Holy Idol [EN]: Chapter 122

< 122. Three Kings (1) >

Rembrary stared at the cow head, bewildered.

All he could make out was, ‘Moo-moo.’

No, he understood the words, but he couldn’t grasp why it was saying them to him.

The cow head was acting as if… Rembrary shouldn’t attack it.

Rembrary paused, considering, and then asked directly and honestly.

“Hey, Moo-moo.”

[Moo.]

“Why are you acting so friendly?”

At Rembrary’s question, the cow-headed monster’s eyes darted around nervously. Then, it reached out a hand, attempting to change the subject.

[Take my hand. Shall we hold hands?]

“Tell me why you’re acting friendly first.”

When Rembrary didn’t take the bait, the cow-headed monster repeated itself.

[Not the same race, but close. Let’s hold hands. Should we interlock fingers, too?]

‘Not the same race, but close?’

Rembrary was about to ask what it meant when he suddenly thought of the evil spirit attached to his shadow.

‘Could it be because of the evil spirit’s energy? Does it sense a kinship with the evil spirit?’

The real Woo Yeon-woo, trapped in the shadow, had surfaced before, so it wouldn’t be strange if another monster noticed the evil spirit permeating the shadow.

However, just as he was about to press for more information, the elevator doors opened with a ding.

The cow-headed monster seemed to interpret that as a signal and hurriedly dashed out the window.

“Isn’t that a monster?”

As he watched its retreating figure, he heard the sound of approaching footsteps and Sagamjae’s voice.

The person emerging from the elevator was Sagamjae.

When Rembrary stared at him, Sagamjae returned the look with a ‘why are you staring’ expression.

Rembrary sighed.

“Don’t you feel like catching a monster when you see one?”

“It’s not my department.”

“Sagamjae, Sagamjae…”

“What about it?”

“Cow head. The cow head you said you’d investigate, but there’s been no news.”

“Ah.”

Only then did Sagamjae approach the window and look down.

Rembrary shook his head as he watched Sagamjae. It seemed that Sagamjae was only enthusiastic about escorting the souls of the dead to the afterlife.

‘Is it because the division of labor is so strictly defined in this afterlife?’

“It seems to have already left.”

“Why did you come here?”

“Are you talking about the cow?”

“You.”

“Jongwoo was looking for you.”

Since it didn’t seem like he would chase after the cow head even if prodded, Rembrary simply nodded and pressed the elevator button.

He also had something to discuss with Sagamjae privately, so there was no need to urge him to pursue the cow head. It didn’t seem like he would catch it even if he tried.

While waiting for the elevator to return from another floor, Rembrary checked that no one was around and then asked Sagamjae about what the cow head had said.

“Sagamjae, what do I seem like to you?”

“Are you asking what humans see you as, or what a grim reaper sees you as?”

“What you see me as.”

“You felt like a fake saint.”

“…”

“Are you offended? But the fundamental divine power is different, so I couldn’t help but feel unfamiliar. What I sense from you is similar to divine power, but it’s distinct from the divine power I know, so not only me but everyone else was confused.”

“Do you sense anything dangerous from me?”

The arriving elevator doors opened with a ding.

However, even as the two got on the elevator, the doors closed, and the elevator ascended, Sagamjae remained silent, not answering.

The elevator was such a confined space that it was awkward even for acquaintances, let alone strangers.

The same was true for the two of them, and a slightly uncomfortable atmosphere lingered as Sagamjae remained silent.

Rembrary frowned.

‘Do I really have the aura of an evil spirit? Why isn’t he answering?’

After what felt like an eternity of 15 seconds.

Almost simultaneously with the ding of the doors opening, Sagamjae answered hesitantly.

“Slightly?”

* * *

Back at the dorm, Rembrary glumly drank the tomato juice that Jungseo had made while picking at the chicken breast salad he had been overeating.

He had gained 2kg from his diligent pizza consumption, so Jongwoo had jumped at the chance to reduce the amount of chicken breast, resulting in fewer pieces on the plate than usual.

However, Rembrary’s gloomy expression wasn’t solely due to the chicken breast.

Rembrary was preoccupied with what Sagamjae and the cow head had said.

A dangerous aura… a demon mistaking him for a similar being…

As a high priest, wasn’t that a truly humiliating thing to hear?

Of course, even if he appeared to be a saint here, it was still a precarious situation, but still…

“Eat this.”

Hyegeul, thinking Rembrary was feeling down because he wasn’t getting enough to eat, coolly offered him her konjac jelly, oblivious to his inner turmoil, and walked to the sink.

Rembrary sighed and opened the jelly lid.

‘I should ask the Archpriest about it later, too.’

But just as he was about to bring the jelly to his mouth.

Taein emerged from his room with a stack of A4 paper in his hand.

