Chapter 35: A Strange Momentum

The atmosphere surrounding Pantheon was quite strange.

Let’s summarize for a moment.

They were devouring the stages on cable music shows.

Their digital ranking was continuously reaching new peaks as it climbed.

The album, which had only 18,000 copies in first-week sales, had surpassed a cumulative 50,000 copies by the second week.

The title track started outside the Top 100 on music sites and climbed from 88th to 62nd, and finally to 49th.

The volume of mentions on various social media and video views followed the same trend.

The comeback stage fancam video surpassed 400,000 views within a week, leading to a series of international reaction videos.

And it even reached the point of an ice bar modeling deal.

Tae-young, having carefully reviewed this entire process, spoke a serious word.

“Our atmosphere is strange right now.”

It was a brief moment of rest in the middle of a busy schedule.

The members were lounging in Ha-gyeom’s room, which had the most plush items.

Thus, everyone heard what Tae-young said.

The members, excluding the Demon God, focused on Tae-young.

“The atmosphere is strange? Not good?”

Yoon-seo asked, tilting his head.

“Both are correct. It’s strange in a good way.”

“?”

“To put it simply, it’s like a ‘reverse run’ that isn’t quite a reverse run.”

Usually, an idol comeback concentrates all its power on the first week of activities.

A group winning first place on a music show almost always happens in the first or second week. This is the same for giant agencies.

The general order was: announcing the comeback with teasers or trailers, releasing the schedule for the comeback week, gathering fans through fan signings, and then promoting for two to three weeks.

“But we’re going backward.”

As they passed the first week and entered the second, their momentum was rising even further.

As time passed, their trendiness and recognition were growing, and scouting offers for schedules were increasing. Even fan-related events hadn’t even started yet.

Now understanding Tae-young’s words, the members nodded.

“You’re right. It is a strange situation where everything is going well despite being backward.”

Yoon-seo added.

This kind of strange phenomenon was something that defied the natural order—

“It is likely thanks to me.”

Indeed.

There was Demon God Sun-woo, the being who defied the natural order and brought about chaos.

““…….””

The members looked at the Demon God without denying it.

After the comeback was nearly canceled, the concept had completely changed with Sun-woo’s arrival.

And it worked out.

“Look.”

The Demon God thrust his phone forward.

“Is this Dongju Confectionery’s social media?”

“Everyone has one for promotion these days.”

What was posted on that social media account was indeed Pantheon.

In the photo taken at Dongju Confectionery’s headquarters with CEO Kwak Yi-hoon:

[[Collaboration with Pantheon Confirmed!!!!]]

[#DongjuConfectionery #PantheonCollab #MilkBar_LegendPremonition]

[#DemonGodFlavor #AdvertisementRestaurant_Ascension]

Such headlines and hashtags were attached.

Among the members, Sun-woo was holding two ice bars—one was a Milk Bar, and the other was a Choco Bar.

Dongju had hurriedly attached Sun-woo to the Choco Bar that was already in their lineup.

The other members were also each holding a product: Tae-young held a Sandwich, Yoon-seo a Strawberry Bar, Ha-gyeom a Marshmallow, and Ji-ho a Cracker.

They hadn’t shoved all the members into the Milk Bar but had assigned one product to each of them.

“I don’t think people eat crackers that much…”

Unlike the dissatisfied Ji-ho, the Demon God was wearing a satisfied smile.

“To think they send exactly what I ask for. How admirable.”

It was because he had been promised as much sponsorship as he wanted.

“Yeah. But, it really is fascinating. Sun-woo has incredible influence.”

Ji-ho also nodded at Ha-gyeom’s words.

“There’s a high probability that fans will increase.”

The Demon God pricked up his ears at their words.

“Fans?”

Enjoying the stage, syncing up with his colleagues and subordinates, and earning profits were all good.

But the Demon God’s greatest goal was securing fans.

Since the middle-schooler Yeon-hee, not a single chain had been broken.

