NOVEL NEXT Chapter 109
**Early November.**
As Pepero started appearing one by one in convenience stores, I was heading to Gyeongnam for a shoot.
Every time I got closer to the filming location, I could gradually see the kind of atmosphere we would be filming in reflected in the window.
“Wow, traditional houses really are cool.”
“Right?”
“I don’t get why the setting of a young master suits you so well.”
Seok-ho, my older brother, admired the surroundings while painting them with praise and awe.
Having gotten somewhat used to Seok-ho’s compliments by now, I simply responded with a faint smile.
“But seriously, the scale is huge; they’ve cast a ton of extras.”
As Seok-ho glanced around while looking for a parking spot, I chimed in, “There are even more than when we filmed the Endless Frontlines.”
I could relate.
“I guess since they need to portray a noble household, that makes sense.”
It’s true that a noble house conjures images of many servants, so it looked like they cast quite a number of extras for that.
“Given how orderly everyone is, it seems like the director has a lot of experience with large shoots.”
As Seok-ho was feeling impressed watching the neatly organized set, the van suddenly came to a smooth stop.
Creeeak.
As the door opened and the Traditional House Village spread out before us…
“Wow, the air is different here.”
“This really looks like something out of the Joseon era.”
I couldn’t help but gasp in awe at the unfamiliar scenery unfolding before me, as if I had traveled through time.
‘Better start with the greetings, I guess.’
Just as I was planning to greet everyone step by step, at that moment…
“Wow, you really came early.”
“Huh? Senior! Hello!”
Jin Yuseong appeared out of nowhere behind me.
He was casually dressed, looking as if he had been here the whole time, waving his hand a couple of times.
“Are you filming with us today?”
“No, today is your shoot.”
Then why are you here? I shot him a questioning look.
Jin Yuseong just smiled as if he had no intention of explaining.
‘But he’s really handsome.’
I mean, he was like the quintessential handsome guy. Even while walking, it felt like he was posing for a photoshoot.
On top of that, after being an actor for a long time, he had a very charismatic presence.
While others looked cartoonish, he gave off a very refined vibe.
Anyway, just as I was thinking about that…
“I just came to kill time.”
Jin Yuseong finally explained why he was here.
‘But we aren’t close enough for you to just drop by because you’re bored.’
We had only met during a script reading, so it felt almost like a first encounter.
‘This is awkward.’
Well, it didn’t really matter much.
“Got it! Then I’ll go greet everyone first!”
“Oh, of course! I’ll join you.”
There was no significant change in the schedule.
+++++
Jin Yuseong was what you’d call a “star actor.”
Born with good looks, he shattered any barriers of connections, starting off as a model for baby formula and diving into the entertainment industry faster than anyone else.
With his natural handsomeness and incredible acting skills, he quickly rose to fame, and with the movie *Charm of the Wolf*, he was officially on the path to being a flower boy.
He received praise for his acting skill that was proportional to his looks, working across various movies and dramas, and even though he faced harsh criticism at times, the verdict always seemed to be that “Jin Yuseong’s face survives.”
It was only natural for his ego to rise.
Meanwhile…
‘What in the world are you?’
Suddenly, Kim Donghu appeared out of nowhere, making Jin Yuseong feel like he had encountered an alien.
First of all, his face was absurdly handsome.
Sure, everyone has a different definition of good looks, but Kim Donghu’s face seemed to fit some absolute standard.
‘But he’s also a great actor, too?’
I had no words when I first saw him.
Who reads the script perfectly from the first reading without looking at it?
The most shocking part was that the script was pristine.
– From what I heard, that guy, Kim Donghu? Apparently, he has two scripts.
– Two scripts?
– Yeah, the one he practices with is a mess, so he keeps a clean copy for readings.
Just how dedicated to acting do you have to be to do that?
So, Jin Yuseong was really curious about Kim Donghu.
‘What’s his method of acting?’
Does he have a routine?
Or does he analyze things differently?
With those thoughts in mind, I intentionally cleared my schedule to follow Kim Donghu to Gyeongnam.
‘He’s so ordinary.’
Contrary to my expectations, Kim Donghu was the epitome of normalcy.
No, in a way, that made it suspicious.
‘How could a guy who hits a 30% viewership rating every time keep such a humble attitude?’
Typically, the youngest position is known for being polite.
But that only applies when the youngest is truly acting their age.
‘Kim Donghu is only the youngest by age.’
He’s just 17 years old.
