What the Hell Did You Make?
Just what the hell had I created? The Lee Taeseong that Kim Donghu was playing was, as explained earlier, a man born with the talent of a natural-born martial genius. But due to his lazy and ferocious nature, he hadn't achieved any rank in office, and even at an age when he should have been eyeing governorships, he was still living a debauched life.
To him, for whom the world unfolding before his eyes was everything, "No butcher tries to reason with livestock that's rebelling, does he?" The sight of a nobleman conversing with those beneath him was something he could hardly tolerate.
"The blade alone is the one true law for taming beasts. Surely you, my lord, know this better than anyone." Lee Taeseong—no, Kim Donghu's eyes stared straight at Jin Yuseong. As if he'd long since memorized the script. Everyone gaped at Kim Donghu, their eyes following his leisurely sweeping gaze around the room.
What kind of monster is this guy?
They said he was good, really good, and I was curious just how good... but he's only 17?
...I deliberately directed him to go this far, but I didn't expect him to deliver this much.
A perfect recreation of the role that surpassed even method acting. In this moment, only Jin Yuseong snapped back to reality for his next line.
"Ah, there you are. I've been waiting for you."
"Haha, you're overdoing the pleasantries, my lord."
The Jo Seonghak played by Jin Yuseong was a man of lowly birth who had been raised in a noble household, yet unable to fully realize his ambitions because of his origins. Out of that injustice, humiliation, and discrimination, he had killed off all the legitimate heirs to become the family's sole successor.
Maybe that's why. Lee Taeseong, born noble in a lineage of ancient prestige, rubbed him the wrong way.
"Pleasantries? How could I jest about something like this?"
"What reason would you have to wait for me, my lord? Is it perhaps because you hesitate to kill them?"
"...As if."
Lee Taeseong was a pampered golden child raised in luxury, while Jo Seonghak was a lowly-born noble. They were similar, yet fundamentally different.
"I was merely thinking of showing a moment's mercy to those beneath us."
"Isn't it because you haven't found what you want?"
"What did you say?"
"From what I know, there's just one... The child born to the late son of the Jo clan is still alive."
"You'd best... watch your words."
Even in this bare script reading with no props, Jin Yuseong shot Kim Donghu a gaze sharpened like a blade. At Lee Taeseong's line-crossing remark, Jo Seonghak's fury erupted exactly as written: "My blade despises ignorance."
A genius who had passed the martial exam as top scholar at a young age, his brilliance evident from childhood. Needless to say, his talent was unparalleled; had it not been for his origins, he could have aimed for the rank of fifth-grade Training Commandant. His strength was unmatched in all Joseon. Who wouldn't fear his wrath?
"Sometimes, ignorance is useful for grasping the truth."
But Lee Taeseong calmly withstood Jo Seonghak's rage. Lee Taeseong was blessed with heavenly talent—a true golden child. While Jo Seonghak had clawed his way up by shedding blood to defy his fate, backed by his own gifts, Lee Taeseong matched him effortlessly, without a drop of sweat.
Without any practice, even while indulging in drink and gambling every day. His level was equal to Jo Seonghak's.
"But why do you treat me as an enemy?"
Lee Taeseong's eyes narrowed. He dropped his gaze slightly, as if a blade were at his throat, then smiled slyly and pointed across the table with a finger.
Gazing calmly at the five traitors there, he spoke.
"Aren't they the ones who must die, my lord?"
"Okay! Okay! Cut!!! That's a wrap here."
The moment Lee Taeseong's line ended, Director Yoon Seongbin, who had been waiting for the pause, gave the okay sign.
"Great work, everyone! Great work!"
Kim Donghu, as if the intense acting had all been a lie, flashed a friendly smile like nothing had happened and bowed in greeting.
"Sorry I should've greeted you first. I'm Kim Donghu, playing Lee Taeseong. Looking forward to working with you all!"
Everyone was dumbfounded by the sight.
Where'd that scary kid from a second ago go?
Isn't his emotional switch way too fast?
Real monsters always have a screw loose somewhere...
It was the moment when they started to understand why Kim Donghu was called a box-office guarantee check.
Anyway, after a short break,
"Great work!"
"You all did amazing!"
