Former Warrior Turns Into A Million-Dollar Actor [EN]: Chapter 38

Who Calls Them Outsiders (6)

Roman Entertainment CEO’s office.

After a long interval, Jin Jiyu and CEO Noh sat facing each other.

Downstairs, a donut party was in full swing. True to her nickname ‘Angel Jin,’ she had brought a mountain of snacks to share again today.

“Congratulations, CEO.”

Jin Jiyu took a sip of her tea and offered her greetings.

“What congratulations?”

“About the contracts. You recently renewed with all the company’s main actors, didn’t you?”

“Why, were you planning to go somewhere else?”

He used honorifics with Park Geon, but not with her. Jin Jiyu also responded quite familiarly.

“Of course not. I wouldn’t go anywhere but Roman. I’d rather retire than work for another agency.”

“You never know. People’s minds change.”

“You’re the one who knows that best.”

Jin Jiyu, skipping over mentioning Baek Hani, changed the subject.

“By the way, are you just going to sit back and watch?”

There was only one thing to watch: the ‘that occult’ movie that was being bashed from all sides recently, yet suspiciously receiving no response.

“Park Geon’s movie?”

“Yes. You know you have a lot of reporters who dislike you, CEO. It seems like those people are targeting the company’s rookie as well.”

CEO Noh Joong-man calmly raised his teacup.

“It’s not time to move yet. It’s okay to let it be for now.”

Jin Jiyu nodded.

He was skilled at playing the waiting game. If he said that, it meant he was biding his time.

To turn the tables… or sweep everything up.

She knew that Noh Joong-man, the head of Roman, took great care of his company members. There was no way he would let a hidden card he had personally scouted get dragged through the mud.

A faint playfulness mixed in CEO Noh’s expression.

“Why don’t you go help him out? Like you did during the drama, give him a special appearance, and turn the entertainment scene upside down.”

“Then I’ll definitely get caught up in a scandal. If only Jin Jiyu from the agency is sent as support, people will say there’s something between us.”

“Not that you want that?”

Jin Jiyu stretched. Her arms, stretched out from under her white short sleeves, looked healthy and strong.

“That’s a bit… I don’t want to retire yet, but even if a scandal breaks out, will you keep pushing me?”

“Of course. Even more so if it’s a real scandal.”

Although she was from an idol background, she was clearly a top actress. The moment she got involved with a man, it would affect the advertisements she received, the works she could film, and even the company’s stock price.

To support a celebrity’s scandal, a company CEO would have to be crazy to say that.

Jin Jiyu let out a playful laugh.

“I’m touched, but I won’t go this time. I think the director there would hate it too.”

“Good thinking. A promising star should also try to stand on their own.”

The short meeting ended quickly.

As Jin Jiyu, who was wearing a hat, stood up, CEO Noh asked casually, as if passing by.

“…Have you heard from him since then?”

“No. It’ll be a year next month.”

“Tell me if he comes again. I’ll take care of it.”

“It’s okay. It ended like that last time, so he won’t even try to poke at me out of fear now.”

“That’s a relief then.”

Leaving the CEO’s office, Jin Jiyu took out her black smartphone. It was a much older model than the space gray iPhone she used to use.

Her slender fingers scrolled down the few messenger contacts she had and stopped.

The profile saved as ‘Family, Faith, Love’ had a picture of a middle-aged couple, and the status message had a short phrase.

[I miss you… We were wrong…]

“Jiyu-ya!”

Jin Jiyu turned to the direction where the voice came from. Her manager, Kim Young-tae, was waving his large hand at the end of the hallway.

“I was waiting downstairs, and it was about time for you to come out, so I came up. Did you finish talking with the CEO okay?”

It was time to return to being an idol… no, a celebrity. Jin Jiyu waved back and smiled brightly.

“Yeah, I’m hungry. Let’s go eat quickly.”

*

“Actress, do you have something good going on?”

“Something good?”

