[The Domino Effect]
What comes to mind when you see a row of dominoes lined up?
First, you’d probably be impressed, thinking, Wow, that guy’s got some skill.
But at the same time, another thought creeps in.
What would happen if I just gave that long line of dominoes a little flick with my finger?
The people who lined them up would probably be absolutely thrilled, wouldn't they?
That’s exactly how I feel right now.
‘Thrilling!’
As I released my power, the cameramen blocking my path freaked out, frantically tapping at their headsets.
“Huh? What the—! What’s wrong with the monitor?!”
“Director! We’ve lost the signal!”
The cameras were aimless, and one staff member, face pale after receiving a radio message from somewhere, ran around in a panic.
And I, holding my fan, watched the farce unfolding before me with a satisfied smile.
‘So this is why people like to stir up trouble.’
In truth, I hadn't performed any grand feat.
I had simply spread the residue left on my fan thinly across the entire set.
To put it simply, it was like holding my palm in front of a camera lens.
Naturally, once the energy dissipates, the screen returns to normal.
“Hey! The feed is completely gone! Tech team! Get the backup cameras running, now!”
“PD-nim! We’ve lost the audio! I can only hear screaming from inside, like something crazy is happening!”
But judging by the production team’s reaction, this level of chaos was more than enough.
I left the scene of the disaster behind and headed toward the entrance of the abandoned house.
“W-wait a second! We’re having some technical difficulties with the shoot right now…”
The camera director blocked my path.
“Please, just wait here for a moment.”
He was wiping cold sweat from his brow, fiddling with his in-ear monitor. His face looked like it was about to crumble, likely from the barrage of swearing coming through the line.
“Don’t worry. It’ll be fine in a second.”
“Excuse me? What do you mean…”
Snap!
“Huh?”
As I folded my fan at the exact moment the energy dispersed, the production crew stood there, dumbfounded.
“See? It’s fine now, isn’t it?”
I walked past them toward the abandoned house. Halfway there, a brilliant idea flashed through my mind, and I stopped in my tracks.
The first mission was to find the flag.
Do I really need to find the flag myself?
Whether I find it personally or snatch it from someone else who did, isn’t it still in my hands at the end of the day?
“I think that’s how it works, but what do you think, Mr. Cameraman?”
“…Pardon?”
When I asked, the cameraman couldn't hide his bewilderment, nervously fiddling with his earpiece.
“Is that not allowed?”
“O-of course it’s not allowed.”
Hmm, I guess I can’t just take the easy way out.
But it’s too early to give up.
I locked eyes with the floating Mr. Choi.
A meeting of the minds, if you will.
Since Mr. Choi and I are bound by a deep, sticky bond, he’d know what to do without me even saying a word.
As expected, the best employee who immediately understands his boss’s heart!
I gave a slight nod, and Mr. Choi vanished.
And exactly three seconds later.
“KYAAAAAA!”
Screams erupted from inside the house, suggesting Mr. Choi was doing his job quite well.
When I entered the house, I found everyone—not just the cast, but the entire crew—huddled together in terror.
Mr. Choi scratched his head, looking apologetic as he watched them.
“W-who pushed me! That wasn’t a human hand, it felt like a dump truck slammed into me!”
“There’s really something here! There’s a real ghost!”
The filming crew spilled out vivid eyewitness accounts, one after another.
Humans consumed by fear instinctively look for someone to save them.
And at this scene, there were three self-proclaimed top exorcists of South Korea, brought here by the production team at a high cost.
“Teacher! Teachers! What on earth is happening!”
“Do something! If it’s a ghost, shouldn’t you be driving it out!”
But.
“U-ugh…”
“T-the energy… it’s too vicious…”
The three people who had been so full of bravado during the opening were now mute.
Lady Yeonhwa was trembling, covering her face with her fan, and that guy Jae-woon was just shaking his bells like a madman, his eyes completely unfocused.
“Granny…?”
To make matters worse, Taoist Cheongwang looked like he was about to pass out.
It was only natural.
Those three were just self-employed individuals with the title of shaman; they weren’t real exorcists who could beat up ghosts.
“No, if you were paid to come here, you should at least earn your keep! What are you doing!”
“W-wait! I’m communing with the spirits, don’t rush me!”
