Holy Idol [EN]: Chapter 142

< Attended a Gathering >

It was the day after the Chuseok [Korean harvest festival] holiday.

Rembrary stood in front of the refrigerator with a satisfied smile.

Unlike the day before Chuseok, today he felt content and proud.

All thanks to the food filling the refrigerator.

‘I’m glad I met those two yesterday.’

Even though he was troubled by being overlapped with Hwan Shin. Rembrary once again thought it was a good decision to meet them.

The refrigerator was full, so he didn’t feel as lonely even when he was alone.

Rembrary placed some food on a plate, set it on the table, and sat down in a chair.

He was excitedly eating when suddenly,

The phone next to him vibrated loudly.

Rembrary touched the phone screen, checking the text with one hand while eating with the other.

‘Hmm? Daeju [High Priest]?’

Surprisingly, the message was from Daeju. The busy Daeju. The Daeju who told him not to come unless called.

‘Is he telling me to come?’

Frowning, he checked the message…….

‘I guess he is telling me to come.’

Rembrary was perplexed by the unexpected proposal.

[A gathering for the Redrin God will be held. Would you like to attend and observe if you wish?]

The place Daeju was telling him to come to was a gathering for the Redrin God.

Rembrary was both bewildered and curious, so he ate his food first.

Only after filling his stomach about halfway did Rembrary check Daeju’s message again and send a reply.

[A gathering?]

[It’s where the newly formed followers of Redrin gather together here.]

No, who asked because they didn’t know what it meant…… Rembrary muttered inwardly and texted again.

[Is it okay for me to go there? I worship the same god, but strictly speaking, my affiliation is a bit different.]

‘Isn’t it like the difference between headquarters and a branch?’

[Of course. Please come and tell us how different it is. You can give us advice too.]

Rembrary finished his meal for about five minutes while thinking, then sent back a reply saying he would go.

He also wanted to see those who worshiped the Redrin God in this world, and he was curious about how Daeju had restored the temples and procedures from a completely different world.

[Understood.]

[Thank you. I always felt sorry for not being able to meet you due to unavoidable circumstances after you suggested meeting first.]

He should put some saliva on his words [a Korean expression meaning to be skeptical of someone’s sincerity]. He had already learned about the hidden meanings in human texts from Sagamjae!

But for now, he should just go since he was being told to come.

[Where should I go? I don’t know the way very well. I only know the geography around here.]

[I will send Wooshin as a guide.]

[Understood.]

[Is eleven o’clock okay?]

[It’s okay.]

[Then please come down by ten thirty.]

[It’s eleven o’clock, right?]

[It takes about 30 minutes to get here. Then, goodbye.]

Rembrary stared blankly at his phone and then checked the time. It was ten o’clock.

* * *

Rembrary, dressed in a beige knit and black pants, hurriedly went outside after washing up.

In the same spot where Hwan Shin had parked the car yesterday, Maeng Wooshin was waiting with the car this time.

The only difference was that Maeng Wooshin’s expression was full of dissatisfaction.

“Cheer up, senior.”

As Rembrary sat in the passenger seat and offered advice, Maeng Wooshin’s expression twisted even more.

“Idol. Aren’t you getting a license?”

“I’ve never driven a carriage before.”

“What are you talking about? I’ve never driven a carriage either.”

Instead of explaining further, Rembrary fastened his seatbelt and asked.

“Can I post on SNS that I’m hanging out with you, senior?”

Maeng Wooshin frowned but gave permission.

“Do as you please.”

Rembrary, who initially seemed like a rude and careless person, was gradually being evaluated more positively.

There were still many people who thought Woo Yeonwoo was annoying, but before, they were disgusted and repulsed by him, but now they could say he was annoying with a slight smile?

Besides, he was also a hot topic, so he allowed it, judging that it wouldn’t matter even if he revealed their friendship.

Rather, openly flaunting their friendship like this was also good for dispelling the strange rumors that had circulated in the early stages of filming .

