Chapter 173: Transcending
There was no response to the king’s question.
Along with the silence, Muyoung’s breathing grew rougher. Like smoke rising from embers, his anger began to take shape.
“……My liege.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
The voice was as cold as ice.
His patience, pushed to its limit, froze everything. If any shock were to occur, everything frozen would shatter.
“I asked if I seemed like a laughingstock to you.”
“Unthinkable, Your Majesty. Please take back your words.”
Crash! Bang!
Muyoung slammed the table with all his might.
At the loud sound, the staff flinched reflexively. The bones in his tightly clenched fingers were turning white.
‘Oh, you almost gave me a heart attack.’
‘Whoa. Muyoung’s angry.’
‘Wow, wow. He looks like that.’
Everyone watched with great interest, huddled together. It was fortunate they were watching from outside the set; if their boss got that angry, they’d take the day off.
“But why! Why!”
Despite the loudness of his voice, it stretched on without breaking. Indeed, his vocalization is top-notch. As the staff watched with delight, Muyoung swept the petition on the table away. Then, he reached for the nearby porcelain.
“How dare you!”
Whoosh!
The porcelain, lifted with all his might with his left arm, was about to fall, drawing a semicircle in the air.
Hesitation—
“Huh?”
Muyoung’s gesture awkwardly stopped.
Like a machine that had run out of batteries.
The staff and directors watching the screen tilted their heads in confusion. Muyoung seemed deep in thought, standing still and looking down at the round porcelain.
“Muyoung, what’s wrong?”
“Is there a problem?”
“Hmm? The emotional flow was good.”
“What’s going on? You never make a mistake.”
“I guess I should buy a lottery ticket today? Hahaha!”
“Let’s cut it for now! Cut, cut!”
Murmur, murmur…….
Although the staff asked questions with concern, Muyoung still had no answer. When Gyeongmin, unable to bear it any longer, approached him, he finally smiled and scratched his head.
“I think I used my shoulder wrong while lifting the porcelain. I’m sorry.”
“Oh, really? Are you okay?”
“Yes. I heard a cracking sound, but it wasn’t picked up by the audio, right?”
“Yeah, not at all. You scared me. I thought something happened.”
“I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay. Don’t worry. Let’s go again right away?”
“Ah, let me warm up properly for a moment.”
“Okay, please clear the table!”
Muyoung put the porcelain, which wasn’t scratched at all, back down and left the set. Then, he hid in a corner, pretending to loosen his shoulders.
Gyeongmin, sensing something was off, immediately followed him.
“Muyoung, what’s wrong? Is there a problem?”
Even if there was noise, he wasn’t the type to break his emotional flow easily. He would rather go all the way and then do it again. Muyoung quietly laughed, his hands clasped together.
“……What should I do, hyung?”
“What?”
At that moment, Gyeongmin noticed Muyoung’s hands.
They were trembling like aspen leaves. Though he seemed to be trying to calm down, it wasn’t easy.
“Wow, I’m going crazy.”
“What, what’s wrong with you……?”
“I don’t know what’s wrong with me.”
Muyoung faintly smiled, looking troubled.
He thought there was no problem.
He had memorized the script, simulated it in his mind, and thought he had mastered the emotions perfectly…….
“The beginning was okay, but breaking the porcelain is the problem.”
He could get angry.
Since Muyoung was human, he wasn’t unfamiliar with that emotion.
But what stopped him was the ‘act.’
The act of showing violence by throwing something that could be threatening if broken, like porcelain, was the problem.
He felt something was off from the moment he stepped onto the set, and as soon as the shoot began, it felt like his breath was being choked.
Thanks to that, his emotional acting wasn’t satisfying either.
“Just look at the staff’s reactions. I couldn’t concentrate because I had to break the porcelain. It feels so awkward…….”
Everyone seemed interested, but no one looked scared.
“No, you did really well. If it weren’t for that last part, it would’ve been a perfect take.”
Gyeongmin was sincere.
He perfectly expressed the wrath of a majestic king. The fact that no one on set noticed Muyoung’s trembling hands was proof.
“Oh, really…….”
