Chapter 95: The Idol’s First Drink

The production team of Neighborhood Guard made a decisive resolution.

They would edit through the night consecutively to broadcast it this week!

They had kept this in mind from the moment they cast Sun-woo, who carried significant buzz, and after finishing the shoot, their judgment became certainty.

Thanks to this, Pantheon’s fans were able to quickly access Sun-woo and Yoon-seo’s one-day police experience.

“It is a Demon God variety show. It will definitely satisfy our fans. Fufufu, of course it will.”

With a gloomy laugh mimicking the Demon God, leaning his back against a wall plastered with Sun-woo’s bromides, Pantheon’s fan ‘Lee Seo-eun’ turned on a massive TV.

And Lee Seo-eun had another name.

“Zion, are you going to watch the live broadcast? Aren’t you sleepy?”

It was none other than Zion, the center member of the top-tier idol group Novior.

Novior had made their comeback earlier than Pantheon and was now timing their wrap-up of activities.

Due to the accumulated fatigue from the promotion period, the members took catnaps whenever they had a spare moment.

However, Zion was different.

“Yes, I am tired, but I’m okay. I guess it’s because I always fall into a deep sleep.”

Even with the same amount of catnapping, Zion’s quality of sleep and subsequent stamina recovery were superior. Now, in the final week of activities, that difference was noticeably distinct.

The even more surprising part was that this wasn’t originally his constitution.

There was a catalyst that changed his constitution.

Novior’s leader, Ian, still couldn’t understand it.

“Is Sun-woo’s photo really effective? Does it really make you sleep deeply?”

“Of course! You should worship him too, Hyung!”

Even without directly receiving the Authority [Deep Sleep Inducement] from the Demon God, consistent worship and deep faith brought about deep sleep.

“I feel like it’s just a placebo effect…. But seeing how much better you are than before, it seems like it might be real.”

Unless one was a Pantheon fan, it was hard to believe.

“Should I try worshipping him too?”

Tilting his head, Ian waved his hand to Zion anyway.

“I’m going to sleep for a bit. Watch the TV well.”

“Worship!”

Neighborhood Guard began.

[Justice, Order, Service]

The program’s motto appeared in golden subtitles as always.

– Conflict, Hostility, Collision!!!!

The Demon God appeared.

“Just as expected!”

Not the idol Zion, but the fan Lee Seo-eun nodded his head from the Demon God’s very first appearance.

Simultaneously watching TV, he logged into his fan account on his phone.

└ Totally denied the program motto lolol

└ That’s our Sun-woo for you!!

└ Right lol I thought, ‘That motto won’t work with him?’

└ But he is more sincere about catching criminals than anyone, right?

After the first meeting with the police substation chief at the village hall, the program immediately spotlighted Sun-woo and Yoon-seo breaking up a fight between grandmothers.

– Ta-da! It’s a special steak with a gochujang base. Please try it, grandmothers.

– Steak-y? Isn’t that tasteless?

– You put gochujang on that?

The grandmothers’ eyes were full of suspicion.

And the fans felt the same way.

└ Even if Yoon-seo is good at cooking?

└ Gochujang steak exists, but it usually feels like Tteok-galbi (grilled short rib patties)? That looks completely like a steak?

└ Red steak… Visually, it’s a nay for me first…

The grandmothers cautiously tasted a bite each.

– Eung?

– It’s tasty?

The two elders’ eyes opened wide, and their chopsticks moved ceaselessly toward the steak Yoon-seo had pre-cut.

└ It’s tasty?

└ For real?

└ Just how good is Yoon-seo at cooking? He must have a separate recipe others don’t know about.

Then, Yoon-seo held out one more slice of carefully grilled steak.

– Sun-woo Hyung.

– Ooh….

– I heard rumors you’re practicing eating spicy food. This isn’t that spicy, want to try a challenge?

– Somehow, it looks spicy.

Yoon-seo smiled brightly.

– Scared?

– Kuaaak!

The Demon God flew into a rage.

Filled with boiling anger, he sliced a large piece and ate it.

– Pfft?!

– Ugh! Don’t spit it out!

