NOVEL NEXT Episode 149
Episode 149
Si-hwan prided himself on knowing his younger brother well.
He couldn’t help it.
His brother had always been Si-hwan’s top priority.
While Si-hwan’s dream was to become an actor someday, he had an even older wish.
That was for his family’s happiness.
Even when he earned more money than expected as a model.
Even when he first gained worldwide fame at Paris Fashion Week.
Si-hwan only wished for his family’s happiness.
As a result, he couldn’t help but pay attention to his younger brother.
Naturally, he became the person who knew his brother best in this world.
That was certainly the case, but…
In a moment of distraction, his brother suddenly changed into a different person.
When he first decided to act, Si-hwan didn’t think he would walk this path so seriously.
His brother was born with looks so perfect that even Si-hwan felt envious, so everything came easily to him.
It seemed like he benefited from his handsome appearance in everything he did.
So when he first said he wanted to be an actor, Si-hwan expected him to get bored soon.
He was even more certain because he secretly thought that he himself would walk the path of an actor in the distant future.
But his brother worked harder than expected to achieve his dream of becoming an actor.
Instead of being complacent about how easy things were like before, he steadily built up his skills.
It made Si-hwan’s plan to seriously propose model work as a backup seem pointless.
His brother, having found his dream, shone brighter than anyone.
Si-hwan had thought, ‘Could he become even more handsome?’ but suddenly it felt like his brother had run far ahead.
It wasn’t just once or twice that he secretly glanced at his brother’s face and marveled.
Then one day.
Si-hwan realized that his brother lacked confidence more than he had expected.
It was incomprehensible to Si-hwan.
By that point, his brother had already risen to lead actor status through
Around this time, Si-hwan was starting to think that maybe he could dream of becoming an actor too.
Watching his brother on the path to success kept reminding him of his childhood dream.
He felt this even more strongly because he was certain his brother would be happy with his successive successes.
But his brother wasn’t just feeling happiness as expected.
Sometimes he showed a lack of confidence in unexpected places.
It was the same even as he transitioned to films and became a global star through
He gave off a feeling of being chased by something intangible.
‘Is this what the process of becoming a global star is like?’
Si-hwan asked himself but couldn’t find an answer.
Sometimes his brother acted more like someone who had experienced failure than a global star.
The word ‘failure’ for his brother, who had risen steadily without a single failure and even won Best Actor at Cannes Film Festival.
It was a word that didn’t fit at all, but somehow it kept coming to mind.
Si-hwan increasingly felt that he didn’t understand his brother.
This feeling grew even stronger after he appeared in
His brother was handling an enormous workload as if today was his last day.
It was just like someone trying to prove themselves.
The one fortunate thing was that his brother wasn’t just sinking into depression and taking on work beyond his capacity to handle.
Even in situations where he should feel burdened, his brother knew how to smile somewhat calmly.
He seemed to be thinking, ‘In this situation, all I can do is work harder.’
In the end, his brother not only acted like someone who had experienced failure but also had the ability to overcome pressure.
Si-hwan felt greatly confused as he watched his brother changing more and more without him realizing it.
The feeling of walls appearing every time he closed his eyes and opened them made Si-hwan anxious.
If there were walls, he wouldn’t be able to help his brother when he needed it most.
And finally, when
Si-hwan was able to glimpse his brother’s thoughts.
The words about acting in, writing, and directing works to gain confidence until now.
The words about being plagued by anxiety, wondering if he was someone who deserved to be in this position, if this was okay.
These explained why his brother had been showing behaviors that Si-hwan couldn’t understand.
And above all…
“
He was glad that his brother had regained his confidence through
“So now, if someone asks about the possibility of success for
There were still many unresolved questions, but it didn’t matter if his brother had regained his confidence.
There would be time to find answers to the unresolved questions while staying by his brother’s side like now.
Originally, Si-hwan wanted to know about his brother in order to help him.
‘Now he’s really become a wonderful person who doesn’t need my help anymore.’
With that thought, Si-hwan smiled at his brother who was looking at Jimmy King with confident eyes.
Si-hwan also had no doubt about the success of
* * *
Although I was surprised that
Originally, appearing on
So there was no particular reason to pay much attention to
However, there was one thing I was a bit interested in: Jimmy King’s interview.
I was curious about what Jimmy King thought after filming
It would have been nice if I could have asked for his thoughts at the filming location.
But Jimmy King quickly left, only saying we should definitely meet next time, possibly due to another schedule.
That’s why I was even more curious about what Jimmy King was thinking.
…While hosting the show for a long time, I’ve met many amazing people, but the Lee brothers were among the most special.
