Holy Idol [EN]: Chapter 318

318. Why Are You Joining a Cult?

‘So, it failed after all.’

As the production team searched for their missing main PD [Production Director, the head of the production team], the Black Hawk Lord clicked his tongue, hidden at the end of the hallway.

‘I guess it’s hard to make a regular person fight an Awakened.’

The difference in power between an Awakened and an unarmed regular person was like that between an adult and a child. The Black Hawk Lord regretted his misjudgment.

‘Well, nothing can be done. I’ll have to put Shin Joowoon and Rembrary on hold. This incident will have heightened their vigilance.’

There were three targets anyway. Even if it wasn’t Shin Joowoon or Rembrary, there was still someone else to take revenge on.

* * *

[Jang Taeri. When does your business trip end?]

[Soon]

[You have no idea what you’re missing…….]

[What is it?]

[That’s why. You wouldn’t know]

[What are you saying? Tell me without crying]

[ㅜㅜ] [Korean emoticon representing crying]

[Why are you crying more when I told you not toㅋㅋㅋ What’s wrong? What really happened?] [ㅋㅋㅋ is a Korean onomatopoeia for laughter, similar to ‘lol’]

Shin Joowoon stared blankly at the text input window on his phone, wondering whether he should tell Jang Taeri about Woo Yeonwoo and Rembrary now, or wait until she returned.

In fact, Shin Joowoon had been trying to get Rembrary to confess his true nature directly to Jang Taeri. But now that Rembrary was suddenly talking about joining a cult, he felt frustrated, having no one to confide in about this absurd situation.

However, before he could make a decision, his secretary knocked and entered, announcing,

“Mr. President, Assistant Manager Go Yaeun has returned.”

Worldboom had both non-Awakened and Awakened employees, and Go Yaeun was the latter. She was also the employee Shin Joowoon had sent on an errand to a city mayor to get the early discharge consent form signed by Rembrary.

“Already?”

It wasn’t the date she was supposed to return. Shin Joowoon checked the calendar just in case, but it was indeed not the date. Then why was she here now? Had something gone wrong?

Puzzled, Shin Joowoon told his secretary to let Go Yaeun in.

A moment later, Go Yaeun entered. However, contrary to expectations, Go Yaeun had a bright expression. She didn’t look like something had gone wrong. No, she looked like something had gone very right.

“Mr. President! The task finished faster than expected!”

And as expected, Go Yaeun smiled brightly and proudly placed the consent form she had carefully brought on Shin Joowoon’s desk.

“Finished quickly?”

Shin Joowoon pulled the consent form over and unfolded it. The mayor’s name was properly added to the consent form. He had told Rembrary it would take about three or four days. But Go Yaeun had gotten the signature the very next day.

“The mayor is a big fan of Future Hunter. He became a fan after watching the episode with Rembrary and happily signed it. Isn’t that great?”

Go Yaeun smiled genuinely, but Shin Joowoon couldn’t bring himself to say ‘Well done’ and instead wore a stern expression.

“Oh… Was it not a good thing?”

Seeing this, Go Yaeun asked cautiously, and Shin Joowoon finally smiled insincerely and said something he didn’t mean.

“No. Well done.”

* * *

“Good job. Anchovy, you’re surprisingly competent.”

During mealtime, before entering the cafeteria, Shin Joowoon handed Rembrary the consent form with the additional mayor’s signature. Rembrary was pleased and praised him. Shin Joowoon let out a dumbfounded laugh.

“Is that all I get, a simple ‘thank you’? Do you know how much I suffered to get this signature?”

“You made your employee do it.”

“The employee kept calling me because something was blocking her progress, asking me to teach her this and that. It seems the mayor there was quite picky.”

“Was that so?”

“And you’re trying to get away with just a ‘thank you.’ That’s too much.”

“Then what should I do? Say it twice?”

“You have no conscience.”

As Shin Joowoon teased him, Rembrary pondered for a moment while putting away the consent form, then made a rather grand proposal.

“Will you change your religion? If you convert now, I’ll make you my closest aide.”

To Shin Joowoon, it was an absurd offer. When Shin Joowoon silently entered the cafeteria first, Rembrary, whose grand proposal had been ignored, followed with heavy steps.

Of course, his steps were heavy not because Shin Joowoon had ignored his proposal, but because he knew that waiting for him in the cafeteria was another pile of those colorful bell peppers.

It wasn’t that bell peppers tasted bad, but they weren’t as appetizing as meat. Still, he had hoped that they might grill some meat for him on his last day, but…

‘It’s bell peppers again.’

