Ch.174Naked?

A person with a gun and a person without one.

Assuming the two face off.

People think the one with the gun will definitely win, but that’s wrong.

The 21-foot rule.

A safety distance of about 6.4m must be secured to fire a gun without variables.

Within that distance, there’s no telling what variables might occur.

In other words, having a gun doesn’t guarantee victory.

Moreover, if the person with the gun isn’t a police officer but just a criminal.

And if the distance is only about 3m.

The outcome is impossible to predict.

‘Crazy!’

Three seconds before the battle begins.

Ji Hyuntae panicked as he watched the Hero entering without hesitation.

He should be running away in fear.

But the guy was coming straight at him without hesitation.

Because of this, his aim wavered.

When he tried to fire belatedly.

Bang!

It was already too late.

Crack.

The Hero’s knuckle struck the forearm holding the gun.

Making the barrel point toward the ceiling.

Then the strikes continued like flowing water.

Bam! Bam! Bam! Bam!

The sound of knuckles crushing bone.

The protective gear, which makes a loud noise even with light strikes, shines in its role.

However.

‘Is this really protective gear?’

Ji Hyuntae, or rather Ju Seonghwan, who was directly experiencing those strikes, was in agony.

He suddenly regretted his past statement that it was okay to put some force into strikes because of the protective gear.

‘Is he even human?’

The fist of an Olympic gold medalist had power that far transcended ordinary human common sense.

Without exaggeration, it felt like being pounded with a sledgehammer.

This was with protective equipment reducing damage by 60%.

He understood why most fighters got KO’d within a minute.

How could anyone endure taking hits like these?

‘No, I don’t have time to be lost in pain. I need to match his rhythm as best I can.’

In “Traitor: The Root of Corruption,” an actor who was on the same team.

Now he was the enemy, and trying to match acting rhythms was overwhelming.

The tempo was too fast.

Clang!

The gun and knuckles scrape against each other.

Close-quarters combat.

Even though he couldn’t land an effective hit with the gun, he couldn’t easily let go.

Just one proper shot would do it.

Just one hit and the situation would be reversed.

“Who the hell sent you?!”

He was desperate.

He wanted to stall for time and shoot somehow.

“Why are you suddenly doing this?!”

“What reason do I need to kill a criminal?”

You did wrong.

So you’re being punished.

Along with the answer, madness gleamed in his eyes.

Ji Hyuntae, who had killed several people, knew what that meant.

“You crazy bastard, you’re just like us.”

Eyes that genuinely enjoyed it.

What he truly wanted wasn’t some grand implementation of justice.

He just needed an excuse.

An excuse to beat someone to death.

‘I absolutely can’t die to a bastard like this!’

With that thought.

Did that wish reach somewhere?

Finally, the gun barrel pointed toward the Hero.

Bang!

Without hesitation, the barrel spat fire.

And simultaneously.

Crack!

The knuckle smashed directly into Ji Hyuntae’s face.

“Cut!”

And with that, the filming also ended.

“…Wow, this is really terrifying.”

Ju Seonghwan looked at the knuckle in front of his face and desperately held back from wetting himself.

Fortunately this was a movie, but what if it had really hit him?

“Donghu, thanks for sparing my life.”

He really didn’t want to think about it.

++++++

After successfully completing the one-take shoot.

We repeated the one-take filming several more times.

Changing prop positions from various angles and redesigning movement paths.

It’s no exaggeration to say we spent the whole day just shooting one-takes.

Time flew by, and it was suddenly 3 AM.

“Good work everyone!”

Finally, all the filming schedule was completed.

“Aren’t you pushing yourself too hard? Are you okay?”

“Yes, I’m fine.”

“As expected… being a gold medalist, your stamina is wow…”

Director Lee Seongdeok continued checking my condition even after filming ended.

He seemed worried because we did multiple one-take shoots.

But I was really fine.

Perhaps it’s because I’ve done many competitions requiring even more concentration.

It was still a manageable level for me.

“I feel like I’m dying, Donghu. Let’s go get a drink.”

Unlike me, senior Ju Seonghwan, who was completely exhausted.

Thump.

Put his arm around my shoulder and made a gesture of drinking soju.

“On a day like this, we need a drink, an after-party. Huh? You know what I mean, just a little tipsy?”

“Senior, you can barely walk properly, what drink are you talking about?”

“That’s why we should drink, if we drink now it’s medicine, medicine.”

“But your wife is here?”

“…My wife loves me so much. She comes to pick me up when filming runs late.”

