episode_0063

Episode 13.

The broadcast intensifies the tension as the colleagues head towards the real culprit, depicting the process in a suspenseful manner.

And finally, the true identity of the precognitive dream that Doyeon has is revealed.

As the scene progresses to the point where Hasu, rejected by Doyeon, experiences the collapse of the world.

Viewers were ignited like never before.

– Wow…

– No way. What a performance.

– Seisu. I always thought your acting had impact, but this episode is on another level, right?

It was all because of Seisu.

The character Hasu she portrayed was overwhelmingly captivating, surpassing everyone’s expectations.

The final product, with narration and CG added, vividly depicted Hasu’s emotions and the existential collapse she was experiencing. This, coupled with Seisu’s acting, created an incredible synergy.

It wasn’t the usual playful personality that Seisu had constructed, but the emotional empathy and expression that arose from her dragon persona, resonating strongly with the viewers.

Hasu decides to prevent Doyeon from self-destructing.

“Don’t interfere.”

Doyeon says firmly.

And Hasu, faced with such Doyeon, couldn’t figure out what to say to her.

She was clueless.

Why one shouldn’t kill people.

Why rules must be followed.

She didn’t know such things.

Therefore, she had no proper tools to persuade Doyeon.

And so.

“Oh, Mom said…”

Finally, the words that Hasu held in her mouth to persuade Doyeon were.

“Mom said not to. You shouldn’t kill people.”

It was something childish, like what kindergartners would say.

Hasu wasn’t embarrassed by the situation.

Such emotions were also part of being a reasonable person.

As a person with a personality disorder, Hasu couldn’t feel those emotions.

Instead, she felt pain as she spoke.

“Sorry, I’m sorry. I want to say something meaningful, but I don’t know. So I can only say this. So I’m sorry.”

It hurt not knowing people’s hearts.

It hurt not having enough words to persuade Doyeon who was falling apart.

She wanted to understand people.

“If I had a heart, I could say something else.”

For the first time since her mother, Doyeon didn’t disdain herself.

She smiled warmly towards herself.

For that Doyeon, she wanted to understand people.

No.

Beyond that,

She just wanted to become a person.

Hasu felt the greatest despair and lack since birth.

“Please, don’t interfere.”

Doyeon hesitated at Hasu’s heartfelt emotions.

“H-Here! Look here!”

Just then, Junseong discovers the hiding place of Jinbum’s body, leading the situation in a different direction.

“There are bodies, no. Skeletons scattered here!”

Doyeon and Hasu look towards where Junseong is pointing.

It was a deep pit.

In that place, old corpses turned into skeletons were scattered.

Death, death, death, death…

So many deaths.

“Ah, ah.”

Doyeon sensed something and covered her mouth.

As if possessed, she walked towards that place.

And Hasu watched that scene.

“A pile of crimson ashes…”

Hasu was still witnessing the hallucination of the collapsed world.

Therefore, Doyeon walking towards the pit seemed like walking on a pile of crimson ashes filled with death.

The sight reminded Doyeon of the landscape she had seen through the precognitive dream.

Doyeon walked through the deaths.

And at the end.

“Ah.”

She discovers a single skull.

It was very small, like that of a child, wearing a plastic ring on its finger.

It was the toy ring that Doyeon had put on.

“Ah.”

Doyeon collapsed on the spot.

And covered her face with her hands.

After three years of dreaming, the premonition finally became a reality.

“Dohui. Dohui.”

Doyeon was finally reunited with her daughter.

In the form of the living and the dead.

“Ah… Ahhhhh!!”

In the midst of the joy of seeing her daughter again and the despair of seeing her as a corpse, Doyeon screamed.

The drama reached its conclusion.

Jinbeom was arrested, and the numerous murders he committed made headlines.

“…As the bodies found in this family’s residence have been identified as dozens of individuals, some are claiming that the police’s lax response exacerbated the situation.”

People were shocked by the existence of this heinous criminal, but they were intrigued by the fact that it was not the police, but an unidentified group, who caught him.

However, after that, there was no sign of the “Crime Predators” anywhere.

