I’m an Unknown Actress, But Everyone Knows Me - Chapter 165

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

 

 

Episode 165

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter 15

 

The Undead Ghost

 

 

 

Yunhui in Baek Yeongji had grown gaunt in complexion.

 

Baek Yeongji was close to the Capital, the complete opposite of the isolated village that Seonghui had been assigned to. It was always overflowing with people.

 

“It’s a dead end…”

 

Yunhui, who had been constantly tormented by evil spirits, had dark circles under his eyes. Though his complexion was poor, his will remained firm.

 

Yunhui tried his best to grasp any clue. Just who was the person standing behind Seonghui.

 

Since it was someone who could freely command non-human beings, they must be a quite renowned shaman, yet Yunhui was frustrated that he couldn’t identify them.

 

“Ah, I’m telling you it’s true!”

 

Just then, a drunken Old Man from somewhere tried to break through Yunhui’s guards.

 

“What is it?”

 

“It’s nothing. He’s just a drunk, so please don’t worry about it.”

 

“It’s true! I’m telling you it’s true!”

 

The Old Man threw down the liquor bottle in his hand as if frustrated. Crash-! A sharp shattering sound rang out.

 

“There really was a shaman who devoured an entire village!”

 

The Old Man who had come looking for Yunhui, who was inquiring about shamans, poured out his resentment.

 

“Wait, don’t stop him.”

 

There’s something here. Yunhui had that intuition. That a clue would come from this Old Man.

 

“When I was young, I lived in a small village near Jincheonji. It was a very tiny village.”

 

The Old Man spoke while crying. There was some shaman in the village, and her Divine Power was so high that when drought came to the village, she would bring rain, and when there were bad harvests, she would make the land fertile.

 

“If her Divine Power was so high, why did she live stuck in such a place?”

 

“It was her Husband’s hometown, you see. That place. After living a wandering life all along, she wanted to settle down somewhere.”

 

The shaman devoted herself to nurturing the village, but even the people who initially liked her gradually began to fear her, unable to see her as the same human being. The power she possessed was not human.

 

“After she got pregnant, the villagers became even more afraid. They couldn’t know what kind of monster would be born, whether that monster would be friendly to us. Some said the child in her belly came from consuming human life force.”

 

The Old Man sniffled his red nose. Then he cried sorrowfully.

 

“But it really was a monster! Yes! When I went to visit my cousin in the neighboring village Jincheonji for a few days and came back, the village had disappeared. Surely that shaman girl and her child devoured it all. The village! My wife, my precious children…!”

 

Yunhui furrowed his brow. If this man’s words were true, the opponent’s power transcended imagination.

 

Because even though an entire village was devoured, no news had reached Yunhui’s ears all this time.

 

“What was the name of that village?”

 

“I don’t know… Did she devour all my memories too? I can’t remember.”

 

“Is it certain that the village was located right next to Jincheonji?”

 

“That’s what I’m telling you! But strangely, no matter how many people I bring, no path appears. As if it never existed. As if it never existed at all…”

 

Perhaps she had caused even all memories related to that village to completely vanish. Yunhui bit his lips firmly.

 

“Then what remains in your memory?”

 

The Old Man who had been crying answered with vacant eyes.

 

“When the child was born… she said she would give it that name. Whether it was a boy or girl, she definitely wanted to give it that name.”

 

From far away, the chaotic sounds of kkwaenggwari and drum beating could be heard.

 

 

 

In this world’s dark night, the moon shines on the river and flowing water goes on its own,

 

No matter how much they say fate is already determined, my path ahead is still far and distant.

 

 

 

It was the cheerful song of a Performance Troupe.

 

“Yeomga .”

 

Flame yeom and jade name ga.

 

Yeomga’s name was not originally Yeomga. It was the name of the child she had to kill with her own hands after losing her mind.

 

That name she had given hoping life would shine brightly. However, a name that could never be called or heard for a lifetime. She took her abandoned child’s name as if it were her own.

 

Each time she was called Yeomga, she must have chewed over it countless times. Clutching her heart that burned as if she had swallowed a ball of fire.

 

Yeomga, this mother will surely get revenge for you.

 

The Performance Troupe’s entertainers were gradually approaching. In rhythm with the song, thump thump thump thump, footsteps could be heard.

 

 

 

Even when black clouds fill the sky and you can’t see an inch ahead, the moon still rises bright and clear.

 

 

 

“You must go.”

