NOVEL NEXT Chapter 45
After the successful conclusion of the HyDream Special Concert,
As if to prove that success,
The internet was flooded with discussions about the HyDream Special Concert.
“Today’s famous quote, Kim Donghu says, ‘But why are you speaking informally to oppa?'”
“That’s not something a 15-year-old should say. What kind of idol are you?”
“If you’re going to say more than an idol, then you should say more, but it doesn’t seem like less at all.”
“The one who’s going to skyrocket is undeniably the swordsmanship master, Monki Garden.”
“Honestly, just looking at his face, it’s an insult to compare him to anyone else; he just turns everyone else into squids.”
“Kim Donghu, the squid manufacturer, really looked ridiculously handsome in person.”
The shocking remarks from the 15-year-old fan meeting propelled Kim Donghu to the top of the real-time search trends.
The sweet scent of love floating more than flowers, alongside his simply ridiculously handsome looks.
The synergy of these two elements was beyond imagination.
“I hope Kim Donghu debuts as an idol.”
“Don’t actors sing OSTs or something? Please let him do that and make it to a music show ㅠㅠ”
“The one who’s going to blow up is definitely the butterfly tap master, right?”
“Does anyone know what Kim Donghu’s next project is? I’m seriously dying to see it.”
Given this situation, people focused on Kim Donghu’s next project.
The propellant that made his debut work [HyDream] achieve a 30.2% viewer rating.
Where will that dazzling explosive power burst next?
With everyone’s expectations high,
“Unnie, please save me just this once. Yeo Sujeong is just whining here early; I’m really in a hurry!”
There was a writer hoping for his next move.
“Hey, look at that guy; he’s got such bad manners. Isn’t it correct that I’m a rookie and he’s acting like this?”
“Senior? What do you mean senior? The performance in this industry defines a senior! My debut performance is better than yours!”
“What?! How can you say that in front of a heavenly unnie? You’re seriously insane!”
The writer Yeo Sujeong, preparing the historical drama [Eclipse], and Kwon Jaeho, the writer of [Swordman Baek Dong-su], who had a role vacancy due to a young actor’s injury, were at it.
‘How did it come to this?’
Writer Lee Minha momentarily recalled the past amidst the chaotic situation.
‘After watching [HyDream], Sujeong got so impressed, she came to me wanting to contact actor Donghu…’
And then, was it Jaeho who visited because he was worried about frequent actor injuries in historical dramas?
They both ended up visiting each other’s homes for completely different reasons and happened to run into each other,
‘As always, we ended up fighting like we desperately wanted to kill each other…’
Then suddenly, an injury occurred to Jaeho’s young actor, causing a real problem.
“First, relax. I’ve already said something, so everyone, stop fighting too much.”
“Don’t!”
“Wait, really?! The answer came?!”
“Sis, what about my answer?! My answer?!”
“If you both don’t chill out, I swear I won’t say a word from now on?”
At Lee Minha’s words, Yeo Sujeong and Kwon Jaeho found their mouths sealed shut.
Smiling at the long-awaited peace, Lee Minha opened her mouth again.
“Kim Donghu said he needs to review the script and make a judgment, so he asked for just a little more time.”
“Can’t I say I’m in a rush? My actor got injured, and I literally have no one! That guy is auditioning!”
“Don’t believe him, sis! It’s not even confirmed that he can step in!!! Do you think I don’t know the production team for swordsman Baek Dong-su is running around searching for talent?!”
“Then are we just going to pick anyone? Use your head, we need to be selective, you idiot!”
“W-What?! Did you just call me an idiot? I know that if the actor recovers from injury, we can shoot again!”
“Ha, you don’t get it, do you? Once they get hurt, they’re scared and freeze up!”
Kwon Jaeho was on the verge of losing his mind from this whole situation.
“I really need actor Kim Donghu!”
We need to shoot, the actor is injured, of course, Kwon Jaeho couldn’t help but feel frustrated and jumpy.
Even if they said they’d find someone immediately, from where?
The production team, including Kwon Jaeho, had searched everywhere, but finding child actors for historical dramas wasn’t easy.
And not just any historical drama.
They needed a child actor skilled in martial arts, especially swordplay, and such actors don’t just pop up out of nowhere, so they were thinking of training someone quickly.
“And if we’re training them anyway, it should be the best looking and most popular child actor, right?”
It would be great if Kim Donghu would agree to it; then they could eliminate all other candidates and definitely pick Kim Donghu.
“But how am I supposed to teach Kim Donghu swordplay?”
This is driving me crazy, seriously.
A skilled and handsome child actor? Is that asking too much?
Sigh.
Yeo Sujeong caught the hint of Kwon Jaeho’s deep sigh.
Objectively, it was true that Kwon Jaeho’s situation was serious.
But that’s that.
“Our [Eclipse] box office is important too, you know?”
