Ch.305Really?

Like a real Batman.

The long barrel precisely aims at the enemies’ solar plexus area.

Non-lethal rounds.

That’s why they don’t die.

But it hurts enough to make them wish they were dead.

Bang!

The muzzle spits fire, signaling the start of the hunt.

“Gah!”

The areas targeted with a gun are limited.

The solar plexus and around the ribs.

Or the collarbone, pelvis, or knees.

Of course, I could just hit any flesh randomly.

But in a multi-person engagement like this, every bullet is precious.

‘Normally they should hesitate or get scared when facing superior weaponry.’

But these clown-faced thugs show no sign of that.

There’s only one reason.

“A gun? What are you gonna do with a gun!”

“Hahaha! The spot where I got hit! The spot where I got hit is throbbing! This feels good in its own way! Huh?!”

They’re high on drugs. Smile, the drug I saw during the subway attack.

After investigating it…

Up, a term for substances that elevate mood.

Psychedelic, causing hallucinations.

These two combined…

I learned they have the power to completely transform a person 180 degrees the moment they’re consumed.

‘I didn’t expect that to apply even when getting shot.’

Ratatatatat!

They don’t hesitate despite being shot.

Even though a hit to the eye could kill them instantly.

The clown-faced thugs giggle and charge at me, inexplicably excited.

“Good! Good! Let’s keep going!”

“What should we call you? Someone dressed as a bat… um, what was it again?”

“Right, that guy called him Batman! He called you… Batman!”

That guy?

What are they talking about?

Wondering about this, I engage with the group of clown-faced thugs.

Crash!

Due to my inexperience as a vigilante who hasn’t been active long.

I tripped over a fallen thug’s leg and showed an opening, but it was fine.

Ping!

Clang!

“Isn’t it just a simple cosplay?”

“No, it’s not.”

Developed without regard to cost-effectiveness, for one person only.

The essence of Wayne Technology embodied in a suit.

Made of special fibers…

‘I don’t understand the explanation anyway.’

Whatever it was, it covered my entire body.

So I could somewhat ignore the attacks from these drug-addled thugs.

Thud!

Thud!

Thud!

Fists aren’t effective in multi-person combat.

It takes too long to subdue opponents.

And when they’re high on drugs, their senses are somewhat numbed.

So the best method is…

‘Blunt force trauma to the head.’

Using concussions to induce unconsciousness.

Causing blackouts unrelated to pain was the only way.

Crack!

The heated gun barrel precisely strikes the temples of the clown-faced thugs.

Though it seems like random fighting, this was well-choreographed professional wrestling.

Everything had a script.

Every movement was planned.

There was no room for improvisation.

But when people grapple, variables always exist.

“Ah, ahhh!”

Forgetting even to act high on drugs.

A stunt actor whose balance was disrupted instinctively grabbed my cape.

Grip!

Survival instinct to prevent falling backward.

As this pulled me backward as well…

“You’re struggling.”

While delivering the line that came to mind, I grabbed the collar of the one holding my cape.

Slam!

I drove him into the floor where he could safely break his fall.

Then came the group melee.

All I could do was hold the gun reversed like a tonfa and…

Whack!

Thud!

Crack!

Crush the heads of these clown-faced thugs.

I don’t kill them. I couldn’t kill them.

If they died, everything would end.

Because criminals like you might be with my parents someday.

Even if I’m so angry I want to kill you, my body stops me first.

“So that living will be more painful…”

I’ll give you eternal night.

Just as that line ended, as if on cue…

“Cut!”

The director gave the OK signal.

None of the clown-faced people on the set remained standing.

+++++

“With this… we’ve almost finished shooting Batman.”

“We’re steadily working on Joker too… so filming is starting to wrap up.”

After shooting.

I took off the suit and chatted with Director Christo about various things.

“The expected release date is… probably October.”

“Early October?”

“Yes, with the editing work and all… filming should end in early March.”

It should normally take longer, but.

Warner Brothers provided an incredible amount of support.

Director Christo continued.

“With so much riding on this, I’m really motivated. The Murciélago series too…”

“Yes, it’s about time we should see some results.”

Going forward, I’ll continue shooting with Joker makeup.

Resolving stunt double issues and continuing the story.

Eventually, as time passes…

『Murciélago, no news about filming? Is there a reason?』

Articles like this that occasionally appear will spread widely.

And we’ll be on the chopping block.

For a commercial film.

Having received significant investment to maximize profits.

It wasn’t strange that public opinion would try to tear us apart.

‘Somewhere, people are probably praying for our failure.’

Honestly, if I hadn’t been able to see my grade, I might have felt tremendous pressure.

Not knowing I was S+ and performing Batman & Joker with such massive investment?

Glance.

