Chapter 37: The Hunt in the Darkened Hall

The first week of December.

Starting with MusicNet, they achieved first place on two other cable music shows as well.

By decorating their week three goodbye stage with a first-place win, Pantheon’s activities for their second album [Idolatrize] came to a close.

The first-week sales had started at 18,000 copies, but the total sales reached 100,000.

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

It had far exceeded the initial expectations.

It was a festive occasion not only for Pantheon but also for Origin Ent.

Their first and only artist had produced meaningful results for the first time.

Though there was still a long way to go, they had at least laid a significant foundation.

Apart from preparing follow-up content or MAMA, this achievement was worth taking the time to celebrate.

“Oh? Did you rent out this entire place? The CEO must have made a big decision.”

The Demon God looked around as he entered a private party room in Seongsu, the venue for the celebration.

On a long table, various salads, main dishes, desserts, and drinks were catered buffet-style.

Even the background music was classical, just like something seen in a drama.

However.

On the banner hung up front.

The phrase [Congratulations! Pantheon Achieves Consecutive 1st Place Wins on Music Shows!] was printed.

Ji-ho and Ha-gyeom were appalled upon reading it.

“Who on earth made that? It looks like a production goal achievement banner for a manufacturing company.”

“The sense… is the worst….”

Then Tae-young offered a warning.

“Be careful, it’s probably the CEO.”

““Eh?””

“A producer with trendy senses, and a company president with middle-aged ahjussi senses. Our CEO possesses both.”

Among the members, Tae-young knew the CEO the best.

“Ugh… but really, that’s just too much.”

Yoon-seo grumbled, but it was no use.

Something even worse was waiting.

“My dear employees of Origin Ent!”

““Aaaagh?!””

The employees of Origin shrieked at a comment that sounded like a principal’s speech from the 80s.

“And our lovely, proud, and admirable Pantheon members!”

““Uwaaaak?!””

Pantheon also let out screams.

“Tae-young, is that truly the CEO’s real identity?”

Even the Demon God asked Tae-young once more.

“He’s not usually that extreme. Why is he being like that today?”

While Tae-young tilted his head, the CEO’s comments continued.

“I believe so. To have today’s results, the unity of all employees and the tearful efforts of the Pantheon members…”

“St-stop! Please stop, CEO!”

Finally, the Manager—who was recently a Team Leader—barged in.

“What? Why are you doing this!”

“CEO, why are you being like this? What era is this style from?”

“But it was my dream?”

“Your dream?”

“When I was very young, everyone did it like this. Old memories were blooming in my mind yesterday.”

“Wow, that’s the worst dream I’ve ever heard. Just act like you usually do, CEO.”

Simultaneously, jeers erupted from the Origin employees.

It was a response possible because they usually lived comfortably without strict formalities.

“Tsk, I guess I’ll have to aim for the next opportunity then….”

In the end, the CEO grumbled and tucked the speech away into his coat.

It wasn’t a simple memo; it looked like at least five A4 pages, so everyone applauded the Manager together.

““Manager Oh, well done!””

The CEO narrowed his eyes and looked at the Manager.

“I shall not forget this grudge.”

“I’ll stop you next time too.”

“Hmph.”

Then, the CEO suddenly gave a smirk.

While Manager Oh Dae-ho prepared himself and waited.

“Oh Dae-ho, remember this? ‘CEO! I shall bet my life as a manager on Pantheon!’ How about that?”

The CEO’s counterattack began.

The moment he heard the first sentence, the color drained from the Manager’s face.

“‘Until the day Pantheon hits number one, I am the Team Leader in charge of Pantheon! I don’t need any other artists!’ Isn’t that what you said?”

“Ugh! I didn’t say it exactly like that!”

“You did! While drinking and crying! You said it!”

“I’m telling you, I didn’t!”

“Anyway, you’re a Management Team Leader now!”

“Pardon?”

It was a promotion ceremony held in front of all Origin employees and artists.

The CEO pointed to the banner.

[Congratulations! Pantheon Achieves Consecutive 1st Place Wins on Music Shows!]

“It’s written clearly right there. You all know, right? How hard Oh Dae-ho has suffered.”

Then he called the former Team Leader Oh Dae-ho again.

“Team Leader Oh Dae-ho.”

“…….”

“I’m calling you. Team Leader Oh Dae-ho.”

“Yes.”

“I’m counting on you in the future too.”

“…Yes.”

Oh Dae-ho, who had now become a Team Leader, nodded his head.

The CEO handed him something, and when Oh Dae-ho received it, it was a newly printed business card.

It was clearly engraved.

[Origin Management Team, Team Leader Oh Dae-ho]

The CEO and Oh Dae-ho had been there from the beginning of Pantheon.

