NOVEL NEXT Chapter 63
“…Isn’t that supposed to break?”
The props team couldn’t believe their eyes when the wooden sword broke.
They had intentionally prepared a worn-out wooden sword to give it a historical vibe, even putting several scratches on it.
They tested its durability over and over again, concluding every time that it was perfectly fine—after all, breaking it during acting could lead to injuries.
“Doesn’t it make sense that it would break if you hit the weakest spot? Like finding a gap…?”
“Dude, are we filming a martial arts flick? Do you really think that works? Even if we assume it could, how on earth would you actually do that?”
But then, Donghu actually did it.
The props team thought about countering their team’s leader’s rant but held back. The absurdity of the situation right in front of them was too much to handle, and they completely understood the desire to deny reality.
And it wasn’t just the props team that felt this way.
Everyone on set looked at Kim Donghu with the same disbelief.
Especially Director Oh Jae-deok, whose hands were shaking.
“Oh no, is everyone okay?! No one got hurt?!”
“Yeah, I’m fine.”
“And Kim Donghu?!”
“Yeah, I’m all good too, director.”
Once the daze wore off, Director Oh rushed over to actor Park Jin-hyeok.
If wooden sword fragments had flown around when it broke, it could have been disastrous.
But whether it was intentional or not, Park Jin-hyeok had the perfect timing, releasing the sword just before it broke, avoiding any injury.
It was the kind of luck that could convince you it was all meticulously planned out.
“Wait, did you maybe break the sword on purpose…?”
Director Oh started saying something while looking at Kim Donghu but stopped short.
No matter how he thought about it, that was absurd.
Breaking a wooden sword on purpose? This isn’t some martial arts novel; how could that even be possible?
Anyway.
“I’m so glad both of you are unhurt. You must have both been shocked, so let’s take a break and switch out the wooden sword. We’ll shoot that sparring scene again.”
“Sure!”
Park Jin-hyeok glanced over at Kim Donghu, who answered at the same time.
‘Was it really just a coincidence?’
Kim Donghu’s words to let go if things seemed dangerous somehow felt prescient in this moment.
“…But seriously, that’s impressive. How did you…?”
“It was just a coincidence. How could I intentionally break a wooden sword?”
“Still, you looked completely unfazed.”
“Well… I guess I’m just really brave.”
Watching from a distance, Ha Seung-hoon, playing the adult Jawan, slowly nodded.
“…So this is why they say Kim Donghu is Kim Donghu.”
That kid has really grown up.
‘His swordsmanship seems to have taken a big hit.’
Just as that thought crossed his mind, he observed,
“Man, this really isn’t just a joke; it’s intense.”
Aren’t we supposed to do something like that too?
With a gentle smile, someone approached Ha Seung-hoon.
“Hyung, we might really need to do that, otherwise this thing won’t wrap up in a day.”
“Still… seeing him put in so much effort is strangely motivating.”
Nodding at actor Seo Jin-woo’s comment, Ha Seung-hoon agreed.
He nodded.
“Do you think the Rookie Award will definitely go to that guy?”
“Not just the Rookie Award. He debuted in a blockbuster film, right? This time at the year-end awards, it’s going to be a frenzy.”
The conversation naturally transitioned to the upcoming year-end awards ceremony.
Drama and film.
There was no denying that Kim Donghu had achieved remarkable success in both.
Plus, the ongoing filming of [Swordsman Baek Dong-su] would be wrapped up before the awards, so it wouldn’t be surprising to see him on stage.
“A frenzy…”
“Why?”
“Isn’t it just weird to be sitting here quietly watching someone like him?”
Hearing that, Seo Jin-woo laughed out loud as if he agreed.
“Right? Should we get his number?”
“Y-yeah?”
“I was thinking, why do we need to act all cool as actors? Let’s just go and get his number like it’s nothing.”
“What? Are you seriously talking about asking for numbers like we’re hunting?”
“Isn’t that what hunting is?”
“Eh?”
Seeing Ha Seung-hoon’s confused expression, Seo Jin-woo chuckled again.
“Talented actors are bound to rise, so it’s not a bad idea to befriend them beforehand.”
“What do you mean…”
“I’ve never learned acting.”
At Seo Jin-woo’s sudden remark, Ha Seung-hoon nodded as if he knew that already.
It’s a famous story.
He climbed up here by self-studying acting.
With his unique acting philosophy, he won the Best Actor award.
“So if I were to learn acting, I thought I’d want to learn from someone who is ridiculously better than me.”
“Oh, wait, hold on, am I hearing this correctly?”
“Yup. You are completely understanding what I’m saying.”
I can’t be a foolish disciple who can’t even get a number from a great teacher in front of me.
With that statement, Seo Jin-woo’s light footsteps continued forward.
Ha Seung-hoon followed eagerly, wanting to exchange numbers as well.
+++++
“Huh?”
When I came to my senses, I found two phone numbers of top male actors saved in my phone.
“Wow… Seo Jin-woo and Ha Seung-hoon don’t usually exchange numbers…”
Beside me, Jin Hyeok, who had also exchanged numbers, muttered in disbelief.
The reason I could handle such a situation calmly was simple.
‘This feels way too surreal.’
It was because it was so far removed from everyday life.
Having the numbers of actors I only saw on TV in my phone was a different kind of unreality than chatting on KakaoTalk with Su-Jin and Jae-rin.
“Donghu, so how do you act?”
While feeling that surrealism, I suddenly turned my head at Seo Jin-woo’s question.
“The child actors just finished shooting, so it’s our turn now, right? I wanted to know what you think about when you act.”
Suddenly?