―Going to hang out with Maeng senior >ㅅ< He was wondering whether to upload a photo after posting the message on SNS. Maeng Wooshin, who had been driving quietly, grumbled. “I don’t really like the person who’s going to receive the ‘Wish’ this time.” Rembrary was replying to Seon Woosil, who was asking, ‘What about me?’ when he turned his head to the side. “What did you say?” “The person who’s going to receive the Wish.” “What is that?” “The person who’s going to receive the Angel’s Wish.” “So, what is that?” “Don’t you know what it is?” “What do you think I’ve been asking about since earlier?” “Didn’t Daeju tell you?” Rembrary raised his eyebrows, and Maeng Wooshin made a similar expression. Although he wasn't an officially admitted member, Woo Yeonwoo was treated very well by Daeju. He had a private meeting with him, and there was even Daeju's order to take good care of Woo Yeonwoo. Naturally, Maeng Wooshin thought that Woo Yeonwoo would know more about Daeju than others. But it wasn't the case. “Senior? What is it?” Rembrary urged again, but Maeng Wooshin hesitated for a moment, wondering if he should answer. Daeju didn't tell him, so should I tell him? However, judging that ‘if he had intended to hide it, he wouldn't have called him here,’ he eventually answered. “The miracle that Daeju performs.” “Miracle?” “Once a month, he chooses one of the believers and grants their wish.” “Daeju does?” “Is Daeju your friend?” He was a subordinate. In the original world. When Rembrary avoided answering, Maeng Wooshin clicked his tongue and shook his head. “I don’t know why Daeju takes care of you so much…… Ah, you said you have ‘eyes’.” Whether Maeng Wooshin grumbled or not, Rembrary seriously analyzed what the ‘Angel’s Wish’ was. ‘Judging from the fact that it’s called a miracle, is it a type of divine power?’ There were many types of divine power. Among them, the type that Rembrary used was, to put it simply, slightly diluted divine power, almost at the level of undiluted solution. It wasn't for nothing that he was praised as the best in history when it came to divine power. Thanks to that, Rembrary used divine power well in various forms as needed. On the other hand, other priests received and used divine power in processed forms, and as a result, various bizarre forms appeared. Thanks to this, even though their divine power was weak, their uses were more practical or visually flashy, so they were more revered than other priests with strong divine power. Rembrary judged that Daeju's ability was the type that granted wishes. Such abilities had many limitations, but they were quite good. Above all, it was an ability optimized for attracting believers. There were traces of Redrin having put a lot of thought into being the only priest in this world. Meanwhile, Maeng Wooshin entered a parking lot inside a building and parked the car. As Rembrary was about to get out, Maeng Wooshin grabbed him, saying, “Wait a minute,” and reached his hand to the back seat, taking out two envelopes. “What are those?” Maeng Wooshin handed one of the envelopes to Rembrary. “Wear it.” “This?” Judging from the fact that he was telling him to wear it, was it clothes? Rembrary took out what was in the envelope and placed it on his lap. When he checked, it was really clothes. Not clothes consisting of a top and bottom, but a cloak with a generous fit. A white cloak with a gold trim. That wasn't the end of it. Inside the envelope, there was also a mask made of gold metal. It was a mask that came down to the nose, and if you wore this mask, you would look very suspicious and dangerous, but you could definitely hide your identity. “Do I have to wear this to go?” As he asked the question and turned his head, Maeng Wooshin had already taken off his thin coat and was wearing the cloak. It seemed like he had to wear it. “You’ve seen it once before, but there’s a group that attacks us wearing strange animal masks.” ‘It’s likely Nakru……’ “Are you trying to hide your face from them?” “We’re trying to hide our identities. They’re real psychos.” “Why? What are they like? What do they do if they find out our identities?” “They’re desperate to kill Daeju. I overheard them saying something before, they seem like people from some cult?” “Aren’t you guys the cult?” “We’re a cult, and they’re psychos.” Maeng Wooshin said firmly and urged Rembrary to put on the mask quickly, then got out of the car first. Rembrary also put on the mask and cloak and went outside. The mask was a mask, but the hood attached to the cloak itself came down almost to the forehead, so even if you didn't wear the mask, your face was completely covered. Rembrary thought it was fortunate that he could hide Woo Yeonwoo's white hair thanks to the cloak. White hair might not be unique to Woo Yeonwoo, but it wasn't very common. “But senior. Even if we hide our faces, everyone knows that car is your car, right?” “There are no CCTVs [closed-circuit televisions] in this parking lot.” “No cameras?” “I had them all removed. And I deliberately connected it to the parking lot of a huge shopping mall, so you can’t tell where we’re going just by seeing us come and go here.” “Did you get permission from the huge shopping mall?” “I think so.” Maeng Wooshin answered casually, but Rembrary guessed that the owner of the huge shopping mall might be a believer of Daeju. If Daeju was the owner of the shopping mall, he would have said so, but that wasn't the case. But if he did such a thing without permission, things could get out of hand. “This way.” Among the ten elevators, it seemed that the elevator to take was also determined. Maeng Wooshin pulled Rembrary, who was standing at the end elevator, to the center, and the two waited endlessly for the elevator to come down. Finally, the elevator door opened with a ding, and Rembrary followed Maeng Wooshin into the elevator. When the elevator stopped, a corridor with a red carpet came into view. At the end of the corridor, a large black door was tightly closed, and in front of it, six burly guards in black suits stood like an iron wall. As Maeng Wooshin approached, one of them held out a small black machine, and Maeng Wooshin swiped something that looked like a card over the machine. When a green light came on, the guards cleared the way, and Rembrary followed Maeng Wooshin inside the black door. Unlike the outside, the inside of the door was a completely bright and cheerful space, which at first glance looked like a buffet where the tables had been cleared away. Rembrary quickly scanned the tables full of food and asked. “Can I eat all of that?” “I think so. But take a little bit at a time. There are no tables here, so you have to keep holding the plate while you eat.” “What is that?” “French fries…… something similar.” Rembrary thought he had done well to come to the gathering, and he took a little bit of food and put it in his mouth. Throughout the several plates he ate like that, Maeng Wooshin followed him with a look of annoyance. It was partly because Daeju had repeatedly told him to stay close to Rembrary, but it was also because he was worried that Rembrary, that crazy guy, would show his face and harm the final filming of .

