Chapter 223
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 223
Chapter Title: A Hollywood Gosa
-----------------------------------------------------------------
November 2nd.
It was the first day of filming for *Shadowman 3*.
Leaving his lodgings for the first shoot, Seojun got into the car with Seo Eunhye.
“Good morning.”
The bodyguard in the driver’s seat greeted them with a smile. Recognizing the familiar face, Seojun and Seo Eunhye smiled back warmly.
“We’re counting on you today.”
“Don’t you worry. I’m the best driver on the security team.”
The bodyguard conveniently left out the fact that there had been quite the competition over who would get to drive Seojun’s car. Humming to himself, he started the engine.
Seojun, who had sat down and fastened his seatbelt, glanced at the driver’s seat. It felt strange not seeing An Daho there as usual.
“It feels weird without Daho hyung.”
This was especially true for filming days, when An Daho was always with him.
“He’s busy preparing for the gosa ceremony with the Kings Agency staff, so it can’t be helped.”
“I knew Daho hyung was preparing for the gosa, but he’s doing it with the agency staff? Do they know what a gosa is?”
At Seojun’s question, Seo Eunhye answered with a smile.
“Nara said they held a gosa every time they opened a new Kings Market branch. It’s something her grandfather insisted on. Since they used to work at Kings Market, they’ve seen it a few times.”
“I see.”
Besides, with Korean employees at Kings Agency, the preparations would have been easier.
“A gosa. I wonder if many people will come.”
Today’s shoot wasn’t until the afternoon. A simple gosa ceremony was scheduled to be held at the film set in the morning.
“I don’t know. We told anyone who was interested to come. I don’t think that many people will show up, though.”
“Right?”
Richel and Evan might have become curious about various Korean things while learning the language, but others might not be as interested.
A short while later.
Arriving at the film set, Seojun and Seo Eunhye’s eyes widened.
“…There are a lot of people.”
Far more people than they had expected were gathered at the set.
* * *
An Daho, having been contacted by the bodyguard, entered the film set with Seojun and Seo Eunhye.
In one corner of the set, a folding screen and a gosa table—sights he never expected to see in the United States—were prepared. Steamed rice cakes and fruits were neatly arranged on the table.
The preparations seemed complete, as staff members were busy taking pictures with expressions full of curiosity.
“Daho hyung. Is everything ready?”
“Yeah.”
Despite having meticulously asked several directors for advice, An Daho, still feeling awkward, reread the gosa procedure he had written down.
“Seojun, you’ll read the prayer text. A Kings Agency employee will interpret right after, so pause briefly between sentences.”
“Okay.”
“I’ll be the MC, and I’ll also be the one to burn the prayer text.”
He had even practiced diligently in the parking lot of their lodgings. Seojun nodded at An Daho’s words. Seo Eunhye added.
“They probably don’t know how to bow properly, so Seojun and Daho should go first.”
Seojun and An Daho agreed.
“But is there no pig’s head?”
Isn’t that the most important part? As Seojun tilted his head, An Daho laughed.
“Richel said she’s bringing it.”
“…A pig’s head?”
“It’s a doll!”
Suddenly, a pink pig snout was thrust before Seojun’s eyes. Seojun blinked at the snout, which looked soft and squishy.
Rolling his eyes, he could see the pig doll’s eyes and ears. He looked up at the person holding it.
Richel Hill was beaming.
“Richel! You’re here?”
“I came with Evan and Mr. Swalin.”
Behind Richel Hill stood Evan Block and Swalin Anum. Seojun smiled brightly.
While Seojun was talking with the two, Richel Hill placed the pig doll in the center of the gosa table, just as she had seen in N-tube videos.
The staff members who were taking pictures tilted their heads.
“What’s that pig doll on the table?”
“I know, right? A decoration?”
A passing Kings Agency employee smiled and answered their question.
“Originally, you’re supposed to place a pig’s head there.”
“…A pig’s head?”
Unable to picture it, the staff members tilted their heads. A few even searched for it online. The search results showed images of gosa tables.
It was a real pig’s head.
The Kings Agency employee chuckled at the dumbfounded looks on the staff’s faces and continued.
“Usually, it’s a smiling pig’s head, but that seemed too ‘Korean-style,’ and we thought the other staff might feel uncomfortable, so we replaced it with a doll.”
“…Good call.”
If they had seen the real thing… The staff shook their heads.
In the photos, the pig was smiling cheerfully.
