Chapter 103: CUT. Midnight Screening
by fnovelpia
CUT.
The werewolf chaos that swept through downtown-
The Korean government issued an emergency statement and declared martial law.
Tanks and infantry entered the city center. They unleashed a hail of bullets against the ferocious beasts.
But the battle did not last long. As the full moon set and the sun rose, the werewolves crumbled to ash.
The commotion ended in a single night.
Yeoreum’s alma mater campus was decimated. The once-proud buildings were reduced to mashed potatoes.
Since classes couldn’t be held in such ruins, students were naturally transferred to nearby universities.
However, Yeoreum did not return to school.
He dove into the workforce.
As long as he had to live in this world with this body, he wanted to fend for himself.
Besides, there were things he wanted to try.
Yeoreum’s first step as a working adult was at a movie theater.
Night shift.
Of course, it was without Yeon Yuna’s knowledge. He felt she would definitely oppose it.
Working at the theater, Yeoreum learned about society.
He experienced all sorts of people, faced various challenging situations, and mastered etiquette including formal speech.
Though Yeoreum himself didn’t realize it, the female seniors adored him.
He nearly faced s*xual harassment barely a week into starting the job.
After experiencing film projection at the theater and marathoning horror movies at home, his “cinematic power” gradually increased.
His mind began to merge with the films.
Watching the original Han Yeoreum in action within the videotapes gave him a sense of being sucked in.
He recalled losing consciousness while clutching a hatchet in 1980s American woods, then waking up in an unfamiliar body in a strange apartment in 2020s Korea. It felt exactly the same.
Strangely, whenever Yeoreum had this sensation, Summer on screen seemed to feel dizzy too.
Synchronization.
It felt like their souls were clearly connecting.
As he grew more familiar with film, his sensitivity gained substance.
With increased immersion, he began connecting with movie characters.
The original Han Yeoreum, obsessed with movies, may have possessed the videotape instantly upon viewing it thanks to his “cinematic power”.
Yeoreum sensed it. He could now return home.
The original Han Yeoreum still didn’t know.
That with him as the lead, a mad horror movie was being created.
He needed to reveal the truth about ‘W’ to him.
But Yeoreum hesitated.
The original goal was to kill Yuna and return home.
Now he not only couldn’t kill Yuna, but he was reluctant to go back home.
He had tasted the miraculous life (24-hour convenience stores and smartphones) that great civilization had achieved.
Above all, he had someone precious by his side.
Though he disliked his weak and youthful appearance…
He liked Yuna anyway.
He thought people would always disregard him, but after improving his behavior, he seemed to be gaining favor.
He preferred this world to his hometown full of bad memories.
But what would Summer think?
Wouldn’t he want to return to Korea?
He did look happy beside Nancy Strode and Ellen Strode.
From what Yuna said, the original Han Yeoreum was a complete loner.
A social misfit who only knew horror movies. He showed no interest in anything else and didn’t interact with people.
But in 1980s America, he shone.
The protagonist solving all sorts of bizarre phenomena with an axe.
It seemed like where he belonged. Almost as if it were his true home.
In any case, Yeoreum had to reveal the truth to Summer.
It was his duty.
“Yeoreum~!”
A ponytailed senior approached with a bright smile.
Her cute face was characterized by black-rimmed glasses.
“Have you seen this video? It’s number one on YouTube’s trending list.”
“No. I don’t use YouTube.”
“Really? Then take a look at this!”
The senior showed him a video on her phone. It was a video of a kitten in an octopus costume meowing.
While the senior couldn’t take her eyes off the kitten, squealing excitedly, Yeoreum couldn’t understand why such a video was popular.
“Isn’t it super cute? I want to raise a cat too~.”
“Then why don’t you?”
“I can’t. I’m allergic to cats.”
Though they’d only known each other for a week, Yeoreum had become quite close with his senior.
As his mentor, she took care of him in many ways, saying he was like a little brother.
The clock on the theater wall. The big hand was already pointing to 12.
It was quiet at this late hour with few customers.
The senior, who had replayed the kitten video 7 times, stood up.
“I should go clean Theater 4 now.”
“Senior. I’ll do it today.”
It wasn’t out of consideration for his senior.
It was to return home.
He felt his cinematic power increase when watching movies in the theater.
So if he played the videotape in the theater, the chances of possession would increase.
He headed to Theater 4, the late-night screening room, with cleaning supplies.
He set down the backpack he was carrying. Inside were a tape, video player, and converter cable.
He took out the player, plugged in the converter cable, and connected it to his phone.
This would allow him to watch the video on his phone screen.
He inserted the tape into the player.
If successful this time, souls would switch again between the original Han Yeoreum and him.
Yeoreum to Summer.
Summer to Yeoreum.
From 2020s Korea to 1980s America.
From 1980s America to 2020s Korea.
Yeoreum had put a note in his pocket.
A note detailing the situation from when he landed in this strange world until now.
He described it in detail, so Summer, upon regaining his body, would understand the truth.
Yeoreum took a deep breath and pressed play.
