Godsent Top Star [EN]: Chapter 138

God-Given Top Star 138. I’m the Only One Who Can Criticize Him (1) (138/401)

138. I’m the Only One Who Can Criticize Him (1)

2022.03.18.

It’s not a new issue that excessive malicious comments about celebrities have become a social problem. Even though they are public figures, they are still people just like everyone else. Celebrities also experience shock, get hurt, and suffer just like ordinary people. As more and more celebrities courageously come forward, complaining of mental shock and pain, the overall perception has begun to change.

“If you want, shall we have a proper showdown? I’m curious to see which side people will believe more if this matter becomes public. It’s all or nothing… shall we try?” Yeon-woo’s lips curved into a smile. “Let’s each take responsibility for the consequences.”

“Consequences…?”
The other person’s mouth hung open blankly at the unfamiliar word. Soon after, he swallowed hard. From the moment things started going strangely when he tried to intimidate a rookie, his mouth had been dry. He didn’t know why things had turned out this way, but one thing was certain. This kind of outcome was definitely not what the man had imagined.

“Yes, consequences. Well, for you…”
Yeon-woo’s gaze swept over the man. “Well, it won’t be too severe. Just, you know, to the point where you might wish you were dead…?” Judging from the lingering dark thoughts around him… It felt like they were trying to take advantage of his weakened state to make a quick buck. When mental strength weakens, bad thoughts tend to creep in. There were plenty of lingering thoughts around that man ready to inject all sorts of ‘bad thoughts.’ The result…? I don’t think I need to spell it out.

“You seem so confident, so it must not be a big deal, right? You must be pretty sure of yourself to bring up such ridiculous stories as if they were true. Isn’t that right?” Yeon-woo’s expression was calm as ever. But. Can a person look so different just because their eyes turn cold?

‘Something’s wrong. This guy is a rookie, but why does he have such an aura…’
The man was a typical washed-up actor who hadn’t gotten work in a long time. He had a successful past, even playing supporting roles that were almost leads. However, that success became a poison, so to speak.

-Are you late for the schedule?! You know how strict the director is about time, why are you doing this?!

-People can be like that sometimes. Ah, it’s not like filming can start without me anyway, so what?

His attitude gradually became insincere, and

-You look like you’ve gained some weight lately. Aren’t you monitoring yourself? What about your diet?

-Uh-oh. A little. I’ve been drinking a bit lately. Why? Is it obvious? I’m taking a break from the diet these days. I’m so tired of eating only grass every day.

-Obvious? Of course, it’s obvious! This role requires you to be trim! How much did you drink to gain weight like that?

-I’ll lose it soon. Soon.

He failed to manage himself. The weight he said he would lose quickly didn’t come off even after the role was over, and it continued until now. In short, it was a failure caused by the lazy thought of, ‘I’m at this level, so this much is okay.’ Originally, the actor had been pushing forward with a handsome face and a sleek image, but since he had changed, demand was bound to drop. However, the man, who was endlessly lenient with his own mistakes, shifted the blame to others.

-Kwon Seong-hyun got that role? Why? We were originally under the same agency, weren’t we?!

-…That contract of yours expired a long time ago. It wasn’t renewed either.

-Was it? No, why? I thought I was the image they wanted most?

-…That’s what it used to be…? Maybe until about three years ago….

He didn’t even hear the manager muttering. He just felt hatred towards the person who had taken his place.

-Didn’t I get an audition offer for that role? I think the director said he would call me back then?

-It wasn’t a formal offer, but I think it was mentioned once at a drinking party. But I don’t think it was a lead role….

-But why didn’t they pick me?

-Well, it wasn’t a formal audition offer, and….

The role that the man might have taken. However, the man’s appearance, with his once-sharp jawline and slim body gone, eliminated even the slightest possibility.

-It’s Kwon Seong-hyun again.

It all happened purely by chance. But it didn’t matter to the man. Just,

-What kind of connections did that bastard pull to show up everywhere?!

-Well, Kwon Seong-hyun was a top actor from the start… There are a lot of places looking for him….

-Hyung [older brother/male friend]. Whose side are you on? That bastard or me?!

-So if you manage yourself even now….

-That’s right! Manage! If I just manage myself, I can easily beat that bastard, right?! Hyung, book a management center right away. There’s a famous place in Cheongdam [affluent district in Seoul], right? Book it right away.

Only his own thoughts mattered.

-It’s not that kind of management, but…. Well, it’s better than not getting anything. It seems good to lose weight first, but it’s better to do anything first. Meeting people in the entertainment industry might be stimulating.

With that thought, the company took on a big expense. If the man, who had to be carried like a burden for the remaining contract period, came to his senses and regained his past glory, it wouldn’t be a bad thing for the agency either. But.

“So if you just endure a little, it’ll be over. Bad deeds are bound to be returned, so think of it as receiving them first. It’ll just be to the point where you might wish you were dead a little.”

If the man had known he would waste the opportunity in this way. If he had known in advance that he would touch a top actor with his inferiority complex that had grown monstrously on its own. If he had known he would touch someone’s sanctuary, struggling to fill the life of the negatives.

-I shouldn’t have sent that guy there.

He might have regretted it. Of course, regret is always too late, no matter how early you do it.

* “Why? Are you scared?”

He was scared. But the man couldn’t even answer properly. No. He wasn’t even relaxed enough to show it.

“That’s strange. Why is someone who was just talking so well a moment ago so quiet?”

