The next morning, the village was already in full festival chaos.
Villagers carried boxes, tied ribbons, moved tables, and shouted over each other like a low-budget construction crew.
"NOT THERE!"
"THEN WHERE?!"
"USE YOUR EYES!"
Near the entrance, Seul-gi helped several aunties hang colorful lanterns while trying not to get emotionally attacked over flower placement.
Meanwhile—
Rowoon sat comfortably under a tree wearing sunglasses, scrolling through his phone peacefully like he was on vacation instead of hiding from his entire industry.
Then—
A black SPS company van slowly pulled into the village.
Hye-jin, who was carrying baskets nearby, froze instantly.
"…No."
The van stopped.
The door slid open dramatically.
Su-min jumped out first and inhaled deeply.
"WOW."
She spread her arms.
"This place smells so natural."
Behind her—
Assistant Director Eun-woo climbed down awkwardly and scratched his neck.
"…Sorry, Su-min."
"That was me."
Su-min blinked.
"…What?"
Eun-woo looked ashamed.
"I farted."
Silence.
Then—
"EWWWWWW!!!"
Su-min almost threw her bag at him.
Another staff member stepped out laughing while Rowoon's manager rushed toward him carrying water bottles, an umbrella, and enough supplies to survive a natural disaster.
"Sir! Water!"
"Sir! Umbrella!"
"Sir! Wet tissue!"
Rowoon didn't even look up from his phone.
"…Relax, man."
Then he casually stood and walked toward the SPS crew.
Eun-woo grinned brightly.
"ROWOON!"
Su-min crossed her arms dramatically.
"Thank you soooo much for inviting us here."
"Where's Hye-jin?"
Rowoon laughed softly.
"Relax. Today's entertainment hasn't started yet."
Then—
Sa-rang stepped out of the van.
The SPS manager adjusted her sunglasses and accepted a water bottle from Rowoon.
But halfway through taking it—
She froze.
Her eyes slowly moved past him.
"…Him?"
Rowoon blinked.
"Who?"
Sa-rang stood up immediately.
Across the yard—
Se-Jun was carrying festival supplies toward the tables in his simple shaman outfit.
Sa-rang walked straight toward him.
Tap.
She touched his shoulder.
"Se-Jun?"
Se-Jun turned around casually.
"Yes—"
Then froze.
"…Ah."
Sa-rang smiled in disbelief.
"How are you?!"
She looked him up and down suspiciously.
"Are you filming something here?"
Se-Jun's brain immediately disconnected from reality.
"I—"
He forced a smile so painfully awkward it deserved an award.
"Sorry."
"You mistaken me."
He bowed politely.
"I'm Il-sung."
Sa-rang frowned slowly.
"…Hm?"
Then suddenly—
"EUN-WOO!"
Assistant Director Eun-woo hurried over.
"What happened?"
Then he saw Se-Jun.
And gasped dramatically.
"…SE-JUN?!"
Nearby—
Se-Jun looked around desperately.
Where was Hye-jin?!
He spotted her near the food stalls and waved aggressively.
Hye-jin casually looked over—
And saw the SPS crew surrounding him.
Her soul immediately left her body.
"…Shit."
She sprinted over instantly.
Meanwhile—
Eun-woo was already emotional.
"BRO!"
"How are you?!"
"Did you change your number?!"
"The audition…"
"The acting…"
"The aura…"
"I STILL REMEMBER IT!"
Se-Jun laughed nervously while slowly backing away like a hostage negotiation victim.
She stopped mid-sentence after seeing the entire crew. "…Oh my god."
Su-min crossed her arms. "Meeting me after weeks and THAT'S your reaction?"
"You idiot!" Hye-jin whisper-yelled. "I TOLD YOU TO COME ON SUNDAY!"
Su-min pointed directly at Rowoon. "Your ex invited everybody."
Hye-jin slowly turned toward Rowoon. He smiled and waved innocently.
Hye-jin pointed at him with pure murder in her eyes.
"I'll kill you." Rowoon immediately lowered his hand.
"…Understood."
Meanwhile— Sa-rang was STILL staring at Se-Jun suspiciously.
"No." "I'm 100% sure that's Se-Jun."
Hye-jin immediately blocked her view.
"Ohhhh!" "No, no."
"This is Il-sung."
"The village shaman."
Silence.
Eun-woo narrowed his eyes.
"…Then why does the village shaman look exactly like actor Se-Jun?"
"And sound like him?"
"And stand like him?"
"And have the same emotional eye acting?" Hye-jin laughed too loudly.
"HAHAHAHA!"
"…You guys must be exhausted from traveling."
Nobody laughed with her. Even the birds looked uncomfortable.
Se-Jun slowly started walking backward.
One step.
Two steps.
Then— Hye-jin pointed toward the house without turning her head.
"MOVE."
Se-Jun understood immediately.
And RAN.
