Godsent Top Star [EN]: Chapter 44

044. Alluring Voice (1)

2021.12.14.

“Don’t have scary dreams, don’t stay up all night, have deep and peaceful, happy dreams.” Yeonwoo paused for a beat before continuing, “Good night.” The ‘ON AIR’ light went off. The broadcast had ended.
“Wow, you really took that well? I thought you’d be a little flustered. You’re not upset, are you?”
“Of course not,” Yeonwoo said with a smirk. ‘He set the stage, so I should be grateful.’ Just as the perfect idea popped into his head, Lee Juha laid the groundwork. It might not have been for Yeonwoo’s sake, but he certainly took advantage of it.
[Wow… Kang Yeonwoo is so meticulous. How did he even think to infuse his closing remarks with spirit power in that short time?]
The Child Spirit, who had been watching, clicked his tongue. It was a bit of a cheat, but so what?
‘Anyway, I’m glad I kept it short. Maybe it’s because I’m using power on an unspecified number of people instead of face-to-face. The amount of power being used is no joke.’ It was only a brief use of power at the end, but the consumption was enormous.
‘It would be great if the effect was as good as the power I used.’ Unless someone has a considerable amount of power, they can’t use spirit power in incantations. It’s nothing compared to a proper spirit word [a short phrase imbued with magical power], but in terms of the amount of power consumed, it was the same as a spirit word.
“Actually, I have insomnia, you know? That’s why I even did a late-night radio show, but today, for some reason, I have a feeling I’ll be able to sleep well. Is it because of Yeonwoo’s closing remarks? I just have that feeling…”
Lee Juha couldn’t finish his sentence.
“You big oaf!”
*Smack!*
Another resounding slap echoed.
“Why do you have to cause trouble at the end when things are going so well?”
“Ah, it went well, so why are you like this, sis?”
“It’s because Yeonwoo has good reflexes!”
“Wow… look at you taking sides. But I admit it.”
Both sides were winning, but only the writer in the middle was troubled.
“It’s okay. I’m just grateful that I got to talk a lot thanks to you.”
“You’re surprisingly easygoing for someone who’s friends with that Kwon Seonghyun.”
“Lee Juha! Watch your mouth!”
“Come on, sis. Cut me some slack.”
“I’m getting old because of you!”
As the writer sighed and went back to organizing with the staff, Lee Juha turned his head.
“But you’ve been staring at me since earlier. Do you have something to say to me? If you have a problem with Kwon Seonghyun, it’s not like you have a problem with Kang Yeonwoo, so feel free to say it.”
As Lee Juha said, Yeonwoo had been staring intently at Lee Juha since earlier. More precisely, at his status window.
‘Alluring Vocal Cords.’ I wonder if there’s any way to acquire that? Leaving aside the lifespan, the additional stats are really tempting…
So he asked,
“Do you, by any chance, have any wishes?”
***
“Huh? A wish? What kind of wish? Like the kind the genie in Aladdin grants?”
“Yeah, well… I’m not a genie, but I’m just curious.”
“Are you saying you can do magic or something?”
“Who knows? Maybe I can.” With a grin, Lee Juha’s face lit up with interest.
“I actually have one thing I’ve been wanting.”
“What is it?”
“Will you grant it?”
“If it’s within my capabilities.”
He just couldn’t let go of that additional stat; it was quite the tempting fruit. Especially since it was the ability of someone famous as a singer-songwriter.
‘Just the influence I exerted while acting for a short time yielded an enormous lifespan. What if that influence could be applied to songs too?’ Music is relatively more accessible than media like dramas or movies. Videos mainly require both hearing and sight, but music only requires listening.
Even when your eyes and hands are busy doing other things, music naturally enters your ears if they are open.
There was another reason why Yeonwoo coveted Lee Juha’s ability.
‘Could video and music be combined?’ That is, a collaboration between video and music.
‘If the medium through which influence is exerted doubles… there’s a possibility of a synergistic effect.’ If that were to happen, how much lifespan would he gain?
Thump, thump. Just imagining it made his heart beat faster.
‘But to do that, I need this guy’s ability.’ Additional stats are nothing short of a cheat. They turn someone who’s completely ignorant in a field into at least a semi-professional.
“Then…”
Lee Juha, who seemed to be contemplating for a moment at Yeonwoo’s words, opened his mouth.
“Will you be my friend?”
“Excuse me?”
“Don’t pretend you didn’t hear me. Let’s be friends.”

