小火星

Lee Sang-man, grinning maliciously, blew out a long puff of cigarette smoke toward the close-up camera, close enough to touch if he reached out. The thick smoke covered the camera, then vanished.

The expression on the previously intense face of Lee Sang-man face had changed.

His eerie grin was replaced with a rigid, emotionless face. On the monitor Director Kim Do-hee was watching, Lee Sang-man’s face filled the screen. Despite the blotches from the black soot, splashes of red blood from Professor Kim added a strange vitality.

Director Kim Do-hee stared intently at Lee Sang-man in the monitor, holding her breath.

‘That’s right, the acting is exceptional. Such facial distortions and emotional changes like a joker. It gives me chills every time I see it. Sh*t.’

Compared to his first appearance, Lee Sang-man now seemed like a madman. The drugs had devoured his sanity. But occasionally, even in his madness, Lee Sang-man showed glimpses of his past self.

For a fleeting moment.

Even if he could no longer escape the swamp of addiction.

‘The innate desire to break free, the rationality wanting to survive, breaks through in those fleeting moments.’

Even if she had written it herself, Director Kim Do-hee felt chills seeing something beyond that. How could someone express such contrasting emotions?

‘There’s a mix of malice and loneliness in his eyes. It’s even more absurd how harmonious they are.’

Such expressions weren’t written in the script. It was purely brought out by actor Kang Woojin.

Yet, the eyes conveyed more despair than hope.

Everyone on the set could sense the end of Lee Sang-man’s journey. The portrayal suggested an impending death just through his gaze. Surely, the audience watching Lee Sang-man on the big screen would feel the same.

Then,

– Swoosh.

Lee Sang-man, who had once again taken a long drag of his cigarette, downed another shot of soju.

“……”

With his face buried in the monitor, Director Kim Do-hee shouted into the megaphone.

“Cut! OKOK!! Great – That was perfect!”

With satisfaction evident, Director Kim Do-hee rushed into the shooting zone.

“Woojin! The tension was insane right now. Let’s do one more just like that, this time focusing on the front.”

“Yes, understood, Director.”

The makeup team quickly approached Woojin, who had instantly rid himself of Lee Sang-man’s aura. They needed to adjust his makeup for the re-shoot.

Taking a relieved breath internally, he thought,

‘Whoa, that was close. That brick was much lighter than I thought; I almost flung it too hard.‘

The brick that had killed Professor Kim was actually made of styrofoam by the prop team.

‘I need to apply more strength when holding it. If it goes flying when I throw it, it’ll definitely be an NG.’

At that moment, Park Pan-seo, who had cleaned off his blood makeup, approached Woojin.

“Woojin.”

“Yes, Professor.”

“When you’re hitting my head on the ground, after the third hit, how about grabbing my hair and lifting my face up to check?”

Suddenly, Woojin, looking at Park Pan-seo, asked back.

“You mean to check if you’re dead or alive?”

“Yeah, something like that.”

Park Pan-seo nodded and turned to Director Kim Do-hee.

“I thought it might be more impactful to have Lee Sang-man take a quick look at my face right before I die. Would that be okay?”

“Sure. Sounds good. Let’s go with that for the next take.”

“Okay. And Woojin, when you come in from behind me…”

Park Pan-seo discussed several aspects of the previous scene with Kang Woojin. It wasn’t so much a teaching vibe, but more of adjusting to each other’s opinions to get a better shot.

Watching this, Director Kim Do-hee smiled subtly.

‘He’s always been ambitious about his scenes… But it seems Sir is quite excited. Moreover, he doesn’t see Woojin as a newcomer, but as a fellow actor.’

Indeed, Park Pan-seo had previously mentioned learning from Kang Woojin.

“When Lee Sang-man is emotionally fluctuating, how do you quickly transition in and out of those feelings? Do you have a set starting point in advance?”

“…No, not really.”

“Then how?”

Adding a touch of show-off here.

“I just visualize it and let it flow through my body.”

“…Is it that simple?”

“Yes.”

