Chapter 24
Chapter 24
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 024
Chapter Title: Haunted Spot (2)
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‘Penalties are more than enough already.’
He’d only gone through one, but that horrific experience of his hard-earned lifespan getting cut in half was something he had zero interest in repeating.
And besides.
‘I can’t let my gold mine go to ruin over some trivial ghost like that.’
When Yeonwoo arrived at the pond’s edge, he spotted two staff members inching closer, relying on the faint light from their phones.
“Wait.”
Yeonwoo stopped them.
“If you step in now, you’ll end up just like her.”
Far from helping, they’d only serve as extra fodder to make the water ghost’s party even livelier.
With that, Yeonwoo plunged straight into the water.
***
‘It’s not shallow at all.’
The water he jumped into was deep enough to submerge his head completely.
‘Looks like a pretty aged water ghost.’
He could feel the ghostly energy pressing in from all sides.
This was the water ghost’s domain, warping the space around it.
A pond that was normally shallow felt entirely different under its influence.
That was why Min Yerin was submerged and couldn’t resurface.
‘Time’s running short.’
The water was pitch-black and murky, offering zero visibility.
But Yeonwoo unhesitatingly reached downward.
Suddenly, a pale hand appeared.
“……!”
It was Min Yerin, struggling desperately to reach the surface.
He grabbed it firmly and yanked.
Her eyes snapped open.
And in that instant.
*Ding!*
*[Harvestable Lifespan: +80 days]*
Even underwater, the cheerful alert rang out.
At the same time,
*- Name: Min Yerin (27/F)*
*- Occupation: Famous Actress*
*- Disposition: Absolute Neutral*
*- Specialties: Stable Voice Projection, Perfect Diction, Intent Conveyance, Emotional Assimilation*
*……*
Her status window popped up.
It showed a surprisingly large lifespan and detailed info, but Yeonwoo skimmed it and moved on.
This wasn’t the time to dwell on it.
Every second counted.
*[This is mine……! Mine……!]*
The water ghost noticed something was off.
It lashed out with its rotten, pus-oozing hand, trying to drag them deeper.
*[Come with me…… Come……]*
Ghostly energy flickered in its hollow black eye sockets.
‘Yeah, right.’
Far from scared, Yeonwoo could tell from it reaching for him that this was one seriously entrenched earthbound spirit.
No wonder Min Yerin couldn’t escape on her own.
*[Come with me…… Come……]*
What made water ghosts so vicious was their refusal to let go once they had a target.
On land, maybe—but in water, that obsession inevitably led to death.
*[Come…… Co…… Kaaaaah……!]*
Its grinning, flesh-peeling lips twisted in agony.
Yeonwoo had simply swung his hand, snapping the black, weed-like tendrils coiled around Min Yerin’s ankle.
Seizing the moment, he pulled her up with force.
“…….”
“…….”
Their eyes met for a brief second.
But only briefly.
Min Yerin’s eyes fluttered shut again.
She’d been underwater for barely two minutes.
Even so, the panic of being dragged down would have made it feel eternal.
The fact she was still conscious was impressive.
*[Aaaah……! Why are you interfering……! She’s mine……!]*
The water ghost flailed wildly, its burst flesh spraying everywhere.
Sticky ghostly energy wrapped around Yeonwoo’s limbs.
But that lasted only a moment.
*[Kaaaaaaaah……!]*
A long, piercing scream echoed.
The water ghost’s form shattered, dissolving into the water.
Moments later.
*Splash!*
Yeonwoo emerged from the water, drenched.
“Gasp! Yerin!”
“The medical team’s on standby!”
He supported Min Yerin, limp in one arm.
***
Outdoor shoots came with a ton of variables.
Unexpected emergencies were common, which was why medical teams were always on hand—and this was exactly that.
“Min Yerin’s doing fine now.”
The pale-faced writer Min approached and updated him.
“I thought my blood was gonna run cold. Whew…… If it weren’t for you, Yeonwoo, it would’ve been a disaster. She was looking for you but I told her to rest first.”
“You did the right thing.”
Yeonwoo replied as he dried off with the blankets the staff had rushed over.
While he’d pulled her out and the medical team finished CPR, the lights had thankfully been restored.
“What in the world happened…… I thought the power went out and came back, but it was like my mind blacked out……”
Writer Min kept clutching her chest.
“And they said that spot was deeper than expected? Could’ve been dangerous for our staff too, but you stopped them. I don’t even know how to thank you.”
“First off, you should let Yeonwoo rest, Writer-nim.”
“Oh my. Look at me. Sorry, Yeonwoo—you must be out of it too. I was just so shocked…… Seonghyeon, take good care of him, okay?”
“No worries there. Go on ahead. You need to check on the set.”
“Right. Thanks.”
Writer Min hurried off to calm the chaotic set.
“Yeonwoo. Aren’t you being too reckless?”
Kwon Seonghyeon smoothly took the towel from Yeonwoo’s hand and started drying his hair instead.
“I can do it myself.”
“Then dry your body. I’ll handle your hair. It’s early summer, but we’re in the mountains at night—better dry quick or you’ll catch a cold.”
It felt weird.
His tone was so gentle, yet it sounded exactly like nagging.
“Are you mad?”
“Does it seem that way?”
“A bit……?”
“Oops. You read me too.”
Kwon Seonghyeon sheepishly rubbed his face.
“You didn’t have to take that risk yourself. Someone else could’ve handled it.”
“No chance.”
“What do you mean?”
“This place. Can’t you really feel it?”
