Chapter 45: The Pride of a Top Idol

Cafe Vine, a sponsorship location that once defined an era.

In the past, it was a magical place in various works where everything happened: from casual gatherings and catching affairs to corporate spy meetings and even formal marriage introductions between families.

Even in the drama clip the Demon God was currently watching, a proposal was in progress.

– “Let’s get married.”

– “Pardon? But Ki-seok-ssi…”

– “Why? Is it because my family is a chaebol? That doesn’t matter.”

– “It doesn’t matter?”

– “Yes! Because I love you, Hana-ssi!”

A chaebol man thrusting a ring forward with power.

That face was familiar to the Demon God’s eyes.

“He really was an actor.”

That chaebol man was none other than the weapon-wielding assailant, Person A.

The video the Demon God was watching immediately transitioned into the footage of the weapon-wielding assailant being subdued, which had been reported in the news.

– [The chaebol who proposed to me turns out to be a random knife assailant?!]

This was the title of the video.

As soon as the article went live, the real name of Person A, Go Ji-hoon, appeared on the internet, and videos cobbling together his past drama appearances popped up like mushrooms after rain on YouTube.

The Demon God, curious about how a man who was once an actor became a knife assailant, clicked through the videos.

– [Go Ji-hoon appears before the public in a shocking state after a difficult period.]

That was the title of another video.

“A difficult period. I wonder if the reason why he ended up like that came out.”

The Demon God touched the screen.

Go Ji-hoon had once played roles like chaebols or elite managers, but due to his fixed image, his opportunities gradually dwindled.

Every attempt at a transformation in his acting failed.

To make matters worse, it was said that he had frequently power-tripped on production crews during his peak, making it difficult for him to receive help. He fell into a long slump and was gradually forgotten by the public—

– “Recently, we thought he was securing a foothold for a comeback by signing with the giant agency ‘Izm.’ However, it seems overcoming his struggles was ultimately difficult. To end up like this, disappointing his past fans.”

The video ended with an AI voice narration.

Though it was a short video, there were quite a few comments.

Whenever someone showed sympathy for Go Ji-hoon, others would jump in to criticize them.

– How did he end up like that… His image was decent and his acting was okay in the past… It’s a pity.

└ Please watch the video before talking!! Everything is in there.

└ What’s there to be a pity about? Does everyone act like that just because things are hard? There’s more than one instance of his power-tripping.

└ Honestly, his acting was always the same role. Either a manager or a second-generation chaebol.

– It’s just a pity because he’s an actor I once liked… It’s more bitter than disappointing.

└ Are you really a fan? You probably didn’t even know what he was doing lately.

└ Didn’t you just watch the dramas back then, think he was handsome, and that was it?

└ He’s a human who threatened people with a weapon, and the word ‘bitter’ comes out?? Are you in your right mind?

“Hmm.”

The Demon God stroked his chin.

The people who claimed to be past fans were feeling negative emotions regarding the fall of the former star.

The profession of a celebrity seemed to be no easy task.

Seeing how even those who had already made their names known ended up like that.

Among the comments, there was also talk about Izm.

– I was wondering why the criminal’s identity wasn’t coming out quickly. Looks like Izm pulled some strings. They probably blocked the articles while they were cutting ties.

└ Yup, I just checked and they’ve posted the contract termination.

└ That makes sense lol. How could even Izm keep an actor who committed such a crime.

The incident did not have a major impact on Izm. The atmosphere was settling as a matter of mental health issues that even the agency was unaware of.

“Izm, I see.”

They were the ones interfering with Origin Ent.

Since they had so many artists, it seemed there were cases where management was neglected.

However, it was already a finished matter.

It didn’t matter anymore.

The Demon God put down his phone and sought sleep.

***

Time flew by after the fan meeting.

Before he knew it, the day to depart for MAMA had arrived.

This MAMA was held after the turn of the year due to MusicNet’s circumstances.

The location was decided to be Aomori Prefecture, Japan, under the influence of Japanese sponsors.

Pantheon also boarded a plane to Japan and arrived at the airport.

“Humans can even fly through the sky, hoho.”

“What are you talking about, hyung?”

The Demon God was sincerely proud of the human race.

For humans to achieve the power of flight on their own. They were not the race he had known in the past.

“Come this way. We have to go through immigration.”

Since it was his first time at an airport and on a plane, the Demon God was guided by Yoon-seo to the arrivals hall.

And then.

He witnessed a shocking scene there.