There was no such luck. The number had even increased. When Rembrary looked at Shin Joowoon in surprise, he pointed to the plate of colorful bell peppers with a seemingly kind smile.

“You’ll probably just eat meat again when you go to Redrin. Eat as much as you’ll be there in advance.”

* * *

On the day Rembrary left for Redrin, Rembrary, who had no luggage to pack, went to watch the Lion Lord pack, and was surprised to hear unexpected words from Jungseo.

“You’re going to Redrin with him? Have you finally decided to convert?”

“No, it’s not just me going. The production team is going too.”

“You’re all going to convert?”

“No, not converting, just filming.”

“Didn’t you say your PD disappeared? But you’re continuing to film?”

“Uh… that’s how it turned out.”

“Your production team is really heartless.”

Rembrary, who was talking about the missing PD with an equally indifferent face, wasn’t in a position to talk about heartlessness, but Jungseo didn’t bother pointing this out.

It was because Jungseo was trying to believe that Rembrary was actually a warmer person than anyone else, even if he didn’t show it.

“The details will probably be explained by PD Shim. I just thought it would be easier to talk later if you knew this in advance.”

* * *

As Jungseo had predicted, when Rembrary went down for breakfast, one of the production team members approached, sat across from him, and told him about the next filming.

“You may already know, but PD Gu Juho is currently missing. If we continue filming with the main PD missing, public opinion will inevitably be negative. Even though this isn’t the first time something like this has happened.”

Rembrary had already heard about it from Jungseo, but he pretended not to know and asked,

“So, are you giving up on filming?”

“No, but Rembrary’s reactions are great and it’s a hot topic, so it would be a waste to give up. So, the higher-ups have made a rather unconventional proposal. Rembrary, you said you’re leaving Worldboom and going to Redrin?”

“Yeah.”

“We’re going to follow you there and cover it. Not as Future Hunter, but just… uh, as another program.”

The CP [Chief Producer] had suggested creating a pilot episode of ‘Real Cult VS Concept Cult,’ but nothing was confirmed yet, so he told them to film anything that could be newsworthy. They would discuss later what concept to edit it into.

But since he couldn’t say this directly, the AD [Assistant Director] tried to put it as nicely as possible.

“What program?”

The adaptation period of a concept cult member who entered a real cult. The AD suppressed the answer that was rising to his throat and stalled for time, carefully choosing his words.

“A Redrin special. Focusing on Rembrary.”

“A Redrin special?”

“Redrin is famous, but not much is known about it, because of its, uh, unfamiliar religious… uh… colors. So, we thought it would be a good idea to introduce it through a broadcast.”

The AD used his wit to put it nicely, and Rembrary was intrigued by the words. It wasn’t that he believed the AD’s words as they were. Rembrary had already appeared on entertainment programs several times and had experienced his words and actions being reduced, omitted, exaggerated, or distorted.

However, having a program that focused on Redrin would be quite helpful in recruiting people.

Unlike the original world, it was not easy to gather followers here, and Rembrary thought the reason was that the Redrin God was too unfamiliar to the people here. But if it was broadcast, wouldn’t that unfamiliar barrier be broken down a little?

‘Yes. Daeju is clumsy at gathering followers. This body must go and show the good aspects of Redrin often to ease people’s wariness.’

“Good!”

Rembrary, who had finally made a decision, answered cheerfully and smiled, and the AD also shouted ‘Yes!’ inwardly and smiled brightly.

“But you have to make sure it comes out in the best possible light. Got it?”

“Of course.”

“When will you start filming?”

“First, we’ll film the scene of you leaving Worldboom and entering Redrin… Oh, right. Another PD will be coming down to replace PD Gu Juho.”

“You’re not being promoted to main PD?”

“Haha. It’s not a program that was prepared in advance, so it’s a bit much for me to lead it right away. So, someone with a lot of experience in this kind of reality entertainment will be coming.”

“Who is it?”

“Rembrary probably won’t know him? PD Kim Murok….”

Rembrary was wondering whether to eat the bell pepper that was appearing on his plate even at breakfast when he was startled and looked up.

“Kim Murok?”

* * *

―Anyone heard? Rembrary is leaving Worldboom and going to Redrin ;;

―Really? Not just a rumor?

―For real. Future Hunter was canceled and instead, they’re doing a Rembrary Redrin special. Rembrary is going to Redrin.

―Why is Future Hunter being canceled?

ㄴThe PD disappeared

―Wow, but why? Why Redrin of all places instead of Worldboom…? I don’t get it?

―Was there some incident that made Redrin suddenly popular? Why don’t I remember?