Godsent Top Star [EN]: Chapter 15

015. Free Lifespan (2)

2021.11.15.

“I’m sorry I’m late. The traffic was terrible…” “Oh, did you think everyone else has so much time to spare that they came early?” Someone grumbled, but Min Ye-rin, unconcerned, smiled brightly and continued, “Thanks to that, I get to greet everyone at once. Nice to meet you all. I’m Min Ye-rin.”

Dongja-ryeong was impressed. [Wow… I’m seeing Min Ye-rin for the first time, and her mental strength is amazing! The confidence to say she doesn’t need to greet everyone multiple times…]
Yeon-woo felt similarly. However, his reason was slightly different. ‘Is that even a person, or just a walking thought cloud? She’s practically drowning in her own thoughts.’ He wondered how she could even walk with all those thoughts clinging to her body, dangling from her shoulders, waist, and legs. Behind Min Ye-rin, a hollow-looking man trailed along. “I’m sorry… I’m late… The traffic was just so bad…” The man repeated Min Ye-rin’s excuse.
“Tsk. Must have been late dragging around a barnacle,” someone muttered sarcastically. Yeon-woo recognized the man as an idol who’d landed a supporting role as part of a package deal with Min Ye-rin from their agency. Yeon-woo’s eyes widened. [Wow… This is crazy…]
The man was so deeply buried in a mass of thoughts that his face was almost obscured. Worse, there were more than one or two vengeful spirits slithering around him. Yeon-woo thought, ‘If Min Ye-rin is just a cup of coffee, that guy is a whole T.O.P. [a high-end instant coffee brand in Korea, implying he’s much more potent]…!’
***
“I’m Heo Young-ho, the director for this project. With so many talented actors, I have high expectations. Min Writer’s script also feels promising, so I’m sure it will be a success. Let’s all work together to make it great.” Once everyone had gathered, formal introductions began.
“I’m Min Soo-ji, the writer. Please take care of me,” Min Soo-ji said simply. Next, Kwon Seong-hyun stood. “I’m Kwon Seong-hyun, and I’ll be playing Kim Tae-hoon. I’m grateful for this opportunity, and I’ll do my best, though I may be lacking. Please take care of me.”
“Oh, Kwon Seong-hyun, what do you mean ‘take care of you’? We should be asking you to take care of us! Everyone knows every project you’re in becomes a hit. You have to make this drama a hit too, okay?”
“I’ll try my best.” The director’s joke eased the atmosphere. Then, Min Ye-rin stood and bowed. “I’m Min Ye-rin, and I’ll be playing So Yeo-jin. I’m honored to work with so many wonderful actors. Please take care of me.”
The introductions continued. After the middle-aged actor who had complained earlier introduced himself, the idol who had arrived with Min Ye-rin greeted everyone. “I’m A-Yo, and I’ll be playing the Grim Reaper. Please take care of me.”
Someone asked, “A-Yo? Is that really your name?”
“Ah… It’s my stage name.”
“‘A-Yo’ is a bit unusual. What’s your real name?”
It was probably a thoughtless question, asked out of simple curiosity. But…
“Why do you ask?”
The response was sharp.
“Oh… I was just asking…” The other person trailed off, embarrassed.
“Seriously, why do you go around asking about people’s names? It’s bad luck…” A quiet mutter, barely audible over the general noise, but in the suddenly silent conference room, it was loud enough to be heard. The atmosphere instantly chilled.
“Ahem. Ahem. Let’s move on to the next person,” the director said, trying to smooth things over, but the atmosphere remained tense. Suddenly, the idol and Yeon-woo made eye contact. The idol’s face, already strained, twisted even further.
[I think… he’s misunderstanding something?]
“Misunderstanding? Misunderstanding what?”
Yeon-woo’s voice was extremely low. [The way that guy is looking at you is like he’s met his nemesis.] Dongja-ryeong didn’t hesitate to call the idol ‘that guy.’
“Do you know him?” [Yeah. He’s a member of a famous idol group who’s been trying to break into acting, so he keeps popping up in dramas. He’s famous for his terrible acting. Oh, should I tell you his name?]
“What is it?” [His name is Lee Deok-chun.]
Yeon-woo quickly schooled his expression. That was too much of a country bumpkin name for an idol. Ah. So that’s why he reacted so defensively to revealing his name.
***
The monumental first script reading. It began in a very awkward atmosphere. However…
“Don’t lie, okay? I can see right through you, you know?”
“Ah, ah, no? This is me, though?”
“Who do you think you’re fooling? You’re such a unique case that I’m seeing for the first time, so tell me the truth. Who are you trying to deceive?”
“Hic! Really! Hic! It’s! Hic! Me?!”
As Kwon Seong-hyun began to act, the atmosphere gradually warmed. Min Ye-rin, playing the female lead So Yeo-jin, added her quirky and nonchalant acting, easing the tension.
[This is amazing! I thought a script reading was just reading the script, but they’re really acting like they’re performing! If I couldn’t see them sitting down and only heard their voices, I’d think I was watching TV.]
“Something’s strange?”
[Huh? What is?]
“It doesn’t seem like he’s possessed.”
[Who? Our actor?]
“How can a person change so drastically like that?” No matter how closely I look, it’s not like something has possessed Kwon Seong-hyun. But as soon as the cue was given, he completely transformed. ‘No matter how I look at it, that’s not the Kwon Seong-hyun I knew.’ It wasn’t Kwon Seong-hyun, but Kim Tae-hoon himself. Kwon Seong-hyun had somehow pulled Kim Tae-hoon, who only existed in the script, into reality.
Come to think of it, I remember the special skills listed in Kwon Seong-hyun’s status window: -Specialty: Masterful Acting [S], Atmosphere Control [S], Memorizing Scripts [A+], Dominating Presence [S], Speaking with Eyes [S], Captivating People [S], …….
‘I wondered why he had so many skills… but it was worth it.’ I was surprised when I first saw Kwon Seong-hyun’s status window, but this is the first time I’ve seen it manifest so clearly. I had only guessed at its potential through acquired abilities like ‘frame composition’.
‘The A-grade ability, frame composition, was so impressive that a famous photographer recommended he switch careers, so how much more amazing is the S-grade?’ You can easily acquire the abilities of people who have reached a high level in their field, as if you were acquiring skills in a game. Only those who have experienced it know how valuable that is.
‘But at best, it’s all useless without lifespan.’ Lifespan is the most important thing. Thanks to Kwon Seong-hyun, I can live comfortably for a couple of months, but Yeon-woo was still hungry for more. Fortunately, there was plenty of lifespan around. ‘I made the right choice changing direction. With Kwon Seong-hyun, there won’t be any penalties.’
Kwon Seong-hyun was a very useful and excellent source of life… no, an excellent person in many ways. Really, turning to the entertainment industry was a very good decision. It’s a bit unsettling that it turned out as Madam Kang predicted…
‘Removing the thoughts will benefit Kwon Seong-hyun’s work, so it won’t be harmful, and the risk is low.’ They are just thoughts that need to be eliminated.
‘Okay. Then, shall we start mining this gold mine?’ Yeon-woo’s gaze turned to the scattered lumps of thoughts. Meanwhile, the first script reading was reaching its climax. The middle-aged actor playing King Yeomra [King of the Underworld in Korean mythology] scolded in a deep voice. “What? You only now realize your sins! Is it only now that you realize there is a problem with the registry, and not something else?!”