Chapter 75

At the moment when the first episode of "Overseas Sales Team 3: Kim Nayoung" ended, dozens of production staff burst into joy that they had been suppressing.

"Cheers! Let's get this show on the road!"

"Amazing!!"

"Yay─!"

Champagne bottles popped open simultaneously all over the set. They raised their glasses in celebration without a care for the cleaning to be done the next day.

"Mr. Kim, writer─!"

Mr. Kim, the department head, ran over and tried to carry me...

"Ugh."

He almost fell over when he failed to pick me up.

Why would he try to carry a grown adult man?

"Hey, sir, your back seems hurt..."

"No, no. Why would I get hurt on such a good day?"

People can get hurt even on good days.

You should probably get a massage tomorrow.

[Average viewership: 25.3%]

Of course, it would only be meaningful if the ratings continue to hold up in the future.

Even "Sky Blue," which was a huge hit for TVM last year, didn't start at 25%.

"Wow, did I do this...?"

For MBS, which had flopped a blockbuster at the beginning of the year, this was a turn for the better.

Especially since the director who had caused the flop, Ko Hyunrae, had personally made up for his failure.

Director Ko approached me and said,

"Haha. Writer Kim Jinwoo. Congratulations."

"Congratulations to you too, Director."

"Already your third success. Any thoughts...?"

The cameraman standing behind him slowly approached and focused on me.

"Well... I'm happy."

I'm grateful for the system that put me in this position.

"I'll keep working hard like this. That's all I can say. Haha."

It was a promise to the camera and a commitment to myself.

'If you tell me to go to a haunted house, I have to go.'

It would be foolish not to use a system that has been tested multiple times.

A little later,

After finishing work by evening, I met those who visited the broadcasting station late.

Team leader Byeon and producer Jeong Saerom.

Wait,

But why are you, Hwang Hyoju, coming with them?

"Writer!"

"Yes, producer."

"Thank you for your hard work."

"The hard work was done by the staff."

The staff, who had been listening to our conversation, chuckled and gave a thumbs up.

Soon, they gathered in groups and started drinking.

"Producer, by the way..."

"Yes?"

"We've never had a drink together."

"No, that time in Japan..."

"Let's do it today."

"Um... Okay, sure."

Team leader Byeon and Hyoju joined us as if it were natural.

The four of us gathered for the first time and raised our glasses.

Today, we drank heavily, forgetting about the system.

"Hey, writer!"

"Yes?"

In the middle of the drinking session, Saerom pulled out a gift from her bag as if she had just remembered something.

"This..."

A beautifully wrapped gift box.

She must have prepared it because it was the first episode.

"Oh, why did you get me this..."

"Give it to Heejeong."

"???"

"I heard from actor Lee Jinho."

"What...?"

"The audition."

"..."

What?

Am I the only one who's not good?

* * *

The next morning,

I woke up, blinked, and saw the ceiling of my room.

"Ugh!"

Now, there are only about four days left.

The deadline set by the system.

Ding─

Hyoju sent a message early in the morning.

[Bro, I don't remember anything from yesterday ㅠㅠ]

[Did I make any mistakes in front of Team Leader Byeon?]

"Team Leader Byeon took you home, but you don't remember?"

You'll regret it and bang your head.

Ding, ding─

There was no particular reason, but...

[You were a real pain yesterday ㅎㅎ]

I gave her the answer she wanted, and she seemed very happy.

Hyoju kept sending messages in a frenzy, which I ignored lightly.

Creak─

I stepped out of my room and greeted my mother in the living room.

"Are you up?"

"Yes."

It feels like I haven't seen you in almost a week.

"Are you still busy these days?"

"Of course, I'm always busy."

"..."

I'm busy too, but my parents have a lot of work as well.

[Bank account: 231,014,756 won]

The balance accumulated from some of Kang Joon's earnings and the royalties from the regressionist's manuscript.

'My, that's a lot of money.'

