Chapter 880: You’ve waited a long time, haven’t you? (9)

The moment the thumbnail for Divine appeared—

we all burst into cheers.

“It’s up!”

“That’s our maknae’s face!”

“He’s so cute!”

In the vast ocean of content on NetPlus,

seeing Jiho’s face pop out like that felt both surreal and deeply satisfying.

Because we knew just how much he had gone through to film this.

“Wooju hyung... can you put a patch on this for me...?”

“It’s fine. Just a scratch from the bushes. It’ll heal in a few days. I’m tough.”

“Wow. That sounded really grown-up just now. I guess I’m all grown up?”

Our youngest, juggling intense filming alongside a packed schedule.

The image of Jiho staying up all night at the dorm, flipping through his script and practicing, passed through my mind.

I was proud. Truly proud.

Knowing how much effort and hardship went into this one drama,

all I could do was smile and pat him on the back.

“Jiho, you really worked hard.”

“Hyungs, it was seriously tough!”

“We know. We know.”

We hugged the whining Jiho and patted his back together.

The drama hadn’t even started yet, but his eyes were already glistening with tears.

Munching on apples Biju kept handing him, Jiho spoke with cheeks puffed like a squirrel.

“It was like a life flash before my eyes. All the struggles just passed by... wow... I’m really proud of myself. Wang Jiho.”

Jiho rubbed his hands together and smiled brightly.

“But now the rewards are coming. My name will be known all over the world, and I’ll become a huge star. You guys will look up to me.”

We all burst out laughing at the maknae’s ridiculous mindset.

Junghyun clicked the thumbnail on NetPlus with the remote.

“Shall we watch?”

“Let’s.”

Jiho’s face in traditional attire appeared in the popup, and we cheered again.

“He’s handsome.”

“I don’t know whose youngest he is, but what a face!”

“He doesn’t even need lighting. His face is glowing.”

Jiho giggled at the exaggerated praise.

[Divine]

2018 | 19+ | 10 episodes

Cast: Jiho, Kim Sihyun, Baek Giwoong... [More]

Episode 1 “Prologue”

A foundation that handles mysterious secrets.

Within it lives an immortal being.

As we read the description, Jiho exhaled deeply, rubbing his hands.

“Nervous?”

“A little. I’m the sole lead.”

“That’s understandable.”

As far as I knew, Divine was NetPlus’s first major investment in Korean content.

Budget: 15 billion won.

If I were the sole lead of a drama with one of the highest production budgets in Korea—

yeah.

Just imagining it was terrifying.

“I heard the quality is really good.”

“Yes.”

A recent internal screening had received extremely positive reactions.

Some insiders were already asking about a Season 2 contract.

Jiho, trembling dramatically, shouted,

“Whatever! Let’s just watch episode one!”

He grabbed the remote from Junghyun and was about to press play—

when Biju raised his hand.

“Wait.”

“?”

“...There’s an age rating. It says 19+.”

“......”

We all quickly turned our heads.

It was true.

Seeing the warning, a sense of dread crept in.

Scenes from the original web drama flashed through our minds.

Ri Hyuk read the tags.

“Graphic violence. Horror. May be frightening for sensitive viewers...”

“......”

“......”

“......”

The hyungs who disliked horror all looked away.

Jiho made a pitiful face.

“...You’ll still watch it with me, right?”

“......”

“......”

We hesitated.

“It’s not that scary! The violent parts are just, like... a few scenes where people get split in half or heads get chopped off. And the horror is just—like sudden jump scares...?”

“......”

“......”

Everyone fell into conflict.

Between affection and fear—

we finally took a deep breath and grabbed the remote.

“We’re only watching this because we love you. If it were anyone else, no way.”

“Seriously... what kind of suffering is this from having the wrong younger brother.”

“You’re buying late-night snacks today.”

At our grumbling, Jiho beamed.

“Wait a second.”

Ri Hyuk placed a hand on his chest and took deep breaths.

Biju was already practicing covering his ears.

Junghyun hugged a Souffle cushion tightly.

“For when it gets scary?”

“Yes.”

“Well, that cushion’s gone after today.”

As we joked—

the ‘N’ logo appeared.

