Chapter 33

Chapter 33

TL: KSD

A Festival of Words.

Its the perfect term to describe a variety show shoot.

Especially a talk show.

The talk shows that viewers see are a series of entertaining moments. The celebrities eloquence in storytelling is dazzling enough to amaze.

However, thats only after the magic of editing has been applied to the finished product. In reality, a variety show shoot is made up of 9 parts boring and 1 part exciting.

Its like searching for a pearl in the mud.

But sometimes, the set becomes so lively that it turns into a sea of laughter.

When a top-level MC maximizes the guests talents, when celebrities who have worked together for decades sync perfectly, when a no-name celebrity is touched by the variety show god, and so on

Watching such a scene, the PD instinctively knows.

This is going to hit!

Baekhak Cultural Broadcastings own variety department set.

The PD leading the shoot had a hunch.

The PD ordered the staff.

Capture that kid.

Not to arrest, but to keep the camera tightly focused on them. Following the PDs command, the cameraman captured a boy covered with the blanket in the frame.

The boy was passionately critiquing Gu Yubins work. And with each continuation of the boys critique, Gu Yubins face would blush, and shed shudder!

Especially when you ventured into SF (TL: Science fiction), you diligently wove together cosmology and worldview. The protagonists journey is directly linked to a childs growth, surrounded by a warm yet overwhelming world, a comforting yet insurmountable barrier. This, too, could be interpreted as Professor Gu Hak-juns work

Stop, stop!

The PD had already picked out a title for the YouTube clip to upload. An Innocent Critique.

A young genius dissecting someone elses novel to reveal hidden feelings was content that had never been tackled in any variety show.

Especially since it seemed devoid of malice, it could earn extra points for entertainment.

Could a primary school student really be doing this deliberately? Even the jaded PD couldnt entertain that thought.

The visual was also good. Beautiful people look good no matter what they do. And if theyre pretty, people watch, views turn into ratings, and high ratings translate into money.

From then on, it was Moon In-seops one-man show. The prodigious boy had a presence beyond his years. In other words, thats called aura or buzz.

The highlight scene didnt end there.

The MC asked a question.

Heres a question! Its very unique! Author Moon, you consistently call Kim Byul Kim sunbae. Are you school hubae and sunbae? (TL: Junior and Senior)

Kim Byul flinched for a moment before answering naturally.

Ah, ahaha! Its In-seops first time on broadcast. So, as I was looking after him, doing this and that-

The boy sternly interrupted.

What do you mean, Kim sunbae?

!!!

Why I consistently use honorifics for Kim sunbae is because

Kyaaaah! Stop! Dont do it!

When we first met, Kim sunbae looked at me and

Kyaaaah! Kyah! Kyaaaah-!

Thinking I was a child actor, crossed her legs and glared at me

Im sorry! I was wrong! Im so sorry!

What she said was

Kyaaaah-!

Phew Ill let it slide this time.

EP 3-Magic Sword~nim, please control me!

After the shoot.

Having captured great scenes, the PD dismissed the staff with a delighted laugh. The MCs also smiled, exchanged greetings, and parted ways.

However, three out of the four guests were left staring into space with vacant expressions.Updated from novelb(i)n.c(o)m

Rapid Boys main rapper Min Hyo-chan ended up losing his chance to appear on the variety show with zero presence, and Kim Byul was completely drained from trying to manage the crisis.

Not to mention Gu Yubin, who was beaten up throughout the shoot.

But the cause of the problem, Moon In-seop, breathed a sigh of relief and got up nonchalantly.

I lost control.

He didnt remember much after something dark surged inside him at the sight of Gu Yubin.

Throughout the shoot, it was hard to remember what I had said. It was truly a festival of words.

I thought I had forgotten everything

It seems my mental discipline is lacking. Approaching Gu Yubin and Kim Byul, who I had inadvertently troubled, both of them flinched and avoided my gaze.

Confused by their reaction, I was suddenly approached by the PD who put a hand on my shoulder. It was someone I had seen before. The person who had come to the orphanage leading a crew.

The PD, holding onto my shoulder, dragged me to a secluded corner of the set, chattering away.

Wow! It was really fun today, Author Moon!

Ah, yes. Thank you.

Haha! Maybe its because of the age, but the chemistry with the young ones is just explosive! Such a unique character! There was nothing to edit out today!