Like Director Christo who appears calm but whose hands are trembling.

I too would have been on edge 24 hours a day.

“Director, it’s okay.”

But knowing the result.

I decided to give the director confidence.

“We’re definitely going to be a huge hit. After all… we’re filming in an environment where we can’t fail, right?”

“Yes… that’s true.”

After our brief conversation, we got up to continue filming.

And time passed quickly…

September 2023.

About a month before the release.

“It’s been a while since I set foot on Korean soil.”

I returned to Korea.

++++++

The reason for returning a month before release was clear.

‘I need to promote in Korea too.’

While the film was releasing in many countries.

For Western regions, starting with American talk shows.

I had already completed one round of promotion touring the world.

What remained was the Asian tour.

Due to scheduling, I could only visit one Asian country.

And naturally, that had to be Korea.

-Oppa! I think you need to come see your princess soon!

I was getting tired of constantly apologizing to my little sister.

‘If Seohyun explodes one day…’

I didn’t even want to imagine that.

Seohyun getting mad at me? That was something I absolutely didn’t want to experience.

‘Chisako agreed to handle Japan.’

How powerful would an S+ rating be?

With that question in mind, I entered the Veritas building after a long time.

Bang!

Bang!

Bang!

I was surprised as soon as I entered.

“Our Batman! Return to Korea!”

“Celebration party! Woohoo!”

Starting with Seokho hyung quickly putting on party accessories beside me.

Firecrackers went off and a surprise party began inside the office.

Taegun hyung, Jinwoo hyung, and basically.

All the agency members had gathered.

“Kim Donghu! How have you been? Did you miss me?!”

“Yeah, he must have really missed Sujin. As for me… I video called him about 3 times a week.”

“…I did too, you know?”

I hadn’t expected Sujin and Yerim to bicker.

But the celebratory atmosphere itself was enjoyable, so I was happy.

“By the way, because of Murciélago promotion… we’ve got tons of variety show offers again.”

“Variety show offers? Still?”

“‘Still’ isn’t the right word… you’re very much active.”

And they’re all A-list shows, which is giving me a headache.

Seokho hyung said with a smile.

‘I should definitely appear on one promotional variety show.’

Or instead of a variety show, I could upload a video to my YouTube channel right away.

Comments were going crazy because updates had been sparse lately.

ㄴDonghu, are you in America? Pay attention to Korea too

ㄴNo, YouTube is worldwide, pay attention to the whole world

ㄴBatman please save the YouTube world

ㄴNot yet

ㄴA hard night indeed

ㄴGrrrr! I can’t take it anymore

The ideal would be to do both.

Appear on one variety show and upload one YouTube video.

‘For YouTube, should I wear the Batman suit?’

I had really wanted to keep the suit.

Of course, the initial answer was NO.

Possibility of leaks, difficult maintenance.

Hard to remake, and various other reasons.

So I had given up.

But then suddenly I received it.

‘To think of including the suit in the contract conditions.’

I was impressed by Seokho hyung’s ingenuity.

As a result, I now had the suit.

‘I want to… use it for something.’

But I hadn’t yet had a brilliant idea.

‘Let’s enjoy the party first.’

You have to play when it’s time to play.

After the atmosphere had mellowed somewhat.

When only me, Sujin, and Yerim remained…

“Did you… do it with Chisako too?”

Sujin, completely drunk, asked while hiccupping.

“Huh?”

“What?”

Yerim was also drunk.

She opened her eyes wide in surprise at Sujin’s question.

“D-did you do it… hic!”

“…Right?”

“Did you?!”

Maybe because she was drunk, Yerim was more surprised than usual.

But then suddenly the conversation took a strange turn.

“Two… two… isn’t enough?”

“Th-three… three should gang up… hic!”

“Anyway… this! This is the problem!”

Tap tap.

Sujin, with her flushed drunk face, tapped my thigh.

Or more precisely, she tapped it while continuing.

“Too! You’re too virile! Hic!”

“…Honestly, I thought my stamina improved a lot from modeling, but it’s too hard.”

“Kim Donghuhuhu…! Hic! Take responsibility for all of us!”

Thud.

With those words, Sujin collapsed onto the sofa.

“…”

Yerim also nodded silently before collapsing.

Come to think of it, they did drink a lot.

“…Four bottles of liquor?”

Everyone’s alcohol tolerance has really improved from their acting and modeling careers.

+++++

After ending the party.

I first appeared on a domestic variety show.

And the first request I received there was…

“Ah, then lightly! Let’s have our Donghu… take a body shot!”

They wanted to hit my abdomen.

“Wow but… Dongho hyung’s endurance is no joke…”

“We’re seeing this kind of scene on ‘I Live Alone’.”

“He says we can hit hard!”

Really?