The Heavenly Demon Becomes an Idol chapter 3

“A new member?”

At a meeting with all the members of the Nine Sects assembled, the main vocalist representing the Hwashan, Juja, raised his voice loud enough to echo through the conference room.

His real name, of course, was also Juja.

Pointing at the member seated next to him, he continued sharply, “Namgung Jun has just joined us, so why are we recruiting another new member already?”

Namgung Jun, the topic of the conversation, seemed to welcome the idea of a new member. Since he hadn’t bonded with Juja, his fellow member, yet and appeared to struggle fitting in with the existing members, he probably thought a new member might improve his situation.

However, Juja was heated up because he feared this would cut his parts on the song. As the main vocalist, even when they were ten members, Juja had the most parts and was known for being greedy for more. He frequently clashed with a sub-vocalist representing Jongnam.

Now that the Jongnam member had left, Juja had nearly all the vocal parts to himself and disliked the idea of sharing them again.

“Every day someone leaves and a new member joins; what must the Gaebyeok, our fans, think of us?”

It was settled.

“I heard from Ji Il-geom that the new member won’t take any parts.”

Taeguk, who had been quietly observing, finally spoke up as Juja’s voice grew louder. In the Nine Sects, Taeguk, represents Mudang, it was rumored to have been trained by the CEO himself. Though it wasn’t confirmed, his movements were so graceful that he became the main dancer.

Perhaps trying to calm Juja, Taeguk inadvertently set him off even more.

“Are you saying I’m opposing the new member because I’m afraid my parts will be reduced?!”

“No. Ji Il-geom just said that. I’d oppose it too if it meant losing my parts.”

As the main dancer, Taeguk didn’t have many parts, which was likely a considerate attempt to ease Juja’s embarrassment.

Juja’s sharp attitude softened, realizing Taeguk was looking out for him.

“…Really? He won’t take any parts?”

“He just want to debut.”

“How can he debut without any parts?”

“Maybe he wants to be part of the dance line.”

“Are you okay with that?”

“It’s better to have more in the dance group. The choreography for our song is designed for multiple people.”

“Hmm…”

Juja slowly sat back down and crossed his arms, meaning, ‘Sort it out yourselves.’

“I’m against it.”

Surprisingly, the opposition came from Baek Nahhan, representing Shaolin .

Juja, Taeguk, Namgung Jun, and I were all shocked.

“It’s the first time I’ve heard Nahhan speak up.”

Namgung Jun muttered, stunned.

Nahhan, the youngest, was more mature than the older members and was incredibly reserved. He had followed the agency’s concepts without complaint, never quarreled with another member, and during minor scandals, he was often referred to as the ‘last conscience of the Nine Sects’ in online communities.

For Nahhan to oppose it, there must be a significant reason.

“Nahhan, can I ask why you oppose it?”

“It feels ominous.”

“…Huh?”

“There is a disturbing aura.”

…Has he gotten too into his martial arts idol concept?

This wasn’t like him.

However, Juja and Taeguk, who had been with Nahhan for a long time, didn’t seem to think it was just a concept act.

“Now that Nahhan says it, it does feel a bit scary.”

“Come to think of it, we haven’t even seen the new member’s face. Let’s decide after that.”

Did Nahhan have some sort of intuition?

Given that he had always been quiet, even from his rookie days, it was somewhat trustworthy.

It didn’t seem like he would speak without good reason.

“The agency told me to become the Heavenly Demon’s personal manager, so we’ll probably hear him speak more often now.”

Oh, I forgot to mention that.

“The newbie will come later with the CEO, and I’ll be in charge. You’ll see a lot of me from now on.”

“A new member has a personal manager already?”

“Then who will be the general manager?”

“The CEO will do it.”

Everyone’s pupils dilated, except for Nahhan.

Namgung Jun asked cautiously, “I heard the CEO managed idols when K-tsch was a smaller company, but doesn’t he have too much on his plate? Why is he a Chamba?”

“Chamba?” (Slang word to say idiot)

“Oh, sorry.” Namgung Jun immediately apologized for his language.

Juja looked slightly flustered but maintained a composed face.

I can see why these two don’t get along.

“I wonder what’s so special about this newbie that you’ll handle him personally, and the CEO will oversee everything.”

Taeguk spoke calmly, though his displeasure was clear.

I’d feel the same if a newcomer was getting so much attention from the higher-ups.

Juja then tilted his head, puzzled.

“But you said the newbie won’t have any parts?”

“That’s correct.”

“…?”

When the CEO learned that the Heavenly Demon only wanted the opening two lines for his part, he gladly agreed and even volunteered to manage him personally.

In my opinion, the CEO, who seemed suspiciously wealthy and a fanatic of martial arts culture, decided to pour his fortune and energy into this opportunity to indulge his fandom for the real Heavenly Demon.

After all, having created a martial arts-themed idol group, he couldn’t just sit back in the company with the real Heavenly Demon on board.

