I Was Mistaken As A Monstrous Genius Actor [EN]: Chapter 224

Around 9:30 AM on the 21st.

A mid-sized hotel near the village of ‘Inefunaya.’ A lodging mainly used by tourists. The ‘Nakkisaeng’ team had rented an entire floor.

However, the ‘Nakkisaeng’ team’s floor was currently deserted.

Everyone was already at work in ‘Inefunaya’ village, hurrying to prepare for filming since early morning. Because of that, there were only a few people left at the hotel. One of them was Kang Woo-jin. Currently, Woo-jin, wearing a hat, was having breakfast in the restaurant, attracting the attention of the people.

‘Oh—this fried rice-like dish is delicious?’

On the outside, he maintained a stern face, but inside, he was marveling at the hotel’s breakfast. Of course, he wasn’t alone; a dozen members of Woo-jin’s team, including Choi Sung-gun, were with him.

Several minutes later.

“Woo-jin.”

Just as coffees were being placed on the table, Choi Sung-gun shared some news. While Kang Woo-jin was immersed in his ‘Nakkisaeng’ acting, Choi Sung-gun had also been busy with other matters.

The first thing placed in front of Kang Woo-jin was a contract.

“The animation ‘Boyfriend’ was confirmed yesterday. Check the contract.”

The ‘Boyfriend’ animation they had discussed a few days ago.

‘Oh—this was incredibly fast?’

According to Choi Sung-gun, the contract itself was a breeze. Well, ‘A10 Studio’ had already started production, and they were very eager to have Kang Woo-jin, so it was understandable. For Woo-jin, the ‘Boyfriend Remake’ was a positive thing. He could use his piano skills and have a novel experience.

Anyway, with this, Kang Woo-jin’s participation in the ‘Boyfriend Remake’ animation was confirmed.

The production details of the ‘Boyfriend Remake’ and Kang Woo-jin’s joining information were still confidential.

However.

“‘A10 Studio’ said they’ll announce it soon once they’ve sorted out their position, maybe next week? Then we’ll follow up.”

It was just a matter of time.

“As for voice dubbing, ‘A10 Studio’ hasn’t finalized it yet, but if the goal is to launch in July, it’ll probably start in April or May. There will be OST [Original Sound Track] and test recordings before that. I’ll let you know as things progress.”

Next, Woo-jin checked the compensation part of the contract.

‘Wow—it’s way better than I thought.’

It was natural since Choi Sung-gun had led the negotiations, but the compensation was surprisingly high. And the OST part was separate.

Furthermore.

“This is the first ad storyboard from ‘Kashihi Group.'”

The storyboard for the ‘Kashihi Group’ ad, which would be filmed during their activities in Japan, had also arrived. The ads Kang Woo-jin would be doing for the company were in construction and food. One in construction, and two in food.

“The filming schedule will probably be next week; they’re in a huge rush, which is good for us.”

It was good to go quickly. Even a short ad shoot takes more than half a day, and Woo-jin’s schedule, once he started filming ‘Nakkisaeng,’ would become increasingly tight. Considering the return to Korea for his Korean schedule, it was better to get the ad shoots done early in the ‘Nakkisaeng’ filming.

Then, Choi Sung-gun suddenly gave a thumbs up.

“And your acting yesterday was amazing, Woo-jin. You might not know, but the film company and distribution people who came to the set were going crazy. They were busy praising you.”

As a result, Woo-jin’s entire team was excited.

“Ah—that’s right, you were incredible yesterday, oppa [term of endearment for older brother or male friend]!”

“I haven’t read the ‘Nakkisaeng’ book, but I’m going to buy it now!!”

“I only saw you yesterday, hyung [term of endearment for older brother or male friend]!”

“The Japanese actors and staff were all like, ‘Huh—Heh—'”

Woo-jin, trying to hide his embarrassment, simply replied in a low voice.

“Was it? I didn’t see it because I was acting.”

Meanwhile, at the ‘Nakkisaeng’ filming location.