S#17 began.
As always, the content was absurd. A plot about gingerbread men coming to life…
Just as he was about to immerse himself in the movie, a voice came from behind.
“Caught you red-handed.”
It was his senior’s playful voice.
“Han Yeoreum. Slacking off during cleaning time?”
“I’m sorry.”
He hastily hid his phone behind his back.
The senior furrowed her brow, pretending to be angry.
But finding it awkward to maintain the expression, she soon burst into laughter.
“You know what happens if I tell the manager? I’ll forgive you if you tell me what you were watching!”
“Well…”
He couldn’t say.
If he said, “I’m from 1980s America, watching an unidentified videotape to return to my original world,” he’d be sent straight to a mental hospital.
The senior wouldn’t back down easily.
“What is it? Show me. I showed you the kitten video, didn’t I?”
“I’m sorry.”
“Are you really going to be like this?”
The senior, looking disappointed with eyes wide open, nodded as if she realized something.
“I get it… You were watching p*rn, weren’t you?”
Before Yeoreum could stop her, the senior reached out.
She pulled the tape from the player.
“Wow, you’re really serious, bringing something like this.”
“Senior… Give it back.”
“A videotape with no label, this is p*rn, right?”
“It’s not.”
“Looking like a baby, but you’re a total pervert!?”
Suddenly, something flashed through Yeoreum’s mind.
“…By the way, Senior. Did you leave the counter unmanned?”
“What’s this? Suddenly changing the subject?”
“I’m asking because I’m really worried.”
The senior shrugged nonchalantly.
“So what? There are no customers anyway~.”
Just then, as an ominous feeling struck, the theater door swung open.
Yeoreum reflexively hid under a seat.
“Who… are you?”
The senior asked the intruder.
It was a woman. A tall young woman with fair skin.
It was Yuna.
Thankfully, he had hidden under the seat. She couldn’t see him from where she stood.
It was terrifying just imagining what would have happened if he’d been caught.
Yuna asked the senior:
“Isn’t there… a male part-timer working here…?”
“Huh?”
The senior looked down. Yeoreum was lying at her feet.
Yeoreum, sweating cold, put a finger to his lips. A silent plea to pretend not to know.
The senior tactfully answered Yuna.
“He just got off work. Are you an acquaintance?”
“No, not an acquaintance… More like a fiancée…”
“Oh… I see. Anyway, all screenings are over. You can’t come in here.”
“……”
“Could you please leave, ma’am?”
Yeoreum’s heart pounded.
If she found out he had attempted to return home… How would Yuna react?
With 10000% certainty, she would be furious. He might even be killed.
Even if not killed, she would desperately try to stop him from going back.
There was no time.
Yeoreum carefully reinserted the tape into the player, trying not to make a sound.
He played the video on his phone.
Meanwhile, the standoff between the senior and Yuna continued.
“Ma’am. Would you please leave?”
“…He’s here, isn’t he?”
“Pardon?”
“Yeoreum… He’s here, right?”
Madness spread through the theater.
Yuna walked towards them. It was only a matter of time before he was discovered.
Yeoreum crawled painfully while lying down.
He didn’t let go of the phone. He didn’t take his eyes off the screen.
The progression of S#17 was a series of absurdities.
Summer suddenly fainted, and Nancy Strode’s exploits unfolded.
He needed to focus on Summer, but… It was frustratingly difficult.
Yuna was coming.
The senior was intimidated by Yuna’s approaching presence.
But mustering courage, she closed her eyes and screeched:
“Ma’am, I said you can’t come in…!!!”
Just before Yeoreum’s position under the seat was revealed, Yuna stopped.
“…I’m sorry.”
She apologized and headed back towards the theater exit.
Yeoreum breathed a sigh of relief. He felt like he’d aged ten years.
The senior, seeing Yuna leave completely, wiped away cold sweat.
“Really… Who was that woman?”
“She’s my friend.”
“Girlfriend?”
“…”
He didn’t answer. Their relationship was still too ambiguous to call her his girlfriend.
The senior took his silence as affirmation.
“Wow… I had no idea Yeoreum had such a pretty girlfriend. But she’s seriously obsessed…”
Though grateful to the senior for hiding him from Yuna, there was no time for proper thanks.
Yeoreum watched the screen as if devouring it with his eyes.
The story finally reached its conclusion.
Nancy rescued Summer, Ellen, and the Hyper sisters trapped in the basement.
“Let me see too.”
“I’m sorry, Senior. This is the really important part…”
The theater exit opened again.
It was Yuna. This time there was no chance to hide under a seat.
Their eyes met properly.
“F o u n d y o u.”
The blood drained from Yeoreum’s face.
Yuna sprinted towards him at incredible speed.
Rather than fleeing, Yeoreum chose to focus on the screen.
He saw Summer standing next to Nancy in the rain, carrying Ellen on his back.
It felt like electricity coursing through him.
He instinctively sensed it.
This was the moment.
The instant souls would switch.
Yeoreum’s consciousness flew away.
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