Chapter 44: Deliciously, Yet Sadly
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 44: Deliciously, Yet Sadly
Class 1-4 was composed entirely of classical music students, though their specific majors varied.
Piano, violin, cello, flute, and so on.
In the mornings, they usually took general subjects like Korean, English, and Math just like a regular academic high school. In the afternoons, they moved to the Music Building for their major-specific practical lessons.
Class 1-4, which had remained unchanged since the first semester, was buzzing from early morning.
“For real? The actress Lee Yu is joining our music class?”
“Yeah, that’s what I heard. Lee Yu is her stage name; her real name is Lee Yu-jin.”
“Wait, why the music department instead of the acting department?”
“Maybe she thinks there’s nothing left to learn in acting?”
“She’s still just a rookie, though.”
“I heard she got paid something like 700 million won for a 120-minute runtime in the Hwan’s Torch spin-off.”
“Whoa, seriously? Her life is totally set.”
“Fashion brands like Louis Vuitton are apparently pouring in ambassador offers, and she’s just picking and choosing right now…”
The acting department might have been different, but the kids in the music department hadn’t watched Hwan’s Torch at all.
When your life depends on college entrance exams, you have to spend every spare hour practicing rather than watching TV.
“I looked up some photos and videos of her online. This is her. What do you think?”
“She’s pretty, for sure. But dramas use a ton of lighting and editing anyway.”
Right then.
Rattle!
The door swung open noisily, and a tall female student wearing a full tracksuit stepped in with vigor.
“The transfer student is her—! Mmph, mmph!”
Before she could finish her shout, she was dragged out by another girl, and the door slammed shut.
“…”
“…”
“Didn’t she just say something about a transfer student? Was that Lee Yu-jin?”
“I only caught a glimpse, but I think she was insanely pretty.”
“Even with just a glance, she looked like a total goddess.”
It happened so fast they couldn't see her face properly, but it left a powerful impression on the students.
A short while later, the homeroom teacher entered with two transfer students.
One was dressed neatly in the school uniform, but the other—as if she couldn't care less—had come in a full tracksuit on her very first day.
Even if the school rules allowed it, the uniform was a point of pride and a business card for arts high school students to show off their identity to the world. Most chose to wear it.
However, the moment they saw her face, they couldn't help but acknowledge her confidence and be drawn in.
With a face like that, she could wear a tracksuit or whatever…
Is she even human?
She looks like a completely different species from us…
That 'Elf' talk wasn't an exaggeration at all…
Unlike the silver-haired highlights they had seen in the Shorts videos, her black hair now reached her shoulders.
It felt as if the dark hair was a limiter, barely suppressing her natural beauty.
“Hi. I’m Jang Ji-hye, and I transferred from an academic high school. I major in violin, and I was in the same class as Yu-jin here at our old school.”
“I’m Lee Yu-jin. I’m a Challenger of Challengers, so I was originally going to do cello, but I realized I prefer hitting things, so I chose the timpani. If there are any Iron-Bronze-Silver-Gold planktons who want to raise their LoL rank, feel free to find me anytime. That’s all.”
“…”
“…”
The atmosphere was so bizarre—as if they were listening to a lecture from the principal—that not only the students but even the homeroom teacher was flustered.
The male homeroom teacher was suddenly reminded of his days in the military.
Her attitude is like a First Sergeant calling a work detail and giving orders… No, no, what am I thinking?
During the first break.
Since they were all fellow classical music majors, the students began to cautiously gather around.
“Transfer student. I don’t mean this in a bad way, but why did you come to the music department instead of acting? I’m just… genuinely curious.”
“I just like the timpani. I don’t plan on making a living out of it, but I intend to keep it as a lifelong hobby. Jang Ji-hye, what great feat did we leave behind at our last school?”
“We proudly came in dead last on the group project that had the highest weight in our evaluation.”
“You heard her. I chose the music department because I’m thinking of filming an orchestra movie later, and she’s my best friend who’d die without me, so she picked up the violin she hadn't touched in five years just to follow me here.”
The bit about the "orchestra movie" was following Jang Ji-hye’s advice to keep things smooth.
Every time Lee Yu-jin made eye contact, the students flinched and looked down. Not because they were scared, but because looking at her directly made their hearts race too much.
“Don’t worry, I won't be an obstacle to your entrance exams. The two of us will provide a solid floor beneath you. So, let’s get along, okay?”
Whether it was her looks or her mindset, Lee Yu-jin forcibly hammered a massive impression into the music students from day one.
*
Lately, instead of dyeing my roots, I’ve been using a temporary hair coloring agent.
The black coating is convenient because even the random ones sold in stores look natural.
“Once my original color fully grows out, I’m thinking of just wearing a wig normally.”
“So you’re only going to let the silver hair out at home? What a waste.”
“I’ll bring out my real hair when I want to go out and pretend I’m not me. I’ll cosplay as a foreigner.”