“Aaaaah!”

Amid the screams of cowards, Jiho happily munched popcorn.

“I told you it’s not that scary.”

Boom—

The opening began.

Eerie background music.

The screen slowly brightened.

“...Huh?”

A woman lay sprawled on the floor, her long hair scattered.

Pale skin like wax.

Just as it felt oddly familiar—

Flash!

Her eyes snapped open—red pupils replacing her eyes.

Her mouth stretched grotesquely.

Click.

Click.

A ping-pong-like sound came from her lips.

“AAAAAH!”

“Hey!”

“You said it wasn’t scary!”

The maknae laughed happily.

At the same time—

NetPlus Korea was experiencing a surge in traffic.

Headlines flooded in:

— Divine finally unveiled... releases today at 5 PM

— NewBlack Jiho stars in Divine, will it showcase K-content’s strength?

— Mystery time-travel drama Divine press conference

It was a highly anticipated project.

Huge budget.

A cult-hit web drama adapted into a major production.

Starring Jiho.

Heavy promotion.

Red carpets, press events, variety show appearances—

word of mouth spread quickly.

“Ah... I’m excited.”

Drama fans were already thrilled.

5 PM.

The moment it dropped—

everyone pressed play.

“Damn! That scared me.”

The ping-pong ghost appeared again.

Viewers flinched.

“What is this scene?”

The ghost clung to the ceiling.

The camera pulled back—

revealing a glass containment unit.

Then—

more.

Not just one.

An enormous underground prison.

Nine-tailed wolf.

Giant creature.

Bat-like vampire.

Monsters rampaging.

Then—

two figures in hazmat suits.

Inside their specimen bag—

a butterfly with a screaming human face flapped its wings.

“This place is always creepy.”

“Seriously.”

“Let’s finish and get out.”

They placed a new prisoner inside.

Spirits swirled around it.

“Don’t get close. That thing devoured ten people.”

“What can it do? It’s locked up.”

They mocked the creatures—

until one froze.

“...Why?”

“....”

An empty cell.

Door open.

Green slime dripping.

Like a giant snail escaped.

Then—

A red eye above them.

Scream—

Blood splattered.

“...Whoa.”

The tension built—

then—

scene change.

Soft traditional music.

A study.

Jiho sat reading.

Behind him—

a hairy monster crept along the ceiling.

Blood stained its mouth.

It lunged—

Jiho moved a finger.

Ancient symbols appeared.

The monster froze midair.

“Why is something that should be contained...”

He stood.

Light enveloped him.

Teleportation.

Sirens blared.

Chaos.

Escaped creatures.

Combat.

Viewers nodded.

“Ah... world-building.”

Episode 1—just a prologue.

Setting.

Character.

Premise.

Then—

time travel plan.

Return to the past.

1900s.

End.

“Hmm...”

Viewers scratched their cheeks.

“Not bad... but kinda average.”

Good CGI.

Solid direction.

But—

nothing explosive.

Just setup.

People hesitated.

Then checked forums.

[How was Divine ep1???]

Comments flooded in.

— “Average”

— “Decent?”

— “Not as good as expected”

— “Kinda disappointing”

Mixed reactions.

Then—

suddenly—

a flood.

People returning from Episode 2.

— “Holy shit”

— “Best drama this year”

— “WATCH EP2 NOW”

— “I’m crying on the subway”

Something had happened.

“Episode 2?”

People rushed back.

Auld Lang Syne

They pressed play.

Time travel complete.

Shin I Han opened his eyes.

Bright sunlight.

Old trams.

Joseon meets modern attire.

Then—

Gyeongbokgung.

Blocked by—

Government-General building.

Title appears.

Music swells.

Then—

investigation begins.

Jiho’s acting—

sharp.

Layered.

A man pretending to be someone—

pretending to be someone else.

Subtle.

Controlled.

Then—

Manchuria.

Snow.

Independence fighters.

Then—

a soldier enters.

Familiar.

He speaks.

Casual.

Confident.

Then—

he removes his mask.

“Gasp—!”

It was Wooju.

A cameo.

Calm smile.

“We’re going to die, you said?”

“Then where should we go?”

Legendary cameo.

The moment everything changed.