Free Web Novel* * *
“The time has come.”
Seonghwi was dressed in jet-black martial robes. There was a sense of superiority in the long strides with which he crossed the vast palace grounds. Behind him, the footsteps of his guards rang out in steady rhythm. He advanced without hesitation, as if declaring his intent to rule this place.
Starting from Seonghwi at the front, the number of guards gradually increased. Three, six, twelve.... Countless men crossed the palace together.
“Stop.”
The one who halted Seonghwi was Yunhwi’s guard. With a composed motion, he placed his hand on the hilt at his waist. With a sharp metallic sound, a finely honed sword was drawn.
“Heh.... You’re here?”
Seonghwi looked at him with a derisive expression. Before anyone realized it, all the guards near Seonghwi had already drawn their swords.
“You will not take a single step further.”
At Yunhwi’s guard’s signal, soldiers who had surrounded the area closed in, pressing down on them.
“Hahahaha...!”
Seonghwi covered his mouth with one hand and laughed, clearly delighted. In the silent palace, only his laughter burst forth, echoing wildly.
“By whose authority?”
“By that person’s command.”
“From now on, you will be following my orders.”
Seonghwi gave a slight tilt of his head. The guards with murderous eyes split to either side. The swords of the army and the rebels collided without mercy.
“Listen well! From this day forth, the one who will rule Yeomho Kingdom is me!”
Seonghwi’s greedy madness swept through the palace. The palace gates opened. The rebels who had been lying in wait stormed in.
* * *
Yunhwi arrived at the palace with difficulty and was left speechless by the chaos unfolding before him. The army was losing to the rebels.
As sharp blades closed in from all sides, Yunhwi and his guards had no choice but to display the swordsmanship they had honed. They blocked the incessant thrusts, twisted their bodies to evade, then slashed sideways to subdue their opponents—while still struggling to grasp the situation.
“What is this...!”
The soldiers defending Yeomho Kingdom were the elite, handpicked. In swordsmanship and spear work alike, they were second to none.
And yet the rebels were gaining the upper hand.
But upon closer inspection, something was off. Among the army wearing Yeomho Kingdom’s martial robes and the rebels clad in jet-black martial robes, there were “things” in tattered clothing.
“Your Highness, you must retreat....”
The one who crawled to Yunhwi’s feet, writhing, was a guard Yunhwi had once sent to the king. Covered in blood, he coughed violently.
“What happened? What in the world is going on?”
“They... they won’t die.”
Even with several arrows lodged in their bodies, the figures in shabby clothes continued to swing their swords, like puppets.
Only then did Yunhwi realize—unclean things were not something that could be controlled only at night.
“It’s dangerous. Extremely.... Cough, dangerous....”
As the guard struggled to continue speaking, unclean things came rushing into the palace from afar.
“At this rate....”
It would not take long before they broke through to where the king was. Fear surged back in. frёewebnoѵēl.com
Just as Yunhwi was about to be overwhelmed by helplessness, the sound of hooves echoed from the distance. Someone was approaching, the clatter growing closer.
“Stop!”
A group of rebels rushed toward him. But the man holding the reins in one hand and a sword in the other cut down everything that came at him with clean, efficient movements as he advanced toward Yunhwi.
The man who dismounted from the black horse was none other than Myungdo.
Myungdo swung his sword once in a wide arc. The blood clinging to it scattered.
“I will open the way. Please go.”
Though he had ridden hard and was breathing roughly, Myungdo’s gaze was straight and unwavering. As if his destination were crystal clear, he stepped forward.
“...Those things will never die. Even so, will you go?”
At Yunhwi’s question, Myungdo stopped in place for a moment.
“Yes. Even so, I will go.”
He answered without turning back, like a man who had somewhere he absolutely had to be.
Yunhwi took a deep breath. Amid the pandemonium of flying blood and screaming voices, he steadied his trembling heart once more.
“Very well. Let us go together.”
With Myungdo at the front, Yunhwi and his guards followed behind—cutting down what surged at them from all sides, torn and stabbed as they went, staking their lives with every step.
Myungdo looked as though a sword demon had possessed him.
Following a horizontal slash, he flowed smoothly into a vertical strike. Rebels collapsed helplessly at the tip of his blade. His long robe flared as he continued carving a path forward.
As if death held no fear for him.
As if leaving Seoryeong alone frightened him more than his own death.
The scene shifted to a bird’s-eye view. Myungdo possessed swordsmanship so overwhelming that no one dared even approach him.
The image slowed.
Myungdo’s desperate expression was revealed.
Beside him, as he severed a rebel’s neck, dark crimson blood burst forth.