“Hello, members of the Nine Sects~”

As the saying goes, ‘speak of the tiger and he will appear’—the CEO cheerfully entered the meeting room, followed by the Alliance Chief and the Heavenly Demon.

The members stood to greet him, and while bowing to the CEO, they couldn’t help but steal glances at the Heavenly Demon, who had swapped his martial arts clothes for a modern, sharp suit.

“Those clothes fits him insanely well.”

I admired silently, but Juja muttered it out loud.

…But isn’t that shirt from the brand the CEO always wears for his tailored suits? It seems like the CEO has already started his fanboying.

His long hair was still draped down his back, but his striking features made him appear almost unrealistically attractive.

“You’ve heard, right? Our new member, Wih Wajin, is here. His concept is the Heavenly Demon. Just like you all did at your debut, we’ve asked him to immerse himself in the role, so please be understanding even if he seems a bit rough.”

For the members’ mental well-being, they decided to keep it a secret that the Heavenly Demon was actually real.

The Alliance Chief knew the new member’s true identity but was tight-lipped and prudent, likely ensuring the secret wouldn’t get out.

Then Taeguk raised his hand and asked, “Aren’t we supposed to be the righteous?”

Really, you’re seeing this atmosphere, his looks, his long hair, and that’s your biggest concern?

I remember asking the CEO the same thing when he first mentioned adding the Heavenly Demon to the Nine Sects.

The CEO responded with a bright smile, “The concept is that the Heavenly Demon, lost from a parallel universe during the heavenly wars, has been taken in by our Nine Sects for reform.”

“…What?”

I thought the CEO had lost his mind, but looking at the Heavenly Demon’s calm face, it seemed this backstory was already agreed upon.

Accepting such a storyline quietly, he must really want to debut for some reason…

Now Juja abruptly raised his hand, “CEO! How old is the new member?”

“He’s twenty-four.”

…Younger than me. He did look young.

“Ah, he’s older than me. Heavenly Demon bro, please take care of us!”

Juja, who had been foaming at the mouth in opposition just moments ago, suddenly turned amiable, probably because the CEO was present.

Being calculative is a good trait for an idol, but Juja is so obvious about it that he’s perennially the second most popular in the Nine Sects. Baek Nahhan holds the top spot.

Glancing at Nahhan, who had sternly opposed earlier citing ominous feelings, he now seemed indifferent looking at the Heavenly Demon. Had he lost his resolve upon seeing that radiant beauty?

The Heavenly Demon looked at Juja and then smirked slyly, “Sure. I’ll be counting on you, Hwashan.”

The Heavenly Demon had been briefed on the members’ appearances to avoid the issues he faced during his time as the Alliance Chief.

Taeguk with short hair, wearing a hoodie or hat, represents the Mudang.

Juja, of the Hwashan, has pink hair and is chatty and cute.

Namgung Jun, with a delinquent air, is from the Namgung Sega.

Baek Nahhan of the Shaolin has hair and a youthful, ascetic face.

This description included hair details because the Heavenly Demon uses hair presence to distinguish members.

By the way, the Alliance Chief is considered the most handsome with his chiseled jaw and wide, monolid eyes. His title was also not from the 9 sects, he was the added one in order to form a 10 member group. Because the CEO thought that choosing a leader from the 9 sects was against his belief about Martial Arts Novels, he decided to make a completely new one just for the leader of the group.

“Hey, bro~ You look so serious! No need to be nervous! But really, is that your real hair?”

Juja’s lack of tact might be why he’s survived so long in the Nine Sects.

The Heavenly Demon, who had been scanning the members, noticed me and walked over.

“Manager Foo-, there you are.”

He called me with a strange title, apparently, the CEO had instructed him not to use ‘fool’.

“How do you like it?”

Was he talking about the outfit?

“It suits you well.”

The Heavenly Demon smirked as if he expected that answer.

Then Juja, never one to miss a beat, chimed in.

“Bro, you’re much younger than the Manager but still using informal speech?”

“It’s okay, Juja. He’s a foreigner.”

“Even if he’s a foreigner. There are hierarchies in your country too, right?”

Juja seemed intent on establishing his dominance early on.

Was hiding the Heavenly Demon’s true identity really the best thing for our guys?

Luckily, instead of lashing out, the Heavenly Demon responded with a dismissive retort, “Where I come from, the strong lead, and the weak follow.”

“Is that the culture in your country?”

“Juja, it’s because everything in the central plains is decided by strength.”

Juja didn’t give up and dug deeper.

“Then who is above you? The CEO?”

“I am above all things.”

“…Your concept is really clear, isn’t it?”

Juja seemed fed up with the Heavenly Demon and quickly turned his questioning back to the CEO.

“So, when will Heavenly Demon bro join us on stage? Since this week is our final activity for the current album, are we preparing a new one together?”

The CEO answered with a kind smile.

“The debut stage for the Heavenly Demon has already been decided.”

***

Martial Arts Concept Idol Group “Nine Sects”.

And their fandom “Gaebyeok”.

‘WorldRank0SwordMaster,’ a six-year fan of Nine Sects and user of the idol app under K-tsch’s management, opened a newly posted message.

