Holy Idol [EN]: Chapter 577

◈ 577. Oh, My Goodness

Even after careful thought, an immediate answer didn’t present itself. All I knew about the opponent was that they were the vice president of a company founded by Lumena.

They seemed to possess more information than we did.

‘It would be convenient if I could reach Lumena.’

Regrettably, feeling the lack of information, Rembruary first informed Shin Jo-woon, Jang Tae-ri, Dae-ju, and Sa Gam-jae about the encounter with the Mirage’s vice president, also cautioning them about his unique abilities.

“It’s similar to the Hwasaja’s ability, but instead of moving himself, he moves others. It seems like a troublesome ability, so be careful.”

Since the enemy could whisk you away before you even reached them, that vice president had exceptional evasion skills.

If an attack could be launched before the vice president used his ability, it might inflict damage, but that attack had to be powerful enough to instantly kill or stun him.

Otherwise, you’d land one hit and be immediately removed from the fight.

And that wasn’t all. What if the vice president could precisely control the destination of the teleportation?

That vice president would be formidable not only in evasion but also in attack. He could send anyone plummeting into the vast sky.

* * *

At the same time Rembruary and Hwasaja were trespassing in another company and getting kicked out.

The executives of Nakru were burning the midnight oil in a meeting room, discussing the previous group conference.

The main topics were Woo Sung-woo and Shin Jo-woon.

The groundbreaking news Dae-ju shared—’The demons didn’t stop us from destroying the pillars’—was important, but that story had been discussed for hours on end at the site, leaving nothing more to say.

However, the matter concerning Woo Sung-woo had been interrupted midway through a fight with Shin Jo-woon, leaving everyone with unresolved thoughts.

“I was quiet because I felt it wasn’t right to side with Shin Jo-woon in that situation. But in reality, it’s Woo Sung-woo who’s suspicious in this case, not Shin Jo-woon.”

“That’s right. Woo Yeon-woo saw Shin Sajang [President Shin] talking to Woo Sung-woo himself, didn’t he?”

“Woo Yeon-woo saw Shin Jo-woon talking, but he didn’t hear what they were saying. So, he doesn’t fully trust it.”

“I’m really curious. Shin Sajang is annoying, but he hasn’t exactly caused any accidents, has he? Why are you so quick to treat him like a liar?”

Despite some defending Shin Jo-woon, the conclusion of the conversation leaned towards ‘Shin Jo-woon’s words cannot be fully trusted.’

This was largely due to the executives who often clashed with Shin Jo-woon in the meeting room raising their voices in indignation.

One executive suggested:

“How about meeting Woo Sung-woo to confirm? That would be the most accurate.”

Another executive asked in surprise:

“Meet him? Is there a way?”

“We have to find a way, like going in with a megaphone.”

“A megaphone? Are you suggesting we shout, ‘We’re here!’ to the enemies?”

“We could carry a large banner like when we greeted him at the airport…….”

“…….”

“What’s with that look? Do you think I want to use these methods? It’s because we have no other way to contact him. If you have a better idea, speak up.”

“Those who can’t even offer an opinion should at least refrain from giving condescending looks.”

While some executives continued to propose ideas and others continued to object, someone quietly said, “Woo Yeon-woo.”

Most people missed the quiet remark, but it resurfaced five minutes later.

“Wouldn’t Woo Sung-woo be more likely to come out if we brought Woo Yeon-woo with us?”

* * *

“What? You want me to go into the dungeon with you? To meet my brother?”

The next morning, Woo Yeon-woo, who was exercising in his room, was taken aback by Nakru’s sudden request and asked back.

“My brother is avoiding Nakru. How are you planning to meet him?”

―We’re not sure we’ll meet Woo Sung-woo as soon as we enter the dungeon.

“It’s the opposite. Shouldn’t we be sure we *won’t* meet him?”

―But you never know.

“If he intended to meet, he would have shown up already, wouldn’t he?”

―We want to increase that probability, so we’re asking you to come with us.

“Will he come out if I go? When I was there, he went to meet Shin Jo-woon instead of me, didn’t he?”

―Exactly. We find that strange. We can’t trust everything Shin Jo-woon said.

“They definitely talked in person.”

―No matter how much we think about it, the flow doesn’t make sense. Shin Jo-woon definitely left something out. We need to meet Woo Sung-woo and hear it directly.

Woo Yeon-woo wasn’t confident, but he found it difficult to coldly refuse Nakru’s request, as they had been helpful in many ways since his brother’s disappearance.

After answering that he understood and hanging up, Woo Yeon-woo became anxious and fidgeted with the dumbbells.

‘I don’t think my brother will come out even if I go. Maybe if Shin Jo-woon goes again. But I can’t ask Shin Jae-soo to come with me, can I?’

After much deliberation, Woo Yeon-woo decided to ask Rembruary to come with him.

It wasn’t because he thought Woo Sung-woo would come out to see Rembruary.

It was because it would be incredibly awkward if Woo Sung-woo didn’t show up, and he wanted someone familiar by his side at that time.

It was a bit ambiguous to describe his relationship with Rembruary as close, but Rembruary was the one he didn’t stand on ceremony with, thanks to their unique relationship.

Woo Yeon-woo grabbed his phone again.

* * *

“You want me to go with you to the dungeon with Nakru? Sure, why not. I don’t know why, though.”

Rembruary readily agreed to Woo Yeon-woo’s sudden request.

The 3rd pillar had fallen, and now the remaining pillars had to be destroyed.

