Superstar From Age 0

Chapter 53

The filming location was an outdoor set. There were huge trees and green grass.

There was a neat running track that looked inviting to run on, and a chroma key was installed all around the set.

They really make everything, dont they? Right, Seo-jun?

Dad, it looks just like Central Park.

Lee Min-joon nodded as he looked around again at Seo-juns words. It was exactly like Central Park, where they had filmed for the first time. It seemed like they had copied it from a photo.

But why is there a chroma key?

Theyre planning to composite this place and the reservoir with CG. It would be a waste to make the reservoir too.

The two of them were startled by a sudden voice.

They turned their heads and saw a blonde woman smiling brightly. Lee Min-joon and Seo-jun greeted the woman warmly.

Hello! Rachel!

Ahahaha. Jun, hi? Hello.

Hello.

Rachel Hill waved her hand at the two of them. The three of them sat on the chairs prepared in the actors waiting room near the outdoor set. Seo-jun asked.

If the background is Central Park anyway, why cant they film there?

Then the content would be leaked, wouldnt it? Everyone is curious whether William is a hero or a villain, but if they blurt out the lines there, what would happen?

Thats true.

Can I join in?

Another person joined in the conversation with Rachel Hill. It was Evan Block. The three actors and Lee Min-joon sat on the chairs and chatted.

Evan, youre filming the action scenes from the day after tomorrow, right? Can I go and watch?

Theres nothing to see, though. The background and the extras are all chroma key. And the action scenes are not filmed by me. Most of them are done by stuntmen. I just pose for the close-up shots or the bust shots. Wearing a tight suit with sensors all over.

Evan sighed heavily. They all laughed at his expression. They remembered the video of the CG work of Shadowman 1 that was floating on the internet.

Shadowmans attacks are mostly CG work too, so theres nothing to see for real.

I still want to go!

Can I go too?

Fine. But you have to get permission from the director, not me.

Okay! Ill ask!

Seo-jun ran to the director who was walking over there. The director agreed without hesitation.

He said its okay!

The director seems to really like Jun.

Ehehehe.

They laughed at Seo-jun, who didnt deny it. Why? I really like the director too.

Lee Min-joon took out the snacks he had brought for Seo-jun from his bag and shared them with the three actors. Rachel, who was holding the snack and smiling cheerfully, opened her mouth.

By the way, I heard you had an NG. Evan, Ive seen you reshoot because you didnt like it, but NG? Thats surprising.

Ah. That.

Evan clenched his jaw. He should have told them in advance. He had that scene today too.

I was shocked by Juns change of atmosphere in an instant.

Atmosphere?

Its hard to explain in words Youll see when you watch it. You better brace yourself.

Rachel Hill rolled her eyes at Evan Blocks advice and looked at Seo-jun. Seo-jun, who was focused on eating the snack his dad gave him, tilted his head at Rachels gaze.

Ryan Will, the director, came to where the four of them were sitting. The two actors went to the dressing room to change their clothes, and Lee Min-joon went to answer a phone call from Kim Hee-sang.

Ryan Will sat down in front of Seo-jun.

Todays shooting is the most important one.

I know!

This scene will be the turning point.

Ryan Will opened his mouth with a serious expression.

Its up to you to set the mood. Will you be a hero or a villain?

Seo-jun nodded heavily.

The shooting began. Cameras installed everywhere were focused on Seo-jun and Evan.

Seo-jun and Evan took their positions. Evan did some light stretching as usual. Seo-jun tapped his feet,

[(Good)The elegant steps of the cat baron are activated.]

He touched the power in his chest.

[(Evil)The lonely scent of a blooming flower is activated.]

Seo-jun balanced the magic and the goodness that flowed from his body without breathing.

Dont be swayed by the two mana, keep your balance. Hoo. He exhaled softly. He was now able to control his strength and weakness.

-Ready, action!

A blonde woman ran over from the other side. It was Belle Natra. Belle smiled and raised her voice as she saw the child.

Where were you?! Ive been looking for you for a long time.

Belle, who had lived longer than him, must have known. The child looked at Belle silently. Belle felt something strange and glared at Mac behind the child. Mac waved his hands frantically.

Then Belle noticed the pendant around Macs neck. Belles eyes widened. That. Why is that? Belles gaze moved down to Macs feet.

The shadow, which had a short temper, twitched first at the constant gaze. Belles eyes sparkled.

