Chapter 181
Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 181
Chapter Title: Disguise
Lead actor Kim Yu-chan in the movie Fate's Spear made a suggestion.
"If we just cut the scene where he rides up on horseback and makes a sudden stop, we could probably find an actor. It'd be even harder to suddenly track down someone who can ride well."
"True. But we can't cut that."
Director Byeon Hyeong-chan scratched his head vigorously.
"Argh. Horses are crucial. Really crucial. It's a scene that contrasts with the modern-day events, so we can't delete the horseback riding part."
Byeon Hyeong-chan asked the actors.
"Does anyone know an actor who can ride well, do action scenes, and act? We need someone who can get here right now."
This battle scene required clear shots of both Kim Yu-chan and his opponent. Na Gang-in couldn't step in wearing a mask as a stand-in.
That's why Byeon Hyeong-chan had scouted an actor with exceptional action skills.
And the required skills were specific.
"Of course, they have to be good with a sword."
The original actor for the role held a second dan in kendo.
Kim Yu-chan shook his head.
"Where are we supposed to find someone like that on short notice? People like that are rare."
"Exactly, it's driving me insane. This scene needs a lot of shooting time, and if we don't wrap it today, the whole schedule falls apart. You all know how tightly we've coordinated everyone's calendars."
If today's schedule slipped, everyone else's would too.
Gong Ji-hyeon was playing the female warrior Soyeon. If the movie's shoot got delayed, her drama schedule would suffer as well.
She cautiously raised her hand.
"Um, Director? There is someone who can do action and act, so we just need to check if they can ride a horse, right?"
Byeon Hyeong-chan shot to his feet.
"Someone like that exists? Can they handle a sword too?"
"Of course."
"And the horse?!"
"I'm not sure about th—"
"Call them right now! Ask if they can ride, and if they can get here immediately!"
She couldn't understand why Byeon Hyeong-chan was acting this way.
"Uh... Wouldn't it be better to just ask in person instead of calling?"
"Huh?"
Gong Ji-hyeon pointed at Na Gang-in, who was pouring water into his second cup ramen.
"Our teacher over there is great at martial arts and acting. Everyone saw how well he handles a sword. We just need to check if he can ride a horse..."
"Gang-in-ssi?"
Byeon Hyeong-chan blinked.
He'd never seen Na Gang-in act formally. But he'd heard Gong Ji-hyeon say during script reading that Na Gang-in was good at it.
Lead actress Shin Eun-ha chimed in too. She'd long wanted to do a couple's acting scene with Na Gang-in. But first, he needed to debut as an actor.
She clapped openly.
"Exactly! With Oppa Gang-in's physique, he could ride a horse even if it meant grabbing it by the scruff."
"R-Right!"
Byeon Hyeong-chan rushed toward Na Gang-in.
Na Gang-in had found the first cup ramen insufficient, so he poured water into a second one.
"Shame there's no egg."
He took the cup ramen back to the waiting area and sat down.
"No side dishes either. Next time, tell them to grab some kimchi from the convenience store. Eating two ramens in a row feels off without it."
"Hm?"
"Did the movie flop?"
Byeon Hyeong-chan skidded to a stop in front of Na Gang-in and asked urgently.
"Gang-in-ssi! Can you ride a horse by any chance?"
"Pardon?"
"A horse. That horse over there."
A horse for today's shoot stood at one side of the set.
"Why are you asking me that?"
Byeon Hyeong-chan quickly explained the situation, including how the actor had bowed out due to a broken toe, then pleaded desperately.
"So you're the only one who can fill in for that role."
"Uh... I said I wouldn't do any official acting."
Na Gang-in had turned down a supporting role offer before.
Byeon Hyeong-chan knew that, but he had no other options now.
"Please save me. If we don't shoot this scene, the entire schedule collapses. We barely borrowed that horse just for today."
Na Gang-in felt awkward but decided to refuse.
"Still, no..."
"Ji-in-ah. Calm down. Even if this movie blows up and everyone recognizes my face, you know that'd mess up our missions."
That was why Na Gang-in never appeared openly in movies, dramas, or commercials.
"Huh? There's a way?"
It was rare for AI Jeon Ji-in to suggest something like this.
"Hey. Usually, I have to convince you, and you help reluctantly. This isn't even a mission-related op, so is it okay for you to proactively suggest using those skills?"
"Ah, is that so?"
Na Gang-in chuckled.
"Our Ji-in's pulling out loopholes now?"
"You've even learned blackmail. That's what makes you feel so human."
Byeon Hyeong-chan didn't know why Na Gang-in chuckled and swallowed hard.
"Gang-in-ssi?"
Na Gang-in turned to Byeon Hyeong-chan.
"Well, about the horse."
"I can ride one a little."
Byeon Hyeong-chan's face lit up.
"Then you'll appear in our movie..."
"The role in question is the enemy final boss's master, right?"
"Yes."
"So we'll need an aged-up disguise? With a beard and everything."
Byeon Hyeong-chan nodded vigorously.
