Chapter 67
Chapter 67
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 67
Chapter Title: Devil's Errand Center
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At CEO Do Bong-seok's summons, I headed to the Lunatic agency early in the morning.
The reason for coming today was simple.
‘The year-end awards ceremony is coming up soon.’
Fortunately, even after my past as a school bullying victim had been fully cleared up, I was still able to attend the year-end awards.
With only a few days left, I needed to hear about the schedule and precautions for the ceremony.
To be honest...
Coming to the agency so early in the morning was such a hassle. No matter how many layers I bundled up in, the biting cold was hard to fend off.
I just wanted to rest at home in the warmth.
I'd been through a lot of tough stuff lately, too.
On top of that, having attended year-end awards ceremonies to the point of boredom in my previous life, did they really think I didn't know the precautions?
It was just a simple matter of walking the red carpet, greeting the seniors, and sitting in your assigned seat.
"Daddy, how do you read this?"
"Huh?"
Yu-na, who had been sitting quietly, came over clutching a bound script.
Just moments ago, she had been sipping hot cocoa beside me...
I glanced at the spot where she had been sitting. The bottom of the glass cup with the chick drawing was visible.
While I was lost in thought, she had neatly finished it and wandered around.
"Daddyyy. How do you read this?"
"Sigh, where did you get that from? Put it back where it was quick..."
I stopped mid-sentence.
My eyes caught the title of the script.
‘Devil's Errand Center.’
It was a pretty intriguing title.
I swiftly snatched the script from Yu-na's hands.
"Daddy! Yu-na got that!"
"Hmm."
Ignoring Yu-na's protests, I slowly examined the opening of the script.
It was about a high-ranking demon bored with life in the demon world who descends to the human realm to grant humans' requests.
‘No character name...’
Did that mean the demon had no name at all?
The price for the request was half the life of the human who made it... Quite a hefty cost.
‘Still, at this level...’
One could pay the price and make the request.
If it were my situation back when I was just sucking my thumb at school, that is.
Sure enough.
In the middle of the script, a student in a similar predicament to mine appears.
‘This... is more interesting than I thought?’
My instincts were telling me.
This project would be a success.
‘I’ve never done this genre before...’
I wanted to take it on and act in it, but considering the heavy CG usage, it would take quite some time.
That was my thought.
"Daddyyy. Yu-na wants to see it too! Okay?"
Wasn't there any other script besides this one?
In Lunatic Entertainment, filled with actors.
They must get a fair number of scripts here for casting purposes.
Even scanning around, it was hard to find anything similar to this.
I stared intently at Yu-na.
Yu-na's pure, clear eyes blinked innocently.
"...Where was this?"
"In the box."
I immediately found the box full of bound scripts where Yu-na pointed.
‘This should be fine for me to look at, right?’
I glanced around, then lowered my posture and whispered softly into Yu-na's ear.
"Yu-na, honey, can you keep watch for anyone coming over here? Daddy will buy you something yummy later. You can do it, right?"
Nod! Nod!
Like a thief lacking confidence, I bowed my head low and flipped through the mountain of stacked scripts one by one.
As requested, Yu-na kept watch on the staff like she was filming a spy movie.
How much time had passed?
Suddenly, Yu-na tugged at my clothes and pointed behind me.
"What's wrong... C-CEO?"
CEO Do Bong-seok, wearing round glasses, stood there with arms crossed, looking down at me.
‘What do I do?’
It wouldn't be strange if the CEO scolded me. I'd been peeking at scripts without anyone's permission.
I gave an awkward smile.
"Did you find something you like?"
The CEO didn't reprimand me.
Even though these were all for other actors, not me.
"Not really... Just one that caught my eye."
At my words, the CEO nodded with interest.
"Oh? Which one?"
"This one."
I handed him the bound script Yu-na had first brought.
Honestly, all the others piled up here were meh. They followed the same progression as a few box-office hits, making them boring.
"Hmm, you really like this one? All our kids hated it."
"Yes. The story flows smoothly, and the fantasy elements are intriguing. The only downside... There's only one demon coming from the demon world, which felt lacking. A demon taking requests needs a worthy adversary, right?"
I continued.
"Of course, the human detective has prophetic dreams and stops the demon's plans..."
"So?"
"That's it, isn't it? Instead, if you add a constraint on the demon preventing it from touching humans... Well, it'd still be charming and fun."
The CEO's lips slowly curved upward.
"Hmm... Really?"
Only then did I realize I'd been rambling like an expert in front of the CEO.
"Ahaha... I was just saying what I thought. I wasn't trying to trash the project..."
The CEO cut me off.
"You have a good eye for scripts. So, want to do this one? Of course, no clue when casting will wrap up."
I thought for a moment, then gently shook my head.
"I've got a lot to do after the year-end awards. Need to find a secure house, and someone to look after Yu-na when I'm busy."
"Can't be helped then. I know the writer who penned this one, was gonna recommend you. Too bad..."
He made a disinterested face, then jerked his head to the right.
"Let's move first."
We sat in the conference room and went over the year-end awards schedule and basic precautions. It was all stuff I knew, so boring I nearly yawned, but I held it in and endured to the end.
This was my fifth time.
I'm not some kid who's just turned one or two.
How many times did they have to remind me...