 

The child positioned at the front of the Performance Troupe looked at Yunhui and spoke. Though the guards who had been hiding due to the sudden appearance of the Performance Troupe stood blocking like a wall, the child seemed to already know he was of noble status. They weren’t surprised at all.

 

As if they had heard about Yunhui’s identity from somewhere.

 

The song they were singing was also a melody wishing for the safe return of someone departing on a long journey.

 

“Do you know who I am?”

 

The child didn’t give any attention to the guards around them, keeping their gaze fixed solely on him.

 

“The time has come, Your Highness.”

 

 

 

* * *

 

 

 

When they finally managed to dispel Yeomga’s sorcery, what unfolded before their eyes was a scene from hell.

 

“What in the world…”

 

Myeongdo and Seoryeong froze in place. Rotting corpses were piled up everywhere. Young and old alike, their eyes rolled back and their gaping mouths had dried bloodstains.

 

It was a miserable sight as if someone had slaughtered their lives.

 

Seoryeong slowly approached them. The maggot-infested corpses appeared to have been dead for only a few months.

 

The worms that had been writhing while eating flesh scattered in all directions with a rustling sound at Seoryeong’s appearance.

 

Suddenly, Seoryeong realized something.

 

“This is strange.”

 

Seoryeong lifted the corpse’s clothing.

 

“Be careful. They must have been diseased.”

 

Myeongdo immediately grabbed Seoryeong’s hand as if snatching it away. As if he couldn’t tolerate her hand touching something dirty, Myeongdo wiped Seoryeong’s hand with his own clothes.

 

The exposed corpse’s forearm was covered with bite marks. Seoryeong felt around the surrounding wooden pillars that were roughly scratched with marks from something.

 

Nothing was intact. As if someone had gnawed at them.

 

Something was carved into the scratched pillar along with bloodstains.

 

 

 

Baek Yeongji .

 

 

 

“These people didn’t die from disease…”

 

“….”

 

“They starved to death. Over a very long time.”

 

A hidden, isolated village. Humans so starved they had to gnaw even the house pillars. In a place where not a single blade of grass remained, they struggled to devour each other and eventually all died – why had Yeomga created such a hell?

 

“…Is this salt trading?”

 

Myeongdo spoke first beside the dazed Seoryeong. Come to think of it, the corpses’ hands were missing a finger.

 

“Hee hee hee.”

 

Just then, a child’s laughter could be heard from somewhere. The two turned their heads toward that direction as if entranced.

 

“Hee hee hee hee.”

 

One, two, three… Children in shabby clothes were giggling as if amused. A look of despair crossed Seoryeong’s face.

 

“No!”

 

The children ran. Too fast to catch. The moment Myeongdo tried to run toward the children, Seoryeong urgently grabbed his arm as if clinging to it.

 

“Those are all vengeful spirits…”

 

The children were running toward somewhere in a group.

 

“Are they going to where Yeomga is?”

 

“…Right. It was written on the pillar. Baek Yeongji.”

 

With so many people coming and going, it was the perfect place to spread the plague.

 

That’s when it happened. Small clouds of dust rose from the ground. Like fog that had been concealing this place, it gradually grew thicker.

 

At that moment, the corpses lying on the ground began to rise.

 

Myeongdo drew the sword at his waist. He firmly guarded Seoryeong so that no one could touch her. The sharp blade pointed toward things that were no longer human.

 

“There’s no point in pointing your sword at them. Their target isn’t us anyway.”

 

But what they wanted wasn’t the lives of the two.

 

“Aren’t they vengeful spirits?”

 

“Those extract the soul from the corporeal body to use it. They have no substance. But look at them….”

 

What Yeomga had created—human yet not human—were things that were dead but not dead.

 

“What Yeomga created is… an army that never dies.”

 

The corpses also ran swiftly. This time in the opposite direction. Toward where the palace was. Myeongdo’s face turned pale as he understood Seoryeong’s words.

 

Plague-spreading vengeful spirits.

 

Immortal undead that never die.

 

“Get a grip. We don’t have time for this.”

 

Seoryeong pulled the dazed Myeongdo toward her. Then she met his eyes and urged him.

 

As if this were the last time. As if they had to part ways now.

 

“Listen carefully to what I say. Go to the palace. Every curse has a dispelling method. There must be something of Yeomga’s that binds their souls. You have to find it.”

 

Myeongdo looked at Seoryeong without being able to say anything. The calm and resolute expression on her cold face.

