Holy Idol [EN]: Chapter 633

◈ 633. No Need for Comfort

Is that belief or disbelief? Is he trusting me, or does he just have no expectations of me?

Rembrary tilted his head at Woo Yeon-woo’s ambiguous words.

“Is that a compliment or an insult?”

“An insult.”

“It kind of sounds like you’re taking my side a little.”

“I trust you. I do. But you’re a total psycho.”

Woo Yeon-woo, speaking decisively, stopped the car at a crossroads and asked,

“So, what do we do? Go to Shin Jae-soo, or keep going the way we were?”

Before Rembrary could answer, his phone rang again.

Rembrary opened his mouth, then looked down. This time, it was a text from someone else.

“What is it? Shin Jae-soo again?”

“The HwasaJa [a high-ranking priest or oracle] is telling me to run away?”

“What are you talking about?”

“I don’t know. Ardor says the world is being dyed by Redrin’s order.”

“Ah. That bastard’s nonsense is so absurd it’s almost understandable.”

Rembrary checked the text messages back and forth, then put his phone back in his pocket, making a decision.

“Let’s go to Daejoo.”

“Don’t you have to go to Shin Jo-woon and explain yourself?”

“What else can I do? He doesn’t even remember me. Since he doesn’t know what kind of person I am, he might believe what I say. I’d rather just leave it alone.”

Rembrary turned his gaze back out the window. But even though he’d made a decision, Woo Yeon-woo didn’t seem to be starting the car.

“What’s wrong?”

He asked, puzzled, looking to his side. Woo Yeon-woo was staring blankly at Rembrary before shaking his head.

“No. It’s nothing. I’m going.”

* * *

Woo Yeon-woo dropped Rembrary off in front of the Redrin headquarters, refusing all invitations to go inside together, and went back alone.

“I know things are a bit complicated right now, but I have no desire to become your follower.”

Rembrary watched his cold retreating figure with regret.

Woo Yeon-woo is a celebrity, so if he came to Redrin, many people would follow.

‘He even knows that Redrin exists, so why doesn’t he think about joining? He’s even seen Redrin in person.’

I’ll have to recommend it again later. Rembrary swallowed his disappointment as Woo Yeon-woo’s car disappeared completely and went inside the building.

He took the elevator to the 5th floor, to Daejoo’s office. Daejoo, who had been pacing back and forth, immediately rushed over.

Daejoo looked closely at Rembrary’s expression as soon as he saw him and asked,

“Are you alright?”

It’s not like Rembrary had just come from a battle with demons. He seemed very worried.

“What do you mean?”

He asked, puzzled, and Daejoo cautiously replied,

“Your two closest friends have both drifted away….”

No, I’m fine, so why is everyone around me more concerned? Rembrary lowered the ends of his eyebrows at Daejoo’s question.

“I just need to destroy the dungeon and rescue Tae-ri. And if I catch Mulchi, his memories will come back.”

“That’s right. But I’m worried that you might be feeling complicated until then.”

“I have all my memories, so what’s complicated?”

Even though Rembrary replied indifferently, Daejoo scrutinized his expression.

Only then did he feel relieved and walk back to his desk, reporting,

“As you said, I’ve been investigating Lavrum, but it’s difficult to track him down since he’s a demon. Instead, I investigated Hwan Shin, who you said was his contractor, and he used to be very active, but his whereabouts have been unknown for several months.”

“I need to catch Hwan Shin to catch Lavrum.”

“Yes. I’ve told them to keep an eye on him, so don’t worry. I’ll let you know as soon as we find him.”

Rembrary continued to discuss several other matters with Daejoo.

But no matter how much they discussed, there was nothing that could be resolved immediately.

Hwan Shin was nowhere to be seen, and the only way to know if people couldn’t enter the dungeon was that Rembrary was the only one who had gone to the dungeon pillars.

It was also dangerous to have new people go through all the doors from the 1st to the 6th again to test this phenomenon.

If the demons’ goal was to isolate Rembrary, they would do their best to capture Rembrary’s allies if they came.

If they were taken away one by one like this, wouldn’t it only be a loss of power on this side?

Daejoo predicted that Shin Jo-woon was also unable to enter the dungeon himself or send people to save Jang Tae-ri for this reason.

In the end, after deciding to gather more information, Rembrary said goodbye and went out into the hallway.

He was thinking of having a meal before leaving.

But as he went down to the cafeteria, took some side dishes and rice, and was about to eat, he heard someone calling, “High Priest!” from the doorway.

He looked up to see who it was, and Daejoo had followed him down and was approaching.

“What’s wrong?”

Daejoo sat down across from Rembrary and handed him a small notebook.

There was writing on the notebook that looked like it had been scribbled down in a hurry.

“Do you know what this is?”

“Your handwriting is terrible.”

“The hotel where you went to help with the restoration project before. Do you remember? The one where Nakru did everything he could to reveal your weaknesses.”

Rembrary grimaced at Daejoo’s scribbled handwriting and nodded.

“I remember. Didn’t Moroso’s subordinates come there too?”

“Do you remember the bizarre demon that appeared then?”