"When all the actors are together, don't cross your legs so you don't look arrogant. Same for acceptance speeches. Say something cocky and you might get hate."
"Yes..."
"Yawn. Daddy... Sleepy."
"Alright, that's it. Got it all?"
I nodded in response again this time.
"Only a few days left, so think about your acceptance speech in advance... Ah! Jun-seo."
"Yes?"
"You got an outfit for the awards?"
"Ah... Right."
I didn't have a single suit.
Nor a pretty dress for Yu-na to wear.
I'd completely forgotten.
I tried to laugh it off awkwardly, but got a sharp glare from the CEO.
"What are you smiling about like you did nothing wrong? Sigh..."
"Ahaha."
"Go pick out outfits for you and Yu-na today, and next time, write down what you'll say in your speech and submit it to me."
"...Do I have to?"
"You have no idea the storm you're bringing right now? Imagine saying something controversial in that situation."
He shuddered and frowned. Well, yeah. After my past came out, I'd been getting insane attention...
In that context, if a careless word sparked controversy? Just imagining it made my body tremble.
"Yes, I'll do that."
"Want me to assign one of our designers? Might be easier."
"That'd be great, thank you."
"Good. Hey! Come in."
Creak!
The door to the CEO's office swung open with a sound.
Five young female designers with familiar faces entered. They strode over and scooped up Yu-na, who was dozing in my arms.
"Shall we go now?"
"Where to..."
"Just follow me. Unless you want to be dragged like last time..."
"No, no. I'll walk."
"Good luck. Jun-seo."
"Yes. I'll head out now."
After greeting the CEO, I followed the designers out of the office.
"Jun-seo, I really enjoyed the Christmas special last time."
"You think so?"
"Yeah, the kids were watching Yu-na's reactions, trying so hard to be nice..."
"Right! And the scene where she helps her sick daddy with her little fern-like hands was hilarious and fun."
Yeah. That happened.
The sudden fever making Yu-na cry, and after the fever reducer, her not wanting to leave my side.
Those got picked as iconic scenes this time.
The teary scene floated around as GIFs online, and the cringy lines I said to Yu-na...
"Ah! Can't forget this one."
I suddenly got anxious.
‘No way, she’s gonna say that line now?’
I clenched my fist tight.
"Ahem! ‘Yu-na? Daddy wants to see your bright smile more than your crying face. So, don’t cry—try smiling?’ Kyaa! My hands and feet!"
"Uwaaaak!"
I yelled out loud.
Even clenching with all my might, my hands and feet curled up in secondhand embarrassment. That was what I said while comforting teary Yu-na. Back then, my mind was foggy, so I didn't realize...
I found out watching the Christmas special yesterday.
And...
Something I hadn't known.
Unbeknownst to me, I'd said countless cringy lines to Yu-na.
On set.
On the street.
Seeing a site compiling them all, I kicked the blanket so hard... Ugh, just thinking about it makes me want to crawl under one again.
"Yeah. And also..."
It was over now.
Too late to stop her mouth.
Fine, I'll tough it out to the bitter end.
‘Go on, say it all.’
We arrived at the second-floor workshop.
This place, cluttered with fabric scraps and sketches of outfits piled up, was the designers' studio.
I'd heard they had an exclusive contract to handle outfits for all agency actors.
‘That's one thing...’
I strained to uncurl my shriveled hands from the mental assault. Still, they wouldn't straighten.
I hadn't even had a chance to look around on the way here, hit with psychological attacks.
Even now.
They were still reciting my embarrassing lines while making outfits.
"Wasn't there this one too?"
"What? There's more?"
"‘Does Yu-na like chocolate? Or Daddy? Daddy likes Yu-na the most in the world...’"
"Ah! That's from the ‘Guard the Pojangmacha!’ sitcom, right?"
"Yeah."
"Um, can you stop..."
They finally turned their eyes to me. Our gazes met in the air, and silence fell.
What? Did they not even notice I was here?
Seemed like I had to break the heavy silence.
"Ahem! If you're done, can you show me my outfit and Yu-na's now?"
"Ah, yes!"
"Please wait a moment!"
They hurriedly set Yu-na down on a small sofa and went inside.
For a while, I stretched out my mentally battered hands. I must never create such black history again.
I clenched my straightened fists.
"Jun-seo, over here."
"...Yes."
"First, we'll show you Yu-na's outfit. We added a full moon accent to the hem of the black dress, and made the surroundings sparkle like stars."
"And we made a thin white turtleneck to wear under the dress. What do you think?"
They explained their handmade outfits with serious expressions.
The chatty vibe vanished completely, replaced by pure professional aura.
"It looks thin. Won't she be cold?"
"Oh, it's fine. The inner turtleneck is double-fleece, so it's warm. Ah! The leggings are double-fleece too, of course."
The mannequin in front was about Yu-na's size. Imagining it as Yu-na... It suited her pretty well.
"Then what's mine like?"
"This set has a night sky feel..."
Where she pointed was a well-tailored tuxedo. Tiny specks sparkling under the small light.
Just as they described...
It captured the night sky.
"Wearing that... and walking the red carpet with Yu-na?"
Walking straight down the red carpet under blinding flashes.
Just imagining it made my lips curve up. I wished the awards would come sooner...