I was Mistaken as a Monstrous Genius Actor [EN]: Chapter 158

Choi Seong-geon, having wrapped up his conversation with the ‘Island of the Missing’ production team, returned to the waiting tent, dressed in a light short-sleeved shirt and a hat pulled low over his eyes. His gaze was fixed on the phone in his hand. He was just about to step inside the tent when a deep, aged voice echoed from within.

“Are you perhaps interested in the ‘Cannes Film Festival’?”

The familiar voice belonged to Director Ahn Ga-bok. Choi Seong-geon stopped in his tracks, realizing the director was inside.

‘Director Ahn Ga-bok? He’s already here?’

He knew the director was scheduled to arrive today, but Choi Seong-geon hadn’t expected him to be so early, already engaged in conversation with Kang Woo-jin. He quickly backed away from the tent.

‘The Cannes Film Festival? Asking so directly, out of the blue? It’s just a hint, but… surely Woo-jin won’t reject him outright, right? Yeah, that’s right. He wouldn’t.’

Choi Seong-geon hoped inwardly. He was already struggling to manage Director Woo Hyun-gu, and if things went south with Director Ahn Ga-bok, it would be a nightmare even for him to handle.

However.

“No, I’m not particularly interested.”

Kang Woo-jin’s cold voice from inside the tent shattered Choi Seong-geon’s hopes. He felt his legs go weak and had to support himself by placing his hands on his knees.

‘…Something went wrong.’

Inside the tent, the film company’s CEO and employees, who had accompanied Director Ahn Ga-bok, immediately frowned.

“Hey, you!”

They all raised their voices slightly at Kang Woo-jin, who remained nonchalant.

“Not particularly interested?!”

“Kang Woo-jin, in this industry, the more popular you are, the more humble you should be. Do you even know who you’re sitting in front of right now?”

“How dare you be so rude to the director!”

“…Hey, Woo-jin. Do you think your current popularity will last forever?”

The criticisms rained down. Kang Woo-jin’s expressionless face didn’t change, at least not on the surface. Inside, he was extremely flustered.

‘Wh-what the heck? Whoa, I’m a little nervous?!’

He needed to remain calm. He had to pour cold water, ice water, on himself. Looking at the composed Director Ahn Ga-bok, he replied in a low voice to the people attacking him.

“Is there a problem?”

“…Wh-what did you say?”

“I was just answering. You asked about the Cannes Film Festival, and I gave my opinion. I don’t understand why you’re getting so worked up.”

“……”

“I’m a little taken aback because there was no explanation beforehand.”

That was true. Director Ahn Ga-bok had only asked about Cannes, and Woo-jin had simply answered. The others were angry because they knew the context, but Kang Woo-jin hadn’t done anything to warrant such a scolding.

“Am I really in a situation where I should be criticized?”

He hadn’t received any formal request from Director Ahn Ga-bok yet. At that moment.

-Swish.

Director Ahn Ga-bok, with his white hair, who had been silently observing Kang Woo-jin, spoke calmly.

“Apologize.”

He was addressing the staff behind him. The film company’s CEO stammered.

“D-Director!”

“Apologize. There was no reason to raise your voices.”

“……”

The CEO and employees fell silent, though their eyes showed clear dissatisfaction. Still, they couldn’t ignore Director Ahn Ga-bok’s instructions, so they apologized to Woo-jin in hushed tones.

“…I’m sorry.”

Director Ahn Ga-bok then met Kang Woo-jin’s gaze.

“I’m sorry, they were just trying to look out for me.”

Kang Woo-jin, who had inwardly sighed in relief, shook his head with a brazen look on his face.

“It’s alright, I’m fine.”

Director Ahn Ga-bok, hearing the reply, smiled slightly and gestured to the people behind him.

“Everyone, go outside. I need to talk to him alone.”

Soon, the film company’s CEO and employees turned and left. Choi Seong-geon, who was outside, quietly moved to the side of the tent. The CEO and employees, unaware of this, grumbled as they exited.

“Hah—Even so, it’s not right to speak so bluntly in front of Director Ahn, is it?”

