Demon at Dusk
How much time did I have left on my contract? The extras' roles were straightforward. Their titles said it all—Slave 1, Trampled to Death—and their parts were just as obvious. Extra Kim Hansu reminded himself of his role and glanced sideways.
Slash!
There was his wife, writhing in agony with her arm severed. Well, they were connected that way in the script, but watching her thrash around made him ache a little too.
I know it's just a prop, but damn, it's brutal.
Kim Hansu was a veteran extra who'd played bit parts all over. He knew fake swords weren't dangerous. They were just kid-friendly toys dressed up to look sharp. They were supposed to be.
Why does this one feel like the real deal?
In Kim Donghu's hand, it gleamed with a chilling edge, like it had sliced through countless lives. That razor-sharp gaze slowly bore down on him, pressing like he was drowning. Ridiculously, it felt like Kim Donghu truly held his life in his hands.
Then, suddenly—
Click.
The pressure vanished. Like a man surfacing from water, gasping for air, Kim Hansu instinctively lifted his head.
"Hngh...!"
There stood Kim Donghu, his face pristine without a drop of blood, staring down with a creepy grin.
"Still, it's only right to watch your kid go first. That's heaven's law, isn't it?"
Kim Donghu—no, Lee Taeseong—nodded toward the side with evident delight. There lay his own child, butchered in gruesome fashion. In that brief moment, something unimaginable had happened. The kid was drenched in blood.
"...!"
Leaving the genuinely shocked Kim Hansu behind, as if no time remained—
"I'll miss the firewood you fetch."
Lee Taeseong blindfolded Extra Kim Hansu and drew the blade across his throat at the perfect camera angle.
"Cut! Perfect!"
The director's call rang out immediately. Yoon Seongbin inwardly applauded Kim Donghu's performance, a first for him.
No way it's this good?
He'd heard the rumors, seen the movies and dramas, but this was beyond expectation. Even during script readings, he'd sensed something off the charts.
But dominating the whole set like this? No clue.
Just seventeen, with tons of growth ahead.
Height's a bit over 180cm, right?
His visuals were already near perfection. No amount of praise for his looks would suffice, and now this acting?
The costume fits like a glove too.
A pure white overcoat and a single sword to evoke a debauched young master. It captured the vibe perfectly. The slightly loosened topknot amplified the rogueish charm. But his princely face created an imbalance that oozed massive appeal.
This'll shatter hearts in theaters.
The theater buzz was already palpable. Yoon Seongbin demanded reshoots for even better shots.
Zero NGs too.
He was so meticulous that the extras, doing fine work, started looking awkward by comparison. Kim Donghu alone seemed like he'd stepped out of Joseon era; the rest were time-traveling foreigners. And scarier still, he got better with every take. Lee Taeseong was emerging more vividly each time.
Yoon Seongbin consulted the staff, proceeding amid constant awe.
"...That's a prop sword, right?"
"Yeah, checked it a bunch. Definitely a prop."
Sword scenes required repeated edge checks. He wielded it so convincingly sharp.
"...Did he just cut that rope with the prop?"
"Uh... maybe it was old and frayed?"
"Right? Yeah. Swap the rope and do two or three more."
How many takes later?
"Sun's setting."
"Yeah, natural light's key for the vibe."
"Gotta wrap for today then."
Regret lingered as they prepped the final shot. Whoosh.
Sunset glow bathed the set like divine intervention.
Oh, whoa?
Indescribable. Yoon Seongbin instinctively lit a bonfire nearby. Embers mingled with the sunset, scattering like petals.
Whirr.
Cameras rolled naturally.
"The night feels lonely. Thought some candy might chase it away."
As if possessed, Kim Donghu's ad-lib began—like he'd waited for this moment. No, it wasn't Kim Donghu anymore. His ember-tinged coat turned blood-red with each swing, like splattering gore. His loosened topknot unraveled as he killed the slave, sweeping back his hair in irritation.
"...Hmph."
Yoon Seongbin swallowed his gasp. The sunset-clad rogue, Lee Taeseong, had materialized right there.
As dusk fell and shooting wrapped—
"Donghu, you killed it!"
Seokho hyung bounded over like he'd been waiting.
"Man, so many takes and zero NGs!"
"Hyung, people are around. Tone it down—they'll hear."
"R-Right? Too much? Honestly, I think a little bragging's fine..."
He was dying to boast about me. Seokho hyung lowered his voice and handed over a water bottle.
"Heard lemon-ginger tea's good for winter. Brewed it myself."
"...Hyung, people'll think you're my manager."
"I am your manager. We started as a one-man agency, remember?"
Undeterred, Seokho hyung unscrewed the thermos and poured.
"Strictly speaking, you're the boss. Our shares, right?"
I sighed at his whisper.
Told him minors can't yet.
Wait till I'm adult, I'd said. But Seokho hyung already saw himself as salaried CEO—shares or not!
Something about growing under you makes you the boss.
Recalling his dizzying logic, I sipped the tea.
"Tastes good."
"Right? Let's grab dinner nearby. Traffic'll suck anyway."
"Sure, but what's Gyeongnam famous for?"
"Oysters? Oyster gukbap? You eat oysters, Donghu?"
"I eat anything."
Chatting as we headed to the van—
"I know oyster gukbap too. Mind if I join?"
Someone butt in.
"J-Jin Yuseong?!"
Seokho hyung's shock made me turn. Ah, right—he was here.
Forgot amid shooting. Came to visit.
His presence was so low-key, I'd thought he'd left.
"My manager ditched me. How about oyster gukbap then Seoul?"
His obvious lie flowed naturally as he matched our pace.
Gonna refuse?
Jin Yuseong sunbaenim invites us—how?)
True.
We exchanged glances, nodding before awkwardness set in.
"Of course, no problem."
But why so sudden? No clue.
Back when theater troupe Bulkkot was all the rage—
—Gotta switch agencies.
—Huh? Agency?
I met Seo Jinu, who wore his pilot cap everywhere from the role.
—Yeah.
—Sudden much?
Sudden nest-swap stunned Jin Yuseong. Jinu was quirky, but this?
Yet Jinu continued earnestly.
—Not sudden. Contract's almost up.
—Where to?
—Uh... BeRitas?
—BeRitas? Where's that?
—They got our maknae.
—Maknae? Who? Kim Donghu?
—Yeah.
—Switching just 'cause of him? That's way over the line.
Actors like Seo Jinu didn't jump ship lightly. They weighed offers: signing bonuses, perks, conveniences. Not "following a friend to Gangnam."
Jinu shrugged.
—Feels good sticking by him.
—Good vibes?
—Did the pilot role, and... things just flow smoothly.
—That instinct again? Beast senses or whatever? Hyung, no.
—Watch him act once, work with him. You'll get it.
That old chat replayed in Jin Yuseong's mind. Now he understood why Jinu hyung said it, praised him endlessly.
One glimpse showed ten talents.
Beyond acting... always bowing to extras, that character...
Kim Donghu showed all ten. Jinu hyung's words clicked. With this actor, that manager's care, a hit streak never failing—
How much time left on my contract?
Then—
"...Hyung, why'd Jin Yuseong sunbaenim order gukbap but not eat?"
"R-Really? Hates hot stuff?"
Kim Donghu and Choi Seokho ate cautiously, stealing glances.
"Aigoo, such handsome lads! Wait, this young fella looks familiar..."
The server lady's eye candy was a bonus.