Chapter 53: The Child Who Could See the Source

“Captain, why did you suddenly call us?”

The character played by Yoo Seunghyeon, Seo Jinhyung, one of the shelter’s leaders, spoke with a puzzled expression.

Nam Yeji, who had secured a position in the leadership through her strong combat skills, also took her seat.

“Did something happen?”

Another leader, Kim Jonghyeon, also looked puzzled at the sudden meeting.

And Choi Dowon, who knew the facts, and the person involved, Song Seojun, were also present.

“There are two important things I need to say.”

In the center of them, Baek Seongjae opened his mouth with a grave expression.

“One is that the monsters might have become stronger than before.”

“……!”

“Wh-what?”

At the words that the monsters had gotten stronger, Seo Jinhyung and Kim Jonghyeon widened their eyes.

However, Nam Yeji, who had direct experience fighting the monsters, just slightly frowned without surprise.

So that’s it…

No wonder the impact felt a bit heavier when hitting them; it was because the bastards had really gotten stronger.

“What are you saying? How can you be sure?”

“That’s right. Couldn’t it just be a drop in condition making it feel that way?”

Seo Jinhyung and Kim Jonghyeon fiercely objected, as if they’d heard nonsense.

“No, it seems like they’ve really gotten stronger.”

Nam Yeji dismissed their objections.

“What?”

“Nam Yeji, what?”

“When we rescued that girl this time, I took down a monster. But the impact when hitting it was quite different. It was heavier, tougher. So there’s a possibility.”

“Your condition was…!”

“Perfect.”

At Nam Yeji’s words, Seo Jinhyung and Kim Jonghyeon closed their mouths.

“If Nam Yeji felt it to that extent…”

“It could definitely be…”

Nam Yeji was undoubtedly one of the people recognized for outstanding combat strength in this shelter.

With her assertion, the possibility that the monsters had gotten stronger was high.

“There’s one more reason. Seojun, come here.”

“Ah, y-yes!”

Song Seojun approached Baek Seongjae with a slightly scared face.

Baek Seongjae quietly waited for Song Seojun, and when he got close, placed a hand on his shoulder and spoke.

“This child, Song Seojun, seems able to see the monsters’ energy.”

“!!”

“Wh-what…?”

Able to see the monsters’ energy. 

At this unheard-of special ability, Seo Jinhyung and Kim Jonghyeon gaped.

“See the energy?”

Nam Yeji’s eyes also widened, as if she hadn’t expected this.

“Yeah. I don’t know the exact measure, but according to Seojun, there’s something like smoke coming from the monsters’ bodies, and he can gauge their strength by the amount and thickness. And the monster that attacked that girl earlier had more smoke, and it was thicker.”

“Huh…”

At the astonishing words, Seo Jinhyung, Kim Jonghyeon, and Nam Yeji were speechless.

Song Seojun fidgeted his hands in the midst of it.

Somehow, he felt like he had become a very important person.

“Wait, if he can see the energy…”

Then, Seo Jinhyung, as if realizing something, looked at Song Seojun and said.

“Doesn’t that mean we can find where the monsters are coming from, the source?”

“……!”

“……!”

At his words, everyone looked at Song Seojun in surprise.

Song Seojun flinched at the sudden attention from the adults and bowed his head deeply.

“That certainly… has potential.”

Baek Seongjae, who had widened his eyes in surprise at Seo Jinhyung’s words, nodded with a serious face.

“If we can find the source, we might destroy it, and further, maybe even… return this crazy world of monsters to how it was before.”

Seo Jinhyung imagined the peaceful world from before the monsters and expressed his opinion with a firm face.

At the words of returning the world to how it was, the expressions of everyone there changed.

“Then the discussion’s over. Let’s send Song Seojun out on reconnaissance right away to find the source.”

Kim Jonghyeon pointed at Song Seojun with an excited face.

“Wait, it’s not something to think about so lightly. What if the monsters at the source are too strong?”

“That’s why we gather the strong ones.”

“You’re going to send that young child to such a dangerous place?”

“Hah, in a world like this, does that matter?”

Seo Jinhyung countered Kim Jonghyeon’s words, and the two started a fierce argument.

“Stop!”

Of course, before the fight heated up, Baek Seongjae stopped them.

“Seojun.”

And he called Song Seojun kindly.

“You said you can see the monsters’ energy, right?”

“Yes? Yes…”

“By any chance, could you use that to find where the monsters are spawning?”

At Baek Seongjae’s words, Song Seojun lifted his head to look at him.

“It’ll be very dangerous. We don’t know what monsters are generated at the source, and the path there will be extremely rough. We don’t even know where it is, so for you, who’s still far from adulthood, it could be a tremendous forced march.”

Kim Jonghyeon let out a hollow laugh watching Baek Seongjae explain all the dangers of the task to Song Seojun.

He should be coaxing the kid gently, but instead, he’s telling him everything.

Really, so soft.

“But, if we destroy the source, we’ll all be able to live in a much safer place.”

“A safer place…”

“Of course, I know it’ll be a huge burden on you. We’ll gather only the strongest to go with you, but even so, we can’t block all the dangers you’ll face.”

Song Seojun didn’t deny Baek Seongjae’s words. Because it was all true.

Behind him, Kim Jonghyeon shook his head.

“But, even so, if you’re okay with it.”

Baek Seongjae smiled kindly and placed his hand firmly on Song Seojun’s shoulder.

“Will you do it?”

He bent down to meet Song Seojun’s eyes and said.