Senior Ju Seonghwan hung his head low as he glanced at his wife’s car.

“Donghu, get married as late as possible. It’s happy, but it’s better to do it late.”

“What? Suddenly?”

“It’s really happy, but eat it last. Like eating a strawberry shortcake, you know what I mean?”

“I don’t really understand, can I ask your wife?”

“I just realized why my wife likes you so much, forget it.”

Staggering.

Senior Ju Seonghwan removed his arm from my shoulder and headed straight for his wife’s car.

‘You can barely walk properly, how would you manage an after-party.’

By the way.

‘So this is A-grade.’

The story itself is very simple.

But the action that transcends it was on a different level.

“Shooting such a long one-take, isn’t it amazing? When they add corrections to this, won’t it be insane?”

“Yeah.”

Even Seokho hyung, who had seen many film shoots, was surprised.

“This might become the #1 movie in our country!”

“What?”

I was startled by his sudden statement.

“Number one?”

“Yeah, honestly, it’s possible! This is really a cathartic movie!”

Calling it a cathartic movie wasn’t wrong.

Taking private action against bad guys that even the police can’t touch.

That was the core of “The Real Hero.”

Heinous criminals who don’t repent.

Human traffickers.

Corrupt police officers.

They all die miserably at the hands of the Hero.

‘And they depict it very brutally through one-take action or long takes.’

But number one with that?

Honestly, I had some expectations.

‘Even B-grade films have reached 10 million viewers.’

What would A-grade achieve?

The time to open that lid and check was approaching.

+++++

Smooth sailing.

That’s how I would describe it.

Recently, my schedule has been the epitome of smoothness.

The filming of “The Real Hero” was almost at its end.

“Our Fake Marriage” was progressing well.

“Will You Marry Me?” was an observational variety show, so there wasn’t much to worry about.

Time flew by, and it was already the end of March.

『”Will You Marry Me?” breaks 13% viewership! Beyond its prime!』

『The last and greatest couple? Dongrin couple’s crazy display of affection!』

“Will You Marry Me?” was showing steady growth and asserting its presence.

‘Amazing.’

I checked the articles one by one and realized its popularity.

‘Come to think of it, we were supposed to make a couple song.’

This wasn’t suggested by the “Will You Marry Me?” team but by Jaerin’s agency.

They thought it would be good to increase awareness by singing a song together.

Honestly, it was a proposal that had no downsides for me.

‘I can sing decently too.’

Lee J’s talents included not just piano but singing as well.

There were no obstacles.

‘I think they said it would air from next month?’

After quite a long schedule adjustment.

“Our Fake Marriage” was set to air around April Fool’s Day.

A wedding in April.

I remember they wanted to strengthen the “fake” image by timing it with April Fool’s Day.

That’s why it was airing in April.

‘The Real Hero is between October and November.’

Does this mean there are no variables?

Just as I was thinking that this year would really go smoothly.

Ring ring ring.

A phone call came.

“Hello?”

I answered the phone.

-Donghu! The “Will You Marry Me?” team suggested a hot spring trip to Japan, what should we do? They said we’ll do mixed bathing too?

“What?”

I was taken aback.

What’s this about mixed bathing all of a sudden?

‘Naked?’

Of course not.

They’d probably do some wholesome mixed bathing in swimsuits.

But does the “Will You Marry Me?” team have that kind of money?

It’s not Korea but Japan, and they’d need to charter a hot spring for mixed bathing.

Can they afford all that?

-They said since the ratings are booming, they’re pushing for it. What do you want to do?

“I’m fine with it, but is it okay for an idol? You have to manage your image.”

-That’s… true? But they said it’s already been agreed upon with your side?

“What?!”

Does that mean Jaerin agreed to mixed bathing?

“Ah, then I guess it’s fine.”

-Really? You’re okay with it too?

“Yes.”

Then I didn’t have much to object to either.

If they judged it to be fine, I didn’t really need to worry.

Actually, I was thinking of visiting Japan again if I had time.

‘I don’t even know why I’m doing Oz’s 10th anniversary work.’

A work considered the worst 10th anniversary.

What benefit would I get from doing it?

‘Or am I supposed to change that outcome?’

A tokusatsu show at a time when my value is so high.

There was only one thing to do to figure out the truth.

Face it directly.

There was no other way.

+++++

At the same time.

“I’ll overlook you setting up a muse on your own. It’s the first time, but is that Asian really skilled enough to appear in a fashion show?”

During a Louis Vuitton meeting.

Designer Kim Jones, who had made Kim Donghu his muse, was currently in a difficult situation.