Chapter 28: My Dog Has Changed

– La lalala

Trainer Shim Jun-beom hummed a tune as he walked into the office.

He had heard that the dog referred to him as a violent animal was now living well without attacking people.

Whenever he received reports like this, he felt like he was walking on air; no matter how much he thought about it, being a trainer was his true calling.

‘No matter what kind of friend is referred to me, I shall embrace them all.’

With this heart, he wore a smile, but then.

“Trainer-nim, will this shoot be okay?”

“?”

The one who spoke was a staff member in charge of the YouTube channel.

“Why? Is there a problem?”

“Well, isn’t the dog from this requester too scary?”

The dog the requester had filmed and sent was no ordinary dog.

“In the fantasy game I play, there’s something called a Hellhound. It looks exactly like that, except it doesn’t breathe fire. It’s pitch black, enormous, and its eyes are terrifying.”

Furthermore.

“There are guests this time too. I don’t know much about idols, but what were they called? Pantheon?”

The staff member seemed deeply worried about many things.

However, Shim Jun-beom did not lose his smile as he replied.

“Even a Hellhound is probably a kind-hearted friend at its core.”

“Pardon? A monster?”

“We just need to help it find its kind nature.”

“Yes, well…”

Shim Jun-beom’s gentle confidence radiated from him.

Of course, the dog in this particular story was indeed quite extreme.

He wondered if he had ever seen such an aggressive dog in recent years.

Still, Shim Jun-beom had a secret method.

Specifically, love and trust.

“It’s tomorrow, right? I’m looking forward to seeing what kind of friend it is.”

***

The very next day.

The U-Gae-Dal team and Pantheon decided to meet in front of the requester’s house.

“Oh, this is nice. The yard looks quite spacious.”

The U-Gae-Dal team, who produced the content, arrived first at a country house in Gwangju, Gyeonggi Province.

Stepping out of the vehicle, Shim Jun-beom first checked if there was enough space for the animal. This was because there were many cases where breeds requiring large spaces became more aggressive when living in cramped quarters.

“Trainer-nim, but doesn’t something feel a bit strange?”

Compared to the smiling Shim Jun-beom, the YouTube staff member had a slightly pale face.

“What feels strange to you?”

“No, just look at the house….”

The atmosphere was heavy.

The walls of the house were exceptionally high, and the defenses were thorough. Like a fortress intended to block intruders from the outside.

Or, a prison meant to keep something inside from getting out.

“Those tree branches visible over the wall, do you see how they’re all snapped? Isn’t that the dog’s doing?”

“A dog? It’s too high. It would be difficult to reach that high even with a jump.”

Since they were branches seen over a high wall, they were naturally quite high up.

“Woof!”

At that moment, a black shadow briefly flickered beneath the branches and vanished. The interval was too short to identify the black shadow, but.

Crack.

A fairly thick branch shattered and flew into the air.

“…….”

“…….”

Following that, the sound of barking erupted from inside the house.

“Roooooar! Woof! Graaaaah!”

The end was almost a roar.

It was a howl that echoed thunderously through the quiet neighborhood.

“Trainer-nim?”

The staff member called Shim Jun-beom, his complexion turning white.

To his ears, that howl sounded exactly like:

[ I’ll bite! I’ll definitely bite! If you come in, I’m going to bite you! ]

But just then.

“What is this? Are you from the TV?”

A village elder passing by asked, looking at the U-Gae-Dal team holding cameras.

The camera staff member who was asked the question replied politely.

“No, sir. We’re from YouTube. Do you know what YouTube is?”

“What are you talking about? I watch it every day. So, what did you come to film?”

“Ah, yes. It’s a show where we train puppies.”

“Eh?”

The elder tilted his head and asked.

“Are you going to that house?”

“Yes.”

“Go back.”

“Pardon?”

The elder, who had shown curiosity, was now looking at the U-Gae-Dal team with pity.

“It won’t work. Don’t go getting yourself hurt for nothing, just go home. Quickly.”

As he spoke, he pointed toward the road leading out of the neighborhood.

“Did you hear that, Trainer-nim?”

The YouTube staff member called Shim Jun-beom once more.

In this situation, the only one he could trust was Shim Jun-beom.

When even a local resident shook their head, who else could they turn to?

