Chapter 121: Scary……….

“….”

There was complete silence for a while.

How long did that silence continue?

After a long moment, Kim Yi-seo spoke first.

“If I understood correctly.”

She said, pointing a finger at the script in Sua’s hand.

“This work Sua is holding, this absurd piece that’s hard to even define by genre, you want to jump into it?”

The tip of Kim Yi-seo’s pointing finger trembled as she asked.

‘I didn’t even mention that a script arrived for Sua, let alone that it was a work soon to be produced. Yet she specifically found it? How much did she like it?’

It was then that Sua nodded.

“Yes. I feel like I shouldn’t miss out on this.”

“Wait. Just wait a moment.”

Kim Yi-seo quickly interrupted the conversation, handing over the script by writer Park Yu-mi that she had been busy discussing with her staff.

“Look at this too. It’s a script by none other than writer Park Yu-mi; look at this one too before choosing. That’s not your only option.”

But there was no touching turnaround.

Sua shook her head.

“This one is still better.”

“Reason.”

Kim Yi-seo spat out urgently, without a moment’s delay.

“Tell me the reason.”

Sua fell silent for a moment.

It wasn’t because the explanation was difficult.

It was just difficult to know where to start.

She began to calmly organize the various thoughts in her head.

‘…First, it’s unbelievably fun.’

This wasn’t about the viewers’ enjoyment.

It was fun as an experience.

For Sua, who could actually experience the world of the role, this script was like an amusement park.

It had everything.

It even said a glowing dinosaur monster appears at the end!

Of course, the Sua Association strongly opposed it.

• ─How bizarre. What kind of content is this…
• ─What is this?
• ─Wait, I understand it’s fun. But what is the best choice? How about thinking about it for at least three days?
• ─Ooh! Tatata! This is fun!

‘…What is this?’

Sua felt a strange displeasure.

‘Sohui-Sua, why aren’t you opposing it? If only you like it, it looks a bit…’

Anyway, the little Suas were also in an uproar.

‘I’m not just an idiot, you know?’

Sua said defensively.

If Sua jumped into producing a work simply because the experience was fun, she would be a fool.

The experience only required the script.

‘Now, everyone look at this!’

[ High Society ]
▶ Sufficient Implementation Elements
▶ Grade 2.8

[ Unclassifiable ─ Unsolved ]
▶ Sufficient Implementation Elements
▶ Grade 1.5

Wi Ji-hye burst out laughing.

• ─Of course! Grade 15 is a first!
• ─Truly fortunate… Huh? Huh huh?

Nope, it’s not. It’s Grade 1.5.

It was astonishing.

Grade 1.5 right from the start.

‘Is this even okay? How can this be?’

It was surprising that such content possessed such an exceptional grade.

Sua soon gave up guessing the reason.

Because she wouldn’t know anyway.

• ─…Is this truly real?
• ─This can’t be right? This shouldn’t happen?

The little Suas seemed to feel a sense of self-loathing.

• ─Grade 1.5? This has a similar grade to my world?
• ─If this is the case, why did I spend my time being a detective…
• ─Ooh ah! Ooh ah ah! Earth bang bang!

The surprises didn’t end there.

[ Unclassifiable ─ Unsolved ]

[ *Contains multiple special abilities ]

Sua expanded it downwards.

[ Rap Skill Improvement, Slapping Proficiency Increase, Hwatu Proficiency Increase, Increased Composure when Aliens Appear on Earth, Enhanced Coping Ability during Gate Phenomenon Occurrence…. ]

• ─Just what nonsensical trash…
• ─Isn’t this just junk?

‘No?’

Sua pointed below.

[ …Perk Additional Feature Unlocked. ]

Sua already had a perk, but the role in the script’s world obtains its own status window.

Perhaps because of that? It seemed an enhancement effect was attached to Sua’s current perk.

It felt like an enormous factor.

The perk had already changed Sua’s life, but to think this wasn’t the end.

