Chapter 37
Chapter 37
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 037
Chapter Title: Even I Think This Is a Bit Cheaty (2)
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The Multi-Lifespan Auto-Harvest function.
"So... it's like some kind of auto system?"
He wasn't sure what to compare it to, but the word that immediately came to mind was that. Auto-hunting. The kind of program that, if you just left the game running, would automatically hunt, gather, and do everything else on its own.
"Everything's great. It's all good, but... why did this suddenly activate?"
Free lifespan? No way he'd hate that. This was definitely a massive jackpot.
But a slight unease lingered—the activation condition of the system.
[At first, they came pouring in like crazy, right?]
"Yeah."
[Now they're trickling in sporadically?]
"Right."
*Flick flick.*
The adorable leopard gecko with its large, expressive eyes flicked out its tongue as it spoke.
This was the Child Spirit, who hadn't forgotten the sharp rejection—and the scream—from Min Yerin when he'd been in hamster form. He'd finally switched bodies.
-This should win Min Yerin over!
-...We'll see.
-She seemed to hate furry animals, so this time she'll definitely like it!
-Aren't the two extremes a bit much?
-Am I not cute?!
-No. Lizards are cute in themselves. They are cute, but... why are you so obsessed with Min Yerin?
When he'd asked out of genuine curiosity, the Child Spirit had wagged its plump tail and answered.
-I'm just trying to score some points with my girl—what's wrong with that!
-...?
He didn't understand what that meant, but one thing was clear.
'That guy won't give up until Min Yerin says she likes it.'
Anyway, now in lizard form, the Child Spirit continued.
[Do you remember any specific situations from back then? Like, roughly what time it was. What you were doing, that sort of thing. There's no way lifespan would just pour in out of nowhere like *poof*. You might've done something without realizing it. So spit out anything that comes to mind!]
"That makes sense. Hmm, let me think..."
Yeonwoo closed his eyes, lost in thought.
"The lifespan bomb hit exactly three days ago."
[Thursday? What time?]
"Around just past 11 p.m., I think."
Unlike the premiere, they didn't all gather for monitoring this time. But filming did loosen up around the broadcast hour.
"Min Writer came by and we chatted a bit, but nothing special."
[What about?]
"Viewer reactions? Drama articles, and debates over the male lead—stuff like that."
[Hmm. Viewer stuff, huh...]
The gecko lizard raised a tiny finger to scratch its chin.
[Hmm. Hmmm.]
It made a weird groaning sound, then suddenly demanded Yeonwoo's smartphone.
[Wait. This genius Child Spirit will pinpoint it for you!]
The lizard plastered itself against the phone screen—about the size of its body—and desperately tapped with its whole form. It slipped a few times but exerted every ounce of effort, finally crying out triumphantly.
[Found it! As expected, this Child Spirit is great!]
The palm-sized lizard shook its limbs in a tap dance. A sight you couldn't pay to see.
[Here! Take a look!]
"...Kang Yeonwoo... Fan... Club...?"
Yeonwoo's eyes quickly scanned the top, then paused.
It was a homepage made from cropped screenshots of the drama, and even to Yeonwoo, it looked pretty legit. Though the title was unfamiliar.
"What is this...? A fan club?"
[It's still a provisional fan club. Not officially launched yet.]
"...?"
What was a provisional fan club?
Regardless of Yeonwoo's confusion, the lizard steadily extended its tongue to point at one spot on the screen.
[Read this at least.]
The important thing wasn't the identity of this mysterious fan club.
"'I never thought watching the drama would heal me'...?"
[Read the content too.]
Exhausted from flailing its whole body, the lizard went limp. Its chubby belly was impressively round, different from the hamster.
Yeonwoo tapped the post with his finger.
His eyes began moving along the emerging text.
-Have you seen this episode by any chance?
The post started that way, and its content was a bit gloomy.
-Truth is... it's embarrassing, but I've been failing the civil service exams that everyone else passes, year after year, and my confidence has tanked.
Depression was a given, and honestly, I've had extreme thoughts a few times. Everyone else gets good jobs and lives well... but I'm the only one falling behind. I couldn't even face my parents and thought maybe dying would be best.
Obviously, I couldn't study in that state, and not studying led to distractions. Then the guilt of slacking off drove me crazy again lol. It kept repeating.
You might say a exam prepper watching drama? But yeahㅠㅠ I couldn't focus, so when I heard Seonghyeon was in it, I checked it out for a mood boost?
But... I just burst into tears watching the drama.
The date showed it was posted a few days ago—the exact broadcast day.
'That episode...?'
If memory served, it was episode 8.
The Grim Reaper, who first meets So Yeojin to correct the Death Registry.
But upon seeing her, he's overwhelmed by an inexplicable feeling and flees the scene.
[How strange.]
