Holy Idol [EN]: Chapter 482

◈ 482. I Shouldn’t Have Known

“Did you ask if you sometimes seem strange?”

“Me?”

“Yeah. That question itself is strange. You’re always strange.”

“Me?”

“Yeah. So, I told you honestly, as you asked. That there was only one time you seemed different from usual.”

“Me?”

“Yeah… but are you even listening? It feels like you’ve been saying the same thing since earlier.”

As Duran gave him a dubious look, Rembrary laughed as if it were obvious and asked again.

“Of course, I’m listening. More importantly, what are you talking about? When have I ever seemed different?”

“Ah, that. When we went to the Demonic Cult [a martial arts sect known for its unorthodox and often villainous practices] before. When you just got out of the formation [likely a magical or martial arts training technique]. There was a moment when your eyes looked weird. You’re always weird, but you seemed even weirder than usual…”

Rembrary was about to ask, “Me?” again, but he closed his mouth and touched his eyes with his hand.

“It was just a fleeting moment. I’m not even sure if I saw it correctly.”

Unconsciously, Rembrary put a snack in his mouth and frowned as he chewed the soft rice cake.

Eyes looking weird. As soon as he heard that, the Demon King came to mind.

Duran asked worriedly.

“But why did Shin Jo-woon ask about that? Did you guys fight? Or does that person suspect you?”

“Jo-woon. Duran.”

“Why?”

“Knowing can be both a strength and a poison. This time, it seems it was a poison.”

“What is?”

Rembrary shook his head and, instead of explaining, pushed the plate forward and mumbled weakly.

“I’ve lost my appetite.”

Duran stared blankly at the shiny plate and muttered timidly.

“It looks like it’s the rice cake that’s gone…”

But Rembrary, who had lost his appetite, was already sighing and holding his forehead.

It was true that he had lost his appetite. He had just finished all the rice cakes before losing it.

Rembrary pinched the blanket with his fingers. He still didn’t know what Shin Jo-woon was trying to hide.

But he knew who Shin Jo-woon was trying to hide it from.

Shin Jo-woon and Lumena weren’t trying to deceive Rembrary, but the Demon King fragment.

‘They must have even deceived Ardor and Mullu because they are completely on my side.’

If it’s something the Demon King fragment shouldn’t hear, it must be something about attacking the Demon King.

Then it must be related to the ‘Sleeping God.’ Was some of what Shin Jo-woon told him about the ‘Sleeping God’ a lie…?

Duran watched Rembrary’s troubled expression and also began to read his face.

It didn’t seem like an important question, but was it important?

“What’s wrong?”

Rembrary shook his head. It wasn’t something to tell Duran.

No, it was something he shouldn’t have known either. But he had already heard a story he shouldn’t have heard.

The Demon King fragment must have heard it too.

If Rembrary were to voice his speculation here, the Demon King fragment would hear that speculation as well. From now on, he had to be careful with his words.

Of course, it’s not like the Demon King fragment wouldn’t know what Rembrary himself had speculated.

As Rembrary suddenly became more serious, Duran became cautious without knowing why.

Then, when there was a knock on the door, Duran quickly got up, approached the door, and opened it.

Standing in front of the door was Yeon Seung-kyung, who always followed the Demonic Cult’s Young Master.

“What’s going on?”

As Duran asked quietly in a whispering tone, Yeon Seung-kyung stood there blankly and then asked back in a small voice.

“Why is your voice like that?”

“Rembrary is thinking about something.”

Duran’s and Yeon Seung-kyung’s gazes simultaneously turned to Rembrary.

Duran hesitated whether to say Rembrary was busy or what.

Rembrary wasn’t doing anything right now, but he seemed busy in his mind.

But before Duran could make a decision, Rembrary stood up first, approached the door, and said, “Let’s go.”

“Are you okay?”

Duran, who had seen Rembrary’s serious attitude earlier, asked worriedly, but Rembrary wore his usual gentle smile.

“What would I be?”

Then, he asked Yeon Seung-kyung, “Where is the Young Master?” Yeon Seung-kyung thought, ‘Something must be going on…’ but walked ahead first.

Rembrary followed behind.

But Yeon Seung-kyung was bothered by what Duran had said, so he would walk well and then occasionally turn around to check on Rembrary.

However, on the outside, Rembrary was no different from usual.

In the meantime, they arrived in front of the room where the Young Master was staying. It was in the same inn, so the distance wasn’t far to begin with.

“Young Master. I’ve brought Mr. Rem.”

At the words ‘Mr. Rem,’ Rembrary’s shoulders reflexively drooped a little.

Fortunately, a heavy voice was heard from inside the door, “Come in.”

As Yeon Seung-kyung opened the door, the Young Master, who wasn’t in Duran’s room, was seen sitting cross-legged on a large chair.

He was wearing a thick black coat, and dark circles were heavily under his half-closed eyes, as if he were tired.

When Rembrary came in, he opened his eyes, but his expression looked so exhausted that Rembrary asked worriedly.

“I heard you’re looking for a singer. Haven’t you found one yet?”

Yeon Seung-kyung answered instead.

“I haven’t found one. Everyone’s got such tiny livers [meaning they are easily frightened or lack courage]. Even if I bring a singer who’s supposed to be great, they just stand in front of the Young Master and bleat like sheep…”

It was a word that singers who were said to be great would find unfair.

