Inside the pit, which was almost 3 meters deep, there was a muddy boy with his eyes closed. One of the boy's legs was broken.
Seojun stretched his neck to observe the boy, but Kim Heesang quickly covered Seojun's eyes. Is he dead? Seojun bit his lip.
"Seojun, that older brother is... right now..."
"Brother, move your stomach. Only your leg hurts."
Seojun saw the boy's chest moving up and down as if he were breathing. Upon hearing this, Kim Heesang let out a sigh of relief.
"119!"
"Right, just a moment."
At Seojun's urging, Kim Heesang quickly took out his phone and called 119, then immediately called the assistant director. The assistant director answered before the second ring.
"Ah, Assistant Director. A child has had an accident here. No, it's not Seojun. It seems to be a village child who fell into the pit... He seems to have fainted. One of his legs is broken. We should call the villagers and an ambulance. We're on the path behind the shrine, a bit further into the grass..."
While Kim Heesang was giving directions, Seojun covered the boy, whose lips had turned blue, with the goblin's energy like a blanket.
With the remaining energy, he covered the pit to keep the cold wind out. This way, he won't be cold.
The boy's complexion improved as if he was getting warm. If he had more strength, he could have taken more measures. Feeling sorry, Seojun couldn't take his eyes off the boy.
"Seojun, you should get out too."
Kim Heesang quickly picked up Seojun, who was about to fall into the pit.
Soon, Director Choe Daeman and others appeared. Everyone looked at the boy in the pit.
"We need to get him out quickly!"
"Touching him carelessly might cause more shock and make things worse!"
"Um, I'm a doctor."
People's attention turned to an out-of-breath stranger who was panting heavily. He had followed them with all his might when he heard about the accident, but he was too exhausted.
"He's the son of the hanok owner. He came to watch the filming."
At the assistant director's words, Director Choe Daeman and the others quickly asked for his help. With the doctor's assistance, the boy was safely rescued and taken to a nearby hospital.
After the commotion, the filming crew resumed shooting. Seojun, who had to do night shooting, took a nap, had dinner, and headed to the set.
"It might be a bit tough today."
"If it's too hard, we'll split it over today and tomorrow."
At Director Choe Daeman's words, the assistant director nodded.
"Ah, you're here. The actors."
Lee Jiseok and Seojun, who had finished their makeup, appeared at the shooting location. The assistant director and Director Choe Daeman greeted the two actors.
The exorcism scene, which would conclude the film 'The Evil Spirit,' was being shot in the courtyard of the hanok. Equipment to show the power of the baby shaman and the evil spirit was being set up.
Director Choe Daeman explained the setup and the sequence of operations to the two actors. Seojun was fascinated by the various devices that brought the script to life and asked many questions.
The staff checking the fire-starting devices shaped like talismans were quietly talking.
"It must be tough to act in such a place."
"True, but even in Redbone1, they act in all green chroma key with sensors on their clothes. Most of the attacks are CG, so they just extend their arms. It's impressive that they can act naturally in such a situation."
"That's true."
The battle between the evil spirit and the deity.
The staff setting up the equipment thought that, unlike the flashy CG in other films, the two actors' performances without any effects might be a bit awkward.
"Your acting might feel awkward, but with CG and editing, it will look amazing. Please try to act as naturally as possible. We'll start with a wide shot."
As everyone went to their positions, Director Choe Daeman called Seojun.
"Seojun, when you deliver your lines, leave enough room for the 'inner deity's' lines."
"Got it!"
Seojun nodded at Director Choe Daeman's words and went to his position.
He could see the cameras and lights, and Lee Jiseok as well. Seojun whispered quietly.
"Mr. Kim, let's play."
[The teasing of Mr. Kim by the bell goblin has been activated.]
The energy inside his body moved gently. The human-like energy, unable to resist the urge to play, swayed and danced.
-Ready,
Now was the time to unleash this energy, just like when he was teasing Mr. Kim!
-Action!
The wind blew.
The bright red shaman's costume of the baby shaman fluttered, and the shaman's bell in his hand swayed gently.
Jingling.
The baby shaman knew this was the last day.
[It's been a long time, child.]
The man, or rather, the evil spirit, spoke.
[You've grown so deliciously. I should have eaten you back then.]
