Chapter 213: New Year (4)
Kang Woojin, wearing a long padded coat, scratched his ear. It suddenly felt itchy, making him wonder if someone was talking about him, but he figured someone probably was.
I did make quite the scene at the Blue Dragon Film Awards.
Had there just been one or two issues that had erupted? It seemed obvious that at this moment, countless people were probably discussing Kang Woojin, whether it was praise or curses.
At that moment.
-Swish.Thi/s chapter is updated by nov(e)(l)biin.co/m
Choi Sung-gun, who had been walking alongside Woojin and continuously talking on the phone, zipped up his short padded coat and asked Kang Woojin.
Whats wrong? Did something get in your ear? Want me to take a look?
Woojin, taken aback by the undue concern, responded cynically with his expression stern. His breath visible in the cold air.
No, its just a bit itchy.
Yeah? Lower your head, Ill blow on it for you.
Why are you doing this? Woojin declined, shaking his head.
Im fine.
Then, Han Ye-jung, whose short hair had were of reddish hue today, briskly interjected from the right.
Maybe a bug got in? Want me to check for you?
Its fine.
At that time.
Hyung-nim!!
Woojin oppa is here!
Staff members in front of the van parked in the outdoor parking lot greeted Kang Woojin. Jang Su-hwan and the stylists were waving their hands. As Woojin approached, they all started congratulating him.
Island of the Missing filming is done! Great work!
Congratulations! For real! Ah- but are we celebrating?
Of course! Weve finished a major project!
Oppa, you must feel relieved, right?
Ah- But, theres still a lot left to do.
Oddly, it seemed the staff were happier than Kang Woojin, the actual actor. It made sense. Most of the filming for Island of the Missing had taken place in Buyeo, and commuting between Seoul and Buyeo had been grueling.
Woojin could just hop in and out of the Void space, but for the staff, it must have been hell.
Think of it as an escape, they must be jumping for joy.
Of course, Kang Woojin also did a little shoulder dance internally.
Hehe, whatever it is, one things done! Feels like Ive cleared an assignment.
However, he couldnt exactly start hugging the staff and throwing a party. Woojin maintained his poker face while appropriately receiving their greetings.
You guys worked hard too.
He looked back at the Island of the Missing large set complex behind them. He was the only one leaving, the filming was still ongoing.
Woojin realized that he had somewhat adjusted. A few months ago, the end of a filming would leave him a bit sentimental, but now he was more focused on whats next.
Humans really are creatures of their surroundings, huh?
Though still relatively new to acting with just over a year of experience, he was definitely blending well into the entertainment industry. Of course, no one truly knew the true self of Kang Woojin yet.
Anyway.
-Bang!
Kang Woojin, Choi Sung-gun, and the staff quickly got into the van, with Jang Su-hwan stepping on the accelerator. As the van started, Choi Sung-gun, who had opened his diary, looked at Kang Woojin through the rearview mirror.
Woojin.
Woojin, who had been silently gazing out the window, met his gaze.
Yes, CEO~nim.
The Eerie Sacrifice of a Stranger crank-in date has been set.
Is that so?
Yes. The first day of shooting is the 21st, and the actors are to assemble on the 20th.
Kang Woojin wasnt particularly surprised as he had somewhat anticipated this.
20th. That leaves us just over ten days.
Right. From then on, its back and forth between Japan and Korea. Pretty much like Island of the Missing, but the location has changed from Buyeo to Japan.
Damn, its going to be tough as hell. Choi Sung-guns explanation made it clear. The filming for The Eerie Sacrifice of a Stranger would be done back-to-back. And Kang Woojins existing schedule in Korea would be crammed into one or two days. Either way, there was no time to rest.
The staffs faces soon darkened.
Regardless, Choi Sung-guns briefing continued.
However, we need to go in a day earlier, not the 19th but the 18th. We have a meeting related to the Kashiwa Group and some interviews and photo shoots with the Japanese press.
The schedule in Japan is expanding. Kang Woojin knew about the advertisement deal with the Kashiwa Group, but when were the interviews and photo shoots in Japan arranged? Kang Woojin wondered to himself when Choi Sung-gun spoke up again.
It might seem a bit tight, but weve already filtered out most of the offers from Japan. Whats left is the selected few.
He closed his diary and leaned back.
Woojin, do you know how many variety show offers you are getting from Japan right now?
No, not at all. Choi Sung-gun handled the important matters and dealt with the minor ones himself, so Woojin had no way of knowing.
Quite a few?