Shim Jun-beom stepped forward in front of the elder.

“It’s alright. Seeing ‘rough sights’ is my job.”

Still a relaxed smile, still a soft tone of voice.

His attitude suggested he had experienced enough of such things, which even put the YouTube staff member at ease.

“Tsk tsk, I warned you.”

The elder left without saying another word.

Shim Jun-beom, who was watching his retreating figure, turned back to the staff.

“It would be better to meet the friend from the story first before the guests arrive. If it’s truly dangerous, we’ll keep the guests at a distance. Understood?”

The YouTube staff member recalled the matters negotiated with Origin even in this situation.

“The guests won’t like that, though. They’re appearing for promotion.”

“Is that so?”

While Shim Jun-beom was pondering for a moment.

The voice of a middle-aged woman was heard from inside the house.

“Happy! I told you not to do that! You’re making the tree have an owie!”

It was the voice of the requester who had spoken with Shim Jun-beom on the phone.

It seemed she was attempting discipline as the owner.

The results of the discipline were immediate.

“Woof! Bark! Bark bark!”

“Kyaaaaaak!”

Following the angry howl, the requester’s scream was heard!

“Kyaak! Save me!”

The U-Gae-Dal team looked at each other.

Even if filming hadn’t started, they couldn’t just stand by.

“I’m a trainer! Please open the door!”

When Shim Jun-beom knocked on the door while announcing who he was, the main gate clanged open, perhaps opened by another family member inside.

The trainer’s party rushed into the yard.

“Gasp.”

The group caught their breath upon seeing Happy.

“Grrrrrrr—”

The black dog looking this way with a low rumble in its throat was practically a small bear.

It was that massive and overflowing with an intimidating presence.

The dog was standing there, pinning the middle-aged woman down with one paw.

“Requester-nim?”

The woman, recognizing Shim Jun-beom’s face, shouted.

“Trainer-nim, please help me!”

It was an urgent situation.

Though he wasn’t prepared yet, Shim Jun-beom stepped forward toward the fierce dog to rescue the requester.

He approached slowly, using techniques to calm the animal.

“Woof.”

As if the method worked, the fierce dog lifted its front paw and released the requester.

The requester, once free, quickly crawled away to the side.

“Yes, good boy. Your name is Happy, right?”

Happy had calmed down slightly and was looking at the trainer.

“That’s it, Happy. Slowly….”

Surprisingly, Happy showed no aggression toward the trainer’s approach.

Shim Jun-beom felt inwardly satisfied that his love and trust were working. He wondered if, once again, the problem was the owner’s discipline rather than the animal itself.

But in the next moment.

Grin.

Happy smiled like a human.

It was a clear sneer.

“Woof!”

Then, it revealed its massive teeth.

Happy crouched down to leap.

Shim Jun-beom could tell from his long experience as a trainer.

Right now, Happy saw him as prey. It would close the distance in an instant and bite him.

‘It’s a failure.’

The trainer’s eyes widened.

He intended to throw his whole body forward to ensure the damage ended with only him.

“Trainer-nim!”

“No! Get away!”

The startled cries of the staff were heard from behind.

In this moment where time seemed to slow down.

“Oh? Is it not cute!”

Suddenly, a strange voice mixed in.

Both Shim Jun-beom and Happy turned their heads toward the source of the voice.

A group of young men entering through the main gate were visible. Since they were all handsome and had a certain vibe, they were likely today’s guests, Pantheon.

“You must not come here.”

The trainer warned in a low voice so as not to provoke Happy.

This should be enough.

If Pantheon had eyes, they would be able to see Happy.

Indeed, the Pantheon members looked extremely tense.

Except for one person.

“Come here. For a puppy of this world, you are quite adorable.”

A youth with black hair and a cold impression was approaching recklessly with a lopsided smile.

Why? Did he not hear my warning?

“Be careful. I am here, so please back away slowly.”

“Hmm? Careful? Did you not say this was a program to meet dogs? There is a cute dog right there, is there not?”

‘I heard there was a kid with a weird way of speaking; is it him?’

‘It seems he doesn’t understand the situation.’

The Demon God walked past Shim Jun-beom unhurriedly.

The trainer’s heart skipped a beat.

Approaching so closely in this situation would have an obvious result.