“This crowd?!”

The moment Pantheon, with their faces hidden by hats, sunglasses, and masks, arrived at the exit.

A massive crowd that couldn’t have been expected in Korea came into view.

No matter how one looked at it, they were idol fans.

It wasn’t a crowd gathered for any other purpose.

Fans from all over the world flock to MAMA.

There are many fans determined to look after their idols from the moment they arrive at the airport.

Even now, the area in front of the exit was literally packed with no room to move. It was difficult to even gauge how far the fans were lined up.

“Could it be that we are popular in Japan…?”

The Demon God was impressed.

Since I am a cosmic being, it is only natural that my fans would not be limited to Korea.

Along with a new realization,

The Demon God stood before the fans waiting for Pantheon.

“Sun-woo, stop.”

“Sun-woo hyung, come here.”

The members tried to stop him out of concern for his safety.

However, I have my own purpose that the members do not know.

Specifically, the recovery of my power.

If this many fans acknowledge their fan love, I might be able to break another strand of the chains.

“Do thou worship me?”

Before the members could even react, the Demon God unleashed his signature line.

“Sun-woo….”

“Ah, no….”

But there was no turning back. The words had already been uttered.

A low, ominous, yet enchanting resonance.

Furthermore, even though he spoke in Korean, the status of the Demon God’s existence transcended the language barrier. The meaning of his words was directly transmitted to the hearts of the foreign fans.

– Do thou worship me?

A question confirming fan love.

A fan closest to him answered that question.

“Iie (No).”

A reply delivered cautiously, with a hint of fear.

“…Hmm?”

The Demon God, puzzled, asked once more.

“Dost thou worship me?”

“I-Iie (N-No, I told you)!”

“Why not?”

“Chigaimasukara ㅠㅠ (Because you’re not the one ㅠㅠ).”

The fan was practically on the verge of tears.

“Thou dost not worship me? Then why art thou gathered here?”

Ah, is it because my face is covered and they don’t recognize me?

Just as the Demon God was about to reveal his face.

“Sun-woo, dodge!”

“Hyung, run!”

The shouts of the members were heard from behind.

“What? Why should I run?”

However, a slogan held by the fans caught his eye.

Some were printed in neat letters, others were scribbled by hand, but every single one of them spoke of one group.

“Novior?”

In that very moment, as the Demon God grasped the situation.

– KYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA— NOVIOR—!!!!

A massive roar erupted.

The fans’ gazes naturally swept past the Demon God.

“Hmm?”

As the Demon God looked back.

There, Novior—the top idols who unfailingly appeared in his algorithm whenever he used his phone for idol-related things—was emerging.

Since Novior was coming in from overseas on a different flight, their arrival time just happened to overlap!

– Taku-chan!!

– Zion-chan!!

The crowd—that is, Novior’s fans—began to call out the names of the Novior members.

They were keeping order relatively well.

However, because the crowd was so vast, even a slight stir created a massive movement.

Furthermore, a tiny minority among them ignored the order, and once that minority started crossing the line, things escalated quickly.

Novior’s security guards shouted for order and stepped forward.

“Watch out, Sun-woo! You’ll get swept away!”

Tae-young’s voice.

However, it was already too late to back away.

The members and staff clung to each other to avoid being separated in the crowd.

“Where is Sun-woo?”

“I can’t see him!”

“Is he in the middle of the crowd?”

“But surely he’ll be fine?”

Of course, the Demon God was fine.

With his powerful strength and excellent sense of balance, he was as relaxed as a skilled surfer riding a wave.

Rather, he used this moment to review the scene where he had questioned the fan.

From that fan’s perspective, did a masked stranger suddenly appear and ask if she worshiped him?

“Hmph, how regrettable. To be so foolish as to not know what honor she was facing.”

‘O piteous human who missed the chance to worship me.’

It was truly a Demon God-style summary of the situation….

“Excuse me? Are you perhaps Pantheon’s Sun-woo?”

“Hmm?”

The Demon God was currently surfing the crowd,

And the crowd was heading straight for Novior.

While the fans in the crowd were blocked by the security and each other, unable to move forward, the Demon God arrived before Novior as if there were no obstacles at all.

A truly sudden appearance.

The person who asked if he was Pantheon’s Sun-woo was—

“Are thou not Zion?”

A handsome boy with a soft impression, Zion of Novior.

“Wow! You really speak in a historical drama tone? I’ve been watching all of Sun-woo-nim’s videos lately!”

