Chapter 43: Awakening in the Ruined Street

“Ha, my luck really sucks. How long have we been out, and we already run into something like that?”

“Couldn’t agree more. Tch, this patrol’s screwed.”

Encountering a monster pretty much meant the patrol was over.

The chance of the monster not attacking them was virtually nil, and dealing with it would drain a lot of stamina.

Still, neither Choi Dowon’s nor Nam Yejin’s face showed any tension about possibly dying.

Their physical abilities were extraordinary, after all.

They were talents who could freely wield the special powers that manifested after monsters appeared.

That was Choi Dowon and Nam Yejin.

“Who wants to go first?”

“I’ll go first. You just protect the kid well.”

Without taking their eyes off the monster, they quickly divided roles.

Nam Yejin would go first, and Choi Dowon stepped back to protect Song Seojun.

When Nam Yejin stepped forward, the monster turned around.

In her eyes, a monster with blood dripping from its mouth came into view.

“These monsters and their damn bad taste…”

Even though it could swallow in one bite, deliberately tearing and eating like that was truly disgusting to Nam Yejin.

“Hey, come at me if you’re coming.”

The camera captured Nam Yejin separately, then Choi Dowon and Song Seojun.

Soon, the monster charged at Nam Yejin, and she grimaced while swinging her weapon.

As if the monster was truly hit, it slowed mid-swing.

Myungwoo, playing Song Seojun, watched and inwardly admired.

She expresses even that so well. Well, that’s why she’s a top actor.

There were likely many reasons Director Jo Jaesik preferred Jeon Siho and Lee Yoohee.

But one was that they delivered amazing action acting without stunt doubles.

No matter how well-directed or carefully shot, the quality differed inevitably between the actor performing directly and using a double.

From a director’s perspective, that’s something to avoid as much as possible.

Jeon Siho and Lee Yoohee, who eliminated that worry, were truly among the best actors.

“She’s definitely strong.”

Inwardly admiring but outwardly showing perfect acting of being terrified yet amazed at Nam Yejin’s skill, Myungwoo—next to Song Seojun, Choi Dowon also shone with interest, admiring her prowess.

There was a reason they made her gatekeeper.

In a world where everywhere except shelters and safe zones was dangerous, gatekeepers faced danger faster than anyone.

Thus, most shelters appointed the exceptionally strong as gatekeepers.

Watching Nam Yejin fight now, it was clear she hadn’t become one for nothing.

Not just her ability—her body balance is excellent too.

I need to observe and learn well this time.

Choi Dowon’s eyes sank with that thought.

Then it happened.

“?!” Kuh!

Suddenly, Choi Dowon scooped up Song Seojun and leaped away quickly.

Another monster had attacked where they stood.

“! U-uncle!”

“Quiet, kid. Planning to advertise to the monsters that we’re here?”

Choi Dowon spoke low, clutching his grazed and injured arm.

At his words, Song Seojun inhaled sharply and covered his mouth with both hands.

At the sudden situation on Choi Dowon’s side, Nam Yejin glanced back while fighting her monster.

He got injured.

I need to finish this quickly and help.

As someone out on patrol, a party member dying or severely injured wouldn’t be good for her either.

Thinking so, Nam Yejin gripped her weapon tighter and swung down again.

“U-uncle, your arm…”

“It’s fine, so grip your weapon properly, kid. I can’t fully protect you right now.”

At Choi Dowon’s words, Song Seojun nodded with teary face and tightly gripped his weapon.

Song Seojun’s hands trembled holding it.

Hoo, Choi Dowon sighed, hid his injured left arm behind, and gripped his weapon firmly with his right.

“Come on, monster.”

Before Choi Dowon finished speaking, the monster lunged, and he blocked it with a hardened face.

Song Seojun breathed tearfully watching Choi Dowon and Nam Yejin fighting over there.

Sniff, ugh…!

For Song Seojun, who had lived peacefully in the safe zone, everything after coming out was a first.

Thus, his mental state hadn’t stabilized once since leaving.

Cold sweat beaded on his body, tears kept flowing from his eyes.

“Kid!”

Then, Nam Yejin fighting on one side called Song Seojun.

Huh…?

And Song Seojun’s body slowly tilted.

A monster had attacked him.

Am I… dying?

Song Seojun’s insides churned.

For the first time, he who lived safely felt a threat to his life.

Song Seojun’s body rolled away from the monster.

But only briefly—the monster rose again and glared at him.

I don’t… want to die.

Intense survival instinct surged in Song Seojun’s heart.

And the monster lunged at him once more.

That instant.

Suddenly, the monster charging at Song Seojun bounced off an invisible barrier.

“…………?”

Seeing the monster rebound, a bewildered expression appeared on Song Seojun’s tear-streaked face.

“! That’s… awakening…?”

