Holy Idol [EN]: Chapter 491

◈ 491. Found

The people summoned from the Grand Demonic Disciple’s training cave couldn’t reach the capital as quickly as Hwasaja, but they were all highly skilled martial artists.

As soon as Rembrary and his group departed, the Demonic Cult dispatched individuals to report to the Grand Demonic Disciple.

The Grand Demonic Disciple received news of Rembrary, Yoomena, and the Lion Mask from them.

“Yoomena visited the cave with your Grace’s singer and someone wearing a lion mask. They didn’t do anything, just stayed there briefly and left.”

The Grand Demonic Disciple, massaging his throbbing temples, inquired, “Anything else?”

“They mentioned that things didn’t go as planned and that they would return later.”

“Did it seem like they were trying to alleviate my insomnia?”

“They didn’t explicitly state their purpose.”

After the messenger’s departure, the Grand Demonic Disciple rubbed his forehead, a heavy sigh escaping his lips involuntarily.

As the flicker of hope that had arisen was extinguished, he felt even more tormented than before, despite remaining in the same condition.

“Your Grace……,” Yeon Seung-kyung said with concern.

The Grand Demonic Disciple murmured faintly, “I suppose my insomnia is incurable.”

* * *

Meanwhile, as the Grand Demonic Disciple was lost in thought and shock.

The Demon King Fragment, who had awakened in the middle of the night, sat face to face with Gasora.

Gasora, glancing at the Demon King Fragment’s eyes, began to recite her findings. “As you requested, I investigated the deity worshipped in the shrine before the current one. Information is scarce due to the passage of time, but after sifting through old archives, I uncovered a story passed down as a legend. After discarding elements that seemed fabricated or resembled legends from other regions……”

“That’s too verbose. Spare me the details of the process.”

“Ah…… yes.”

Gasora, momentarily taken aback by the Demon King Fragment’s pragmatic approach, delivered only the conclusion as requested.

“The last record of the previous god is linked to the priest. People killed the priest, and after that, the god ceased to respond. Even after appointing a successor and pleading for over ten years, there was no response, and after several generations, the priesthood itself gradually vanished.”

“High Priest.”

“No, Priest.”

“A precious existence to the gods.”

A conceited yet pleased smile graced the Demon King Fragment’s lips.

Gasora watched in amazement, marveling at his captivating personality.

It was perplexing how Rembrary’s appearance could shift so dramatically depending on whether his eyes were black, despite possessing the same face.

As she pondered this, the Demon King Fragment smiled and asked, “Is there something you wish to ask me?”

“Yes? Ah, that’s……”

“Ask me anything. I am always listening.”

“Ah, um…… the eyes. Why don’t you change their color anymore……?”

At Gasora’s question, the corners of the Demon King Fragment’s lips quirked upward.

He recalled Redrin’s High Priest imitating him.

Gasora tilted her head, puzzled by his seemingly pleased expression.

The Demon King Fragment briefly considered revealing to Gasora that ‘you were deceived that day,’ but quickly smiled and feigned ignorance.

“I thought it would be better to have a clear distinction.”

“Ah, I see. Yes, that’s true. It was confusing.”

“If I appear with black eyes next time, consider it not to be me.”

“Yes?”

“Seek out the descendants of the last priest who received a response from the god.”

The Demon King Fragment, having risen, opened the door and departed without another word.

Gasora stared blankly at his retreating figure, then recalled what ‘Black-Eyed Rembrary’ had said when he held her hand once.

-It’s pitiful how they flounder, unaware that they are mere substitutes.

* * *

All preparations were finalized.

Even the emperor, who technically didn’t need to prepare, participated fully.

Even throwing his whole body out of the dimension.

Thanks to that, the Empress Dowager was ready to provide anything if Rembrary and his party requested, ‘We need this and that to return.’

However, with the Demon King Fragment yet to complete his final preparations and no news forthcoming, the group was confined to the palace.

Hwasaja, Mullu, Sagamjae, Rembrary, and Ardor found themselves with nothing to occupy their time.

