Former Warrior Turns Into A Million-Dollar Actor [EN]: Chapter 97

The Victor in a Fight Between Whales (5)

* * *

“Wow… that’s Gun-hyung [term of endearment for an older male friend or brother] for you,” one crew member exclaimed.

“Of course, of course. He’s not some rookie we just filmed with for his debut,” another added.

“It was intense even back then. I still remember the PD’s [Production Director’s] face turning pale during the first bathhouse scene.”

“Oh, Yong CEO [Chief Executive Officer]. How can you attack when you’re not even filming anymore?” someone joked.

After a long time, old comrades had gathered.

JNBC’s PD Na Jong-mo, writer Eun Hee-wook, actor Seo Hee-do, and Yong Jun-sang, who was busier with his franchise business these days than his main job as an actor, were all present.

Writer Eun Hee-wook, who was looking at her smartphone, suddenly exclaimed, “Everyone, take a look at this! How did his swordsmanship get even better than back then?”

The action scene in front of the Governor-General’s office, where he came down riding the Taegeukgi [Korean flag], had gone viral and surpassed 3 million views.

The time it took was only four days, roughly garnering 1 million views per day.

[The Talk of the Town, Lee Cheon-in’s 14 Details]

[The Reason Park Gun’s Joseon Swordsmanship is Perfect]

[Krav Maga in ‘Seoul’s Dog,’ Bonkuk Swordsmanship in ‘Butcher General,’ Chilling Action Details]

Even various expert YouTubers poured out reviews, making it a legend.

Seo Hee-do proudly puffed out his chest. “Writer, I told you. He’s better at setting the stage than noir action.”

“Indeed… it’s different from back then. Did he learn Joseon swordsmanship separately?”

“Come on, Gun-ssi [honorific title] probably already knew it. That’s not the skill of someone who practiced for a few months,” Yong Jun-sang chimed in.

Na Jong-mo PD cut in sharply at Yong Jun-sang’s words, who had matched moves with Park Gun during filming. “Anyway, he’s really on the verge of becoming a world star now. What if he gets too famous and we don’t have time to see his face?”

“What do you mean ‘what if?’ Being busy is a good thing. Hee-do, you couldn’t even go to Fashion Week because you were going on a Japan tour.”

“No, that’s because of the CEO!”

Perhaps it was because they were together for the birth of an outstanding rising star that this team often got together even after filming ended, unlike most projects where people drift apart. Writer Eun Hee-wook, who was watching with a pleased expression, said, “Then, shall we all go on a trip together?”

“After the wrap-up party? Will we have time?”

“PD-nim has some time until the next project, and Yong CEO and Seo actor are on hiatus…”

“No, no. I mean Park Gun-ssi, not us,” Na Jong-mo PD said, putting his phone down with a serious expression. The last scene of the previous episode of ‘Butcher General’ was on the screen.

“Look at this, don’t you feel anything?”

“What are you suddenly talking about?”

“Money! PPL [Product Placement]! How much is all this worth!”

“……Yes?”

As expected of a popular PD, his perspective was different from that of the writer and actors. Na Jong-mo started pointing out the PPL products one by one, scrolling through the screen.

“Here’s Samgyetang [Korean ginseng chicken soup], next is dried persimmon, here’s seaweed and gim [dried seaweed]… In the previous episode, they even properly showed the steel and car brand. Jeon sunbae [senior colleague] must have made up his mind.”

The actor just has to act well, and the writer just has to write the script well, but the PD has to manage the finances.

However, poorly inserted advertisements are likely to be criticized for interfering with immersion. In that respect, the PPL in Butcher General was close to perfect.

“Wow, that’s right. Here, this thing attached to the chase scene is also the Samho Motors mark,” Seo Hee-do exclaimed.

“I knew about the suit PPL in the beginning, but I only saw the rest after hearing PD-nim’s words. We should have put in our Korean beef products in advance,” Yong Jun-sang lamented.

Seo Hee-do and Yong Jun-sang constantly expressed their admiration.

The coffee, which was called ‘Gabe’ at the time of the Enlightenment, was from a famous franchise, and the mark stamped on the workshops of artisans who make swords and firearms was from a certain steel mill.

