I was Mistaken as a Monstrous Genius Actor [EN]: Chapter 85

Park Pan-seo, who had been gazing at Kang Woo-jin, released his hand and replied,

“I watched your previous performance; it was good.”

At that moment, Director Kim Do-hee and the assistant director approached. Director Kim Do-hee spoke first.

“If you’re done greeting, Woo-jin, you should get your makeup and costume ready right away.”

“Yes, Director.”

“Sir, are you really okay?”

“I told you I am.”

Kang Woo-jin looked at Park Pan-seo, who exuded a tiger-like aura.

‘Is he feeling unwell?’

Noticing his gaze, Park Pan-seo shook the script as if to say not to worry.

“It’s okay, Woo-jin, just focus on your acting. Director Kim is just overreacting.”

“Ah, I understand.”

Only then did Director Kim Do-hee let out a small sigh and instruct the assistant director.

“Okay, let’s hurry then. Start with Woo-jin’s makeup and costume. Woo-jin! As you know from the script, today’s makeup is a bit strong, okay?”

“I know.”

Soon, Kang Woo-jin moved with the assistant director to where the makeup team was gathered. Park Pan-seo, who had been quietly watching Woo-jin’s back, murmured to Director Kim Do-hee.

“Don’t you dare interrupt that kid’s acting because you’re worried about me.”

“…Yes, sir.”

Although she replied appropriately, Director Kim Do-hee was slightly surprised while looking at Park Pan-seo.

‘He’s usually so calm, but he’s really fired up?’

Like Park Pan-seo, she focused her gaze on Kang Woo-jin in front.

‘Is it because of Woo-jin? It’s strange. Jae-joon was the same. There’s a rookie’s spirit, but Woo-jin has a power to awaken the actors. It’s not bad for me, though.’

Director Kim Do-hee felt a bit sorry for the actors who were paired with Kang Woo-jin, and she recalled what Jin Jae-joon, the male lead, had said yesterday as he passed by.

‘When I act in front of him, I feel like I’m being stripped bare, not as an actor, but as a character.’

That was something that Director Kim Do-hee, as a director, could never experience. Whatever the case, it was when Director Kim Do-hee was moving to the place where three monitors were set up.

“Hmm?”

Choi Sung-gun, with his ponytail, appeared among the onlookers controlled by the staff. And.

‘Those people are supposed to come today?’

He was with two guests. Then, Choi Sung-gun and Director Kim Do-hee made eye contact from afar. Even so, Director Kim Do-hee tilted her head.

‘Who are they? Not just one, but two? They’re covering their faces, so they must be famous people.’

The two guests being guided by Choi Sung-gun were wearing masks. It was something she had already heard about, but Director Kim Do-hee’s curiosity grew. They came to see Kang Woo-jin, so they must be from the same industry, but it felt strange to go and ask.

Director Kim Do-hee, scratching her chin, called the assistant director.

“You see over there? CEO Choi and two others.”

“Ah, the ones wearing masks. Who are they?”

“I don’t know. Anyway, those two are CEO Choi’s guests, so tell each team not to pay attention to them.”

“Ah, I understand.”

“Are there any spare chairs?”

“Yes, a few.”

“Give them to them. So they can sit and watch.”

As soon as he received the instructions, the assistant director ran with the stacked plastic chairs, and Choi Sung-gun, who received the chairs, bowed to Director Kim Do-hee. It was a sign of gratitude. Choi Sung-gun unfolded the plastic chairs and gestured to the two guests.

“Please, sit down.”

Simple Japanese. It was natural. The guests were Director Kyotaro and writer Akari. Soon, Director Kyotaro lightly greeted Choi Sung-gun, and.

“Thank you.”

“Thank you.”

Writer Akari sat on the plastic chair. The staff who were walking around glanced at them, but Director Kyotaro and writer Akari didn’t pay much attention. More than anything, writer Akari, who pushed up her glasses, was.

