Chapter 96: The Hierarchy of Familiars

“How utterly insolent.”

The Demon God frowned upon seeing Zion’s message.

[Want to hear it?], he says.

He should be offering the ghost story without delay, yet isn’t he trying to bait my interest?

[Tell me quickly]

However, I am interested.

The Demon God sent the message with a strange sense of defeat….

[Yes yes!!!!]

Zion began the story.

[Music broadcasts]

[A place steeped in the sweat and tears of countless idols]

[They sweat hoping their cool image reaches the viewers]

[But sometimes they swallow tears due to mistakes or accidents]

[But would you believe it if I said even blood flows here?]

“Blood, you say? What reason is there for blood to flow at a music broadcast?”

Of course, injuries do happen occasionally during music broadcasts.

Like tripping or bumping into something and hurting an ankle.

Still, there shouldn’t be any blood flowing.

[The place is]

[SBC]

[And on a public broadcast at that]

[Recently, injuries involving flowing blood have occurred]

“SBC? On a public broadcast?”

Is the management at a major broadcasting station that poor?

[Amazing, right?]

[But what’s more amazing is]

[This has been repeating for several weeks]

“It happened multiple times?”

The Demon God began to be sucked in again.

Isn’t it too intriguing?

Repeated injuries involving flowing blood.

Is it an evil spirit?

[And also…]

[It only happened to the first-place nominees]

It was a quietly circulating ghost story.

The story went that recently, idol teams nominated for first place on SBC music shows suffered injuries, whether during pre-recording or the live broadcast.

[Zion]

[The extent of the injuries?]

The Demon God typed the message.

[It’s not a huge injury]

The Demon God nodded.

If it were, he would have heard of it too.

Fortunately, it seems no one was seriously hurt.

Regrettably, it seems it is not an evil spirit.

[But it’s not something to ignore either]

[If you look at the teams who were first-place nominees at SBC, there is at least one member walking around with bandages right now]

To that extent, it hinders the promotion period.

They probably can’t give their all to the choreography either.

[But you know what’s even stranger?]

[What is it?]

[They are cuts]

[But they don’t know what cut them]

[There’s nothing that could cut them]

[Hmm?]

[Like stage equipment?]

[No]

[There was nothing sharp at all]

There was nothing to cut them, yet they were cut and injured.

[That’s why this story is a ghost story]

[How is it?]

It is a recurring phenomenon, but the cause is unknown.

The broadcasting station tries to prevent recurrence, but since the cause is unknown, that too is difficult.

It meant that idols scheduled to appear were needlessly on edge.

[Was it fun?]

Zion asked.

If it was fun, he should reveal his alcohol tolerance.

However, the Demon God did not end the conversation yet.

[Zion]

[To SBC]

[Does not Novior go as well?]

He remembered that Novior’s promotion period overlapped very slightly with Pantheon’s.

[Yeah]

[We’re going just once]

[Once?]

The Demon God tilted his head.

A top-tier group like Novior wouldn’t be a first-place nominee just once.

[It’s just how our promotion schedule is]

[Our schedule is to tour music shows for only one week]

Top-tier idols sometimes do that.

Since their brand is already established and their fandom is large, they don’t need to rely on music shows. Touring for just one week secures enough buzz and exposure.

Zion is the Demon God’s fan, but in reality, he is a top-tier idol senior sitting high up there.

“Insolence, insolence pierces this Demon God….”

The Demon God trembled alone, then tapped his phone with shaking fingers.

[Then Novior will also be a target of the ghost story?]

[Yeah]

[I was bothered by it anyway]

[Do not worry]

[Thou knowest what must be done, correct?]

The Demon God narrowed his eyes and looked at the phone.

Does this clingy fan know what is truly important?

[Prepare Sun-woo’s photo? I know]

“Hmph.”

The Demon God nodded and sent a message.

[This body shall not be swept up in such trivial incidents, but]

[You guys must be careful]

[Do not do it alone, Zion]

[Make sure to take care of the other members too]

[Tell them to put it inside their shoes or inside their costumes]

[Make sure]

[Understood?]

The Demon God repeatedly urged caution.

Since members who aren’t fans might refuse, Zion had to take care of it.

[Yes yes!!]

[I’ll tell them to put it inside their underwear!!!!]

“…….”

Why does this kid sometimes cross the line?

[That is a bit]

[I’ll say Sun-woo insisted they do it!!!!]

[No!]

[Do not frame me!]

[Never say such things!]

[( •́ㅿ•̀ )?]

[Should I not?]

