Former Warrior Turns Into A Million-Dollar Actor [EN]: Chapter 15

Audition for the Small Screen (4)

* * *

It was a rare day off from daytime filming.

Because they were shooting car chase and explosion scenes late at night, Director Na Jong-mo told him to get plenty of rest and come in the evening.

His brother, Park Sun, was busy since morning, making calls and setting up appointments.

“I’m going to meet with a few agencies that contacted us. We need to handle these quickly while you don’t have filming.”

“Do I need to come with you?”

“Usually, only the manager goes out for the first round to test the waters. Once we narrow it down, you can come with me then.”

Gun packed his books into his backpack. He was planning to spend time at a cafe before returning the borrowed books, but suddenly, Park Sun called him.

“Hyung, do you have sunglasses? Or a hat?”

“Why?”

“You need to cover up! People will recognize you.”

“It hasn’t even been a few episodes since the broadcast. Besides, I look different on screen, so it’ll be fine.”

Park Sun shook his head and then grinned.

“…No, just go out and see what happens. You need to adjust to the mild version before you get even more popular.”

He soon understood the meaning of his brother’s sly smile.

“Are you, perhaps… the actor Choi Seung?”

It was when he was ordering coffee at the cafe. The female part-time worker, who had been staring at him, called out his character’s name.

“Yes. I’m Park Gun, who plays Choi Seung.”

“Oh my gosh, what a surprise. I’ve been watching every episode since the first one! I even followed you on SNS [Social Networking Service] yesterday when you created it…”

The part-time worker turned on her phone and showed him his SNS that she was following.

“Thank you. I’ll work hard.”

“You’re already working too hard. Could I possibly get an autograph…?”

“Of course.”

After giving her an autograph and sitting down to open his book, the real ordeal began.

A group of women who had been watching the part-time worker’s excitement from afar approached him.

“Excuse me, are you the actor from ‘Seoul’s Dog’… ?”

“Yes, that’s right. Thank you for recognizing me.”

“No, we’re the ones who are grateful! Wow, you look much better in person.”

“Amazing, your face is even smaller than on screen. So this is what it takes to be a celebrity.”

Thanks to them, an impromptu fan signing event was held. The last ones were a couple who asked for a photo, saying his girlfriend was a fan.

“Wow, you look really ugly.”

“You look just as bad as a squid, okay? That’s why I told you not to stand next to him.”

After the couple bickered and left after checking the selfie, Gun finally picked up his coffee.

There was a message of support written in cute handwriting on the Americano cup holder.

[Fighting, ‘Seoul’s Dog’! Good luck, actor!]

‘I haven’t even done anything hard yet.’

This job as an actor had more in common with being a hero than he thought.

First, in that people recognized him,

Second, in that they showed quite blind favor.

It was funny to think about. He had killed countless demons and humans and returned, and here he was playing a role where he killed someone again.

‘It’s even more amazing that they like that.’

The occupational benefits were better in this world.

Here, he was paid six hundred thousand won for playing the role of a human butcher, but in the Middle Ages, the crowd cheered and trembled in fear when he beheaded traitors.

ㅡHero, just get someone else to do it.

ㅡDo what?

ㅡYou’re not good at killing people. Tell Hans or Kopen, or those morons with shit for brains, to do it. Don’t make that face like you’re carrying the weight of the world.

Except for one person.

Gun shook his head.

He couldn’t even remember the battle with the Great Demon, and only strange memories came to mind, so he still had a long way to go.

“Excuse me, are you the person from the drama…?”

“Yes, that’s me.”

“I’m a fan! Can I get a photo?”

Because the cafe customers were calling their acquaintances, saying there was a celebrity, Gun took several more photos.

‘Now I know why I needed a hat.’

In the end, he couldn’t read much of his book. As he was putting on his bag and leaving, he heard people’s voices behind him.

“Didn’t that actor say his name was Park Gun? Why did he write ‘God’ on the autograph?”

“I guess that’s his English name. Anyway, his cursive is amazing.”

*

There was a commotion at the library as well, with several people recognizing Gun and asking for autographs.

As he came out to the lobby and finished the second fan signing event, a message from Park Sun came in.

-Hyung, you’re doing great! There are 인증샷s [proof shots] of Choi Seung appearing at the library right now? Since you’re out, go around and stir up some buzz!

It wasn’t his intention, but he was glad he was doing well. Gun finished taking the photos and sent a reply.

-I’ll try my best.

As his brother had asked, he stopped by the arcade on the way back.

“Wow, you could be a celebrity, young man. I’ve been running this place for fifteen years, and you’re the best-looking guy I’ve ever seen!”

“Thank you. Is that the prize for the shooting game?”