It was because of the person in front of him, who seemed to be speaking lightly but was saying things that were definitely not light. ‘It’s hard to breathe…!’ He couldn’t even imagine it would turn out like this when his eyes changed and the atmosphere turned cold. Strangely, the more Yeon-woo spoke, the more time passed, the harder it became to breathe as if something huge and heavy was pressing down on him. Not only that.

‘…I want to run away.’

A primal fear surged up from deep within. His vision spun, and he could feel his legs trembling as he stood on the floor. He felt like a pitiful prey in front of a predator. As if Yeon-woo knew the man’s condition, he smiled.

“It seems like you’re not in the right state of mind to answer, so I’ll give you one last warning. You better watch your mouth. I’ll be a little angry if I hear that kind of nonsense again.”

*

[Are you sure you didn’t really hurt him?]

“I’m telling you I didn’t. How many times do I have to say it?”

[But how could that Mario not say a single word? It’s too much of a reaction to just be your spiritual power…]

“Seriously. Just believe me. Have I ever lied to you? And don’t call him Mario. Mario would be upset.”

[He looked exactly like Mario. Short and stocky….]

“Hey….”

The nameless person who deliberately approached and spread unfounded slander about Kwon Seong-hyun as if it were the truth. Commonly known as Mario. It was only a few minutes ago that he hurriedly left the scene.

[Did you use a spell? No. The light in your eyes was clear enough to say you didn’t use a spell. Of course, they looked like dead fish eyes, though.]

Mario, who couldn’t even answer properly and just sweated profusely. He was only able to move and leave the place after hearing Yeon-woo’s words, -If you understand, you can leave now. It was a bonus that the person who couldn’t move an inch as if he had been anesthetized breathed heavily as if he had woken up.

“Seriously, I’m telling you. Why would I lie to you?”

[Are you trying to avoid our actor’s affectionate concern?]

“…Anyway, I didn’t.”

It wasn’t a lie. Yeon-woo definitely didn’t use spiritual power. ‘If it were normal, I would have conditionally opened his spiritual eye first and threatened him in my own way.’ If I’m going to do it, it has to be effective. This is also why I’m using blood as a medium since I don’t have a talisman [a magical object]. But.

[Yeon-woo, you’re not alone?!]

“…What kind of creepy thing are you saying?”

[You are now a very precious person receiving our actor’s utmost attention! So you have to be very careful!]

“Okay….”

[Anyway, you’re sure you didn’t?]

“Just believe me.”

From the beginning, Yeon-woo had no intention of using spiritual power. Instead, what Yeon-woo thought of was none other than the S-rank stat. It was ‘Worship of the Forgotten God.’ ‘Medicine can be used as poison or medicine, depending on how it’s used.’ He had heard a similar story when he was taught by his mother, Kang Yeon-hwa, in the past.

-The power you have can be dangerous or not, depending on how you use it. If you abuse it recklessly, the backlash will turn the blade towards you, and if you use it in the right direction and in the right place, it can become a shield to protect you. Curses are a good example of that. Like the shaman who cursed Woo Do-gyeom’s twins, you can use it to harm others. But like Yeon-woo, you can use the power to break the curse.

Remembering that teaching, Yeon-woo thought. ‘Could stats also be used in such a multifaceted way?’ The beginning was thinking of stats instead of spiritual power because he couldn’t inflict wounds. It’s a simple change of thought. ‘If a human is so weak that they can be easily defeated by a D-rank stat, then what about an S-rank stat?’ Maybe I can make him unable to breathe?

And. As expected, that thought was correct. The effect was more remarkable than expected.

‘Ah… So you can use abilities in this way too?’ If it’s a stat that makes you feel attraction, maybe it can also make you feel fear. The result that started from such a simple change of thought was very effective. Yeon-woo recalled the status window that had appeared along with the sight of the man waking up and running away.

[Conditions are met.]

[A derivative stat is created by meeting the conditions!]

[Would you like to acquire the derivative stat?]

[Congratulations! You acquire the derivative stat as a reward.]

[Reward: Forgotten God’s Dignity] [A+]

The status window that suddenly appeared. It felt like it was proving that Yeon-woo’s thoughts were correct. The effect was needless to say since a derivative stat was created.

[I can’t believe it.]

It was to the point where the Child Spirit kept giving him suspicious glances.

“Ah, why are you picking a fight again.”

[It’s not picking a fight… It’s just that it’s been a while since I’ve seen you be so scathing.]

“Scathing?”

[You tend to be like, ‘I don’t care if it’s like this or like that.’]

“Me?”

[Yeah. You. You usually consciously avoid responding emotionally to most things.]

That was true. There is no being in this world without a story. Even a stone on the road has a history. So how much more would the dead ghosts have? ‘If I worry about that, I’ll get drained and won’t be able to do anything.’ Because you could spend your whole life just listening. Naturally, Yeon-woo distanced himself from those things. Pretending not to see. Pretending not to hear. Pretending not to know anything. If he ever got involved in any way, he didn’t forget to keep his distance as calmly as possible. It was all a defense mechanism to protect himself.

[Your skills in spewing venom at the stray ghosts who stick to you for no reason haven’t gone anywhere. You’re not dead. So much so that I was about to feel sorry for that guy. His spirit was so suppressed that he couldn’t even breathe properly… I thought he was going to suffocate.]

I wondered why the guy who cherished Kwon Seong-hyun so much didn’t say anything. But there’s something that bothers me.

“Did I act that emotionally?”