Chapter 181: The End
-Who’s the ending guy???
-Finally, the extra episodes start ㅠㅠㅠㅠ Only 7 episodes left ㅜㅜ You made my life impossible, and now where are you trying to go? ㅠㅠㅠ Broadcasting company guys, get a clue ㅅㅂㅠㅠ Do one more extra episode ㅠ
-(Urgent) Looking for the ending guy’s name. Hong sibling!!!!
-Seems like a rookie? A face I’m seeing for the first time^^..
-It’s Yuchan, right? Looking at his clean filmography, it seems like this is his debut work
-Wow, debuting with Blade’s Path? That’s amazing. Who starts their first work with a drama that has over 30% viewership?
-ㄴㄴㄴ Yesterday it was 37.7% What a crazy dramaㄷㄷ
-If you stop a person on the street, more than three in ten are watching it liveㅋㅋㅋㅋ
-Yuchan… I’ll engrave it in my head and heart…
-Real name?? The name itself is like from a romance novelㅋㅋㅋ
-Did you see his eyes at the ending yesterday?ㅋ I was seduced?ㅋ
-Are you crazy?;; That was meant for me;;
-Ha Muyoung, Yuchan, and Kang Bora all graduated from the same acting academyㅎㅎ They’re friends. Yuchan and Kang Bora also went to the same universityㅎㅎ Kang Bora is currently on a leave of absence due to a project, but Yuchan is still attending.
-???? Crazy??? So this is what they mean by birds of a feather?
-Wow, this is amazing. It’s like the Avengers, isn’t it??
-The ending!!! Hurry up and upload the ending clip!!! I want to make eye contact with Yuchan again ㅠㅠ Sickguk, get to work!!
-J Company is definitely smartㅋㅋ They’ve already taken care of the Dongguk controversyㅋㅋ No matter who the CEO is, go all out for Blade’s Path. You’re truly a lifesaver.
-Real friends with Muyoung? Amazing bb That’s why the impact was so good. The acting was perfect, like chewing it all up.
“……I’m alive.”
The producer squatted in the corner, tightly gripping his phone.
A colleague at the broadcasting station had sent the compiled viewership ratings. It was a close call with the edits, but the reaction itself wasn’t bad.
Rather, the impact of Yuchan’s appearance at the end seemed stronger than usual.
“Producer-nim, what did they say upstairs?”
“They said it’ll hit 40% soon.”
“Wow. As expected!”
“We’ll have to see until the finale.”
“If we keep doing what we’re doing, there won’t be any problems at all.”
“Haaah. Anyway, I think I’ll go to the sauna for a bit. I don’t remember properly washing since last week.”
They had sacrificed not just their souls but their entire beings.
With only about twenty hours left for editing after reshooting the parts Kihyeon messed up.
Rushing between the set and the broadcasting station, they were so busy. It felt like their socks smelled of rot.
“Will an hour be enough?”
“……I’ll be back in thirty minutes.”
The place they were at was an outdoor set.
After getting through the urgent parts, they could breathe a sigh of relief. More than half of the remaining 7 episodes were already filmed, and today was the day to finally work on the climax of the project.
“Eun-seong should be arriving in about that long, right?”
“Yes. We’ll have everything ready so that as soon as he arrives and gets his makeup done, we can start.”
“It’s been tough. I’ll be back.”
The producer said that and looked at Muyoung and Yuchan, who were goofing around in the corner. Maybe it’s because they’re friends? The atmosphere on set is definitely brighter than when Kihyeon was here.
Of course, the work quality is much better too.
“Hey~ Ending Guy~”
“Here we go again.”
“What did your parents say? They must be really happy, right?”
“From morning to night, even the distant relatives are calling, and they even hung my banner in the store.”
“Ahahaha!”
“And Mom said to get your autograph. She’s going to hang it in the store.”
It wasn’t just any drama, it was <Blade’s Path>.
As soon as Yuchan’s face appeared on TV, his parents cheered and fell backwards. Thinking about the commotion that day, a smile crept onto his lips again.
“They said to come and eat.”
“Oh. I’ll definitely come if I have time.”
“Yeah. I didn’t know drama filming would be this tough.”
Despite joining not long ago, it was already exhausting. Not only were the days and nights reversed, but constantly filming this scene and then that scene was enough to drive anyone crazy.
Can’t sleep properly, can’t eat properly.
