Former Warrior Turns Into A Million-Dollar Actor [EN]: Chapter 98

The Victor in the Whale Fight (6)

* * *

Buzz, buzz—

The phone alarm rings loudly.

It’s past noon. Black hair is spread like a fan on the gray bed.

The room’s owner, the sprawled-out actress, is groaning from the aftereffects of the previous day’s heavy drinking.

“Doodoo, turn off the alarm.”

Baek Hani mumbled with her eyes closed, but the sound only gets louder. She fumbles around her pillow, grabs it, and sees it’s not an alarm but a phone call.

[TooAnnoyingButMustAnswer]

As her long fingers unlock the screen, Team Leader Yoo Joon-il’s sly voice flows out.

-Baek Hani, I heard you were assassinated yesterday?

“…You’re noisy.”

-Why were you sticking with Jin Ji-yoo with drinks? She’s someone who can take down most entertainment CEOs. Do you think the head of the main office avoids company dinners when she’s there for no reason?

“……”

He must have heard about yesterday from someone; he’s gleefully teasing her.

Even as her slender fists tremble, Team Leader Yoo gleefully taunts her.

-Oh my, I can smell the alcohol all the way here. What on earth got into you? Baek Pathetic, who groans after just one glass of wine, at the drama’s wrap-up party…

“I’m hanging up, and I’m blocking you too. Ask me to unblock you later when you see me.”

-Hey, hey! Wait a minute!

As soon as she hangs up, he calls right back. After blocking Yoo Joon-il’s number and even his messenger, the phone finally quiets down.

Anyway, managers and team leaders are overflowing. If it’s urgent, someone else will contact her.

“…Seriously, it’s ridiculous.”

Gradually, yesterday’s memories return.

The wrap-up party was held at a large barbecue restaurant near the filming set. From the first to the fourth floor, the staff who had rented the entire place began grilling short ribs.

‘Oh my, this must be the main cast’s table. Everyone worked so hard.’

It must have been around then. The smiling, thieving cat approached the table where the PD [Production Director], the cinematographer, she, and Park Geon were sitting.

The frustration she couldn’t resolve yesterday resurfaces. Baek Hani pounded the large character cushion she was hugging.

“I’m so angry, how can she drink so well!”

Originally, she doesn’t enjoy drinking. She doesn’t handle it well physically; her face turns red after one glass, and she suffers from severe hangovers.

So, she avoids it as much as possible, not only at wrap-up parties but also at production company meetings…

‘Unnie [older sister/female friend]. Would you like a drink? They say the ratings won’t come out if the lead doesn’t drink on a day like this. Ah, but I’ll drink it all, so maybe it’s okay?’

That sly little fox, with her sweet smiles, scratched at her insides, and she fell for it.

‘I think I can drink better than you?’

‘Well, you never know until you try. Just because you’re older doesn’t mean you can drink well.’

‘Pour it. Not soju [Korean distilled spirit], but somaek [soju mixed with beer].’

If Yoo Joon-il had seen it, he would have stopped her, but the new road manager didn’t know she was a terrible lightweight.

As Park Geon watched with a strange expression, a drinking battle between the actresses of the agency began.

The result was disastrous.

‘Drink up, drink up. Our actors are the best! Writer Young, have a drink too, uh… you weren’t here today?’

Even as PD Jeon In-woo, drunk as a skunk, looked for a partner, and the intoxicated actors were carried out by their managers, Jin Ji-yoo was perfectly fine.

It was a misstep to get competitive from her condescending gaze, as if saying, ‘Still not drinking?’

Somaek and champagne… after forcing down a few more bottles, her vision spun. Park Geon, who was watching, even grabbed her glass.

‘Are you okay? Stop drinking and get some fresh air.’

‘Why would I get fresh air? I’m fine?’

‘…Your eyes are completely glazed over.’

‘Hey, don’t worry, oppa [older brother/male friend]. Do you think the great Baek Hani would get this drunk? We have to decide our company’s number one today, so quickly give us another drink each.’

She should have just left then, or just had a simple drink together.

The passing thought startled her.

Baek Hani, who doesn’t even talk to male celebrities, even if she was drunk, with a colleague from the agency?

Even though that annoying person next to her was teasing her…

Just then, the phone rang again. This time, it wasn’t Team Leader Yoo Joon-il but road manager Moon Sung-hoon.

-Ah, hello, Hani-ssi [term of endearment]! Team Leader Yoo said that if you’re okay with it, he wants us to watch General Baekjeong’s final episode together at the company. He got permission from the CEO to have a big wrap-up party with the company people that day…

“…Tell them,” she says.

-Yes?