They had already achieved their goal.

And…

“Hey, mister. Your name.”

“Hm.”

“Why is this thug laughing in front of the detective? Do you want to give your name or not?”

“Do we need to reintroduce ourselves from the beginning?”

“What do you mean ‘our relationship’? This man is talking about something serious.”

“Easy now. You promised, you’d come to the police station with me.”

The epilogue of the story continued.

Hanseong and Junseong reunited at the police station.

It was to keep a promise.

Rookie detective Junseong sighed deeply before finishing writing the report.

“No… I just said we should go to the police station. What if we actually go?”

“I don’t know. Just… I want to pay for my mistakes and start fresh.”

“But what if we barge in like this? What if they mistake us for thugs? What we’re doing is so ignorant.”

“I-ignorant…!”

With a bit of banter.

The two men looked at each other and shared a laugh.

“Dohui. Shall we go now? I realized we never went on a trip with our daughter. Now, Mom will play a lot with her.”

And Doyeon, holding a portrait of her daughter, set off on a trip.

It was her way of saying goodbye to her daughter.

In the epilogue, there was also Hyesu’s story.

“Look. Why do you think this child in the picture is crying?”

A psychiatrist with a gentle demeanor conversed with Hyesu.

The picture he showed her depicted a child holding a torn stuffed doll and crying.

Hyesu thought hard, but in the end, she shook her head.

“I don’t know.”

“It’s okay. Let’s keep trying.”

The attire of Hyesu and the psychiatrist changed several times.

The counseling session with the psychiatrist didn’t end in a day, hinting at the passage of time.

But Hyesu’s answer remained the same.

“I don’t know.”

“I don’t know.”

“I don’t know.”

…

…

Hyesu felt anguish and frustration every time she answered like that.

But she didn’t give up.

Then, for the first time, she gave a different answer.

“…Could it be that my parents didn’t buy me a new doll?”

It was a somewhat unexpected answer.

But it also meant that for the first time, she was starting to empathize with the emotions of the child in the picture.

The psychiatrist smiled faintly.

“Well done. Let’s keep going like this.”

Hyesu felt a small sense of accomplishment she hadn’t felt before.

She looked at the psychiatrist and smiled back.

That smile.

It was faint, as if the emotions behind it could easily dissipate.

But at the same time,

In the darkness.

It held a light that illuminated herself.

Hyesu smiled as brightly as a newborn baby.

Hyesu’s epilogue resonated deeply with the viewers.

-This drama is explosive until the very end.

-Seo Isu was in “The Sea Diary,” right? Is it still showing?

-It must have gone down.

-If I can’t see it in theaters, I’ll have to buy it. I think I’ve become a fan…

Such comments were not uncommon.

It was evidence that Seo Isu’s acting had captivated numerous people.

No.

Not just Seo Isu, but…

Lead actress Gil Hye-yeon, supporting actors Bae Dong-geun and Lee Hyun-seong as well.

They all put on a great performance.

– Ah.

– Come to think of it, weren’t we arguing about what the ratings would be until just now?

– I don’t know, is that important now?

– Still, I’m curious.

In front of a great work, ratings often lose their meaning.

At this point, after I have already enjoyed the work, how others viewed it becomes less important.

But the emotion of empathy still holds power.

I hope that others will enjoy the work that I have enjoyed.

– Hey! It’s out!

That night, the ratings for the final episode of “Crime Eater” were announced.

[Crime Eater, holding a feast on KCN.]

It was 15%.

***

When the ratings were announced.

“Wow!!”

Director Kim Jung-ho trembled as if he had received a revelation once again.

But Kim Jung-ho had been a director for more than a day or two.

By now, people just waited for the director’s next words.

“It passed 11%.”

“Well, it seemed like it would.”

Such thoughts crossed their minds.

“15%!”

But when the number 15 was announced, people could not help but react the same as before.

“Wow!!”

They shouted along with Kim Jung-ho.

It was inevitable.

11% and 15% are numbers that cannot be placed on the same level.

Unexpected success drives people crazy.

The staff and actors were in awe.

