Chapter 1
Chapter 1
A Strange Dream
A Versatile Genius Actor with Martial Arts Skills
Baek Seungchan arrived at Yeouido Station for his part-time gig as an extra.
"Come out of Exit 4… the yellow large… oh, there it is."
Not far away, a large yellow bus came into view. A paper on the front window read: “Extras Bus.”
"Here for the shoot?"
As he approached the bus, a middle-aged man wearing a hat, the team leader in charge of extras, spoke up.
"Yes!"
"Hmm."
The team leader scrutinized Baek Seungchan from head to toe.
"Are you a soldier? That would be a bit problematic if you are."
It was an understandable mistake. Baek Seungchan’s hair was cut very short.
"No, I was discharged yesterday."
He pulled out his discharge certificate from his wallet and showed it. The team leader’s gaze changed immediately. What had seemed suspicious moments ago now looked approving, even impressed.
"You got discharged just yesterday and already working? Diligent guy."
"Better to earn money than just sit around with nothing to do."
"True, better to earn than to do nothing. Oh, you're around the same age as my son, so I dropped the formalities. Sorry."
"No problem, please speak freely."
"Shall I?"
"Yes, of course."
"You’ve got a personality as straightforward as your looks. Different from these so-called MZ kids nowadays."
The team leader patted Baek Seungchan on the shoulder, clearly pleased. Baek Seungchan didn’t mind the attention either. He had read reviews that if you got along with the team leader, they took good care of you.
"Just fill this out quickly, then get on the bus and relax."
"Yes, understood."
Baek Seungchan filled out the log the team leader handed him and climbed onto the bus. Quite a few people were already on board, ranging widely in age and gender. He took a vacant seat near the front.
"Alright, let’s get moving."
After a few more people got on, the bus departed.
"Seungchan, slide over a bit."
"Yes."
Even though there were empty seats, the team leader sat beside Baek Seungchan.
"By the way, I’m Kim Sungho, team leader. Just call me Team Leader Kim."
"Yes, Team Leader Kim."
"But why work right after discharge? Something going on?"
"My family’s situation got worse. I wanted to help out, even a little."
Baek Seungchan actually wanted to rest too. Sleep until he was bored, travel somewhere he’d never been, maybe even get a girlfriend. But there was no time for that.
Five years ago, his father was scammed by a business partner, and their house went bankrupt. The resulting debt was a whopping 1 billion won. Despite working hard to pay it off, a large amount remained.
His father now worked on construction sites, and his mother in a hospital cafeteria. They said not to worry, but as a son, he couldn’t help it. He wanted to contribute even a little to paying off the debt.
"Good on you,"
Not just his attitude, but his mindset was different from most young people these days. Kim Sungho liked Baek Seungchan even more.
"This your first time doing this?"
"Yes, first time."
"Nothing hard about it, just relax…."
Kim Sungho didn’t stop talking until they arrived at the location. From advice about the job to stories of his own childhood working to help his family with debt, and even that his dream had been to become an actor, he shared everything. He warned that filming sets had sensitive people, told anecdotes about his son excelling at judo, and more.
Various topics came up. A few extras watching from behind looked at Baek Seungchan with pity, thinking, “Here we go again.”
But Baek Seungchan didn’t mind. He wasn’t sleepy anyway, so it was nice to pass the time with conversation.
Soon, they arrived at the school where the shoot would take place.
"After everyone gets off, follow the assistant team leader."
Following the assistant, Baek Seungchan saw a large group of extras.
Normally, web dramas were small-scale and didn’t have many extras, but this one was different. It was made by a famous idol group’s agency as a tribute video for fans, which increased its scale. They even had a skilled director, Park Taeho, known in the industry. Baek Seungchan didn’t know much about movies or dramas, but Kim Sungho had briefed him on the way.
"You’ll receive clothes according to your role here."
Roles ranged from students to teachers to parents. Baek Seungchan was assigned Student 3 in the main character’s class. No lines, just fill the spot. Thanks to Kim Sungho looking out for him, he got this simple assignment.
"Change into your assigned clothes and wait."
He changed into the school uniform.
"Feels like I’m back in school."
The uniform, which had felt tedious in high school, now brought a nostalgic feeling. Apart from his short hair, nothing had changed since his school days.
"Still, there’s really nothing to do."
Two hours after eating, the shoot still hadn’t started. Other extras were either sleeping or absorbed in their phones, but Baek Seungchan found the waiting classroom suffocating.