-WhatEvenIsAMartialIdol10Fandom: I’m a late fan, but why is the fandom named Gaebyeok? Is it because the fandom embraces a martial arts idol with an open-minded concept?

Hmm.

It was a post devoid of even the slightest effort of googling, typical of a late fan.

Luckily, since the members couldn’t see this hidden page, and having toughened up from other fandom mockery early in their debut, WorldRank0SwordMaster, or BestSwordMaster for short, responded with an indifferent face.

└WorldRank0SwordMaster: You call yourself a late fan but start with a heavy critique?

BestSwordMaster skipped explaining the origin of Gaebyeok.

The phrase ‘it’s up to Baek Nahhan’ is known among the fans, meaning it’s expected that a Baek Nahhan fan will answer.

Sure enough, a comment from a Baek Nahhan fan appeared beneath his.

└BaekNahhanFan: Gaebyeok is a wordplay on ‘open sect,’ combining the nine sects in the members with one ‘room’ for the fandom, making it the ‘Nine Sects.’

└WhatEvenIsAMartialIdol10Fandom: Oh, what kind of sect is Gaebyeok?

└JujaMarryMe: A crappy sect.

└WhatEvenIsAMartialIdol10Fandom: ?

Seeing the late fan flustered, BestSwordMaster chuckled, reminded of his own newbie days.

He had only learned that Gaebyeok meant ‘beggar sect’ in martial arts after becoming a fan of the Nine Sects.

The agency, insane enough to debut a martial idol group, had named their fandom after a beggar sect.

Initially, there was confusion, and fans tried to rename the fandom themselves, with suggestions like The Sect Force or Qi Inn, but since the Nine Sects members consistently referred to their fans as ‘Gaebyeok,’ even in award speeches and special thanks, the derogatory yet enduring name stuck.

Even the members struggled early on with having to refer to their fans as beggars.

However, CEO K-tsch resolved the backlash from fans and the members’ cognitive dissonance with his wealth.

On the first concert day for the Nine Sects, CEO K-tsch distributed expensive tablets engraved with the fandom name Gaebyeok and their real names as a reverse tribute.

The scale was so grand that even BestSwordMaster, who had been around the idol-fan world for a decade, couldn’t help but be astounded. Compared to the CEO K-tsch, they were indeed beggars.

The last time he was this shocked was when he found out all the members’ stage names were their real names.

“How come Il-geom’s name is also Number One Swordsman…”

When he was sincerely contemplating this, a provocative post appeared on the app.

-O5Sects: Hey beggars, looks like the CEO brought in another new member.

└WorldRank0SwordMaster: Again? Hasn’t it been three months since Namgung Jun joined?

└O5Sects: Check the CEO’s account.

-BaekNahhanFan: What’s next for Namgung family, Sama family? Jegal family?

└JujaMarryMe: Jongnam .

└BaekNahhanFan: Jongnam left a long time ago.

└JujaMarryMe: 2nd Jongnam .

└BaekNahhanFan: 2nd Jongnam also left.

└JujaMarryMe: Oops, sorry lol.

└WorldRank0SwordMaster: Stop, it’s always Jongnam with these Hwashan trolls.

AnyMudang: If the Heavenly Demon joins, it would be hilarious lol.

└O5Sects: Some people still don’t know Nine Sects is supposed to be a righteous sect.

└AnyMudang: Why so serious? It was just a joke.

The feed on the app started burning up with the new member teaser.

Unable to keep up with the feed anymore, BestSwordMaster turned off the app and went to CEO K-tsch’s SNS account.

This CEO, obsessed with maintaining the martial arts idol concept, had even banned the members’ personal social media. Only official photos were allowed on the app, so frustratingly, the only way to get new teasers was through the CEO’s account.

The latest post on the CEO’s account was a stark black photo with the words:

-New Face. Coming Soon.

“Our kids can’t even use English because it doesn’t fit the concept, but here he is with ‘New Face Coming Soon.’ written in English”

Not surprisingly, the latest post was filled with polite curses. Knowing the CEO K-tsch, he must be enjoying the fame that comes from the insults, BestSwordMaster didn’t bother adding oil to the fire.

“Is Our Alliance Chief is alright…?”

Being someone with a lot of pride and a fragile heart, he probably couldn’t even express their dislike and just accepted it.

We could only hope that the new member who just joined has more charm and a resilient personality than Namgung jun.

At that moment, as the representative’s feed updated and a new post appeared, hoping to see even just a photo of the members from the old days.

When I opened the new post with anticipation, BestSwordMaster froze in his tracks.
-2022.xx.xx. Heavenly Demon, debuts.

The reason why the BestSwordMaster froze it wasn’t because he didn’t fit the concept of “Heavenly Demon,” it also wasn’t because of the picture of a handsome man with long hair, more elegant and decadent than her bias Je Il-geom, which was posted along with the text.

It was simply because the Heavenly Demon’s debut date was none other than the upcoming weekend, the last music show date of this album’s promotion.