There Are Four Top Idol Uncles - Chapter 217

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

Part 2, Episode 43
A wager?
I made a bet with Uncle about whether I could save him?
The shock of the truth made Yewon stumble backward without thinking.
—What?
But Lee Doha didn’t seem to accept willingly; a note of displeasure came from the cotton-like mass.
—I can’t make a wager with my nephew’s life at stake….
Of course. I should have known.
Yewon knew that Lee Doha wasn’t the kind of man to accept such a bet.
—My goodness.
—!
Yet the voice that came back from the cotton-like mass was unmistakably mocking.
—Still believing you have a choice, Lee Doha.
—This wager is the only mercy I’m offering you. If you don’t take this chance….
The cotton-like mass circled around Lee Doha as it spoke.
—Both you and your nephew will die without meaning.
Then.
For the first time, Yewon could see Lee Doha’s face clearly, no longer obscured by the cotton-like mass.
There was something in that face that couldn’t be hidden even beneath the mud that had washed down the mountain, burying it in filth.
Despair, pain, guilt, regret.
And longing.
The moment she saw that face, with all those emotions tangled together—
Yewon made her decision. No matter what choice Lee Doha made—
—You chose well, Lee Doha!
She resolved to save him, no matter what happened.
—May your choice save you and your family!
The moment the cotton-like mass finished speaking, Yewon ran toward Lee Doha.
Beneath the cold rain, she wanted to catch him as he was swept further and further down the mountain.
She couldn’t imagine how lonely he must feel, how much pain he must be in—so she wanted to hold his hand and tell him.
I’ll go, Uncle.
I’ll save you no matter what happens.
She wanted to tell him that. That everything would be all right, that it would all work out.
Just as Uncle had come to find me seven years ago and saved me, now I’ll save Uncle.
The moment Yewon ran with all her might and grasped Lee Doha’s hand tightly—
A massive pile of earth came crashing down over their heads.
* * *
And then.
When Yewon opened her eyes again and saw Lee Doha, she ran to him and wrapped her arms around him tightly.
—!
She could feel Lee Doha’s shock, but she didn’t care. Right now, if she didn’t hold her uncle like this, she felt she couldn’t bear it.
How much pain and loneliness must he have endured on that cold mountain.
All those emotions crashed over her with brutal force, and his hollow, empty eyes were still vivid in her mind.
“Yewon, your uncle is fine. Hmm? I’m sorry. Did I scare you? Your uncle is really fine. Nothing’s wrong.”
Lee Doha patted Yewon awkwardly, not knowing what to do.
“…You’re such an idiot, Uncle.”
Who was comforting whom here.
Right now, it wasn’t me who needed comforting—it was Uncle.
Yewon held Lee Doha tightly, deliberately holding back her tears. She knew this reaction would startle her uncle even more, but right now she couldn’t let go.
How could I let go after seeing something like that….
“No!!! Who leaked confidential information??? Who is it! Who’s the spy! Who told our Yewon and made her cry!!”
At that, Weon jumped up with a startled voice.
“What else? The kid’s just smart and figured it out on her own, right? That’s why I said only I and my brother-in-law would go. You idiots followed anyway and made the girl cry!”
Eon snapped in a deeply worried tone.
“Yewon is crying?”
Yeonho sounded panicked even from a distance.
“My daughter… is crying?”
The moment Yewon heard Yusong’s voice too, she instinctively sensed it was time to let go of Lee Doha.
If she frightened her uncles and father any more, something truly terrible seemed about to happen.
“I’m not crying….”
Yewon pulled away from Lee Doha and turned around. She needed to show them she wasn’t crying so they would all calm down.
She wasn’t actually crying. She’d cried herself dry back on that mountain.
“See? You’re not crying, Seo Yeonho. Want to drop dead? You just lost ten years of your life, right now.”
Eon grabbed Yewon’s face with both hands and examined her from every angle before shouting at Yeonho.
Everyone looked thoroughly shocked.
Behind Eon, Yewon spotted Yusong standing completely numb with fear. She’d never seen him look like that before.
Hmm.
So when I cry, it’s incredibly traumatic for Dad.
I absolutely cannot cry again….
Then.
A large hand descended, completely covering her small head.
“Yewon, Uncle worried you quite a lot.”
“!”
At those words, Yewon turned her body back toward Lee Doha.
And there was a gentle smile, meant entirely to reassure her.
“…Yes.”
“Uncle’s really fine. You know how Eon is, don’t you? Eon just overreacts. The tour must’ve been a bit rough. Uncle will tell the company he needs to rest for a while, so I’ll take some time off. I’ll feel better after I rest properly without working. So don’t be too shocked, all right?”
