Chapter 11
Chapter 11
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 011
Chapter Title: Additional Ability Stats
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“It just reminded me of Mungi and me. If Mungi were still alive, I’d have taken the photos myself, but he’s gone… And then, the perfect subject I’d been hoping for shows up like a gift. I’m so glad you agreed, Yeonwoo-ssi!”
Worried that Yeonwoo might change his mind, Park Writer hurriedly scheduled the shoot.
“How about tomorrow? Or the day after?”
While the iron was hot, she struck it. The shoot was set for the very next day.
***
Taking photos wasn’t a big deal. The lights were a bit hot, and the shutter sounds along with the flashing strobes were a little annoying, that was all.
[We’re not going to end up with some creepy spirit photo, are we?]
The Child Spirit, cloaked in pigeon form, fretted. But the results weren’t bad.
[Ha. Me, in a photoshoot. Me, as a model. If only I’d been born at the right time, I would’ve totally slayed it!]
All that got captured was a pigeon, though.
“My eyes never fail me! This rapport is incredible!”
Throughout the shoot, Park Writer kept directing Yeonwoo to show his connection with the pigeon.
Rapport. It wasn’t hard. Of course it wasn’t.
The pigeon that Park Writer mistook for Yeonwoo’s pet had a human soul inside it. This particular pigeon even listened to her directions and performed on cue.
No wonder the results were solid.
“Yeonwoo-ssi, are you sure this is your first time in front of a camera? How are you so natural? No fear of the lens, and your gaze control is way beyond a beginner’s—better than some debuted pros.”
Park Writer gushed in admiration.
‘It’s not that big a deal.’
Gaze control was second nature. Pretending not to see things you shouldn’t for twenty-odd years honed that skill naturally.
“What do you think? Not bad, right?”
Kwon Sung-hyun, who’d been watching, asked.
“It’s less than I expected.”
“Didn’t you hear Park Writer? She said you were better than rookies.”
“Wasn’t that just lip service?”
“Hmm. Park Writer isn’t the type to flatter… If she says it, you can take it as truth.”
[Actor! What about me? How was I?!]
Flap flap flap!
The Child Spirit, who’d been proudly perched on Yeonwoo’s shoulder showing off the photos, fluttered over to Kwon Sung-hyun.
“Of course, Dongja-ssi was great too.”
[Really? I was good?]
“The writer must’ve been impressed. A pigeon as elegant as you? First time for her, I’d bet.”
[As expected from my actor. He knows what’s up. You have no idea how hard I worked to pick this body!]
Kwon Sung-hyun had tagged along with Yeonwoo so boldly, and the reason was a doozy.
“Yeonwoo-ssi, you might not know this, but entertainers need managers. You never know what might happen.”
That’s what Kwon Sung-hyun had said solemnly before they arrived, oblivious to his own manager staring in disbelief beside him.
“Anyway, that’s why I decided to accompany you.”
“Pardon?”
“It’s your first shoot. Of course I should come along.”
As the conversation veered oddly, Kwon Sung-hyun’s actual manager stepped in.
“What’s this kid rambling about? Hey, if you show up, the set will grind to a halt. It’d be rude to Yeonwoo-ssi too. He should be the focus, but you’d steal the show. I’ll go instead.”
The response was surprisingly cool.
“Why you, hyung?”
“……Huh?”
“Why would you go there?”
“You said managers are necessary, right? Then who better than me, with actual experience?”
It was a sensible argument.
But.
“I discovered Yeonwoo-ssi, so I should look after him, hyung.”
Why did it feel like the temperature dropped even as he smiled?
“And Park Writer said it’s a solo personal project—no staff, just her. I get the concern, but nothing’s going to happen.”
“Oh… Right…?”
“So no need for a manager, then?”
“Sometimes the writer goes overboard, so someone needs to rein her in. You can’t even talk to her, hyung. She doesn’t like you.”
“That’s true… I don’t get why she hates me. Yeah, you should go.”
And that’s how Kwon Sung-hyun ended up following Yeonwoo.
‘Well, having a familiar face around makes it easier anyway.’
Just then, Park Writer called Yeonwoo over.
“Yeonwoo-ssi! Come check the photos!”
As he approached, she eagerly swiveled the monitor toward him, her face flushed.
“They turned out amazing. All of them. I can’t even choose. How is this possible? Total jackpot, jackpot.”
“They all look pretty similar to me.”
“No way. This one’s a tad overexposed, this has strong contrast, that angle’s off a bit. Here, the gaze is super intense, right? Look closer.”
Park Writer zoomed in on the monitor.
“See? Those tiny differences make or break a shot. Most photos fail on that. But this set? Not a single dud. Every one’s a winner.”
She flipped through the images like a woman possessed, gasping repeatedly. Her head was practically sucked into the screen.
“What do you think? Park Writer’s got skills, huh?”
“Yeah… more than I thought.”
“More?”
“It’s kinda impressive.”
It really was. Far beyond what he’d expected.
Especially considering how he’d always balked at his mother Lady Kang’s suggestions.
