Free Web Novel“Who are you?”
A voice came from above, from the tree branch where the handkerchief had been tied. Myungdo lifted his head toward the source of the sound. The shadowed figure beneath the leaves was caught in backlight.
As the figure slowly bent his upper body downward, light seeped into one side of his face.
One half of his eyes held a deep darkness, while the other half shimmered gold.
His gaze dropped straight down, piercing Myungdo.
“Who are you, carrying Jeongan’s talisman?”
At his words, a stone at Myungdo’s feet tightened around his ankle. The stone that rose from the ground was shaped like a human hand.
In an instant, both of Myungdo’s ankles were seized. It was a truly mystical, uncanny thing.
Myungdo understood instinctively.
“Do I need to force your mouth open....”
There was no doubt about it.
The one who would lead everything according to the natural order.
“I met someone called Jeongan fifteen days ago.”
Myungdo looked up at the man with the small frame. Toward the one staring down at him with the eyes of a wildcat, Myungdo added an explanation.
“She told me to come here if I wished to meet the one who would lead everything according to the natural order.”
Though he stood on a thin, narrow branch, there was no wobble or sway. His body was slender, yet seemed to have no weight at all.
As if he were a being that did not set foot upon the earth.
“I see now.... Why Jeongan told me to come here.”
A sneer surfaced on his youthful-looking face. After giving a small laugh, he asked again,
“So? Why did you come?”
The stone gripping Myungdo’s ankles slowly climbed up to his calves. It was a clear threat: speak properly, or he would not be spared. freewёbnoνel.com
Myungdo calmly revealed his identity.
“I am Myungdo, a senior attendant serving Crown Prince Yunhwi.”
Crk- crk-. Crumbling sounds fell from the stone clutching Myungdo’s legs. Seoryeong spoke softly.
“...I see. So it’s you. The one Jeongan sent.”
Myungdo.
The bright path shall pierce through to the end and shine.
Recalling the line from the testament that defined Myungdo’s name, Seoryeong slowly reached out toward the handkerchief. The handkerchief Myungdo had tied tightly came loose with a light tug—
Sliding free with ease.
As if it had never been tied tightly in the first place. Seoryeong toyed with the handkerchief that had come undone so emptily, so lightly.
“I do not yet know what the natural order truly is. However, fearing that a rebellion may arise, I set out for the sake of my lord.”
Holding the bright red silk cloth, Seoryeong loosened her grip.
Flutter, flutter—the handkerchief was carried off somewhere by the wind, drifting away weakly. Watching it leave her without direction, Seoryeong once more recalled Jeongan’s testament.
“Right....”
Sunset slowly descended upon Seoryeong’s ashen face. Even the light vanished from the eye that had been gleaming.
I will never listen to your words, Jeongan.
With these eyes clouded by revenge, I will head straight for Yeomga.
No matter the path, I will pierce through it and sink everything into endless darkness.
The natural order is something I decide.
And when everything is finished, I will take my own life. Without exception.
Absolutely.
No matter what happens, I will not live on in a world where you are no longer here.
“Then... shall we go together....”
Seoryeong murmured down at Myungdo. Her sharpened voice sounded hollow, as if empty inside. Her face, already swallowed by shadow, was utterly grim.
“I, to succeed in eternal sleep. And you, to make the rebellion fail.”
Boom-.
With the sound of the ground collapsing, Episode 2 of <Strange Tales> ended.
To replay, please click the replay button.
[Replay]
Click.
Winter’s eyes gleamed as <Strange Tales> Episode 2 began playing again.
Around Winter, scripts were scattered in disarray. On the scripts for Episodes 1 and 2 of <Strange Tales>, sticky notes were attached to every scene where Seoryeong appeared, and the number of highlighted lines was impossible to count.
“Hahaha.... That’s why, this part is.... Yeah.”
As Winter replayed <Strange Tales>, her brain spun rapidly.
She wanted to feel this sensation all the time—the moment when she could perfectly analyze a character, when she could breathe new life into them.
Thoughts spread endlessly, like a spiderweb, all centered on Yeoreum. She felt a powerful intuition that something was taking shape.
“Then... shall we go together....”