 

It was the same expression as when they first met, when she had resolved to die.

 

“Dispel the undead. Then stick these talismans on the foreheads of the fallen corpses and burn them. I’ll find Yeomga and destroy the vengeful spirits myself. Got it?”

 

Seoryeong pulled out a handful of talismans from her bosom. Then she closed her eyes briefly and recited an incantation. Myeongdo was still taking in the sight of Seoryeong.

 

The corners of his eyes turned red. Clear tears seemed ready to flow.

 

“Don’t worry. I absolutely won’t let treason happen. Okay?”

 

If I go, what about you…? Myeongdo couldn’t bring himself to say those words as he gazed at Seoryeong. His trembling neck swayed as if he didn’t want to let her go like this.

 

Seoryeong forcibly pressed the talismans into Myeongdo’s hands. The rustling sound was heartbreaking to hear.

 

“Go quickly.”

 

“….”

 

“I said go quickly. I’ve put all my remaining divine power into these talismans. Hurry…. I can only break the binding accessory after you leave this place.”

 

The moment she breaks the binding accessory, her location will be exposed to Yeomga. It would be dangerous if Myeongdo stayed here with her.

 

 

 

“…If you go down the path you intend to take, your life will be in danger.”

 

 

 

The words the troupe child had said came to mind. How fortunate. That she could save Myeongdo. Seoryeong looked up at him and smiled brightly.

 

“Don’t make that expression, okay?”

 

“…You are.”

 

“Come get me. I’ll be waiting at Baek Yeongji.”

 

A lie. Seoryeong was someone who lied better than anyone. So this time too, she calmly spoke words she didn’t mean.

 

“I won’t kill Yeomga. Just like you said… I’ll seal her divine power and keep her alive until the end. I absolutely won’t trade my life for it.”

 

Yeomga’s divine power was beyond what Seoryeong had imagined. To face her, she would have to risk her life.

 

“Here, return this to me when we meet again.”

 

Seoryeong untied the white cord that had been bound to her arm. She tied the Five Blessings Cord embroidered with lotus flowers around Myeongdo’s arm again.

 

Seoryeong turned Myeongdo’s body around with her small, white hands. Then she patted his back once. As if telling him to go now.

 

Finally, tears poured from Myeongdo’s eyes.

 

“Hurry, run. There’s no time.”

 

Then she ran in the opposite direction. Leaving Myeongdo behind. Hearing Seoryeong’s footsteps, Myeongdo walked forward with dragging steps.

 

He didn’t even have the strength to run. The path he had to walk alone, leaving Seoryeong behind, seemed endless. Tears flowed ceaselessly. His jaw muscles bulged from clenching his teeth. His eyes were bright red.

 

“You asked what my name was!”

 

Seoryeong, who had been running for a while, stopped and shouted.

 

“My name is Seoryeong. Auspicious Seo and Bell Ryeong!”

 

Myeongdo also stopped in place the moment he heard Seoryeong’s voice. The image of two people forming opposing points on the desolate road was captured.

 

Though the distance wasn’t far, it seemed as if they could never meet again.

 

“Long ago, Jeongan gave it to me…! Back then I really pretended to hate it! I told her not to call me that! Even if you didn’t give me one! I lied that I already had a name!”

 

Myeongdo closed his eyes with his back turned to Seoryeong. He tried to endure by gritting his teeth, but the tears wouldn’t stop.

 

“Because until then, I didn’t have a proper name! I was afraid I’d look foolish if I liked it too much! But when I missed the timing, I couldn’t ask her to call me that later! I was too embarrassed!”

 

Myeongdo hung his head low.

 

“…Anyway, my name is Seoryeong!”

 

Seoryeong even revealed the name she had kept hidden until the end.

 

“Then farewell! Live long and well!”

 

Seoryeong, who had been shouting as if making a final confession, ran again. Leaving Myeongdo behind. After listening to her footsteps for a while, Myeongdo’s head slowly lifted.

 

His eyes had changed. He was no longer the man who had been shedding tears of farewell. With eyes that only someone who had made a firm resolution could have, Myeongdo ran.

 

He had to hurry to the palace. Just as Seoryeong had said, he had to find the dispelling method, destroy all the undead, burn them, and then go back to get her.

 

Because they had promised. Because Seoryeong had promised for the first time that she wouldn’t die. He had to keep it. It was a promise that must not be broken no matter what. He ran like a madman, his dopo robes fluttering.

 

Not for treason, but for love.

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