Ghost-seeing actor

The scene was shot multiple times.

“Cut! Okay!”

Finally, the awaited word was heard.

Taeju let out a held breath.

“Haa…”

‘This is the real set. Dongrak’s sets were too kind.’

Why had he forgotten that Director Yoon Ido had a firm and precise standard for acting?

A director who squeezes every ounce of performance until the desired acting is achieved.

The architect keeps refining the vision in his mind until it materializes in front of him.

That was Yoon Ido.

“Ugh, I’m dying.”

Kang Jaehwa hurried past him.

Taeju followed closely to review the footage.

As Kang Jaehwa examined his performance, his lips subtly trembled.

“Seriously…”

Yoon Ido smirked knowingly.

“Kang, it seemed like you were more immersed when Taeju was acting in front of you. His expressions and performance were much better.”

“Indeed.”

Kang Jaehwa’s gaze shifted to Taeju at Yoon Ido’s words.

A faint smile curled at Kang Jaehwa’s lips.

“Well done, junior.”

Taeju bowed his head.

Conflicted emotions surged within him.

Though his performance wasn’t visible on screen, the hard work wasn’t futile. It felt rewarding that Kang Jaehwa responded earnestly to his acting.

A joy he had never felt when acting solo.

It truly was enjoyable. It was the vision he had been yearning for.

However, there was a sense of regret.

Seeing his effort not reflected on the screen.

[Don’t think your acting was useless. Your performance contributed to enhancing Kang Jaehwa’s acting.]

The deep voice of Lee Joong-hyeop resonated.

Taeju took a deep breath to hold back his disappointment.

‘I didn’t think my acting was useless. I’m just a bit disappointed.’

Though a stand-in, he had prepared thoroughly.

The King and the Guard, Performing Dual Roles.

And with martial arts too.

It was a precious gift left to him by the ghost Choi Mubaek.

At least, he wanted to leave a mark on the film with one of these.

***

Taeju glanced at his watch.

It was already almost 9 PM.

The original plan had been to finish shooting by 7 PM, but now it had extended this late.

“Just wait a little longer. I’ll give you your pay for today.”

“Thank you so much for today.”

Tired, Taeju found an empty spot in the corner of the filming set.

“A-haa.”

He quietly yawned amidst the bustling crew members.

Soon, another scene was being set, and everyone was busy.

“Next is the aerial assault scene, right?”

“I bet the stunt coordinator is going all out right now.”

“Haha, we’re looking at wrapping around 3 AM tonight. How many days has it been with this grueling schedule?”

Just listening made it sound intense.

Suddenly, his phone vibrated.

A text from his aunt.

-Taehee asked how you’re doing with filming. We went on a park outing today.

Along with the message, a photo-filled the screen.

Taehee, with her chubby cheeks and a playful V-sign, looked adorable.

All the fatigue from today’s shoot seemed to vanish.

Beside him, Lee Joong-hyeop jokingly teased.

[You’ll be grinning ear to ear. You like your little sister that much, don’t you, big brother Taeju? I wish I could be loved like that too!]

Taeju quickly dialed his aunt.

-Taeju, aren’t you still shooting? Can you talk now?

“I just finished filming a little while ago.”

-Then come home quickly. Where are you?

“They’re settling today’s pay, so they asked me to wait a bit longer. I’ll be there soon, don’t worry.”

His aunt hung up after wishing him to be safe.

From the Paju filming location, it would take over two hours by subway to get home.

He might end up unable to make it home.

Yet, part of him wanted to stay a little longer.

“I could do more…”

At that moment of swallowing his disappointment, a distant sight caught his attention.

A production staff member rushed towards Park Woo-don.

“Assistant Director, we need one more for the upcoming royal siege scene.”

“Why is it vacant?”

“One person twisted their ankle during rehearsal… It’s a ligament tear.”

“Oh no, why does this keep happening? That scene can’t be delayed! What is Director Jeong Gyu-beom saying?”

