Chapter 54
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Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 054
Chapter Title: Shooting Someone Else's Hell (2)
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He didn't bare his claws unless he had to. To anyone unaware, he just seemed utterly ordinary.
That was Geum Seong-je's everyday facade.
It was also the version of Geum Seong-je that Shin Yi-han had mostly portrayed on set so far.
And today.
Shin Yi-han planned to unleash that true nature fully in front of Choi Kyeol.
The setup was simple.
For the sole reason that his friend was "pitiful."
Geum Seong-je kept clearing out the people around the protagonist, Ban Gi-hyeok.
First, a drunken old man who had thrown every kind of tantrum at Ban Gi-hyeok.
Then, the guy from the next room in the old boarding house who helped himself to Ban Gi-hyeok's stuff.
And also, some thug who had bumped shoulders with Ban Gi-hyeok and swung a fist.
He took care of them all.
This was Geum Seong-je's hero act, a satisfying thrill straight out of a thriller.
After all, he unhesitatingly eliminated everyone squeezing the life out of Ban Gi-hyeok's world.
Viewers would probably feel the same. A strange pleasure, maybe even a subtle liking for Geum Seong-je.
But that was before his real nature emerged.
Of course, a long tail always gets stepped on eventually.
"Detective Choi Pil-seung catches on to something suspicious."
"And Geum Seong-je decides to deal with Choi Pil-seung."
Their encounter was inevitable.
In the end, Geum Seong-je smashed down on Detective Choi Pil-seung's head—the cop who had tracked him all the way to Lucky House.
Thwack-!
He dragged those legs along the floor, escorting Lucky House's unwelcome guest up to the second floor.
"We're starting the shoot soon!"
And right now.
In the set perfectly replicating Lucky House's second floor, the cop's fate would be sealed.
"Everyone, finish up with props!"
The staff bustled around, while Director Gil Mi-jin made final checks.
Meanwhile, Shin Yi-han reviewed his movements.
The distance the subdued Choi Pil-seung would cover, the positions he'd need to approach from.
He visualized the entire scene in his head.
Hmm. As expected...
With blood and fake dust already scattered for the shot, any NG would mean changing outfits entirely, maybe even resetting the whole set.
If possible.
I've gotta nail it in one take.
That was when Shin Yi-han's gaze drifted to Choi Kyeol in the corner.
......?
Choi Kyeol, clutching his script, rubbed his nape.
Huh? My neck just got chills. What was that?
Feeling the stare, Choi Kyeol looked up.
Oh.
It was Shin Yi-han. Their eyes met, and Shin Yi-han smiled, nodding slightly.
Choi Kyeol nodded back awkwardly.
He felt a twinge of guilt for grumbling and cursing about losing the role before.
But it also felt kinda nice.
Sure, it was weird sometimes.
A rookie who, after one table read, had everyone nodding in approval.
He said my acting was good...!
Rumors said even Director Tak Bong-chun had acknowledged him. A guy like that praised my acting. Heh.
Choi Kyeol recalled how Shin Yi-han had defended him against the other actors earlier, grinning to himself.
His tension melted away.
"Alright, let's start shooting!"
Right after Director Gil Mi-jin's call signaled the end of prep.
Choi Kyeol lay on the floor, hands and feet bound.
Shin Yi-han leaned forward in the chair's backrest, gripping a jackknife as he stared down at Choi Kyeol.
"You two good to go?"
Director Gil Mi-jin checked their positions.
"Y-Yes...!"
"Yeah."
Choi Kyeol's reply was followed by Shin Yi-han's calm one.
Director Gil Mi-jin nodded, smiling in satisfaction. The framing already felt perfect.
Especially since this scene would reveal Geum Seong-je's true self.
Not for anyone else.
Not some petty hero game.
Just pure brutality for the simple reason that they annoyed him.
Director Gil Mi-jin wondered how Shin Yi-han would pull it off. How far he could go.
What will it feel like? The full evil of Geum Seong-je as Shin Yi-han sees it.
Brimming with anticipation, Director Gil Mi-jin called out.
"Good. Ready."
The moment her voice echoed across the set.
"Ready!"
Unlike the worry-free director.
The staff watched with some anxiety.
NG's coming this time, right?
Be real, it's their first time syncing up. No way it goes smooth.
It wasn't about Shin Yi-han.
Ugh. Props aside, cleaning up that fake blood and dust already sounds exhausting.
You know fake blood's just sugar water, right? Gets sticky after a bit—total pain to wipe.
Practical concerns, unavoidable.
Come on, guys. Shin Yi-han'll handle it.
Nah, brace yourselves... Director might wanna shoot multiple takes anyway.
Cough.
Nothing to be done. Everyone hoped it'd wrap in as few cuts as possible.
But acting takes two... even if he's great.
Yeah. He can't control his co-star.
Haha... Staff glances subtly shifted to Actor Choi Kyeol. Today's biggest worry.
And this scene's tough too.
The watching actors chimed in before it started, then fell silent.
How good can Choi Kyeol even be?
Mostly the same group gossiping about him earlier.
Staff's gonna die today~ He always racks up NGs.
Might just embarrass himself next to Shin Yi-han. Pfft.
That's why he's forever a side character.
Whispered sneers disguised as concern.
Feeling those prickly stares on his back, Choi Kyeol burned to nail this scene.
Even I... I've prepared so hard all this time.
He wanted to shut those eyes down coolly. No, land a real blow.
Alright. This time, I'll show 'em!
No more pathetic showings!
Choi Kyeol steeled himself.
And amid it all, only Shin Yi-han wore a faint smile.