Just the new possibilities made her heart pound.

• ─The sword I trained with my whole life! The path I diligently followed! Are you saying it’s equal to or less than that damned world…!
• ─Grandma Wi?
• ─Kkeueuk…!
• ─This grandma collapses again when it’s her turn for dish duty.

Now that the Little Sua Association was also in complete chaos.

Kim Yi-seo urged her once more.

“Sua, is it difficult to tell me the reason?”

Sua finally broke free from her thoughts.

“This script is insane.”

“We think so too.”

Kim Yi-seo shut her eyes tightly and sank into thought.

‘Sua is a comet. Didn’t I decide not to doubt or waver anymore? OTT is different from the existing market. The audience could mainly be international. So Sua must have her own plan…’

But she couldn’t help but snap her eyes open soon after.

‘…Even if she does, what good would it do! When the script is like this!’

It was truly a disastrous feeling.

Even Sua’s devotee, Seo Yeon-ju, would throw down her headband over this.

Kim Yi-seo barely maintained her composure and asked.

“Sua, have you ever seen surreal works? You see them often enough. The ones with heavy CG.”

“Yes.”

Of course, she had.

Things like hero movies.

“It’s great if it succeeds, of course, but the moment it fails, it becomes a huge dark history. The dark history of works involving CG is on another level. Sua is currently seen as a sharp, cool

actress; how would you feel if people capture all sorts of scenes and mock you?”

“Hmm….”

“You end up becoming fodder for comedy memes in online communities.”

Those were very, very scary words, but Sua wasn’t afraid at this moment.

‘It’s okay, CEO. This is Grade 1.5.’

So Sua only said one thing.

“….”

In her mind, she pictured Puss in Boots.

Making a pitiful face, pleading earnestly…

“….”

…But Kim Yi-seo actually swallowed hard.

Because it felt like a wolf baring its fangs, its fur standing on end.

“CEO, can’t I do this project?”

“Y-You want to do this that badly? Does it make your heart boil, does Sua’s unique intuition activate and all that?”

“Yes.”

“….”

In the end, Kim Yi-seo lowered her head deeply.

“…Then there’s no choice. Alright.”

She sighed repeatedly, then wiped her sweaty face with her palm.

She was almost like a boxer who had just finished a match.

Even worse, with the expression of having lost by decision after a close fight.

“Ah, my head hurts. Dealing with the aftermath is already a headache.”

“Hmm….”

“Let’s say Sua participating in the work she wants is one thing, but writer Park Yu-mi definitely won’t just stay quiet.”

“Will she hold a grudge just because of a refusal?”

“Of course, writer Park Yu-mi is a good person. But.”

Kim Yi-seo looked up at Sua with a pitiful face.

Yes, just like the Puss in Boots Sua had intended earlier.

“Think about it. She sent a script because she wanted Sua, but Sua chose another work. What’s the next step?”

“….”

Sua maintained her silence.

‘A subjective question without warning? Isn’t that a bit cheap…’

“She’ll check what kind of work it was that made you reject hers. She’ll look at the content too. Then what?”

“Ah.”

Only then did Sua swallow hard.

‘…Come to think of it, that’s right?’

The script I completed with all my might gets pushed aside for a story whose genre is unknown?

She would feel an indescribable emotion.

“Some kind of delicate handling will be necessary.”

“Of course. I think we need to arrange a meeting to conclude things with writer Park Yu-mi without misunderstandings. Sua must participate. We need to do at least this much for things to

be clean between us.”

“Yes.”

“…Of course, I don’t know if writer Park Yu-mi will understand.”

Kim Yi-seo made a call right in front of Sua.

“Yes. This is CEO Kim Yi-seo of Mystic. It’s nothing major, I just wanted to treat you to a meal. Isn’t it a rare occasion for writer Park Yu-mi to set foot in Korea? Let’s chat over some delicious

food.”

After finishing the call.

