Chapter 102
Chapter 102
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 102
Chapter Title: Obsession Entity Hunt (1)
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“……”
Now I was so used to it that it didn’t even surprise me anymore. I tossed the embers into the pit I’d dug in advance, and they slowly caught on the dry vines and branches. The staff crowded tightly around the pit in an instant.
“Ughhh……”
“Now I can finally breathe.”
“Stranded in the 21st century? What kind of nonsense is this……”
The staff were huddled together without a single complaint about the cramped space, looking every bit the refugees. Fortunately, no one appeared to be seriously ill.
Adrian’s assessment differed slightly.
[At least four.]
“……?”
[At least four must have had high fevers. Good thing the response was swift—they’ll pull through.]
You could tell just by looking? Catching Yeonwoo’s gaze, Adrian stroked his chin.
[I’m no doctor, but it’s not hard to spot who might lag behind. Forcing stragglers along only jeopardizes survival.]
A pro survivalist’s cold analysis.
“……”
Why did my heavily depleted spiritual power suddenly not feel like a waste? It was a shiver I hadn’t felt in ages.
Yeonwoo’s orders came right after.
“Stylist.”
“Yes? Me?”
The stylist snapped her head up at Yeonwoo’s call.
“Could you pull out any oil you have?”
“Oil……?”
“Cleansing oil.”
“Ah……!”
Cleansing oil. One of the cosmetics used to remove makeup. Right now, though, it would serve as a crucial tool for reigniting the fire.
“Here!”
No matter how natural their style, entertainers had to layer on the makeup. It was the only way to make their features stand out under those harsh studio lights.
‘Of course, guys like Kwon Sung-hyun are a different story……’
Even actors like Kwon Sung-hyun wore it when needed. A single eyeliner or bit of shading could transform their vibe—that was makeup’s magic. A way to amplify good looks to the max, you could say.
The key point was that removing it had to be just as thorough as applying it. Skip that, and you’d get breakouts and ruined skin. For entertainers whose bodies were their assets, cleansing was as vital as the makeup itself.
Maybe that’s why the stylists had pulled out quite a haul of cleansing products. Cleansing creams, wipes, balms, waters, oils, and more.
Yeonwoo picked only the cleansing oils. There was a good amount.
[Two 1000ml bottles. Three 500ml ones. Perfect kindling. Though who carries oil but not a hand axe these days……]
Adrian muttered as he watched.
Oil—specifically, cleansing oil—was Yeonwoo’s own idea.
‘Drizzling it on dying embers would make relighting a breeze.’
Modern folks who’d never properly built a fire wouldn’t keep embers alive for long. He’d gathered plenty of sawdust and kindling to maintain it, but preparation was never excessive. Especially with four people in precarious shape—better safe than sorry.
‘Can’t have trouble while I’m gone…… This should do.’
Stylists from Yeonwoo’s agency, Yeon Do-hee’s team, the drama department staff, and others from various agencies pitched in, yielding a generous supply of usable oil.
“If the embers falter or new wood won’t catch, sprinkle a little. It’ll help.”
“I never would’ve thought of cleansing oil. Wow…… Yeonwoo-ssi, you complete some survival program or something?”
“Just hit me randomly. Oh, by the way—any spare clothes?”
“Ah! Right!”
The costume team, including the coordinators, jumped to their feet.
“The rest are back at base camp. We only brought a little here.”
It was more than “a little.” The outer layers were soaked from the rain, but the insides were still dry.
“Burn these too?”
“No. These aren’t for burning.”
“Huh? Then what?”
“Change into them.”
“Oh, for you, Yeonwoo-ssi……?”
“Not me—you all. Even with the fire going, swapping wet clothes for dry ones is better. It’s not as cold now, so change while you can.”
“Uh…… Then what about you, Yeonwoo-ssi? You’re not changing?”
“I’m heading out anyway.”
The staff freaked at that.
“Out?!”
“Huh? Why?”
“Yeonwoo-ssi, that’s dangerous! Just stay here till the rain stops!”
Voices rose here and there, trying to dissuade him as he spoke of venturing into the needle-sharp downpour.
Yeonwoo shook his head.
“No telling when it’ll stop. Better try for a signal first. Might catch one higher up, so I’ll check.”
“Still, going alone’s too risky. What if you get lost?”
“Won’t happen.”
He had a living—no, even dead, sharp-as-ever—navigator.
