### **Chapter 2: The Heist**
**Scene 1: Yong's Reluctance **
Yong's small apartment was cluttered but cozy, its walls adorned with faded posters and shelves stacked with books and knickknacks. He sat on the worn-out couch, his phone glowing faintly in the dim light. Joo Hyun, as energetic as ever, paced the room like a man possessed, waving his arms for emphasis.
**Joo Hyun** (grinning widely): *"This is it, Yong. Our big break! The golden ticket to a new life. Do you even understand how much that statue is worth?"*
Yong didn't look up, swiping absently through his phone. His brow furrowed as Joo Hyun's words settled in.
**Yong** (without enthusiasm): *"A lot, I'm guessing. But since when did we become thieves, Joo Hyun? This isn't like you."*
**Joo Hyun** (laughing): *"Oh, please. I've always had a nose for opportunity. This isn't theft; it's... redistribution. That statue doesn't belong to anyone."*
Yong finally set his phone down, looking at his friend with a skeptical frown.
**Yong**: *"It belongs to the construction company that found it. And technically, to the government. You know that, right?"*
Joo Hyun scoffed, grabbing a half-empty can of soda from the coffee table and taking a swig.
**Joo Hyun**: *"Details, details. Who cares about the red tape? The people in charge will just lock it up in some museum, slap a fancy price tag on it, and rake in the profits. This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance, man."*
Yong leaned back, his head resting against the couch. His face was a mix of worry and resignation.
**Yong**: *"And what happens when we get caught? You think the cops are just going to let us off with a warning?"*
Joo Hyun smirked, his confidence unshaken.
**Joo Hyun**: *"They won't catch us. I've got a foolproof plan. Trust me, Yong. When have I ever let you down?"*
Yong raised an eyebrow, his lips twitching into a wry smile.
**Yong**: *"Do you want the list alphabetically or chronologically?"*
The two laughed, the tension easing slightly. But deep down, Yong couldn't shake the gnawing feeling in his gut that this was a terrible idea.
---
**Scene 2: The Construction Site **
The construction site was eerily quiet under the cover of darkness. The massive cranes and scaffolding cast long, skeletal shadows across the dirt and concrete. Yong and Joo Hyun crouched behind a stack of wooden pallets, surveying the area.
**Yong** (whispering): *"Are you sure this is a good idea? What if there are guards?"*
Joo Hyun peered around the corner, his eyes scanning the site. A single flashlight beam flickered in the distance.
**Joo Hyun** (grinning): *"One guard. That's it. Easy as pie. You distract him, and I'll handle the rest."*
**Yong** (incredulous): *"Distract him? How exactly am I supposed to do that?"*
**Joo Hyun**: *"I don't know—trip over something, pretend to be lost, whatever. Just keep him busy for five minutes."*
Before Yong could protest, Joo Hyun gave him a shove toward the site entrance. With a resigned sigh, Yong stumbled forward, muttering under his breath.
**Yong** (to himself): *"This better not get me arrested."*
He approached the guard, an older man with a grizzled beard, who was leaning against a steel beam with a thermos in hand.
**Yong** (awkwardly): *"Uh, hey there! I think I might be lost. Do you know how to get to... uh... the subway station?"*
The guard squinted at him suspiciously.
**Guard**: *"Subway station? At this hour? What are you doing out here, kid?"*
Yong scratched the back of his head, feigning embarrassment.
**Yong**: *"I got turned around. My GPS isn't working. Thought this might be a shortcut."*
Meanwhile, Joo Hyun crept through the shadows, his movements quick and practiced. He reached the tarped enclosure where the golden statue was kept, his breath hitching as he pulled back the covering. The gleaming figure of Eun Kyung seemed to glow even in the faint light.
**Joo Hyun** (whispering): *"Hello, payday."*
He quickly secured the statue with straps and began wheeling it toward the truck parked nearby. Just as he finished loading it, Yong appeared, looking frazzled.
**Yong**: *"That guy wasn't buying it. We need to move."*
Joo Hyun clapped him on the shoulder, grinning.
**Joo Hyun**: *"Relax. We're golden—literally."*
---
### **Scene 3: The Statue Awakens **
The truck barreled down the empty streets, its tires humming against the asphalt. Yong gripped the steering wheel tightly, his knuckles white. Joo Hyun lounged in the passenger seat, looking smug.
