Superstar From Age 0

Chapter 297

The atmosphere was very different from the usual noisy one.

There were students who were reading their textbooks with tense expressions, and others who seemed to have given up already.

Seo-jun realized that today was the start of the midterm exam period.

Its completely different from yesterday.

Yesterday, they were so lively that it didnt feel like they had exams the next day. But in one day, the students faces changed. 

Seo-jun greeted his friends who looked drained and sat down.

Han Ji-ho, who sat next to him, was already lying on his desk as if he wanted to escape from reality.

I dont want to take the exam Why do we have to take exams?

To go to college?

Seo-jun gave a logical answer and a big sigh came out of the students mouths. 

They were now high school students and they had to go to college in three years.

It seems like we still have a lot of time

Three years will pass quickly.

The students nodded with agony at Kim Ju-kyungs words. 

They had felt the same way in middle school. 

They wondered when they would graduate when they were freshmen, but they graduated and became high school students in no time.

Park Si-young, who was flipping through her textbook, opened her mouth.

Besides, high school entrance exams are different from college entrance exams. We only have to compete with our peers for high school, but college is different.

The students first choice of college was Korea National University of Arts.

It was a school that anyone who wanted to pursue a career in art would want to go to, with its professors, alumni actors, and directors who were all famous.

There must be people who are taking a gap year to go to Korea National University of Arts, and people who found their dreams late and are trying to get in.

The students nodded at Seo-juns words.

There was no age limit for college admission. 

They didnt know what talents were hidden in those who tried late, so they couldnt estimate the skills of their competitors who would take the exam with them.

By the way, Ju-hee said that the second and third graders are also studying hard. She said it would be hard if we take the exam with them after they take a gap year.

Thats true. We might have to take the exam with them.

They felt it was real.

We have to work hard.

Yeah.

The students who came to their senses took out their textbooks and notes for the subjects they would take today and started to skim through them. Seo-jun also took out his notes that summarized the scope of todays exam and read them down.

***

Collect the OMR cards from the back.

At the teachers words, the students in the back row got up and walked forward with their OMR cards. 

The teacher sorted out the OMR cards by their numbers and opened his mouth.

You worked hard for three days taking exams. The teachers will explain the answers next week, so bring your test papers and dont play too much today. Go home early.

Yes!!

The teacher nodded his head at the loud answer of the students. 

He could see their smiling faces already. 

It was obvious that they would go out and have fun before going home. 

The teacher left the classroom and the students laughed and talked or checked each others test papers.

Are you selling figures tomorrow?

Yeah. They start selling at 10 a.m.

Seo-jun nodded his head at Han Ji-hos question.

It was 10 a.m. tomorrow in Korea, and other countries would start selling within two days.

I hope they sell a lot.

Marinsa and Mirror Team. 

And dad, Hee-sang uncle, and Monster Company employees.

They all worked hard to increase the quantity while maintaining the quality.

I hope they succeed as much as they worked hard.

Han Ji-ho smiled faintly.

Its good that theyre selling this week. If it was last week, my mom wouldnt let me go.

Dont you buy it online? Do you want to go in person?

Seo-jun tilted his head and Han Ji-ho nodded.

Yeah. It takes some time for delivery online. Im not good at waiting for this kind of thing.

Im going too. Do you want to go together?

Sure.

Kim Ju-kyung asked and Han Ji-ho gladly agreed.

Seo-jun scratched his cheek at the conversation of his two friends who were models of the figures.

Hey! I want to go too!

There were more friends who joined in.

Hey! The kids from class 2 are going too!

It seemed that it had spread to the next classroom already.

The art students are going too?

Seo-jun blinked his eyes at the increasing number of people. 

It was good that the figures sold well, and it was good that they liked the Shadowman series.

But why do I feel embarrassed when they do this?

It didnt seem like they were teasing Seo-jun.

Kim Ju-kyung frowned at the growing crowd.

Isnt it hard to buy the figures if we all go to one place?

Then lets just gather with the ones who live nearby.

That sounds good.

The students who were serious about buying the Shadowman series figures started to talk with serious faces. 

Seo-jun wondered whether to laugh or not.