He would face a multitude of fans in person, confirm their fan love, and break them off. He would surely recover his strength.

The Demon God turned his head for a moment and looked at the sky outside the window.

‘O gods, is Yeon-hee some kind of first-fan perk? Your sense of humor is quite laughable.’

Regardless, his fans needed to increase so he could continue meeting them.

The Demon God spoke with his own sense of anticipation.

“Rise.”

“O fans of Demon God Sun-woo.”

“O fans of Pantheon.”

***

“You need to get up! What were you doing all night that you’re still sleeping at this hour!”

Slap!

Sun Ju-eun felt her mother’s ‘hand-flavor’ on her back and scrambled out of bed.

Even though she was already a sophomore in college, her relationship with her mother was not much different from when she was in high school.

Her mother’s morning routine was to wake Sun Ju-eun up, who couldn’t get up in the morning, feed her, and make her start her day.

Each time, she would deliver a back-smashing and express her interest under the name of nagging.

Sun Ju-eun also knew her mother’s heart well, so she answered diligently.

“Did you stay up late again because of that idol you’re into lately?”

“Uh… no.”

It was a lie.

“Like hell! You said you had an assignment today, did you finish it?”

“Yes!”

This was not a lie.

Sun Ju-eun herself was surprised.

She thought she would be unable to perform her ‘fan-work’ due to being chased by assignments, or more realistically, that she would give up on assignments to perform her fan-work.

But yesterday, she was able to churn out the assignment smoothly.

Even the textbook, which was difficult even when reading the summary, was easily understood yesterday, and sentences just kept welling up.

“Is it thanks to the Demon God? He did say everything would go well if I became his fan.”

“What are you talking about? What do you believe in these days?”

“Ah, nooo….”

‘The Demon God.’

‘They call him Demon God Sun-woo.’

If she said such things, she would have to explain for a long time to her mother, so she moved on for now.

“Wait, I’ll finish up what I’m doing and come out to eat.”

Sun Ju-eun, having made a vague excuse, turned on her laptop first and accessed social media.

And at this hour.

“Time for the morning meeting, Young-eun-ssi.”

“Ah, yes!”

In a small manufacturing company somewhere in Gyeonggi-do.

Jo Young-eun raised her head at the words of her manager calling her.

“Young-eun-ssi, what about the data?”

“I already organized it and sent it via email yesterday.”

“Already? You’ve been diligent lately, haven’t you?”

“Phew, no. It was difficult.”

It wasn’t actually that difficult, but if she spoke honestly, more work would fly her way next time. The virtue of modesty was also for one’s own sake.

The manager nodded and moved ahead.

‘But really, I feel like my working speed has increased lately.’

Jo Young-eun placed her index finger on her lips and thought deeply.

‘He said he’d make everything go well, is it for real? Is it because I’m even enshrining his photo in my desk drawer?’

Slide.

She opened the last drawer and lifted an old file folder.

Inside, hidden from others’ eyes, was a photo of Demon God Sun-woo.

Admiring the photo for a moment, Jo Young-eun spoke to herself involuntarily.

“He’s handsome.”

Also, at this hour, in a middle school in Chungnam.

“Ah, for real! Just watch it once!”

“You crazy bastard, why would a guy stan a boy group!”

“I’m telling you, your heart will change once you see it! You idiot, I’m not lying!”

“Ah, f*ck! Give it here!”

There was Park Ju-ho, who eventually made his friend watch a Demon God video by practically rubbing the tablet against his cheek.

The friend played the video on the tablet with a look of extreme annoyance.

“What is it? The idol Ju-ho is into?”

“Was it not a girl group?”

A few nearby friends also watched the video together out of idle curiosity.

– Happy! Walk upright.

– Woof!

– Tumbling in that state.

– Woof woof!!

The friends’ eyes widened.

It was even more so because some of them owned dogs.

“Look at that. Isn’t it funny? Isn’t it amazing?”

