Thunk!
The sound of a heavy barbell being set down rang out.
Whump, Pop!
Next to it came the sounds of hitting a sandbag, skipping rope, and so on….
With workout noises echoing from every direction, Han Seong‑tae sat in a corner of the gym and looked over the script.
Rustle rustle.
He heard none of the surrounding sounds, focused only on the rustle of turning pages.
[‘Founder of Jeet Kune Do’ complains that your amount of training is insufficient.]
[‘Man of a Thousand Faces’ says not to listen to a guy whose brain is packed only with muscles.]
[‘One Who Made Laughter From Tragedy’ says do what you want and ignore other people’s eyes.]
The Gods of Acting, visible only to Han Seong‑tae, conversed by message.
[‘One Who Defined His Era’ wants you to build muscles that simply look good.]
[‘Founder of Jeet Kune Do’ says muscles are not for display.]
[‘One Who Defined His Era’ blames the ‘Founder of Jeet Kune Do’, saying excess becomes poison.]
Even while Han Seong‑tae stayed still, they brought up this and that among themselves.
Smiling at their messages, Han Seong‑tae exhaled lightly and turned another page.
악인들의 전쟁. (War of Villains)
A film directed by Choi Ye‑chan that set a record of three million for crime‑action.
Starring Ma Dong‑seok, Kim Mu‑cheol, and Kim Gyu‑seong, it drew a fairly decent response from the public.
True to the crime‑action genre, its trademark was refreshing fight scenes, so most roles had to show action.
‘Director Choi Ye‑chan hasn’t told me yet what role I’ll play.’
If the role had been fixed, he would have practiced that part, but Choi Ye‑chan had only told him to wait a bit.
Thanks to that, Han Seong‑tae had no choice but to examine the entire script.
‘I really should start practicing soon.’
With the shooting schedule approaching he felt troubled.
[‘Man of a Thousand Faces’ says instead of worrying you should practice something.]
[‘One Who Defined His Era’ nods, saying understanding every role greatly helps acting.]
[‘Founder of Jeet Kune Do’ says when you don’t know, first try it.]
The Gods of Acting immediately provided an answer, making the worry pointless.
“That’s true.”
Since when had he fretted instead of practicing once a role was decided?
Han Seong‑tae was someone who practiced while others worried.
‘Since returning I’ve thought too much.’
The thought that he must not fail had narrowed his vision.
When you don’t know the answer, trying everything can itself be an answer.
[‘One Who Made Laughter From Tragedy’ advises that if you grasp the overall story, acting gets easier.]
[‘Man of a Thousand Faces’ says when he first acted he practiced every role in the script.]
Having read straight through, he rose from his seat.
He set the script down carefully to one side and took a few steps forward.
‘Do it one by one, one by one.’
He had memorized the contents well enough.
He could act without looking.
“Phew…….”
Closing then opening his eyes, Han Seong‑tae focused on the role he would practice.
The first part was one of the leads in the <War of Villains>, Jang Su‑dong, boss of the Mu‑baekpa.
Having lost his wife to a serial killer, he seeks revenge on the murderer who took his loved one.
“Hah…….”
Han Seong‑tae slowly fell to his knees.
Coming home, he sees his wife bleeding.
Bending over, he clutched her.
“Which… son of a bitch!”
Grinding his teeth, the crime boss vows revenge on the one who killed his wife.
[‘Man of a Thousand Faces’ frowns, saying your acting feels off somewhere.]
[‘One Who Made Laughter From Tragedy’ mutters the clownish feel isn’t alive.]
Han Seong‑tae felt the same.
The role of Jang Su‑dong did not suit him.
Of course, if told to fit it he could manage through practice and effort, but—
‘This role has an owner from the start.’
He gave it up cleanly.
He had tried it just in case, but it was far from him.
“Next….”
What the returned Han Seong‑tae had was time.
There was still plenty before shooting began.
Calmly, he continued practicing.
[‘One Who Defined His Era’ quietly cheers you on.]
[‘Founder of Jeet Kune Do’ says his body is itching and starts dragon flags.]
[‘One Who Made Laughter From Tragedy’ opens the script at your side.]
While the Gods of Acting kept encouraging—
“…….”
A single gaze watched him practice.
“Interesting guy.”
Kim Mu‑cheol mumbled, watching a man sitting in a gym corner.
The one said to have come on Choi Ye‑chan’s recommendation had shown no sign of resting since entering.
After sparring and working out, just when it seemed he might take a break, he began reading the script and rehearsing.
“…Even I’d find that hard.”
Seeing the man, Kim Mu‑cheol wore a curious expression.
When it came to effort, he had confidence he lost to no one.
Yet the sight of this man he’d only met today made him wonder if his own thinking was arrogance.
