Chapter 44
Chapter 44
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 44
Chapter Title: Enchanting Voice (1)
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“Don’t have scary dreams, don’t stay up all night wide-eyed, have deep, comfortable, happy dreams.”
Kang Yeonwoo paused for a beat before continuing.
“Good night.”
The ON AIR light flicked off. The broadcast was over.
***
“Wow, you handled that so smoothly? I thought you’d be a little flustered. You’re not upset, are you?”
“No way.”
Yeonwoo chuckled.
‘He laid out the perfect setup, so of course I’m grateful.’
The moment a great idea popped into his head, Lee Juha had handed him the opportunity on a platter. It might not have been for Yeonwoo’s sake, but it worked out perfectly in the end.
[Whoa... Look at Kang Yeonwoo scheming like that. How did he think to infuse spiritual power into the closing line in that short time?]
The Child Spirit watching from the side stuck out his tongue in amazement.
It was a bit like cheating, but so what?
‘Good thing I kept it short. Since it wasn’t directed at one person face-to-face but scattered toward an indefinite audience, the power drain is insane.’
Even though he’d only used it for a split second at the end, the consumption was enormous.
‘Here’s hoping the effect matches the effort.’
Unless someone had considerable spiritual power, they couldn’t infuse it into an incantation like that. It was nothing compared to proper incantations, but in terms of sheer power expenditure, it was on par.
“Actually, I’ve got insomnia, you know? That’s partly why I do late-night radio, but tonight, for some reason, I feel like I’ll sleep great. It’s gotta be that closing line from you, Yeonwoo-ssi. It just hits like that...”
Lee Juha couldn’t finish.
“You big lug of a troublemaker!”
*Smack!*
Another crisp sound echoed.
“Why ruin a good thing at the end with nonsense!”
“Ah, it went fine, why hit me, Noona?”
“It’s because Yeonwoo-ssi has quick wits!”
“Wow... Listen to you defending him. But fine, I’ll admit it.”
Both sides came out ahead, but the writer stuck in the middle looked awkward.
“It’s fine. I got to talk a lot thanks to you, so I’m grateful.”
“Not bad for a friend of that Kwon Seonghyeon guy. Pretty straightforward.”
“Juha! Words!”
“Hey, Noona, cut me some slack.”
“I’m aging because of you!”
As the sighing writer headed off to tidy up with the staff, Lee Juha turned.
“But you’ve been staring at me since earlier. Got something to say? If it’s about Kwon Seonghyeon, go ahead—no hard feelings toward me, right, Kang Yeonwoo-ssi?”
Just as Lee Juha said, Yeonwoo had been staring at him intently.
More precisely, at his status window.
‘Enchanting Voice.’
How could he acquire that?
Lifespan aside, that extra ability was seriously tempting...
So he asked.
“Any wishes or anything?”
***
“Huh? Wishes? Like the genie from Aladdin granting three wishes?”
“Yeah, something like that... I’m no genie, but I was curious.”
“You some kinda wizard?”
“Who knows? Maybe.”
Yeonwoo smiled, and interest flickered across Lee Juha’s face.
“I do have one thing I’ve been hoping for.”
“What is it?”
“Will you hear me out?”
“If it’s within reason.”
That extra ability was too juicy to pass up, like forbidden fruit. Especially from a famous singer-songwriter, of all people.
‘Just from that brief acting stint, I harvested a ton of lifespan through influence. What if it applied to singing too?’
Music had even better accessibility than dramas or movies. Videos needed sight and sound, but music only needed ears. Even if eyes and hands wandered, open ears meant it slipped in naturally.
There was another reason Yeonwoo coveted Lee Juha’s ability.
‘Couldn’t it combine with visuals?’
Video and music collaboration.
‘Two channels for influence... Synergy potential.’
If that happened, how much lifespan could he harvest?
His heart raced at the thought.
‘But it hinges on this guy’s ability.’
The extra stats were cheat-level. They could turn a total novice into at least a semi-pro in that field.
“Then...”
After a moment’s thought at Yeonwoo’s words, Lee Juha spoke.
“Wanna be friends?”
“Pardon?”
“No pretending you didn’t hear. Let’s be friends.”
And at that moment.
*Ding!*
The familiar alert sounded.
[Harvestable Lifespan: +14 days]
Two whole weeks, no less.
‘No way... Are all Kwon Seonghyeon’s connections like this?’
Why did a stranger smell so familiar?
“Ah, you think I’m just saying it to be nice? Don’t worry, I don’t do empty words.”
No such worry. With the lifespan popping up, he knew it was 100% sincere.
“Maybe you don’t seem desperate enough? I was pretty nervous asking, you know. Never thought I’d be this tense asking someone of the same ‘type.’”
Lee Juha grinned.
“To explain a bit, honestly, at first I was super curious who had Kwon Seonghyeon wrapped around their finger. Then I wondered what his reaction would be if we got close.”
This was probably more sincere than the former.
