Chapter 51
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 51
Chapter Title: Shadowman in Central Park
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Seojun appeared, having changed his clothes and finished with his makeup. Evan Block, who had already finished his preparations and was sitting in a chair reading a book, greeted him.
“Jun. You look a little taller than before, don't you?”
In response to Evan Block's question, Seojun sat down in a chair and took off his shoe to show him. They were sneakers with slightly thicker soles than usual.
“They said my arms and legs are long and my proportions are good, but they wanted to make me a bit taller. These add four centimeters. They’re really cushiony and comfortable too.”
“You look taller, and with your bangs swept back, you don't look as young.”
Unlike the cute and lovely William in a light blue outfit with blush on his cheeks, he looked like a completely different person in all-black clothes and slightly pale makeup.
“Where's your father?”
“He's working.”
Lee Minjun, sitting next to Evan Block's manager, was on the phone. Whenever he made eye contact with Seojun, he didn't forget to wave.
Seojun couldn't help but laugh, as he could almost hear Samchon Heesang's voice yelling at him not to forget the time difference between Korea and the US.
“Evan! Jun!”
Jonathan, now a high school student but still helping with Ryan Will's shoot, came looking for them.
*Does Jonathan hyung even study at all?* Seojun wondered as he watched Jonathan run over.
“They said rehearsal is about to start.”
“Really?”
“Let's go.”
Evan Block and Seojun stood up. At the same moment, cheers erupted from the onlookers. Unlike when they were sitting, the sight of the two actors standing was captivating.
The attention was particularly focused on Seojun.
-Saw Shadowman and William in Central Park. Can't wait for Shadowman 2!
-William's all grown up! How many years has it been?
-William got so big! What does he eat to grow like that?
The news from the US reached Korea. It was even big enough to become a news article.
[Shadowman 2 Begins Filming in Central Park!]
[How Tall Is the Grown-Up Actor Lee Seojun?]
[Is Your Child Average? Or Below? Ways to Grow Taller!]
-Wow. Looks like they're finally filming!
-Looking at the angel photo, he's a perfect hero.
-He really grew a lot lol. Then again, just watching his baby mukbangs, you could tell he'd eat well and grow up strong.
The main filming began.
Seojun searched the library. The Library of Evil contained many lives.
There were abilities that brought misfortune when things seemed to be going well, and others that made you feel like someone was watching you all day—perfect for developing a mental illness.
They were all terrifying abilities. Among them, Seojun searched for one that was moderately evil but didn't come with a curse.
‘Still, I'm glad I found a suitable one.’
However, he wouldn't be using [(Evil) The Melancholy Scent of a Solitary Flower] for this shoot.
[(Good) Baron Cat's Elegant Footsteps - Low Grade]
An elegant gait and a dignified posture become second nature.
You maintain proper posture without thinking.
Similar animals will find you charming.
Baron Cat was the first of his kind to receive the title of baron.
He was the pet of a noblewoman who taught etiquette, and when she taught him for fun, his elegance surpassed everyone else's, even earning applause from the queen.
As a result, the cat was granted the title of baron at the queen's discretion.
“Alright, let's start filming!”
Seojun took a deep breath in and out.
William's life, as he'd read in the script, flashed through his mind. A good, good boy.
Now was the time to exude that 'good smell' Director Ryan Will had talked about.
[Basic Elven Breathing is activated.]
The good energy at Seojun's core stirred to life as if it had found its world. The evil energy, overwhelmed by the movement, lay dormant.
-Ready,
Director Ryan Will's voice echoed. Hearing the voice, which seemed both distant and near, Seojun tapped his foot on the ground twice.
[(Good) Baron Cat's Elegant Footsteps is activated.]
Then, on the director's cue,
-Action!
He immersed himself in the role.
The boy was lost. In a place he had never been before, the lost child looked around at the Onassis Reservoir and its surroundings with a bewildered expression.
A pair of eyes watched the boy. It was Mac, who was working part-time as a guide in Central Park.
Wearing a guide's vest, Mac scanned the area before approaching the boy.
“Hey, kiddo.”
The boy looked up at the nearby voice.
Remembering his team leader's instruction to bring any lost children to the protection center, Mac bent down to meet the boy's eyes and said with a warm smile. *Whatever you do, don't make him cry!*
“Where are your parents?”
“They're at home.”
“Is your home in Manhattan?”
“No.”
At the boy's short answers, Mac scratched his cheek. Seeing that Mac showed no sign of leaving, the boy spoke up. A small smile appeared on his pale face.
“My family is coming for me. You can just go.”
“When are they supposed to come?”
The boy searched his memory. *I'll come get you when the sun goes down.* The casual voice of the woman he solely relied on came to mind.
From the way the boy searched his memory, Mac understood what 'aristocratic' meant. There was a certain dignity in the boy's every action.
“When the sun sets…”
“Oh.”
Mac took out his phone and checked the weather service website. In September, the sun didn't set until around 7 PM, and it was currently 1 PM, with the sun high overhead.
“You'll have to wait another six hours.”
A troubled look crossed the boy's face. Six hours. That was too long. Mac smiled, turned on his radio, and contacted his team leader. He spoke quietly so the boy wouldn't hear.
“I've got a lost kid here.”
-A lost kid? Bring him to the center.
“Instead of the center… can I just hang out with him? I won't leave Central Park.”
-You? Why?
“His family is coming at seven, and it'd be boring for him to be stuck at the center for six hours. My shift is about to end anyway.”
-Seven? Okay. Got it. Return the vest and radio after you've sent the kid home.
“Thank you!”
Mac grinned and trotted back to the boy.
“So, want to hang out with me until seven?”
