Chapter 165
Chapter 165
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 165
Chapter Title: Action
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AI Jeon Ji-in produced three close-combat training videos at a higher level than Kim Yu-chan's action scenes.
They played simultaneously through the AR Lens. They were invisible to everyone else, but to Na Gang-in's eyes, it looked like three semi-transparent monitors floating in midair.
"Number 3."
Immediately, videos 1 and 2 vanished, and only number 3 expanded largely, playing back slowly.
Na Gang-in floated the video in the air and demonstrated it for Gong Ji-hyeon.
"You slash at me like this, I dodge and charge in with a slash of my own, then you lean back like this to evade, spin your body around, and thrust your sword. I barely dodge backward, but you rush forward and cut me down. That's it. Not hard, right?"
Gong Ji-hyeon watched Na Gang-in's demonstration without missing a single detail before replying.
"I'll give it a try!"
Na Gang-in added a caveat.
"Don't hold back—come at me like you're really trying to kill me. I'll handle the dodging myself."
She looked worried.
"What if you get hit by my sword...?"
"That's impossible with your skills, so don't worry."
Na Gang-in explained the movements she needed to make in more detail.
The camera placements were decided in consultation with the cinematographer. AI Jeon Ji-in indicated where the cameras needed to be positioned to capture it like a hologram video.
"The camera positions are even more crucial for this scene than the previous one."
The staff set up the site, and the cameras were repositioned. The elaborate preparations were complete.
Director Byun Hyung-chan called "Action!" and filming resumed.
Gong Ji-hyeon attacked first. She charged at Na Gang-in, slashing from lower left to upper right in a long arc. Before the cameras rolled, she'd been worried about hurting him, but when wielding the sword, she showed no hesitation whatsoever.
Na Gang-in leaned back while retreating. The blade narrowly grazed past his body.
"She trusts me, I guess."
Na Gang-in, who had retreated, charged at Gong Ji-hyeon, slashing horizontally in a wide sweep. The blade aimed precisely at her upper body.
Gong Ji-hyeon leaned her body back sharply. Her waist bent like a bow. Na Gang-in's blade passed just inches from her chest.
Gong Ji-hyeon snapped her body forward like a coiled spring, thrusting her sword. It was fast. She targeted the opening precisely. The counterattack was so sharp that most people wouldn't be able to dodge it.
Na Gang-in retreated hastily. His balance was disrupted from dodging so urgently. At least, that's how it looked to everyone else.
Gong Ji-hyeon charged at the off-balance Na Gang-in. As she lunged, she kicked off the ground. Her lithe body soared upward. Her clothes fluttered in the air.
This was a move Na Gang-in hadn't shown in his demonstration.
Like a bird, she leaped into the air and, upon landing, swung her sword down powerfully. The blade cleaved vertically through the space.
At the tip of that fierce blade was the masked Na Gang-in's chest.
The sharply honed sword tip slashed long across his chest. His clothes tore open, and the special effects blood pack burst.
Na Gang-in screamed as he tumbled backward.
"Argh!"
Gong Ji-hyeon lowered her stance, blade pulled to the side, confirming Na Gang-in as he fell.
The other masked figures ran around according to their predetermined paths.
Gong Ji-hyeon glared sharply at the fallen Na Gang-in on the ground, then lowered her extended sword and stood up. After that, she charged at one of the masked figures.
"Okay!"
Byun Hyung-chan called out.
Gong Ji-hyeon, who had been charging, immediately turned toward Na Gang-in.
"Teacher! Are you okay?"
She fretted as if she'd never attacked so ferociously.
Na Gang-in, lying on the ground, sat up as he spoke.
"Be honest. Have you trained with a sword before?"
"No."
"You were flying around, though?"
"I took ballet lessons as a kid. That's why my body's pretty flexible. And I've practiced a lot of cool scenes from movies and comics since I was little."
"You did great."
"Ah! Thank you!"
Kim Yu-chan, who had filmed the scene where she took down four masked figures earlier, approached clapping.
