Chapter Text
Click.
He hung up.
Romance exhaled slowly. “So… what now?”
Jinu stood. Brushed imaginary lint from his dark suit, and adjusted the collar.
"We don’t have time to play games.”
He walked slowly down the aisle, steady steps echoing through the cabin, until he reached the flight attendant still standing at the front.
She smiled too sweetly—
“Is everything all right, sir?”
Jinu gave her a long, unblinking look.
“Let’s not waste time. You’re not a flight attendant. You’re not even human.”
The fake smile twitched.
Jinu tilted his head.
“We’re on a schedule. So, if you’d kindly confess whatever trap this is.... It would be easier for everyone, you know? ”
Her eyes narrowed.
“I don’t know what you mean, sir—”
“I wasn’t asking.”
His voice dropped like a blade, and behind him, the other boys began to rise, calmly.
Abby stretched his neck, Mystery tapped the edge of his charm against his wrist, and Baby was already chewing faster, eyes locked on the emergency exit.
Romance stepped back, lips mouthing a soft incantation.
The cabin lights flickered and the air grew heavy.
And then—
Her face cracked.
No, I mean, literally.
The fake skin split like paper, revealing glowing eyes and shadowed veins beneath, she let out a snarl, mouth stretching unnaturally wide as a forked tongue flicked from behind her teeth.
From the cockpit, the door exploded open—two more crew members stepped out, wings unfolding behind them.
The entire flight crew shifted at once.
Gnarled claws, skins of extravagant colors, Horns curling.
The illusion was gone.
They were surrounded, but Jinu didn’t flinch.
“Good,” he said, drawing a blade of light from his sleeve.
“Now we don’t have to pretend.”
The cabin grew silent for a single heartbeat.
And then—
The cockpit door burst open with a metallic screech.
The demon captain stepped out, towering, grotesque, his horns curved like a crown of thorns. His crimson eyes glowed with hunger.
—“So… these are the Saja Boys,” he sneered. “Pretty little idols. Glorified hunters. You think your voices can stop us? We’ll take this jet, toss your bodies into the sea, and after that—”
Baby rolled his eyes. “Wow. Groundbreaking.”
Romance sighed, leaning on a seat. “Do they ever not monologue first?”
Abby cracked his knuckles. “Hurry up. Some of us were about to eat.”
The demon’s voice rose, rage trembling through his claws.
—“I said… SILENCE! We will destroy you and then eat your—”
“NOT OUR FANS!” the five shouted in perfect unison, almost as if they had planned it.
And that was it.
The jet exploded into motion.
Crimson light. Blades flashing. Demons screeching, The boys were more violent than one would expect when it came to battling demons, of course, while singing.
(I'll do a mini time skip on this part, i can't describe fights, sorry)
The cabin was wrecked now. Seats torn apart. The smell of burned fabric and demon ash thick in the air.
Well at least the plane was still complete, thought baby as he said “Anyone still alive? besides us, I mean.”
“No one worth mentioning,” Abby replied flatly, while picking up a packet of chips.
Mystery simply adjusted his shirt scanning the remaining disaster, while Romance started eating the package happily.
Jinu hadn't said anything. He was already at the emergency exit, glancing at the altitude on the small monitor. His jaw tightened.
“We’re late,” he said.
The others exchanged a look.
Baby groaned. “Don’t tell me we’re—”
Jinu kicked the door open.
Wind roared through the cabin.
“We’re jumping,” Jinu ordered.
“Ugh, I hate when he gives us those orders.” Baby muttered, securing his staff to his back.
Romance smirked. “At least it’s dramatic.”
One by one, they stepped to the edge.
Jinu looked back once, meeting each of their gazes.
“Let’s not keep them waiting.”
And with that, they jumped.
.
.
.
.
The cavern trembled with screams.
Fire burst from cracks in the blackened stone, licking at the hanging bodies of chained humans. Their souls were being ripped from their chests, spiraling upward in streams of crimson light, feeding the monstrous throne at the center.
Gwi-ma sat upon it like a living inferno—flames wrapped in shadow, horns twisted like molten iron, his ribcage glowing with every breath as he devoured the energy.
Another human shrieked as he crushed their soul in one clawed hand.
Then—
“Enough.”
The voice was calm. Too calm for this place.
