Chapter 50
Chapter 50
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 050
Chapter Title: Big and Beautiful (1)
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“Whoa! What the hell!”
Yeonwoo swung his hand. It was a reflexive defense mechanism.
But then—
*Thwack!*
With a weird sound, something small and round bounced away.
Its identity was revealed when Kwon Seonghyeon appeared, hearing the short, frail death cry.
“Yeonwoo-ssi! That’s Dongja-ssi!”
“Huh?”
“That’s Dongja-ssi’s body.”
“Oh…….”
Come to think of it, he did hear something like a shout. Calling him a traitor or something?
Fortunately, the bird Yeonwoo had swatted recovered quickly.
And it got seriously pissed.
[*Hmph! That was so mean!*]
“Sorry.”
[*How could you hit me?!*]
“Why’d you have to fly right at my face?”
[*That’s because……! Because……! You left me alone in that flood of foreign languages……!*]
Ghosts or humans, incomprehensible foreigners were scary no matter what.
“Dongja-ssi, don’t be too sad. Yeonwoo-ssi didn’t mean to. He was probably just startled and surprised, so he forgot about you for a second.”
[*……Really?*]
“Yeah, that’s probably it.”
Kwon Seonghyeon flashed a gentle smile.
The bright yellow bird wobbled limply on his shapely palm.
What Kwon Seonghyeon said wasn’t true, but it didn’t matter.
The point was that the Child Spirit fell for it.
[*Argh. I wasn’t gonna introduce him since you didn’t, but if it wasn’t on purpose, guess I have no choice.*]
The grumbling Child Spirit let out a long chirp.
Then, a pale soul slithered out from the wall.
Deep black hair and eyes.
A stark contrast to the foreign ghosts scattered around.
“No way……?”
[*Yep! This guy’s Korean! Well, a Korean ghost now that he’s dead. He passed away working in a strange land, and he popped into my head from the airport yesterday, so I went looking and there he was!*]
“At the airport?”
[*He said he kept failing to board planes back home, so he’s been stuck there.*]
“Why bring a guy like that here?”
[*Ahem. Don’t freak out?*]
The little yellow bird puffed out its chest with its feathers.
[*This guy says he speaks the language well here.*]
“What?”
[*Surprised? Surprised?! Ahem! I brought back an interpreter, that’s what I’m saying!*]
“Oh…….”
Yeonwoo looked at the withered, anchovy-like soul with a bit of wonder.
Head drooping, shoulders slumped, skin and bones—he looked like a pitiful ghost who couldn’t even get proper memorial rice.
An interpreter?
*Swish—*
Yeonwoo’s eyes scanned the anchovy—no, the skinny interpreter ghost.
[*What do you think? I did good, right? Good, right?*]
“Yeah. You did great.”
A smile crept onto Yeonwoo’s lips.
***
The ghost the Child Spirit brought wasn’t just any ghost.
“He was a simultaneous interpreter?”
An unexpectedly skilled one at that.
He’d even graduated from a translation graduate program and come overseas to build his career.
“French, German, English. All three fluently?”
[*That’s right. I snagged a real talent! Heh!*]
“So you know what they’re saying?”
Yeonwoo pointed at the cluster of foreign ghosts huddled together on one side.
Unlike yesterday, they were keeping their distance from Yeonwoo, wary of the Protection Talisman, it seemed.
[*They said it’s been ages since they’ve seen a human they can communicate with, so they wanted to take you to the castle lord.*]
“Castle lord?”
[*Yeah. This place was built late 17th century. The lord was a noble with a baronial title who loved art and patronized tons of painters.*]
“Why would he want me?”
[*Well…… He got mad and called it insolent to ask the reason first.*]
“…….”
Ridiculous.
He’d burst into anger, and that was the meaning behind it.
Fine. There were ghosts like that sometimes.
Mostly old souls hung up on their era’s mindset, even after death—annoying types to deal with.
*The old ghosts back home are all modernized, so why’s it like this here?*
In Gyeongju, you could often see ghosts in Silla-era clothes partying happily next to buskers.
And Seoul? Walking inside the four gates, you’d spot topknotted ghosts peeking at pedestrians’ phones and giggling.
Groups chatting at old coffee shops, too.
Anyway, that left Yeonwoo with one answer.
*Ignore them.*
If he needed them, they’d come back on their own.
*No reason for me to bow first.*
The urgent one digs the well.
Yeonwoo checked his watch.
Perfect timing—finish breakfast and head out.
“You haven’t eaten breakfast, right?”
“Yeah.”
“Let’s go.”
“Where to?”
“They’re all hyped for sightseeing today. Better stock up on energy early, no?”
Kwon Seonghyeon nodded.
Ignoring the whispering ghosts, they headed to the dining hall, where the director and writer greeted them.
“Oh my. What’s with the bird? It’s so cute.”
“No idea.”
“You’re not raising it?”
“How do you bring a pet bird all the way here?”
“True. Animals just love you, huh? What, Snow White? Wait, guy, so prince?”