Soon to turn eighteen, sure, but that didn’t change the fact that he was still young.
But…
‘Isn’t it common for stars who rise early to develop a type of celebrity syndrome?’
Yet, Kim Donghu’s ego didn’t rise at all.
He was just a polite youngest, which describes Kim Donghu perfectly.
‘Why are people so cautious around him?’
As I pondered, I heard…
“Kim Donghu! Can I go in now?”
“Yes, no problem.”
Kim Donghu’s shoot began.
“Okay, ready! Action!”
Director Yoon Sung-bin’s familiar cue signaled the start.
“…How are there so many insects in this world?”
As soon as Kim Donghu’s first line dropped, Jin Yuseong’s eyes widened.
I began to understand why everyone was cautious around Kim Donghu.
+++++
It was late autumn.
The harvest was over, and leisurely insects were buzzing in the air.
As the cold gradually approached, Lee Tae-seong frowned at the insects wandering around his house.
“It’s still worthless, whether they die now or later.”
Why is it that when it comes time to die, they struggle like crazy?
It truly baffled me.
As I murmured this softly, the bugs shivered in response.
They probably didn’t understand my words, yet they reacted so well.
“They say livestock can recognize the eyes and movements of those trying to kill them.”
You’re on that same level, huh?
Lee Tae-seong’s gaze drifted past the flying insects down to the crawling ones on the ground, whose lives could end any moment without it being strange.
But they were the ones yelling out how much they wanted to live.
“Please, please just once… just once… show mercy, young master!”
“Please, I beg you! The children don’t understand anything! Punish their ignorant father!”
It all started from something trivial.
Something that perhaps shouldn’t have needed such desperate pleading.
But on second thought, it crossed a line.
No matter how much mercy was shown, it was hard to casually overlook the incident.
Well, to put it metaphorically…
“It’s like a fly landing on a rice cake meant for a feast.”
Some might see that and say, “Ah, it just landed for a moment, it’s fine,” and eat it.
But others might furrow their brows, saying they could never eat it again, throwing the cake away.
The crux of the matter is that no situation allows for one to forgive the fly.
Flies are quick and escape easily; if one could kill them, who wouldn’t?
“But I can kill that fly.”
It wasn’t even a fly to begin with.
Just a bug crawling on the ground.
Look at it now.
“It’s crawling on the ground.”
Lee Tae-seong slowly rose from the floor.
Crunch, crunch.
He stomped on the head of the servant lying flat on the floor.
What a sight to see a father and mother suffering humiliation just to protect their child.
“So why did you want to steal my snacks?”
I knew the answer.
It must have been out of a young heart.
Because a noble house does tend to have rare and delicious food from time to time.
While it may not compare to the royal table, things akin to it occasionally appear on the serving table.
“So that’s why you ate it.”
As I held up a bug hanging upside down, something shiny caught my eye between its swollen, split lips.
“But still, how could you think about eating candy?”
Did it smell that sweet?
Swish, swish.
At a flick of Lee Tae-seong’s hand, the punishment began again on the bug’s restrained arms.
Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!
The sound of thick blankets being beaten echoed.
At that sound, the captured bug mother jolted.
“Oh no! Oh no! Please, please just once! Show mercy, young master! I’ll die like this!”
She clutched Lee Tae-seong’s pant leg, pleading.
“Ahh.”
With a sigh of unpleasant emotion, Lee Tae-seong’s gaze shifted downward.
Rustle!
As his gaze fell, his sword moved.
Without anyone noticing when he drew it, the blade sliced through the bug mother’s forearm.
“I was fond of that garment… why are you touching it again?”
Still, the father, who had clearly worked hard for a long time, possessed a strong sense of discernment, knowing what to do.
Craaack!
Lee Tae-seong pressed harder on the foot that was stepping on the head, blood oozing from the bug father’s face.
“Ahh… this is good. I’ve been bored for the past few days; these are just the fun I needed.”
It looks like today will be a wonderfully unpleasant time.
With that statement, the camera zoomed in on Lee Tae-seong—no, Kim Donghu’s face.
The face of a benevolent young master without a drop of blood on it.
As the screen panned slightly downward, hell unfolded.
A fiend wearing a human mask, truly the sprout of decay.
‘…Is that acting?’
Jin Yuseong’s eyes widened.
At the same time, he felt relieved.
‘Thank goodness I’m on Lee Tae-seong’s side.’
Having someone like that on your side is reassuring after all.