Seoul Dragon - Chapter 85

Quite some time had passed since Taehoon was cast.

From what I heard, she seemed to be doing better than expected, which was reassuring.

What did I do during that time?

What did I do... I worked hard rolling around at the bureau.

Well, that's how I put it, but there actually wasn't that much work.

Hangyeol occasionally watched news alerts and went around mediating when conflicts arose in Abrahamic religious circles.

That guy really lives a busy life.

Perhaps because of that, whenever he arrives in Korea, he sprawls around and locks himself in his room.

Naturally, his parents know this fact, so they just leave him alone.

Hangyeol's parents were calmer than expected.

They just think of it as fate.

Anyway, daily life was rolling along smoothly.

Come to think of it, I should visit the World Tree soon.

The bureau schedule was quite relaxed, so it would probably work out if I timed it right.

...Thinking about it, angels have already appeared, but won't other gods' apostle-type mutants appear?

They might appear in places like India.

You know, Hindu gods and such.

But if they appear and complicate the world, that would be another problem.

The world has already become as complicated as it can get due to mutants, but I just hope my workload doesn't increase anymore.

Thinking about how busy the bureau was in the early days of the second mutation... ugh.

Anyway, daily life during that time was, well, nothing special.

Check documents that the Vice Director hands me at the bureau, stamp them, and done.

Since many capable people joined and administrative aspects were resolved, my work decreased tremendously.

Yeonhwa unnie and Harin's work also decreased drastically.

There were no incidents breaking out in strange places.

My very existence serves as a kind of deterrent to mutants, and mutants who might cause problems were being intensively cared for by Harin and Yeonhwa unnie... so I rarely encountered incidents or accidents.

Anyway, time flew by frantically like that.

Taehoon seemed to be adapting quite well.

She apparently became quite close with the actors on set.

Especially, actor Ju Sohyeon who she saw at the audition approached her first, which saved her.

Thanks to actor Ju Sohyeon, who plays the protagonist role and has a long career in entertainment, she was able to blend well into the filming set without unnecessary power struggles or friction.

Of course, it was also thanks to her treating other actors very respectfully.

-So, want to come see the filming set once?

"What would I do there? Ah, you haven't told them I'm your friend yet, right?"

-Is there any need to? Even if it would be fine now, if I'd said it during early filming, it would've been perfect to hear that I was acting up relying on connections.

"You did well with that."

-Hey, did you forget that I'm much better at social life than you?

"That's a fact, so I have nothing to say. Anyway, so I just need to come see and chat with you?"

-Oh, you're really coming?

"My schedule is relaxed these days anyway, so it doesn't matter. And I'm curious to see you acting."

But why me suddenly?

Curious about the reason, I asked him.

"But why me suddenly?"

-No, just... I don't know why, but I feel like I've become the other actors' beloved doll or something, so it's suffocating... But those people aren't ordinary people.

In other words, Taehoon's words were this.

For unknown reasons, his popularity on set was too outstanding, so they kept clinging to him and he couldn't be alone.

It was clearly break time but he couldn't rest...

So he was requesting SOS from me. Because he wanted to rest during breaks.

...But this, no matter how I look at it, seems like a plan to use me as a shield.

Since his intention was obvious, I asked with a slight smile.

"Empty-handed?"

-...What do you want?

"Well... later, if an incident breaks out at the bureau, help me with work. You'll be free after filming ends anyway."

-How do you know what will break out then?

"I don't know, so I'm taking out insurance. The world is chaotic and who knows what might happen, and getting cooperation from a mutant of your level isn't usually easy."

Half joking, half serious.

Even Yahweh has descended to the modern era, so who knows what will happen later.

Insurance should be taken out when you can.

-Got it. If something happens, I'll help the bureau. But with you there in the first place, what big problems could arise?

"You never know about worldly affairs. Anyway, when should I go?"

-Tomorrow.

"Hey, you crazy bastard."

-It doesn't take you that long to get there anyway. You can come at almost the Director's level of teleportation.

"Alright, alright. What time should I be there?"

-Well... we usually gather from 9 AM.

"Where should I go?"

-I'll give you the set location, so come there. We're proceeding at a period drama set.

"Okay."

"Hello. Please take care of me well today too."

"Ah, Taehoon, you're here?"

When I entered the set, quite a few people greeted her warmly.

Taehoon currently looks like a high school student.

Her build isn't particularly large either, so she was someone everyone on set found adorable.

It wasn't simply because of her appearance that they found Taehoon adorable.

First, she was respectful when dealing with people and never spoke carelessly.

Also, she didn't act arrogant for being a lead actor and showed respect for seniors who entered the industry before her, even unknown actors, so winning the favor of people on set was no trouble at all.

There were some people who harbored jealousy, but that was only a story from the early days.

Now, people who saw what she showed on set had no choice but to acknowledge her.

...No. Not just acknowledge, but they started finding her adorable!

Her appropriately small build and jade-white skin.

Unlike her somewhat unapproachable impression, she always smiled brightly and treated seniors respectfully, so they couldn't help but find her lovely.

