Chapter 20
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Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 020
Chapter Title: Flame (2)
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The set for the final episode of the drama Flame.
Shin Yi-han arrived on set and changed into his costume.
It was an angular black school uniform, the kind students wore during the Japanese colonial era.
Shin Yi-han pulled the student cap low over his head and unfolded the revised script pages.
This was his final check right before filming.
Her chops are no joke, that's for sure.
Shin Yi-han reviewed the scene for the day once more and curled up the corner of his mouth.
As expected from Writer Cheon Ji-hee.
The quality of the revised script he'd seen when she first offered him the role yesterday was on another level entirely—it had improved dramatically.
It was definitely a great ending.
The fact that he was the one delivering that finale already had his body buzzing with anticipation.
I can't wait to dig in.
Shin Yi-han moved toward the set, eager for the shoot about to begin.
Of course, if he were just some ordinary rookie actor, this would've been a tough spot.
There simply hadn't been enough time to memorize the lines properly.
Writer Cheon Ji-hee must have wanted to polish it to perfection right up to the end—she'd only sent the final revisions at the crack of dawn that morning.
And filming starts just a few hours later.
Given the sudden notice, he hadn't even had time to refresh on the drama's overall plot.
Talk about cutting it close.
But that tightness didn't faze Shin Yi-han one bit.
This was a script he'd read multiple times back in the past, after all.
And naturally, the ones from back then weren't limited to Murder's Delusion or Brilliant Sky.
He'd watched reruns of Flame countless times, not just reading the script.
He knew the emotional arcs inside out, and exactly what role this character played in the drama.
Even if it was a brand-new scene, it didn't matter.
To Shin Yi-han, reading scripts was like a habit. As natural as breathing.
At first, I clung to them to survive. Later, I just couldn't let go.
He'd gotten so good at it that memorizing entire scripts had become his specialty.
One read-through was all he needed for the lines.
Now he just had to speak them aloud.
"Actor Shin Yi-han! We're starting soon! Standby, please!"
At the staffer's shout, Shin Yi-han looked up.
The set was ready before he knew it.
This was his favorite moment. A smile crept onto his face unbidden.
But then—
"You?"
"...?"
Someone approached Shin Yi-han.
"You have the nerve to steal my role, you no-name hack?"
It was Ryu Gi-on, the idol who was originally supposed to play the part today. His voice dripped with obvious displeasure.
"Hah. Sure, you're tall like a beanpole, but I'm way better looking, aren't I?"
Ryu Gi-on grumbled, scanning Shin Yi-han up and down with obvious distaste.
Shin Yi-han, on the other hand, just looked at him with genuine curiosity.
I heard he might show up on set... but he actually came?
Truly one of a kind.
"Whatever. Give it a shot. Not that a nobody like you will amount to much."
Who shows up to set after losing a role, anyway?
"Your scene's right before mine. I'll show you what real acting looks like, so don't cry your eyes out later."
Shin Yi-han nearly burst out laughing at Ryu Gi-on's nonstop rant.
Uh...
Did Ryu Gi-on even know what acting was?
Wonder how I should clue him in.
Honestly, Ryu Gi-on's acting from the past had been pretty lackluster. Good lighting and direction had covered for him, keeping the visuals intact.
"Sure. Looking forward to it."
But Shin Yi-han just smiled and nodded. The guy was too green to take seriously.
"Oh, yeah? You better be—wait, what? You picking a fight right now?"
With that, Shin Yi-han casually walked past Ryu Gi-on.
"...?!"
Honestly, Ryu Gi-on wasn't even on his radar.
The only thing that mattered was the camera about to roll.
"H-Hey! Hold up. Where do you think you're going?!"
He barely registered whatever Ryu Gi-on was yelling.
Shin Yi-han headed to the PD for last-minute directions on the shoot.
The set was 1919-era Seoul.
A wide street packed with crowds.
We were about to ignite the final flame of Flame.
Shin Yi-han closed his eyes, then opened them, slipping fully into his role—
"Hey!"
Until something unexpected happened.
"You bastard! Ignoring me?!"
Ryu Gi-on was clearly crazier than he'd thought.
Wait, what? Just like that?
Shin Yi-han blinked as Ryu Gi-on grabbed his collar and started screaming.
One brush-off and this was his reaction?
"You got a death wish?! Think getting a nod from the writer makes you hot shit? You don't know who I am?!"
All eyes turned to them in an instant.
Shin Yi-han couldn't help but be impressed.
Idols really were something else.
Blowing up this openly is kinda wild.
It was almost laughable.
"You think my fans will let you off? One word from me and you're done in this industry! Got it?!"
Shin Yi-han shrugged.
Those fans would ditch him soon enough after the scandal blew up anyway. Good luck burying me.
"Yeah, sure."
With a casual toss-off, he pried Ryu Gi-on's hand off his collar like it was nothing.
Ryu Gi-on looked stunned at how easily it came loose.
But.
"Watch and learn. See what I can do."
This kind of interruption was a problem.
"Wh-What...?"
The moment Shin Yi-han stepped toward Ryu Gi-on instead—
Ryu Gi-on, mid-rage, faltered.
Forgetting the stinging pain in his hand from Shin Yi-han's grip.
Uh, w-wait...
His eyes were smiling, but...
Why this overwhelming pressure?
Chills ran down Ryu Gi-on's spine at that gaze.
He stumbled back without thinking. Pure instinct.
"G-Gi-on?! What the hell...! This isn't the time—you need to get ready! Didn't you say you haven't finished memorizing your lines?"
Right on cue, a man who looked like Ryu Gi-on's manager came rushing over.
"Sh-Shoot's starting soon, so come this way!"
"Yeah! Gi-on, we got a chair set up over there!"
