Holy Idol

Chapter 8: Gathering Of Believers

Proofreader: Gandy

***

“They made it to the real-search again!”

“That’s a good reaction!”

“Yeonwoo is on top, Hyegyul, Jungseo, and KC are also on the search list! Good job!”

They could hear employees shouting from all over the place.

The members looked puzzled at first, but soon smiled brightly.

The effect of noise marketing was all or nothing. Thanks to Yeonwoo’s crazy behavior, they got the buzz, but they didn’t know which direction it would go so they were anxious. Fortunately, it went to the good side.

“Thank you!”

As the leader, Jungseo, greeted the staff, the other members next to him also greeted.

Only Rembrary, who had nothing to be grateful for, was straightening his back, but was forced to say hello because Jongwoo pressed him down.

The staff burst into laughter at the sight.

The only person who didn’t look good was Taein, who didn’t make it to the real-time search keyword.

“You and KC are both the vocalists. It’s because KC has a lot of high notes this time so he stood out. Don’t be so disappointed, okay?”

Though the leader, Jungseo, comforted his emotions, Taein’s expression still did not brighten.

Either way, Rembrary sneaked into the office and asked Hyegyul.

“The real-search is the real-time search keyword, right? Is there anything good about being there?”

“You don’t even know that? Ah, you lost your memory. Sorry. It means getting more popular.”

“Is that a big deal?”

“The most important thing in this field is popularity, hyung.”

Hyegyul smiled bitterly.

“Even if you get cursed at from everywhere but still have popularity, it’s still a lot better than having a good image but without popularity.”

“Ah.”

Rembrary nodded and asked again.

“You, no, we have not been there for 3 years, right?”

“Mm.”

“Why is that?”

“Are you picking a fight with me?”

“No, if getting cursed at but still having popularity is good, what I’m saying is, would it not be better if a person acts crazy.”

“It’s because the image would worsen.”

“Did you not say that popularity is more important than your image?”

“Yes, but it’s not good in the long run. If you have a bad image but you’re still popular, you won’t be able shoot commercials. You’re just a loudspeaker or folding screen and be called here and there, treated like consumables.”

(T/N: I’m not really sure what they meant with loudspeaker but I think they meant like they’ll be used to gain attention and be treated as folding screen which means useless)

This place is also quite complicated.

As Rembrary was thinking to himself, Jongwoo, who had been walking in front of him, stepped back and walked up to him and held his cell phone to him.

“Yeonwoo! Your picture is here! It came out really well!”

Inside the cell phone, ‘Woo Yeonwoo’, who was in the coffin wearing a suit, was looking at the camera, with a pale face and dark circle around his eyes.

To Rembrary’s eyes, it looked like a body that hadn’t fallen asleep for about 100 years, but Jongwoo and the members  were amazed.

Even Taein, who had a dark face all this time said, “It came out well.”

Rembrary titled his head thinking that the aesthetics of this world were so peculiar.

***

Since the staff, as well as CEO Im praised him, Rembrary expected to practice less choreography.

He doesn’t mean that he won’t practice dancing at all, but he doesn’t want to dance all day long.

He has to find a way back to the world. He was stuck in dance practice all day, so he was having a hard time getting used to this world, let alone find a way to go back.

However, Rembrary didn’t have a choice, and as soon as they returned to their agency, they had to practice the choreography even harder.

The next morning, only small eggs and salads were served for breakfast.

“What is this? Is this the meal? Why is it just this?

It was the leader Jungseo that brought the eggs and salads for breakfast, so when the youngest Hyegyul whiningly complained, he bluntly delivered their manager Jongwoo’s words.

“Lose three kilograms in total. We look too plump on the screen, he said.”

“If we lose three kilograms now, won’t we look too thin?”

“I don’t know. He said lose it so just lose it.”

They had a similar meal for lunch and dinner, and even though they had such a poor meal, they still continued to practice dancing all day long.

As soon as they came back to the dorm, the members washed up and were immediately knocked out. There was no time to talk and do anything.

Rembrary was fortunate to be able to heal his own body with his divine power.

And on Sunday, when they have to go on stage for the third time.

Rembrary danced and came down a little more comfortable than the second stage. As soon as he got off the stage, Jongwoo, istead of being nervous, boasted that they have a stage next week as well.

Rembrary yawned and watched the stylist take things in and out of his clothes. Then he changed his clothes and went outside the broadcasting station.

As they were heading to the parking lot, several women screamed in a high-pitched voice not that far away. When they looked over, the women were looking at their way and screaming.

‘Why are they screaming?’

It wasn’t a scream of pain. The sound was too small for that.

When Rembrary looked their way in wonder, they hesitated and looked at each other, and then ran towards his direction at the same time and held out the papers in their hands.

One woman held out a paper bag, which contained flowers, letters, and smaller rectangular boxes.

“What is this?”

When Rembrary confusedly received those things, the women looked at each other and burst into laughter.

Her face then turned red and murmured words he doesn’t know if she is answering him or talking to herself.

“It’s a gift!”

“We’re your number one fan oppa!”

“I knew you were going to float!”

“I’ve been buying your music since your debut!”