“Hmm. I’m learning a lot from you. Please continue to do well this time.”

It felt great. Woojin was deeply immersed in the sweetness of being acknowledged. While he had received much recognition in the past, affirmation related to his acting was the most cherished.

‘Wow, the sense of achievement is overwhelming.’

It was a kind of addiction, completely different from Lee Sang-man’s. With that, Kang Woojin and Park Pan-seo resumed shooting. The scenes became more raw and realistic, but the quality was impeccable. Park Pan-seo’s evolution, combined with Woojin’s increasingly vivid portrayal of Lee Sang-man through repeated takes.

“You guys might get boiled alive. You’re destined to be killed anyway.”

The cut and action proceeded several times. As it went on, the madness in Lee Sang-man’s character intensified, and Woojin’s immersive acting left the staff in awe.

And then,

“That’s right, this is what I wanted.”

Director Kyotaro, who had been watching Kang Woojin’s performance from the beginning, found himself standing up.

‘I made the right choice coming to see this in person. There’s a vast difference between seeing this on screen and witnessing it live.’

No, from the moment Woojin began acting, he felt this way. Although he wore a mask that covered his face, the sparkle in his eyes was clear.

‘He is a rookie actor, with a cameo role, yet his acting shuts the mouths of all the great actors in Korea and the entire crew. His performance is so powerful that it’s captivating.’

Director Kyotaro, with a discerning eye, glanced around the entire set and then fixed his gaze on Director Kim Do-hee. He was eager.

‘I want to record that acting right now.’

The rookie, who had been in minor roles until now, held a promise in Kyotaro’s eyes: to shake up the Japanese acting world alongside the numerous Japanese actors.

Director Kyotaro then lowered his gaze to look at author Akari on his left.

With her glasses perched on her nose,

“…”

Unlike Kyotaro, Akari remained seated but was anything but calm. Why? Because her pupils were significantly dilated.

“Oh my God…”

Akari whispered in Japanese. Kang Woojin’s acting was something she had never seen before.

‘Experience? Intensity? Lack? No, none of those. Nothing is lacking. It’s overflowing. How does he possess such depth?’

Akari, who had created numerous characters, saw in Woojin the epitome of the ideal character she had always hoped to bring to life.

At that moment,

“Author.”

Director Kyotaro whispered to Akari,

“Now that you’ve seen it firsthand, how do you feel?”

Unable to tear her eyes away from Kang Woojin, Akari answered as if in a trance,

“… Let’s talk about it later.”

She didn’t want to be disturbed.

A few hours later,

The sun that had been up during the repeated shoots, began to set. But the fervor of the ‘Drug Dealer’ filming was only growing hotter.

“Water truck! Make it rain!”

“OK!”

The location was the same as where Professor Kim had been brutally killed. However, the props and ambiance were different. As the sun set, it became slightly darker, and a water truck was ready, reminiscent of Lee Sang-man’s first appearance.

And then,

“Extras, get ready!”

“Yes! Here! Gather this way!”

The extras, playing Lee Sang-man’s subordinates in black suits, were added. About ten in total. Among them was an actor playing Lee Sang-man’s right-hand man. They were all armed with sharp sashimi knives.

This scene would mark the end of Lee Sang-man’s journey.

A gruesome ending was planned. According to the script, after Lee Sang-man kills Professor Kim, Jeong Seong-hoon cannot stand watching Lee Sang-man’s increasing madness. Lee Sang-man, who had been on the edge but still within control, goes completely off the rails after killing Professor Kim; he became uncontrollable, no different from a wild beast.

On top of that, he spent half of his day intoxicated with drugs.

Lee Sang-man had already gone beyond the point of self-control. On the other hand, the power of Lee Sang-man’s gang had grown at least twice from the past. Jeong Seong-hoon decided that this couldn’t go on, especially considering his own life was at risk. Thus, he decided to eliminate Lee Sang-man.

Of course, he didn’t intend to do it himself.

