Chapter 4: Betting on the Demon God

[Did you see it?]

└ [See what?]

└ [The Chili Pepper Male God.]

└ [??? What’s that? Is it something NSFW…?]

└ [Lmao no.]

└ [No, I’m talking about the video of the performance at the chili pepper festival.]

└ [Are we talking about a local festival? This is an idol board. If it’s a trot singer, go somewhere else.]

└ [That’s not it. An idol went to a specialty festival, lol.]

└ [????]

└ [Here’s the link.]

└ [And this one too. There are several versions.]

A powerful video unfolded.

Outside the venue, it was the scorching sun of a late August afternoon.

However, the sky above the Nanta event site was different. It was filled with thick, dark clouds, and through the occasional gaps, a red light like twilight seeped through.

Beneath that ominous sky, fifty participants were moving their arms incessantly.

Dududududu—

Along with the intense sounds of impact, the faces of the participants, filled with joy, flashed across the screen.

There was no distinction between young and old. Even the elderly, whom one might worry about moving so passionately, kept their backs straight and raised their arms high to strike with their clubs.

Furthermore, a man was visible in front of the participants.

The man was dominating the venue.

Every time he encouraged them, every time he struck with his club, the participants went wild.

– Finished.

And all of this ended the moment the man declared the conclusion.

From the hat of the refreshingly smiling man, the specialty of Guesan rattled.

[Wh-what is this…? I thought you said it was a specialty festival video?]

└ [I told you, it’s a local festival.]

└ [But why is the atmosphere like this….?]

└ [Come to Guesan. There’s still time left in the festival period.]

└ [????]

[Local governments are really serious about promotion these days. They even put special effects in festival videos and mobilize extras.]

└ [They must have spent a lot of money.]

└ [But isn’t this all tax money?]

People who saw the video for the first time thought the atmosphere was a simple production.

They naturally assumed it was CG and that the participants were actors.

[This is a fancam.]

└ [What?]

└ [A fancam? Really?]

└ [What about the sky? Why is the sky like that?]

└ [I guess it just happened to be like that. Anyway, it’s not CG, it’s just the sky.]

└ [Then what about the actors?]

└ [They’re just regular people, but they’ve got a lot of spirit, lol.]

└ [To that extent?]

└ [There are even elderly people there? It’s not even trot, yet they’re that excited?]

└ [They’re keeping the beat almost like drummers?]

The more they watched the video, the more questions it raised.

Even if the sky was a coincidence, the frenzy of the participants was completely inexplicable.

How did the atmosphere boil over to that point?

The answer to that question was simple.

[The person wearing that chili pepper hat is an idol.]

The individual who led the participants and drove the festival into a frenzy in just one minute.

The gaze of idol fans naturally turned toward the Demon God.

[Crazy.]

└ [I know, right?]

└ [The way his eyes flash a bit is kinda insane.]

└ [Are you saying his visuals are crazy, or the atmosphere is crazy?]

└ [Just everything.]

└ [His expression is ice cold while he performs passionately. That gap is insane.]

└ [Amazingly, the Guesan festival slogan is HOT & COOL…]

└ [Wait, isn’t that a bit unrelated? Lol.]

[He’s wearing a weird hat, can you even see his visuals?]

└ [You can’t?]

└ [Why wouldn’t you be able to?]

└ [I can see him perfectly?]

The eyesight of a veteran idol fan transcends imagination.

A fan is someone who captures their idol’s expression even during intense choreography.

A rattling chili pepper hat was no hindrance at all.

They could see it.

[Oh…]

└ [A single word that implies so much, lol.]

└ [I totally relate. Oh…]

└ [Oh…]

[He looks really cold, but strangely, my eyes keep being drawn to him.]

└ [Agreed.]

└ [I usually don’t like that type, but I’m rewatching the video over and over.]

└ [Isn’t it fascinating? How your eyes are drawn even if he’s not your type.]

└ [What do they call this? When your gaze keeps going back, and you feel a bit drawn in…]

└ […That?]

In the beginning, there are preferences, from which one’s ‘bias’ and ‘bias-wrecker’ are born.

This is order and law.

However, now, many idol fans were repeatedly playing the Demon God’s video, transcending their preferences.

The reason was very clear.

[I know what you’re trying to say.]