“Hmm-”

She was busy looking at Kang Woo-jin, who was getting his makeup done among the staff.

‘His physique looks good.’

Her first impression wasn’t bad. Then, she looked at Director Kyotaro next to her. Director Kyotaro was having a brief conversation in Japanese with Choi Sung-gun.

‘The director is smitten, but I wonder to what extent?’

Writer Akari shifted her gaze back to Woo-jin.

‘He’ll definitely be good at acting. But I heard he’s not that old. An actor can’t ignore the amount of experience.’

She wasn’t an expert in acting, but writer Akari had created countless novels. She had created a tremendous number of characters. The vividness of a character ultimately had to be based on experience. At least, that’s what writer Akari thought.

‘You need to see, feel, and learn a lot to deepen the intensity of acting. In that regard, that kid might be a bit lacking.’

With those thoughts in mind, writer Akari began to watch Kang Woo-jin intently.

‘But there must be something to compensate for the lacking parts.’

About 40 minutes later.

Kang Woo-jin’s makeup and costume preparation were finished. Of course, so was the filming preparation. Various cameras were set up in front of the makeshift table in front of the warehouse. The same went for the lighting and audio equipment. The staff narrowed the gap surrounding the filming zone, and the onlookers moved further back. And Park Pan-seo was at the makeshift table, while Kang Woo-jin stood outside the camera area.

They had already finished a simple rehearsal.

Therefore, all the staff were silently watching the filming zone in their places, and Director Kim Do-hee was talking about the movement with the director of photography for a while.

“When Lee Sang-man first enters, instead of a frontal view, let’s make it feel like he’s entering from outside the area. You get the feeling, right?”

“Yeah, yeah. Okay, okay.”

In the scenario, this scene was set quite a while after drug lord Choi Jun-ho was killed by Jung Sung-hoon. Jung Sung-hoon, who had made a deal with Lee Sang-man, became arrogant by selling drugs in Japan. He made a fortune and expanded his reach in Japan.

However, Jung Sung-hoon’s identity was that of a police officer.

His undercover investigation was in crisis. The police executives who implemented this project and Jung Sung-hoon clashed, but Jung Sung-hoon, who had already tasted the money, ignored them. Because of this, the Japanese business was temporarily put on hold.

The executives had pulled strings behind the scenes.

Jung Sung-hoon temporarily stopped his Japanese business and targeted the domestic market in Korea. Here, Lee Sang-man reappeared. Whether it was Japan or Korea, Jung Sung-hoon’s work speed was too slow. It was because of the conflict with the police executives, but Lee Sang-man didn’t know this.

However, he couldn’t just get rid of Jung Sung-hoon.

His scale had grown so much that Jung Sung-hoon’s side had also grown several times, and more than anything, getting rid of him would disrupt drug manufacturing and sales. He wouldn’t be able to receive the free gifts either. Therefore, Lee Sang-man secretly called in the manufacturer Kim Hyun-soo, known as ‘Professor Kim,’ behind Jung Sung-hoon’s back.

It was to win over Professor Kim.

Then.

“Alright, let’s go!”

Director Kim Do-hee, who had finished talking with the director of photography, shouted to everyone and sat down, and a male staff member clapped the slate in front of the camera!

“Hi-”

The sign quickly spread through the megaphone.

“Action!!”

The camera angle showed the makeshift table in front of the warehouse. Various sashimi and soju were set on the table. Park Pan-seo was sitting there. No, Professor Kim. Professor Kim, wearing a well-ventilated brown linen shirt, moved his hand.

-Swish.

He poured soju into a soju glass. His expression was stern. There was tension, but it wasn’t excessive. Gulp. Just as Professor Kim was about to pick up his wooden chopsticks after downing the soju,

“Oh, do you like sashimi?”

A rough yet tired male voice was heard from somewhere. Kang Woo-jin, wearing a suit, was walking over. No, it was Lee Sang-man. Either way, it didn’t matter much. They were the same. Behind him were dozens of subordinates.

