Chapter 24
Chapter 24
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 24
Chapter Title: Sovereign of Deception
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A man in a suit stood there with a cold expression on his face.
His striking good looks immediately caught the eye, and with a pistol in one hand,
he slowly aimed it at the woman collapsed before him.
The woman was bound and battered, as if she had been tortured.
Despite her pitiful appearance that could evoke sympathy, he spoke in a voice devoid of any mercy.
"Farewell."
"Mmph! Mmmph! Mmmmmmph!!!!"
The woman threw her head back, shedding tears amid agonized groans.
However.
-Bang!
A sharp crack rang out as the muzzle spat fire.
With that, a momentary silence descended.
A heavy stillness settled over the chilling atmosphere.
What broke it
was a single teardrop falling to the floor.
It was from the man who, until moments ago, had a face as cold as stone.
"...I'm sorry. Don't... forgive me."
A gruff voice laced with clear sorrow.
As he displayed this restrained yet palpable grief,
the man let the gun drop limply from his hand.
At that moment.
"Cut!"
"Phew..."
The director's voice echoed in his ear, and the man let out a small sigh.
Having poured his all into the emotions, sweat beaded on his forehead. Feeling a heavy fatigue, he grabbed a water bottle from nearby and chugged it down.
"Wow, that came out pretty good, huh? Lee Sung-min, your acting's on fire lately."
"You're too kind, Director."
The director spoke in his usual hearty tone, a satisfied look on his face.
Setting down the water bottle at this, the man—
Last year's MBS Acting Awards winner and the lead in a film that drew 8 million viewers.
The young actor Lee Sung-min replied in a calm tone before cautiously approaching the camera.
The footage played back on the screen.
His realistic portrayal as a secret agent executing a traitorous comrade.
On any other day, this scene would have filled Sung-min with deep satisfaction.
But at this moment,
Lee Sung-min's expression as he watched his own performance wasn't exactly bright.
"Director. Should we reshoot it?"
"Huh? Why? What was wrong?"
"No, nothing in particular, but..."
"Then no need to. This is more than good enough."
"...Understood. That's... a relief."
With those words, Sung-min left to remove his makeup.
However, contrary to his seemingly nonchalant exterior, a profound sense of regret filled Sung-min's heart at that moment.
'Is that all I can muster... my full potential.'
Feeling bitter, Sung-min picked up his phone while waiting for his stylist.
Sung-min played a saved video.
It was a scene from a currently popular drama.
-"That child... is mine. Forever."
A scene he'd watched countless times, now vivid even with eyes closed.
After winning the grand prize last year, Sung-min's pride as an actor had peaked,
but recently, that pride had shattered like a dropped glass.
Ever since watching this drama in his hand
and learning of the rookie actor
'Chae Soo-jeong' emerging from it.
Her acting was so chillingly dominant that it completely overshadowed even Yoon Tae-young's presence.
Of course, Sung-min, hailed as a top actor, could manage something like that to some extent.
It wouldn't be easy against a powerhouse like Yoon Tae-young, but with the right setup and his full effort, he could swallow the opponent's presence too.
But that was just one instance. What followed were relentlessly intense scenes.
Watching the 'rookie actor' Chae Soo-jeong perfectly embody the multifaceted role of 'Han-seo,' like wearing various masks, Sung-min had to admit it.
His skills were still insufficient for complacency.
The world was vast, full of monsters surpassing him—a plain truth he'd inwardly ignored.
Since that day, Sung-min redoubled his acting practice, which had slackened for a while.
Yet despite tireless efforts, he remained unsatisfied with his own performances.
Others praised his improved skills, but reviewing the footage always left Sung-min with regret.
Because he knew his abilities still fell short of
hers—
Chae Soo-jeong's.
'Still not enough. But... I can't keep lagging behind a rookie forever.'
It stung his pride, but he had to acknowledge what was true.
Resolving to refine himself further, he swiped up on his phone to check the latest news.
In a dearth of worthwhile shows lately, the one buzzing drama,
[The Queen Dowager, Sovereign of Deception].
If his current project aired sooner, it might shift the landscape, but their broadcast schedules didn't overlap.
In that sense, if the chance arose, he'd like to meet this Chae Soo-jeong...
And if possible, someday compete actor-to-actor in a 'rivalry.' Feeling such competitive spirit,
Sung-min looked at his arriving stylist and stood up.
'Come to think of it... tonight's episode hits the climax, right? Gotta watch this one live.'
It started with Chae Soo-jeong's acting, but at some point, Sung-min grew interested in the drama itself.
That night, Sung-min watched the drama with rare anticipation.
But then.
"...Huh?"
*
"Huh?"
"? What, Mom?"
"Nothing, just... my ear suddenly feels itchy."
Feeling a slight itch, I scratched my ear lightly.
Lately, with the drama boosting my recognition, it wasn't just my imagination that I seemed to be on people's lips more often.
Plus, my first commercial airing on TV right now was a bonus.
"Mom's so cool."
"Yeah, it turned out better than expected."
I couldn't tell precisely during filming against a green screen,
but seeing the finished product with CG and edits, it wasn't bad at all.
'There are parts that haven't aired yet, but we'll see how those go.'
Thinking that, I turned to the opening of [The Queen Dowager, Sovereign of Deception] playing in my ear.