Park Ju-ho wore an arrogant expression while swiping beneath his nose.

“What’s with that look on Ju-ho’s face? It’s so annoying.”

“Ugh. He knows how to make that kind of expression too?”

“He smiled like that after scoring a goal in soccer last time. His attitude is getting worse as much as his skill is improving.”

Park Ju-ho laughed despite his friends’ fierce criticism.

‘No, it’s not. This is a very cool expression.’

Why was it a cool expression?

Because Demon God Sun-woo always wore that kind of expression.

And these people were precisely the owners of the three or four social media fan accounts—commonly known as ‘Sun-woo accounts’—that were starting to spring up.

Account owners who were raising Pantheon’s name by collecting and uploading photos of the Demon God and tagging each other with other members’ fan accounts.

– [ To think our little Pantheon is getting bigger and bigger. More people around me know about them now. ]

– [ The stage quality is insane, seriously;; Who wouldn’t like this. ]

– [ My heart feels grand every time I see them climbing the real-time trends. ]

– [ But this is how it should be lol. If they stay too small, we don’t know when their activities will end ㅠㅠ ]

– [ They couldn’t stay small forever ㅠㅠ Pantheon wasn’t meant to stay that way anyway. ]

– [ Since it’s come to this, we have no choice but to make Pantheon known to everyone!!!! ]

Early discovery.

Early stanning.

And the subsequent active promotion.

““Is there anything to upload today?””

They were having an energetic day today as well, promoting Pantheon and the Demon God.

Coincidentally, as everything they did went smoothly.

***

On the other hand, Izm headquarters.

“Tsk.”

Director Jang Young-bae was clicking his tongue in his office.

The team leader sitting in front of him wore a similarly unenthusiastic expression.

A few days ago, the plan to give CEO Gu of Origin Ent a bitter taste on Show! Winner had completely failed.

Pantheon had once again dominated the stage and left a strong impression on viewers.

While also capturing laughs with the Assault! The Waiting Room segment.

On the contrary, it had become the trigger for Joo Hak-sung, who used to listen well to Jang Young-bae, to be removed. It was unknown if the new PD would be as obedient as Joo Hak-sung.

“They say those A-GON kids didn’t even have acute food poisoning?”

The original plan was to move a team called A-GON under their label and steal Pantheon’s appearance.

But everything went awry when A-GON collapsed on stage.

At the time, everyone suspected food poisoning.

“Yes, they say they got better quickly.”

“What’s with that then? Did they have some grievance against me or something?”

“It doesn’t seem to be that. They say they actually showed symptoms of vomiting…. We can only call it a coincidence.”

“Coincidence? They just happened to be sick for a moment right then?”

Director Jang Young-bae did not yet know the taste of a dark chorus.

“What will you do?”

The team leader cautiously checked the Director’s mood.

It was a question asked because there was no room for immediate intervention.

“What else can I do? I’ll have to watch for a while.”

“Should we do that?”

“What else are you going to do? We can’t exactly start a boycott just to catch Pantheon.”

“Yes, that would be our loss. Origin isn’t at that level yet.”

At the team leader’s words, Director Jang Young-bae snorted.

“They still have a long, long way to go. Once the team you’re preparing debuts, Pantheon will just be crushed under our heels.”

It was a sight of him soothing his damaged pride with future victory.

And that was still the truth, for now.

“For our kids, hitting number one as soon as they debut is a given. Those Pantheon kids are still in that state even after two weeks of promotions, right?”

“I know, right. If they couldn’t do it in the first week, it’ll be hard from now on. I don’t know if they can even hit number one once.”

Director Jang Young-bae and the team leader nodded with fishy smiles.

.

.

And.

Pantheon was performing a ‘reverse run that wasn’t a reverse run,’ just as Tae-young had said.

“Is this correct?”

“It’s true, we’re candidates for first place?”

Week 3 of promotions.

Pantheon had their name listed as candidates for first place on MusicNet for the first time.