Hwasaja wandered the palace, exploring its grounds, while Mullu practiced his spear techniques intermittently.

Sagamjae would occasionally vanish and reappear, seemingly exploring this underworld.

Ardor remained constantly at Rembrary’s side.

Although they were not from Earth, Rembrary received updates about Hwachinchin from Duran in the meantime.

Hwachinchin had worked diligently and secured an additional recommendation independently, but ultimately failed to obtain another within the application period, preventing them from applying to the Imperial Theater.

The director expressed disappointment but remained optimistic, granting the long-suffering members an extended vacation to regroup.

Surprisingly, Shin Jo-woon was the busiest of them all, due to his uncanny resemblance to the emperor.

Since they couldn’t reveal that the emperor was temporarily in another world, the Empress Dowager fabricated an illness for the emperor, and Shin Jo-woon was tasked with impersonating the ailing ruler.

Shin Jo-woon was initially dumbfounded when asked to perform scenes of lying in bed to allay the suspicions of high-ranking officials, but he reluctantly agreed upon witnessing the Empress Dowager’s distressed state.

Rembrary lamented his inability to capture the scene in a photograph.

Approximately ten days passed in this manner.

Finally, the Demon King Fragment, whom Rembrary had been awaiting, initiated his plan.

* * *

As the sun dipped below the horizon, the boundary between light and darkness blurred.

It was bright enough to discern objects, yet dark enough to feel as though one’s vision was dimming when gazing ahead.

It was the hour when many people were returning home for dinner or to enjoy tea.

The inn was bustling, with weary travelers descending to the first-floor restaurant to dine.

Few people were strolling the streets, and the Grand Demonic Disciple of the Demonic Cult was among those few.

“Is it wise to return like this?” Yeon Seung-kyung asked the Grand Demonic Disciple worriedly, glancing at the subordinates carrying the Grand Demonic Disciple’s luggage, which had accumulated during his stay.

“If not like this, then how?”

“Shouldn’t we bid farewell to the blonde singer before departing……?”

“There’s no need. He won’t care.”

“One never knows.”

Yeon Seung-kyung glanced at the unfamiliar face among the subordinates.

He was the singer the Grand Demonic Disciple had recently acquired, having succeeded in singing before the Grand Demonic Disciple and the guards without faltering.

While his voice wasn’t as pleasing as Rembrary’s, and it didn’t completely alleviate fatigue, it was sufficient for the Grand Demonic Disciple to fall asleep.

The Grand Demonic Disciple reasoned that obtaining even a light sleep each day was preferable to enduring five sleepless nights followed by one night of sound sleep, and ultimately decided to bring this singer back to the Demonic Cult.

So they were leaving now…… Yeon Seung-kyung was concerned about that very fact.

“What if he suddenly loses his voice after we take him, or if another mishap occurs? Then we’ll have to find the blonde singer again, but what if he resents us for leaving without saying goodbye and refuses to sing……?”

“We can find another. Of course, we’ll ensure his safety to prevent such an occurrence.”

Yeon Seung-kyung observed the Grand Demonic Disciple’s resolute expression and obediently replied, “Yes.”

The newly acquired singer was not particularly reliable, but ultimately, the decision rested with the Grand Demonic Disciple, not the guard.

Besides, a few days prior, after hearing the account of Rembrary’s appearance and disappearance with Yoomena within the Demonic Cult.

The Grand Demonic Disciple had been deeply unsettled.

He suspected that his inexplicable insomnia might be connected to them.

That was also a reason why he was taking the seemingly frail singer back to the Demonic Cult.

As they conversed, some of the subordinates finally brought the carriage and horses.

“Get in,” the Grand Demonic Disciple ordered, and the newly acquired singer looked around before entering the carriage.

The Grand Demonic Disciple was about to enter the carriage himself, but he changed his mind and mounted a horse.

Yeon Seung-kyung also mounted a horse.

They proceeded directly out of the city and onto a well-maintained road.

