Debuting by Riding the Returnee’s Bus Chapter 77

[Jju-Gong: Confinement Slave] [Author: Ayashiro89]

[The characters and organizations appearing in this work are fictional and have no relation to reality.]

[Adult][Fan Creation][Idol Classism][Woo-Joo-Unha]

 

‘Uh….’

 

[Jju-Ppang: The Master and the Young Slave] [Author: Ayashiro88]

[The characters and organizations appearing in this work are fictional and have no relation to reality.]

[Adult][Fan Creation][Idol Classism][Woo-Joo-Unha]

 

‘Huh?’

 

[Woo-Joo-Unha: All 300 Million Dollars in Cash] [Author: HappyBirthday]

[The characters and organizations appearing in this work are fictional and have no relation to reality.]

[Adult][Fan Creation][Idol Classism][Jju-Gong]

 

‘300 million dollars? Why are they calculating in dollars?’

 

Things were definitely different than before. I didn’t know if it was a short-term or long-term phenomenon, but there were far more titles containing the word slave.

 

Actually, almost all the Fan Creation works were slave-themed. I wasn’t sure if ‘slave-themed’ was the right expression, but the keyword ‘Slave’ was written everywhere. There was even….

 

‘A comic…?’

 

It looked like a creator had drawn a comic. I didn’t know the specifics, but it was clear that the Slave Class Auction had become the trendsetter of this secret space.

 

It wasn’t just Joo Wooyoung and Lee Unha, either. I saw Jung Taehee, and as I’d seen last time, Benok’s presence was by no means small. But compared to Jju-Gong, they were just a handful. At least in this place, the whole world revolved around Woo-Joo-Unha.

 

With a slightly shaky heart, I clicked on one post. it was the comic with the highest number of recommendations and views.

 

‘Mmm….’

 

I didn’t know much about comics, but I could tell at a glance that the quality was anything but ordinary.

 

‘S-so… Joo Wooyoung is the top?’

 

It certainly seemed that way. 

 

I didn’t feel much resistance to it. Drawings felt easier to digest than text. As I slowly scrolled down….

 

‘It’s… more engaging than I expected.’

 

Before I knew it, I was actually finding it a bit interesting. I didn’t know what it was, but the art and the dialogue felt magnetic. It had a strange, unexplainable magical power. I didn’t know if the example iwas appropriate, but it felt like a forbidden grimoire I had touched once before. A forbidden book that you feel you shouldn’t enter further, shouldn’t touch, and shouldn’t open anymore.

 

Fortunately—or perhaps unfortunately—if I wanted to read any further, I’d have to create an adult account and pay for access. This was a realm forbidden to the current Lee Unha.

 

‘I’ve never been bullied by other slaves like in this comic… wait, maybe a little in the early days.’

 

“…….”

 

‘It switches to the paid version exactly at the moment Joo Wooyoung comes to save me. Truly wicked. Wicked.’

 

“…….”

 

‘But can’t all these talented people… just come out into the light and use their power for good?’

 

“…….”

 

While I was deeply focused, a voice spoke from beside me.

 

“What are you doing? What comic are you reading? Aren’t you watching the broadcast?”

 

I jumped in surprise and flailed instinctively, only to find Baek Suhyeon staring straight at me.

 

“Aaaaahhh! N-No!”

 

“Why are you so surprised?”

 

“I-it’s nothing.”

 

“…….”

 

“I was just searching around online. It feels like Wooyoung hyung is getting way too much hate.”

 

“Ah… because of the auction fail? Well… from the other fans’ perspective, I guess it’s understandable they’d be upset… but honestly, it’s not something worth worrying about too much.”

 

“…….”

 

“The people trashing him are just those who don’t know the results yet. Once the Dark Mage stage comes out, they’ll flip their stance like it never happened. It turned out great, after all. They’ll definitely start saying, ‘As expected of Joo Wooyoung,’ and all that.”

 

“…….”

 

“I don’t know if it’s any comfort, but your core fandom and Joo Wooyoung’s core fandom seem to be getting along well… on certain SNS platforms, they’re grouping you two together and cheering for you like crazy.”

 

“Ah, really? Which SNS?”

 

“I forget… but I’ve seen it. Anyway, I think the people leaving comments and swearing right now just need someone to hate. They’re the type who can change their stance at any time….”

 

‘I know that too.’

 

In fact, I already understood exactly what Baek Suhyeon was trying to say. Honestly, I didn’t even care that much about Joo Wooyoung getting hate. As time passed, the current conflict would vanish as if it never existed.

 

However, I couldn’t help but be bothered by those trying to drive a wedge between Lee Unha and Joo Wooyoung. As Baek Suhyeon said, the core fans were supporting each other, but people from all over were swarming like pests, trying to split the two fandoms….

 

‘How am I supposed not to care about that?’

 

I could guarantee that some would be influenced. If you were constantly surrounded by all sorts of public opinion, sooner or later some fans would inevitably begin nurturing seeds of doubt in their hearts. Especially when the person they cherished most was involved.

 

“But… aren’t you going to watch the rest of the broadcast?”

 

“No, I’m watching.”

 

‘It’s just hard to focus. Honestly, I already know what’s going to happen afterward anyway… there’s not much point in monitoring it.’

