Ch.256Second Destiny

How did the situation come to this?

That’s not important right now.

The only question is what to do next.

Bang!

Thud!

The sound of bodies colliding matches the flash from the gun barrel.

Needless to say, the junkie’s bullet didn’t hit me.

Subduing him wasn’t particularly difficult.

I just had to repeat what I’d done in the match.

For complete control, I didn’t hold back.

A punch to the liver, then the temple, the jaw, and finally the solar plexus.

With that combination, I quickly subdued the junkie.

After resolving the situation in 30 seconds, I immediately felt confused.

‘Shouldn’t there be a message from Sims at a time like this?’

Whether he snuck in at dawn.

Or used some other method.

An intruder with a gun had infiltrated.

How could there be no mention from Sims about something this dangerous?

‘It helped me prevent stalkers and lighting issues before.’

What was it this time? Did it not say anything because I could handle it myself?

There were too many strange things about that explanation.

“Donghu Kim!!!!! Are you alright!!!!!!!!”

Leaving the collapsed junkie behind.

People rushed to the scene.

Naturally, filming was halted.

Securing the scene became the top priority.

I checked on Evelyn’s condition first.

“Are you okay?”

“Yes, I just… suddenly started crying… I’m sorry.”

“No need to apologize. That actually helped draw attention. Your kick was perfect.”

She doesn’t seem to be injured.

She wasn’t hit by the stray bullet either.

While I was relieved about that, I couldn’t stop thinking about Sims.

‘What’s going on? If something’s happening, tell me.’

It’s not like this is some game NPC.

It felt like someone had suddenly spawned in the bathroom.

‘It could be Evelyn’s stalker… but he was high on drugs, that’s not it either.’

While I was pondering these questions.

Ding!

Ding!

Ding!

Belatedly, messages from Sims arrived.

-[The time approaches.]

-[You have 5 years remaining.]

-[Your fate will be tested once again.]

What on earth does this mean?

I have 5 years left, and my fate will be tested?

‘I thought this only happened with my parents?’

There’s more to this?

The message was difficult to comprehend.

“Right away! I’ll take responsibility and replace the security team immediately!”

“No, no. That won’t be necessary. I can’t explain the details but… really, there’s no need.”

I stopped the security team from being fired.

This wasn’t due to negligence in their security checks.

In fact.

“We, we definitely checked and there was nothing there. We’re sorry. He must have been… attached to the bathroom ceiling.”

Even the security team couldn’t properly explain what happened.

Of course they couldn’t.

This was something that couldn’t be explained in simple terms.

We waited at the scene to be questioned.

Meanwhile, I tried to decipher Sims’ message.

The biggest hint was obviously.

‘My fate being tested again.’

With 5 years remaining.

If we count from now, does that mean 2024?

What could possibly happen then?

‘Ah.’

When I reached that thought, my eyes widened.

There was something crucial I had missed.

Something so obvious I wondered why I hadn’t realized it sooner.

‘That’s the year I regressed to.’

The second target fate wants to kill.

It’s none other than me.

++++++

Thinking about it, it wasn’t strange at all.

‘The fact that I regressed means… my past self disappeared at that time.’

But I never thought this “disappearance” would be considered death.

And I certainly didn’t expect it to try to kill me like this.

-[Frankly, this is forced.]

-[If I had to say, it’s a cheap trick to make up for failure.]

-[It won’t happen often, but situations like this will occur a few more times.]

-[In Korea, I believe they call this “eokka” (unfair treatment).]

Along with a random slang term.

Sims summarized the current situation in four lines.

“Huh.”

So that’s how it is.

It can’t kill me right away.

There’s a rule that I must die at the predetermined time.

But the reason for this now is.

‘If things go smoothly, I won’t die, so it’s trying to weaken me.’

I wasn’t scared.

As long as I have Sims.

And with everything I’ve accomplished so far.

I won’t go down easily.

The only concern I had was.

‘If this keeps happening, it’s going to seriously disrupt filming.’

Every time something like this happened, the security team’s livelihood would be at risk.

I wouldn’t mind if I was attacked directly.

But causing trouble for multiple people was problematic.

‘Even if it doesn’t happen often, there are so many people here.’

What would happen if police had to come every time we were interrupted?

While I was thinking about this.

-[If you prefer rough waves to gentle ripples, I can arrange that.]

Sims’ message continued.

But something felt different.

It read somewhat differently than usual.

‘Even if it’s not, this is the right choice.’

Since it would be a simple matter of overcoming one rough wave.

I nodded immediately to indicate my acceptance.

-[Applause for your choice.]

There were no more messages after that.

The incident at the model house became a major issue.

It was too big to hide.

Fortunately, it didn’t interfere with filming.

We continued our first shoot.

And from then on, we proceeded smoothly without any further interruptions.

