Chapter 1
Chapter 1
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 001
Chapter Title: Weird Number?
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'What the hell is this mess?'
That was the first thought that crossed his mind. Pain and all that could come later—the sheer absurdity hit him first. Cradled in his arms was a heavy, rigid little body that felt utterly foreign.
[Yeonwoo!]
A shrill voice pierced the air. It stretched out like a slow-motion video, twisting into an eerie wail.
At the same time, memories began projecting before his eyes like a film reel.
The exact memory of how this whole mess had unfolded.
***
"Don't even think about going out today! You've got some seriously bad luck clinging to you, so stay home and behave yourself. Got it, Kang Yeonwoo?"
As always, his mother's nagging marked the start of the day.
"Again? When's the last time I didn't have bad luck?"
"You little punk! That's why I'm telling you to pick one already! My heart's drying up and withering away because of you!"
"Why do I have to choose between just those two? Can't I just live a normal life?"
"Normal, my foot. How do you plan to live normally with that kind of power? Your fate only branches two ways. Otherwise, that power might turn into poison."
Lately, it felt like Kang Yeonhwa's scolding had gotten even more intense.
"Aren't the options a bit stingy? Shaman or entertainer."
"That's your fate! Your birth chart says so—what can you do about it? Don't even think about straying off path. Accept your destiny, or you'll be in big trouble!"
The woman's sharp eyes gleamed fiercely.
Most people would shrink under that gaze, barely able to breathe.
But not Yeonwoo.
"Where do you think you're going? I told you, today's bad luck is extra heavy!"
Instead, just like always, he darted out the front gate.
Escaping was the best way to dodge Lady Kang's nagging storm.
But today, there was something different—a creepy little entity slinking after him.
[You're really going out? Yeonhwa-noona's vibe is off today. Why not just stay home?]
"Did you get your fortune read by Lady Kang too? Why are you siding with her?"
[Everyone from here to abroad flies in just to hear a word from her... If she's saying it that strongly, maybe it's time to listen?]
They say a shaman lives in the blue-tiled house.
Ever heard that?
Some call it superstition, rumor, or urban legend.
But it's true.
Well, that was a long time ago.
Anyway, his mother, Kang Yeonhwa, was a great shaman who could read the nation's fate.
Plenty of high-and-mighty folks had groveled before her for fortunes and left satisfied.
Sure, she'd retired now and opened a modest fortune-telling shop, but her spiritual power didn't just vanish.
But.
"I don't buy it. Birth charts, fate, destiny. Who believes that crap in this day and age?"
If fate was truly set in stone, what kind of boring life would that be?
It wasn't the kind of thought you'd expect from someone whose mother was a legendary shaman—and whose own gifts even made her stick out her tongue in awe.
"And I want to live normally. Ghosts? I'm sick to death of them. A shaman? Am I crazy?"
"A shaman... okay, fair. But tons of people dream of being an entertainer— you hate that too?"
"I hate anything special. I just want normal."
Special.
To Yeonwoo, that word was practically synonymous with nightmare.
-Teacher! Yeonwoo's saying weird stuff! He says there's a hurt uncle over there! But there's nothing!
Liar! Kang Yeonwoo the liar!
He'd only described what he saw, yet all he got back was scorn and stares like he was a monster.
That "specialness" left him belonging nowhere.
Once he got older, he hid it thoroughly, but rumors still trailed him.
Especially after his father's mysterious sudden death.
That's when Yeonwoo started truly despising that "specialness."
He'd even unconsciously sealed his powers away.
Become a shaman?
And entertainer? That was the exact opposite of what he wanted.
No way in hell.
"I'm going to live quietly, like I'm not even there."
[Too late for that...]
The Child Spirit clicked his tongue.
[A kid with spirit eyes already open? Normal? Bullshit. And with power even greater than Yeonhwa-noona's? How do you expect to live normally? Just pick one. Hate shaman? Fine, be an entertainer. Why pass up something that good?]
"It's good for you, not me. Don't be selfish.]
[Oof. Busted.]
Hanging around with his mom watching TV every day had rubbed off on him weirdly.
A ghost binge-watching TV.
End times, indeed.
[Still, head home today. Yeonhwa-noona really didn't look right.]
"Head home? You still don't get Lady Kang? She just says that to tie me down."
[Nooo. I don't think sooo...?]
"I know her better than you do."
[Do you, though?]
"Quiet. Someone just bolted because of you."
[Nope. Because of you muttering to thin air.]
The Child Spirit cackled.
Just as he said, the guy whose eyes had met Yeonwoo's moments ago had backed away slowly, looking at him like he was crazy.
Thanks to that, Yeonwoo was the only one standing at the big intersection's signal.
Of course, non-human presences were even more plentiful.
Intersections were highways for ghosts.
Especially accident-prone spots like this.
Nothing new.
