Ding.

The sound echoed clearly in the quiet room.

Dayo froze slightly, his breathing slowing as his instincts immediately sharpened. That sound—no matter how many times he heard it—always carried weight. Always meant something important.

He straightened subconsciously.

System Notification

Achievements Updated

> Achievement Unlocked: Olympic Debut – Three Gold Medals

Achievement Unlocked: First-Time Olympian – Historic Sprint Sweep

Achievement Unlocked: World Record-Level Performance

Rewards Granted:

• Director's Instinct Skill

• Random Stat Enhancement ×2

• Mystery Box

A slow smile spread across Dayo's face as his eyes lingered on the reward list, stopping especially on the first line.

Director's Instinct Skill.

"…That's a good one."

His smile deepened.

He selected the skill, and a translucent panel expanded smoothly before him.

> Director's Instinct Skill:

Grants detailed insight into the personality, emotional depth, temperament, and expressive compatibility of actors or actresses. Enables accurate assessment of which roles best suit each individual.

Reading the description, Dayo let out a quiet breath of satisfaction.

Just moments ago, he had been on the phone with Min-jae, discussing the Busan project—discussing actors, casting, roles. And now, almost as if the system had been listening, it handed him exactly what he needed.

Talent Vision was powerful. It showed raw potential, ability, and growth ceilings. But directing wasn't just about talent.

Acting wasn't a numbers game.

A gifted actor could still fail in a role that didn't fit them. Some performers thrived as leads but crumbled in emotionally restrained roles. Others lacked explosive charisma yet delivered hauntingly subtle performances that lingered long after the screen went dark.

Being talented was good.

But being right for a role was everything.

"With this…" Dayo muttered softly, "casting becomes precise."

He could already imagine it—standing in front of a lineup of actors, not just seeing their talent grades, but understanding who they were. Their emotional rhythm. Their hidden strengths. Their blind spots.

A chuckle escaped him.

"Well… maybe someone could still be a jack of all trades."

Then he shook his head.

"Probably not."

His gaze shifted to the second reward.

Random Stat Enhancement ×2

A sigh slipped out before he could stop it.

"Why random…?"

He had long accepted that the system didn't always give him what he wanted—only what it deemed appropriate. Still, it was hard not to wish for a little control. There were stats he wanted to push. Others he felt could wait.

Yet the system never asked.

It decided.

Dayo clasped his hands together loosely, fingers interlocking as he lowered his head slightly.

"…Please don't waste it," he murmured half-seriously.

Then he spoke clearly.

"Allocate."

The air seemed to ripple.

> Random Stats Allocated:

+1 Scriptwriting — S− → S

+1 Visual — S− → S

For a split second, nothing happened.

Then—

A sharp, familiar sensation bloomed behind his eyes.

Dayo inhaled slowly as something shifted inside his mind. It wasn't pain. It wasn't discomfort. It was clarity.

Like fog lifting.

Scenes, pacing, dialogue flow—concepts that once required effort suddenly aligned naturally. Script structure unfolded intuitively. Emotional beats clicked into place. Character motivations connected seamlessly.

"…So that's it," he whispered.

Scriptwriting.

The why behind every scene suddenly made sense. He could feel it—the invisible thread that tied moments together, the difference between dialogue that filled space and dialogue that carried weight.

He remained still, eyes closed, as the sensation continued. Time passed unnoticed. Ten minutes. Fifteen. Twenty.

When he finally opened his eyes, he felt… lighter.

Sharper.

More complete.

Then came the second change.

A cool sensation brushed across his face, subtle at first, like a faint breeze. It spread gradually, flowing over his skin with a refreshing, almost soothing touch.

Dayo stiffened slightly.

"…Visual?"

The sensation intensified—not painful, just deeply strange. His skin tingled, as if something was being refined rather than altered. It felt like a cooling gel spreading evenly, smoothing, enhancing.

He exhaled slowly, suppressing an involuntary sound.

"Okay… that's weirdly nice."

The process lasted several minutes before fading completely.

Dayo stood up immediately and walked toward the mirror.

The moment he saw his reflection, his brows lifted.

"…Wow."