“Ugh, it’s hot.”

Lee Sang-man, who stopped in front of the table, took off his suit jacket. Then, he rolled up his shirt sleeves. Tattoos were clearly visible on both arms. Soon, Lee Sang-man sat down heavily on the opposite side of Professor Kim.

“Why is it so hard to meet our Professor Kim?”

Lee Sang-man filled Professor Kim’s soju glass. His atmosphere was very different from before. There was still a fierce madness in his eyes, but he wasn’t flexible. He was weak. It wasn’t an intentional carelessness.

The violence that Lee Sang-man had been spewing had decreased.

However, he exuded a bizarre smell. He acted like a snake, but he was closer to a horsehair worm that comes out when you crush a praying mantis’s body. He was wriggling, thin, and weak, but disgusting and deadly.

-Click.

Lee Sang-man, with a cigarette in his mouth, offered a pack of cigarettes to Professor Kim.

“Have one.”

“I quit smoking.”

“Why quit something this good?”

“Because I’m old enough.”

“Bullshit, don’t act all serious, you bastard. Just because they call you professor, you think you’re a real professor?”

Lee Sang-man, who had suddenly clenched his teeth, suddenly smiled crookedly. A confusing change in expression. The camera captured it closely.

“Ah, sorry, sorry. My bad, Professor Kim.”

Professor Kim looked at Lee Sang-man blankly and asked back.

“Are you okay?”

“What do you mean?”

“I can tell by looking at your face. You’re dying.”

“Old man. Watch your mouth before I shove a soju bottle down your throat.”

It was weak but sharp. There was a strange murderous intent in Lee Sang-man’s tone as he scratched his arm. It was a warning that could be heard because he was forcibly suppressing his anger. But Professor Kim just looked at Lee Sang-man with pity.

It was understandable.

Sunken eyes, deepened dark circles, dark spots all over his face, hair that was more like a dog’s fur than messy, and a sparse beard.

The man sitting in front of him was no longer Lee Sang-man. He was just a junkie high on drugs.

“So. What’s the reason you wanted to see me?”

“The main point? The main point is good. That thing, I mean. Stop sucking up to President Jung and lick my ass.”

“You want me to abandon Jung Sung-hoon?”

“No? It’s a waste to just abandon him.”

-Swish.

Lee Sang-man, laughing like a madman, leaned his body towards Professor Kim.

“I’m going to take out all that bastard’s guts and sell them?”

“I’m sorry, but I don’t do business with junkies.”

“…What?”

“You should sell drugs, not take them. I’ll pretend today’s meeting didn’t happen.”

“Did you have an affair with Jung Sung-hoon?”

“…”

“I’m telling you to stick your tongue in my ass, but your tongue is so long, you bastard.”

The clear change between the early Lee Sang-man and the current Lee Sang-man. No, it should be called a degeneration. The flexible sophistication and weight he had possessed had disappeared. He was just a madman addicted to drugs.

In reality, he was going crazy.

That change was expressed desperately in Lee Sang-man’s tone, eyes, and actions.

Regardless, Professor Kim lightly downed his soju and got up from his seat. As he took a step, Lee Sang-man, who had put a new cigarette in his mouth, laughed absurdly. However, the quality of the laughter was different from before. It felt like the control he had was completely gone.

“I made these little shits wear gold, and now they’re treating me like a beggar.”

But Professor Kim ignored Lee Sang-man. However, a dozen or so subordinates blocked him. Lee Sang-man, who was staggering to his feet, followed.

“Professor Kim. Why are you in such a hurry? Make some drugs for the junkie.”

“Talk to Jung Sung-hoon.”

Lee Sang-man slowly, leisurely approached Professor Kim, who had stopped. However, his gaze had already lost its restraint. Lee Sang-man placed his face on Professor Kim’s right shoulder, who was facing away. The camera captured the two figures side by side in a two-shot.