A total of 4 acts, 16 episodes.

The first signal flare of “Pianist” was launched with difficulty.

And simultaneously.

“Huh.”

News broke that the IBF and WBO heavyweight championship unification match had been scheduled.

At that moment, I considered a possibility.

‘Perhaps the winner of that match.’

Might be the rough wave coming for me.

If someone wanted to cause me an unfortunate accident.

Officially and publicly.

Wouldn’t the boxing ring be the perfect place?

That thought suddenly occurred to me.

++++++

A few days after “Pianist” filming wrapped up.

“I heard you had a tough time in America.”

I returned to Korea for my next schedule.

Having a private jet was definitely convenient, freeing me from time constraints.

We could travel comfortably as a family.

Without worrying about others.

I understood why rich people use private jets.

“It turned out fine since no one got hurt.”

“But are you sure you’re okay to film right away?”

“Of course. I went straight to filming ‘Pianist’ after that incident.”

I smiled broadly at Director Kiryu, assuring him I was fine.

Since the schedule had been delayed after the intruder incident.

Now was the time to push forward without looking back.

“For ‘Musashi,’ I’m ready.”

“Haha… you’re truly tough.”

Director Kiryu told me the female lead had been decided.

And introduced her to me.

But that person was.

“Senior Donghu! It’s been so long!”

“You still call me senior?”

“Of course, once a senior, always a senior!”

It was Usami Chisako, my high school junior.

She had recently messaged me about landing a good role.

I didn’t realize it was the female lead in “Musashi.”

“It seems I’m the last one to join, so I need to work hard!”

“Huh?”

“Hehe, it’s just something.”

Ignoring Chisako’s cryptic comment.

I realized how much times had changed.

She used to be a complete tomboy, matching her speech style.

But now, how should I put it.

‘Energetic, but with an elegant demeanor.’

She somehow gave off an aura that made me feel like I should take off my shoes and participate in a tea ceremony.

“I noticed during ‘Cutting the Knot’ too, your impression changes instantly.”

“That’s a compliment, right?”

“Of course. It means you embody your roles extremely well.”

Musashi’s partner.

That role is incredibly tragic.

Bound for life by a moment of pure love.

Perhaps walking a lonely path just like the protagonist.

“‘Cutting the Knot’ was really fun. I’d like to do another romance with you, senior.”

“Isn’t ‘Musashi’ kind of like that?”

“No, I mean in a drama.”

Chisako smiled cheerfully as she said this.

I’d heard Japanese people typically aren’t so direct.

But clearly, everyone is different.

“Didn’t you say you were from Kyoto?”

“Y-yes! But young people these days aren’t like that, that’s all ancient history!”

“Really?”

“Yes, really… Um, quick quiz! What do you think it means when someone from Kyoto says ‘My, you’re so diligent’?”

“Isn’t that a genuine compliment?”

“No, it means ‘You sure have a lot of time to waste running around.'”

“…You just made that up, didn’t you?”

“My mother told me that.”

Kyoto is scary.

As I muttered that and the atmosphere lightened.

“Let’s begin filming!”

Director Kiryu gave the signal.

From “Pianist” to “Musashi.”

It was time to change masks.

++++++

Kim Donghu’s acting has always been extraordinary.

Having already reached the pinnacle of his craft.

Complimenting his acting seemed almost redundant now.

Or so I thought.

‘What’s this?’

But what he was showing now was somehow different.

As if he knew death intimately.

‘Originally, Musashi… is a character who always knows he could die.’

Because he lives on the battlefield.

He’s someone who accepts that death could come at any moment.

That’s who Musashi is.

But reproducing that mindset 100% was actually difficult.

Because it’s a concept that only people from ancient times could truly grasp.

For a modern person.

To suddenly act while constantly contemplating their own mortality?

I thought that was impossible no matter how I directed it.

And I had somewhat given up on capturing that aspect.

But right at this moment.

“I am destined to die on the battlefield at any time. Despite that, despite that, you say you can love me?”

Kim Donghu speaks with transcendent detachment, like someone who has accepted death.

And with firm resolve, he grips his sword.

“If that’s the case, I’ll just kill you myself. If you’re going to be a pest interfering with my life… I’ll kill you.”

Musashi with piercing eyes manifests on the set.

Even in what appears to be cloth garments, he projects.

A ferocious impression that the camera captures perfectly.

Having lost about 20kg for the “Pianist” and “Musashi” roles.

A demon wielding a sword with a relatively thin body.

A long katana and short wakizashi.

Holding one in each hand.

Looking down menacingly at the woman kneeling before him, he says:

“There is nothing I cannot kill.”

And then declares to the heavens:

“Do you think I couldn’t cut down even a woman who claims to love me?”

Proclaiming himself as one who can kill everything.