“Do you speak English well?”
“No, I suck at it. But I can pretend to be a foreigner. Ecce, audi: quid dico omnino intellegere non potes, verum?”
(Look, listen: you can't understand a word I'm saying, right?)
Jang Ji-hye gasped and clapped in admiration.
“Whoa, crazy. Why are you so good at French?”
“Si quis mihi loquitur, si ita respondeam, omnes me peregrinum esse putabunt, verum?”
(If someone talks to me and I answer like this, everyone will think I’m a foreigner, right?)
“Amazing! You sounded exactly like a French person just now!”
Classical Latin can sound like French or Italian to someone who doesn't know it.
The experience of being beaten and rolled around under a Heretic Inquisitor is finally coming in handy.
I’ve forgotten most of the other languages after going through stints as a Panokseon rower and an Army Sergeant, but Classical Latin is still vivid—probably because it was beaten into me.
“But wearing a wig every day must make you sweat a ton.”
“I barely sweat to begin with, so it’s fine.”
“That’s why you’re so sensitive to the heat.”
“I think I just haven't fully adjusted to modern weather yet. Why is it so hot lately?”
I wanted to hang out with Jang Ji-hye since it was the first day, but even with a baseball cap on, so many people recognized me and asked for autographs that I just went home.
“How is it at the apartment lately?”
“I can’t even go to the convenience store. People recognize me in the elevator, the garden, the parking lot—everywhere. The rumors have spread completely.”
“Hurry up and find a house with good security and move. It’ll be a headache if sasaengs start following you.”
When I told her I’d probably be moving into the same villa as Writer Jung Yoon-ah, she jumped in surprise.
“Why didn’t you tell me that! You’re too much! So cold! You’ve changed! You’re mean!”
“I’m not that bright, so I often think ‘Oh, I should tell her,’ and then I just forget.”
“Liar! You forget because you’re too busy watching LoL videos and military videos on your phone!”
“I mean, how can I resist when I wake up and there are all these amazing new weapon systems being developed…?”
She didn't even seem curious about how I suddenly managed to move into a villa worth over 10 billion won.
“S-grade star actresses are supposed to live in places like that. Why would that be curious or strange?”
“…”
*
On set.
After a round of vigorous sword fighting, my body felt a bit stiff.
“Even for me, fighting a desperate battle alone against 27 people for several hours is a bit tiring.”
“Yu-jin Nuna! That was incredible! How could you not get tired during such a long action scene!”
“Unnie, you’re truly amazing!”
I was just feeling a bit stiff, but the action actors were all exhausted.
It was because PD Jang Hyun-soo had repeated the takes for hours to get the perfect shot.
Of course, I didn't receive any criticism.
The action actors were struggling to keep up with my movements, so I was actually the one adjusting to them.
[Deposit: Netscreen Korea Co., Ltd. 700,000,000 KRW]
I was startled by the deposit notification while scrolling through my phone.
Wait, they sent the money this fast?
“Breaking news! The Netscreen executives' cars were collectively pelted with rotten eggs!”
There was a reason for the quick payment after all.
“Hey, brat. The money’s in. Handle the tax invoice and all that stuff properly.”
“Got it, leave it to me.”
“Then is it time for your allowance—no, your salary?”
“Pant, pant, pant…! Allowance! Salary! Golden flakes!”
The way my brother stood there with his mouth hanging open reminded me of a Malamute waiting for Pavlov’s bell, which made him even more annoying to look at.
But he did follow me around and do a lot of the grunt work…
He had worked for nearly half a year without pay.
The fact that family should be compensated even more clearly was something I didn't even need to recall my unpaid wartime wages from my past life to know.
I had already learned it from the massive amounts of allowance I collected while taking care of my younger cousins.
“I sent it. Check it.”
“Gasp! 30 million won? Why… why did you give me so much, my sister, the most beautiful woman in the world…?”
My fist almost flew out, but I held it back since it was time to establish my authority.
“You worked hard for half a year; I can’t lose face by giving you less than that.”
“I never imagined you would shower me with so many golden flakes! Pant, pant, so these are the golden flakes of the Golden Dragon… It’s so ecstatic.”
I almost hit him again, but I let it go because he looked so ridiculous being ecstatic while staring at his banking app.
“I will strive to scavenge your golden flakes with even more shamelessness in the future, Nuna.”
“My feet hurt from all that running today. Hey, give me a pressure point massage. Earn your keep.”
“Please wait a moment! I shall bring water to wash them immediately!”
My brother brought over bottled water and some other supplies.
I hiked up the skirt of my voluminous palace ceremonial dress to just above my knees.
After washing his hands with sanitizer, my brother took off my shoes and socks.
He washed my feet with bottled water and hand soap, finished with sanitizer, and then began to firmly apply pressure to the soles of my feet.
