The Haunted Monster Actor - Chapter 83



Only Noblemtl

Episode 83

Enthusiasm.

Yeah, it’s crazy.

In Yoohan’s eyes that look at everyone, a warm light is felt more than anything else in the world.

The person facing Yuhan below the stage also has the same look in his eyes.

‘During those long years of wandering in the darkness, you were never alone.’

“I’ll tell you from now on… … .”

‘Listen carefully and follow me.’

To where there is a ‘friend’ who has been a light by your side all along.

“Rising Dive, play—let’s get started!”

It was the moment when the darkness surrounding the musician’s stage was brightly dispelled.

* * *

Even though filming for the last scene was over, the excitement on set did not subside easily.

Those who played the role of the audience continued to cheer for a long time even after the PD gave the okay sign.

The actors were also left with lingering emotions.

Kang Ji-hoon spoke to A-jin with a dumbfounded face.

“Brother, didn’t we just… …play like we were possessed?”

Ji-hoon’s question made it hard for me to open my mouth.

Ajin also couldn’t tell whether what she had just done on stage was acting or playing a instrument.

Jeong Eui-shin said, putting down the bass he was carrying with an unreadable expression on his face.

“……etc.”

As he speaks, his gaze is directed towards Kim Hyun-soo’s back.

“We just followed Jiyuhan’s guitar.”

It wasn’t just the members on stage who were led by Jiyuhan’s guitar.

Jeong Geun-ho looks at the stage with a face that looks like he has lost his soul.

Before I knew it, Choi Ui-jeong came over and opened his mouth with a meaningful expression on his face.

“I guess… I’ll be seeing PD Jeong in the first half of next year too?”

What he meant was simple.

“Blackface… … is that it?”

“It might be a good idea to think about your comments in advance.”

Jeong Geun-ho nodded with a bewildered expression.

In his head, a scene of the Rising Dive stage already appearing on the black podium screen is being drawn.

‘Kim Hyun-soo.’

Jiyuhan’s stage made it like that.

* * *

The journey of about half a year without rest has come to an end.

The staff who had been cheering on stage now patted each other on the shoulders to commend their hard work and that of their colleagues.

“… … Is it finally over?”

“Everyone really worked hard.”

“Yes! You worked hard too, senior!”

“Everyone… … thank you for your hard work—!”

Staff members sit down on the floor one by one with exhausted faces.

The senior director, seeing this, raised his eyes like a tiger and spoke loudly.

“It’s not over until we get to the last episode safely! Everyone, if you’re going to rest, go home and rest! Got it?”

“Yes, I understand!!”

At that moment, the staff members who had woken up again were busy trying to clean up the scene.

“Everyone stop!”

“… … ?”

“There will be no withdrawal from the site today!”

A look of anxiety appears on the faces of some staff members at Jeong Geun-ho’s unexpected remark.

“Huh? No way… …Debay?”

“No, I couldn’t hear it very well because it was buried in the audience’s cheers, but I definitely got the okay sign.”

“So, was a new god added?”

“Oh, I guess so?”

At that moment, when the staff members with confused faces were making a fuss, the person who came up on stage and took the microphone was none other than Choi Ui-jeong.

“Including the production preparation period, it took a little over half a year, right?”

Choi Ui-jeong turned around and exchanged glances with the actors, then looked at the staff below the stage and continued speaking.

“The actors are actors, but… … I really appreciate all of you working with such a troublesome writer like me.”

Choi Ui-jeong bows to the staff members looking at her.

When I raised my head again, there was a mischievous smile on my face.

“So, today, we’ve prepared a surprise after-party for the staff who have been working tirelessly—!”

Soon, the dumbfounded look on his face was gone for a moment.

A huge cheer erupts in the main hall of Drug Kitchen, comparable to that during Rising Dive’s performance.

“I already asked for President Joanna’s understanding in advance, so let’s start today by catching up on what we haven’t been able to do so far!”

Along with Choi Ui-jeong’s words, the prop team, who had heard the story in advance, began setting up tables inside the club.

“Today is my day! Everyone, don’t worry about the budget and enjoy yourself to the fullest!”

A variety of unique combinations of side dishes carefully selected by Joanna, a native of Hongdae, are spread out on the table.

Go Gun opened his mouth with an excited face as he received the guitar from Hyun Soo who had come down from the stage.

“Your hard work practicing guitar has paid off. I’m so touched, hyung.”

Go Geon, who seemed to be greatly moved by the performance, couldn’t help but have an excited expression for a while.

“It feels like… … an after-party after a performance.”

Hyunsoo smiled and nodded.

“Yeah, that’s true. But… … what about Mr. Lim? I think I saw him on stage earlier. Where did he go?”

Im Jin-han was invited as a guest on the final stage as a member of the staff who helped with the preparations.

Joanna, who had come closer without me noticing, answered with a gentle smile.

“Jinhan went first.”

“Already?”

“Yeah, he said he had a drinking appointment with a friend.”

“……okay.”

“Jinhan asked me to tell him as he left. He said that it was truly an amazing performance.”

“Yes, I guess I’ll have to go and thank you soon. And Anna, of course.”

“I said it before, but that’s something I should say. Anyway, you’re not going to just forget about me and leave after filming the drama is over, are you? Then I’m really upset. Are you going to take all the money I’ve paid for the side dishes?”

“Haha, how could I forget?”

Hyunsoo continued speaking, slowly taking in the sights of the Drug Kitchen stage.

“The place where my last stage in my 20s took place.”

* * *

“Oh, and I’m sorry, but can some of the camera crew take turns working?”

“yes?”

“Don’t you know just by listening? I’m telling you to make a behind-the-scenes cut.”

“Ah! I understand!”