Usually, personal embarrassment kept me to watching alongside my daughter only casually, but tonight, even I couldn't help focusing on the drama.
Today was finally that day.
The day the long-held twist would be revealed...
*
'Here we go!'
The drama began after the commercial.
Given the story's state and few episodes left, this was essentially the final boss battle.
It opened with a woman in the darkness.
A woman in a face veil quietly tapping the table.
Watching her, Captain of the Inner Guard Kim Yul asked cautiously.
"Your Majesty, give your command."
"..."
The Queen Dowager remained silent at his question.
The only sound was one:
The small yet eerie tap of her finger on the table.
With no response from the Queen Dowager yet,
the scene shifted elsewhere.
A group racing through the darkness.
Led by Lee Su-ryeon, her followers charged swiftly toward the government office.
"Just as planned... their defenses are lax."
"No time to waste. Let's go in, Big Brother."
"Got it."
Following Su-ryeon's orders, they stormed the office.
The gates' defenses were woefully inadequate,
so Su-ryeon and the masked figure beside her,
Han-seo, quickly entered.
"This way. Hurry."
Guided toward the main building where the Queen Dowager was presumed to be.
At that moment.
The screen flipped again.
The persistent finger-tapping finally stopped sharp.
And then.
"...Proceed."
"Your Majesty..."
The Queen Dowager spoke in a cold voice.
The Captain of the Inner Guard showed a flicker of concern,
but she replied unwaveringly.
"The hunt begins. Prepare."
Thud!!!
With those words, the scene changed.
Han-seo stood with a bloodied sword,
and Su-ryeon's group advanced along the path he cleared.
The government troops offered no real resistance to Han-seo's demonic swordsmanship, pushed back helplessly.
They pressed toward the main building where the Queen Dowager resided.
At that moment.
"Attack! The rebels are here!"
"Block them! Protect Her Majesty the Queen Dowager!"
Suddenly, Forbidden Army soldiers poured in from all sides.
Su-ryeon couldn't help feeling dismayed at their far swifter, more cunning response than expected, but she quickly regained composure and issued orders.
"We can't retreat here! Push to the main building as fast as possible!"
Retreat was already blocked.
All that remained was achieving revenge and dying,
or dying like dogs with nothing accomplished.
But despite their desperate struggles,
the conspirators began falling rapidly to the Forbidden Army's ferocious onslaught.
"Urk!"
"Young... lord..."
"Queen Dowager... even in death, I curse you...!"
Familiar faces from the drama collapsed one by one, bleeding.
The brothel's guard warrior Blue Three,
the thug boss Rock Sparrow,
the low-rank officer Son Man-chung.
As these supporting characters—now familiar—were wounded, subdued, or slain, viewers felt a swell of poignant sorrow.
And finally.
Stepping into the main building over their sacrifices were just two.
Lee Su-ryeon.
And Han-seo.
With a resolute expression, Su-ryeon hurried deep into the building,
toward the presumed location of the Queen Dowager.
At that moment.
"..."
One person appeared before Su-ryeon.
Captain of the Inner Guard Kim Yul.
A vast space with a massive pillar like a central beam.
Seeing him standing alone before it, Su-ryeon asked with tension and a trace of doubt.
"Tell me! Where is the Queen Dowager?"
"..."
The Captain of the Inner Guard gave no reply to Su-ryeon.
He didn't even draw the weapon at his waist against her threatening sword.
As if there were no need.
Her doubt grew increasingly.
At that moment.
"...?"
The next instant, Han-seo silently passed by Su-ryeon's side.
Emitting a slow but intensely palpable presence,
he approached the Captain of the Inner Guard.
Toward the Queen Dowager's arm,
their clear enemy.
"B-Big Brother, danger—!"
But then.
"..."
The next moment, the Captain of the Inner Guard naturally bowed in respect.
"Big... Brother...?"
Leaving Su-ryeon bewildered and confused behind, Han-seo passed the Captain and slowly stroked the massive pillar beyond with his hand.
[It was like a sweet dream. The time with you. One I never want to wake from forever.]
Han-seo spoke in a calm voice.
Su-ryeon wore a confounded expression watching.
In this scene where Han-seo was expected to reveal himself as the Queen Dowager's lackey, viewers instinctively swallowed hard.
But then.
[However.]
"!"
That instant, Han-seo's voice suddenly began changing from before.
The same voice, but with a distinctly shifting tone, Su-ryeon's eyes...
And the eyes of Oh Young-ae and viewers watching widened too.
"...Huh?"
Only now, hearing it clearly pieced together, did they realize one fact.
And before the confusion and chilling unease gripping their bodies could fade...
Han-seo fully concealed himself behind the pillar.
[Even so.]
And then.
[It's time... to awaken.]
The fully transformed voice was
that of an utterly cold woman.
Its owner, known to all viewers,
slowly rounded the pillar and stepped forward.
Her bound hair came loose,
and shedding the black martial garb atop, she revealed
a jet-black jacket embroidered with gold thread.
"N-No... it can't... no way... how..."
Su-ryeon's trembling words continued.
No—countless viewers watching uttered them too.
"H-How... Big Brother is..."
At that moment, such words escaped.
And toward them.
He...
No.
The 'Sovereign of Deception' who, masked as Han-seo, had captivated countless hearts...
spoke coldly in an undeniably familiar voice.
[I am the Queen Dowager.]