I was Mistaken as a Monstrous Genius Actor [EN]: Chapter 370

When Kang Woo-jin first encountered the ‘Beastification’ ability in the subspace, he felt a flicker of fear. Seriously, was he about to transform into some hairy monster? Thankfully, the ‘Beastification’ granted by the subspace wasn’t like that at all.

‘Definitely… I’ve become more cold-blooded. Or perhaps, more ferocious?’

Beastliness was a more accurate description. When he layered his concept while drawing out ‘Beastification,’ his toughness, control, restraint, and even his fortitude seemed to reach new heights. His indifference and cold-bloodedness felt several times stronger than usual. Woo-jin already had a ‘no-turning-back’ attitude, but now it felt like he could charge forward endlessly without a second thought.

A wild beast unleashed? That’s how he felt.

Not an external ‘Beastification,’ but an internal one.

It was also an enhancement of Kang Woo-jin’s usual combat-oriented concept. Of course, it would help him in the ‘Beast’ role in the movie ‘Beauty and the Beast,’ but in his normal state, it was clear that it would significantly amplify his core concept.

A passive boost, perhaps?

Whatever it was, Kang Woo-jin let out a small sigh of relief even while releasing the ‘Beastification’ ability.

‘Whew… man, I was so scared. If I had actually grown a bunch of hair, I would have been in trouble.’

The subspace was always a crazy cheat code that defied common sense, but sometimes it was also extremely logical. It was as if it was perfectly tailored to maximize Kang Woo-jin’s potential as a ‘monster’ in reality.

Beyond imagination, but not beyond reason.

Then, after calming his initial fear, Kang Woo-jin took another short breath.

-Swish.

He looked down at the ‘Beauty and the Beast’ scenario in his hand. Or rather, at the black rectangle. It was his gateway to the subspace again. Immediately, his world shifted. Stepping into the dark subspace, Woo-jin moved through the white rectangle while muttering.

‘Hmm… come to think of it, is the ‘Beast’ in ‘Beauty and the Beast’ similar to me?’

In a way, it was. Kang Woo-jin was maintaining a concept filled with self-delusions. And the ‘Beast’ in ‘Beauty and the Beast’ was actually a prince at heart. Initially, he pretends to be a beast, but eventually, he transforms back into his princely self. However, he lives pretending to be a beast because he has been in that form for so long.

Isn’t it the same as Kang Woo-jin, just with different backgrounds and situations?

‘Isn’t this a perfect role for me?’

A prince living while pretending to be a beast. It was a perfect fit for Kang Woo-jin, who had a separate core persona.

Anyway.

[“Preparing for ‘A:Beast’ reading…”]

This time too, a huge gray mass enveloped Kang Woo-jin.

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A desolate wind howled. The window rattled. The glass was filled with white and then cleared. It was a blizzard. Gradually, colors returned to Kang Woo-jin’s vision as he was thrown into a new world.

A dark and musty space.

‘…’

The smell was also strangely musty. The temperature was cold. But Woo-jin wasn’t cold now. Rather, he was hot. His heart? No, this was closer to anger.

Kang Woo-jin raised his arm.

He felt heaviness and hairiness. Ah… is this my arm? When he raised his arm, he saw something resembling a wild boar. No, what he raised was clearly his right arm. However, it looked like a wild boar because it was covered in brown fur. The thick brown fur was rough and dull.

The arm of a ‘Beast’ itself.

Kang Woo-jin, or the ‘Beast,’ turned his arm. He saw his hand. It was hard to call it a hand, but it was a hand. As expected, it was covered in brown fur, and the palm was huge. At the end of the massive fingers, black fingernails, almost like weapons, were firmly embedded.

‘…’

Soon, the ‘Beast’s’ heart surged through his chest. A desire to tear, scratch, bite, and roar. He felt like he could grab anyone in front of him by the neck and twist it. Coldness, indifference, roughness, annoyance, anxiety, impatience, and…

‘Kuh-’

There was also a clumsy, childlike emotion. On the other hand, there wasn’t even a trace of trust. Everything was a complaint, and everything he saw was uncomfortable. Kang Woo-jin clenched and opened his massive hand.

