Chapter 12: That’s Not How You Throw It (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 12: That’s Not How You Throw It (3)
While the young male and female leads were busy building a wholesome bond, a group of mysterious assassins was supposed to attack, only to be repelled by the maid-warrior, Yeon Si-ho.
PD Jang Hyun-soo decided to film that scene today.
This was because the action team had nothing left to teach Lee Yu-jin.
Standing before the camera, Jang Hyun-soo gestured animatedly as he explained the scene to her.
“…So, once the attackers are all fleeing, you throw the Haeju Sword to finish one off. You don’t actually have to hit them, of course. Just give us a dynamic pose that makes it look that way on camera.”
Jang Hyun-soo demonstrated the rehearsal himself, moving his body to show the flow. He didn’t miss the slight tilt of Lee Yu-jin’s head and immediately asked, “Do you have something to say? Don’t keep it bottled up; let’s hear it.”
Is she going to suggest a shot where her face is revealed while throwing the sword? I bet Yu-jin thinks that would look cooler, too.
However, the moment Lee Yu-jin opened her mouth, his expectations were shattered.
“Why would I throw the Haeju Sword?”
“Well, they’re all running away, so if you want to catch them without leaving the side of the person you’re guarding…”
“It’s strange to throw the Haeju Sword when there might be other attackers lying in wait. It would be one thing if I were throwing a sword I’d snatched from an enemy.”
During practice earlier, Yu-jin had shown them a move where she disarmed an opponent and used their weapon.
But PD Jang Hyun-soo had forbidden it.
The ornate Haeju Sword used by the maid-warrior Yeon Si-ho was a crucial plot device, and he wanted to maximize its visual impact. There were also safety concerns.
Jang Hyun-soo hesitated. “No, I mean, still… the scene where you throw the sword to take one down is dynamic and cool…”
“Won’t the viewers think she’s a brainless bodyguard for throwing away her only weapon when there might be more attackers?”
“Oh, come on. No one thinks that deeply. It just needs to look cool in the moment.”
“Throwing your weapon just because you’re excited is a recipe for disaster… but fine. I get it. This is a drama, after all.”
Jang Hyun-soo breathed a sigh of relief and checked the footage the action team had recorded earlier.
Wow, look at that jumping power. With a physique like that, shouldn’t she be a national athlete?
Jang Hyun-soo called the action director over and asked quietly, “Director Hwang, what do you think of her athletic nerves?”
“The Korean sports world has lost a legend.”
“That much?”
“It’s absurd talent. It’s on par with her visuals—no, it might even surpass them.”
“If it’s on the same tier as her face, then her athleticism is just on a different level entirely.”
“Honestly, I’d love to spar with her in Jiu-Jitsu. I’d never do it, though, because I don’t want people thinking I’m a creep.”
The action Yu-jin had originally shown was so killer it could have been used immediately.
However, Jang Hyun-soo requested a slightly more static level of action. It was to maintain a consistent tone for the early parts of the show.
“Alright, everyone, we’re going in! Roll sound!”
The two child actors and Lee Yu-jin took their positions.
Standing silently behind her veil, Lee Yu-jin exuded an aura that suggested a profound, hidden past. Everyone on set could feel the gaze of the crew shifting toward Yu-jin rather than the two child actors.
Only the camera remained focused on the children.
“Ready, action!”
The cameras began to roll.
The two child actors walked along, laughing brightly and teasing each other playfully.
Lee Yu-jin followed silently behind them, maintaining a strict, unwavering distance. The camera followed the children closely.
However, Jang Hyun-soo found himself unconsciously tracking Yu-jin’s profile off-camera.
Look at that atmosphere.
Who would believe she was the same age as his own daughter?
Even though her face was hidden by a veil and she was merely walking in silence, she brought to mind a sharply honed spear.
Based on visuals alone, she suited a beautiful, ornate ceremonial sword. Yet, for some reason, Jang Hyun-soo kept thinking of an old, battered spear—one that had rolled through countless battlefields until its edge was chipped and blunt.
Finally, over a dozen attackers in black masks surrounded them.
“Kill the boy and take the Princess!”
“Yes, sir!”
Attacker 1, underestimating the maid, charged at her with confidence.
In the next instant, there was a flash of light, and the attacker’s sword went flying.
Wait, when did she draw her blade?
Jang Hyun-soo hadn’t even seen the moment Yu-jin drew her sword. At this rate, they wouldn’t even need to speed up the footage.
