Chapter 9
Chapter 9
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 009
Chapter Title: Standing as a Model (1)
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“What the hell is that look...?”
The silence was broken by Yeonwoo.
[What’s wrong with my look?]
The pigeon let out a dissatisfied coo, rumbling its throat. Its tail feathers were fanned out wide, and its feathers were all puffed up, as if it were declaring, “I’m pissed off!”
“What’s with the chicken... no, pigeon costume?”
[After you woke up, Actor, you couldn’t see me anymore! So I had no choice but to snag a body.]
“Huh...”
Dongja-ryeong had been scarce lately anyway. He’d been hanging around Kwon Sung-hyun less, so Yeonwoo figured the kid had wandered off on his own.
‘Did he go to Mom? Hmm. Makes sense around now. He always liked Lady Kang more than me anyway.’
Yeonwoo didn’t dwell on it, assuming he’d gone to tattle to Lady Kang about everything that had happened.
But then.
“Dongja-ssi, did you possess a pigeon just for me?”
[Exactly! Not being able to talk to you was driving me nuts.]
“You don’t even have lips?”
[Kang Yeonwoo, shut it.]
“That beak looks pretty fancy. The color’s a bit different from regular pigeons, though?”
[Ahem. As expected of my actor, you’ve got taste. Yeah, it took me a while to pick this one. What do you think? Pretty color, right? Not your average street pigeon.]
The pigeon—no, Dongja-ryeong—spread its wings proudly and spun in a circle.
It was pretty. Unlike the drab gray pigeons Yeonwoo was used to, this one had a white body with fluffy sky-blue feathers fluttering on its chest. The beak was shorter and cuter than usual. What stood out most was the short feathers spiking up at the back of its head, like hair styled upward.
But still, it was a pigeon.
“...”
Seeing himself like this filled Yeonwoo with self-loathing and torment. Did I go through all that just to end up with this?
Yeonwoo agonized sincerely.
“You said you had a way last time. This was it?”
[Yep. Now that I have a physical form, people with spiritual power like you can communicate through it.]
The method Dongja-ryeong used was one shamans employed to control spirits. They’d capture a strong soul and stuff it into a host body to command like a limb.
“Didn’t you hate wasting spiritual power?”
[Of course I do.]
“Then what’s this?”
[An investment in my life’s passion...?]
“...”
Did this guy ever remember he was a ghost?
“Why not show up as something cooler? A pigeon’s so lame. Stories talk about dragons soaring and divine beasts obeying, and you pick this?”
[Be grateful I didn’t go with Teacher Ba.]
“...”
Imagining Dongja-ryeong as Teacher Ba, antennae twitching as it opened its sleek carapace to reveal wings and take flight, made Yeonwoo’s stomach churn.
“...My bad.”
Yeonwoo apologized from the heart.
[Anyway, what’s this about you working? Tell me! I’m dying to know!]
Dongja-ryeong, now a pigeon, sparkled with excitement. Its cooing was intense.
“It’s nothing much. I’m easing back in with just one photoshoot. But...”
[But?]
“You know my body’s still incomplete, right, Dongja-ssi? So I asked Yeonwoo to come with me, but...”
[But?]
“He said he wouldn’t come to my workplace...”
Yeonwoo trailed off, casting down sad, wistful eyes and averting his gaze. The expression was perfect—a mix of disappointment and subtle letdown. Seeing such a handsome man react like that made Yeonwoo feel like he’d committed a grave sin.
[Kang Yeonwoo! Have some responsibility!]
“No, what are you even...”
[Don’t you know the proverb? If you save someone drowning, you hand over the whole bundle!]
“What?”
[It’s in the old sayings! You can’t ignore our sages’ wisdom!]
Coo-coo-coo! The pigeon flapped over and perched on Yeonwoo’s head, pecking away with its beak: peck-peck-peck-peck.
With a pigeon on his head, Yeonwoo thought,
“I’m losing my mind...”
***
People seeing Yeonwoo edged away subtly. But they kept stealing glances.
“...Can’t you get down?”
[Nope.]
“Why my head specifically?”
[Best view from here.]
“Just shed the body.”
[Wastes spiritual power.]
At least Yeonwoo was used to all kinds of stares. Compared to what he’d dealt with since childhood, this was nothing.
Plus, Kwon Sung-hyun was with him.
‘They’re not looking at me like I’m crazy. Guess it’s true there are all sorts around in entertainment...’
Maybe because of Kwon Sung-hyun. The stares held more curiosity and fondness than rejection or disgust. Kwon Sung-hyun treated Yeonwoo with utmost courtesy, too.
Above all, no one would think someone brought by *that* Kwon Sung-hyun could be weird.
‘Not staff. A friend of Kwon Sung-hyun’s?’
Fair enough. Celebrities paraded around with dog dolls on their shoulders on TV. A bird on the head was no big deal.
The entire floor of the grand building was a warehouse-like studio. Each section divided by thin partitions featured stylish backdrops and props, with huge lights and reflectors scattered everywhere. Kwon Sung-hyun introduced it calmly.
“The vibe here’s decent, so it should be good for your first time adapting, Yeonwoo-ssi.”