“…He’s got his nose in the air. Well, he’s at a point where he can’t see what’s coming next.”

“When we start filming later, we’ll see how well he acts among those top actors.”

Inside the tent, the atmosphere between Kang Woo-jin and Director Ahn Ga-bok, who were sitting face to face, remained quiet. They were both just looking into each other’s eyes. Director Ahn Ga-bok was the first to break the silence.

“You’re not interested—may I ask why you’re not particularly interested in the Cannes Film Festival?”

“……”

Why? Because he genuinely wasn’t interested? Besides, Kang Woo-jin didn’t particularly like Director Ahn Ga-bok. He hadn’t even considered the Cannes Film Festival or anything like it.

‘A huge film festival like that is something that’ll be possible in a few years, right?’

Right now, Woo-jin was more focused on avoiding this monster, this landmine, in front of him. His interest in that was far greater than any film festival. According to Choi Seong-geon, this old man was planning to challenge Cannes, right?

He wasn’t really interested, so he should just make something up.

Kang Woo-jin spoke his truth, with a touch of acting.

“It’s as I said. I’m just not particularly interested.”

“Hmm—that’s an answer I didn’t expect.”

Once again, the old master’s gaze, which seemed to penetrate his entire being, was directed at him. Woo-jin flinched slightly, but he pretended to be calm while muttering inwardly.

‘He was like that at the restaurant too. He said he could see a fleeting, light look in my eyes. I don’t know if it’s his experience or his ability, but should I try an experiment?’

Just in case, Woo-jin toned down his acting. The intensity that had quickly appeared in his eyes, the tension and bravado that controlled his body, also faded.

“But why are you asking about the Cannes Film Festival?”

Then, he ramped up the acting again. In a short moment, Woo-jin’s bravado fluctuated repeatedly. It wasn’t a difficult task. It was something he did all the time.

The strange thing was.

‘Hmm?’

Director Ahn Ga-bok’s reaction to Woo-jin’s experiment was immediate.

‘As expected… I can still see it fleetingly. A light, or rather, a faint look.’

Director Ahn Ga-bok asked about it directly.

“You’re still unique. I can still see that strange thing I saw before in your eyes?”

Wow—damn, this old man is really dangerous. He’s more than a monster. Kang Woo-jin, who let out a silent scream inside, lowered his voice to the maximum.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“…Is that so?”

It was at that moment.

-Swish.

The tent opened, and Choi Seong-geon and the burly Jang Su-hwan entered. Choi Seong-geon was the first to speak.

“Oh! Director??”

Director Ahn Ga-bok, who had been quietly looking at Woo-jin, gently rose from his seat. His gaze remained fixed on Kang Woo-jin.

“Have a good shoot today.”

After exchanging brief greetings with Choi Seong-geon behind him, Director Ahn Ga-bok left the tent. As he put his safari hat back on in the blazing sunlight, he muttered to himself in a low voice, thinking about Kang Woo-jin.

“Something about him—it feels like he’s shrouded in fog.”

One hour later.

A dense forest blocked the blazing sunlight. The air was hot and still, with the sound of insects buzzing from somewhere. The ground was muddy, and the trees were unfamiliar.

A chilling gaze was felt from somewhere.

Silence fell. A fishy stench stung the nose. Kang Woo-jin stood in such a place. He wore a tilted bulletproof helmet and a military uniform stained with blood and grime.

“Hoo- Hah.”

Woo-jin, taking exaggerated deep breaths, had a gun pressed against his cheek. The butt of the gun was firmly fixed on his shoulder. However, the end of the gun, which didn’t seem to be pointing anywhere, was trembling slightly. The military boots stuck in the muddy ground twitched.

Slowly, the shouldered gun moved through the air.

“…Hoo.”

The camera filled the screen with Kang Woo-jin’s face, following the barrel of his gun.

The power in Kang Woo-jin’s eyes, which scanned the forest filled with condensed fear, was weak. Timid. It was natural. Because the current Woo-jin was ‘Private First Class Jin Seon-cheol.’ This wasn’t a filming set. It was in the world of Private First Class Jin Seon-cheol due to the reading [a term used to describe the experience of fully immersing oneself in a character’s world] of the subspace.