The village of ‘Inefunaya,’ bright in the morning, felt slightly more lively than the night before. The eeriness had faded. But the emptiness remained. Anyway, dozens of staff members were busy around the pier, which was the core of yesterday’s filming.

“Standby in 10 minutes!!”

“Camera setup starting!!”

“Director! Please check the actors’ makeup here!”

They were scheduled to start the main filming in about 10 minutes. Of course, this scene did not include Kang Woo-jin, who was at the hotel. While filming can’t always follow the script order, they had no choice but to film in order while in ‘Inefunaya’ village.

Therefore, the current scene was the day after Kinzo’s death.

Director Kyotaro, who had been on a call until just now, was busy checking the set here and there. Writer Akari, who had come to inspect the set again today, was visible near the monitor. Moreover, the number of actors to be involved had increased several times compared to last night. It was natural since there were over 30 extras just for the police roles. They were all in police uniforms.

“Everyone, don’t be nervous! When the action sign is given, just do what’s been decided!!”

The filming set gradually transformed into a crime scene. Police officers, onlookers, no-entry signs and ropes blocking the onlookers, and murmuring reporters. Soon, Yasuta, who would play the corpse, and the supporting actors playing ‘Misaki Shutoku’ entered.

“Oogimoto-san has arrived!”

Yasuta was supposed to be naked, but his overall appearance had been filmed last night. Currently, only his upper body was exposed, and his lower body was covered. It didn’t matter since a cover would be placed, and only half of it would be open. The supporting actor playing ‘Misaki Shutoku’ had the same head-smashed makeup and costume as yesterday.

With the corpses set up, the lead actor, who would be the core of the current filming, entered among the dozens of extras. He was a man in his mid-30s, wearing seemingly casual jeans, a navy lightweight padding jacket, short hair, and slightly rough skin.

It was Mana Kosaku, a top Japanese actor.

His role in ‘Nakkisaeng’ was ‘Yoshizawa Mochio,’ a detective who was a bit corrupt. He also received pocket money from yakuza [Japanese organized crime] and thugs. On the surface, he was the epitome of laziness. However, ironically, while pretending to be lazy, he was meticulous in his investigations, and in the scenario, he was the one who relentlessly pursued Iyota Kiyoshi, the ‘stranger.’

Mana Kosaku, who played this detective role, was the second actor cast in ‘Nakkisaeng’ after Kang Woo-jin.

He was the leader of a famous Japanese band and a singer and actor who had been loved in Japan for a long time. As soon as Mana Kosaku arrived on set, the staff swarmed around him. While getting his makeup touched up by the makeup team, Kosaku, who had strong facial features, slowly looked around the filming set.

“······Hmm.”

It was exactly as he had imagined. Just like the ‘Nakkisaeng’ he had read. More than anything, after seeing Kang Woo-jin’s acting last night, it felt even more vivid.

Soon, Kosaku recalled the past.

Specifically, when Director Kyotaro had first approached him. Kosaku had asked something, and Director Kyotaro had answered simply.

‘Why was that Korean actor cast for the role of Iyota Kiyoshi?’

‘Because it has to be him.’

At the time, he didn’t clearly understand the meaning. But last night, Kosaku deeply understood Director Kyotaro’s feelings. Why that Korean actor was playing Kiyoshi. Why it had to be him.

Kosaku muttered to himself.

“It’s not that it has to be him, but that no one else can do it.”

Kosaku had been so shocked by Woo-jin’s acting that his acting career had been shaken. Yes, it was exactly as Yasuta had said.

Kang Woo-jin was a monster.

It wasn’t for nothing that he had caught the eye of the Japanese master director Kyotaro across the sea in his first year, or that he had won 8 awards at the end-of-year awards in Korea, which had sparked the Korean Wave [the increase in popularity of South Korean culture globally]. Kosaku had also watched both Woo-jin’s ‘Hanryang’ and ‘Boyfriend’ out of curiosity.

He thought he was a good actor.

But yesterday’s Kang Woo-jin was on a different level.

Kosaku was the one who had to chase after Woo-jin’s tail throughout the ‘Nakkisaeng’ filming.

