Chapter 36
Chapter 36
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 036
Chapter Title: Even I Think This Is a Bit Cheaty (1)
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- I thought it gave me chills;; Most people think acting without lines is easier, but that's totally wrong; Silent acting is actually way harder. Because you have to convey emotions and thoughts with just the most restrained movements;;
ㄴThat Grim Reaper, the rookie who went viral on Kwon Sung-hyun's SNS, right?
ㄴ맞아 ㅇㅇ His acting was insane. Is he really a rookie? Not someone who trained elsewhere?
ㄴMusical theater background? His voice and projection are so stable, maybe.
ㄴHey above~ Our Yeonwoo isn't from musical theater~
ㄴWho are you calling "our Yeonwoo," you weirdoㅡㅡ??
-Sung-hyun-nim looks killer in that suitㅠㅠ I'm so glad I'm alive to see Sung-hyun-nim as the chaebol heirㅠㅠ If there were chaebol families like that, I'd grind like a dog and shower them in cash.
ㄴNo such thing, get lost.
ㄴOur country's chaebols……. A Sung-hyun-nim type……. No way……?
ㄴWhy so wistful above?;
-This is heading into a love triangle, right? The leads' chemistry is nuts, and with the Grim Reaper going to the heroine, it's a total triangle no matter how you slice it.
ㄴBuying Sung-hyun-nim stock.
ㄴI'm rooting for the Grim Reaper.
ㄴWait for the next ep to pick sidesㅠㅠㅠ When's next week? Why's a week made of boring daysㅠㅠ?
Even though the drama had just started, posts popping up everywhere were no joke. Especially as episodes aired, more and more people got hooked and started agonizing over it.
"Yeonwoo-ssi. Seen this? Dimago syndrome."
Min Writer, scribbling away at the second half with a weary but blissful face, said.
"If you're asking if I saw the article about shops and streets emptying out on Wednesday and Thursday evenings because of our drama, yes. Already did."
"Heh. Who'd do such a mean thing?!"
"Yes?"
"I'd have to tell you myself for it to be fun!"
The one saying the exact same thing as Min Writer was none other than Director Heo.
-Hahaha! Yeonwoo-ssi, check this out. Syndrome, syndrome. I only ever heard legends about dramas like this, never thought it'd be ours!
The joy of contributing to a work that had masses raving and obsessed. The whole drama team radiated it.
"Bet it's Director Heo. That guy's sneakily tight-lipped. Anyway, Yeonwoo-ssi. Know about this?"
"What's that?"
"People pushing you as the male lead?"
"As the male lead…… the Grim Reaper?"
As much as viewers clamored for the next episode, the next biggest thing was 'shipping'.
-Either way, male lead's Kim Taehoon.
ㄴWhat nonsense; Obviously the Grim Reaper;
ㄴThat nameless Grim Reaper?
ㄴHe'll shine!!!
-Male lead must be the Grim Reaper.
ㄴHear hear!
ㄴNah, still just a side character~
Viewers backing Kim Taehoon argued the original storyline was built that way, and how could Kwon Sung-hyun's Kim Taehoon not be the lead?
The Grim Reaper fans countered, "The forbidden love defying taboos for the heroine is way hotter!" and pointed to the writer pumping up his screentime, pushing male lead swap theories.
"Ah, there's another side too."
Not as big as those two fandoms, but steady and the most fierce bunch.
-Anything goes as long as it's tasty.
ㄴ맞아. I liked Kwon Sung-hyun and the Grim Reaper fighting over the heroine like swans under the surfaceㅎㅎㅎ
ㄴGood + good = super good♥
"That's the chemistry. I nailed casting those characters, right? Sung-hyun-ssi and Yeonwoo-ssi act so perfectly together, it's got me possessed lately? I'm dying of exhaustion but my energy's surging—it's so damn fun."
Yeonwoo eyed Min Writer's throat, beaming with pride.
'Wearing it well.'
The protection talisman he'd made from wall owl wood for her son's request hung nicely. Doing its job.
"I'll write an even better script, so wait up. Got it?"
Min Writer, pale-faced but staggering onward.
Anyway, as she said, the drama progressed smoothly. Or so he thought.
-Ding!
[Congratulations! You've secured a large amount of lifespan.]
[Harvest this lifespan?]
[Yes/No]
Until that random alert popped up.
***
"……?"
Out-of-nowhere alert.
'What the?'
Yeonwoo stared at the window in front of him.
'……Why's lifespan popping up here all of a sudden?'
Unfamiliar alert. Never seen one like it. 'Congratulations' on a lifespan secure notice? Weird. First time seeing 'large amount' modifier too. Even politely asking if he wanted to harvest.
