Chapter 47: Unlocking Potential

As people bustled about eating and chatting, the time passed, and eventually the lights in the shelter went out.

Everyone had fallen asleep.

In one corner of the shelter, away from the others, Baek Seongjae, Nam Yeji, and Song Seojun gathered.

“I heard you’ve awakened a special ability.”

After a brief silence, Baek Seongjae spoke while looking at Song Seojun.

Song Seojun, suddenly called over by the intimidating adult Nam Yeji and the even more imposing leader Baek Seongjae, stood with a frightened expression before hastily nodding.

“Do you know exactly what kind of ability it is?”

“Uh, um…….”

Under the heavy atmosphere, Song Seojun shrank back and lowered his gaze.

“Kid, don’t just stand there—say something…….”

“Enough, Yeji.”

Noticing Song Seojun’s fear, Baek Seongjae stopped Nam Yeji from pressing him further.

He then bent his knees to meet Song Seojun’s eyes.

“We’re not here to harm you. As the leader, I need to know about the special abilities and conditions of the people here—that’s the only reason I’m asking.”

“Then…… why ask now, of all times?”

Baek Seongjae’s eyes gleamed at Song Seojun’s rather sharp question.

I thought he was just a frail kid…….

He knew how to catch someone off guard. Baek Seongjae nodded and answered.

“It’s fair to wonder. Simply put, from what I heard, your special ability is defensive in nature.”

“Why does that matter?”

“It’s rare, and directly helpful for survival.”

Baek Seongjae said this while straightening his knees and glancing toward where the people were sleeping gathered together.

“You might not realize it, but not everyone here is good. Some only think of themselves and have no qualms about harming others.”

He then turned his eyes back to Song Seojun and continued.

“If those types learn about your ability, it’ll make things tough for you.”

He didn’t specify how tough to the child. Knowing would only scare him more, given his personality.

Song Seojun’s eyes wavered at Baek Seongjae’s words.

“Then, to you too……”

“Yes, honestly, telling me isn’t the best choice either. You don’t know me—who I really am.”

At Baek Seongjae’s candid statement, Song Seojun glanced cautiously before nodding slightly.

“That’s right, you don’t have to tell me everything. But one thing I’ll say: I’m not asking to use you.”

Song Seojun looked up at Baek Seongjae upon hearing this.

“A newly awakened special ability is incredibly unstable. It might activate sporadically when you try, and its power will vary wildly. That’s why training and controlling it is necessary.”

Song Seojun nodded at Baek Seongjae’s explanation. It was the first time hearing the theory, but he instinctively knew it was true—his own special ability wasn’t obeying him right now.

“And I can help with that process. I have a defensive ability too.”

Baek Seongjae said this while activating his special ability.

Some kind of energy formed a thin barrier a certain distance from Baek Seongjae.

“This is…….”

Song Seojun stared at it, entranced, as it faintly glowed in the darkness.

“My ability. It’s a protective barrier that absorbs impacts. Once it accumulates damage beyond a certain point, it shatters and returns all the gathered damage to the last entity that struck it.”

“Wow…….”

Just hearing it, it was an excellent ability capable of both defense and attack. Song Seojun’s eyes sparkled as he listened to Baek Seongjae’s explanation.

“From what Yeji told me, your barrier is the type that repels attacks.”

At Baek Seongjae’s words, Song Seojun glanced at Nam Yeji. After hesitating, he nodded slightly.

“Yes, it’s that kind of ability.”

“First, we need to confirm exactly what kind of barrier it is. Can you try activating it? It’s okay if it fails—it’s normal in the beginning.”

Song Seojun’s wariness eased a bit at Baek Seongjae’s inexplicably warm words.

He nodded, closed his eyes, and concentrated.

*Barrier, barrier……..

Song Seojun repeated this inwardly while trying to create the barrier.

Then, at some point, energy drained from Song Seojun’s body, and a blue barrier formed around him.

Thud. Having expended so much energy on the barrier, Song Seojun collapsed to the floor.

Baek Seongjae looked at the barrier Song Seojun had created with gleaming eyes.

“So this is it…….”

He cautiously approached and tapped it lightly.

It wasn’t absorptive. If it were like his, he’d have felt it.

Then perhaps it was a simple barrier.

He’d test it. Baek Seongjae drew back one hand and struck Song Seojun’s barrier.

The damage returned straight back to Baek Seongjae.

“Urk!”

“Leader!”

Nam Yeji rushed over in surprise at the sight of Baek Seongjae falling and supported his body.

“Heh heh…… It’s an instant reflection type.”

“Instant reflection? That’s…….”

Similar to Baek Seongjae’s yet different.

No, in terms of attacking the enemy through instant reflection, it was actually better than Baek Seongjae’s.

Nam Yeji fell silent at the emergence of an ability user even more exceptional than the leader.

Then, Song Seojun’s barrier vanished.

“Huff, gasp…….”

Song Seojun clutched his chest, feeling as if his heart were being squeezed.

“It seems to put a heavy strain on your body.”

Watching Song Seojun, Baek Seongjae stood up and said.

“……Leader, what will you do?”

