Chapter 53: A Combi of Support and Despair

[[Pantheon official has started a live broadcast.]]

Even though they started suddenly, fans flocked in quickly.

The text in the real-time chat window rose incessantly.

– It’s Sun-woo and Ha-gyeom!

– Why are there only two of them? Just these two today?

– Eh? What’s with this combination? Have they ever done a live like this?

They hadn’t.

There was no way they would be left to do a live with only the first and second-ranked members for worrying about slips of the tongue.

“Indeed. Today is a live broadcast with myself and Ha-gyeom.”

“Hello, fans!!!! We’ve come together with Sun-woo! Please look forward to our chemistry too!!!!”

A confident Demon God and a vibrant Ha-gyeom.

And behind the camera.

“Ah, I already have heartburn….”

“Team Leader, please stay sharp.”

There were the Team Leader, Tae-young, Yoon-seo, and Ji-ho, ready to turn off the broadcast at any moment in case the kids caused trouble. Each of them even held a sketchbook in their hands.

Ignoring their concerns, the Demon God and Ha-gyeom revealed today’s purpose.

“Ha-gyeom and I are planning to appear on a live radio broadcast, yet some dare to say they are anxious. Therefore, we have started this live to show that we can do well even by ourselves.”

“Fans! After today’s live ends, we’re going to have a vote in the chat on whether we should go on the radio. Please watch until the end.”

And the fans who heard the purpose—

– I’m anxious?

– I’m anxious?

– I’m anxious?

Enveloped in anxiety, they posted the same chat countless times.

“Everyone is quite positive though?”

Ha-gyeom glanced at the chat window and activated his [Blurry Eyes] technique.

“Is that so? I cannot see very well from my seat.”

The Demon God was the same.

Even with top-tier vision, he couldn’t see such things.

The fans’ anxiety continued.

– No, the kids are lovely, but

– But a live radio broadcast?

– Sun-woo?

– Isn’t Ha-gyeom a bit worrying too?

– Is Tae-young not going?

“Correct. Tae-young has another schedule.”

– Sun-woo, didn’t you say you couldn’t see the chat window from your seat?

“Indeed. I cannot see well.”

– You can see it!

“I cannot.”

The Demon God focused back on the camera, and Ha-gyeom quickly intercepted the conversation.

“Ahem, so anyway. The content Sun-woo and I will proceed with today is a counseling session to soothe the hearts of our fans! We’ll be reading stories when we go live on the radio.”

However, Ha-gyeom’s words caused more confusion among the fans.

– Counseling? Was there a recruitment for this? Was I the only one who didn’t know?

– No? I’ve never seen one?

– Whose worries did they receive?

“Oh, the counseling will be for the staff’s worries.”

– You said you’d soothe the fans’ hearts ㅋㅋㅋㅋ

– You’re soothing fans’ hearts with staff stories ㅋㅋㅋㅋ?

– Ha-gyeom, it’s no good. Live radio will be hard ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ?

Bead of sweat.

Ha-gyeom wiped a trickle of sweat while Sun-woo kept his mouth shut.

Behind the camera, the Team Leader and the members were watching with somber expressions.

“Requester, step forward.”

The Team Leader quickly scribbled on a sketchbook.

[ Only the voice goes out. No face reveal. ]

“Requester, tell thy story.”

– ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

– Something seems confused here too ㅋㅋㅋㅋ

– Ah! Sun-woo is looking into the distance ㅋㅋㅋㅋ

– It’s okay. Even if you can’t go on the radio, we’re entertained. We like you guys like this ㅋㅋㅋㅋ

In the midst of the creaking process, the requester picked up a microphone behind the camera.

“…….”

And then they just stood there.

The Demon God, Ha-gyeom, and the requester stared blankly at each other.

“Ah! Should I speak now?”

The requester had thought they would be given a separate signal.

The signs didn’t match.

“Yes, well, then I’ll tell my story.”

“Ah, wait a second. Shouldn’t we introduce the requester?”

This time, the introduction was missing.

A total mess, things were only getting worse.

Ha-gyeom introduced the requester while forcing up his tension.

