Chapter 138
Translator: uly
Chapter: 138
Chapter Title: Bash Me? I'll Bash You First (1)
Malicious comments against celebrities that crossed the line had long been a social issue—not just a day or two thing. Even public figures were just ordinary people like everyone else. Celebrities got shocked, hurt, and suffered the same as anyone. As more and more of them mustered the courage to speak out about their mental trauma and pain, public perception was starting to shift.
“If you want, how about we settle this properly once and for all? I’m curious to see which side people will believe more if this goes public. It’s all or nothing... so, you wanna try?”
Yeonwoo’s lips curved into a sly smile.
“We’ll each deal with the consequences ourselves.”
“Consequences...?”
The unfamiliar word left the man’s mouth hanging open in a daze. He swallowed hard. His mouth had gone bone-dry ever since things started spiraling strangely from what was meant to be just intimidating a rookie. He had no idea why it had gone off the rails like this, but one thing was clear: this wasn’t in any of the outcomes he’d imagined.
“Yes, consequences. For someone like you...”
Yeonwoo’s gaze swept over the man.
“Nothing too bad, I suppose. Maybe just a little urge to... you know, end it all...?”
Judging by the sheer volume of obsessive thoughts clinging to him...
They’d probably seize the chance during a moment of weakness and go for a big score. When mental strength faltered, bad ideas always wormed their way in. And around this guy? There was no shortage of obsessive thoughts ready to feed him a wide variety of those ‘bad ideas.’
The result? Did he really need to spell it out?
“You seem so confident, so it probably won’t be anything major, right? You must be pretty damn sure of yourself to bring that nonsense here like it’s the truth. Am I wrong?”
Yeonwoo’s expression remained perfectly calm.
But...
How could a person’s vibe shift so drastically just from their eyes turning icy cold?
‘Something’s off. This kid’s a rookie—why’s his presence like this...?’
The man was a textbook case of a washed-up actor who hadn’t booked work in ages. He’d once been hot enough to snag major supporting roles alongside leads. But that success had turned into poison, in a way.
“You’re late for the schedule?! You know that director’s strict about time—why are you pulling this?!”
“People mess up sometimes. Ah, whatever—they can’t even start filming without me anyway.”
His attitude grew sloppier by the day.
“You’ve put on some weight lately. Not monitoring yourself? What about your diet?”
“Uh, yeah, a bit. Been drinking more these days. Noticeable? I’ve been slacking on the meals. Sick of grass all the time.”
“Noticeable? Of course it is! This role needs you fitted tight! How much have you been pounding back to balloon like that?”
“It’ll drop quick. Real quick.”
He’d failed at self-management. That ‘quick-to-drop’ weight never came off after the gig ended and had stuck around ever since. In short, the laziness of thinking ‘I’m at this level now, so it’s fine’ had invited failure. A clean-cut face and sleek image had been his bread and butter, but he’d changed—and demand dried up accordingly.
Yet the man, endlessly lenient with his own faults, shifted the blame to others.
“Kwon Seonghyeon got that spot? Why? That was my exclusive gig!”
“...Your contract ended ages ago. No renewal either.”
“Did it? No, why? I was their top image guy.”
“...Yeah, that was... maybe three years back...”
The manager’s mutter didn’t even register. All he felt was hatred for the one who’d taken his place.
“Didn’t that role have an audition offer for me? I think the director mentioned calling me in.”
“It wasn’t official—just came up over drinks once. And I don’t think it was a lead...”
“But why didn’t they pick me?”
“Well, it wasn’t even a formal audition...”
A spot he might’ve snagged once. But with his sharp jawline and slim build gone, his appearance killed any chance.
“Kwon Seonghyeon again.”
Seemed like pure coincidence every time. But that didn’t matter to the man.
“How the hell does that bastard have connections everywhere?!”
“Well, Kwon Seonghyeon’s always been a top actor... gets offers left and right...”
“Hyung. Whose side are you on? His or mine?!”
“So, like, manage yourself now and...”
“Yeah! Management! If I get my act together, I could shove that guy aside easy! Hyung, book me a trainer right now. That famous spot in Cheongdam—set it up.”
Only his own thoughts mattered.
“Not that kind of management, but... yeah. Better than nothing. Dropping weight first sounds good, but anything’s a start. Might get motivated hanging with industry folks.”
With that logic, the agency shelled out big. If this guy they were stuck with through his contract snapped out of it and recaptured past glory, it wouldn’t hurt the company. But...
“So just hold out a bit. Mouth karma always comes back around, so think of it as getting yours early. Nothing major—just a little suicidal urge, that’s all.”
If they’d known he’d blow this chance too.
If they’d foreseen his overgrown inferiority complex lashing out at top stars.
If they’d realized he’d touch the sanctuary of someone fighting to fill a negative lifespan...
