Chapter 15: One Billion Won

The CEO stared blankly at the bank account displayed on his phone.

“One billion won has arrived.”

One, ten, hundred, thousand, ten thousand, hundred thousand, million, ten million, hundred million, billion.

Truly, exactly one billion won had been deposited.

When the Demon God’s party had returned to the company and reported the situation, the CEO thought they were seeing a collective hallucination.

However, the exact numbers were now right before his eyes.

If this was a hallucination, it was one he never wanted to wake up from.

He had already finished the call with the current owner of the mansion.

The owner said they would send it under the guise of investment funds, but they wanted neither profit nor shares. They even said they would handle it so that it was free from any tax issues.

The current owner was also a businessman.

The CEO was a businessman too, but the other party seemed to be on an entirely different scale.

“It was real?”

The CEO glanced at the Team Leader sitting next to him.

He had sent the Demon God and the members out to eat something delicious.

Only the Team Leader remained by his side to go over the progress.

“It’s real. I was secretly doubting it too.”

The Team Leader, who had been joyful at the scene, had also harbored a corner of anxiety in his heart.

He was worried the other party might not pay the reward or only give a portion. Above all, the idea of a billion won appearing as if it fell from the sky felt unrealistic.

The anxiety was now over.

It was stamped right there in the account: one billion won.

His tension released, the Team Leader grabbed both of the CEO’s arms.

“CEO, really, try to remember. Where on earth did you bring a kid like Sun-woo from?”

“I’m telling you, I really, really can’t remember.”

“Is that so? Well, you did a great job regardless…”

“Right?”

The CEO and the Team Leader both melted into a state of weary relief.

They were safe for a while now.

Not only did they have capital, but even their dorm costs were free. Since that dorm had a practice room inside, it was even better. They were even saving on expenses.

As this thought occurred to him, the CEO sprang up with a shout.

“Wooooaaaa!”

“Wh-why are you doing that, CEO!”

“Energy is welling up! My gut was right! Things are working out!”

He could see the light.

A ray of light was entering Origin.

The intense light known as Sun-woo.

“What does Sun-woo want to eat? Is there anything he wants to do?”

“I don’t know about food, but he told me what he wanted to do on the way back.”

“Sun-woo did? What does he want?”

However, the Team Leader did not open his mouth readily. For some reason, he stared at the CEO with choked-up eyes.

The CEO’s heart sank at the Team Leader’s uncharacteristic gaze.

“Could it be? Did he ask to pay the penalty fee and be released?”

One billion won was more than enough to cover the penalty.

But if Sun-woo left like that, what about the ray of light shining on Origin?

“No. He told us to make him a Top Idol.”

In an instant, a shiver ran through the CEO’s body at Sun-woo’s ambition.

To the Demon God, it was a natural goal to regain his strength.

It wasn’t a request to be made one, but a command to make him one.

However, it sounded different to the listener. Especially since the listener was the head of an agency.

“Sun-woo… a kid like you… I will definitely make you a Top Idol…”

Simmering affection and the will to succeed surged within the CEO.

“The direction forward is clear! We’ll maintain his trending status by having him appear on programs or creating self-made content, neither too much nor too little! And we must make a comeback before that hype turns into boredom!”

At the CEO’s words, the Team Leader straightened his posture.

“CEO, if we want to do that, we’ll have to prepare the album quickly.”

“Right.”

After sending the Team Leader and the members to the dorm inspection, the CEO had spoken directly with the other two members.

Ha-gyeom and Ji-ho were down at their family homes in the countryside for vacation, but they had received the news from Yoon-seo and had watched the YouTube video. When the CEO suggested a change in concept, they readily agreed.

“It seems both of them have recovered their mental states.”

Not long ago, the team’s center had deserted to Izm, and the remaining members’ mental states had shattered. The CEO had given them more than a week of vacation to pull themselves together.

“Ha-gyeom has improved a lot, but Ji-ho is still struggling. That’s why we need to accelerate our activities. We have to show them things are working out for their spirits to return.”

Since the vacation period was over, the two members were scheduled to return.

Once they were whole as a group, they just had to run toward the new concept.

“However.”

The Team Leader spoke cautiously to the CEO. It was an important question he had wanted to ask for a while.

