Godsent Top Star [EN]: Chapter 3

003. The First Harvest (2)

November 3rd, 2021.

[Death is postponed while consuming the harvested lifespan.] [Remaining grace period: 49 days] “At least I won’t die right away.” Yeon-woo, relieved that he was safe for at least 49 days, was about to relax and lie down on the bed when – *Ting!* Another cheerful notification popped up. “What is it?” [Additional harvested stats: None] “……Huh? Additional harvested stats? What’s that supposed to mean?” Does that mean I can get something else besides the 49 days of lifespan? Come to think of it, I was too busy trying to shake down Han Soo-han to catch him, so I didn’t look closely, but there was definitely a phrase that caught my attention.

[***There are currently unavailable items.] [***Detailed information about the person is hidden.] This is the part. I didn’t pay attention to it back then because it was a matter of life and death…….

‘What is it? I have a feeling about this?’ Somehow, I have a feeling about this. You could call it ‘intuition.’ And Yeon-woo was recognized by his shaman mother as the best at feeling that ‘intuition.’ That feeling was whispering. This is a sign of a jackpot. ‘But still, negative lifespan and a status window…….’ It looks like I’m going down a path I didn’t want to go down. Didn’t the shaman’s fate, which I hated so much, save my life?

‘78 years of life to fill.’ That’s a long life. It wouldn’t be harmful to him to fill his minus life, but rather beneficial. “Well, seeing ghosts was already strange, so what’s one more thing going to make it worse.” Status window or whatever. Anyway, that’s just a strange phenomenon no different from ghosts. There’s no need to keep worrying about unsolvable problems. Yeon-woo stretched out on the bed and yawned. Living is the best, always new, thrilling.

***

The next day. A guest came to visit. It was Han Soo-han, who had given him a whopping 49 days of life. “Mr. Kang Yeon-woo! Thank you so much. It’s all thanks to you. Thank you so much, really!” Han Soo-han approached Yeon-woo and grabbed his hand. It was like a plump, fleshy fish walking into the net on its own. But a strange man, especially a middle-aged man, holding his hand didn’t feel so good.

‘But I have to manage my expression, especially at times like this.’ Kang Yeon-woo. He was a professional. “It’s all thanks to you. Thank you so much, really!”

“Did you meet your son?”

“Yes, I did. As soon as I fell asleep, my son came to see me. Everything was just as you said.” Tears welled up in Han Soo-han’s wrinkled eyes. “I don’t even remember when was the last time I had a conversation with my son……” He opened his mouth with a wistful look.

Here it comes. This is the story-selling angle. ‘Hoo. I have to listen.’ Han Soo-han was a well-known cash tycoon in Myeongdong [a district in Seoul known for being a financial hub]. If you were to name the person with the most cash in Seoul, Han Soo-han’s name would be the first to come up. Han Yoon-beom did not understand his father, who made money by walking on the edge of the law, and eventually went astray. Even when he got married, the father and son had conflicts. It was because the woman didn’t meet Han Soo-han’s standards. Han Yoon-beom, who already had a rebellious attitude, left home completely at that time. But.

“If he was going to leave like that, I wouldn’t have pushed him so hard……. I would have let him do everything he wanted to do.” Reality is not a fairy tale. Han Yoon-beom’s end was not good. Han Yoon-beom, who had escaped his father’s shadow, was brutally murdered by his father’s rivals. “My heart was always heavy, as if it was blocked. I couldn’t even properly hold his forty-ninth day memorial service [a Buddhist tradition held 49 days after death]. I was too busy hiding my remaining daughter-in-law and grandson……. But yesterday, I was finally able to talk to Yoon-beom and open up. I was finally able to hear his inner thoughts.” Although his eyes were red, Han Soo-han’s expression was bright. “It’s all thanks to you. You have solved my lifelong regret. Thank you so much.” The number 49. That period was Han Soo-han’s remaining regret, and it was the shackle that kept Han Yoon-beom from leaving.