However, he ended up spitting it out.

Spitting it out behind him where the camera couldn’t catch it was the professional attitude of an active idol.

Not knowing what to do with his numbed tongue, the Demon God desperately sought the water of life.

– Milk! Milk!

– I didn’t buy any!

– Kuaaaah! Yoon-seo! This grudge shall surely—!

– Just kidding. Here it is, hehe.

Gulp, gulp.

The Demon God spilled milk down the side of his mouth.

A scene where the minions of the universe would have begged him not to lose his dignity.

But what if the fans of Earth saw it?

“Nuuuuh! Sun-woo is cute! I should tell him another ghost story next time and ask him to eat something spicy!”

It was a scene that made Lee Seo-eun, like a true believer of the Demon God, plot a scheme.

And it wasn’t just Lee Seo-eun.

└ What should I bring to the next fan sign? I have decided today.

└ Ah, me too.

└ This, this will literally become a spicy fan sign.

Lee Seo-eun comforted himself, unable to go to the fan sign due to real life (Hyun-saeng).

“Because I have other opportunities.”

Before long, the program reached the scene where the Demon God met Hyun-seo and received grass as a gift. Hyun-seo, who had talked with Yoon-seo for a while, whispered something small to the Demon God.

– Hyung, what did Hyun-seo say?

– …….

The Demon God gave no answer.

However, Hyun-seo had ridden in Car 2 with Yoon-seo.

– Hyun-seo, what did you say to Sun-woo Hyung at the end earlier?

– That it’s okay even if he looks weird.

– Kyahahaha!

Unexpectedly, it was a broadcast where Yoon-seo, who was tasked with one-on-one assistance, was happy.

└ Look at how much Yoon-seo laughed today lol If you’re happy, that’s enough!!

└ I don’t think there are many days he can tease Sun-woo like this? He really seized the day today lolol

└ Yoon-seo’s eyes are shining dangerously. That’s the look we always see from Sun-woo lolol

Lee Seo-eun also greatly admired this.

He had seen all the Pantheon members because of the concert. He remembered Yoon-seo too.

“I thought he was a shy and quiet kid, but I miscalculated. I definitely need to get close to him. I’ll get super close and we can tease Sun-woo together.”

His heart pounded as another goal in life was created.

Indeed, fangirling was the power source that made real life better.

After that, the program moved past the scene of sending back the construction workers at the pub. Finishing the night shift like this—

Wait, there was too much broadcast time left to say it ended there.

– Chief, Hyun-seo has disappeared.

The situation began to take a strange turn.

“?”

Lee Seo-eun immersed himself in the program.

└ Is he just drawing aggro over something minor?

└ Probably. That’s the basic of variety shows. Surely a kid wouldn’t actually go missing on a variety show?

└ No, but the atmosphere right now is weird?

Even after patrolling, the child was nowhere to be seen.

And just in time, a strange sound came from the mountain.

– I must get off here.

Up to the Demon God’s decision.

“Sun-woo?”

Lee Seo-eun’s confusion was brief.

The camera showed the back of the Demon God sprinting toward the mountains.

He was too fast.

The camera couldn’t even keep up.

└ Sorry to say this in such a serious situation but… Sun-woo… shouldn’t he go to the Olympics?

└ I thought that too… My dad likes hiking so I know, you can’t run like that. There’s no path there.

The police and production team hurriedly geared up and climbed the mountain.

They moved following a loud roar heard from somewhere—

And there, surprisingly.

The lost Hyun-seo,

The construction workers illegally dumping waste,

And the Demon God staring at the camera from atop the cliff were there.

A lofty existence looking down upon the human realm under the soft moonlight.

“Wow…, that’s crazy.”

Lee Seo-eun let out an exclamation out loud.

└ Wow…

└ Whoa…

└ To think this isn’t staged but just a captured scene…

└ Sun-woo is really… sometimes…

└ I know what you’re trying to say…

And to the Demon God who came down from the cliff, little Hyun-seo quietly held out grass.

– I told you I do not eat that.

Hyun-seo held out his other hand.

It was chocolate.

– Ahem.