Those who knew this applauded.

It meant everyone in Origin was applauding.

Of course.

Except for one Demon God.

“I could not tell if thou wert incompetent or competent, but it seems thou hast worked hard. I shall commend thee.”

Whether he was a Team Leader or a Manager, Sun-woo was Sun-woo.

“…Thank you.”

The Team Leader shook his head while looking at the Demon God, and the CEO laughed loudly.

“Because Oh Dae-ho worked himself to death, we were able to meet Sun-woo. Thanks to that, we’ve come this far. Could he have been promoted without Sun-woo?”

Without the Demon God, Pantheon’s first-place win would have been difficult.

“Sun-woo, the same goes for all of Pantheon, but I’m counting on you in the future too.”

MAMA, which originally holds voting starting in October, was postponed due to MusicNet’s internal circumstances, allowing Pantheon to participate.

Pantheon, having debuted in January of this year, was eligible to be candidates for the Rookie of the Year award.

Even though the promotion period had ended, in reality, they were on an extension.

The Demon God Sun-woo’s active role was still needed.

And the same applied to the Demon God himself.

MAMA was a large stage where he could meet fans, and performance there would bring in more fans.

“Then shall we devote ourselves to preparing for MAMA from now on?”

An event to recover his strength.

The Demon God had no intention of being neglectful.

“No? You can’t just stay still until then.”

“Hmm?”

Regardless of the Demon God’s mindset, there was still a lot of time left until MAMA.

“Then?”

“We’re going to film some self-produced content. Hehe.”

Hehe?

The Demon God frowned at the CEO’s unsettling laughter.

Furthermore, even ‘Team Leader’ Oh Dae-ho beside him was wearing a similar smile.

“What kind of conspiracy are you plotting? Confess at once.”

The Demon God did not permit his subordinates to have dark schemes.

Such things were only for him to do.

“Look forward to it, Sun-woo. You acted all brave and tough, but this time won’t be easy.”

The Team Leader, not the CEO, spoke up.

A face full of mischief and quite sparkling eyes.

It was an expression that said: ‘No matter how much it’s you, Sun-woo, this time will be difficult.’

“We’re going to an abandoned school where ghosts are said to appear. It’s time for a courage test, isn’t it?”

“What?!”

The Demon God cried out in surprise.

The Team Leader beamed with a wide smile when Demon God Sun-woo was startled, just as he had expected.

“Yes, even you would find an abandoned school experience sca—”

“When? Quickly! No, let us go at once!”

“…Huh?”

The Demon God was, naturally, startled out of joy.

‘Such delight.’

‘I hope there are plenty of ghosts.’

It was his honest feeling.

***

“Sun-woo hyung has been singing about the abandoned school over and over; my ears are practically bleeding.”

A few days after the celebration party.

Along with Yoon-seo’s appeal, Pantheon was heading toward an abandoned school in Gyeonggi-do, the filming location for their self-produced content.

“My mistake. I should reconsider this kind of content in the future.”

The Team Leader also shook his head.

“Why?”

Only the Demon God tilted his head.

“I gave you the schedule, but you kept pestering us to go earlier. Schedules don’t just happen whenever you want.”

Although it was self-produced content, it was planned at the level of a decent web variety show.

Renting the abandoned school, placing extras, and installing numerous pieces of equipment.

It was a project difficult for Origin to handle on its own, made possible thanks to a production company connected by the CEO’s acquaintance.

“The production company needs time to prepare, and it has to fit our schedule. It doesn’t just happen because you want it, Sun-woo.”

“What an arrogant thing to say.”

“Arrogant…”

The truly arrogant Demon God asked what he was curious about.

“You said people possessed by evil spirits appeared one after another?”

“Well…, it’s probably just fake videos made by horror-experience YouTubers. Thanks to that, the horror atmosphere is well-established there. So rest assured.”

Of course, the Demon God wasn’t worried that there would be evil spirits.

He was worried that there wouldn’t be any.

Previously, he had extinguished the evil spirit attached to Ji-ho and absorbed its spiritual energy with the Authority [Spiritual Feast].

Power of a different kind than the fan love obtained from fans.

But the sound of the chains cracking was clearly audible.

So, if there were real evil spirits in the abandoned school, he planned to juice them up deliciously.

“Hyung, why are you licking your lips when we’re going for a horror experience?”

Yoon-seo asked with a slightly exhausted face.

“Why? Because it sounds like it will be delicious.”

“…….”

Yoon-seo gave up on understanding and just stared ahead.

The van crossed a reservoir along a winding path and finally arrived at the abandoned school. The water fog rising from the reservoir was already eerie.

The members encouraged each other.