Kim Yi-seo stood up, her face paler than before.

“Let’s go to the parking lot…. We’ll leave right away….”

---

Sua’s inner world.

Suddenly, Kim Yuhan spoke up.

“Grandma Wi.”

“What.”

“About that absurd script.”

His face became quite serious.

“…I just can’t get a grasp on it. When filming starts, what kind of role exactly will be joining as the newcomer?”

Soon, Wi Ji-hye’s face also turned serious.

***

A few hours later.

Writer Lee Geum-sook’s studio.

Assistant writers patted Hong Ye-ji’s shoulder.

“Ye-ji. There’s no need to be depressed.”

“That’s right. How many scenes have you contributed to so far? You even drew the storyboard for the part considered the best scene in writer Lee Geum-sook’s previous work. You’re already

excellent.”

‘No, I just wrote it because I got confused by chance.’

“Right! You point out setting errors whenever they appear!”

‘I was just reading intently?’

“You helped write famous lines smoothly too!”

‘I only put commas and periods in the dialogue?’

“You even corrected the characters’ emotional arcs!”

‘I just asked what this character was about.’

“Ye-ji. Even though you’re an assistant writer like me, you’re my role model.”

“Yeah. So don’t be too heartbroken just because you got rejected by Sua. It’s just your debut work, after all, right?”

Hong Ye-ji quietly stood up from her seat.

In both hands, she held a suitcase packed full of belongings.

“My training was insufficient. Well then, goodbye.”

“No, Ye-ji!”

“Don’t go!”

Hong Ye-ji shook her head.

“I am not leaving. I will return stronger. If you care about me, you shouldn’t hold me back even more.”

Of course, her inner thoughts were different.

‘Yeah, I’m never coming back. Maybe I’ll get a part-time job at a PC Bang.’

It was then that writer Lee Geum-sook appeared.

“Kids! Everyone come out!”

Hong Ye-ji quickly bowed her head.

“Writer Lee, thank you for everything until now.”

“Okay okay, I was thankful for you too.”

Hong Ye-ji found it surprising.

Because Writer Lee accepted her farewell more readily than expected.

But she was soon glad.

‘Writer Lee lets people go surprisingly easily.’

However.

“From now on, I should call you Writer Hong, right? Nice to meet you.”

“Hmm?”

“I just got a call. Mystic wants to see your face.”

“Why?”

“Why else? To discuss our Writer Hong’s work!”

At that, the surroundings erupted.

“Oh my god! It might actually happen!”

“What is going on!”

Hong Ye-ji tried hard to maintain a calm demeanor.

“It seems they intend a polite refusal. Given Writer Lee’s reputation, it must have been difficult for them to treat an assistant writer like me harshly. Please tell them there’s no need to come.”

“Sua called the script insane. Have you ever seen Sua use such a bold expression?”

“It must be a harsh critique. She’s a sharp person.”

“It’s not a harsh critique. She said she’ll do it?”

“….”

Hong Ye-ji’s face became peculiar.

Those around her interpreted it as a rare, moved expression.

“I know too. Writers are afraid when trying something new. Hesitant about whether their story can be loved.”

“Yes. Because it can’t possibly be loved.”

“But she already recognized your true worth. Take pride. She was a rookie with an extraordinary talent for picking scripts; Sua was like that from our first meeting.”

Writer Lee Geum-sook nodded once and smiled.

“Yes, a genius discovered a genius.”

Suddenly, all the writers were looking at Hong Ye-ji as if she were amazing.

Hong Ye-ji shut her eyes tightly and said.

“Please don’t look at me like that.”

At that, the assistant writers’ gazes did change.

A look of admiration was mixed in.

As if they would treat her as a senior from now on.

“Ye-ji.”

Lee Geum-sook placed a hand on Hong Ye-ji’s shoulder.

“I’m already afraid of the success you will achieve.”

Hong Ye-ji was also genuinely afraid.