If you say so, Im just grateful.

Haha! Even what youre saying now, look. But whats with Gu Yubins novel that the reaction was so intense?

That might be difficult to air on broadcast.

The PD muttered quietly.

A written apology, maybe

What?

Huh? No! Nothing! Anyway, have you thought about appearing on other variety shows? Its good for promoting your book. Im planning something with a sunbae

I was held up by the PD for a while before finally being released.

I was greeted by Baek Seol and Lim Yang-wook, who had somehow just arrived at the set.

I waved listlessly and greeted him.

Director Lim When did you arrive?

Its okay.

Moon In-seop spoke. The boy had an unwavering belief in his eyes.

I may not know much about business, but I do understand that if we start nitpicking over such complex issues, there will be no end to it.

The boy lacked wisdom. Even living a life twice, life was still an enigma. The world was too complex for one person to comprehend.

The boy also lacked virtue. Novelists arent known for their good nature, not to mention those who grew up in harsh environments. The world had never shown him kindness.

The boy lacked physique as well. He didnt exercise.

However, the knights-errant of the orphanage where he grew up had taught him.

Only righteousness and duty mattered.

Still, I trust our Director Lim Yang-wook.

!!!

Business might lead to some ambiguous situations, right? But we have loyalty from working together for so long, so I cant just leave for Baekhak Publishing like that. Im sorry.

Lim Yang-wooks eyes widened in shock, and Kim Sang-guk also stepped back with a grunt.

Kim Sang-guk asked the boy.

Youre close with Director Lim Yang-wook?

The boy recalled.

The bald editor who had stumbled into his moldy apartment and handed him an award.

His fervent reader who had published his book, squinting through financial losses.

Well he was the first editor to seek me out.

Hmm. Director Kim Sang-guk seemed perplexed, as if something had gone against his expectations.

But soon, he ended the conversation with a friendly smile.

Thats right Its that age. Putting special meaning into time or order rather than numbers

Looks like I was a step late this time. Alright. Lets meet in a more comfortable setting next time.

Director Kim Sang-guk scattered a displeased glance at Lim Yang-wook and Moon In-seop, then left with a seemingly friendly smile.

Lim Yang-wook, Moon In-seop, and Baek Seol watched him disappear into the darkness of the corridor for a long while.

* * *

The movie, Cause of Death, was released.

[Though it failed miserably at the box office as a short film, its artistic quality was recognized.]

That was the consensus among critics.

However, hidden within the critics single line were numerous life stories, bearing much more.

The failure at the box office was only from an ordinary perspective; the movie significantly surpassed its break-even point due to drastically reduced production costs and the existence of original fans.

Baekhak Entertainments film division was in a festive mood thanks to the significant achievements.

Additionally, for a film director who had never been recognized for his artistic achievements throughout his life, Cause of Death left a significant mark.

The form of that mark was a statue shaped like a film reel, plated in gold.

The award, given by a famous domestic film festival, was held in the directors hands.

It was the first time he had received such an award.

The director, who had placed the award on the bar table, looked at the plaque with complex feelings.

Someone approached the director from behind after he had been sitting at the bar for a while.

Hey.

A man as big as a bear patted the director on the back with a hearty laugh.

After all the hardship comes joy, your sunny days have finally arrived!

He sat next to the director with a face full of laughter.

However, the director showed no signs of smiling.

Whats wrong? On such a good day.

The directors face looked a bit off. Now that he noticed, he was already drunk. Could something bad have happened?

Sunbae

The director confessed, fueled by alcohol.

Actually I contributed nothing to this work.

What? Isnt that too much humility?

Its no joke.

The director talked about what he had seen.

His own stubbornness.

The synergy between two geniuses.

The last moment, when the set seemed to freeze in time.

When fake snow turned into real snow, and makeup melded into character.

The perfect beauty contained in the acting and the scenes where it was due.

I couldnt touch any of it.

All of it was done by those two young ones by two young geniuses. They had the talent I lacked

I dont know what to do with this award, sunbae

The directors sunbae froze.

He asked,

Is that really true?

His name was So Tae-woong.

A film director. 49 years old.

The recipient of the Berlin International Film Festivals Golden Bear, comparable to Cannes Palme dOr and Venices Golden Lion.

****

Join our discord here: https://discord.gg/GGKyZWDuZM