Ch.260Lifted it lightly

December 25, 2020, night.

“How is it? No more smell of someone else now, right?”

“…I don’t even have the energy to smell anything.”

I laughed looking at Yerim collapsed on the bed.

“But don’t models these days say they lose weight healthily? Is it okay to be this thin?”

“This is healthily thin. In the past, it was really much worse.”

“Really?”

As I was thinking about what “healthily thin” meant,

Yerim touched around my chest and laughed.

“You’ve lost a lot of weight too, are you okay? Losing weight too quickly isn’t good.”

“Even though I lost a lot, I did it healthily.”

“20kg?”

“If I count today’s cardio, about… 25kg?”

“That’s ridiculous, did you really work that hard?”

“Yes, because today I mostly carried you….”

“Stop! That’s enough! Ah! I can’t play around anymore.”

Yerim suddenly sat up and hugged me,

effectively shutting my mouth.

“I’m just telling the truth.”

“When you say it like that, hehe… I’m so ticklish.”

“I’m saying it to tickle you?”

After playing around for a while.

“Did you hear I’ll be working in Korea?”

“Huh? Oh, yes, I heard.”

“Can I mention you occasionally when I’m there?”

I nodded readily at Yerim’s sudden question.

“Of course you can, but why are you asking permission?”

“Well… honestly, your stock is too high now, so I’d rather not have more people gathering around.”

“Huh?”

“Honestly, no woman who’s been around you wouldn’t know that? They just don’t say anything.”

Poke.

Saying that, Yerim poked my cheek.

“My dad told me to find a nice guy, but I think I like really bad guys.”

“I’m super nice, what are you talking about? Your father would like me too.”

“He’d say that because he doesn’t know about our complicated relationship.”

While playing with my cheeks, Yerim seemed to remember something and spoke.

“By the way, did you send holiday gifts to my parents last time?”

“Huh? Of course.”

“Why? Because you’re a company CEO?”

“No, because I’m your boyfriend.”

“You’re crazy! My dad must have fallen for you completely! When you’re actually such a bad guy!”

“Am I really a bad guy?”

“…What can I do about it?”

“Keep going until I’m satisfied.”

With those words, I pounced on Yerim.

Yerim giggled and quickly pulled up the blanket.

“You’re really an animal, how can you be like this?”

“Because I like it.”

“What you just said was really perverse!”

After our enjoyable year-end date ended,

we headed straight back to Korea.

Originally, we should have continued filming “Pianist”,

but we were informed that security would be strengthened due to recent unfortunate events.

‘Strictly speaking, it was my fault.’

Since I couldn’t explain all the circumstances,

it was time to focus on “Musashi” for now.

+++++

The “Musashi” drawn by Kiryu Sota

followed oral traditions and legends rather than actual history,

so it differed greatly from the general perception of Musashi’s physical specs.

To begin with, a samurai with a height of 186cm in Japan at that time

was an extremely rare case.

‘Actually, that’s what makes more destructive direction possible.’

Director Kiryu frowned at the prop sword in front of him.

Even though they had drawn from an imaginary figure,

he wondered if this would work.

According to the story flow of “Musashi”,

there needed to be times when weapons were replaced,

and naturally, each new weapon should be stronger.

‘But I didn’t consider the weight increase during that strengthening process.’

This was a huge oversight.

Being obsessed with the form, he had forgotten to consider whether a person could actually lift it.

“The sword alone weighs 2.5kg….”

It would be a big mistake to think of it like a regular dumbbell.

The weight distribution wasn’t even,

and it needed to be wielded freely.

“I wonder if it can even be properly lifted because of the weight.”

Since it went through a traditional manufacturing process,

it took a long time to make, so he couldn’t ask for immediate modifications.

Moreover,

“It’s supposed to be two-sword style.”

The problem was that it had to be held with one hand.

The short sword in the other hand also weighed about 1.5kg.

To handle them freely in sword form?

It seemed difficult even for Kim Donghu.

‘Should I replace it with something else?’

Between muttering to himself and thinking deeply,

while he was in deep contemplation,

“Director, hello! I’m here.”

Kim Donghu arrived at the filming location.

“Oh, Donghu-san. You’re here.”

“I heard today was the day the swords would arrive. I was excited so I came quickly.”

Kiryu Sota’s expression hardened upon hearing Kim Donghu’s words.

What should I say?

How do I explain the situation without hurting his feelings?

