Ch.117Kim Donghu, 30 minutes before waking up

Snow was falling slowly again on top of the previous day’s heavy snowfall.

“…Feels like we’re going to war.”

“That’s what I’m saying.”

The extras gathered in their places, trembling with unfamiliar tension.

While the cold was partly to blame,

the intimidating atmosphere created by Kim Donghu was the bigger reason.

“We’re clearly using practice swords, and we’re even wearing protective gear underneath just in case…”

Why did the sword in Kim Donghu’s hand look so alive with its blade?

Even veteran extras who had worked in historical dramas for years felt intimidated by his presence.

“He doesn’t even look cold.”

As they spoke, the extras shifted their gaze toward Kim Donghu.

No matter how many layers of undergarments he wore,

or how thick his white robe was made for winter,

it should still be unbearably cold.

“Youth is definitely an advantage.”

“Is that really just about being young?”

He showed no signs of discomfort whatsoever.

Rather, his composure only tightened his grip on the atmosphere around him.

Standing there like a general before battle,

he stirred up tension where there had been none.

Gulp.

As the sound of someone swallowing nervously could be heard,

“Alright, let’s begin filming! Everyone gather around!”

The long-awaited shoot finally began.

+++++

Gulp.

Director Yoon Seongbin swallowed as he looked at the completed set.

‘The story itself is extremely simple.’

Jo Seonghak and Lee Taeseong meeting the traitors.

A battle between those trying to reclaim and those trying to steal.

Followed by betrayal and bloody combat.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

With each camera roll, extras fell to the ground.

“He’s alone anyway! If we want to end this, we can!”

The traitors boosted their morale by saying,

“He must be exhausted by now!”

They mentioned how difficult Lee Taeseong’s condition must be.

“He’s human after all, he must be tired by now!”

He was like a monster.

Over a hundred men had died by his hand,

and more than three officers had fallen.

Even when their garrison was attacked, they felt it—

he was an even greater monster than Jo Seonghak who was running alongside him.

As they continued the pursuit through the underbrush,

when they regained their senses, Lee Taeseong was gone.

‘Did he escape?’

They thought they had cast a tight net.

But in the end, with a perimeter formed by untrained farmers,

it was bound to have holes.

“I think we need to split up more people to search…”

The traitor leader,

Cheondo, was about to ask Jo Seonghak for his opinion.

But as if by magic, Jo Seonghak was no longer beside him.

He had definitely been running alongside him just moments ago, so where did he go?

While Cheondo looked confused,

Jo Seonghak, who had predicted Lee Taeseong’s movements from the beginning,

“So here you are.”

Finally succeeded in blocking Lee Taeseong’s path.

He could have killed him together with the traitors,

but since Lee Taeseong was essentially a calamity he himself had summoned,

Jo Seonghak wanted to untie the knot he had tied himself.

“I’ve come to end you myself.”

The calamity I summoned, I should be the one to end it.

Jo Seonghak extended his sword and looked at Lee Taeseong.

‘It’s unbelievable that he’s perfectly fine except for his breathing.’

He had cut down over a hundred strong men.

The sword’s edge was completely worn,

and his white robe was already stained red.

Yet apart from his labored breathing, nothing about him had changed.

Rather, as if his body had just warmed up,

Lee Taeseong revealed a sharp gaze and smiled deeply.

“My lord, it’s not too late. If you reconsider your position…”

I will spare you.

The composure he showed, judging that no one was following him.

What kind of intuitive judgment allowed him to see so far?

‘He’s no different from a beast.’

Jo Seonghak steadied his stance in the tense atmosphere.

Then,

“They say those who touch ink become black themselves. How true that is.”

Lee Taeseong sighed deeply as he drew his sword.

A sigh that seemed to acknowledge that dialogue was futile.

And as that sigh ended,

Lee Taeseong’s eyes changed as he instantly closed the distance with Jo Seonghak.

Eyes burning with intensity.

“A sword demon indeed.”

Jo Seonghak genuinely admired as he received Lee Taeseong’s sword.

Or rather, tried to receive it.

Clash!

As if it had been choreographed from the beginning,

Jo Seonghak, who had clashed swords with Lee Taeseong,

‘?!’

Was pushed back with disappointing ease.

At this moment, Jo Seonghak, or rather Jin Yuseong, was genuinely surprised.

‘Why is his strength… like this?’

They were clearly using the same practice swords, made lightweight for acting.

But Kim Donghu’s sword felt as solid as if it were made of real steel.

‘Can he handle it so heavily by applying force? By using strength?’

How strong must his grip and muscles be,

to make a plastic prop feel so heavy?

Setting aside such questions, Jin Yuseong,

or rather Jo Seonghak, rushed at Lee Taeseong again.

Sword fighting choreography they had practiced many times.