“Tell them Baek Hani is dead, on indefinite hiatus.”

-Hani-ssi, what are you saying…

Just hearing the words ‘wrap-up party’ makes her stomach churn. She hangs up the phone and opens the delivery app.

While ordering a box of hangover cures from the convenience store, a scream of resentment echoed.

“Next time, I’ll definitely drink all of this and then fight her… !”

*

A comprehensive academy in Gangnam [affluent district in Seoul].

Even though it’s the weekend, students who were forcibly dragged out yawn as they find their seats.

A male student nudged his friend wearing earphones.

“Hey, what are you watching? Is it good?”

“General Baekjeong. It’s the hottest thing these days.”

The student who spoke tilted his head.

“Oh, my mom watches that too. Isn’t it just a typical nationalistic historical drama?”

“What are you talking about? It’s a masterpiece. I stayed up all night watching it yesterday and cried.”

“Hehe, why are you crying while watching a drama? Are you a kid?”

The student chuckled but took one of his friend’s earphones and put it in his ear.

Soon after, the instructor came in, but the two who were engrossed in the drama got an earful.

“Yoon-tae, Jung-ho. If you saw the teacher, you should take out your earphones.”

“Teacher, we’re in Korean history class! Can’t we have a visual aid lesson with the drama today?”

“…Why are these kids suddenly like this?”

35%, they finally crossed the wall of death.

Now, ‘Hyperion,’ which had fallen to the low 10% range and was beyond recovery, can’t even be compared.

What remains is to see how far they can push up the high viewership ratings that had been stagnant on both terrestrial and cable channels.

-This is Drama Analyzing Man, DramaMan. Today’s content is the talk of the town, General Baekjeong! We’re going to find out the reason for this terrifying popularity. A luxurious cast? An amazing script? All correct, but the most special thing is its realism. No nationalistic sentiment, yes to historical accuracy, and that’s what appeals to the current generation!

As a YouTuber said on an analysis channel, this drama doesn’t have the elements commonly called ‘nationalistic sentiment.’

The incompetent are incompetent, and the wicked are wicked.

The weak and the plunderers are not glorified. Based on universal common sense that everyone knows, the story unfolds without melodrama, adding to the immersion.

-Last week, the drama ended with Lee Cheon-in being chased. As the production team revealed it was the ‘most realistic’ ending, many viewers are worried about a sad ending. Can the butcher’s mask-wearing general, Lee Cheon-in, and Song Yi-seol, be happy?

*

Sunday is back.

Today is the day the 20-episode ‘General Baekjeong’ airs its grand finale.

Perhaps that’s why the commercials are especially long. A living room with a cheese plate and wine set up. Park Yeol-ho reads the latest article to his wife.

“Honey, yesterday’s highest viewership rating was 36%. The broadcasting reporters are predicting it will be even higher today.”

It’s a rare, cozy viewing time just for the couple. Their younger son, who is good with his hands, tinkered with something and created a home theater comparable to a movie theater.

Thanks to that, they could comfortably watch his works at home anytime.

“Of course, the kids worked so hard. It would have been better if they could have watched it together on a day like this…”

“It’s said to be a very expensive production, so they have to watch it with the company people. Last time, it was Byun Hwi-seung, right? He watched it with you once too. If it weren’t for Geon and Seon, when else would we watch a drama with an actor?”

Han Young-joo nodded at her husband’s comforting words.

She was just saying it out of regret. After filming a few works, they now know how busy the actors and managers are on the day of the finale.

Besides, today is the finale of a 50 billion won [approximately $37 million USD] blockbuster, isn’t it? She heard that the agency is having a screening followed by a wrap-up party.

Soon, the commercials ended, and the black screen cleared. Park Yeol-ho, clinking wine glasses with Han Young-joo, muttered.

“They must be very busy over there too.”

*

As the former firefighter predicted, Roman Entertainment was bustling even on Sunday.

In particular, the lounge, which had recently been expanded by combining an entire floor and turned into a screening room, was chaotic with even outside guests coming in.

“Noona [older sister/female friend, used by males], please move over there. I came here first to grab this seat.”

“You move. Why are you so fat?”

“I lost 8 kilos because I’m doing samurai. I couldn’t eat the whole time, then I binged for four days straight.”

C&J’s actor, Lee Dong-soo, whose face was as round as the moon, smiled brightly. Just by looking at him, it seemed like the late-night snacks he ate yesterday hadn’t been digested yet.

Cho Hyun-ah, who was sighing deeply, noticed an outsider hesitating.

“…Min-woo, why are you acting like a wimp again? Come here and just sit down.”