Worries or sneers—
They wouldn't matter soon.
"Action!"
Director Gil Mi-jin's call rang out.
The moment Geum Seong-je's villainy would prove real.
Shin Yi-han, as Geum Seong-je, raised his head.
Excitement.
Euphoria.
The razor-edge tension thrilled him.
No need to hold back anymore.
Yes. The intruder lying there wasn't a cop hunting anyone.
He was prey that had to crawl and beg.
"...Ugh, urk."
Choi Kyeol, pretending to be out cold, let out a pained groan with all he had.
Seemed decent already. He could pull this off.
Standing up to Shin Yi-han as Choi Pil-seung? He swelled with anticipation.
Feeling himself rise to the—
But it had barely been seconds since "action."
Huh?
A chill crept up his neck.
Why are the goosebumps already...
Choi Kyeol had to open his eyes.
"Ah."
Smirk.
"You're awake."
Dark room.
Faint light through the grimy window dimly lit a face.
For a split second, that mouth twisted upward unnaturally.
And it stared right through him.
Uh...?
Choi Kyeol panicked completely.
The first thing he saw upon opening his eyes.
A terror he'd never imagined.
"......!"
His pupils shook violently.
Confidence? Nailing it? Forget that.
"Why?"
The smiling approach left him horrified.
"Did you think a cop was safe?"
Geum Seong-je was right in his face now.
Is this... real?
How is this possible?
"What? Why so scared?"
Geum Seong-je twirled the jackknife idly from his chair, tilting his head innocently.
Nothing had even happened yet.
But Choi Kyeol trembled uncontrollably.
Instinct screamed something was wrong. That blade had only one target.
But the real issue wasn't that.
He had lines to deliver.
- Y-You're not like this, Geum Seong-je...
- It's not too late. Stop now.
His mouth wouldn't move.
Gasp.
Just stupid stutters. The air grew icy.
Oh no. Screwed up.
Choi Kyeol squeezed his eyes shut, face drained white.
Got one kid role hit and coasted on looks ever since.
Skills just get worse with age.
All talk, no talent.
Choi Kyeol's the poster boy for fading looks.
Another flop? This embarrassingly?
Damn, damn...!
But what reached his panting, flailing ears wasn't the director's NG.
Pfft-!
Geum Seong-je's laugh.
Puhahaha! He doubled over, clutching his gut.
That face stripped of all hope looked genuinely hilarious.
The laughter dominated the room. Everyone froze, staring at Shin Yi-han.
Even Director Gil Mi-jin.
This...
Choi Kyeol flubbed his line—clear NG. And Geum Seong-je wasn't scripted to laugh like this.
But she couldn't call cut.
How could I stop it?
It felt so natural. Geum Seong-je purely delighted by the cop's failure to speak.
Perfect. No room for interruption.
Geum Seong-je wiped tears from laughing, then.
"After all that suspicion."
He rose, approaching the gasping Choi Pil-seung.
"You thought it wasn't me?"
Squatting down, he cocked his head.
"But here's the thing."
The jackknife grazed Choi Pil-seung's throat teasingly.
"It really is."
Then the blade turned on the cop.
Stab!
"......!"
No hesitation.
Stab!
Kaaaagh!
The cop's scream echoed.
Stab, stab. Geum Seong-je stabbed legs and arms repeatedly, splattering blood across the floor.
Like crushing ants as a kid. Snapping a bug's legs for fun.
No reluctance directing that at a human.
That was Geum Seong-je.
Giggling with childlike joy.
Yet wiping splashed blood from his face without a care, his eyes...
Didn't seem human.
"P-Please... mff!"
Yes. This was playtime.
The cop opened his mouth to beg again.
But Geum Seong-je clamped it shut.
Grabbed that tear- and blood-streaked face.
Shh-.
"They'll hear."
Winking playfully.
"People downstairs too."
Then, cruelly, dangled a sliver of hope.
"Can't be noisy."
The chance this commotion might reach someone.
And that instant. A door appeared behind Geum Seong-je.
Slightly ajar.
"......!"
Choi Pil-seung's eyes widened.
Just bolt there, and he'd escape this room. Had to be.
Maybe the knife had nicked the ropes by chance.
His legs were free now. Blood loss clouded his mind, but that much was clear.
In the end, the cop chose.
Uwaaaah!
To shove with all his might.
Even a split-second gap. If he could just get out...!
Desperation beyond acting.
Thud-! He toppled Geum Seong-je.
The cop spun around. Ignored the limp, staggered forward.
Tripped, face-planted, but couldn't stop.
Writhing onward.
One thought only.
I want to live.
Please.
Please!
Not even knowing Geum Seong-je left it open on purpose.
Soon after.
Geum Seong-je brushed dust from his clothes, stood.
Step, step. Footsteps closing in.
The cop finally reached the door.
"What? That's all you got?"
Caught by Geum Seong-je in an instant.
Terror. Despair.
But no scream escaped his throat.
Gasp, hack...! The cop—no, Choi Kyeol—had choked on his own breath long ago.
Choi Kyeol was gone.
Beyond acting. Fully immersed.
Tears and snot streamed uncontrollably. Couldn't handle Shin Yi-han's eyes.
That incomprehensible gaze.
That alien, creepy something.
"Too bad. You had to see this far."
Creeeak-
When Geum Seong-je kindly opened the door.
Choi Kyeol despaired anew.
Lucky House residents crowded the other side. Packed tight, no gaps.
Heehee. Hahaha. Kekeke-! Pfft.
Eerie laughter filled the air. No hope here.
Just.
Hell. It's hell.
This place was hell.