Holy Idol [EN]: Chapter 194

194. Lacking Motivation Due to Worry

“Maeng, why Maeng-i?”

Lee Il-baek stammered, flustered. The timing of the words, and the content itself… How did he bring up Maeng Woo-shin at this exact moment? His heart pounded.

However, the other party was calm and composed. So calm that he was even gentle and kind. From his outward appearance alone, he didn’t seem like the frightening person who had uttered strange words a moment ago.

But even Woo Yeon-woo’s composure seemed frightening to Lee Il-baek. Instead of asking more about Maeng Woo-shin, he shook his head. ‘What a difference in age. I don’t want to be overwhelmed by the spirit of a young punk,’ he thought.

“I have something to ask.”

As he made an effort to ask calmly, Woo Yeon-woo, who had been holding his wrist, released his grip. Lee Il-baek quickly looked down at his throbbing wrist. Woo Yeon-woo took a half-step back.

However, Lee Il-baek let out a short scream as he was about to ask his question. His wrist… The wrist that Rembrary had grabbed was dented. As if his body had turned into soft, easily manipulated clay, and someone had grabbed his wrist and pressed down hard.

As if something had really broken, he was horrified and staggered backward.

“My hand, my hand!”

Lee Il-baek screamed as he stumbled back.

“Il-baek hyung!” [Hyung is a Korean term used by males to address older male friends or brothers.]

The manager, hearing the noise, ran over in surprise.

“My hand, my hand!”

As Lee Il-baek screamed and showed his hand, the manager supported Lee Il-baek’s hand and asked frantically.

“What’s wrong with your hand? Does it hurt? Did you get your hand caught in something?”

The manager asked urgently, constantly examining his hand. It didn’t seem to be bleeding or anything on the outside, but the bones inside might be broken.

However, Lee Il-baek flared up. ‘It’s obvious what’s wrong with my hand, isn’t it?’ But the moment he was about to say something in anger, Lee Il-baek shut his mouth.

After blinking once, his hand was fine. Even though it had been gripped with tremendous force, there wasn’t even a red mark left.

‘What on earth…’

Lee Il-baek looked at Woo Yeon-woo with renewed fear.

Woo Yeon-woo was talking to the director, and the director was praising him with a thumbs up.

“Yeon-woo is a genius, a genius! A acting genius! People need to see this!”

‘Does he think all of this is acting?’ Lee Il-baek looked down at his wrist again. It’s fine.

Lee Il-baek raised his gaze. Woo Yeon-woo was standing calmly, listening to the director’s praise, with an amused look. Woo Yeon-woo’s gaze towards the director was full of interest.

“Hyung.”

The manager asked Lee Il-baek in a frightened voice, trying to keep his voice down.

“Did you take any kind of medication? Is this a side effect or something…”

“No.”

“Okay… don’t take stuff like that.”

* * *

At that moment.

Rembrary was facing Redrin. However, Redrin was not looking at Rembrary. He had his hands behind his back and was looking down.

Rembrary also lowered his head. When he lowered his head, he could see where Redrin was looking. The scenery of the place where people lived was being displayed on a flat surface.

A mess. Rembrary thought to himself.

As the Demon King invaded, many monsters poured into the places where people lived. Screams, shouts, the sound of weapons clashing….

It was a sight that pained the heart just to look at. Redrin also had a serious expression.

“Rembrary.”

Then Redrin called out to Rembrary.

“Redrin-nim [Nim is a Korean honorific suffix], are you alright now?”

Rembrary approached and asked cautiously.

Redrin opened his mouth.

But before he could hear the answer, Rembrary blinked. The director was dancing. The director of the movie. Why is that director dancing? Where did Redrin-nim go?

“I don’t know why Woo Yeon-woo was debuted as an idol instead of an actor?”

Moreover, praise was pouring out. Rembrary was bewildered. Next to him, another staff member was arguing with what the director was saying.

“Hey, Director. How good is Yeon-woo’s voice when he sings? Acting is acting, but he has such a great voice, he should have gone into music.”

“He’s too good at acting to just do music!”

Since this wasn’t the first or second time this had happened, Rembrary quickly grasped the situation.

‘Someone must have come in and out while I was looking at Redrin-nim.’

Anyway, he must have done something well, judging by how the director keeps praising his acting skills.

“When I see him act, there are actors who give the feeling that they are acting well, and there are actors who don’t make you think about acting at all? The latter literally changes the atmosphere completely, and you can’t tell whether it’s acting or reality. Yeon-woo is clearly the latter.”

Rembrary nodded, even though it wasn’t his acting.

* * *

The ghost role that Rembrary played had a small part, so the filming ended quickly. While other people had to stay on set, twisting their bodies or yawning, Rembrary was able to return first.

It was up to the important actors to keep their places for the sake of loyalty, but it would be strange for someone like Rembrary, who was just making a cameo appearance, to stay on set all day for the sake of loyalty.

Still, in order to see Jung-seo’s acting one last time, while Sa Gam-jae was preparing to return, Rembrary stood at a distance and watched the scene with the characters from the drama.