“I, it’s my first time visiting another agency…”

On one side, Cho Hyun-ah and Lee Dong-soo, and Oh Min-woo, who was invited, took their seats, and next to them, PD Jeon In-woo and writer Young Do-eun took their places.

“Oh, this is nice. I’m always stuck in the CVN editing room, so coming to a big agency feels different from the air.”

“Director, if you say that somewhere else, you’ll get cursed at. What if Jin hears you…?”

“Hey, I would never say that there. Who wants to get fired?”

Today, a party was prepared within Roman after the finale.

Thanks to that, the writers and directors they saw at the broadcasting station and the actors from other companies who were watching on their own all gathered together.

Anyway, it’s a hugely successful drama, so no matter what the final episode’s viewership rating is, a celebration party is possible.

The back is the seating area for internal agency staff. Team Leader Gong Gi-hyung and Team Leader Yoo Joon-il, next to some familiar team leaders, Jin Ji-yoo whispered to Park Geon.

“Oppa, what percentage do you think it will be?”

“I don’t know. Even if I film a few works, I don’t have a feel for that.”

“I know exactly. At least 38%, at most 41%. If I’m wrong, I’ll go on your next work. Not a special appearance, but unconditionally as the female lead.”

Park Geon looked back at his colleague next to him. Jin Ji-yoo, wearing sunglasses even though it wasn’t a schedule, smiled faintly.

Since the day she made a special appearance in ‘General Baekjeong’… she’s been strangely high-strung since that drinking party ended.

“I’ll go with 37%. I can’t disrupt Ji-yoo’s schedule.”

“Well, it doesn’t matter anyway. I already properly dealt with her.”

“……Yes?”

“Wow, it’s starting!”

Soon, the drama begins. On the lounge’s 100-inch wall-mounted TV, the fates of the ‘Baekjeongtal’ family pass by one by one.

—Go, Seol-ah. This is the end for this old man. Become a proud, independent activist, and fight against the Japanese to change Joseon [historical Korean kingdom].

—Grandfather, please… no, together…

—If fortune favors us, reinforcements will come from Manchuria and the Primorsky Krai. Hurry!

Grand Duke Songbyeol, drawing his sword, sacrifices himself for his granddaughter. The last stand of the nobleman-turned-giant (巨人) [literally “giant” in Japanese, referring to his imposing figure and strength], who has been working undercover as a fake traitor, brings sighs from all around.

After the scene of Song Yi-seol swallowing her tears and loading ammunition ends, Lee Jeong-nyeong, the leader of the Gyeongseong Independence Army, appears.

—Baekjeongtal, Lee Cheon-in, is our compatriot who we chased away. The son of a butcher who died under false charges has returned from the West solely for revenge and is punishing the Japanese.

The Nam’s Butchery. A place where almost all Joseon people living in Gyeongseong are gathered.

Although one arm is cut off and the light of death is cast on his face, Lee Jeong-nyeong’s complexion is clearer than ever.

—I will die today.

—What are you saying, Captain!

—But I have no regrets. Because I fought with comrades who shared their hearts and stood back to back. However… before taking the road to the afterlife, I want to wash away my sin of being so callous to the same blood.

An air of fear, hesitation, and excitement swirls among those watching.

Lee Jeong-nyeong, with his only hand, takes something out from his waist and shows it to the crowd. Lee Cheon-in’s copper-colored ‘Baekjeongtal’ [Butcher’s Mask] is revealed under the light.

—It will be a glorious night, for the soul of Joseon.

The scene changes to the night streets of Gyeongseong.

Amidst the sound of sharp whistles, fully armed military police and patrolmen flounder.

—Baekjeongtal has appeared!

—It’s not here, it’s towards Jongno! We’re getting support requests from that way!

—It can’t be. Flames are rising from the outskirts, how many bodies does Baekjeongtal have?

Although he must have been injured, the command system falls into chaos with the reports coming in scattered. A military policeman wearing the section chief’s yellow band stammers.

—Could it be, he really wasn’t human…

—Foolish talk. Lee Cheon-in will be torn to pieces and die. Along with the Joseon livestock that follow him.

A chilling voice cuts in. As the military policemen turn around, five swordsmen dressed in black are gathering in the plaza.

Although they suffered near annihilation at the hands of Lee Cheon-in, the core members of the Hwangwoo Association have returned from the brink of death as vengeful spirits.

—…

A thick smell of blood wafts from the samurai, who have bandages wrapped around their bodies. Some of the patrolmen who saw the masks they wore gasped.

An Oni (おに) [Japanese demon/ogre] with black horns, a bright red face, and long, yellow fangs says.

—Find him, subjects of the Empire.

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