Rembrary’s bewildering mood quickly disappears. He understood this situation. This is because even when he was in the original world, when they saw Rembrary, believers flocked to him and showed such behavior.

Rembrary burst into laughter, and put the boxes that the women gave out one by one on the back of his hand, and then smiled broadly.

“Thank you. Young believers are truly generous.”

“Believer?”

The women were puzzled by Rembrary’s words, but soon answered with a smile.

“Are we oppa’s believers?’

“I’ll be a believer. Yeonwoo religion created, Yeonwoo religion!”

“Oppa will be the religion leader!”

The women were joking, but Rembrary sincerely  understood and smiled happily.

‘The charm that attracts believers does not fade no matter what the body is.’

After entering the body of an idol named ‘Woo Yeonwoo’, he was treated like he was crazy and was dragged around, so when he was being loved by familiar believers, he became comfortable and used to it.

Suddenly, Rembrary thought that if he quit being an idol later, he would be okay with becoming a clergyman in this world.

Of course, he’s not going to be a priest here.

He is trying to become a clergyman of the ‘God Redrin’ that he originally worshiped.

Wouldn’t it be possible since he still has his divine power…

‘No’

Rembrary shook his head.

It’s quite tempting, and there’s nothing bad about trying it out later, but what’s important right now was to find a way back to the world.

People there will be waiting for Rembrary’s salvation.

‘I have to find a way back quickly. I can build a temple and receive the believers later.’

“I will become a priest when I have more believers.”

But the possibility of building a temple later was set aside by Rembrary first.

The women screamed and laughed at the words again.

Rembrary hugged the gift and kissed her hand, and the women became even more happy.

“How come you’re better at training now that you have lost your memory?”

“What do you mean training?”

“Your fan service skills have improved.”

“Fan service? Ah. You are talking about believer management.”

“What?”

“Putting that aside, why do you call it training?”

“I’m not sure”

Jongwoo tilted his head and said anxiously.

“The fans lowered themselves deliberately so it’s called training, but in fact, they do this to act cute, you know that right, Yeonwoo-ya? It’s good to do a concept in moderation, but don’t cross the line.”

Instead of answering, Rembrary asked cautiously.

“Jongwoo-ya, is there a religion here?”

“Religion?”

Jongwoo was puzzled by Rembrary’s out of nowhere question, and asked again.

“Why suddenly ask about religion?”

Hyegyul who was besides him giggled.

“Are you really going to make Yeonwoo Religion?”

Rembrary shook his head.

The reason why he asked if there’s a religion here was because he wants to communicate with the gods in this place.

If there is a god here, why not ask them how to go back?

It was the next thought that came to mind after the idea of ​​the Redrin Temple.

Jongwoo answered despite having mixed feelings.

“Of course there’s a religion. A lot of them.”

“Which one has the greatest influence?”

“Buddhism, Catholic Church, Christian Church, Islam, Judaism, Confucianism? In our country, Buddhism, Catholic Church, Christian Church, and Confucianism are the most common. There’s also a lot of people who have no religion.”

“That is a lot.”

“Why? Do you want to have a religion?”

“… What is the closest religion from our dormitory?”

“Hansol Catholic Church”  KC, who was on the side. replied instead.

“That’s where I go. Why? Do you want to come too? Are you a Catholic?”

Rembrary then asked while looking at Jongwoo.

“Can I go there for a while on Monday?”

***

It’s out of the blue, but Jongwoo still allowed it. Hyegul also said that he would go with him.

As soon as Monday came, Rembrary pestered Hyegyul and went to Hansol Cathedral in the morning.It was a weekday and it’s morning, so there weren’t many people.

(T/N: The name really has Hyegyul on the raw, so I’m thinking that it was author’s mistake and that it’s actually KC.)

Rembrary tried to look for traces of his god here and there, scouring the inside of the cathedral.

He could weakly feel it but… It is not easy.

‘Is it because he’s a god from another world?’

‘I should meet the priest here before i forget.’

KC, who was pointing with his fingers at places, and explaining, not knowing that Rembrary was thinking of something different, dragged Rembrary by the arm and said,

“This way.”

As he followed, there he saw something on top of a long narrow wooden pedestal a stone plate.

While I was looking at it, KC explained what it was.

“It’s pretty famous, so there are people who come to see it. It’s a sacred object.”

“A sacred object?”

“Apparently, the water fills up the plate when an angel comes.”

After speaking, as if something is weird, KC added cynically.

“I think it’s a misconception and it’s just because of the rain though.”

“I see…”

Rembrary, who thought that he finally found a trace of his god and a way to return to his original world, and was saddened by KC’s words, touched the plate.

He didn’t touch it with any other intention, and just touched it casually. Since there was no sign saying ‘Do not Touch’ or ‘Touching is not Allowed. But the moment Rembrary touched it, clear water suddenly began to rise from the bottom of the plate.

“Also, again-”

As KC turned his head, the flustered Rembrary turned the plate over with his one hand, then used his other hand to take out his handkerchief to wipe the water.

Almost at the same time, there was a strange click sound that came from behind.

As Rembrary looks back, he sees a stranger who has their cell phone out and pointed towards their direction.

***