Holy Idol

Chapter 15: 1st Round

Eunseon was flabbergasted by Rembrary’s ambitious answer and laughed.

Rembrary’s answer was given with his divine power in mind, which is bound to be mixed, but it sounded very arrogant and haughty to Eunseon.

In the end, Eunseon responded awkwardly.

“Your mental is awesome.”

“”Yes, I have a good mentality.”

(T/N: Eunseon used the english word Mental just spelled in korean, while Rembrary used the korean word for mentality.)

He was able to automatically speak and understand Yeonwoo’s language, but that did not mean that Rembrary’s ability to speak the language has become as natural as a native Korean speaker. Because of this, Rembrary’s words are like words from a dictionary, so it’s hard for ordinary people to understand him.

Eunseon laughed mechanically at Rembrary’s words that sounded like self-praise and looked away.

She thought, ‘Unlike the rumours, the real person is pretty nice. As expected, his personality is quite unique.’

Rembrary just smiled softly, not knowing Eunseon’s thoughts.

Then he turned around to return to the waiting room. He saw Seon Woosil looking in his direction attempting to provoke him. When their eyes met, Seon Woosil raised only one side of his mouth and exaggeratedly sneered.

However, something surprising happened.

When Eunseon pushed the camera in and said,

“Seon Woosil-ssi, please cheer for Woo Yeonwoo-ssi!”

His expression suddenly softened.

His expression completely changed that if they did not see it with their own eyes, they would think that it was his twin. With such expression, Seon Woosil said like Rembrary is his closest younger brother,

“Well, our Yeonwoo-ya will do well. Since he’s capable.”

However, as soon as Seon Woosil’s camera went down, the gentle expression and big smile returned to normal.

Eunseon then closed the camera and asked a small question to the flustered Rembrary.

“I heard that Woo Yeonwoo-ssi and Seon Woosil-ssi had a fight. Is that true?”

“Who said that?”

“Uh…… There’s a lot of information coming from here and there. There’s also a lot of rumors.”

“…..”

“Is it true?”

Rembrary opened his mouth to answer that he didn’t know. But before Rembrary could respond, Jongwoo said, “No.” first and interrupted him.

“There’s no way.”

Then he smiles naturally and urges Rembrary to walk quickly.

Later, when Eunseon left for a while, Jongwoo explained the situation in a quiet voice.

“You heard what Eunseon said earlier. There’s a lot of information and rumors going around.”

“?”

“You have to watch what you say in this industry. Even if you do have a bad relationship, never admit it. Don’t even look at the person you have a bad relationship with. Even if you have fist fight in front of their eyes, always say it’s not bad when they ask.”

“I do not plan to speak ill of someone but… why do I have to do that?”

“Because we don’t know when someone will talk about you in an entertainment show or in an interview.”

“What is wrong with talking about me?”

“There are two topics that people expect from celebrities. A story that they can relate to. And a story about the entertainment world.”

“Story about the entertainment world?”

“From celebrities to non-celebrities, everyone is included. When they’re on TV and are in the spotlight, they show themselves a little differently. People are curious about that world.”

“Is that so?”

“Yeah. Stories about a fellow celebrity, rumors in the entertainment industry, and interesting filming behind-the-scenes.”

Jongwoo sighed.

“Interviews are a little better. But if you go into a variety show, stories about the entertainment industry are better than relatable stories. And entertainment industry stories have to be stimulating. That way, it can become a hot topic, and it will be talked about in other variety shows as well. How can you make it stimulating? You have to talk about everything, pretend you know what you don’t know, and exaggerate the little things. What if you admit that you and Seon Woosil don’t have a good relationship?Then at some point, there will be a rumor that you and him are sworn enemies.”

(T/N: Variety Show: Shows like Running Man, 2 Days and 1 night, etc.)

Jongwoo wanted to talk more but Eunseon returned, so he quickly shut his mouth.

Jongwoo made a “shhh” sign to the Rembrary and went outside.

