Holy Idol [EN]: Chapter 302

302. Two Guests

Rembrary’s monster eye-poking, spurred on by Goo PD, received a much better response than expected.

In this day and age, most people, unless they’re truly eccentric, harbor some animosity towards monsters. Rembrary’s eye-poking provided a peculiar sense of satisfaction to such people.

Other hunters capture monsters with all sorts of bizarre abilities, which is quite impressive. However, it’s also a spectacle that feels distant to those who aren’t Awakened [people with special abilities].

But the way Rembrary drove away the monster was something even a non-Awakened person could imagine doing, making the viewers feel even more gratified.

Thanks to this popularity, Rembrary even received offers to appear as a guest on other broadcasts.

“It’s a decent program.”

Since Rembrary’s contact information wasn’t public, the appearance proposal came to Shin Jo-woon. Shin Jo-woon naturally reviewed the proposal and explained the broadcast to Rembrary.

“It’s a talk show where guests are invited to converse, with one MC [Master of Ceremonies, the host]. Sometimes celebrities appear as guests, and sometimes hunters or lords [powerful figures in the hunter community], or just other experts. It has a refined atmosphere and good program credibility.”

Shin Jo-woon was no longer an entertainment agency president, but he still seemed to be well-versed in that field.

“It’s helpful for promotion, and the topics that change each time are quite informative.”

Shin Jo-woon introduced a few of the most talked-about episodes from the program and then asked Rembrary.

“Brand value is important for hunters too. If you want to increase your name recognition, there’s no harm in going on. What do you want to do?”

Rembrary didn’t know why Shin Jo-woon was managing his schedule, but he readily replied.

“I’ll go on.”

If he went on the broadcast, many people would see him, and they would be captivated by his magnificent appearance and want to become his followers. There was no downside to going on.

“Then I’ll proceed in that direction.”

“But why are you managing my schedule?”

“Can you do it alone?”

“No.”

“Then what’s the problem?”

At Shin Jo-woon’s question, Rembrary looked up at the ceiling and then obediently nodded.

“None.”

However, Rembrary didn’t know who else would be appearing on that broadcast with him.

* * *

After hearing that there would be a guest appearing with him today, Rembrary went to the waiting room and was taken aback to find two familiar faces.

“Hello, I’m Lee Jong-woo.”

Jong-woo approached Rembrary first, offering his business card and greeting him politely.

“I was surprised when I saw the broadcast. I wondered if there was such a handsome hunter. Haha.”

The people who were already in the waiting room were Jong-woo and Woo Yeon-woo. Rembrary received the business card Jong-woo handed him and stared blankly at the name printed on it.

“Are you alright…?”

His eyes were so moist that Jong-woo, who had greeted him happily, asked in confusion.

“The name is beautiful, so I looked at it.”

Jong-woo was even more bewildered by Rembrary’s excuse, but Woo Yeon-woo knew why Rembrary was acting like that, so he clenched his fist tightly.

He didn’t like the way Rembrary was looking at someone else’s manager as if he were someone he missed. Unlike Shin Jo-woon, Jong-woo had been his manager from the beginning.

But before Woo Yeon-woo could say anything, the door opened and someone came in.

“Mr. Rembrary, I’ve been waiting for you.”

It was the broadcast writer. After introducing herself, the broadcast writer told Rembrary to sit down and quickly introduced the current trends in broadcasting.

In the past, recorded broadcasts were the trend, but these days, live broadcasts are the trend. The format of , the first hunter program after the Cataclysm [a major disaster], has become the standard, where even terrestrial broadcasts first do a live internet broadcast and then edit it for TV broadcast.

“With stimulating events happening everywhere, people have started to see staged broadcasts as bland.”

In this environment, hunters and lords have become overconfident in their abilities and don’t pay attention to what others think, so everyone is full of individuality.

People are somewhat forgiving of hunters’ bad tempers, so even simple interviews are more popular these days if they’re done spontaneously rather than prepared in advance.

“Of course, you may already know this.”

“These are things I’m hearing for the first time. It has been helpful.”

“I’m glad to hear that. Oh, but don’t worry too much. We do broadcast live, but the production team prepares extra thoroughly for any unexpected situations.”

It seemed like a very different environment from when Rembrary was in Woo Yeon-woo’s body, so Rembrary remembered every word the broadcast writer said.