At the production team’s outcry, the three of them just backed away, dripping with cold sweat.
“Communing, my foot! You guys are frauds!”
Their true colors were revealed in an instant.
But I respect them.
The professional spirit of maintaining their persona even when cornered, claiming to be in communion with spirits.
That’s a level of professionalism worthy of applause.
Besides, considering the remaining filming, it would be a problem if the whole thing fell apart now.
I stepped in front of the filming crew, who looked ready to grab the shamans by their collars.
“Everyone, please calm down.”
“How can we be calm? Those people are all frauds—.”
“Hey, that’s a bit harsh.”
I then scanned the shamans with a serious expression and added a word.
“It’s not because the seniors are frauds. It’s because they’ve completely drained their energy.”
“Pardon?”
“They’ve exhausted themselves protecting all of you. Where would you be right now if it weren’t for them?”
Of course, it was complete nonsense.
But for those paralyzed by fear, a plausible excuse is exactly what they need right now.
“Isn’t that right, seniors?”
“Ah! That’s right! My energy was so depleted that suppressing the evil spirit was all I could do!”
“T-that’s right! Taoist Cheongwang is correct!”
As I provided a convenient excuse, Taoist Cheongwang, who had been looking for his granny, was the first to bite, and Lady Yeonhwa and Jae-woon hurriedly nodded along.
As they say, momentum shouldn’t be broken.
“I arrived last, so I’m still full of energy. I’ll assist the seniors and proceed with the exorcism of the evil spirit in this set, so could the production team please step outside for a moment?”
“But the broadcast…”
“You might get hurt, so just leave the cameras running and go. We’ll make sure the footage for the broadcast is taken care of.”
At the mention of getting hurt, the crew exchanged glances and then scrambled out of the house like they were fleeing for their lives.
Click.
The last person left, and the door closed.
Now, only Mr. Choi, myself, and the three people with faces as white as sheets remained in the house.
“Turn it off.”
“…”
I pointed to the microphone on my chest. The three of them stared blankly at my lapel.
“I said turn off the mic.”
Only then did they understand, and they scrambled to fumble at their waists to switch off their microphones.
Confirming the red lights were off, I stood crookedly and looked at them.
“I won’t give you a hard time since we’re all just trying to make a living. I came to make money, and you came to fill your rice bowls, too.”
At my words, the three of them let out sighs of relief.
But you have to listen to a person until they finish speaking.
“But I have a question. Don’t lie, and answer properly. Mr. Choi.”
BANG—!
“Eek!”
“Aaaah!”
As the wardrobe door in the corner suddenly swung open, Jae-woon shouted loudly, and Lady Yeonhwa screamed, covering her mouth.
“G-granny.”
Taoist Cheongwang also looked for his granny with a vacant expression.
“Shh.”
I smiled, putting my index finger to my lips before they could cause any more of a scene.
“Calm down, everyone. The cameras are still rolling.”
“…”
The three of them flinched when I gestured toward the camera in the room.
“Even if the sound isn't going through, the footage is still being captured. You’re the top shamans of South Korea, wouldn’t it look a bit bad on TV if you were seen falling over in terror because of a ghost?”
They forced strength into their trembling legs and managed their expressions.
They couldn't hide their pale faces, but they began to act as if they were composed.
“That’s right. That’s what a pro does.”
Satisfied, I nodded and asked in a low voice.
“Now, the question. Where is the Root?”
A moment of silence passed.
Well, the old woman of Taebaeksan was just a tail, so there’s no way these guys would know.
‘A dead end.’
I was clicking my tongue internally when…
Suddenly, Lady Yeonhwa swallowed hard and asked cautiously.
“H-have you come from the Root?”
An unexpected catch.
I narrowed my eyes and glared at Lady Yeonhwa. She mumbled in a voice so small it sounded like she had committed a capital crime.
“T-the tribute for this month was definitely sent on time… why have you come in person…”
Tribute?
Were these guys also bringing money there?
“No?”
“…”
When I said I wasn't from the Root, Lady Yeonhwa clamped her mouth shut.
It seemed she decided there was no need to invite disaster by speaking out of turn.
This is why you shouldn't be too quick on the uptake.
“Mr. Choi, piggyback.”
