Chapter 11: Capitalism is Coming

Idol Gola-bogi!

Pantheon & XXX & Ennexion!

Nine idols in total, fall into each of their charms!

As the goal was to provide more opportunities to the idols, the video was uploaded quickly in just two days.

– Milk! Summon the milk! It’s spicy!

– Bwahahaha! Sun-woo, you said you could do Level 10. This is Level 1!

– My top-tier tongue is sensing excessive spiciness. It is truly a problem to be too superior! Is the milk not here yet?

– Pant, pant! I drank all the milk! I drank it all!

– What?

Beside the Demon God, who was searching for milk, Yoon-seo picked up a Guesan chili pepper and put it in his mouth.

Crunch.

He chewed and swallowed it with gusto.

– Sun-woo hyung, it’s delicious? It’s not that spicy.

– Stop the lies! Is it not sufficiently spicy! Milk! Bring the milk!

It wasn’t even a green chili; it was a bright red dried chili. There was no way it wasn’t spicy.

Yet, Yoon-seo ate two or three in a row with an unbothered face.

Furthermore, he even took a spoonful of Level 2 Tteokbokki.

– It’s tasty.

– Yoon-seo?

The other idols watching Yoon-seo and Sun-woo all came forward and started eating from the Guesan chili peppers.

– Huh? It’s a bit spicy for me?

– It’s spicy for me too.

Jung Hee-gon didn’t miss those words and shouted.

– Then you’re out!

– What?

– A-ah, no!

With a sly smile, Jung Hee-gon wiggled his body.

– I told you earlier, right? This isn’t about enduring until it hurts. Just up to the point where you can eat and laugh.

– Aaaah!

– None of us are good at spicy food! We’re all spicy-weaklings!

When XXX protested, Jung Hee-gon pointed toward the floor.

– Do you think you’re as bad as Sun-woo?

– Uuugh… Let me live…

He was dying.

The Demon God, whom even the gods could not kill, was dying on the floor.

Conversely, Yoon-seo pushed through each level quickly. Ennexion, who wanted to seize victory at least in the game, followed along, but…

– Pfft!

– Gah!

They eventually gave up, drooling over the mysterious red oil. In the process, Ki-han showed a pathetic display, even letting his nose run.

Yoon-seo cleared all the way to the Level 10 Fire Explosion Noodles without taking any damage.

He wore a bright smile that showed off his dimples.

– Yoon-seo! Victory!

The game ended with Jung Hee-gon’s final declaration.

Yoon-seo, who had been savoring the spice with his eyes closed, opened them slightly.

– Yoon-seo? Why are you looking at me with those eyes?

With an uncharacteristically arrogant gaze, the words Yoon-seo threw at the Demon God were:

– Spicy-weakling.

– !

It was a single word from a spicy-master.

The Demon God, frozen by a human’s contempt, thought:

‘Being an idol is truly a harsh punishment.’

Of course, these thoughts of the Demon God were not captured on the screen.

***

The view counts and comments on the Agola channel exploded.

[Gosh, I think I laughed the most I have all year.]

└ [Agreed. How did he spit it out so fast?]

└ [How long is he going to stay lying down after spitting it out?]

└ [Didn’t he die at the end lol?]

[He said he could do Level 10 after all that lol. What’s with the bluffing lol.]

└ [He acted all proud about spice and got wrecked lol.]

└ [Look at him feeling wronged after being looked down on by his member lol.]

[What’s with the way he talks lol. Even for someone from overseas, it’s not usually like that lol.]

└ [He said to “summon” the milk lol.]

└ [I wonder if he learned Korean from historical dramas lol.]

[It’s not just the game that’s funny. The part where he begs for fans is funny too.]

└ [He said if you come now, he’ll make sure everything you do goes well lol.]

└ [I slacked off during summer break, can I pray for a miracle on my SATs?]

└ [Me too, me too!]

However, it wasn’t just the comical side of the Demon God that was highlighted.