And that’s not all. The food and clothing that flashed by in moments, and the splendid East-West style costumes of Baek Ha-ni and Jo Hyun-ah were all products of famous brands.

Even though it’s a period drama, it incorporated PPL more naturally than most modern dramas.

“On top of that, CVN’s parent company is C&J. I wonder how generously Jin Bon部長 [department head] will give to his alumni. He stood at Fashion Week, and he’s going to be on OTT [Over-The-Top media service], so Gun-ssi’s value must have broken through the roof.”

“Indeed… we might not be able to see him because he’s so busy. Is he going to Hollywood for his next project?”

Seo Hee-do, looking upset, pulled on Eun Hee-wook’s sleeve. “Writer, you wrote Gun-hyung’s first project. I don’t know about Na PD-nim, but wouldn’t he answer if the writer contacted him?”

“No, why am I…”

“You kept pestering him to do another project together! I heard everything, how you got rejected three times and still awkwardly approached him again,” Seo Hee-do teased.

“Hee-do-ssi doesn’t know my heart. That scenario was really well-written,” Eun Hee-wook retorted.

Na Jong-mo, who was stabbed in a sore spot, shrunk back. Eun Hee-wook, lifting the hem of her modernized hanbok [traditional Korean dress], smiled. “Well, I don’t think Park Gun-ssi will change.”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

“No matter how famous he gets, he’ll be the same as before. Unless I’m mistaken.”

“Well… he suddenly sent me a Lemeret bracelet for my birthday. Na PD-nim didn’t even congratulate me,” Yong Jun-sang said, subtly bragging.

“Again, again, I told you not to talk about that!” Na Jong-mo snapped.

The two of them were notorious rivals even during the filming of ‘Seoul’s Dog.’ They seemed eager to tear each other apart today, and it seemed like they’d built up quite a bit of resentment.

Regardless of whether his old colleagues were bickering or not, Yong Jun-sang took out his smartphone. “I should send a gift before the wrap-up party. Sales explode after Park Gun-ssi comes.”

* * *

“I’ll give you as much money as you want. Tell me what you want,” Go Cheol-joon, who plays Dokuro Shinji, the chief of the Gyeongmu Bureau of the Joseon Governor-General’s Office, said sternly.

He was only wearing a fundoshi [Japanese traditional men’s underwear] on his naked body. It was almost comical how he maintained the appearance of an official even in this state.

“You won’t be able to escape alive anyway. You know that too, Joseon人 [Korean person]. It is right to take me hostage or become my subordinate. If you negotiate, I will spare the lives of the fake butcher masks.”

He pretended to be imposing, but a blue axe was touching his neck.

The fall of the Governor-General’s Office. The last pincer operation of the butcher masks and the Gyeongseong Independence Army was successful.

Drip, drip…

In the bloodbath, only the sound of something falling echoed continuously. The Governor-General’s Office, locked with a huge bolt, was already a scene of carnage.

In the middle of the prostrate military police, policemen, and extras in uniform who were not even breathing, Lee Cheon-in, wearing a red and blue general’s mask instead of the usual butcher mask, asked, “You’re talking nonsense.”

“What?”

“If you thought about your life, you wouldn’t have returned to this land. You must have been prepared, from the moment you embraced imperialism and invaded another country.”

“Keuk, dirty Joseon人…”

Perhaps stimulated by the Jongno Police Chief colleague who showed the worst level of depravity and exited, Go Cheol-joon’s acting had also improved.

Looking at the senior’s face contorting hideously, Gun, wearing the general’s mask, thought, ‘The synchronization rate is good today.’

The fragment of the old power—the power of harmony—that he was now accustomed to, was shaking in the hand holding the axe handle.

At first, he wondered what to do with this, but after saving Baek Ha-ni, his mind changed.

If the camera hadn’t been rolling at that time… in other words, if he hadn’t been able to use even half of the power of harmony, he might have been late, even by a fraction.

‘There is no regression in this world. There is only one chance.’

Now he also knew the connection between acting and the power of harmony. The more he immersed himself in the scene, the more his old powers were revived, and the stronger the synchronization, the more memories he regained.