At least, that’s how it was for Kang Woo-jin.

The hundred or so staff members, the cameras and audio equipment, and the reflectors placed around him had disappeared. Kang Woo-jin, or rather, ‘Private First Class Jin Seon-cheol,’ was filled with nothing but fear.

‘Sh-shit. Shit, shit!’

Because it wasn’t an illusion, everything about Jin Seon-cheol dominated Woo-jin. His heart was weak. The stronger of the two egos embedded in one body was not felt.

And.

‘I’m scared, I’m scared.’

Since earlier, Private First Class Jin Seon-cheol’s heart had been pounding like a piston. His throbbing temples felt like they would burst. His breathing was rough and unstable, to the point that the shouldered gun was shaking. He even seemed to be on the verge of tears.

Director Kwon Ki-taek, who was watching this on the monitor, slowly nodded.

‘Good, he doesn’t seem to be shaking much. I was worried for nothing.’

He glanced to his right rear. Director Ahn Ga-bok, wearing a safari hat and with a deep, expressionless face, was sitting there. It wasn’t clear, but Director Ahn Ga-bok’s focus was on Kang Woo-jin. Nevertheless, Woo-jin was more stable and explosive than usual.

But this long take scene was just the beginning.

Meanwhile, Director Ahn Ga-bok, who was carefully watching Kang Woo-jin in the filming zone, made a guess.

‘He’s weak and timid. Is he a character with a weak heart? There are no lines, but he’s expressing it well with just his gaze, breathing, and the details of his actions.’

Around him, the film company’s CEO and four other people who had come with him were focused solely on Kang Woo-jin. The acting was okay, but it wasn’t that surprising yet. Just that level of gaze. Of course, Director Ahn Ga-bok felt similarly.

‘Yes, I know he’s a decent actor. But a weak character is something I’ve seen before. Something I’ve seen. Is that all?’

Clearly, Kang Woo-jin was showing good acting, but it was a bit bland. That kind of timid role had been overdone in the film industry. Whatever the case, the hundred or so staff members watching the filming zone were silent, and the only things moving were the cameras and the actors.

At that moment.

-Swish.

The camera that was filming Private First Class Jin Seon-cheol slowly shifted its angle, following his gaze. Other soldiers who weren’t visible on the monitor appeared. They were all in the same form as Private First Class Jin Seon-cheol.

“Hoo-”

“Hah, hoo-”

They were scattered here and there on the muddy ground, a step away from each other, shouldering their guns and guarding against something unseen. Some had already died after entering the ‘Island of the Missing,’ so their numbers had decreased, but there were still a dozen or so. Several cameras were filming them, and even a drone in the sky.

Thanks to this, the various monitors that Director Kwon Ki-taek was watching vividly captured the expressions of the actors, each according to the filming storyboard.

Ryu Jeong-min, Kim Yi-won, Jeon Woo-chang, Ha Yu-ra, and other supporting actors.

Sweat dripped down. Their faces were filled with a quiet but palpable despair. Among them, only ‘Lieutenant Choi Yu-tae,’ who was holding a pistol, was relatively calm.

“Hoo- Slowly. We retreat slowly.”

A sound was heard. The most frightening sound to be wary of since entering the ‘Island of the Missing.’ A bizarre monster that no one knew what it was. Nothing could be seen between the dense trees and bushes, but it was definitely there. The dozen or so soldiers took steps backward, trying to make as little noise as possible.

-Thud, thud.

Their breathing was lowered to the maximum, and their pounding hearts made them want to throw up. They all had the same expression. Their eyes were wide and bloodshot, and their right cheeks, pressed against the shouldered guns, were trembling.

The camera captured Kim Yi-won’s face, covered in sweat. He was Staff Sergeant ‘Jo Bong-seok.’

“Quietly… just be on guard and quietly get out of here.”

Jeon Woo-chang, who played ‘Sergeant Nam Tae-oh,’ spoke in a trembling voice, unlike his muscular physique. He glanced behind him.

“What if that monster is behind us?”

“…Just follow orders. The sound definitely came from the front.”

