I’m an Unknown Actress, But Everyone Knows Me - Chapter 146

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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 146

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Seoryeong frowned for a moment.

 

“There have been many, many people who called me over the years. So it’s natural that I don’t have a name. Everyone called me whatever was convenient for them.”

 

Her gaze toward Myeongdo was wary like a wounded beast. A fragment of the past briefly flashed by.

 

 

 

“Hey, what are you going to call me? Hm?”

 

 

 

Young Seoryeong’s voice was thick with anticipation. She looked up at the woman beside her, even tilting her head back.

 

The woman’s face was blurred by the sunlight and hard to see clearly. The light was dazzling.

 

 

 

“Well… what importance could something like a name have? If you’re always by my side, there’s no need to call you anything.”

 

 

 

The woman in the black skirt walked while holding Seoryeong’s hand as she spoke. There was no name given to Seoryeong. Even so, Seoryeong smiled, pulling her cheeks upward.

 

Not giving her a name sounded like saying she would keep her by her side even without one. It felt as if she cherished her without any need for usefulness…

 

They walked the path together without saying anything.

 

“So stop prying. My mood is about to turn really foul.”

 

Finishing her brief reminiscence, Seoryeong pushed Myeongdo’s shoulders with both hands as he was dusting off her clothes. This time Myeongdo obediently let himself be pushed back.

 

Myeongdo grabbed the nape of Seoryeong’s neck as she struggled to get up and lifted her in one motion, then took her bundle with practiced hands.

 

“You little…!”

 

“Please hold onto this. It should give me some peace of mind.”

 

Myeongdo handed Seoryeong the ornament hanging from the tip of his black sword.

 

“What’s this? This cheap trinket. The gold and treasures in my bundle are worth hundreds, thousands of times more! Peace of mind, my foot.”

 

“It’s a gift from my late mother. I swear I won’t do anything foolish, if only to get this back.”

 

Myeongdo lightly carried Seoryeong’s heavy luggage and walked forward again. Seoryeong, who had been standing alone, hurriedly followed him with quick steps, chattering away.

 

“Hey! Don’t think I’ll take care of you to the end just because you’re doing this now. I’ll abandon you and leave whenever you become a hindrance.”

 

“Yes. I understand.”

 

“Even if Jeongan sent you, it doesn’t mean much to me. Got it? Engrave it in your heart!”

 

“Yes, I’ll engrave it in my heart.”

 

“Don’t try to be clever! I can see right through you!”

 

“If that’s how it appears to you, I have nothing to say.”

 

Myeongdo gradually slowed his pace. He matched his stride to be comfortable for Seoryeong as he added,

 

“It’s natural for a strong man to help the weak.”

 

Whoosh—.

 

A gentle breeze blew between the two. Myeongdo made eye contact with Seoryeong, nodded briefly, and continued walking.

 

“But where are we heading?”

 

“…A place where I can feel energy.”

 

Seoryeong looked into the distance. With her mysterious clear eyes, she seemed to sense something.

 

“I can feel evil energy. Very strongly too…”

 

The gentle breeze hit the binding accessory on Seoryeong’s arm, making a rattling sound. The end of the white lotus embroidered cord tied to her wrist along with the binding accessory bracelet fluttered in the wind.

 

“We’re heading to Cheonmaekji.”

 

The sound of their footsteps overlapped.

 

 

 

* * *

 

 

 

The sound of the water mill turning echoed clearly and refreshingly. The County Magistrate, who had opened the wide window in this atmospheric space, looked at the documents and burst into hearty laughter.

 

“Support funds for virtuous women… Ahem.”

 

It was support money received from the country due to the tearful story of Janghwa and Hongryeon. Since this would be used to repair the old government office, it was no different from maintenance funds.

 

“With this, I’ll build a magnificent pavilion, and with the remaining money… Hmm.”

 

The County Magistrate’s priority was to satisfy his own greed with the support funds.

 

“Coincidentally, the nearby Chimyeongji had poured massive support funds into bridge construction, but it was halted due to an accident…”

 

What if this Cheonmaekji took over that bridge construction project?

 

It would be natural to want to give another chance to a village attempting something new rather than a village that had already failed.

 

“I say—. Is anyone there?”

 

“Yes, County Magistrate sir.”