There was something else that captured the viewers’ attention.

[Is everyone so busy talking about the game that I’m the only one who got goosebumps from the dance? It’s seriously insane.]

└ [I didn’t realize it was only 30 seconds.]

└ [Right, I thought it would keep going. I got sucked in instantly.]

└ [But aren’t the afterimages CG? Does Agola do things like that?]

└ [Agola Official: It is not CG. We called to ask how one has to dance to make it look like that, but there was no answer.]

└ [Official response is up. It’s not CG.]

Origin Ent’s strategy was a success. The dance break also left a powerful impression on the viewers.

In the end, it meant the contrasting images shown in the dance break and the game appealed to the audience.

[I thought he was a charismatic member because he danced so well, but he’s secretly a gag character.]

└ [He’s a gag character but he dances violently well lol.]

└ [The gap between his main job is insane.]

└ [His visuals and aura are demonic though.]

└ [The comedy is demonic too lol.]

└ [In terms of being captivating, it’s definitely demonic lol.]

Furthermore, Yoon-seo and Tae-young, who played their respective roles, also received the spotlight.

[Yoon-seo ended up winning the game, didn’t he?]

└ [He has gold hippie-perm hair and adorable visuals, but he just chews up spicy food lol.]

└ [He looks like he should be holding strawberry milk, but in reality, he’s a Fire Noodle level lol.]

└ [Is the gaze he gives Sun-woo for real lol. He totally looks down on him when he calls him ‘spicy-weakling’ lol.]

[It’s also funny how the guy with the deer eyes next to them is completely unbothered lol.]

└ [While Sun-woo and Yoon-seo are making a mess, he’s just going his own way like ‘you guys do you.’]

└ [It’s not like he only does his own thing. He takes care of what needs taking care of. Was it Tae-young who saved Sun-woo at the end by feeding him milk?]

└ [As the leader, he didn’t let him die lol. It felt like ‘I’ll at least let you live’ lol.]

It wasn’t just the people watching the video; even in the Idol Gola-bogi production team that uploaded the video, the Demon God was the undeniable topic of conversation.

“Hee-gon oppa, the views are going to properly explode for the first time in a while. It’s not just idol fans looking for it; general viewers are watching too.”

“This is definitely going to be a trending video. It was edited to be fun for anyone. Even people not interested in idols will think Sun-woo did a great dance break and was hilarious in the game.”

At the writer’s and PD’s words, Jung Hee-gon smiled with satisfaction.

“This episode is a success. We’ve discovered Sun-woo. The Pantheon kids did well overall.”

“Right. Tae-young and Yoon-seo played their parts too.”

“That Tae-young kid is only twenty, but he’s incredibly calm. Yoon-seo is cute.”

Jung Hee-gon buried himself comfortably in his sofa.

“There will be reactions from here and there now, right?”

Jung Hee-gon thought of Pantheon, especially Sun-woo, who had dominated the shoot.

‘I’ve helped you this far, so try and make it work.’

***

The protagonists of the video were also checking the edited version and the comments.

“Team Leader Oh, are the comments still increasing?”

“They are going up steadily in real-time.”

In the CEO’s office of Origin Ent.

The three members, including the Demon God, were here because the CEO asked them to watch the video together.

They watched the YouTube video in full first and then checked the comments, which kept increasing every time they refreshed.

“As expected! As expected of me.”

“As expected. As expected of me.”

The CEO and the Demon God spoke at the same time, then flinched and looked at each other.

“The comments for Sun-woo hyung are immense. There are some for me and Tae-young hyung too. A bit for XXX. I barely see any for Ennexion.”

Yoon-seo said from the side while looking at the comments on his phone.

In videos that don’t become a big issue, existing fans dictate the atmosphere of the comments.

It was a disadvantageous field for Pantheon, who didn’t have many fans yet.

But this time was different.

A video that becomes an issue transcends the fanbase.

