Chapter 152: Action
“You’ve never seen a wild boar?”
At the accommodation in the city. Except for one trip to Seoul for an ad, they had stayed in the city, going up and down the mountains. The restaurant owner muttered as she served the food.
“That’s strange. They come out all the time.”
“Maybe they’re staying away because of the filming lights.”
“What? Those pigs have no fear. They’ve come down to the city in broad daylight. But they’re quick to catch on; as soon as someone reports them, they disappear. Anyway, you’re lucky. To not have seen any wild animals despite all that.”
I didn’t know, but it seems the area is quite famous for it.
One reason is the many abandoned fields from the mountainside up. Thanks to that, we were able to rent the land cheaply and build the set.
“You know we’re doing the wire scene today, right?”
“Yes. That’s why I’m eating heartily.”
Muyoung took a big mouthful of rice, responding to Gyeongmin’s words.
The work itself had its own story, but the directing department was mainly focused on the visual spectacle.
“But I’ve never shot a gun before.”
“Just hold it right.”
“Like this?”
“Relax your shoulders a bit.”
Two rifles obtained from nearby deserters.
Since the building could be infinitely replicated, it would become the main weapon for the protagonist’s party.
“Director, hello.”
“Yawn—hello.”
“Muyoung was filming until dawn yesterday, right?”
“Yes.”
“But why is your skin so smooth? We all look like sandpaper.”
“Uh, please leave me out of this.”
“You’re the worst. Kid.”
The filming staff also finished preparing and came down to the restaurant.
Living together like this, they had become close. Jinseo also sat down, hood up.
“Good morning.”
“Why is our heroine so weak?”
“Maybe it’s because of the mountain dew. I have a bit of a cold.”
“Really? Take care of yourself. You’re an actor.”
Jinseo just laughed at their words.
It was a business relationship, but no one asked if she was okay.
There was more concern that her condition might disrupt the schedule. Just as she reached for some water—
“Are you okay?”
Muyoung frowned, offering her warm water.
“The mountains are so strange. Suddenly it’s raining.”
“……Thanks.”
“It’s an action scene today. Are you sure you’re up for it?”
“Yeah. I’ll manage.”
It was a genuinely caring question. Jinseo nodded weakly, sipping her tea.
Having observed Muyoung closely for several days, he was truly a peculiar man. Someone she had never seen before and would likely never see again.
“Look, I’ve been practicing all night.”
He showed off his shooting stance.
……He seemed like an adult but also like a kid.
Jinseo barely ate, quickly finishing her meal, and stood up with Muyoung.
As the morning sun rose, a dozen cars raced up the mountain road to the filming location.
“Hello, Director!”
“Oh, Muyoung, Jinseo!”
“You’re early. Did you eat well?”
It was definitely early morning. But there were always people busier than them. The site staff were already setting up wires and checking equipment.
“The sky’s going to fly today. How do you feel?”
“Nervous as hell!”
“Wow, great energy. The action director went for a smoke, so they’ll be right back. Go get your makeup done first.”
“Okay. See you later.”
“Muyoung, this way, please.”
Muyoung bowed to the staff and headed to the temporary tent. The site moved after the first day’s chaos. Jinseo sat in a chair, bare-faced, flipping through the script.
“Jinseo, are you really okay?”
Muyoung, sitting beside her, glanced at her and asked.
Her face looked even paler than in the restaurant. She wiped away cold sweat, smiling faintly.
“Yeah. Just a bit nervous.”
Today’s main action scene involved shooting at a monster from the 5th floor, then getting caught by a tentacle and falling.
But at that moment, the building’s power would create a protective barrier, saving their lives. Typical, right?
It would build tension by showing danger and then turn it into an opportunity for catharsis.
The flashy action would also provide a great spectacle.
“……Well, that’s good.”
Muyoung tilted his head, looking at the script. Since she kept saying she was fine, he had to believe her.
‘What should I do?’
But Jinseo’s mind was in turmoil.
There was one problem: she had a slight fear of heights.
‘……It’s higher than I thought.’
During the audition, when asked if she could do wire action, she had confidently said she could. The wire she’d tested on wasn’t this high. She could manage with her eyes closed, but…
“This is crazy. Sigh.”
Jinseo said, popping a calming pill into her mouth.
With her condition already poor, just thinking about it made her tremble. Muyoung only glanced at her, rolling his eyes.
‘There’s definitely a problem.’
But since she wasn’t saying what, he couldn’t know.
Just then, an elderly ghost-like man entered the tent, shrugging his shoulders. As if asking what was wrong. Muyoung smiled faintly, pretending not to notice.
“Muyoung, Jinseo, we’ll be fitting the wires now. Please come out.”
“Okay, got it.”
At the staff’s call, Muyoung put down the snack he was eating.
Jinseo moved like she was being led to slaughter. Muyoung walked beside her, whispering.
“In the grand scheme, we’re all family, but the crew sticks together—”
“……?”
“And the cast sticks together, right? If you need help, say so. You look really uneasy.”
Then he approached the director and action director, smiling brightly.
“Just do what we practiced, and there won’t be any problems. Muyoung’s got great physical control. Maybe because he’s young? Very flexible.”
“That’s kind of you. It’s all thanks to your great direction.”
“So, let’s go over it again. You two keep shooting forward with the rifles. The monster’s tentacle will grab Jinseo first. When she falls, it’ll be in slow motion. Then Muyoung will jump off the balcony, as if trying to catch her.”