Hearing from the staff that the <Blade’s Path> set was actually one of the better ones in terms of welfare almost made him gasp.
“How did you manage this?”
And this is already your second drama, right?
Muyoung shrugged his shoulders and focused on the script.
“It just worked out.”
“Amazing. You too.”
“Hmm. Should we practice this part together when Eun-seong arrives?”
At Muyoung’s words, Yuchan paused for a moment.
Being physically tired was one thing, but what was truly uncomfortable was something else entirely. It was Cha Eun-seong.
“But aren’t you scared of Cha Eun-seong?”
“What do you mean?”
A genuinely clueless expression. Even though Cha Eun-seong seemed stiff on the outside, he was truly soft on the inside.
“He looks sharp, and his personality seems too sharp.”
“Really? Ah. Want a tip? He loves strawberry lattes. Imagine him drinking one, and you won’t be scared at all?”
Yuchan frowned, indicating it was nonsense. Strawberry lattes? That Cha Eun-seong? He looks like the type to down espresso shots.
“Are you talking about me?”
“Oh! You’re no yangban!”
“Heuk!”
Suddenly, Cha Eun-seong’s voice was heard. Yuchan was so startled he almost choked. He had arrived earlier than expected, wearing a hat pulled down low, making him look even more menacing.
“Ah, ah, hello! Senior!”
“Eun-seong’s here!”
“Ah! Just a moment!”
The staff bustled to welcome him. The atmosphere was more subdued than usual. Muyoung asked, as if nothing was wrong,
“Are you in a bad mood today?”
“It’s the day I die, so how could I be happy?”
“Ahah. That’s true.”
“You look happy?”
Cha Eun-seong looked down at Muyoung and asked.
Muyoung lightly clasped his hands together as if praying and murmured, with a very cheeky, affectionate tone.
“How could I be? After today, it’ll be hard to see you. I’m so, so sad.”
Jo Gwang-jo pushed for the Hyanggyokwa, but the meritorious subjects (hungupa) opposed it. It was obvious that the Hyanggyokwa would end up being used as a means to appoint Jo Gwang-jo’s faction (new Jinjasarim).
In a situation where both sides were sensitively checking each other, Jo Gwang-jo swung his sword first under the guise of reorganizing the meritorious subjects.
Privately speaking, since those who contributed to the Jungjong coup were to be newly selected, this was no different from openly taking away their rice bowls and shaking their leashes.
In the end, it led to the Gimyo Sahwa. Disaster befell the Sarim. Their leader, Jo Gwang-jo, naturally had to lay down his neck.
“What if I can’t see you after being exiled?”
Today was the last scene where Jungjong and Jo Gwang-jo would be filmed together. It wasn’t a complete ending, and they would continue individual shoots, but either way, Muyoung and Eun-seong wouldn’t have overlapping days after this.
“Anyway, the words. If so, don’t send me.”
“That’s not possible. You have to go and receive the poison.”
At Muyoung’s joke, Cha Eun-seong frowned. He sighed without a word and turned towards the coordinator calling him.
‘Look at that. Is that the attitude of a normal person?’
Yuchan stiffened like a rock and followed his gaze. Whether he noticed or not, Muyoung hummed a tune and smiled.
“It seems like he’s really going to miss you. He might cry at the wrap-up party later.”
“Huh? Him?”
“He clearly looks like it.”
“……Where does he look like that?”
Where does Cha Eun-seong look like he’s going to miss him? Wanting a clear answer, Muyoung couldn’t respond as he was focused on the script.
And a little while later. After about thirty minutes had passed?
“Muyoung! Let’s get ready for standby?”
At the staff’s words, Muyoung stood up from his seat. Yuchan was also in a scene that would be caught at the edge of the frame.
Cha Eun-seong was wearing hemp clothes, his hair disheveled, with scab marks all over him.
“It looks like he’s already been flogged three or four times.”
“Shut up.”
Eun-seong stood stiffly as Muyoung circled around him, looking curious from every angle.
“Ah, but it’s really a shame. Hyung. Right?”
“……”
Eun-seong briefly glanced at Muyoung.
“It’s the first time I’ve been in a drama for so long, and with so many things happening, it’s really sad to think it’s ending.”
From Cha Eun-seong fighting in a bar to daily threats of the drama being canceled. After frantically defending it, what returned was the viewers’ passionate love and the career-worthy performance of the work.
And countless connections.