On the wrist of the hand that withdrew the sword hung the five-blessing cord Seoryeong herself had tied for him.
The sounds of gongs, large gongs, flutes, and janggu drums all merged together, resounding thunderously, as if signaling that the final chapter had been reached.
Chapter 15
The Undying Ghost
And so, episode 15 of <Strange Tales> came to an end.
* * *
“Ahhh! This is insane!”
Seo Eden rolled around on the floor of the dorm. Before they knew it, even the members who had been watching reluctantly were all crying together.
They had reached the point of watching episode 15 live, without fail. Just like the drama fans, their weeks were now divided into days with <Strange Tales> and days without it.
“It’s so... sad....”
The same people who had once debated how best to kill the old men from the Virgin Ghost episode back in episode 3 now wanted nothing but happiness for Seoryeong and Myungdo.
Youstastory
(a photo of everyone bowing their heads and crying.jpg)
How am I supposed to wait until tomorrow, hng....
A photo uploaded by one of the members spread through communities as a sympathy meme.
[How am I supposed to wait until tomorrow, hng.... Viewers of <Strange Tales> feel ‘maximum empathy’]
The fervor surrounding TVM’s fusion historical drama <Strange Tales> is scorching hot. Episode 15, which aired today, was the so-called “payoff” section where all the mysteries so far were unraveled. Netizens responded enthusiastically with comments like “the big picture is insane” and “isn’t the director a pervert?” <Strange Tales> has its final episode airing tomorrow....
Tap-tap—tap tap-.
The reporter quickly uploaded article after article, adding several more that incorporated not only prewritten content but also the current reactions.
As if proving that <Strange Tales> was the only topic of conversation everywhere, public response was explosive.
[Will it remain a masterpiece to the end? Ending predictions surrounding <Strange Tales>.... ‘Please let them be happy’]
[The farewell of Seoryeong and Myungdo.... Will it surpass last episode’s peak ratings? Netizens go wild]
[Is she really a rookie? <Strange Tales> Han Yeoreum creates iconic scenes—‘Truly Geum Bitgang’s student~’]
Jegal Rok and Manager Ma scanned the incoming articles and prepared the next step.
“Check the servers, and tell them to increase the number of connections.”
“Yes! Ah—this is going to be so, so, so fun. I told you it was the right call to throw Dok Gomin into the field.”
On the screen was a meticulously crafted detail page.
D-7
[<Strange Tales> Blu-ray Funding]
* * *
IP 85.152 stared blankly at the flood of posts pouring in like a tidal wave.
“...How am I supposed to manage this?”
[Strange Tales Minor Gallery]
[It’s not a sad ending. If my prediction is right]
Because if it’s a sad ending I’m setting TVM on fire
Yup (11.411) Grab the spears TT_TT
Yup (118.223) This is correct TT_TT
[My name is Seoryeong... Seo of auspicious, Ryeong of chime...]
Jeongan gave me that name back then but I pretended to hate it told her not to call me that even if you didn’t name me I already had a name I lied
Yup (203.250) I’m going to die this is insane you monsters tear people’s hearts to shreds and then dare to air the finale 24 hours later?
Yup (117.111) TIP: dramas are always broadcast 24 hours later
The scene where Seoryeong revealed her own name for the first time, fifteen episodes in, was enough to make drama fans cry at the slightest nudge.
The vicious genius director had driven <Strange Tales> viewers mad. Twenty-four hours was far too long.
“But with clichés like this, don’t you usually predict the ending without even having to analyze that hard?”
IP 85.152 let out a small scoff as she skimmed through the gallery posts. As a longtime theater-and-musical fan who had dissected every work in detail, she had unshakable faith that <Strange Tales> would end happily.
“You only have to think about it a little—everyone’s just crying because they want their post to go viral.”
Her eyes were moist as she clicked the recommend button.
* * *
[Anyone going to the group screening tomorrow? Just one person show up I’ve got something to say]
Let me see your ticket just once okay? I just need to check something hurry give it to me...
Yup (223.71) F*ck, I wanna go to the group screening too if I die it’s because you guys didn’t transfer tickets to me
This was the JC ENM new headquarters, where the lights still had not gone out. The PR team, accustomed to it by now, gulped down caffeine while staring at their monitors.
After episode 15 of <Strange Tales> ended, they had to monitor every single reaction flooding in.
“Hey, newbie Shin—.”
“Right now, from page 1 to page 3 of the major community issue boards are basically plastered with <Strange Tales>, and the drama boards are completely dominated. Clips uploaded after the broadcast just passed 310,000 views. Comments asking us to upload Seoryeong’s name scene are topping the charts.”