KC was in front, so it seemed like he was going to the waiting room there.

Rembrary sat on the sofa in the waiting room, reflecting on what Jongwoo said.

‘How long have I been doing that?’

While he was spacing out, a buzzing music rang, spreading throughout the room.

He reflexively looked toward Eunseon. Eunseon, who was checking the small camera attached to the camera, informed him.

“I guess the first performer has started. Do you want to watch it on tv?”

“No. It is okay.”

Rembrary listened, but even though he could hear the music, it rang so much that it was difficult to appreciate properly. The same was true for the second and third performer. Then, when it was time for the sixth performer, Rembrary gave up listening to music that he couldn’t hear well and went outside.

Eunseon said he could go to someone else’s waiting room before his turn, so he thought of going to KC.

“Oh? Are you going to KC-ssi?”

“Yes.”

“Are you going there to cheer him on?”

“I’m going to see if he will do well.”

Eunseon quickly turned on the camera and followed him.

Rembrary, not being bothered by Eunseon following him, knocked on KC’s waiting room door.

But the call to come in was not immediately heard.

“?”

Strangely, it took quite a long time before the door opened and Jongwoo appeared.

“Ah, it’s Yeonwoo.”

It’s a face that looked more tired than before.

Besides, there’s a musty smell.

When Rembrary looked at him strangely, Jongwoo stepped aside and said,

“Come in.”

The smell was even worse in the waiting room. The smell of someone’s vomit.

“What is this smell?”

Still, when asked, Jongwoo said in an embarrassed voice.

“I guess KC was really nervous. He vomited everything he ate.”

“He vomited?”

“Yeah.”

Rembrary recalled what Jungseo said, that KC has a very weak mentality.

‘Looks like it is true.’

“What about the dancers?”

“I thought it’ll be easier for him to calm down if there’s less people around. So I rented another waiting room.”

Jongwoo clicked his tongue and looked at the sofa. KC was curled up in the corner of the sofa.

“KC-ya. You’re good enough to win first place as long as you don’t get really nervous.”

Jongwoo consoled helplessly, but it didn’t seem to have much of an effect.

Rembrary looked at KC and approached him.

He didn’t want to use his divine power for small things, but KC was a member who sometimes helped him, even though he was grumbling, when he first came into Yeonwoo’s body.

He thought it’ll be okay to help him at least once.

“Just let him be, Yeonwoo-ya.”

The tired Jongwoo bluntly said to stop him, but Rembrary still approached KC and put his hand on his head, letting a little divine power flow.

“Ah, just leave me alone.”

KC said bluntly at first, but when Rembrary’s hand touched him, he stayed still. His body instinctively reacted to the divine power.

“······”

KC stayed still and eventually closed his eyes.

Rembrary confirmed that KC is already half asleep, and said as if he didn’t do anything,

“He fell asleep.”

***

After entering the waiting room, Rembrary spent time looking at the lyrics.

Eunseon pushed the camera towards Rembrary for about 30 minutes, but when Rembrary didn’t take any action, she eventually lost her interest and lowered the camera.

“Woo Yeonwoo-ssi, I thought you weren’t scared of the camera at first but now I change my mind.”

As Eunseon complained about him, Rembrary looked at her.

“?”

“You’re not afraid of the camera but you just ignore it.”

“… Is that not how it is usually done?”

“Usually, when the camera is on them, they’ll talk a lot to themselves. Since It’s a good way to pick up a lot of footage.”

“Ah.”

Rembrary nodded, but instead of talking to himself in front of the camera, he was eager to check the lyrics he had memorized again.

Eunseon sat down and turned on the TV. On the TV, other singers were on stage. It was messy because it wasn’t edited, but they could still see how it was performed.

“Oh, It’s KC-ssi.”

When Eunseon turned on the TV, KC was just coming up on stage.

Rembrary took his gaze away from the piece of paper, on which he wrote the lyrics, and looked at KC.

When the person who has the role of a host murmured something, the music came out right away.