'Shitty system…….'
Runs on ultimate unhelpfulness.
'Good thing? Bad? Spill it already.'
Too optimistic after the first penalty flashback. Blindly hitting 'Yes' could screw him—who knows?
And.
-Ding!
The alerts didn't stop there.
'Another one?!'
No sooner thought than another window appeared.
[New function updated.]
[Multi-Lifespan Auto-Harvest now available.]
[Execute Multi-Lifespan Auto-Harvest?]
[Yes/No]
"……?"
What now?
Multi-Lifespan Auto-Harvest?
'The name alone screams sketchy……?'
A chill prickled his spine. Bad vibe.
'Large amount of lifespan plus auto-harvest……?'
Not single, but multi-. Large lifespan alone could be poisoned apple.
Think of that no-name actor whose name he barely recalled. Definitely had harvestable lifespan, did the request via system, harvested.
'But zilch results. So ignore first alert, but the second…….'
Auto-harvest. No need to lift a finger—huge perk!
"Hoo……."
Yeonwoo didn't rashly tap the shiny 'Yes'.
Just pondered.
"All or nothing."
'Auto' means obvious. Simple head-scratching reveals it.
"Free lifespan no strings? Or 'auto' as pretext for more demands……."
Good thing no one around. Child Spirit had gone off with Kwon Sung-hyun, wobbling away. Otherwise, busted staring at air like a lunatic, freaking out solo.
Pretending to talk on phone has limits.
Lately, staff starting to notice Yeonwoo's oddities anyway.
Caught like this……?
'Oil on fire.'
Silver lining: industry full of weirdos, no outright rejection vibe.
Just……
-Yeonwoo-ssi. My lease ends next month—got time? Mind hitting real estate with me……?
-Lately work's not going well, fortune teller said I'm jinxed or something. Felt culty, hard to buy…… What do you think? Anything off about me?
-Ah, Yeonwoo-ssi. Nothing much. Know how to name kids? Niece just born……
Kinda veering weird. Grateful they're not wary, but……
'Better if they were…….'
Sudden memory made Yeonwoo rub his tired face.
Sneaking in fortune-teller questions……
Not wrong field, but.
'Fled that crap, now doing it here?'
Anyway, not the point.
"Pull the trigger or nah?"
Button twinkles mockingly. Like 'You got the guts?'
Yeonwoo's finger crept forward.
'Yeah. Kwon Sung-hyun's a lifespan vending machine anyway, resentful thoughts everywhere.'
If not here, no way he'd decide so lightly.
But this world's harsher than jungle: entertainment. Breeds resentful thoughts from nothing, trivial ghosts swarm on desires even sitting still.
Overabundance of blind lifespans nearby.
Yeonwoo's job: pick fallen fruit.
'Gathering scattered ones annoying, but got countermeasures.'
Mind made up.
Finger, paused mid-air, moved again.
Tapped the twinkling 'Yes'.
"……!"
Yeonwoo saw it.
Yeah. Jackpot's this.
Kang Yeonwoo. Age 23. Man's whose 'gut' never missed.
***
'Crazy.'
Jackpot hit, Yeonwoo's first reaction: ordinary.
Y'know, when reality hits too hard, brain lags.
Yeonwoo exactly.
"Wow……. Even I think this is a bit cheaty."
Words finally out after ages.
Eyes darting air busily.
No wonder—flashy pings filled air with status windows.
https://booktoki469.com/data/file/novel/5688/12456/16548772310228.jpg
[Successfully harvested lifespan.]
[Harvested lifespan: 2 days]
[Successfully harvested lifespan.]
[Harvested lifespan: 11 days]
[Successfully harvested lifespan.]
[Harvested lifespan: 8 days]
[Successfully…….]
[Harvested…….]
Dings and numbers flying insane.
Singles to double-digits. Even one triple.
And.
Endless alerts finally stopped.
-Ding!
Yeonwoo lost words again.
[Multi-Lifespan Auto-Harvest completed.]
[Auto-harvested lifespan: 265 days]
265 days. Year minus 100.
Nearly a year dropped in.
"What the hell……?"
Too stunned, suspicion creeps.
Gut screamed jackpot, but he knew: no free lunch.
"Not give-then-take…… Nah, possible. Maybe setting up bigger crash like last time."
Jackpot good, but too jackpot-y to trust.
"For now……. Watch and wait."
If real jackpot to end. Or bust in jackpot clothes.
Time tells.
Yeonwoo decided to wait.
Days passed.
[Successfully harvested lifespan.]
[Harvested lifespan: 4 days]
[Successfully…….]
No initial bomb.
But sporadic drips kept coming.
Finally, Yeonwoo concluded.
Jackpot. Big one.