Former Warrior Turns Into A Million-Dollar Actor [EN]: Chapter 180

The End of Paradise (5)

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North Island, New Zealand.

As filming neared its end, a party was held for the first time in a while.

“We’re done for today, right? The director really said we could rest, didn’t he?”

“I think so. He wouldn’t call us out again at dawn like last time, would he?”

“Great! Let’s drink and eat till we drop!”

“Hey, but that’s non-alcoholic. We’re officially dry until filming wraps up.”

The staff member who pointed this out raised his beer bottle without any embarrassment.

“We need at least this much fun! Today, I’ll get drunk even if I’m just drinking water!”

The other staff members shook their heads and clinked their drink glasses.

In Korea, there’s a tradition of food trucks where actors, agencies, or their fans send warm meals or coffee. [These trucks are a sign of support and appreciation.]

Hollywooed has something similar. It’s not a Korean-style buffet truck, but the lead actors usually provide meals. However, there aren’t many restaurants on the North Island.

Plus, it’s already been over a year since filming started. Naturally, they’ve been to most restaurants dozens of times, so they’re bound to be tired of them.

So, the actors of ‘The Chronicle of the Gods’ chose the most local treat.

They decided to throw an outdoor barbecue party.

“Wow, how long has it been since I tore into some meat?”

“We ate a lot of meat in lunch boxes. The director said we need to eat well to have strength.”

“Ugh… sandwiches from the restaurant are only good once or twice. Later on, combat rations tasted better.”

Barbecues are best enjoyed when it’s cold. Under the moonlit sky, all kinds of meat sizzle on the cast iron grill.

Today, the most senior member, McLain Jabasrunty, paid for everything.

He rented chefs and equipment and brought in lamb, beef, and pork, deciding to have a hearty dinner on a rare day off.

The stunt team leader, almost in tears, raised a lamb hind leg.

“Anyway, we’re really seeing the end now!”

“It’s guaranteed to be a hit! Let’s just finish it well!”

Oil sizzles and drips, and the smoke from the firewood spreads into the sky.

The staff, as well as the actors, hold pieces of meat and laugh.

Peter Sean doesn’t skimp on production costs for what Peter Shawn eats, wears, and sleeps, but he can’t exactly provide helicopters to hotels.

Due to the nature of the work, outdoor filming is more common than studio sets, and the barbecue party is a welcome respite for the staff who are tired of the harsh environment.

“Hey, why didn’t you tell me you were a screenwriter, not an actor?”

Over there, at the lead actors’ table, Rick Michael, with dark circles under his eyes, grabs Park Gun and starts acting up.

“I am an actor.”

“No, the website says you even write scenarios. I couldn’t sleep because I was reading the translated version. I stayed up all night.”

“You’re talking about ‘The Iron Kingdom,’ right?”

Seo Heedo showed interest. Park Sun, who had been listening with a mixture of pride and worry, answered.

“Yes. There’s a fan who runs a publishing company in Germany, so they officially upload the translated version. Hyung [older brother or male friend] translates it almost in a day.”

“When does it get uploaded?”

“Well… it varies. Hyung writes it on his phone whenever he feels like it. Two episodes were uploaded last night, I think.”

Seo Heedo blinked for a moment. It’s not new for an actor to draw or write.

But to write a novel while starring in a work, especially in a foreign country?

With a mountain of empty plates piled up in front of him, Park Gun nodded nonchalantly.

“I got some inspiration while filming the work. There are similar parts to ‘The Chronicle of the Gods’ that we’re filming now.”

“Oh, right! God is as charming a character as Ido, didn’t they both come from different dimensions?”

“That’s right. I was also interested in the hero’s story. It feels like a typical fantasy, but it slightly twists the orthodox clichés.”

Jameson Overga picked up Rick Michael’s words.

The leader of the rebels… Nikert, who was an angry thinker and warrior in the play, died after the last filming.

‘Well, I’ll stay until the end. Anyway, there’s not much left, and if I wait, our director might write one more cut.’

But since he had no other schedule anyway, he stayed at the filming location to watch. Thanks to that, the weight he had lost for the role had returned, and Peter Sean was clicking his tongue, saying, ‘He can’t even be used in flashbacks like that.’

“Oppa [term used by a female to address an older brother or male friend], honestly, it’s based on your experience.”

“What are you talking about?”

“The Iron Kingdom story. You’re secretly doing past life experiences and writing about it, aren’t you?”

“Didn’t you see the YouTube video? Nothing came out there.”

After a while, Jin Jiyu, with half-closed eyes, joined the theory that Park Gun was a reincarnation.

Yu Junil, the manager who had specially flown in upon hearing the news that filming was coming to an end, sighed.

“I heard this is non-alcoholic beer? What did she eat to get drunk?”

“She was secretly bringing wine earlier…”

Jin Jiyu’s manager covered his forehead, but Jin Jiyu retorted shamelessly.

“It’s okay. I can drink oriental raisin tea [a Korean hangover cure].”

“…Did they have that in New Zealand too?”

“There must be something similar. But hey, is that important now?”

Jin Jiyu, who stood up abruptly, shook the glass in her hand.

“Our protagonist is facing the final battle. And those angels, from the beginning, those archangels were suspicious. The ending is already decided, right, Oppa?”

Park Gun shrugged.

“I don’t know. I don’t write with a set ending.”

“Then please make sure it’s a satisfying ending. Our work also has an unsatisfactory ending, so I hope the protagonist is happy in Oppa’s script.”

“Jiyu, isn’t that a spoiler?”

“A spoiler? Manager, you came to see the ending filming because you were curious.”

“Hey, I came for work!”

