Broadcast station hallway.
As I walked, I glanced at Saetbyeol.
Ever since he came home the other day with a hole in his stomach, his expression seemed a bit softer than before. The constant sneer he usually wore toward the world now felt slightly more balanced, closer to a smile. Perhaps it was more accurate to say that the one-sidedly lifted corner of his lips had finally found its place. Either way, it felt like he had released something that had been building up inside.
“So, you…”
I opened my mouth.
I was about to ask if something good had happened.
<Quiet.>
I heard Saetbyeol’s voice inside my head.
<Nothing good happened.>
“Oh, is that so?”
I grinned playfully.
“Then I won’t ask. I can pretty much guess what happened anyway.”
<Let me warn you. If you smile like that one more time, I’ll twist your neck.>
Saetbyeol and Mika seemed to have resolved at least some of their long-standing resentment. That was probably why Saetbyeol’s expression had brightened. He got to restore his relationship with his brother in exchange for getting stabbed through the stomach, which was a good trade for him. The hole in his stomach had completely healed now too.
<Focus on the schedule. This time, not only you but I will appear on the show.>
That’s right.
Saetbyeol and I were going to appear on the same program. In fact, the camera would be focused more on Saetbyeol than on me. Naturally, because the program we were filming was centered around road managers.
A reality show that glimpses celebrities’ lives through their road managers. We had come to the station for a meeting with the producers before the actual shoot.
“You know… you better not do anything weird in front of the cameras, right?”
<I know. Haven’t you seen my fake persona all this time?>
“Of course I have. But I’ve also seen plenty of your non-fake side too.”
The members also seemed quite startled by Saetbyeol’s candid personality. Now that they knew he was The Star Hated by All, Saetbyeol had no more reason to fake it in front of the members. Madojin and Jeong Noeul already knew his true personality, but Han Iro and Min Heejae were still clearly bewildered.
Understandably so. Saetbyeol had always played the role of a gentle road manager to Han Iro and Min Heejae. To learn that person was actually Satan, and now see him lying on the sofa eating snacks or swearing behind the wheel without restraint—it was a lot to take in.
From my perspective, it was nice that I no longer had to see his nauseatingly polite act.
<While filming this program…>
Saetbyeol paused and spoke.
<Observe human faith.>
“…Faith?”
I tilted my head.
People walked around us as we strolled through the station.
Without realizing it, I glanced over their faces.
<To ordinary humans, faith is considered an intangible virtue.>
Saetbyeol watched the passing people as he spoke.
<That’s why it’s seen as something noble. Of course, the constellations played a major role in shaping that. Like forcing rats to run on wheels sincerely, squeezing out every bit of effort.>
“You’re quite blunt.”
I laughed awkwardly.
“It’s true though, people do see faith as noble.”
What about for constellations?
What is faith?
I looked at Saetbyeol and asked.
<To constellations, faith is a resource.>
Saetbyeol looked around as he spoke.
<Isn’t it obvious? They raise their divinity through faith, and their power operates through it. Just like humans value resources, constellations see faith purely as a worldly commodity. They’re willing to do anything to obtain it.>
Look.
Saetbyeol gestured at something.
I turned my head in the direction of his gesture. In a lounge area off to the side of the hallway, a man sat at a table staring at his phone.
“What about him?”
<Focus a bit more carefully. Thanks to Abrilah’s reincarnation, you’ve learned to handle mana—you should be able to see it. Focus the mana flowing inside you into your gaze.>
I tilted my head but followed his instructions, focusing my internal mana.
I narrowed my eyes and stared at the man.
And I saw it.
“That’s…”
A faint glow floated above the man’s head. It looked like bubbles rising or like specks of starlight returning to the sky.<That is faith.>
Saetbyeol whispered.
<He’s probably watching videos of his favorite idol on his phone, reaffirming his support and solidifying his faith, which is then harvested like that, flowing into the heavens. This is how constellations boost their divinity.>
“…I see.”
It felt unfamiliar.
Ordinary people couldn’t measure faith with their eyes.
Those who uphold their beliefs are respected precisely because they protect something invisible and intangible their whole lives. Now seeing that value take on form made me feel a bit bitter. Do constellations quantify even such noble convictions?
