Chapter 46: A Castle in the Fog

The van carrying Pantheon was driving across a vast field.

Looking out the window, the idle farmland of January stretched out endlessly.

The road was well-maintained, making the journey comfortable, but questions about the location were inevitable.

“CEO, wasn’t it Tokyo the last time it was held in Japan?”

Tae-young, the leader, asked the CEO sitting in the front.

MAMA is an event where not only artists and fans but also overseas celebrities and global partner brands participate.

Therefore, it is usually held in large cities with good accessibility and sufficient infrastructure.

They had expected Tokyo or a city of similar scale this time as well.

But the place they were heading to now was quite deep into Aomori Prefecture.

“I don’t know either.”

“The MAMA organizers only said that the infrastructure was fully prepared.”

The CEO was equally ignorant of the circumstances.

“I heard the schedule was pushed back due to MusicNet’s internal issues; I wonder if there’s a problem with the operation as well….”

“Will there even be a concert venue where we’re going?”

“You don’t think they built all the facilities from scratch, do you?”

Not only the CEO but the members as well began to voice anxious predictions.

Then, as they rounded a certain hill and emerged back onto the plains—

““Whoa!!””

In an instant, exclamations erupted from the group.

“What is that?”

Even the Demon God, who was in the very back seat, leaned his head forward.

An outdoor concert venue, no less grand than a dome stadium, revealed its majesty.

Since the van was on slightly higher ground, they could look down upon it.

A massive steel structure capable of various productions, such as lifts.

A T-shaped stage that extended into the spectator seats.

A giant viewing area constructed in tiers from the front of the stage to the hill in the back caught their eyes.

That wasn’t all.

The medieval European castle towers visible behind the stage, which they had wondered about, were actually facilities of a theme park.

This year’s MAMA venue was installed with the theme park right behind it.

Furthermore, luxury resorts and various lodging facilities lined both sides of the concert venue and the theme park.

“Wow…… it looks like a different world over there.”

The fact that all of this came into view as soon as they rounded the hill was likely due to meticulous planning.

It was a production intended to look like a castle suddenly rising out of everyday life.

In this way, everyone entered the venue while unable to hide their admiration.

Immediately, staff appeared to systematically verify the list and guide them inside.

“The operation is excellent though?”

At the Team Leader’s words, the CEO also nodded.

“All those worries were for nothing. We can just unpack and start the rehearsal.”

MusicNet also provided accommodation for the teams that wanted it.

It was a resort next to the theme park, and the rooms were very clean and cozy.

Contrary to their initial worries, a sense of satisfaction gradually filled them.

The Pantheon party unpacked and headed back toward the concert venue.

There, they met a familiar face.

“Sun-woo!”

“Oh? It is Writer Song Hwi-na.”

It was Song Hwi-na, the main writer of the music show and now the main writer for this MAMA.

She was particularly favorable toward Pantheon because of the connection formed when the Demon God saved her brother from a cult.

She must have been incredibly busy right now, but she had made an effort to show her face upon hearing that Pantheon had arrived.

“You remember my name? I thought you’d forget it, calling it a trivial detail?”

Song Hwi-na already had a certain level of understanding regarding the Demon God.

Of course, it was ‘only’ a certain level.

“My memory is extraordinary. I do not forget even trivial things. I only forget what I wish to forget.”

“Hahahat! That’s so like you, Sun-woo.”

The rest of the group also exchanged warm greetings with Song Hwi-na.

The Demon God asked the question everyone was curious about.

“Writer. What exactly is this place? Such grand facilities in an unexpected location. Has MusicNet become this wealthy?”

“Haha, no way.”

Song Hwi-na waved her hand.

“But those are internal matters—”

“Speak.”

“—but it’s not exactly a secret. I suppose it’s okay to tell Sun-woo, right?”

She said ‘to Sun-woo,’ but the entire group was listening.

It truly didn’t seem like something that needed to be hidden.

“Samkang Enterprise joined as a Japanese sponsor this time. It’s the wish of Chairman Hayasaburo Keiichi.”

“Hmm?”

