I'm an Unknown Actress, But Everyone Knows Me

“Sir!”

A subordinate holding a torch approached.

“I think it would be best to set out again once daylight comes.”

With an uneasy expression, he turned back toward Yunhwi. Something felt dangerous.

Even the sky above looked ominous. Clouds were slowly covering the moon.

* * *

“What is all this! We struggled for days just to come to some place that’s falling apart? Damn it. I told you the last place was better. There isn’t even a single person around here.”

Seoryeong recoiled at the sight of the rough cave. Then she pulled a soft cloth from her bundle and rubbed it against her cheek. Truly fitting for someone who owned everything.

“This is something precious! It’s all going to get filthy. How is this any different from being a real beggar?”

“Even if it gets dirty, as long as it fills your heart, it is more than good enough. Don’t throw it away—use it for a long time.”

“Use it for a long time? No way! I hate grimy things the most! Why don’t you praise me for wearing this completely worn-out bracelet instead?”

Making a fuss about cleanliness, Seoryeong pulled out several old garments from her bundle and spread them on the ground. Then, as if it were something priceless, she laid expensive silk on top of them.

Only then did she smile in satisfaction at the bedding.

“Ah. I thought I was going to die getting here! Whew... seriously. Give me some water!”

Jeongan handed Seoryeong the gourd tied at her waist.

Jeongan’s gaze, fixed on Seoryeong as she drank, was subtle. She didn’t take her eyes off Seoryeong as she gulped noisily.

When Jeongan took the gourd back, she didn’t drink. She firmly closed the lid instead.

“Soo tiring, exhausting.... My eyes are closing on their own....”

Rubbing her mouth roughly with her sleeve, Seoryeong flopped down onto the ground. In an instant, she was fast asleep.

Looking down at her, Jeongan slowly took out a rough, old blanket from her small bundle and covered her.

Riiip—.

Then, at Seoryeong’s bedside, she tore a talisman in half.

* * *

Hihihik! Hihihihik!

Hihihihihihihihihihihihihihik!

From far away, someone could be seen laughing wildly and thrashing about. It looked like they were dancing with exaggerated movements—or stamping their feet, unable to contain their rage.

Even though only a shadowy back was visible, it made the nape of the neck tense to the point of stiffness.

Each time the head shook, tangled hair flew like a mane.

“Who’s there?”

Yunhwi mustered his courage and called out.

Hihihihik....

Panting as it laughed softly, could that thing really be human?

Without realizing it, Yunhwi staggered backward. A dry branch snapped beneath his foot.

After a brief thud, something brushed endlessly across the top of his foot.

Ssssh— ssssh—.

Centipedes crawled over the top of Yunhwi’s foot, clad in white socks. There were too many wriggling legs to count.

Startled by the grotesque sensation, he dropped his gaze to the ground—and what he saw before him was not only his own foot.

“Ugh....”

The foot of “that thing,” which had been quite far away just moments ago, was now visible. He couldn’t bring himself to lift his gaze any higher. His entire body froze.

Its foot, grimy in places, split open with wounds and oozing blood, stood planted as if nailed in place.

Rustle—.

While he stood frozen, “it” slowly stretched out its foot and brought it to Yunhwi’s toes—

“Your Highness.”

At that instant, Yunhwi snapped his eyes open.

Myungdo was calling him.

Just as Yunhwi, waking from the nightmare at the sound of that low voice, was about to respond—

“Shh....”

Myungdo motioned for silence.

Following his gaze, Yunhwi saw a shadow. Was it that thing? Had it finally crossed into reality?

Gulp. Crown Prince Yunhwi swallowed.

Myungdo slowly drew the sword at his waist from its scabbard. Yunhwi also took hold of the sword by his pillow and spoke.

“Who goes there. Reveal yourself.”

Despite having just woken from a nightmare, his tone was composed and orderly. Then, from the shadow, a clear and gentle voice flowed out.

“I pay my respects to the Crown Prince.”

As the figure slowly reached up and removed her bamboo hat, what was revealed was a Buddhist nun with a benevolent smile.

* * *

“Ah, damn... that scared the hell out of me....”

Reporter Wi glanced at the clock and was startled. Only about twenty minutes of had passed.

With the smooth scene transitions and the unending stream of terrifying moments, it felt as though far more time had gone by.

“Man, the director’s really good at pacing.”

After greeting Yunhwi, the nun Jeongan respectfully offered him a talisman. It was written with her own blood.

Judging her to be dangerous, Myungdo stepped firmly in front of Yunhwi, holding the talisman in his hand.

“What is this. Explain.”

“Impure things are targeting Your Highness.”

“...Why?”

When those strange words—things he hadn’t even been able to tell Myungdo—came from Jeongan’s mouth, Yunhwi, standing behind Myungdo, spoke up. Jeongan answered calmly.

“Because they seek to defy the natural order.”

“The natural order.... Why? Am I some sort of sacrifice to them?”

Yunhwi asked with a self-mocking smile. That he was still sane, despite being tormented by such nightmares every single night, was remarkable in itself.

He had endured through sheer willpower alone. Relying on no one.

“Yes.”

Jeongan, who had been smiling faintly until then, hardened her expression as she spoke.

Whooo—. A sharp wind blew in from far away. Myungdo glared at Jeongan fiercely.

“That is insolent.”

Even in the face of Myungdo’s oppressive rebuke, Jeongan did not yield, speaking only the truth.

“It is because the life of something that should never have lived was forcibly stitched together.”

“...How would you know that. There is no way that matter could have leaked outside.”

“It is because one who cannot ascend to the heavenly seat covets that place that impure things attempt to overturn the natural order.”

