Chapter 488: Cliché (2) |
‘The royal road never falls.’
Out of the many scenarios, there was a reason why I chose this cliche. It was safer to choose a scenario with proven effectiveness rather than take a risk that could make the situation even worse. The same was true for the matter concerning the 27th Legion. Of course, this task was more important.
I had a lot on the line, so I had to focus on many things. This project could take care of many things at once, and it was obvious when looking at Benigoa’s bankruptcy issue, which was one of the tasks with the highest priority in the ongoing situation.
‘I’m already seeing the effects, so my assumption wasn’t wrong.’
The demon army was summoned to the continent, and it was an unprecedented situation. The few video recordings had already been broadcasted all over the continent, and many knights started to gather from all over the continent to respond.
[Details of the Kidnapping of the Honorary Cardinal. Father Basel Needs Your Prayers More Than Ever. - Reporter Kim Sung-Kyeong of the Lindel Daily Report.]
[Prayer Meeting in the Square. Father Basel’s Tears. - Vatican News]
[Oscar, Leader of the Democratic Country, Will Do Her Best to Get Rid of the Demons on the Continent. - Democratic Daily]
[Father Lee Ki-Young’s Golden Time is Estimated To Be 10 Days At Most. Kim Hyun-Sung, Guild Master of the Blue Guild, Vows to Rescue Him. - Continental Newspaper]
[Ito Sota, the Demon Worshipper, and Jin Cheong, the Demon Summoner. The Result the Two Wanted for the Continent. - Democratic Newspaper]
[Archbishop Jayna Believes Benigoa Will Help. A Prayer Meeting Will Open All Over the Continent Starting Today Until the Mission Ends. - Democratic Newspaper]
It was great news. Prayer meetings were happening every day all over the Sacred Democratic Country, and I was sure that the quality of their prayers had changed. The ordinary citizens and priests probably prayed from the bottom of their hearts, which would surely affect Benigoa. The prayer meetings happened all at once all over the continent, so it would be strange if they weren’t effective.
I didn’t know exactly how much holy power Benigoa needed for her to recover from bankruptcy, but she would surely recover a huge chunk of her holy power before the ongoing situation was resolved.
In addition, compared to Kim Hyun-Sung’s suspicions being lifted off of me, the leash I finally managed to put on Jung Ha-Yan wasn’t that big of a deal.
In other words, there was a chance that he would confess his status as a regressor once everything was done. He was probably thinking that the ongoing situation happened because of him.
‘If I had just told him that I’m a regressor, this wouldn’t have happened at the very least.’
I was sure he was having that kind of thought. I got excited at the thought that he would finally tell me things that I had been wanting to hear from him.
‘Leveling up those guys is just a bonus…’
I would be able to get rid of all evil, remove the hard-liners within the 27th Legion, and maintain the equilibrium, so I would naturally go all out on this ongoing incident. In addition, I was sure that the high priests of the 27th Legion were desperate as well.
Their motives were different from mine, but their desperation became the reason for them to synergize with each other.
‘Do you like the Four Heavenly Kings that much?’
It was sure they were thinking about clinging on to me at the cost of their lives. When I recalled the time I had spent last night with the high priests, I couldn’t help but start laughing. Their faces were full of desire to play the role of one of the Four Heavenly Kings at least once. Of course, Donovan was the exception. He was interested, but he didn’t want to play along with a human.
‘Idiot…’
He looked like one of those oldies who were incapable of following the trend.
He would have to die as one of the Four Heavenly Kings, so his uncooperative attitude started bothering me. However…
‘Muscle heads like him are easy to tempt…’
I wouldn’t even consider recruiting him as work if Belial decided to help me.
I smiled while looking at his profile.
Soon, the door opened, and I saw a familiar figure.
The casting was about to begin. I decided to speak in a serious voice because the casting was the first step of any important project out there.
“Contestant number one,” I called out.
- Here. I’m Rimoura, contestant number one.
The polite tentacle woman looked a bit nervous. I was worried that she wouldn’t show her true potential because she looked nervous. However, she nodded when I spoke words of comfort.
“You don’t have to be so nervous, Miss Rimoura. As I mentioned before, this is just a formal procedure.”
- But…
“It’s really just for formalities, so don’t be nervous. Ah, before that, please fill out this questionnaire,” I requested.
- Sure.
I already knew her nature, but we had to go through with the verification process. I smiled when I saw Rimoura writing down the appropriate answers on the questionnaire.
“Let’s see. As expected, you applied for the Four Heavenly Kings role and…”
- I’m not sure if the role will fit me, but I’ll do my best.
“If you want to maximize your impact for your first public appearance, then there are other roles suitable for you. This role also requires more acting skills than the other roles, and you’re also too beautiful to play this kind of role…” I remarked.
- I appreciate the compliment, Mr. Lee Ki-Young. I’m very happy.
“Kgh. You’ll pass with flying colors if you apply for a different role. Are you sure you’re okay with this?” I asked.
- Of course.
“All right, let’s see it.”