It would howl like a wild beast and pounce!

“Whine. Whimper, whimper, whimper.”

“????”

Shim Jun-beom rubbed his eyes.

“What?”

Even after rubbing them and looking again, Happy was lying down, revealing its belly. The whimpering mixed with aegyo was a bonus.

“Whimper.”

Happy had recognized the being of high status through animal instinct.

The fellow felt a sense of crisis and was performing what humans called submission.

“Yes, yes. You are a good boy, are you not?”

And the Demon God approached without hesitation and scratched Happy’s belly.

“Heh heh heh heh.”

“Whimper, whimper!”

The Demon God and the black dog.

To anyone watching, it was a scene of happiness.

Except for the fact that one side was paralyzed with terror.

***

The subsequent filming proceeded smoothly.

“Walk upright.”

“Woof.”

“Tumbling.”

“Woof! Woof!”

The trainer had nothing to do and just watched, while the Demon God played with Happy.

“Happy, you say you wish to give Yoon-seo a ride? Truly?”

“Woof.”

“Ack? What about my opinion?”

Once the Demon God had become friendly, the Pantheon members also began to approach Happy one by one.

“Happyyyy—!!”

“Should I try just touching him too.”

Ha-gyeom, who was a ‘large dog’ type himself, hugged the actual large dog Happy, while Ji-ho petted him cautiously.

And a happy Happy.

Tae-young, who was watching the members, asked Shim Jun-beom.

“Will this be broadcastable?”

“Ah, haha, ha.”

The trainer had nothing to say and looked at the YouTube staff.

“It’s possible. We were filming everything from the start anyway.”

Just as the filming seemed to be wrapping up.

“Happy, let us run for a moment.”

“Woof!”

When the Demon God suggested a run, Happy immediately stood up and followed behind him.

“Ahahaha,” laughing joyfully, they ran across the yard and disappeared behind the house, out of people’s sight.

And suddenly, the Demon God stopped his steps.

“Happy.”

“Whimper, whimper—”

Happy was overcome with fear.

Just as it wondered why he was doing this.

“Happy, fire.”

The Demon God’s command dropped.

It was a command he used to give only to Hellhounds before coming to this world.

Whoosh!

Surprisingly, Happy breathed out fire….

The giant black dog spat out a powerful flame that could turn even a soul to ash.

“As I thought. It must have been difficult for you to hide your identity.”

“Whimper?”

Happy was deeply moved by the Demon God, who recognized and understood its identity—

“Continue to hide it.”

“?”

As long as Happy obeyed well, living with the current owner was a very good condition. Because a vast hunting ground spread out outside the house.

The Demon God whispered softly into Happy’s ear.

“If you do not behave, you know what will happen, right?”

“…Woof.”

Happy’s instinct shouted.

‘Let’s live a good life from now on.’

‘Forever.’

***

And the very next day.

The U-Gae-Dal team kept their promise and uploaded the video after editing through the night.

Among those who found out through the official account, there were those who were waiting for the video to be posted.

“Grandmother, come quickly, quickly!”

Yeon-hee called her grandmother.

Guesan resident Kim Myung-ja could move her shoulders smoothly after participating in the festival and was currently returning from senior aerobics at the community center.

“Myung-ja, your granddaughter is calling. Go quickly!”

“Chun-hee, Soon-ja, I’m going in now.”

And as she entered the house.

“Why are you calling so loudly, Yeon-hee?”

“The Demon God’s video is up!”

“Eh?”

Yeon-hee wasn’t the only one who liked Pantheon and Sun-woo.

The grandmother, who had personally encountered the Demon God at the festival that day, had also become a fan.

As her granddaughter put it, she had ‘stanned.’

She assumed it was a word like ‘attaining enlightenment’ or ‘knowing the mandate of heaven.’

Ip-deok (Stanning), entering into virtue.

“Now, let’s watch together.”

Yeon-hee played the video on the large screen of the internet TV so her grandmother could see it clearly.

In the video, the camera had been rolling from the start.

The quiet neighborhood, the fortress-like house, the warning village elder.

And Happy’s entrance.

The grandmother and granddaughter were startled by the dangerous situation that followed.

– Oh? Is it not cute!

Sun-woo’s voice was heard, and his back appeared.

