Chapter 124
Chapter 124
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 124
Chapter Title: Life's Goal (2)
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“Ah, Yeonwoo-ssi, you said this is your first time on a movie set, right? Yeah. Post-production usually takes a while. Especially for films with a lot of CG—they’re mostly graphics work anyway…”
The set had a green screen background, which made it look that way at first glance.
‘I think I’ve heard that overseas blockbusters are filmed like this…?’
Things impossible to recreate in the real world—like superheroes pulling off feats beyond human capability or monsters rampaging through cities—flashed through his mind. Stuff you couldn’t see without CG.
‘Will I get to try something like that someday?’
The drama where he played a grim reaper and the movie he was shooting now had barely any CG work, so it felt a bit unfamiliar. The drama didn’t need separate graphics due to its setting, and for the movie, analog purist Ji Director hadn’t assigned him any scenes that required it. They’d handle the necessary parts with computer graphics, but Ji Director had flown all the way out here just for the shoot.
“Ours isn’t that extreme, but our director is super meticulous and obsessed with visuals. He puts a ton of effort into editing. That’s why it takes so long. He’s really picky about it.”
The assistant director said this with a beaming smile. Quitting time had a magical power that could make even workaholics smile. Heck, even the gloomy aura that had hung around felt completely lifted now.
“Anyway, we’re not starving artists scraping by, but the pace is so slow that it really does look like a release two years from now… So we had to swallow our pride and ask you, Yeonwoo-ssi. And it worked great. Good thing we listened to Dohee-ssi.”
The effect had probably hit Ji Director. Yeon Do-hee’s name brought something to mind.
‘Muse, was it?’
The goddesses from ancient Greek mythology who inspired artists. Yeon Do-hee had vaguely circled around it back then, making it hard to grasp.
‘So that’s what she meant.’
A being that drove you to work tirelessly, without rest. Something that forced labor no matter what.
He’d looked up the actual meaning, but this seemed miles away from the dictionary definition.
‘But… isn’t it kinda scary?’
This felt creepier than getting possessed by a workaholic ghost. It made you seek out work on your own two feet—wasn’t that even worse?
“So I just need to sit around quietly?”
“If you get bored, could you drop by every now and then…? It’d be even better if you came whenever your schedule allows…”
Yeonwoo turned to look at Ji Director. The corpse-like bear had reverted to human form, gazing at him with a vibrant, lively face.
“Director. Stop fidgeting with your hands and get back to work if inspiration’s hit. Go on. Hurry up.”
“But Yeonwoo-ssi…”
“I’ll handle the hospitality. You’d just bleach out again if you stuck around anyway.”
“With Yeonwoo-ssi here, it’s fine…”
“Fine my foot. I know it’s not. Pull yourself together and get to work!”
“But if I go with that person…”
“Yeonwoo-ssi. Do you perhaps have plans to go somewhere with the investor…?”
The assistant director asked while talking to Ji Director. There was only one investor who could come up in this conversation.
“Nope.”
At the sharp reply, the assistant director shoved Ji Director’s back.
“You heard him. Now get to work.”
“Yeonwoo-ssi, how about dinner together…”
“Ah, just go already!”
Ji Director shuffled off reluctantly, like he was leaving behind a jar of honey. The bear-like figure squeezed his large frame into a chair way too small for him, stared at the monitor, fiddled with something, and soon got sucked right into it, focusing intensely.
“Phew, good thing. Emergency treatment complete.”
That should hold him for a while, the assistant director said.
‘Feels like I’m doing something mean.’
Forcing someone to work like this. He almost felt like he should apologize.
“Thanks, Yeonwoo-ssi. The edit’s gonna turn out amazing thanks to you. He may look like a bear, but his hands are incredibly delicate. It’d be great if you could drop by now and then to nudge him along. Um… It’s kinda awkward for me to say this, but our director’s actually pretty talented despite how he seems. Staying on good terms with him could help your career in all sorts of ways.”
She’d been persuading him earnestly, but trailed off weakly at the end.
“Don’t worry. If it helps the movie, it’s only right that I pitch in.”
“Oh my god. How are you so… We’ve felt it while shooting too, but still… You really are an angel…”
The word “angel” always gave him chills, no matter when he heard it.
‘Well, it’s not bad for me. If the movie does well, great. And more than that…’
The feeling of someone needing him.
Ji Director’s direct, immediate reaction wasn’t half bad. He knew people gave him harvestable lifespan from watching his acting, hearing his singing, seeing his videos—so he was aware he had fans. But someone expressing it so openly was a first.