“Hey there.”
Kim Mu‑cheol grabbed a stuntman about to pass before him.
“Do you know that guy’s name?”
“If you mean him… ah, Seong‑tae?”
“His name’s Seong‑tae?”
“Yes, Han Seong‑tae. But why?”
To the stuntman’s question Kim Mu‑cheol said it was nothing and let him go.
He paid no mind to the uneasy glance the stuntman cast back.
“Han Seong‑tae, huh….”
Watching Han Seong‑tae practice without rest, Kim Mu‑cheol murmured softly.
Hearing he was recommended by Choi Ye‑chan, seeing him practice gave some sense of why.
‘I only met him today, but that sort of dedication doesn’t come from a day or two.’
Han Seong‑tae’s practice was not for show.
If it were for show, he would not practice when no one watched.
To Kim Mu‑cheol, it looked as natural and familiar as if done daily.
‘His action’s not bad either. Might be fun to shoot something together.’
The action he’d shown while sparring Kim Dae‑hyeon wasn’t bad, and above all his practice pleased Kim Mu‑cheol.
Working together someday might be quite interesting.
“Who is it?”
A familiar voice reached his ear as he stared at Han Seong‑tae.
Kim Mu‑cheol’s manager.
Glancing at the direction Kim Mu‑cheol looked, he asked.
“There’s one new guy, Han Seong‑tae.”
At Kim Mu‑cheol’s answer the manager’s eyes rounded.
“If you remember the name, you must like him?”
“He works hard.”
Kim Mu‑cheol said nothing more about Han Seong‑tae.
He did not yet know who or what kind of person Han Seong‑tae was.
What he felt now came only from watching him for about a day.
‘If that’s his real self….’
Maybe something interesting would happen.
Kim Mu‑cheol’s lips curled.
“Our next schedule’s that variety shoot, right?”
“Yeah.”
“Okay. I’ll wash up and come right out.”
At Kim Mu‑cheol’s words the manager nodded.
Kim Mu‑cheol left to wash.
The manager looked toward Han Seong‑tae.
He saw him studying the script and rehearsing.
Not just anyone—Kim Mu‑cheol had shown interest.
That alone made him worth noting.
Kim Mu‑cheol had an eye for people.
“Good to see someone working hard.”
Staring at Han Seong‑tae’s face, he moved on.
They would often meet at Action School from now on.
There was plenty of time to watch.
After Kim Mu‑cheol and the manager left, Han Seong‑tae kept practicing, heedless of surrounding eyes.
Sweat ran down his face, but a faint smile hung there.
[‘Man of a Thousand Faces’ points out you’re clumsy at drawing up emotion.]
Reading the message, Han Seong‑tae nodded.
Days of practicing with the script—
He was realizing in real time how lacking he was.
But unlike his past life, he was not just disappointed.
[‘One Who Made Laughter From Tragedy’ says your diction is weak.]
[‘One Who Defined His Era’ suggests holding a pencil between your molars while rehearsing lines.]
The finest teachers were by his side.
They spotted his shortcomings and told him how to fix them.
“A‑e‑i‑o‑u.”
Han Seong‑tae practiced exactly as they taught.
The Gods of Acting had lived long ago, so their methods were old‑school, but—
‘Pretty old‑fashioned, yet old tricks sometimes work best.’
They were effective.
[‘One Who Defined His Era’ says he can see your posture correcting.]
[‘Founder of Jeet Kune Do’ laughs with pride, saying exercise is a cure‑all.]
[‘Man of a Thousand Faces’ says your acting is a bit better, but you still need to grow used to many emotions.]
Slowly but surely, Han Seong‑tae’s acting was growing.
‘Acting is so much fun.’
He had always felt stuck; now his own growth delighted him.
Because it meant he could act even more.
“Hey… don’t you ever get tired?”
“No. How could I get tired of something this fun?”
Han Seong‑tae shook his head firmly.
To him practice was natural and enjoyable.
And now his acting improved in proportion to practice.
Even a tiny change held great meaning simply because there was change.
“Ugh… fine. Whatever. What are you doing this weekend?”
“Weekend?”
“Yeah, this weekend.”
“If it’s this weekend, I’m going to Dongmyo Market.”
At his answer Kim Min‑seok’s eyebrows lifted.
“You usually hole up at home—why Dongmyo Market?”
“I need to buy something.”
“Buy something?”
“Yeah.”
Seeing Kim Min‑seok still not understanding, Han Seong‑tae shrugged.
[‘One Who Defined His Era’ listens closely to your words.]
He also had a promise with the Gods of Acting, so Han Seong‑tae planned to visit Dongmyo Market.
The poor man’s department store.
There, he figured, would be many items to satisfy the Gods of Acting.
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