“Guys, be careful. Don’t get hurt.”

“Ugh… I really hate stuff like this.”

“Me too….”

“Ghosts don’t exist. It’s unscientific.”

The last one was Ji-ho.

Even as he spoke like that, his complexion was pale.

“Ji-ho, you seem to have a constitution that things easily latch onto, so be especially careful.”

“Don’t say that! When you say things like that, Sun-woo, it feels like it’s real.”

“What do you mean? It is naturally real. If there is an evil spirit inside, Ji-ho, your possession is guaranteed.”

“I can’t hear you! I can’t hear you! I can’t hear you!”

Fortunately, upon arriving in front of the school, there were lights and people.

The production team had set up vehicles and tents as far away from the main school building as possible.

In front of them, filming equipment such as cameras, lights, and microphones were being set up.

Following the staff’s guidance toward them.

“Oh! Pantheon! Good to see you!”

“To meet such a hot group like this!”

The PD and writer of the production company ran out from the tent to welcome Pantheon.

They poured out praise that wasn’t just formal politeness but felt sincere.

“You said they were skilled, and indeed, you have an eye for talent.”

It was the Demon God answering arrogantly.

“Hahaha! You really use that speech in real life?”

“You chose a really good concept. You can say whatever you want, right?”

“I do not speak ‘whatever I want,’ though? I always speak the words that must be said.”

The PD and writer gave a thumbs up and then moved on to the content explanation.

“You heard roughly from your company, right? You’ll enter the abandoned school in pairs and find the treasure boxes we’ve hidden. Simple, right?”

““Yes!””

“However, the exit is locked with a padlock. You have to collect numbers from each designated point and combine them for the password.”

““Understood!””

“Alright, finish your final preparations over there. The team composition will follow what the company has arranged. The members entering first, please come to the main entrance of the building.”

For a regular variety show, the production crew would form the teams, but since it was self-content, Origin had arranged the teams considering the chemistry between members.

“But are we not five? If we go in pairs, how?”

The Team Leader answered.

“Sun-woo, you said you wanted to go to the abandoned school. Go in twice—once with Yoon-seo and once with Tae-young.”

“Oh, that is good.”

“I knew you’d say that.”

As it happened, the very first team was the Demon God and Yoon-seo.

“Then, please depart!”

The staff’s guidance followed.

***

Kim Ji-hu, the PD of the production company ‘Golden Tiger,’ was checking the overall situation inside the tent filled with camera monitors.

The writer, Park Ji-hyeon, was also checking the monitors beside him and offered her impressions of the Pantheon members they just met.

“Pantheon is certainly extraordinary, aren’t they?”

Kim Ji-hu agreed with her.

“I know, right. Especially that member named Sun-woo; isn’t he perfect for a horror atmosphere? If we do this right, we might get a masterpiece.”

Among the web variety production crews, many were still young. Kim Ji-hu and Park Ji-hyeon were the same. They had ambitions to make a name for themselves.

If the member Sun-woo could produce scenes as expected, they could also make their mark in the industry.

“Alright, is everyone in position?”

The PD checked the camera monitors.

Extras were stationed throughout the abandoned school, playing roles such as evil spirits, zombies, and killers.

“Good. Sun-woo and Yoon-seo are departing?”

“Yes.”

The PD and writer watched the monitor screens carefully.

Soon, Sun-woo and Yoon-seo appeared on the screen at the building’s main entrance.

“…Huh?”

“Oh…”

Inside the darkness of the abandoned school.

In that silent and still place.

The Demon God stood.

The darkness around him was no ordinary darkness.

A prison-like gloom that even a soul could not escape was creeping out.

Within it, the Demon God was exhaling an ominous breath comfortably.

That atmosphere was transmitted beyond the screen to the PD and the writer.

The two of them couldn’t take their eyes off for a long time before finally speaking.

“We chose a good location.”

“Indeed.”

The PD and writer never imagined that the atmosphere on the screen was blooming from Sun-woo.

They simply mistook it for an atmosphere created by the location and time.

The PD picked up the radio and began giving instructions to the extras.

“The cast members are heading your way. Evil spirit, you’re in the science lab, right? Zombie, move slightly toward the end of the second floor. Um…, eh? Who is moving on the third floor.”

A large figure wearing a hockey mask was moving as he pleased on the third floor.

Pacing around like that, he was bound to be caught by the cast members.

“Who is the hockey mask over there? Hey? Can you hear the radio?”

The PD, having called out repeatedly, briefly lowered the radio.

The other actors responded immediately to the radio calls.

However, the hockey mask still had no answer.

A large man without a radio, who began to prowl inside the school while dragging his feet.

“…Who was that again?”

And then, the Demon God departed into the abandoned school.

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