After a moment of thought, the boy gave a slight nod.
-Cut! OK!
Director Ryan Will's voice rang out. As the camera stopped, Seojun quickly tapped his foot on the ground twice to prevent wasting his good energy. The rampant good energy subsided.
The benevolent atmosphere instantly became ordinary.
Evan Block, who had witnessed the change up close, widened his eyes. He was a firm believer that small actions and habits created a person's aura. That's why he always analyzed people and added details to his acting.
But Seojun Lee was different. He was just standing there, yet his aura changed in an instant, as if a switch had been flipped on and off.
*Is this what talent is?* Another note to add to his analysis of Seojun. Evan Block grinned.
One of the tourists watching the two actors film whispered to her friend, careful not to disturb the shoot.
“…That kid, I feel like I've seen him somewhere before?”
“Now that you mention it…”
As Emma furrowed her brow, trying to remember, the image of a brightly smiling child flashed through her mind.
“The picture you sent me!”
“What?”
Emma's friend searched her memory. It was a photo circulating online, so she didn't know who the child in it was. Looking at Seojun, the friend soon realized it too. The same gentle and kind feeling as the picture.
“I think you're right.”
“Wow.”
Emma clasped her hands together. If she ever got the chance to meet him, she wanted to be sure to thank him.
Next, it was time to film the scenes where the boy and Mac would get to know each other while exploring Central Park.
“Want to try hitting this?”
“Okay.”
At a baseball field within Central Park, Mac threw a ball, and the boy lightly hit it with a bat for a clean single.
Mac—no, Evan Block—was genuinely impressed. The baseball-loving staff members applauded sincerely after the shoot, saying, 'That was a perfect hit. If he had a little more power, it would've been a home run.'
“What's that?”
“It's a snow leopard.”
The boy often learned about the world and common knowledge with the expression of someone seeing it for the first time.
He seemed to be eating a hot dog for the first time and shuddered at the taste of a carbonated drink.
Mac simply thought, *Are all kids like this nowadays? I don't think I was,* but he diligently explained everything anyway.
A snow leopard, yawning languidly on a rock, made eye contact with Seojun just as they finished filming at the zoo.
Sniff, sniff. The snow leopard tilted its head and ambled toward Seojun. A large glass wall stood between them, but it didn't take its eyes off him.
“Looks like the snow leopard really likes you, Jun.”
At Evan Block's words, Seojun moved to the right. The snow leopard moved right along with him. When he moved left, the snow leopard followed. Everyone stared at the strange sight in amazement.
‘Hmm. Is it because of Baron Cat?’
Nodding, Seojun deactivated [(Good) Baron Cat's Elegant Footsteps]. The snow leopard sniffed a few more times, tilted its head, and then returned to its spot and yawned.
Throughout the entire shoot in Central Park, the two actors genuinely explored, talked, and enjoyed the sights.
Their enjoyment seemed to spread to others, making it feel less like a movie shoot and more like they were filming a promotional video for Central Park. Even the Central Park employee guiding the film crew asked if they could use the footage for a promotional video after the movie's release.
While filming was underway, posts began to appear online speculating whether Seojun Lee's role was that of a hero. Photos of the two actors surrounded by staff also surfaced.
During breaks between filming, Jonathan would summarize the posts circulating online and report them to Director Ryan Will.
“There are a lot of posts saying Jun looks like a hero. Many are also asking why William, who disappeared into a strange wormhole, is in Central Park. There are also comments saying he's grown so much and looks too different from how he was in Shadowman 1.”
“I see.”
Director Ryan Will nodded.
The filming in Central Park was also part of the promotion for *Shadowman 2*. The more crucial scenes for the movie were scheduled to be filmed on a secure set. The Central Park shoot ended on a friendly note.
“Jun. This.”
Jonathan showed a letter to Seojun, who was removing his makeup.
“Someone who said they're a fan of yours left it. It doesn't seem to be dangerous—we've already checked it. But we don't know what's inside, so would it be okay if we look at it first before giving it to you?”
Seojun told the cautious Jonathan that it was fine. Jonathan and the staff quickly headed to another tent.
Lee Minjun smiled. As a parent, he was happy to see everyone treating Seojun with such care.
The inspection was over quickly. Jonathan handed the neatly opened envelope to Seojun. The corners of his eyes were a little red.
“Here's the letter. They must be a real fan.”
Seojun unfolded the letter. Inside was writing that seemed rushed but was still neat.
The letter was from someone named Emma, who wrote that she had been suffering from depression and was able to pull through after seeing Seojun's photo.
She wrote that it wasn't an instant cure, but that one moment of clarity had given her hope, helping her through her treatment, and now she was even able to travel abroad. The letter ended by asking him to continue making many more movies.
“That's great!”
Seojun carefully placed the fan letter in his bag. It had been difficult, but if the photo had helped so many people, then it was all worth it.
Seojun and Lee Minjun, bags on their shoulders, headed outside to return to their accommodations.
“But they really recognized me. Dad, didn't I look completely different?”
Lee Minjun thought for a moment. Seojun in a pure white angel costume with a bright smile, and Seojun in all black, looking a little pale. Even as they filmed while wandering around Central Park, he had overheard snippets of conversation.
“You did look different, but some people recognized you right away. They were looking at the photo and asking each other if it was you.”
“Sigh. I see.”
*To be recognized even when I'm this much taller and have a different hairstyle. Just as Director Ryan said, that photo taken on Christmas Eve must have been really impactful.*
“Still.”
Seojun grinned. He couldn't help but smile at the reliable evil energy stirring within his core. His efforts had paid off.
“Once they see the movie to the end, they'll forget all about it!”
He planned to work hard to make that happen.
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