Seeing his cautious demeanor, the broadcast writer thought, ‘I heard he was crazy, but he’s surprisingly okay?’ However, Woo Yeon-woo frowned, disliking even this aspect of him.

“I’ll sit down for a bit.”

But the broadcast writer didn’t notice Woo Yeon-woo glaring at her and sat down next to Rembrary, taking out a small notebook.

“As I mentioned, we’ll be editing during the recording, but the pre-edited interview will also be uploaded as is. So please answer carefully.”

“Understood.”

“And Mr. Rembrary, could you tell me in advance what you’re best at and what you’re only okay at?”

Why does she keep asking me questions? Rembrary wondered, but he obediently nodded and then asked back, confused by a word he didn’t understand.

“Only okay at?”

Why would you deliberately be only okay at something?

“Yes. Mr. Rembrary, you have a somewhat scary image, so if you show a skill that you’re only okay at, it might soften that image a bit.”

Rembrary thought for a moment and then replied.

“There are too many things I’m best at, and I’m only okay at rapping.”

“Rapping?”

The broadcast writer liked Rembrary’s words and asked.

“Oh, people will love that. Could you show us now?”

However, as soon as Rembrary started rapping a few lines, the broadcast writer’s face immediately darkened. She thought, ‘That’s not just okay, that’s downright terrible.’

Rembrary’s rap had terrible rhythm, and even the rhymes and lyrics were awful. If he did that kind of rap, his image would not only be softened but completely changed.

“Is there anything else?”

In the end, the broadcast writer thought that rap was not a good idea and asked Rembrary this question. At that moment, Woo Yeon-woo, who had been observing the situation with his mouth shut, quickly interjected.

“Why? Let him rap. He should do what he wants to do.”

Why is he suddenly acting like this? Rembrary looked at him suspiciously, and Woo Yeon-woo smiled and sweet-talked him.

“You look cute when you rap. Really. You look even cuter because you’re bad at it. Do that.”

The broadcast writer frowned and strained her neck. He said that rap was cute? Was he serious?

Rembrary also muttered with a reluctant expression.

“Cute is not the image I’m pursuing.”

However, Woo Yeon-woo had deliberately suggested that he go on as a guest, even pretending to be a fan, in order to directly hinder Rembrary from building a good image on the broadcast. He had been waiting for an opportunity, and he wasn’t about to miss this perfect moment.

“You’re perfect at everything else, Rembrary. If you’re perfect but also cute, people will love you.”

Rembrary found it difficult to agree because it was Woo Yeon-woo who was saying those words, but the broadcast writer, who didn’t know the situation, clasped her hands together and exclaimed.

“Wow! Mr. Woo Yeon-woo must really like Mr. Rembrary!”

The broadcast writer thought that Woo Yeon-woo was a fan of Rembrary and wanted to be a guest on the same day, so it was easy to misunderstand.

On the other hand, Rembrary rested his chin on the armrest and looked at Woo Yeon-woo with a smile in his eyes. You’re my fan?

Woo Yeon-woo was annoyed by Rembrary’s condescending gaze, but his accumulated broadcasting experience was not in vain. He smiled brightly and readily agreed with the broadcast writer’s words.

“Yes. I’m a real fan.”

After exchanging a few words, the broadcast writer left for a moment, and Rembrary asked Woo Yeon-woo teasingly.

“What are you plotting?”

Jong-woo, who had been listening to the conversation with his mouth open, felt a very familiar feeling and tilted his head.

‘I’ve been thinking about it, that royal tone…?’

But Woo Yeon-woo was so focused on Rembrary that he didn’t pay attention to Jong-woo. Instead, he pretended to be friendly to Rembrary.

“You have a good voice, so freestyle rap will suit you best. Don’t ask for music when you rap, do it without sound. That way, your voice will stand out, right?”

Watching this, Jong-woo became even more puzzled. But Yeon-woo is talking to that Rembrary person like they know each other well?

When he said he was a fan and wanted to be on the same broadcast, I thought it could just be that, but it’s strange that they’re having this kind of conversation without even introducing themselves.

What’s even more strange is that Rembrary is treating Woo Yeon-woo similarly.

“Mr. Rembrary! Could you come out for a moment?”

