Gupailbang's WeTaxi was burning up like never before.
The Beggars were fans who had endured the fandom name 'Beggars,' the CEO's concept obsession, and the frequent expulsion and recruitment of members, but they could not tolerate some nobody putting a spoon on their babies' last broadcast table.
All sorts of curses, unheard of in a lifetime, were being translated into various languages of the world and posted on the CEO's SNS comment section.
└WorldRank0Jeilgeom: CEO you bastard, do you want to close up shop?
"This person is a very gentle fan, but she must be really angry."
"Our Beggars are good at cursing."
The Alliance Leader and Jaha were reading the comments on the CEO's SNS one by one. Although most were curses, there were also many posts worrying about the members.
Contrary to the fans' worries, the Gupailbang members gathered in the practice room did not look very shocked. The reason was simple.
Despite being such an amazing rookie that a debut was scheduled immediately upon joining, the parts the Heavenly Demon took were only two lines.
Unable to get a sense of whether the Heavenly Demon's backing was great or not, Jaha gave up getting angry, saying the fans would curse him out anyway.
"Is it even possible in the first place? There's less than a week left. When are we going to change the choreography and formation to fit 6 people, and when are we going to memorize it again?"
"Do you lack confidence?"
When the Heavenly Demon cast 'Are you scared?', Jaha retorted in a fit of rage.
"Not me, you, Hyung! We've even performed on stage with choreography changed right before going up, you know? Do you know how many years of experience we have? Have you ever even performed on stage, Brother Heavenly Demon? You don't know how trembling it is to stand on stage for the first time, do you?"
The Heavenly Demon stared intently at Jaha with red eyes and asked back.
"Do you think this master would tremble?"
Even to Jaha's eyes, he couldn't imagine the bizarre man in front of him trembling on stage, so he flinched and stepped back. After choosing his words for a moment, Jaha asked again.
"…Then Hyung, can you sing a little?"
"No."
It was a truly insincere answer for someone who appeared saying he would debut as an idol, but Jaha seemed rather relieved by the fact that he wasn't in the vocal line like himself.
"Ah, then a dance member?"
"Dance?"
"Ah, right, you were a foreigner. Dancing. But why don't you know English when you're a foreigner?"
"I have never danced."
"What? Then do you rap amazingly well? Then you should go to the hip-hop scene, why become an idol?"
"I have done something similar to dancing."
"Ah, something like gymnastics?"
"Martial arts."
"Brother Taegeuk also did martial arts! You must be confident in using your body then?"
At Jaha's question, the Heavenly Demon laughed as if it were ridiculous.
"What is so difficult about unfolding martial arts forms to the rhythm of a song?"
"His concept is really intense."
Just then, the choreographer entered the practice room, and the members who had scattered to chat gathered in front of the full-length mirror. While the other members greeted the choreographer, the Heavenly Demon was looking into the full-length mirror as if fascinated.
Even though he had changed from a branded shirt into comfortable clothes, the Heavenly Demon looked stylish. No, perhaps because he had a body built by exercise, the comfortable clothes suited him even better.
The choreographer, who had exchanged greetings with the members, gestured to the Heavenly Demon.
"I know it's a face you want to keep looking at, but could you come over here?"
The Heavenly Demon tilted his head as if he had heard something unexpected and asked back.
"Must this master go?"
"Huh? Ah, right, the Heavenly Demon concept. I really don't know what the CEO is thinking. Don't you agree, Mr. So-ui?"
"Indeed."
I was in the middle of tying the Heavenly Demon's long hair with a scrunchie to make it comfortable for practice.
"First, let's see Mr. Heavenly Demon's dance skills, and then we'll decide on rearranging the choreography and formation accordingly."
"Hyung! Why are we creating choreography to fit that guy?! It's only right that he practices and catches up!!"
Sure enough, Jaha got angry. However, the main dancer, Taegeuk, looked like he didn't care either way. And the Alliance Leader, knowing the Heavenly Demon's identity, was watching with a worried face like a parent watching a child by the water's edge.
"The CEO says we must debut him no matter what, so what can we do? It's the first stage, but if you guys are flying around and only Mr. Heavenly Demon is panting, how would the picture look? Only your image will get worse."
"The CEO is too much! It's our last broadcast of the promotion! Is he telling us to put on an uncool performance and get off?!"