 

The conflicts each team went through—and how they overcame them—would probably make up Episode 4, while Episode 5 would show the preparations leading up to the Dark Mage performance. 

 

Since drawing out aggro was this PD’s specialty, I suspected the Dark Mage stage wouldn’t be revealed until Episode 6. 

 

They also had to give more attention to the Commoner Class, whose screen time had been steadily increasing… so there was no need to watch with intensity right now.

 

For now, figuring out the current state of the tension between Joo Wooyoung and Lee Unha came first. No, even if I figured it out, I couldn’t do anything about it immediately, but I just wanted to know. Even though I knew that acquiring information was only amplifying my anxiety rather than relieving it, I couldn’t stop this habit I’d had for ages.

 

“Unha.”

 

“Yeah, I’m watching.”

 

It was while I was continuing to monitor and search. 

 

Suddenly.

 

Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep. Bee-ri-ri-ri.

 

The sound of the door opening echoed. Baek Suhyeon reacted faster than me to the sudden sound of the digital lock. He jumped up and ran to the door.

 

“Uh… eh?”

 

“?”

 

“W-wait… uh… Hyung?”

 

Judging by the puzzled tone in his voice, it didn’t seem like they lived together. It seemed the guy’s older brother had paid a sudden visit, so I got up and prepared to greet him. Baek Suhyeon looked like he hadn’t seen his family in a long time and seemed to be walking on eggshells around them, so I wanted to leave a good impression.

 

And then….

 

“Uh… eh?”

 

“Ah. I guess I came too suddenly without calling… You were with a friend.”

 

“Yes… Hyung.”

 

“Suhyeon. How have you been?”

 

“Fine… but why so suddenly….”

 

“What do you mean why? I came to see your face. I heard you were coming home today… and I figured you’d come here instead of the main house…. I naturally have a lot I’m curious about—how you’re doing, how things are going.”

 

“Yes….”

 

“Father, Mother, and your older brothers all want to talk to you again.”

 

“R-really?”

 

“Yes… Anyway, let’s go inside and talk. I should greet your friend too.”

 

“Uh… yes, Hyung. This is my friend… Hyung, did you see the broadcast? He’s Lee Unha, he’s really famous.”

 

“Of course~ I know. So you’re Unha?”

 

An unbelievable sight entered my vision.

 

“Mas…ter?”

 

“…….”

 

“?”

 

“…….”

 

“?”

 

I couldn’t distinguish whether what I was seeing was a dream or reality. But the eyes looking down at me reminded me of someone. The hair was different, and the overall face shape was slightly different, but….

 

Those eyes.

 

Yes, those eyes reminded me of the Master. 

 

It wasn’t just the eyes. The entire image pointed to him being the Master. I had no leeway to check for mana aptitude or if he actually possessed magic. The time for rational thought had passed long ago. 

 

It was hard to breathe, and my head was spinning. Reflexively….

 

“Ugh… ugh….”

 

“…….”

 

“AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!”

 

Screaming… I bolted straight into the bathroom.

 

“F-Fck!… Fck!!! Fck!!!! Huff… huff… Damn it… urgh… blegh.”

 

A voice came from outside the door.

 

“Unha! Lee Unha! Are you okay? Unha!”

 

Startled by my sudden outburst, Baek Suhyeon was shouting. Naturally, I had no intention of answering that voice. I had to assume the possibility that he was a lackey of the Master. 

 

Maybe bringing me here was the plan all along. Maybe all of this was the handiwork of the Master—no, that mad dark mage bastard.

 

‘Is it the Master? Did I… did I see wrong? Was it the Master? Was it that… that mad dark mage bastard?’

 

More importantly…

 

‘How is he here? How… how is he on Earth?’

 

F-Fck.

 

‘Why did I stupidly run into the bathroom? There were easier places to escape to. I practically trapped myself.’

 

No.

 

‘Instead of panicking… I need to figure out how to get out of this.’

 

There was only one answer. The answer was already decided.

 

‘Joo Wooyoung. Joo Wooyoung.’

 

I naturally thought of the person who would be my safety device. Yes, if it was Joo Wooyoung, he would beat that mad dark mage to death. He would immediately reveal his Stigma, summon the Holy Spear, and pierce the bastard’s throat. 

 

As much as he loathed demons, he loathed dark mages too; he would never forgive such a lunatic for roaming around in broad daylight.

 

‘Please. Pick up. Please… please….’

 

‘Please… please!!’

 

Fortunately, I heard Joo Wooyoung answer the call immediately. Whether from relief or because my tension snapped, a sob mixed into my voice.

 

“W-Wooyoung hyung! Please… please come! H-here… where I am is….”

 

— Unha? What’s going on all of a sudden?

 

“D-don’t say anything, sob… please just come. Don’t ask anything and just please come… sniff….”

 

— Unha? Just calm down for a second and talk to me.

 

“Hurry! Sob. Hic… please come quickly!!!”

 

— Huh?

 

“I said come quickly!!! Dammit!! N-no… can’t you just come without asking anything? Please….”

 

— …….

 

“…….”

 

Realizing I had just completely lost it, I shut my mouth. While I anxiously waited for Joo Wooyoung’s answer, after a short moment, his voice came through.

 

— I’m coming now. Just wait a little bit.