He headed toward Happy, ignoring the trainer’s warning.

Happy’s expression was the highlight.

Even a human could recognize it.

It moved quickly from bewilderment → tension → conflict. And that conflict wasn’t even long.

– Whimper, whimper, whimper.

Because it revealed its belly in an instant.

“Hahahaha! Even the dog recognizes the Demon God!”

“Ho ho ho ho! Indeed.”

And the video proceeded straight into the Demon God’s training time for Happy.

– Hmm? What was that?

– Whimper, whimper, whimper.

The Demon God sprang up and shouted.

– Requester!

– Yes? M-me?

At the Demon God’s impact, the requester naturally used honorifics.

– Is Happy not saying the food is insufficient! To think you would let such a cute fellow go hungry!

– The food is insufficient? Do you know how much feed he eats a day? And I only buy the highest quality.

– Meat.

– Pardon?

– It does not have to be the highest quality, so meat instead of feed. Does Happy not look like he was born to chew on meat?

While solving Happy’s usual difficulties.

– I can feel the one and only you.

– Woof!

– When I saw you in the sky where light does not reach, I became a comet and headed toward you.

– …….

– That I became complete because you are here.

– Woof!

– I will call you. You, who became our god.

– …….

Along with Happy, who only reacted to the Demon God’s lines, they also briefly showcased the title track for promotion.

– Happy is…, showing favoritism….

– Hmph.

The Demon God’s laughter flowed over Ha-gyeom’s voice, which was full of regret.

And Shim Jun-beom’s closing remarks.

– I didn’t have anything to do today. I’m glad Happy is happy himself and can bring happiness to those around him.

The video concluded with a faint yet pleasant smile.

“It’s fun, truly fun. Sun-woo is mischievous and entertaining in what he does.”

“Hehe, right? But he’s really cool when you see him in person.”

Yeon-hee reflected on her experience going to Music Trouble.

– Will you continue to worship me after today?

– I shall worship you all as well.

‘Eek.’

‘He said he worships us.’

Yeon-hee, whose face turned red at her deepened fan love, now headed for her laptop.

It was time to promote Pantheon to the entertainment communities.

.

.

Yeon-hee and her grandmother weren’t the only ones who enjoyed the video.

[ Pantheon’s Sun-woo blows up every time he does a variety show. ]

└ [ Didn’t fans say they call him the Demon God? Is he not the Variety God? ]

└ [ If he’s a Demon God, he could probably pressure the Variety God lol ]

[ But wasn’t this a specially recruited dog? They didn’t just use a naturally gentle one, right? ]

└ [ No, no, U-Gae-Dal doesn’t do scripts or manipulation ]

└ [ Right, it’s U-Gae-Dal ]

└ [ Trainer Shim Jun-beom even broadcasts his own failures as they are ]

└ [ It seemed really dangerous this time? ]

└ [ But as soon as Sun-woo appears, it just reveals its belly? Is he a real Demon God? ]

[ So funny. Did you see him making it walk upright and tumble? It actually does it because he told it to ㅋㅋㅋㅋ ]

└ [ How is that not a trick dog lol ]

└ [ The trainer said those movements aren’t even a burden for Happy lol. Because he’s so sturdy ㅋㅋㅋㅋ ]

[ I thought it was funny but… I thought Sun-woo must have a kind heart despite his visuals ]

└ [ Yeah, they say animals recognize kind people. Maybe that’s why it submitted? ]

└ [ It didn’t look like submission, it looked like it was scared… no? ]

└ [ Why would such a huge dog be scared? He’s just kind ]

Although some small misunderstandings were mixed in.

The video became a hot topic once again.

It was even more so because U-Gae-Dal wasn’t originally an idol program.

Viewers who liked animals were extremely curious about Sun-woo, who had transformed Happy into a literally happy dog.

In that way, the names of Pantheon and Demon God Sun-woo spread further beyond just idol fans.

***

And that evening.

– Click.

A certain sound was caught by the Demon God’s beyond-human hearing.

Not only his hearing, but the Demon God’s unique sixth sense was also activated.

“There is someone taking a photo of me with a camera.”

“What? Where?”

The Demon God had come to a convenience store with the members when he felt a mysterious gaze.

And for the Demon God, there was always a simple and clear solution.

“Shall we go capture them?”