavenly Demon was waiting, who seemed not entirely pleased with the molecular gastronomy but found it more palatable than his restricted diet.

I had just stepped out to take a call from the CEO when I returned to find Sin Taeul as if he had been waiting.

Brazenly, he asked, “…How is Juja doing?”

I laughed in disbelief.

“Taeul, I didn’t expect you to be curious about that.”

Compared to the first Jongnam member, who lasted about three years, Sin Taeul left within a year and switched to acting, sparking controversy about using Nine Sects to boost his fame.

At the time of his departure, I thought little of it—many use idol status as a stepping stone to fame.

The problem was the U-Live broadcast Sin Taeul did shortly after leaving.

On U-Live, Sin Taeul claimed he was continuously harassed by a member and that the CEO had bribed him to leave, though he did not specify who, but naturally, Juja was implicated due to their frequent clashes.

If Sin Taeul had simply stated he left due to harassment from a member, people might have believed him and turned against Juja.

However, he claimed he left because the CEO offered him money to do so.

But realistically, what kind of CEO would pay to encourage a member’s departure?

People believed Sin Taeul made up the story because he didn’t want his image tarnished for using Nine Sects.

It was well known that our CEO is suspiciously wealthy, so the video was quickly taken down.

Thus, Sin Taeul’s U-Live broadcast became an internal matter within K-tsch and did not escalate further.

However, once a controversy arises, even if disproved, it tends to linger.

Whenever Juja behaved even slightly mischievously, comments would inevitably appear, jokingly accusing him of bullying—’Looks like Juja is up to his old tricks again~’.

Juja pretended not to care but came to me wondering if he had indeed been too playful.

Seeing Namgung Jun take Juja’s jokes seriously and struggle to manage his expression indicated that the impact lingered.

And now, asking how Juja was?

Sin Taeul looked genuinely puzzled.

“That’s a strange thing to say. Juja and I were quite close.”

“Sin Taeul. What’s the purpose of bringing this up now?”

“What should I know? Do you have any idea how hard Juja took it after you left?”

“Juja was having a tough time? Why?”

“Why? Because you said on U-Live you were bullied. Juja thought maybe he had been too harsh. Was that really why you targeted him?”

Sin Taeul’s expression twisted strangely, as if he had come to some realization, and he clicked his tongue briefly.

“Typical Juja, so foolish.”

“Sin Taeul!”

“That wasn’t about Juja. I mean, of course it wasn’t. Why would Juja think it was about him?”

“What?”

I was quite taken aback.

So, it wasn’t an attack on Juja.

If that’s the case, it means there was harassment against another member, not Juja.

“You… were really harassed?”

Sin Taeul responded with a grim smile.

“Manager, you are a good person.”

“What are you talking about all of a sudden?”

“Normally, people would say there’s no such person among the members, you must have misunderstood. But I thought you would say otherwise. That’s why I came to see you.”

The fact that he had come looking for me made me frown.

“You were waiting for me here?”

“Yes.”

“Crazy… I mean, how did you know?”

“The newbie posted it on SNS. Didn’t you know?”

“What?”

A sense of foreboding overcame me, and I pulled out my phone.

When I searched the hashtag #Heavenly Demon on Insta, the first thing that came up was a post proudly posted by the Heavenly Demon.

#Heavenly Demon #MolecularGastronomy #NotIngredients #ManagerNextTimeLetsGoForAnYangSpicyHotSoup

The post was accompanied by a bizarre hashtag, featuring a selfie of the Heavenly Demon and a well-set table behind him. My profile was visible in the background.

I shivered.

Not because the Heavenly Demon had started using SNS on his own, breaking Nine Sects’ rules.

But because a former member, now removed, had used the new member’s SNS to track down a former manager.

There could only be one reason for this.

Revenge.

Though Sin Taeul had transitioned to acting after his departure, his acting career hadn’t lasted long due to the damaged reputation from his sincerity in idol activities and false accusations on U-Live.

Though it was self-inflicted, humans are animals that tend to blame others rather than themselves.

Now, seeing Sin Taeul again, he was still handsome, but his eyes looked exhausted and hollow.

“…You.”

As I hesitated and stepped back, Sin Taeul looked at me with somber eyes and smirked.

“You seem to be having strange thoughts. I’m not here to harm you.”

“Then why are you here?”

“…”

Sin Taeul looked at me silently for a moment.