“Do I actually catch her in the middle?”
“No. She’ll stop mid-fall because of the barrier anyway. Just make sure your pose doesn’t look too ridiculous.”
“Okay, got it.”
“Alright, let’s head to the 5th floor. Grab your rifles.”
The rifles were quite heavy, being props for filming. They needed to capture the sound and recoil of real gunfire. Muyoung and Jinseo took their positions on the 5th-floor balcony.
“That thing’s really funny-looking, isn’t it?”
A strange long stick covered in fluorescent green. It would be turned into the monster’s tentacle with CG. Below, the director signaled with a megaphone.
“Ready?”
“Yes, all set!”
“Okay, moving the crane here!”
Muyoung placed his foot on the balcony, striking a cool pose. In reality, shooting like that would dislocate a shoulder or knee, but it looked cool.
In a drama, this much is allowed, right?
“Alright, scene 43, starting with the shooting.”
The path in Muyoung and Jinseo’s line of sight was wide open. It was for safety, in case of any accidents. Far away, there was a wooden target, but the rest was clear.
“Ready—!”
Whoosh—
The assistant director relayed the signal from the walkie-talkie.
“Action!”
Bang! Boom!
Boom Boom!
As the cameras rolled, the two went crazy with the triggers.
Muyoung’s smiling face turned instantly fierce, as if covered in blood. Jinseo also glared straight ahead, expressionless.
“Mori! Drop the rifle again!”
Bang! Boom!
After emptying the bullets, they discarded the rifles. Anyway, since the building could infinitely generate them, it was fine.
Muyoung raised his hand to the sky, and they paused for a moment.
“Stay right there!”
A staff member gently placed a rifle in his hand. Muyoung casually swung his arm, as if the object had appeared out of thin air.
“Garam, hit that guy’s eyes! Eyes!”
“Okay.”
Bang! Boom!
Boom Boom!
And the shooting continued.
After firing for a while, the assistant director called cut, and the crane began to move. A loop at the end of the long stick. Jinseo tensed, freezing in place.
“Once the crane stick attaches, we’ll cut, then Jinseo will float up and fall immediately!”
“……Okay, got it.”
“And Muyoung, you jump along, looking surprised.”
“Yes! Confirmed!”
Safety was crucial for this scene, so the director kept explaining the actions. The crane moved first as a test.
Zzzzhh—
The soft plastic loop slowly approached, stopping near Jinseo’s chest.
In the actual shoot, they would pause here, secure the loop to her chest, and then pull.
As the machine began to retract—
“Aaaah!”
Jinseo screamed, throwing herself toward the balcony.
The director snapped his fingers, nodding satisfied.
“Good, that’s it.”
“……”
“Hold on, standby.”
The director turned, responding to a voice from the walkie-talkie. Jinseo slowly slumped down.
‘Get a grip, Jinseo.’
She couldn’t let this opportunity slip away. She couldn’t let the shoot be delayed because of her.
‘Just fall. That’s all.’
Swoosh.
Then Muyoung took her hand.
And now he seemed to understand, with a slightly playful expression.
“You’re scared, aren’t you?”
“……Are you not?”
It was the 5th floor. And the 1st floor was a set used for gatherings, making it much higher. Plus, being on the mountainside, the city below looked even farther.
“I’m fine.”
“……Lucky you. I heard you were like riding a rollercoaster.”
“Oh, word gets around.”
“I barely managed it then. But I did it, so… I can do it now.”
Jinseo muttered, almost hypnotizing herself.
Muyoung looked at her quietly, then had her close her eyes. So she couldn’t see anything, and he spoke softly, calming her.
“Garam.”
Her character’s name, Park Garam.
He became the protagonist, Kim Kido.
“You won’t get hurt at all.”
“……What if I do?”
“You won’t. I’ll save you, and Mori will save you. You’re absolutely safe. If the world ends, what’s a 5th floor?”
At his playful words, Jinseo let out a small laugh. Perhaps because it was a shallow but genuine laugh, the tension in her tightened balloon of anxiety seemed to deflate, and her body relaxed.
“A pro has to deliver.”
“……Right. A pro has to deliver.”
It was like they were hypnotizing each other.
Jinseo removed Muyoung’s hand and looked straight into his eyes. The trembling gaze from earlier was gone, replaced by a steady, determined sparkle.
Rustle—
“Oh, you’re sparkling.”
“What?”
“You’re sparkling.”
Muyoung meant flower petals, but Jinseo, not understanding, laughed awkwardly.
She’s clumsy but talented in her own way.
“Jinseo, ready?”
“Yes, ready.”
The director finished his radio call and called to Jinseo. She tightened her waist harness again. Muyoung, like before, gripped the rifle and looked ahead.
“Ready! Here we go!”
“Let’s go! Jinseo, fighting!”
“Let’s go! Let’s go!”
“Action!”
Zzzzhh—
The crane stick approached faster than before.
Jinseo flinched, stepping back, but it soon reached her.
“Cut! Now!”
Click—!
The loop connected to her chest. The machine moved slowly. Jinseo’s body arched like a bow, rising into the air. The tentacle snagging her torso.
“Aaaah!”
And her body shot upward.
Jinseo’s scream pierced the sky, and she flew higher than the 5th floor.
“Go, Muyoung!”
Whoosh!
Muyoung, receiving the director’s signal, stepped onto the balcony railing and leaped into the sky.