“CEO, about the song procurement… will it be okay?”

The moment he heard those words, the CEO, who had been full of excitement, became quiet.

“Hmm.”

The interference of the giant agency, Izm, stretched even to this area.

Even if they decided to receive a song from a famous composer, it would be canceled not long after.

The CEO had thought it was a coincidence the first few times, but after inquiring here and there, he found out it was Izm’s doing.

“Those despicable fellows, letting him go with a smile to his face.”

“I don’t know what they’re thinking. Looking at what they’re doing lately, it seems they just hate anything succeeding if it isn’t theirs.”

An entire day wasn’t enough to curse them.

The CEO steeled his heart and turned the conversation back to the song procurement.

“If we plan with Sun-woo as the center, there’s a risk the song might become too esoteric. We need a composer who can organize that and release it as a trendy sound…”

Then, the Team Leader stared pointedly at the CEO.

“What? Why?”

“What if you wrote it yourself, CEO?”

The CEO was also a person who had made a name for himself as a talented producer at Izm.

He was also a composer with several hit songs to his name.

In fact, the CEO had composed Pantheon’s debut song, and the evaluation of the song itself had been quite good.

If he wrote it himself, there would be no need to worry about song procurement.

However, the CEO’s face did not brighten.

“The thing is. Maybe it’s because I’ve been chased by the business, but my sense is a bit… and when I look at Sun-woo, I’m not sure what or how to write.”

“Aww, don’t talk weak like that!”

“Don’t dismiss it as weak talk. If I jump in without confidence and the song doesn’t come out well?”

The Team Leader couldn’t say anything to that final remark.

A good song.

This time, they absolutely needed a good song.

If they made a comeback with a mediocre song for no reason, it was obvious what people would say.

[The song is disappointing compared to the hype.]

[At a time like this, they should have struck a blow with an impactful song. The agency’s sense is dead.]

[Were they out of money? They should’ve used a better song.]

Opportunities to become a trending topic do not come often.

If you can’t clearly elevate the team at such a time, you’re only consuming the image.

When there’s hype, a masterpiece must follow.

“…….”

“…….”

Silence swirled in the CEO’s office, as if the momentum from earlier had vanished.

Neither the CEO nor the Team Leader had a good solution.

At this time when they needed to soar, they couldn’t afford to be stuck—

But just then.

“CEO!”

As soon as a voice searching for the CEO was heard from outside.

Bang! The door opened violently as if it were about to be smashed.

The Demon God had kicked his way in.

“CEO! Serve me!”

He was truly triumphant.

Knowing that the capital he had earned was a massive amount, his arrogance knew no bounds.

“Sun-woo, that’s too much!”

“Sun-woo hyung, you should still open the door with your hand.”

Tae-young and Yoon-seo, who came with him, restrained the Demon God.

The Team Leader also felt this was a bit much and stood up.

Peering over, the Team Leader saw the CEO’s face harden as he stood up abruptly. If left like this, the atmosphere would turn sour immediately after a good event.

The Team Leader checked the CEO with his eyes while trying to scold Sun-woo first with his mouth.

“Sun-woo, you… huh?”

The Team Leader’s words were cut off in the middle.

Pat, pat, pat.

The CEO was dusting off the head seat of the reception sofa set where he had been sitting.

Then.

“Now, this way.”

He pointed to the seat with his palm.

Just as Sun-woo said, he was serving him.

“Good.”

The Demon God sat in the head seat where the CEO had been sitting without hesitation.

The CEO naturally pushed the Team Leader out of the next seat with his hip.

“CEO?”

“Move over. I should serve him for a while. Isn’t that obvious?”

The Team Leader didn’t deny it either.

But being pushed aside by the CEO’s fleshy hip felt quite unpleasant.

“Team Leader, do you dare to mutiny? The CEO is so wise.”

Even a remark from the Demon God followed.

The Team Leader gripped his sanity and spoke.

“Tae-young, Yoon-seo, both of you step out for a moment.”

It was to preserve at least a bit of the CEO’s authority.

“Yes.”

“Huh? We’re leaving?”

Tae-young understood the Team Leader’s intent, grabbed Yoon-seo, and headed out.

Click.

Along with the sound of the door closing properly.

The leader was a leader.

