An Actor Who Has Lived For 10,000 Years [EN]: Chapter 44

#11 – There is No Eternal ‘Gapdo,’ No Eternal ‘Euldo’ (2)

Thud.

It was a dream.

I didn’t want to close my eyes again, fearing the dream would continue.

The memory of the dream was too vivid.

Building the tower.

The vassals who were with me when I built that tower.

And the memory of finally meeting the god and the punishment I received – everything was vividly remembered.

Kneeling before the god was the peak of suffering.

Wait a minute.

So, all the dreams I’ve been having until now were all…?

…Crazy.

All of this is because of the punishment I received from the god back then.

I began to recall the memories, piecing them together like a puzzle.

From the time I was punished by the god, the memories of the Japanese colonial era.

Being a university professor.

Living as an idol.

Even the life of a sales representative.

Those dreams were not illusions.

Well.

I’ve lived for nearly 10,000 years….

Living a new life every 10 years, and having to repeat that a thousand times as punishment.

I wouldn’t have lived the same life or had the same job for a thousand times.

In other words, there wouldn’t be an era or job I haven’t experienced.

All the memories flashed through my mind.

Now, my life, my existence, is all understood.

“Ah…”

My head ached as if it would break, but I couldn’t stop thinking.

Out of the thousand lives I was punished with.

I’ve lived 999 lives.

And now, the life of ‘Jin Hee-sung’ is my last, thousandth life.

The answers to all the questions I had while dreaming poured out.

Whenever I had dreams like the one about the Japanese colonial era, I became strangely immersed in the role.

As if I had lived through that era.

Or as if I was possessed by someone from that era.

But in fact, that was what I had experienced, that was my life.

Because I remembered the lived experience in my body, I had no choice but to act like someone from that era.

Moreover, Kwon Chan, the idol I saw in the idol dream I had last time, must also be me.

Kwon Chan.

That successful singer suddenly died young after 10 years.

That too was a punishment from the god, and I had no choice but to end my life.

I pressed my temples with both hands and continued to think.

I knew that all my memories from the dream were my past lives.

And I fully understood that I am currently in the process of receiving punishment.

This life is my last life….

Only one thing was clear in my mind.

But it didn’t really feel real.

Right now, my desire to succeed as an actor is stronger.

Frankly speaking, I don’t know if I realized that life itself was a punishment in the previous 999 lives.

I only found out because this life is the thousandth.

I can’t know if I knew every time.

Even if I had found out, I don’t know if I would have lived diligently in reality every time.

What is certain is that I want to be faithful to my current life rather than considering all those things.

Because I want to live as ‘Jin Hee-sung,’ not as Methuselah [a biblical figure known for his extreme longevity].

Yes, let’s get a grip.

***

The day of the crank-in [the first day of filming] for the drama ‘Entertainment Industry Extra’ dawned.

As soon as I came down from my house, I saw Manager Kim’s car.

Manager Kim saw me walking towards the car and opened the back door of the van.

“Hee-sung, you’re here?”

“Yeah, did you wait long?”

He shook his head at my words.

“No, I just arrived. I came out just in time.”

As soon as I sat down and fastened my seat belt, the car started heading towards the set.

Manager Kim looked at my face through the rearview mirror and asked.

“How’s your condition today?”

“Good.”

It wasn’t just to reassure him.

I was always nervous about the first day of shooting.

But after countless practices, that feeling turned into excitement.

Today, too, I was filled with the thrill and anticipation of something new, rather than anxiety-ridden tension.

Looking out the window, I saw green sprouts emerging one by one on the bare branches.

The weather was also getting warmer to match.

Taking off the thick padding I was wearing, I opened my mouth as if talking to myself.

“The weather is really getting warmer now.”

Manager Kim concentrated on driving and replied.

“Yeah, it was really cold until yesterday, but the weather suddenly warmed up today.”

“I know, I had to wear a padded jacket until yesterday, but I don’t have to wear it from today.”

Manager Kim smiled and said.

“The weather must be helping us with our first shoot. Haha.”

“I guess so.”

I looked at the blue sky outside the window and raised the corners of my mouth.

It’s a good day for some reason.

After driving for a while, we arrived at the filming location.

I got out of the car right away without dawdling.

“Hello.”

I immediately ran towards Director Lim, who was far away, and bowed.

“Oh, Hee-sung, you’re here?”

Director Lim smiled brightly and patted my shoulder.

“Let’s have a good shoot today.”

“Yes, I will do my best.”

Director Lim, who had a lot to do, left right after greeting me.

After that, I spent a long time going around to greet the staff one by one.

About twenty minutes after arriving at the set, while I was only greeting people.

Manager Kim was waving his hand in front of the car.

He was holding a costume in one hand.

At the motion that I had to change into the filming costume, I raised my hand high and gave an okay sign.

“Is it a group scene today?”

“I think so. I heard earlier….”

While walking towards Manager Kim, I heard a buzzing sound.

As soon as I turned my head and looked at them, I could tell at a glance.

That they were extras.

I used to spend time chatting in that group without a manager until recently.

I was lost in thought as I passed them, and then one of them made eye contact with me.

“Hello.”

He bowed his head politely.

I smiled brightly and bowed my head.

“Yes, hello.”

Then the other extras turned around and greeted me.

“Hello!”

“Yes, nice to meet you.”

I had been walking around for dozens of minutes to greet people.

But I answered this greeting with the brightest and most cheerful face.

When I was in that position, I used to look at the passing actors and greet them.

At that time, the attitudes of the seniors who greeted me warmly and the cold seniors are all vivid.