Indeed, Choi Ui-jeong is Choi Ui-jeong.

Even in this situation, I never stop thinking about small episodes for the sake of broadcast quality.

Even though it was called a behind-the-scenes cut, the intention was to ultimately leave behind the precious moments as a ‘scene’.

Rising Dive members, including Hyunsoo, posed in front of the camera with the staff who had worked hard with them.

Jeong Geun-ho and Choi Ui-jeong.

I also made happy memories with the fans of the drama who came as guests and with President Joanna who lent me the stage.

finally.

“Come on—come on, actors. Yes, like that. Very good!”

The four actors also stood on stage with affectionate looks (except for Jeong Ee-shin and Song Ah-jin, of course).

That was when I was having such a good time with everyone.

Kang Ji-hoon opened his mouth with a slightly regretful expression.

“It would have been more fun if Mari and Hyungjin were there… and Jooheon was there too.”

After hearing Ji-hoon’s words, A-jin opened her mouth with a mouthful of tacos.

“Oh, by the way, when and where did they say their concert was going to be? Five… I think I heard something like that.”

“It’s the Fiveport Rock Festival. It’s being held in Incheon next month. You heard about it back then, right?”

“I was so drunk. Let’s just wait. Next month, the drama will end almost immediately, right?”

“Yes. Then don’t you remember saying that you would go see the show no matter what, hyung?”

“Huh? I said that? Hmm, well. I don’t really have a schedule yet.”

As we continued our conversation about Marigold’s performance, Anna came up to me and handed me a ticket.

“Mr. Song. A man can’t talk two words with one mouth, right? I even got the tickets in advance.”

“Haha, what a manly person I am. I was wondering what clothes I should wear.”

“They say BTS’s leader Rap Jun also visited two years ago.”

“Oh… really? Is there something like a separate set of costumes for performances? I’ll have to look it up.”

It was then that Choi Ui-jeong, who had approached with an interesting expression, opened his mouth.

“Why doesn’t actor Song have a schedule? Don’t you know that he starts filming right after the drama ends?”

“… … Yes, me?”

The blank expression on his face lasted only a moment.

Ajin makes an “Oh no” expression as if she just realized something.

Kang Ji-hoon also had a similar expression.

“You haven’t forgotten what my main job is, have you?”

“… … Right, I forgot about that.”

The minister smiled once and spoke to all the actors.

“I’ll probably make an official contact with each actor’s agency tomorrow, but since we’ve already discussed it, I’ll say it here in advance.”

It’s been so long since I’ve seen a drama comeback that I almost forgot about it.

The lead actors who appear in Choi Ui-jeong’s dramas are automatically cast in another program as soon as the drama ends airing.

Yes, as you all know, that’s her main job.

“Should we do a variety show together? It’ll be a spin-off of the existing format, so you don’t have to worry too much. Oh, is there anyone among the four of you who can’t go into the water or go camping?”

Song Ah-jin and Kang Ji-hoon recall nightmares from the past with their faces turning pale.

Jeong Eui-shin answered, slightly raising his hand.

“My hobby is swimming, and when I have time off, I often go camping alone.”

Choi Ui-jeong nodded and smiled brightly after hearing Jeong I-shin’s answer.

“Perfect, then I guess I can play in bigger waters.”

Choi Ui-jeong.

Her other nickname is none other than the Witch of Variety Show.

* * *

[Nineties Dive’s final episode, RISING DIVE!]

After the last stage, Jiyuhan and his friends smile brightly amidst everyone’s cheers.

The camera’s gaze, which was shining on the stage, turned towards the white lights on the ceiling.

Soon the entire screen is bathed in a brilliant white light.

The volume of the chorus of ‘Wings’ gradually decreases…

… …

… …

… …

1 year later

S#79. Hospital room (day)

The screen, which had been bathed in white light, soon changed into the ceiling of a hospital room.

“Patient Ha Young-woo, it’s time to take your medicine.”

Youngwoo pouring the medicine the nurse brought into his mouth.

I sit alone in bed, blankly staring at the sky beyond the curtains fluttering in the wind.

“Where are you going?”

“I’m going to take a quick walk.”

After leaving the hospital with a dry face.

Yeong-woo limps as if he feels uneasy somewhere and walks around the garden in front of the hospital.

I leaned back on the bench and just stared blankly at the sky for a while.

“What are you doing here?”

Soon, Young-woo, surprised by Woo-ram’s face filled with gaze looking up at the sky, slides down from the bench in surprise.

“Oh, shit! This is a surprise! … … Hey! Don’t you know I have a weak heart?!”

“That guy was jumping around on stage and fell and hurt his leg?”

Junghyuk, who had come closer without me noticing, spoke with a worried face.

“Are you allowed to walk around like that already? With your cane?”

Three friends soon start bickering with playful faces.

Looking at the sight with a pitiful look, Oh Yul, who arrived late, speaks to Yoo Han.

“You have to be discharged by next week, no matter what.”

“Tch, if it were up to me, I would have done it a long time ago… … .”

“The show has been booked.”

“It’s all better.”

“……huh?”

“My legs are all better! Where are you? Where should I go? I’ll go up on stage right now and show you my amazing guitar skills!!”

Soon, Yuhan gets up from the bench with an excited expression and runs around the garden.

“Hey, grab that.”

“Jiyuhan! What if you get hurt again like that―!”

“Haa, I should run at this age… … .”

“Aren’t you going up on stage?”

As O-Yul said that, he ran towards Yoo-Han, and Woo-Ram kicked his seat with a helpless expression on his face.

A close-up of Jiyuhan’s face smiling brightly as she looks at her friends running towards her with all their might.

The final shot is of the four of them holding each other’s shoulders and laughing like idiots.