[That, it’s a demonic charm!]

A Demon God is the symbol of a demonic charm.

The one who exerts that charm to bring about chaos.

He was disturbing the hearts of many idol fans.

[Follow me!]

└ [Lol, first time seeing someone say that in real life.]

└ [But with those visuals + that aura, it doesn’t feel like reality.]

└ [I… kind of want to follow him?]

└ [For real. How does a line like that suit him so perfectly?]

└ [Even while wearing a hat like that?]

There is a saying that visuals pierce through the video.

However.

This was the first time anyone had seen visuals pierce through a chili pepper hat.

[Who came up with the nickname ‘Chili Pepper Male God’?]

└ [Why?]

└ [It’s well-made, isn’t it?]

└ [No, it’s just so intuitive and perfect, so I acknowledge it.]

At first, it was a nickname that reminded one of something NSFW.

But after watching the video, you realize it couldn’t be more perfect.

[The atmosphere on site is really good.]

└ [The people participating in the event are totally excited, lol.]

└ [What are those grandmothers saying?]

└ [Their shoulders are moving and their backs are straightening.]

└ [Lmfao.]

└ [No way, that’s impossible, lol.]

└ [They’re just saying they’re that happy to see an idol, lol.]

└ [I’m happy right now too, lol.]

Even fans whose main fandom was elsewhere were curious.

Naturally, multi-fans who liked various idols or dormant fans looking for a new bias were even more intrigued.

The Demon God’s demonic charm drew their gaze.

So, now only one question remained.

[Who is he?]

└ [Please, tell me quickly!]

└ [It’s urgent!]

└ [Me too!]

[Is he a rookie? Which team??]

└ [What agency is he from??]

└ [How long has it been since he debuted?]

└ [Is he a Korean idol? Is he from overseas??]

[But it’s a bit strange?]

└ [Something feels too fresh.]

└ [If he was a rookie, he would have been mentioned at least once before debut.]

└ [If he was a Korean idol, there would have been trainee rumors, right?]

There is a process to becoming an idol.

It is rare for someone to appear without ever crossing the fans’ radar.

So, as for the Demon God.

[Does no one know? Does that make sense?]

└ [He debuted but there’s no info?]

└ [Is he actually an idol? Is he just someone from the event side?]

└ [With those visuals, just the event side? That’s definitely not it.]

└ [But really, no information is coming up at all?]

The Demon God had appeared in the world just yesterday. It would have been stranger if there were traces left behind.

Would it end like this?

There was no way.

The will, passion, and connections of idol fans have always overcome adversity.

[I heard from a friend who lives in Guesan. It was cut from the video, but they introduced him as ‘Sun-woo’ of Pantheon.]

└ [Pantheon?]

└ [Origin Ent?]

└ [Sun-woo? There’s no such member in Pantheon?]

└ [Are there any Pantheon fans here? Does anyone know about this??]

Pantheon was a team that had received attention before their debut.

They were known to be produced by a producer from Izm.

Thanks to that, people quickly recalled the team name ‘Pantheon.’

Now that the team name was revealed, the rest was easy.

[I heard Kang-yul left Pantheon.]

└ [Really? Wasn’t he the center of Pantheon?]

└ [Yup. He was the center since their trainee days.]

└ [Then did Sun-woo join after Kang-yul left?]

└ [Was he a new member?]

└ [Regardless of Kang-yul leaving, Sun-woo looks decent.]

Idol fans reached the fact that Pantheon’s center had left and a new member had joined.

[Is there info on the official account?]

└ [Kang-yul is gone.]

└ [But Sun-woo isn’t on the official account yet? There’s only news about a new member recruitment.]

└ [No profile, no photos either.]

└ [What, is the agency not working?]

└ [Every single one of these things is important…]

The CEO, who had checked the reactions up to this point, raised his head.

“Sun-woo’s photo! Upload Sun-woo’s photo to the official account right now!”

Perhaps because he was a former producer, the CEO still had a youthful sense.

He was clearly a middle-aged man with a belly, but he knew how to cover it with fashion and was proficient in social media.

That was why he knew how to react quickly to community responses.

“I said upload the photo, got it?”

The Team Leader asked in surprise.

“A photo? Is there a photo? You brought him in so suddenly, CEO.”