“Feel what?”
He genuinely had no clue.
“This whole area? It’s a ghost farm.”
Kwon Seonghyeon’s deep eyes blinked.
“Huh?”
[Yeah. Actor-nim. I told you, no need to worry. Only Yeonwoo could handle it anyway. No way he’d mess up. A water ghost like that? Piece of cake for him.]
“There was a water ghost……?!”
Kwon Seonghyeon exclaimed, his voice uncharacteristically shocked.
[Shh, shh! Regular folks don’t know about that stuff! They just feel a chill, some unease, spookiness, gloom—that’s it.]
“I had no idea……?”
[Obviously. Our actor-nim has such strong divine energy, nothing like that can even approach! You’re safe around him.]
People with divine energy like Kwon Seonghyeon fell into two categories.
First: Weak energy meant constant harassment from trivial ghosts drawn to it.
Second: Strong energy repelled most trivial ghosts entirely.
Kwon Seonghyeon was the second type.
The only catch? The second type attracted non-trivial entities occasionally.
But that wasn’t the point.
“Ah…… So that’s why only you could do it. Got it. Still, try not to worry us like that.”
“Yeah. Sure…….”
Those earnest words from such a strikingly handsome guy hit with massive impact.
Yeonwoo found himself nodding without thinking.
“Dongja-ssi said you’d be fine, but I was still worried. Rest up. Min Yerin doesn’t look great either, so shooting probably won’t resume right away.”
Kwon Seonghyeon said as they headed to their lodging.
But the next day.
That prediction missed the mark completely.
“Uh…… They’re reshooting scene 37……? Seonghyeon, you better get ready.”
The manager relayed the news from the early-morning staff visit.
“Already?”
“Yeah…… Director tried to stop her, but Min Yerin didn’t want to hold things up over this and pushed to continue……?”
***
“You’re here?”
Writer Min greeted Yeonwoo—the mere assistant manager—with surprising warmth.
She beamed with an enigmatic smile and pointed to one side.
“She’s been waiting for you forever. Ahem. Go on.”
There stood Min Yerin, in her So Yeojin costume.
“Ahem. Perfect timing.”
Muttering something cryptic, Writer Min slipped away.
“……?”
Come to think of it, the area felt oddly empty.
Everyone seemed to be keeping their distance, eyes fixed this way. Hallucination?
“Yesterday.”
Before Yeonwoo could fully scan around, Min Yerin approached abruptly.
“Thanks.”
A cheerful alert popped up.
*Ding!*
*[Successfully harvested lifespan.]*
*[Harvested Lifespan: 80 days]*
Ah, right—there was this.
Over two months of lifespan flooded in at once.
‘That much from her?’
80 days was impressive enough—and it didn’t stop there.
*Ding!*
*[Measuring request completion.]*
*[Measuring……]*
*[Congratulations! Acquired additional acquirable ability as reward.]*
*[Reward: Perfect Pronunciation That Slips Right Into Your Ears [A]]*
‘Huh……?’
An unexpected extra ability too.
The name was unique.
‘Perfect Pronunciation That Slips Right Into Your Ears……?’
Something pronunciation-related?
He vaguely recalled hearing she was a former announcer.
Actors often mangled pronunciations in emotional or complex lines, but not her.
‘Nice bonus.’
Yeonwoo gathered his surprise and replied.
His voice came out naturally smooth.
“Anyone would’ve done the same.”
“No.”
“……?”
“They couldn’t have. Yesterday…… You did something, didn’t you?”
“Huh?”
“That pond—it’s not endlessly deep like that. I went during the location scout, so I know. But yesterday, it was.”
Min Yerin paused, then asked.
“Something was there, right?”
Instead of answering, Yeonwoo just looked at her steadily.
“What answer are you looking for?”
“That one’s enough.”
No idea what was ‘enough’ about it.
Min Yerin left those puzzling words, bowing her head slightly.
She tucked her flowing hair behind her ear, hesitating as she bit her lip.
But when she looked up, no trace of doubt remained.
“Last time and now—I owe you. If there’s ever anything I can do, tell me. I’ll repay the debt.”
“Sure…… Okay…….”
“I will repay it. So you have to tell me.”
Her big eyes urged him on.
*Say yes, quick!*
‘Whatever.’
“Yeah. Got it.”
“Good. Then.”
With that, she turned away decisively.
[Uh……?]
The Child Spirit, who’d been listening from his chest, tilted his head.
[That was a thank-you, right?]
Probably.
‘Kinda confusing, though.’
Her stiff tone, tense demeanor.
‘Anyone’d think she came to challenge me to a duel.’
The words were grateful, sure—but that haughty exit made it ambiguous as hell.
Not that it mattered.
What counted was the unexpected lifespan and new ability.
No disappointment from this ghost spot after all.
‘The haul from one go is insane. This world really is my gold mine.’
Another win for his sharp instincts.
Though……
‘Did her lips twitch into a smile for a second?’
Even in simple makeup, her undeniable presence shone through.
Was that subtle upturn at the corner of her mouth just his imagination?
***
“Yeonwoo! Have some of this!”
The upbeat Writer Min approached with friendly warmth.
She handed him a drink emblazoned with a brand logo.
“Mint choco frappuccino, right? With java chips. Extra whip, super sweet.”
“How’d you know?”
Writer Min chuckled softly at his question.
“Not me—I didn’t figure it out. That person over there brought it. Asked whose it was, and they said it’s yours?”
She pointed to none other than Min Yerin.