Chapter: 06
Han Jeong-sik blinked his button-like eyes.
“Th-this isn’t right. We could go somewhere better. Student, I mean…”
Seriously. Too kind for his own good. Even when someone’s offering to help, he acts like this.
“I’m not a student, it’s Oh Chan-ran.”
“Chan-ran? Your name is Chan-ran? Wow, that’s unique. Let me shine that name once.”
Right now, Jeong-sik hyung wouldn’t know. “Shining” would later become the name of my fan club.
I smiled gently.
I already knew what Jeong-sik hyung would say next. Probably.
‘Perfect name for an actor.’
“Seems like a perfect name for acting.”
Still the same as always.
‘Only the place changes, but some people never change.’
<That’s fate, Chan-ran. Heed my warning. From now on, you will meet the people you are destined to meet. You can’t avoid the good or the bad.>
I see.
<But don’t be afraid. This damn fairy is with you. When you’re with me, you can always think from the perspective of this damn.>
No matter how I thought about it, that perspective seemed really strange. In that sense, I asked something I’d been curious about until now.
“But why ‘damn’?”
<Chan-ran, you lack common sense. ‘Sibal’ [damn] literally means ‘first beginning.’ Therefore, I am the Fairy of First Beginning.>
Surely he didn’t mean that literally.
“If that’s the case, you could just say ‘Fairy of Beginning.’”
<Beginning and ‘sibal’ are different.>
Other than the pronunciation sounding like a curse, what’s the difference?
“Is there really a reason it has to be ‘sibal’?”
<……>
The fairy didn’t answer. Maybe there was a reason he couldn’t say. I considered pushing further but decided to let it go.
‘The important thing is the ability.’
The Fairy of Sibal’s skills were better than I expected.
‘A magic lamp that grants wishes… not bad.’
Of course, there’s always a price.
<A magic lamp! You dare compare me to a lowly folk tale object! I am superior to that existence!>
Getting mad over something so trivial. But the lamp’s ability seemed far more practical, and it didn’t have a cost.
Still, I was a superstar who knew the world.
‘Sorry.’
A superficial apology is part of a superstar’s daily life. The fairy huffed a bit, but didn’t get angry again.
Then Han Jeong-sik spoke.
“Ch-Chan-ran. My conscience hurts, so I’ll try to stop you one last time. If you go with me, you’ll have a hard time.”
Seriously, he’s just too good-natured.
I stared at Han Jeong-sik. The round man kept wiping his sweat.
“Jeong-sik hyung. I’ll say this one last time. Show a little backbone with that conscience of yours.”
“Huh?”
“And as you’ll see when you check the contract, I never do anything that’s a loss for me.”
Finding a trustworthy agency in this business was an even bigger deal.
‘Like diving into an oil-spilled coast to find pearls.’
I met Jeong-sik’s eyes again.
“Also, I have no acting experience yet. I just want to become an actor.”
“Exactly! Beginners need someone like me! Yeah. I may look like this, but I have wide connections. I’ll get you into a good academy.”
I let out a small laugh.
“Not necessary.”
“Huh?”
“Just think about the contract. Don’t forget to bring cake, Jeong-sik hyung.”
I walked past the dazed Han Jeong-sik. He stood there for a few seconds, then hurried after me.
“But Chan-ran… have I ever told you my name? How do you know it?”
Ah, right.
I improvised.
“We met once before.”
“Me? You?”
“Yes. I couldn’t forget your name.”
How could I forget the name of someone who died in my place?
“W-why? I’m a bit scared. Did you maybe work part-time at a convenience store in my neighborhood? I sometimes fall over doing somersaults, and left my contact after breaking something. Could that be you?”
Truly unnecessary information.
“Joo-hee scolded me a lot. You said it’s a panda. But pandas are cute, right? I have that kind of charm.”
Not quite.
I narrowed my eyes. I suspected that Joo-hee said that because Jeong-sik hyung tends to get dark circles easily.
‘He must have been checking my health diligently, just in case…’
But ironically, this hyung was extremely healthy.
Anyway, I needed a cover story. I glanced around and found something suitable.
I stopped walking.
Then I read a sign in the basement food court of the hospital.
“Han Jeong-sik, 9,500 won.”
“Huh?”
“Years ago, hyung gave me his business card in front of a Han Jeong-sik restaurant sign. I had to remember it.”
The fluorescent lights inside flickered; both the Han Jeong-sik sign and his eyes blinked simultaneously. I smirked and kept walking.
‘It’s a lie, but this hyung will roughly believe it.’
He was the type to overthink, then inevitably change the subject.
Jeong-sik hyung stood dazed, then followed.
“Oh, really? When did I give it to you? I don’t remember. Strange. But why is it 9,500 won here? Shouldn’t it be 9,900?”
“What difference does it make?”
“It hurts my pride.”
Four hundred won difference?
From then on, Jeong-sik hyung chattered nonstop. Eventually, the Fairy of Sibal spoke.
<Han Jeong-sik is very scatterbrained. Noisy.>
I agreed entirely. But I’d get used to it.
‘Just like my fate, huh?’
The fairy didn’t answer. Feeling proud, I shrugged my shoulders.
The task was simple.
