Holy Idol [EN]: Chapter 608

◈ 608. Persuasion Instead of Threats

Two prophecies foretold that Rembrary would side with the demons. This information was quickly shared among the executives of Nakru.

Just as Woo Sungwoo’s departure was kept secret, this information was also classified from the lower-ranking members.

Nakru was a group known for keeping secrets, and they were cautious, lest someone accidentally let something slip.

The executives frequently discussed this matter among themselves, and Deputy Director Seo, who had become involved when Team B Leader inquired about the information, arranged a meeting with the Deputy Director of Mirage.

“Why am I constantly being pushed to the back in this matter?”

In this process, Goo Seji, the leader of Team A, was sidelined, supposedly because she had some acquaintance with Rembrary.

“Team Leader Goo is close to both Woo Yeonwoo and Rembrary.”

“I’m close to Yeonwoo, but not so much to Rembrary, you know?”

“But Team Leader Goo was at the forefront when cooperating with Redrin, right? Naturally, Team Leader Goo can’t be used for anything involving distancing ourselves from Redrin.”

Goo Seji was upset about being suddenly excluded, but she became worried when Woo Yeonwoo’s name came up.

As Goo Seji claimed, she wasn’t particularly close to Rembrary, but she had a deep connection with Woo Yeonwoo.

After all, she had been looking after Woo Sungwoo since before he became a famous hunter.

In the midst of all this, Woo Sungwoo sided with the demons, and thanks to Mirage, Woo Yeonwoo’s past as a vessel for the Demon King was exposed.

Woo Yeonwoo, Woo Sungwoo, and Rembrary were suddenly lumped together as a set.

Woo Sungwoo had chosen his path, so there was nothing to be done, but Woo Yeonwoo, who had a rather weak mentality, was a cause for concern.

‘This is a big problem.’

Despite Goo Seji’s worries, a formal meeting was scheduled between the executives of Nakru and Mirage.

The participants in the meeting were mainly executives under Deputy Director Seo.

The Deputy Director of Mirage attended again, accompanied by several people whom they hadn’t seen before.

After exchanging a few greetings, the leader of Nakru’s Team B grumbled to the Deputy Director.

“About what you told me before, the prophecy that Rembrary might side with the demons—it’s true. Another seer said the same thing. It’s not a 100% accurate prophecy, but if unknown seers are making similar predictions at the same time, there must be something to it.”

The Deputy Director replied as if it were nothing surprising.

“It’s not strange. The cause of this upheaval is likely to be Rembrary, or more precisely, Redrin.”

“What’s that supposed to mean…?”

“The rumors circulating about the documentary Kim Murok is preparing… they might not be entirely false.”

The Nakru executives exchanged glances.

“We will make Kim Murok create that documentary and release it to the world. That’s why we continue to sponsor him, even under pressure from the sponsors.”

The Deputy Director of Mirage leisurely observed their reactions, sipping the freshly brewed coffee.

This time, one of the Nakru executives asked.

“But what are you trying to achieve by making a documentary? Even if it’s released, Rembrary’s reputation will only suffer; it won’t really harm him, will it?”

Another executive nodded in agreement.

“Rembrary’s ability is so irreplaceable. Even if everyone feels uncomfortable after watching the documentary, they will still seek Rembrary’s help.”

“Will Rembrary be ostracized because of that? I don’t think so.”

That was a concern that Nakru had been worrying about all along.

Even the Nakru executives, who were ruthless towards saints, mostly agreed that ‘Rembrary’s ability is too valuable to eliminate.’

However, the Deputy Director of Mirage said calmly.

“What we want is to let people know that Rembrary is not a good person, that he’s not the hero people think he is. Just letting them know that is enough.”

“?”

“We don’t care about what happens after that.”

The Deputy Director drew a firm line.

‘That’s enough? Really?’ The Nakru executives stared at the Deputy Director of Mirage.

There was no way to know whether it was true or not just by looking.

The Deputy Director then asked Nakru.

“What does Nakru want?”

* * *

At the same time that Nakru and Mirage were discussing Rembrary and Redrin,

Rembrary was giving Shin Joun a more detailed account of his encounter with Nakru.

Hwasaja had returned home, and Ardor was diligently cooking in the kitchen, so only the two of them were in the room.

Shin Joun listened to Rembrary’s words with a serious expression.

“Seeing Nakru go so far as to threaten Senior Woosil to investigate me, it will be difficult to be on the same side now. There are two such prophecies, aren’t there?”

“That’s right. If they hadn’t run into you, they would have secretly investigated you while outwardly acting as before. But they ran into you right there.”

“What do you think will happen?”

“I need to keep talking to Taeri and Daejoo. What about Sagamjae?”

“I haven’t told him yet. More than that, are you confident even if things go wrong with Nakru?”

“Overall, I don’t think there will be any major difficulties…”

“Your words are getting vague, Anchovy [Rembrary’s nickname].”

“Even if nothing else, Nakru has a lot of trust from the government and the public. That’s going to be a bit tricky.”

After speaking, Shin Joun examined Rembrary.

He thought that Rembrary wouldn’t be comfortable either, even if he didn’t show it, since things had become so twisted.

He seemed fine on the outside, but Shin Joun thought that Rembrary was turning his mind over in his own way.

Rembrary sometimes did things that were hard to understand, but he knew that he wasn’t really thoughtless.

Shin Joun watched Rembrary yawning and rolling around on the bed, then asked.

“But you’re a Redrin believer, right? Don’t you ask your god?”

“What do you mean?”