Honestly, at first, I prejudged that the Lee brothers’ popularity would disappear in a flash.
Although ‘Toema Hwan Ya Dam Season 1’ was enjoying enormous popularity worldwide, I judged it to be just a massive wave.
But after talking with them directly, I could sense that my thoughts were wrong.
From their popular sensibility to their depth in art, the Lee brothers lacked nothing.
It was similar to the feeling I got when I met masters.
And I felt that strong faith and bond were firmly holding the Lee brothers together.
I want to add one thing to those waiting for ‘Toema Hwan Ya Dam Season 2’:
Your expectations will be fully met.
As expected, Jimmy King had underestimated the success of
But now he seemed to have changed his mind.
It was surprising.
It was not common for someone like Jimmy King to bend his stubbornness.
I felt proud that the conversation with Jimmy King wasn’t in vain.
And with that, I withdrew my interest in
Now it was time to focus on filming parts 13 and 14 of
Currently,
The end of part 13 was the moment when Yi-hyun cuts down the king who had become an evil spirit, and corpses across the country rise and become the living dead.
From part 14 onwards, it depicted the battle with the living dead.
In the early part of part 14, they were overwhelmed by the number of living dead and couldn’t engage in proper battle, consistently being pushed back.
But in the latter half, as people who survived the plague helped Yeon, Wi-rang, Seo-hee, and Yi-hyun, the situation reversed.
Finally, in the middle of part 15.
Yeon’s group recaptured Hanyang and opened Gwanghwamun to proceed with the final battle.
* * *
Part 15, Scene 38.
Finally, Gwanghwamun opens.
From inside, the legion of evil spirits along with the living dead pour out, but no one retreats.
The swords, clubs, plows, and pickaxes held by the people have Seo-hee’s master’s spell tags attached, which she found at the risk of her life.
Spell tags that allow physical damage to souls.
As if these spell tags give courage, not a single person retreats.
Thus, the battle with the legion of evil spirits finally begins.
“Yeon! Yi-hyun! Go! I’ll stay here! You two have things to do!”
Seo-hee’s shout makes me and Yi-hyun react.
Seo-hee is right.
Yi-hyun needs to set Joseon right, and I need to engage in the final battle with the evil spirit king.
If we waste time here, we might lose the opportunity forever.
So Yi-hyun and I make eye contact, and I throw the spell tag into the air first.
“Ghost-slaying crescent blade!”
The moment a hundred crescent-shaped sword energies gather and split the spell tag, they split again into a thousand pieces and shower towards the legion of evil spirits.
Not all of them are hit by the sword energy, but the number of the evil spirit legion decreases enough to make me think it’s okay to leave things to Seo-hee.
Meanwhile, Yi-hyun steps forward and cuts down all enemies in a straight line.
He’s opened a path for himself and me to escape.
“Let’s go quickly!”
As I nod, Wi-rang starts to move forward carrying me and Yi-hyun.
The legion of evil spirits tries to fill the gaps to block us, but Yi-hyun and I diligently swing our swords to clear the way.
Finally, Wi-rang breaks through Geunjeongmun, and Yi-hyun and I throw our swords to close the door so the evil spirit legion can’t enter.
We attach spell tags on top to prevent the evil spirit legion from touching Geunjeongmun.
Yi-hyun pulls out his sword that was stuck in Geunjeongmun and turns towards me.
“I’ll go to Geunjeongjeon like this. The ministers should be gathered there. The evil spirit king probably…”
“Will be in Gangnyeongjeon. Don’t worry about me and establish the country. A true monarch will be needed for no more evil spirits to exist.”
So Yi-hyun moves first, and I watch him go before turning my gaze to the shaking Geunjeongmun.
Then I take out three spell tags and use the sealing technique.
“This should be enough to avoid interference. Wi-rang.”
“……”
“You go back and help Seo-hee.”
“……”
“It’s a fight I have to end alone anyway.”
“……”
“Please.”
Wi-rang hesitates but nods and leaps over the wall.
I hear the sound of several evil spirit legion members losing their lives at once to Wi-rang’s attack.
I smirk as I hear the screams of the evil spirit legion.
“Seems like they’re quite upset.”
But I don’t think about calling Wi-rang back and start walking towards Gangnyeongjeon.
I pass by Geunjeongjeon, cross Sajeongjeon, and reach Gangnyeongjeon.
As expected, the evil spirit king is sitting there quietly with his eyes closed.
“…How peaceful. Are you sleeping?”
As I ask this, the evil spirit king slowly opens his eyes.
Simultaneously, an evil aura fills Gangnyeongjeon.