“Ah, it’s just that your expression seems brighter than it was during the reading.”

“I guess it’s because there’s a lot of filming today. The scenes are all fun too.”

Normally, having a lot of filming would be tiring, but this actor said the opposite.

The filming staff smiled and gave a thumbs up.

“I’m relieved that you say that, even if it’s just words. We’ll work hard and do our best too.”

After the staff disappeared, Geon, who had returned to the car where his younger sibling was, shrugged his shoulders.

“It’s true, but they don’t believe me.”

“Huh? What?”

“They asked if something good was going on, so I said it’s fun because there’s a lot of filming. And the role is good too.”

Park Seon, who was diligently looking at the script that his older brother had memorized, chimed in.

“That’s right. The script is a bit different from when I saw it before, and it seems like the director modified it to suit you better, hyung [older brother]. It’s a perfect fit even when I read it, really.”

That was the truth. The role of Seo Yohan had quite a few similarities to him.

First of all, the character’s religious characteristics. The interesting point was that he hated and distrusted the god he believed in, yet received and used divine power.

Just like the hero who was summoned to the Iron Kingdom, drew the holy sword, the weapon of angels, and fought against the demons.

‘I wasn’t quite that extreme, though.’

Looking back, he had a lot of memories of being frustrated with the angels.

—Return, human. We cannot directly interfere in your world.

—You manifest, so why can’t you fight!

—It is the high law of the heavens. Return.

They don’t help. They don’t reach out.

The absolute being who looks down from above is just a resentful villain from the perspective of the creatures floundering in the mire.

That’s why Seo Yohan’s character was easy to absorb. After hearing about the character’s background, past, and the power he gained, he even wondered if he was the motif.

‘Kim Ryul wouldn’t be a returnee, would he…’

It was comfortable even with Choi Seung, but this time it felt like he was wearing clothes that fit him even better.

The directing of Kim Ryul, the director he was working with for the first time, also played a part. He led the scenes by asking each character to express or restrain themselves at certain points.

There was almost no advice for Park Geon himself, but he covered the other actors, so there were far fewer NGs [no-good takes, meaning fewer mistakes].

And most of all, what was welcome was…

‘Memories are coming back.’

It was the same as when he was filming the drama. The hero’s lost power, and even the fragmented memories of the Iron Kingdom, were gradually returning.

Of course, the hero’s power was not really needed. There was no chance of demons appearing on modern Earth, and what would he use the superhuman strength that was only displayed during filming for?

The important thing was the fragments of memory.

Thoughts lead to other thoughts, and if that happened, he might reach a clue to spatial transfer.

What happened in those twenty years, tearing demons to death in that hellfire.

And… what was the saintess trying to say?

As he thought that far, his pocket vibrated.

When he took out his smartphone, a new message had arrived from a colleague at the agency.

[Jin Jiyu] Is filming going well?

It seemed like she had contacted him after seeing the trending articles. Geon sent a simple reply.

[Park Geon] Thanks to your concern, it’s going smoothly.

[Jin Jiyu] Let’s grab a meal sometime. We’re family now.

[Park Geon] Yes, I’ll visit the company soon. You weren’t there when I went last time.

There was no reply for a few minutes, and then only a laughing emoticon supported by the messenger was sent.

‘I guess that means she understands.’

Come to think of it, he heard that the agency’s celebrities would treat everyone to a big meal when they made a cameo appearance.

Geon pondered for a moment, then went to the messenger gift box and sent a set of Korean beef barbecue for six people.

[Park Geon has sent a gift and message to Jin Jiyu!]

[Korean Beef 1++ Grade Sirloin (for grilling) 3KG]

[Park Geon] I’ll buy the drinks later.

“Since she’s a celebrity, it’s important to eat well.”

*

Filming continues.

Kim Ryul put effort into the main narrative and, at the same time, gave Seo Yohan individual characteristics that were impossible to take your eyes off.

The day of an unfaithful, alcoholic priest.