<Well. They probably didn’t see them as entirely worthless.>
Saetbyeol spoke calmly.
<But all harvesting takes the form of exploitation. Like humans gathering eggs from chickens. Just as chickens can never comprehend humans, constellations can never fully understand humans. They simply find them cute or pity them.>
“…I get what you mean.”
I looked away from the man.
<While filming this program, you will face live audience members at the set. Watch closely how their faith operates. That faith belongs to me, but as my avatar, you can also wield it as a power source.>
He wanted me to learn how to utilize faith.
I nodded.
“With that power… we’ll face Aiden, right?”
<Exactly.>
Saetbyeol smiled faintly.
<Utilizing faith… that is the true essence of constellations.>
When we entered the meeting room, everyone except Saetbyeol and I were already seated.
We had about 10 minutes before the meeting started. I sat down and looked around.
The staff and Laurea’s members sat facing each other.
“This… isn’t going to be a disaster, right?”
Han Iro whispered to me while leaning his head close.
“I mean… what if Satan says something weird in front of the cameras? What if the staff upset him… what if he kills everyone?”
“That won’t happen.”
I laughed.
Han Iro was holding a textbook image of Satan in his mind. Understandable. To humans, Satan was synonymous with sin itself. Han Iro seemed unable to reconcile the terrifying reputation of Satan with the time he’d spent with Kim Saetbyeol.
“Still, it’s interesting, instrument boy.”
Min Heejae tilted his head with a smile.
“You really made a fascinating contract. That man who appeared on stage during the final performance was him too, right? Strange. Why didn’t I realize until now that it was the same person?”
“All thanks to his authority, haha…”
Min Heejae was clearly curious about Saetbyeol. Understandable as well. The infamous Satan sitting beside us as a road manager—it was only natural for curiosity to bloom once he was proven harmless.
“Well then, shall we start the meeting?”
The PD finally spoke.
<We’re ready.>
Saetbyeol responded with a practiced smile.
<I’m quite nervous. I never imagined I’d be in front of cameras.>
“Haha, no need to be nervous.”
“Yeah, honestly, you could debut as a celebrity right away.”
“There are plenty of managers who’ve become entertainers too…”
The staff smiled warmly at Saetbyeol.
‘I feel sick.’
I scratched my neck as I watched Saetbyeol’s expression.
It was the kind of face perfect for throwing up your lunch.
<The program schedule is…>
Saetbyeol flipped through the papers on the table.
<First, we’ll film daily life segments with me and Laurea’s members, then we’ll have casual talks with the regular panelists on set.>
“Correct. We’d like to maintain a warm and friendly atmosphere. I heard you live together with the Laurea members at the dorm, right?”
The PD asked, and Saetbyeol nodded.
<Yes. Laurea hasn’t even been debuted for a year yet… So I felt it was my duty as their road manager to stay close. That way, I can stabilize them emotionally and take care of their schedules more effectively.>
I opened my eyes wide at Saetbyeol.
He sure could talk.
“That’s amazing…”
The head writer said with sparkling eyes.
“Then you must be very close with the members.”
<Of course. Isn’t that right, Eunyul?>
Saetbyeol turned to me.
“Uh, yeah…”
I stammered at the unexpected question.
Had he ever called me so familiarly like that before?
“O-Of course, hyung. Our manager is an amazing person.”
I forced a desperate smile.
“So there’s nothing to worry about for filming. As you can see, he’s handsome, well-spoken…”
<Hahaha, you’re embarrassing me now.>
The staff’s gazes shifted between me and Saetbyeol.
Everyone seemed to be watching us with complicated expressions.
<Though this shoot may focus on me as the road manager…>
Placing his hand on his chest, Saetbyeol spoke.
His smile was bright and refreshing.
<The manager’s role is to help the stars shine. So the real protagonists are not me, but Laurea.>
Please take good care of our kids.
Saetbyeol whispered to the staff.
Min Heejae watched Saetbyeol with his chin resting on his hand, Han Iro trembled slightly with pursed lips, Madojin stared blankly at me, while Jeong Noeul looked thoroughly entertained, watching my reaction.
‘…I’m doomed.’
To think I’d have to watch this all day.
It felt like I had fallen into hell.
Little Pink Starfish 
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