Chapter 68: Conscripting the Spirits

Unexpectedly, a masterpiece!

Rock’s vocals pierced the ears like a flash of electricity.

A single surging high note cut through the air like a blade.

In that moment, his drowsy mind snapped awake.

The song’s progression was ruthlessly intense.

It had the vigor to grab any sluggish soul by the shoulders and force it to stand.

‘I thought they were mere petty spirits?’

Rock’s eyes flashed like sparks.

One could feel how much of himself he had poured into this song.

– Then, it’s my turn this time.

Following Rock, Indie was the same.

A song that flowed naturally and calmly, honest yet not excessive vocals—these two elements combined to create a masterpiece that touched the heart.

‘This song is also quite good, isn’t it.’

After Indie, Trot stepped up.

– I’ll belt out a tune!

From the first beat, excitement was loaded.

It was filled with the goal of making one dance from head to toe.

Added to that was a melodious voice, making even the Demon God feel an excitement he hadn’t possessed.

Suddenly, the memory of Ha-gyeom singing <At Pyeongdong Station> with fervor at the mini-concert came to mind.

While the Demon God was impressed like this, the three spirits’ turns ended.

Their claim of it being a masterpiece while chattering amongst themselves was not a lie.

They weren’t petty spirits lured into the practice room, but talented individuals in their own right.

The Demon God remained silent for a moment.

The three spirits’ songs were all genuine.

“Truly regrettable.”

At that, the three spirits reacted immediately.

– What?! Regrettable? Yo? Does that mean it wasn’t good?! Yo?

– I guess so…. After all, it’s never been verified….

– Aigoo, so our song was lackluster?

The Demon God shook his head firmly.

“It is regrettable that such songs lie dormant here. You are singing here, yet the world knows nothing of it.”

He commended the spirits exactly as he felt.

“All three songs were truly capable of moving human hearts. They were magnificent.”

Thus, if he were to grade them.

“They were masterpieces.”

Masterpieces.

At this word, the faces of the three spirits brightened up.

– That’s right! Yo! That’s exactly it! Yo!

– Really…, is that true? Did my heart reach you….

– Aigoo, thank you! So that’s what you meant. I feel relieved now!

The spirits, who simultaneously expressed joy, were soon filled with another emotion.

Finally, someone had listened to their songs.

Furthermore, that being understood the songs.

It was this kind of emotion.

– Damn, finally someone listened properly! I feel relieved! Finally relieved!

Rock clenched his fist and trembled.

– It was worth it…. Worth the effort….

Indie also stroked her chest with trembling hands.

– That’s right. There’s no way this wouldn’t be exciting.

Trot nodded continuously with a face that looked like he was laughing and crying at the same time.

Whether the passion they poured in even after death resulted in something as good as they thought.

A being who understood the songs had firmly guaranteed it.

“Hmm.”

Seeing the three spirits rejoicing so purely, the Demon God felt a renewed curiosity.

“The three of you do not seem to be spirits bound to this place? Why are you gathered here?”

– Because if we sing where we originally died, people get scared. Yo.

– But we want to sing, so this is the place we found.

– It’s quiet, so it’s the perfect place to practice.

If petty spirits sing, it just sounds like monstrous noise to humans.

It would have created an atmosphere of fear around them.

The story was that they sought this place to avoid that.

The Demon God realized that although the three spirits were petty in rank, their passion for music was genuine.

“I see. I say it again, it was truly magnificent.”

– Relieved! Truly relieved!

– I’m glad we asked. I thought we’d disappear quietly….

– Oho~, now my heart is refreshed!

The three spirits looked up at the ceiling with satisfied expressions.

The lingering attachment of wanting to let an audience hear their songs was resolved.

Now it was time to ascend.

They had to prepare to go up to the sky beyond the ceiling.

– …….

As they emptied their minds, light began to flow from the bodies of the three spirits.

Indeed, the signs of ascension were appearing.

The spirits, who had gathered in the abandoned practice room for a long time to hone their respective music, were now about to leave.

– Now we have no lingering attachments.

Because even the last lingering attachment had disappeared.

– Thank you truly.

Slowly, the three spirits rose into the air.

Now their heads were entering the ceiling—

– …….

And they stopped right there.

– Uh? What the, why aren’t I moving?

Rock said in a flustered voice. His body was floating, but he wasn’t going up any further.

– I can’t move. It’s frustrating….

Indie muttered anxiously.

– Euee? Why is this happening?

Trot was also confused.

Spirits chattering in panic with their heads stuck in the wall between the basement and the first floor.

Seeing that sight, the Demon God shook his head.

‘As expected, it ends up like this.’

The Demon God could more than guess the reason.

“The reason for that is simple.”

The Demon God spoke slowly.

“Either someone is preventing your ascension.”

– Huh? – Us? – Is there anyone who would stop us?

“Or, if not that, then your lingering attachments have not been fully resolved.”

– Uh? But they were resolved?

Spirits who weren’t bright to the end.

Rather, the Demon God knew what that lingering attachment was.

After thinking for a moment, the Demon God decided what to do.

“Since you have already become spirits, you will not need the songs. I shall conscript all three songs.”

– What?!

Conscription.

The act of forcibly collecting goods from others.

It was a measure he hadn’t taken in a long time since conscripting Yoon-seo’s phone.

– Our songs? You intend to take them?

– Ugh. Of course, we have no way to make the songs known to the world anyway, but—.

– Still, the owners of the songs are—.

