Godsent Top Star [EN]: Chapter 64

A Midnight Stroll (2)

“Crazy… how far has this rumor spread?” [Well? What’s certain is that at least the ghosts in this building know all about it.] “I’m going insane.” It’s already been a week since I started hosting the radio show. They say starting is half the battle. Yeon-woo’s radio hosting, which had a successful start, was becoming more and more skillful even in that short time.

-Our Yeon-woo, is there anything he can’t do…? He’s handsome, acts well, has a great personality, and now he’s even good at hosting and counseling…? ㄴAh, I want to leave a stain called ‘me’ on our Yeon-woo’s life… ㄴDo you think our Yeon-woo would want that? ㄴCan’t I even dream a little ㄴNo~ Go back~

-But the counseling corner is really effective. My friend got counseling and it was spot on. She was 고민 [agonizing] about whether to study abroad or not, and our Yeon-woo said exactly, ‘If the situation allows, it’s not bad to have a good experience. You don’t have to 고민 [worry] for too long. You can meet good people even if you go abroad.’ I got goosebumps;;;; Because the biggest thing holding her back from studying abroad was her boyfriend. But she didn’t write anything about her boyfriend in her story;;

ㄴOur Yeon-woo……. He’s handsome, acts well, has a great personality, he’s good at hosting and counseling, and now he even has a sixth sense……. There’s nothing he lacks…….

ㄴI think we need to leave a stain called ‘me’ on our Yeon-woo’s life to balance things out.

ㄴAren’t you gone yetㅡㅡ?

Especially the newly organized counseling corner, as the writer said, was attracting attention properly.

-Yeon-woo. Did you see this? The data from our program is already famous as a popular post! It was trending on real-time search yesterday. I took a screenshot right away! So much so that Yeon-woo’s counseling part was edited and spread like a humor post on various communities as a radio DJ with divine advice. Thanks to that, even though it’s a late-night radio show, the number of listeners is increasing day by day, and I even saw the writer and PD rejoicing.

Of course, it was also good for Yeon-woo.

‘It was all good up to that point…….’

Influence. An essential element that makes up the automatic harvesting of multiple lifespans. Making that element even more solid was recognition. The more famous you become, the more lifespan you can acquire. But.

‘Why did I have to become famous even among ghosts?’

[Tsk tsk. There are a lot of desperate ones among the ones who are left. Think of it as doing a good deed.]

“……Do you even know that I hate being a shaman?”

[You do good deeds, you get lifespan, you resolve grudges, you see ‘Nim’ [a respectful title], and you pick stars! How great is that?]

“…….”

It was a mistake to expect a proper answer from this guy. So, to explain roughly, it’s like this.

The saying that ‘ghosts gather where their stories are told.’ Have you ever heard of it?

‘Believe it or not.’

When talking about a topic with strong yin energy [negative or dark energy], the surrounding waves also change. It’s an environment where ghosts are likely to gather. Like having a chilling experience while listening to scary stories in the middle of summer. Or feeling a cold sensation while watching a horror movie. You’ve probably had similar experiences once or twice.

‘They should just go to the afterlife quietly after they die. They’re like attention seekers.’

It’s more accurate to say they’re drawn to yin energy, but what does it matter?

“If I had known this would happen, I would have ignored that story.”

[Too late. It’s already ruined.]

“Hoo…… Why did a ancestral spirit have to fly in.”

I remember it as a story from a listener who was 고민 [troubled] about studying abroad. She had received permission from the school she was going to enter, had no problems with her visa, and all her financial problems were solved, but she was still worried about whether to stay in Korea or go abroad.

‘Dreams are important, but it’s worth 고민 [considering] about changing your life’s foundation.’

For a short time, a few years. For a long time, you have to live in a foreign country for decades. Yeon-woo was naturally thinking in that direction and was about to speak……

[That’s not it!]

There was a face suddenly thrust in front of Yeon-woo’s eyes.

-……?

[She’s not saying it right! Something terrible has to be attached to her!]