“Speak quickly if you have something to say.”

“…Do you trust the CEO?”

“What?”

Ah, that U-Live story.

“Honestly, I find it hard to believe that the CEO would pay you to leave. I mean, do you believe that? After how much was spent just to find a suitable replacement for Jongnam. Why would he pay to have you leave?”

“Have you heard any news about the members who have left?”

Sin Taeul’s blunt question left me unable to respond immediately.

Honestly, there was no reason to keep up with the news about members who had left.

The only news I had heard about Sin Taeul was that he had caused a stir with U-Live and switched to acting.

“Should I know?”

“You should.”

Sin Taeul’s answer was firm.

It made me feel a slight guilt for not keeping up with the news of former members.

“…Why?”

But the reason he gave for needing to know was absurd.

“So you can live.”

Sin Taeul’s expression was dead serious.

I had to ask.

“Are you under threat?”

“I had no intention of getting involved, but the CEO is recruiting a member too soon after Namgung Jun. It’s dangerous.”

“I don’t understand what you’re talking about.”

“Come with us. I can explain everything from the beginning. It won’t take long.”

This is dangerous.

No matter how you look at it, this guy is lost to some bizarre conspiracy theory.

Maybe I should run to the private room and call for help.

As I glanced towards the private room, Sin Taeul sighed softly.

“You don’t believe me, do you? If that’s the case, I apologize, but I’ll have to take you by force.”

“Force…?”

What did I just hear?

Sin Taeul suddenly vanished from my sight.

Without thinking further, I shouted, “Wih WaJin!!!”

“Here.”

The response came from right beside me.

A gust-like force brushed past my head, and when I opened my eyes, I saw the Heavenly Demon smiling with one corner of his mouth raised.

The Heavenly Demon was holding something in his hand.

It was Sin Taeul’s hand behind me.

…Was he trying to knock me out from behind?

In the next moment, the Heavenly Demon’s other hand’s sleeve puffed up.

With a gentle push from his palm against Sin Taeul’s chest,

The buttons of the shirt burst open as Sin Taeul flew back down the corridor and crashed beneath a decorative painting.

My brain, reaching its limit, just stood there in shock.

Was this really happening? A former member trying to kidnap me, only to be thwarted by the Heavenly Demon?

The Heavenly Demon, having just struck an unknown assailant in the chest, asked, “So, who is this guy?”

“…Did you kill him?”

“If you want me to.”

Seeing him smirk, it seemed he hadn’t really killed him.

As long as he wasn’t dead, it was probably fine.

The CEO is incredibly rich; he’ll handle it.

After all, Sin Taeul was the one who charged first.

Since Sin Taeul was groaning and picking himself up, I reassured the Heavenly Demon and answered, “He’s a former Jongnam member who left Nine Sects.”

“Jongnam?”

The Heavenly Demon, hands clasped behind his back, coolly called out to the crumpled Sin Taeul at the end of the hallway.

“Why are you harassing a powerless villager?”

He didn’t seem to consider how the ‘powerless villager’ made me feel about.

Sin Taeul struggled to stand, glaring at the Heavenly Demon.

“…You, you just debuted yesterday…”

“Indeed. The power of this thing called music shows is great. Yes, I am indeed an idol.”

“…Heavenly Demon?”

“That’s right.”

Sin Taeul shook his head in dismay.

“Is it too late…”

“Sin Taeul. Explain properly what’s going on.”

Sin Taeul hesitated, then looked me straight in the eye and said, “I came here to get back at you. I thought you had unilaterally taken down my video on U-Live and hindered my acting career at K-tsch, so I came to vent my frustration on you. Do you understand?”

“What are you really?”

“Tell the CEO exactly that. Try to act like nothing happened.”

Confused by his sudden change of stance, I was about to respond when I sensed movement in the corridor where Sin Taeul was sitting.

It would certainly cause a stir if seen by the public.

Just as I was thinking of cramming the Heavenly Demon back into the private room, two figures appeared from down the corridor.

“You two…”

Strangely, they were the retired first Jongnam member, Yuk Jongnam, and the Ami member, Yu Ami.

The two, who had greeted me with a bow, soon helped Sin Taeul to his feet.

“Why are you together?”

Jongnam and Ami had been active at the same time, but Sin Taeul had joined after both had left. They shouldn’t have been close.

Jongnam, awkwardly smiling with Sin Taeul’s arm over his shoulder, said, “Sorry, bro. We’ll see you next time.”

