Holy Idol [EN]: Chapter 454

454. The Waffling Martial Arts Alliance Leader

“I don’t know them. But they are looking for someone I’m looking for. If looking for the same person counts as being related, then maybe we’re related.”

Rembrary answered plainly, but Seol-ryu didn’t seem satisfied.

He stared at Rembrary for a moment, then shook his head and apologized.

“I’m sorry, Young Master Rem. You still seem suspicious. I can’t just let you go like this. Could you spare some time—”

Seol-ryu continued, wanting to ask more questions, and grabbed Rembrary’s arm tightly.

However, before he could finish speaking, a firm shout burst out from an unexpected direction.

“What are you doing to a guest, Clan Leader Seol!”

Seol-ryu, Rembrary, and Duran all looked towards the source of the shout.

The Martial Arts Alliance Elder, who had argued about taking Rembrary away from the Demonic Cult members at the 11th Fortress, was approaching.

“Elder Geomjang?”

Seol-ryu, recognizing the face, called out to the Elder and muttered with a puzzled expression.

However, he could tell that the Elder was reprimanding him, even if he didn’t know why, so he frowned and said,

“He’s a guest, but there are some suspicious things about him, so please don’t mind it, Elder.”

However, Elder Geomjang approached him closely and asked.

“Suspicious things?”

Before, Elder Geomjang had a minor disagreement with the Martial Arts Alliance Leader, who had strangely described Rembrary.

At the time, the Martial Arts Alliance Leader and Elder Geomjang couldn’t narrow their differences, and eventually, the Martial Arts Alliance Leader told Elder Geomjang to bring Rembrary directly to him, saying that would prove him right.

However, due to several practical reasons, Elder Geomjang couldn’t go to find Rembrary right away.

When she went later, she couldn’t find him because she couldn’t find out where Rembrary had gone.

Then, she coincidentally reunited with Rembrary like this, and when she saw Seol-ryu, the Clan Leader of Gigwiilya, treating Rembrary harshly, she wondered what was going on and approached him.

So, just because Seol-ryu said, ‘Please don’t mind it,’ didn’t mean she would actually not mind it.

“This person performed at a place where Yumaena’s disciples gathered.”

“I didn’t perform. I watched.”

“…This person’s troupe performed. He was watching it. Moreover, he is said to be acquainted with Yumaena’s successor. He’s suspicious, Elder.”

Elder Geomjang frowned.

“Does that mean you can just grab someone’s arm and pull them like that? Like you’re threatening them?”

“I haven’t threatened him yet.”

“And suspicious? Young Master Rem is a kind person who helps even strangers.”

“Yumaena herself was kind, but her disciples are harming the world.”

Elder Geomjang became frustrated.

She was impressed by Rembrary’s good deeds, but the reason she praised Rembrary like this and even tried to invite him to the Martial Arts Alliance was because she had directly seen him subduing people with that strange magic.

She hoped that this kind and strong young man would become interested in the Martial Arts Alliance and become a force for them.

But these Martial Arts Alliance people didn’t know what she was thinking and were being so uncooperative.

Besides, Elder Geomjang, who had already seen the good Rembrary with her own eyes, couldn’t believe it at all when other people spoke ill of Rembrary, saying he was a bad person.

Because nothing was as certain as what she had seen.

“Anyway, Clan Leader Seol. Treating a person who visited with goodwill like that is rude.”

“I-”

Just as Seol-ryu was about to retort, a slow voice that had been approaching from behind interrupted the conversation.

“This young master here is my exclusive singer. Is there a problem?”

Wondering what this was about, Seol-ryu turned around and swallowed hard at the sight of the man approaching with an unusual aura.

The man looked to be about the same age as Seol-ryu, but the atmosphere he exuded was completely different from the other young people here.

His gaze was higher than others, and he exuded a sense of intimidation.

Seol-ryu looked towards Elder Geomjang, wondering if they knew each other, and discovered that Elder Geomjang was also staring at the man who had suddenly intervened with a hardened expression.

‘What’s going on?’

As the atmosphere became serious, Seol-ryu cautiously asked Elder Geomjang.

“Um, Elder. Who is that…?”

He asked because Elder Geomjang seemed to know the man’s face, judging by her unusually stiff expression.