‘Let’s debut.’
I exhaled deeply. The task was simple, but the process of debuting was anything but.
‘How should I start efficiently?’
Starting as the lead in a blockbuster would be great.
‘Not realistic.’
Actors usually start with minor roles. Even famous actors rarely go straight to leads.
‘Because this industry is surprisingly performance-based.’
Whether minor roles, extras, or auditions, you had to steadily make your presence known to directors.
‘First, let’s draw the big picture.’
I jotted down titles and roles suitable for this period.
After listing them all, it was quite long.
‘If I do all of this…’
How thrilling it would be. I tapped the notebook in deep breaths. Just imagination. Now I had to face reality. Many factors were at play.
‘I need proof that I’m good.’
Only I knew if I was good.
‘Also, my body isn’t in perfect condition yet.’
Let’s see. To what extent?
I stood before a mirror and took off my shirt.
-Chan-ran, why are you shedding your shell? Your stomach will get cold. Put it on.
The fairy spoke like a grandma even though I hadn’t touched my pants.
I examined my body in the mirror—shoulders, arms, abs.
“Hmm. It’ll take a while to build this.”
I had to be capable of everything. And “everything” naturally included action.
This body required strength training and proper nutrition to reach that level.
‘Well, I already have the methods and process in mind.’
Nothing I’ve done before can’t be done again.
‘The problem is, it can’t be done immediately.’
I crossed out a few items from my list. If casting came, I’d go all in, but that was just hypothetical.
I thought calmly.
‘Many factors to consider. What will work best in this era?’
Looking in the mirror, I saw clearly.
‘Face, as expected.’
A good-looking face is always noticed. From ancient times to now, beauty draws attention.
‘But good looks must be presented effectively.’
Like a store placing bait products to attract customers.
‘Which works best right now for my appearance?’
I jotted dates in my notebook. Even though it was early days, in a few years dramas, OTTs, and K-pop would explode worldwide.
‘Drama, theater, movies, music videos… ah, music videos.’
I paused for a moment.
Music videos also had decent reach. The problem was that most popular ones were idol videos.
‘Idol videos won’t work. A group fills the screen, and if other members are needed, the agency’s trainees are too busy.’
But not all music videos are idol-focused.
I tapped my notebook with my chin resting on my hand.
Music videos were a decent choice for a rookie actor, relying mostly on looks.
‘Of course, even for a short video, acting skill is essential.’
Being short might even highlight talent.
‘Which music video was popular around this time?’
The answer came quickly.
‘First Love.’
A music video that needed young actors and had become a topic of conversation. Its nostalgia for first love suited my face.
‘The production company… Utopia, right?’
I looked it up immediately. Still only doing commercials, but I knew.
After “First Love,” the company would gain recognition, merge, and become a large company.
‘They probably did dramas too.’
The first drama flopped, but the second was a hit.
Good. This is it. Fast and easy.
‘People say suffering in youth is voluntary…’
Having aged, I knew better.
‘Are you crazy? Why suffer?’
After countless shakes in life, adulthood only meant hospitals.
‘Since I’m back, better to go the easy path.’
No reason to circle around.
I looked in the mirror again, changed angles, and smiled brightly.
“Wow… still not enough.”
Problems quickly floated up in my mind.
<Chan-ran, why sigh after shedding your shell?>
“Oh, Chan-ran’s facial muscles are serious.”
Since gaining this body, I’d done face massages like crazy, yet the muscles refused to loosen.
‘How little did I smile in my old life?’
Natural expressions were difficult. At least speech and pronunciation were improving steadily.
<I see. Work harder.>
“Fairy, since becoming Oh Chan-ran, my life motto is fast and easy.”
Why ignore me?
“I have a wish, why should I suffer?”
<Chan-ran, going easy leads to failure.>
“Let’s try the easy way first and see, Fairy.”
I moved my lips left and right to work the muscles.
“Fairy, can you let me move my facial muscles freely as I want?”
If I could, I’d instantly be an acting genius.
<Yes. In exchange, for 20 years you’ll have allergies to milk, eggs, soy, shellfish, wheat, and rice, causing immediate rashes and heat when consumed.>
Uh…
“Rashes are out. That’s a huge amount of food. How would I survive?”
<Some people have all of this. It’s not impossible.>
“That’s harsh. I’ll reject that wish.”
I had to eat. Losing so much for facial control was too extreme. I raised my cheeks with my hands.
“The cost is heavy. So it can’t be immediate.”
<Kids these days want life easy, what a problem.>
Not because of a past life, but I let it pass. Youthful indulgence. Proof of aging, perhaps.
“Then let’s get more professional. Let me freely use my zygomaticus major.”
<Possible. In exchange, for 20 months, allergies to milk, soy, and shellfish, causing rashes and heat immediately.>
Fewer items, but 20 months was nearly two years. I exhaled. I rarely made wishes, but this…
‘Feels like a child’s play.’
Very arbitrary.
<Your wish is trivial. And childish play? Don’t underestimate children.>
True, even kids have logic. I smirked.
‘Doesn’t matter. Play or not, I just need to make the wish.’
I made my wish again.
“Let me move my zygomaticus major 1 cm freely.”
How about that, Fairy of Sibal?