‘…’

How long do I have to keep these damn hairs?

At that moment.

“@()%(%(@%(%.”

“(%#%(#(!!$_!$_”

“*#&%*(#%*%!”

He heard chattering voices from outside. It must be those guys. Things like candlesticks and teapots. He was about to shout at them for being noisy, but Woo-jin sighed softly and gave up. He got up. He heard a flapping sound. It was the sound from the rags that he, the ‘Beast,’ was wearing. Kang Woo-jin also focused his gaze on his legs, which were covered in brown fur.

They were incredibly large.

-Swoosh.

Slowly raising his head, he saw his reflection in the mirror on the wall. It was a horrifying sight. His face was covered in fur, and although he had eyes, a nose, and a mouth, his skin was different from a human’s. The size of his face was twice that of a human. Above all, the curved horns on both sides of his head. A beast. No, it was the appearance of a monster itself.

But Woo-jin, looking in the mirror, was calm.

Because he was quite familiar with his current appearance. The beast, or Kang Woo-jin, turned his gaze. Unlike this dark space, a single red rose was placed inside a clean glass cover. The color was so red that it looked like it was soaked in blood.

Looking at the rose, Woo-jin muttered quietly.

‘…Damn curse.’

After that.

Kang Woo-jin, having finished the ‘Beast’ reading (experience), returned to his reality. Because he had to tackle his hellish schedule as usual. He showered, put on his clothes, went down to the parking lot, and got into the van he always rode.

Choi Sung-gun and the team members greeted him.

Kang Woo-jin responded to them with low energy.

However, Woo-jin had just come out of living the life of a ‘Beast.’ He was filled with a strange sense of exhilaration. How could he describe this? Yes, it was like watching an amazing Disney movie. Of course, Kang Woo-jin had actually lived in the world of that work.

‘Interesting. The dinosaur experience was incredible, but this one is no less so.’

In addition, Woo-jin’s concept became more solid.

“Woo-jin, why do you seem a bit colder today?”

“Is that so?”

“Yeah. Hmm… your aura seems to have gotten bigger. Your fighting power is no joke from the morning? Even your eyes, huh?”

No matter what came next, he was ready to start filming ‘Beauty and the Beast’ without any problems. It must be the power of ‘Beastification.’ Of course, the core Kang Woo-jin was no different from before.

‘Ah… but who will play the beauty? Living as a beast makes me even more curious.’

At that moment.

“Woo-jin, did you hear about Director Ahn Ga-bok’s announcement?”

Choi Sung-gun, with his ponytail, in the passenger seat, shook his phone. He seemed to be looking at an article. Of course, Kang Woo-jin had also heard the news about the veteran director Ahn Ga-bok. He had turned the ‘Busan International Film Festival’ upside down yesterday, or so they said? He had announced at that big event that he would be directing a Hollywood film.

Woo-jin answered in a low voice.

“Yes, CEO.”

But inwardly, he was a little puzzled by the spirit’s choice.

‘That old man. Or, did the director take me as a bit of a motif?’

Director Ahn Ga-bok had seen a lot of his ‘no-turning-back’ straightforwardness, so he must have taken some reference. Soon, Kang Woo-jin, who had nonchalantly taken out his phone, opened a portal site. Needless to say, Kang Woo-jin’s and Miley Cara’s names were still frequently seen, but as expected, Ahn Ga-bok’s scoop was dominating the headlines.

『[Breaking] Director Ahn Ga-bok Confirmed to Advance to Hollywood!』

『Director Ahn Ga-bok, Who Attended the ‘Busan International Film Festival,’ Suddenly Makes a Bomb Announcement: “My Next Work Will Be in Hollywood”』

『Director Ahn Ga-bok to Direct Next Film in Hollywood… Joins Hands with Hollywood’s Mega Film Company ‘Columbia Studios’!』

Since Director Ahn Ga-bok was already a legend in the history of Korean cinema, most of the articles were celebrating his bold move.