‘No, Kwon Sung-hyun did too.’
The guy who wasted lifespan on a ridiculous request just looking at him.
Anyway, Ji Director felt different from Kwon Sung-hyun.
‘Maybe that’s why I’m starting to like this more.’
It had gotten easier lately, but Yeonwoo suddenly thought his wounds might run deeper than expected.
*
“So what’s this about the investor?”
Separate from Ji Director’s poor state, the subtle atmosphere in the studio-cum-set lingered.
“Ah… That. Um… Well…”
“Is that jerk here by any chance?”
Yeonwoo asked first, seeing the assistant director hem and haw.
“Gasp. How did you know?”
With all these clues, who wouldn’t guess?
“The vibe’s off, and I figured you wouldn’t bring up Woo Do-gyeom-ssi for no reason.”
“You’re right, Yeonwoo-ssi. Come here for a sec…?”
The assistant director led him to one side of the set. A spot that should’ve been empty now after most shoots wrapped had a crowd huddled together.
And that wasn’t all.
“…?”
What was that fancy buffet?
That’s where the studio’s eerie vibe was coming from.
“Yeonwoo-ssi… I feel so embarrassed, sorry, apologetic, and ashamed saying this to you, but…”
“Yes. Go ahead.”
The assistant director hesitated unusually, as if sorry for even asking twice.
Funny thing was,
*Ding!*
[Harvestable Lifespan: +1 day]
A request had popped up amid it all. Just one day’s worth.
‘Not something to brush off as “just one day.” What could make someone stake their lifespan on a request?’
Of course, the requester had no idea they’d made one. But the mere fact it triggered meant massive pressure from their subconscious, screaming for help.
Why not? There was that saying:
[The today you carelessly let pass is someone else’s desperately wished-for tomorrow.]
Yeonwoo fully agreed. His lifespan had once plunged so negative he nearly died in one go!
One day might seem trivial. But it held infinite potential. Breaking it down to hours or minutes hammered home the desperation.
[If I’d left 10 minutes earlier, I wouldn’t have been late and writing that report!]
[If I’d reached the bathroom one minute sooner… I could’ve saved my dignity…]
[If I’d been a few seconds later, I’d have gotten hit by that car. Talk about a close call.]
It applied to Yeonwoo too. That’s why he scraped together even the tiniest lifespan like a day’s worth without fail.
‘I’ll gather these precious bits one by one and clear the minus fast.’
Why else had he entered showbiz? Walking bundles of lifespan, right?
Not entirely anymore, sure. But the multi-lifespan auto-harvest feature—taking a tiny fraction of lifespan that inspired people would’ve wasted, as thanks for his help. A direct, pure reaction of goodwill and gratitude no one else received.
‘Still a long way to go, though…’
His initial minus was 28,470 days. A whopping 78 years. Thanks to grudge spirits—walking lifespans—and auto-harvest, it’d shrunk a bit.
A measly… two and a half years…?
“You might think it’s totally weird when you hear it… Um…”
“I’ll listen first, then decide. Speak freely.”
They were pros at weird by now. Weirder than a ghost walking on hands while vomiting blood? Weirder than one looping investments endlessly without tiring?
No way he’d get a sudden “I can see ghosts too!” confession here. He’d have noticed already.
“So… Um… Yeah…”
[Harvestable Lifespan: +1 day]
The status window still floated over the assistant director’s head.
No day was wasted, as they said. This one mattered hugely to the requester.
So much they’d stake it on a plea.
“So… Really, don’t think it’s weird, okay?”
“Yes. I won’t.”
“Phew. I’m not usually the type to say stuff like this…”
After much hesitation, the assistant director finally spoke. With desperately earnest eyes.
“Please… save us…!”
*
Did I hear that wrong?
‘…Doesn’t look like they’re dying right now.’
Scanning the set, no wandering grim reapers in sight. The assistant director’s complexion wasn’t great… but not deathly pale either.
If anything, they looked like ‘a chubby animal fattened up for winter hibernation…?’
Of course, dark circles under the eyes and a stressed-out expression.
The best way to confirm? Ask again.
“Did I mishear you?”
“Nope. If you mean I said ‘save me,’ then you heard right.”
“If you’re not feeling well, you should head to the hospital right away…”
“No, no, Yeonwoo-ssi. It’s not that. If it were, I wouldn’t be telling you!”
“Then what…?”
“See that over there?”
The assistant director pointed to one spot.
The fancy buffet from earlier.