“Thanks for all the help on set. Let’s meet often. I’ll treat you to something delicious.”
At Muyoung’s words, Cha Eun-seong let out a small laugh.
Who’s treating whom? You little brat.
“Muyoung! Eun-seong! Let’s go for standby!”
“Yes!”
At the staff’s words, the two headed to their respective positions.
Muyoung went up the stairs, Eun-seong to the floor.
Yuchan was looking down from among the ministers.
The producer, who had rushed over from the sauna, had wet hair, but no one paid attention.
“Get ready! We’re rolling!”
“Turn up the lights a bit more.”
“Ready—!”
Eun-seong lowered his head.
“Action!”
Minister of War Yi Jang-gon and Interrogator Hong-suk stood on the grand hall.
They looked down at Jo Gwang-jo’s head with stern yet subtly probing eyes.
“Jo Gwang-jo, lift your head.”
His face was flushed from drinking. He opened his blurry eyes and looked up at Yi Jang-gon. He had been close with Jo Gwang-jo.
Now, such a person was interrogating him?
“Jang-gon… Yi Jang-gon…”
“Watch your words. I am the interrogator, and you are the accused.”
“I am deeply saddened… How could this happen?”
“Shut your mouth!”
As Interrogator Hong-suk shouted instead, his eyes flashed with anger. And, as if to show off, he shouted even louder at him.
“You, what are you to interrogate me like this!”
“He’s completely lost it.”
Even as he said that, his gaze subtly turned towards the back.
Jungjong was watching. Hong sibling slipped a note inside the curtain. Though the figure couldn’t be seen from afar, the interrogators knew.
The more Jo Gwang-jo acted like this, the faster his end would come.
Unable to bear it, Yi Jang-gon pleaded.
“Shut up!”
“This cannot be! His Majesty must have some misunderstanding!”
They had faced each other three times a day, close as family. Now, seeing him like this after such a sudden change, he looked incredulous.
He didn’t know at all.
Though they thought they were looking in the same direction, how had their lord come to hold different thoughts?
From what point had Jungjong’s heart turned?
“The royal decree has been issued.”
Yi Jang-gon cut off Jo Gwang-jo’s words and unfolded the letter.
“Jo Gwang-jo is to be executed, and the Hyanggyokwa is to be abolished.”
It meant to administer poison.
Jo Gwang-jo hesitated for a moment, then leaped onto the grand hall as if in denial.
“This cannot be—!”
“Seize him! Quickly!”
“Clearly, something else is written here! Yi Jang-gon!”
“Stop it! His Majesty is watching!”
Yi Jang-gon pleaded between clenched teeth.
This sight would only further provoke Jungjong’s anger. At his words, Jo Gwang-jo turned around like a madman.
Busy ministers moved aside the curtain.
“Your Majesty—!”
“No!”
“Seize him!”
Jo Gwang-jo ran barefoot towards that side. Though pressed to the ground by the soldiers, he didn’t care. His voice, desperately calling for Jungjong, cracked.
“Your Majesty—!”
A pause—
Then, Jungjong suddenly stopped, turned his head back.
An indescribably complex expression appeared on his face.
“Execute him, but send him into exile.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
What were his intentions? Was it to temporarily spare his life, or perhaps to deny him the honor of dying in the palace?
The royal secretariat bowed and hurried away.
That was their final moment.
“Okay! Cut!”
The producer, focused on the screen, signaled with his hand.
Now, only individual shots remained. Muyoung turned around and approached Eun-seong.
Even though it was acting, being dragged on the floor must have hurt.
“Are you okay, hyung?”
“No. I’m not.”
“Wow. Lucky. You worked hard.”
Muyoung affectionately massaged his shoulders. Watching this, the staff simultaneously sighed. If only Muyoung were always on set……?
“Aigo. My head already hurts.”
“Who can handle Cha Eun-seong? Really.”
“Can’t we just call Muyoung?”
“……I wish we could.”
Muyoung took Cha Eun-seong’s arm and waved to the still photographer. To commemorate the final breath of the two leads of <Blade’s Path>.
“We’re shooting!”
“It’s going into the making film. Wave your hands.”
“One, two, three!”
Click—!
Unlike Muyoung’s bright smile, Cha Eun-seong had a frown. Though the harsh makeup made it seem natural, those with keen eyes noticed.
That was the expression of Cha Eun-seong being truly sad.