“Whether it’s better to tear down the pillars or leave them as they are. Doesn’t your god answer you?”

Rembrary wondered if Shin Joun was being sarcastic, but Shin Joun was really just asking.

Not being a religious person, he was indifferent to such things.

Rembrary replied while stuck to the bed.

“Redrin already gave me the answer a long time ago.”

“Gave it?”

‘When?’ Shin Joun looked at him in bewilderment, and Rembrary calculated the date before answering.

“A long time ago?”

“When was that long time ago? It wasn’t before you came here.”

“That’s right. It was after I came here. Around the time the demons were showing me their stories.”

Shin Joun became even more puzzled.

“Then shouldn’t you follow what your god says?”

Could it be that he was just living as he pleased, even in front of the god he served?

Shin Joun stared at Rembrary with that thought in mind.

Rembrary felt the gaze but didn’t argue, instead just lying down comfortably and closing his eyes.

Seeing that, Shin Joun recalled that Rembrary had gone to Sunwoo Woosil’s house as soon as he came out of the dungeon.

He seemed to be just as tired.

In the end, Shin Joun didn’t say anything more, instead leaning against the wall with his long legs stretched out, then closing his eyes for a moment due to the encroaching fatigue.

A long time later. A voice came to his ears, which were becoming hazy as he drifted in and out of sleep.

“Taeri, Anchovy, Yeonwoo, Gamjae… You’ve made a lot of friends since coming here. I want to protect your world too.”

“!”

As soon as he heard those words, Shin Joun woke up completely.

He had been crossing his arms and closing his eyes, but he opened his eyes and looked at the bed.

Rembrary was still lying there. Moreover, he now seemed to be completely asleep.

‘Is he really sleeping? Could he have fallen asleep in the meantime?’ After thinking about it, Shin Joun thought that he wouldn’t answer if he was sleeping, so he said in a displeased voice.

“You’re always doing whatever you want. Can’t you just do whatever you want in this kind of situation?”

“…”

“Why do you only act like a saint in these kinds of situations?”

“Anchovy.”

“…”

“Whale [Shin Joun’s nickname].”

“Why.”

“Will you join our religion?”

Shin Joun frowned and got up.

However, Rembrary seemed to be out of it, buried in the bed, as if he had spoken in his sleep.

He looked like he would really fall completely asleep if he didn’t say anything for 30 seconds.

Seeing that, he felt sorry for arguing, so Shin Joun tried to sit back down, but his phone rang, so he went outside.

The person who called was Jang Taeri.

“Oh, Jang Taeri. What’s up?”

* * *

“I’m going to meet Kim Murok now.”

[Kim Murok? Why all of a sudden?]

“I got the location. I’ll tell you when I get back.”

[You people. Can’t you tell me about dangerous things in advance?]

“Whatever. Bye.”

Hanging up the phone, Jang Taeri immediately left the Aegis headquarters and drove her car directly into a building in the outskirts.

It was a building where all sorts of signs were attached, but it was hard to tell what it did just by looking at them.

Moreover, it had a somewhat old-fashioned feel. However, when Jang Taeri went up about two steps, the interior changed completely.

The interior, which had felt like it was from another era, was instantly filled with various machines and had a modern feel.

Moreover, people, who were hardly visible on the first floor, were now seen walking around here and there.

“It’s Jang Taeri.”

“You’re Jang Taeri, right?”

Several people walking around the hallway recognized Jang Taeri and stopped.

Hearing that, Jang Taeri gave a trustworthy smile to those who recognized her and approached them, asking.

“I heard that PD [Producer-Director] Kim Murok is here. Can I meet him now?”

* * *

The room she was guided to had Kim Murok sitting on the sofa, looking haggard as if he hadn’t slept in days.

Seeing Jang Taeri, Kim Murok frowned and gestured for the staff member who had guided her here to leave.

As the staff member left, Kim Murok pointed to the opposite sofa with a nod and asked.

“Why did you suddenly want to see me?”

Jang Taeri glanced back to check that the door was closed. Kim Murok felt uneasy for no reason at that sight.

“Why are you checking the door? You’re not here to threaten me, are you, Director Jang?”

“Threaten you?”

Jang Taeri laughed as if it were absurd and sat down on the sofa, beginning to speak.

“I came because the production didn’t stop even when the sponsors were pressured by the sponsors.”

“Sounds like you came to threaten me.”

“No. I came to check how much you know.”

Kim Murok still looked at Jang Taeri warily.

Jang Taeri tilted her head for a moment and continued.

“PD Kim, you know that if the documentary you’re preparing is completed, it will cause great chaos, and you’re still making it, right?”

“Great chaos?”

Kim Murok frowned.

“It’s not great chaos, it’s Rembrary’s chaos and the Redrin religion’s chaos. I already know everything I need to know, so it’s no use trying to stop me with lies.”

“How far along is it?”

“I’m not going to tell you. Everyone knows that Director Jang is close to Shin Joun and Rembrary.”

Instead of getting angry, Jang Taeri put on a serious and sincere expression and asked.

“PD. Don’t think I’m threatening you, but listen objectively. If you release that documentary, Rembrary will become weaker. If Rembrary becomes weaker, there will be no one to tear down the pillars [metaphor for a vital defense]. Then who benefits? Does it benefit PD Kim? No. Isn’t it only good for the demons?”

“!”

Kim Murok, who thought Jang Taeri would threaten him like Shin Joun, was flustered and couldn’t respond immediately when he suddenly heard words that made him out to be a bad person.