The imaginative writer spouted nonsense, true to form.
Yeonwoo pretended not to hear as he scanned the dining hall.
*No approaching ones.*
He’d used the Protection Talisman just once.
But its suppressive power must’ve reached here—no one among the packed ghosts dared approach.
[*All aged but no real power. Too scared to come near.*]
Good for Yeonwoo.
*Just numbers, no threat. Can ignore them fine.*
He’d been thrown off by the foreign language flood at first, but cowering at one talisman? Nothing to see here.
[Still, if they say anything weird, you tell me? Better handle it early to avoid hassle from turf wars.]
[Got it.]
Yeonwoo brushed off the stares pouring his way and finished eating.
And then.
“Everyone here? Let’s move!”
The first day’s schedule kicked off.
***
“This building is a prime example of Austrian Gothic architecture, the grand Stephansdom. Construction began as early as 1147, only to be completely destroyed by fire, rebuilt, renovated due to royal changes, damaged in wars, and restored again—a structure steeped in misfortune. Known as the ‘Soul of Vienna’ for its symbolism, Stephansdom is…….”
The local guide passionately fulfilled his role.
Sadly, almost no one listened.
“How’s a building this pretty? Posing anywhere’s a photoshoot.”
“Good call on Eastern Europe. The vibe’s killer.”
“Yeah. UK or France aren’t bad, but they’re kinda cliché. Everyone’s been.”
“Eastern Europe’s trending now. Remember that one travel show that blew up?”
“Oh yeah? I loved that. Travel programs exploded after.”
Staff chattered among themselves.
[Why do the kids here look so hideous? What’s with the skinny jeans and white rolled-up wig?]
The weirdest ghost of all—possessing a bird—spoke.
“They’re not approaching, though.”
His read was spot on.
A light pulse of spiritual power, and they hesitated outside the range.
But trouble hit at the next site.
“This is the 17th-century Schönbrunn Palace, one of Europe’s most beautiful alongside Versailles in France. Famous for Mozart performing piano here. Shall we see why it’s called one of the grandest? Let’s head inside.”
The palace interior, lined with lavish chandeliers, was overwhelmingly gorgeous.
Gold-leaf sculptures along corridors reflected chandelier light in dazzling splendor.
Every painting on the walls.
Every piece of furniture in each room.
Nothing wasn’t ornate and antique.
But Yeonwoo’s interest wasn’t the interiors too precious to behold.
“As you see, this performance hall has multiple tiers. Known for Mozart’s performances here.”
Upon reaching the so-called performance hall.
Yeonwoo noticed the silence all around.
*Places before were crawling with ghosts like a ball in full swing…… but not here?*
As the guide said, the hall could seat over a hundred—yet it was empty.
“Talk about everything. A performance hall inside a house……?”
“Well, it was a retreat for the long-powerful Habsburgs. The palace’s splendor showed the owner’s status.”
Staff glanced around; the guide answered.
“Did Mozart really play here?”
“Mozart toured as a child prodigy, performing for the queen at Schönbrunn. That’s why there’s a piano there.”
“No way that’s the one Mozart played?”
“Probably not. No priceless heirloom here. Modern one, but still expensive. They host intimate concerts with famous musicians.”
The guide pointed to the grand piano, lid open smooth as a mirror.
Eyes turned to the piano standing nobly on stage.
Yeonwoo’s gaze went there too.
Not from awe at historical tales, though.
Rather……
*What’s that?*
A ghost stood haughtily before the massive grand piano, staring straight at Yeonwoo.
With a Harvestable Lifespan floating over its head.
***
[Yeonwoo. That one’s no ordinary ghost……? Feels like it’s got some real spiritual power.]
Old ghosts recognize old ghosts, they say.
The Child Spirit reacted first.
The yellow bird, buried in Yeonwoo’s hood, poked its head out.
“Something there, Dongja-ssi?”
[Yeah. A ghost in skinny jeans and a white rolled wig. Looks strong. And it’s staring right at you.]
“Bad news?”
[Hmm. Not sure. Doesn’t feel malicious…….]
The Child Spirit’s “not ordinary” assessment.
Yeonwoo agreed.
It wasn’t dodging Yeonwoo’s subtle spiritual power emission—instead, staring back boldly.
But more crucially.
*Harvestable Lifespans exist abroad too?*
Realization struck Yeonwoo like lightning.
*Right. Nothing said it was Korea-only.*
The system was brutally unhelpful.
No way it’d kindly explain.
So Yeonwoo had assumed lifespans were domestic-only.
More precisely.
*Never even considered overseas.*
Narrow view.
Eyes closed briefly against the epiphany.
Fleeting regret for not knowing sooner faded, leaving……
*……Jackpot?*
Lifespan harvest range expanded beyond Korea worldwide.
Korea’s pop: about 50 million.
World: 7.7 billion.
Incomparable gap.
*No need for all 7.7B. Half, 3.5B…….*
Could fill decades in one go?