“For now, they’re adjusting the action scene with one less person. They say it’ll be fine if we manage without them. Otherwise, they’ll wait for the person to recover and film with 40 people later.”

“This scene can’t be delayed any further. We’ve already invested a huge chunk of the budget here…”

Soon, both Martial Arts Director Jeong Gyu-beom and Director Yoon I-do gathered to manage the situation.

Hearing the situation, Director Yoon I-do’s face turned pale.

“But that scene was set perfectly for 40 people! Removing one person would require adjusting the formation and revising the entire action sequence…”

“Well, we can’t just scrap the entire scene. Let’s try adjusting with one person removed.”

Director Yoon I-do looked troubled by the martial arts director’s suggestion.

“Can’t we just shoot it with 40 people? The frame would look full, and it would be visually impressive.”

“Yoon, his ligament is completely torn. Even with painkillers and a splint, we won’t get the action we want.”

“Haa… why does this have to happen in the highlight scene…”

Director Yoon I-do rubbed his pale face with his hands.

The tension on set was palpable as Taeju observed. A staff member then tapped his arm.

“Here’s your payment.”

“Thank you. But what’s going on? Everyone gathered, and it looked serious.”

The staff sighed deeply.

“There’s a major royal siege scene scheduled later. During rehearsal, one person completely tore their ligament. Finding a suitable substitute on the spot is nearly impossible.”

“Can’t the action be adjusted on-site?”

“It can’t! These 40 extras have spent the last three months training for this scene. Now that one is out, the formation has to be rearranged. Martial Arts Director is dealing with a headache.”

Clicking his tongue, the staff member quickly rushed back to the set.

Taeju slowly moved toward the exit of the filming set.

He could leave now and head home.

That would be the plan.

Yet, his eyes lit up with a thought.

“Isn’t there someone else to step in?”

He still craved the chance to perform.

If only he could show more than just his back.

If only his acting could be acknowledged.

Anything is possible.

Once a sword is drawn, it’s only natural to cut through something.

‘Meeting Ghost Choi Moo-baek and receiving abilities related to swordsmanship must be for this very purpose.’

He turned his direction and ran aimlessly.

He had to reflect on his intentions.

The sheer desire to act.

“Director, I’ll do it.”

Suddenly, Taeju stepped forward.

Yoon I-do’s eyes widened in surprise.

“What are you talking about?”

“You seem to need a substitute for the action scene. I know how to wield a sword, and I’ll do my best in acting as well.”

Park Woo-don, Yoon I-do, and the Martial Arts Director’s eyes shifted in turn.

The Martial Arts Director’s sharp voice cut through.

“Who is this? Who the hell does he think he is?”

“He’s the stand-in for Kang Jae-ha’s back. I’m not just standing around; I’ve been doing my best.”

“Kang Jae-ha’s back stand-in is not the same as this. This is an action scene. It’s a whole different level from just standing still for a back shot.”

Yoon I-do and Taeju both opened their mouths at the same time.

But Taeju was faster.

“I’m being completely serious. I have a lot to show.”

“Yoon Director.”

Jeong Gyu-beom gestured toward Yoon I-do with a nod of his head.

Already overwhelmed, Jeong was signaling to send the rookie actor away.

However, Yoon I-do couldn’t take his eyes off Taeju.

The genuine look in his eyes pulled him in.

He knew Taeju wasn’t the type to make empty promises.

Today, more than ever, Taeju has been passionate and earnest in his acting.

In this situation where one person had fallen out, the question was whether to adjust the action scene or include Taeju as the substitute.

Ultimately, the decision rested with the director.

After a long moment of contemplation, Yoon I-do lifted his head.

‘Safe choice or challenge?’

Yoon I do choose the more appealing option.

This wasn’t just a fleeting decision.

As a director who had seen Taeju act, his anticipation for the performance Taeju would deliver fueled his choice.