"Wow. The action is insane. This scene must have come out picture-perfect."
"Hehe. Thank you!"
Kim Yu-chan complained to Na Gang-in.
"Why don't I get cool stuff like that?"
Na Gang-in chuckled.
"If you tried what Ji-hyeon did with your flexibility, your back would snap."
Kim Yu-chan recalled Gong Ji-hyeon's performance. A movement bending the waist that elastically was impossible for him.
"Ah. You're right. My back is precious."
Kim Yu-chan quickly changed targets.
"Then I'll go for power warrior."
With the scene of the remaining five masked men fleeing as the finale, all five fight scenes transitioning from Kim Yu-chan to Gong Ji-hyeon were wrapped.
The supporting actors chimed in one by one.
"That last scene had insane tension."
"I really thought I was hauling a corpse."
"Was only that scene great?"
"The earlier ones were great too."
One actor grinned broadly.
"Man. We split the fight scenes into five and still finished shooting so fast."
"Just like the rumors. First time seeing a set where action wraps this quickly."
"The rumors were spot on."
One actor tilted his head.
"No? It's even crazier than the rumors."
"You must not have heard that Na Gang-in, the martial arts director, usually shoots this fast."
"I did hear that. But that last shoot was different from the rumors."
"Huh? How so?"
"He split one fight scene into five pieces, handling all the opponents himself."
"Yeah...? But people do that sometimes elsewhere."
The actor who first raised the question pointed at the set as he explained.
"In other films, they'd gather opinions first, have multiple people demo each part to design the paths. That's the standard."
"Sure."
"But we all saw it. Na martial arts director just whipped through it on the spot, said no, and right there split the scene into five pieces. Redesigned it on the fly so it could be stitched together later."
"Wow..."
"He even recalculated camera positions mentally. Is that even possible?"
The actors looked at Na Gang-in with dazed expressions.
"Hearing the explanation makes him seem inhuman."
"Is he a computer or something?"
"Now that you mention it, this should've been impossible..."
One laughed as he spoke.
"We just witnessed the impossible becoming possible. Na Gang-in really is special."
The actor who'd explained smacked his lips.
"True. We joined this movie to taste that special flavor. Can't wait for what's next."
"Me too."
Today wasn't just for action. They had to film the romance line and comedy too. Night shoots were scheduled after dinner.
Na Gang-in shot two more simple action scenes with other actors. Each time, the actors he worked with grinned broadly.
"Wow. This must be that legendary action taste from the rumors!"
"Glad I joined this movie."
With those two, Na Gang-in's daytime shooting was done.
As Na Gang-in left the set, food truck owner Kim Byung-ho approached.
"I knew you were amazing before, but now you're officially the martial arts director?"
"Just helping out briefly."
Food truck boss Kim Byung-ho had once sprained his wrist falling at the PC bang. That led to Na Gang-in filling in at the truck, which got him meeting Shin Eun-ha and entering the industry.
Kim Byung-ho said,
"The assistant director—no, now Director Byun—called me back saying the food was delicious last time. Ha, haha. That reshoots food was tasty because you helped."
"Let's prep dinner together after a while. My daytime shooting's done."
Kim Byung-ho beamed.
"Oh man, music to my ears."
Na Gang-in checked the ingredients prepped at the truck. AI Jeon Ji-in suggested,
"Let's go with that."
Daytime shooting ended. Dinner time arrived.
"We'll eat and then continue!"
At the assistant director's shout, people headed to the food truck.
Kim Yu-chan, walking to the truck, spotted Na Gang-in prepping servings and grinned.
"Whoa! Gang-in made dinner tonight! I'm having two bowls!"
His manager stopped him.
"No way. You're shooting right now—half a bowl max."
"Can't you see I burned energy on action today?"
"Fine, compromise at one bowl."
The manager eyed the truck, smacking his lips.
"I'll have two instead."
"Hey! Bro, come on?"
"If you're jealous, you be the manager. I'll be the actor."
Kim Yu-chan glanced at his manager's face.