Seoryeong of Yeoreum, speaking as if letting loneliness slip away. Winter solidified the character she would build from that scene.
“This will do.”
From among the scripts laid out on the side table in front of the TV, Winter picked up the one that could realize Seoryeong of <Strange Tales> most closely.
“This one....”
A personality driven by pride, someone who pretends to be bright but is bound to carry narrative pain, and even a lightness of body born from a free life.
“I’ll know the details once things progress a bit more.”
Winter’s lips curled upward as she opened the synopsis titled <Peach Blossom Fuse>. The edges of the pages were already worn and ragged.
Jang Heebin
Wasn’t it said that no flower stays red for ten days?
Heebin merely smiled at those words.
How foolish. If you set the flower on fire and throw it, what is ten days? It would burn hot and red the entire time.
She still resented and desired the man who had broken her in the name of love and placed her on a lofty pedestal. And so Heebin chose—rather than wither, to burn.
Flowers break when the wind blows, but fire spreads on the wind. Into the inner court, into the royal court, and further still, into this country of Joseon.
Shall I build a paradise for those blinded by beautiful flowers?
* * *
“Hang up the phone! Hang it up! We don’t have time to take all these interview requests right now!”
“Aaaargh! They’re coming in by fax!”
This was the PR department of JC ENM, where the fax and phone never stopped. After Episode 2 of <Strange Tales> aired last night, its firepower was incomparable to Episode 1.
The ratings for Episode 2, fueled by word of mouth, had now climbed to 7.9%. A near doubling in ratings overnight was an extraordinary occurrence.
“Our Gyeore side uploaded their review of Episode 2!”
“What does it say? Summarize it!”
“They say it’s insane!”
“They don’t usually hype things up that much.”
Team Leader Hong checked the monitor. A review of considerable length had been uploaded.
A Reinterpretation of Korean Uncanniness
There is a drama that made genre fans’ hearts tremble the moment its first episode was released. That drama is TVM’s <Strange Tales>. Labeled a fusion historical drama, it didn’t draw massive anticipation before airing, but once the lid was opened, it fully brought out the savory appeal of the fusion genre.
In just a single day, a meme titled “Why People Are Going Crazy Over <Strange Tales>” began circulating among netizens. So what exactly made it explode with such word of mouth?
First—its visual beauty, faithfully preserving Eastern aesthetics, sets it apart.
The new junior employee smiled as he read the review beside Team Leader Hong. It was exactly what communities and social media were saying about <Strange Tales>.
Mise-en-scène that actively utilizes beautiful traditional architecture and colors.
Soft lighting seeping through the gaps of hanji doors,
Natural scenery unfolding like an Eastern painting.
This section was being promoted as “the director that genre fans call a certified pervert after what they’ve learned.”
Especially the final scene of Episode 1—the face-off between two master-class actresses—was a scene-stealing masterpiece. By having one character chant incomprehensible classical characters like a spell, it instilled fear born of ignorance in viewers, while simultaneously evoking sympathy through Han Yeoreum (in the role of Seoryeong), who does not understand them. It was clever visual composition.
This was being promoted as “the final scene of <Strange Tales> that made viewers cry their eyes out.”
Along with the catharsis of righteous retaliation, it did not miss the chance to build anticipation for what comes next. The exhilarating strike against oppression and injustice goes beyond a simple fusion historical drama, delivering the kind of social message a period piece can hold.
And finally—this part had already become the most famous scene in <Strange Tales>.
Click-. Team Leader Hong refreshed TVM’s Intube drama channel. It hadn’t even been 24 hours since Episode 2 aired.
Intube
[Your son... he’s XXXX’s son... Choose the correct answer to fill in the blank <Strange Tales> Crazy Father-in-Law Gets Destroyed Scene Ep.1]
Views: 380,000
-Feels like a folktale but this is the hottest folktale I’ve ever seen.. Son? I never expected the answer to be “just kill him” lol
ㄴSeriously loved how she had zero hesitation, like a munchkin character. And the wife not clinging to the husband either, just “okay, I’ll take the money and go” lol so good
-This actress... her acting is no joke. I’ve watched tons of dramas, but actors with this kind of pull that locks your attention are rare. She’s about my daughter’s age, maybe that’s why... cheering for her with a dad’s heart. Seoryeong, hang in there! Fighting!