Yu-jin’s sword accurately slashed across Attacker 1’s chest. She cut only the blood pack attached to the protective plate, delivering almost zero impact to the stuntman.
As Attacker 1 fell with a scream, he was inwardly marvelling to the point of absurdity.
Whoa, she did that in one take?
“She’s no ordinary girl! Attack all at once!”
“Yes!”
Yu-jin had already stepped in front of the children. The attackers broke into a cold sweat, unable to find a single opening. As skilled martial artists, they hesitated, seeing no gap to exploit.
It was the timing to call a cut.
The camera director looked over, but Jang Hyun-soo watched with his arms crossed.
With expressions that screamed "to hell with it," Attackers 2, 3, and 4 charged simultaneously.
Yu-jin moved with a sliding grace, closing the distance in a few quick steps. She slipped between the attackers' blades and delivered light, precise thrusts to their chests.
The moment the blood packs under their clothes burst, spraying droplets toward her, Yu-jin swung the scabbard in her left hand, parrying the blood away.
“…!”
In that moment, Jang Hyun-soo unconsciously pumped his fists.
It was a scene so perfect it left him speechless.
I hope we caught that properly.
Trusting that at least one of the twenty cameras had captured it, Jang Hyun-soo watched with bated breath.
Though they were following a pre-arranged choreography, Yu-jin moved with a fluid, seamless grace as she suppressed the attackers. There wasn't a hint of the awkwardness typical of actors who hadn't learned martial arts.
On the contrary, her refined control of the space and the way she lightly swung and thrust her sword exuded the aura of a master who had reached an unimaginable level of skill.
Maybe I should have included the triple axel after all? No, I should save that for later. It’s too early to reveal that in the first episode.
“Retreat! Retreat!”
“Fall back! Fall back!”
Leaving their fallen comrades behind, the attackers began a frantic escape.
Yu-jin gripped the hilt of her sword in a reverse hold and drew her entire body back like a taut bowstring. Even though her legs were hidden by her voluminous skirt, one could see her entire frame gathering explosive power, like a composite bow made of water buffalo horn.
With an explosive motion reminiscent of a champion javelin thrower, Yu-jin hurled the sword with all her might.
The sword flew toward a man-shaped wooden target positioned quite a distance away from the fleeing attackers.
After tracing a beautiful arc like a tank shell over a distance of more than ten meters, it pierced the wooden target exactly in the crotch.
“…!”
Jang Hyun-soo flinched.
It wasn't just him; every other man on set winced in sympathetic pain for the wooden target.
The camera director nudged him to give the signal, and only then did Jang Hyun-soo snap out of it and shout.
“Cut! Cut! Great, great! Good job, everyone!”
“Good job!”
“Well done!”
Ignoring the feedback for a moment, Jang Hyun-soo dashed toward the wooden target. His jaw dropped in shock.
“Holy…”
“Wow, is this even possible?”
Action Director Hwang Tae-jin, who had followed him, clicked his tongue in disbelief.
It was a blunt prop sword with no edge at all, yet it was buried so deep that the hilt was flush against the wood. Even if the wooden target was thin, this was insane.
“Lee Yu-jin, your strength is no joke. The way that sword flew like a missile… wow.”
“I guess we won’t be needing a stunt double, right?”
“Not at all. If anything, our stunts should be taking lessons from her.”
Normally, they would do their best to set the action poses, film from various angles, and use a double for scenes that just didn't look right without showing the actor's face.
But with Lee Yu-jin, there was no need for any of that.
“Yu-jin’s form looks much better anyway, so let’s only use a double for the truly dangerous stuff later.”
“I agree. Man, look how deep this sword is buried.”
“She looks so delicate, but her strength is truly terrifying.”
*
“Good job, sweetie. Here, have some water.”
“What about a Coke?”
“Do you really want to drink Coke here after telling the other child actors' moms all that stuff about skin care the other day?”
“Ah, right.”
Regret washed over me, but I obediently drank the water my mom gave me.
I could see the flickering flames of a desire to praise me in my mom’s eyes. But she was likely holding it back, considering my position as a rookie in front of others. That was just her personality.
‘I know my daughter is beautiful and talented, and the heavens and the whole world know it too, so is there any need to make a show of it in front of others? It’s better to stay dignified.’
That was her way of thinking.
Jang Ji-hye made a fuss in a low voice so only we could hear.
