Holy Idol [EN]: Chapter 137

< 137. The Chase >

For Rembrary, who had vowed to dedicate his life to God, his intentions were genuine. Although Rembrary wasn’t particularly fond of Kesh, he felt it was his duty to guide Kesh to become a follower of the Redrin God. He couldn’t only accept people he liked as followers.

‘Redrin-nim [a respectful title for the Redrin God] told me to gather followers….’

However, for Kesh, who was still reeling from his fight with Yuli and didn’t want their relationship to end, Rembrary’s words felt like a curse. The curse of not finding a spouse.

The fight, however, didn’t escalate too much. There were many people in the shop, and Yuli reappeared after talking with the member who had chased after him earlier. Kesh watched Yuli’s reaction and then quietly started fiddling with his phone, pretending to be detached from the world.

‘Looks like he really got dumped.’

Rembrary strongly suspected this was the case, but Jongwoo kept signaling him to ‘watch your mouth,’ so he didn’t press Kesh any further. If he didn’t need comfort, then so be it.

‘I could have gained a follower.’

Rembrary regretted missing this opportunity, but there was nothing he could do about a chance that had already passed. He had no choice but to aim for the next one.

“Ah, Manager Kang. Please make the kids’ makeup a bit more subdued than usual today.”

“Lower the eye corners [a makeup technique to create a softer, more vulnerable look]?”

“That’s up to you to decide based on the kids’ face shapes… and, well, we’re going for a vibe like they’re suffering from a recent breakup. I want that feeling to come across.”

“Ah, a breakup song. What are they singing?”

“Hey, it wouldn’t be fun if I told you in advance.”

“It’s not fun even if you don’t tell me.”

“Haha, sorry. Oh, but please do Yeonwoo’s makeup like you did for his solo song. That vibe… you know?”

The makeup artists at the shop had been in charge of Wild Animal’s makeup throughout this album cycle, so they refined the members’ images according to Jongwoo’s vision.

Following the makeup session, all preparations, including hair, were completed quietly and quickly, and the Wild Animal members got back into the car.

However, the awkward atmosphere persisted even after arriving at the broadcasting station.

Since they were gathered to record the same program, it wasn’t long before Long Distance also arrived.

While greeting the staff and PD [Production Director], Kesh and Yuli didn’t even look at each other, just as they hadn’t at the shop.

The extent of their estrangement was so obvious that even the staff noticed their subtle tension and exchanged glances.

Eventually, while in the waiting room, Hyegyeol couldn’t suppress his curiosity and stepped forward to ask this time.

“Hyung [older brother or male friend], did you really fight with Yuli noona [older sister or female friend]? What’s wrong?”

Kesh waved his hand, saying, “I don’t know. Be quiet,” as if he had a headache.

Hyegyeol, who had just thrown out one question, felt unfairly upset and waved his hand.

“Hey, am I being noisy just because I asked a few questions?”

Normally, Kesh would have immediately snapped back at Hyegyeol’s retort, but Kesh, completely drained of energy, didn’t answer.

However, no matter how down Kesh was, unless he was physically ill, he had to proceed with the pre-arranged schedule. He couldn’t skip the schedule with an excuse like ‘I fought with my girlfriend,’ could he?

Finally, after two rehearsals, Wild Animal, who had been waiting to record the main broadcast, went on stage.

This program wasn’t about talking or anything like that; it was literally just performing their songs like they would on a music show.

Accordingly, the MCs [Masters of Ceremony or hosts] also introduced the songs, pretending that Long Distance’s songs were Wild Animal’s songs.

It was fortunate for Jongwoo. At least Rembrary, who couldn’t dance, wouldn’t have a chance to make a mistake.

Moreover, Rembrary, who went on stage, was at least seen trying hard even if he couldn’t dance well. His dance lines were a mess, and his body was creaking, but Jongwoo could see how hard Rembrary was working his body. It would have been better if he moved a little better for all the effort he was putting in.

‘But this voice is really amazing.’

The rap that came out in between was so good that it felt like that was how a devil would whisper.

Finally, the song ended, and Rembrary and the members came down from the stage. Although it borrowed the format of a music show, there was no announcement of first place, so Jongwoo took the members straight back to the waiting room.

As soon as they arrived at the waiting room, Rembrary yawned and started nodding off. He hadn’t slept properly at night because he was investigating Lavroom, and then Jongwoo came, and they went straight to the shop, so he was sleep-deprived. Only now did his eyelids feel heavy.

The other members were just as tired, so they started nodding off together. There was no announcement of first place, but they still had to greet the director and staff after filming, so they were holding out in the waiting room.

However, Rembrary had to leave the waiting room soon after because he received a call from Jang Taeri.

“Yes, Jang Taeri-ssi [a polite title, like Ms. or Mr.].”

―Butter-grilled shrimp? Jowoon doesn’t know anything. Shrimp should be steamed. Have you ever had steamed shrimp?

“No.”

―Do you want to eat it?

“I want to eat it.”

But it was while he was excitedly talking on the phone with Jang Taeri. As he was walking down the hallway, he saw a familiar head passing by in the distance.

Rembrary frowned.

‘A tiger head?’

It was a tiger-headed monster.

Rembrary was a little taken aback. Why is that monster here? Shouldn’t it be next to Im Yoohan?

“Jang Taeri-ssi, I’m sorry, but can I call you back later?”

Rembrary asked for Jang Taeri’s understanding, hung up the phone, and quietly followed the tiger-headed monster.

What was it doing? The tiger-headed monster was following a yellow-haired member of a boy group.

He couldn’t quite remember the group’s name or the member’s name, but he was sure it was an idol who had recorded with them today.