“You punk, when did your massage skills improve this much?”
“I practiced hard while doing it for Mom.”
“It feels good. I’m getting sleepy.”
“Please take a nap, Nuna.”
“While you’re at it, loosen up my calves too. They feel a bit knotted.”
“Understood, Nuna.”
What was my next timeline again?
Well, I ran around for hours, so they’ll surely let me rest enough.
Sleep is washing over me.
If I have a pipe dream this time, I’m definitely going to squeeze some After-Sales Service compensation out of that divine being…
*
Kang Seok-won, a rookie lead actor in his 20s from a theater background, was heading to the set, bracing himself.
But then he saw the men standing around, staring blankly at something.
He looked to see what it was.
Lee Yu-jin was lying comfortably in a chair with an eye mask on, sleeping with her legs stretched out.
And her brother, Lee Yu-seok, was crouching down, meticulously giving his sister a pressure point massage on her soles.
Even the skin on her legs is… No! Get out! You demon! She’s a minor, a minor!
Only the part from her knees down was visible beneath the voluminous skirt, but her snow-white legs were as beautiful as a perfect sculpture.
Come to think of it, this was the first time Lee Yu-jin had exposed the skin of her calves. It was because she was always wearing voluminous period costumes.
Like sailors enchanted by a Siren’s song, like someone losing their soul to a Gumiho’s tail, like a swarm of rats enchanted by a flute.
One by one, the men had been caught and held there without even realizing it.
As if their minds had been consumed by an irresistible magic.
Just then, Park Seong-gu appeared and clapped his hands lightly, snapping everyone out of it.
“Alright, alright. Stop staring and everyone get back to work. If you get misunderstood, you’re going straight to hell.”
At those words, everyone snapped to their senses, their faces turning red with shame as they scurried away.
Kang Seok-won also hurried to his spot, but he caught the child actor Jang Dong-hyun and asked.
“But why the massage all of a sudden? Did Yu-jin get a cramp in her foot or something?”
“Yu-jin Nuna gave Yu-seok Hyung a big salary, and she told him to earn his keep.”
“So… he’s doing that while getting paid a salary?”
“Yes.”
The child actor Jang Dong-hyun spoke with eyes that seemed somewhat sad and envious.
“Maybe I should have been born as her real brother instead. Yu-seok Hyung must have been a Turtle Ship commander in his past life.”
Kang Seok-won suddenly remembered the jeers that male actors playing opposite pretty young actresses often heard from fans as a matter of course.
[“You should be paying money to film this drama!”]
Thinking of Lee Yu-seok, who was getting paid to massage Lee Yu-jin’s feet, he slapped his cheeks repeatedly.
Stop thinking useless thoughts and just focus on the work.
That momentary flicker of envy toward Lee Yu-seok he had felt just now.
Kang Seok-won thoroughly crushed, tore, and burned it.
*
After waking up from a nap, PD Jang Hyun-soo and Writer Jung Yoon-ah called for me.
“Yu-jin, in three days, we’re going to film the most important scene of Quarter 2.”
“What is it?”
“Yeon Si-ho, the soul of the sword who broke her blade to stop On Ji-wook, loses the vessel she can return to and is trapped forever in a human shell. In other words, she becomes a complete human.”
I wasn't sure if that was a tragedy or a tragic sort of hope just from hearing it.
“So, to comfort her? Or celebrate? Anyway, the Princess treats her to a delicious meal. From Yeon Si-ho’s perspective, it’s the first time she’s ever tasted human food.”
“If it’s about eating deliciously, I can do that well! My brother said if I became a mukbang streamer, I’d easily get over 5 million subscribers!”
Jung Yoon-ah laughed.
“What do you mean 5 million? You’d probably hit 20 million easily.”
“But while eating deliciously is important, you have to eat very sorrowfully.”
“Pardon?”
Eat sorrowfully? What on earth does that mean?
I was dumbfounded by PD Jang Hyun-soo’s words.
“The Sword Spirit was always curious about what eating was like. But she suppressed that curiosity her whole life. Then, she loses her vessel, becomes human, and the first food she ever tastes is just so delicious. Wouldn't it be moving? Wouldn't she shed tears?”
“No, if it’s delicious, you just inhale it. Why would you cry?”
“Since your mother is such a good cook, you might not be able to empathize if you’ve taken delicious food for granted. Anyway, that’s the vibe, so look at the script and try to get into that emotion.”
Why would someone cry while eating something delicious?
If it’s delicious, you naturally smile. You only feel sorrowful when you’re forced to eat something even an animal wouldn't touch just to survive, right?
Wow, so this is the mindset of the nitrogen fertilizer era. It’s beyond my imagination.
During times of famine, I’d seen starving people cry while eating their dead family members just to stay alive.
Deliciously, but sorrowfully? Is it like pretending something even an animal wouldn't eat is delicious?