Hobbyist VTuber

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Kim Jeong-hyun is a girl yearning for freedom.

In the early part of her journey, freedom holds one meaning, while in the latter part, it takes on a different form. However, her unwillingness to shy away from any means necessary to obtain freedom remains unchanged until the end.

“Was it empathy? Or was it envy…?”

What Kim Jeong-hyun desired most was freedom, aligning with Ha-eun from her past life in various ways. Just as Kim Jeong-hyun wished to be free from everything that bound her, Ha-eun had also dreamed of escaping the white hospital room.

Objectively speaking, Ha-eun had come from a wealthy family background. Yet, much like Ha-eun’s experience, she led a life that was not comfortable despite that wealth.

However, the proactive determination to act without regard for methods stands in stark contrast to her past self, Ha-eun. Unlike Kim Jeong-hyun, who ultimately managed to turn her thoughts into action, Ha-eun from her previous life was never permitted any means to do so.

Before the restraints and abuse that beset her, she merely collapsed helplessly, unable to dare to think of escaping.

Pfft!

“Ugh, ahhh… I’m sorry, I was wrong…”

“…You’re still far from it.”

Having strived tirelessly to show only what those around her wished to see, she eventually failed to obtain what she desired and punctuated her life with a period.

“If only I had resisted, even forcefully… would it have made a difference?”

Though starting at the same point of “unfreedom” in life, the processes and outcomes of how they faced it were drastically different.

Perhaps this was why the drama [The Sunshine] lingered in her memory.

To put it simply, it was regret.

Or perhaps, lingering attachment.

Even though every moment within Ha-eun’s memories was already a thing of the past, she found herself repeatedly pondering, “What if?”

“Hmm, you look troubled. Was the acting not to your liking?”

“Just a moment… it reminded me of the past. I think the acting was good.”

She was just a bit regretful that she was only able to perform well now.

The words she never managed to voice to Baek Tae-hoon choked her throat for a long time.

However, she knew she couldn’t remain ensnared by past memories forever.

– Swish.

She briefly redirected her hazy gaze to the script before her, committing to act her best for the person who would soon view Ha-eun’s [The Sunshine].

What was already past was no longer in Ha-eun’s hands.

Thus, she wanted to faithfully embody the image that her previous self had yearned for, capturing it on camera.

“Let’s do our best.”

Through Ha-eun’s performance transmitted beyond the TV, she unconsciously hoped that the Ha-eun of her past still trapped in the hospital would come to some realizations.

She wished that this time, the process and outcome of that frail life would be different.

Preparations began for the scene where Kim Jeong-hyun acts to gain a new freedom for the nation.

“Alright, we will start filming at 5 PM sharp~.”

Director Kwon Jai-hyeop’s voice resonated through the expansive set of [The Sunshine], calling for Ha-eun.

Promptly, she joined her designated writer and proceeded to the dressing room.

What followed was makeup and costume changes for an entirely different side of Kim Jeong-hyun.

The beautiful hanbok Ha-eun wore was gradually removed, replaced by a black suit and heavy coat.

Her neatly tied hair was completely unraveled and then styled back into a relatively simple form.

After slightly lifting the back of her hair and securing it, a black fedora was placed on top.

Soon, a thin mask was applied over her face, completing her transformation into a perfect assassin.

The image of the lady, once cherished by all around her, was nowhere to be seen.

“Hmmm, could this, in some way, count as cross-dressing?”

The image of Ha-eun reflected in the wide mirror appeared androgynous.

Perhaps it was due to the mask covering most of her face, but Ha-eun’s characteristic sharp eyes began to stand out.

Thus, completely transformed from head to toe, she headed back to the set.

Not long after, she encountered Director Kwon Jai-hyeop’s admiring the sight.

“I genuinely wouldn’t recognize you from afar. The atmosphere has changed completely.”

Moments later, explanations for the action she would soon perform came to her.

Accompanied by Director Kwon, Ha-eun surveyed the vast set, checking her path of movement.

“Be careful not to rush, or you might stumble. We’ll take a break at the end of the last fall scene, so please stop for a moment.”

“Understood.”

Shortly after, the filming began, depicting Kim Jeong-hyun’s first assassination and her subsequent escape.

The scene showcased the exchange between the Japanese army’s relentless pursuit and Kim Jeong-hyun’s evasion.

The escape route Kim Jeong-hyun chose to shake off her pursuers was the rooftops.

She was to leap between clustered tile roofs, making her way to a safe haven.

Of course, she wouldn’t actually be jumping on real tiles.

Instead, she would run across cleverly hidden flat blocks.

In any case, having completed the final check, it was truly time to shoot Kim Jeong-hyun’s first action scene.

“Alright, everyone prepare. Then… let’s begin!”

With the director’s signal, she slowly started running atop the long roof.

Almost simultaneously, the extras dressed as Japanese soldiers began their chase from below.

– Bang! Bang! Bang!

The loud sounds of toy guns aimed at her burst forth, echoing throughout the set.

Every time those loud noises rang out, Ha-eun flinched in her acting.

‘Her eye handling is precise.’

Her continuously trembling eyes alternated between the safe house visible in the distance and the Japanese soldiers below.

It appeared she understood well that Kim Jeong-hyun could die if she made a mistake.

In the following moments, parkour maneuvers were added as she dashed across the tile roofs.

Ha-eun was depicted leaping between rooftops, desperately trying to evade her pursuers.

