NOVEL NEXT Chapter 62
“Looks like there’s an extra shoot for the swordsman Baek Dong-su, for the final episode.”
Upon hearing the manager’s words,
“What? That was actually happening?”
The actor playing the adult Jawan, Ha Seung-hoon, looked bewildered.
“Right? I said it didn’t matter, but I didn’t think it would actually get scheduled.”
“I wonder how it changed like that.”
“They’re probably trying to boost the ratings; I wonder if Kim Donghu will be there?”
The manager, having said that, quickly covered his mouth as if he’d made a mistake.
It was obvious his tone implied that the ratings were low because Kim Donghu wasn’t around.
But,
“If you make a slip of the tongue, you should apologize first. You always cover your mouth; that’s a bad habit.”
The person being addressed didn’t change his expression at all.
“Uh, sorry.”
Leaving behind the flustered apology of the manager, Ha Seung-hoon looked up at the ceiling with a blank expression.
“Is Kim Donghu really that good?”
“Huh?”
“I mean, it’s funny. What does he do to get such a big reaction?”
Ha Seung-hoon recalled what his colleagues said about Kim Donghu.
– “When you see him act, it’s unbelievable. The character really feels alive.”
Or the already fully-fledged fan, Han Tae-geon.
– “Isn’t there a work that can match me and Kim Donghu? I’ve been looking, but I can’t find anything.”
And Jang Geonho, who was beyond just a fan and was determined to collaborate with him.
Actors who were strong in their own right couldn’t stop praising Kim Donghu, so it was only natural that curiosity would arise.
Of course, Ha Seung-hoon had never seen anything Kim Donghu was in.
Because he was too busy.
Maybe that’s why he had no clue.
Why were people so excited about him?
“Have you seen him? Kim Donghu?”
“I didn’t get to, following you around. I just know he’s super good-looking and acts well.”
“Right, that’s all I know too! So curious!”
He at least knew what he looked like.
In fact, he couldn’t not know.
He remembered reading trashy articles claiming the child actor changed drastically once he grew up.
“I heard I was pretty good-looking too.”
He’d pretty much consumed every story available about his good looks.
But now hearing that he was considered downgraded left him curious to see.
“To be that good-looking is honestly unfair.”
Honestly, with a face like that, he shouldn’t even have to act much.
Just putting him up as a pretty face would be more than enough.
Yet all the actors praised Kim Donghu’s acting, not his looks.
“Well, I guess the answers will come out later.”
Ha Seung-hoon slowly got up and grabbed a toy sword leaning against the wall.
“Hey, get your stance right.”
“Huh?”
“We need to practice. It’s our first shoot with the child actors, and no matter how much we use stunts, the senior should look cool, right?”
No matter how great the juniors are,
There’s no rule saying seniors shouldn’t look awesome.
Ha Seung-hoon genuinely believed that.
+++++
“…Donghu, you’re really taking a break next year, right?”
“Huh? Of course! Who jokes about taking a break? I really want to take a long rest.”
At Seok-ho’s sudden comment, I shrugged my shoulders.
“I’m only doing the Golden Bell because the kids keep pushing me to go on.”
“Then what about the youth amateur boxing tournament?”
“Well… the director insisted that I participate…?”
“And the constant request to find the script for the tale of the stars and the moon?”
“Hmm… I feel like I’ve seen that work somewhere, and I’m just really curious about it…?”
After listening to my answer one by one, Seok-ho looked at me with an expression that said he couldn’t believe it.
“Dong-ho, you’re only 15 years old. Sure, you’ll be 16 in a few months, but still, you’re young?”
“I know.”
“You don’t have to meet everyone’s expectations too much. When it’s time to rest, just rest well.”
“I’m doing this with plenty of leisure, it’s really okay, hyung.”
“If your schedule gets tough, just tell me right away! I’ll pull you out even if I have to pay a penalty!”
“Got it, ugh, do you even know how much the penalty is… It’s really fine, so just give me the script.”