“Apparently, the Chairman was deeply impressed by an American theme park when he was young. It was one of his long-cherished projects.”

“What does that have to do with MusicNet?”

“Because fans from all over the world gather for MAMA. It’s perfect for large-scale promotion. The theme park will be constantly caught on camera too.”

The core wasn’t the concert venue, but the theme park.

To install a giant venue and even host the event for the sake of promotion—one could feel the Chairman’s sincerity toward the theme park.

“I believe it’s open for free starting today for the fans who came for MAMA.”

Furthermore, it was open for free.

Then the fans would likely drop by at least once since they were already there.

“I see.”

Having heard the explanation up to this point, the Demon God turned to the CEO.

“CEO, what of us?”

However, the CEO looked troubled.

“The schedule is too tight. We have to depart immediately after the event ends the day after tomorrow… looking around the theme park is out of the question.”

“Is that so. I was curious.”

The other members also looked disappointed, but since they weren’t insistent on going, they let it slide.

“Ask them for a pamphlet for details. It should all be connected to the resort.”

And that night.

After returning from the rehearsal, the Demon God looked through the pamphlet and encountered an unexpected fact.

“This is a horror theme park?”

Why had they left out this important detail?

***

Around the time Pantheon arrived.

The top-floor suite room with a perfect view of the theme park panorama from the resort.

This place, which couldn’t even be reserved, was a space for only one person.

Specifically, the Chairman of Samkang Group, Hayasaburo Keiichi.

He was looking down at the horror theme park he had newly opened.

““Chairman, congratulations.””

The executives lined up behind him offered their congratulations in unison.

“It is too early for congratulations. We must finish the event and see the visitors’ reactions to know if it is truly something to celebrate.”

Chairman Hayasaburo waved his hand dismissively at the executives.

Yet, a smile did not leave his face.

The last of the long-cherished projects he had established in his youth was now before his eyes.

The Chairman himself did not doubt the success of the business.

He had bought up psychic spots from various regions and turned them into a theme park.

The horror-concept theme park before his eyes was a reopening of an amusement park that had actually closed down due to being haunted by evil spirits.

There were newly installed rides, but there were also facilities from the original time that had been renovated.

These points had been piqued the interest of horror fans even before the opening.

While the Chairman and the executive team all wore broad smiles.

“Um, however—”

An executive opened his mouth cautiously.

“What is it?”

“The fact that all the monks and miko who were asked to perform exorcisms shook their heads and left…”

“Hmm.”

An evil spirit shouldn’t appear in the newly opened theme park, after all.

So he had paid a fortune to request an exorcism.

“Yes, did they not say a persistent fellow was attached?”

However, the Chairman shook his head firmly.

“It was merely something I did just in case. Do you all really believe that evil spirits exist in this day and age?”

The executive who spoke gave a sheepish smile. The other executives were the same.

Evil spirits.

In this day and age.

The Chairman delivered a final word.

“Publicize it widely instead. It will only make people more expectant.”

***

“Wow, I’m really looking forward to this.”

The eve of MAMA.

A woman spoke involuntarily as she entered the main gate of the theme park.

Was it because she was so into Pantheon lately?

The horror concept of this theme park was truly to her taste.

Yoo Jin-ah could not contain her excitement and was huffing as she looked at the Hell Palace visible far ahead.

“Right, unnie? We must be really lucky. Winning the MAMA audience tickets and coming here for free.”

Another female, a girl who still looked young, was huffing beside Yoo Jin-ah in the same way.

It was Lee Yeon-hee, the drum genius born of Guesan Girls’ Middle School.

These two had become increasingly close since meeting at the last fan meeting, and eventually, Yoo Jin-ah had even become Lee Yeon-hee’s guardian for the trip to MAMA.

Fan love transcends age, after all.

“Yeon-hee, do you like scary things too?”

“Not originally, but I’ve started to like them lately.”

“Oh! Me too.”

“You too, unnie? Then, do you find yourself liking scary things more, yet actually being less easily scared?”

“Oh my! You’re right! Why is that?”

