Chapter 65: Hunting for a Ghostly Composer

Thud.

The work files were incredibly clean.

“CEO?”

“……”

Even after rummaging through all the other files, there were only miscellaneous drafts.

Pantheon was faced with the shocking fact that not a single song was prepared for the next album.

“CEO? Perhaps you should open your mouth?”

“Is opening it all I need to do?”

The Demon God sent a cold, reprimanding gaze.

“I shall not permit wordplay.”

“Eek!”

As the CEO had thought before, Demon God Sun-woo, when scary, transcended age and was utterly terrifying.

He confessed involuntarily.

“Well, you see, it’s different from last time. came from a sudden rush of inspiration, written in a single night, but this time, how should I put it…, it feels like it’s just within reach but ultimately unreachable?”

It was a long-winded excuse, but the Demon God could understand the problem.

While composing the last title track, the CEO had surpassed a kind of limit.

However, after surpassing a limit, one needs time to get used to it. Stabilization, perhaps.

‘Pantheon’s preparation for the next album came around faster than the time needed for stabilization.’

The CEO’s capability hadn’t diminished.

He just needed time.

“Understood.”

“No, don’t be too harsh—, huh? You understood?”

When the Demon God accepted it unexpectedly easily, not only the CEO but also the members looked at the Demon God’s face.

“The CEO is abandoned. Let us find another composer.”

The Demon God was firm.

“Sun-woo! Don’t give up on me!”

“We cannot wait indefinitely, can we? Shall we continue to postpone the comeback?”

“Ugh?!”

“You may continue composing for the album after the next. However, must we not quickly obtain the song needed for this comeback?”

Instantly, the other members also subtly shifted their bodies closer to Sun-woo.

“That’s right, CEO.”

“I also…, think Sun-woo hyung is right….”

“Comeback! Comeback! Comebaaaack!”

“It seems we have a use for the investment funds.”

The CEO reached out desperately.

“Even you lovable kids who have been with me since Izm?”

“There are no subordinates who follow an incompetent leader.”

With the Demon God’s stern answer, the CEO’s neck slumped.

“But Izm is the problem….”

“Hm?”

“They’re sweeping up songs so fiercely. They’re signing pre-contracts for two or three songs with really talented composers and having them work on them. And behind the scenes, they’re spreading the word to be careful if people want to keep working with them.”

“What?”

“And we can’t just use anyone. Even scouring the cloud, there isn’t a single song worth using.”

Izm had been interfering to prevent quality songs from going to Origin for a while now. It had worsened since Pantheon’s successful comeback.

The Demon God narrowed his eyes.

Izm, Izm, they were troublesome fellows indeed.

“Shall I eliminate them?”

““Sun-woo! Hold it!””

Knowing the Demon God might do anything if left alone, the members stopped him in unison.

“I merely said it. Eliminate? I possess common sense too.”

““……””

Anyway, it wasn’t something that could be concluded immediately.

The CEO would try his best, and they would have to look for composers separately—

The Demon God thought of one person.

“Ha-gyeom.”

“Hm? Why me all of a sudden?”

“What about composer Ki So-eun?”

Ki So-eun, whom they met on the radio program a while ago, was both a radio DJ and a composer.

At the Demon God’s question, Ha-gyeom fell into thought.

“If it’s her….”

Ki So-eun was definitely friendly towards Pantheon.

The problem was whether Izm had placed a pre-contract on her.

Izm seemed to block composers from giving songs to other companies by placing conditions when signing contracts, even if they weren’t in-house composers.

“I should try contacting her? I think I need to ask about the situation.”

“Is that so?”

At Ha-gyeom’s words, the Demon God nonchalantly took out his own phone.

“Huh? Sun-woo hyung, you have that composer’s number too?”

Yoon-seo asked, puzzled.

“Is that not natural? I appeared with Ha-gyeom.”

“No, that’s true, but.”

“?”

“She seemed like the type who’d find it hard to give her number upon first meeting….”

Yoon-seo was indirectly saying she seemed reluctant.

“What are you saying?”

The Demon God, completely oblivious, pressed call on his phone.

“Ah! Sun-woo? You’re going to call her directly?”

“Sun-woo, how about messaging first to ask if she has time?”

The CEO and Tae-young each tried to stop him.

Shouldn’t they get the number from Sun-woo and contact her on a company level? It was work-related too.

“She has already answered, however?”

““Ack!””

The call began.

“Composer Ki So-eun.”

He started with such an opening.

“DJ Ki! I’m here too!”

Of course, there was also Ha-gyeom, jumping up and down.

– It’s Sun-woo. And Ha-gyeom too. Good to hear from you both.