Se-Jun rushed inside the house and slammed the door shut.
CLICK.
Then immediately locked it.
"Nope."
"No no no NO."
"If I get exposed—"
"They'll think I'm a scammer!"
"A fraud!"
"A fake spiritual Uber driver!"
Panicking, he grabbed his clothes and started stuffing them into a bag randomly.
Then—
Footsteps.
Se-Jun froze instantly.
He slowly grabbed a perfume bottle from the table like it was a weapon.
"…Who's there?"
"It's me! It's me!" Seul-gi whispered from outside.
Se-Jun sighed in relief and opened the door quickly.
Seul-gi slipped inside and locked it again behind her.
"I told everyone you weren't feeling well," she whispered proudly.
"And I locked the front gate too." Se-Jun dropped onto the bed dramatically.
"…Thank you." Seul-gi pulled over a chair and sat down facing him.
Then tilted her head curiously.
"So…" "Your real name is Se-Jun?" He nodded slowly.
"Stage actor." Seul-gi blinked.
"…Wow." Then she smiled.
"How did you even agree to become a fake village shaman?" Se-Jun laughed tiredly.
"For ten years I worked in stage theater."
"Lighting."
"Background acting."
"Extra roles."
"Anything."
"One day I finally got a chance for a proper role…" His smile faded slightly.
"…Then the main lead wanted his younger brother cast instead." Seul-gi frowned immediately.
Se-Jun shrugged lightly. "I got kicked out."
"I was almost ready to go back home…"
"Then I heard about the SPS audition."
"And Hye-jin offered me weekly pay and an advance." He laughed softly.
"So now I'm here fighting ghosts I don't even believe in." Seul-gi burst out laughing.
"You're weirdly talented at it, though." Se-Jun groaned.
"That's the problem." Then she asked quietly—
"What about your family?" Se-Jun leaned back slightly.
"Just me and my mom."
"My dad died in a car accident."
"After that… my mom worked washing dishes in restaurants."
"I got interested in acting during college."
"I joined theater clubs…"
"And one professor noticed me."
"Mr. Kim." "He pushed me into proper acting classes." Se-Jun smiled faintly.
"And now…" He looked around the room dramatically.
"…Here I am pretending to communicate with ancient spirits." Seul-gi laughed again before standing up.
"Well…" She patted his shoulder warmly.
"You'll become successful someday, bro." Se-Jun looked up surprised.
Then smiled genuinely. "…Thanks."
Seul-gi waved casually and walked out.
After the door closed— Se-Jun slowly fell backward onto the bed.
And stared blankly at the ceiling. "…My life is insane."
Meanwhile— Hye-jin dragged Sa-rang and Eun-woo toward Seul-gi's tiny guest house.
The two SPS staff members still looked suspicious.
Hye-jin forced a smile. "If you need anything, call me, okay?"
Then immediately turned around.
And RAN away before more questions could happen.
Meanwhile—
Back at Hye-jin's house—
Su-min sat on the floor, working on her laptop peacefully.
The bedroom door slowly opened.
Tae-yang entered wearing sunglasses indoors, an oversized jacket, and enough confidence to survive any embarrassment.
"Excuse me?"
Su-min slowly looked up. "…Yes?"
Tae-yang pushed down his sunglasses dramatically.
"I'm Tae-yang."
Su-min stood immediately. "…I'm committed."
Silence.
Tae-yang blinked once.
Then nodded respectfully.
"Thank you for your honesty."
Rowoon stepped inside casually.
"Su-min," he said, "Hye-jin is looking for you outside."
Su-min looked up immediately.
"Oh? Okay."
She quickly closed the laptop halfway and hurried out of the room.
Rowoon had already opened the laptop fully.
On screen—
Rowoon clicked play casually.
A few seconds later—
His expression slowly changed.
"…Wait."
On screen—
Se-Jun was acting emotionally under bright stage lights.
Different hairstyle.
Modern clothes.
But clearly— Him.
Tae-yang slowly leaned closer beside Rowoon.
"…That's…" Rowoon blinked.
"…Il-sung?"
The two stared at the screen in complete silence.
Then the audition clip played a dramatic crying scene.
Tae-yang grabbed the laptop immediately.
"WHAT THE HELL?!"
And sprinted out of the room dramatically.
"MA! MA!" Gyu-seok frowned deeply.
"Why are you screaming as if someone died?"
Tae-yang shoved the laptop forward dramatically.
"GRANDPA LOOK!" He pressed play again.
The audition video filled the screen.
Se-Jun acting. Crying. Shouting. Professional stage performance.
The room slowly became silent.
Even Hye-jin's mother blinked in confusion.
"…Isn't that Il-sung?" Gyu-seok narrowed his eyes.
Slowly. Carefully.
Then paused the video.
He zoomed in directly on Se-Jun's face.
Silence. Heavy silence.
Then— His expression darkened.
"…Where is your sister?"