Chapter 17: The Demon God Does Not Abandon

The viewing of the Agola video, securing a new dorm, and providing the source for a new song.

With Ha-gyeom’s arrival as the final touch, the day had finally come to an end.

Because so much had happened, the lights in the Pantheon dorm were turned off early.

“Hmm, hmmm.”

Only the Demon God, who felt no fatigue despite such a grueling schedule, was alone and immersed in late-night phone browsing.

Lying on the bed, he focused on the video, frowning and even nodding his head.

Naturally, the phone was the one he had requisitioned from Yoon-seo.

Since Yoon-seo was a good youth who slept soundly with his phone off, there was no mutual inconvenience.

“Hmmmm.”

Just what kind of video was the Demon God watching so seriously?

– This isn’t that spicy. Even you spicy-weaklings could give this a try, right?

It was none other than a spicy food mukbang.

Ever since being branded a spicy-weakling, the Demon God could not forget the look Yoon-seo had given him.

On the day of the Agola recording, he had been so distracted by the intense spiciness that he thought he might have misread it.

However, in the edited video he saw this morning, that gaze was exactly the same.

– Spicy-weakling.

A look and tone full of contempt.

“Ugh, to dare treat this body so.”

The Demon God shifted restlessly for no reason.

It was unforgivable.

Moreover, the fact that Yoon-seo was gradually speaking more comfortably to him since then was even more irritating.

I am the Demon God of Terror.

I shall never forget my revenge.

I will train my tolerance for spice and show Yoon-seo what’s what.

“Malatang, I see.”

The Demon God had ended up believing the spicy-master in the video literally.

“Take a large spoonful and put it in your mouth all at once… I see, I see.”

If he actually did that, there was no telling what would happen to his tongue.

Soaked in the blue light emitting from the phone, he simply indulged in the video.

“…Hmm?”

Suddenly, the Demon God jerked his head up.

His ears, which performed as well as his tongue, caught the sound of a presence in the living room.

“Was everyone not asleep?”

‘I hope it’s an intruder; then I can beat them to a pulp,’ the Demon God thought as he peeked into the living room.

In the darkness.

In the living room where even the light coming through the window was dim due to the cloudy weather.

A single person sat alone on the sofa, head bowed, muttering something.

“…….”

Seeing this, the Demon God quietly went back into the room and checked the bed leg.

The black ghost doll, namely Shadow, was tied up tightly.

When the Demon God’s hand touched it, it trembled, thinking it was being annihilated. It wasn’t this fellow’s doing.

That meant the person was acting that way of their own accord.

The Demon God went back out to the living room and stood before the person.

“Tae-young.”

The leader of Pantheon.

Tae-young, who maintained his composure in any situation, was sitting alone in the living room.

“Huh?”

He had been so lost in thought that he was even a bit late to raise his head.

“Tae-young, have you been seized by the darkness?”

“…Is it dark?”

“In the deep of night, anyone can have their own darkness rise within their heart. It is different from the peaceful darkness I provide. It is a sticky void, a hunger for things that are not oneself.”

Tae-young stared at the Demon God blankly.

‘What is he talking about now?’

‘I can’t even translate this one.’

“In the words of you humans, it is futility, anxiety, fear, feeling insignificant, and so on.”

“Ah.”

Tae-young understood.

“You’re looking out for me. You really are kind, Sun-woo.”

“I shall tolerate no more insults.”

He thought he understood, but he was wrong.

Tae-young, experiencing the bizarre sensation of his mind becoming foggy yet sharp at the same time in this late hour, slowly opened his mouth.

“…It’s the opposite.”

“Hmm?”

“I can’t sleep because I’m happy.”

“Oho?”

Tae-young gestured toward the sofa for Sun-woo to sit.

“Speak. I shall ensure no words escape this night.”

Was he saying he would keep whatever he said a secret?

Well, there was no need for that.

Tae-young chose his words.

“First, thank you.”

“Worship me.”

“…….”

He was blocked from the very first word he chose.

“……Thank you.”

Since he had started anyway, he continued the story.

“We couldn’t even be sure of a comeback. Even your appearance, Sun-woo… I thought the CEO was just grasping at straws; I never imagined it would be such a grand turning point.”

It was common for groups on a downward trend to change members and eventually disband.

