Just when I thought my stress levels couldn't get worse… The crowd outside suddenly went dead silent.
Yue stiffened. Hua Lian's smile froze.
I turned around. And there he was.
The Demon King. Tall. Clad in black armor. A huge demonic aura rolling off him.
Oh. Oh, shit. He looked at me.
"Are you the one behind this… Abyss Idol competition?"
I considered my options.
1. Deny everything and run.
2. Blame Hua Lian.
3. Accept my fate.
I cleared my throat. "…Yes?" The Demon King stared. Then— He pulled out a lute.
"I'd like to sign up." I passed out. The Demon King Wants to Audition?!
When I came to, everyone was staring at me. I blinked up at Yue.
"Did… did I die?"
Yue sighed. "No. But the Demon King is waiting." I sat up too fast. And immediately regretted it.
Because yep, the Demon King was still standing there. Still holding a lute. Still waiting. I pinched myself. Not a dream.
"…You want to audition?" I repeated, just to make sure I wasn't hallucinating. The Demon King nodded.
"My generals told me about this… Abyss Idol competition." He tightened his grip on the lute. "And I have long wished to test my musical prowess." I looked at Hua Lian. He shrugged. I turned to Yue. She covered her face. I turned back to the literal King of Demons.
"…Alright," I said weakly. "Uh. You… may begin?" The Demon King nodded.
And then— He played the most tragic, soul-crushing song I had ever heard. The Song That Made Demons Cry
The moment the first note hit—The entire mountain fell silent.
A deep, resonant melody rolled through the air, dark and haunting. Even the spirits wailed.
The lyrics? Heart-wrenching.
> I once loved a fairy from the Heavenly Realm…
But she ran away with my horse…
Now I sit in my dark abyss…
Waiting for my horse to return…
I stared. Hua Lian was shaking. Yue covered her mouth. Demons—actual demons—were crying. One even fell to his knees.
"MY LORD," he sobbed. "YOUR PAIN… IT SPEAKS TO ME."
Another demon clutched his chest. "THE HORSE… IT NEVER RETURNED?!"
Even the stone statues looked sad. I just.
I just. I rubbed my temples.
"…So, um. That was… great?" The Demon King nodded seriously.
"I call it Sorrow of the Runaway Horse." I took a deep breath. Then turned to Hua Lian.
"…Fix this." Hua Lian grinned.
"Oh no," he whispered. "I'm letting this play out." I wanted to die. I Accidentally Became the Demon King's Manager
The moment the last note faded into the night, silence fell over the entire Nightshade Demon Sect. Demons sniffled. A few openly wept.
Even the elders were subtly dabbing their eyes with their sleeves.
I just. I just sat there. Processing.
Processing the fact that the Demon King—
A being feared across all realms—
Had just poured his heart out over a stolen horse. And now, everyone was waiting for my verdict.
Yue whispered. "You have to say something."
I cleared my throat. Carefully. " …That was… very… emotionally charged."
The Demon King nodded solemnly. " Yes."
A pause. He gazed at me.
"Well? Did I pass the audition?" I opened my mouth. Closed it. Because what the hell was I supposed to say?!
I turned to Hua Lian. Desperate. He grinned. "Congratulations. He's your responsibility now." My soul left my body.
Demon King's Debut Concert?!
Within minutes, rumors spread across the sect.
"The Demon King is debuting as an idol!"
"Master Long Fei Jian is his personal manager!"
"We're hosting a DEMON REALM CONCERT?!" I stood frozen. Surrounded by dozens of excited demons. Somehow, this had spiraled completely out of control.
Yue was grinning. Hua Lian looked too entertained. And the Demon King… The Demon King was practicing his bow.
"I shall bring the abyss to tears," he murmured. I regretted every decision I had ever made. Is This a Cultivation Sect or an Entertainment Agency?!.
By the next day, the Nightshade Demon Sect had completely transformed.
Disciples were designing stage props. Sect elders were discussing setlists. One demon even offered to be the pyrotechnics director.
I grabbed Yue. "What the hell is happening?!"
She just laughed. "You started it." I wanted to scream.
Hua Lian strolled past, holding a contract. "Oh, by the way, you might want to approve the Demon King's album deal."
I grabbed the contract. Read the title.
> "Sorrow of the Runaway Horse - Limited Edition Vinyl" I. I was going to pass out. Help, I'm Running a Demon Idol Agency!
I rubbed my temples. Deep breaths. Deep breaths.
"So… let me get this straight," I said slowly. I pointed at the Demon King, who was currently practicing his dramatic cloak flourish.
"You—a feared ruler of the abyss—want to hold a concert." He nodded proudly.
I pointed at the sect elders, who were arguing over backup dancer formations.
"And you all… think this is a great idea?" The Elders of Darkness, Pain, and Eternal Suffering turned to me with pure conviction.
"This is a matter of utmost importance," one said gravely.
I nearly choked. "More important than cultivating?"
Another elder sighed. "Master Long, don't be ridiculous. Cultivation and art go hand in hand." Yue clapped me on the back. Too cheerfully.
"You did say you wanted to make the sect stronger." I stared. At the Demon King, who was dramatically practicing his bow.
At the elders, who were designing elaborate stage backgrounds. At the disciples, who were stitching together intricate performance robes.
Somehow… somehow, I had created the world's first Cultivation-Entertainment Agency. The Heavenly Sect is WHAT AGAIN?! As if my life wasn't chaotic enough, a sect disciple ran in, screaming.
"Master Long! We have urgent news!"
I braced myself. "What now?" He gulped.
"The Heavenly Sect has issued an official statement…" I frowned. "And?"
"They're forming their own idol group!" WHAT?!..... THE HECK IS THAT SUPPOSED TO MEAN?!... This is what I envisioned on my reincarnation mission...I decided get reincarnated just to end up teaching some demons how to hold a music challenge...
"What do you mean by that.....?'