This was another story.
Who would be willing to sacrifice their career as a writer?
Sigh.
Another sigh escaped as she didn’t want to lose Kim Donghu.
Watching the two historical drama writers’ woes and sighs,
“Sorry, but you two really make a perfect pair.”
Lee Minha secretly entertained thoughts she would never utter aloud.
+++++
“The weather is nice.”
The morning after the special concert by Haidream.
The morning after the special concert.
My daily life was more peaceful than ever.
Well, except for the fluttering banner at the school gate.
These days felt like a never-ending series of “Can I really be this happy?”
“But how did Ye-rim debut as a model?”
That got me unreasonably curious about those around me.
Staring.
“What, what is it? Why are you looking at me like that? It’s embarrassing.”
Did I unknowingly gaze at her?
Ye-rim’s face turned slightly red as she looked at me and smiled shyly.
“How could you call me a pee pants…”
“Hey! I told you not to say that! Honestly, he was there too back then, why did I get stuck with that nickname!”
Ye-rim suddenly popped up from her seat and poked Min-hyuk with her finger.
Min-hyuk bowed his head in apology, probably remembering that moment.
“I-I was just young back then.”
“I didn’t say anything, it was Ye-rim who said it, right Kang Sik?”
“Uh, uh… yeah, that’s right.”
“Let’s finish the notebook game, where did I leave off?”
“Do-Dong-ho got a 1 on the dice six times in a row, and now the planet is going down.”
“…Please let me buy some in-game items.”
The notebook game,
This thing really drives people insane.
While I was laughing and hanging out with my friends during the break…
> “Dong-ho, I got two scripts for the historical drama, can I drop them off right after school?”
> “If you’re okay with it, I thought it’d be nice to check the scripts in the van while we head to the office.”
> “If you have plans today, we can check them next time.”
I received a KakaoTalk from Seok-ho hyung.
“Two scripts for a historical drama.”
One would be [Swordmaster Baek Dong-su], and what’s the other one?
Of course, there was no need to think too deeply.
“Yes, that works.
I can check them myself.”
+++++
After school.
I spotted Seok-ho hyung’s van behind the school.
Drrr…
Somehow, the moment our eyes met, he opened the van door.
It made me wonder if managers really have some sort of sixth sense?
“Wow, your school’s security guard really sticks to the rules. If you hadn’t proven your identity, we might not have gotten in.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, I barely got in by using your parents’ connections. But is that why? I don’t see any outsiders wanting to meet you.”
So that was it.
“There’s someone protecting my daily life.”
Even if it was work-related, it must be tough to keep outsiders away.
“I should send them a gift later.”
Just as I had that thought, Seok-ho hyung continued.
“If he’s that great, I should definitely prepare something for him. Maybe some red ginseng or something.”
“If I’m really that grateful, I should definitely prepare something, right? Maybe I should throw in some ginseng.”
Did he read my mind? That thought crossed my mind.
Seok-ho hyung started driving with an obvious grin.
“The script under that window: the black one is for ‘Swordmaster Baek Dong-su,’ and the white one is for ‘Eclipse.'”
It seemed like the ‘Swordmaster Baek Dong-su’ script was in a hurry to find someone, and I had to learn swordsmanship on top of dealing with the role.
Listening to Seok-ho hyung’s explanation, I roughly guessed the situation.
‘It really looks just like what I saw in the future texts.’
For ‘Eclipse,’ I decided to check it later, but for now, I grabbed the ‘Swordmaster Baek Dong-su’ script, which needed a stand-in urgently.
How ironic is it that right after learning kendo from a hero, I get handed a script that requires sword fighting?
‘Swordmaster Baek Dong-su, B (grade adjustment in progress).’
Once again, a grade adjustment is happening at B.
Hyde Dream was at a similar level, so if I played my cards right, I could break through the 30% barrier once again.
‘I’m looking forward to it.’
The role I’d take on was,
‘Young Jawan, the rival of Swordmaster Baek Dong-su.’
Time to dive in.
++++++
Heaven’s Killing Star.
A star fated for death, destined to kill life.
The father who realized he was born under that fate tried to kill his own child.
But was it really that easy to take the life of a newborn?
The mother fought fiercely, and the child marked by the heavens lived on through her sacrifice.
As time went by, on a day when the child was becoming a boy,
“Father, did you really kill her?”
“Yeah.”
The boy learns that his father killed his mother.
“…You’re the Killing Star; you were born to kill people.”
“You really believe in that nonsense and did something like that?”
“Nonsense? Oh ho, did you say nonsense?”
The father chuckled softly.
Looking at the scene unfolding before him,
In disbelief, he opened his mouth.
“Look at you, aiming a knife at your father’s throat. Is this truly just nonsense?”
Young Jawan.
His first step toward becoming an assassin was about to—
“…”
Now he was just about to move.