"Your face disqualifies you anyway."
"Shut it. I know."
The actors got their fried rice from the truck and sat. Some piled their trays higher than others with extra fried rice.
"Did they come to make a movie or eat?"
"Staff don't appear on camera, so they can eat a lot, but why are the actors loading up?"
"Ugh. Even Kim Yu-chan's piling his tray."
Those who sat thinking it odd took a bite and realized why.
"Huh?"
"Why's it so delicious? Special ingredients?"
Someone even asked if special stuff was added.
"Nope. Just used the truck's regular ingredients."
"Then why's it this good?"
Others who'd anticipated it since seeing Na Gang-in cook loaded their trays high.
"So this is the legendary Na Gang-in food truck."
"Kugh. This hits the spot."
"They said you could eat restaurant-level food on set, and it's true."
"Thought he'd stop cooking now that he's martial arts director, but he stepped up today."
"Gotta eat fast and grab seconds."
"Me too!"
"Me three!"
Gong Ji-hyeon went to the truck for her serving and asked,
"Why's the teacher even cooking?"
"Gets me my daily wage."
"Wow. You're so thrifty!"
Shin Eun-ha, behind her, said,
"How do you interpret it that way? Your head really is a flower garden."
Lee Bo-ra added from the side,
"She rolled through wastelands till now, so landing on warm soil made flowers bloom as a rebound."
"Ah. Makes sense?"
Na Gang-in scooped a generous portion of fried rice.
Gong Ji-hyeon beamed at Na Gang-in.
"I don't eat much. Just a little, please."
"Don't regret it later—take plenty."
"For real...?"
"Then leave some."
Shin Eun-ha thrust her tray forward boldly.
"Fill mine to the brim! With all your heart!"
Lee Bo-ra held hers out too.
"Me too, lots of heart."
"Hey! Stop piling on extra spoons!"
"Let's gain weight together!"
The three sat at a folding table.
Gong Ji-hyeon scooped a spoonful of the fried rice into her mouth.
Her eyes widened round. The moment it touched her tongue, she knew.
'This is delicious!'
Eating fried rice at a set folding table felt like savoring a chef's signature dish at a fancy restaurant. She closed her eyes slightly. The sensation intensified. The set felt like a top-tier restaurant.
She opened her eyes in awe.
"Wow! Amazing! It's really delicious!"
Shin Eun-ha boasted,
"Gang-in oppa's cooking is always delicious."
"Whoa. Does teacher make this every day?"
"Nah. He doesn't enjoy his own cooking much. Even with skills like this, he prefers buying food. Well, he's always been quirky."
"Isn't that special?"
"I just said special, right? Yeah?"
"Y-yeah?"
"Yup."
The action performers were starving from using their bodies so much, and the staff were famished from hauling heavy gear and setups.
Plus, the food was incredibly tasty. People who finished their bowls went back for more in droves.
In the end, all the main ingredients Kim Byung-ho brought were depleted.
Kim Yu-chan only managed one bowl due to his manager's watch. He asked Na Gang-in wistfully,
"Gang-in. Dessert too? That tiramisu-style cake was killer."
Na Gang-in checked remaining ingredients. Not enough.
Na Gang-in told Kim Yu-chan,
"I'll make fried rice snacks instead, so munch on those if you're peckish during night shoots."
"Heh. Basic snacks are fine. Just make a lot."
Director Byun Hyung-chan allotted plenty of time for dinner. The high-energy daytime shoots required recovery time.
But he couldn't slack off either. He wanted to shave sleep to perfect the film.
After eating, he opened his laptop off to the side.
The high-spec laptop held footage files from Kim Yu-chan and Gong Ji-hyeon's fight scenes shot that day. Multiple cameras meant many files.
'Gang-in said to stitch the five split scenes together...'
Byun Hyung-chan had agreed it was possible. Still, he felt a twinge of doubt.
'Our assumptions might be wrong, so I should check if it turns out as pictured.'
Byun Hyung-chan cut and spliced the first fight scene's camera footage to test it.