-The ash-blowing scene is absolute catharsis holy shit lol
ㄴSame here~ I kept replaying it. The production team and director really have taste. Weirdly refreshing~^^
Each uploaded clip easily surpassed 100,000 views. The comments were pouring in at an abnormal speed.
From people consuming it lightly as memes, to those discussing its artistic value, to those emotionally immersing themselves in the characters—everyone gathered in a noisy swarm.
Intube
[What is this? Your ordered fusion historical drama. Genre reporters react to <Strange Tales> Ep.1, 2] 22:17
Views: 170,000
-They said everything I wanted to say lol I’m just like wow... this is fun... that’s all I can say
ㄴGuess they’re pros, they know how to fangirl in a classy way, which makes it even funnier lol
-Whenever Seoryeong appears I’m like wow her acting’s insane. When Yeomga appears, wow her acting’s insane. Whoever comes out, wow her acting’s insane. Infinite loop
That wasn’t all. Reaction videos for <Strange Tales> climbed into real-time trending. Particularly entertaining moments were captured and circulated online.
People even came hunting it down in galleries just to talk about the drama—fans burning with devotion multiplied several times over.
With just two episodes, two hours of footage, the entire nation was in an uproar.
Strange Tales Minor Gallery
[The director definitely signed a contract with the devil how are both Ep1 and Ep2 endings masterpieces.jpg]
[Brought baby wolf-dog dirty pics...gif]
[The last scene’s visuals are insane how did they even think of putting a kid on a tree aaagh]
“Junior. Don’t you hear it?”
Team Leader Hong asked, staring at the endlessly refreshing monitor.
“Sorry? Hear what?”
Clenching his right hand into a fist, Team Leader Hong shouted,
“The sound of <Strange Tales> overseas fan meetings being confirmed!”
The promotional power of K-POP fans who tuned in to <Strange Tales> just to see Kwon Junhyeok had exceeded all expectations.
They entered through Kwon Junhyeok, fell in love with the Korean visual aesthetics, marveled at the outrageous plot, and got their ankles grabbed by Seoryeong’s acting.
<Strange Tales>’ overseas popularity was beginning in earnest.
* * *
“Kyaaah! I hear money rolling in!”
At the same time, in another office at JC ENM, Manager Ma was hearing a different kind of sound.
The abnormal trajectory of <Strange Tales>’ ratings and impact was something anyone you stopped on the street would nod at. frёewebηovel.cѳm
“Hoo... hoo.... At this rate, pre-broadcast ad rates will rise... special programming is possible... plus exports to Taiwan and Hong Kong... ahh....”
It felt as though the clinking sound of money was ringing in his ears.
The immense pleasure of leading trends and ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) influencing countless people in this vast world pressed down on Manager Ma.
Everywhere he went, it was <Strange Tales>.
Yesterday’s <Top Class> had ratings of 14%. But the fight between a well-made drama and an impactful drama was obvious at a glance.
A show about a palace maid becoming a doctor, a show about falling in love with an alien from another star, a romance set in a constitutional monarchy Korea, a show about liking a boyfriend more than flowers. What they all had in common—
“No one remembers the dramas that aired alongside them.”
Decent works always get buried in the shadow of a drama that etches itself into history, fading from public memory. <Top Class> was bound to struggle in the low double digits as well.
“Ah.... How much will we make this time....”
Influence becomes money. Manager Ma knew that better than anyone. He could see the near future.
Blu-ray production, overseas exports and fan meetings, countless commercial offers that would come flooding in for Han Yeoreum.
And above all, the deluge of scripts that would pour in her direction after Episode 2 of <Strange Tales> aired.
Now all that remained was—
“Manager Ma! ALAB sent over the branding materials.”
“Yeah—tell them I’ll check.”
Resting his chin in a neck pillow, Manager Ma broke into a grin.
“It’s Han Yeoreum’s personal influence. Not just the character.”
Time rewinds two months.
Ryu Risa, Dok Gogyeol, Ma Suyeon.
The reason the industry’s top three gathered was to deliberately draw the public’s favor toward Han Yeoreum.