The flames flickered for just a second as Rumi stepped into the chamber. Her heels echoed against cracked stone, her dark cape trailing behind her, completely unfazed by the heat trying to burn her.
Gwi-ma’s burning eyes locked onto her, his mouth twisting into a fiery grin.
—“Well, well… look who dares to walk into my throne room uninvited.”
Rumi stopped at the base of the throne, looking up at him, her face unreadable.
—“You’re wasting time,” she said flatly.
A low, cruel laugh rumbled through the cavern.
—“Wasting time? I’m feeding, girl. What could be more important than this?”
Rumi’s gaze didn’t waver.
—“This won’t be enough. You can burn thousands, but the hunters will keep coming. You need something bigger. Something they can’t stop.”
The firelight flickered, and Gwi-ma leaned forward, intrigued despite himself.
—“Oh? And you think you know better? You, who weren’t even properly born in this world… a little creature who once belonged to them.”
Rumi didn’t react, though her hands tightened slightly at her sides.
—“I can get you millions of souls. Willingly. Not out of fear, out of desire. Make them love us, worship us. We’ll take the stage, and they’ll hand you everything.”
For a long moment, Gwi-ma just stared at her. And then burst into laughter, fire roaring around him.
—“A half demon who wants to play human… how amusing.”
—“It’ll work,” Rumi said simply.
The laughter died, and Gwi-ma leaned back into his throne, smiling like a predator.
—“Convince me.”
Rumi tilted her head slightly toward the shadows where her companions waited.
—“Girls.”
The Huntrix stepped forward, and, under Gwi-ma’s burning gaze, their skin began to shift. Claws melted into delicate human fingers, horns receded, crimson eyes softened into bright, dazzling irises. In seconds, the once terrifying demons stood as radiant idols, dressed in stylish streetwear and flashing charming smiles.
The fire cast their flawless new faces in a glowing light as they instinctively posed, almost as if they were already on stage.
Rumi was the last to change. Her figure softened, her hair gleamed naturally, and the markings on her skin vanished almost completely… except for a brief flicker, as quick as a heartbeat, that made Gwi-ma’s eyes spark with curiosity.
—“Interesting…” the demon king murmured, his grin stretching wider, predatory.
—“Go then. Make them love you. And bring me everything.”
Rumi nodded calmly.
She turned without another word, her cape vanishing with a sharp flick as she walked away, the Huntrix following close behind.
Behind them, the fire roared louder, like dark applause.
.
.
.
The screams of fans still echoed in their ears as they climbed into the car. Bobby was arguing on the phone, naming five-star hotels and private suites, but Jinu’s answer was firm.
—“We’re going home.”
Bobby sighed heavily but didn’t push it. He knew that tone—when Jinu spoke like that, there was no room for negotiation.
The apartment greeted them with quiet warmth, though it was far from modest: a sleek penthouse with wide glass windows overlooking Seoul’s glowing skyline, polished wooden floors, and walls decorated with trophies, rehearsal photos, and carefully framed fan letters.
It was luxury, yes, but the kind that screamed discipline rather than indulgence.
Baby collapsed onto the massive leather couch with a relieved groan.
—“This couch is better than any hotel bed.”
—“Agreed,” Romance murmured, stretching his arms as he tossed his jacket onto the backrest.
Abby disappeared straight into his room without a word, while Mystery stood near the glass panel in the living room, gazing at the Honmoon.
Its core glowed softly—faint, but brighter than before, pulsing like it was listening.
Jinu stood still, arms crossed, his eyes fixed on it.
We’re close… he thought. So close.
The thought hardened into resolve before he even realized it.
While the others sprawled around, half-asleep and content to rest, Jinu slipped into his small studio, flipped open his laptop, and pulled up the file he had been saving for this exact moment.
The song.
They had written it weeks ago—designed specifically to push the Honmoon’s energy to its absolute peak. A secret weapon they had agreed to use only when they were fully prepared.
Jinu didn’t ask permission.
A few quick clicks, and the track was uploaded. The title flashed across the screen:
"Golden"
A surprise comeback, notifications buzzed across the room almost instantly.
—“Wait, WHAT—?!” Baby shot upright, eyes wide. “Jinu, tell me you didn’t just—”
—“I did.” Jinu didn’t look away from the screen.
—“You’re insane!” Baby threw a cushion across the room. “We were supposed to rest for at least two days!”
Romance stared at him, incredulous.
