The Face Genius Actor

Episode 138

I couldn’t help but be surprised by the unexpected reaction.

As soon as I finished speaking, cheers erupted.

“Wow wow wow! Team dinner!”

“At the actor’s chicken restaurant!”

“This is amazing! Unbelievable!”

It was hard to believe that the atmosphere had been so stiff just moments ago.

The change was that dramatic.

“What’s this…”

As I muttered in confusion, Director Kang Han-sung approached me and explained.

“Actually, people have been wanting to visit your chicken restaurant for a long time.”

“My father’s shop?”

“He’s the amazing person who brought Lee Si-joon and Lee Si-hwan into this world, isn’t he?”

“Well, that’s true… But still, this reaction…”

“It means their expectations are that high. I’d like to meet your father too. And visit the chicken restaurant soon.”

“But my father’s face has already been shown on broadcasts before.”

“Ah, but seeing someone in person is different. And do you know? There are quite a few rumors about the chicken restaurant in the broadcasting industry.”

“What kind of rumors?”

“That it doesn’t really exist. That no one has ever been there. No, that only true acquaintances of you two actors can go there. Things like that.”

Certainly, I had rarely invited people around me to the chicken restaurant until now.

Except for Yeo Kyung-chan and Song Jin-ah, only Goo Kyung-mo and Yang I-deum had visited once.

The same was true for my brother.

We generally didn’t invite acquaintances to our father’s shop.

There wasn’t any particular reason for this.

We just didn’t feel the need to bring people there.

Moreover, the shop was always busy without inviting anyone specially, and sales were always good.

‘But to think that created strange rumors…’

I was perplexed.

My brother also seemed surprised, not having expected this reaction.

But as they say, all’s well that ends well. If the atmosphere on set could change just because of having a team dinner at the chicken restaurant, it was welcome.

It felt like mentioning the chicken restaurant when I couldn’t think of anywhere else to have the dinner had turned out to be a stroke of genius.

‘I guess it was fortunate that my eyes met with my brother’s at that moment.’

Thus, with my suggestion for a team dinner, the set regained its original atmosphere.

It was encouraging that this mood would likely be maintained at least until Friday.

But I didn’t just want a temporary improvement in the atmosphere on set.

I wanted an atmosphere that wouldn’t care about outside views until the filming of “Toema Hwan Ya Dam” was finished.

‘First, as the main male lead of this drama, I shouldn’t waver.’

Even if everyone else is shaken, I’m fine.

I needed to show this kind of attitude so that others could find their center too.

At the same time, as a director, I tried to lift the mood on set.

However, since I wasn’t the type to entertain others with witty remarks, I had to create the atmosphere in a different way.

What I chose was to praise the actors and staff.

I didn’t hold back on compliments when actors and staff accomplished even small things.

Even if mistakes occurred, I encouraged them with words of support.

“Great! Seung-hee! That acting just now was excellent!”

“Your name is Eun-ji, right? Thank you for your hard work today too!”

“It’s okay, Min-chan! These things happen! Let me help you!”

The most effort-intensive part of this process was remembering and calling out the staff members’ names.

I knew that just being called by name in this way could be encouraging.

Fortunately, I was generally good at remembering staff names.

So I was able to do this without much difficulty.

And then…

Finally, Friday came, and my father’s chicken restaurant was filled with the actors and staff of “Toema Hwan Ya Dam”.

We had already had several team dinners, like after the production press conference, but today’s atmosphere was quite different.

Overall, everyone seemed more excited.

This atmosphere reached its peak when my father, who had been busy cooking in the back of the shop, appeared.

“That’s the two actors’ father…”

“Wow! He’s so handsome!”

“The rumors were true!”

“So this is the legendary chicken restaurant!”

“I can’t believe I’m here!”

“Let’s take a proof shot!”

The actors and staff seemed satisfied just by being at the chicken restaurant.

It seemed like we didn’t need to do anything more here.

“There’s not much, but please enjoy your meal! I’ll be counting on you to take care of our ‘Two Sons’ in the future!”

In response to my father’s words, Director Kang Han-sung asked:

“‘Two Sons’?”

“Ah, that’s what I usually call Si-hwan and Si-joon at home.”

“Oh! That’s nice. ‘Two Sons’. It really rolls off the tongue.”

Director Kang Han-sung also seemed somewhat excited.

Sure enough, he stood up abruptly with his drink.

“Then let’s make a toast! To Father and the Two Sons!”

“Cheers!”

After the glasses had been quickly passed around a few times, one of the staff members cautiously approached me.

It was Go Eun-ji, the staff member in charge of props.

“Excuse me, actor…”

“Yes?”

“Could I maybe take a picture with you?”

“Of course.”

As I was about to pose, Eun-ji shook her head.

“Um… I… I’d like to take a picture with others too…”

“With whom?”

“With your father and actor Lee Si-hwan… Would that be possible?”

“Ah.”

Eun-ji wanted to take a picture with me, my brother, and our father together.

I was momentarily taken aback because I hadn’t expected such a request.

Others seemed surprised by Eun-ji’s request too, and there was a brief silence.

