episode_0020

‘Sword’ is a historical drama, but not a traditional one. Strictly speaking, it’s a fusion historical drama that blends fictional imagination with modern sensibilities.

Wi Ji-hye, the strongest person under heaven, took in a disciple: Ha-ryeong, who has a limited time to live.

The burden on Ha-ryeong’s shoulders was heavy.

With a terminal illness, his life was nearing its end. However, his goal was to achieve the title of the strongest person under heaven before his last breath, so he couldn’t help but feel impatient every single day.

Therefore, he learned under Wi Ji-hye, more desperately than anyone else.

However, maintaining the position of the strongest person under heaven requires a great deal of effort. Wi Ji-hye was busy dealing with challengers from all over, and the time he spent teaching his disciple was extremely short.

And what he taught was even simpler.

─Swing.

That was all.

─Swing.

─Swing.

Wi Ji-hye didn’t give Ha-ryeong any other instruction, but despite that, Ha-ryeong silently followed the order.

Swinging the sword is fundamental, and nothing is as important as the fundamentals. Also, it was his master’s command, so there was no resistance.

─Swing.

But there was no end to that command.

Even after a hundred times. Even after a thousand times. Even after ninety thousand times.

Even after a day. Even after a week. Even after a month.

The problem arose when death was finally approaching.

Cough!

One day, Ha-ryeong coughed. The white sleeve that usually covered his mouth was stained red. It was covered in blood. Furthermore, the amount was not small.

It was then that he realized that he didn’t have much time left to live.

─…!

Ha-ryeong quickly turned around at the sound of someone’s presence. Wi Ji-hye was standing there before he knew it. His master must also know very well that Ha-ryeong’s life was short.

─….

A moment of tension flowed.

Wi Ji-hye. Would he pity his disciple, who didn’t have much time left, and teach him something? Or would he just watch him die silently? What if he abandoned him because of his short-lived constitution?

While Ha-ryeong was caught in all sorts of anxieties,

Wi Ji-hye used the marvel of telekinesis to pick up the sword that had fallen to the ground. He eventually placed it quietly in Ha-ryeong’s blood-soaked grip.

─Swing.

This time was no exception.

Still, that command is all.

─You must complete one hundred thousand swings by today. ─If you cannot, you are not worthy.

Ha-ryeong had just coughed up blood and was having trouble even standing, but Wi Ji-hye’s heart remained firm. Despite knowing full well about Ha-ryeong’s condition, the master maintained a ruthless attitude.

─….

Suddenly, something coiled up in Ha-ryeong’s heart.

There must be a deep meaning behind what my master is doing. No, my master has already abandoned me.

Like a sword with two edges.

‘Sword’ begins as Ha-ryeong harbors two thoughts.

◈◈◈◈◈

The audition finally began.

“Ha-ryeong-ah, you can’t even stand properly, let alone swing a sword. Let’s tell your sunbae-nim. You should be resting…”

Park Director had just delivered the line. It was to support the role of another disciple who was worried about Ha-ryeong holding the sword.

Park Jun is a director, not an actor. In fact, it means he spoke in a stiff, textbook-like tone.

But even so.

『My sword is still fine. Why worry about my body first?』

Soo-ah, already transformed into Ha-ryeong, replied. It was accompanied by the action of slashing the wooden practice sword from top to bottom.

Whoosh─

The arm that swung the sword trembled.

Park Jun swallowed hard.

Originally, the sword couldn’t be swung so precariously. It has the appearance of a wooden sword, but it’s an empty prop inside. The actual weight should be as light as a feather. She’s acting.

Ha-ryeong is a swordsman who has honed his skills throughout his life, but he can’t help but have many concerns right now. Even though he doesn’t have much time left to live, Wi Ji-hye has only ordered him to swing.

‘To express that feeling through swordsmanship? So vividly?’

Soo-ah’s hand moved powerfully once more.

Whoosh─!

An even more intense action than before.

