Chapter 37

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Translator: Wjin

Chapter: 037

Chapter Title: Murder's Delusion Premiere (2)

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Shin Yi-han arrived at the movie theater hosting the Murder's Delusion premiere alongside Kwak Hoon and his sister.

Theater air was thick with the savory, sweet scent of caramel popcorn wafting everywhere.

"Whoa, nothing beats a movie theater. That smell is just too good."

"Eek!"

The moment his sister Shin I-rim let slip that it smelled delicious, chaos erupted from Kwak Hoon, who had come along with them.

"I-rim, what flavor do you like?! I'll get it for you!"

"Huh? Oh, I like caramel."

"M-me too! I l-like it!"

...Come on, calm down a bit, future brother-in-law.

Even asking what she likes right now? Amid Kwak Hoon's fussing, Shin Yi-han couldn't help but roll his eyes a little bitterly.

As if the exhausting morning bathhouse scrubbing and polishing weren't enough.

Talk about a shameless sis-con. Though, in that regard, he passed with flying colors.

"Ugh, this is getting on my nerves. Before you buy too much, let's go pick some out together. Yi-han, you wait here."

"...Uh, okay."

Shin Yi-han scratched his cheek, watching Shin I-rim subtly follow after him.

They're already getting along so well.

In the end, Shin Yi-han had no choice ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠but to stand there alone, waiting for his sister and that thief—no, Kwak Hoon.

It just so happened to be right nearby.

- Grandpa. So you really don't remember?

......!

A familiar voice echoed from the nearby digital billboard. Shin Yi-han's head turned instinctively.

- No way. Even like this?

- Even like this, you really don't remember?!

Murder's Delusion.

A trailer was playing from one side.

Shin Yi-han slightly lifted the cap he had pulled low over his eyes and looked up at the screen.

It wasn't a grand scale, being an indie film, but encountering Murder's Delusion in a theater for the first time felt welcoming.

And...

Soon, as the trailer neared its end.

That's me. In this one.

Of course it was.

There on the massive screen was his own face, sharp and intense even in the brief shot.

Not to mention... the boy would have been played by someone else if things had gone as originally planned.

Shin Yi-han felt something special.

He was thrilled all over again.

No matter that he knew the story inside out—it didn't matter. His heart raced anyway. It was only now hitting him for real.

Seeing it on a theater's big screen was a whole different experience.

"Yi-han, what are you doing?"

He had been blankly watching the looping trailer when his sister and Kwak Hoon approached.

"Ah! I-I-rim, let me carry that!"

"It's fine. I can just have Yi-han hold it."

His sister glanced toward the auditorium entrance, then handed over the cola and popcorn as she spoke.

"Oh, and the auditorium doors are open. Let's head in."

Shin Yi-han nodded.

"Yeah. Let's go."

Arms full of snacks, Shin Yi-han grinned brightly. His steps felt light.

Now it was really...

starting to excite him.

His first script, the role given to him as both a first and a last that he couldn't abandon until the end.

He had circled back to meet it again after all this time.

And in perfect form, no less.

Unlike Shin Yi-han, who brimmed with anticipation, however.

The closer release day loomed, the more public reactions to the film polarized sharply into two camps.

Of course, the trailer comments were dominated by awe and positive hype.

On the flip side, some worries about the trailer were bubbling up.

Especially among hardcore Song Won-sik fans.

Song Won-sik had never leaned on an actor's fame for indie promo before, so the fans' disappointment piled on.

Of course, the team had their own grievances.

All they'd done was drop the trailer after Brilliant Sky wrapped.

The articles were just clickbait from reporters chasing Shin Yi-han's name value.

Especially since he'd been a total unknown noob at the start of shooting. Most of the virality wasn't even intentional.

Not that anyone knew that.

The fans' hype was fading fast.

Keeping tabs on all this was none other than Director Gil Mi-jin of ? , who had scrambled to snag a premiere ticket and rush to the theater.

Hmm.

So which side is right?

Sitting in the back corner of the auditorium, waiting for the premiere to start while scrolling her phone, Gil Mi-jin scratched her cheek.

Honestly, people aren't wrong...

Song Won-sik had indeed been infamous at one point for killer trailers that didn't match the films.

The issue was, she was here now because of one scene in that trailer.

She couldn't ignore it.

But how could I just let that slide...!

