Chapter 38
Chapter 38
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 038
Chapter Title: Even I Think This Is a Bit Cheaty (3)
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Listening to it, there was some logic to it. Every single one of the post writers shown by the Child Spirit had been harboring ill intentions deep down. But oddly enough, seeing Yeonwoo’s acting had changed their minds.
[Some of the lifespans from those people—who would have chosen death and vanished if not for you—are coming to you as compensation, don’t you think?]
Lifespans spanning decades that would have originally ended in death. But by changing their minds and avoiding that wrong choice, they were offering up compensation in the form of days, or even months, of life.
In a way, it was like having part of their lifespan taken. But it was no loss at all. After all, they were getting to live a future that wouldn’t have existed otherwise.
“Then the sudden influx of lifespan back then makes sense too. Compensation for influence...”
It was definitely a reasonable explanation. Yeonwoo had been thinking along those lines himself.
[This is the power of media! There was a time when people said the modern world was ruled by media, and it wasn’t for nothing. Now it’s even saving your life! How about that? Impressive, right?! TV is the best!]
The TV-addicted ghost said that. It was an unbalanced combo, but true enough, so Yeonwoo nodded.
At the same time, another thought crossed his mind.
‘I definitely remember thinking this industry was a goldmine before... But now it feels like what’s buried isn’t gold—it’s diamonds.’
Influencing others through acting and gaining lifespan as compensation. It sounded simple, but when you thought about it, it was absurd.
‘The ratings for episode 8 were 18 percent, right?’
That meant, roughly speaking, fulfilling requests from about nine million people all at once. Without having to go around one by one, putting in the effort to complete them individually.
Of course, not every household had a TV, so it wasn’t exact. But in principle, that was the rough math.
So this was really...
“Jackpot.”
He’d just gone with the flow, and now he was here.
‘What if I hadn’t entered this industry?’
It was entirely possible. Starting with Han Suhwan, the penalty from an unknown actor, meeting Kwon Sung-hyun to lift the penalty, and not following through to this world...
He didn’t need to think long. The answer came quickly.
‘I’d still be scraping by, desperately hunting for lifespan.’
Could he have found overflowing lifespan like in this industry?
‘Or I might’ve dropped dead ages ago...’
But now, lifespan was coming in without even fulfilling requests directly. All through acting.
It was bizarre. If his lifespan hadn’t been in the negative, Yeonwoo never would’ve set foot in this industry.
‘Coincidence?’
It was too convenient for mere coincidence. But calling it not a coincidence felt off too. Yeonwoo had chosen paths at countless crossroads, and this was the result.
‘It’s almost more believable that some great being orchestrated my fate like this...’
But Yeonwoo soon chuckled and shook his head. As if.
Overthinking it. He was just getting paranoid from the massive windfall.
“No helping it.”
[What?]
“They’re feeding me this much. Spitting it out would be rude.”
[Oh? So?]
The lizard spirit’s eyes sparkled, sensing what Yeonwoo would say next.
“Time to get serious about acting.”
Having sorted his thoughts, Yeonwoo reached one conclusion. Acting was no longer optional—it was essential.
To mine gold, you had to enter the goldmine. He’d kept some distance so far. Not anymore.
‘If I’m doing it, might as well do it right.’
That was Yeonwoo’s resolution.
***
Having hit an unexpected mega-jackpot with the concept of influence, Yeonwoo’s next move was...
“Cut! That was great again, Yeonwoo-ssi!”
Nothing special. Just keep acting?
‘Well, right now, I’m not exactly in a position to take on more gigs anyway.’
A freshly debuted, unproven rookie. Dropping shoots carried too much risk. Resolve alone didn’t make things happen.
Sure, appearing in the drama had shown some potential, and he’d heard offers were trickling in...
‘But I’m not looking for random filler spots.’
Yeonwoo didn’t want sensational, thrill-chasing shows. Lifespan was steadily auto-harvesting anyway. No need to go out hunting obsessive thoughts anymore.
Though, to avoid penalties, he did preemptively clear out any real troublemakers who might tank the drama.
[Exactly. Going on those shows that cram in 10, 20 guests at a time just burns image fast. No need for that low-tier stuff! They’re not airing just to fill seats!]
The Child Spirit agreed with Yeonwoo.
[You need to get famous quick, but wasting time on gossip shows? Better spend it grinding acting like an ox. That way you blow up faster, and your influence grows! Remember that story? Overseas star’s smoking photo caused a spike in teen smokers?]
Famous people wield influence even with a single photo, the Child Spirit explained. Recognition meant fame. Fame meant impact on the masses.
‘When did this kid start giving useful advice?’
After all the weirdness, the Child Spirit seemed different now. Unpredictable at times, but at its core, a wise ghost of decades.