There were a few more guests who flew in with Yu Junil. Kim Ryul, who seemed to be sensitive to the cold, wore a beanie down to his ears and received cheers from everyone.

“Oh my god, Mr. Kim! To meet the genius of the Black Priest!”

“Please sign, and take a picture too!”

“Thank you. It’s an honor to meet you.”

Kim Ryul, who greeted them in fluent English, also hugged Park Gun.

“You’ve become very emaciated.”

“Director, you look even better.”

“Ah, this is…”

Kim Ryul smiled awkwardly and took off his beanie. The ring on his left ring finger sparkled.

“I happened to get engaged. I think we’ll have the ceremony as soon as the script I’m writing this time is finished.”

“Wow, Director!”

“Who is it, who is it! Director, you finally had something with an actress! Is CEO Tae officiating again?”

“She’s just a childhood friend, but coincidentally…”

Soon Kim Ryul was surrounded by his Korean colleagues. Watching the scene that would have been hard to imagine until they first met, the brothers clinked their water glasses side by side.

And the last guest also appeared.

“CEO!”

The head of Roman Entertainment was wearing a neat charcoal gray suit even when coming all the way here.

After greeting the people, CEO Noh Jungman, who came to the two brothers, exchanged news for the first time in a while.

“I was going to come from mid-year, but it’s too late. As Park Sun knows, the company is a bit busy these days.”

“Is something happening in Korea?”

Now and then, the company’s pillar actors don’t pay attention to what’s going on in the world.

Blocking Park Sun from explaining to his brother, Noh Jungman briefly explained.

“The branch has expanded greatly. We’re also extensively recruiting people from the MCM line [likely referring to a specific talent management strategy or department], and we’ve made changes to the existing actor and idol system. Director Kim here is also eating from the same pot for now [meaning they are now part of the same company or working together].”

There was even bigger news than Kim Ryul and a few talented directors and writers joining.

It was the all-out war between Roman and DG that had been shaking up the domestic entertainment industry for months.

“DG’s acquisition?”

CEO Noh Jungman nodded.

“As expected, no one told you. It’s not like Actor Park would be interested in that kind of thing.”

“Yes. If the company is in danger…”

“No. This time, we’re on the offensive.”

Almost immediately after they left for New Zealand, a scandal of the century broke out.

It was an expose of DG’s former head of new talent development, Cha Inhyuk, and current CEO Byun Donggeun.

An unidentified informant released an article with clear data on the wrongdoings, malicious contracts, unfair treatment of debut groups and rookies, and even sponsor connections that DG CEO Byun Donggeun had been doing.

Park Gun asked as if something was wrong.

“The crackdown seemed thorough… Was there a whistleblower?”

“I received an old gift. I waited for the timing and released it this time, there was also the Ki Eunseo suicide scandal.”

The story was complicated even though it was greatly shortened.

After the suicide scandal of DG’s representative actress, Ki Eunseo, Roman released the weapon they had, and the major shareholders began to question DG’s festering governance structure.

Eventually, Byun Donggeun, who began to be investigated by the police, stepped down from the front lines, and all sorts of hyenas are rushing in, aiming for his stake.

“I don’t know what will happen. Since it’s such a large place, it could be normalized after only taking out Byun Donggeun and his gang… LC and K-Fit have also started a public purchase. It’s difficult for us to acquire it.”

Noh Jungman, who had talked that far, said the same thing as Kim Ryul.

“Anyway, your face looks very bad.”

“It’s okay. Long-term filming is all like that.”

“I’ve never seen Actor Park tired before. I was wondering if the water didn’t suit you.”

“He eats well though.”

Manager, please take me too! There’s not much left on my agency contract!

Over there, a shout presumed to be Seo Heedo’s was heard. The sound of the barbecue cooking was also heard, and the voices of Jin Jiyu and Manager Yu Junil were mixed in.

Park Sun had slipped away tactfully, so there was no one around the two of them now. Noh Jungman, who glanced over there, asked.

“Can you do more, acting?”

Here we go again. Gun smiled faintly, thinking. Apparently, his company’s CEO also seemed to be a subscriber to ‘The Iron Kingdom Story.’

“I would have told you. I’m not retiring.”

“How much filming is left?”

“It’s almost over. The director said that all schedules will be completed within ten days.”

While the memories of the Iron Kingdom are revived, the development of ‘The Chronicle of the Gods’ continues.

The battles have been repeated, and the end is near.

-Nikert!

-We have to get out, if we’re any later, we’ll be hit too!

The Emperor was hiding his power. Or, did he fully accept the power of the Sun God at the end?

When the elite warriors of the rebel army rushed out through the path that Ido had pierced, a dazzling flash exploded and melted everyone regardless of friend or foe.

-Go… and be sure to find freedom…

The leader of the rebel army, burned all over his body, left his last words as he died, and everyone except Ido and Jerin suffered minor and major injuries.

Eventually, the Emperor and Ido clashed. They fought a close battle, but Ido was deeply wounded by the intrusion of the Legion Commander.

And the rebel army scattered and fled… In front of Ido, who was hiding in a cabin, appeared Raywen Airas, the daughter of Caldwyn Airas.

-Go, before I cut you down.

-Wait! There’s something I must tell you.

Holding the Empire’s relic in one hand, wiping the blood and sweat from her platinum blonde hair.

-Please kill my father.

Gun looked down at his hands.

The trained body far surpasses ordinary people. This filming, he can do it dozens of times.

But… the former warrior knows why his mental strength is being consumed.

‘When you regain what you lost, you pay the price.’

It’s because of the error that is matched by the acting in this world and the memories of that world returning.

No matter how powerful a warrior is, internal cracks are fatal. The moment he fully regains his memory, which someone erased for some reason…