“…Okay.”
How much fuss can you make over a single script?
Just when I was about to get the additional shooting script for [The Swordsman Baek Dong-su], I had been listening to Seok-ho preach the importance of rest for about 5 minutes.
I knew he was worried, but my stamina was on a different level from an average person.
It’s been almost 8 years since I started mixed martial arts.
My recovery ability was a whole different ball game.
Flap.
As soon as I glanced at the script, I could tell what had changed right away.
“It was just supposed to be a light flashback scene, but now it’s turned into a duel.”
The fact is, while acting and stunts are important for making action come alive, the most crucial part is direction.
It’s all about the angle, the framing, and how to control the speed.
It’s not an exaggeration to say that it’s what determines if the action will live or die.
“Well, this isn’t something I need to worry about.”
Right now, I just need to focus on my acting.
“Engage.”
Whoosh!
In an instant, the world changes.
+++++
The season of golden reeds swaying in the wind.
Facing me is an old friend with whom I’ve spent long years,
“I think it’s time to put an end to our long relationship, Dong-su.”
…an enemy.
Neither of us asks where it all went wrong.
Because we both know how pointless that would be.
“Why? Why are you doing this?!”
A light scoff escapes me at my friend’s furious shout.
Why am I doing this? Do you really not know?
Or are you deflecting because you can’t accept reality?
“Because I’m an assassin of the Sword Forest, and you’re the dog guarding the king.”
Is there any need to discuss this further?
‘Everyone is dead.’
There’s no one left in the Sword Forest but me.
If I, the focal point of the assassins, die, everything ends.
‘To achieve that, I killed them all.’
I have no lingering attachments to life.
But ironically, I didn’t want to die.
Even after killing, I still tremble in front of death.
“If you can’t kill me here, I’ll kill everyone again.”
At those words, Baek Dong-su’s sword moves.
We used to play with wooden swords for practice, but now we’re wielding blades to kill each other.
“Isn’t it possible to start over?”
“What a ridiculous thing to say, that’s why you had to watch your precious people die.”
Kragh-gragh!
As swords clash, sparks fly.
With every strike, memories are cut away one by one.
Isn’t this enough?
Should I stop using this foolish guy who’s still hesitating to kill himself?
“Hey, let’s see who becomes the greatest swordsman of Joseon between us.”
“Right now?”
“No, you’re winning now! Later when we’re adults!”
Suddenly, a conversation from childhood comes to mind.
What did I say back then? Looking at your foolish grin, I probably thought,
“Did I say I wasn’t interested…”
What does a hitman know about becoming the greatest swordsman of Joseon?
I must have thought it was a ridiculous dream since then.
Maybe that’s when I began to feel it.
That it would all end this way, that this relationship could only end in death.
Kragh-gragh!
The blades brush against each other, slipping away, and my sword moves agonizingly efficiently again.
A trajectory solely for killing,
Just like the swordsmanship of my foolish master who died while clinging to human emotions.
In contrast, his sword is painfully weak.
A sword that saves lives—what a ridiculous name, the Reviving Sword.
How childish.
“I’m going to die by that sword today.”
Amidst the chaotic intertwining of blades.
Naturally, it was my sword that initiated the anomaly.
A little higher than the side.
A position where I could feel the threat to my life.
Only after reaching that point did Baek Dong-su’s sword finally gain some strength.
At the same time, I dropped my sword without a shred of hesitation.
Pwooo!
It’s funny, the sword is a cold weapon.
But when it enters my body, it feels hotter than anything.
A strong heat fogs my consciousness.
“…Thank you.”
With a brief farewell,
So, I slipped out of the script.
“…But why did I end up as the adult Jawan?”
The question that arose right after the immersion.
And the moment I felt that question, it became clear.
“Isn’t it to convey emotions like this while acting out my childhood?”
Born with the fate of the Celestial Assassin,
Knowing I would kill and eventually walk a path opposite my friend.