 

The County Magistrate cleared his throat a couple of times and then spoke to someone outside.

 

“Tell So Yeong’s mother-in-law that I have something urgent to discuss with her.”

 

The County Magistrate’s eyes gleamed greedily.

 

 

 

* * *

 

 

 

Seoryeong’s feet, which had been walking forward, suddenly stopped dead in their tracks. Standing upright in place, Seoryeong’s jaw trembled.

 

“What’s wrong?”

 

Myeongdo bent down to examine Seoryeong’s face. Seoryeong’s pale face seemed to be looking at something in the distance.

 

“In the mountain…”

 

She anxiously fidgeted with the binding accessory bracelet on her wrist. Clatter— clatter— the small wooden beads knocked together painfully.

 

“There’s…”

 

She didn’t say what was there.

 

Seoryeong said nothing and ran frantically. Dusty wind rose hazily. Seoryeong turned her head constantly, searching for ‘something.’

 

Whatever that ‘something’ was, finding it in the vast mountain seemed nearly impossible.

 

“What exactly is there? If you tell me, I’ll go look for it.”

 

Myeongdo tried to place his hand on her shoulder to reassure Seoryeong.

 

“You can’t!”

 

Seoryeong irritably swatted away Myeongdo’s large hand and breathed heavily.

 

Collapsing as if sitting on the ground, Seoryeong hiccupped and chanted an incantation.

 

“Heaven and Earth Know All… Wind Guide My Steps… May I See the Moment of Truth.”

 

Her small body trembled violently. Seoryeong gritted her teeth as if in great pain. The ground rumbled softly.

 

Small pebbles bounced upward with rattling sounds, like a precursor to an earthquake.

 

“…Over there.”

 

Whoosh—. Whoooosh—.

 

A cold wind blew. Seoryeong’s eyes were moist as she stared blankly with clear eyes.

 

A small cave hidden by tree leaves and spider webs—inside it was the ‘something’ Seoryeong had mentioned.

 

 

 

“It’s dangerous!”

 

The path right below the cave was particularly treacherous. Myeongdo, who caught Seoryeong’s arm as she nearly fell, spoke calmly.

 

“I’ll, I’ll check it out.”

 

Myeongdo skillfully walked up the rough hillside path, pushed through the spider webs, and entered the cave. Inside the dim space, he could see an old wooden box sitting alone.

 

“…”

 

Myeongdo lifted the dust-covered box and took a breath. A damp, musty smell vibrated at the tip of his nose. Something was rotting inside.

 

Clunk.

 

With a small noise, the box finally opened.

 

“…This is…”

 

Myeongdo doubted his own eyes. ‘Something’ that looked similar to a human was placed inside.

 

Greenish-brown skin, ten fingers and toes, fingernails worn down to nothing with dried bloodstains, tattered clothes…

 

“A person, this, thing… a person…”

 

Myeongdo, unusually stammering, saw a human’s tender nape come into his view. It was breathing faintly.

 

“Move aside…”

 

Seoryeong, who had approached quietly, lifted her water bottle beside Myeongdo.

 

Seoryeong tilted the water bottle from her waist into the box and slowly poured water.

 

The water soaking into the parched lips looked exactly like tears streaming down.

 

“Ugh…”

 

The trembling lips barely opened. Even that small movement seemed difficult as the gasping thing moistened its mouth with the few drops that entered.

 

“…”

 

Then it moved no more. As if it had never been alive to begin with.

 

“…Is it human?”

 

At Myeongdo’s question, Seoryeong readily nodded. It was a sight that would make anyone frown, yet Seoryeong seemed somehow accustomed to it.

 

“This is called a Taejagwi (Prince Ghost).”

 

Seoryeong’s calm explanation echoed coldly through the cave.

 

“It’s a child ghost. When a child dies, the soul flies away and only the spirit remains clinging to people. It’s a miraculous… ghost that divines fortune and misfortune and delivers news from beyond a hundred li. Yes. This can also be used for curses.”

 

Seoryeong crouched down and caressed the hand of what had been human. She poured water on the dried and withered fingertips, washing away the bloodstains.

 

Splash… The lonely sound of water touched its fingertips.