“I’ll have to train him. It’ll be good for us and for the kid.”

At Baek Seongjae’s words, Nam Yeji glanced at Song Seojun.

He’d started as nothing but dead weight, yet now he could deploy a barrier with instant reflection.

Nam Yeji’s complicated gaze turned toward Song Seojun.

“Yes, Song Seojun—Seojun.”

Baek Seongjae extended a hand toward Song Seojun, who was sitting on the ground.

“Want to learn? How to handle your special ability.”

Song Seojun stared blankly at Baek Seongjae’s offered hand.

*Special ability…… Barrier…….

He still didn’t fully understand what was what. Everything he’d experienced since leaving the safe zone had been chaotic.

But still.

The mister is doing his part. The others are doing theirs too.

He couldn’t be the only one doing nothing in this situation.

If anything, it was fortunate—that he’d gained this ability.

Training it would make both him and the mister safer.

With that thought, Song Seojun reached out a trembling hand and grasped Baek Seongjae’s.

“Okay, Cut!”

As the final scene ended, Director Jo Jaesik’s refreshing cut signal rang out as always.

“Argh, everyone’s acting is no joke! I’m loving it again today!”

“Thank you.”

“Haha, thank you, Director!”

Myungwoo and Lee Yoohee responded with smiling faces, while Hwang Kyunghwan smiled and slightly bowed his head.

“Especially this scene—it’s a revised part, and you all just got the script, but the acting is as good as if it were the original?”

Yes. This scene was one of the ones changed after Director Jo Jaesik promoted Myungwoo to lead.

Originally, this scene didn’t take up so much time. Song Seojun’s ability was also downgraded by a level or two.

Yet, despite receiving the revised script just today, Myungwoo, Lee Yoohee, and Hwang Kyunghwan’s performances were vividly realistic, belying that fact.

“Okay, that’s it for today!”

Time had passed while the actors memorized the revised script, the set was adjusted accordingly, and various things were changed to fit the new content.

After shooting a few minor scenes and one main scene, it was already time to wrap up filming.

“Good work, everyone!”

“Good work.”

“You all did great!”

“Take care~”

Perhaps because the revised scene turned out well, Director Jo Jaesik wrapped up the set with a delighted expression.

Myungwoo had grown accustomed to gathering with Jeon Siho and Lee Yoohee afterward. The three naturally converged in one spot on the set.

“Myungwoo and Yoohee, you were no joke today too?”

“Haha, thank you.”

“Yeah. How do you memorize a freshly changed script so quickly and immerse yourself in the emotions?”

Myungwoo laughed and thanked them for Jeon Siho and Lee Yoohee’s praise.

It was true. Among the leads who received the changed script, Myungwoo had memorized it the fastest.

His eyes then met Lee Yoohee’s, who had finished next. At the time, Lee Yoohee had asked with a very surprised expression if he’d memorized the whole script, and when he confirmed, she looked even more astonished.

Somehow, since being reborn and acting again, it feels like my skills are improving bit by bit.

Was it because he could now cover child roles he hadn’t done in his past life, or simply because experience was accumulating?

He didn’t know the reason, but it was a very welcome change. Myungwoo wore a pleased expression.

“What are you all up to today?”

“Ah, I’m heading home to share the news with my mother.”

It was his first lead role. Naturally, his mother was the top person he wanted to tell.

“Ah, right. You should!”

“Haha, Myungwoo’s mom will be overjoyed, huh?”

“Haha, yeah.”

How would she react? She’d definitely be thrilled. His mother always rejoiced in his matters more than her own, so she’d be ecstatic this time too.

Myungwoo thought this and smiled broadly.

“Then, Myungwoo, take care~ See you tomorrow!”

“Go home safely, and deliver the news well~”

“Sunbaes, get home safe too.”

Myungwoo responded to Jeon Siho and Lee Yoohee’s lively farewells and hurried toward his manager.

Myungwoo’s steps as he ran were very light. With such good news, they couldn’t help but be.

And watching Myungwoo’s retreating figure, Hwang Kyunghwan gazed quietly.

*A kid who reminds me of Minwoo, getting his first lead role…….

He knew it was odd to think this, but when Myungwoo took the lead position, it somehow felt like Han Minwoo had finally gotten one.

*They’re completely different people, but still…….

Still, could he think of this kid getting the lead as resolving Han Minwoo’s lifelong regret?

Hah, what nonsense. Hwang Kyunghwan chuckled to himself.

Is it nice up there, Minwoo?

Hwang Kyunghwan, who had been staring at Myungwoo’s back, lifted his head to look at the sky.

The illusion of his friend, now dead and impossible to see again, flickered before his eyes.

You punk, you could’ve lived a bit longer…… What was the rush to go first?

A small tear formed in Hwang Kyunghwan’s eyes as he gazed at the sky.

This…… Getting older just makes you tear up more.

Hwang Kyunghwan thought this and wiped away the emerging tear.

Up there, take all the lead roles you want, you idiot.

Unaware that Han Minwoo was right nearby, Hwang Kyunghwan sent the message in his heart.

Since all he could do was offer Myungwoo a perfunctory congratulations on the lead role.