Zion laughed in surprise.

He even restrained a security guard who was about to push the Demon God away without recognizing him.

“Just a moment, this person is a fellow idol.”

“Pardon?”

He recognized him even though the Demon God was completely bundled up.

It seemed his claim of having watched all the videos was not a lie.

“Novior knows of me?”

“That’s right. I’ve been watching since the festival video. I’m a fan!”

At this point, the crowding fans also looked on, curious about who was receiving Zion’s greeting.

– Who is it?

– Zion just asked if it was Pantheon’s Sun-woo.

– Sun-woo? Who? Pantheon?

A shout-out that wasn’t exactly a shout-out.

The Demon God thought for a moment and opened his mouth.

“In that case—”

Novior’s fans expected Sun-woo to offer a humble greeting, like saying he was also a fan of Zion or that he always watches them.

“Dost thou worship me?”

““????””

The signature line came out.

There’s a ‘weirdo idol’ asking our first-tier idol if he worships him?

Zion’s pupils were also shaking quite a bit.

“W-Worship? I wouldn’t go that far.”

“Why not?”

“Why? Is worship the baseline?”

“Did thou not say thou art a fan?”

“Well, I am a fan, but…”

Fortunately, Zion had seen all of the Demon God’s variety appearances.

He was able to realize, albeit a bit late.

“Ah! You’re doing a skit for me because I said I watched all your videos? Ahahat! Thank you!”

Of course, it was a mistaken realization.

The Demon God was sincere….

This scene was captured by the cameras of both the fans and the press.

“Zion-ssi, we have to go. The crowd is too large.”

The security guard urged him from the side.

The crowd really was immense. A delay could lead to an accident.

“That’s a shame. See you at MAMA.”

“Be sure to come and greet me.”

“Ahahahahat!”

Zion disappeared after the security guards, leaving his laughter behind.

“He seems a kind fellow, even if his fan love is lacking. But why is he laughing?”

He entertained a generous thought of perhaps taking him as a subordinate one day, even if he was a bit lacking.

Vroooom—

He felt his body being lifted.

“Hmm?”

Until now, he had been moving with the crowd, but from the moment Zion and Novior separated, the flow of the fans changed as well.

The Demon God, left behind, was instantly swept away.

“Humans! What is this rudeness to me— mmmph!!!!”

He was ruthlessly swept away.

.

.

Thus, when the members reached the Demon God, he was left sitting alone on the airport floor like an unpopular member’s photocard someone had discarded.

He had paid the price for underestimating the fans of a first-tier idol.

“…….”

The Demon God remained silent.

“Sun-woo?”

Tae-young called out softly, but there was still no answer.

Having held their ground in the crowd by joining forces with the staff, the members had witnessed everything Demon God Sun-woo had gone through.

The usually arrogant Sun-woo had his signature line ignored and had been swept away and pushed aside by Novior’s fans.

“Will he be okay?”

“But Sun-woo hyung…, we were all embarrassed when he did the signature line….”

Of course, they were happy that Sun-woo had received a shout-out from Zion.

“Is he acting like that because he’s embarrassed?”

Ha-gyeom speculated cautiously.

“Or is he hurt?”

Ji-ho also offered an opinion.

Cautiously, carefully, they walked up behind Sun-woo and tapped his shoulder.

“Hmph.”

““????””

The Demon God was smiling.

“A top idol is truly magnificent! To gather this many fans just by moving!”

It wasn’t a stage, nor was it a fan event.

He had simply ‘arrived’ at an airport.

Yet fans had gathered to the point where maintaining order was difficult.

“Is this not incredible.”

It was just like in the past when he gathered forces from various planets.

Subordinates wishing to be under the Demon God’s command had gathered like clouds.

To think that scene was being reenacted in the human world.

“I shall surely become one, a top idol!”

“Ah, did Sun-woo get motivated?”

“Oh….”

The members set aside their worries and concerns.

‘Our Sun-woo is great because he’s so positive.’

“But why are they holding the event in such a remote place?”

Inside the van heading to the MAMA concert venue.

The road was gradually narrowing, and buildings were becoming sparse.

“Yeah. It’s too deep in the mountains?”

While the members were wondering.

“It matters not where. I shall show the greatest stage in any place. Let us become top idols.”

““…….””

The members shook their heads, feeling like they would be exhausted for a while.

Along with the Demon God, who was fully high on the idea of being a top idol, Pantheon arrived at an unexpected location—the site for MAMA.