The premiere was right around the corner, sure.

But Shin Yi-han's gaze in that trailer held so much—far too much to overlook.

Especially the horrific stuff that's perfect for my drama.

Ah, of course.

She didn't expect that vibe throughout the whole movie.

Anyone could see it was the highlight. Stuff like that doesn't come easy.

She just hoped Shin Yi-han's performance in the film was at least half as potent. That'd make him casting material enough.

No more, no less. Just that much.

So please.

Prove it, Actor Shin Yi-han.

Gil Mi-jin pushed up her horn-rimmed glasses and pocketed her phone.

Right on cue, stage lights flared as the host stepped out.

"Alright, now starting the Murder's Delusion premiere!"

Finally.

It was stage greetings. Soon, the director and leads emerged for intros.

From Choi Tae-seok as the dementia-stricken killer, to Seo Su-min as the relentless reporter chasing him to the end, and Lee Ki-cheol as the cop who just wanted the town quiet.

All names with indie cred.

They shared thoughts per the host's questions.

But none caught Gil Mi-jin's interest.

She only cared about Shin Yi-han right now.

"Then, we hope you all enjoy the screening."

As the director's closing words faded and lights dimmed, Gil Mi-jin lifted her head to the screen, half hopeful, half skeptical.

A tale of a dementia-afflicted killer and his past.

- Murder's Delusion

The movie began.

But from right after that.

Uh...?

Audiences stayed dead silent through the entire runtime.

Gil Mi-jin included.

Wait, hold up.

It was all too unexpected.

In one word.

What the...?!

Shock. Nothing else explained her feelings now.

About an hour and a half later, as the film wrapped.

"...Whoa."

Audiences stumbled out like soulless shells.

"Whoa."

"Whoa... all I got is 'whoa.'"

"Right? Whoa..."

"Just watching drained me dry."

Murmurs rose as half-eaten popcorn hit the trash.

"This is gonna spread by word of mouth. Must-see for indie fans, right?"

"For real. Especially... that full flashback at the end. Goosebumps all over. Ugh."

And most of the buzz wasn't about the leads or director.

"That young killer earlier. Really Shin Yi-han? Didn't look like it."

"...I doubted too and checked. Credits confirm it."

"Whoa, for real? He obliterated Brilliant Sky Ha-neul vibes... straight-up different person."

It was awe for the young killer in the flashbacks.

"Insane. Hijacking the whole movie in a few scenes? What gives."

"Right... damn, what's Shin Yi-han's deal...? Presence like that among vets?!"

"...F-First, gotta post my review quick. I hyped this on the forum earlier."

And just like that, post-premiere reviews flooded in.

Frantic, like they couldn't bear to forget a second.

But inevitably, it all circled back to Shin Yi-han.

No helping it.

It had hit that hard.

After most audience members filed out.

......

Even as the end credits neared completion, Director Gil Mi-jin couldn't budge from her seat.

She had to replay what she'd just witnessed over and over.

Yeah.

She'd clearly been dead wrong about something.

That Shin Yi-han from the trailer... just the highlight?

Hoping for half that level in the film?

Crazy...

No, this was beyond that!

Gil Mi-jin clawed at her hair.

What had she been thinking? A hollow laugh escaped her.

Sure, Murder's Delusion itself was peak Song Won-sik—exactly as expected.

But every time the dementia killer recalled his past.

Those brief scenes flipped everything.

Especially the full reveal of the young killer at the end.

She hadn't even recognized it as Shin Yi-han in the moment.

Pure, unadulterated 'evil'—brutal.

That boy's desires.

How horrifying they were.

......

Gil Mi-jin had long forgotten about casting or auditions.

Before the screen's palpable malice, she shuddered.

Whew...

So vivid in her memory that Shin Yi-han seemed to loom right in front of her now.

Did I get too immersed?

Gil Mi-jin rubbed her dry face and glanced at the stage.

But Shin Yi-han wasn't fading.

Chatting with front-row Song Won-sik—

Hold on.

Then it really is him.

"......!"

In the end, Gil Mi-jin bolted from her seat and shouted his name.

"Sh-Shin Yi-han?!"

Forgetting they were strangers. No intros, she grabbed his arm tight.

"Tomorrow... no! Today!"

She couldn't let him slip away.

"What are you doing?!"

Somehow, she had to get him.

Into her project.

This insane monster.