『From Cannes ‘Palme d’Or’ Directly to Hollywood… Director Ahn Ga-bok, First Korean Director to be Selected as a Hollywood Director』

His name was everywhere, not only on major portal sites but also on minor ones.

『Director Ahn Ga-bok, a Legend in Korean Cinema, Only Has to Make His Name Known in Hollywood!』

『[Official] Director Ahn Ga-bok Confirmed to Work with Hollywood’s ‘Big Five’ Film Company ‘Columbia Studios,’ The Hollywood Directors He Overtook』

Kang Woo-jin didn’t hear it, but even on the morning radio on his way to work.

“Before we start in earnest! There’s news that will make our shoulders rise from the morning, right?”

“That’s right! I was so surprised when I saw the article.”

“Director Ahn Ga-bok, who won the ‘Palme d’Or’ at the Cannes Film Festival this year! Has decided to direct a Hollywood movie!!”

“And that Hollywood film company is ‘Columbia Studios,’ right?”

“That’s right. It’s famous as a super-duper-mega distributor and film company even in the huge Hollywood!”

“Director Ahn Ga-bok is amazing!!”

“Well, the media and the public are very excited about this, and so are we.”

“Imagine! When that Hollywood movie starts, and Ahn Ga-bok’s name is stamped on the director’s name! Keeeuh-”

Various broadcasting stations also quickly reported the news of Director Ahn Ga-bok’s move to Hollywood on their morning news. No, in fact, they were slow. YouTube, SNS, and online communities had been buzzing since dawn.

-Wow… this is crazy… is this real…?

-ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋMy friend told me about this, and I thought it was a lie, but what is this???!!!!

-CrazyㅋㅋㅋㅋHe swept Cannes, so a top-tier Hollywood film company sent him a love callㅋㅋㅋㅋ

-To be honest, Director Ahn Ga-bok had a lot of authority in the Korean film industry, but he didn’t have much luck with awardsㅋㅋㅋㅋCongratulations!!

-Director Ahn Ga-bok is really hitting it big in his later years!!

-Even though the acting of Kang Woo-jin and the other actors in ‘Leech’ was amazing, Ahn’s direction was truly insaneㅋㅋㅋThe scene of Kang Woo-jin reflected in the family photo is seriously… I need four pairs of pants

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It was overly hyped.

This atmosphere exploded throughout the weekend. But the momentum didn’t decrease. Rather, it intensified several times more on Monday, the 15th, when the weekdays started again. No matter where you looked on the internet, you could see Director Ahn Ga-bok’s move to Hollywood. But this was just the beginning.

Even the Japanese side, which had been thoroughly defeated by Ahn at the Cannes Film Festival.

『‘Leech’ by ‘Korean Director Ahn Ga-bok,’ Winner of Cannes ‘Palme d’Or’ and ‘Best Actor Award,’ to Showcase the Power of Korean Cinema from the Heart of Hollywood』

Countries other than France, which had fallen in love with ‘Leech,’ also reported on Director Ahn Ga-bok’s move to Hollywood. That’s how powerful ‘Leech’ was, having swept the Cannes Film Festival.

As the country and the world were shouting the name of Director Ahn Ga-bok.

“Hi—Action!!!”

Kang Woo-jin was silently pouring his passion into the filming of ‘Beneficial Evil.’ As if he didn’t care. The ‘Pierrot’ that Director Ahn Ga-bok would be in charge of was likely to have a deep connection with Woo-jin, but right now, he honestly didn’t have time to turn his attention to it.

“Cut!! OOOK!! Mr. Woo-jin, that was great! Let’s go for a bust shot this time!”

“Yes, PD-nim [PD-nim is a Korean honorific for a producer or director].”