Elder Geomjang seemed to know about the suddenly appearing man and opened her mouth to answer.

However, just as the answer was about to come out.

“I’m from the Demonic Cult. I’m their Great Young Master.”

The man arrogantly announced first.

“You all seem curious about that.”

“!”

Seol-ryu’s eyes widened. Demonic Cult? There’s a Demonic Cult person here? Moreover, the Great Young Master? Does that mean the leader’s first disciple? Really?

Besides, Rembrary is the Demonic Cult Great Young Master’s exclusive singer? This is beyond suspicious. Seol-ryu looked at Rembrary.

However, Rembrary, who had been silent all along, immediately retorted to the Demonic Cult person’s words this time.

“Why am I your exclusive singer?”

“Because you will be soon.”

Seol-ryu looked at Elder Geomjang.

Elder Geomjang wasn’t too surprised, probably because she already knew the Great Young Master’s face.

She just stared at the Demonic Cult person with a displeased expression.

Seol-ryu became even more confused.

He performed in front of Yumaena’s disciples and is acquainted with Yumaena’s successor, but the Martial Arts Alliance’s Elder Geomjang says he’s a good person, and he’s the Demonic Cult Great Young Master’s exclusive singer.

However, the Great Young Master, who had plunged Seol-ryu into shock, was only nonchalant.

“Rembrary. If you’re done here, let’s go.”

“When did you come here again?”

“I followed you to see what you were up to, sneaking out together.”

A Martial Arts Alliance person who had been watching the scene from a short distance away thought that this wouldn’t do and went to call the Alliance Leader.

At first, he didn’t want to report it because he thought it was just a conflict of opinion between Clan Leader Seol and Elder Geomjang, but now that the Demonic Cult Great Young Master had joined in, he thought he should report it.

“Alliance Leader, there’s a commotion at Gigwiilya’s lodging right now.”

“A commotion?”

“Clan Leader Seol of Gigwiilya, Elder Geomjang, and the Demonic Cult Great Young Master are confronting each other over one person.”

“What?”

The Alliance Leader ran towards them before asking any more questions.

When the Alliance Leader arrived, it was already a touch-and-go situation, with Seol-ryu and the Demonic Cult person facing each other sharply.

“Stop!”

The Alliance Leader said firmly, shouting as he approached.

In fact, no one was moving anymore, but everyone stopped checking each other and looked towards the Alliance Leader.

Seol-ryu also took his eyes off the Demonic Cult Great Young Master and greeted the Alliance Leader.

“Have you arrived, Alliance Leader?”

The Alliance Leader nodded and then stared at the beautiful man with blonde hair and red eyes among the people, his eyes widening.

That was the colleague that Grim Reaper Sagamjae was looking for! There was no doubt about it!

However, just as the Alliance Leader recognized Rembrary and was about to say something.

As one more person, whom he didn’t know, joined in, Rembrary couldn’t stand watching the situation any longer and opened his mouth.

“I was going to wait patiently, but I can’t.”

When Rembrary, who had been quiet, opened his mouth, everyone looked at him.

Even though he had been silent all along, he had enough right to speak because Rembrary was the central topic here.

As people focused on him, Rembrary smiled gently and said.

“You all seem to have a lot to say. Settle your opinions first and then talk again. I’m busy because I have to go sing.”

Then, Rembrary turned around and left, and Duran looked back and forth between the martial artists and Rembrary in embarrassment.

Those people are acting like that because of you, aren’t they? Is it okay for you to leave? The questions rose to the tip of his throat, but Rembrary was just leaving.

Then, when he made eye contact with Elder Geomjang, she subtly gestured to Duran, telling him to follow quickly.

Duran bowed his head and quickly chased after Rembrary.

* * *

Contrary to Duran’s worries, Rembrary’s hasty return to the group, saying he was busy, was a good choice.

“Come quickly. Why are you so late?”

As soon as they entered Juseong, Sanmyeong was already out, making a fuss, jumping up and down.

“There were some circumstances.”

Duran quickly made excuses, and as Sanmyeong started walking ahead, he followed and asked.

“What’s wrong? What happened?”

Sanmyeong lowered his voice and grumbled.

“The Vice Lord here, he’s so arrogant. Someone he sent came and confirmed that we were Hwachinchin [a performing troupe], but he didn’t like that.”