‘It’s like… getting a reward.’

In fact, didn’t he hear a mysterious hallucination at the last awards ceremony?

This too would be like a reward he earned for his acting. Like the journey of a warrior who tore demons to death and cut down great demons to raise his ‘level’.

“Why are you silent? Are you afraid after all? Even the butcher mask of the world has only one life. Or are you worried about your colleagues who were sent back to your country?”

Over Go Cheol-joon’s face, who was acting enthusiastically, a man with a thick red beard was superimposed.

The corrupt leader of the Iron Kingdom nobles. It was the memory of destroying the Belgium ducal family.

―You are just a stranger. How can one who has crossed dimensions by the choice of the heavenly prostitute, the defiled saint, know our cause… Keheok!

―Duke! No!

―Damn it, the demon-possessed warrior cut down the Duke, go and kill him!

The incompetent king and cowardly princes, and the nobles who became servants of the great demon, flashed before his eyes.

While the old fantasies were flooding in, Gun spoke from the warrior’s memory to the actor’s consciousness. “You must be afraid. You’ve become talkative.”

“What?”

“You don’t have to worry. Everything will be over tonight anyway. This entire Gyeongseong [Old name for Seoul]… no, Joseon will punish you.”

The cameraman who was filming them right next to him took a step back and widened the focus.

The pause in the lines was a bit long, but thanks to that, the tension in the scene reached its peak.

“Go away, you’re disgusting.”

The moment Lee Cheon-in—God—brought down the axe, the windows were broken and the samurai of the Hwangwoo Association rushed in.

“You bastard, butcher mask—!”

* * *

That evening.

A different buzz circulated on the ‘Butcher General’ set, where a storm had passed.

“He’s here? Really?”

“He arrived just now. Kang Hyun-ho said he smiled and signed an autograph when he greeted him. I just got a text.”

“Wow, I’ve been a fan since Four Queens. Should I bring the album I bought now?”

“You idiot, when Jin Ji-yoo was there, it wasn’t Four Queens, it was Five Queens?”

Jin Ji-yoo had appeared on the set.

It was different from when she was in Seoul’s Dog. Perhaps conscious of the ‘Jin Ji-yoo’ effect, she posted a poster on her SNS [Social Networking Service] and even did a live broadcast to promote herself.

One of Roman’s three musketeers, and this was her second special appearance only in Park Gun’s drama.

The excited reporters had been spreading articles for weeks, so the staff on set were more excited than the fans.

“What, Jin actor has arrived?” PD Jeon In-woo ran out barefoot to greet the precious guest, knowing this masterpiece would be responsible for the final viewership ratings.

“Oh, Jin actor-nim!”

“It’s been a while, Director Jeon,” Jin Ji-yoo said, smiling and greeting him.

Even though she was wearing straight-fit jeans and a hooded zip-up, she had an aura. It was the dignity of the top tier of actresses in the appearance ranking surveyed by a research company.

“You’ve become even more beautiful.”

“Then why didn’t you pick me instead of Ha-ni unnie? I cried my eyes out at home after failing the audition,” she joked.

“Yes, yes…?”

“I’m just kidding. I’ve memorized all the scripts, so I’ll get ready and come out right away.”

Leaving the embarrassed director behind, Jin Ji-yoo’s face lit up with joy as she walked lightly. She found a white durumagi [traditional Korean overcoat] that stood out among the surrounding extras.

“Oppa!” she called out.

As soon as she saw him, a battle of spear and shield unfolded.

Park Gun, who slightly avoided hugging his company colleague, asked, “Why did you come so early? There’s still some time left for Ji-yoo-ssi’s filming order.”

“I came because I missed you. Not you, but here, the Butcher General set. I really wanted to see it,” she said, pouting.

The sulky actress kicked a pebble, but he was also skilled in push and pull.

“Let’s take a look together. I’ll show you around.”

“Hmm, cough, I didn’t mean to be taken,” she said, trying to play it cool.

“Is it okay? Then I’ll go first…”

“No, let’s go! Let’s go!” she exclaimed.

As if she had never done that, Jin Ji-yoo quickly moved next to him and scanned the surroundings with wary eyes. “Baek Ha… where’s unnie?”