The scene shifted, and a flashback began.

Young Seonghwi appeared. Every day, fever blooms erupted across his body, and he vomited blood. The palace atmosphere, because of him, was no different from a house in mourning.

“Hurry! Hurry and call another physician!”

“Your Majesty, please restrain yourself....” 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

“Every last one of them is a quack! Aaah! Aaaah!”

Seonghwi’s mother—the queen and mistress of the inner court of Yeomho Kingdom—was not in her right mind.

She grabbed the physician by the collar like a madwoman.

Outside, court ladies rushed about holding white cotton cloths. The blood Seonghwi had vomited stained them like blossoms.

“Your Majesty. I—”

It was dawn, as she personally wiped away Seonghwi’s sweat after dismissing everyone else. The senior court lady closest to the queen approached, bringing someone with her.

“Yes, it’s you.... You’ve come!”

The queen hurried toward the shadow behind the court lady. Smiling brightly, she looked overjoyed, as if she had heard the woman’s reputation.

“They say you can even bring the dead back to life? I’ll trust only you.”

The woman welcomed by the queen stepped forward. The shadow slowly receded, revealing her face.

She smiled brightly, her eyes unfocused, as if they weren’t fixed on anything at all.

“For someone as lowly as I to serve one so noble—it is an honor...?”

The ending of her words trailed off strangely. She was Yeomga.

[♨The occult boom is coming, coming—Strange Tales Episode 1 live thread♨]

-Every time Yeomga shows up I have to cover my eyes... she’s scarier than an actual ghost

-I think my screen got cursed, what do I do

ㄴ Try wiping it with water... holy water would be even better

ㄴ You’re insane lol

-Is Geum Bitgang an actual shaman in real life? She’s suspicious as hell

Thus, Yeomga, who had saved Grand Prince Seonghwi, continued to forcibly extend his lifespan from behind the scenes.

Whenever his body ached or he saw hallucinations, Grand Prince Seonghwi sought out Yeomga.

Bit by bit, Yeomga’s influence grew.

The tension-building sound of a flute rang out. The cry of a scops owl seemed to draw noticeably closer.

Back to the present.

With a solemn expression, Jeongan spoke to Yunhwi.

“No matter what methods they use, everything will flow according to the natural order. Therefore, you must return to your rightful place. Do not relinquish anything.”

“My rightful place.... Just how much do you know?”

“I greet you once more.”

With a resolute expression, Jeongan bowed to Yunhwi.

“Your Majesty.”

* * *

“Man, not scary at all. Seriously.”

IP 85.152 muttered while looking halfway away from the screen. If it sounded like the Shift key was stuck in their voice, that was just their imagination.

Strange Tales Minor Gallery

[This summer I don’t need a water park, holy shit I just pissed myself]

[She’s just light... from now on I’ll call her LightBitgang...]

[They said something big was coming and holy crap something insane really came]

Staring at the phone in their hand, IP 85.152 tried to calm down. Beyond the screen, the story continued steadily.

Yunhwi did not believe Jeongan’s words.

His brother was merely weak in body—he was gentle and upright. He cared for the people more than anyone.

“Since you seem to know everything, /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ I will speak plainly. Yes. When the time comes, my brother and I intend to switch places. I have no intention... of becoming king.”

Otherwise, there would have been no reason for him to drag himself to such a remote village.

“The seat I occupy now is... well, yes. It is nothing more than temporary.”

Yunhwi’s voice trembled.

“So why would my brother... do such a thing? It’s all nonsense.”

That Yunhwi had no ambition for the throne was something his brother knew better than anyone.

All the days they had shared could not have been lies.

“Before you sleep, tear one of the talismans I give you each night. They will protect Your Highness.”

“......”

Jeongan pulled on her bamboo hat and nodded toward Myungdo, who was holding the bundle of talismans.

Following her gaze, Yunhwi saw—

“In fifteen days, walk east. If you head toward the place where the sun is closest, you will meet the one who will lead everything according to the natural order.”

The branch where Myungdo’s handkerchief had been tied was swaying in the wind.

It made no sense. How could the handkerchief tied far away end up on the tree right before their eyes?

Yet just as when she arrived, Jeongan vanished like a mirage when she left.

Yunhwi’s expression, as he stared at where she had disappeared, was complicated. Instinctively, doubt crept in.

Even though he didn’t want it to, something inside him felt as though it were collapsing.

He wanted to believe his brother—but he couldn’t....

He didn’t want to believe those words—but he had....

How could he preserve their brotherly bond without doubting his brother?

Slowly, Yunhwi clenched his hands. Veins stood out across his fists. Beside him, Myungdo finally spoke.

“...Your Highness.”

Whether her words were true or not, Myungdo had to confirm it.

“I will go.”

It was his duty as Yunhwi’s loyal retainer and officer.

If it was true, it meant preventing the very foundations of the kingdom from shaking. If it was false, it meant stopping nothing more than a shaman and a nun from trying to manipulate the nation.

Either way, it would be a calamity for the people.

Myungdo resolved to cut down, in a single stroke, the malice whose origins were unknown.

For his lord. For the people. And for this country.

Doom— doom— doom—.

Like his resolve, the sound of drums filled the air.

Whether it was the sound of his heart pounding, or the sound of Yeomho Kingdom collapsing in the future, was not yet certain.

At some point, the cry of the scops owl was no longer heard.

“Seriously, when is Han Yeoreum coming on....”

It was then, as IP 85.152 watched with mounting tension, that—

“Oh! It’s Han Yeoreum!”

At last, Yeoreum appeared on screen.

The reason IP 85.152 had turned on a drama they would never normally watch—

Han Yeoreum was finally making her full appearance in .