He must take her to fix the registry.
Yet the closer he gets to So Yeojin, the more he loses composure.
He feels duty-bound but repulsed.
[...Still, I must complete the mission. It's the right thing.]
After their first encounter, the Grim Reaper constantly wrestles between emotion and duty.
He barely suppresses his feelings and moves to take the heroine.
Of course, male lead Kim Taehoon's interference causes repeated failures, but episode 8 was different.
[What do you think you're doing right now?]
[Why?]
With Kim Taehoon absent at that moment, the Grim Reaper gets a chance to take So Yeojin without interference.
However.
[Do you not know it's dangerous to get hit by a car?]
Instead of seizing the chance to take her, the Grim Reaper saves her from a near hit-and-run.
[I know.]
[What...? You knew and just stood there dazed?]
[Thanks for saving me, mister. But if I'd gotten hit and died, wouldn't that be good for you? You're the Grim Reaper trying to take me anyway. My death would help you finish your job, right?]
[...First, I'm not 'mister.' And... you're wrong.]
[Wrong?]
[There's no guarantee your death ends my task. Your soul is abnormally bound to that body, so a shock-induced death might not separate it from the flesh.]
[Don't normal people separate body and soul upon death?]
[That's for ordinary folk. You don't qualify.]
Perhaps because her true self was a soul, So Yeojin had an odd nonchalance about death.
As she said, if he'd just let the accident happen, his mission might've been done.
The excuse he gave her wasn't even true.
What mattered was the body's death housing So Yeojin.
Whether her soul separated or vanished with the body—irrelevant.
'If it separates, drag it away. If it vanishes, that's resolution enough.'
A body that should have died. A soul mismatched to it.
The near-accident was the perfect chance to handle both.
But instead,
[Don't treat your soul so carelessly.]
The Grim Reaper said that.
[You... you're far more precious than you think.]
Despite thinking it wrong, his words wouldn't stop.
[Don't wish for a death that's not yours. Your time hasn't come yet—so until then, I'll stay by your side.]
Right as he was about to take her, with death looming, the Grim Reaper finally acknowledged his feelings.
[So no reckless thoughts. Stop entertaining death lightly.]
[Then how long do I have to live like this? It's not even my body, I don't know who I am... I just want this to end!]
[Your time hasn't come, and death solves nothing. They say no problem in the world lacks an answer. There must be another way.]
In short, the Grim Reaper—torn endlessly between mission and inexplicable emotion—finally tips fully to one side.
After episode 8, he transforms from a threat to the leads' relationship into their ally.
-It felt like the Grim Reaper was talking directly to me. Like, it's okay not to give up yet—it was so comforting lol.
Strangely, after hearing that, I cried throughout the drama.
Dramas are usually for stress relief or killing time, right? That's how I watched too.
With Seonghyeon, it was eye candy, no bad acting, interesting plot—just fun...
But today, the Grim Reaper's words hit different... Healing? First time a drama comforts me like that.
The post had many comments, mostly agreeing.
-Me too? Ugh, I was sobbing with tissues from midwayㅠㅠ
ㄴAdd another crybaby hereㅠㅠ222
-This is pure healingㅠㅠ The Grim Reaper saying it packed a punch. Seeing that cold face crumbleㅠㅠ My heart fluttered. First time envying the heroine.
ㄴDeath itself—the Grim Reaper—saying it hits harder2222
[Seen it all?]
The Child Spirit flicked its tongue.
[There are a few more similar posts—check them.]
This time too, it pointed to several.
-Me... my dad's sick. Chemo, but no hope really lol.
Today I was watching in his hospital room, and the Grim Reaper's words made tears flood.
Dad... no hope. Bills piling up into debt.
Thought maybe dying together was best?
But no. Hearing it, I realized death gains nothing.
lol Cried so loud in the hospital, embarrassing.
Didn't even know who the Grim Reaper was, but watched the drama and joined the fan club right away!
(Comments)
-Welcome, good choice!
-Tough spotㅠㅠ Pat pat, hope it helps—hang in thereㅠㅠ
-No bad thoughts. Yeonwoo would worry.
ㄴYeah, no more of that lol
"Stuff like this is common?"
[What I showed is just the tip. Read it all, you'd pull an all-nighter. No need—you get the gist.]
True.
The Grim Reaper's lines in episode 8 positively impacted people—easy to see.
[So, Yeonwoo. My take is...]
The lizard struck a cool pose, propping its chin.
Cool or not, it was just a chin-propped gecko.
[Your influence made people change their minds—and that rewarded you with their lifespan! Plausible, right?]
"Your influence?"
[Look at the fan club—it's obvious. You noticed too.]
Yeonwoo nodded, and the Child Spirit continued.
[Your acting changed people with dark thoughts—and as payment, it came to you! Sounds good, huh?]