It meant I needed to send similar emotions while retaking that childhood.
“Wouldn’t I end up immersing in other roles too?”
I had tried a few times before, but it was an area that always failed.
But seeing this, maybe it could actually happen later.
“Well, I’ll think about it later.”
Right now, I needed to focus on the upcoming shoot for
[The Swordsman Baek Dong-su].
+++++
Time flew by, and it was the day of additional filming for [The Swordsman Baek Dong-su].
Despite the rush, preparations were extremely thorough.
Maybe the reason for reshooting was the 30% ratings?
A strange tension even filled the set.
In that icy atmosphere,
“First, the child actors will demonstrate a mock sword fight, and then the duel between the adult Baek Dong-su and Jawan will follow.”
And later, those scenes will be edited together.
Director Oh Jae-deok calmly directed.
“Especially for the child actors, I hope you can capture that look of being close yet unable to get close.”
“Got it!”
“Yes!”
Park Jin-hyeok, portraying young Baek Dong-su, glanced at Kim Donghu, who was answering beside him.
Park Jin-hyeok, who was set to play the young Dong-su, glanced at Kim Donghu, who was responding beside him.
“You’re not going to use a stunt this time, right?”
“Yes, sunbae.”
“Tsk, you really shouldn’t call me sunbae; by that logic, you’re the senior!”
“Hyung, I won’t use one either.”
“That’s why I decided not to use one this time; I practiced a lot just in case.”
“I’m preparing for a Kendo black belt too, isn’t that awesome?”
“I’m going to warm up first.”
“Ah, sunbae, I mean hyung.”
“Yeah?”
“If it seems dangerous, you need to let go of the sword right away. That’s the safe thing to do.”
“I know that much; I’m about to get my black belt, you know?”
With pride, Park Jin-hyeok picked up the wooden sword and stepped toward the camera.
“I have to show that I can do well.”
Since the child actor was filming first, he needed to warm up quickly.
“Oh, and the child roles will go with Kim Donghu as Jawan winning. It’s gonna be the feeling of Baek Dong-su winning against the rival he couldn’t beat as a kid.”
So Jawan needs to display the genius he had as a child.
As Oh Jae-deok’s direction continued, question marks floated over everyone’s heads except for Kim Donghu.
They got the gist, but showing genius?
Wasn’t the direction a bit too vague?
Only Kim Donghu nodded along, lightly warming up as he faced Park Jin-hyeok.
“Show my genius, huh?”
Could it be any easier?
With that mindset, Kim Donghu slowly embodied Jawan.
Born with a killer instinct, becoming an assassin after killing his parents at a young age.
‘…What’s his deal?’
He appears before Park Jin-hyeok.
A swirling presence of danger pokes sharply at him.
Even though he was holding a wooden sword, for some reason, only Kim Donghu’s looked like a real sword.
Even before filming had started, he had already brought forth Jawan’s early years.
“Wait, did I interpret this wrong?”
Ha Seung-hoon, who took on the adult Jawan role, muttered in disbelief.
“You mean that kid is gonna grow up to be me?”
Even with the camera right in front of him, Kim Donghu’s unwavering gaze captivated attention.
Calmly trembling fingertips transmitted hesitation to the quivering sword tip.
“Action!”
Thus, the filming began.
“Haah!”
Park Jin-hyeok moved fiercely from the get-go, making it hard to believe he’d practiced.
As Kim Donghu wondered how he would showcase his genius, just as he was about to swing with all his might, he thought, ‘What’s with that look?’
The moment he locked eyes with Kim Donghu’s fierce gaze, his body froze.
Like a frog before a snake.
Without missing the opportunity, Kim Donghu found the weak spot of the well-used wooden sword.
Swoosh!
He brought it down with force.
And like a miracle…
Crack!
The wooden sword broke.
“What?!”
In disbelief at the absurd sight of a wooden sword breaking another wooden sword.
“…That’s amazing.”
Director Oh Jae-deok muttered, dazed.