"Exactly. We'll handle all that fo—"
"I'll do my own facial disguise."
"Pardon?"
"I'll do it in front of a mirror myself. Thoroughly enough that no one recognizes me."
"No, special makeup isn't something a layperson can..."
Shin Eun-ha approached and overheard. She butted in.
"Oh my. Oppa Gang-in. I knew you were good at makeup, but special effects disguises too?"
"Just a bit."
Byeon Hyeong-chan asked Shin Eun-ha.
"Eun-ha-ssi. What do you mean by makeup?"
"Oh, you didn't know? Oppa's makeup skills are no joke. Even our agency's idols have relied on him. I ask him sometimes when I'm in a rush."
"R-Really?"
Byeon Hyeong-chan's face brightened again.
"Then we'll trust you, Gang-in-ssi, and prep for the final shoot today. Oh, the script..."
Na Gang-in said.
"I've memorized it all."
"As expected of Na Gang-in!"
"Should I skip this role?"
The set had a dedicated team for actors' makeup.
Na Gang-in went to them. They knew the situation.
Na Gang-in said.
"Just lend me the tools, and I'll do it myself."
"Use whatever you need. It's all bought with the studio budget anyway—order more if we run out."
Na Gang-in looked over the tools. AI Jeon Ji-in complained.
"You can still manage, right?"
AI Jeon Ji-in highlighted a few tools.
As Na Gang-in gathered them, the makeup team lead commented.
"My friend at SAH Entertainment says Director Na is amazing at makeup."
"Just imitating."
"Nah, apparently not. My friend asked the agency idols directly..."
SAH's idols were only Pufu Girls and Angel Warriors. Na Gang-in had done their makeup once by chance at a local festival.
The team lead worried.
"But our movie doesn't need full face-altering effects, so we lack that gear. Will this do?"
"Beard, brushes, pens—we're good."
He sat in front of the mirror.
"Ji-in-ah. Let's start."
AI Jeon Ji-in highlighted one of the brushes he'd gathered. Na Gang-in picked it up.
The work began in earnest.
As Na Gang-in applied paint or drew on his face, AI Jeon Ji-in corrected his hand movements.
The makeup team had heard rumors of Na Gang-in's skills. With only one shoot left today, they had nothing to do.
They gathered to watch him disguise himself.
"Whoa, his hands are too fast, aren't they?"
"That speed makes it hard to even out the tone prope—"
"Skin's darkening."
"Wait, drawing wrinkles with a pencil? No way he can do that solo in a mirror..."
"Why are there already fine lines around the left eye?!"
"Wow, right and left sides look like different people."
"Huh? The right side's starting to match the left. Incredible!"
Na Gang-in created wrinkles and texture mainly with brushes and pencils. He used plenty of makeup prosthetics too. His face changed dramatically with each stroke.
After sufficiently drawing on his face, he attached a full beard and altered his eyebrows. His eye shape was already changed with brush and pen.
Na Gang-in could do Pufu Girls or Angel Warriors' makeup in 5 minutes each.
This disguise took longer. Doing it solo in a mirror, and it was full disguise, not just makeup.
After the final brushstroke, AI Jeon Ji-in announced.
Tactical Infiltration Disguise
Complete
Na Gang-in stood and checked the mirror. A different person stared back.
"Not bad for what we had."
Na Gang-in turned around.
The onlookers gaped.
"Why the faces?"
Only then did they fully realize. It wasn't the familiar Na Gang-in's face—instead, an elderly man with a strong presence stood before them.
They spoke in bewildered tones.
"I clearly saw him draw wrinkles with pencil, but they look real."
"I'd pass him on the street without recognizing him."
Using makeup to age a young person or CG to de-age an elder was common in films.
What shocked them was the time it took.
Someone checked their watch.
"Doesn't top-tier special makeup take a couple hours?"
"Right?"
"So why'd it finish in 10 minutes?"
"No idea."
One actor regretted.
"Dang, should've filmed the transformation. That'd go viral online..."
Another poked his side.
"Don't. Director Na hates being filmed bare-faced."
"Huh? Why?"
"He wants a peaceful daily life. If you upload it, you're filming him openly."
"I didn't film! I swear!"
Shin Eun-ha nodded at Na Gang-in.
"As expected of the lightspeed makeup artist Na Gang-in. Now disguises are lightspeed too."
Lee Yeon-ji asked beside her.
"Uncle, how good is that level of disguise?"
"Result-wise, you'd believe a top team did it."
"Whoa, all by himself in a mirror! Even my solo makeup's a chore."
"High schoolers wear makeup?"
"Why say that? Didn't you in high school, Unnie?"
"I did."
"See?"
Cornered, Shin Eun-ha changed tack with more explanation.
"Oppa's disguise is amazing just looking at the result, right? But know how long it took? Barely 10 minutes. Humanly possible?"
"But Uncle did it."
"He did. I was done being shocked, but he shocks me again."
"Why're you smiling while saying that, Unnie?"
"Huh? When did I smile? No, you saw wrong."