Holy Idol [EN]: Chapter 624

◈ 624. Rembrary’s Weakness

“Does Morsel need my help?”

Shin Jo-woon corrected Rembrary’s question.

“Officially, he didn’t ask for help. The Hunter Management Office requested assistance.”

“Who do they want me to heal?”

“No. During the restoration project, they’re expanding the ‘city’ area. They’re turning abandoned buildings between the city and non-city areas into livable spaces.”

“And?”

“They’re renovating an abandoned hotel. No matter how thoroughly they clean, monsters reappear within a day. They want you to help with the restoration.”

If monsters keep appearing…

“Is there a rift in that area?”

Shin Jo-woon nodded.

“Highly likely.”

Rembrary clicked his tongue.

“I see. But what can I do? I can’t handle rifts.”

Redrin and Lumena handled rifts, and Yeomra seemed capable of closing them.

The area was beyond the scope of priests, including Rembrary.

However, Shin Jo-woon suggested, as if it were good news.

“Why not refuse? It feels risky.”

“If a great being like me doesn’t help, who will? I’ll ask Redrin first.”

Instead of refusing, Rembrary unwrapped the food Shin Jo-woon brought and took an ice cream before heading upstairs.

Jang Tae-ri watched him go and subtly asked Nin-ling.

“Does ‘asking’ mean praying?”

“Yes, it does. Why? Interested? Want a membership booklet?”

“No, I just saw him take the ice cream. Can you pray while eating ice cream?”

“…”

“I guess not.”

* * *

Nin-ling began promising the two CEOs that she would recreate the food eaten by priests in her world, and Jang Tae-ri watched, fascinated.

Jang Tae-ri, who loved to travel, was interested in Rembrary’s world.

“Could the two dimensions connect, allowing us to travel back and forth?”

“Would you visit then?”

“Honestly, I’d like to.”

Meanwhile, Shin Jo-woon texted someone, and Ardor sat across from him, wary.

About 30 minutes after Rembrary went upstairs, footsteps were heard.

“Rembrary must be coming.”

Jang Tae-ri stopped watching Nin-ling and went to the kitchen’s entrance.

“Done praying?”

But it was Sa Gam-jae.

“Gam-jae?”

Shin Jo-woon, surprised, stopped texting and came out. Nin-ling stopped cooking and looked at Sa Gam-jae, who pointed over his shoulder.

They saw Rembrary coming down the stairs.

“Why are you all looking? Ah, Gam-jae?”

Rembrary explained, “Redrin sent him because of the rift. With Redrin and Lord Yeomra’s energy, Gam-jae can handle it.”

Sa Gam-jae seemed reluctant but said nothing.

Shin Jo-woon spoke cheerfully, unlike before.

“With this, our forces are good. Pig, me, and Sa Gam-jae. We’ll be fine.”

Jang Tae-ri nudged his side and retorted.

“Where do you think you’re going?”

Shin Jo-woon looked at her, and Jang Tae-ri asked, dumbfounded.

“Don’t you have a High-End Hunter meeting?”

“I have meetings all the time. I can skip one.”

“Even if you do, you have to go. Who knows what agenda will come up? You need to go regularly to get help or prevent intervention. Build connections.”

* * *

Shin Jo-woon was excluded, and Yoon Seo-hwa, his secretary, went along.

“Great Priest, I’ll go. I don’t trust that guy. They say shared hardships improve relationships. I want to seize this opportunity!”

“Ardor, your ulterior motives are showing.”

Ardor tried to follow, and Nin-ling and Mullu made excuses to come along.

However, Rembrary stopped them.

“We don’t know when Nakru will come. Protect Yeon-woo.”

The three glared at Woo Yeon-woo, who sighed.

“Thanks. It would have been better if you left out the ‘protect Yeon-woo’ part.”

The next day, Sa Gam-jae, Rembrary, and Secretary Yoon Seo-hwa headed to the hotel.

“Oh? You’re that hunter from before?”

The hunter from that country, who had a conflict with Rembrary, was already there.

“Hunter Kim? Good to see you. Still employed?”

He didn’t react.

“Mr. Rembrary. It’s Hunter Ki Sung-hyun, not Kim,” Secretary Yoon said.