“Wait, you minions.”

The Heavenly Demon’s call made all three tense up.

But I had anticipated it.

I knew what the Heavenly Demon would say next would be sarcastic.

“Aren’t you going to ask for an autograph? I practiced.”

What nonsense was that?

“…Can’t you read the room?”

“I’m honoring the first fan to recognize me. That much I can do.”

“Where did you get the idea that recognizing someone makes them a fan? And after blowing him away?”

“That’s why I’m offering an autograph.”

Dumbfounded, I turned back to where Sin Taeul was, but the corridor was already empty.

“They left because you were talking nonsense.”

“You’re getting more insolent by the minute. I help you out, and this is the thanks I get.”

“Thank you for that.”

“You’re even messing up my name.”

“Sorry for that.”

“That way of talking is oddly annoying, isn’t it?”

The Heavenly Demon clicked his tongue and went back into the private room, complaining that the food was getting cold.

I felt uneasy, as if the Heavenly Demon had bought me time to escape.

I glanced back at the spot where Sin Taeul had been.

What a series of events.

“Ah, right! Give me your phone. You’re not allowed to use social media.”

“I don’t know about that.”

“I saw the photos you posted.”

“I only posted photos, I don’t know about this SNS thing.”

A logic only a Central Plains person could deploy.

I had the company report the Heavenly Demon’s account as an impersonation and got it suspended.

* * *

Heavenly Demon (@jikbakguri123)

(Photo)

#Heavenly DemonDemon #MolecularGastronomy #NotIngredients #ManagerNextTimeLetsGoForAnYangSpicyHotSoup

-5pa1bang: ?

-5pa1bang: Are you really the Heavenly Demon?

└Heavenly Demon (jikbakguri123): Yes.

└5pa1bang: Sounds like an impersonation.

└5pa1bang: First time seeing this photo.

└Heavenly Demon (jikbakguri123): It’s really me.

└5pa1bang: Isn’t SNS banned for Nine Sects?

└Heavenly Demon (jikbakguri123): I don’t know about that, but nothing can be banned from me.

└5pa1bang: Really?

-K-tsch (K_tsch)(v): That looks tasty. But isn’t SNS banned for Nine Sects?

-K-tsch (K_tsch)(v): It seems you’re using the auto-generated username, you can change it in the profile. How about something like 1000manim?

-ShockedHeavenlyDemonCultExists (mamen9191): I believe in Cult.

└Heavenly Demon (jikbakguri123): Yes.

-K-tsch (K_tsch)(v): Did just the two of you go?

-K-tsch (K_tsch)(v): I would have taken you there if you asked.

-K-tsch (K_tsch)(v): Did the food suit your taste?

-MarryMeJuja (jujaha_wife): Is that really the Heavenly Demon? What’s Juja doing now?

└Heavenly Demon (jikbakguri123): I don’t know.

-No1Mangju (No_1_mangju): Has the SNS ban been lifted?

└No1Mangju (No_1_mangju): Ah; the CEO commented that it’s banned above;

└Heavenly Demon (jikbakguri123): Are you the Alliance Chief?

└No1Mangju (No_1_mangju): No lol

└Heavenly Demon (jikbakguri123): I pressed your profile and it’s all Alliance Chief photos.

└No1Mangju (No_1_mangju): lol I’m just a home fan.

└Heavenly Demon (jikbakguri123): Is that so. I am the Heavenly Demon.

-K-tsch (K_tsch)(v): Ah, I’m the CEO just so you know.

-Sin Taeul (Shin_Tea_Eul)(v): Where is this?

└Heavenly Demon (jikbakguri123): The place that serves molecular gastronomy.

└Sin Taeul (Shin_Tea_Eul)(v): The one with the fountain in front?

└Heavenly Demon (jikbakguri123): Yes.

└Sin Taeul (Shin_Tea_Eul)(v): Thank you.

└Heavenly Demon (jikbakguri123): Yes.

-AnYangSpicyHotSoup (anyang_maratang): Mr. Heavenly Demon~ Thank you for the hashtag. Next time you come, we’ll serve you extra.

└Heavenly Demon (jikbakguri123): Yes.

-K-tsch (K_tsch)(v): Why aren’t you replying to my comments??

-K-tsch (K_tsch)(v): You’re not answering my calls… I’ll try to contact the manager.

*This post has been deleted.

***

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