You.

As Belle was about to open her mouth,

Im adopted.

Mac and Belle were startled and looked at the child. The child took his eyes off Belle and looked at the reservoir.

My siblings all had amazing abilities. I was the only one who was ordinary.

Belle, who had grown up with the child, didnt know what to do. The child turned his head and looked at Mac.

His eyes, which had been shining brightly, were now shrouded in darkness.

Macs forehead wrinkled. Something was wrong. He felt something strange.

Macs shadow, which had pretended to be ordinary, shuddered.

Danger. Danger. Danger!

My father, who adopted me, seemed disappointed in me and didnt say a word to me. I didnt want to fall behind. I wanted to be loved by my father. So I did my best for my beloved father. But because they were different from me in race, the result was not satisfactory.

The child, no, his eyes glowed fiercely.

"But what is this?

At the childs lowered voice, Mac swallowed his saliva. Belle sent a signal somewhere, restless. He twisted his head.

My life was here. Look over there.

He pointed his finger at a happy child holding his parents hands. Anyone could see they were a happy family.

I could have lived like that too. I had parents who loved me regardless of my abilities. You saw them, didnt you? They begged me to stay alive, no matter where.

He laughed bitterly. His biological parents were still waiting for him, still loving him.

But Mac felt his aura before he understood his words.

This is!

Macs expression hardened in an instant. It was an unforgettable energy. Macs shadow flickered.

But my father ruined it.

Natrah!

Mac shouted, and he smiled. Bell gasped and grabbed the boys shoulder. How did he know?!

But Bell couldnt say anything to his hollow voice. Bells hand trembled.

Thats right. Natrah.

Seo-jun moved.

[The (Evil) Lonely Flowers Sad Scent is activated.]

[The (Evil) Mines Basic Breathing is activated.]

[The (Good) Cat Barons Graceful Steps is deactivated.]

He put more, more power into his magic.

I am the son of King Natrah, Jin Natrah.

Evil burst out of Jin Natrahs body. Mac stepped back from the cold energy that seemed to devour him.

Bell let go of Jin Natrahs shoulder without realizing it. The people around them collapsed from his energy.

Jin Natrah twisted his head and ignored Bell, who was looking around in panic.

The man who stood up to his energy, the man with the wavering shadow.

I know who you are.

Damn it! What are you doing!

Mac yelled at the sight of the falling people.

He remembered a year ago. The buildings and structures that collapsed from Natrahs ships attack. The people who bled and fell. And the woman who cried after losing her son.

It was a memory engraved in his heart like a trauma. He clenched his fist until it bled. His shadow moved in response.

Jin Natrah saw it and spoke with a smile.

As the human said. Mac. No, Shadowman.

He was the man who stopped us five years ago?! But that pendant that shadow! Bells head spun.

Mac looked at Jin Natrah with blank eyes. Jin Natrahs face, the face of a ten-year-old boy who should have grown up with his parents love, twisted for a moment.

You should have defeated Natrah. And.

A tear fell from the boy who lost his happy life with his parents. It ran down his cheek.

You should have saved me.

-Cut! OK!

Director Ryan shouted. But no one moved. They just stared at Seo-jun.

The mourners were surprised by the sudden change of atmosphere. They thought it was amazing enough. But it wasnt. A more intense acting unfolded here.

Seo-jun quickly deactivated his evil skills and activated [The Elfs Basic Breathing]. Then he waved his right hand.

[The (Good) Lower Angels Fan-Lower is activated.]

[The Debt of a Low-Rank Angel Low]

A warm wind blew.

It had a certain chance of curing the targets from their abnormal states.

It had a strong effect on magic below the lowest rank.

The warm wind from Seo-juns hand woke up some people who were depressed by the smell, and the others who were mesmerized by the gentle breeze came to their senses.

When the magic that some people felt disappeared, Seo-jun deactivated his ability and sighed.

The skill of evil fragrance was too hard to use. Finding a suitable ability was secondary, but the aftermath of using it was also troublesome.

Im glad I found a good ability.

With [The Debt of a Low-Rank Angel], he could use the lowest-rank skills without worry.

[The Lonely Scent of a Flower that Bloomed Alone] was also an ability that used fragrance as a medium, so it wouldnt have much impact on the people who were watching the movie.

But the atmosphere still remains.