In the meantime, disregarding the Team Leader’s reaction, the CEO spoke to the Demon God.

“Sun-woo, you did truly well. You’ve become a ray of light for Origin.”

“I dislike light. I am a being of darkness.”

“You’ve become a pitch-black darkness that blankets Origin.”

“Hmph.”

The CEO actively played along. He didn’t even stop there.

“Worship the darkness that Sun-woo brought!”

“Indeed. You are doing well, CEO.”

“Darkness that will not be disturbed by any light!”

“Excellent!”

The commentary was also incredible.

The Team Leader was so dumbfounded that his respect for the CEO threatened to drop.

He too felt more affection for Sun-woo now, but he couldn’t bring himself to act like the CEO.

The Team Leader whispered in the CEO’s ear.

“Do you have to do this much to be a CEO?”

“When you bow, bow low! You know that much, don’t you, Team Leader Oh?”

“I know, but I didn’t think it would be this low. Especially to an artist in your own company who isn’t even twenty yet.”

The CEO shot him a sharp look.

“Team Leader Oh, what would you do if someone brought you a billion won?”

The Team Leader thought it over carefully.

If he was just sitting in his office and someone gave him a billion won.

Having finished his thought, the Team Leader spoke.

“Worship the darkness that Sun-woo brought!”

Indeed.

It was time to serve the Demon God.

***

Beep—

A while later, the CEO turned on the air conditioner.

He was sweating from the intense worship.

Early September was still hot.

The Demon God felt a bit dazed from the cool breeze.

‘Humans have created all sorts of things.’

To think one could obtain cold wind so easily in hot weather.

The Demon God, in a good mood from the pleasant breeze, asked.

“So, the reason for calling this body back here?”

After eating with the members, he had been told not to go to the dorm but to come to the CEO’s office.

The CEO and the Team Leader exchanged glances, and the CEO placed his phone down.

“What is it?”

“Sun-woo, I wanted to meet you alone before the meeting with all the members. It’s because I intend to put your aura into the song.”

With that, he played a song on his phone.

“I’ll let you hear a few songs. Tell me if there’s any song you feel a vibe from.”

So, he wanted to know what kind of songs he preferred.

The Demon God nodded and focused on the song.

The first song was one that strongly asserted its presence.

“Light. It sounds like a young child shouting that he is strong.”

“Hmm, is that so? Next song.”

The next one was a song that felt like it was speaking from a dreamlike atmosphere.

“The same. It is clearly visible, yet it is trying hard to look mysterious.”

The Demon God was dissatisfied.

All the songs played afterward were similarly amateurish and light.

“I heard there are many good songs among human songs? Why have you only picked such things?”

At the Demon God’s critique, the CEO clutched his head.

“I thought these were songs that at least captured your feeling. But if they feel that way to you, Sun-woo, then none of them are it.”

The CEO, as a producer, was the type who trusted and respected the artist’s sense.

While he had a headache from the Demon God’s reaction.

“Ah, Sun-woo. Is there any song you enjoy listening to by any chance?”

“Hmm?”

“I mean a song you originally listened to a lot. If I hear that, I think I’ll get closer to your sense.”

“Ho.”

That sounded reasonable even to the Demon God.

He quietly recalled the songs he used to enjoy listening to.

The songs he heard most were naturally war songs, but if he were to name the best-sounding songs, it was definitely.

“Naturally, the songs that worship me.”

“What?”

“Why are you surprised? I said the songs that worship me.”

“There are songs like that?”

“In truth, they are melodies rather than songs. Because they are hummed.”

“By humming? No, that’s not what’s important.”

The CEO and the Team Leader looked like they didn’t believe there were worship songs.

“Team Leader, is this another Sun-woo-style joke?”

“Who knows?”

The Demon God became displeased.

“They exist! There are melodies my believers dedicated to me! Do not insult me and my believers!”

Unlike his usual self, the Demon God was slightly but sincerely angry.

In that moment, the CEO and the Team Leader couldn’t meet the Demon God’s eyes and bowed their heads.

‘Wh-what was that just now? I was so scared.’

‘It was as if someone far superior was scolding me… Sun-woo isn’t even twenty yet.’

Because he was a Demon God.

Even a weakened demonic charm was more than enough to instill fear in humans.