‘Is the lifespan that can be harvested connected to the other person’s wishes or desires?’ After Han Soo-han left. Yeon-woo sighed deeply. “So, in the end, that’s the only way to go?” It’s the story of having to go down the path he least wanted to take. ‘I didn’t believe in fate. The worst choice. I’d rather be an entertainer than a shaman a thousand times over. Hoo.’ At best, there are only two options. But isn’t it human instinct to choose the lesser of two evils? “I’m going crazy.”

[It’s not that bad, is it? You’re not going to die! I told you to just pick one of the two from the beginning. Tsk tsk.]

“Are you adding fuel to the fire?”

[You said you’d rather be an entertainer than a shaman.]

“I did.” That’s how it seems now. Hoo. Yeon-woo sighed deeply. “I ran away because I didn’t want to take over the family business. Is this real?” Anyway, it looks like he’s going to continue playing the role of a pseudo-shaman for the time being.

[Remaining grace period: 49 days] Yeon-woo glared at the system window that was sparkling in the corner of his vision, asserting itself. There was only one thing he had to do. That is, to survive.

***

Recovery was very smooth. Thanks to the protective gear, he was hardly injured considering he was hit by a truck, but it was also thanks to Han Soo-han’s proper money-spending. “Ah, I think I’m going to live a long life.” Yeon-woo muttered, sucking on the juice made by gently boiling 100-year-old wild ginseng. Before tearing this off, he ate something like Shaolin Temple Daehwandan [a fictional elixir], which was said to be made by grinding all kinds of precious ingredients. Before that, he ate a soup made by boiling 7-inch crucian carp. Before that, he drank alcohol made with snakes, and before that, he grilled eel on the spot and ate it diligently. It would be impossible to cook eel in the hospital, but Han Soo-han made it possible. To be exact, Han Soo-han’s money and connections. Thanks to this, Yeon-woo passed all kinds of tests perfectly with a free pass and was discharged from the hospital. After that, he was able to relax and stretch his legs in the luxurious officetel [a Korean term for a multi-purpose building used for both residential and commercial purposes] that Han Soo-han had treated him with utmost care. “Keuh. Delicious. At this rate, I’ll be fine until I’m 100 years old.”

[No. You only have 47 days left?]

“……Are you going to keep pouring cold water on me?”

[Nooo……. Our Yeon-woo, what am I going to do if you die? It’s already been two days?! How can I not worry?! So let’s go collect lifespan quickly!]

“Hey, can you stop talking about dying?” I’m already going crazy because I’m so conscious of the status window in the corner of my vision. Yeon-woo, who had become a hyena searching for food, no, searching for lifespan, muttered. Even if you eat all kinds of herbal medicines, it’s all for nothing if you don’t get lifespan. It was when such anxiety was engulfing Yeon-woo. *Drrr!* One of the tributes Han Soo-han had given. The latest model of cell phone, which had been prepared to replace Yeon-woo’s broken cell phone, vibrated.

***

[Settlement?]

“Yeah. They want to settle.” The call was from one of the perpetrators of the multiple collision. The person on the other end of the phone, who was closer to the perpetrator than the victim, said that he wanted to handle the matter quietly because his name would be damaged if it was released to the public.

[Are you going out?]

“He said he might really die if I don’t go out, so I feel a little bit of kinship.” Death. That was Yeon-woo’s biggest concern these days. Well, isn’t this all about living to eat, no. Isn’t it all about living? The fact that no one was seriously injured or killed also played a part. If the perpetrator had shamelessly mentioned a settlement to avoid punishment, he would have been cut off immediately.

‘I’m the biggest victim.’ Originally, there would have been one death. That was Yeon-woo, him.

[That’s good. Let’s go find some souls while we’re out! Souls that are fresh and have a lot of lifespan and abilities!]

He’s talking like we’re going to pick radishes in the garden. Well, but he’s not wrong. ‘I wish I could find a soul on the way.’ If possible, one with a lot of lifespan and stats, as the child spirit said.

***

As a result, Yeon-woo did find a soul. “Hello? Ah……. I don’t think you’re doing well…….”

“Ah, yes.” Yeon-woo barely looked at the man’s face as he greeted him. That’s because there was a soul with a lifespan behind the man. It also had a very extreme number of 1 day.