So today too, she had light makeup done before filming started and became something like a beloved doll for senior actors, especially Sohyeon.

Sohyeon looked at Taehoon as if finding her cute.

The fact that she was a mutant and was once male didn't particularly matter.

Despite having acted for only a short time, her brilliant acting ability.

The elegance and dignity embedded in every movement.

Truly, wasn't she the most suitable person to act as Hyeonhwa? Sohyeon thought so.

The reason Sohyeon cared about this movie, "Blood and Sword," was because her recent filmography had all flopped.

To her, who was often told she had no eye for choosing works despite her usual acting ability, Taehoon's existence was truly like light and salt.

You might say what light and salt could a complete rookie actor be... but the moment she first saw Taehoon at the audition, she was certain.

That actor will definitely make it big.

Though she might not have an eye for works, Sohyeon had an eye for actors, so she could sense what Taehoon's impact would be like.

There's nothing bad about becoming close. No, she wanted to become close.

Even personality-wise, there were no problems.

Usually mutants are said to have somewhat eccentric sides, but she didn't show any particularly eccentric behavior.

"Um, senior?"

"Yes, junior."

"That, the director says filming will start now..."

"Ah, look at me. Got it. What scene is it?"

"An action scene."

"Oh, that should be worth looking forward to?"

Also, one of the reasons she believes this work will definitely be a hit is because Director An Jinho has drawn his main weapon.

An Jinho and action dramas are an inseparable box office guarantee.

He doesn't awkwardly insert strange melodrama or romance either. Moving exactly as targeted is another part that receives praise from people.

Isn't the protagonist Lee Yul that Sohyeon is acting focused on revenge itself rather than highlighting melodrama or sadness?

A vengeful spirit who lives according to her parents' will to live, but never forgets the debt written in blood.

There are times when romance or melodrama is inserted into this type of action drama, dropping the tension in the drama, but Director An Jinho wasn't such an easy person.

If revenge is the goal, a protagonist who clings only to that goal.

A main villain who sharpens her blade while waiting for the protagonist's revenge.

He only persistently digs into this confrontation between these two.

So how much effort would he put into action?

Since action is almost half the movie, the effort put into action scenes exceeds imagination.

And... the action she briefly saw from Taehoon before was top-level.

Taehoon either drew opponents into her flow or entered the opponent's flow herself, creating action scenes that flowed like water.

The scene to be filmed this time was the first battle between Yul and Hyeonhwa.

It ends with Yul's defeat, but Hyeonhwa lets Yul go again, waiting for her growth.

Everyone on set held their breath.

The sword in Yul's hand clashes with the sword Hyeonhwa created from flames.

A tense close battle.

Clang!

Yul, who attacks relentlessly without retreat, deflecting and flowing past the opponent's attacks while continuously advancing forward.

And Hyeonhwa, who watches such Yul with satisfaction.

While doing so, Hyeonhwa channels power into the sword in her hand and blooms blue ghost fire.

To strike down the moth rushing toward her.

Clash. Clash. Clash.

The clashing of blade against blade scattered blood and sparks, decorating the filming set fiercely yet beautifully.

Sohyeon was amazed.

Had action scenes always been this easy?

The sword Taehoon wielded wasn't difficult to parry, and the blue ghost fire scattering from her sword wasn't hot at all.

Usually, in scenes where blade meets blade, awkward scenes sometimes appear due to poor coordination...

When the partner was Taehoon, such scenes never appeared even once.

No matter how clumsily she swung, from a distance it created a picture-like scene.

0 NGs in action scenes.

As that number indicated, Taehoon's action acting was truly unparalleled.

As an actor who directly jumped into action, she could tell how amazing this was.

Sohyeon was certain.

This scene definitely came out incredibly well.

"Cut! Good, that's good!"

Admiration burst forth on the filming set.

Taehoon then carefully approached Sohyeon and asked.

"Was it not hot by any chance?"

"Ah, it wasn't hot. It's really fascinating, Taehoon's ability."

When Sohyeon answered that it was fine, Taehoon let out a sigh of relief.

No matter how much she knew it wasn't hot, it looked tremendously hot from the outside.

"That's a relief. All that practice controlling it paid off."

"It's really fascinating every time I see it. Ah, by the way, Taehoon. Didn't you say a friend was coming?"

"Ah, yes. That's right. They'll be here soon."

"But it's also unexpected. That Taehoon would suddenly call a friend."

At Jinho's words, Taehoon smiled awkwardly.

She couldn't tell the truth, could she?

That while being treated like a beloved doll was nice, it was still suffocating, so she called a friend.

"But what brings your friend here?"

"My friend said they wanted to take a look. Is that not okay?"

Usually it wouldn't be okay.

But Director An Jinho knew that Taehoon had no manager or agency, so thinking she probably wanted to find emotional stability, he allowed Taehoon to bring an acquaintance.

"No, I said it was okay earlier, didn't I? I'm not that strict a person."

"...Thank you."

"By the way, I'm curious. What kind of person is Taehoon's friend?"

"Um... you'll probably be surprised."

"Oh? Is it someone we know?"

"...Probably."