The sword has no ego. It simply entrusts itself to the trajectory that a human grips and swings.

Therefore, Ha-ryeong’s swordsmanship was never consistent, because Ha-ryeong’s heart, which held the sword, was wavering.

Shimma (心魔).

An art that chillingly expresses that the heart is suffering.

Park Jun suddenly looked at the script.

p.37 S#3 Training Ground / Dawn

Ha-ryeong swinging a sword. Swordsmanship is never the same, and he has many worries. He swings with a sense of urgency to fill the number of swings.

Surprisingly, that’s all there is to the script description.

‘It’s a very easy scene to read, but if you think about it, it’s an extremely difficult scene to act. But this scene…’

There was an auditionee who was pulling it off as if to show off.

The prop that Soo-ah was swinging was precarious, as if she would drop it at any moment, and even her complexion was pale, and her arm was shaking. Like the last leaf barely clinging on a stormy day.

Soo-ah said, still staring straight ahead.

『Samae, please count the number of swings.』

“Huh? Oh, oh.”

Park Jun, who had been admiring her, finally came to his senses. “Ninety-three thousand two hundred.”

Swordsmanship is inconsistent. Because he has a lot of worries.

“Ninety-three thousand two hundred and one.”

Swordsmanship is inconsistent. Because he has a lot of concerns.

How many more times did she swing like that?

“…I can’t do it. Ha-ryeong-ah. Let’s quit. To fill one hundred thousand more swings by this dawn? It’s an impossible order.”

『But I have to try.』

“Look at your condition right now; it’s a miracle that you’re standing. And even the speed at which you’re swinging the sword is gradually decreasing, isn’t it?”

『Because you shouldn’t even swing once carelessly.』

Putting all your effort into even a single swing was one of the few teachings that Wi Ji-hye had given to Ha-ryeong.

Of course, Ha-ryeong had many concerns inside.

Should I leave now, should I question my master, should I give up everything and calmly wait for death…? Everything was scary and trembling.

That feeling is imbued in the sword.

It keeps shaking, it keeps stopping.

Like a swan paddling frantically under the surface of the water.

‘What…’

Park Jun could only feel bewildered.

People think that the director intends every scene.

But that’s only half right and half wrong. After all, it is the actor’s role to manifest by wearing the clothes of the character.

The emotion that the many auditionees who visited today focused on while playing Ha-ryeong was ‘struggle.’ The despair of having to fill the number of swings even in a painful situation.

But Lee Soo-ah was different.

Question. She is solely focused on questioning.

She is acting in a way that only intense questions are on her face, to the point that she cannot even feel pain. Why on earth did master-nim give such an order?

Why, why, why, why….

Ignoring Park Jun’s admiration, Soo-ah swung the sword.

How many times did she draw different swordsmanships like that?

『Ah.』

Whoosh! A different sound than before. There were still a lot of swings left to reach one hundred thousand, but her expression brightened slightly.

『…Could it be.』

She takes a basic stance. Lifts it up. Strikes down.

Even though it’s a simple motion, it’s clearly different than before. When she swung it three more times consistently, Soo-ah’s eyes widened.

The expression of a swordsman who has found the answer.

Whoosh─!

Soo-ah took a deep breath and struck down the sword.

Her body is drenched in sweat, and her complexion is worse than before. But why is that? The corners of her mouth keep rising.

『Swing. Master-nim did this because….』

“Ha-ryeong-ah. You, your sword…”

The line that Park Jun had just delivered wasn’t in a textbook tone. There was no need to try to act. He was actually surprised.

It became consistent. The sword that Ha-ryeong, no, Soo-ah, was swinging.

『Samae, how is my sword? I can’t see it well.』

“…It’s surrounded by light. Even the moon is watching your sword.”

He nodded. As if the expected answer had returned.

Soo-ah continued to swing the sword after that.

Basic stance, lift up, strike down. The movement became as smooth as flowing water, and soon the boundaries of where it was segmented became vague.

