Chapter 36: I Woke Up to a Changed World (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 36: I Woke Up to a Changed World (1)
Hair designer Daniel Choe had been feeling gloomy and lethargic lately.
I wonder why Ms. Lee Yu-jin hasn't been coming by lately. Is she not planning on getting her root touch-ups anymore?
It was highly likely. He refused to even entertain the thought that she might have switched salons.
"Do you think she got married or engaged? Maybe she moved to Cheongdam-dong or Hannam-dong where her in-laws live, and that’s why she stopped coming."
"I don't want to believe that."
"But with a face like hers, it’s a perfectly plausible scenario."
"That’s true. Which makes me want to believe it even less."
Even the male regulars seemed a bit down since Lee Yu-jin hadn't been around for a while. One regular had even plucked up the courage to ask, "Is that pretty customer not coming anymore?"
"See you all on Monday."
"Oh, right! Daniel, your vacation starts tomorrow, doesn't it? What are you going to do?"
"I'm just going to stay home, catch up on some Netscreen shows, and rest. Going anywhere just drains my stamina."
"Good idea."
*
Daniel Choe lived with his younger brother. It was the only way to survive Seoul’s murderous monthly rent.
"Hey, Hwan's Torch dropped today. You down?"
"Oh, that drama where Kim Ho-jin got wrecked? Was today the release date? Why didn't you start without me?"
"I figured you'd make me restart it from the beginning anyway, so I waited. I ordered chicken, so go wash up quick. I’m dying to start this."
"Got it."
When he finished showering, his brother had already set up the chicken and beer in front of the TV. As they logged into the Netscreen app, a massive advertisement for a certain work dominated the main screen.
"Whoa, they’re going all out. They released all sixteen episodes on the first day?"
"I thought they’d drop half first and then release one or two a week."
"Well, I know what I’m doing for my vacation."
The drama began.
The story centered on the Hwan Empire, which reigned over all humans on a fantasy continent where mysterious sorcery existed.
Prince On Ji-wook, the survivor of a rebel family, infiltrates another prestigious house as its successor. It was only possible because he used sorcery to deceive the entire clan. Having usurped the status of the Princess's betrothed—the future Emperor—On Ji-wook adapts to his new life.
"The child actors are cute."
"Is the On Ji-wook on screen right now the original fiancé, or is his body already taken over by sorcery?"
"Who knows? It’ll probably come out later. But that bodyguard warrior has a certain vibe."
"Oh... she’s got long limbs."
Daniel Choe found his eyes strangely drawn to the bodyguard warrior. Her eyes, visible above her mask and shimmering with a hint of blue, kept stimulating his hippocampus.
"Isn't she the one? The rookie who extinguished Kim Ho-jin?"
"Looks like it. She’s got presence."
"If she’s the one Kim Ho-jin did that public confession barrage attack for, we can expect a lot when she takes off the mask, right?"
"The director must be confident if he’s hiding her like this."
The bodyguard warrior appeared frequently, almost as if she and the Princess were one, but she had almost no lines. For the most part, she just stood quietly in the background like a folding screen.
Yet, Daniel Choe’s gaze kept drifting toward her. He thought it was just because the early episodes focused on the child actors, but...
"It’s already episode three? Where did the time go?"
"We’re out of booze. Get more. Bring everything we have."
Even when the child actor portion ended and Yoon Se-rang appeared, his eyes kept returning to Yeon Si-ho behind her cotton veil.
The exhilarating action scenes and the sophisticated movements—which hinted at grueling practice—were a feast for the eyes. The sprinting scenes that clearly didn't use a stunt double, the cool way she threw her sword, and her usual calm aura as she walked silently and haughtily while clutching the Haeju Sword...
Her eyes feel familiar for some reason... Is this the aura of an S-Grade actor?
Even though he hadn't seen her face yet, he found himself filled with anticipation and certainty. He was sure that a magnificent masterpiece was hidden beneath that veil.
Ridiculously enough, the basis for this soft-hearted belief was Kim Ho-jin.
If that skirt-chaser went so far as to lose his mind and crash his career at a press conference, she must be that beautiful, right?
The drama was spectacular. The costumes, the scenery, the background—every moment touched by the PD’s hand was luxurious. it provided a visual fulfillment, as if one were freely browsing a lavish runway after-party where only the super-rich were invited.
In particular, Yeon Si-ho's action scenes were so exhilarating and clean that it was impossible to look away.
"Man, her physical acting is no joke."
"You sure it’s not a double?"