Including the filming of ‘Beneficial Evil,’ related to ‘Kang Woo-jin’s alter ego,’ advertisements, photoshoots, various events, interviews, etc., etc. Numerous schedules were overflowing. And with the end of the year just around the corner, there was a lot to prepare.

‘It’s best to quietly get through the schedule now.’

It’s good to complete as many domestic schedules as possible before the new year arrives. Next year, he would be spending more time overseas than in Korea. Well, it didn’t matter since the snowball would grow on its own even if Kang Woo-jin didn’t move. ‘Beneficial Evil,’ Miley Cara, ‘Pierrot,’ and everything else besides Director Ahn Ga-bok.

Kang Woo-jin could appear when the issue was at its peak.

Around this time, even in faraway Hollywood, they were covering Director Ahn Ga-bok.

『ABY/‘Columbia Studios’ Confirms Selection of Director for Huge New Film, ‘Cannes Palme d’Or’ Winner Director Ahn Ga-bok』

‘Columbia Studios,’ which had recently announced the production of ‘Pierrot’ to the entire Hollywood, officially announced Director Ahn Ga-bok as the director who would take the helm for ‘Pierrot.’

As expected, attention was immediately focused on it in Hollywood as well.

『LA TIME/Korean Director Ahn Ga-bok to Direct New Film by ‘Columbia Studios,’ Hollywood Film Industry Focuses on Him』

In addition, the recognition of ‘Pierrot’ also increased.

Wednesday, the 24th. Yeoncheon, Gyeonggi Province.

The time was around 8 AM. A large resort near the ‘Beneficial Evil’ large set complex. This resort was the accommodation used by the ‘Beneficial Evil’ team. Kang Woo-jin could be found in one of the rooms of that resort.

He seemed to be about to leave, as he was already dressed.

‘Hoo… let’s go.’

At the end of November, the weather had suddenly turned cold, so Woo-jin, wearing a thick long padded coat, looked natural without any hair or makeup. The moderate fatigue that was rising had been cleared by visiting the subspace in advance, and as he put on the concept he had taken off on his face, he reached for the door handle.

-Bzzzz, bzzzz.

The phone in his long padded coat pocket rang. When he checked the caller, it was the spirit, Director Ahn Ga-bok. Woo-jin tilted his head slightly and cleared his throat.

“Yes, Director. Hello.”

Woo-jin’s low voice. Director Ahn Ga-bok on the other end of the phone was calm.

“I’m calling before I go to Hollywood.”

“Are you leaving now?”

“Well, I’m at the airport now. The reporters are so crazy, it’s a mess. Anyway, I’m leaving in an hour. If I go to Hollywood this time, I won’t be able to come to Korea for a while. I probably won’t be able to attend the Blue Dragon or Grand Bell Awards either. You will, right?”

“Yes.”

“Okay. I called to say hello before I left.”

Director Ahn Ga-bok said in a calm tone.

“I need to touch ‘Pierrot’ a bit in advance. Come quickly, I’m waiting.”

Kang Woo-jin answered briefly and clearly.

“Yes, I’ll be there soon.”

The call ended there. Woo-jin, feeling a strange impatience, tried to calm his heart. At the same time.

-Knock knock.

Someone knocked on the door. When he opened it, Choi Sung-gun, with his ponytail and wearing a short padded jacket, was smiling crookedly. As soon as he saw Kang Woo-jin, he pushed his phone forward. An enormous number was displayed on the screen.

[All-Time Korean Box Office]

[All-Time Movie Rankings (Integrated)]

-1. Leech / Cumulative Audience: 20,483,558

-2. Island of the Missing / Cumulative Audience: 20,321,451

-3. Naval Battle / Cumulative Audience: 16,715,955

-4. Irresistible Force / Cumulative Audience: 15,557,118

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Kang Woo-jin, who was calm, said indifferently.

“The picture is complete, isn’t it.”