“But doing radio with you, I got interested in you yourself, Yeonwoo-ssi. I get why that guy’s so smitten. Plus, that closing line was impressive.”
“That farewell. Short, but packed a punch. Felt genuine... Putting that much power into a split-second moment isn’t ordinary talent. And...”
Lee Juha’s eyes sparkled.
“It’s been ages since someone inspired me like this. Don’t take it weird—I just feel something bubbling up but not quite there with you, Kang Yeonwoo-ssi. Inspiration teases like that sometimes.”
No bad intent, he added.
“So, in conclusion.”
Lee Juha said.
“When you like someone, you wanna get close, right? So, friends. I’m not a bad guy to have as one.”
“Sorry, but I’m not that into you.”
Only his special ability mattered.
“Hm? Did you just say ‘sorry, but’? Wow, straight-up rejection.”
Lee Juha clutched his chest like he was hurt. But his huge frame made it look awkward, not pitiful.
‘Special ability, or add another weirdo?’
Dilemma of the century.
It didn’t last long.
Fine. Even if you can’t eat it, touch the belly.
If it had power, snag it first. Especially from a famed genius.
“Alright.”
Yeonwoo said solemnly.
This was just one great step toward bigger lifespans.
“Let’s do it. Friends.”
***
“...So why are you here?”
“Didn’t you know? Me and Yeonwoo are friends now.”
“...Yeonwoo?”
“Yeah. Me and Yeonwoo hit it off. Hehehe!”
Kwon Seonghyeon demonstrated his skill at saying menacing things with a smiling face, while Lee Juha scratched at people’s nerves with a grin.
They’d said they didn’t get along, and it showed.
‘No, everything’s fine, but why at my place?’
The spacious officetel felt cramped with the addition of these tall, burly guys.
‘Ah, that’s why Han Grandfather offered a new house.’
Late realization.
“You probably forced it. Still as selfish as ever, huh?”
“Watch your words. I got Yeonwoo’s okay yesterday. We agreed to be friends. Today’s day one.”
“If you were really friends, why’s it obvious Yeonwoo-ssi finds you annoying?”
“Kwon Seonghyeon, your eyes must be going. Staying solo so long dulled your sight. Tsk tsk.”
Were these twenty-five-year-old men really bickering like this? Childish squabbling, yet ridiculously, it got under Kwon Seonghyeon’s skin.
More than that.
‘Didn’t he praise Kwon Seonghyeon’s judgment right in front of me yesterday?’
Now Lee Juha casually scraped at him like nothing.
Watching, Yeonwoo recalled last dawn.
“Let’s do it, friends.”
Right after, the alert he’d hoped for appeared.
[Congratulations! You have acquired an additional acquirable ability as a reward.]
[Reward: Enchanting Voice [A]]
Exactly what he wanted.
[Enchanting Voice [A]]
- Captivates others with a charming voice.
Effects can amplify or diminish based on atmosphere, intent, or mindset when speaking.
The scope of captivation varies by the listener’s favorability.
‘That’s it.’
Yeonwoo smiled contentedly at the text, praising himself.
‘Worth the extra baggage.’
Even rethinking it, this was a steal. The hassle was worth it a hundred times over.
Used right, it rivaled incantations. Especially the favorability part—that was the killer feature.
‘What if I build fame, max favorability, then use it?’
The effect would be unimaginable.
‘Not turning into a cult leader, I hope...’
Dangerous if abused, but no plans for that. Life was hard enough without evil deeds.
Versatile ability regardless. Mix in spiritual power...
‘Gold badge this time?’
Even calculating, the amplification was beyond guesswork. But election rallies? Probably killer.
“Yeonwoo asked me first if I had wishes. You got any like that?”
“Sorry, but Yeonwoo-ssi met me first. We share a special memory no one else could, even in death and resurrection.”
Yeonwoo had indeed saved Kwon Seonghyeon’s spirit state before death, returning him to his body.
It was a ‘special memory no one else could experience, even dying and reviving.’
Becoming a spirit was rare enough; returning after so long, rarer.
‘But phrasing it like that is so wrong...!’
Anyone hearing would misunderstand big time.
Their talk didn’t sound like influential celebs at all. More like elementary kids?
“What? What is it?”
“Why tell you?”
“Argh! I had a special experience with Yeonwoo too!”
“What?”
Kwon Seonghyeon whipped toward Yeonwoo. His handsome face—fit for “god-sculpted”—stared straight.
But.
‘No, why those eyes?’
What’s with the betrayed puppy look?
Easily expressive actor—those deep well-like eyes brimmed with pitiful emotion.
Yeonwoo felt a bit wronged. What did I do!
He decided to intervene.
“Lee Juha-ssi.”
“Hyung.”
Lee Juha blurted.
“...?”
“Call me Hyung, Yeonwoo. Friends don’t ‘ssi’ each other. Hyung.”
This felt weird.
“...Anyway, when did we have any ‘special experience’?”