[Of course not!]

And the Demon God ended the chat with wrath.

[It was somewhat interesting, but]

[The background explanation is insufficient!]

[I shall not tell thee my alcohol tolerance]

[No way!]

The Demon God ended the conversation.

“Hmph, if I tell him everything, it won’t be fun.”

Above all, how can I tell him something I don’t know myself?

At the team dinner that day, the Demon God drank ‘just one glass’ of beer.

– Let’s stop here.

– Huh? Sun-woo, you look like you can drink well, won’t you drink more?

– I have a schedule immediately upon returning to Seoul.

– Ah, as expected, idols are busy.

In the first place, it was amazing that a sudden variety show shoot was possible during the comeback period. Naturally, once they went up, they were put straight into schedules—

If he drank a lot without knowing his tolerance and showed up to a schedule drunk?

A rookie idol losing his initial mindset, failure in self-management, ‘I knew he would be like that’…, the pouring criticism is easily predictable.

‘Of course, this body’s internal organs are of the highest grade, so I likely detoxify alcohol well…. But who knows what pranks the gods have played.’

Anyway, it is a body set up by the gods.

Did I not also fail to know I would be weak to spicy food?

“Hyung, seeing you chat so excitedly, is it Zion Hyung?”

Just then, the spice-master Yoon-seo poked his head in.

“I was not particularly excited.”

“Really? For that, you were chatting very diligently.”

The Demon God shook his head firmly.

Currently, they had briefly stopped by the dorm in between busy schedules.

They were busy just washing up and resting, but thanks to the Demon God, the members were sleeping well and eating well, so they weren’t lacking in stamina.

Each was resting their body on the sofa.

“Ji-ho, objective indicators are needed.”

“Huh?”

“Report on our current activity status.”

Haa—, Ji-ho let out a long sigh.

“Then listen.”

He began the report.

“First regular album, 1st week.”

• Compared to the 2nd mini-album’s first-week sales of 18,000 copies, this 1st regular album surpassed 100,000 copies in the first week.

• Immediately after the release of the 1st regular album, not only the title track but several B-side tracks charted simultaneously on music charts.

• The title track entered the top 50 on music sites on the first day of release and is currently maintaining a stable position in the 20-30 range.

• The music video surpassed 1.9 million views on the first day and 8 million views in a week.

• The Tac-Talk dance challenge recorded 5 million views within 3 days of release.

“That is all.”

While Ji-ho’s report continued, other members also listened intently.

After listening to everything while nodding their heads.

“So, to summarize, we are around Rising Star level? It seems we are establishing ourselves at that level.”

This was the final conclusion.

“I commend the detailed report. Continue to update.”

Pantheon was growing and rising.

To the Demon God’s ears, as he closed his eyes slightly and savored the conclusion, the members’ words drifted in.

“There were various buzzworthy topics, but leaving that aside, we should see it as our album appealing to the public or idol fans.”

“That’s right, first of all, the power of the songs is significant.”

It was as Tae-young and Yoon-seo said.

Lucio Moreira, the three artists from Hongdae, and even the CEO—the results produced by each of them.

Those songs were appealing to various layers of the public.

“Right, right. Even SBC called us because there was a reaction to the music.”

“Probably. They don’t call just because there’s buzz.”

Ha-gyeom and Ji-ho’s words followed.

They pierced through to the public broadcast, which they couldn’t enter due to Izm’s obstruction, solely with their results, without any connections or lobbying.

Perhaps the remaining two stations would also follow next time.

The Demon God opened his eyes and glanced behind his back.

Clink.

Chains are waiting.

For the day Pantheon becomes a top idol group and is with countless fans.

The day the Demon God obtains worship from those fans and breaks all the chains.

Thus, the day he fully recovers his power.

“Understood. Then some commendation would be necessary.”

““Commendation? Us?””

The Demon God shook his head.

He commended the members sufficiently in daily life.

“I shall be in the room for a moment.”

Leaving the living room, the Demon God entered his room.

“Sun-woo, while you’re going into the room, turn off the air conditioner! It’s April, why do you have it so cold?”

“That’s right, cold air was flowing out when I passed by the room.”

“Understood.”

But it will continue to be cold for a while.

Because of these guys.

– Tsk, what do you want us to do! We are spirits, so we lower the surrounding temperature!

– What should we do? Should we go somewhere else?

– Oh my! We didn’t think of this situation!

The three spirits from Hongdae were in the Demon God’s room.

They had become a spiritual air conditioner, lowering the temperature inside the room.