"How many front-facing shots have there been where it couldn't possibly be a double? There’s no way that’s all CG."
"I guess so."
"Was she an athlete? Did she do kendo or something?"
Before they knew it, they had reached episode ten. Dawn had passed, and the new morning sun was already rising outside. The two brothers looked at each other with hollow eyes and stood up simultaneously.
"I'll go buy more booze."
"I'll hit the jokbal place. They should be opening around now."
They both rushed back with alcohol and snacks, sat back down in front of the TV, and continued their marathon. Though their eyes were bloodshot from the all-nighter, the beer kept flowing.
As Prince On Ji-wook’s ambition to destroy the empire for revenge began to materialize, the tension of the drama accelerated toward its climax, but...
"Oh, for fuck's sake. When is she going to take off the veil?"
"We’re at episode eleven and she still hasn't? Has the PD lost his damn mind?"
"So this is why they dropped everything on the first day instead of splitting it up."
"Should I just go to the broadcasting station and set it on fire?"
The way the veil almost showed her face, almost fell off, was driving them crazy. The two brothers bit their lips anxiously like patients with an anxiety disorder, gulping down beer and glaring at the TV.
The day Prince On Ji-wook had prepared for so long finally arrived. The day of the palace invasion.
Yeon Si-ho, who was brushing the Princess's hair as usual, sensed something ominous from afar. She quickly grabbed the Haeju Sword and her bow and rushed out. The advance scouting party, once discovered, immediately attacked to eliminate her, but all resistance was futile against Yeon Si-ho's swordsmanship.
—Retreat!
The surviving attackers scattered in all directions to escape. After a brief moment of deliberation, Yeon Si-ho threw the Haeju Sword with all her might.
Enveloped in a faint flash of light, the Haeju Sword changed its flight path as if it were alive, repeatedly piercing the chests of the attackers and seeking out new targets.
At that moment, a faint silver hue began to climb up from the roots of Yeon Si-ho's hair. It looked as if she were paying a price for releasing her power.
The sword, its power spent, returned and fell at her feet with a thud.
Yeon Si-ho picked up her bow.
As she pulled out the hairpin holding her hair, her long straight hair cascaded down and fluttered in the wind. Daniel Choe unconsciously held his breath.
It was beautiful. Insanely so.
At the same time, he felt that this sensation wasn't unfamiliar—that he had experienced it somewhere before.
The hairpin, elongated by light, turned into a divine arrow and was notched on the string. The moment she released the taut string, a bolt of light pierced the last remaining enemy.
Looking at her calm, sunken eyes as they stared through the fluttering veil and hair, Daniel Choe felt a shock like an electric current.
"Ms. Lee Yu-jin?"
"Huh? Hyung? You know that actress?"
"No, no... she just looks like someone I know."
"Bullshit. How would you know someone that gorgeous?"
"Well..."
Daniel Choe's excuse didn't last long. Yeon Si-ho's performance was racing ahead at a frantic pace. He couldn't take his eyes off the screen for even a second.
—Execute immediately.
—My Lord, it is dangerous!
—The Imperial Family knows of our existence. Delaying is more dangerous. I will invade the palace myself and secure the Princess.
The final battle finally broke out. On Ji-wook’s coup, targeting the most vulnerable moment, was on the verge of success.
Prince On Ji-wook stood before the exhausted Yeon Si-ho, holding a blood-stained sword.
—You are not human. A human could never do this.
Yeon Si-ho looked back at the Princess expressionlessly. On Ji-wook breathed his last remaining illusionary power into his sword, burning with final defiance.
—I lost everything because of you. But if I can just have the Princess, I will have everything. The destruction of the Hwan Empire is the entirety of my wish.
Burning their last strength, the two clashed. The tip of the blade cut Yeon Si-ho in various places.
No blood flowed. It was proof that Yeon Si-ho was not human, but something mimicking a human form.
The moment the veil finally snapped and her face was revealed, her hair instantly turned completely silver, as if releasing its hidden power.
Stunned by a beauty that seemed eroded by mystery, Daniel’s brother froze. He didn't even think the word "pretty." That was too obvious, a boring and pedantic sentiment.
What pierced the brother's heart next was denial.
Is that CG?
What burned next was anger.
Wow, holy shit. They hid that for sixteen episodes? Does the director want to die?
Then came bargaining.
"You son of a bitch PD! You're not killing her here, are you? You're not killing her right after revealing her face, are you? Don't kill our Si-ho! Don't kill herrrrr!"
Faced with such a clear real-time death flag, the brother clutched his head and wailed.