‘As an actor and as a detective.’

Kosaku raised his emotions. He was embodying the detective ‘Yoshizawa Mochio.’ Although Kang Woo-jin wasn’t on set, he was ready to shadowbox. He intended to keep him in check whether he was there or not.

‘If I don’t do this, I’ll be compared to him until the end of filming.’

He was the only one who would go all the way with Kang Woo-jin. Kosaku felt genuinely nervous. Around that time, Director Kyotaro called him, and after a brief conversation with the director or writer Akari, Kosaku stood behind the camera.

Just before filming started.

-Clap!!

Soon, the sound of the slate and Director Kyotaro’s megaphone shout echoed in front of the monitor.

“Hi—Cue!”

At the same time, dozens of extras in police uniforms moved busily. Some were taking pictures, some were controlling the onlookers, and some were thoroughly searching for evidence around the pier. Here, Mana Kosaku, or rather, Detective Yoshizawa Mochio, appeared.

“Ugh—it’s far, it’s far. It’s been a long time since I’ve been to Chiba.”

Detective Yoshizawa Mochio appeared, grumbling. The junior detective next to him pointed at the pier with his index finger.

“Let’s start from there.”

“Okay, okay.”

The camera followed them from behind.

As Detective Mochio approached, a police officer on the wooden boat noticed his presence. Mochio gestured for him to remove the cover on the corpse.

“Let’s see the face.”

“Ah! Yes!”

The police officer quickly removed half of the cover. The corpse, who had died with his eyes open, was huddled in a pale, naked state. It was Kinzo. Mochio made a gesture of praying for his soul, then nonchalantly squatted at the end of the pier, resting his chin on his hand. It seemed he saw corpses often. Then, he suddenly spoke to the deceased Kinzo.

“Hey—why did you die here?”

The junior detective sighed.

“Senior, he can’t answer.”

“I know, I can just ask.”

The camera captured his profile, and Mochio, after answering, slightly tilted his head and scanned the corpse’s appearance with his eyes.

“Marks like he was strangled. With a rope? Did they strangle him from behind?”

A police officer who was investigating nodded.

“Yes, we’ll have to wait for the results, but it seems to be this rope.”

The police officer held up a rope for mooring wooden boats, which was in an evidence bag. Mochio, looking at it as if it was a nuisance, pointed at Kinzo’s chest with his index finger.

“What’s that white stuff?”

“It’s semen.”

“······Ah—well, he was kind of handsome. Semen, so they raped him here and strangled him to death?”

Detective Mochio, muttering, checked the deceased’s belongings nearby. His clothes, underwear, and wallet. Mochio, letting out a small breath, put on gloves and opened the wallet. The money and cards were still there.

“Not a robbery.”

Anyway, the deceased’s identity was revealed from the wallet.

“Konakayama Kinzo—”

There was a brief silence here. Director Kyotaro’s cut sign. Everyone returned to their original positions and did the action again. It took about three re-actions to get an OK.

Then, the next scene.

Mochio, after confirming Kinzo’s identity, moved to the location of the second corpse. This time, it was a corpse in his 60s with a smashed head. He was wearing clothes. Again, Mochio prayed for the soul and spoke to the corpse.

“Are you the culprit?”

The camera moved behind Mana Kosaku, and the junior detective stood next to him, sighing again.

“Ha—Senior. As I said before.”

“I know. More than that, this person is······”

He trailed off, looking up at the tall building in front of him.

“Did he fall from up there?”

“That’s the situation.”

Mochio, again squatting and resting his chin on his hand, looked down at the corpse and asked the police officers next to him.

“Are there any signs of resistance or assault?”

“No, not yet. It’s highly likely he fell alone.”

“Hmm—”

Mochio, letting out a hum, looked at the deceased’s belongings. Cigarettes, a wallet, and a lighter. Again, he checked the deceased’s name from the wallet.

“Masaki Shutoku. This old man has peculiar tastes.”

The junior detective tilted his head.

“Huh?”

“He likes men, so he raped that guy Kinzo.”

“Ah—”

“Anyway, is this the summary?”