It was an old woman with her hair neatly combed and wearing a beautiful hanbok [traditional Korean dress]. Yeon-woo was puzzled by the appearance that she would never have at the broadcasting station, and the old woman poked the monitor with her finger as if she was in a hurry.

[She’s my granddaughter, granddaughter. She has the fate to be successful outside, but something that’s not even a year keeps tying her ankle!]

So, that grandmother was the ancestral spirit of the storyteller. A kind of guardian angel protecting her granddaughter’s future.

[I know you can see everything, so please say it right!]

If she’s a guardian spirit of a family, she should be able to recognize Yeon-woo’s power.

-No, if they like each other, can’t they just live like that? Just in time, a song was playing, so when I spoke while blocking the microphone, the grandmother shook her head.

[If they really liked each other, why wouldn’t I know? That’s lingering attachment, lingering attachment.]

She said they had been dating for a long time. The passionate affection had faded and the meeting had been continuing out of inertia. The ancestral spirit was ranting that she didn’t want to see her descendant sit down because of that kind of relationship. That was already a few days ago.

“Why did a general-level spirit that I can’t shake off have to come.”

What’s driving me crazy is that the story has spread far and wide. To whom? To the ghosts. The aftermath is as you can see.

[Isn’t the effort admirable? There was even a kid who worked hard to appear in your dreams so you would put their story on the radio.]

“With that effort, they could just tell me directly in my dream?”

[Hey. You know that direct interference from the dead is difficult. That’s why they’re coming to you to speak indirectly.]

This is why it’s rare to receive lottery numbers in a dream. Unless it’s a vengeful spirit stained with turbidity, the dead cannot directly interfere with the living. To tell you the lottery numbers that would earn you billions, you would have to expend enormous power or accumulate tremendous merit.

“I’m trying to listen to the stories of living people, why do I have to listen to the stories of dead people?”

[Why? Isn’t it good for you to get lifespan too? You accumulate virtue, it’s all good.]

That’s true. Every time I read a story and subtly convey a message.

-Ting!

[You have successfully harvested lifespan.]

[Lifespan harvested: 34 days]

-Ting!

[Successfully harvested lifespan…….]

-Ting!

[Successfully harvested lifespan…….]

Because the lifespan counter went up excitedly. Moreover, since most of the ghosts were full of lingering attachments or had strong powers to the point where they wanted to convey a message, the lifespan they earned was quite substantial. If you read four or five stories, you can accumulate three or four months of lifespan.

‘So I’m enduring it, enduring it.’

Even though there is automatic harvesting of multiple lifespans, the more lifespan, the better! I’m steadily earning it, but when will I fill that minus…….

[Anyway, you and the ghosts are both winning, so don’t be too discouraged! Thanks to you, the writer is happy and you’ve become more famous. Isn’t that right?]

A plump sparrow winked cheerfully and flapped its wings. I sigh, but what it says is true. Well, thanks to that, I’ve heated up portal sites and online communities with divine advice…… The number of people flowing in from radio videos has increased, and the lifespan that is automatically harvested has also increased……

‘I’m not a brokerage window?!’

Unfortunately, Yeon-woo’s inner cry did not reach anyone.

***

Radio in an era where all kinds of video media such as TV are distributed. It was very unusual for a late-night program to become so famous. The 담당 PD [in charge producer] and writer were screaming with joy, and they said that they would receive 폭풍 [storm of] praise and a generous bonus from the higher-ups.

“Of course. Who’s hosting the program?”

Kwon Seong-hyeon said in a soft but somehow firm voice.

“I definitely thought it would be successful. It would be strange if it wasn’t successful.”

“I didn’t expect it, though…….”

“Yeon-woo is good at everything, but he lacks a little faith in himself.”

That’s not true. Kwon Seong-hyeon’s side is too blindly faithful. I wonder how he can believe in me more than I, Yeon-woo, believe in myself.

“Isn’t it hard? You must be tired from living with changing days and nights.”

“It’s okay. Well, it’s only about a month anyway. I have that much stamina.”

“You seem a little thin…….”

“……?”