**Yong** (nervously): *"I still don't think this is a good idea. What if someone saw us?"*
**Joo Hyun** (shrugging): *"Then we'll cross that bridge when we get to it. Stop worrying so much. You're going to give yourself a heart attack."*
They reached a secluded forest clearing, parked the truck, and unloaded the statue with some difficulty. The night was silent, save for the rustling of leaves and the distant hoot of an owl. The golden statue gleamed faintly in the moonlight, standing out starkly against the dense foliage.
**Joo Hyun** (wiping his brow): *"Phew. That thing weighs a ton. We've earned ourselves a little break, don't you think?"*
From his backpack, Joo Hyun pulled out a six-pack of beer and waved it enticingly in front of Yong.
**Yong** (frowning): *"Seriously? This is not the time, Joo Hyun."*
**Joo Hyun** (grinning): *"Oh, come on! A quick drink won't kill us. We've just pulled off the most epic heist of our lives. Don't you think that deserves a celebration?"*
Yong hesitated, glancing at the statue. The unease in his chest hadn't subsided, but Joo Hyun's infectious enthusiasm was hard to resist. With a resigned sigh, he grabbed a can.
**Yong**: *"Fine. But just one. We've got to stay sharp."*
The two sat on a fallen log, the forest around them alive with the soft hum of crickets and the occasional rustle of leaves. They clinked their cans together, the sound echoing faintly in the stillness.
**Joo Hyun** (laughing): *"To the golden statue—and to us, the luckiest guys in Seoul!"*
Yong took a sip, the cool liquid easing some of his tension. One sip turned into two, then three. Before long, the two friends were laughing and joking, their worries momentarily forgotten.
**Joo Hyun** (slurring slightly): *"You know... you're way too serious, Yong. Always worrying about this or that. Life's too short, man!"*
**Yong** (grinning): *"Maybe. But at least I don't come up with crazy schemes that could get us arrested."*
They both burst out laughing, their voices carrying through the trees. Neither noticed the faint shimmer that began to ripple across the statue's surface.
**Yong** (leaning back): *"You really think we're gonna sell this thing? It feels... I don't know... different. Like it's watching us or something."*
**Joo Hyun** (teasing): *"What, are you scared of a hunk of gold? Don't tell me you believe in curses or ghosts."*
Yong opened his mouth to respond, but a sudden vibration in the air made him sit up straight. The forest seemed to grow quieter, the hum of insects fading into an eerie stillness. They turned toward the statue, their drunken stupor replaced by wide-eyed fear.
**Joo Hyun** (blinking): *"Is it... glowing?"*
Before they could react, the statue cracked open, sending shards of golden light into the air. Both men stumbled back, their beer cans forgotten as a figure emerged—a radiant woman with golden hair and flowing robes, her presence both majestic and intimidating.
Eun Kyung's divine eyes scanned her surroundings, confusion mingling with authority.
**Eun Kyung** (softly): *"Where... am I?"*
Joo Hyun, still tipsy, pointed at her with a trembling finger.
**Joo Hyun** (stammering): *"Am I drunk, or did that statue just turn into a person?"*
**Yong** (whispering): *"Both, probably."*
Eun Kyung turned to them, her expression unreadable.
**Eun Kyung**: *"You mortals. You have freed me from my prison. For that, I thank you. But I must ask—why have you brought me here?"*
Yong struggled to find his voice, his heart pounding.
**Yong** (hesitant): *"We didn't mean to... we didn't know you were... alive."*
Eun Kyung's gaze softened, but her tone remained firm.
**Eun Kyung**: *"Ignorance does not absolve you. Still, you may yet prove yourselves useful. Tell me—what land is this?"*
Joo Hyun, his drunken bravado returning, stepped forward with a grin.
**Joo Hyun**: *"This? This is Earth, lady. Welcome to the twenty-first century."*
Yong shot him a look of exasperation before addressing Eun Kyung.
**Yong**: *"This is Seoul. You're on Earth. We... we don't really know what's going on here."*
Eun Kyung nodded, her expression contemplative.
**Eun Kyung** (softly): *"Earth. Then my journey begins anew. Perhaps fate brought you to me for a reason."*
As the two men stared at her, bewildered, Eun Kyung took a step forward, her golden robes glinting in the moonlight.
**Eun Kyung**: *"Now, tell me—what do you know of the curse that bound me?"*
---