The target was Lee Sang-man’s right-hand man. Calling him over, Jeong Seong-hoon subtly points out Lee Sang-man’s recent issues while also tempting him with the prospect of ruling together once Lee Sang-man is out of the picture. The right-hand man quickly agrees, especially since Lee Sang-man was not in the best condition lately, acting more like a drug-crazed lunatic than the fierce beast he once was.

Now was the perfect time to strike.

Soon, the right-hand man conspires with Jeong Seong-hoon and sets a trap for Lee Sang-man. Jeong Seong-hoon arranges a meeting with Lee Sang-man, citing discussions related to the domestic market in Korea rather than Japan.

The location was the same warehouse by the port where Professor Kim met his end.

On that fateful day, heavy rain poured incessantly. The sticky humidity and dampness filled the car.

“…”

Kang Woojin, looking more gaunt than before, sat in the back seat. His eyes stared blankly into space, lifeless, like a mindless doll. His focus was somewhere else, having already fully embraced Lee Sang-man’s persona.

Then,

“Hi- Action!”

Director Kim Do-hee signaled. Immediately, Lee Sang-man lowered his wandering eyes and, with slightly trembling hands, retrieved a pack of cigarettes from his pocket. He loved the taste of cigarettes.

“Hoo-”

Maybe because of the drugs he took earlier or perhaps due to the sound of the rain pounding on the car, Lee Sang-man took a deep drag from his cigarette, feeling the smoke circulating throughout his body.

At that moment,

-Thunk.

The car’s back door opened. With the sound of heavy rain, the right-hand man with a large umbrella said,

“Boss, Jeong Seong-hoon has arrived.”

Lee Sang-man, who had been leaning against his seat, struggled to turn his head.

“…”

He didn’t say anything. Or rather, he couldn’t. He felt weak. His body wasn’t the same anymore. The elasticity of his flesh was gone, and his muscles had deteriorated immensely. Perhaps, merely standing was all he could manage. His pain was evident on his face as the camera captured it from the front.

-Swoosh.

Somehow, Lee Sang-man was still moving. The only thing driving him was his barely remaining sense of purpose and the position he held as the boss. Yet, the little bit of rationality was on the brink of being consumed by his craving for drugs.

Then, slowly, Lee Sang-man reached out from under the umbrella.

The heavy rain pelted his frail hand. This scene was a stark contrast to his initial appearance.

The dozens of staff members watching Lee Sang-man felt a chill run down their spine.

‘His aura now is 180 degrees different from when he first appeared. It’s a heartbreaking transformation, but his acting is insane.’

‘Really… Every single move draws attention. One of the best characters ever.’

Some were lost in admiration,

“This scene… it’s breathtaking.”

while others covered their mouths in astonishment. At that moment, Lee Sang-man, with his hand outstretched outside the umbrella, whispered,

“It’s going to be cold.”

The expression on the face of the right-hand man holding the umbrella hardened.

“Are you talking about the sea?”

With a drained smile and death in his eyes, Lee Sang-man responds,

“Yeah. The sea.”

“You’ve lost a lot of weight.”

“Have I?”

“Yes.”

Lee Sang-man, lowering his hand, looked at his wet hand. Someone chuckled. It reminded them of a similar scene they had witnessed before.

“Let’s finish this damn thing and go drink.”

Lee Sang-man and his men moved towards the warehouse. The downpour intensified, hampering visibility. Lee Sang-man took out his cigarette pack and slowly scanned the area around the warehouse. The camera, from behind him, also focused on the warehouse.

Nothing. Jeong Seong-hoon, who was supposed to be there, was nowhere in sight.

The camera zoomed in again, this time on Lee Sang-man’s profile. As he exhaled a long puff of smoke, he spoke in a faint voice, addressing his right-hand man.

“Has he disappeared, or was he never here to begin with?”

“…”

Lee Sang-man remained calm. He wasn’t the fierce beast from before, nor a crazed lunatic. He was just a junkie who had given up everything, sensing his impending tragic end.

“He was never here.”

“Thank you for everything, boss.”

“Stop with the formalities. It’s irritating.”