Nothing has changed, but Kwon Seong-hyeon’s sharp eyes must see something different.

“You said today is a 녹방 [pre-recorded broadcast], right?”

“Yes.”

“There’s still plenty of time.”

“Yes…….”

A Midnight Stroll is broadcast live, but due to the late-night nature, it is broadcast as a 녹음 [recorded] broadcast one day. Today, I have to go to 미리 제작 [pre-produce] the one 녹음 [recorded] broadcast I have. So I woke up a little early.

‘How did you know the 녹방 [pre-recorded broadcast] date and that there was plenty of time?’

Yeon-woo’s eyes suddenly went to [Oh, it’s so fluffy. Our actor’s hair is also good.] above Kwon Seong-hyeon’s head.

“……Was it you?”

The culprit was happily grooming his feathers with a face that knew nothing.

“Don’t scold Dong-ja too much. I asked him to do it.”

“Yes?”

“Jerry said you weren’t eating properly while working on the music.”

Making songs was more fun than I thought, so I naturally skipped meals sometimes.

‘Did you tell him that too…….’

Everyone is an enemy.

“That’s true, but…….”

“So, I have no choice but to take care of you to feel at ease.”

A feast was spread out in the guided seat.

“……What is all this?”

Every food in sight is shouting, ‘I’m a health food!’ Samgyetang [Korean ginseng chicken soup] with steaming white steam, and a soup with abalone soaked in chestnuts, jujubes, and 밤 [chestnuts] that makes you feel strong just by looking at it. There is also a root that looks like wild ginseng neatly 졸여진 [braised] in honey. Next to it was grilled eel with well-seasoned and glossy 양념 [sauce]. Besides that, there’s 신선로 [royal hot pot]. Grilled pine mushrooms. There are also many dishes that I don’t know the names of.

“……Do I have to eat all of this?”

I don’t even dare to count how many dishes there are.

‘If I eat all of that, I’ll have to run around the 운동장 [sports field] 10 times at night……?’

For some reason, the story of Hansel and Gretel comes to mind. I have a feeling that I have to eat samgyetang and hold out the chicken leg bone.

“I think it’s too much.”

“An actor’s body is his fortune, Yeon-woo.”

Kwon Seong-hyeon makes a sound like an actor for once.

“Yes, well…… that’s true…….”

“If your stamina doesn’t support you, you can’t endure the filming that goes on with 강행군 [grueling schedule].”

“But I think this is too much?”

“No, Yeon-woo.”

A firm voice. And the eyes are somehow strict.

“The last filming was a drama and it was 사전제작 [pre-produced], so it was made very leisurely. Movies often stay up for 1 night and 2 days, and if you go on overseas filming, there are times when there is not enough time physically, so there are often all-night filming. If you meet a director who pursues perfection, it’s common to re-shoot, so in the end, there’s no time to sleep and you’re 몰아칠 [overwhelmed].”

“Does an actor like Kwon Seong-hyeon also do that?”

“Once we start 크랭크인 [crank-in, start filming], actor Kwon Seong-hyeon disappears and only the role remains. And the problems that occur during filming may not be just because of me.”

“Then?”

“A work is not filmed alone. The other actor may make a mistake, there may be a problem with the filming location, or the equipment may malfunction. Of course, I also make 엔지 [NG, no good]. People can’t be perfect, can they?”

A perfect human being in every way said that.

“No matter how hard you try, if interference comes from the outside, there’s really nothing you can do. The most important thing at that time is stamina.”

“Yes? Not strong mental strength, but stamina?”

I thought the story of mental strength would come out in the flow, but it’s back to the original position.

“Yes. Stamina is important. The saying that a healthy mind resides in a healthy body. Haven’t you heard of it?”

“Yes…….”

“If your body is tired, your mind will naturally be tired. If you don’t have the strength to put into your mind to support your body, your mind will naturally weaken. The most basic thing is 무조건 [unconditionally] stamina. So…….”

Kwon Seong-hyeon pointed to the table with firm eyes.

“I’ll manage you by eating on time from now on.”