Meanwhile, Daniel Choe was also in deep shock, his brain momentarily stalled.
Ms. Lee Yu-jin?
How could he forget that face? It was a magical visual he could draw vividly even with his eyes closed. The brilliantly fluttering silver hair and the skin as white as eternal snow created the illusion of a supreme being pretending to be human.
On Ji-wook and Yeon Si-ho had stabbed each other deeply in the abdomen. Unlike Yeon Si-ho, who didn't shed a single drop of blood, On Ji-wook gave a distorted smile as red blood soaked his clothes.
"Just... one more step..."
The two collapsed simultaneously. The Princess crawled over with great difficulty and grabbed Yeon Si-ho.
"Yeon Si-ho? Si-ho, don't die. You can't die. Please live, okay?"
Yeon Si-ho's eyelashes, fluttering as she gasped for breath with closed lids, trembled. The sleepy eyes that finally opened revealed a smile full of refreshing accomplishment.
Yeon Si-ho's hand rose with effort and caressed the cheek of the silently weeping Princess.
"I'm going to sleep... just for a bit..."
Yeon Si-ho's body turned into countless tiny particles of light, swirling and dancing around the sobbing Princess. As if she didn't want to leave, as if she were saying goodbye, as if she wanted to soothe the tears.
Finally, the particles of light were sucked into the fallen Haeju Sword, slowly and hesitantly.
*
One year later.
Having successfully suppressed the rebellion and stabilized the empire, the Princess finally ascended the throne. After completing the sacrifice to the heavens with countless officials behind her, the Princess carefully stroked the Haeju Sword she held tightly in her arms.
She whispered in a gentle voice, like singing a lullaby, but filled with an indelible longing.
"Si-ho, you said you were only going to sleep for a bit..."
The moment a faint sob began to mix into her voice, the world inside the drama ended.
<THE END>
"..."
"..."
The Choe brothers couldn't possibly explain the feeling boiling in their chests. Having stayed up all night, they needed a place to vent this anger. So, they sought out a place where people sharing the same emotions gathered.
[When the Elf Falls Asleep]
(The moment Yeon Si-ho closes her eyes.jpg)
(Baby, I'm going to sleep.jpg)
[My world stopped today]
- Si-ho, why did you die? Si-ho, why did you die? Si-ho, why did you die? Si-ho, why did you die? Si-ho, why did you die?
└ Did the writer kill her, or the PD? Huh? Just tell us ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ
└ Wow, the writer and director must have fought over their own affair and abortion to kill that pretty baby so ruthlessly.
└└ That’s a bit much;;;
└└ The devil is unemployed again today. Of course, the reason is PD Jang Hyun-soo.
[Si-ho, wake up.]
(I didn't know what you liked, so I raided the entire convenience store.jpg)
└ The fact that she never ate anything was foreshadowing that she was a Sword Spirit...
[Si-ho, wake up. You have to go see the ocean with the Princess.]
[Elf, wake up. It’s leg day.]
[Baby, wake up ㅠㅠㅠ]
[Baby, wake up ㅠㅠㅠ]
Watching the posts that looked like a memorial service, Daniel Choe held back his tears and wrote a post.
[The PD has no idea what the viewers want.]
(Roughly 5,700 words criticizing the PD)
└ What do you mean he doesn't know? He knows exactly what he's doing, that's why he's gouging our hearts out like this lol
└ PD caught.
└ No? I'm not the PD?
*
Lee Yu-jin's mother, who had also stayed up all night, quietly wiped away her tears. She was afraid her daughter, who was sleeping peacefully, might hear her and have her sleep disturbed.
Creeping toward her daughter's room, the mother opened the door and felt a surge of emotion at the sight of the beautiful face sleeping so comfortably. It reminded her of the other daughter she had just seen enter an eternal sleep.
The mother quietly closed the door and headed to the kitchen. She opened the refrigerator, took out a bunch of ingredients her daughter liked, and started cooking.
*
In my pipe dream, I was bickering with a divine being about how they were going to provide After-Sales Service Compensation for all this.
An echo-like sound reached me from somewhere.
—...na, ...Noona, ...na, ...ake up... Wake up...
The world shook as if an earthquake had hit, and the collapse finally turned into a hand shaking my shoulder. The echo became clear and turned into my brother's voice.
"Noona, Noona. Wake up. Mom says it's time to eat. She made boiled pork."
"What? Boiled pork? What about the fresh kimchi?"
"She just made that, too."
"Hell yeah!"
I was wide awake. I jumped up, stepped over my brother, and sprinted to the kitchen.