"I should at least check out the shooting."
He left his classroom and moved to where people were gathered. The busy scene contrasted sharply with his idle classroom. Staff checked equipment, and actors hurriedly memorized lines.
"So fascinating."
It was all new to him, so he felt intrigued. Then his eyes caught something.
A large lighting fixture wobbled dangerously, looking like it could fall any second. Kim Sungho stood below, giving instructions and not noticing it.
"It’s going to fall…"
His uneasy premonition was correct. The light shook harder. Reflexively, Baek Seungchan dashed toward Kim Sungho.
"Team Leader Kim! The light!"
Kim Sungho turned too late. The light lost balance and plummeted.
In that instant, Baek Seungchan threw himself and pushed Kim Sungho out of the way. The team leader avoided the falling light, but Baek Seungchan slammed into the floor.
Bang!
The sound echoed through the set.
"Are you okay?"
Staff rushed over, shocked. Kim Sungho quickly recovered from his shock and approached Baek Seungchan.
"Seungchan! Are you okay?"
Baek Seungchan felt some pain but wasn’t seriously injured. He brushed off his disheveled clothes and stood slowly.
"I’m fine."
Kim Sungho still looked worried, scanning him closely.
"Fine? No, we’re going to the hospital."
"Really, I’m fine."
Baek Seungchan waved him off. He just needed a place to rest.
"Okay, rest on the bus for a bit. But if you feel any pain later, tell me immediately."
He nodded and headed to the extras bus parked behind the set.
"Just a short rest…"
He sat and leaned against the seat, exhaustion washing over him. Slowly, he closed his eyes and drifted into drowsy sleep.
The set was busy. Staff handled tasks, actors prepared in the waiting room. Then chaos struck.
"What do you mean the extra spot’s empty?!"
Director Park Taeho’s voice cut through the set. All eyes turned toward him. He glared at the assistant director, who wiped sweat nervously and explained.
"Sorry, Director."
"Sorry won’t cut it! Fix it immediately!"
The schedule was tight, and a missing extra could ruin the day.
"What’s going on?"
From a corner, Kim Sungho, observing cautiously, heard this. He approached the flustered assistant director.
"Assistant Director, what’s the problem?"
The assistant director saw him as a savior.
"Team Leader, perfect timing. Is there an extra we could use for a small role?"
"A small role? What kind?"
"One of the bullies harassing the main character. Short hair, strong impression… hard to find in a rush."
Kim Sungho thought briefly, then smiled, an idea striking him.
"I know just the person. Wait a moment."
He hurried toward the bus.
Baek Seungchan was having a strange dream.
‘Where is this?’
A village with old thatched houses and stone paths. Completely unlike the modern world. In this place, Baek Seungchan was a child.
"Waahhh!"
The child, lying on the dirt, cried inconsolably. In front were the bodies of a middle-aged couple in tattered clothes. Without being told, he knew they were his parents.
As the child wailed, a middle-aged man approached.
"Did you survive alone?"
"…."
The child saw the sword at the man’s waist and froze, recalling the martial artist who had just killed his parents.
The man, as if reading the child’s thoughts, spoke gently.
"Will you come with me? I won’t let you starve."
"…."
Feeling warmth from the man, the child followed him.
"You will live here from now on."
They arrived at Haomun, a secret society of society’s lowest. The child grew up as a servant in an inn with no name.
He did chores, carried dirty water and meat, and appeased superiors. But he had a special talent.
Imitation.
He could mimic people’s words and actions perfectly. His talent spread through Haomun and reached the master.
"You have a natural talent for imitation."
The master took him as a disciple. The child, as Haomun’s disciple, performed various missions—sometimes as a merchant, sometimes a noble, even as an enemy general. His acting was flawless; no one suspected him.
He gathered intelligence in countless forms. Eventually, he became the master himself, earning the title Cheonmyeongwi (Thousand-Faced Ghost).
But even he met his end. On the day the Dark Sect took over the martial world, he was killed by Cheonma, the world’s best martial artist.
At that moment, Baek Seungchan awoke from his dream.
"Hah…"
He laughed dryly, wiping sweat from his face. The dream had felt so real.
"Was that even a dream?"
Everything was so vivid. As he pondered, someone entered the bus.
"Seungchan, you’re awake just in time."
It was Kim Sungho.
"What’s up?"
"Time to prepare for filming. Let’s go."
Still dazed, Baek Seungchan followed the team leader.