“It changes for every ten, twenty, thirty points! Oh, should I record a video for you?”

The arcade owner, who had been full of energy, rapidly became less talkative when he hit thirty points straight away.

“You’re really good… You’re not a shooting athlete, are you? I’m sorry, but we can’t give prizes to professionals…”

“I was discharged from the military not long ago.”

In the end, the owner gave him the prizes, giant stuffed animals, with a tearful expression.

‘It would be nice to put them in the car and sleep.’

As he was thinking that and about to leave, he noticed the punch machine at the entrance of the store. It was an ordinary arcade game where you punched to set a new record.

“There’s nothing for setting a record on that one!”

“I understand. Can you record this too?”

“Yes… well, I guess I can.”

With the owner holding his phone and watching with an uneasy look, Gun walked over to the punch machine.

Twenty minutes later.

Park Sun, who had hurriedly finished his meeting and rushed over, threw open the doors of the arcade.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry! What is going on, is anyone hurt…? Yes, of course, I’ll compensate you. But you recorded a video?”

*

The next day, as soon as he arrived at the filming set, Director Na Jong-mo happily spread his arms.

“Our Choi Seung, you’ve done it again.”

“Yes?”

“You broke the neck of the punch machine. Our staff has all taken turns watching it.”

Park Sun had shown him the reactions on SNS on the way here, but he didn’t know the rumors had spread this far.

Kim Jung-nam, the director of photography, chimed in.

“We’re grateful when an actor creates buzz. The content also matched the role well.”

“No, I’m more amazed that you broke a perfectly good machine. How did that happen?”

“I got lucky.”

When Gun answered modestly, the staff went wild again.

“How is that luck! You broke it on purpose!”

“I’ve punched it a few times in my day, but I can never break it. It’s only possible because it’s Park Gun!”

Last night, a short clip was uploaded to YouTube.

The title was ‘Common Actor Destroys Punch Machine’.

A normal neighborhood arcade. Ding-a-ling, music plays, and when the man throws a punch, the head of the punch machine breaks with a cracking sound.

The point of appreciation is that the angle stops abruptly and there is silence, as if the person filming was the owner.

The video spread to funny ‘짤줍’ [short, funny video clip] pages, attracting muggles [non-fans] who didn’t watch the drama.

-What is this…?

-FakeFakeFakeFakeFake

-Who is this person?

-He’s a rookie actor from ‘Seoul’s Dog’. He’s been trending recently as a special forces veteran.

-Didn’t you use honorifics for our human weapon KingGodGeneralChungmuGongChoiSeung right now?

-What fake ㅋㅋㅋㅋ [laughing sounds] Search for the fight scenes from ‘Seoul’s Dog’ and come back ㅇㅇ [okay] It’s amazing

-It’s not the action, it’s his face that’s amazing, teacher

Below that, the regular viewers of ‘Seoul’s Dog’ proudly recited his profile.

It’s always rewarding to teach something that only I know. An elated Park Sun told the behind-the-scenes story without being asked.

“They said they filmed it with a phone video, not CCTV, so I thought it would be good for promotion. I paid one million five hundred thousand won and brought that punch machine home.”

“Wow, that’s a lot for promotion. We have to film hard and make up for Gun’s expenses.”

“Park, are your hands okay? Are you hurt anywhere?”

“Yes. There’s a cushion, so I’m fine.”

As he said that, Gun held out his right hand. The curved knuckles were smooth without a single scar.

Of course, breaking that machine was a mistake. Still, he didn’t adjust his strength because it was a punch machine, but he didn’t expect it to break.

‘I should be more careful from now on.’

Martial arts director Hyun Do-kyun, who had come next to him, joined in the chatter.

“PD Na, this is really amazing. I felt the aura of a master as soon as I saw Park. You know?”

“I know. Thanks to Park Gun, our director Hyun is just playing around and going home. I heard you’re leaving all the directing to him and leaving work early these days?”

“Well, my second child had a summer cold yesterday…”

While Hyun Do-kyun was sweating and making excuses, the assistant director relayed the current situation.

“The viewership is also increasing. The drama script and the actors’ SNS are both doing well, and even though there are still some episodes left, we’re about to hit 25%.”

“That’s great. I hope I can do that too.”

Gun smiled back and shifted his gaze. Hwang Bo-joon, who had been glancing at them from afar as if he had committed a crime, gasped and ran away.

PD Na tilted his head.

“Why is Hwang Bo-joon like that? Did he eat something wrong?”

Seo Hee-do, who was sitting next to Yong Joon-sang in the filming chair, smirked as if he deserved it.

“Leave him alone, PD. He must have a guilty conscience.”

*