As they advanced, the road transformed into a forest path, and the scenery became increasingly dense with trees.

But at some point, the horses in the lead emitted a ‘heeheehing’ sound and halted abruptly.

Not only that, but the horses began to tremble.

The horses pulling the carriage exhibited the same behavior, and the previously stable carriage began to shake.

“Giddy up! Giddy up!” Yeon Seung-kyung calmed the horses tied to the carriage and moved forward.

Unexpectedly, a familiar figure was blocking their path in the center of the forest.

“Blonde singer?”

It was Rembrary.

But why was he here? Yeon Seung-kyung looked at the Grand Demonic Disciple in bewilderment.

You said it coolly. Did you tell him you were leaving in advance?

But Yeon Seung-kyung knew that wasn’t the case when he saw the Grand Demonic Disciple’s surprised expression. The Grand Demonic Disciple also looked a little surprised.

“How did you know to come here?”

Listening to the question, it seemed like he really didn’t know. Then how did that singer really know to come here?

Yeon Seung-kyung looked at Rembrary in surprise. A slight expectation rose.

Did he perhaps change his mind and decide to become the Grand Demonic Disciple’s exclusive singer?

He had heard the story that Hwachinchin regrettably failed to apply to the Imperial Theater because he couldn’t get a recommendation.

Maybe he changed his mind because of that. In a more sensible and practical way.

But the blonde singer was quite different from usual.

Instead of answering, he walked slowly, placed a hand on the carriage window, and asked the Grand Demonic Disciple, “Where are you going?”

The tone was strangely different. Not only that, but the eyes. The whites of those eyes, which were usually fine, were black.

As they entered the forest, the sky was completely dark.

Yeon Seung-kyung blinked rapidly, wondering if it was the dim light that was causing him to see things.

However, what was visible in the light was clearly a black-eyed pupil.

“Going back,” the Grand Demonic Disciple answered indifferently. Black-Eyed Rembrary raised the corners of his lips as if he found it ridiculous.

“You can’t sleep without a song.”

The Grand Demonic Disciple frowned.

“So I found a new one. A singer.”

Black-Eyed Rembrary pointed to the carriage with his eyes and asked, “Is that this?”

The singer, startled by the sudden turn of events, remained silent as a mouse.

Black-Eyed Rembrary smiled and abruptly opened the carriage door.

When the carriage door opened, the singer was seen crouching on the chair.

“What are you doing?” the Grand Demonic Disciple asked in a cold voice.

Yeon Seung-kyung wanted to ask the same question.

What are you doing? You were a strange guy to begin with, but this is too much.

Who dares to block the Grand Demonic Disciple of the Demonic Cult’s carriage and do this?

But Black-Eyed Rembrary didn’t care at all and reached out to the singer and ordered, “Come here.”

It was a soft and gentle voice.

The singer also seemed relieved to hear that voice, and hesitated to come out of the carriage and looked around.

He seemed to think that perhaps the existing singer wanted to stay by the Grand Demonic Disciple’s side and he had intervened.

The Grand Demonic Disciple frowned and ordered, “I don’t know why you’re suddenly doing this. Go back, Rembrary. You don’t want to be my singer anyway.”

Black-Eyed Rembrary smiled leisurely, then naturally pulled the singer and put his hand on his neck.

In that state, Black-Eyed Rembrary instructed the singer, “Will you sing for me too? Song. Actually, I like listening to songs. More than singing.”

This was really crossing the line. Yeon Seung-kyung was also angry.

He was a guy who provoked anger to begin with, but this was really rude and unpleasant.

“Hey, blonde singer!” Yeon Seung-kyung couldn’t stand it and shouted.

“Stop messing around and go back.”

Black-Eyed Rembrary didn’t answer and just smiled as he took his hand away from the singer.

As he seemed to be backing away, the Grand Demonic Disciple waved his hand at the singer and gestured for him to return to the carriage.

But this time, the singer did not return.

Just as he was about to open his mouth, his eyes suddenly widened, and he only covered his neck and moved his mouth.