 

 

 

[♨You’ll regret not watching Strange Tales Episode 3 Fire Board♨]

 

-Damn, this was scary as hell even when I listened to it as ASMR ㅠㅠㅜㅠ

 

-The CG is seriously insane;; Why is it so realistic, kind of like a mummy? feeling

 

-Wow I’m seriously speechless.. So scary so scary

 

 

 

“Something, I feel like I’m getting a sense… Ah. There’s something here.”

 

Aetami quietly stared at the screen. This somehow felt like foreshadowing. It seemed like the Director was giving a hint saying ‘Real fans, you can figure this out, right? Try to guess.’

 

And for good reason, Seoryeong’s gaze wasn’t just looking at a child who had become a sacrifice. Her intermittently quickening breath seemed like she was remembering something.

 

 

 

“…This is unbelievable.”

 

Myeongdo breathed roughly, his rigid jaw trembling.

 

“How can someone wearing human skin do such things, how…!”

 

The water in the bottle ran out. Seoryeong casually took out a talisman from her bosom. She placed it on the child’s forehead and chanted an incantation.

 

“How can someone wearing human skin do such things, you ask.”

 

Seoryeong took out a blade from her bosom and answered indifferently while cutting the dried flesh of the thing. Thick, sticky blood from poor nourishment flowed into the small bottle.

 

“It’s precisely because I’m human that I do this.”

 

Seoryeong closed the small bottle and chanted an incantation again. Flames rose up and crackle… crackle… the wooden box containing it caught fire.

 

The acrid smoke from the cremation stung both their eyes.

 

The smell of the small box burning was particularly acrid. The smoke filled the narrow cave with a hazy white.

 

Beyond the cave where Seoryeong and Myeongdo were, billowing smoke rose up toward the sky.

 

 

 

* * *

 

 

 

Whoooosh-. Whoooosh-.

 

A fierce wind blew. A bamboo shrine with red strings tied in all directions came into view. The bamboo leaves swept by the wind created eerie sounds.

 

In front of it, Yeomga was dancing slowly. Only her back was visible, but she clearly seemed to be in very good spirits.

 

“Hmm-hmm-. Hmm-.”

 

Yeomga’s figure humming and dancing resembled Jeongan’s final moments.

 

The way she moved her body, spreading her wide sleeves and slowly lifting them from bottom to top, was like Jeongan trying to return the Sal that Yeomga had cast back to nothingness.

 

“Hmm-. Mm…”

 

Ripples formed in the water bowl placed in front. Yeomga continued humming and singing.

 

“Heaven’s Gate Opens, Human Gate Also Opens-.”

 

The quietly humming voice saying that since heaven’s gate opened, the human gate also opened, was somehow strange.

 

It was different from the melodic humming from just before. All the notes were monotone.

 

Whooosh- The sound of wind shaking the bamboo leaves grew a bit stronger.

 

“Finally arrived.”

 

Whip, as Yeomga turned around, a Hahoe Mask covered her face.

 

Under the expression that seemed unable to contain its joy, it was impossible to fathom what might be hidden.

 

 

 

* * *

 

 

 

Inside the County Magistrate’s office. So Yeong’s mother-in-law was completely different from when she had been causing all sorts of trouble. Her rolling eyes carried anxiety. The County Magistrate, who had been offering moderate words of comfort, asked in a drawling voice.

 

“By the way, with your son gone like that, and no source of money… You must be having a hard time too.”

 

“Oh my, that’s not the case. That So Yeong, she’s clever enough to scurry around here and there earning enough to put food on the table… Sewing work, laundry, she’s tenacious as anything. Yes, indeed!”

 

“Heh heh heh. This person is really naive.”

 

The County Magistrate shook his head and secretly leaned his upper body forward. Then he whispered in a small voice.

 

“Do you think that thing will support you day and night forever?”

 

“…Eh…”

 

“She’s young and goes around everywhere claiming to earn money, so who knows if she’ll catch some man’s eye and abandon her mother-in-law to run away!”

 

At the County Magistrate’s words, the mother-in-law’s face turned red with anger.

 

“That So Yeong, just!”

 

“Well… as you probably know, there’s something called virtuous woman support funds.”

 

“Is that so?”

 

“If it’s a reward given to virtuous women who lost their husbands overnight and attempted to maintain their chastity for the rest of their lives…”

 

The County Magistrate grinned. A smile spread across his greasy face.

 

“Wouldn’t that easily cover the rest of your life?”

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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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