Shin the newbie was brimming with energy, like someone who didn’t know the meaning of fatigue. He was nothing like his old self, who had always lived with dreams of clocking out on time tucked away in his heart.
A new wave—an abstract sense that something like that was surging in. <Strange Tales> had clearly chosen a path never taken before.
Immediately after the finale, they planned to sell the rights to Taiwan and Southeast Asia, emphasizing just how explosive the response in Korea had been as they began overseas promotion.
Then they would bring those overseas reactions back to Korea to fuel further discussion of <Strange Tales>, and move into Blu-ray production at unprecedented speed.
On top of that, Han Yeoreum’s Creamy Soda would relaunch after <Strange Tales> ended with an autumn seasonal flavor, “Apple Creamy Soda,” and the tourist sites promoted as <Strange Tales> filming locations would soon stock rental shops with the hanbok Han Yeoreum had worn.
It was a project prepared jointly by the local district, the Korea Tourism Organization, and JC ENM.
“Upload it now.”
Manager Hong smiled with his eyes narrowed. At his command, someone clicked the mouse—click.
Intube
[Seoryeong tells her name for the first time.. #StrangeTales Ep.15 the two’s farewell sceneㅜ_ㅜ tear warning]
The clip people had been clamoring for was uploaded. Without even time to refresh, viewers swarmed in.
–I can’t do anything but cry... Knowing it’s a farewell and still forcing herself to smile bravely, how terrifying it must be for Seoryeong all alone. Please, please give us a beautiful ending...
–Holy shit Han Yeoreum’s acting is insanely good TT_TT The way she despairs seeing the dark spirits, goes blank at the undying ghosts, then suddenly snaps back to herself—this whole sequence is so natural it’s like Seoryeong is really alive
–How do they top iconic scenes every episode this is insane it’s like everyone’s riding the ritual blade together. Did the director and writers all get possessed or something
<Viewers of <Strange Tales>> stayed up late replaying the clip. The view count skyrocketed. Less than five minutes after upload, it blew past 30,000.
Aetami (not a multi-level account swearX) @AnYtimeMedia
(Seoryeong_name_scene.mp4)
An iconic scene followed by another iconic scene and now another one approaching, then TO BE CONTINUED, plus bonus iconic scenes on the side
Retweets 21K Likes 30K
Communities and SNS alike were filled with nothing but talk of <Strange Tales>. A tension ran through JC ENM’s PR team.
Finally, tomorrow. Tomorrow was the day—when everything would end, and then begin again.
The next day, <Faster Than the Law> finally crossed ten million viewers. Like ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) a medal awarded to Han Yeoreum, who would once again show her face to theaters as Seoryeong.
<Strange Tales> episode 15 ratings: 20.2%
A figure unprecedented in cable history.
* * *
「Mission: Work of the Year」
Keyword: Ratings
A representative work that makes people think of you has been created. With flawless acting, you succeeded in drawing viewers in. You even wrote a new chapter of history with ratings that prove it in numbers!
Success Condition
[Surpass 10% ratings]
►In addition to clearing the original condition, surpassing 20% ratings grants a special benefit.
Lucky Points +10,000p acquired!
Reward
[Recognition] increased
D+ >>> C
[Delivery] increased
C+ >>> B
[Analysis] increased
B >>> B+
「Mission: Work of the Year」
Keyword: Ten Million
Sometimes, you have to describe yourself short and strong. Is there anything more powerful than the words “ten-million-viewer film”? You proved it perfectly with numbers—one day, you might surpass ten million not as a supporting actor, but as a lead.
Success Condition
[Surpass ten million viewers!]
Reward
[Recognition] increased
C >>> B
[Delivery] increased
B >>> B+
[Analysis] increased
B+ >>> A
[Title] acquired
Scene Stealer <<< NEW!!!
The status window appeared before her eyes. Her hands kept trembling. Strange. She had succeeded in everything, yet her heart kept pounding.
‘And yet... somehow, it feels like this isn’t the end....’
Right. This wasn’t tension—it was anticipation. Anticipation born from the certainty that once the final episode of <Strange Tales> saw the light of day, it would do even better.
Her mouth went so dry it almost hurt. She would soon have to stand on the photo wall. A pressure different from the one she’d felt during <Faster Than the Law> bore down on her.
“Don’t be too nervous.”
The genius director, who had been watching her, stepped closer.
“We did well. All that’s left is to receive applause. Right, Junhyeok-ssi?”
“Yeah.... When that ritual scene comes out, it’s really no joke.”
This was Yongsan GCV. It was almost time for the finale screening of <Strange Tales>.