They were spirits too scared to say, ‘It’s us.’

“I am not only conscripting the songs.”

– ?

“I shall conscript your existences as well.”

– !

The three spirits simultaneously flailed and tried to run away.

However, stuck floating near the ceiling, only their bodies moved in the air….

– Conscript our existences?

Rock asked with a trembling voice.

– Do you mean to make us slaves?

Indie was anxious.

– Euhehe…. You say scary things….

Trot laughed awkwardly.

The Demon God was calm, as if he had expected their reactions.

“Slaves? It is not such a trivial relationship.”

– Then?

“Familiars. Beings who swear obedience to me, carry out my orders, and whose life and death depend on me.”

It seemed there was nothing good for the three spirits.

“Swear obedience to me and become familiars.”

If he subjugated the three spirits with the Authority [Familiar].

“The time you can remain in this world will increase.”

Spirits fade and disappear if left alone.

But if they become the Demon God’s familiars, they are maintained in that state.

“When I release the conscripted songs to the world, watch that sight before you ascend.”

– !!!

The Demon God guessed what their lingering attachment was.

Having created such good songs, they would have wanted to let someone hear them, and next, wouldn’t they naturally hope for the songs to go out into the world?

Since they had already become spirits, it was impossible for them to sing them.

But the Demon God could show them their songs being sung by people of the world through his Authority.

– R…, really?

– Our songs to the world?

– S, such a way…. Going so far for us….

However, the Demon God scoffed.

“For you? I do not know what you mean. It is merely to entrust corrections to you if there are problems with the conscripted songs.”

One could say it was killing two birds with one stone.

The Demon God reached out and grabbed the three spirits, who still had their heads stuck in the ceiling, pulling them down.

“Speak aloud. That you will obey the Demon God and become familiars.”

The three spirits shouted without hesitation.

– We will obey the Demon God and become familiars!

At that moment, the three spirits were enveloped in a strange sensation as if their existences were being distorted.

– Kuaah! What is this feeling!

– Ah…, is this the feeling of being connected.

– Eume! What’s happening to me!

The fear of being bound to a master and never being able to be free, after being independent existences.

But at the same time, the relief that the master would stand firmly before them as familiars.

At the end of a strange sensation mixing these two—

– Master.

The three spirits bowed their heads to the Demon God.

After becoming familiars, they could guess a little.

Just how powerful and high-ranking a being the one they decided to serve as their master was.

That master gave an order with an ominous yet alluring voice.

“Familiars.”

– Yes!

That historic first command was.

“Do you happen to have bereaved families to take care of? Call out the names and account numbers to deposit the copyright fees.”

– ?

As soon as the Demon God was sentenced to the idol punishment, he was dizzy with the rules of penalties and settlements.

After that, he also looked up idols who made a lot of money.

Thanks to that, the concept of copyright fees was inserted into his common sense, which was full of holes.

– You’re taking care of what needs to be taken care of?

“Naturally. I always return the price of conscription.”

The Demon God detested acts that would tarnish his reputation.

Conscription without payment, isn’t that just theft?

Such things should only be done when necessary.

– Neoui Bank 020- 19…

With rolling paper and a pen, the Demon God wrote down the account numbers and account holders.

“Stay here. I shall call you when the time comes.”

If a special situation arose for the familiars, the Demon God could naturally notice. So he felt at ease leaving them roughly anywhere.

All matters were concluded.

And at this moment.

Creeeeeaaak—

“I guess Sun-woo hyung isn’t here yet.”

“Since the lights aren’t on, I suppose so?”

Yoon-seo and Tae-young’s voices were heard, followed by a click! The sound of a light switch being flipped.

The members who arrived here carefully after waiting for the crowd to disappear after the Demon God left first.

As soon as the light came on, they screamed in unison at the back of the Demon God standing blankly.

“Uaaack!”

“Who is it!”

“Uaah! Huh? Ji-ho!”

“Gurgle—”

The Demon God nonchalantly turned his body and answered.

“Who else. It is I.”

“S, Sun-woo?”

“Hyung! Without even turning on the lights?”

“Sun-woo, Ji-ho collapsed!”

However, the Demon God didn’t care about trivial matters.

“There were songs here.”

The three members, excluding the fainted Ji-ho, barely regained their senses and asked.

“What? Really?”

“Is there sheet music or something?”

“No, since it is in my memory, I shall go and let you hear it. I suppose I can have the CEO write it down.”

The Demon God leisurely crossed between the members.

Of course, he didn’t forget to press down firmly on Ji-ho’s head as he did so.

“…Huh?”

Having reached the door leaving even the awakened Ji-ho behind, the Demon God slightly turned his head.

“Now, shall those who must remain, remain, and those who must go, go.”

The three spirits, invisible to human eyes, bowed their heads to the Demon God.

“Remain? Who remains here?”

At Ha-gyeom’s remark, the Demon God merely smiled.

“Is it not enough if those who must go, go.”

Thus, the Demon God stepped onto the stairs leading to the ground.

***

And, that very evening.

The CEO’s workroom inside Pantheon’s dorm.

“Sun-woo, about the songs you said you heard. They’re all good?”

He said he went to find haunted masterpieces, and they were truly excellent regardless of genre.

“Right? It was so to my ears as well.”

The CEO nodded continuously while checking the songs input into the program.

“If we arrange this, it could work as a B-side track?”

“Arrange? B-side track?”

He hadn’t thought about this.

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