The right-hand man lowered the umbrella he was holding, and almost simultaneously, about ten other men did the same. Within moments, they were all drenched in the pouring rain. Soon after, Lee Sang-man looked up at the pouring rain and slowly placed the wet cigarette in his mouth.

At that moment.

– Thud!!

One of the burly subordinates thrust something into Lee Sang-man’s abdomen. However, Lee Sang-man didn’t even flinch. He just stared at the man with a slackened gaze. Despite Lee Sang-man’s weakened state, the burly man felt terror, and took shaky steps backward, his hands trembling.

Lee Sang-man glanced down at the sashimi knife that had been stuck in his belly.

It was a familiar knife.

“Little bastard. Why did you leave it halfway?”

It was the sashimi knife he had once given as a gift, one that had been held up to Jeong Seong-hoon’s eye. Pulling it out from his stomach with a swift move, Lee Sang-man flung it towards the burly man.

“Stick it in again, properly.”

Perhaps realizing the gravity of the situation, the right-hand man shouted at the subordinates.

“Finish him off!”

Hesitating only for a moment, they all charged at Lee Sang-man. The camera panned out quickly, capturing the scene in a flurry. The distinct sounds of stabbing and slashing weren’t audible over the chaos; only the sound of pounding rain hitting the ground could be heard. However, where Lee Sang-man stood, the rainwater turned red.

And then.

-Thunk!

Lee Sang-man, having been stabbed multiple times, fell to his knees. His abdomen was a bloody mess, oozing red. Blood surged from the wounds. The right-hand man kicked the weakened Lee Sang-man down.

“…Ugh…”

As Lee Sang-man hit the ground, blood flowed from his mouth. At that moment, the right-hand man scattered something around Lee Sang-man. It was equipment used by Lee Sang-man, a junkie, including transparent crystals, or rather, diamond packets (TL: Type of drugs).

“Ugh… cough.”

Lee Sang-man’s vision blurred as he lay sprawled out. Despite his condition, he began to crawl. Inch by inch, he strained every last ounce of his remaining life. He had only one thing in sight: a syringe. Even with death imminent, he dragged himself, zombie-like, and picked up the syringe. His hands shook uncontrollably, but he managed to raise it.

Then.

-Stab.

He injected it. Watching him, his right-hand man muttered under his breath,

“Idiot.”

Lee Sang-man began to laugh.

“Heh, hehehe.”

He was confused, blurring the lines between reality and impending death. The sensation of death taking over his body and the feeling of the drug coursing through his veins weren’t all that different.

To him, the effects of the drug and death were indistinguishable.

The problem was.

“Hehehe- uhehe.”

The syringe he had injected was empty. He had simply added another hole to his battered body. With that, Lee Sang-man shivered briefly at death’s doorstep and murmured his last words.

“This mulberry taste….. it’s good, f*ck.” (TL: Drug flavor probably)

With that, Lee Sang-man’s heart stopped.

Later,

Director Kyotaro and author Akari left the ‘Drug Dealer’ set and were on their way to Seoul in a minivan. As planned, they didn’t meet Kang Woojin. They wanted to, but couldn’t.

They didn’t want to disturb his remarkable performance.

“…”

“…”

The atmosphere inside the minivan was heavy. Both Director Kyotaro and author Akari remained silent, either staring out of the window or lost in thought. One thing was common between them: they both felt a constant chill.

About 30 minutes into the silent journey,

“Author .”

For the first time, Japanese was spoken. It was Director Kyotaro who broke the silence.

“Having seen actor Kang Woojin… what role comes to mind?”

Akari, who had been gazing out of the window, slowly took off her glasses. Then she recalled Kang Woojin. After seeing Woojin’s portrayal of ‘Lee Sang-man,’ she had a particular role deeply imprinted in her mind.

“…Kiyoshi.”

Hearing her response, Director Kyotaro smiled faintly.

“That’s the same role I had in mind.”

It was one of the main roles in ‘The Eerie Sacrifice of a Stranger.’

****

Another chapter will be released either in a few hours or, if I am unable to complete it, it will be released with tomorrow’s chapter.

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