‘I used to think entertainers were all just clowns in ridiculous acts…’
Ever since fate forced this path on him, he’d deliberately avoided the industry. Vaguely dismissing it as “no thanks,” viewing it negatively.
But.
‘It’s not so bad.’
He didn’t know much about photography, but he could vaguely sense what Park Writer aimed to convey.
Pulling off results like this with a total newbie and the Child Spirit? Eerily impressive.
Less circus act, more… art.
And right on cue.
*Ding!*
The awaited notification chimed.
[You have successfully harvested lifespan.]
[Harvested Lifespan: 15 days]
*Ding!*
[Measuring request completion.]
[You have perfectly fulfilled the client’s request!]
[Congratulations! Reward: Acquired additional acquirable ability stat.]
[Reward: Frame Composition [A]]
‘Just as I thought!’
Yeonwoo grinned at the status window floating before him.
‘Let’s take a look.’
His first extra ability stat. He lightly tapped the shimmering window.
It shifted, displaying the details.
[Frame Composition [A]]
-The foundational skill of photography: composing the frame. Places and utilizes elements for optimal results precisely where needed. When holding the camera yourself, the perfect composition and environment for the subject auto-set. As a subject, perfectly discerns the photographer’s intent, maximizes the surroundings, and yields the best possible outcome.
“Hmm…?”
Yeonwoo’s eyes widened.
This was way bigger than expected.
‘One skill, usable in two roles?’
The application changed based on whether you applied it as photographer or subject.
‘Cheat skill.’
Having shot photos himself, he could tell how broken this was.
Optimal results guaranteed!
He could recreate the shock from Park Writer’s shots.
From both model and photographer perspectives.
Any photographer—or model or entertainer—would kill for this.
Especially in a world where results dictate fame and pay.
‘I grabbed it as an extra stat, but this is insanely OP…?’
No wasting a hard-earned skill.
Solution? Don’t waste it.
Dip a toe into an industry where he could keep using it.
‘Better than the worst case… second worst, maybe?’
That’s what he’d thought listening to Lady Kang.
Shaman or performer—both sucked, but if forced to choose, pick the lesser evil.
And now.
‘Never thought I’d step in like this.’
The scales tipped slightly.
This ‘Frame Composition’ had pushed back his earlier hesitation, but other things had caught his eye too.
The famous studio Park Writer rented just for this.
Seemed empty, just gear scattered around.
[Ooooo…]
[Uuuuuhhh…]
Yeonwoo’s vision was different.
He’d forgotten for a moment.
Entertainment—actors, singers, idols, models—inevitably drew desires.
Ambitions tangled more nakedly than elsewhere.
And those entering the field?
‘No wonder Lady Kang pushed this.’
Entertainers’ fates mirror shamans’. Ever heard that?
A den of raw ambition, packed with stronger auras than average?
‘Perfect storm for trivial ghosts.’
A goldmine waiting to happen.
And those ghosts all had harvestable lifespans dangling overhead.
Short ones, sure—days at most—but quantity mattered.
A literal vein of gold.
‘No helping it.’
This was temptation shoved down his throat.
“Writer-ssi, mind if I look around a bit?”
“Hm? Oh, sure. You’re done, so go ahead. Got interested? The work’s not half bad, right?”
“Yeah… Kinda. Mind if I borrow a camera quick?”
“Huh? You into cameras too? Can’t use mine, but there are subs in that bag—help yourself. Don’t drop ’em, pricey stuff. Oh, and no taking outside. Acting academy and practice rooms upstairs and down—bumping into folks with a camera gets messy.”
Yeonwoo’s interest was inside anyway.
‘No wonder the trivial ghosts—attached to academy buildings?’
Good for him.
‘If a photo studio and academy building has this many, what’s a broadcast station like?’
‘Well, now.’
A smile crept onto Yeonwoo’s lips.
Infinite spring of wealth?
He didn’t just grin at the goldmine.
Click!
Click!
Click!
[You have successfully harvested lifespan.]
[You have successfully harvested…]
[You have successfully…]
Notifications piled up cheerfully as he roamed freely.
Strobes popped, alerts scrolled by.
‘They’re serving it up—only polite to take it.’
The ghosts’ wishes? Simple: fame.
Vague, but easy to grant.
‘Just make ’em feel famous.’
Dead already—no real stardom possible.
Bittersweet remnants offset by solo flashes.
[Aaah… Finally, my profile pic…]
[Standing on the photo wall was my dream…]
[Flash barrage, eyes steady, pro shot—finally…]
Easy.
Hence the short lifespans.
“Really into photos, huh? What’d you shoot so busily? Can I see?”
He’d barely powered off when Park Writer snatched the camera.
“Whoa… You do this before?”
Her eyes went wide as she turned to him.
“Nope. First time.”
“And you got shots like this? Unreal.”
Even to Yeonwoo, they looked decent.
Backgrounds and compositions screamed magazine editorial.
“Wow, you know how to use light. Never seen it like this—instinct? Fresh angles too. Looks like a whole new place.”
Park Writer muttered, tongue clicking.
“Center subject would’ve nailed it.”
There were subjects.
Just not living ones.