Ex-Special Forces Soldier and Star Actor – Episode 2 (2/199)
Sergeant First Class Park Geon (2)
* * *
“···What the hell are you talking about? You can’t even fight, how would you get in there?”
“Then what happened to your lip? Doesn’t look like you just got slapped on the cheek.”
Park Seon pursed his lips, wincing as the burst spot hurt.
“Well, something happened at work. I caused something like an accident.”
“What kind of work are you doing?”
“I joined an entertainment company as a manager. Hyung [older brother or close male friend] even sent a gift to congratulate me, don’t you remember?”
The battle to occupy the Mariat Highlands. He remembered sending a messenger to the capital urgently requesting reinforcements.
Those sons of bitches never sent support, and he was torn apart by the demons, facing his fourth death.
“Anyway, tell me about it.”
“It’s really nothing······.”
After sighing several times, his brother finally revealed what happened.
He originally wanted to be in the actor management team, but he was assigned to manage idols due to staff shortages.
While working as a road manager for a popular boy group called Wow Kidz, the members played a prank called ‘Taming the Manager.’
“‘Taming the Manager’? What’s that?”
“Just··· taking turns sending me on convenience store errands, or if I buy what they asked for, they’d say they wanted something else··· but this is originally my job anyway.”
That was fine. But today, a member forgot his stage outfit a few minutes before the live broadcast, and although he rushed to get it, he couldn’t make it in time.
The leader got angry for ruining the performance, and the team leader hit him a few times in the waiting room. The other members were laughing and watching.
“Inciting internal strife and demoralizing allies, worthy of corporal punishment.”
“Huh? What are you talking about?”
“Never mind. Do you want to keep working there?”
Park Seon lowered his head at Geon’s question.
He didn’t need to ask more to know. He probably would have endured for a while before quitting or getting fired.
Violence is more common than you think.
It’s not just corporate managers hitting new employees with files; even in the military, which claims to have advanced barracks culture, abuse is not eradicated.
The moment he thought, ‘What can you do,’ his head throbbed and old memories resurfaced.
Before being dragged to Middle-earth, long before enlisting in the Naval Special Warfare Flotilla, he remembered taking his beaten-up brother to a neighboring high school.
The merging of ‘that’ world and ‘this’ world turned on a switch he had forgotten for a while.
Sergeant First Class Park Geon asked,
What did I do to the guys who messed with my family?
Warrior God answered.
I didn’t let them get away with it.
“Do you know where those people are now?”
“Since they have another schedule tomorrow··· the kids will probably be in the practice room or the dorm? The chief will probably still be at work too.”
“Good, get in.”
Geon didn’t wait for an answer and strode to his brother’s car.
Park Seon looked dazed for a moment, then his eyes widened.
“Our company? Why are you going there, Hyung!”
“Start the engine. Before I call a taxi.”
“No, calm down first······.”
“If you don’t come, I’ll tear the door off.”
Park Seon felt like crying.
*
Roman Entertainment.
‘Wow, Hyung has become even more reckless.’
As he rode the elevator, Park Seon screamed inwardly.
He really came.
Even when they arrived in front of the entertainment company, he was still half-doubtful.
But his brother didn’t hesitate. ‘Is this the place?’ he asked once and dragged him inside.
-He’s an actor we signed yesterday. You know my manager’s face, right?
The security guard at the entrance, who was supposed to check IDs, let them through with just one word.
···Why do they believe him?
His hopes that they wouldn’t be able to enter because he was wearing a buzz cut and combat uniform were also shattered.
Because his visuals were so outstanding, they seemed to think he was an actor who had just finished filming a project.
And then they safely boarded the elevator.
‘What floor? Your team’s office.’
‘It’s on the 7th floor······.’
He had always been the type to not tolerate injustice, but it was different from before he enlisted.
No, it seemed different from the last time he saw him. Park Seon, who had been with his brother throughout his leave three months ago, could tell.
The way his words were slightly fragmented, as if he couldn’t remember the vocabulary, or the unfamiliar shadows that flickered behind his eyes.
‘Did something happen during the operation?’
When he glanced sideways, Park Geon asked expressionlessly.
“You were going to quit anyway.”
“Uh··· yeah.”
“Excuses like how the industry treats people don’t matter. If you’ve been treated unfairly, you need to end it properly. Even if you quit the job, the memories will remain.”
That was true. But who puts up with injustice and unfairness because they don’t know that?
-7th floor.
While he was thinking, the elevator stopped. Park Seon made one last attempt to persuade him.
“Hyung, it’s not too late. Let’s just go back. You can tell the chief about what happened later. The kids will apologize then too.”
“Do you think they’ll listen to a quitting newbie’s complaints?”
“With the remaining love for humanity······.”
“What love for humanity? I’ll take care of it, so give me your phone.”
“What are you going to do?”
Instead of answering, Park Geon took his phone and got out of the elevator.
Even though it was late, there were still some employees who hadn’t left work. As they walked down the polished hallway, they could hear people whispering.
“What’s with the military uniform?”
“Isn’t that Oh Gwi-jun’s new guy? The road manager who just took over Wow Kidz. He’s enthusiastic and full of energy.”
“That’s right, I heard he got chewed out today.”
As the saying goes, enemies meet on a narrow bridge.
The brothers ran into a man coming out of a door labeled [Public Relations Team].
A dark, weary face. Anyone could tell at a glance that this man was a manager. As soon as he saw Park Seon, he frowned.
“Park Seon, you were told to go and reflect, why are you back at the company? And who’s this next to you··· Ah, are you perhaps the new actor we’re supposed to be getting?”
The rude, informal speech turned into polite, respectful language as he spoke.
The man practically sparkled as he scrutinized Park Geon.
“Team Leader Yoo has already left for the day. The other team leaders are here, but they have guests right now. If you’re okay with it, we can talk in the lounge downstairs for a bit······.”
“Team Leader Oh Gwi-jun.”
“······Uh, yes?”
“I’m Park Seon’s older brother. Apologize for the habitual harassment, verbal abuse, and assault you inflicted on my brother. Along with the Wow Kidz members.”
Now, even the employees who were passing by began to watch this exciting situation.
The small whispers from before grew louder.
‘Did he just say older brother? He doesn’t look like an actor with that mask on? Then why is he wearing a military uniform?’
Team Leader Oh’s bewildered face turned as red as a hot air balloon.
“Hey, Park Seon. Did you run to your brother and tattle just because you got chewed out for not doing your job? And you even brought him to the company?”
“Team Leader, that’s not······.”
“And who are you? A soldier? A gangster? Coming in without an ID, thinking you’re something just because you’re wearing a military uniform, huh?”
Oh Gwi-jun was the type to push harder when he was in an unfavorable or embarrassing situation.
As the commotion grew, attention was drawn, and heads peeked out from the office doors.
‘I told you not to come because of this.’
Park Seon bit his lip.
Now the situation had blown up.
It was true that he had brought an unauthorized outsider, and no matter how much they fought, it would end when security came.
On his brother’s discharge day, which should have been a celebration, he was going to embarrass him because of himself.
Just as Park Seon was about to step forward, having made up his mind.
“So you’re neither a soldier nor a gangster, but you laid your hands on someone else’s brother.”
The moment the military uniform man, who had been standing askew, spoke, the audience fell silent.
‘What kind of atmosphere is this all of a sudden······.’
Oh Gwi-jun forgot that he was about to demand proof and swallowed hard. But the dry saliva caught in his parched throat and wouldn’t go down.
Park Geon took a step forward and continued.
“If I scare you.”
His face was just as expressionless, but Oh Gwi-jun felt something different.
It was the sensation of something touching his cheek.
‘······What is it?’
He tried to turn his head, but it was impossible.
The instincts dulled in a safe society, the atrophied senses of modern people sounded an alarm.
“Will you feel like apologizing?”
Listening to the death sentence-like voice, he cautiously glanced sideways.
And he gasped.
Oh Gwi-jun’s own face, pulled out along with his spine, was touching his cheek.
“······.”
Park Geon and Oh Gwi-jun, along with six others.
The employees of Roman Entertainment who were there saw a bizarre scene.
The moment the military uniform man took a step, Oh Gwi-jun’s back suddenly stiffened.
Then he trembled and turned his head.
Like the protagonist in a horror movie··· as if he had seen a terrible evil spirit that only he could see.
‘Uh, what’s that smell of piss?’
Just as one of the employees wrinkled his nose, Oh Gwi-jun suddenly collapsed like a log.
His eyes were rolled back, showing the whites, and foam was bubbling at his mouth.
“Kyaaaaaa!”
Belatedly, someone screamed.
* * *