But the world seems to know that, most of the senior actors who greeted me warmly have succeeded and are doing well now.

And they still remain as good memories for me.

I wanted to be such a good senior, so I wanted to talk to them more warmly and friendly than anyone else.

After changing my clothes, I came back to the set.

Soon, a large van carrying Kang Chan-sung arrived.

Kang Chan-sung, with a stiff face without even a smile, didn’t look around and walked straight towards Director Lim.

And after greeting Director Lim, he went back to the car with his manager.

I took a step back from the set and stepped back.

Kang Chan-sung was looking ahead and moving his mouth non-stop, talking to his manager about something.

“Hyung [older brother or close male friend], at that restaurant we went to yesterday….”

At that time, the group of extras bowed their heads and shouted at Kang Chan-sung.

“Hello!”

Their voices were clearly audible even to my ears next to them.

But Kang Chan-sung only glanced at them and continued talking to his manager.

“So, that person I saw there….”

He didn’t even acknowledge the greeting, let alone nod or reply.

The manager also seemed used to it and walked forward with him.

My face contorted at the sight.

It’s the same personality I saw at the script reading.

What important story are you sharing that you can’t even accept a greeting?

No, apart from that, is it that difficult to accept a greeting?

I shook my head and looked at Kang Chan-sung’s back.

“Wow! Kang Chan-sung is so rude.”

One of the extras, who was ignored, walked towards me and muttered to himself.

At that moment, I made eye contact with him.

His eyes widened and he covered his mouth with his hand.

“Oh, I’m sorry.”

Surprised, he repeatedly bowed his head and apologized to me.

His face was flushed red, and he was breathing heavily with panicked eyes.

At the sight, I shook my head and replied.

“It’s okay, it happens.”

Even with my answer, he didn’t seem to calm down, and his pupils were shaking as if there was an earthquake.

In the days of being an extra, every little thing is connected to acting.

If this actor goes into filming in this state, he will inevitably make a mistake.

I patted him on the shoulder and joked.

“I’ll pretend I didn’t hear what you just said, so don’t swear at me. Haha.”

At my words, his trembling body seemed to calm down to some extent.

He nodded repeatedly.

“Of course, of course. Thank you!”

I raised the corners of my mouth and turned around, and the extra bowed to me.

***

“Hee-sung, there’s a chrome ball in the scene we’re filming today.”

Manager Kim said, showing me the contents written in the script.

“Right in the next scene?”

“Yeah, that’s right.”

“Where does the CG [computer-generated imagery] go in that scene?”

Tilting my head, Manager Kim pointed to the contents written in the script with his hand.

“It wasn’t in the original script, but they said it was added.”

“Oh, I thought so. It wasn’t there when I looked at the script.”

Manager Kim nodded and said.

“They said that if you hold the chrome ball in the middle of your body, they will insert an object with CG, so check it out.”

“I will.”

I started reading the additional script that Manager Kim gave me, and he made a sound and asked me.

“But Hee-sung, you know how to handle a chrome ball, right?”

At his words, I raised the corners of my mouth and replied.

“Of course, I’ve done it once before when I was filming as an extra.”

“Still… you might not know.”

Manager Kim explained, worried even with my words.

“Like this, you have to stand still in this exact position for at least 5 to 10 seconds.”

“Haha, I know, hyung [older brother or close male friend].”

Manager Kim took the motion of holding the chrome ball for 10 seconds as it is.

Then he fanned his face with his hand and said.

“Ha, why is it so hot today?”

“Yeah. Spring has just started, but it’s already this hot.”

“Hee-sung, you’re going to be filming in the next scene wearing a thick padding, so it’s going to be even hotter.”

I shook my head and replied.

“I know. I’m already sweating because I’m going to be wearing a long padding in this weather.”

At that time,

“Going into shoot!”

At the sound of Assistant Director Jo shouting on the set, I hurriedly ran to the set.

When I arrived at the set, Kang Chan-sung, standing with a frown on his face, caught my eye.

In this scene, everyone was wearing light padding and long padding to show that it was midwinter.

Kang Chan-sung was showing a full of annoyance as if showing that he was hot.

He has something that makes the other person’s mood bad as well.

Director Lim sat in his chair, grabbed the megaphone, and shouted.

“Ready, action!”

As soon as the filming started, Kang Chan-sung’s face changed rapidly.

“Mino, you know today’s stage is really important, right?”

Kang Chan-sung said to me with pleading eyes.

“I know, how many times are you going to say it?”

I made an annoyed expression and rubbed my ears, and the extra in front of me opened his mouth.

“You have to prepare for the next stage… you have to.”

“Cut, NG [no good]!”

It was the extra’s mistake.

It was a short line, but he looked very nervous.

Director Lim put the megaphone to his mouth and opened his mouth again.

“Okay, let’s go again right away.”

I loosened my shoulders and prepared for the filming to start again.

Kang Chan-sung muttered in a low voice.

“It’s hot, let’s do it right.”

At his words, the extra bowed his head deeply.

“Yes, I’m sorry.”

“Ready, action again!”

The acting started again, and sweat was pouring down my back under the hot sun.

“Cut, okay!”

The scene barely got an okay after three takes due to the extra’s continuous mistakes.

As soon as Director Lim finished speaking, Assistant Director Jo shouted.

“Let’s shoot the chrome ball right away.”

I nodded and received the chrome ball.

At that time.

Kang Chan-sung shouted with an annoyed face and voice.

“Ah, it’s hot!”

The hot set turned cold with his one word.

Director Lim put the megaphone on the floor and got up from his seat with a stiff face and opened his mouth.

“Excuse me, Kang Chan-sung.”