Godsent Top Star [EN]: Chapter 395

395. An Inevitable Fate (1)

“Oh… Yeon-woo’s mother looks very, very similar to Yeon-woo.”

“You’re pretty, Mother.”

Inside the speeding car.

“What are they saying?”

The actors were trying hard to win over Madam Kang, using broken Korean.

Madam Kang watched with a tut [a disapproving sound] as they swallowed the Korean words they had picked up from Yeon-woo while filming.

“Aren’t they afraid of me? They all seem so naive.”

“…They may seem like that, but they’re kind and capable.”

“So, you were hanging out with these kind kids and stayed away in the West for so long that I thought you were never coming back?”

“No, I wasn’t there that long.”

“Not that long? I was so out of my mind because of those old geezers.”

“Old geezers? Are you talking about ‘those’ old geezers?”

“Ahem. Let’s pretend you didn’t hear that. It’ll be tiring if they find fault with us.”

Madam Kang subtly changed the subject.

But I had already heard everything.

“What are they saying?”

“It’s not like those old men acting strangely is a new thing. Don’t worry about it.”

“How can I not worry? It’s my business.”

If Madam Kang is making a personal visit, it must be a significant matter…

“How much are they bothering you? Are they harassing you or something? Did they suddenly stop accepting your prayers or something?”

In fact, those high-ranking individuals have never directly admitted to interfering with the system.

But considering the situation and the atmosphere, it’s hard to believe otherwise.

Or else, come and prove that it’s not true?

“Nothing like that happened. But…”

“?”

“They keep appearing in my dreams. Those who rarely showed up suddenly started appearing every day without saying a word. I couldn’t help but notice.”

People who are usually hard to get an audience with were coming in droves, just stroking their beards silently.

They could have said something, but instead, they just cleared their throats loudly and visited every day.

“I had a feeling as soon as I saw it. They have something to say, but they’re reluctant to say it. That’s the feeling I got.”

I get the feeling.

‘They sent me abroad, but they must have been worried because my return was delayed?’

It’s not just a feeling.

If I think back on what happened, the system’s wishes were clear.

The system wanted Yeon-woo to go out into the world.

‘But why bother sending me and then appearing in Madam Kang’s dreams?’

How can a mere human understand all of God’s will?

Surely they didn’t appear because they were worried that I wouldn’t come back?

“I told you something before. You’re not destined to live an ordinary life.”

Madam Kang suddenly brought up an old story.

Her eyes are blurry as if wandering somewhere in the past.

“Well, that’s obvious. It’s impossible to be ordinary from the start.”

“That’s not what I mean. You’re the only boy born in our family. And as a boy, you were born with greater power than anyone else. It’s too much power for an individual to handle, so they said that if you don’t become a shaman [a religious figure believed to have access to the spirit world] or an artist, it will become a disaster.”

It’s what I always heard from my mother, Kang Yeon-hwa.

The very day my lifespan turned negative.

I clearly remember hearing the same words and running out.

“Heaven is not as generous as you think. Giving great power means taking on great responsibility. That’s why I always told you. The power you have is a power that should be used for the people.”

-You must grow up and do great things.

-The power you have is a power that should be used for the people. So don’t be vain and focus on your training.

-You have a bigger vessel than me. So you must keep my words in mind and put them into practice. That’s why you were given great power. That’s our destiny.

That story was also one of Madam Kang’s repeated repertoire.

I didn’t listen to it back then.

Madam Kang, who had been quietly looking outside for a while, continued.

“I knew that better than anyone else. So I always forced you to make decisions. I was worried that you would go wrong if I didn’t. But that always bothered me.”

Madam Kang’s voice continued quietly.

That voice, reminiscent of the past, was steeped in deep thought.

“I was born like this and lived like this. But as a mother, I didn’t want you to walk the same path as me. Having a predetermined destiny can sometimes be suffocating.”

Madam Kang sighed.

“After I came back to life, I thought, ‘What do I care?’ So I hoped you wouldn’t do anything you didn’t want to do. But surprisingly, you’ve been working quite hard. The child spirit told me the news from time to time, so I found out.”

Traces of old worries and regrets taken out from deep inside.

From childhood until now.

Madam Kang had never said what was inside like this.

Except for the day she gave up all life to save Yeon-woo.

Suddenly, Madam Kang asked.

“Is it fun?”

Yeon-woo nodded.

“You know my personality. If I don’t think it’s right, I won’t do it even if a knife is held to my throat.”

“That’s right. You didn’t hide it even though it might have been okay if you pretended not to see it. You didn’t even try to hide this mother.”

“What’s the point of building a relationship with lies like that? I’d rather be alone.”

That’s what I said, but Yeon-woo’s childhood was scarred.

I’ve recovered enough to talk about it with a smile now.

Until it was sealed with unconditional affection that poured down without hesitation, it was so painful to even look at that it was impossible.

It was a wound that I had covered up, thinking it would heal someday, without even knowing it was rotting.

“Okay. It’s enough if you’re not forced to accept it and do it against your will.”

Madam Kang stared at Yeon-woo.

“You’ve changed a lot. You’ve changed a lot. I felt it back then, but… you’ve really changed a lot now.”

A predetermined fate.

I struggled to escape because I hated it.

But it’s different now.

“It’s enjoyable. It’s fun.”

That was the conclusion Yeon-woo came to.