They successfully wrapped the rest of the script reading. They had planned a quick interview afterward, but
"...Something urgent came up, so we'll end here for today. Sorry."
"I've got something too, so... next time. Apologies."
The actors scattered like they'd planned it, as if fleeing.
Only two remained: Kim Donghu and Jang Geonho, chatting amiably at the table.
"If you keep blowing up the reading like this, it'll be a problem."
"Pardon?"
"Don't play dumb. When you act like that, everyone else wants to up their game."
Jang Geonho chuckled, looking at Kim Donghu.
Whenever this kid acts, everyone realizes, 'Ah, was my analysis lacking?'
That's why they all bolted. They wanted to dive back into the script right away, to do better.
More precisely, to flail desperately. If this had been an actual shoot instead of a reading,
They'd all be eaten alive by Donghu's performance.
Lead? Supporting? What did it matter? The instant Kim Donghu acted, everyone became his backdrop. To survive, they had no choice but to struggle fiercely.
Me, I'm fine since I don't clash much with Donghu this time.
But for folks like Joo Seonghwan and Jin Yuseong, who had to go head-to-head with him, their resolve would be something else.
He's already shown it once.
To avoid being devoured, they had to get better. Obviously.
"So you held back even in this reading?"
"Huh? Ah... Yeah, somewhat."
"Heh, so you'll be even better on set?"
"...Yes."
It was an embarrassed reply, but Kim Donghu nodded.
"Damn... Guess I need to head out and work harder too."
Jang Geonho stood up immediately after hearing that.
Can't let my guard down, or I'll get eaten too.
Working with Donghu had clear pros and cons. The pro was guaranteed success at the box office. The con, obviously,
was having to claw for survival as an actor.
It was exhausting.
+++++
After the script reading, my schedule was wide open. About a month until the first shoot, and I didn't have much to do in the meantime. Immerse myself in the script to keep the character's vitality alive, steady workouts to hone my boxing instincts.
And finally,
Reading Chairman Edward Park's earnest message, I'd practice piano now and then. Otherwise, I was totally relaxed.
Come to think of it, my scenes are pretty late in the shooting order.
I didn't appear in Act 1 at all, only from Act 2 onward. They wouldn't shoot in sequence, of course, but given the schedule, I probably wouldn't start from day one.
Time flew by like that, into October. I was on the cusp of turning 18.
"What?!"
The moment I got that text, I called Kang Sangi right away.
Ring ring ring. Click.
-H-Hello?
"Dude, the game's done?! I'm coming right now! Where do I go?!"
-J-Just come to my place.
"Got it! On my way!"
What kind of game had he made?
He said it was a party game.
Wondering what that meant, I rushed straight to Kang Sangi's house. Since I'd been there once before, it was easy to find.
"Oh, Donghu, you got here fast!"
"Hello!"
"Thanks for coming."
"No, thank you for inviting me."
After a warm exchange with his mom, I opened the door to Kang Sangi's room.
And there...
"...Whoa, how many computers is that?"
"Y-You invested in them, so..."
A cutting-edge 21st-century game dev setup filled the room. The genius developer title wasn't for show. With just the funding, he'd turned his room into a full-fledged studio.
But whatever, that's not the point.
Dev time: about two years. Short, but the investment made a demo possible already.
"Th-The art's mine too, gonna hire people later for that."
Firing up the game first thing, a cute character popped up. Inspired by a chick, maybe? Adorably yellow.
"What's its name?"
"Ah, Ari."
"Ooh... Ari, huh. Controls?"
"K-Keyboard and mouse, like regular FPS."
"Gotcha."
Time to play.
What'd he make?
Party game—board game style? But could you play that solo?
Maybe with AI companions.
With those questions, I started the game.
What appeared first on screen:
THUD!THUD!THUD!
A ridiculously huge giant.
"...?"
Not a board game?
What the hell?
Puzzled, I moved Ari.
Slash!
Before I could even act, the giant stomped Ari flat.
『 YOU DIE 』
"...Sangi?"
At my demanding explanation, Kang Sangi grinned and replied.
"M-Multiplayer... gets easier if you clear it... y'know, that kind of thing."
So you'd made a Dark Souls-like that gets easier with multiplayer clears?
And the character is a chick?
What the hell had you made?