[Harvestable lifespan: +1 day]

1 day? Really 1 day? Is this real? No matter how many times I closed and opened my eyes, the number in front of me was 1. ‘No, I can’t catch a big fish…….’ I feel a sense of self-disgust and pain that I came all the way here to see a mere 1-day-old minnow. Moreover, the sleek-looking man in front of him exuded an unpleasant aura.

[Heeeuuuk……. Heeuuuuk…….] Yeon-woo stared at the soul behind the man, shedding tears of blood and whimpering.

[Just by looking at it, it’s about to become an evil spirit.] Judging from the fact that a black cloud-like thing was vaguely surrounding his body, it seemed that the evil spirit transformation had not yet fully progressed……. Judging from the strong ghostly energy and behavior of that *japgwi* [a low-level or 잡귀 insignificant ghost], he seemed to have a deep grudge against the man. “Haha. Oh, my. I’m so sorry. I happened to have work all night that day, so…….” You can tell just by the slick words. [Just by looking at it, he fell asleep while driving.] The child spirit clicked his tongue. ‘Why is he trying to settle?’ If it’s drowsy driving, there’s no way to get out of it. ‘Was it a waste of time coming out?’ Just for a 1-day-old……. On top of that, a guy who caused an accident while drowsy driving. Moreover, this guy is grinning at Yeon-woo in an unpleasant way. Did he get wind in his lungs? Around the time Yeon-woo thought so. “But……. You’ve been staring at me since earlier, yes. That’s right.” The man said abruptly.

“Yes?”

“Haha. I didn’t mean to hide it on purpose, but how did you recognize me like this?”

“Yes?”

“Hahaha. You don’t have to be embarrassed. I’m the one who’s really embarrassed to meet a fan in this situation……. Hahaha. Maybe this is fate?”

“……?” What is this crazy bastard talking about?

“Yes. Now that it’s come to this, it’s only right to introduce myself properly, right?” ‘No, you crazy bastard.’

“Haha. Yes. I’m Jung Cheol-woo.” Then the man held out his hand. It was a very natural attitude, like water flowing. Was it thanks to the handshake he had in a daze? A window popped up in Yeon-woo’s vision. -Name: Jung Cheol-woo (25/Male) -Occupation: Unknown actor -Disposition: Chaotic Evil -Specialty: Bluffing [C-] -Affection: Lowest -Current physical condition: Healthy -Current emotional state: Annoyance ***There are currently unavailable items. ***Detailed information about the person is hidden. ***You can currently harvest lifespan from this person (1 day) The man, Jung Cheol-woo, had been showing his favor and laughing kindly from the moment he met Yeon-woo. Even though Yeon-woo’s expression hardened and rotted as he saw Jung Cheol-woo and his 1-day lifespan, he shook hands with Yeon-woo very affably. But. ‘Affection is the lowest and the current emotional state is annoyance? This person is too different on the outside and inside?’ It’s absurd. Did he think that everything would be solved if he treated me kindly and smiled at me?

‘Life is a real battle, you bastard.’ It was the moment when Yeon-woo’s attitude became completely skewed. “I look like Kwon Seong-hyun, so many people recognize me.”

[What? He looks like Kwon Seong-hyun?] It was the child spirit who reacted to Jung Cheol-woo’s words. [Where does that sea squirt look like Kwon Seong-hyun?] The TV fanatic child spirit snorted as if he was angry. Who is he anyway?

[There is. There’s a really famous top actor named Kwon Seong-hyun……. No, Kang Yeon-woo, you really don’t know? Really?] I don’t know. I don’t really want to know. Perhaps seeing Yeon-woo’s indifferent expression again, the child spirit got excited on his own. [Really? You really don’t know Kwon Seong-hyun? No, how can there be a person living in Korea who doesn’t know Kwon Seong-hyun. Even I, who is dead, know him! Wow. Yeon-woo. You should enjoy some cultural life. How can you not know Kwon Seong-hyun? Kwon Seong-hyun, who has a crazy filmography of filming 7 movies that have been watched by over 10 million people! Kwon Seong-hyun, who advertises the coffee you often drink!]

Ah. Now I get it. ‘Kang Yeo-sa kept pushing me to become a shaman or an entertainer, so I consciously didn’t pay attention.’ I should have paid attention back then?