[And I’m your manager! I know this industry better than you, right? Actor-nim’s busy, so I’ll watch over you! We’ve known each other long enough—no relationship drama. No salary needed! Just frequent offerings. Lately craving cheese crust pizza and galbi chicken...]
...No, maybe not.
Anyway, that advice was pretty useful.
[Why do our actor-nim and others stick to mystique? To minimize image burn. The moment you expose to the public, it starts draining.]
No need to claw from the bottom. Opportunities were right in front of him anyway.
“Shooting’s smooth, ratings already over 40 percent. These days, I couldn’t ask for more—pure bliss!”
As filming neared the end, Director Heo’s face was all smiles all day. Ratings had started in the teens and now, with finale looming, blasted past 40 toward 50 like mad.
Some were buzzing that a terrestrial drama might finally hit 50 percent after ages. Viewers, online communities, SNS—total chaos.
“Smooth? The shoot? Weird. The set I saw wasn’t. Are you the only one having fun, Director? That grin’s gonna get permanent.”
Min Writer, zombie-like from scripting the finale, muttered darkly. She’d barely slept over two hours a day, yet showed up anyway.
Simple reason.
-Can’t write without seeing the actors live! What to do!
Especially for Yeonwoo’s scenes—she never missed one.
“Oh right. Can’t be happy in front of Min Writer.”
“I hear that too?”
“...Haha! It’s all thanks to Min Writer’s killer script! Right, guys? All because she poured her soul into it!”
Lighting director and assistant writers nodded fast at Director Heo’s urgent glance.
“Of course. Without Writer-nim’s script, no way ratings hit this.”
“Everyone’s raving! ‘Min Suji—must-watch writer!’ Like that!”
“Aigoo, our writer’s so diligent, great personality too.”
“Totally. With someone like Writer-nim, drama’s a breeze. Who else sends polished scripts ahead? Others do side-scripts, faxes, Kakao real-time! We had none of that!”
Min Writer’s eyes twinkled faintly amid her dark circles and half-dead vibe.
“Hmm. Really? Am I that great?”
“Ay, of course! Duh!”
“That much?”
“Yup!”
“Yeonwoo-ssi thinks so too?”
Spotlight suddenly on Yeonwoo. Desperate eyes turned his way.
“I think it’s great.”
“Yeah? Good then... But I feel like I’ll get flamed hard once this airs. What now?”
Min Writer weakly shook a notebook.
“Gasp. Writer-nim. Finale done?!”
“Ooooh! Finally...! You were so worried it wouldn’t flow!”
“O! Min Writer! For real? Finale complete?!”
Sighing deeply amid the sparkling eyes, Min Writer said,
“You guys, don’t celebrate. Once this airs, we’re all getting hate.”
“Why? It’s Min Writer.”
“...You really don’t know? It’s because of our Grim Reaper!”
Yeonwoo, the Grim Reaper, shrugged.
“Yeonwoo-ssi. Just say the word. One word from you, I’ll scrap it blind. Deal? Please?”
“Just go with it as is?”
“Aaaaah...”
Min Writer wailed in despair.
“Killing the Grim Reaper... How much hate will I eat? Might live to 200!”
That was it. Min Writer’s dilemma: Yeonwoo’s Grim Reaper character.
-Something feels off with the flow? No way it ends with Reaper dying, right?
ㄴWhat scary talk lol;;; How does a already-dead Reaper die lol;;;;
ㄴTrue, no way. Can’t happen. Lead can’t die!
ㄴNah, he’s the Reaper~
ㄴNope? He is our Reaper!!
-In last ep, heroine’s body briefly shown alive? Real?
ㄴBait was there from start. Death Registry had one error—one person’s share. So only one dead from beginning.
ㄴFor real? Registry one person?
ㄴYup. (Screenshot)
ㄴWhoa... Real. So Yeojin still alive??
ㄴHigh chance? Taehoon found Yeojin’s mom at hospital last timeㅠㅠ
-From above: If Soyeon’s soul is alive (not dead), means her body’s owner died?? But if soul alive, how separate from body? Gotta return to original body?? But earlier explanation: Extracting living soul = killing person??
ㄴThat’s why everyone’s mourning Reaper’s death now....... Killing living = huge sin, soul erasure......
ㄴOh? Crazy;;;;;
-Wanted: Heroes to drag Min Suji (1/100)
ㄴMe (2/100)
ㄴMe!!!! (3/100)
ㄴ.......
ㄴMeㅜㅜ Can’t lose our Reaperㅠㅠ Won’t let go even in deathㅠㅠㅠ (99/100)
In episode 16 aired the day before, Kim Taehoon spots a middle-aged woman at the hospital who looks just like So Yeojin. He follows her absentmindedly and witnesses something unimaginable.