But Director Kang Han-sung changed the mood with a hearty laugh.

“Capturing all three of you in one photo! That’s a great idea!”

Director Kang Han-sung seemed to genuinely think it was a good idea.

Others were also sending expectant looks.

“Alright. Let’s take the picture.”

So my brother, father, and I gathered together and took a picture with Eun-ji.

At the same time, chaos erupted around us.

“Wow! They’re a sight to behold just standing together!”

“It’s like a dream… How can they have such faces?”

“I want to take a picture too! Actor! Please take a photo with me as well!”

“Me too! I want to take one too! Should we line up here?”

The number of people requesting photos gradually increased.

In the end, the three of us had to take dozens of photos until the team dinner was over.

* * *

“Standby! Cue!”

What I discovered in the cave wasn’t simply a trace of a Changui.

‘This is…’

Evidence that there are multiple Changui.

Realizing the urgency of the situation, I head straight for Majae Village.

As expected, Majae Village is under attack by tigers.

Fortunately, the tigers are prevented from slaughtering by the archer’s (Seo-hee) arrows and the swordsman’s (Yi-hyun) swordsmanship.

But I don’t let my guard down and scan the surroundings.

‘There must be more mountain beasts nearby.’

Tigers aren’t naturally pack hunters like wolves.

But if there are multiple Changui, it’s a different story.

Pack hunting becomes possible.

This is the true terror of Changui.

And then.

Grooowl!

With a roar, new tigers appear.

One, two, three, four, five… As many as five tigers.

“Oh no…”

“Impossible!”

The swordsman and archer, who were fending off the tiger that first invaded the village, mutter in turn.

I’m also surprised for a moment before pulling out my talisman.

It’s time to reduce the number of tigers, even by one.

“Fierce Flame!”

As I cast my spell, flames shoot out and attach to the tiger’s hide.

In an instant, the tiger’s hide is engulfed in flames.

As the tiger rolls on the ground trying to extinguish the fire.

I don’t miss that moment and shout to the swordsman.

“Swing your sword!”

The swordsman reflexively swings his sword, cutting off the mountain beast’s neck.

It’s a strike that shows his skill.

As the tiger’s head falls, black smoke rises from its body and transforms into the shape of a cat.

It’s a Changui.

I draw my Gwichamdo and throw it like a javelin towards the Changui.

The Changui, its body pierced, vanishes with a “Gawk!” scream.

The swordsman asks me.

“What is this?”

“A Changui.”

“Then those are?”

“Other mountain beasts whose souls have been stolen by Changui. They’ll try to hunt us together, so steel yourself.”

As soon as I finish speaking.

The remaining four tigers leap towards us.

The archer reacts first.

She quickly aims her arrows at the eyes of the lead tiger.

Surprisingly, two arrows are nocked on the bowstring.

The tiger blocks one arrow but allows the other.

Having lost its right eye, the tiger loses balance and falls behind.

Now there are three tigers left.

At that moment, Wi-rang transforms into a wolf and rushes towards the tigers.

Wi-rang, boasting a size no less than the tigers, engages in a direct confrontation.

The swordsman widens his eyes at the sight.

“What… is all this…”

“Look ahead. The mountain beast is right in front of you.”

The swordsman belatedly comes to his senses and focuses on the remaining two tigers rushing towards us.

And soon begins to face off against a tiger.

Fortunately, he quickly regains his composure, dodges the tiger’s front paw attack, and swings his sword.

He’s clearly not ordinary, I think.

I also face off against the last tiger.

It’s larger than the others and covered in scars.

Its identity is clear at a glance.

‘The Great Mountain Beast…’

I shoot a Fierce Flame at it, just like with the first tiger.

But the Great Mountain Beast easily dodges it, as if mocking me.

Then it rushes in like an arrow and swings its powerful front paw.

A chilling sound of impact echoes in the air.

‘I can’t just face it head-on. But…’

The others are in no better situation.

Wi-rang, the swordsman, and the archer are all engaged in desperate battles with one tiger each.

‘Mountain beasts controlled by Changui don’t tire.’

At this rate, we’re bound to lose.

I realize now is the time to make a decisive move.

If not now when I have enough energy, I won’t be able to use powerful spells.

I take out several talismans and wrap them around the Gwichamdo.

The talismans move like living things, attaching themselves to the blade of the Gwichamdo.

“Supreme Heat Sword!”

As I chant the spell, flames rise 5 feet high, taking the shape of a sword.

Overwhelmed by the imposing aura, not only the Great Mountain Beast but also the other tigers are intimidated and step back.

I don’t miss this opportunity and swing my sword, slashing the Great Mountain Beast’s waist.

The Great Mountain Beast is startled and tries to dodge the sword, but it’s futile.

Whoosh!

The death of the Great Mountain Beast.

That signaled the defeat of the Changui, and the other tigers began to be subdued one by one.

After subduing the tiger, the swordsman approaches me and speaks.

“That archer goes by the name Seo-hee, and I am Yi-hyun. Who are you?”

I quietly look into the swordsman’s eyes before answering.

“Yeon.”