The evil spirit, possessing the man's body, chuckled. The baby shaman, born with the powerful strength inherited from his parents, had been prey to all kinds of spirits since birth. His parents had protected him from these spirits.
The baby shaman recalled the faces of the two people in his hazy memory. The two, who always smiled, had been taken away by the evil spirit's power and never returned.
[But, what is inside you!]
The wind blew fiercely. The evil spirit, powerful enough to roughly shake the baby shaman's costume with just one word, raged.
[This was what I was waiting for! I waited for you to grow even more delicious!]
The baby shaman's shaman's bell shook violently, making a jingling sound.
[What is the one that possessed you before me!!]
The evil spirit screamed as if its mouth would tear. However, the baby shaman remained silent. He just waited. The deity inside whispered. Wait a bit more. A bit more.
Not yet.
The baby shaman thought the same.
The evil spirit raged. It knew it had to make the baby shaman speak and use his power. The evil spirit thought, if I can't.
"Ah!"
You!
"Ah!"
The evil spirit withdrew its power, and Soohyuk regained control of his body. The body, which had been controlled by the evil spirit, fell to the ground like a puppet with its strings cut. The evil spirit whispered to Soohyuk, who was barely breathing.
[That child is the only one who can remove me. Beg! Beg and beg again! Beg to get rid of me quickly!]
Soohyuk slowly calmed his breathing.
The baby shaman looked at Soohyuk with a blank face but a sympathetic gaze.
This man was suffering from the evil spirit, just like his parents. The deity said,
Wait. You must wait.
But, this older brother. He's hurt. He needs to be healed.
You're too kind. That's why I chose you.
The deity laughed. The baby shaman had quickly closed the door when he first saw Soohyuk, fearing he might reach out without realizing it.
Still, wait.
The hesitant baby shaman nodded at the deity's firm words after his parents passed away and the deity had taken care of him like a child.
Soohyuk looked at the baby shaman. His body was in pain, and his soul was suffering, but he didn't speak. He just looked at the baby shaman with a sympathetic gaze.
[Beg, beg! That child is kind. If you ask, he'll make you comfortable right away! Like this!]
Soohyuk's body felt a moment of comfort. Yes, the state of his body before the evil spirit possessed him.
[Do you want to feel comfortable? Do you want to return to your original state?!]
The evil spirit shouted.
[Then beg!]
The wind blew fiercely like a storm, and the shaman's bell in the baby shaman's hand shook wildly, making a jingling sound.
The jingling was so loud it hurt the ears, but no one covered their ears.
Soohyuk chuckled. Unable to hold back, he chuckled and then spoke.
"Kid."
At Soohyuk's call, the baby shaman opened and closed his mouth. Soohyuk looked at the baby shaman. His eyes, resembling his father's, slightly trembled.
"Do what you have to do."
Now.
The deity whispered.
The moon rose.
The baby shaman looked at the sky. A pale yellow full moon, like the eyes of a beast, looked down on the courtyard.
It's a full moon.
The baby shaman lowered his head and looked at Soohyuk and the evil spirit inside him. The deity said,
And it's your birthday.
Three years ago today, his parents died.
The baby shaman raised both hands. In his right hand was the golden shaman's bell his mother used, and in his left hand was the red talisman his father used. Objects imbued with the energy of the two.
You've worked hard doing silent meditation all this time.
[No!]
At the same time as the deity's words, the evil spirit, possessing Soohyuk's body again, shouted. Soohyuk's soul grabbed the body, which was trying to rush at the baby shaman. It felt like his body was being torn apart.
"Damn! That kid hasn't spoken or laughed or cried for three years! He's only seven! A kid who laughs and cries all the time!"
[Get lost! Human!!]
"If you want to leave, kill me first! You bastard!!"
Jingling.
The wind blew fiercely, powered by the evil spirit. But the baby shaman's bell rang quietly and briefly.
Jingling.
The baby shaman infused the power he had accumulated over three years into the talisman and the bell with the deity's help.
A huge aura appeared behind the baby shaman. The deity's power, resembling the yellow moonlight, exploded from the baby shaman's body.
With a golden wind, the baby shaman's shaman's costume fluttered. A large presence enveloped the baby shaman.