Opinions were still divided on whether destroying the pillars was the right thing to do, but for now, dealing with the other pillars was the priority.

However, the next day, Rembruary was about to prepare to leave, calculating the appointment time, when he stopped, realizing something.

‘Can I even go?’

Come to think of it, if I go, the demons will try to show those scenes of the past or whatever disguise again. Should I take Nakru there?

I wasn’t planning on following Shin Jo-woon’s advice exactly, but I didn’t feel comfortable taking Nakru.

‘I can trust Yeon-woo, but it’s hard to completely trust Nakru.’

Rembruary hesitated and decided that it wasn’t a good idea to go with Nakru, so he called Woo Yeon-woo.

“?”

However, only the ringing tone continued to sound. Woo Yeon-woo didn’t answer the phone.

He tried calling several times, but it was the same.

Rembruary left a message for Woo Yeon-woo and called again after 10 minutes, but Woo Yeon-woo still didn’t answer.

‘He wouldn’t have entered the dungeon already.’

He looked at his watch. It was almost time for the appointment.

He tried calling one more time, but no one answered.

‘I have no choice.’

* * *

Woo Yeon-woo leaned against the wall, yawning repeatedly, and glanced at the Nakru members.

Most of them were executives. It was probably a team formed to meet Woo Sung-woo.

Those who weren’t executives wouldn’t even know what Woo Sung-woo had said to Shin Jo-woon.

They were busy testing the megaphone and checking if the letters on the banner were visible from afar.

Woo Yeon-woo checked the watch on his wrist and repeatedly checked the road leading here.

‘Should I have brought my phone?’

As the appointment time approached and Rembruary didn’t arrive, Woo Yeon-woo briefly regretted leaving his phone at home.

If he had his phone, he could call.

After hearing the story of how Rembruary lost his phone in the 3-6 dungeon, and how another hunter picked it up and sold it to Kim Mu-rok, among other things.

Woo Yeon-woo was scared and left his phone at home.

He was an even more famous figure than Rembruary.

What if his phone was leaked? It’s full of texts where I get annoyed and irritated.

At that moment. Finally, a car was seen coming from across the road.

‘That must be it.’

Woo Yeon-woo lowered his hand and prepared to get annoyed.

That car must be the one. This whole area is the Demon Realm, so no one would be passing through here for other business.

Finally, the car stopped not far from Woo Yeon-woo, and Woo Yeon-woo quickly walked towards it.

As Woo Yeon-woo approached the car, the car door opened not from the passenger seat, but from the driver’s seat.

“Hey, why are you cutting it so close―”

However, Woo Yeon-woo stopped speaking as soon as he saw the person who got out of the car and had to step back.

‘Why is that human here?’

The person who appeared was not Rembruary, but Nin-ling.

As their eyes met, Nin-ling smiled politely and explained.

“The High Priest said he couldn’t come, so I came instead.”

Woo Yeon-woo felt like a sign had fallen on his head.

His soul spelled out, one letter at a time, ‘Rem, bru, ry, you, bas, tard.’

“Y-you’re just going to deliver the message and leave, right?”

Still hoping, he forced a smile and asked, but Nin-ling cruelly closed the car door and said.

“Since I was asked, I have to take responsibility and protect you safely.”

Nin-ling smiled, saying let’s do well, but his smiling face didn’t look like a smiling face.

“The High Priest said he kept calling but you weren’t answering.”

Woo Yeon-woo turned pale and blamed himself once again. Why did I leave my phone behind?

* * *

‘Yeon-woo seemed very interested in Nin-ling. Sending Nin-ling will make him happy.’

My consideration is truly something. Rembruary happily set off from home alone.

Since he had packed his bags yesterday thinking he would be entering the dungeon, he planned to go to another dungeon instead.

“I was originally going to enter Area 1, which I cleared the most after Area 3. But since Nakru went there, I’ll go to Area 2-1.”

“Are you sure you’ll be alright alone?”

“Seeing what the demons are doing, it’s more comfortable to travel alone these days.”

Rembruary stopped by the Redryn headquarters to inform Dae-ju, received some more food and emergency supplies, and headed to Entrance 1 of Area 2.

Even if I bring this much, it would be troublesome if I turned into a child again and lost my luggage…….

‘No. If I can go straight into the Demon King’s mansion without falling off a cliff or anything, I might not lose my luggage this time.’

But just as Rembruary grabbed the doorknob, turned it, and was about to open it with force.

A presence that hadn’t been there suddenly appeared right behind him, and a voice apologized, “Sorry.”

Rembruary turned around sharply, and Hwasaja was right behind him, with Shin Jo-woon attached behind him.

“You?”

As their eyes met, Hwasaja said in a resentful voice.

“I didn’t want to come.”

That anchovy deliberately brought Hwasaja along! Rembruary was dumbfounded and said firmly.

“Both of you, go away. I’m going alone.”

Hwasaja replied in a voice that sounded like he was about to cry, “I want to be sent alone too.”

Shin Jo-woon said with a smile.

“I think it’s too late.”

Just as Rembruary was about to retort, the scenery had already changed. It was impossible to turn back since he had already opened the door.

The doorknob that Rembruary was holding was already gone, and his hand was awkwardly floating in the air.

And that hand had become small, like a child’s hand.

“Another childhood form.”

Rembruary clicked his tongue, then, recalling that Ardor had turned into a crow when he was a child before, he turned around.

Had Hwasaja and Shin Jo-woon turned into something else?

Rembruary flinched.

Hwasaja had turned into a lion. And Shin Jo-woon was…….

“!”