Muyoung covered his face and sighed.
It wasn’t like he hadn’t done violent scenes before.
In
‘But why is it only like this now?’
The reason was simple.
He had never played a character who was the subject of anger-filled violence.
And above all, acting meant becoming that ‘character’ to Muyoung. It felt like he was repeating the actions of his abusive stepfather, whom he despised.
I’d rather get hit.
I don’t want to be that kind of person.
After thinking it over, Muyoung realized something about himself.
“Ah.”
So that’s it.
I don’t want to hurt anyone.
“Muyoung, are you okay?”
“Huh? Ah, yes, yes.”
As Muyoung spaced out, Gyeongmin shook his shoulder anxiously.
“Then, should I ask the director to cut the part where the porcelain breaks?”
At his words, Muyoung fell into thought.
Was it right to change the script because of his personal circumstances? What if this happened again in the future? Even if it was a minor scene now, what if it were a crucial part of the story? As someone who had to live the character’s life, was this the right thing to do?
“What’s going on? Is it already over?”
Then, Cha Eun-seong, wearing only half of his robe, strolled over. He had just finished half his makeup after being rushed by the coordinator.
“No, we’re taking a short break.”
“Oh? Awesome! I’ll watch~”
Hearing it wasn’t over yet, Cha Eun-seong swayed his body happily.
Does that person not notice the atmosphere……?
Gyeongmin glanced at Muyoung, looking bewildered.
“Excuse me, Muyoung’s manager!”
“Yes?”
“Just a moment, it’s about the schedule.”
And the staff member called Gyeongmin.
When Muyoung nodded, saying he was fine, Gyeongmin reluctantly left. Muyoung hid his hands in his sleeves.
“Come on, let’s see you explode with anger. Eunha~”
He seemed in a good mood after receiving a cake.
Muyoung was about to follow him, smiling, then hesitated. Right in front of him was a senior actor who had maintained his top position since his debut, always in the spotlight.
“Hyung, I have a question.”
“What?”
At Muyoung’s words, Cha Eun-seong turned his body with a spin.
The robe fluttered gracefully.
“While doing this job, have you ever had to do something you couldn’t do but had to do?”
It seemed like an unexpected question, and Cha Eun-seong crossed his arms.
His gaze dropped slightly. He seemed to recall something from the question.
“Yeah.”
It had been nearly ten years.
Cha Eun-seong had rolled around in this glamorous yet dirty and lowly industry.
If he counted everything he had seen and heard, there were too many things to count.
“What did you do then?”
He couldn’t tell what Muyoung was getting at.
But he must be asking because he’s in this state right now.
Cha Eun-seong pondered, choosing his words carefully.
“If you want to stay in this industry, do it. If not, don’t.”
“What if I logically want to do it, but emotionally it’s a bit tough?”
It wasn’t just about filming; there were many external factors.
Malicious comments, rumors, stalkers, scams, betrayal, and more…….
Was he talking about something like that? Given Muyoung’s personality, he seemed solid in that regard.
“Hmm. At that time, it really sucks, and it’s frustrating, and it pisses you off, but once you do it, it’s not a big deal. Your mind gets shattered, right? But as a human, over time, it heals.”
Cha Eun-seong wrinkled his forehead as he spoke.
“Then you get a little stronger. Of course, it shatters again soon after, but once it heals, it’s okay. That’s how it’s been. I still want to be an actor. There are things I have to do.”
To get something, there are things you have to do.
Muyoung quite liked that phrase.
“Is something wrong? Did some asshole say something?”
“Yes, there is. But I think I’m okay now.”
He wanted to keep acting.
He wanted to keep living as a character.
Then he shouldn’t avoid it.
If he faced it, something would break.
‘Whether it’s himself or his trauma.’
And even if he broke, as Cha Eun-seong said, over time, it would heal.
There was no need to be afraid. It’s okay.
“Muyoung, are you ready?”
“Yes, I’m ready!”
“Then let’s get started~”
Muyoung steeled himself and stepped onto the set.
Gyeongmin, who was talking to the staff, rushed over in surprise, but stopped when he saw Muyoung’s smile.