“Why?”

“I don’t know. He’s a strange human. When he found out we were Hwachinchin, he suddenly said the Lord was busy and told us not to bother him with things like this, grumbling, and then told us to perform in an hour.”

“There’s not much time left, is there?”

Duran asked in surprise, and Sanmyeong glared at him.

“Exactly! But you two didn’t come, so how anxious do you think I was?”

The place Sanmyeong took them was a large waiting room.

Originally, it was used as a place for troupes to wait, so there were large mirrors here and there, and places to put instruments and rest for a while were prepared.

The environment was good, but the troupe members didn’t look good, probably because they had been blatantly ignored, as Sanmyeong had said.

Nanggil quickly gave the troupe members various instructions and planned their movements, and when Rembrary and Duran came, he quickly gestured for them to come and quickly explained.

“I asked them to show me the stage, and I saw it for a moment, but XX. They didn’t even show it for long. Anyway, I saw it for a moment, but it’s not a big stage. It’s just like a space in the middle of a banquet hall? Besides, the distance between the people eating and the stage is close, so even a small mistake will be noticeable.”

Nanggil used his hands and feet to show the size of the stage and explained the order of the stage.

However, even though they used their brains and calculated carefully and thoroughly adjusted to the surrounding environment, the Lord’s family members were lukewarm throughout the performance.

The only people watching the performance were the Lord, the Lord’s wife, and a few of the Lord’s children.

Even they were busy eating and talking among themselves, and they didn’t pay any attention to the troupe.

Only when Rembrary sang did they stare for a moment as if they were possessed, but after that, they turned their attention off again when someone else came out.

The Hwachinchin people couldn’t have failed to notice that, so the troupe members didn’t look good when the stage ended.

Still, they forcibly endured it for the sake of the recommendation letter, but half an hour later.

The 5th Fortress Lord finished his meal and only called the leader, Nanggil, and said this.

“I was going to write a recommendation letter because of the Vice Lord’s face, but after seeing this skill, I can’t do that.”

“!”

“Your troupe’s style is, how should I say it? It’s too much content that commoners would like.”

As Nanggil flinched, the 5th Fortress Lord wiped his mouth with a small cloth and continued arrogantly.

“Actually, that’s not bad either. But what you want is a recommendation letter, isn’t it? What are you going to use the recommendation letter for? Aren’t you trying to become an imperial troupe? Who will watch the stage if you become an imperial troupe? The imperial family. I thought, ‘What would the reaction be if they performed that performance in front of the imperial family?’ while watching your stage. I evaluated it based on that.”

“!”

“My evaluation was ‘disgraceful.’ Well, it wouldn’t be a problem if only you were disgraced. If you’re too bad, they’ll ask, ‘Who is the Fortress Lord who recommended those guys?’ I don’t want to be a Fortress Lord without discernment.”

As the 5th Fortress Lord saw Nanggil’s blank expression, he lowered the cloth, feeling a little sorry, and added in a slightly softened voice.

“But that blonde singer was amazing. It was the first time I’d heard a singer sing with such a voice. What’s that singer’s name?”

“It’s Rembrary.”

“Yes. That kind of feeling is okay. But I can’t give a recommendation letter just because one person is good… Um, go to the 2nd Fortress.”

“The 2nd Fortress?”

“I heard that the Fortress Lord there is a relative of His Majesty, and some imperial troupes regularly go down to perform. After seeing their performances, you’ll be able to understand what I said.”

* * *

While Nanggil was staggering from the 5th Fortress Lord’s sharp evaluation.

The Martial Arts Alliance Leader was sitting alone in his room, looking at the orchids to sort out his thoughts.

That blonde hair that Seol-ryu, Elder Geomjang, and the Demonic Cult Great Young Master were surrounding.

After the blonde hair left, he confirmed with Seol-ryu and Elder Geomjang, and they said that his name was definitely Rembrary.

Rembrary, whom the Grim Reaper Sagamjae was looking for.

‘When I heard about it from Sagamjae, I thought he was behind something serious, but…’

The Alliance Leader was a little embarrassed because he didn’t expect him to be involved in everything like this.

He was worried.

Should he tell him that Sagamjae had gone to the Blood Cult to find another colleague, or should he tell Sagamjae that he had come when Sagamjae returned?