Chapter 42: The Rabbit of the Abyss

The day of the fan meeting Pantheon had been anticipating.

The total number of fans for today was one hundred.

It was a number Origin had set quite cautiously.

Among the fans gathered in front of the venue, various conversations were flowing.

“Pantheon really doesn’t know their own place.”

“I know, right. They urgently need to size up reality.”

Team Leader Oh Dae-ho, who was walking around to gauge the atmosphere, stopped in his tracks. His gaze naturally turned toward them.

‘What is it? Did we do something wrong on our end?’

However—

“Why did they only pick one hundred people? There were so many of my friends who wanted to come.”

“They should be doing a large-scale fan meeting, not a small-scale one.”

“Sigh, it’s heartbreaking to see them so timid because they failed once.”

Fortunately, they were saying that since the atmosphere was so good lately, why didn’t the group realize how popular they actually were.

‘Phew, the atmosphere is indeed good.’

In any case, the promotions for the second mini-album were successful.

They had also created a familiar image through several variety show appearances.

Just as the fans said, it seemed like a good idea to proceed with fan-related events on a larger scale.

Oh Dae-ho disappeared while smiling with satisfaction involuntarily.

“Entry is beginning. Please have your tickets ready.”

Following the guidance, fans entered the venue one by one.

“Uh… hello? Were you by any chance in line for the music show last time…?”

“Gasp! I remember you! Hello!”

In the midst of this, there were fans who recognized each other and exchanged greetings, while others stayed in their seats quietly because they didn’t see any familiar faces.

Yet, no one was a complete stranger.

One could quickly guess who someone liked just by looking at the slogan they were holding.

“Did you come to cheer for Sun-woo?”

“Yes! Oh, you too?”

There was already a sense of empathy among those who stanned the same member.

It felt like they could communicate even though it was their first meeting.

There were those who had stanned after seeing the festival video,

And fans who had recently gotten hooked on a self-produced content video and were binge-watching past content.

“Oh? You’re holding a Tae-young slogan! I’m a Tae-young fan too!”

“Really? Nice to meet you… I fell for him immediately after seeing a fancam.”

“I actually… have liked them since their debut.”

“…Really? Wow, that’s incredible. It’s my first time seeing a debut fan.”

Everyone here knew.

That Pantheon’s activities were blocked from the beginning of their debut, and that they even went through the transfer of their center member.

There were many twists and turns before reaching this fan-facing event.

That was also why they were holding a fan meeting now, rather than during the early promotion period when album sales and music show voting were crucial.

“Our boys will be out soon, right?”

They were waiting for the appearance of Pantheon, which was essentially a re-debut.

***

“Ugh— ugh—”

“Ji-ho, why art thou agitated again?”

The Demon God looked at Ji-ho, who was suffering from dizziness.

“Dost thou feel nervous even when performing before fans who love Pantheon?”

The one who answered instead of the distracted Ji-ho was Yoon-seo.

“Th-that is true, but…. I understand how Ji-ho hyung feels…. I thought we’d never be able to hold a fan meeting…”

At Yoon-seo’s words, the members nodded as if they understood Ji-ho. It wasn’t unreasonable for Ji-ho to be nervous.

“I see. Well, to begin with, thou and I are in different positions.”

The Demon God considered it natural that he would obtain fans.

Tae-young, feeling uneasy at that confidence, reminded him of the precautions once again.

“Sun-woo, you remember that attitude controversies can happen at fan meetings, right?”

It wasn’t like seeing them from afar or brushing past them for a moment.

It was a place where they would be communicating continuously in one space for about two hours.

It meant the member’s personality could be revealed.

“Of course I remember. Thus, everyone should be careful.”

““Ah…….””

Was it really okay to release Sun-woo in front of the anticipating fans?

While the members were having these thoughts, cheers were heard from outside.

It was the start of the event.

.

.

An opening video flowed out like an appetizer.

As the member introduction video prepared for today filled the screen, the fans burst into cheers as if they had been waiting, starting the warm-up.