As soon as my order fell, Mr. Choi leaped onto Lady Yeonhwa’s back.
“Eek!”
Her knees buckled under Mr. Choi’s weight.
With the added chill characteristic of a vengeful spirit, the fear must have been beyond imagination.
“U-ugh! It’s heavy! It’s c-cold!”
“The camera is watching. You need to smile.”
“Huuu…”
Even in the midst of the crushing pain, Lady Yeonhwa forced the corners of her mouth up into a business smile.
Truly a tear-jerking display of professionalism.
“Speak quickly. My employee is a bit heavy.”
“I-I’ll talk! Please!”
Lady Yeonhwa eventually waved the white flag, unable to hold out for even 10 seconds.
Once Mr. Choi hopped off, she gasped for air and confessed.
“W-we only have connections through an intermediary! They told us that if we caught their eye, we could become even greater shamans…”
“An intermediary?”
“Y-yes! Small fries like us don’t even know where the Root is! We just do as we’re told and send money, that’s all.”
Listening to her, I was dumbfounded.
If the old woman of Taebaeksan was the tail of the Root, these guys weren't even the hair attached to that tail.
It wasn't even a direct contract; it was a structure of subcontracting, subcontracting, and subcontracting through intermediaries.
“So you guys are just the Root’s piggy banks?”
“…”
Seeing them unable to refute and keeping their mouths shut, I was certain.
To think that the people who acted so high and mighty as the best shamans in Korea weren't even low-level members of a pyramid scheme.
Well, a harvest is a harvest.
If I trace back the intermediaries or spirit mothers one by one, I’ll eventually come face-to-face with the Root.
‘Now, I have to earn my keep.’
Anyway, tracking the Root is a problem for later; right now, the camera in front of me is the priority.
I couldn't ruin a business deal with a 2-million-won appearance fee and a 300-million-won prize on the line.
“That’s enough questions. Let’s get to work.”
“…Pardon?”
“From now on, we’re colleagues. A beautiful picture of helping, pushing, and promoting each other. You know what I mean without me saying it, right?”
At my words, the three of them just stared blankly, checking each other’s reactions.
They seemed unable to adapt to me suddenly calling them colleagues.
“Create some tension to boost the ratings, and have a little rivalry. I plan to just quietly tag along, so you guys are the protagonists. Do you understand what I’m saying?”
“…”
I offered them goodwill, but none of them answered.
Good words don’t work? Then I can just speak even better words.
“Anyone have any complaints? I happen to love having conversations.”
When I suggested a constructive conversation, the three of them freaked out and shook their heads vigorously.
“N-no complaints! Colleagues! That sounds great!”
“O-of course! We are fate-bound comrades in the same boat!”
Is their ability to flip their stance the best in the world?
“Good.”
Anyway, having reached an amicable agreement, I turned on the microphone on my chest without hesitation.
Click.
As the red light came on, the three of them scrambled to turn on their mics, following my lead.
“Wow, as expected, the evil spirits can’t even breathe because you seniors are emitting such powerful energy.”
At my slick comment, Lady Yeonhwa spread her fan with a flourish and took the lead.
“Hoho, the General was angry, so I used a bit of strong energy, and the air has cleared up. Taoist, are your legs not shaking? You’re getting on in years, I hope you’re not overdoing it.”
Then Taoist Cheongwang didn't back down, putting his hands behind his back and coughing.
“Hehe, don’t worry about this old man. I can already see the energy of the flag clearly in my eyes, so you should be careful not to fall behind, Lady.”
And Jae-woon blocked their path, shaking his bells noisily.
“You talk too much. Isn’t it finders keepers? My spirit says it’s over there, so I’m going first!”
As expected of pros with a strong work ethic.
***
Meanwhile, in the monitor room.
“This is insane.”
PD Choi couldn't take his eyes off the monitor, his jaw dropping.
The poltergeist phenomenon where the wardrobe suddenly opened, followed by the shamans’ rivalry.
“If this airs, the ratings will hit 20% just like that.”
Right now, a full-course meal from a Michelin-starred chef was unfolding before his eyes.
With a feast like this, a cheap script from a snack bar? Of course, it wasn't needed.
“Rip up the script! From now on, we go with what’s on screen.”
Thus, the war of the gods was rushing to prepare for its debut to the world.