“Come on, stay here safe with us……”
“If Yeonwoo-ssi gets hurt, our movie’s toast……”
Even Director Ji looked grim, joining the chorus.
“But if something happens to you all, that’s a bigger threat to the movie. Please, let me help.”
At Yeonwoo’s words, everyone suddenly clammed up.
Then, after a long pause,
“……Ugh. How do you say stuff that makes my heart flutter like that……”
“Didn’t flutter for me. Nope.”
“Hyung, just admit it fluttered.”
“Yeonwoo-ssi said he’d try taming us, and damn if he wasn’t serious.”
“This is the real deal.”
Sighs and chatter erupted everywhere.
[Good. Effective gag order.]
Even Adrian nodded.
“……?”
Yeonwoo wasn’t sure what was happening, but the fight seemed to have gone out of them. Instead of protests, they sent him off with cheers this time.
“Take care!”
“You’ve got this, Yeonwoo-ssi, but still—be careful, okay?”
Such warm send-offs repeated for days.
The rain just wouldn’t quit.
The silver lining?
“Seriously…… If not for Yeonwoo-ssi, we’d all have starved.”
“Agreed. Either hunger or hypothermia would’ve done us in.”
“Who knew I’d live off tree fruit, frogs, and weeds? Experience, I guess.”
“Came ready for grubs too—good thing we skipped those.”
The cave’s mood wasn’t total despair. Actors and staff alike helped each other survive.
‘They’ll be thick as thieves after this.’
Comrades who’d faced death together—that bond was priceless.
They didn’t know, but,
[Hmm. Grubs from those trees up there pack more nutrition than frogs. Really no go?]
One of the cave’s lighter jokes had been about grubs.
Of course,
“Let’s skip that one.”
Yeonwoo had shut it down firmly.
“We’ve got plenty of other food.”
Did they really need grubs for protein……?
Anyway, Yeonwoo diligently fed dozens for days.
On the umpteenth day.
Lately, a persistent sensation had been tailing him.
Adrian followed as Yeonwoo stepped out into the pouring rain.
[Something’s off. How long since rain this relentless? Should’ve stopped by now. Too unnatural for weather.]
Adrian muttered about rare nonstop downpours, even in monsoon season.
“No wonder it’s off.”
[Huh?]
“This isn’t natural.”
For days, Yeonwoo had sensed a stealthy gaze. His steps were sure, no Adrian leading, no wandering.
Of course.
His destination was crystal clear.
[What do you mean?]
“Not natural. Someone orchestrated this.”
[Orchestrated? This rain?]
From the stranding moment, something had prickled. Approaching yet retreating. Testing him subtly.
Vague at first, but days based in one spot confirmed it.
“Looks like they’re using their heads.”
https://booktoki469.com/data/file/novel/5688/12654/16548778117138.jpg
*
[You mean…… those bastards?!]
Adrian recoiled in shock.
“Guess they didn’t want to miss out on tasty prey.”
[No way…… They fear me, though……?]
“Hunger beat fear.”
Obsession entities born from fallen divine beings. They’d fled when Adrian blocked Yeonwoo before……
‘But they were divine once.’
Dozens of “prey” outweighed fear.
Still cautious, so they got clever.
The mad downpour—clearly their squeezed-out scheme.
-They turn endlessly vile when they want something.
-How?
-By bewitching humans and devouring them. Directly, or possessing something to borrow power.
Know how the three ghosts on a tiger eat humans?
Lady Kang had once told an old tale.
-By calling them out. Using names of people they knew in life.
The called one, lured by the familiar voice, steps out and gets eaten by the tiger.
Got it, Yeonwoo? The dead’s greed knows no end.
Even regular water ghosts reach up from below to bewitch and drag folks under.
What if the ghost was once greater?
‘Pulling stunts like this is possible.’
They couldn’t alter nature outright.
But as former divines, prolonging an event? Maybe.
Smart play.
‘Downpour, huh.’
Probably to scatter folks sheltering from rain, then snatch them.
[So…… they caused this rain?]
“Not caused—more like prodded it to linger, trapping us.”
Same outcome, different causation.
[Hunting, then.]
Adrian caught on quick. People lost in rain, vanishing one by one without a trace.
One more reason he grasped it fast.
[Come to think of it, something similar happened 50 years ago……]
50 years ago.
When Adrian died.