As I thought that, I could feel the sudden focus of everyone’s attention on me.
All discussions stopped, and everyone was concentrating on this conversation.
Even Jin Hyeok, who had been mumbling beside me, was now waiting for my answer.
But Seo Jin-woo’s question was tricky for me to answer.
In fact, I couldn’t answer at all.
‘How do I act? I just immerse myself in the role.’
Of course, I couldn’t just say that outright.
“I can’t say it outright, you know.”
“I… I really think I’ve become that character. It’s like I’m immersing myself in it…”
“Immersing yourself, huh?”
I answered as vaguely as possible.
And somehow, they interpreted my words as…
“So, you mean to say you want to live your everyday life like that character?”
“Uh?”
“You mean to blend it into your daily life? Impressive for someone your age, so you’re self-taught, huh?”
“Yes, yes, I’m also self-taught in acting.”
“Alright, figured as much.”
It seemed like a strange misunderstanding was budding, but I didn’t bother to clear it up.
Anyway, the filming progressed smoothly amidst the unresolved misunderstanding.
When we finally wrapped up all the filming,
Director Oh Jae-deok was puffing like an angry bull, eager to edit quickly.
“Really… I’m going to edit this deliciously and make our swordsman Baek Dong-su soar to a 30% viewership rating!”
“Woooaah!”
With such strong aspirations, time flew by.
Finally.
“Dad, are you watching Swordsman Baek Dong-su?”
“Of course, it’s our son; I have to watch it.”
“…”
The final broadcast date of [Swordsman Baek Dong-su] was approaching.
++++++
“What is it about this that makes me so nervous?”
SKS drama chief Jeong Dosun revealed his anxiety while watching [Swordsman Baek Dong-su] on air.
Now, with sweat flowing down his otherwise emotionless face.
In the tense conference room, only Director Oh Jae-deok wore a relaxed expression.
“It’s going to be fine.”
“Yeah, it better be. If it does, we’ll get bonuses at year-end and go on overseas trips and all that.”
At the sudden mention of incentives, the staff straightened up.
Over 30%? That kind of privilege is attainable?
‘But then again, it makes sense.’
SKS had already tasted success with [Secret Garden].
But now, back-to-back hits from their Monday-Tuesday drama line?
I can’t even imagine how high the advertising rates would soar.
“But surely the viewers will watch a lot, right?”
“Viewers don’t care about ratings more than anyone else; it’s only the insiders who are obsessed with that.”
“I edited it with a lot of care. I only slept for two hours over the week.”
Under Director Oh Jae-deok’s confident assurance, the highlight scenes of [Swordsman Baek Dong-su] began.
“Can’t we start over?”
“You’re talking nonsense. That’s why you had to watch precious people die.”
As swords clashed,
Ironically, the more that happens, the more Jawan’s lingering attachments to life fall away one by one.
In the process, childhood sparring scenes, which started as just play, intersect and appear.
It felt like we used to lightly bump with wooden swords,
But now we wield real swords, moving to kill each other.
Clang, clang, clang!
Sparks fly as the screen transitions back to childhood.
– Hyaaaaaaap!
With no clue, the young Baek Dong-su swings his wooden sword.
Standing calmly watching, the young Jawan makes his move.
Swoosh!
Jawan’s sword cleaves through memories and the past, leaving a deep scar on Baek Dong-su’s body.
Born to kill, the Heavenly Killing Star.
No longer would Baek Dong-su just take it lying down, now that he bore the mark of that innate talent’s wound.
– …Huh!
With a short breath, Baek Dong-su’s sword sharply rises from below.
Back in the day.
When little Baek Dong-su, clueless, swung his sword up.
Little Jawan accurately shattered that wooden sword and immediately seized the advantage.
In their past matches, even with a victor declared, neither had to die, and they always ended up laughing and heading out for a meal.
But now, it seemed such times no longer existed.
Slash!
Baek Dong-su’s sword strikes deep into Jawan’s body.
Leaving a dark crimson mark, Baek Dong-su hurriedly grabs Jawan, whose insides seem ready to spill out at any moment.
– Why! Why didn’t you stop it? You could have, you know!
Baek Dong-su’s sorrowful shout.
In response, Jawan winces, complaining of ringing in his ears.
– …Thanks.
He whispers before taking his last breath.
Thus, the brief tale of Baek Dong-su, who killed his friend by his own hand continues.
After the subtitle thanking everyone for their support of the swordsman Baek Dong-su appears.
The production team in the meeting room let out gasps of surprise.
“Director… this is seriously amazing, isn’t it?!”
“I, is this going to be a hit?!”
Amidst everyone’s shocked clamoring.
“Quiet, keep it down.”
SKS’s director Jeong Dosun demanded calm, gazing fiercely at his phone.
What he craved was not the production team’s fervent reactions.
Only the viewership ratings.
Ding!
In the suddenly quiet meeting room, a notification sound chimes.
Checking the message, Director Jeong Dosun smiles wide, removes his glasses, and slicks back his hair with a sense of relief.
His expression radiates relief.
Panicked, Director Oh Jae-deok rushes over and checks the text from Jeong Dosun.
“…A momentary rating of 35%?! Final tally…32%…!!!”
Announcing the final results, he hugged Jeong Dosun tightly.
“D, did we really do it?!”
“Yes, we have ascended above the Monday-Tuesday dramas.”
The fierce battle of dramas in 2011 had finally come to an end.
SKS dramas are the truth.
“Well, not bad.”
And obviously, given the viewer ratings like this.
ㅋKim Donghu has gone completely bonkers, right?
The online community went wild once again.