The other staff jumped in to pull Ryu Gi-on away.
The situation defused quickly.
Ryu Gi-on didn't put up more of a fuss. He just sat there looking dazed.
Still, the more he thought about it, the more pissed off he got.
He'd already forgotten cowering before Shin Yi-han moments ago.
What? Watch and learn?
Who does this wannabe think he is, some big-shot actor?!
A total nobody?!
Everything about Shin Yi-han grated on him.
Watching him rehearse with the extras, Ryu Gi-on crossed his arms and glared.
He was even thinking of jumping in if Shin Yi-han slipped up even a little.
I mean, obviously I'd do it better!
His acting coach and fans praised him daily, after all.
He brimmed with confidence when it came to acting. He was itching to show off.
But those thoughts only lasted until the very moment before filming began.
Ready!
The director's call shifted the entire atmosphere on set.
Action!
Uh...
In an instant, the eyes of the no-name actor he'd dismissed changed completely.
W-Wait a sec.
Not just his expression—his walk, his movements, everything.
Ryu Gi-on sensed something was off.
Too late, though.
Ready!
Even with that minor commotion, Shin Yi-han's focus remained unshaken.
In the blink of an eye, he had become a boy from Flame.
Japanese-style uniform and cropped hair.
A school where teachers roamed with swords, beating anyone who didn't speak Japanese.
The boy gazed at the street from under his cap.
And the moment the director's voice rang out—
"Action!"
The camera rolled.
There was only one thing left for the boy to do.
"Ugh! Ack! M-Master! I-I'm sorry! Please, please spare me...!"
"Filthy Chosun dog! You dare dirty my shoes?!"
Rush to the child being dragged off by a Japanese man.
This was a land stripped of freedom, where its people were treated worse than bugs.
Without hesitation, the boy would do what he could.
And he was lucky today.
Especially since I'm not alone.
The boy led his friends charging toward the Japanese man.
As if late for something urgent, with hurried steps.
"In a hurry! Coming through!"
"Excuse us! Make way!"
"Damn it! We're so late! This is bad!"
Over ten students shouted as they swarmed past the Japanese man dragging the child.
Thud! One of the boys collided with him.
"Agh!"
The Japanese man tumbled hard.
"Oops. Sorry about that!"
It was the boy Shin Yi-han was playing.
"We were in a rush!"
The boy pulled his cap low again, leaving those words behind, and bolted before he could be grabbed.
"Y-You Chosun mongrels?!"
The Japanese man didn't even notice the kid he'd been about to punish had slipped away. He chased after the boy blindly.
"I'll kill you!"
Curses in Japanese echoed behind him.
But the boy didn't care. He just ran.
Grinning like a kid playing tag.
His friends had already escaped safely, and he was confident he could too.
Back then, and now.
Fast feet don't change.
The boy knew alleys the foreign invader from across the sea never would. He wove through them, vanishing into the crowds.
Then, thud thud—he walked slowly, as if nothing had happened.
Someone bellowed in rage from afar, but he ignored it.
The boy headed to the meeting spot.
"Dong-ho, you here?"
"Dong-ho! You're later than usual."
Casual tones, like they'd done this a hundred times. The boy smiled at his friends.
"The kid? He okay?"
"Of course. Got him out safe."
He went straight to the child they'd sneaked away.
The kid was terrified, head bowed, still trembling.
The boy overlapped him with his younger self from the past.
Cowering desperately, begging on hands and knees just to live.
But.
"You're safe now."
The boy met his eyes and smiled brightly.
"We lost them all. No need to worry."
Recalling the adult who'd reassured his childhood self, he spoke firmly.
"Oh, and stay away from around here for a while. You never know."
"Y-Yes..."
The child nodded slowly.
"And head straight home today."
The boy stood.
"It's our fight today."
"...?"
Not understanding, but the boy ruffled his hair with a smile anyway.
"Go on."
He gave the child a gentle push.
Time was tight.
Soon, the plaza would surge with waves of blue and red.
No more giant backs to shelter us.
Which meant.
It's our turn now. For real.
The boy met his friends' eyes and nodded.
True to their promise, they headed to the plaza together.
Thinking once more of that one man.
...Master.
The man he'd met as a child.
[It's okay. You're okay now.]
The memory flashed through the boy's mind.
[We're still fighting.]
The benefactor who'd saved him from being dragged to death by a Japanese constable.
[See? Even if the flame flickers in the wind, it's still burning, isn't it?]
The teacher who'd shown him how to live in these times.
As the boy stepped into the plaza, he whispered inwardly to him.
Master.
Steady words.
We're not stopping either. Still burning bright.
With a smile to fend off fear.
Even if it's just a tiny candle flame.
Before long, the students blended into the plaza crowds.
Their eyes shone with unyielding light.
p>One by one, they pulled taegukgi flags from their bosoms.
Some tattered and worn, others small.
But that didn't matter.
The boy shouted with his friends, and the gathering crowd.
"Daehan..."
March 1st.
"Independence forever!"
They cried out, clutching taegukgi before rifles and bayonets.
"Daehan independence forever!"
Even as Japanese constables charged, threatening.
"Daehan independence forever!"
"Independence forever...!"
Even as friends fell bleeding.
One thing the boy knew for certain.
We won't give up. Not till the end.
The flame would spread, growing ever larger.
Tears streaming, the boy kept shouting.
"What are you doing? Stop them now!"
"Kill them all!"
Bang!
The gunshot rang out, screen fading to black.
But it wouldn't end.
Daehan.
The boy's cry.
Independence forever.
This was the end of the scene.
"Cut..."
The camera captured it all.
And Shin Yi-han grinned wide.
While everyone off-camera stood frozen.