‘He’s not going to come over and slash me with that, is he?’

Rembrary eyed him suspiciously, but Taein did no such thing. Instead, he approached and dutifully handed over the papers.

“What is this?”

Rembrary asked without taking it, still wary, and Taein frowned and cursed.

“It’s a pain in the ass even when I do errands.”

“Errands?”

“Jongwoo *hyung* [older brother or male friend] told me to give it to you. It’s in preparation for the variety show you’re going on.”

“Are you talking about *A Week in a Time Machine*?”

Rembrary reluctantly accepted the script and examined it.

There were words in the script that he had never heard of, and next to them was a ‘->’ symbol, followed by a word he knew.

King’s tears -> *Okru* [jade dew]

It was like that.

“Is this a word used in Joseon [Korean dynasty from 1392 to 1897]?”

“I don’t know. Probably.”

Taein answered curtly and went back into his room.

Rembrary quickly scanned the A4 paper that Jongwoo had given him.

* * *

August 23rd

I have the opportunity to become king for a week with Jang Taeri and Shin Jo-woon in the palace.

So I’m studying to become a more natural king… The words they used in the old days are difficult.

For example, like this.

The king’s tears are *Okru*, the king’s attitude is *Okdo* [jade road], and the king’s hands are *Oksoo* [jade hand], but the king’s demeanor is *Yongja* [dragon posture].

If it goes in this order, shouldn’t it be *Okja* [jade posture]? But *Okja* is the king’s son.

I don’t know why they made the words in this structure. I wish they would unify it with either *Ok* [jade] or *Yong* [dragon].

August 24th

Two in the morning. I fell asleep while memorizing words, so I came to the bathroom to wake up and… I’m standing in front of the camera.

I just woke up, so I don’t have much to say.

Shall I review what I’ve memorized? I studied hard!

In Joseon language, ‘I’m hungry’ is…

*Wangchulchul* [made up word]?

…I don’t know. I have to memorize it again.

August 25th

I sent a text to Jang Taeri asking how she was preparing to become king, and she said she wasn’t preparing at all.

How can she do that?

I was so surprised that I sent a text to Shin Jo-woon and asked him, and he said he wasn’t preparing at all either.

No, how can this be?

Am I the only diligent king? I have the face of a wise ruler.

Everyone, if you see this, remember. The most diligent of the three kings is Woo Yeon-woo. *Gorae* [whale] and *Salk* [flesh] are slacking off… I just got a text from Shin Jo-woon.

Wait a minute.

“…”

I checked the text. He told me to get my Korean right before I learn the king’s words.

But it’s a bit suspicious. I can understand the PD [production director], but Shin Jo-woon seems to contact me like clockwork whenever I badmouth him?

* * *

Title: Anyone seen Woo Yeon-woo’s *homma* [die-hard fan who takes photos]?

I was chosen as a general participant in the three kings show that Woo Yeon-woo, Jang Taeri, and Shin Jo-woon are filming together this time. (I’m playing the role of a concubine lol I might see all three of them in person! I’ll tell you when I see them!)

Anyway, so I met them as a group once before filming.

I wanted to see the two CEOs, but I couldn’t see them ㅠ I only saw Woo Yeon-woo. So handsome. Really handsome. Crazy handsome.

Ah, but that’s not it.

There were a lot of people with DSLR cameras at the pre-meeting, and there was a strange person among them ;;

Some guy got out of the back seat of a Rolls Royce wearing a full suit and

He brought bodyguards on both sides and I thought he was a celebrity?

But he was standing among the people with DSLR cameras ;;

The person wasn’t taking the pictures, the person who came with him was.

But the bodyguards? and the person taking the pictures called the guy in the suit ‘*Homma-nim*, *Homma-nim* [term of respect for a *homma*].’

Is he really Woo Yeon-woo’s *homma*?

I like Woo Yeon-woo, but my main fandom is somewhere else, so I don’t know.

– Real *homma*?

– Don’t you know his name?

– If his name is *Homma*, he should argue with his parents ㅜ

– (Writer) Is that so? I don’t know. But they were calling the guy in the suit *Homma-nim* among themselves.

ㄴ *Homma-nim*? ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

ㄴ (Writer) He was very polite.

– ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ I think I know who it is ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ I’ve seen him before too.

ㄴ Is he a real *homma*?

ㄴ ㅇㅇ His SNS ID hasn’t been created for long, but the ID is Homtleman.

ㄴ ㅅㅂ Homtlemanㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

ㄴ Is he a real *homma*? Not an *aggro* [someone who intentionally provokes or harasses others online]?

ㄴ He’s uploading pictures properly, though?

ㄴ I have to go see it ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

* * *

After many twists and turns, the day finally came to film .