Or perhaps, the warm-up had already ended before they even entered.

Otherwise, the magnitude of the cheers that erupted along with the intro could not be explained.

[Idolatrize]

The characteristic synthesizer sound pierced through the fan meeting hall.

“Kyaaaa—”

Then, as if by agreement, the cheers stopped abruptly.

“They’re here. Pantheon.”

Someone murmured softly.

For today, Pantheon had prepared a production where they appeared on stage one by one to the intro, unlike their music show performances.

“Tae-young oppa!”

Starting with Tae-young, Yoon-seo, Ha-gyeom, and Ji-ho walked out and took their places one after another.

“Sun-woo, where is Sun-woo?”

Finally, the Demon God walked out from the left side of the stage and suddenly turned at the center to face the front.

Casting an intense gaze and shrouded in an aura of darkness, Demon God Sun-woo stood before the fans.

“Ah.”

Because it was a small-scale fan meeting, the distance between the platform and the fans was very close.

While the fans who met the Demon God’s gaze felt their souls being sucked out, becoming dazed.

– Worship forever.

The song passed by in an instant.

“How can this be?”

“It’s over already?”

Fans experienced the phenomenon of time disappearing first-hand.

Still, there was no need for regret just yet.

““Hello, we are Pantheon.””

Because the members had not vanished.

After everyone greeted together, the full-fledged talk session began.

“Thank you so much for coming today. This is the first time our Pantheon is holding a fan meeting after just two albums. During that time—”

Tae-young began the first talk fluently.

From somewhere, a shout of “Tae-young oppa!” was heard.

A debut fan of Pantheon.

Tae-young’s eyes checked her, and they grew slightly moist.

As the members’ talk continued, it was finally the Demon God’s turn.

“Looking at these one hundred people with my own eyes—”

The fans focused on what kind of greeting Sun-woo would give.

“As expected, thou art absurdly few.”

“Sun-woo!”

A startled Tae-young picked up the microphone for a transcendental translation.

“Giggle—”

Laughter from the fans filled the fan meeting hall.

“?”

While Tae-young was briefly puzzled, he soon realized.

If they were fans who had come this far, they were people who already knew exactly how Sun-woo spoke.

They were fans who had come specifically to see him speak like that.

“Dost thou worship me?”

Demon God Sun-woo’s signature line began.

“YES!!!!”

“Hmph.”

After giving a single laugh.

“Then I shall worship you all as well.”

“KYAAAAAA!”

The conversation between Sun-woo and the fans was flowing perfectly well on its own.

The Demon God even closed his eyes and spread both arms to the sides as if feeling the fans’ worship with his whole body.

Of course, that was how it looked in the eyes of others.

At this moment, the Demon God was listening to the sound of cracks appearing in the chains that bound him.

Kkadeudeuk— kkadeudeudeu—

Apparently, it was difficult to break even a single chain with only one hundred people.

Still, it wasn’t a bad first start.

The sound of the cracking was much louder than expected.

“Even though the number is absurdly small, I can feel the cracking of the chains that bind me. Thou art magnificent, O fans.”

No one knew, even though he was commending them with such sincerity.

‘In the midst of this, Sun-woo is delivering lines while utilizing the demonic concept.’

‘Our kid is quite professional.’

Tae-young and the fans only thought as much.

It was the same during the following twenty-minute talk segment.

Naturally, the story of this difficult comeback had to come up.

The atmosphere could have easily turned heavy.

“I was not struggling.”

“Sun-woo really didn’t find it hard at all.”

“Giggle!”

As expected of Sun-woo.

He lightened the mood with an appropriate dose of truth.

“You’re doing great, Sun-woo.”

“Hmm? Such obvious words?”

Then followed fifteen minutes of reading fan stories.

In the order they had entered the stage, Tae-young, Yoon-seo, Ha-gyeom, and Ji-ho read the given stories.

However, there was one additional detail here.