It was all the influence of the Demon God.

The two, who had been continuously exposed to his demonic charm, had had their nerves fortified to the point that they wouldn’t even be startled by ordinary horror movies anymore.

“Hehe, I wonder if this place will actually manage to scare us?”

“Hehehe, there would have to be something incredible to scare us Pantheon fans.”

The two began to roam the theme park with sinister laughter resembling the Demon God’s.

The theme park was actually very well-decorated.

Artificial fog hindered their vision, creating a sense of isolation when they arrived at a facility.

The sound of rustling metal echoed from the axis, and the heads of the wooden horses were missing.

“Too slow!”

“There’s no need to be slow just because it’s abandoned!”

Yoo Jin-ah and Yeon-hee were nagging the wooden horses.

It was a traditional Japanese doll exhibition hall, while at the same time, dolls that triggered various effects to create fear were mixed in.

For example, a doll shedding tears of blood.

“What happens if we try to poke its eyes?”

“Will the eyes disappear entirely?”

The two were actually attempting to poke the crying eyes….

And after that.

“Don’t you think this would suit the Demon God well?”

The gift shop they dropped by after enjoying themselves to the fullest.

What Yoo Jin-ah picked up was a bat-wing headband.

“Unnie, you really do love headbands. I think it would suit him though.”

In the end, she bought it and they headed toward the next ride.

“Hmm, if we go this way…. Eh? I can’t see very well?”

Yoo Jin-ah stopped briefly while looking for the way.

“Unnie, hasn’t the fog gotten thicker?”

The artificial fog was originally meant to only slightly obscure their vision.

But now it had risen so thickly that they couldn’t even see nearby.

“What is this? Is it because the night has deepened?”

“Is it a special effect?”

But it was too thick, far too thick.

“Yeon-hee, let’s walk while holding hands.”

“Yes, unnie.”

At Yoo Jin-ah’s suggestion, Yeon-hee reached out her hand.

And then.

“Unnie?”

Her hand caught nothing.

Yoo Jin-ah was not where she had been standing just a moment ago.

“Unnie? Are you here?”

Yeon-hee called out to Yoo Jin-ah while waving her hands.

Since she had been close by, her voice should have been heard.

But.

“Unnie! Unnie!”

There was no answer from Yoo Jin-ah.

“Unnie?”

Now the fog was filling every direction.

A texture that was somehow murky and heavy.

She even had the illusion that it was catching on her waving hands.

No, was it really an illusion?

A sense of resistance was felt every time she waved her hands, and her arms grew heavy.

Is this really artificial fog?

Does fog like this even exist if it’s not man-made?

“Wh-What is this…. It’s actually scary….”

The confidence from earlier was nowhere to be found.

Yeon-hee, who was still only in her second year of middle school, began to shrink back little by little.

“U-Unnie…”

She moved her steps hesitantly, searching for the unnie who must be somewhere.

Yoo Jin-ah had handled everything so well throughout the trip that Yeon-hee found her truly reliable. If she could just find her, her anxious heart would likely settle.

– Dring.

“Gasp!”

Yeon-hee was startled by the sound of the messenger notification.

Because it was silent all around, the small sound felt incredibly loud.

But, wait a minute.

Silent?

“…Eh?”

It was quiet, in every direction.

She couldn’t hear anything, not a single sound.

She had clearly been with countless visitors.

She had moved while brushing shoulders with many fans who came to see MAMA, and various languages had been flowing into her ears incessantly.

So why was it quiet?

“U-Unnie…”

Yeon-hee held her phone with trembling hands.

Hoping that the messenger notification just now was someone finding her.

However, the moment she checked the message.

Yeon-hee’s face contorted.

[ Yeon-hee… I… don’t know where I am… ]

Jin-ah unnie had gone missing.

“Someone, please help me!”

Yeon-hee ran, without even knowing where she was heading.

For some reason, in this nonsensical moment, Sun-woo’s face came to her mind.

.

.

And, it wasn’t just Yoo Jin-ah.

In the dawn before the MAMA performance, large-scale disappearances began to be reported to the organizers.