The Demon God snatched it up and ate it.

Just like that, the Demon God became Hyun-seo’s friend.

“Uwaaaah! What is this! It’s too good!”

Lee Seo-eun almost fell backward, but was pushed forward again by the soft cushion of the sofa.

SNS also exploded!

└ Aaaaaah! The kid is cute! He gave him chocolate!

└ Did you see the kid’s eyes go round? So cute!

└ That really must be ‘It’s okay even if you look weird’!

└ He accepted and ate it!

└ They became friends, right? Our Sun-woo made a friend other than the members!

Seeing this, Lee Seo-eun quickly posted a comment.

└ Sun-woo made a friend other than the members, other than Zion!

└ Right, he’s close with Zion too, right?

Smug.

With a solitary smile, Lee Seo-eun jumped up from his seat.

Somehow, somehow, I want to praise myself for watching the live broadcast today—

But looking around, Lee Seo-eun discovered something strange.

The wall clock caught his eye, and there was still time left until the broadcast ended.

The content was so packed he thought it was over.

It’s not over yet?

He hurried back to sit on the sofa and fixed his eyes on the screen.

It even showed the morning shift of the next day.

– What? Whitey is missing? Leave it to me.

– Heh, Hyung doesn’t find this kind of work bothersome?

He went out to find a mixed-breed country dog.

– Attach crime prevention stickers? Me?

– As expected, you find this kind of work bothersome.

He went around attaching stickers all over the village.

– Visit an elder living alone and ask after their well-being? What should I ask? Should I ask how they want their funeral conducted…

– Hyung! I will ask about their well-being! Stop talking!

Along with a precarious line-walking where one couldn’t tell if his character was good or bad, the Demon God filmed all sorts of healing scenes.

“The production team really milked Sun-woo for all he was worth.”

Our Sun-woo must have been tired, thought Lee Seo-eun, while also understanding the production team’s feelings.

Even I would have milked that.

And finally, after all the filming for the next day ended, it reached the day-drinking ending at Hyun-seo’s grandmother’s house.

– Oh? I heard I can drink since I became an adult this year?

Novior held a drinking party for adult members in January.

Since then, those who drink have been doing so moderately on their own.

“Pantheon really only prepared for the album, huh? Then is that Sun-woo’s first time drinking?”

They filmed his first time drinking on a variety show and are revealing it?

For the fans, it was truly unexpected content!

└ What will happen?

└ What will happen? Will he be a lightweight (Al-sseu) just like he is weak to spice?

└ Uwaaa, I don’t know my own heart. Sun-woo who is fine after drinking is good, and lightweight Sun-woo is good too! Someone please open a parallel universe!

While the gazes of fans, including Lee Seo-eun, were fixed on their respective viewing devices.

Gulp, gulp, gulp—

His Adam’s apple bobbed up and down as a glass of cold beer vanished just like that.

Grin.

The Demon God smiled at the camera.

At that moment, everyone intuitively knew.

It’s coming in. A beer commercial is coming in. It definitely is.

And.

The program ended with the Demon God smiling like that.

“Uwaaaak! What are you doing! How can you cut it here!”

Whether he drinks well or poorly, it didn’t come out.

“I’m curious! What is his alcohol tolerance!”

To think I would become this curious about our idol’s alcohol tolerance.

The fans were going crazy on SNS too.

“Phew.”

Fan Lee Seo-eun returned to Idol Zion.

He picked up his phone.

[Sun-woo?]

[Are you perhaps good at drinking?]

A moment later.

A reply came back from Sun-woo.

[If thou tellest me an interesting ghost story, I shall tell thee.]

“Ugh! At this timing?”

All kinds of ghost stories collected so far swirled inside Zion’s confused head—

“Ah, idiot. There is that, right?”

Zion immediately picked up his phone and typed tap-tap-tap-tap.

[Sun-woo]

[You know the public broadcast music show SBC, right?]

His mind was in a rush, so he typed quickly.

[There is a weird rumor going around there these days]

He will definitely find it interesting.

Obviously.

After all, Pantheon said they were appearing on SBC this time too.

[Want to hear it?]

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