After Baek Seongjae’s words, silence followed.

Seo Jinhyung, Nam Yeji, Kim Jonghyeon, Choi Dowon—all watched Song Seojun’s mouth tensely.

Gulp, the sound of someone swallowing echoed.

Everyone’s tense faces were close-upped.

If I destroy the source…

Everyone can live safely.

Including himself.

Those words shook Song Seojun’s heart.

He slowly looked around at the people nearby.

And then at all the people staying in the shelter, one by one.

Something only I can do…

Yes, something only he could do.

Something that could make everyone happy.

So,

I have to.

He had to.

He couldn’t just run away and be scared anymore.

With that thought, Song Seojun closed his eyes tightly and steeled his resolve.

An eternity seemed to pass, and Song Seojun slowly nodded.

“…Yes.”

Unlike his previous timid appearance, he continued with a scared but determined expression.

“I’ll do it, me.”

At his answer, the expressions of everyone there varied.

Expressions reflecting each of their personalities and traits appeared on their faces.

The worried one, the joyful one, the one coldly calculating and planning, the one feeling pity.

The camera captured their expressions again.

“Okay, cut!”

And so the scene ended.

“Good, today’s shoot was great too! Good work, everyone!”

Jo Jaesik clapped and announced the end of filming.

“Good work!”

“You all did great!”

“Good job!”

People greeted each other as they looked around.

Now that the movie filming had passed the midpoint, the atmosphere had changed from the beginning.

Of course, the biggest change was,

“Did you see the last scene?”

“Yeah, I glanced at the screen and got chills.”

“How does a kid act that well?”

“No joke. I saw it up close in person, and you could really feel the fear but the determination to do it for others in his eyes.”

“The facial expressions were really…”

“It was a super important scene, and it came out great.”

In how others viewed Myungwoo.

Myungwoo heard their comments, smiled faintly, and high-fived Lee Yoohee and Jeon Siho.

“Good work today!”

“You too, Myungwoo! Wow, your acting was on point again today?”

“Yeah. Wow, seeing it right in front was amazing. I thought I was overwhelmed for a moment.”

Lee Yoohee and Jeon Siho were the first to praise Myungwoo’s acting.

“Good job. You acted well.”

Next, Yoo Seunghyeon praised his acting succinctly,

“Heh heh, is this really the acting of an eleven-year-old…”

And Hwang Kyunghwan marveled quietly, sticking out his tongue.

How can such a young child act better than Minwoo…

If Han Minwoo saw this, he’d be sad again.

Handsome face and great acting from a young age.

Of course, he did see Han Minwoo in that child, but that didn’t mean the child was Han Minwoo.

Hwang Kyunghwan inwardly swallowed a bitter smile, thinking of his old friend who came to mind again today.

“Myungwooo!”

At that moment, Oh Wooyeon’s voice came from behind again.

She ran over once more and hugged Myungwoo tightly.

“Ah, Wooyeon noona.”

“Hey, you’re no joke? I joined midway and watched, and it was amazing?”

“Haha, thanks.”

“Ah, I want to act as well as you.” “You do well too, noona.”

“Hey, don’t say empty words! You’re way better!”

At Myungwoo’s words, Oh Wooyeon waved her hand but laughed ho ho, seeming pleased.

But it wasn’t empty words; it was true.

Her role is small, but she acted well.

Starting with a tearful scene from her first appearance, which wasn’t easy.

Yet Oh Wooyeon pulled it off without issue.

He could see why she was famous among teen actors.

“Where are you going now? Myungwoo, off to date your girlfriend?”

“Haha, she’s not my girlfriend.”

“Right right, girl friend! Anyway, going to hang out with her?”

“Yeah, we made plans.”

At Myungwoo’s words, Oh Wooyeon grinned.

“Hmm, I see. Have fun!”

“Yoohee, shall we go on a date after a while?”

“Sounds good?”

Jeon Siho and Lee Yoohee made date plans and flirted again.

“…Have fun. Next time, definitely come over to my place too.”

Yoo Seunghyeon waved to Myungwoo, greeting him and reminding him of their promise.

“Have a good time, Myungwoo.”

Hwang Kyunghwan hid his feelings of missing Han Minwoo and laughed heh heh as he greeted Myungwoo.

“Everyone, take care. Good work today.”

Myungwoo greeted all of them and took out his phone to contact Kwon Suah.

[Kang Myungwoo: Suah, filming’s done. Heading to your place.]

Kwon Suah’s reply came at the speed of light. Anyone would think she was waiting just for his message.

[Kwon Suah: Yeah! I told Dad too! Come quick!]

Myungwoo chuckled at Kwon Suah’s still energetic response.

Thinking of Kwon Suah made him think of the people he met at the acting academy.

Come to think of it, it’s been a while since I went to the academy; I wonder if everyone’s doing well.

Director Park Hyoyeon, the academy acquaintances, the exceptionally talented Han Siwon, and…

Yoon Kyungjin…

Is he doing well? After quitting the academy back then, contact was completely cut off.

Is he still acting? He probably is. Even if his acting was so-so, his passion was tremendous, at least as much as mine.

Will I see him later?

No, it’d be great if I could see him on set someday. Actor to actor.

Myungwoo thought about him, shook his head, and started walking.

For today, it was the day to meet Kwon Suah and Kwon Seonwoo.

He shouldn’t dwell on downer thoughts, so Myungwoo deliberately pushed away thoughts of Yoon Kyungjin.