Yoon I-do shrugged his shoulders.

“How well can you wield a sword?”

***

9:30 PM.

Taeju sent a message to his aunt letting her know he would be late.

Next was Seo Dong-rak.

Tomorrow afternoon, the last shoot for Final Victory was scheduled.

Hearing about the overnight shoot, Dong-rak jumped up in surprise.

-Hey, do you know you have a shoot tomorrow?

“I know, at 3 PM, near Hongdae University, in front of Hong Kong Restaurant.”

-Do you think it’s okay to shoot overnight and show up the next day with that condition?

“I’ll make sure there are no issues for our film.”

-Still, you keep getting distracted by other things.

His voice grumbled, but Dong-rak was serious.

-Anyway, since you’re going to do it, work hard. Try to get into the director’s good graces to get at least one more shot.

“Got it!”

After ending the call, Taeju slapped his cheeks lightly.

“Stay focused.”

Opportunity belongs to those who challenge it.

That was his favorite saying.

When he first arrived here, he thought he’d only be a simple stand-in for back shots.

But now, he was shooting again, this time as a supporting role in a full shot.

His whole body felt sore and tired.

Still, he felt happy.

The chance to act again.

To fully utilize the abilities he possessed.

He changed into the warrior costume provided by the costume team and put on a wig.

In front of the mirror, his resolve felt different.

[How does it feel? Like you’ve truly become a warrior?]
‘It feels like what Choi Moo-baek might have felt.’

Taeju straightened his outfit.

‘Before the battle, always neat and composed. The moment a sword is drawn, turning into a wild beast.’

[Entering a massive action scene as a substitute isn’t easy. You have to blend seamlessly into the existing choreography, not stand out alone. And it’s essential not to disrupt the flow.]
‘I think I can borrow Choi Moo-baek’s strength to master complex choreography and sword movements.’

[Yeah, Choi Moo-baek’s swordsmanship will certainly help.]
Lee Jung-hyeop had a subtle expression.

[Looking forward to seeing what kind of scene you’ll create.]

***

A little while later…

Taeju arrived at another set, guided by a staff member.

Amid a grand palace set bathed in soft lighting, the grandeur of buildings, crafted to resemble reality, stood impressively.

Taeju walked in, marveling at the scene.

“Wow, shooting here would look amazing.”

Briefly, he envisioned a scene on the screen.

A screen filled with his performance at the center, wielding a sword in a dramatic sequence.

Lost in his joyful imagination, he walked along.

In a corner of the set, dozens of action actors were gathered.

“That guy, Jaejin, messed around and lost his role. Preparing for three months, it’s such a waste.”

“Still, it’s not a major injury, so at least that’s something.”

“Of all times for the ace to falter, right? He was right at the front. Who can fill that spot?”

“Who knows? They’ll probably have to redo the lineup. Director Jeong was stressing himself out just now.”

Taeju greeted them politely.

“Hello.”

At his words, heads turned quickly.

Everyone nodded slightly, offering awkward returns of the greeting.

Nearby, whispers and murmurs could be heard.

“Is that the one filling in for Jaejin? How old is he?”

“Finding a substitute this late is almost a miracle.”

“Hey, does that matter? He’s inexperienced. How’s he supposed to handle an action scene properly?”

“What’s the director thinking? This isn’t just a place to fill spaces, is it?”

Whispers of doubt continued around him.

Taeju stood tall and straight.

There was nothing but a determination to perform well.

“Han Taeju, over here!”

The voice of Director Jeong Gyu-beom echoed.

“Before we finalize the entire sequence, let’s see how well you can handle a sword. Whether you’ll be placed in front or hidden at the back. Here, take it.”

Taeju took the heavy longsword he was handed.

It felt substantial, fitting comfortably in his grasp.

He swung it once.

Whoosh.

The sensation was different from the toy swords he had practiced with at home.

There was a weight, a sharpness, adding to its precision.