"Calm down, Jaha-ya. Hwajin's dance skills might be good."
As Jaha was about to go wild, Taegeuk stepped in to stop him. At the mention of the Heavenly Demon by his real name, the Alliance Leader and I simultaneously turned our heads toward the Heavenly Demon, but his reaction was indifferent.
"I also think he won't be bad at dancing."
When even Nahan, who had been staying still, said so, the atmosphere changed to 'let's see how well he dances first.'
"Nahan is talking a lot these days."
"No, Nahan said it was ominous and disturbing, so why is he taking Brother Heavenly Demon's side?"
Jaha grumbled, but there seemed to be no objection to seeing the Heavenly Demon's dance first. The choreographer connected a phone to a Bluetooth speaker and asked the Heavenly Demon.
"Which song?"
"Mind of Diamond-Hard Invincibility."
When the Heavenly Demon mentioned Gupailbang's new song without hesitation, Jaha's complexion brightened a little.
"So you practiced our choreography in advance? You were speaking rudely just because of the concept?"
"Mount Hua Sect, your words are becoming increasingly dissolute."
"Hehe. How much did you practice? Our choreography is hard, right?"
"I haven't. Watching it once on a place called N-tube is all."
Jaha's expression crumpled bizarrely. As Jaha looked like he would explode at any moment, the Alliance Leader stepped in to settle the situation.
"Now, now. He said he would dance to our song, so let's just watch. It's not too late to judge after seeing it."
"…Maybe we won't need to change the formation. If I leave, he can just take my spot."
"Ju Jaha, don't say things you don't mean just because you're pissed off."
It would be trouble if Jaha, Gupailbang's main vocalist and sole vocalist, left. Originally, Gupailbang started with two main vocalists, two sub-vocalists, two rappers, and four dancers, but after numerous expulsions and recruitments, all that remained were the main vocalist Jaha, rappers Ilgeom and Nahan, and main dancer Taegeuk.
The additionally recruited Namgung Jun was also a rapper. In other words, the current Gupailbang is practically a hip-hop group, so if Jaha leaves, we'd have to switch from martial arts-dols to hip-hop-dols.
Even though talk of withdrawal was going back and forth right in front of him, the Heavenly Demon bastard was just waiting for the song to play with a calm face as if it were none of his business. Sigh.
I sent a hand signal to the choreographer to play the song quickly. The choreographer, perhaps wanting to escape the unusual atmosphere, immediately played the song.
Then, something astonishing happened.
"…Uh?"
Surprisingly, the Heavenly Demon was memorizing the choreography. But that wasn't what surprised me.
The fact that the Heavenly Demon was memorizing the choreography wasn't actually surprising. He is the Heavenly Demon. Seeing an idol choreography once would have been enough.
He even danced well. Even Jaha was watching in a trance. Since Gupailbang's choreography incorporated many martial arts movements to fit the martial arts concept, it wasn't surprising that the Heavenly Demon executed it perfectly beyond imagination.
So, what surprised me was. Even though it was a practice room blocked on all sides where not a breath of wind should enter.
It was because a cool breeze brushed against my skin and even shook my hair. What is this?
"…Don't tell me, this."
The Heavenly Demon was just entering the 'Qi Deviation, what's up, punk' part. I shouted urgently.
"You must not infuse internal energy!!"
The moment the Heavenly Demon finished the movement. With a sound like eardrums tearing, the practice room's full-length mirror shattered into pieces.
K-tsch's CEO was looking at the office wall where construction was in full swing.
'I wanted to leave the Heavenly Demon's traces as they were if possible, but.'
Instead of the existing office which had become open-plan, he had set up a temporary office on another floor of the company building. Although known as a person crazy about martial arts, he had lived fulfilling his duties as a human and as a CEO.
When the Heavenly Demon appeared, fortunately only Gupailbang's general manager was inside, so there were no injuries. However, among the employees who witnessed the scene belatedly, rumors were circulating about anti-fan terror or signs of building collapse.
If he left the broken office building as it was, there would undoubtedly be talk behind his back.
'It's a shame, but it can't be helped.'
There is no need to obsess over traces. The Heavenly Demon has already fallen into his hands. Is a wall he broke such a big deal?
'But what Nahan said bothers me.' So-ui said he felt a 'disturbing energy.'
