Chapter 71

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Translator: Wjin

Chapter: 071

Chapter Title: Part 2 Release

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It hadn't been ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠long since filming wrapped.

"Alright, let's check it...?!"

Bobby Pak connected the camcorder to the beam projector, as if he couldn't hold back any longer.

Of course, everyone knew the on-site acting had been perfect—shocking, even.

But what really mattered was whether it had been captured properly.

They had to confirm it.

At Bobby's words, everyone quickly settled onto the wide sofa used for the shoot.

"Okay, we're ready!"
"Play it, Bobby!"

Like Bobby, everyone there was dying to see how the final product turned out.

Honestly, there was some anxiety about whether a mere camcorder could capture that atmosphere.

'To think the footage we have is all that's left... and it feels this lacking.'
'Please, at least half of the on-site vibe...'

Regrets surfaced about not using better equipment from the start.

But worries now were pointless.

The results were already set.

Everyone watched the beam projector's screen with bated breath as the footage began to play.

Soon, a lone transfer student appeared on screen, sitting in a single-seater sofa.

- Could this be it?

The transfer student opened his mouth, staring at the red handprint on the desk.

- What the hell am I supposed to do now?

And that's when it started.

'W-Wait a sec.'
'What is this...'

From the opening, the staff's eyes gradually widened.

'...I can't believe I was worried.'
'It's perfectly captured.'

Everything the camcorder showed was conveyed flawlessly.

If anything, the limited view focusing only on the transfer student heightened the unease.

The tension doubled from the sounds alone conveying the surroundings.

The low quality felt like watching actual found footage.

Not to mention.

From the transfer student writhing in solitary fear at empty air invisible to others.

To him clutching a dead body and laughing like a madman—Kahahak!

It was still utterly shocking.

A chill ran down their spines again, the goosebumps they'd barely suppressed resurfacing.

The intensity hit regardless of it being low-res camcorder footage.

And the reason all this worked was probably.

'Even so...'
'This feels way too real...'

Because the transfer student on screen felt so vividly alive.

Nothing ghostly or grotesque was captured, but.

That voice cracking like scraping metal.

Those bloodshot eyes staring right at them.

It was horrifyingly eerie.

Even knowing what was coming, even having seen it live moments ago, they couldn't help it.

It felt like they themselves had been invited to this possession game... like they were squeezed in among the friends on screen!

- What are you all doing?!
- Grab the finger first!

The same went for the boys rushing out to end the transfer student's possession.

Their faces turning ghostly pale without realizing, breaths growing ragged with fear.

'O-Our reactions look too real too.'
'We were genuinely shocked live...'

Just one person pulling everyone along, and it all flowed perfectly.

And at the end.

The staff couldn't even breathe.

The transfer student staring straight at the camcorder with a grin.

- We allow you.

That spine-chilling line.

"......"
"......"

The silence from right after filming returned.

Even as the screen went black, signaling no more footage.

No one moved from their seats.

'The camera's nothing special...'
'But we felt it just the same. Right now.'

Now it was beyond chills—pure thrill.

'Honestly, we didn't do much. The actor handled it all alone.'
'Exactly. That's the insane part.'

Naturally, the staff's eyes turned to the transfer student—no, Shin Yi-han.

They wondered what reaction the one who'd pulled off the whole story would have.

'Probably shrugging smugly, all proud.'
'Or maybe shocked like us.'
'Nah. He'd know ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠his own skill. He just proved it.'

A twinge of worry crept in too.

'As long as he doesn't chew us out. We showed so much opposition at first...'
'Yeah, fair... Even if he brags, we can't say shit.'

But Shin Yi-han's expression was nothing like they'd imagined.

He simply covered his mouth lightly with one hand.

Beaming with a wide smile.

'This is fun.'

Exactly that thought.

He knew it was far too bright for someone facing a horror film.

But Shin Yi-han couldn't help but grin sincerely.

No other expression would come.

It had been genuinely fun.

The process and the result alike.

Acting in a completely different language, voice, as a new entity—it was quite special.

Even crafting fear of the unknown, the invisible.

It just felt exhilarating.

In the end, he couldn't help smiling at the already dark screen.

He was thrilled to have melted completely into it.

He'd created something even more entertaining than the short film from his past life.

Everything about it was perfect.

'Uh...'

The staff watching such a Shin Yi-han couldn't help but inwardly marvel.

'He just... loves it...?'
'He looks so thrilled.'

That face genuinely enjoying his own work—it made the man himself sparkle.

'Is this what it takes to call someone a real actor...?'
'This is true acting.'

The staff nodded instinctively.

Yes. That actor was truly shining.

Not just from great acting.

Something inside him that could leap any barrier—like a magnet, impossible to look away from.

In the end, the staff shot to their feet, heading straight for Shin Yi-han.

They couldn't hold back anymore.

"Mr. Geum!"
"No! Yi-han!"

They had to approach first.

"I'm genuinely sorry for not recognizing you!"
"This kind of acting is totally new to me!"
"How the hell did you do it?! It's insane!"

The stunned silence shattered.

"I'm totally falling for Yi-han!"
"To think we could see something like this!"
"Got any other works?! I wanna see more!"

The staff swarmed Shin Yi-han, chattering excitedly.

"Thanks for the praise, everyone."

"...!"

What?! He's super nice too! Seeing him smile warmly at them hit even harder.

And at that moment.

'Heh heh heh.'