“Understood, Sun-woo. Don’t be angry. I know you’re sincere about your fans. Let’s just hear that melody.”

Having caught his breath and raised his head, the CEO soothed the Demon God.

“I should strike you with a bolt of lightning right now, but I shall forgive you because you must be used.”

Along with a strangely sincere reason for forgiveness,

“Listen to the song and repent for your disbelief.”

The Demon God recalled the melody.

Awe, worship, and voluntary submission.

The believers used to hum the melody with these feelings.

The Demon God’s humming began.

The intro started with a low bass that spread faintly like a water mist.

“Oh, ooooh—”

The intent contained in the simple sound was all too clear.

Receive the Demon God.

Lay yourself down.

The Demon God shall dwell within my empty self.

The CEO and the Team Leader, who had questioned the existence of the melody, straightened their backs.

‘I was truly impious to have intended to listen to it casually.’

Without even realizing it, the two were harboring such thoughts.

The humming that moved into the middle section gradually intensified.

It was an expression of exaltation.

Praise the absolute being of terror.

He is watching you from within the darkness.

Transcend yourself.

With a heart that wished to follow an unknown existence, the breathing and heartbeats of the CEO and the Team Leader quickened uncontrollably.

And the latter half.

Intense worship that felt like it would break the body and mind.

Changes in rhythm were no longer necessary. Worship was expressed only through simple repetition.

I am now a being that cannot be explained without the Demon God.

I am a vassal who has shared in his glorious darkness.

The CEO and the Team Leader felt a thirst.

Their throats were burning. They craved, but they were not filled. They had to worship, and worship more.

O being who reaches out your hand from within the pitch-black.

O being whose very darkness is beautiful, and who makes one find salvation within it.

“…….”

“…….”

Neither the CEO nor the Team Leader spoke even after listening.

“Is it too much as an idol song, after all?”

The Demon God recalled the idol songs he had recently heard on Yoon-seo’s phone.

Rather, the songs the CEO had played earlier seemed closer to those.

‘The believers are good at worshiping, but they are not musicians.’

While feeling regret, the Demon God tried to think of another song.

‘Should I pull out one of the war songs? A song about splitting the enemies’ heads in half…’

However.

The reason the CEO and the Team Leader kept their mouths shut was not that.

“The song just now! It’s too good!”

The CEO let out a sudden shout.

“Hmm? It’s good?”

“Team Leader Oh, you heard it too, right? The intro melody line is perfect! And how sophisticated was the BPM change in the middle or the hook at the end?”

“You’re right. Above all, Sun-woo’s vocal tone perfectly suits this song!”

The Team Leader also shook his body in great excitement.

The Demon God immediately became triumphant.

“As expected of me and my believers.”

The CEO asked Sun-woo.

“This song, it isn’t a released song, is it? It doesn’t feel like that at all? I’ve never heard it.”

“Did I not say? It is a song that worships me.”

“What does that mean? Does it mean it’s a self-composed song?”

“Self-composed?”

It was half right.

Since my existence exists, the believers made the song.

Since it was a song that didn’t exist in this world anyway, it didn’t matter how he put it.

“Correct. It is self-composed.”

“Ah! Worship the darkness brought by Sun-woo!”

“Worship! Worship! Worship!”

The CEO and the Team Leader were practically falling over themselves.

“This will work! We can do it with this!”

Inspiration had finally found the CEO.

From the moment he heard the Demon God’s melody, a firm determination arose not to leave this song to anyone else.

He could produce a masterpiece with this.

“Sun-woo, would it be okay to make this into a song?”

“Hmm? The song that worships me?”

“Yes! Let’s make this song play everywhere, on broadcasts and on the streets!”

“What!?”

The Demon God imagined the scene the CEO was talking about.

Worship meant the recovery of strength.

But this melody would become a song and resound everywhere. Those who heard the song would naturally become my believers.

“Excellent! Proceed, CEO!”

In that way, the melody of the Demon God’s worship began to be arranged into an idol song.

And around this time.

Pantheon’s main vocal, Ha-gyeom, was boarding the KTX.

‘What kind of kid is the new member, Sun-woo? I want to talk to him in person.’

While thinking this.

Without knowing what was waiting for him.