“Tae-young oppa, can you show us a ballet turn?”

“Of course.”

They decided to grant one small request from the fan who provided the story.

Tae-young performed several elegant turns and even gave a bow like a ballerino at the end.

The fans made Yoon-seo do aegyo, Ha-gyeom sing trot, and Ji-ho perform mental arithmetic.

The members each did their best to grant the given requests.

Now it was the Demon God’s turn.

“I suppose I must read this personally? Thou makest me do tedious work.”

While the fans laughed, the Demon God opened the letter.

The content of the letter was—

Days made difficult by insomnia.

A story about how she liked that she could spend her nights joyfully after stanning Pantheon,

A story where one might wonder if it’s actually a good thing.

“Sleep does not come? Who is this person?”

One fan raised her body.

“Groan—”

In that moment, sighs of pity flowed from the surroundings.

Haggard hair.

Skin where makeup didn’t sit right and looked cakey.

Deep dark circles carved around the eyes.

Even with full makeup, it was difficult to hide her exhaustion.

Of course, even so, an idol would usually say something nice to a fan—

“Thou art like a zombie.”

“!”

The Demon God was ruthless.

He expressed exactly what he saw.

“O zombie fan.”

Well, he held no prejudice.

“Yes, yes! I am a zombie.”

And, at this moment, the fan was quite bewildered.

‘H-How did he know? My nickname?’

Because she was actually being called a zombie.

aka ‘Zombie,’ real name Yoo Jin-ah.

Surprisingly, she was a Sun-woo fan who followed in the footsteps of Lee Yeon-hee, the official Fan No. 1.

Originally suffering from insomnia, her sleep rhythm had completely collapsed after joining her current company due to frequent overtime work.

Eventually, it reached the point where her friends advised her to quit her job immediately because she looked like a zombie.

One might expect her to faint, but her eyes would become wide awake at night, making sleep impossible. Even today, she had come to the fan meeting after staying up all night the previous day.

Actually, had she stayed up the night before that as well? Or even the night before that? She couldn’t even remember anymore.

She was holding on solely through fan love.

“Gruuu—”

While making zombie sounds like this.

“Hast thou hung my photo by thy bedside?”

Yoo Jin-ah smiled involuntarily at the Demon God’s crazy question.

“Yes.”

“Yet thou still cannot sleep? I do not see anything strange attached to thee though.”

It was the Demon God clicking his tongue while looking down at Yoo Jin-ah from the platform.

Just then, the MC threw out the question Yoo Jin-ah had truly wanted to hear.

“Now! This fan, Yoo Jin-ah-nim, says she wants help in spending her sleepless nights! She feels like she could spend the night much more easily if Sun-woo-ssi did something for her?”

“Yes! Th-this…”

Yoo Jin-ah handed over the paper bag she had brought, barely calming her racing heart.

“Sun-woo-ssi, could you do this for the fan?”

The MC asked as he took the paper bag from Yoo Jin-ah.

“Hmm? If it is something I can do, I shall grant it…?”

Since the other members had also worked hard to grant theirs.

However, the Demon God trailed off with a sense of unease.

“Sun-woo-ssi, it’s nothing much. You just need to wear this and make a V-sign!”

The MC pulled something out of the paper bag.

“…What is this?”

It was none other than the steady item of fan meetings: a rabbit headband.

“WAAAAAAH!”

The fans’ cheers exploded.

“Sun-woo! Please wear it!”

“Zombie unnie is a person of culture!”

The Demon God looked at the members in horror.

“What kind of abomination is this?”

However, the members answered indifferently.

Since it was a steady item, they expected it would show up at some point, and it just happened to be now.

“Sun-woo, you even wore the chili pepper hat?”

“That was better. It was the symbol of the festival. Why on earth must I wear this?”

He was not pleased at all.

He was about to throw away the rabbit headband he received in one hand.

The faces of Yoo Jin-ah and the fans caught the Demon God’s eye.

“…Hmm?”

Truly, it was a gaze filled with immense expectation.