Na Seon-yong, the manager beaming with pride amid the Shin Yi-han frenzy.

'Yes! That's it!'

His actor had demolished the staff!

Purely with acting!

Finally getting the right reaction from them filled Na Seon-yong with joy.

Even he had shivered countless times watching Shin Yi-han's performance.

It made no sense others wouldn't feel this shock.

Look at that actor shining.

Anyone could see it at a glance!

And as his manager, gratefully.

Na Seon-yong resolved himself.

To let more people know about actor Shin Yi-han.

To help him act to his heart's content.

Lost in those thoughts, Na Seon-yong secretly clenched his fist behind the crowd.

Then suddenly.

"What a manager working with such a great actor!"
"I'm so jealous! I want to see more of that acting up close!"
"...Uh."

The staff approaching him too had sweat beading on his forehead.

Gasp. Oh, I don't know English!

"Oh?! I think you can speak English!"
"Or maybe we can use a translator to talk! Tell me more about the actor in charge! I'm curious!"
"......"

Save me, bro.

Dizzy from the ongoing chatter, but.

Still, the fun was real.

And everyone there felt the same, chattering excitedly without exception.

Well, except one.

Bobby Pak, specifically.

While everyone else mobbed Shin Yi-han, Bobby couldn't join.

As the director, he'd been hit hardest.

He was busy replaying the short 8-minute clip over and over.

'...Something like this.'

He'd written shorts and handled the camera himself before.

'Coming out perfectly on the first take? Impossible.'

This was a first.

No edits needed—the raw take felt flawless to everyone.

Nothing to add or subtract.

A finished product, just like that.

'For real.'

Even rewatching confirmed it.

'Nothing more to do.'

Just slap on a title and end credits, and it was done.

The real shock? One person pulled it all off.

No directing, minimal shoot time, and it birthed his best short ever.

"It just came out insanely good...!"

Bobby Pak couldn't contain his excitement.

Gazing at the monstrous actor, he urgently revised his plans.

He'd meant to toss this casually on his YouTube.

'H-How could I?!'

Something like this, casually?!

'No way in hell!'

Then it hit him.

'Come to think of it.'

A place he'd never dared before.

'Isn't that happening now?'

Top horror studio.

A Haunted House's short film contest.

That very one.

And unknowingly, it advanced his life's turning point.

The start of Bobby Pak's pro directing career.

The next day after partying late into the night at Bobby Pak's studio.

They'd pulled an all-nighter, basically.

'Come visit next time! Please!'
'Yi-han! You're the best! Got it?!'

The staff waved ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠regretfully till the end.

'Yi-han. This thing you made? I'll do my utmost to make it the best.'

Before leaving, Bobby had brought up the contest with a determined face.

Shin Yi-han didn't know U.S. details well, but.

- A Haunted House

That name alone had him nodding happily.

It was the studio that bought all Bobby's shorts in his past life and even collabed on features.

'Yeah, I trust you, Bobby.'
'...!'

Maybe this would accelerate Bobby's growth.

'Sniff! Thanks... really!'

Bobby teared up seeing them off.

And so, Shin Yi-han.

Had arrived at a souvenir shop near the airport with manager Na Seon-yong.

Swapping yesterday's tourism for this quick stop.

"Whoa! So many keychains!"
"Jackpot. Postcards! Postcards!"
"Hyung! We gotta get this one!"

Shin Yi-han burst out laughing at Na Seon-yong scooping up souvenirs.

How excited he was.

Good thing they'd come, or it'd have been a disaster.

Of course, he was just a kid getting hyped now.

But yesterday, he'd shown solid manager skills.

Great care aside.

After filming, while ordering late-night snacks with staff.

'Sorry for presenting this post-shoot.'
'Contract from our agency, English version.'

He'd memorized lines despite poor English and handed the contract to Bobby.

He always carried it just in case.

'I figured something like this might happen!'
'What director passes on Shin Yi-han?'

Not for nothing was he future CEO of a major agency.

Prepared as a manager.

It wrapped things neatly. Bobby was thrilled too.

"Hyung, hyung! How's this cup?! Shape's so cool!"

This energy persisted.

"Oh."

Might as well. Shin Yi-han took the mug Na Seon-yong handed over after bounding around.

Not bad as a souvenir.

After fully enjoying America, they crashed hard on the flight.

Na Seon-yong and Shin Yi-han alike.

The feel-good trip meant deep sleep.

They landed in Korea around 7 p.m. the next day.

About two hours after Part 2 dropped.

"Right. Part 2's out now."

"Oh! Yeah?!"

Prepping to disembark, Shin Yi-han turned on his phone.

Early Part 2 reactions should be up—he had to check online.

The short with Bobby was chillingly spooky.

But Brilliant Sky's Part 2 on Newflix.

'Would be chilling in a different way. Terrifying.'

Against undeniable human evil.

Shin Yi-han curled his lips smugly.

Sure enough, Brilliant Sky posts were flooding in.

Especially lots on how Geum Seong-je appears in Part 2.

But post-release replies cleared the doubts fast.

Not flashbacks or illusions.

Shin Yi-han smiled satisfied ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠at the spoiler.

Yeah.

That was the truth.

Maybe in the Brilliant Sky from his past life, but not this time.

Geum Seong-je definitely didn't die.

'The main villain saved him.'

Half-crippled or not.

Kept him breathing.

Solely to toy with protagonist Ban Gi-hyeok.

And that would make Part 2 insanely fun.