Following directions should naturally prevent any problems.

But accidents are accidents because they’re unexpected.

After exchanging a few predetermined sword combinations,

just as Jo Seonghak made a large movement for a flashy action sequence,

Slip.

Jo Seonghak’s body slipped on the snowy ground.

This caused his sword path to change.

A situation similar to “Swordsman Baek Dong-soo.”

Just as the altered sword path aimed directly at Lee Taeseong’s head,

“What a pathetic move.”

With Kim Donghu’s natural ad-lib,

Swoosh.

A short sword emerged from inside his robe.

Clack!

Making it look completely natural rather than a mistake,

he blocked the falling sword above his head,

and afterward perfectly controlled the situation.

‘Like dancing a waltz.’

There was nothing difficult about it.

Like an expert teaching a dance to a beginner,

he simply approached first and calculated every move, including mistakes.

‘As our swords meet, I adjust to his next move.’

Kim Donghu’s mind was spinning rapidly.

Like seeing two moves ahead in Go or chess, no, at least five moves ahead.

All those moments of immersing himself in the life of a sword demon were now paying off.

The perfect state of wielding sword and knife.

Understanding perfectly the characteristics of sword and knife, facing Lee Taeseong’s blade,

Thud!

Jo Seonghak truly collapsed helplessly,

immediately followed by,

“Cut!”

The director’s awaited cut signal, and,

“Gaaaaaah!”

The scream of an old man who seemed to have fallen over in surprise.

+++++

After completing the action scene, which was the biggest hurdle,

the filming went surprisingly smoothly,

and I was able to relax comfortably in the van.

‘It’s all done.’

Strictly speaking, there were still more scenes to shoot,

but there was no more place for Lee Taeseong.

‘The story ends with me killing Jo Seonghak and escaping.’

That’s why it was called “Traitor: The Root of Corruption.”

Although Jo Seonghak, who was called a corrupt official, died,

Lee Taeseong survived in an ugly manner.

‘I guess they deliberately kept the character alive.’

If it’s successful, they’ll need to make a sequel,

and I would have to appear as the main villain in that sequel.

Anyway, as “Traitor: The Root of Corruption” wrapped up,

I suddenly realized it was already March.

When I came to my senses, I was preparing a speech for the entrance ceremony.

“…Why do I have to do this, senior?”

To my questioning words,

“Of course you should do it, you’re the face of Daejong High.”

Senior Bong Jinwoo shrugged as if it were obvious.

Why is this obvious?

I wanted to refuse somehow, but I couldn’t.

Even the teachers came to ask me,

and with Chairman Edward Park subtly encouraging it too,

I didn’t feel like stubbornly refusing.

‘Well, I might as well do it.’

Honestly, it wasn’t going to be difficult anyway.

So as I was reluctantly preparing the entrance ceremony speech,

I widened my eyes when I saw the name of the freshman representative.

“…Does Daejong High accept foreigners too?”

“Oh, you mean that kid? Well, art has no nationality.”

Usami Chisako.

A very cute name.

But I feel like I’ve seen this name somewhere before,

where did I see it?

With that question in mind,

I thought nothing would happen and went home to get a good night’s sleep.

Having a sweet sleep with no schedule,

it was incredibly delicious.

++++++

Much of Kim Donghu’s 2014 schedule remained undetermined.

Apart from voice acting commitments, it was mostly rest,

and perhaps he could enjoy school life for the first time in a long while.

And the first person to learn this fact was Yerim.

Being in the same agency, she could quickly find out about his schedule.

Therefore,

“Ahem!”

Shin Yerim woke up early today to volunteer as Kim Donghu’s house fairy.

It took exactly 15 minutes to reach Kim Donghu’s home,

a bit far to walk, but

this much investment wasn’t too much to greet the morning together.

‘Should I make soft tofu stew today? Or jjamppong?’

She tried messaging him but got no response,

which meant he was definitely sleeping soundly today.

‘How happy would he be if I appeared with an apron at a time like this?’

As she pulled back the curtains,

and they faced each other,

‘Wouldn’t his heart race for me?’

With such expectations,

just as she was about to enter the officetel where Kim Donghu lived,

“Hmm?”

“Huh?”

Shin Yerim instinctively turned her head at the sound from beside her.

There stood a girl wearing sunglasses, a mask, and a hat pulled down low.

Normally,

she shouldn’t be able to tell who it was because the person was so thoroughly disguised.

But Yerim immediately recognized the girl in front of her.

“…Senior Kim Sujin?”

At her confident words,

the woman who removed her mask, or rather Kim Sujin, raised one corner of her mouth and replied.

“Yes, that’s right.”

Why are you going in here?

Do you live here?

Thirty minutes before Kim Donghu’s wake-up time.

An unexpected situation had occurred.