Mochio, slowly getting up, put one hand in his pocket and summarized.

“This guy Shutoku kidnapped Kinzo from the boat, brought him here, raped him. After having fun, he strangled Kinzo with a rope and then threw himself off to end his life.”

“That’s the situation, based on the evidence so far. We’ll have to investigate in more detail. Means of transportation and so on. More than anything, if the semen from the corpse on the wooden boat is this man’s, it’s 100%.”

“······”

It was a valid point, but Mana Kosaku, or rather, Mochio, had a dissatisfied expression. He scratched his chin as well.

“Sigh—I don’t know what it is, but it feels like they deliberately left breadcrumbs, doesn’t it?”

“What do you mean?”

“First of all, that semen. It’s like they sprayed it on his chest, asking us to look at it.”

“Well, that’s······”

“And that Kinzo’s body is too clean.”

“Huh?”

“Imagine two men fighting. Wouldn’t there be any resistance?”

“Hmm—”

“And this is just a question.”

Detective Mochio scanned the entire fishing village and spoke.

“Why here of all places?”

“It’s just ‘because it’s secluded and there are no people,’ right?”

“I don’t know. There are many secluded or deserted places without having to come all the way to Chiba, aren’t there?”

“That’s true, but.”

“Hmm, something annoying has gotten caught. It stinks too.”

“Huh?”

Mochio, shrugging his shoulders, walked back towards where Kinzo was lying. The camera followed him. Then, he looked down at the pale Kinzo huddled on the wooden boat and muttered to himself in a low voice.

“I think this place is some kind of message. Hey, tell me. Were you really alone?”

Then, what followed was.

“······Cut!! OK!!”

It was Director Kyotaro’s OK sign.

Around noon on the same day, in Korea.

The location was the large set complex of ‘Island of the Missing’ in Buyeo. Similar to the ‘Nakkisaeng’ team, the ‘Island of the Missing’ team was also in the middle of filming. The location was an open space behind a large school-like building.

A figure, shirtless in a military uniform, holding a gun in one hand, stood alone.

“······Haha.”

It was Ryu Jung-min. He was laughing in a hollow manner. He was now ‘Lieutenant Choi Yu-tae.’ One camera was filming in the direction he was looking, and another was filming ‘Lieutenant Choi Yu-tae’s’ face up close. Lieutenant Choi Yu-tae’s appearance was a mess. He was covered in dust and soot, and his cheeks, forehead, and neck were full of tears.

What about his eyes?

“Haha—Hehe, damn it. You bastards.”

The vitality he had in the beginning had changed. It was fair to say he was half-mad. There was a hint of madness. Director Kwon Ki-taek was carefully watching him on the monitor, along with about a hundred staff members around him.

At that moment.

-Swish.

Lieutenant Choi Yu-tae, chuckling, moved slowly. In front of him was a signpost, rusted and covered in moss. Lieutenant Choi Yu-tae wiped the top part of the signpost with his palm.

Soon, faint letters appeared on the top of the signpost.

-[Ferry Operating Hours]

After looking at the letters for a moment, he covered his face with the hand holding the pistol. His laughter grew louder.

“Hehehe, ah—what is this? It was a real island?”

There was about a 10-second pause. The hundred or so staff members also held their breath. What they were watching was Director Kwon Ki-taek’s serious face in front of the monitor.

Finally.

“······Hoo—”

Director Kwon Ki-taek, letting out a small sigh, slowly got up and spoke softly into the megaphone.

“Cut, OK. Ryu Jung-min, you did a great job.”

Ryu Jung-min, slightly removing his laughter, bowed to the director and staff.

“Thank you for your hard work, director. Everyone, you’ve all worked so hard.”

Soon, applause erupted from the hundred or so staff members.

-Clap clap clap clap clap!

-Clap clap clap clap clap clap clap!

Director Kwon Ki-taek, who had chuckled, also slowly followed with applause.

“Everyone, you’ve all worked hard.”

At this moment, the lighting director with a buzz cut among the hundred or so staff members opened the floodgates of joy.