“Yes...”
“The writer here’s a bit strict, so the staff are reliable. They’re careful about privacy, too.”
“I see.”
“Some places drag on horribly if you mess up, but you won’t have that worry here.”
Why’s he telling me all this?
Yeonwoo’s confusion must’ve shown, because Kwon Sung-hyun chuckled briefly.
“For now, just observe and get comfortable. I’ll handle the rest.”
“Ah, okay.”
Handle what? More importantly...
‘This is weird.’
Entertainer—one of Yeonwoo’s worst or second-worst fates. Not only did he run into top-tier Kwon Sung-hyun, but he’d ended up here somehow.
He’d just followed along, but the feeling was odd.
*Your fate splits two ways: shaman or performer!*
Why was Lady Kang’s prophecy echoing now?
“Kwon Sung-hyun-ssi, makeup time!”
“Ah, gotta go. Wait just a bit. Manager hyung brought tons of food from your mom, so snack while you look around. Got it?”
As Kwon Sung-hyun walked off, the pigeon on Yeonwoo’s head flapped.
[Gonna watch? Huh? Come on!]
“Well...”
Might as well.
‘I did get lifespan out of it.’
Yes. The reason Yeonwoo came was none other than...
[Harvestable Lifespan: +14 days]
The status window sparkling over Kwon Sung-hyun’s head like a halo. A whole two weeks’ worth of quest.
How could he refuse?
Not that he was tempted by the lifespan. Really. He just pitied the rain-soaked-puppy eyes promising extra and tagged along.
Dongja-ryeong whined too, so why not check it out while here?
“Is that a live bird on your head? Pretty original.”
A man with neatly combed-back hair eyed them curiously. Short stature, slightly hunched back, tired look—clearly studio staff. Everyone gawking at Yeonwoo had the same vibe.
“Hard to define.”
Dead spirit inside makes it a dead bird? Or does the live body count despite the dead spirit?
“It’s moving, so alive, I guess. Oh...?”
Locking eyes with the man staring at the regal pigeon on Yeonwoo’s head. The man’s dull gaze sharpened instantly.
“New actor? Model? Idol?”
“None of those.”
“Huh? Really? Face too good for a civilian.”
“I’m a civilian.”
“Weird. You look camera-ready. No one ever scouted you?”
Someone else answered.
Flap! The white pigeon beat its wings.
[Of course they did! But he’s hopeless at that stuff, ugh...]
Yeonwoo had gotten business cards before. Tossed them immediately, though.
Naturally.
*Shaman or performer!*
Lady Kang’s words had drilled into his ears.
Dodging those handing out cards with “let’s work together” was inevitable. He’d never planned that path anyway.
...Though now he was tangled up in it.
“Your pet bird?”
“Nope.”
“Huh...? Then why’s it on your head?”
“Who knows. Its choice.”
“It calmed right down when you spoke. Sure you’re not the owner?”
“Nope.”
“Looks like it obeys its owner perfectly.”
“Nope.”
“Hmm. Love the character. Great face, strong personality. Coming with your pet bird is fresh, too.”
“I’m not its owner!”
“It’s fine. I get it.”
The man nodded to himself, then rambled out of nowhere.
“When I was a kid, I had a dog. So cute, I wanted to take it to school every day. Did sometimes. But it grew fast, hard to hide.”
His dog was a golden-furred beauty, a Golden Retriever.
“So gentle and smart. When I was sad, it’d snuggle up to comfort me. People call ’em animals, but it was family.”
The man gazed afar with wistful eyes.
“Then one day, it vanished. Door ajar, maybe slipped out... It never left even if open. Thought dog catcher got it.”
He shrugged and continued.
“Later I learned: dogs disappear from owners before dying. Probably didn’t want me seeing it go. Don’t know if true, but that’s what I believe. Went somewhere peaceful to cross the rainbow bridge. Better than the catcher. Haven’t had a dog since. Miss it too much.”
“...”
“Bittersweet story I’d forgotten till that bird. That’s how I got into cameras—shooting it led here. It knew poses, too. Would’ve been a top model as a human.”
Yeonwoo glanced aside.
[Yeonwoo! Do something about him!]
[Huff huff huff!]
A large dog sat right by the man, tail wagging furiously.
So.
‘That’s the one.’
Mischief in its dark, gentle eyes. Jaws open like a grin. Eyes glued to Dongja-ryeong, but loyal to its owner, body pressed close, tail thumping.
Its pose so upright and neat—Yeonwoo got why the man said it knew photos.
“It must’ve been beautiful. Your childhood dog, right?”
“Yeah. Pretty, sweet thing. So gentle, never bit.”
“I bet it hid ’cause it didn’t want you seeing its bad side. Pets always wanna show their best to loved ones. It truly loved you.”
The puppy from childhood still stuck by him, loyally.
‘At least no trivial ghosts for this guy.’
With such a devoted guardian spirit watching over him, no room for others.
“I appreciate you understanding. Makes sense—pet owners get it. Non-owners don’t. But look, we click right away. Right? So...”
The man dropped another bomb out of nowhere.
“Wanna try modeling?”