“But that wasn’t it. In the few days since you arrived, Sun-woo, a new direction has been set.”

Tae-young looked at the Demon God even in the dark.

“I’m truly surprised and happy. I mean it.”

The Demon God also looked at Tae-young.

He could feel the sincerity even if Tae-young didn’t say it.

On the other hand, he could guess why the man was awake alone this night.

I am a Demon God.

I bring about rapid changes to my surroundings.

Tae-young had instinctively felt that torrent and woken up in the night.

To that sensation of a new flow of life blowing in fiercely.

“Hmph.”

It was a common experience for those who accompanied the Demon God.

And whenever that happened, there were words he would say.

“Follow me.”

When you are submerged in deep darkness, trust and follow the Demon God who has waded through even deeper darkness to stand by your side.

When Tae-young chuckled while staring blankly, the Demon God emphasized it again.

“It is the truth. That is all you need to do. I was originally such an existence.”

“Right, right. You’re quite reliable.”

Truly, Tae-young nodded.

Now, he found himself trusting whatever Sun-woo said for some reason.

Because of that, there were words he absolutely had to say now.

It could be delayed no longer.

Since he knew Sun-woo wasn’t just a kid trying to have a temporary ‘idol experience,’ he had to tell him.

“The CEO said he’d leave it to my discretion, so I’ll say it now. Sun-woo, the truth is, the situation with the company and our team is a bit complicated.”

Tae-young explained the sabotage from Izm and Kang-yul’s transfer.

“Specifically, Kang-yul left alone without saying a word to us until the day he vanished. Since then, he’s cut off all messages and social media.”

Kang-yul’s actions had a clear meaning.

“He abandoned us.”

Tae-young looked toward where Sun-woo was sitting.

“It’s almost a miracle that we accepted you so quickly.”

And Tae-young thought to himself:

‘Though I think we accepted him without even realizing we were doing it because he was so strange.’

“Tae-young, are you thinking strange thoughts right now?”

“Huh?”

“Your aura is strange.”

Tae-young was truly startled; he felt like his heart had dropped.

“N-n-no, it’s not…”

“Hmm.”

The Demon God decided to overlook it with generosity.

After a moment, having calmed his startled heart, Tae-young asked.

“Will you be okay?”

“With what?”

“You’re sincere about being an idol, Sun-woo. I’m asking if you’ll be okay with a company and team in this situation.”

“Me, sincere about being an idol… urgh…”

Judging by Sun-woo’s reaction, it seemed he had hit the core.

If he was a member to truly be with, he had to be asked.

If Sun-woo said it wasn’t okay, how would he feel?

Tae-young himself didn’t know the answer.

However.

An answer came that was more shocking than imagined.

“I roughly knew the company’s circumstances.”

“What?!”

Even the ever-calm Tae-young was shocked.

“You’ll wake the others.”

But Tae-young could not contain his shock.

“Do you think I lack intuition? I felt something was off and searched for it.”

“You had intuition?”

Shock upon shock.

“I thought you lacked any social awareness?”

“I have it. I simply do not care.”

Shock upon shock upon shock.

“That’s even worse…….”

“I thank you for the compliment.”

The Demon God smiled with satisfaction.

The compliment wasn’t bad, but above all, he liked hearing the accurate details from Tae-young.

That’s how it should be.

It’s only fun if there are powerful enemies.

It seems to be the same everywhere.

Even idols have enemies.

The Demon God had originally fought constantly against opponents stronger than himself.

“What must I do to crush them?”

Tae-young, who had been staring blankly at the Demon God, explained calmly even in this situation.

Comeback preparations.

The process that could be summarized by that single phrase would follow rapidly from now on.

Once Ji-ho arrived, all the members would be gathered.

The CEO would produce the song, then recording, choreography practice, MV filming, and then the comeback.

“Tae-young, I shall state this clearly.”

The Demon God spoke from the darkness.

“There is no scenario where I leave Pantheon.”

“!”

“That means I shall not forsake you all.”

“Sun-woo…”

In the Demon God’s eyes, the emotion spreading across Tae-young’s face was clearly visible.

From the Demon God’s perspective, it was understandable.

‘Since the great me has said I will not leave trivial you all, it is only natural to be moved.’

Intending to move him even further, the Demon God added a word with sincerity.