Lieutenant Choi Yu-tae lowered his body slightly and made a hand gesture as if to say his voice was too loud.

“When I signal, run at full speed, thinking that if you’re slow, your comrade will die.”

-Thud, thud.

The soldiers gradually retreated. They swallowed their saliva, wiped the sweat that was blurring their vision, moved their trembling feet, and even cried.

It was quiet, but the air was thick with fear.

They were on the verge of collapse. It felt like if someone snapped the thread of tension, they would all crumble. Still, the soldiers somehow maintained their formation and continued to retreat.

At this moment, one camera zoomed in on Private First Class Jin Seon-cheol, who was breathing heavily.

“……”

His face was still weak, but for a brief moment, a change was seen on his face on the monitor. When he glanced at the face of the private next to him. Director Ahn Ga-bok, who caught that, paused.

‘Did he smile? Did he just smile? Definitely, the corners of his mouth.’

At that moment.

-Swish.

Private First Class Jin Seon-cheol subtly stepped on the boot of the private next to him, who was trembling all over. The camera moved from Private First Class Jin Seon-cheol to the private’s face. A startled face.

At the same time, a spark flew from the muzzle of the private’s shouldered gun.

-Bang!

A single gunshot rang out, breaking the silence of the island. The camera zoomed in on the panicked private.

“N-no. This is.”

Staff Sergeant Jo Bong-seok gritted his teeth.

“That crazy bastard.”

All the dozen or so comrades, their eyes bulging, turned to look at the private. The private was crying.

“S-something stepped on my foot, sob. It’s true.”

A strange sound was heard from here.

[“Gurgle, gurgle.”]

The startled private fired his gun in the direction of the sound.

-Bang bang bang!!

He had already lost his mind.

“Aaaah! You son of a bitch!!”

-Bang bang!

At this moment, the silence was shattered. Lieutenant Choi Yu-tae grabbed Staff Sergeant Jo Bong-seok by the collar and shouted.

“Stop that bastard!! Everyone, look ahead, ahead!!”

Staff Sergeant Jo Bong-seok ran towards the private.

“Cease fire! Hey!! Can’t you hear?! Cease fire!!!”

However.

[“Gurgle.”]

Along with the following sound.

-Whoosh, thud!!

Something long popped out of the dense bushes and pierced the chest of the private who was firing his gun. Of course, this was a cut that would be re-filmed later on a ‘green screen’ and have CG inserted, but the actors all stopped moving.

The private, tears streaming down his face, coughed up blood from his mouth.

“Huk… ugh. L-Lieutenant.”

The long thing that had pierced his chest disappeared into the bushes with a whoosh. It wasn’t visible in reality, but it was clearly visible in the actors’ eyes, and it had to be. The private collapsed on the spot. At the same time, all the soldiers’ breathing became heavy and rough.

“Y-you son of a bitch!!”

“Die!! Die, you monster!!”

“Aaaah!!”

-Bang bang bang!!

-Bang bang bang bang bang!!

They fired their guns at the place where the long thing had come out. All the soldiers had lost their minds, and Lieutenant Choi Yu-tae yelled in Staff Sergeant Jo Bong-seok’s ear.

“Move! Squad leader!! Run!!”

“Lieutenant! We have to shoot!! The guys are just dying!!”

-Bang bang bang bang bang!!

“Run!! I said run!!!”

Chaos. Staff Sergeant Jo Bong-seok, gritting his teeth, roughly grabbed Sergeant Nam Tae-oh by the collar.

“Cease fire!! Run down! You sons of bitches, run!!”

-Bang bang bang!!

The camera filmed the private with a hole in his chest from above. He was breathing faintly. Next to him, Private First Class Jin Seon-cheol was desperately trying to stop the blood from his chest.

“D-don’t die.”

“Private… sir.”

“D-don’t talk.”

“I w-want to live…”

“D-don’t talk. Don’t talk.”

“……”

The light faded from the private’s eyes as he looked at the sky. His life had ended. The monitor that had been showing the private changed to Private First Class Jin Seon-cheol’s face. While his facial muscles were trembling, the corners of his mouth subtly twitched again.