Then, when a staff member took Rembrary out, Jong-woo lowered his voice and asked Woo Yeon-woo.

“Yeon-woo, do you know him?”

“How would I know him?”

“You were talking like you knew him?”

“No.”

“Really?”

“Really.”

“……”

“I’m telling you, really?”

Woo Yeon-woo got angry, so Jong-woo couldn’t agree but moved on and asked.

“Then let’s leave that aside. Why did you lie?”

“Lie about what?”

“If you’re bad at rapping, you should cover it up with a beat. But why did you tell him to take out the music? You’re a fan, right?”

“Fan, my foot.”

“!”

“I hate that bastard.”

“What?”

Jong-woo was taken aback when Woo Yeon-woo suddenly changed his words and asked back.

“Why?”

But Woo Yeon-woo didn’t explain that part. In fact, he couldn’t explain it.

However, neither Woo Yeon-woo nor Jong-woo could have imagined.

‘I knew it. I knew he had an ulterior motive.’

That Rembrary had heard everything outside the door.

* * *

Finally, the broadcast started, and the MC introduced Rembrary and Woo Yeon-woo to the viewers as planned.

The number of viewers watching the live broadcast was already enormous just because Woo Yeon-woo, a national hero, was appearing. But when Rembrary, who has been the most talked about recently, joined in, many people flocked to the live broadcast.

However, the MC, thanks to the signals sent by the PD [Production Director], knew that a large crowd was watching the broadcast in real-time, but he skillfully proceeded with the broadcast, ensuring that neither Rembrary nor Woo Yeon-woo was given too much weight.

Then, when the topic finally turned to Rembrary’s eye-poking monster extermination, the MC asked, pretending to be excited.

“Mr. Rembrary, you’ve recently become a hot topic for poking monsters in the eye. In fact, that’s why we invited you two today. If there are hunters around, you can rest assured even if a monster appears, but not everyone can stick with a hunter, right?”

“Yes.”

“So, what if there are no hunters around, but a monster appears right now! But I’m not an Awakened! What should I do in this situation?”

This was also today’s main topic, and Rembrary and Woo Yeon-woo had been notified of the question in advance. Therefore, Woo Yeon-woo explained professionally as he had prepared in advance. It was a perfect model answer.

“Wow, that’s Mr. Woo Yeon-woo for you!”

The MC, who heard that, exclaimed and then asked Rembrary this time.

“Mr. Rembrary, please give the viewers some good tips too!”

The MC even hyped up the atmosphere, saying, ‘Rembrary is still a hunter trainee, so he may know many methods that are more helpful to non-Awakened people.’

At first glance, it seemed like the MC was praising Rembrary more than Woo Yeon-woo, but among the viewers who were watching the broadcast in real-time, those who were friendly to Rembrary booed the MC’s actions.

―Isn’t the question order wrong? Woo Yeon-woo should answer later. Are you crazy.

―I know. Even if he’s famous, Rembrary isn’t even a formal hunter yet, right? Why are you making him answer right after Woo Yeon-woo?

―Woo Yeon-woo has broadcast experience, but Rembrary is doing his first live interview, right?

―Did Rembrary get on the MC’s bad side?

People weren’t just doing this for no reason. He had to answer right after Woo Yeon-woo, a hero, and even the MC had raised expectations, so even an experienced hunter would be burdened.

However, Rembrary didn’t do that at all. No, rather, as soon as the MC finished speaking, he smiled warmly and began to explain calmly.

“Ordinary people aren’t as strong as I am. So you have to attack their weaknesses.”

Unlike the criticism from Rembrary’s fans, the MC didn’t have any ill feelings towards Rembrary and didn’t make him answer later. He just reversed the order because he thought the structure of Rembrary explaining first was too bland.

Because of this, the MC, who felt a little sorry for Rembrary, asked back as if he was very interested.

“How?”

Rembrary smiled gently.

“You just poke them in the eye. Like this.”

The moment he said that. Rembrary poked Woo Yeon-woo, who was sitting next to him, in the eye.

“Argh!”

* * *

―LOLOLOLOL

―That bastard LOLOLOLOL So uninhibited LOLOLOLOL

―Rembrary is taking revenge for Cashi LOLOLOLOL

―Someone even worse than Woo Yeon-woo has appeared LOLOLOLOL What to do LOLOLOLOL