—“Jinu… we’re not ready. We didn’t even talk about this.”
Jinu finally turned toward them, his gaze cold, determined.
—“There’s no time. If we want the Golden Honmoon, we can’t wait.”
Silence.
Mystery was the first to stand, adjusting his cap as if he had already accepted it. Abby sighed, resigned, but rose to his feet as well.
Finally, Baby let himself fall back into the couch with a dramatic groan.
—“You’re going to kill us… but fine. Let’s do it.”
Jinu gave a single nod, turning his attention back to the Honmoon.
The core pulsed brighter than before—just slightly, but enough to feel like it had heard every word.
The news exploded online within minutes.
“Saja Boys Drop Surprise Comeback: Golden! First Live Stage Announced!"
Fan forums crashed. Lightstick sales spiked. Hashtags flooded every trending list.
Inside the apartment, the five watched the chaos unfold on the big screen mounted on the wall.
Baby whistled low.
—“Well… looks like the internet’s already lost its mind.”
—“Of course they did,” Abby said flatly, scrolling through his own feed. “It’s us.”
Romance smiled faintly at a fan video playing on loop—people crying, cheering, holding signs with their names.
—“They’re excited. They deserve this.”
Jinu didn’t respond. His eyes stayed on the screen, but he wasn’t really looking at it.
Baby leaned forward suddenly, reading one of the posts aloud.
—“‘Mini concert tomorrow night, first live performance of Golden—’" Wait, did you announce that too?!”
Jinu simply nodded.
—“You’re a machine,” Baby muttered, dropping back against the couch. “Don’t you ever stop?”
Jinu’s voice was quiet, almost cold.
—“The Honmoon won’t wait.”
The room fell silent after that.
.
The next evening, the rehearsal studio buzzed with quiet energy.
The five stood in front of the mirrored wall, sweat already running down their faces as they practiced the choreography over and over again.
The song was difficult, designed to hit every beat with precision—powerful notes, sharp movements, harmonies that had to be perfect if they wanted to push the Honmoon’s power even higher.
—“Again!” Jinu’s voice cut through the room before anyone else could speak.
Baby groaned but obeyed. Abby tightened his gloves. Romance adjusted his mic earpiece, smiling tiredly but following along. Mystery didn’t say a word, but his eyes lingered on Jinu longer than usual.
They started again.
And again.
Until Jinu faltered.
It was small—just a half-second late on a step—but it was enough to make everyone notice.
Jinu froze, his breath uneven, and then… without a word, he turned away from the mirror, grabbed his jacket, and headed for the door.
The others exchanged glances but said nothing.
They were used to this.
Jinu had been like this ever since his father’s death—pushing harder than anyone, breaking before anyone, but never letting them see him fall apart completely.
The door closed behind him with a soft click.
Romance was the first to break the silence.
—“He’s going to wear himself out.”
—“He’s been wearing himself out since day one,” Baby muttered, wiping his face with a towel.
Mystery looked back at the mirror, expression unreadable.
And yet, none of them followed him, because they knew Jinu wouldn’t let them.
.
“Five minutes, boys.” Bobby’s voice echoed from the hallway. “Five minutes and we’re on.”
Everyone nodded, though without much enthusiasm.
But Jinu wasn’t there.
Mystery glanced at the clock, unease written all over his face.
“Has anyone seen him since he came back?”
“No,” Romance answered, his eyes fixed on the floor. “He came in, rehearsed with us… and vanished again.”
“This isn’t right,” Baby said, his tone far more serious than usual. “You can’t just disappear when there are five minutes left before the show.”
Abby crossed his arms, looking frustrated, but worry flickered behind his stern expression.
“It’s not like we can stop him. He does whatever he wants… and we all know why.”
No one said his father’s name, but they all thought of it.
They stayed silent. No one voiced the question lingering in the air, but it was there: Will he make it through?
--
Jinu wasn’t in the venue.
The air outside was cold, much colder than inside, but he barely felt it, he climbed the metal fire escape of the building next to the concert hall, moving quickly, and pushed open the rooftop door.
From up there, the city stretched out beneath him, glowing like a board of scattered stars.
And above it all—the Honmoon.
The massive dome of energy floated over Seoul, blanketing it like an artificial sky, translucent and alive, pulsing faintly with blue light. From where Jinu stood, he could see the barrier arching over the entire city, like a gigantic protective shield.