Belial himself had nominated Rimoura. The fact that she managed to obtain the trust of the Demon of Lies and Instigation was a good enough reason for me to consider her, but I couldn’t just give her the role she wanted.
As I mentioned before, the most important task was to wrap this up beautifully.
‘If worse comes to worst, I’ll assign her a role that’s not too impactful.’
There could be a controversy about how I was giving her special treatment, but Belial himself had nominated her. Similar to the idol debut program of broadcast companies, I had to be like them and use some of my influence.
Honestly, I wasn’t expecting much from her, but the sudden change in the atmosphere rendered me speechless. She was so good that she was comparable to Ahn Ki-Mo and Kim Ye-Ri, who were slowly developing into professional actors.
There was a popular saying that the atmosphere in the room would change whenever a real actor started acting, and they were not lying at all.
‘Actor Ri, you’re good at getting into the role. Amazing. Simply amazing. Nice. Where has a gem like you been hiding all this time?’
I felt like I was going to get sucked into her eyes, and she was emitting an unknown aura rather than mana.
- H-H-How could I… be destroyed like this? How could I be defeated like this?!
‘Nice breathing and vocals.’
- Don’t think that this is the end, you pests! The 27th Legion will return. We’ll return to this continent one day, and we will make each and every one of you uncivilized humans suffer! You’ll become fleshly bodies that can neither die nor live, and you’ll suffer in the pit of fire for eternity! Mark my words, you pests! We…
‘Wow, look at her gaze. They’re terrifying.’
- We’ll return!
‘Her voice is giving me goosebumps.’
- Rimoura of the 27th Legion will never give up until every single human pest has been stomped to death! I’ll shred all of you into pieces! I’ll kill you all! I’ll kill you aaaaaall!
Her tentacles abruptly shot up like porcupines with their quills pointing up. Tears of blood rolled down her cheeks, and she quivered incessantly in fury. She bit her lips hard, and they started bleeding.
For some reason, the sight looked familiar. She reminded me of…
‘...Jung Ha-Yan.’
Jung Ha-Yan acted similarly once she was extremely angry. It seemed that Rimoura had learned a lot from her previous encounter with Jung Ha-Yan.
I wasn’t certain, but it felt as if she had used Jung Ha-Yan as a benchmark.
Since the role required the actor to instill fear into the expedition party, I thought it would be impossible with Rimoura’s appearance. However, she completely overturned my expectations. Not only did I unexpectedly stand up, but I also started clapping.
“T-That was perfect. Wow… You did not use killing intent or mana, but your performance was still great. Honestly, I thought you’d find it difficult because of your appearance, but it was so perfect that I’m at a loss for words. Really…” I said.
- Is that… true?
“Yes. Why would I lie about it? Now I understand why Belial trusts you so much, Miss Rimoura. Hahaha. I finally understand why you’re the gem of the 27th Legion,” I continued.
“Y-You’re embarrassing me, Mr. Lee Ki-Young. I just got a hint from that crazy woman.
“That’s not important. What’s important is your acting skills and the fact that you managed to play the role properly. There’s no need for me to say anymore, and there’s no need for you to wait either,” I said.
- What?
“Hahaha. It’s kind of early, but I believe the role was made for you, Miss Rimoura. I need to interview the others as well, but I don’t think I need to think about this role any longer… I’ll cast you for the role. I’m looking forward to working together with you,” I replied.
- Kyah! Thank you!
She released a short gasp, which was unlike her, but it made me feel better. I started feeling warm and fuzzy because the project was slowly taking shape. Unfortunately, the warm and fuzzy feeling inside me didn’t last that long.
‘Ha…’
- W-W-What did you say?
There were demons who kept on stuttering like Jung Ha-Yan…
- They were the weakest of the Four Heavenly Kings. Don’t you think you’re being too arrogant when you just barely managed to get rid of them?
And there were demons who read the script as if they were reading a book…
The acting skills of the leading actors weren’t bad, but the leading actors wouldn’t shine without the supporting actors.
I started feeling like bringing over Ahn Ki-Mo, Kim Ye-Ri, and Park Deok-Gu here.
“Contestant number 34.”
‘A landmine!’
“Contestant number 49.”
‘You won’t be enough…’
In the end, I started thinking about decreasing the number of lines of the other kings.
Finally, Donovan—a seeded nominee for the Four Heavenly Kings role—slowly walked into the room. He looked like he was in a bad mood. He was known to be a serious and strict man, so he naturally wasn’t happy to see us playing around like children.
‘Let’s see…’
“Contestant number 56. Ah… it’s Mr. Donovan. Mr. Donovan. I’m extremely honored that you have decided to participate. As expected—”
- Stop. Stop making fun of me before I rip that dirty mouth of yours, you pest.
“...”
- I have no intention of playing along with your childish games. I only came here because Belial asked me to do so. I’m not planning on doing any interviews or auditions, and I’m not going to do anything you ask me to do.
‘You… bastard.’
I expected it, but he was even more uncooperative than I thought.
I clenched my fists tightly, but I smiled and pretended like I was happy.