With the new work's settlement still to come, I don't have to worry about money for a while.

If I just put off the desire to upgrade the system for a moment.

"Mom, I'll give you some extra pocket money, a lot."

"Oh, no need. Just seeing you do well is enough..."

"I just want to give it to you..."

"Okay, then give it to me quickly."

"..."

I thought about it without avoiding her warm gaze.

'I have to work.'

Mom, I'll go to a haunted house and make money for you.

Is this enough to be called a filial son?

Creak─

At that moment, Heejeong opened the door and said,

"I'm going to an audition!"

"Oh, right. Hey, wait a moment."

"Okay?"

I quickly went to my room and handed her a gift.

"What is it?"

"Here. Two of them."

One was a random gift box that Producer Jeong probably prepared hastily.

The other was a thoughtful candy I bought at a convenience store.

It was the best I could do in a hurry last night.

"...Thank you."

"Isn't it?"

"Yeah. I'm really grateful to my sister."

"Have some candy."

"Thank you. Do you want some too, bro?"

"No, I'm full."

"Okay!"

Our actress, Kim Heejeong, looked the same as always.

I gave her a serious word of advice, without the playful tone.

"If you don't get it, don't come back home."

"...Is that what you should say?"

"To make you get it."

Heejeong smiled and peeled the candy, putting it in her mouth, then left the house.

* * *

Chae Dam thinks there are four levels of horror content: novels, webtoons, videos, and horror experiences.

Of course, the intensity of the experience increases in that order.

The chill felt when watching a horror movie is like a drug.

'Of course, I thought experiencing it in real life would be the best.'

She loved all kinds of horror, but...

Among them, visiting a scary place in a live stream was the most intense.

Until she read the script, that is.

Shiver─

"Wow, the third part is really legendary?"

While reading the script, she felt cold sweat trickling down her spine.

Even more surprisingly, it was from a drama script, not a novel specifically meant to be scary.

"Ah, I can't wait for the next part."

Chae Dam's manager smiled wryly at her reaction.

"Is that work really that interesting?"

"You've read it too, bro."

"I only read the first episode. I don't like horror."

"Phew, you've lost half your life."

"...Is it really that bad?"

"Yes! Of course!"

She must have read it several times during the drive.

Especially the scene in the third part where the character is attacked by zombies, which was a cathartic experience.

"Ugh, I can't stand it. I have to ask the writer directly."

Indeed, one should only talk to people who understand the joy of life.

While she and her manager had a good rapport, they didn't agree on the most important part.

"What is horror, anyway?"

"You might not know, but Writer Kim Jinwoo will."

"???"

There's a certain camaraderie among enthusiasts.

"Surely you're not going to contact the writer for real?"

"An actor can ask the writer questions, can't they!"

"...Is it polite to rush the next episode?"

"Huh? I'm not asking that."

"Then what...?"

"I'm going to ask where he's writing the next episode."

"...Of course, he'll be writing it in his studio."

"Hmm, I don't think so."

It's unlikely.

"You don't know. There's something between the writer and me."

"...You just met at the meeting."

"No, we've met before."

"???"

I've seen him on the internet.

Ding, ding─

Knowing this would happen, I had already asked a Tempest employee for the writer's number.

[Hello, writer! It's Chae Dam >_<]

* * *

JTBS Broadcasting Station, a conference room.

At the door, the participants waited with nervous hearts for their turn.

"Director Sung, there are many audition participants, but no one stands out."

"Well, we're only halfway through."

"That's true, but..."

Despite his words, Director Sung Kihoon was actually quite disappointed.

Considering the cost and time invested in the open audition, the loss would be significant if they couldn't find the right actor.

Ultimately, this would be deducted from the production budget.

"The next participant is... Hmm?"

A woman's profile caught his eye.

"Kim Heejeong?"

"Why? Do you know her?"

"No, it's not that..."

Her agency piqued his interest.

"From the Jang Gae Theater Company."