Soon, swordsmanship turned into sword dance.

A simple yet elegant dance, like a blooming flower.

Ha-ryeong, that is, Soo-ah, asked awkwardly.

『It’s extremely clumsy, isn’t it?』

“Yes, but it’s not ugly. And you look happy.”

Then Ha-ryeong rarely smiled and tried to do something.

Park Jun reacted immediately.

‘It’s something that’s not written in the script. What is she trying to do? Could it be, an ad-lib?’

He immediately held his breath and focused.

‘What is it, what did she prepare?’

Ad-lib. A unique answer that the actor found in their own way.

It’s only natural to be curious about what such a talented person is going to reveal as their own answer. He is only waiting for that answer.

As if she had perfectly read Park Jun’s psychology,

Soo-ah smiled and lowered the sword.

Beep beep beep─!

The timer rang loudly.

10 minutes. It was accurate without even a single error.

◈◈◈◈◈

“…This doesn’t make sense.”

Park Jun muttered blankly.

This is because a shock like a comet had fallen in his head. Thanks to this, all sorts of worries sprang up in all directions.

‘I didn’t know she had this kind of skill. I’m suddenly going crazy.’

Soo-ah’s acting skills were something that caused intense worries.

Excellent. Really excellent.

Enough to make Park Jun reconsider his decision to scrap the movie, enough to make him think about taking back his words about retiring.

When he turned his head, Yang Ha-rin’s expression had also changed from before. Eyes full of a strange light.

“…Park Director-nim. Who is that woman?” “I don’t know either.”

Lee Soo-ah.

I want her. She’s a really promising rookie. But….

However, Park Jun shook his head.

This is because he knows what it means for Yang Ha-rin’s eyes to sparkle beautifully. That’s the expression of a ferocious beast that has finally found its prey.

‘Rather, because she’s so talented, I should let her go. It’s not like I haven’t seen one or two rookies ruined because of Ha-rin.’

If she has such excellent skills, she will be able to seize other opportunities and shine.

There was no reason to let this rough diamond collide with Yang Ha-rin for nothing. If it gets shattered and ruined, it would only be a pity for the film industry.

Park Jun, who had made a decision, carefully opened his mouth.

“Ha-rin-ah, I think it’s right to drop her anyway. Regardless of how well she acts, her compatibility with you is too bad.” “No.”

Ha-rin’s voice was extremely firm. “Take her. Park Director-nim, that woman. Take her no matter what.” “Ha-rin-ah, don’t do that, first…” “I said take her. Can’t you hear me?”

One word filled with madness.

Ha-rin’s sharp gaze was so sharp that Park Jun involuntarily leaned back.

But he cleverly changed the subject. As calmly as possible. “More than that, aren’t you curious about the ad-lib she was going to do at the end?” “That’s why I’m telling you to take her. Because I have to see it.”

Well, there’s no way that Ha-rin wouldn’t have known what Park Jun realized. She seemed curious about the ad-lib that Soo-ah was going to do and then gave up.

“There’s no reason to take her and see. We can just ask her to do it now.”

Park Director skillfully wound up the timer. 5 minutes.

And he called out to Soo-ah, who was catching her breath in the distance, across the way.

“Soo-ah-ssi.” “Yes.”

Soo-ah nodded quietly. “Acting, time management. Both were excellent. But personally, I was also curious about the ad-lib you were going to do. I’ll give you 5 more minutes, so can you act and show it to me?”

“No.”

A moment of silence flowed. Park Jun blinked blankly.

This is because an answer that far exceeded expectations had returned.

“Excuse me?”

No? Did I just hear that right?

I asked her to show me just a little more, but she refused? Usually, there are no auditionees who refuse the judges’ requests, right? He was flustered by an unexpected answer.

“But I can show you a different kind of acting.”

Soo-ah said. Perhaps somewhat impishly.

“For example, the role of Wi Ji-hye.”