Rembrary approached Ki Sung-hyun, acting friendly.

Just as Ki Sung-hyun was about to retort.

“Can you be quiet?”

The voice cut off Rembrary and Ki Sung-hyun’s conversation.

Rembrary turned and saw someone familiar.

“Aren’t you a Nakru executive?”

“I’m Nam Seon-woo. I’ve seen you at meetings and in dungeons.”

“Ah, right. Nam Seon-woo.”

Rembrary pretended to know and asked.

“But Dusin didn’t come? He came before.”

“Hunter Un Dusin had surgery after being shot in the leg by the madman you sent. I thought you knew.”

“Oh, really?”

“…You don’t seem sorry. Your reaction is artificial.”

“I don’t need to feel sorry for something I didn’t do.”

“You sent that madman.”

“I sent him to save people, not to shoot them. Didn’t you kidnap Yeon-woo?”

Nam Seon-woo was grabbed by another hunter, who shook his head. Nam Seon-woo scoffed and moved away.

* * *

The people gathered.

Though it was one hotel, many hunters gathered.

Most belonged to Nakru, but some were volunteers or part-timers.

“That’s Rembrary.”

“That way? Oh. Really.”

The hunters glanced at Rembrary, curious, but no one approached.

Around one o’clock, Ki Sung-hyun called everyone together.

“Please look this way!”

He signaled to someone, who handed out papers.

“Pass them around. One sheet per person.”

Rembrary received a sheet—a hotel map.

Teams were listed, with floors to inspect.

“My name is here too.”

‘Team Rembrary’ was assigned the 1st basement floor to the 3rd floor.

Ki Sung-hyun waited, then pointed to the entrance and warned.

“The door will close. Return by six o’clock.”

* * *

The elevator worked, but Rembrary took the emergency stairs to the 3rd basement floor.

Rembrary quietly told Sa Gam-jae, “Gam-jae, if someone looks human but acts like a monster…”

“I know. I will only subdue them.”

Secretary Yoon saw it as a secret conversation.

She glanced at Nam Seon-woo and others following.

Secretary Yoon didn’t know why Nam Seon-woo was with ‘Team Rembrary’ instead of ‘Team Nakru’.

His name was on the list.

‘He probably has bad intentions.’

Rembrary thought similarly.

But he wasn’t nervous.

Rembrary planned to finish quickly and was confident he could overcome any traps.

Sa Gam-jae didn’t seem worried.

“Should we start from the 3rd basement floor and come up?”

“Let’s do that.”

The group went to the 3rd basement floor, opened the emergency exit, and entered the hallway.

The lights were off, so Secretary Yoon turned them on.

An enormous amount of bugs filled the hallway.

“!”

Rembrary went behind Sa Gam-jae and shook him.

“Gam-jae, handle it!”

His voice was three times faster.

Sa Gam-jae was calm because he knew Rembrary feared bugs.

Secretary Yoon was amazed to see Rembrary surprised.

Nam Seon-woo smiled.

‘His weakness is bugs, as Morsel said?’

Nam Seon-woo released the bugs.

CCTV cameras were running to capture Rembrary’s weaknesses.

He planned to exaggerate any mistakes and pass them on to Mirage.

Sa Gam-jae took out his sword.

The bugs flew towards them.

“!”

The number was too great.

Rembrary shouted with divine authority, using Sa Gam-jae as a shield.

“Go down!”

Everyone fell to the floor.

Yoon Seo-hwa understood why Hunter Ki Sung-hyun had been tormented.

Yoon Seo-hwa covered her ears and crouched in agony. It was a shock that shook her heart.

The others were similar.

Only Sa Gam-jae was standing, but he seemed worse off.

The Nakru hunters watching on CCTV clicked their tongues.

“That’s a healer? It’s like a high-frequency attack?”

“Should we block his mouth?”

“Everyone will fall before we can.”

“Isn’t that a scam?”

Rembrary suppressed his awakened nerve cells.

“Let’s go out. There’s nothing here.”

Rembrary urged Sa Gam-jae and pointed to the emergency exit.

Something ominous was felt in the bathroom.

Rembrary stared, thinking, ‘No way,’ and widened his eyes.

A cockroach as tall as Rembrary was walking out.

“!”