Chapter 71

Tempest Entertainment's studio.

I spent the time waiting for evening to come.

I briefly stopped by the recording studio, but since it wasn't time yet, there was nothing there.

"Brother, you seem particularly bored today?"

"It's not that I'm bored…."

I just don't have anything to do yet.

【Details: Scriptwriting time is limited from 10 PM to 4 AM.】

I didn't worry because it was just the company's recording studio.

It's a bit concerning that I can only write scripts at night again this time.

"Hey, I edited the first part of the new work."

"Good job. Oh, and thanks for going to the abandoned school with me."

"…Brother, just being there with you is a great achievement in my life."

"Oh, you really do look like it."

Suddenly, a question came to mind, and I asked Hyo-ju.

"When was the meeting with Music Director Seo Ji-hoon scheduled?"

"It was a few days later, but we decided to reschedule the date."

"Really?"

"Yes. Um, but Brother… do you know it's Thursday today?"

"Already?"

"Yes. The finale of the memory-erasing regression drama!"

Lately, I've lost track of time.

I've been so busy with the new work.

"Time sure flies."

"Are you going to watch it with us today?"

"Maybe."

At 10 PM, the system allows drama viewing.

I'm more curious about the new drama's second part than the finale I already know.

"Hyo-ju, did you get the projector I asked for?"

"Yes, it's over there."

In the direction Hyo-ju pointed, a frame-type projector and equipment were neatly placed.

"Alright, from now on, we'll watch every day, five horror movies a day."

"Oh, I heard the latest horror movies are really good?"

"Right. Turn on a horror movie, not an animation."

"Ah! I promised to watch the finale with Team Leader Byeon today!"

"What? Hurry…."

Hyo-ju ran away quickly.

Now she runs away as a habit.

I was about to pick up my smartphone to make a call, but then I thought,

"It's past 6 PM, right? I'm allowed to leave."

I don't touch anything after work hours.

Of course, on the days I go to the sacred scriptwriting place, I should get overtime pay from Director Jeong.

"…Am I too kind, or what?"

With nothing to do until 10 PM, I installed the projector.

I still had time left, so I spent it editing the first part.

[9:54:50]

Finally, the moment arrived.

My heart started to race.

"I wonder what scary scenes are waiting for me."

Thud, thud—

With a heavy heart, I headed to the third-floor recording studio.

I've seen a lot of scary movies in the past few days, but it's still not enough.

According to academic consensus, to become a strong man, you must watch horror movies.

A moment later,

As expected, a white light was generated in the recording studio.

"Huff, huff…!"

The moment my body was thrown into the light, the second story was implanted in my mind.

"Ugh."

Overwhelmed by the ghost's immense presence, my mouth automatically closed.

The bizarre shape vividly appeared, causing my body to stiffen instantly.

The terrifying makeup was so vivid that cold sweat trickled down my back.

A young producer found dead in the recording studio.

Since the cause of death was overwork, it reminded me of someone.

"Is this my future…?"

Anyway, let's try to describe the ghost's shape as specifically as possible.

The success of this drama seems to depend on the makeup team.

I'll do my best to describe it….

"Damn, I made eye contact."

What a surprise.

I made eye contact with the ghost in my mind.

I really experience all sorts of things in life.

I don't think I can come back here anymore.

I'll keep seeing that uncle's face.

"Goodbye, recording studio."

The second part, which wraps up the abandoned school content.

I could tell from the genre and episodes that it involved exploring new locations in each episode.

If this continues, I might end up touring haunted houses across the country.

Maybe I should hire someone for a while.

"Wait, but the content for the second half today…."

['Gisunggungkotto' donated 2,000,000 won!]

[There's a popular horror spot now? Go to Jaran Mental Hospital! ㅎㅎ]

Hmm, the next one is an experience in a closed mental ward?

A zombie ward shown from the female protagonist's perspective.

The zombies are possessed by ghosts, making it a ghost-possession story.

"Now everything is an abandoned building."

In reality, I have no reason to visit such places.

I immediately escaped from the light and sat down next to it to start writing.

Recalling the drama's content, I practiced writing automatically, which was still effective.