“….”
Yewon couldn’t bring herself to say she wouldn’t be shocked, that she’d stay calm.
Because above his head, still glowing in bright red letters, were the words:
[Collection Rate: 1%]
That those letters disappear completely.
Only then could she feel truly relieved.
And Yewon knew the way to make those letters vanish.
‘I have to complete the Quest as fast as possible.’
Before that Collection Rate rises any further.
I had to win the Best Actress Award. No matter what.
No matter what.
[Quest Reward Obtained! – <Hidden Truth>]
[All rewards collected. New Quest issued…]
[Sub Quest Triggered! – <Your Proof>]
“!”
A new Quest?
* * *
After barely managing to calm Uncle and Dad, Yewon extracted a promise from Lee Doha not to overexert himself for the time being, then entered her room.
There was something she needed to check urgently.
[Sub Quest Triggered! – <Your Proof>
You’ve encountered <Proof of Summer> again—the very film that earned you the Best Actress Award in your past life!
But you’ve surely noticed that your future has changed dramatically.
Winning the Best Actress Award in a world-renowned director’s film is entirely different from winning it in a middle schooler’s film.
But the greater the difficulty, the greater the reward.
Let’s win the Best Actress Award not with Yoo Jeong-seok’s <Proof of Summer>, but with Yoo Eun-oh’s <Proof of Summer>.
But even a thousand-mile journey begins with a single step.
Since this film is being made by middle schoolers unlike in your past life, there seem to be some additional things to consider.
It appears you’ll need to earn the approval of the Film Production Club first, which is currently divided, before filming proceeds smoothly.
Quest Success Condition: Earn ‘favor’ or ‘approval’ from more than half of the Film Production Club members (?/60)
Quest Success Reward:
-<Proof of Summer> Completion Rating Increase
-<Hidden Truth – Yoo Eun-oh> Now Viewable
Quest Failure Penalty: Lee Doha’s Soul Collection Rate increases by 10%]
“…!”
As Yewon read through the Quest window with an unsettled heart, she bit her lip.
It was because of the phrase: ‘Quest Failure Penalty: Lee Doha’s Soul Collection Rate increases by 10%’.
Now it was clear they meant to threaten her this way instead of using the word ‘death’.
-That’s right!
“!”
At the voice coming from above her head, Yewon looked up.
“You…!”
A fluffy cotton ball was hovering above her head, its white fur sticking up in all directions.
-How about it? You feeling motivated?
Motivated? This wasn’t just that….
Yewon looked at the cotton ball with eyes blazing with fury. She had never been this angry before.
“Why are you looking at me like that? I was fully prepared to keep this secret from you. It was you who demanded the truth.”
“I’m not angry because you told me the truth. I’m angry because the truth itself is repugnant.”
The real problem was that she had forced Lee Doha into a horrific choice by wagering her own life.
And now, the fact that she was blackmailing Lee Doha with his own life in return was equally monstrous.
“Did you really think you could change everyone’s fate without paying any price for it? You and your uncle are truly naïve.”
But the cotton ball merely scoffed at Yewon’s protest.
“I’ve shown you ‘mercy.’ I’ve given you the chance to alter your fate. So naturally, I must gain something in return, shouldn’t I?”
“So in exchange for me returning to the past, you demanded my uncle’s soul? Then if I fail the Quest….”
“Lee Doha’s soul becomes mine. And don’t ask the stupid question of what I’ll do with it. I’ll find plenty of uses for it, I assure you.”
The cotton ball smiled wickedly at that.
“If you don’t like it, go ahead and win the Best Actress Award. Then Lee Doha wins the wager, and neither you nor your uncle lose anything.”
“You said the Quest deadline was supposed to be before I turn eighteen. So why are you already collecting souls—”
“Don’t get it twisted, Yewon.”
The cotton ball leaned in close to her face.
“I’ve already been far more generous with you and your family than necessary. You just don’t know it.”
With that, it narrowed its eyes—as if recalling some tiresome memory.
“And I said I’d give you grace until you’re fourteen, nothing more. I never said what I’d do after that. My methods are my own to decide.”
“!”
“So hurry.”
“If you don’t hurry, your uncle’s soul will be stolen from him bit by bit. And if you lose too much of it, who knows what might happen to him. For instance….”
The cotton ball said this with evident glee, then stepped back with a sharp motion.
“He might suffer so intensely he loses consciousness!”
I can’t let that happen.
Yewon’s silent scream echoed within her.

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