Cha Eun-seong sat down next to the camera to watch.
“Are your shoulders okay? No strain, right?”
“Yes, thank you for worrying.”
“It’s okay…… I’m just glad you’re not hurt.”
Muyoung looked down at the petition, taking a deep breath.
Living as a character.
It meant that Muyoung was that character, and at the same time, it meant he could live any life.
So, there was nothing to fear.
“Let’s go! Ready—!”
At the director’s words, Muyoung rolled up his sleeves.
And placed his hand on the table.
The faint trembling was still there, though less than before.
“Action!”
“Is there no one out there?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
The actor sitting next to Cha Eun-seong delivered his line.
In that moment, the staff, who had been casually watching, gasped.
“What, what’s this?”
“Muyoung’s aura…….”
“Shh!”
The anger blazing in Muyoung’s eyes was so intense that it felt completely different from before.
A rawer, more unfiltered anger.
It was such a pure emotion that it felt like it was being transmitted to others through Muyoung’s breath. Looking into his eyes, their hearts ached as if being squeezed.
“Are all these petitions from the Office of the Inspector-General?”
“……Yes, Your Majesty.”
“If I don’t back down, you’ll all resign?”
“…….”
“If this isn’t a threat, then what is it?”
“Y, Your Majesty, I’m sorry.”
It wasn’t an icy anger.
It was a fiery spirit, like lava that would burn everything it touched.
The supporting actor, unlike before, stumbled over his words. The director felt the natural details coming to life.
‘Ah, this is it.’
What he filmed earlier was just child’s play.
This is the real thing.
“Does it seem like…… I climbed over your backs to get here, so I’m a laughingstock to you?”
The corners of Muyoung’s eyes turned red. Unlike the first take, his eyes were much moister, as if he couldn’t contain his emotions and tears would fall at any moment.
Gulp.
The staff, who had been whispering, froze.
It was a chilling smile. The disregarded king, wanting to show his power, seemed crazed, ready to do anything.
“……My liege.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“I asked if I seemed like a laughingstock to you.”
“Unthinkable, Your Majesty. Please take back your words.”
“But why! Why!”
Crash! Splash—!
At the same time, the king swept away all the petitions. Papers flew everywhere, even outside the set.
One staff member covered their mouth unconsciously.
This, really…….
‘Is this dangerous?’
“Waaaaah!”
He swept the floor wildly, roaring like a beast. His face glistened with what could be tears or sweat. Those watching felt their hearts pounding fiercely.
“You bastards—!”
He growled, lifting the porcelain with all his might.
Crack—!
This time, there was no hesitation.
The porcelain shattered refreshingly on the floor, pieces scattering around Muyoung.
“Haa, haa…….”
Sweat dripped from Muyoung’s heavy breathing onto the floor.
Muyoung, with beast-like eyes, stared into the camera.
The director, meeting his gaze through the screen, snapped back to reality and called cut.
“Okay! Good! Good!”
Only then did the other staff start breathing again.
“Wow, wow……. Muyoung, you’re really insane.”
“I’ve never felt this emotion on set before.”
“This is amazing, really.”
“Muyoung, are you okay?”
“Get a dustpan!”
“Man, the more you do it, the better you get. Muyoung.”
“If we had gone with the earlier take, it would’ve been a shame. Right, Director?”
Everyone chatted as they cleaned up the set.
Muyoung lay face down, wiping away his tears.
‘Ah…….’
He did it.
Though his body was still trembling from the aftermath, he had done it.
What he threw was porcelain, but what broke was a piece of his past memories. He had faced it and overcome it.
Before being an actor, human Ha Muyoung won.
Ah, it feels good.
“Hehe…….”
“Muyoung! Are you okay?”
Gyeongmin approached him, handing over wet wipes.
Muyoung smiled, looking relieved, and wiped his face. Then, he made eye contact with Cha Eun-seong, who was squatting right in front of him.
Clap, clap, clap—
Cha Eun-seong smiled, clapping without saying a word.
Applauding for the first time at the miraculous acting, and for Muyoung’s success, whatever it was.