Rembrary took an unidentified piece of meat covered in yellow sauce to his mouth and asked.

“So, do you and your friends not know each other’s identities?”

“They’re not my friends? Well, of course, we reveal it when we become close and certain, but we don’t reveal it even at gatherings like this.”

“Why?”

“Because enemies sometimes mix in here. There are also rumors that there are reporters or PDs [production directors] who are interested in investigating the cult. The detective is definitely attached. But the most dangerous are those animal masks.”

“Aren’t detectives dangerous?”

“Less dangerous than PDs. Even if a detective is attached here, what can he do? Even if we’re a cult, we’re not killing or hurting people, we’re just gathering and granting wishes.”

“But why do you hold gatherings when you know there are enemies?”

“Those enemies sometimes become real believers after seeing the miracles with their own eyes.”

Meanwhile.

Someone came up to the stage at the very front.

It was someone who had covered their face in the same way, but was wearing a more ornately decorated cloak than the cloaks people were wearing.

“It’s Daeju!”

“Daeju!”

“Daeju!”

Whether it was Daeju’s attire or not, people cheered Daeju’s name when he appeared.

Daeju calmly raised his hand to calm the people’s excitement, then gestured to the person holding the microphone next to the stage.

Then, the person holding the microphone said in an excited voice, “The person who will receive the Angel’s Blessing this time, please come forward.”

As soon as he finished speaking, an unidentified person approached Daeju, put their hands together, and knelt down.

“What is your wish?”

Daeju asked in a calm voice, and the person who knelt down pleaded in a desperate voice.

“Please make it so that I don’t gain weight no matter how much I eat.”

Damn it, I’m jealous, Maeng Wooshin clicked his tongue next to him.

Rembrary was also tempted and asked.

“Is that for life?”

“No. A one-month pass.”

End of < Attended a Gathering >