But.
"You seeing this?"
Yeonwoo's face hardened as he stared at one spot.
A Grudge Spirit, like thick black ink-cloud, spewing resentment—and dragging something along.
That was bad enough.
The real problem? What it was dragging.
A kid, maybe five or six.
Clutching the Grudge Spirit's hand, walking side by side.
And it was heading straight for the crosswalk.
With the light on red.
[Gonna exorcise it?]
"How can I just walk by?"
Ever since his father's mysterious death, Yeonwoo had developed a trauma.
His mother tried to hide it, but he wasn't fooled.
Even after hiding his powers, they slipped out sometimes.
Because when the trauma triggered, his body reacted on reflex.
Crunch!
He bit his lip hard enough to draw blood.
Yeonwoo smeared it with his finger, drawing a quick incantation.
Simple, but highly effective.
Especially since it was drawn with his own blood.
[Kyaaack!]
The Grudge Spirit, vomiting its ink-black resentment, let out a shriek.
But.
"Not vanishing?"
Even after the exorcism talisman, it didn't fade.
Instead, a chilling, grudge-filled gaze turned on Yeonwoo.
Its mouth split wide, tearing to its ears.
As if to say, "That all you got?"
[Gasp. Yeonwoo. Did that thing just bounce your talisman?]
The Child Spirit sounded panicked, but Yeonwoo couldn't hear.
Cars barreled through the intersection—no one expected jaywalking here, so none slowed.
If nothing changed, that kid was 100% dead.
Processed as another mysterious accident.
'Damn trauma.'
Yeonwoo bit his lip again for more blood.
He swiftly drew multiple protection talismans, wrapping himself in them.
[You aren't gonna jump in, are you?!]
If empowered mediums failed, one option remained.
Pour his power directly.
But that required one condition.
[You're insane! It's dangerous—where are you going?!]
Direct contact with the target.
Brute force, but most efficient right now.
The key was separating the Grudge Spirit from the kid.
Yeonwoo dashed into the street and grabbed its wrist.
Sizzle!
[Kieeak!]
Where his blood touched, it smoked and burned.
The Grudge Spirit writhed in agony, releasing the child's hand.
'Gotcha!'
Yeonwoo scooped up the oblivious kid.
Just as triumph surged—
[Yeonwoo! Danger!]
The Child Spirit bellowed.
That's when Yeonwoo saw it.
The talisman had bounced, but direct blood-infused spiritual power should have wrecked it...
'...It's smiling?'
A chill raced up his spine.
Unlike its earlier scream and retreat, the Grudge Spirit now grinned ear-to-ear, looking delighted.
Ghosts only smile one way.
When they achieve their goal.
Blink-blink!
Every signal at the intersection glitched.
The moment he noticed the chaotic flashing, Yeonwoo spun and ran.
Screeech! Skree!
The intersection descended into pandemonium from the uncontrolled lights.
"What the fu—!"
No time to celebrate saving the kid.
Screeeeech—!
A long friction wail, then—
Boom!
Heavy metal crashed.
The chain collision began.
And—
Bwaaaaaaang—!
A prolonged horn blared from behind.
A massive truck's blast.
But horns don't clear pileups.
Yet eerily, the truck charged madly, smashing through the stopped cars, sliding straight toward Yeonwoo.
"Shit."
No wonder it let go so easily.
That creepy grin had been a red flag.
Even with protection talismans, a truck that size meant instant death.
Just before the glaring yellow headlights swallowed him—
Yeonwoo spat a curse and hurled himself sideways.
Bwaaaang!
The truck's horn wailed long.
Agonizing pain crushed his body.
'What the hell is this mess?'
Come to think of it, his mother Kang Yeonhwa had warned him.
Today's bad luck was especially vicious.
So stay home, no matter what.
The morning's memory flashed by like a montage.
That was the last moment Yeonwoo remembered.
When he opened his eyes again—
A bizarre scene unfolded before him.
***
Yeonwoo could say with confidence.
In all his years seeing ghosts, he'd never witnessed anything like this.
"Are you coming to?"
An old man in a sharp black suit, flanked by burly goons, had a number floating over his head.
[+49 days]
"Old man. That number above your head. What is it?"
"Hm? Number? This... should I call the doctor again? Hey, Captain Song. Fetch the doc. Hey! Snap out of it!"
The old man called to Yeonwoo, but his gaze stayed fixed on empty air.
Naturally.
[Calculating your remaining lifespan.]
[Calculating...]
[Calculation complete.]
[Your remaining lifespan: -28,470 days.]
A translucent window blinked before his eyes with that absurd message.
"Hey! Hey?!"
Even as the unsteady Yeonwoo was steadied by the old man, the text above his head had changed.
[Harvestable Lifespan: +49 days]
The moment he registered it, another window slid into view.
[Will you choose death?]