Then, Lee Sang-man whispered in Professor Kim’s ear. His voice was eerie.

“You keep saying Jung Sung-hoon, Jung Sung-hoon. Does that bastard know the recipe too?”

“…I don’t know.”

“I think he does?”

“Why don’t you open the way?”

At that moment, Professor Kim. No, Park Pan-seo wiped the sweat from his hand on his pants. It was acting, but it wasn’t acting. He realized it because of Lee Sang-man’s voice in his ear.

That he was going to die soon.

But Lee Sang-man’s words didn’t stop.

“It’s frustrating.”

He took his face off his shoulder, but his eerie voice continued to be heard behind Professor Kim’s back.

“That little shit Jung Sung-hoon cut ties with the Japanese bastards and is talking about the domestic market, but he’s not moving. It’s frustrating. So what should I do?”

“Lee Sang-man.”

“I have to reduce at least one mouth.”

Professor Kim, who sighed softly, forcibly pushed away the subordinates blocking his way. But it wasn’t easy. Soon, Lee Sang-man’s eyes, looking at Professor Kim’s back, lost their reason. Only instinct existed.

“Let’s see-”

Lee Sang-man looked around and found bricks piled up in front of the warehouse.

“Oh, that’s perfect.”

He picked up a brick. His breath was slow as if he was tired, and his hand gestures were weak as if he wanted to go home. Lee Sang-man, who was still holding the brick, called out to Professor Kim, who was struggling with his subordinates.

“Professor Kim.”

Professor Kim, who had stopped abruptly, turned around. At that moment, Lee Sang-man swung the brick at Professor Kim’s face.

-Thwack!

There was no expression on his face. He was just indifferent.

“Will this old man’s organs be sold? Hey, will they sell?”

The subordinate trembled.

“I, I don’t think so.”

“Right? What about the eyeballs?”

“…”

“I don’t know, damn it.”

Lee Sang-man, who was lying on the floor and groaning,

“Kuh…uh…kuh…”

climbed on top of him. Then, he continued his work. He hit Professor Kim’s head twice with the brick.

-Thwack!! Thwack!!!

There was no hesitation. There was no need for it. Soon, blood splattered from Professor Kim’s head. The blood clearly soaked into the brick.

-Swish.

Lee Sang-man, who put the brick to his nose and smelled the blood, gave a bitter smile.

“Is it because he’s old? He smells like a soldier, like a soldier.”

“…Ugh-”

“He’s struggling to live. Oh, wait, wait.”

-Thwack, thwack, thwack, thwack!

Repeated dull noises. It was the sound of the brick smashing Professor Kim’s head. But it soon became mushy. Every time Lee Sang-man hit Professor Kim’s head, the bones were crushed, and soon Professor Kim was nothing more than a lump of flesh.

However, Lee Sang-man didn’t stop his hand.

-Thwack, thwack, thwack!

It was as if he was trying to bury the lump of flesh in the ground. He was swinging, hitting, stabbing, and burying. Soon, blood splattered not only on the brick but also all over Lee Sang-man’s face.

The dark spots and blood mixed harmoniously.

After a few dozen seconds of convulsing, Lee Sang-man.

“Hoo-”

He threw the brick he was holding at the subordinates in front of him, and without wiping his blood-soaked face, he plopped down on the makeshift table behind him. He downed a shot of soju. He ate a piece of sashimi.

Lee Sang-man, chewing the sashimi, poked the lump of flesh on the floor with his wooden chopsticks.

“Call Jung Sung-hoon. And clean that up.”

He put a cigarette in his mouth. At this moment, the camera zoomed in on Lee Sang-man, who was covered in blood and dark spots. Then, Lee Sang-man, who was scratching his arm, looked at the camera and slightly raised the corners of his twitching mouth.

“Or you guys can steam it and eat it. It’s tender because it’s minced.”

End