The Honmoon shimmered weakly, flickering, almost like it was breathing—but it wasn’t golden yet. Its edges sparked dimly, like a flame struggling to ignite.
Jinu clenched his teeth.
“So close…” he muttered.
The Honmoon’s glow reflected in his eyes. His hand trembled as he lifted it, almost as if trying to reach the barrier from afar.
His sleeve slid down slightly, revealing faint glowing marks crawling across his skin, pulsing with an uneven rhythm. Each pulse burned, answering the same beat that rippled through the Honmoon above.
Jinu’s breath came ragged, heavy.
“Just a little more… and it’ll turn gold.”
But the voice in his head didn’t sound hopeful—it sounded like a plea.
The city stretched endlessly beneath him, wrapped in silver light. From the rooftop, the Golden Honmoon shimmered like a veil of stars hanging over Seoul, pulsing faintly with every cheer from the fans below.
Jinu stood still, one hand resting on the railing, his breath uneven. Sweat clung to his temples despite the cool night breeze, and the faint, dark markings creeping up his arm glowed ever so slightly under the moonlight.
His chest rose and fell too fast, each inhale sharp, almost painful.
He dragged his sleeve down quickly, hiding the marks even though no one was there to see them. His reflection in the glass door nearby showed pale skin, almost gray under the dim rooftop lights.
"You’re falling apart," he thought bitterly, gripping the railing tighter.
The Honmoon flickered faintly above him, its golden hue far weaker than it had been during their last concert. They had been so close to completing it last time—so close to creating the barrier strong enough to keep the demons out forever. And now, here he was, barely able to stand.
"I can’t let this stop me. Not now. Not when we’re this close."
Jinu stayed there for a long moment, watching the Honmoon ripple faintly in the sky like a wounded heartbeat, before finally pulling away. His steps were heavy as he went back inside.
---
The elevator hummed as it rose, too slow for his liking. Jinu kept his hood pulled low, trying to hide his face even though he was alone. The burning in his arm had dulled slightly, but it still throbbed with every heartbeat.
When the doors slid open, warm light and the faint smell of reheated food welcomed him back to the apartment.
The others were already out of their stage clothes, lounging around the massive living room.
—“Well, look who decided to come back,” Baby said, glancing up from his ramen bowl with a teasing grin. “I thought you moved to the roof.”
Jinu forced half a smile, tugging his hood back.
Abby got up almost immediately, leaving his phone on the table.
—“Come on, sit. Don’t worry about the concert, okay? We canceled it because of you, and the fans will understand.”
—“Abby…” Jinu sighed, lowering his gaze.
—“No ‘but,’ jinu,” Abby insisted, giving his shoulder a light pat. “You need to rest. You won’t save anyone if you keep killing yourself like this.”
—“Yeah,” Baby added through a mouthful of noodles. “And if you die,I’m gonna cry, and we all know I’m ugly when I cry.”
Romance chuckled softly at that, leaning against a pillow.
—“He’s right. No rehearsals tonight. Just… take care of yourself for once.”
Mystery stayed quiet, but his gaze lingered on Jinu’s covered arm, one brow slightly arched as if noticing something.
Jinu exhaled, shoulders sagging. The dull burning under his skin pulsed again, but he nodded.
—“Fine…” he said at last, sinking into the couch.
Abby’s relief was visible as he sat back down.
The room fell quiet for a moment before Baby suddenly perked up.
—“Hey, why don’t we go find something for him? There are 24-hour pharmacies, right? Maybe there’s something that can help with… whatever this is.”
Romance nodded thoughtfully.
—“And if we find a food truck, I’m definitely stopping,” Baby added with a grin.
Abby crossed his arms, considering, before finally agreeing.
—“Alright. We’ll all go together then. Get changed and meet here in ten.”
Jinu looked up at them, lips parting as if to argue, but seeing them so determined made him stay quiet.
—“Alright,” he murmured. “Just… quick, okay?”
Mystery gave him a long, unreadable look before standing to grab his coat.
Within minutes, they were all dressed casually, caps and masks ready to keep them from being recognized.
The mood had shifted; there was laughter, soft teasing, and for a moment, it almost felt like any other night.
But Jinu felt every step as if it weighed a hundred pounds.
The burning in his arm hadn’t stopped. It was only getting worse.
.