“Yu-jin, you were seriously amazing. How long did you study swordsmanship?”
“I just dabbled for a month or two.”
“Whoa, really? That’s incredible. You’re really a natural at both visuals and sports, aren’t you?”
“I’m usually weak at things involving the head, but I’m okay with things involving the body.”
“Do you realize? Everyone was staring at you like they were possessed.”
“Were you looking at other people instead of me?”
“Huh? Is that how it sounds? Hehehe.”
I felt embarrassed by the gazes coming from all directions.
Whether it was a perk of reincarnation or not, my hearing was as good as my physical strength, so I could hear most of what they were saying.
I was already grateful to be living in a peaceful era where I didn't have to go to war, but I offered a silent prayer of thanks to the divine being on the deck of the Panokseon for giving me such superior physical stats.
It would have been better if I’d been born a man, though…
It looked like I wouldn't be starting a family in this life either. Still, it was nice to think I might actually make it past twenty for the first time.
“Actress Lee Yu-jin, the PD wants to see you.”
“Okay.”
Is it my turn now?
I walked over, clutching the prop Haeju Sword.
In front of the monitor, the PD and the writer were talking with very serious expressions, but they welcomed me warmly when I arrived.
“I don’t really have any feedback for you, Yu-jin. You did far better than I imagined. Just keep doing exactly what you’re doing.”
“Understood. Thank you.”
“But our Writer Jung has something she really wants to say…”
“Yes, please go ahead.”
Writer Jung Yoon-ah looked bashful as she nudged PD Jang Hyun-soo.
“PD-nim, that thing. Show her that thing first.”
“Ah, right. I should show her that.”
PD Jang Hyun-soo showed me a portion of the filmed scene. It wasn't me, but the expression of the child actor, Jang Dong-hyun.
His face shifted moment by moment—from fear to surprise, then to wonder, and finally to a sort of bashful embarrassment.
Being a child actor is no joke. How can his emotional expression be so multifaceted?
I was simply impressed by the vivid changes in his expression. I was glad I wore the veil; I could never pull off acting like that.
“This is the change in Dong-hyun’s—I mean, the young male lead’s—expression when he looks at Yeon Si-ho. What do you think?”
“He’s a good actor.”
“Is that all?”
“His expressions are very rich. He’s a child actor for a reason.”
“…”
“…”
Both the PD and the writer were silent for a moment. Then, Jung Yoon-ah spoke up cautiously.
“Seeing Dong-hyun’s expression gave me an idea. What if the male lead, having received such impressive help as a child, unconsciously develops feelings for Yeon Si-ho? Then, as they get older and their lives intertwine, he slowly realizes those feelings.”
“Pardon?”
“Not a full-blown love triangle, but just adding a hint of triangle vibes to let the audience imagine it. I’m thinking of tweaking the development a bit. What do you think?”
I refused without a second thought.
“I’ll have to pass. Absolutely not.”
“Don’t be like that, I think it’ll be fun. Just think about it one more time… I’ll write your lines really, really well, okay?”
No, what on earth are you talking about?
Me in a love triangle with a man? Ugh!
There was absolutely no mention of such a setting in the PD’s initial explanation.
I’m not even showing my face, so what ‘triangle vibes’? No, no—before that, why does my character have to get involved with a man like that?
Just thinking about it made my skin crawl.
I’d rather be reincarnated all over again than try to portray a fresh, sweet, soft atmosphere with a male actor.
“That’s a shame. But if you change your mind, let me know anytime. My script is always open for you, Yu-jin.”
“Rest assured, that will never happen.”
Suddenly feeling a gaze, I turned around. Jang Dong-hyun, the child actor who had been staring at me, quickly looked away. It felt like I’d caught him peeking.
*
A member of the field staff was packing up equipment when they spotted a familiar silhouette.
“Oh? Actress Yoon Se-rang? You don’t have a shoot today; what brings you here?”
“I forgot something and came to find it. But I can’t quite remember where I left it.”
“Shall I help you look?”
“No, it’s fine. I’ll look around slowly. By the way…”
Yoon Se-rang licked her lips slightly and asked cautiously.
“I saw Writer Jung Yoon-ah’s car in the parking lot…”
“Ah, yes. That’s right. For some reason, the writer came to watch the filming in person today.”
After parting ways with the staff member with a smile, Yoon Se-rang muttered under her breath.
“She never once came to watch when I was filming.”