The immense power of the deity hurt his body, but it was also warm.
The baby shaman held the talisman. The talisman, which had been swaying helplessly in the wind, stood stiff.
The red spell written on the talisman glowed. The baby shaman, reciting the spell taught by the deity for the first time out loud, a spell he had only muttered in his mind for three years, said,
"To the heavenly deities, I pray."
[No!]
"I can't leave!!"
Soohyuk's body glowed on its own. With the evil spirit's power, he took a step forward, but with Soohyuk's power, he fell to the ground.
In the gap, Soohyuk, who had control of his right eye, looked at the baby shaman, who was shedding tears. Soohyuk's gaze was warm.
"I am a humble being, I pray."
[[email protected]^&%&@!!!!]
Now, the last part.
The deity whispered.
With the deity, who knew everything, inside his body, the baby shaman knew everything.
The baby shaman saw Soohyuk, who was covered in wounds while blocking the evil spirit. Tears blurred his vision.
If Soohyuk had asked, as the evil spirit said, the baby shaman would have granted his wish and been devoured by the evil spirit. But Soohyuk didn't.
If the baby shaman repelled the evil spirit, Soohyuk would die. Soohyuk was a good person. He shouldn't die like this.
You're too kind.
The deity sighed and showed the baby shaman a different future. The baby shaman's tear-blurred eyes sparkled.
How about it?
I like it!
What if I disappear?
Even if you can't see me, I'll be by your side!
The deity raised both hands. As expected, I can't win.
A foreign voice mixed with the baby shaman's voice.
"May the great soul descend upon this body."
The talisman in the baby shaman's left hand flew and surrounded the evil spirit, then burst into flames. The baby shaman held the bell with both hands.
[!#$^#!!!!!]
"Good job."
Perhaps Soohyuk had anticipated his own death. The baby shaman shook the bell with all his might.
Jingling!
"May the power to burn the ignorant evil!"
The golden aura, like a golden beast, charged at the evil spirit under the moonlight. Soohyuk, enveloped in the golden flames, writhed in pain.
The evil spirit screamed. It shrieked. Soohyuk, whose soul was burning in the hot flames, also screamed in pain.
Jingling!
"May the power to destroy the source!"
The fire, which seemed to be made of gold, grew fiercer. The black evil spirit, losing its power, struggled to escape Soohyuk's body. Soohyuk's soul caught the evil spirit trying to escape.
"Thanks to you, I think I've learned how to handle souls!"
[!#%#$&@!!!!]
The evil spirit, unable to escape from Soohyuk's hands or the deity's hands, screamed and then faded away.
The golden flames, unable to find the evil spirit to burn, circled Soohyuk like a beast looking for prey and then calmed down.
The courtyard, filled with screams, became quiet.
In the end,
It disappeared.
As the pain ended, Soohyuk fell to the ground, and the baby shaman also sat down. With tears in his eyes, he looked at the fallen Soohyuk.
-Cut, OK!
With Director Choe Daeman's voice, Seojun came back to his senses.
Seojun looked at his hands. Red marks were left from how tightly he had held the bell's handle. He seemed more immersed than when he practiced at home.
Seojun carefully placed his hand on his chest. His heart was pounding.
The [Mushroom of Laughter's Illusion] automatically activated, so Seojun could use it without worrying about getting too immersed in the acting.
But this time was different. Unlike the first shoot, where he just had to keep the energy inside his body, he had to emit the energy from his whole body and make it disappear. He also had to act as the goblin's energy.
So, to avoid forgetting to use [The Bell Goblin's Mr. Kim Teasing] while being immersed in method acting, Seojun practiced emitting the goblin's energy until it became second nature.
"But, it turned out better than expected."
Seojun chuckled.
"Ah!"
Lee Jiseok, who had been lying on the ground, gasped for breath and then slowly sat up.
Oh. Seojun noticed that Lee Jiseok was covered in mud. Jiseok-ssi also acted really well. It looked like he was really possessed by an evil spirit.
As Seojun was about to approach Lee Jiseok and ask if he was okay,
Clap-
Clap clap-
Clap clap clap!
"Wow!"
Applause erupted among the staff. Director Choe Daeman and the assistant director also applauded the two actors in admiration.