“Ah? Right. Wait, did I have a photo?”

The CEO looked into his phone.

He didn’t know when he had received it, but a single photo of Sun-woo was saved on his phone.

“I must have received it. Why can’t I remember? Anyway, I should tell them to upload this first.”

Without the CEO needing to give separate instructions, the Team Leader opened the door and spoke loudly to a nearby employee. This was possible because it was a small company.

“Add Sun-woo to the official account!”

“Gosh, you startled me… Working isn’t like ordering a single serving of pork belly. I have a lot of other work too.”

“I know you’re just slacking! This first!”

“Che.”

Closing the door, the Team Leader approached the CEO.

“CEO, but one photo won’t be enough. Should we update with a selfie first?”

“A selfie?”

The CEO shook his head.

“No. We’re not going for a strategy of building anticipation. It’s better to go with a properly posed photo.”

“If that’s your judgment. Then should I book a studio?”

“We have to. Whew, I can hear the sound of money leaving.”

“Maybe a cheaper place…?”

“What are you saying? If we skimp on things like this, we’ll fail.”

However, the Team Leader murmured, despite his large build.

“You said there isn’t much money left anyway…”

The production and maintenance of idols require immense costs. The reality was that no matter how much investment was received early on, the bank account would become light after just one night.

It was even worse since Origin was being sabotaged by Izm.

The CEO was silent for a moment before speaking.

“How was the event scene? You were right there, Team Leader Oh.”

The Team Leader wiped the worry from his face.

“It was no joke.”

“Really? Tell me in detail.”

The Team Leader excitedly began his explanation.

“Of course, the event was a huge success—”

As the event participants followed Sun-woo’s lead, their excitement exploded, and everyone who witnessed it went around talking about the Nanta event.

Thanks to that, an immense crowd of people wanting to participate in the Nanta event rushed in.

– Please wait a moment. We will increase the number of Nanta sessions, so those wishing to participate, please take a number and wait—

The festival side tried to calm the commotion while being unable to hide their joy.

A specialty festival is the region’s largest event. The county office and others would stake their lives on its success.

And since an unexpected guest had significantly boosted the atmosphere.

– Oh, thank you. How did you do it? After the Nanta, the atmosphere of the entire festival warmed up!

Excitement is contagious.

The excitement the Demon God bestowed upon the fifty participants quickly spread throughout the festival grounds.

Even the officials, who were initially indifferent, changed their attitudes. Especially the official who had said busking wouldn’t work.

– An autograph, please! Please give us an autograph. You guys are going to be successful. Oh, and please take this with you on your way! It’s delicious!

Thus, the cargo space of the van was loaded with Guesan’s famous chili peppers, chili powder, chili paste, chili dumplings, and even chili cookies.

“Kyah! Great!”

The CEO, hearing the story, trembled.

“I recruited a new member and he has the talent to captivate the stage like crazy! As expected of me! I have an eye for talent!”

“I’m asking where you brought him from.”

“Hmm? Where?”

The CEO tried to recall for a moment, but strangely, it was hazy.

“I think it was a street casting… No, but that’s not what’s important right now.”

“Well, I guess it doesn’t matter where he came from. What matters is that there’s a reaction.”

“Exactly! That’s it!”

The CEO hardened his resolve.

Pantheon was continuing to sink.

But now, for the first time in a long while, Pantheon was being mentioned on idol-related communities.

“What is Sun-woo doing now?”

The wall clock pointed almost to noon.

“He fell asleep as soon as the event ended yesterday. He was in a daze even when we put him in the dorm. He should be awake by now.”

“I see. Since a kid who just became an idol yesterday went to a festival and played such an active role. He must have used too much energy.”

“He’s from overseas so he can’t speak well yet. But he was trying to improve the atmosphere and working hard.”

“Sigh, I’ve truly found a gem.”

The CEO and the Team Leader both wore moved expressions simultaneously.

“Team Leader Oh.”

“Yes.”

“Book the best studio right now, even if you have to pay extra.”

He was placing a bet.

“I’m betting on Sun-woo.”

Betting costs money, but he would handle that somehow.

Now, Origin was betting on Sun-woo.

.

.

And at that time, in the dorm.

“I will not be an idol.”

The Demon God was making a drastic decision.

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