Seo-jun, are you going too?

Hmm.

Hee-sang uncle said he would give me a few of each kind, but

Yeah!

It seemed fun to buy them in person.

***

Saturday.

The day of selling the Shadowman series figures.

Hello, this is Moviegoer!

-Oh. Did you go to buy the figures?

-Yeah. It seems like theyre opening soon.

-You must have come early, judging by how far ahead you are in line!

Yes, I came out early in the morning and waited! I thought I was the first one, but there was someone who came before me.

Moviegoer smiled and filmed his back.

He didnt show the faces of the people, but he made sure to show that there were a lot of people.

A lot of people came after me too. There were students who came with their friends and couples too. Of course, there were also many people who came alone. The line is getting longer as I speak.

They could hear the cheerful voices of the students who seemed to have come with their friends. There was also a student who wore a black hat with a Monster Companys popular product, slime badge.

-I think I should go out soon too.

-They said they had enough stock, but The line is longer than I thought?

-Im getting nervous;;; I have to go out quickly!

The number of viewers is decreasing. I guess some of you are leaving now. Are you already in line if youre still here?

- Im already in lineV

-me too

-I came alone and didnt know what to do until they open, thanks for the live

Shall we kill some time until they open then?

He talked about this and that and time passed quickly. The line grew longer in the meantime.

Its 10 a.m. now. Well finally see them in person!

-Are you filming inside too?

-I bought it online so Im curious

-Please show us inside too!!

Yes. Ill ask the staff. Please wait a moment.

The sound was turned off and the screen went down. 

Moviegoer went out and asked the staff who was checking the number of people in line. 

The staff nodded his head. 

The camera went up and the sound started to come out.

They said its okay to film. I cant film the customers, of course. Thats obvious! Well then, lets go in!

To prevent the store from getting too crowded, the Monster Co. staff let in a certain number of customers first. 

The first group of customers looked around the store with awe and admiration.

The Monster Co. offline store was decorated entirely with Shadowman.

There were display cases with figures arranged according to the order of the Shadowman movies, from 1 to 3. 

Besides the figures, there were also other official merchandise on display.

This display case has the Shadowman from Shadowman 1 and the William figure that is on sale this time. It makes me want to cry when I see them in person. Our William!

-Bear doll

-William So cute

-His cheeks are pink The coloring is amazing.

The posters and paintings on the wall were also newly made for this figure sale event, stimulating peoples desire to own them.

Ive never seen this poster before, I want it! Oh. This one too?! I guess Ill look for something familiar.

-Do they sell posters?

-22 Sell posters too

-Huh? What is that figure in the center?

The center?

The moviegoers eyes moved to the display case in the center. 

He didnt know why he noticed it just now. 

The people who came in with him were looking at the display case with sparkling eyes.

This is!!

The moviegoers camera captured the figure.

Isnt this the one that Seo-jun received as a gift? It was uploaded as an unboxing video on YouTube.

The staff of Monster Co. answered the customers question with a smile.

Yes. Thats right. We borrowed it from Mr. Lee Seo-jun for a while. There are six figures on display, from store 1 to store 6.

I see.

The moviegoer looked at the figure in the center display case again. He could feel how much effort was put into making it, both in size and quality.

It showed Jin Natra lying on the ground with rocks on top of him, and even the wall and floor of Gyeongbokgung Palace were reproduced.

The most eye-catching thing was the shadow that covered everything. Everyone was amazed by its overwhelming expression. The black shadow seemed to break through the display case at any moment.

They dont sell this, do they?

No. Unfortunately, there are no plans to sell it.

The customers nodded their heads with regretful faces and moved their steps to buy the figures.

It seems like they were able to borrow it because Mr. Lee Seo-jun is a major shareholder of Monster Co. It looks more awesome in person than in the YouTube video.

-As expected, a major shareholder of Monster Co.

-Monster Co. is good at their job

-I want to see them all, but store 3 is in Busan and store 4 is in Daejeon

-Stores 5 and 6 too Outside Seoul

Hmm. Cant help it.

It took him a second or so. The moviegoer smiled brightly after a brief hesitation.