Not only general idol fans but even people who usually aren’t interested come in to watch.

In such videos, comments cluster around the scenes that were actually funny or the parts with impact.

“Sun-woo hyung, look. Another comment was posted for you.”

“Oh, give me the phone.”

The Demon God took Yoon-seo’s phone and set out to read the comments thoroughly.

As expected, praises for him filled the comment section.

“Hmm.”

The Demon God was impressed with himself once again.

To think they offer praise when I only showed a weakness of my body; just how great of an existence am I?

If so, there were words that needed to be said at this point.

“CEO.”

“Hmm?”

The Demon God’s call sounded somewhat unusual.

“Did I not do quite well this time?”

“Eh? That’s right. Since you did well, Sun-woo, the issue is continuing, and some room to try things has opened up.”

Nodding his head vigorously, the Demon God spoke out what he had been thinking.

As always, it was a sentence that shocked those around him.

“Let us rewrite the contract.”

“What?”

Not just the CEO, but everyone was startled.

“The contract? You, Sun-woo! Just because one YouTube variety show went well, you already have the ‘celebrity disease’?”

The CEO had received a report from the Team Leader that Sun-woo’s self-love was no joke.

Even so, to mention the contract already.

It was too fast, much too fast.

“No!”

“It is possible. I heard that it is possible.”

“You heard it’s possible?”

The presence of an outsider? Tampering?!

Cold sweat broke out on the CEO’s spine.

He had received Sun-woo right after Kang-yul left.

In that short time? Just how long had it been for there to be an attempt to take him away?

But it wasn’t an outsider.

“Yoon-seo said so!”

“Eh? Me?”

“Indeed, did you not say that if there is something one wants from the company, it must be specified in the contract?”

“Huh? I, I did say that? When I was explaining what a contract is. Since that’s common sense.”

“I have something I wish to receive.”

At this, Tae-young, who had been listening quietly, asked the Demon God.

“By any chance, what is it you want to receive?”

Tae-young felt that Sun-woo’s aura was somewhat strange. It didn’t seem like he was asking to release the contract, nor did it seem like he wanted to adjust the profit ratio.

A house? A car? It didn’t seem like those either.

“Buy me a phone.”

“?”

The Demon God spoke in a sullen voice.

“It is beyond cumbersome to have to borrow Yoon-seo’s phone every time. I wish to have my own phone as well.”

A phone—specifically, even if the latest ones were expensive—was a modest wish compared to mentioning a contract.

“Buy it for me. Buy me one too.”

The people watching the Demon God pestering them let out sighs of relief.

“You brat… no, Sun-woo.”

The CEO now asked the Demon God with a relaxed mind.

“Can’t you just buy a phone yourself?”

“I have no money.”

“Huh? Do your parents not give you an allowance?”

“I have no parents either.”

The CEO’s heart immediately became heavy.

To think such family history would come out.

While he was unable to speak due to the guilt of asking something unnecessary.

“I am an existence born from the abyss. The only ones I can call my parents are the darkness of the universe.”

Everyone nodded deeply.

He was moving past the topic with some unknown roleplay.

‘He’s probably being considerate so those around him don’t feel uncomfortable.’

Compassion and goodwill for the Demon God filled the CEO’s office.

“I’ll buy it for you. Yes, the CEO will buy it for you.”

In the end, the CEO gave a firm promise.

“I do not forgive falsehoods.”

“It’s not a lie. Why wouldn’t I buy it for you? Instead, if there’s something you want next time, tell me first. Don’t mention the contract.”

“It was merely Yoon-seo’s advice.”

“Hyung! I didn’t mean it in that way.”

Anyway, the contract issue ended like this.

“Can I leave now?”

He had watched the video, checked the comments, and obtained a phone, so the Demon God had finished everything he had to do.

“Ahem.”

“?”

The CEO and the Team Leader suddenly set a serious mood.