It was the kind of gaze his old subordinates used to wear when they hoped the Demon God would go out and strike down an enemy commander.

“What is this that thou shouldst wear such a gaze?”

When the Demon God asked unenthusiastically.

“Please wear it! Wear it! Wear it!”

Requests from the fans flooded in.

It contained a desperation that was hard to ignore.

“No, why art thou desperate….”

Furthermore, at this moment, whispers from the members were heard from both sides.

“If you throw the hat away here, the fans’ disappointment will be enormous.”

“You said you wanted to gather many fans.”

“If it were me, I might be hurt enough to leave the fandom?”

“Dost thou intend to make even the existing fans desert?”

“Such a thing! I dare not allow desertion!”

The Demon God was displeased just thinking about it.

Even the forces that opposed him, once they came under his command, were satisfied with his leadership and stayed with him until the end.

But a believer daring to desert?

“I cannot permit it!”

The Demon God vigorously lifted the rabbit headband.

– KYAAAAAAK! He’s wearing it!

“Sun-woo, spread two fingers and say, ‘Rabbit-.'”

Following the members’ coaching from the side, while even making a V with his hand.

Sun-woo stood proudly on the platform.

Whether it was a rabbit headband or a crown of darkness was unknown, but it was placed atop his head.

His two hands were drawing the V, the symbol of victory and conquest.

“Art thou satisfied, O zombie fan?”

The Demon God looked down at Yoo Jin-ah.

“J-Just a moment…”

Yoo Jin-ah manipulated something with her trembling hands.

The small, white object was a remote control.

“?”

While the Demon God was unaware of what was happening, she pressed a button.

Twitch, twitch—

The rabbit ears gave a bowing greeting.

The headband was actually fully electronic…

– KYAAAAAAAA!

– Zombie unnie is crazy! She is truly a person of culture!

– Look at Sun-woo! He’s so cuuuute—

“Hmm?”

Noticing the movement on his head, the Demon God unconsciously bent and unbent his V-sign as well.

Along with the rabbit ears, the V-sign went twitch—, twitch-twitch.

Usually, the Demon God was arrogance itself.

Even with a rabbit headband, his high spirit was not hidden, but the fully electronic twitching that moved regardless of the Demon God’s will finally succeeded in bestowing cuteness upon him.

In a different sense, the demonic charm that mesmerizes people exploded.

And.

Fan love also exploded.

“KYAAAAAAK! Sun-woo!”

“The Demon God is twitching!”

“Demonic! It’s demonic!”

Along with the cheers, a numbing amount of fan love rushed in.

‘Wh-What is this? Their reaction?’

The Demon God couldn’t understand why the fans were reacting this way.

However, at this very moment, the largest cheers of today’s event erupted, and the fans were taking photos in unison.

Kkadeudeuk— kkadeudeudeu—

‘Hmm? The chains?’

He had clearly heard the sound of the chains breaking earlier, but the sound was heard again. Kkadeudeuk, kkadeudeuk, the sound showed no sign of stopping, and even the sensation was unusual.

“One more time! One more time!”

Fan love swirled.

“Rabbit? Rabbit?”

When the Demon God responded.

– CLANG!!!!

A chain broke apart!

“What?”

The Demon God was so surprised that he let out a sound.

Although it was an incredibly thin chain, it had clearly been shattered.

The Demon God gained a new realization.

Even if the number of fans was limited, if he drew out intense fan love from them, the effect of destroying the chains was maximized!

“I can feel it! O fans! My power is returning! Rabbit! Rabbit!”

There were no additional chain breakages, but in his joy, the Demon God fired off additional “Rabbits.”

Because his power had returned.

And this time, quite a bit of it.

While it was a small portion compared to his total power,

It was enough power to revive one Authority.

In other words, the time for an additional Authority had come.

And.

The Demon God already knew well which Authority he should add.

The Authority that one who leads a massive army must possess.

A triumphant smile spread.

‘I shall choose this.’

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