Shall we go on a nationwide tour?

-I knew it

-He didnt even hesitate

-Less shocking than going abroad

I dont have any schedule today or tomorrow anyway. Ill buy the figures quickly and leave them at home and then leave! Ill broadcast live, so please let me know about local restaurants!

-Ill take care of Busan! Ill tell you about local restaurants!

-If you go to a restaurant, will you meet moviegoers?

-Sudden fan meeting?

Ha ha. Thats right. Then lets buy some figures now.

The moviegoer who was filming inside without disturbing anyone headed to the sales counter to buy some figures. 

He could choose one poster from among those hanging on the wall for each figure he bought. 

The moviegoer smiled brightly and bought all the figures and all the posters, carefully putting them in a paper bag with Monster Co.s mark on it.

Then Ill do a figure review in a few days. Lets go on a nationwide tour quickly!

He left the store with paper bags full of figures in both hands, passing by some students who were chatting happily.

Hes finally out.

There are so many people! They must all be Shadowman fans.

Seo-jun, who had attached a slime badge to his black hat, smiled warmly at his friends words. He felt touched that so many people still liked him even after Shadowman series ended.

After waiting for a long time, Seo-jun and his friends entered the store. They were dazzled by the sight.

There was a part decorated like Natras spaceship interior and another part decorated like Central Park. Seo-jun was also amazed by the decorations, as he had never seen them before.

Han Ji Ho, who was looking around the store, tapped Seo-juns side and pointed to the figure in the center. He didnt mention Seo-juns name, afraid that people would notice.

Isnt this the one you got as a gift?

Yeah.

But why dont they sell this? They could raise the price and sell it, right?

They said this one was rejected because the shadow was more central than Jin Natra. And there. The part where the shadow covers the sky. They said thats weaker than it looks and theres a high risk of breaking during delivery. It would be a disaster if you open the box and find the shadow in half.

Seo-juns explanation made Han Ji Ho and his friends nod their heads repeatedly. 

They would have been very disappointed if they had received a broken figure after having high expectations.

After admiring the figure in the center enough, Seo-jun and his friends headed to the sales counter to buy some figures. 

There were four staff members standing in a row, so the customers could get out quickly.

Seo-jun and his friends also lined up. Seo-jun, who was standing in the middle of his friends, was lost in thought.

I promised to give one to Uncle Hee Sang as a gift, so Ill just buy William from Shadowman 1

He thought he would reduce the number of figures for other people to buy if he bought more than one.

He chose William from Shadowman 1 because it was his first scene ever and it was special to him.

He suddenly wondered what his friends would buy and asked Han Ji Ho, who was in front of him.

Ji Ho, what are you going to buy?

All of them.

He answered without hesitation and with a serious expression. Seo-jun burst into laughter at his appearance.

***

[The World Now) Shadowman series figures on sale now!]

[Monster Co., from store 1 to store 6, high-quality figures on display!]

[Monster Co., 6 figures, planned for overseas exhibition!]

[I waited since dawn! I bought a figure for the first time! People who bought figures!]

[Shadowman series figures, sold out queue!]

-They sold a lot overseas too.

=22 I waited in line and bought three.

=Some stores sold out early;;;

-There was nothing left in May. But Im happy with the poster

-I didnt expect them to give posters

-But the figure that Seo-jun received as a gift is really beyond quality.

=22 I wish they sold that one. They said they have no plans

=Even if they sold it, it would be expensive and first-come-first-served, so I dont think I can buy it

-Moviegoer went to Busan to take pictures of figures

=His usual execution;;;

=The Busan figure is that one. The cookie video. The scene where Jin Natra forcibly inherits Tull Natras shadow.

=It looked crazy in the unboxing video, but it looked even more amazing in person.(Busan resident

=That one is too big to sell. Theres a bed and a wall there

-I went there leisurely because they said they had enough stock, but they were all sold out The internet is also sold out

=To be honest, there were a lot of people buying them;; I think there were quite a few people who bought figures for the first time this time.

=22 A new buying group has emerged. I could have bought it if it was normal.

-There are definitely resellers.

=22 Those who resell!