With the addition of suitable CG and background music, such scenes would surely create something spectacular.

As Kim Jeong-hyun’s performance as a lady followed suit with her escape as a soldier, Director Kwon felt reassured.

Once Ha-eun reached the point where the chase concluded, they called cut.

They briefly adjusted the camera and lighting positions, and the microphone capturing the overall sound of the set was readied.

Preparations for resuming the shoot completed roughly two minutes later.

However…

“Ha-eun! Are you not out of breath?”

For some reason, she, who just executed a lengthy action performance, looked utterly unfazed.

Waiting upright on the roof with her usual calm demeanor, she simply waited for filming to resume.

“You need to appear exhausted after falling off the roof! Breathe heavily!”

“Ah, okay.”

She had to explicitly instruct her to portray being worn out from fending off the Japanese soldiers.

A few staff members, observing Ha-eun’s performance, marveled at her exceptional stamina.

About twenty seconds later, they began the action.

Filming started at last for the climactic conclusion of the long chase scene between Kim Jeong-hyun and the Japanese soldiers.

– Bang!!

“Ahh!!”

From afar, one of the Japanese soldiers sniped Kim Jeong-hyun, causing her body to stumble violently.

With blood starting to seep from her shoulder, she helplessly fell towards a narrow alley below.

– Crash!

– Crash!

Due to losing her balance, she collided violently with a wooden cart placed in the alley’s corner.

Ultimately unable to handle the impact, the cart shattered, and Kim Jeong-hyun fell weakly beside its wreckage.

“She’s on the ground! Find her!!”

“Hah, hah…”

Hearing the fierce voices of the soldiers from afar, Kim Jeong-hyun’s head was lifted with great effort.

If she remained lying there, she would surely be captured.

Thus, she had to muster the strength to rise and escape.

Moments later, her small, dust-covered body began to stagger towards the depths of the alley.

However…

Before she could fully hide from the enemy’s voices beyond…

– Click.

The sound of a gun being cocked rang out right beside her.

Realizing everything was about to come to an end, Kim Jeong-hyun slowly turned her head aside with a dark expression.

And what she faced simultaneously was…

“…What kind of courage drives you to act this way? A woman who trembles at even the slightest scratch.”

Park Joo-ho’s face, muddled with various emotions.

After silently staring at Park Joo-ho for a moment, Kim Jeong-hyun finally managed to speak through the effort.

“If you’re going to shoot me, then go ahead. If you’re going to let me go, then do so. I’m busy.”

With a slow yet bitter smile blooming, she urged Park Joo-ho for a decision.

Immediately afterward, she was strongly tugged towards the rear door where Park Joo-ho stood.

“Do you even know what path you’re walking down?”

“Not really. But I know this path is mine.”

“Killing one traitor won’t change anything! Why put yourself in danger?”

“…I wish I had known you were such a kind person sooner.”

Despite the ongoing conversation between the two, blood continued to ooze from the gunshot wound on Kim Jeong-hyun’s left shoulder.

Thus, her consciousness was gradually slipping away.

Perhaps that was why…

“Can I leave my fleeting life in your hands, even just for a moment?”

Realizing she was about to fully lose her grip on consciousness, Kim Jeong-hyun requested one last favor.

This only twisted Park Joo-ho’s expression further.

Yet, since he never uttered the words “No,”

Kim Jeong-hyun slowly collapsed, resting her head against Park Joo-ho’s chest.

“…Do you believe I’m yours? Or that I will be yours?”

With that fleeting murmur, they cut.

The inexplicable yet unbreakable bond between these two, despite being intertwined by fate, was vividly captured on camera.

However, just as the cut sound from Director Kwon was heard, Ha-eun, who had been fainting in Baek Tae-hoon’s arms, found herself back on her feet with a start.

“…! That startled me.”

As her eyelids flew open in an instant, she dashed away from Baek Tae-hoon’s arms.

Startled by her sudden movement, Baek Tae-hoon felt the need to remind her.

“You almost fell over.”

“Ah… I will be more careful.”

*

Filming of [The Sunshine] smoothly continued after Kim Jeong-hyun’s first action scene.

Nevertheless, Ha-eun’s schedule was not solely filled with [The Sunshine] filming.

“Are you free around lunchtime on Saturday? Ha-eun, there’s something we need to discuss.”

“Ah, yes. I’m available.”

Thus, receiving a summons from Ji Hae-min and being called to the LUX corporate office, she found herself busy even outside of [The Sunshine] filming days.

However, since everything on her schedule was exactly what Ha-eun wanted to do, she decided not to think too hard about it.

It was indeed true that she had gained some mental ease compared to the past.

However, aside from Ha-eun’s newfound tranquility…

“We plan to release the first goods for Mirage as soon as possible after the cover song is unveiled.”

The discussion regarding the first goods of Mirage she heard from Ji Hae-min in the LUX executive office was specifically about the ‘voice pack’ related proposals.

“Ha, I got tricked again. Fool~.”

“Ahaha! You’re hopeless─!”

“Eek! So ugly!”

“Why are there only these kinds of lines?”

“There are other lines too, but those are just the ones I selected that match Dia.”

With every single line having a big shock factor,

“W-What happened for things to turn out this way?”

Ha-eun fell into a state of confusion, bewildered by the unexpected direction Dia’s image had taken.

Though there were still many matters to discuss with Ji Hae-min, her head was already spinning.