“She’s the youngest unnie of the stylist team! Her name, by pseudonym, is Eun-ju unnie. She was sacrificed as the youngest in the process of squeezing out stories for the live broadcast, right? I wonder what kind of story came out of that!”

Fortunately, the introduction line flowed smoothly.

The Demon God nodded solemnly at Ha-gyeom’s words.

“Ah, yes….”

Eun-ju finally opened her mouth.

In fact, because she saw them often and they were younger than her, Eun-ju had no intention of participating in a counseling session done by them.

As Ha-gyeom said, she had been pressured into it. It was also something the older unnies on the team had pushed her to do.

So she spoke without much expectation.

“I’m thinking of going abroad to study fashion. But I’m hesitating a lot. The unnies on the team tell me I must go, but I’m worried because I don’t know if I’ll do well.”

“You can do well!”

“Should thou not just give up?”

Quick answers flowed out.

But being quick wasn’t the problem; something strange was mixed in.

“Pardon?”

“I said you can do well.”

“Give up.”

Ha-gyeom asked with his eyes at the Demon God’s answer.

[ Sun-woo, is that right? ]

The radio appearance depended on this live, yet instead of encouraging the requester, he was trampling on her dreams and hopes?

Ah….

Thinking about it, it did seem like the usual Sun-woo.

[ Sun-woo, that’s too strong ]

While Tae-young held up a sketchbook with those words written on it,

Ha-gyeom, sensing a crisis, spoke first.

“The reason I said you could do well is because I really think you can. The unnie I usually see is very meticulous and knows a lot about fashion. You can definitely do it, unnie!”

It was a reasonable justification.

It was persuasive because it was based on the results of watching someone closely for a long time.

“What about thou, Sun-woo?”

Since he couldn’t just let it pass, Ha-gyeom asked outright.

Give up?

Why did he say that?

The fans were also very curious about that.

– Didn’t he always say he’d make everything we do go well?

– Is it really not going to work out? Is there something Sun-woo feels won’t work?

The requester, Eun-ju, was naturally curious too.

What on earth was he trying to say?

[ No ignoring, disdain, or contempt! ]

Yoon-seo’s sketchbook rose up slowly.

However, the Demon God threw back a question instead.

“Art thou not hesitating thyself? Is it something that can be done with hesitation?”

“Oh.”

Eun-ju paused at the unexpectedly core question.

“I do not know much about studying abroad. However, I understand that it is a grand choice.”

The Demon God continued calmly.

“Dost thou desire it desperately? Dost thou wish for it enough to endure the expected difficulties?”

“Art thou prepared to change thyself? Hast thou made the decision to enter the path of growth?”

“Dost thou intend to transcend thyself?”

These were the questions the Demon God used to throw at those who wished to follow him.

Power was contained in those old questions.

The power to make one reflect on what their true desire was.

The Demon God did not take those who wished to follow him lightly. It was because they could easily be consumed.

The same applied to this human named Eun-ju.

Would she be broken while pursuing a burdensome goal? It was necessary to think about it coldly.

And.

“Hmm….”

With every question the Demon God added, Eun-ju began to ask herself.

How much had she worried about studying abroad?

What had she been doing while the time spent worrying flowed by?

Watching Eun-ju ponder so deeply, the Demon God threw out one more word.

“If thou cannot answer the questions, it is better to give up.”

And Eun-ju, having reached an answer through the Demon God’s questions, answered vigorously.

“Yes! I want to go study abroad!”

“Hmm.”

“Thank you! So, it means I have to make the decision myself, right? I have to desire it and be prepared, right?”

Conversely, if one chose to challenge after such questions, the Demon God did not spare his help.

“I shall help thee.”

“You’ll help me?”

Helping Eun-ju make a decision with a few questions was enough help already, so what else was he going to help with?

Eun-ju looked at the Demon God with expectation.

“Do not forget to hang my photo by thy bedside even after going overseas. On thy phone wallpaper as well.”

“…….”

Of course, the Demon God was not sparing with Demon-God-style help.

– ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

– He’s at it again ㅋㅋㅋㅋ

– Unnie has already hung it up! She hasn’t caught a cold since then ㅋㅋㅋㅋ

Praise for the Demon God’s answers also poured in.

– So he was trying to stimulate her?

– Sun-woo is actually quite good at speaking, isn’t he? It’s not bad to snap someone back to their senses!

– Our Sun-woo thinks so deeply.

Ha-gyeom, sitting beside him, felt the same.

“Sun-woo, you were actually thinking seriously about it, weren’t you?”

“I am always serious though.”

Then Ji-ho’s sketchbook rose.

[ Refrain from lying on air ]

“…….”

In any case, the first story ended well.

While the Team Leader and members gave thumbs up behind the camera.

The pattern was the same from then on.

The second requester also shared their worry.

“It will work out!”

“Throw it away.”

“I got it! I’ll definitely try!”

They cheered up after receiving Ha-gyeom’s encouragement and the Demon God’s stimulation.

The third requester was the same.

“You can do it!”

“Quit now.”

“I’ll give it a challenge!”

The Demon God tilted his head.

“Something is strange?”

On the other hand, the fans were very satisfied.

– Ah, I can already see the pattern lol.

– Sun-woo = Sharp-tonguer, Ha-gyeom = Comfort-bot.

– This is unexpectedly effective?

The Team Leader and members behind the camera were the same.

They were exchanging glances with satisfied smiles.

[ We can send them out if they’re at this level. ]

Everyone’s opinion was in agreement.

***

That night, Pantheon’s live broadcast became a bigger topic than expected.

In particular, the counseling combo play between Ha-gyeom and the Demon God was made into clips and spread.

There was someone watching one of those videos.

[[Pantheon Live, Both Angel and Demon Cheer for You?]]

Ki So-eun, the DJ of 2 AM with Ki So-eun, finished the video and raised her head.

Tucking a strand of her long straight hair behind her ear, she spoke in a calm voice.

“Pantheon, they’re interesting, aren’t they?”

Her voice was so calm.

It felt like the moment she opened her mouth was 2 AM already.

“They’re already known for being trending in variety shows. Do you see it that way too, Ki-Jay?”

A broadcast writer close to her informed her from the side.

Ki-Jay was a shortened form of Ki So-eun DJ.

“Yes.”

Ki So-eun closed her eyes for a moment.

“Mmm, and…. The voices catch my ear.”

“Ah, Ha-gyeom? The main vocal, right?”

Ki So-eun nodded with her eyes closed.

“The main vocal’s voice is so bright, it’s great. It’s not just a bright tone; it seems the character of the person using the voice is bright itself. Just listening to it makes me feel good.”

“Wow, Ki-Jay hasn’t described someone so specifically in a long time. The scouting went well.”

The writer spoke with a satisfied face.

She too had been interested in Pantheon recently, so she had pushed for this scout. She felt good since Ki-Jay showed interest.

“And.”

But Ki So-eun’s words were not finished.

“The main vocal’s voice comes through. And Sun-woo, his voice is peculiar, isn’t it?”

As a composer and someone with an eye for vocals, Ki So-eun did not miss the Demon God’s voice.

A voice that somehow makes the heart anxious, yet conversely makes one feel at ease, and above all, draws people in.

“It’s a voice that feels like a bad boy I’ve always liked is suddenly showing interest in me.”

“Hahahat!”

“You know that feeling. I like it, but since he’s a bad boy, I’m anxious thinking he might be trying to take something from me again. But this time it feels real, so I’m thinking, finally? and feeling at ease.”

The writer burst into more laughter.

“Ki-Jay, I think you spoke more specifically about Sun-woo than Ha-gyeom?”

“If Ha-gyeom is good, Sun-woo is peculiar.”

“Then shall we ask Sun-woo to pick a song and sing it too, along with Ha-gyeom?”

Ki So-eun opened her eyes and smiled.

“Shall we do that?”

.

.

And, Ki So-eun would come to deeply regret that choice.

“Am I seeing things right now? Is this actually a ghost?”

Because 2 AM is a very good time for ghosts to appear.