At the same time.
-Ding!
A familiar notification sound rang.
[Harvestable Lifespan: +14 days]
It was even a whopping two weeks of lifespan.
‘Seriously… are all the people related to Kwon Seonghyun like this?’ Why does a stranger smell like a familiar person?
“Ah, are you wondering if I’m just saying it to be polite? I don’t usually lie, so don’t worry about that.”
He wasn’t worried about that. He already knew it was a hundred percent genuine since the lifespan had popped up.
“Maybe I don’t seem desperate enough? I was actually asking with quite a bit of nervousness, you know. I never thought I’d be asking someone of the same gender with this much nervousness.”
Lee Juha said with a grin.
“To explain a bit, honestly, at first, I was just really curious about who ‘that’ Kwon Seonghyun was so hung up on? I was also curious about how that guy would react if I became friends with someone like that.”
This was definitely the more genuine reason.
“But as I was hosting the radio show, I became interested in Yeonwoo himself. I think I know why that guy coddles you so much? Plus, your closing remarks were impressive too.”
“Those closing remarks at the end. They were short but had a lot of impact. It felt like they were filled with sincerity… To be able to infuse that momentary moment with enough power to move people, that’s not something you can do with ordinary talent. And besides…”
Lee Juha’s eyes sparkled.
“It’s been so long since I’ve been inspired by someone. But don’t look at me like I’m some weirdo. It’s just that when I see Kang Yeonwoo, something seems to be coming to mind, but not quite. Inspiration sometimes teases you like that, coming and going?”
He added that he didn’t mean anything bad, so don’t misunderstand.
“So, to sum it up,” Lee Juha said.
“If I like someone, I want to be friends with them. So let’s be friends. I’m not a bad person to have as a friend, you know?”
“I don’t feel sorry, but I’m not particularly fond of you.”
All he was interested in was his special ability.
“Um? Did you just say you don’t feel sorry? Wow. Such a blatant rejection.”
Lee Juha clutched his chest as if he was hurt. But far from feeling sorry, it just looked awkward because of his large frame.
‘Special ability or adding another weirdo?’ This was a dilemma of the century.
The dilemma didn’t last long. ‘Well, nothing ventured, nothing gained.’ He had to have the ability first, didn’t he? Especially if it was the ability of someone known as a genius.
“Alright,” Yeonwoo said in a determined voice. This was just a great step forward for a greater lifespan.
“Let’s do it. Friends.”
***
“…So. Why are you here?”
“Didn’t you know? I became friends with Yeonwoo.”
“…Yeonwoo?”
“Yeah. I’m on familiar terms with Yeonwoo. Ehehet!”
Kwon Seonghyun showcased his skill of speaking menacingly with a smiling face, and Lee Juha scratched people’s insides while smiling. They both said they didn’t get along, and indeed, they lived up to their reputation.
‘Seriously. Everything’s fine, but why is it happening at my house?’ The luxurious officetel [a combined office and residential building] seemed infinitely small with the addition of the tall and bulky men.
‘Ah. So that’s why Grandpa Han said he’d get me a new house.’ He had a belated realization.
“You must have forced your way in. You’re still the same, putting yourself first rather than thinking about others.”
“Let’s get the facts straight. I got permission from Yeonwoo yesterday, okay? We decided to be friends, okay? Today is day one, okay?”
“If you were really friends, why is it so obvious that Yeonwoo finds you annoying?”
“Kwon Seonghyun’s eyes have gone bad. You’ve been living alone for too long and lost your sense of judgment. Tsk, tsk.”
Was this really the kind of bickering that twenty-five-year-old men would engage in? It was childish, but the funny thing was that the ridiculous provocation worked on Kwon Seonghyun. No, more than that.
‘Didn’t Kwon Seonghyun praise me in front of me yesterday, saying I had a good eye?’ As if that had never happened, Lee Juha nonchalantly scratched at Kwon Seonghyun’s insides. Watching that, Yeonwoo recalled the early hours of yesterday.
-Let’s be friends.
As soon as he said that,
[Congratulations! You have acquired an additional acquirable stat as a reward.]
[Reward: Alluring Vocal Cords][A]
The notification that Yeonwoo had been hoping for appeared.
[Alluring Vocal Cords][A]
-Captivates the opponent with an attractive voice. The effect can be amplified or diminished depending on the atmosphere, intention, or mindset when speaking. The range of captivation varies depending on the listener’s favorability.
‘This is it.’ Yeonwoo looked at the phrase floating in front of him with satisfaction and praised himself.
‘I feel like it was worth adding another annoying barnacle.’ Even thinking about it again, this was a good gain. He felt like it was worth enduring the annoyance a hundred times over. If used well, it was an ability that could exert power comparable to spirit words. Especially the phrase that the range of captivation varies depending on favorability. This part was the killing point.
‘What would happen if I used it in a state where my favorability is maximized by building recognition?’ He couldn’t even imagine how great the effect would be.
‘I’m not going to become a cult leader, am I…’
It was an ability that could be infinitely dangerous if misused, but of course, he had no intention of using it that way. It was hard enough to gain life and live, so why would he do bad things?
In any case, it was an ability with endless possibilities. If he mixed it with spirit power here…
‘Should I just go for a gold badge this time [a high honor or achievement]?’ Even if he tried to calculate it, he couldn’t even guess how great the amplification would be. He didn’t know for sure, but he had a feeling that he would be able to do a proper election campaign.
“Yeonwoo asked me first if I had any wishes, did you have anything like that?”
“Sorry, but I met Yeonwoo first. Yeonwoo and I shared a very special memory that others would never experience even if they died and came back to life.”
Yeonwoo had saved Kwon Seonghyun in his spirit form and put him back into his body before he died.
It was indeed a ‘very special memory that others would never experience even if they died and came back to life.’ First of all, becoming a spirit was a difficult task, and there were hardly any cases of safely returning after being away from the body for such a long time.
‘But it’s not humanly possible to say it like that…!’ Anyone who heard it would have a very strange misunderstanding. Besides, the level of their conversation didn’t seem like influential celebrities at all. It sounded like a conversation at the level of elementary school students.
“What? What is it?”
“Why should I tell you?”
“Damn it! I had a special experience with Yeonwoo too, okay?”
“What?” Kwon Seonghyun turned to look at Yeonwoo. His handsome face, which even had the nickname of being sculpted by God, stared straight at Yeonwoo. But.
‘No, why is he looking at me like that?’ What was that betrayed look in his eyes? As if he wasn’t an actor who was excellent at expressing emotions, his deep, well-like eyes were shedding sorrowful emotions. He felt a little wronged. What did I do wrong?
Yeonwoo decided to intervene at this point.
“Lee Juha.”
“Hyung [older brother or close male friend].”
Lee Juha spat out the word.
“…?”
“You have to call me hyung, Yeonwoo. Who calls their friend ‘Mr.’? Call me hyung.” This was a bit unfamiliar.
“…Anyway, when did we have a ‘special experience’?”