Director Ahn Ga-bok moved his face closer to the monitor.

‘Again. That’s not the twitching of grief. It’s joy. Yes, it’s joy. Painful, yet joyful. Why? Why is that guy, who is the weakest, the most excited?’

His question didn’t last long. He had been a director for decades. Soon, Director Ahn Ga-bok, the monster, realized the reason and muttered to himself.

“Right. Split personality. Two egos, expressed only through his expressions.”

In the current group shot, Kang Woo-jin didn’t have many lines. He only showed subtle expressions.

‘That kid, Kang Woo-jin, is in charge of the pace, tension, and rich volume of this scene.’

That meant he was responsible for the core.

‘A tense situation where lives are at stake. However, it could easily look monotonous. Because it’s a scene I’ve seen before. Kang Woo-jin is twisting it with a variety of colors. Among the top actors who have been in the industry for over a decade, that kid is holding the key.’

On the other hand, Director Kwon Ki-taek, who was already staring intently at the monitor, swallowed hard and said.

“Good, a little more.”

He urged the climax of the scene. The hundred or so staff members around him were already speechless. They had witnessed dozens of takes already, but.

“…Wow, the immersion is just—unbelievable.”

“Private First Class Jin Seon-cheol’s smile is really creepy.”

“Everyone’s acting is insane, completely…”

They couldn’t help but reveal their inner thoughts again. In the meantime.

-Bang bang bang bang bang!!

The retreating soldiers began to run one by one.

“Retreat!! Retreat, you bastards!”

“Where! Where do we retreat to?!!”

“The village! Towards the village!”

“Isn’t the village dangerous too?!!”

“Damn it! Then do you want to die here?!!”

“Ugh! Cease fire!! Run towards the village!!”

Staff Sergeant Jo Bong-seok was at the front. Starting with him, they disappeared from the camera angle one by one. However.

“Sob- G-get up. Get up.”

Only Private First Class Jin Seon-cheol, who had even taken off his bulletproof helmet, was weeping while embracing the dead private. Lieutenant Choi Yu-tae, who was the last to retreat, confirmed this and then.

“Jin Seon-cheol!! What the hell are you doing!! Didn’t you hear me tell you to run?!!”

“B-but! Dae-gwon! Private Park Dae-gwon!”

Lieutenant Choi Yu-tae slapped Private First Class Jin Seon-cheol on the cheek.

-Slap!!

“Get a grip! He’s dead! He’s already dead!! Shut up and get up!! Quickly!!”

“O-okay…”

Private First Class Jin Seon-cheol, who had been stammering, got up and awkwardly ran while putting on his bulletproof helmet. Lieutenant Choi Yu-tae, seeing this, quickly ripped off the private’s dog tag and ran like hell.

The camera ran with them, head-on.

On the monitor, Private First Class Jin Seon-cheol’s face was in the front, and the desperate Lieutenant Choi Yu-tae was in the back. It was a very contrasting expression. Private First Class Jin Seon-cheol. The corners of Kang Woo-jin’s mouth were already curved like a bow. His mouth was a crescent. He was smiling brightly. His round eyes were full of mischief and madness. The timid guy was nowhere to be seen.

There was no sound, but it was as if a ‘hehehe’ laugh could be heard. A silent joy.

He, one of the Private First Class Jin Seon-cheols, was playing a game.

There was no way Lieutenant Choi Yu-tae could have known this. He could only see the back of Private First Class Jin Seon-cheol’s head.

Eventually, both of them moved out of the camera’s view.

“……”

“……”

After a moment of silence, Director Kwon Ki-taek’s low signal was given.

“Cut. OK.”

Then, behind him, Director Ahn Ga-bok looked at Kang Woo-jin, or rather, Private First Class Jin Seon-cheol, and spoke in his old voice.

“Huh-”

The old master slowly looked down at his own forearm. Because a chill had been running through his body since earlier. Then, he let out a small chuckle.

‘This…’

How long had it been? Something bumpy had appeared on this dry, withered forearm, where the elasticity had been completely lost.

“To think I’d get goosebumps at this age.”