“The truth is, there’s a reason why I specifically called you guys to watch the video together.”

At the CEO’s words, Tae-young and Yoon-seo nodded as if they had guessed.

The Demon God had come without a thought, but he nodded along for now.

“I’ll speak frankly. I’m thinking about changing the team’s concept.”

Until now, with Kang-yul as the center, they had played ‘gods who arrived with spring.’

They had planned to change the concept according to the upcoming four seasons, but the situation changed as Kang-yul left and Sun-woo entered.

Of course, changing a group’s concept was no easy task.

They would have to give up all the images they had built up until now. If they failed to build a new image, it would mean they only lost their existing one. If image consumption continued like that, the probability of the group surviving would decrease.

There were more than one or two teams that chose disbandment at the end of that path.

And it cost money to attempt an image change.

They would need to procure new songs, and a total revision was necessary from choreography to the outfit and makeup concepts.

Finally, the most important point was:

“I believe your will is important.”

The original members must accept the change for discord not to arise later.

The CEO of Origin knew this well because he had worked as a producer at Izm.

If important matters like the center and concept are changed by the company’s unilateral instruction, a member who harbors dissatisfaction is bound to emerge.

That becomes poison for the team later.

“I want to hear your stories.”

This was the reason the CEO called the three.

“Um, but the other two hyungs aren’t here.”

Yoon-seo raised his hand and asked.

“Yeah, their homes are in the countryside. I’ll contact them separately.”

“Yes.”

Then the two members here, Tae-young and Yoon-seo, just had to state their opinions.

“…….”

Yoon-seo looked at the leader, Tae-young.

He had been a trainee longer than himself and had a large influence on Pantheon’s debut.

Unless Tae-young spoke first, he had no intention of answering either.

“Yoon-seo, you can speak honestly. You’re in favor, right?”

Conversely, Tae-young asked Yoon-seo first so he could express his opinion.

“Right?”

“U-uh… yes. I think it wouldn’t be bad to utilize Sun-woo hyung’s atmosphere…”

“There’s no need to hesitate like that. I’m in favor too.”

“!”

Tae-young spoke in a low voice.

“Sun-woo has become an issue. There is clearly a charm to Sun-woo. And it would be a waste to let Sun-woo’s choreography go to waste as a one-time thing.”

Everyone’s faces brightened.

Leader Tae-young’s opinion carried that much weight. If he put his mind to it, he would be able to make Sun-woo blend into the team well.

“Tae-young, you are indeed wise.”

The Demon God was impressed by Tae-young’s judgment.

“CEO, Team Leader, Yoon-seo, you are all excellent. To think you came up with such a commendable idea to center things around me. I shall commend you.”

The Demon God smiled with satisfaction.

“Good, it’s decided!”

The CEO shouted vigorously and thrust out his hand.

Then, the Team Leader quickly placed his hand on top, and Tae-young and Yoon-seo also slid their hands on.

“Sun-woo hyung, hurry.”

It was the first time the Demon God had seen this gesture, but he guessed it through the atmosphere.

At a time like this, when everyone’s opinions align and a desire to do well in the future wells up, they gather their hands.

“Very well.”

The Demon God also placed his hand on top.

A company and a team he had joined unintentionally.

He had just started to get along without knowing why, but they were now recognizing his true value.

That was what mattered. Those who recognized him.

““Fighting!””

Even though the Demon God missed the chant, the fact that he was able to raise his hand without being late was thanks to feeling such sentiments.

Everyone’s hands pointed upward.

Vitality swirled throughout the CEO’s office.

“?”

The Demon God saw something strange.

The CEO had given a wink to the Team Leader.

What is it?

What are they going to say now?

“Ahem.”

Sure enough, the Team Leader set the mood with a clear of his throat.

“So, about that. For the sake of the future.”

“?”

“We’re going to have to downsize your dorm.”

“What?”

The CEO and the Team Leader gave sheepish smiles.

“The company has no money.”