But as he was watching Jung-seo act, he felt Lee Il-baek’s stinging gaze. Rembrary looked towards Lee Il-baek. Immediately, he saw a blank expression. He was staring blankly at Rembrary with his mouth open.

Then, when their eyes met, Lee Il-baek flinched as if he had seen something he shouldn’t have.

‘He’s afraid.’

Rembrary clicked his tongue.

‘The Demon King must have stepped forward.’

If the real Woo Yeon-woo had stepped forward, he wouldn’t be this scared. The Demon King must have stepped forward and made the atmosphere cold.

Rembrary took his eyes off Lee Il-baek.

In the meantime, Jong-woo, who had finished preparing to leave, called out to Rembrary.

“Yeon-woo-ya.”

As Rembrary approached, he instructed.

“I’ll stay and watch over Jung-seo, so you go with Gam-jae first. Don’t go out late tonight to meet your brother.”

“Alright.”

* * *

This could have just been a momentary happening, but those who were momentarily impressed did not let it end as a happening.

Regardless of likes or dislikes, the two people who were most impressed by this were Lee Il-baek and the director.

First, the director called his friend.

-I don’t know who to cast as the painter.

He remembered what his friend had said while drinking before.

-I’m not satisfied with any of them. If I like this, that seems lacking, and if I like that, this seems lacking.

His perfectionist friend was currently preparing for a drama, and he was struggling with one role.

The role was not a lead role, but his friend was putting a lot of effort into the character, so he was carefully choosing the actor.

The role that his friend was having trouble casting was a taciturn and mysterious painter. His friend had finally sent synopses to the three people who he thought would be the best fit for the role, and all three had responded positively.

However, his friend still couldn’t decide who to cast. He said that all three had parts he liked and parts he didn’t like.

Another director would have shouted to choose based on the strengths, but because he was a perfectionist, he couldn’t make a decision and was just wandering around like that.

Anyway, Woo Yeon-woo’s name was also on the list that his friend showed him as candidates.

[Hello?]

The director asked as soon as his friend answered the phone.

“You said you were worried about the painter role before, right?”

[Ah. Yeah.]

“Did you decide?”

[I haven’t found anyone I’m completely satisfied with. I’m thinking of compromising appropriately. If I delay it any longer, the schedule might be overturned.]

“Do it with Woo Yeon-woo, with Woo Yeon-woo.”

[What? What are you talking about, calling out of the blue?]

“I’m upset that he was only in a cameo. He’s a acting genius, a acting genius!”

[……What are you even saying, calling me?]

“Today, you know…….”

Meanwhile, Lee Il-baek called Maeng Woo-shin.

Maeng Woo-shin answered the phone after a long time. As soon as the ringing tone disappeared, Lee Il-baek immediately confronted Maeng Woo-shin.

“What the hell is Woo Yeon-woo?”

Maeng Woo-shin clicked his tongue.

[I told you not to talk to him.]

“It’s not even a matter of talking or not talking. Why is that kid so scary?”

[He’s scary? Not annoying?]

“Annoying or whatever. Oh, and did you have any trouble with Woo Yeon-woo?”

[Trouble? What trouble?]

“Woo Yeon-woo said he wanted to hear about you?”

* * *

At that moment, Rembrary was sitting in the back seat of the car, looking at the rapidly passing scenery.

He was confused, thinking about why Redrin had appeared.

And what he wanted to say when Redrin opened his mouth.

Unlike when he first came to the set, he didn’t feel anything about Lee Il-baek.

“Damn it.”

Rembrary was just bothered that he hadn’t heard all of Redrin’s words. Just before Redrin was about to speak, the director appeared suddenly, dancing.

Then, Rembrary made eye contact with Sa Gam-jae in the rearview mirror.

Sa Gam-jae, who had been glancing at him the whole time, asked immediately.

“Did something happen?”

“Don’t you know that I was switched out once in the middle?”

“I know.”

“What is that?”

Sa Gam-jae turned the steering wheel without a word.

Then, he stopped the car for a moment at a red light. The roads were packed because it was dinner time.

Rembrary felt like this situation was like the situation he was in now.

He couldn’t figure out what was going on.

At the same time, he was worried about the world that Redrin was looking down on… probably the world where his real body was.

He had to suppress the Demon King. He felt bad that he couldn’t suppress the Demon King and had been safely bounced to a place like this, causing people to suffer.

‘Still, you haven’t been able to contact me at all. Does it mean you’ve recovered some strength if you’re showing yourself?’

Just in case, he tried to pray, but he still didn’t respond to the prayer. Rembrary closed his eyes and leaned back in his chair.

Then, his cell phone vibrated. Rembrary opened his eyes and listlessly picked up his cell phone. Jong-woo’s name was on the screen.

“Hello?”

Although he was annoyed, he answered immediately, and Jong-woo shouted over the receiver.

[You know that painter role I told you about before. Do you remember?]

Rembrary thought about it for a while and said, “Ah,” pretending to know.

“You mean that painter role who doesn’t talk much.”

When Jung-seo was waiting for the results of the movie audition, Jong-woo had mentioned it in passing.

“Why?”

[They called and said they wanted to offer you the role.]

“…….”

[Aren’t you happy? No reaction?]