“Let’s drink!”

“Eat, drink, and be merry!”

People of all ages raised their glasses.

“Is it really happening? Can we stop praying now? I thought my arm was going to fall off.”

“You were still praying?!”

During the one-hour broadcast, Seo Yisoo, who had been praying with folded hands, burst into tears and let go of her hands.

People enjoyed the night of the final episode with one heart and one mind.

Everyone drank and enjoyed themselves.

And the scene that finally unfolded after pouring drinks was not much different from the first episode.

“Ah…….”

“I can’t drink anymore…….”

Everyone turned into non-human forms, either staggering around or rolling on the floor.

Except for Seo Yisoo, whose tolerance was almost unlimited.

“This is awkward.”

What should I do with these people?

Seo Yisoo was just an actress and leaving the drunken crowd to fend for themselves wouldn’t be a big problem.

“If you leave them like this, they might catch a cold.”

But she couldn’t just leave them, so she hesitated.

What should she do?

“What are you doing?”

“Shin Ji-hoo! You came at the right time!”

Shin Ji-hoo appeared just in time.

The managers were enjoying themselves in their own group.

And managers usually don’t drink at such gatherings.

So Shin Ji-hoo was also sober.

“You see, Shin Ji-hoo.”

Seo Yisoo explained the situation to Shin Ji-hoo.

People who had been drinking with her were now sprawled out and she didn’t know what to do.

“Just leave them be. What else can you do?”

Shin Ji-hoo said nonchalantly.

“Still, I’ll go buy hangover relief.”

He said he would go to the convenience store to buy hangover relief.

With that, he picked up his coat and put it on.

“Are you going alone?”

“Is there a need for several people to go just to buy that?”

“Then let’s go together. It’s lonely to walk alone at night.”

“…Sure. Thanks.”

The two of them set off into the night.

“Huh? It looks like it rained.”

“It seems so.”

While Seo Yisoo and her colleagues were drinking and enjoying themselves at the barbecue restaurant, it seemed that it had been raining on the streets.

It was winter rain.

The moisture could be felt in the dry wind.

The city was wet and glistening in the light.

“Haha, this is fun.”

Seo Yisoo skipped along.

Every time she stepped on a shallow puddle, water splashed and soaked her pants.

Thanks to that, the hem of her pants got wet, but Seo Yisoo didn’t seem to mind.

“….”

Shin Jihu followed her, watching her.

“Are you feeling better now?”

Suddenly, Shin Jihu asked.

“Worries? Ah, that’s what you mean.”

After hesitating for a moment.

Seo Yisoo said.

“It’s not resolved.”

“….Really? You did well in the last shoot, though?”

“That’s just the character.”

She wanted to do her own acting.

She wanted to understand people.

She wanted something different from before.

With those thoughts in mind, Seo Yisoo embarked on a new challenge.

Playing without constructing a virtual personality, throwing herself into it.

Through that, she was able to showcase her character in her own way.

But Seo Yisoo knew.

It was only possible because she could fully understand and empathize with the character’s emotions.

For characters she couldn’t understand, she wouldn’t be able to act like that.

But.

“But it doesn’t seem like it’s completely unresolved.”

However, that didn’t mean Seo Yisoo’s new challenge was meaningless.

The spirit of the dragon is weak.

The mortal world had too many intense things.

Through her challenge, Seo Yisoo felt that she had transformed in some way.

Influenced by the character.

It was, to put it bluntly.

A desire.

“….Shin Jihu.”

“Yeah.”

“I want to play more diverse characters.”

Originally, Seo Yisoo was a pure dragon.

Because of the difference in species, there were areas where she fundamentally couldn’t understand humans.

But, that changed because of this challenge.

The desire that harbored, to understand people.

That desire had transformed Seo Yisoo’s mind, making it possible for her to have a fundamental empathy for people.

“Do you understand, Shin Jihu? I want to act. Because.”

Just as she unfolded her own unique acting through empathizing with Haesoo this time.

If she could fully understand the emotions of other characters, Seo Yisoo’s unique acting would be possible.

Through that process, Seo Yisoo.