His face hadn't changed drastically—but the difference was undeniable.

His eyes were clearer, brighter, carrying a faint sparkle that hadn't been there before. The whites were cleaner, the contrast sharper. His inner iris held a deeper, more striking shade of blue, catching the light subtly.

His skin…

He raised a hand and touched his cheek.

Smooth.

Almost unreal.

A part of him frowned slightly.

"Isn't this too much…?"

He picked up a pen from the desk and gently pressed it against his skin. Nothing. He pressed harder this time.

Still nothing more than a faint mark.

Dayo relaxed.

"…Protected," he concluded.

Soft—but durable.

He stared at his reflection again, lips curling upward.

"…Damn, I'm hot as f—"

He stopped himself and laughed.

"Alright, calm down."

It had been a while since he last checked his full status.

"Stats."

DING!

---

[STATS]

Name: Jason Dayo

Age: 22

Status: Regional Artist (Level 6)

Singing: S−

Writing: S

Acting: S−

Visual: S− → S

Instruments:

• Guitar — SSS−

• Flute — S−

• Piano — S

• Violin — A

Movie Production: S−

Scriptwriting: S− → S

Swimming: S

Cooking: SSS−

Computer: SS

Music Production: SSS+

Video Editing: A

Potential: SSS+

Skills:

• Prodigy's Instinct

• Status Viewer — Talent Vision

• Perfect Match

• Market Resonance

• Archive Vault

• Skill Integration Protocol

• Emotional Transduction

• Hypersonic Synthesis

• Director's Instinct

System Level: 3

Active Effects (Mission 3):

• Special Endorsement Buff — Active

(+5% reputation gain; +5% brand interest)

Mystery Gift — Unopened

---

Dayo stared at the stats for a long moment.

"It hasn't even been five years…"

Almost everything was touching S.

Only Violin and Video Editing lagged slightly behind.

A slow smile formed.

"The system really is a blessing."

His eyes drifted downward.

Special Endorsement Buff.

He had held onto it for a long time—ever since the Global Stage. Back then, activating it would've been premature.

But now?

Olympic glory. Global recognition. Viral presence.

The timing was perfect.

He tapped it.

> Active Effects:

Special Endorsement Buff

(+5% reputation gain; +5% brand interest)

~ ACTIVATE ~

Dayo nodded to himself.

"Now we wait."

Endorsements wouldn't come instantly—but when they did, they'd come heavy.

He glanced at the final reward.

"Mystery Bo—"

His phone rang.

He frowned.

"…Seriously?"

The name on the screen made him sigh.

Sharon.

"Ah, Sharon, why now of all times…" he muttered, picking up.

"Sharon, you'd better have a very good reason for disturbing my rest," Dayo said, fake annoyance thick in his voice.

On the other end, Sharon smirked audibly.

"Good morning to you too, Sir Dayo," she replied with deliberate sarcasm.

He shook his head. "You win. Good morning. How's little Deborah?"

"Hehe, she's fine," Sharon said. "Though she was annoyed you didn't take her with you. Said you promised."

"…Ah," Dayo winced lightly. "That's true."

"Send my apology to her," he said quickly. "And tell her I'll make it up to her—Disneyland."

There was a beat of silence.

Then—

"YEAHHH! THANK YOU, UNCLE DAYO!"

A tiny voice screamed through the phone.

Dayo laughed, warmth spreading in his chest.

"How's my little princess doing?" he asked.

"I'm good, Uncle Dayo! It's been a while!"

"It has," he replied gently. "Hope your mom isn't disturbing you too much."

"She does that every day!"

He chuckled. "Alright. I'll talk to her. And don't worry—I'll take you out with Janet very soon."

"Ah! Sister Janet too? That's good! Okay, let me give the phone to Mom before she uses her eyes to kill meee!"

Dayo laughed as Sharon took the phone back.

"You spoil her too much," Sharon complained.

"She's mine to spoil," Dayo replied calmly. "So—what's the real reason for the call?"

A pause.

Then Sharon spoke, her tone shifting slightly.

"I received a sponsorship offer."

Dayo's brows rose.

"…That fast?"

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