Haha, quite a few? No, if you only count from a month ago, its already over ten. To give you an idea, you know that Hwalin-ssis group Elani is almost a top-tier idol in Japan? Right now, youre getting more attention than them there.
This meant that currently, there was no problem considering Kang Woojin the hottest topic in Japan.
But Woojin, youre not going to do Japanese variety shows, are you? Are you interested? Want me to book them for you?
Kang Woojin solemnly shook his head at the repeated question. Our Dining Table is enough. Honestly, variety shows drain more energy than acting.
No, please turn them all down.
Kang Woojin was colder than ever before.
Meanwhile,
He checked the sender of the email.
Who sent this?
It was anonymous.
At this moment, at Kang Woojins house.
Kang Woojin left his home to go to work and appeared in the underground parking garage. Wearing a hat as usual, he spotted the van that came to pick him up. But then.
Huh?
Kang Woojin sensed something had changed. The van had been replaced with a foreign model that was wider both upwards and sideways. It was black. Woojin, slightly impressed, walked towards the van trying not to show his astonishment too openly. Choi Sung-gun, dressed in a long padded coat, got out of the passenger side.
Youre here?
He had a majestic expression. On the other hand, Kang Woojin, whose persona was already heavy with concept, simply greeted him.
Hello, CEO-nim.
Yeah, yeah.
Choi Sung-gun nodded his head towards the large van in the back, hinting for a comment. Woojin muttered lowly.
Its big.
Is that all you have to say?
Did you change it?
Your team has grown, and so has your presence. Well, the previous van was fine, but appearances are critical in this industry.
After finishing his explanation, Choi Sung-gun abruptly changed the subject.
Theres something you need to decide before we leave.
What is it?
Yesterday, a Japanese animation studio reached out for you.
Animation? Whats this all of a sudden? Kang Woojin was internally startled but responded calmly.
Are you talking about animation?
Yes. The studio is A10 Studio, one of the top three massive studios in Japan. They want you to voice act for the anime theyre producing.
Voice acting. Woojin was first intrigued. Being an actor, he encountered various opportunities. He had seen a few Japanese animes.
Ah- Might be fun?
Then he paused.
Wait? Dont animations have scripts or scenarios?
Woojins curiosity was piqued.
Could it be that animations also trigger the Void space?
If they do.
What would reading (experience) be like.
A new genre beyond movies or dramas. His curiosity grew stronger. Woojin kept his voice calm and said.
I have to see the script before deciding.
Smiling, Choi Sung-gun pulled something out from the passenger seat. It was a stack of papers of moderate thickness.
I knew youd say that, so I brought it. A10 Studio also sent a draft of the first episodes script. Its a rough draft, before revisions. Something like a sketch?
Kang Woojin silently took the stack of papers. Only the production company A10 Studio was written on the cover, not the title of the anime.
And then.
Its appearing.
Next to the stack of papers, there were swirls of black and gray. In other words, a portal to the Void space was attached. Even as Choi Sung-gun was speaking, Woojin instinctively placed his hand on the black square.
Instantly.
-Swish.
Kang Woojins world swiftly changed from the parking garage to a completely dark Void space. Having arrived in the Void space, Woojin quickly moved his feet. He arrived in front of a newly added white rectangle and checked what was added.
-[10/Script (Title: Unknown), Grade D]
-[*This is an anime script of average completion. 50% reading is possible.]
Woojin read the text briefly and nonchalantly selected the white rectangle. The phrases immediately changed.
-[You have selected 10/Script (Title: Unknown).]
-[Listing characters available for reading (experience).]
-[A: 1, B: 2, C: 3]
The character names were numbers. Perhaps because its a draft? Woojin muttered softly and randomly chose one.
[A: 1 preparing for reading]
[Preparation complete. The script or scenario is of average completion. Implementation level is 50%. Starting the reading.]
Soon, a large gray swirled over Kang Woojin.
Up to this point, it was familiar.
However, the world that unfolded before Kang Woojins eyes was not typical. The usual reading (experience) was far different.
-Vroom vroom!
The booming noises of cars, high buildings embedded in the downtown, people walking or brushing past on the sidewalk, the blue sky, moving clouds.
These were things Kang Woojin knew, but they felt unfamiliar.
Because the entire visible world was animated.
///
For more chapters, you can check out my Patreon here > /dreamscribe
If you enjoy this novel, please review and rate it at Novelupdates. Thanks! <img draggable="false" role="img" class="emoji" alt="" src="https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/15.0.3/svg/1f60a.svg">
To receive the latest update notifications or report mistakes, join our Discord server linked below.
Discord Server: https://discord.gg/woopread