Nam Yejin, quickly finishing her monster and running toward Song Seojun, widened her eyes at him.

No doubt.

If her eyes weren’t wrong, what Song Seojun just did was awakening.

A new special ability had manifested in him.

“What is this…?”

Song Seojun dazedly reached toward the barrier surrounding him.

His dazed eyes alternated between the barrier and the bounced monster on the ground.

“OK, cut-!”

And the scene ended.

“This acting was top-notch too! Jeon actor, Lee actor, Kang actor—great job!”

At the director’s praise, smiles instantly bloomed on Myungwoo, Jeon Siho, and Lee Yoohee’s faces.

They looked at each other and beamed.

“Wow! Myungwoo-ya, your acting is insanely good?”

“Yeah, wow, how do you act like that? You’re an eleven-year-old with less than a year of experience, right?”

“Haha, thank you. You two were amazing too.”

The three’s mutual praise was 100% sincere.

It made sense.

For Myungwoo, it was essentially his first time seeing top actors perform all this without doubles.

For Jeon Siho and Lee Yoohee, it was their first seeing a child actor raise emotions so quickly and deliver such great acting.

Their admiring eyes turned to each other.

“Man, Jeon Siho and Lee Yoohee are no joke.”

“Yeah. First time in this genre? How do they do it so well?”

“But while those two are great, the really amazing one is…” 

“Kang Myungwoo.”

“Did you see him burst into tears instantly? While maintaining that terrified expression?”

“Jeon Siho and Lee Yoohee have filmed movies multiple times, but Kang Myungwoo’s basically a first-timer?”

“He probably can’t even see monsters or anything in his eyes—how does he do it?”

“Does this make sense?”

“Is this what a real genius is…”

After the cut sign, rave reviews of the three’s acting circulated the set.

Among them, the hottest topic was undeniably Myungwoo’s acting.

For filmmakers, Jeon Siho and Lee Yoohee acting well was expected, but Kang Myungwoo’s performance was unprecedented.

They couldn’t hide their admiration each time his acting ended.

“Usually with Jeon Siho and Lee Yoohee on set, eyes go to them, but this time I only watched Kang Myungwoo.”

“His acting is really too good…”

“With this level, it’s hard for our movie not to succeed.”

Top actors Jeon Siho and Lee Yoohee, plus Kang Myungwoo’s unmatched acting, and Director Jo Jaesik, considered one of Korea’s best.

Predicting what their collaboration would produce was impossible.

The only certainty: as a new attempt, it wouldn’t be mediocre.

Already, Jo Jaesik’s eyes burned with passion.

As expected…! Bringing in Kang Myungwoo was my best choice!

What child actor could deliver such dense acting?

Not even falling behind Jeon Siho and Lee Yoohee.

This could truly be a massive hit.

With the three’s blazing acting, a festival already raged in Jo Jaesik’s mind.

Scenes with added directions flashed quickly through his head.

The actors performing this well made Jo Jaesik’s heart burn hotter.

“Alright, everyone must be tired from fighting and crying scenes—want to rest a bit?”

“I’m in favor, Director!”

Hoo, yes, let’s rest. Whew, using my body after so long is tiring.”

At Jo Jaesik’s words, Lee Yoohee and Jeon Siho brightened.

Myungwoo, who only cried without physical exertion, was slightly drained but less so.

“Sounds good, Director.”

At their agreement, managers rushed over with water, wiping sweat, handling aftermath.

Hoo, intense… How long since I moved this much.”

Jeon Siho gulped water and laughed casually.

“Yeah. I’m tired too, but you’ve gone even longer, Siho?” 

“Right. In years.”

At Lee Yoohee’s words, Jeon Siho nodded in agreement.

“Ah, really, won’t I get muscle soreness?”

“Haha, no way? We work out regularly.”

Jeon Siho laughed and looked at Lee Yoohee’s whining.

Myungwoo smiled brightly watching them.

Come to think of it, I should start exercising soon too.

Growth spurt approaching, he needed consistent body management from now.

Blessed actor physique that didn’t gain weight easily, but neglecting could lead to sudden issues.

Moreover,

Watching them act makes me want to do it too… Acting without doubles.

In his previous life, by the time he appeared in hit dramas or movies, he was quite old.

With unremarkable natural looks, he lacked motivation for management and didn’t exercise diligently.

Naturally, fight or physical scenes used stuntmen or doubles.

At that age, risking injury by doing it himself would be greater loss.

If momentum continued, he could reach top actor young this time.

And then…

I could use my body directly like them when acting.

That would raise his works’ completion higher.

Top writers and directors would prefer him more.

Thinking so, passion ignited in Myungwoo.

I’ll definitely become a top actor with everything.

Myungwoo reaffirmed his goal and smiled brightly.