From over the phone came Ki So-eun’s calm voice, as always.

The CEO and members, holding their breath, sighed in relief at Ki So-eun’s comfortable attitude.

It seemed true that the atmosphere was good during the radio show.

She didn’t seem offended even with Sun-woo acting like that.

“Hand over a song.”

– Pardon?

““Cough.””

The CEO and members choked on their sighs of relief.

“If you offer a masterpiece, you may stand in the glorious ranks of worshippers—”

“Ms. Ki, this is Origin’s CEO Hoon!”

The CEO couldn’t stand it anymore and quickly intervened.

– Oh my, Producer Hoon was there too?

Since the CEO was also a producer who composed, they were acquainted, though not close.

“Yes, it’s me. What Sun-woo meant to say is. Basically—”

The conversation proceeded smoothly between the CEO and Ki So-eun.

However, the result wasn’t satisfactory.

– It’s such a pity. Pantheon’s next song, I’m interested.

“Is it really not possible?”

– As I mentioned, I also have a pre-contract with Izm.

Ki So-eun’s situation was similar to other top-tier composers.

She was bound not to give songs to other companies until she handed over three songs to Izm.

Listening in, the Demon God asked Ji-ho quietly.

“In this case, is there absolutely no way?”

“Not absolutely none. We could commission an overseas composer….”

“Hm? Then is that not solved? Does Izm’s influence reach overseas?”

“Probably not? But we have to match the timing and taste. We need to nail the concept this time too.”

Since it was an external commission, they would have to discuss the concept with the composer as well.

Pantheon wanted to give a slight change while maintaining the color of their 2nd album.

“Hmm….”

The Demon God suddenly had a thought and intervened in the call again.

“Composer, about the song sung on the radio last time.”

Since it was on speakerphone, just speaking was enough.

– The song where the ghost appeared?

“I told you it was a mass hallucination. Anyway, are there any more such songs?”

– Then, do you mean songs where you see strange things?

Ki So-eun had explained the song’s behind-the-scenes story, mentioning cases where singers saw spirits.

More precisely, songs that summon spirits.

“Correct. Inform me of songs with such rumors.”

At the Demon God’s words, Ha-gyeom, who had gone with him that day, looked pale.

“Sun-woo? What are you trying to do? Summon ghosts? I know you like the occult, but that’s a bit.”

However, the Demon God’s thoughts were elsewhere.

“Among such songs, I wish to know of songs by composers who are still active.”

This was the thought the Demon God had.

What kind of composer would be suitable to bring out the demonic aura?

Composers who wrote spirit-summoning songs meant they were sensitive to spiritual power, even if they themselves didn’t realize it.

They might be able to bring out Pantheon’s concept reflecting the Demon God’s color.

– I don’t even want to imagine what you’re planning…. Okay, I’ll send them to you.

“Send them as quickly as possible.”

The CEO expressed gratitude on behalf of the Demon God.

“Ms. Ki, thank you!”

– No, not at all. It’s not difficult.

Not difficult, but troublesome.

The fact that she was taking the trouble for Pantheon, who were junior idols and mere one-time guests, was truly appreciated.

– I’m rooting for Producer Hoon. Occasionally, composers start their own companies, and I want them all to succeed.

It seemed Ki So-eun had a reason for complying with the request.

– And, I don’t like what Izm is doing to Origin…. If I knew they were that kind of company, I wouldn’t have signed a pre-contract. It’s too late for that, but I want to help even with this small thing.

The relationship between Izm and Origin had become known to everyone in the know.

If even idol fans knew, the industry people certainly did.

Few people genuinely sided with Izm regarding that matter.

“Thank you for the sentiment alone.”

The CEO seemed slightly moved by the unexpected support.

After that, the call ended with warm words of encouragement.

***

And, not long after, the list arrived.

“Sun-woo, this was sent by composer Ki So-eun.”

“Has it arrived? Ha-gyeom, let us go.”

“Ugh…. Really? I have to sing them?”

“Then who else will handle these songs?”

The Demon God had been saying Ha-gyeom should sing the songs upon receiving the list.

For handling songs seen for the first time, Ha-gyeom, whose vocal skills had recently improved, was perfect.

Above all, if the Demon God sang them himself, there was a risk of attracting another evil spirit to the dorm.

“Haa….”

Eventually, Ha-gyeom was dragged into the room by the Demon God.

“Will you sing standing up?”

“That would be comfortable.”

The Demon God sat on the bed, and Ha-gyeom sang the songs one by one in front of him—

First, the first song.

“In the dark I remain. Let them honor me.”

In the dark I remain. Let them honor me.

“Hmph.”

The Demon God shook his head.

‘A trivial fake putting on airs.’

It was utterly unpleasant.

Wouldn’t fans who have encountered Pantheon feel the same?

Moreover, it didn’t fit the concept change they intended to give this time. It was too similar to the feeling of the previous songs.

While the Demon God was displeased.

“Sun-woo, is the window open? Doesn’t it feel somehow colder?”

Ha-gyeom rubbed his arm.

Indeed, the room temperature had dropped slightly.

“It is not the window.”

“?”

A phenomenon where the surrounding temperature drops when a spirit appears.

A petty spirit had appeared, drawn by Ha-gyeom’s song.

“I shall close it.”

“You said it wasn’t the window?”

“There are such things.”

The Demon God waved his hand at the petty spirit while pretending to go towards the window behind Ha-gyeom.

“Shoo, shoo.”

– Kiiiiiyaaaah!!!!

The petty spirit, drawn by the song, screamed and fled as soon as it recognized the Demon God’s presence.

“Ha-gyeom, even if the window opens again, pay it no mind and move on to the next song. I shall close it for you.”

“It opens again? Is the window broken?”

“I said there are such things. Now, next song.”

Ha-gyeom picked up the next song with a somewhat pale face.

“If I could see you again, my love, I`d be with you for all eternity.”

If I could see you again, my love, I’d be with you for all eternity.

“Stop.”

“?”

Even if Ki So-eun said to get used to various emotions, he had no intention of listening to a full-blown love song.

Especially imagining the next album having this concept.

‘This song is also unpleasant.’

He glared with displeased eyes at the petty spirit that was sneaking its head in.

– Kiiiiiyaaaaah!

As expected, the petty spirit fled.

Even if it was a spirit-summoning song, it shouldn’t work this well.

Yet, they were being lured in one after another because of the Demon God’s presence beside Ha-gyeom.

And it wasn’t just spirits that were lured in.

“I don’t know what you’re doing, but is it going well?”

Ji-ho was lured in.

Curious Ji-ho seemed to have come in wondering what was happening.

But it happened to be when Ha-gyeom was singing.

“Ji-ho.”

“Huh?”

“I have said it before, but you have a constitution that attracts things easily.”

“Huh? So?”

So.

“A-g-g, g-g…?”

He was helplessly possessed by the petty spirit drawn by Ha-gyeom’s song….

“I have a body—. Finally, a body for me—.”

“You have a truly easy constitution. You could even go spirit fishing.”

If the Demon God hadn’t been there in the first place, the petty spirit wouldn’t have appeared.

Flick.

The Demon God flicked his finger against Ji-ho’s forehead, sending the petty spirit flying far away.

In other words, the one saving him was also the Demon God.

“Ugh…, what did I just do? I have no memory for a moment…?”

“If you have no memory, then nothing happened, did it not?”

“What? Isn’t having no memory itself a big deal?”

“Ji-ho…, you are logical even in this situation….”

With several petty spirits coming and going, the room temperature had dropped considerably, and now this strange phenomenon.

Ha-gyeom and Ji-ho trembled in inexplicable fear and looked at the Demon God.

“It is the last song anyway. If this song is also useless, it means this method will not work.”

“Yeah, I don’t know what you’re doing, but let’s give up quickly.”

“I-I’m leaving again.”

Ji-ho, instinctively sensing danger, went outside, and Ha-gyeom took the last song after a deep breath and began to sing.

“My passion, once lost, is yours now. What will you give in return?”

My passion, once lost, is yours now. What will you give in return?

“Hm?”

was a song where gods summoned to the battlefield went towards the fan who was the star itself.

Even though it was made as an idol song, it had an intense and serious sense.

But now, this song was proceeding with heavy content on a light beat.

And.

The Demon God felt something in an instant and covered Ha-gyeom’s mouth.

“Mmph! Why, why!”

“Shh.”

The spiritual power momentarily amplified by this song was incomparable to the previous songs.

Even though Ha-gyeom was singing, the spiritual power continued to rise, reflecting the Demon God’s influence.

If left alone, it was obvious an evil spirit would pop out.

And a powerful evil spirit incomparable to the one in the radio studio.

“Was there such a song.”

The Demon God quickly picked up the list and read the additional explanation attached to the song.

“South America? Brazil?”

Apart from the lyrics being in English, the composer was Brazilian.

Furthermore, below that was a line kindly added by Ki So-eun.

“!”

Reading it, the Demon God sprang to his feet.

“CEO! Where are you! I have found him, the composer who will make our song!”

That one line was as follows:

[People don’t know, but he’s currently in Korea on a personal trip. Heard he’s an occult fan, might be a good match for Sun-woo?]