Chapter 117
Chapter 117
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 117
Chapter Title: Part-time Job
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Clack.
The sound of the slate echoed. Over ten cameras prepared for the action scene began rolling.
Na A-yeon walked along the park path in broad daylight, glancing at her smartphone.
Oh Jun-hyuk and I moved toward her along the pre-planned path. We were dressed in pitch-black suits like gangsters. Our roles were Black Guild thugs A and B, targeting the protagonist's older sister.
Na A-yeon spotted us and flinched. Oh Jun-hyuk wore steel gauntlets, and I gripped a long sword. It was only natural for a civilian to be startled by the sight of us.
Her body shrank back, her pupils trembling with anxiety.
'Wow. Without the cameras, I'd swear it was real.'
I was impressed inwardly. As expected of an actress with over ten years of experience. Without the cameras, even I might've believed it was genuine.
Na A-yeon looked around. There was no one to help. She turned and bolted away.
"Catch her!"
Pfft!
Oh Jun-hyuk's line made laughter burst from my mouth reflexively. No, I couldn't help it. A slight lisp might've been fine, but "Jabba" completely shattered the serious atmosphere.
"Cut! Again! Let's do it again."
The director called out.
"Sorry! I'm sorry!"
Oh Jun-hyuk bowed repeatedly, his face beet red. The staff gave wry smiles. They knew we weren't professional actors.
"Hey, hey. We can just redo it."
I patted Oh Jun-hyuk's shoulder.
Oh Jun-hyuk had two lines. One was the "Catch her" from just now, and the other was a fairly long sentence. I, on the other hand, had no lines at all. I was just there to fight the handyman.
I was a bit worried about Oh Jun-hyuk.
'This guy said he'd be a star hunter, but he's worse than I thought.'
He was visibly too tense. I had a bad feeling we might have to shoot this scene ten more times today.
And that premonition proved correct.
"...Let's go again."
"NG!"
"...This isn't working."
The director sighed.
After seven NGs, Oh Jun-hyuk was on the verge of tears.
The director pondered for a moment before addressing us.
"Mr. Oh Jun-hyuk, Mr. Sung Yu-jin. Let's switch roles. Mr. Sung Yu-jin, you know Thug A's lines, right?"
In the end, Oh Jun-hyuk was cut from the role. I glanced at him. Rather than disappointed, he looked relieved.
"Yes. I do."
It was just two lines. After practicing with Oh Jun-hyuk several times, there was no way I didn't know them.
"Alright, let's try it once. Need practice time?"
"No. I'm good."
As I spoke, I glanced at the man next to the director. He was from the Hunter Association, dispatched as a precaution.
'That precaution is probably for if the hunter fight scene gets too heated.'
His job would be to stop us if the action got too rough.
"Okay. Let's start. Ready... action!"
The director gave the signal.
Na A-yeon began her performance again, just like before. Despite repeating the same act multiple times, she didn't show a hint of irritation—true professionalism.
I was a little tense. I wasn't confident in my acting either.
Na A-yeon turned and fled.
"Catch her!"
I shouted. Oh Jun-hyuk and I chased after Na A-yeon. As E-rank hunters, catching a civilian running at full speed was child's play, even if she gave it her all.
We quickly caught up and grabbed her. I seized her left side, Oh Jun-hyuk the other.
"Aaaah! Let go! Let me go!"
Na A-yeon struggled convincingly but couldn't shake us off.
Then, from afar, Son An-do charged in at incredible speed, sending us flying backward. We rolled on the ground a few times before standing. Our faces twisted in grimaces—acting, of course.
"Sis! You okay?!"
"H-Hyun-ah!"
Son An-do checked Na A-yeon. Confirming no injuries, he turned and glared at us, his sword tip aimed our way.
"No way. Did Kim Seon-ah send you?!"
"The lady knows nothing. Boss's orders. Perfect timing. Die here, has-been."
I delivered the line. I figured an NG was inevitable, but my voice came out steady, without a tremor—even to my own ears.
And since the director didn't cut, it seemed fine.
"Sis, get back. I have to deal with these guys here."
"H-Hyun-ah, wouldn't it be better to run and call the police?!"
"They'll just chase us. Sis, you go and report to the police. Hurry!"
Na A-yeon backed away.
Oh Jun-hyuk and I charged at Son An-do with our weapons. He'd told us earlier to go all out. We decided to oblige. As an A-rank hunter, Son An-do could handle ten of us with ease.
"Raaah!"
Oh Jun-hyuk roared. His arms and shoulders turned to steel. He put his full weight into charging Son An-do.
Whoosh!
Red flames erupted from Son An-do's sword—his flame manipulation ability.
Son An-do's sword clashed with Oh Jun-hyuk's fist.
Boom!
A flame explosion erupted. It looked spectacularly dangerous, but we knew better. We'd received special protective gear beforehand. Normal attacks wouldn't scratch us.
The flames cleared, and Oh Jun-hyuk flew backward. I stepped past him and lunged at Son An-do.
Clang! Clang!