Most importantly, I need to improve my skills even more with this drama.

I can write almost the same level as the original by relying on memory.

Tap, tap, tap—

The protagonist, Ji-seong-ho, who was thoroughly scared by the ghosts in the abandoned school.

From this part, he started to actively stream.

Especially, the female protagonist who can see ghosts actively intervened through donations.

-Thank you, 'Gisunggungkotto'… for the donation. Jaran Mental Hospital is….

He thanks the big donor but looks uneasy.

His act of submitting to money is quite realistic.

"The female protagonist is…."

Sobrill, the top actress, So Chae-dam.

Many fans were drawn to her lively and energetic personality.

She enjoys playing games, so she might be familiar with streaming culture.

Perhaps the system judged her as suitable for the role.

She became a top star by capturing both acting skills and popularity in her previous work.

"Casting might be difficult… I need to talk to Director Jeong."

* * *

A large screen displayed the opening scene of the drama.

"Final Episode of the Memory-Erasing Regressor"

The employees of Tempest gathered and focused on the screen.

Among them, Kim Hyun-ji, the female lead, sat next to Kang Jun.

"Brother, you really worked hard."

"You too."

A long and short shooting period.

Including web dramas and advertisements, we hardly slept and only worked.

"Thanks to writer Kim Jin-woo, we made it this far."

"Right. Hehe."

Jin-ho and Hee-jeong are probably watching the drama together at a cram school in Gangnam right now.

'Why do I keep worrying about them?'

Even other students and acting teachers are watching it.

"Brother Jun."

"Yeah?"

"Our ratings are 28%!"

We broke our own highest rating again.

The enormous number made me lose my sense of reality.

"Japan's schedule is coming up soon, so it will get busier."

"Um, yeah."

"Yes. According to my manager, I might only come to Korea once a month for a while."

"Ah…."

It's clearly a good sign and proof of success.

But why do I feel so disappointed?

"We're going to film a variety show together, Running Friends."

"I know."

"Among the questions they gave us…."

I didn't hear what Kim Hyun-ji was saying next to me.

Meanwhile, in the same space,

Director Jeong Sa-rom watched the drama, amazed by the collaboration of two people.

Both Director Song Gwan-soo's direction and Writer Kim Jin-woo's script were excellent.

It's a collaboration of geniuses that can't be compared.

Such a combination might not appear again for a while.

"The potential is exploding in the final episode."

Sa-rom smiled and checked the actors.

Kang Jun and Kim Hyun-ji were sitting side by side, watching the drama.

"Huh? But…."

Suddenly, she realized another main character was missing.

"Where is Writer Kim Jin-woo?"

At that moment, Hyo-ju, who was listening, answered for her.

"Brother, he said he's writing the script in the recording studio today?"

"Oh, really?"

"Yes!"

"Um…."

She immediately took the elevator to the third floor.

Looking through the glass, she saw him.

"There you are."

His occasional startled reactions while writing were quite unique.

He was trembling in fear of the content he was writing.

"Definitely not ordinary."

Can someone with ordinary imagination surpass this?

Knock, knock—

"Ah—!"

Writer Kim Jin-woo, who was scared by a simple knock.

Sa-rom sighed and opened the recording studio door.

"Um? Director, what brings you here…?"

"Just checking what you're doing."

She pretended nothing happened after just screaming.

"Hmm, as you can see, I'm writing the script…."

"Here?"

"…Originally, horror scripts should be written in the recording studio. There's a saying, you know."

"Does a ghost appearing in the recording studio mean the work will be a hit?"

"Yep! That's exactly it."

However, his appearance was not much different from someone already terrified.

'He looks like he's already seen a ghost.'

Just by seeing him clutch the blanket, one could guess.

"Are you scared?"

"Eh? Not at all."

"…You look scared."

"I can write with my eyes closed."

"…."

That's what scares me.

Writer Kim Jin-woo, trying to hide his state out of pride, made her laugh.

"Writer, do you dislike scary things?"

"Really, I'm not scared."

"Hmm, I thought about staying with you. I'm good at watching scary things."

"…I'm terrified."

The kind Director Jeong Sa-rom smiled slightly and sat next to Kim Jin-woo.