* * *
A moment later.
An Daho raised his voice.
“We will now begin the gosa ceremony. Some parts will be conducted in Korean. We ask for your understanding.”
Those participating in the ceremony gathered at the front.
Richel Hill and Evan Block came forward with excited expressions. Director Ryan Will and Assistant Director Jonathan Will also stood at the front, looking half-curious. Dr. Pailan from Marine Company moved forward. In addition, other staff members who had no reservations about bowing also gathered.
“I never thought I’d be doing this here…”
Stuntman Kim Jaeyeon also stood at the front, scratching his cheek.
The other stuntmen and the martial arts director, who had heard the explanation from Kim Jaeyeon and were more concerned about safety than anyone, each with a superstition or two of their own, also moved forward.
As Seojun, who would be the first to bow and read the prayer text, stood at the front, the slightly excited atmosphere calmed down.
[The (Good) Orc Priest’s Prayer - Intermediate is activated.]
[The ritual begins.]
[(Good) Orc Priest’s Prayer - Intermediate]
A prayer offered to the gods before battle with an enemy.
The ritual procedure (lighting incense > prayer > lighting a fire) must be followed.
Depending on the number of participants, concentration, mental strength, and healing power will increase during battle.
Prayer Participants: 0
Duration: 4 months
The prayer of the orcs, who offered rituals with the skull of their greatest ancestor on the altar.
It was an ability that enhanced concentration to dodge enemy attacks, mental strength to make correct judgments without getting agitated, and healing power to recover quickly even if injured.
It would be highly useful during filming.
Seojun, who had found the perfect ability and was smiling with satisfaction, briefly rolled his eyes and looked at the ‘ancestor’s skull’ on the gosa table.
‘…A pig doll should be fine, right?’
It wasn’t a condition for the ability, and seeing as it activated properly, it probably didn’t matter. But looking at the smiling pig doll with its rosy cheeks gave him a strange, uneasy feeling.
‘Should I have asked Heesang samchon?’
No. That would have resulted in a real orc head.
While Seojun was feeling conflicted looking at the cute pig doll, An Daho lit the candles on the gosa table. Then he lit the incense in front of them. White smoke rose from the tip of the incense.
Ooh.
The people, who had let out gasps of admiration without realizing it, held their breath.
After offering the incense, An Daho immediately bowed three times.
‘Please let Seojun film safely throughout this shoot.’
He didn’t care if it was a superstition. An Daho prayed with all his heart.
The sight of a manager bowing with all his heart for his actor captivated everyone’s attention. The minds of those who had been treating it as a special event began to settle down.
[Prayer Participants: 1]
The (Good) Orc Priest’s Prayer - Intermediate, the smoke from the incense, and An Daho’s bow all came together. It felt as if a heavy energy had descended upon the film set.
After bowing, An Daho stepped back, and Seojun stood before the gosa table.
‘Please let the filming end without anyone getting hurt.’
[Prayer Participants: 2]
An Daho handed the prayer text to Seojun, who had just bowed three times. Korean characters were written with a black brush pen on a piece of pristine white paper that would burn easily.
“November 2nd.”
Seojun opened his mouth. The eyes of everyone, who had been swallowing nervously in the unexpectedly solemn atmosphere, gathered on him.
“Director Ryan Will of the film *Shadowman 3* and all participants present, we humbly report the filming of *Shadowman 3* to the spirits of heaven and earth.”
Seojun’s calm voice resonated, followed by the voice of the Kings Agency employee. Everyone held their breath at the prayer, which had been translated with similar words.
“Oh, spirits of heaven and earth.”
A strange aura spread from the priest’s body.
“We beseech you to look upon our film, *Shadowman 3*, and protect the set from all evil spirits and demons during the production period, and let the filming conclude without any accidents.”
His voice was deep and resolute, like that of a soldier preparing for battle.
“May the film *Shadowman 3*, which we will create with all our heart and soul, achieve phenomenal success from its opening day and become a masterpiece that will be remembered throughout history.”
His voice was one that savored the glory to come after the battle was over. Just hearing it made people’s hearts stir with an excitement that felt as if that glory would truly come to pass.
“We earnestly hope that you will not find the food we have prepared here to be lacking, and that you will accept it and respond to our humble sincerity.”
Somehow, it was reminiscent of the little shaman from *The Devil*.
“November 2nd. Director Ryan Will of the film *Shadowman 3* and all participants present.”