“I do not abandon my subordinates.”

In that moment, the fact that Tae-young’s expression turned subtle was likely just a hallucination.

***

The next morning.

Savoring the meal Yoon-seo had prepared with care, the Demon God reviewed the things he had to do in the future.

Then, he recalled a fact he had briefly forgotten.

Didn’t he say the CEO would compose the song personally?

That meant a human body was handling a song of worship for the Demon God?

Just what had happened to those who recklessly attempted such acts before?

Chewing and swallowing his fried egg, the Demon God spoke.

“The CEO might be dead by now.”

And.

“Really? The CEO?”

Yoon-seo asked nonchalantly while serving some salad.

It was partly because the remark was so random it lacked reality, but his answer was still too casual.

“Yoon-seo, your words right now…”

The Demon God once again mulled over the feeling of humiliation at how different Yoon-seo’s reaction was from before.

On the other hand.

“Huh? Huh? What do you mean? The CEO?”

Ha-gyeom, who was interested in anything the new member said, suddenly poked his head in.

“Dead? Why dead? Is it some kind of meme?”

If he just panted, Ha-gyeom was a big dog itself.

“R-remove your head. And do not let your eyes shine like that. What is a ‘meme’ anyway?”

This was difficult in its own way.

Do these human fellows not know etiquette?

Vowing to establish discipline someday, the Demon God continued what he was saying.

“If the CEO is already dead, there is nothing to be done. Will there not be another CEO?”

The Demon God wasn’t particularly worried.

If he died while handling a song of worship for him, it was an extremely glorious death.

How generous a Demon God he was to allow such a death.

“Wait a moment.”

Tae-young raised a hand.

He had realized something through their conversation last night.

Not all of Sun-woo’s words were stories that could just be brushed off.

“Why could he have passed away?”

“That song is difficult for a human to handle directly.”

“Ha-gyeom sang it yesterday too, didn’t he?”

“Singing and listening is perfectly fine. But to try and create the song is different. You will face a being that belongs to the darkness. Mmm, the salad is delicious. Everything Yoon-seo makes is tasty.”

“Right? Hehe.”

Revenge was revenge, and cooking was cooking.

The Demon God did not forget to praise Yoon-seo.

And Tae-young, despite the strange conversation interjecting, caught the gist.

He was saying Sun-woo’s self-composed melody was a burden on the physical body.

“Then what should we do?”

“If the CEO is dead? Then that is the end of it.”

“No, he won’t be dead. Please don’t treat his death as a foregone conclusion.”

“Fine, my words were excessive. In truth, the probability that he is not dead is higher.”

The reason the Demon God was at ease wasn’t just because he valued the CEO’s life lightly. It was simply because the probability of it happening was almost nonexistent.

“…….”

However, to Tae-young, those words were more specific, which made him uneasy.

“Why is the probability that he isn’t dead high?”

“Because he can just stop. Then the being belonging to the darkness can do nothing. Is there any reason for the CEO to persevere?”

As long as he stopped composing, he would come to no harm.

“Then to finish the song?”

“Hmm… perhaps it will be fine if I help him from the side.”

Since there was no way beings belonging to the darkness would dare appear before the Demon God.

However, to do that, he had to stay by his side constantly.

“How cumbersome. I simply wish to lie in the dorm and browse on the phone.”

“Sun-woo, are you already a dopamine addict?”

Tae-young was dumbfounded.

Was he already tainted?

The joy of lying on the bed and endlessly wandering through Shorts, YouTube, and social media until the phone battery died.

Though they say ‘digital fasting’ is a thing these days, for Sun-woo, who said he didn’t have a phone, this was only the beginning.

Tae-young saw through the Demon God’s psychological state and threw out a bait.

“You’re going to look at Yoon-seo’s phone again? How about we buy you a phone today that’s even better than Yoon-seo’s?”

“Even better than Yoon-seo’s?”

He was intrigued.

The Demon God bit the bait.

“I’ll tell the CEO to stop working for now. Let’s head out immediately after eating.”

“Good. Let us go.”

.

.

They didn’t know then.

That the CEO had actually fought a life-and-death battle with a being in the darkness all night to obtain the song.

“CEO?”

“No, look closer. That’s not the CEO.”

Pantheon encountered an unknown entity.