"Director."

"Yes."

"I have an actress in mind for the next work's female lead."

"Who is it?"

"So Chae-dam."

"…That's difficult."

Jin-woo added a comment to the calm Director Jeong.

"It's not personal."

"Who said what?"

"Your eyes looked strange just now."

"Subtly sharp… Ah, I don't know if we can cast her."

"Can't be helped if we can't."

Director Jeong Sa-rom, as if something came to mind, started to speak.

"…Writer."

"Yes?"

"Didn't you write the script at an abandoned school a while ago?"

"Did you hear from Hyo-ju?"

"No, from Team Leader Byeon."

"…."

With a sympathetic look, she continued.

"Research is good, but you don't have to do it at night…."

"Director."

"Yes?"

"Next time, I might have to write at a haunted house."

"…."

"To get inspiration."

Director Jeong Sa-rom pondered how to comfort him.

His voice was so sad, unlike him.

"Ah, um… There are many writers like that. Among the writers I know…."

"Really?"

"Of course!"

"Then, can you come with me?"

"…."

What logic is that?

"No, why should I…."

"Um, if you don't want to, I can't force you."

He made a gloomy face and trailed off.

The kind Director Jeong Sa-rom's response was.

"Ha, I get it. If I have time, I'll…."

Director Jeong didn't see, but the corners of Kim Jin-woo's mouth were slightly upturned.

* * *

Going to Jeong Sa-rom's place.

Short for Jeong Coin.

"I can finally get rid of the coward Hyo-ju."

I can't imagine Director Jeong Sa-rom being scared like Hyo-ju.

Besides, she said she's not scared of horror movies at all.

"Hehe."

The way home felt so light, and I couldn't help but laugh.

On the way home, I stopped by a nearby meat shop to buy beef.

I searched for today's entertainment news on my smartphone.

"The Memory-Erasing Regressor ends with a 28% rating! Especially, in the case of actor Kang Jun…."

"Surpassing the Master!? Writer Lee Min-ju, the teacher of Kim Jin-woo, ends with a meager 4%…."

"The ratings are seven times different just by numbers."

Ratings aren't everything, but they can't be ignored in this industry.

I didn't feel happy or relieved about the failure of my former boss's work.

It's too unfair to evaluate a star writer by one drama.

"Should fail more."

The next work should fail too.

Beep, beep, beep—

I went home and handed a envelope to Hee-jeong.

"Huh? What is this trash?"

"…Beef."

"Whoa, whoa! Lord Beef!"

Hee-jeong straightened up and welcomed Lord Beef with both hands.

"Wow! I had a good dream last night!"

"What?"

I smiled at Hee-jeong, who was heading to the kitchen with the beef.

"Brother! Let's eat the beef quickly!"

"Okay."

Sizzle—

"Ah, the beef is burning! Give me the tongs. I'll do it."

"Sure."

Hee-jeong, flipping the beef, said to me.

"But why does your face look so bad? Like it's rotten?"

"…You should eat the rotten parts today."

"Um, Brother, your rotten face is the most attractive."

"Really?"

"Yes!"

…Where's your conscience?

"Nothing's wrong at the theater or the cram school, right?"

"Ooh, pretending to care?"

"…Forget it."

"You have an audition soon. You're practicing now."

"An audition?"

"Yes. I saw it in the school's promotional material. A significant supporting role."

"Really?"

Come to think of it, she has never asked me for a role.

Probably because I've raised her independently since she was young.

'Well, I don't plan to force an actor who can't do it into a role.'

Hee-jeong frowned at my pleased expression.

"What's that look?"

"Feeling proud of my little sister?"

"Um…."

"What role are you auditioning for?"

"The female lead's younger sister."

"…Rude?"

"O, how did you know?"

Method acting is possible.

I nodded at Hee-jeong and picked up the tongs.

Ding-dong—

At that moment, the familiar notification sound rang, and the system activated.

[Content: Korean Horror Streamer Part 3]

[Genre: Horror, Thriller, Internet Broadcasting, Episode]

[Location: Gyeonggi-do, Hwaseong 'Boramchan' Mental Hospital, Randomly Selected]

[Time Limit: