Former Warrior Turns Into A Million-Dollar Actor [EN]: Chapter 44

Storming Through (3)

* * *

“Father, why do we dream?”

“Dream?”

“Yes. I didn’t used to dream much.”

His mother leaves for work earliest in the family. While eating breakfast with his two sons, their father, Park Yeol-ho, wore a reminiscent expression.

“Well, in my case… it’s often moments I want to return to, or conversely, moments I don’t want to return to—anyway, many memorable moments appear.”

“Moments you want to return to?”

“That’s right. For example, this, this thing.”

Park Yeol-ho nonchalantly waved his right hand, the sleeve hanging loosely.

“I dream about that day a lot. In my entire life, I think I’ve dreamed about that deployment the most. I’ve even woken up shouting, ‘Don’t go, you can’t go.’ Waking up soaked in sweat, it felt so futile.”

Park Seon, who was listening to the conversation, shuddered.

“Oh my gosh, just thinking about it is… it must have been so hard.”

If flames are a firefighter’s nightmare, then losing a hand in an accident is an irreversible trauma.

Park Yeol-ho, a retired firefighter, smiled wryly at his sons.

“Well, I read it somewhere too… they say dreams are memories strongly imprinted in the subconscious. Won’t there be a day when I can accept it calmly? Saying, ‘That’s how it was back then.'”

*

In the car heading to the filming location.

Park Seon, who was holding the steering wheel, had a worried expression throughout the drive.

“Hyung [older brother/male friend], are you really okay?”

“Yeah. I’m fine.”

“But you said you didn’t used to dream. What if you’re overdoing it these days and your body is getting weak? Should I get Uncle Yang to make you some herbal medicine?”

Perhaps knowing that his brother’s memories aren’t fully intact, he seemed even more concerned.

“It’s okay. It wasn’t a nightmare, and a somewhat welcome face appeared.”

“That’s a relief, but…”

With filming almost finished, I can be sure. Choosing this movie was the right thing to do.

For both career and memories.

‘Alright, let’s go for Q! [“Q” likely refers to “Action!” in film production]’

The old sensations that come when the shoot starts are now at a familiar level.

Immersing myself in the role and smashing the possessed demons was also quite fun. Although if I were the warrior God, I would have used a different method instead of a prayer.

Perhaps that’s why. A few days ago, an old colleague I had completely forgotten came to mind.

‘He would have been upset if he knew.’

Erhan, the ‘death chaser.’

The descendant of Eren and the son of Erheden.

A master of dual swords who joined at the edge of the Iron Kingdom.

Like a descendant of a fallen margrave [a hereditary title of nobility, similar to a marquis], he was foolishly thirsty for his long-cherished desire.

ㅡMy long-cherished desire is to tear demons apart and kill them, or to be torn apart and killed by demons.

Even in the early episodes, where he died countless times, he fought at the front of the party. And… he always saved the warrior God and died, or died together.

That was both grateful and strange, so one night I asked him. Why are you so desperate?

ㅡGod. You are the reason for my life. Even if I survive and kill a few more demons, everything will be over if the warrior fails.

ㅡWhy? What about your homeland?

ㅡThere are no more margraves in this land. My grandfather died to demons, and my father died to humans. A lord who has lost his territory, a margrave expelled from the border, has only two paths to choose.

The embers of the bonfire scatter. In the shaded face, only the piercing eyes shine blue.

ㅡBreak the nightmare and wake up… or fall asleep forever within it.

Is it because of that stubborn belief? That’s why Kim Ryul overlapped with Erhan.

‘Hyung, our director is really crazy. What director edits all the footage alone without an assistant or a knight [editor]? What if he collapses doing that…’

No, he won’t collapse.

Geon stroked his chin. Just in case, he watched carefully, but he has a naturally strong constitution and good stamina. Even if a few more weeks pass, there won’t be any major accidents.

Wasn’t that the case for him too? As the end drew near, the body surpassed its limits.

“Ah, come to think of it, today is that day.”

Park Seon, sniffing, said.

“That?”

“Yeah, S25, was it? The scene with those detectives. It was originally the day before yesterday, but the place where they booked the location changed their mind, so the order was pushed back.”

A bundle of scripts that his brother had brought was stuck in the glove box.

Anyway, just thinking about last night is ridiculous to the point of being embarrassing. Even if it was a dream. ‘Have you been well?’ is a bit much, like a separated lover…

‘If I just said that I appeared in his dream, he would have laughed his head off, knowing his personality.’

Thinking, Geon’s eyebrows rose as he read the script.

“Ah, this.”

It’s a scene that has been interesting since I first saw the scenario.

*

The scene being filmed today is one of the later parts.

In an office decorated like a detective interrogation room, homicide detectives interrogate Seo Yohan.

S25#2. Police Station Interrogation Room

Kim Hwang-cheol: Why did you kill him?

Seo Yohan: (Silent with his head bowed)

Kim Hwang-cheol: Seo Yohan, you were caught on the CCTV in front of the pier. Your blood and fingerprints were all over the murder weapon found at the scene. Why did you kill Lee Yu-won, the leader of the Salvation Society!

Seo Yohan looks down at his hands without reacting to Kim Hwang-cheol’s voice. There is a brown stain on the collar of his clerical robe.

Kim Hwang-cheol: (As if frustrated to death) I know the Salvation Society guys, those crazy bastards, were killing people by releasing drugs. But if you do this, I can’t help you at all. You’ll be tied to them and rot for the rest of your life!

Seo Yohan is still silent. Kim Hwang-cheol sighs and leaves, and two other detectives enter and continue the interrogation.

“This pseudo bastard, did he shove something in his ears? Why is he ignoring people?”

A detective leans in and growls. Lifting his empty eyes, Seo Yohan… no, Geon recalls.

‘There were times like this.’

It must have been the middle of his warrior journey when his humanity was gradually being eroded.

After another demon hunt, he was arrested by the paladins [elite warriors or knights, often associated with religious orders].

ㅡBind the warrior, God!

ㅡYou may kill him if he resists. Quietly follow our will!

The enraged Iron Kingdom’s leaders and the Vatican put the warrior on trial.

What were the charges? Massacre of civilians, failure to fulfill the duties of a warrior, blasphemy?

“This bastard, is he not listening?”

“Leave him alone. He’s acting like that because he trusts his lawyer.”

The detectives chattering in front overlap with the royal guards holding long spears.

In front of the warrior bound in chains, the pot-bellied archbishop asks solemnly.

ㅡFallen warrior, why did you kill them?

ㅡ…Killed?

ㅡDidn’t you massacre countless good people in the valley of Labeau!

The entrance to the demon realm, the small fortress of Labeau at the edge of the Iron Kingdom.

He killed everyone there. The village inside the fortress, and the residents of other adjacent villages.

He cut them all down, staining the valley with blood.

“Good people, that’s funny.”

“What…!”

“Do you know what’s going on there? They were offering sacrifices to Modeum of Discord, the second great demon. Humans who hadn’t had their souls taken by demons, only capturing young children and women.”

The warrior, God, scans the hall with eyes bloodshot from burst capillaries.

He sees familiar faces. Traitors, con artists, corrupt nobles, and church members who sold their souls to demons.

…Now I can see. In this damn hell, what really needs to disappear isn’t the demons.

It’s those humans who resemble demons.

“Your Vatican must have known too.”

“Stop the blasphemy, warrior!”

“I came back because I didn’t want to start over, but I can’t stand it. I despise myself for chasing the great demon while leaving the real demons alone.”

The warrior rises casually.

The chains of grace woven by the paladins are torn off, turning into light and scattering.

“If you wanted to catch me, you should have brought those incompetent pigeons up there. Not these toys.”

“Stop him, stop him!”

“It’s okay to kill him! Behead the warrior!”

The archbishop squawks and shouts, but the royal guards and elite paladins are helpless.

The ultimate combined skill tears even divine power apart. “Keuak, Keheok!” As the warrior shakes his hand, crimson waves spread out, slamming the paladins into the ceiling.

“Please, stop…”

The guards are already collapsed, spewing blood from their eyes and noses. The moment the holy sword heads for the archbishop’s neck, the saintess bursts into the hall.

“Warrior, stop!”

.

.

.

“Hey, you bastard!”

The main character, who had been sinking into the warrior’s consciousness, awakens to the detective’s rough curse.

This is… the returned Earth. The man in front is not a corrupt archbishop, and he is now playing a movie role in front of cameras.

As actor Park Geon, not warrior God.

“…It wasn’t a demon.”

“What are you talking about again?”

The detective, who was flipping through the file with annoyance, flinches. Seo Yohan has raised his head.

“Whirlwind, ram, symbols of snakes and wolves… Now I understand. He wasn’t possessed by Lee Yu-won from the beginning; he was trying to make me commit sins.”

In his dazed eyes, madness slowly fills. The actor playing the detective freezes, but the NG [no good/take again] sign does not come out.

Lines? Not needed. Anyway, this scene is a cut that Seo Yohan has to devour entirely.

“H-Hands…”

Blood flows and drips from the handcuffed wrists. The priest rising and the detectives flinching, the acting brought about by real fear is captured on camera.

“I have to go, before more people die.”

As Seo Yohan’s lines continue, the interrogation room door opens and Kim Hwang-cheol enters.

*

Roman Entertainment Lounge.

Team Leader Gong, Choi Phillip, and Manager Kim Young-tae sat around with a cup of coffee each.

“It’s really the final stretch now. I can smell winter.”

Choi Phillip, sipping his latte, started the conversation.

“What is, the remaining days of the year?”

“No, the filming of Black Priest. They said they’re pushing the crank-up [end of filming] hard to avoid the end of the year.”

Team Leader Gong smiled.

“Phillip, you seem very interested in that set?”

“We’re comrades, comrades. Special Forces bros.”

“Then why don’t you give him a call? The set would be in an uproar, saying that Choi Phillip is cheering them on.”

“Ah, well, we’re not that close yet.”

Taking a step back, he now urges his manager to build a stepping stone.

“Hyung, if you meet Park Geon’s manager there later, ask for his phone number. You can give him my number too.”

“…Phillip, I’m the PR team leader. You can just ask me.”

“You don’t understand. You have to do blind dates yourself.”

Choi Phillip, shaking his index finger from side to side, suddenly asked as if he had remembered something.

“By the way, is it okay for the PR team to be standing by? As soon as filming ends, you have to receive the rough cut… modify it to make a trailer, and spread promotional materials until it’s released in theaters. Time will be tight.”

Manager Kim Young-tae also adds a leg.

“That’s right, the preparation period before and after is usually longer than the actual filming.”

“Ah, our movie promotion?”

It’s more than overflowing with leisure. In front of suspicious gazes, Team Leader Gong dramatically raised both arms.

“It’s already started. First bait thrown.”

“No, why are you talking about it now!”

The two hurriedly took out their smartphones. Anyway, the place where the promotional materials will be uploaded is obvious.

Searching YouTube, Choi Phillip’s expression, who was watching with earphones in his ears, became serious.

“What is this…”

The manager took the words.

“It’s not bait, it’s a rock bream [large and desirable fish], a big catch.”

*

The making video was released.

Among the videos that Director Han Sang-yoon of Great Beom diligently filmed and sent to the PR department, the part that was selected as ‘bait’ was Seo Yohan’s first exorcism scene.

Team Leader Gong did not add any special editing to the making film. You shouldn’t put too much effort into freshly caught sashimi; it only lowers the freshness.

Sometimes simple is the strongest. Like a once-popular fake documentary, maximizing the sense of the scene and minimizing editing.

The rest will be the responsibility of the contents inside.

[Black Priest Making Film – Ver.1]

-???? What is this real?

-It’s up, let’s gooooo

-Is this a making film or a horror movie ㅋㅋㅋㅋ [laughing sounds]

-Why do you make a mephil [making-of film] like this… my heart is pounding ㅠ [crying sounds]

-Korean occultism died after Ghost Valley…

-(I thought it was dead)…

-Hey Roman guys, release the video quickly, I know you have a lot saved up

-Why are you cursing Roman, you should be squeezing Great Beom

-The production company and the agency are the same

-So when is the trailer coming out? What’s the release date?

-Looking it up, they started filming not long ago… it will take quite a while to finish filming ㅇㅇ [agreement/okay]

*

S33#3. Warehouse

Seo Yohan in a blood-stained and torn clerical robe. He squats down with something in his hand.

“······.”

Among the staff and actors standing far away holding their breath, Director of Photography Lee Dong-jae pulls the angle from a close shot to a close-up shot.

…What happened to the demon?

Only the nearby land is messily dug up. There is no trace of the demon anywhere.

Weeeingㅡ

The siren of a police car is heard from afar, and red rays shine down on the ground.

The dawn is breaking.

Kim Ryul, soaked in sweat, raised his voice.

“······Cut!”

Movie ‘Black Priest.’

63 days and 17 hours after the start of crank-in.

The official filming schedule has all ended.

*