A studio apartment with empty bottles and trash rolling around.

He doesn’t wake up until the sun is high in the sky, and he frowns as he recites the prayer even when he puts on his cassock [a long, close-fitting garment worn by clergy].

Seo Yohan: (In a tone that says he’s annoyed to death) The Lord is the portion I am to receive and the cup I will drink… You are the one who controls my destiny…

Of course, his household situation can’t be good either. The mailbox is overflowing with various utility bills and invoices, and a final notice is stuck on the front door.

[If you don’t pay the monthly rent this month, I will call the police, Landlord Baek.]

However, he was already fired from the lounge where he fought with the manager. He goes to an interview for a job he found on a job search site, but the bosses shake their heads at the story of him doing it in a priest’s robe.

“No, what’s with the priest’s robe at a convenience store! Are you going to chase away customers?”

“Please, I’m begging you. I don’t want to wear it either, but there are personal reasons why I can’t take it off…”

“What are you talking about, absolutely not!”

After being rejected in several places, a restaurant that was looking for a kitchen assistant conversely scouts him.

“You’re handsome, but that’s a bit…”

“I can’t help it. I understand.”

“Why don’t you do hall serving instead of kitchen assistant? Or go see CEO Kang in front of you. You look like someone they would like there.”

“Is that store a restaurant too?”

“No, it’s a bar for women. I’m saying that because you look like a player, hahaha.”

“…No, thanks.”

The story that illuminated Seo Yohan’s character flows into a full-fledged main episode.

[Yesterday at around 4 a.m., two bodies were found in an abandoned warehouse in Eunpyeong-gu.]

[Breaking news. A corpse in a black plastic bag under the Dorimcheon Bridge…]

[The scene is so horrific that I can’t even speak. We ask for the public’s attention.]

In one night, a whopping five people were found brutally murdered in three districts of Seoul.

The broadcasting station anchor continues the report with a serious face.

[Given that the stab wounds and traces of damage on the bodies are all similar, the police are presuming a serial murder and expanding the investigation.]

The next day, in the dim dawn.

This time, an incident broke out in a mountain in the city center. A sprinkler truck, mobilized by squeezing the budget, pours heavy rain over the red soil like dug-up flesh.

“Team Leader Park, Team Leader Park!”

“What happened, is it another serial murder!”

Reporters who have set up camp in front of the police line are clamoring, but they are blocked by uniformed police officers wearing raincoats.

At that time, Kim Hwang-cheol, a detective from the Metropolitan Investigation Unit, comes from afar, naturally crosses the line, and orders.

Kim Hwang-cheol: (Flicking cigarette ash into the rain) Block the reporters. The chief will be here soon, so clean up as much as you can before that.”

Junior Detective: Yes, are you going to see it now?

Kim Hwang-cheol: If I came, I have to see it. Aren’t you looking?

While going inside, a young-looking police officer runs out and vomits.

Kim Hwang-cheol: (Clicking his tongue with a pathetic expression) He’s making a fuss, a detective.

Jang Seong-hwa, the ace of the theater troupe ‘Teum’ scouted by Kim Ryul, properly played the role of a tired and veteran detective.

He roughly puts out the cigarette he was smoking on the way, approaches the scene wrapped in vinyl, and bends his body.

Junior Detective: (Approaching from the side and briefing) It’s the same method this time too. Two women and one man. All the internal organs were taken out, and the corpses were hung on the trees.

Kim Hwang-cheol: It wouldn’t be a copycat… anything else?

Junior Detective: (As if it’s too terrible to say) That, the expressions. It’s the same as the previous victims.

Kim Hwang-cheol removes the vinyl covering the corpse’s face and narrows his brow.

Clearly, they must have died in pain, but the face with closed eyes has a smile full of joy.

As if… like humans saved by God.

Kim Hwang-cheol: (Scratching his unshaven chin) Haa… it’s going to be fucked up again, again.