The musical music that KC prepared and the movement started at the same time, KC immediately stepped in without missing a beat.

Then he picked up the microphone and began to sing skillfully.

It was a great stage with good expression and support for singing and dancing.

Eunseon clapped her hands when KC finished the stage.

‘The people from this world accept divine power well.’

Rembrary muttered the lyrics again, satisfied that he had been helpful.

In the meantime, time passed quickly, and the 17th participant went up on the stage.

Then the door opened without knocking,and the staff came in and said, to notify Rembrary.

“Please wait behind the stage in advance.”

When Rembrary got up from the sofa and put down the lyrics, Jongwoo, who was in the hallway, ran busily.

“Ya, Yeonwoo-ya, did you see KC’s performance?”

“I saw it.”

“Isn’t he really good? Don’t you think he can go for the top spot?”

Jongwoo was smiling broadly, happy that KC finished his performance without making a mistake.

Rembrary appropriately went backstage.

But unexpectedly, Seon Woosil came to the stage first.

However, instead of being surprised, Seon Woosil laughed and sarcastically said.

“Ah, Our hoobae-nim, what to do? He’s the performer after me.”

(T/N: Hoobae=junior)

He apparently knows that he’s in a similar order with Rembrary.

Jongwoo looked at Seon Woosil and Rembrary alternately with an anxious face.

However, Seon Woosil was not simply in a similar order.

It was number 19.

When his turn came, Seon Woosil, unlike KC, with only his mental strength, proudly went on stage

Rembrary stared at the stage.

He was the one who argued about singing, so he wondered just how well he sings.

The starting note arranged by Seon Woosil was a low note.

But the tone suddenly soared. At the same time, the sound of a guitar or whatever musical instrument rang loudly.

With that loud sound, Seon Woosil’s deafening voice could be heard.

“Hooh.”

Rembrary was genuinely impressed.

To say that Seon Woosil skills was good enough to make up for his awful personality aren’t empty words.

KC’s performance was outstanding, but Seon Woosil’s was strong and full of power. As if he was grabbing a person’s neck and shaking it.

(T/N: I have no idea what metaphor is that.)

(P/N: Me too)

Seon Woosil, who performed first, did really well so the impact was too strong.

If you make such a strong impression, it’s easy to bury the person behind you no matter how well they do.

Seon Woosill, who came down from the stage, seemed to have the same idea, and passed by with a mocking smile toward Rembrary.

“…”

However, Rembrary went up to the stage with his usual expression. When Rembrary went up, the host briefly introduced him.

Then heavy and subtle music began to play.

It was a rehearsal, but the music and lighting were no different from the main stage.

“It seems like he arranged it similarly to Seon Woosil.”

“I think he will do it lower and scream as a twist.”

Since they are veterans of the broadcasting industry in their own way, it was obvious to them how the song was arranged.

However, it was an obvious style but if it’s wonderful arrangement if sung well, so the staff looked at the stage with anticipation.

Meanwhile, through the heavy music, they started hearing the sound of several people snapping their fingers.

Then the lyrics of the prelude were heard.

[Good-]

[Good-]

[Good-]

(T/N: The word use here is 잘났어/잘났다 which means he’s doing good or that he’s capable and stuff. Can’t really explain this in one word so I’ll just use good.)

With the tune produced by the low voices rising one note after another, people looked at each other in bewilderment.

What is it? Is it rock? Acapella?

However, the moment the prelude ends and the song’s intro begins. They could see that it wasn’t acapella.

Suddenly, the black cloth covering the stage suddenly rose, and people wearing white clothes with gold decorations began to flick their fingers and chant in a low voice.

[Money money money money]

[Money money money money]

As the heavy, low voice constantly called for money in the same tone, it felt as if a demon was crouching in a cave, inducing worldly depravity.

The arrangement style was kept secret, so the staff wanted to see what kind of stage it was, so they chatted among themselves.

Through the sound of a low-pitched money, money, money chant and the gossiping of the staff, Rembrary finally began his solo song with a sad voice.

***