The Young Master already had an overwhelming aura, but the less he slept, the more ferocious his expression became.

No matter how handsome his face was, the atmosphere was so gloomy, and when you stood in front of the Young Master, the room was filled with dark and gloomy subordinates surrounding him.

It was more amazing that anyone could sing properly in that situation.

The Young Master seemed to only want to sleep, so he went to the bed and lay down without saying much.

Yeon Seung-kyung stepped back and stood against the wall so as not to disturb him.

Seeing his urgent appearance, Rembrary went to the bedside and gave a slight hint.

“Don’t worry. Perhaps your insomnia may be cured soon.”

At those words, the Young Master opened his eyes and looked at Rembrary.

“What do you mean?”

“Maybe. Or maybe not.”

“I don’t understand.”

“The cave you went into for training. Why, didn’t I go there once to check it out?”

“So?”

“Lumena is trying to do something there, and in the process, you might be cured.”

At those words, the Young Master and Yeon Seung-kyung exchanged glances.

Yeon Seung-kyung looked at Rembrary in surprise.

Just last night, a spy from the Demonic Cult came here and reported that Lumena had suddenly come and looked at the training cave.

He couldn’t help but be surprised that Rembrary was bringing up this story.

Is there something there?

“Why would Lumena help me?”

“Maybe she won’t.”

Just as Rembrary, who had spoken nonchalantly, was about to start singing, the Young Master suddenly got up and asked suspiciously.

“How would Lumena help me?”

Rembrary wondered if he should explain in detail, but he drew a line, thinking that the less he knew about this, the better.

“I don’t know the details. I’m just saying to have hope, as you might get better.”

However, the Young Master, far from having hope, asked again with an even more distrustful expression.

“Could it be… that Lumena deliberately made me have insomnia?”

“Amazing.”

“Is it true?”

“Why does your mind only work in such a bad direction? I think Lumena would like you.”

“What?”

The Young Master tried to protest further, but as Rembrary started singing, he collapsed and fell into a deep sleep with his mouth open.

Watching the Young Master, who started sleeping soundly as if he were listening to his parents’ lullaby, Yeon Seung-kyung felt pathetic.

Our Young Master. He was someone even the Cult Leader couldn’t treat carelessly, but why does he look like a snake charmed by a flute now?

* * *

That evening.

Hwasa, who went to the Buddhist temple to burn incense, bowed to the Buddha and said, ‘Please let me see my mother soon,’ and then returned to his residence.

But when he opened the door, instead of his mother, Shin Jo-woon, who was as scary as an angry mother, was in his room.

Hwasa couldn’t even close the door and teleported away, calming his surprised heart.

Why is that guy there? Buddha, I want to see my mother, not someone as scary as an angry mother.

Hwasa counted the number of leaves that had temporarily fallen on his head to calm his surprised heart.

After counting to 50, he thought he might have seen something wrong.

Yeah. I must have seen it wrong. Hwasa thought and teleported back to his room.

Shin Jo-woon was still sitting there, looking at him. Just as Hwasa, who was surprised again, was about to disappear again.

“Let’s talk.”

Shin Jo-woon called him.

Hwasa wondered if he should ignore him and run away, but he thought he couldn’t avoid seeing his face anyway, so he stepped back and stuck to the wall, asking.

“What talk.”

Shin Jo-woon frowned at his wary appearance.

“It’s not about plucking out your beard, so don’t worry.”

Hwasa drew a line, indicating ‘go away’ with his chin.

“Then talk from there.”

“Why are you so wary?”

“Not knowing the reason is reason number one.”

Shin Jo-woon stared at Hwasa, who was wearing a lion mask and acting like a timid deer, for a moment with a pathetic look.

He wanted to advise him to change his mask, but when he thought about it, the weaker the being, the stronger the mask they wore.

Thinking that way, the lion mask seemed to be a perfect fit for Hwasa, so Shin Jo-woon coldly got to the point.

“I have a favor to ask.”

“No.”

“Will you at least listen?”

“…Tell me.”

“Follow Rembrary at night.”

At the unexpected request, the lion mask hesitated.

“Because of that Demon King… thing?”

“You’re quick to catch on.”

Hwasa immediately refused with a look of disgust.

“No! Rembrary is okay. The Demon King is scary.”

Who Hwasa was afraid of was meaningless to Shin Jo-woon.

“Follow him even if you’re scared. Let’s not use a hoe to stop something that needs a plow [meaning don’t use inadequate measures for a serious problem].”

Hwasa hesitated and then suggested.

“Then let’s go together.”

Shin Jo-woon coldly rebuked him as if he were joking.

“We have to follow him secretly, but if two of us go, we’ll stand out. Go alone. Aren’t you good at this kind of thing?”

Hwasa tried to say no, that he couldn’t spy on anyone, and that he should leave it to Ardor instead, but he closed his mouth at the sound of footsteps outside.

Shin Jo-woon also heard the sound of the door and was looking outside.

He signaled to Hwasa to ‘go out’ towards the door.

Hwasa was annoyed but reluctantly teleported to a blind spot outside.

Looking from above a tree that was not easily visible even from the yard, Rembrary was coming out of his room and walking somewhere.

Hwasa looked at his room, which Shin Jo-woon would be guarding.

He could have opened the door to check. But he’s not doing that.

“Hoo…”

Hwasa sighed and reluctantly followed Rembrary.