They might’ve regretted sending him there.
“Not him for that gig.”
Of course, regret was always too late, no matter how quick.
*
“Why? Scared?”
He was terrified. But the man couldn’t even muster a proper reply. No, he didn’t have the composure to show it.
“Weird. You were so chatty earlier—cat got your tongue?”
His words sounded casual, but the content was anything but—and that was thanks to the guy in front of him.
‘Can’t... breathe...!’
Even when the eyes sharpened and the air chilled, he hadn’t imagined it’d get this bad. Strangely, the more Yeonwoo spoke. The more time ticked by.
Something massive and heavy pressed down on him, making every breath a struggle.
That wasn’t all.
‘...Wanna run.’
Instinctual fear surged from deep within. His vision spun, legs trembling beneath him. He felt like pitiful prey before a predator.
As if reading his state, Yeonwoo smiled.
“You don’t seem able to answer, so here’s your final warning. Watch your mouth. If I hear that bullshit rumor again, I’ll get pissed.”
*
[You didn’t actually hurt him, right?]
“Yeah, I didn’t. How many times I gotta say it?”
[But how’d that Mario guy not say a word? Your spiritual power alone doesn’t explain that overreaction...]
“For real. Believe me. You gonna get duped your whole life? And stop calling him Mario. He’d feel wronged.”
[Looked just like one. Short and stocky...]
“Hey...”
The nameless guy who’d cozied up out of nowhere, spewing baseless trash about Kwon Seonghyeon like gospel. Nicknamed Mario.
He’d bolted in a panic just minutes ago.
[Did you use an incantation? Nah, his eyes were too clear for that. Kinda beady, though.]
Mario, who couldn’t even retort properly, just sweating bullets.
He’d only moved after Yeonwoo said,
“If you get it, you can go now.”
Like waking from anesthesia, he’d gasped desperately as he fled.
“For real. Why would I lie to you?”
[Not dodging our actor’s loving concern, are you?]
“...Anyway, no.”
It wasn’t a lie. Yeonwoo hadn’t used any spiritual power.
‘Normally, I’d conditionally activate Spirit Eyes first and threaten him my way.’
Might as well do it right, with guaranteed results. No talismans, so blood as medium? Same reason.
But.
[Yeonwoo, you’re not alone!]
“...What kinda creepy talk is that?”
[You’re under our actor’s devoted care right now—a precious body! So be extra careful!]
“Yeah...”
[Anyway, for sure not?]
“Believe me already.”
Yeonwoo hadn’t planned to use spiritual power at all. Instead, he’d tapped an S-rank stat.
Worship for the Forgotten God.
‘Poisons can be medicines depending on use—and vice versa.’
He’d heard something similar from his mother, Kang Yeonhwa, back in training.
“The power you have can be dangerous or safe depending on how you wield it. Abuse it, and the backlash turns the blade on you. Use it right, in the right spots, and it becomes a shield.
Curses are the perfect example. That shaman cursing Woo Do-gyeom’s twins? Could harm others. Or break curses, like you.”
Recalling that, Yeonwoo wondered.
‘Maybe stats work multifaceted too?’
Unable to harm, he’d pivoted from spiritual power to stats.
Simple mindset shift.
‘If a D-rank can overwhelm sloppily, an S-rank?’
Probably crush him breathless.
And it did.
Better than expected.
‘Ah... so abilities work like this too?’
A charm stat could induce fear instead. That simple flip proved wildly effective.
Yeonwoo recalled the status window as the guy flailed awake and fled.
[Conditions met.]
[Derived stat generated from conditions!]
[Acquire derived stat?]
[Congratulations! Acquired derived stat as reward.]
[Reward: Forgotten God’s Majesty [A+]]
The sudden window felt like proof his hunch was right.
Derived stat? Effect was undeniable.
[Hard to believe.]
Even Dongja-ryeong eyed him suspiciously.
“Ah, why you picking on me again.”
[Not picking—it’s just been ages since you went that savage.]
“Savage?”
[You’re all ‘hmph’ to everything, good or bad.]
“Me?”
[Yeah, you. You consciously avoid emotional reactions to most stuff.]
True enough. Nothing in this world lacked a backstory. Even roadside pebbles had history. Ghosts? Even more so.
‘Fretting over it all drains you dry—get nothing done.’
Just hearing them out could take a lifetime. So Yeonwoo kept distance naturally.
Pretend not to see. Not to hear. Clueless.
If entangled, stay coldly detached. All self-preservation.
[Where’d that sharp tongue for pesky trivial ghosts go? He didn’t die. I almost pitied the guy. The pressure, and he couldn’t speak, barely breathing... Thought he’d suffocate.]
The Kwon Seonghyeon superfan had wondered why no outburst. But something nagged.
“I came off that emotional?”