While he was pondering,

“Is this my sword?”

Kim Donghu grabbed the two swords placed in front of him.

“Oh, it’s quite light since it’s a prop.”

Light?

For a moment, Kiryu Sota doubted his ears.

How could that possibly be light?

Is it different from what I just held?

That suspicion was brief.

Kim Donghu skillfully held both swords and began moving them freely.

“Isn’t it heavy?”

“Huh? Oh, I think this weight is just right.”

As if it really was nothing,

like a child swinging tree branches,

Kiryu watched Kim Donghu playing with the two swords and his jaw dropped.

‘Is this normal for heavyweight champions or is Donghu-san special?’

He knew that he had lost a tremendous amount of weight to film “Pianist” and “Musashi”,

but he wondered if muscle strength could remain despite weight loss.

The mystery of the human body.

Perhaps it was right to see it as something beyond human.

Having tentatively reached that conclusion, Director Kiryu maintained his composure.

“I’m glad they fit your hands. Then we’ll prepare for filming right away.”

If the actor had no problem, then there was no problem at all.

Kiryu Sota calmly directed the set again.

Today’s filming was a highlight of “Musashi”,

the scene where Musashi, backed into a corner, uses his two-sword style in actual combat for the first time.

One against many.

The essence of swordsmanship displayed there.

Just imagining it was already exciting.

++++++

“So we’re really doing the group scene today, right?”

“Of course, we wouldn’t be here otherwise.”

The stunt team, Daehan Spirit,

tried to calm their nervously excited hearts

as they carefully checked the costumes laid out before them once more.

“Acting with Kim Donghu, this is really amazing.”

“And action scenes! Wow… I love Kim Donghu’s action the most.”

“Who doesn’t? I was completely hooked after watching The Real Hero.”

“The Real Hero was a masterpiece, but I actually preferred Swordsman Baek Dong-soo.”

“Why? Because of the sword?”

“Yes, swords are cool.”

Simple guy.

The Daehan Spirit team was laughing and chatting

as they left the waiting room.

“….”

The laughter stopped abruptly as soon as they came out.

It was a kind of instinct.

A social awareness honed through years of stunt work

that they shouldn’t ruin the atmosphere with inappropriate laughter.

Gulp.

How can one person command such atmosphere?

Actually, we had already experienced the answer to that.

Like a teacher silencing students,

when the one in control maintained silence,

not a single word was carelessly uttered on the set.

As if truly facing an enemy and preparing to die.

“….”

Kim Donghu came into view with his eyes closed, saying nothing.

Even though there was a set,

it was all surrounded by green screens which made immersion difficult.

Yet Kim Donghu showed incredible concentration.

As the camera started rolling,

people took their positions,

and filming preparations were nearly complete.

Slowly.

He opened his eyes.

Despite having lost over 20kg and clearly dropping weight classes,

Kim Donghu still appeared massive to everyone.

The stunt performers reminded themselves of the situation they needed to act out.

‘After the chase, they corner Musashi…’

‘Then Musashi wields two swords and goes wild.’

‘We’ve practiced among ourselves, but never with actor Kim Donghu.’

‘We agreed to adjust as we go along.’

Honestly, they weren’t new to action scenes like this.

But they still felt nervous.

Was it because the famous Kim Donghu was right in front of them?

That could be part of it.

But it wasn’t just because he was famous.

‘His concentration is different.’

Like the Musashi that would appear in the movie,

Kim Donghu with his sharp expression surveyed his surroundings.

Then came a nod.

“Okay! We’re starting the shoot! Everyone get ready!”

Following that signal, Director Kiryu gave instructions,

and shortly after,

“Cue!”

The camera turned on and at that moment, the world changed.

It was truly a special experience that couldn’t be explained in words.

Kim Donghu alone

had pushed everyone’s concentration to the extreme.

There were only two secrets to being able to do that:

attitude toward acting and concentration.

“It’s quite amusing to see you all come as a group.”

Kim Donghu, no, Musashi opened his mouth.

“Do you think you can kill me by rushing in together?”

The swordsman holding two swords surveyed his surroundings.

The visible number exceeded ten.

He should be trembling with fear,

but Musashi calmly lowered his swords.

As if taking a leisurely morning stroll,

despite death approaching, he showed no fear whatsoever.

“Come, let’s kill each other.”

As if genuinely happy,

he was smiling brightly.