It wasn’t an idol who was currently active, but an idol who had disbanded after their contract period ended. That must have been it.

Unaware that Rembrary was following him, the tiger-headed monster smacked his lips as he looked at the yellow back of the person walking ahead.

‘Is that the one?’

* * *

At the same time.

Woosungwoo was still regretting it. He wondered if he had 괜히 [unnecessarily] given 환신 [Hwanshin, a character or group] ‘s contact information, worried that his younger sibling would be influenced by strange 천리풍 [Cheonripung, a character or group]-like ideologies, or that his sibling would harbor absurd ideas about controlling monsters. A myriad of thoughts swirled in his mind.

Next to him, the team leader was having a serious conversation with the team members.

“A few days ago, the U-13 team that went out on a job was attacked and injured by a strange person.”

“A strange person?”

“I don’t know. According to them, it was someone who had completely covered their face with sunglasses, a mask, and a hat.”

“Wow, that’s funny. Do they think they’re a celebrity?”

“But isn’t the U-13 team the one that wields axes….”

“Oh, really?”

“Yeah, that’s them.”

That team was one that made onlookers feel eerie just by the weapons they wielded. But that team was attacked and injured by a person, not a monster?

“Were they walking around without their weapons? Were they just attacked when they didn’t have their weapons?”

“No. They were chasing a cow-headed monster, and that cow-headed monster hid behind someone. That person protected the cow-head.”

“천리풍인가 [Could it be Cheonripung]?”

“They thought they could avoid attacks on their own and charged in, but that suspicious person didn’t avoid them; instead, they attacked them in an instant. When they came to their senses, they were in the emergency room. They had fainted.”

Woosungwoo, while worrying about his younger sibling, was listening to everything the team leader said and immediately jumped in to ask.

“That person who protected the cow-headed monster. Could they be a Saint [In this context, likely referring to a person with special abilities or a protector of monsters]?”

The team leader said firmly, “No.”

“Do you know what the common trait of Saints is? They’re all incredibly weak. It would be difficult for them to knock out two people at once.”

That was true. Saints were weak. That didn’t mean their bodies were frail. It just meant they couldn’t fight. Because of that, Saints usually had people around them who could protect them.

“Since they protected the cow-head, they might belong to a monster-friendly group, so I’ll check with 천리풍 [Cheonripung].”

Undushin, whom Rembrary called ‘the man with the spear,’ asked while fiddling with his bandages.

“Could it be the work of ‘those people’?”

Even though Undushin didn’t say much, the atmosphere instantly turned cold.

Everyone stopped talking and looked at each other.

‘Those people’ that Undushin mentioned were the ones who had kidnapped a C-16 team member before.

Not only that. They had a history of kidnapping a 낙루 [Nakru, a specific group or organization] person before that. Before that, and before that.

At first, it wasn’t well known, but now they knew that they deliberately called themselves ‘루낙 [Runak, a play on Nakru, possibly a rival or opposing group],’ as if mocking them.

Their target seemed to be 낙루 [Nakru], and the 낙루 [Nakru] they captured always went missing and never reappeared.

Undushin was angry as he spoke, panting heavily. “If it’s those bastards, we need to respond this time.”

In 낙루 [Nakru], as a matter of principle, people other than Saints could not be killed.

“Those crazy bastards are just criminals. If those guys are involved, we should just respond by hunting Saints together, right?”

Undushin’s sharp words were mixed with a faint but palpable fear. Even though they were Saints who attacked and killed perfectly normal people, being the hunted was a different matter.

The team leader shook his head.

“That’s not allowed.”

“If it’s their doing, it’s right for us to respond. We can’t just stand by and get attacked just because we’re people, can we?”

“The moment we hunt someone who isn’t a Saint, our cause disappears. And Saints are not our prey. They are noble beings who sacrifice themselves for humanity.”

The team leader said firmly and added.

“First, I’ll check with 천리풍 [Cheonripung]. Whether they’re their people or not. If it’s not 천리풍 [Cheonripung], let’s set a trap to find out if it’s 루낙 [Runak]’s doing.”

“You said not to respond.”

“I meant we can’t kill them. We can catch them and hand them over to the police, right?”

At the team leader’s firm words, Undushin turned his gaze to the TV with dissatisfaction. Even though nothing was showing on the TV.

At that time, one of the other team members asked Woosungwoo.

“By the way, that location where the U-13 team was attacked. Isn’t it near your sibling’s dorm?”

The team leader suggested, “Oh, that’s right.”

“Ask your sibling if they’ve heard any strange people or sounds. Your sibling has ‘eyes,’ right?”

* * *

“Stop it.”

Rembrary, thinking that the tiger-headed monster had bad intentions, approached him coldly.

The tiger-headed monster, who had been smacking his lips as he followed, froze in place at Rembrary’s words.

The tiger-headed monster, who turned around, looked surprised, as if he had only now noticed Rembrary’s presence.

[I apologize.]

The yellow-haired man, who couldn’t see the tiger-headed monster, also asked with a flustered face, misunderstanding that Rembrary was talking to him.

“Me?”

“Not you, senior [a respectful term for someone older or more experienced].”

“There’s no one here but me?”

“I wasn’t talking to you, senior.”

Rembrary gave the tiger-headed monster a look that said, ‘Why are you here?’ and the tiger-headed monster continued to step back.

The yellow-haired man frowned, feeling upset as he thought about it.

“They said he’s crazy, and he really is crazy. Who was he talking to when there’s no one here but me? Is he already getting arrogant because he’s doing well these days….”

< 137. The Chase > End