My Hwaryeonbi Sword met his flame-wreathed blade. Son An-do deliberately left openings, goading my attacks.
This was filming, after all. Purely searching for weaknesses would bore the audience.
As we traded blows, I thought:
'Chances to go all-out against an A-rank in such a safe setting don't come often. He said full power? Fine, I'll give it to him.'
Crackle!
Lightning surged along my blade—an imitation of Astrafe, a skill from the 'God's Atlantis' world. It wasn't full power, but the electricity could still shock, making it visually striking.
Son An-do didn't seem surprised. I'd already told him about my second awakening to lightning. A second awakening meant a hunter awakening a new ability atop their first—essentially dual powers. They were rare, but they existed.
'No shock at all.'
The lightning tried jumping from my sword to his but vanished. I realized his mana was blocking it.
'How about this?'
Yeongcheonryu Thunder Serpent.
I leaped back and thrust at him. My sword twisted into a lightning bolt like a coiling snake. Son An-do raised his blade sideways, igniting flames to block it effortlessly.
Yeongcheonryu Thunderflash.
I unleashed an ultra-fast slash powered by lightning. But he parried it casually.
I gritted my teeth. My full power meant nothing to an A-rank.
Yeongcheonryu Thunder Sound Step.
A movement technique prioritizing speed over subtlety. Each step I took echoed with faint thunder.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
I wasn't even a match. Son An-do was just syncing with me for the drama.
'I know I can't win anyway. Might as well try everything.'
I pulled back from Son An-do. Glancing at Oh Jun-hyuk, he sat far off, mouth agape, blankly watching our fight. No intention to join.
'I've got Cheonma Singong beyond Yeongcheonryu.'
The problem? I couldn't unleash it properly. I could mimic the form, but not the power.
'Just try it once. It might land.'
Cheonma Singong: Cheonma Overlord Step.
One of the techniques I wanted to use. Among them, it was an ultimate movement art.
It dominated the space around the user—hence "Overlord."
Obviously, I couldn't do it yet. I planned to imitate it my way. Probably not even 5% of the real power.
"Hiss, ha. Hiss... ha!"
Full concentration: Heavenly Demon breathing.
Form 69.
Cheonma Step!
My legs danced in intricate steps toward Son An-do. As I swung my lightning-charged sword, a flame explosion hit.
"Gaaah!"
My body flew several meters through the air before crashing down.
Son An-do gripped his sword two-handed. Red flames swirled like a tornado along the blade. Sensing the end, I extended my left hand forward from my seated position.
Son An-do swung. A dragon of flame roared toward me.
'Can't go down without a fight. My final move!'
Lightning gathered before my left hand—Wanrae. I poured every drop of my mana into it.
Rumble!
Lightning shot from Wanrae, shredding the flame dragon.
"It's over."
Son An-do closed in, sword aimed at me. Scorching heat radiated from the blazing blade.
"...Damn."
I muttered an ad-libbed line and dropped my Hwaryeonbi Sword.
"Cut! Okay! Perfect!"
The director called cut, and the staff erupted in applause.
"Whoa! That was insane."
"Better than any CG, seriously."
"Flames and lightning... so cool."
It was a rare scene. Flame users were common enough, but lightning hunters were few and far between.
"Impressive. You didn't look like an E-rank at all."
Son An-do offered his hand. I smiled wryly and took it, standing.
"You're incredibly strong, Mr. Son. I didn't stand a chance."
"I'm A-rank, after all. You can use mana too, Mr. Yu-jin, so you'll grow fast. I'd love to scout you for our guild."
"No, I have circumstances... scouting's tricky."
"I know. Something with Yeongcheonryu, right?"
"...You know Yeongcheonryu?"
"I've worked with Jin Woo-seong a few times."
Surprising, but not shocking. Son An-do was older than he looked and an A-rank like Jin Woo-seong. It made sense.
"That last footwork wasn't Yeongcheonryu... Did you develop it yourself?"
"Yes."
I nodded shamelessly. No Ma-cheon here anyway.
"It's not complete yet..."
"I figured. If you perfect it, it'll be powerful. What's it called? I'd like to know before it gets famous."
"Cheonma Step."
"Pardon?"
"Cheonma Step."
"Ha, haha. You're a fun guy. Got it, Cheonma Step."
Son An-do laughed brightly.
I smiled awkwardly.
'Can't call this half-baked thing Cheonma Overlord Step.'
I hadn't even captured 5% of the true Cheonma Overlord Step's power.
Naming this Cheonma Overlord Step would insult Cheonma Singong. So until I mastered it, it'd be Cheonma Step. Though I might never complete it...
We filmed another scene after.
Nothing major—just getting arrested by police and Hunter Association members. No lines. Oh Jun-hyuk and I just hung our heads and got dragged off.
Our shoot wrapped. We got 300,000 won on the spot. It felt too low no matter how I thought about it... but it was a good experience.
"Mr. Sung Yu-jin. Could I have a quick word?"
It was the director. No Han-su, late thirties, with a soft impression.
"Sure. What is it?"