Seojun folded the prayer text he had read and stood up.
“Now, those who wish to bow, please come forward.”
At An Daho’s words, Richel Hill, Evan Block, Director Ryan, and Assistant Director Jonathan stood on the mat, their faces awkward but serious.
“I practiced, but I’m nervous.”
“It’s three times, right?”
“Yes. Just do it comfortably.”
At Seojun’s words, the four of them let out a breath. Seo Eunhye, noticing their worried expressions, smiled and said.
“Should I join you?”
“Yes!”
Seo Eunhye chuckled softly at their delighted reaction. Standing next to Jonathan Will, she bowed, and the four of them followed her timing.
‘Please let us finish this well.’
Director Ryan Will, on the verge of the final shoot for a series he had dreamed of for so long, prayed with all his heart.
Somehow, just praying like this seemed to calm his mind, which had been a mess of worry and anticipation.
[Prayer Participants: 3]
‘May everyone finish safely, without a single injury.’
Thinking of their stuntmen, Swalin Anum and Evan Block prayed, while Richel Hill and Seo Eunhye prayed for the safety of their sons and acquaintances.
[Prayer Participants: 7]
‘Please let it be a good movie.’
He prayed that his uncle’s dream would come true.
[Prayer Participants: 8]
Watching the five of them bow, Seojun had to struggle to hold back a burst of laughter. Praying sincerely was all well and good, but all four of them couldn't get the timing right to stand up for the second bow. The way they fidgeted and glanced around was exactly like Eunsu during New Year’s.
After bowing three times, the five of them cleared the space, and this time, Dr. Pailan and the Marine Company employees bowed. Everyone watched Dr. Pailan with rapt attention.
[Prayer Participants: 16]
Next, it was the stuntmen’s turn. Kim Jaeyeon bowed awkwardly under the gazes coming from all directions. Finally, the staff and the Kings Agency employees also bowed.
[Prayer Participants: 43]
Forty-three people.
It seemed there were others who had prayed along while standing around and watching, besides those who had bowed.
‘This should be good enough, right?’
Seojun smiled with satisfaction.
The final step was to burn the prayer text. An Daho, who had cleared the surrounding area to prevent a fire, held the prayer text and a lighter in his hand.
“Now, I will burn the prayer text.”
Seojun watched as the edge of the text caught fire. As the red flame flared up, a notification appeared.
[The ritual is complete.]
[The (Good) Orc Priest’s Prayer - Intermediate is activated.]
The fire on the prayer text instantly spread across the paper. While everyone was feeling a sense of wonder watching the text burn away, Seojun’s gaze was directed elsewhere.
Visible only to his eyes, an aura resembling the flames from the prayer text exploded out, enveloping the participants.
Seojun wore a satisfied smile as the aura flowed towards the stuntmen, who would be in the most danger during filming.
* * *
[Shadowman 3 Begins Filming!]
[Shadowman 3 Holds a Gosa Ceremony! “For Safety, Security, and Success!”]
[Shadowman 3 Swaps Pig’s Head for Pig Doll!]
[Marine Company Uploads Shadowman 3 Gosa Ceremony to N-tube!]
[What is this? A flood of ??? comments from foreigners!]
-…???
=Even as a Korean, I’m like, ‘???’ Why are you guys holding a gosa?
-Right? There aren’t even that many Koreans in Shadowman 3. How did they know about it?
-Was it Seojun?
=Nah, it was Richel Hill. It’s on her social media. She said she brought a pig doll instead of a pig’s head.
=How did Richel Hill even know about this…
=It was surprising enough that she learned Korean. But a gosa, lol.
=ㅋㅋㅋ A pig doll.
-But they’re all doing it so seriously.
=I know, right? Before the gosa started, it felt like a small event, but once it began, it got so solemn, haha.
=I felt solemn just watching it.
=I prayed too. Please let Shadowman 3 be a huge hit!
-Lee Seojun’s voice is so good.
=I second this. It gives me vibes from *The Devil*.
=If it’s the god from back then, he’d probably grant all of Seojun’s wishes.
=You want this? Here! This too? Of course! Wait! I think you might need this too… (rummages) This is good too, don’t you like it? Not this one, that one? Fine! Our Seojun can have it all! (a mountain of good things comes pouring down)
=lololol
-I wish he would come to our store’s gosa and read the prayer text, haha.
=The store would probably hit the jackpot for real.
#