“Wanted to act as many characters as possible, making their emotions her own.”

She wanted to understand more emotions.

And so, finally.

“I might be able to become a person. Shin Jihu. I want to become a person.”

Someone who loves herself.

And someone she loves….

She wanted to become the same species as them.

Seo Yisoo harbored such a desire.

She spoke as if dreaming with that desire.

“….”

And Shin Jihu couldn’t honestly understand Seo Yisoo’s words.

In Shin Jihu’s eyes, Seo Yisoo was human from the beginning.

But that’s not a problem.

“Heh. Yeah. You need to become more human.”

“….Your words sound a bit strange.”

“Hehe.”

“Hey, you’re trying to make fun of me!”

Conversations with Seo Yisoo were always like this.

She often said things that he couldn’t understand.

But her feelings were always clear.

Even now, it was the same.

In the world, only the heart mattered.

If the heart was conveyed, the form of words didn’t matter.

And that’s why.

“Don’t make fun of me. I’m just telling you to become more human. Heh, hehe.”

“Stop making fun of me!”

So Shin Jihu,

Laughed.

Ignoring Seo Yisoo’s tantrum not to laugh, he just laughed.

He felt that he shouldn’t respond to the emotions he felt from Seo Yisoo when she said she wanted to become human.

That’s why Seo Yisoo seemed so radiant.

‘My mother, in order to continue shining. She abandoned me to be able to act and shine.’

So, shining like her mother.

No. Perhaps Seo Yisoo, who might shine even brighter than her mother, should not be distracted by anything other than acting in order to continue shining.

Shin Jihu kept feeling this hesitation.

And Seo Yisoo, who was sensitive to the emotions of others, also knew that Shin Jihu had some concerns about himself.

“…Shin Jihu.”

“Yeah?”

“By any chance, is there something that you’re angry with me about?”

Seo Yisoo asked, looking quite observant.

She was worried about what she would do if Shin Jihu was really angry.

But Shin Jihu casually tilted his head, as if intentionally trying to appear unaffected.

“There’s no way. You’re doing well.”

“Is that so.”

The two walked in silence for a while.

The night scene passed by their sight.

Honking sounds occasionally echoed.

The noise of people enjoying the night could be heard.

The convenience store was getting closer.

Seo Yisoo glanced at Shin Jihu.

She stole a glance at the scarf around his neck.

“Shin Jihu.”

“Yeah.”

“You know, you’re my manager, right?”

“That’s right.”

“…Is it because you treat me well, because you’re my manager?”

Seo Yisoo asked with some dissatisfaction.

While asking the question, Seo Yisoo thought it was strange.

She used to feel reassured by the fact that Shin Jihu was her manager and treated her well.

She couldn’t understand why she was feeling differently now.

She just hoped that Shin Jihu would say no to her question.

Seo Yisoo quietly observed Shin Jihu’s lips.

“….”

And Shin Jihu.

“Yeah.”

He answered.

“I see.”

Seo Yisoo’s eyes drooped in disappointment.

But Shin Jihu’s words didn’t end there.

He looked at Seo Yisoo and added something that seemed difficult to bear.

“For now.”

“For now?”

“Yeah. For now. That’s right.”

For now.

A phrase used when you want to say that something is true for now, even though it may change later.

“For now… I see. That’s right.”

Seo Yisoo found that word quite intriguing.

She felt that something important had changed, even though Shin Jihu’s answer had not changed.

And on the other hand, she thought that maybe it was fortunate that Shin Jihu had answered that way for now.

“….”

A certain word had started to form in her mind.

But she still didn’t know what form that word would take.

She didn’t know the color of the emotions contained within it.

Seo Yisoo had changed through this new game.

And she had a desire to become someone someday.

But she didn’t know if this feeling that resided in her heart had truly reached Seo Yisoo yet.

“Yeah.”

So Seo Yisoo smiled at Shin Jihu.

Looking at him, she smiled and said.

“Please continue to treat me well in the future. For now, as my manager.”

Looking at Shin Jihu’s scarf.

Seo Yisoo smiled quite softly.