If I Don’t Earn 1 Trillion Won, My Regression Ends - Chapter 61

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 61

♧

Is there anyone in South Korea who doesn’t know Director Haemun?

Haemun, the ‘magician’ of Chungmuro.

He had been on a winning streak since his 1991 debut work.

He burst onto the Korean film scene like a whirlwind, smashing through outdated conventions, destroying the grammar of the old generation, and leading the entire film industry into a new era.

The works he released one after another all reached number one at the box office.

Like someone who knew no failure, he walked only the path of commercial success.

Audiences were always enthusiastic about him opening new perspectives, and Chungmuro trembled at his Korean cinema renaissance.

Cannes, Berlin, Venice, Tokyo… He boldly left his mark at prestigious international film festivals, and abroad, Haemun was the face representing both the new generation of emerging masters and current Korean cinema.

-This is the information I looked up for today’s meeting.

“Eat.”

“…Isn’t there something like popcorn?”

“No. I even begged an auntie I know at Gwangjang Market to grill this squid as soon as she opened. What popcorn? Your kid’s taste buds are already becoming Western- wait. You already look exotic, so is one of your parents Western by any chance?”

“I’m a purebred Korean though…”

“Don’t be so sure, kid. Go home and check your family tree carefully. Who knows? Maybe there’s some missionary blood mixed in who used a Korean name. You really won’t eat the squid? It’s damn delicious. Don’t regret it.”

“I won’t. But where does that strange smell keep coming from- …did you even bring gochujang?”

“Then what am I supposed to eat the squid with? Chew it plain?”

“…”

Monday morning, 7 AM.

It was still early, before office workers had even gone to work.

Inside a small theater in Jongno, Seoul.

In this romantic place where the smell of aged carpet and the aroma of freshly roasted coffee lingered, Director Haemun was chewing on squid legs.

While scratching his sparse leg hair with his toes…

‘This is really disgusting…’

I’m becoming ridiculous for coming here all nervous.

I tried not to make a disgusted expression while subtly looking the director up and down.

A pressed bucket hat, unkempt beard, wrinkled fishing jacket and pulled-up shorts…

The rubber shoes worn with crushed heels were a bonus.

As if he’d been sleeping rough on the streets somewhere, there was even a musty smell when I sat next to him.

Even Park Min-su, who was a real homeless person, wouldn’t be this bad!

‘This is really that Haemun?’

When I saw him on the news, he definitely wasn’t this bad…

Even without specifically looking up information, I know quite a bit about Director Haemun. He’s famous enough in 2026 that you’d know him even if you’re not a cinephile.

Right now he’s just barely making an impression overseas, but in the future, he would lift trophies at Cannes and Berlin- even at the Academy Awards.

Bong Joon-ho, Park Chan-wook, Hong Sang-soo, and Haemun.

The four heavenly kings of the Korean film industry.

His brilliant career can be guessed just by looking at the information window.

【Challenger: 5 × 82 = 410】

【Examiner: 2 × 11 = 22】

【410 VS 22: Great Victory!】

【Due to the challenger’s great victory, all relationship information with ‘Haemun’ has been unlocked.】

【Relationship – Haemun, born 1964】

【Category: Culture·Arts (Film Director)】

【Potential: ★★★★★

Destiny Power: ★★★★☆

Compatibility: ★★★☆☆

Bond Level: ★★★★★】

【Heaven’s chosen child. Even fate doesn’t envy him but favors his dazzling talent. Throughout his life he will be cinematic, receiving the world’s respect and admiration, and his glory will continue undying to future generations. You’ve met a giant who will remain in history!

Bound to him by strong ties, you will cry and laugh because of this master. Don’t worry. Fortunately, your maestro knows how to carve even rotten wood and whip even dull horses. The appropriate compatibility level proves this.】

‘Look at those stars. They’re all filled…’

Except for compatibility, this is almost perfect score level, isn’t it?

This happened a few minutes ago.

As soon as I encountered Haemun in the small theater lobby, the dice immediately started rattling.

And before I had time to be shocked by the results that appeared, I was dragged here by the director’s hand.

I’m sitting alone in the screening room seats.

We didn’t even exchange the natural Korean greeting of “Hello”!

[“Oh~ Director. What brings you here with company today? You’re usually lonely by yourself.”]

“What are you talking about, Kim the Driver~ Already getting dementia? You brought someone before.”

[“Hehe. Did I? Who- Ah! That’s right. I forgot. That makes sense. Wasn’t that almost 6, 7 years ago? Then this little guest is the first since Bae Seo-nyeok. Oh, I should take good care of them.”]

“Mmm~ Please run it nice and smooth~.”

Since it was a small theater, the projection room and seats were very close.

The projectionist and Director Haemun exchanged jokes through the projection window. They seemed quite friendly, but I couldn’t concentrate at all.

This was my first encounter with a 5-star potential, wasn’t it? This commoner’s timid heart even felt burdened.

‘Why would such an amazing person want to meet me?’

And why is the bond level also 5 stars?

Could it be… that Bae Seo-nyeok has been training me all this time because of this director?

“Don’t covet my squid. I won’t give you any now.”

“…”

All sorts of worries filled my head, but the person who caused them was just talking about squid.

Click!

The lights in the screening room went out with no one else entering.

There were only two people in the seats: the director and me.

As I kept glancing at him sideways, Haemun spoke quietly.

“Focus.”

Once the movie started, as if he’d never made frivolous remarks, the director kept his eyes glued to the screen.

In the darkness, his face illuminated by the silver screen’s light looked quite serious…

I also closed my mouth and stared straight ahead.

The movie being shown was 《Léon》.

An icon of 90s mise-en-scène and the source of the Mathilda syndrome.

It was Luc Besson’s 1994 film.

♧

“Have you seen any of my movies?”

Slurp…

Haemun asked while sucking up parfait through a straw in one gulp.

“No? Not particularly.”

After finishing the movie, we moved to a nearby tea house.

Choosing to enter a tea house instead of the Starbucks 2nd Branch in Korea that was right in front of us was so typical of Haemun.

Though we’d only met for a couple of hours, having roughly figured out his character, I rested my chin in my hand indifferently.

When in Rome, do as the Romans do, right? Anyway, this half-homeless guy with his own pace doesn’t care about manners!

Besides, saying I haven’t seen them is true.

Before my regression, I was originally born in ’96, and all of Director Haemun’s films I had seen were future ten-million-viewer blockbusters. They haven’t been released yet.

“Why? Ah~ Because you were too young? You didn’t even see the most recent one? Were you still too young then?”

“Director, your most recent film is rated R….”

Was it four years ago? The news went crazy when it advanced to the competition section of the Venice Film Festival, one of the world’s three major film festivals.

But 《Things Worth Dying For》 is an R-rated queer romantic comedy.

Despite Director Haemun’s tremendous prestige, extremely few domestic screening rooms allowed its release, and it wasn’t suitable for children to watch either.

“What do you mean R-rated? There’s not a single nude scene. It got an all-ages rating in Europe. They called it a romantic comedy for the whole family to enjoy. It’s really unfair.”

“…So that’s why you showed me Léon too?”

“What are you talking about? Léon? That’s rated 12+. Aren’t you ten years old? At two years over, you can definitely watch it with a guardian present. You don’t look like such a little kid, but you’re really nitpicky. Did you go to Cheonghak-dong during summer vacation?”

“Léon is rated R in Korea….”

“….”

The straw that Director Haemun, who had recently returned from France, was chewing on dropped from his mouth.

After a long silence, he props his chin up with both hands and asks as if agonizing.

“By any chance, are you thinking of reporting this to the newspapers?”

“….”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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