“She’s probably in the van. She doesn’t do briefings unless it’s a very important scene.”

“She comes out for important scenes and does them?”

“Sometimes, not often. The harmony isn’t bad even if we don’t match separately.”

“…Match what, really,” she muttered.

“What did you say?”

Jin Ji-yoo, who was grumbling quietly, waved her hand. “It’s nothing. By the way, oppa, have you heard from Koo actor?”

“Are you talking about Koo Shin-seung-ssi? I haven’t yet.”

“Ah… maybe he’s going to do it himself.”

“Is anything wrong…?”

“I met him at the company last time. When I said I was going to make a special appearance on ‘Butcher General,’ he asked me to ask if oppa’s next project has been decided.”

“I don’t have any plans yet.”

“Then I’ll tell him that. If there’s anything else, he’ll contact you separately.”

His usual mental state was questionable, but he wasn’t the type to talk nonsense about work.

It was when Park Gun nodded that Jin Ji-yoo, who had her hands behind her back, turned around. “Oppa, I felt something this time.”

“Yes.”

“I thought it would be okay just to watch, but it wasn’t okay at all. Enough to make all the dolls of the younger siblings explode,” she said dramatically.

“……?”

What wasn’t okay? Behind the difficult words, a confident declaration of war was heard. “I won’t give in next time, absolutely.”

* * *

“Standby, shoot!” PD Jeon In-woo signaled, and Roman’s three musketeers began filming.

It was fun to see the three of them, who were at the top of the actor world, together. In the distance, CVN officials whispered at a distance where noise wouldn’t enter the boom microphone.

“Wow, I get to see that three-shot.”

“Originally, Roman actors didn’t all come out separately? Choi Phillip and Koo Shin-seung took a pictorial together.”

“That’s right. Especially those two, Jin Ji-yoo and Baek Ha-ni, never worked together. Looking at today’s filming, the rumor that they don’t get along is just a rumor…”

It was when one of the team leaders tilted his head.

“Cut, okay!” PD Jeon In-woo’s cut came out, and a huge shout erupted among the staff.

“Thank you for your hard work!”

“Thank you for your hard work, congratulations!”

“What congratulations to me, our actors worked hard. Thank you for coming, Ji-yoo-ssi,” PD Jeon In-woo said.

The last scenes of Lee Cheon-in and Song Yi-seol, and other characters, had already been filmed. So, just now was actually the last shot.

Seo Eung-seo, the cameraman who lowered the camera, shouted in an excited voice, “PD-nim, are we going to have our wrap-up party today?”

“Of course, we have to go. The wrap-up party is the wrap-up party, let’s drink until the end!”

Bang, bang!

Someone with good preparation even set off firecrackers, and colorful confetti flew around.

Perhaps it was because they completely 꺾은 [‘broke’ or ‘defeated’ in a figurative sense] ‘Hyperion’ [likely referring to a competing show or project]. Even before seeing the last episode, it was a festive atmosphere.

“Hyung, you really worked hard!” Park Seon came up and hugged his hyung, who was surrounded by actors. Park Gun, who was patting his younger brother’s back, asked Jin Ji-yoo, “Are you going to the celebration party today, Ji-yoo-ssi?”

“Of course, I was so sad when I only went to the wrap-up party for Seoul’s Dog,” she replied.

The long eyes of a cat trying to monopolize its prey turned slightly to the side, towards Baek Ha-ni, who was acting together until just now. A large manager hurriedly ran over and handed her water.

“Ah, Ha-ni unnie won’t go. She hates noisy things so much,” Jin Ji-yoo said.

Baek Ha-ni, who was still covered in dust because she hadn’t removed her makeup yet, said as if throwing it out there, “I’m going.”

“…Unnie is? You’re coming to the wrap-up party?”

“Why, I’m going to a special appearance, so can’t I go?”

Over there, firecrackers and champagne were exploding, but here, a pandemonium suddenly opened.

While the two managers and Park Gun were blinking their eyes, Jin Ji-yoo smiled brightly. “I wonder if our Baek sunbae-nim can drink well.”

* * *