"Oh! I've heard of it. The drama that had a huge first episode rating yesterday..."

"Yes. Actor Lee Jinho is from there, I believe."

"That's right. Writer Kim Jinwoo discovered him, didn't he?"

"..."

Director Sung Kihoon remembered more about the Jang Gae Theater Company.

'Was it during the audition for actor Jai Jun?'

At that time, Writer Kim Jinwoo had given harsh criticism to an actor from the Jang Gae Theater Company.

That was about six months ago.

Since then, Jai Jun had gone from an unknown actor to a top-tier star.

"Time flies."

"Yes, the audition goes by quickly."

"No, that's not it. Let's move on to the next interview."

"Next participant!"

Soon, participant Kim Heejeong knocked and cautiously entered.

What was unusual was that, compared to the previous participants, she didn't seem nervous at all.

'In such a situation, it's usually one of two things.'

Either she hadn't prepared at all, or she had prepared perfectly.

In the former case, she wouldn't have expected much, and in the latter, she would have put in all the effort she could.

"Hello! I'm participant number 37, Kim Heejeong. Nice to meet you!"

Despite her polite and respectful greeting, there was a mischievous energy in her bow.

"Hmm... Let's start with the acting, shall we?"

"Ah, yes!"

"First, show us the character you're auditioning for. Second, a free performance. Third, an impromptu performance."

The others watching the audition looked at Director Sung with renewed interest.

He wasn't usually so considerate in explaining things, whether on set or at auditions, where he was known to be a devil to actors.

"Um, if it's okay..."

"Yes?"

"Can I have a sip of water before I start?"

"Ah, of course."

It was a reasonable request for an audition participant, but one that required a strong heart to make.

It was a small action, but it immediately drew the attention of the judges.

Whether this attention would fade quickly or turn into interest depended entirely on the participant.

"Is it my fault that our family is poor?"

In a short time, Heejeong immersed herself in the role and began her performance.

'Oh, this is good.'

A clear and resonant voice, a rich tone, and piercing eyes.

Most importantly, she didn't act like she was acting.

'Her acting is natural, like her usual self.'

The expression "as smooth as water" fit her perfectly.

"This wretched home is where my brother has only..."

A delicate and restrained emotional line.

Appropriate breathing timing.

Natural hand movements.

She seemed to have considerable acting experience.

If not, she must have a strong learning ability.

'This is interesting.'

Director Sung Kihoon's eyes sparkled.

* * *

In Youngjin County, Gyeongbuk.

A white brick house standing alone on a hill.

Once known as one of the three great haunted houses, it is now a forgotten horror spot.

Overused, no one visits anymore.

The dilapidated building, made of white bricks, is covered in black graffiti.

- Humans are evil spirits

- Hallelujah

- It's a ghost, a ghost!

Under the eerie moonlight, the interior of the building, visible through the broken doors and windows, was a scene of chaos and fear.

"How did I end up here?"

I thought I wouldn't have to go anywhere alone anymore.

But in my mind, there was only the mission given by the system.

【Mission: Do not suggest going with someone else.】

At that moment,

Ding─

"Ah!"

The actress's annoying messages lit up my smartphone again.

[Did you really go? ㄷㄷ]

Surprised.

"Ahh, I'm already annoyed."

Where are you going, when are you going, what are you riding.

Why is she so curious about these things?

I told her everything, yet she keeps asking.

It's not like I'm teasing her.

Thud, thud─

I changed my smartphone to silent mode and slowly stepped into the haunted house.

Ding─

【'The Quiet Writer!' Mission accomplished.】

【Completed a hidden mission, receiving a special reward.】

【Benefit, 'Final Episode Information Viewing (Lv 1)' obtained.】

"Ah? This is..."

The first benefit I obtained without spending money.

I should use it right away.

【Based on the user's will, 'Final Episode Information Viewing (Lv 1)' is activated.】

Instantly, basic information about the final episode was implanted in