‘It is cool and nice, I should consider keeping them here in the summer.’

With this thought, the Demon God looked at the three spirits.

They were the first to offer songs during the preparation process for this album and gladly agreed to arrangements.

A subordinate who has made a contribution is given a reward.

Commendation was needed.

Thus, waiting for a schedule near Hongdae to meet the three spirits—

“You guys, I ask again, is a tour of the broadcasting station sufficient?”

The reward the three spirits wished for was a tour of the broadcasting station.

– Of course! It’s frustrating! We’ve never even been near a broadcasting station appearance! Yo!

– Even now that we are spirits, there is a limit to the area we can move. We are curious about the perspective of performers too.

– Let us take a look too!

So he brought the spirits along.

Even if they couldn’t move on their own, it was possible if the Demon God, the master of familiars, brought them.

Since they happened to be going to the public broadcaster SBC, he intended to take them there.

“But that is that.”

The Demon God turned his head to look to the side.

“Why are you doing that?”

There, his other familiar, Shadow, was floating in the air in the form of a black doll.

Not just floating, but—

– Kyuu— Kyu—!

It was glaring at the three spirits as if displeased.

– Demon God-nim! Do something about this! Yo! It keeps barking! Yo!

– It seems it doesn’t like something about us….

At Rock and Indie’s words, the Demon God tilted his head to the side.

I know why Shadow is doing that.

Do these guys really not know what they should do right now?

– Eh-hey, I think I know?

At least one knows.

Among the three spirits, Trot spoke confidently.

– This esteemed one is, so to speak, if we consider familiars of the Demon God, our senior, is he not? But since we are not showing respect, he is displeased, no?

– What? Senior? You mean a Kkondae (old-fashioned bossy person)?

– Ah…, could that be true?

The three gathered their opinions for a moment, then bowed their heads slightly.

– Senior! Nim!

– Hellooo.

– Nice to meet ya!

Then, surprisingly, the black doll that had been spinning in the air gently floated down onto the bed.

– It was real?

– So he really is the senior.

– See, I was right? You gotta show respect!

Thus, a hierarchy that wasn’t quite a hierarchy was established.

The Demon God, a commander who used to lead a great army, thought this wasn’t bad.

If the Demon God’s familiars increased, organization would be needed.

Wouldn’t it be easiest to go by the order they entered?

“Ah? Come to think of it?”

If going by the order of entry, there is one more between Shadow and the three spirits.

Setting aside the mansion owner who likely dissipated after seeing his daughter’s face.

The Demon God reached under the bed, rummaging clatter-clatter, found something, and took it out.

“Miser. Currently, a lighting fixture.”

The evil spirit Miser, encountered in Japan, had been made into a lighting bead.

To give longer suffering,

And because he liked the colors the guy emitted.

– Kyuuuu!

Shadow expressed displeasure.

– Eh? Is he also a senior?

– He’s a senior giving off a nasty vibe….

– Tsk, do we have to greet him?

The three spirits didn’t seem pleased either.

Anyway, it is a familiar made from a powerful evil spirit.

It doesn’t emit very good energy.

Even the intention to inflict suffering has become tiresome and faded, leaving only a guy with truly practical use.

“About that, lighting has developed a lot, so not really?”

What does this mean?

Realizing it, purple and red lights shot out vigorously from the bead. Desperately appealing its utility—

That appearance helped the Demon God’s decision.

“Decided. Seeing it trying to avoid dissipation, I must dissipate it.”

Isn’t it an evil spirit that harmed people?

I must do what it dislikes.

“Disappear.”

The Demon God applied force to the hand holding the bead.

Crack.

The bead couldn’t possibly withstand it.

It shattered in an instant, and spiritual energy flowed out.

Huuuum.

The Demon God inhaled that spiritual energy.

Destruction of a familiar, and a meal.

– Uh, uh?

– I think we just saw something really scary….

– Oh my…. Our master was a scary person….

The three spirits trembled anew at the Demon God’s true nature.

– Kyuuuu….

Even Shadow was trembling in fear.

“Hm? It is fine. Unless you are rude, offend my feelings, or I am just in a bad mood, or I change my mind. Unless it is cases like these, you will not end up like this.”

What are the last two? Yo?

Didn’t you just dissipate it on a whim….

You look like you’re almost always in a bad mood….

The three spirits had enough sense to keep such comments to themselves.

It was a moment where they wanted to return to Hongdae instead of the broadcasting station….

***

Be that as it may, the long-awaited day of the public broadcast appearance arrived.