“The demon that had a hand coming out of its heart?”

Daejoo nodded urgently.

“I just got a call. That demon has started appearing near the hotel again.”

Rembrary looked at Daejoo with surprised eyes.

“Really?”

“I haven’t confirmed it myself. I just got a call. Hunter Ki Sung-hyun is planning to investigate it, and he’s asking for your cooperation because you’re the only one who’s properly dealt with that demon.”

Rembrary had completely forgotten about the demon. So many things had happened since then.

But when he thought about it, the incident at the hotel hadn’t been that long ago.

Rembrary stared blankly at the writing Daejoo had written down.

If the demon appearing around the hotel was that demon, it would be difficult for other hunters to deal with it properly, as Ki Sung-hyun feared.

“Should we refuse?”

Daejoo asked cautiously. He didn’t seem to think it was necessary to go, considering he had rushed down here.

“What do you want me to do?”

“That demon gained fame because of Nakru. If you get rid of the demon and tell people about it, it would be good for restoring your image. But I don’t know if Ki Sung-hyun will let that happen.”

“What do you mean, he might not let it happen?”

“I heard that Moroso, the deputy chief there, has a grudge against you. You might just be used to get rid of the demon, and they might take all the credit.”

Daejoo looked at Rembrary and added,

“Right now, neither Shin Jo-woon nor Jang Tae-ri can help you, so shouldn’t we be as careful as possible?”

“That’s true. But that demon is difficult to deal with. What if innocent people are put in danger because of this demon while I’m being careful? That won’t do either.”

Still, Daejoo insisted,

“Then I’ll provide you with escorts. I can’t put you in danger to keep other people safe.”

“That demon attacks from the inside, not the outside, Daejoo. It would be troublesome if I took innocent people and they got hurt. I’ll just go alone, so please interpret the writing you wrote here. What did you write?”

* * *

When Rembrary returned home, got out of the car, and went to the yard, Ardor immediately ran out to him.

Puzzled, Rembrary was immediately angered by Ardor.

“Is it true that Shin Jo-woon has completely forgotten about you? How outrageous! What a nasty fellow!”

But his angry voice was strangely excited.

“What can I do? He’s cursed.”

Rembrary tried to argue with his subtly pleased expression, but Ardor didn’t budge.

“If his friendship with Rembrary was genuine, he would have overcome such a curse with his mental strength.”

Rembrary smiled faintly at the absurd claim.

On the other hand, Mullu, who was approaching with a glass of juice, immediately scolded coldly,

“If it could be overcome with mental strength, it wouldn’t be a curse. You’re already making things more complicated for the High Priest. Don’t talk nonsense.”

But Ardor didn’t listen, and Mullu spat out a few more words because he was upset.

As the two began to bicker, Rembrary left them alone and went into the kitchen.

“Huh?”

Is it a day for group gatherings? HwasaJa was also sitting on the kitchen counter.

HwasaJa, who was comfortably eating a tub of ice cream as if it were his own home, immediately asked when he found Rembrary.

“Rembrary, are you okay?”

“What do you mean, am I okay?”

“I heard your friends have all disappeared. Don’t worry. It’ll all work out soon.”

I’m really fine, so why does everyone around me keep doing this? Rembrary smiled awkwardly, feeling even stranger when HwasaJa unexpectedly comforted him.

“But what did you mean by the message to run away?”

“Shin’s personality isn’t good. It seems like he lets things slide because he’s friends with you. If he forgets about you, those standards will drop.”

“Isn’t it the opposite?”

Rembrary flatly said that he couldn’t agree and opened the refrigerator to take out another tub of ice cream.

Watching HwasaJa eat alone made him hungry.

HwasaJa stared at the back of Rembrary’s head before starting to eat ice cream again with a small spoon.

* * *

The next day.

HwasaJa saw Rembrary getting ready to go out early in the morning and asked where he was going. When he heard Rembrary’s answer, he offered to take him.

Rembrary was a little suspicious of his unusually kind attitude, but since it was easiest to travel with HwasaJa, he immediately accepted the offer.

“Thanks. I don’t know why you’re being so nice since yesterday.”

“I’m mostly kind, Rembrary. When I’m not angry.”

Rembrary ignored HwasaJa’s absurd words.

“We’ll go too.”

As he was doing that, Ardor, Mullu, and Nin-ling ran over, but Rembrary shook his head at them.

“I don’t know if we’ll be fighting today, and as I briefly told you over dinner, it’s a demon that attacks from the inside. I’m just going to have HwasaJa drop me off and send him back, so don’t worry.”

Rembrary sent back the two clingy paladins and one priest and went to the meeting place with only HwasaJa.

Even though he arrived on time, Ki Sung-hyun, who had already arrived, was standing near the hotel where they had met before with a serious face, talking to someone.

Then the two noticed Rembrary’s presence, stopped talking, and turned their heads.

Rembrary, who had sent HwasaJa back, was walking towards them when he unexpectedly discovered the face of the person with Ki Sung-hyun and widened his eyes.

The person with Ki Sung-hyun was Moroso, the High Priest of the North and currently the Deputy Chief here.