Why did Nahan say such a thing.... Did he notice something?
'Since Ilgeom decided to keep an eye on Nahan, it should be fine for the time being.'
Having concluded, the CEO bowed politely to the workers under construction.
"Please take good care of the construction."
Hearing the answer from the workers not to worry and leave it to them, the CEO smiled brightly and returned from the construction site. By now, the Heavenly Demon must be stepping through child's play-like forms and mingling appropriately.
As a result of talking briefly while fitting clothes, the Heavenly Demon unexpectedly possessed a considerable level of modern knowledge. Although it was biased information about idols, and specifically Gupailbang.
But there was a reason it had to be so. The CEO recalled his conversation with the Heavenly Demon.
It was when the CEO was providing clothes for the Heavenly Demon from his favorite brand. The CEO asked the Heavenly Demon.
"Cheonma-nim, excuse me, but may I ask where you obtained such knowledge?"
"Such knowledge?"
"Like Gupailbang or idol debut...."
"Why do you want to know that?"
"It is fascinating that Cheonma-nim personally learned such trivial knowledge...."
The Heavenly Demon, wearing a shirt and looking at his reflection in the mirror, turned to the CEO with smiling eyes.
"CEO wretch. You have a suspicious side, but since you seem quick-witted and smart, I will tell you."
"Thank you. I will listen with washed ears (Sei-gyeong-cheong)."
"You mean listen respectfully (Sei-gong-cheong)."
"It is K-Listening."
"What nonsense. Anyway, when this master fell here, I tried to find the Beggars first. However, there were strangely no beggars here. So, I asked a passing child the location of the Beggars (Gaebang), and he guided me to a place called a PC Bang (Internet Cafe)."
"PC Bang… you mean? You mean you used a computer?"
"It took a considerable amount of time to learn how to use the internet, but this master learns anything quickly."
"No...."
So the investigating and grasping in his own way was the internet world...? But I couldn'I guess how that alone led to the conclusion of an idol debut. The Heavenly Demon continued.
"After that, the child told me about a cafe called 'Gaebang.' I heard inns are called cafes these days?"
"That is true, but that cafe is probably not that cafe."
"From that inn, I learned that Gupailbang is active here as well. To think you made so many Beggars into followers. Anyway, Righteous FFaction bastards are insidious."
"…Was that 'Gaebang' our kids' fan cafe?"
"Although much has changed, the children of the Beggars still have foul mouths. There were the most curses about you, CEO."
"...."
The CEO became quiet, having nothing to say, and the Heavenly Demon, who was staring blankly at such a CEO, spoke in an arrogant tone.
"So here is what I say. Offer tribute to this master as well."
"What are you speaking of?"
"The tiny PC you bastards carry around. The one the administrator wretch was holding."
"You mean a smartphone."
"Is it expensive?"
Finding it somewhat amusing that the Heavenly Demon would ask such a thing, the CEO smiled slightly. A smartphone isn't even a quarter of the price of the shirt the Heavenly Demon is wearing right now.
"You do not need to worry about such things. I have really, really a lot of money."
"Is that so?"
"I have so much money it's practically rotting away."
"…Must be nice."
"I will purchase the latest model immediately."
The CEO, who was taking out his phone to contact the store in advance, paused. The CEO spoke cautiously to the Heavenly Demon.
"…I will buy it for you, but you must not get addicted to the smartphone."
"This master is invulnerable to ten thousand poisons (Mandokbulchim)."
"?"
…So it was. Who would have imagined that the Heavenly Demon would flow in here while looking for the Beggars' Sect. It was outside the scope of assumption, but it turned out well.
Although he still hadn't figured out why on earth the Heavenly Demon was trying to debut as an idol. The CEO felt over his jacket.
He felt the latest model mobile phone he bought to offer to the Heavenly Demon. If it's to win the Heavenly Demon's favor, he can buy something like this as much as he wants.
But a useless curiosity kept rising.
'Invulnerable to ten thousand poisons… can it really prevent smartphone addiction too?'
What a truly useless thought. The CEO shook his head and turned his steps toward the practice room to offer the smartphone to the Heavenly Demon.
And what greeted the CEO there were shattered full-length mirrors, Ju Jaha dancing amidst them while blooming plum blossoms, and the Heavenly Demon watching it with a pleased look.
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