Wasnt that the case with the video that Ryan Will, the director, saw? It was enough for the director to rush from the US to Korea.

When Seo-jun was checking the amount of mana, he heard Jonathans voice.

Lets get ready for the next shoot!

Everyone who heard that voice returned to their positions.

Seo-jun wiped away his tears and headed to fix his makeup. Rachel whimpered and sat down on the grass-covered floor.

She brushed her glittering golden hair in the sunlight and spoke with a blank face.

I almost messed up because of you. If I had NGd with that acting, the director would have nagged me for a long time.

Evan Block, who was sitting in front of her, laughed. Rachel Hills hand that left Seo-juns shoulder was not acting, but sincere.

I almost did, too.

? Youve experienced it before, havent you?

Evan Block rubbed his neck. The sun was so strong, but his neck was still cold and the sweat that ran down his back was unforgettable.

His eyes were different. He wasnt looking at me in the memorial hall scene.

Evan Block recalled Seo-juns black eyes. The eyes that looked kind changed to pain and eventually to resentment. He almost missed his lines because of that drastic change. What about the atmosphere that matched those eyes?

And

Evan Block looked at the place where he was standing during the shoot. He still felt the smell in his nose.

Along with the damp scent that came from somewhere, a sudden wave of depression.

The emotion that Jin Natra felt was transferred to Evan Block.

Sadness. Resentment. Depression. Suffering.

If I step back even a little, Ill be eaten alive.

Thinking that, Evan Block changed that depression into an emotion that came from Macs trauma.

It wasnt easy, but he tried to make it look like that on the outside. It was the first time he acted spontaneously without a plan. It felt different from usual.

Im fine now that the smell is gone But was that smell an illusion?

Evan Block spat out a hollow laugh as he thought of the analysis he would write in Seo-jun Lees notebook.

Really. Hes a new actor every time I see him.

Is he that different?

Itll be a mess when they shoot the close-up shots.

It was exactly as he said.

The first to lose his words was James Landon, the camera director who was filming his face in front of Seo-jun.

And Ryan Will, the director who was watching the screen on the monitor, Rachel Hill, who couldnt take her eyes off the monitor while hesitating whether to ask the director or not, and some of the staff who pretended not to watch the screen behind them.

They were all stunned by the resentment that poured out of the childs body, as well as the changing eyes of his pupils like a gradient.

They couldnt breathe comfortably in the damp scent and the depression that bound their ankles. The gloomy smell blocked their nostrils.

Breath? How do you breathe? Was this how you breathe?

Unlike the people who were immersed in Jin Natras emotions, Seo-jun had no thoughts.

When the cut sound didnt come out after acting hard, he just released his ability and activated [(Sun) Low-grade Angels Fan] by waving his right hand.

He finished his work and stood blankly, enjoying the sunshine. The sun is nice. Its not too cold or too hot, and the sun is warm.

Ryan Will, the director who came to his senses first as the damp scent disappeared, shouted.

Cut! OK!

Then they all came to their senses and rubbed their arms. Wow, thats amazing. Ive never seen anything like that. They looked at Seo-jun Lee, who was standing blankly, with surprised eyes.

He doesnt seem much different from other kids

Hes tall.

Hes handsome.

And above all, his acting is amazing.

The staff nodded their heads. Seo-jun followed Ryan Wills gesture and headed to the monitor. Seo-juns face appeared on the large monitor. He exclaimed at the expression changes he couldnt see.

Im really good at this.

Yeah. Youre awesome.

Ryan Will ruffled Seo-juns hair roughly. And Evan Block and Rachel Hill also ruffled Seo-juns hair, which became a birds nest. Seo-jun laughed.

Jonathan, who checked the schedule he was holding in his hand, shouted.

Thats it for todays shooting. Good job, everyone!

Lee Min-joon, who was a little far away and couldnt see the monitor, called Seo-jun with a bright smile at the sound.

Seo-jun, moms calling!

Really!?

Seo-jun ran to his dad with a bright smile.

He took the orange juice from Lee Min-joon and video-called his mom. James Landon, who couldnt find Jin Natra, who had been spewing malice from his body until a while ago, from Seo-jun, snorted and said.

Now I know why I had a hard time for eight months.

Ryan Will, the director who was writing the revised version while clutching his head, was surprised by Jonathans call that he burned the revised version, but now he understood why. Ryan Will laughed.

If you miss an actor like that, you cant be a director.