At first, I was forced to walk a path I didn’t want to walk.

‘But surprisingly, this was also fun.’

It’s not that I conformed to a predetermined fate.

If I really thought it wasn’t right for me, I would have quit this path a long time ago.

Maybe I would have become something like a fixer.

‘Or maybe I would have really become a male shaman.’

Being a shaman isn’t great either, but a lesser evil is better than the worst, right?

However, the situation unfolded differently from what Yeon-woo had expected.

‘I felt a sense of accomplishment for the first time. It was the first time I felt that having abilities different from others wasn’t so bad.’

It was the first positive recognition of abilities I had never wanted before.

Maybe it was from then on.

Little by little, something began to change within Yeon-woo.

“The beginning was a bit rough… but I’m definitely satisfied now. That’s for sure. It’s surprisingly really fun too.”

He could save people with the abilities he had.

The feeling when he reclaimed a life that would have been wasted in vain with the abilities he didn’t want.

‘It was really… strange.’

Something overwhelming.

Almost brought me to tears.

A feeling of being comforted for some reason.

It was as if someone, someone I didn’t even know, had acknowledged him.

It was different from the past, where he was always rejected and hated.

And what about now?

[I am immersed in the memories of my first love while watching the most beautiful days.]

[I still remember the Grim Reaper’s voice telling me not to die recklessly.]

[I always listen to our Yeon-woo’s whispered ‘Good night’ before going to bed. Why? Because if I listen to that, I can sleep well without taking sleeping pills. Surprisingly.]

[What would it feel like if the present is ruined by past mistakes? I learn by watching Hayan and Seon-woo’s discord. I must be careful with my actions and words anytime, anywhere, and not do anything I will regret. I must prevent past mistakes from holding me back.]

[I realized once again through Limit Breaker that if you work hard even when hope is not visible, you can get it back someday. Thank you.]

[Listening to Dream Walker made me realize what is precious. I didn’t know, but my parents look very small. I’ve been so busy that I forgot… I should say I love you more often.]

Each and every step he had taken.

Many people give meaning to that path.

And beyond all that.

Even people who gain strength just by seeing his existence.

‘All of these are unbelievable results.’

It was a very strange feeling.

Someone genuinely accepts the work he has created.

Furthermore, they even think about Yeon-woo himself.

‘Maybe that’s why I fell into this path……’

It wasn’t the first time.

But at some point, Yeon-woo felt himself slowly becoming sincere.

Many reasons were mixed in there.

It wasn’t just for the sake of lifespan.

“If that’s the case, then it’s fine. It’s enough if you like it.”

Madam Kang’s expression, saying that, was much softer than usual.

It must not have been easy for Madam Kang to bring up the deep words in her heart either.

“If it’s a path you want to take, then I’m okay with it too.”

Madam Kang said.

“If you’re okay, then I’m really okay. …I’m glad.”

Madam Kang’s gaze, saying that, was as soft as if she had put down a long burden.

*“Yeon-woo looks his real age in front of Yeon-hwa, doesn’t he?”

“Yeah. I couldn’t understand what he was saying, but the atmosphere was different from usual.”

“Ah, I should have seen that. It’s a shame I fell asleep because of the jet lag and missed it.”

Murmur, murmur.

Late in the afternoon the day after unpacking and resting at Woo Do-gyeom’s hotel.

The actors, who had been sprawled out due to jet lag and fatigue, woke up one by one and came down to the hotel cafe.

Thanks to Woo Do-gyeom dedicating the cafe and restaurant exclusively for the actors, everyone could relax comfortably without worrying about other people’s eyes.

In the meantime.

Someone brought up the topic while watching Yeon-woo returning after seeing off his mother, Madam Kang.

“What are you talking about? No, more than that. Yeon-hwa?”

Of course, Yeon-woo also heard those words.

For a moment, he thought he had misheard.

What on earth is that strange title coming from the mouths of foreigners?

“Well, that’s because Yeon-hwa told them to call her that.”

“That’s right, that’s right. She was a very charming person. It was the first time I saw someone so open-minded.”

It’s absurd.

“When did you get so close to Madam Kang? Didn’t you not even speak the same language?”

“There are bound to be people who connect through their souls.”

“No. Don’t say weird things.”

“She just approached me and started talking to me first?”

The actor pointed to Gabriel with his shoulder.

Gabriel looked somewhat dazed, and he had been like that since meeting Madam Kang.

‘Could it be that she cried? Her eyes are swollen……?’

Come to think of it, Gabriel was truly someone who connected through his soul.

Madam Kang probably recognized Gabriel’s condition at a glance.

Madam Kang seemed to have felt the same pity that Yeon-woo felt while looking at Gabriel.

‘Maybe she heard better advice than I could give. Well. If it turned out well, then it turned out well.’

But I didn’t know that she would become so close to the actors, who don’t even speak the same language, in such a short period of time.

I also didn’t know that Madam Kang, who serves an even more powerful Heungseon Daewongun [a powerful political figure in Korean history], than Yeon-woo, would end up having conversations with foreigners.

Come to think of it, they seemed to be acting quite friendly when they said goodbye.

-Go in now. Don’t even think about coming out, it’s getting chilly.

I wonder if the actors can understand such greetings?

That’s what I thought, but it seems they really understood.

“She was a really good person. I hope to see her again.”

“That’s right! Yeon-hwa told us to come visit her house sometime. When should we go?”