"Huh? Oh, it's a picture floating around the internet. Isn't it cute?"
"It really looks like an angel."
The background of Jenny's phone was a photo of a child smiling brightly. Her friend couldn't take her eyes off the photo.
"Send it to me too."
"Sure."
Photos of Seojun in angel costumes began to spread across the world through SNS and the internet.
In the UK.
Emma was sprawled on the sofa, staring at the dark, unlit TV screen.
She didn't know why she was living. She didn't want to breathe, think, or do anything.
She didn't know how she had ended up in such a state. She hated the foggy British weather, the small and dirty house, and her job. As her list of dislikes grew, one day, the things she liked disappeared.
Ding!
Emma blinked her eyes. At the moment, she wasn't in touch with any of her acquaintances, so the only person who could be calling was her parents.
The image of her parents, with sad eyes, hoping she would just answer the call, flashed through Emma's mind. She didn't want to move, but it bothered her.
Emma reached out and grabbed the phone on the table.
"Huh."
It wasn't her mom or dad. Her best friend had sent a photo. A friend who came to her house to help clean and hoped she would get better.
>Isn't it super cute? You love cute things, don't you?
There was a photo of a little kid. Wearing a cape with wings, the child was smiling brightly, and Emma couldn't take her eyes off it.
[The baby angel's feather has activated.]
Instantly, Jane's mind turned completely white. Her mind, which had been darkened by depression and frustration, became clean.
It felt incredibly refreshing.
"Huh!"
Jane, without realizing it, exhaled and looked around.
She saw a house filled with garbage and dust. Before, the sight of a dirty house would have made her feel suffocated, but now she wanted to clean it up quickly.
Emma smiled for the first time in a long time and got up from the sofa.
Now, it was time to start again.
Seojun's photo spread rapidly across the world. Among those who saw it was Ryan Wild.
"Is this Jun?"
Jonathan showed the photo he received from a friend to Ryan.
Ryan had just come back from watching a film that had a limited release but was still shown in American movie theaters.
Jonathan hesitantly handed the photo to Ryan, who had a serious expression. Ryan silently looked at the photo, frowned, and sat down in front of the computer.
[This photo seems to have improved my depression.]
[After seeing this photo, I had a good day.]
[It's a photo that makes people happy.]
Ryan rubbed his face and headed to his room. He packed a large travel bag. Jonathan asked at the door.
"Where are you going?"
"Yeah. Korea."
"Korea?"
"If you want to come, you can."
For some reason, it was an overseas trip. Jonathan quickly nodded.
"I want to go! When are we leaving?"
"Tomorrow. Do you have a passport?"
"Yes. Uncle! I have it. I brought it!"
"But, why are we going?"
"To meet Seojun Lee."
Ryan Wild said with a stern face.
* * *
Ryan Wild's arrival in Korea was not publicized. If Marine Co. didn't release an article, and unless he was a famous director who had made several blockbusters in Hollywood, no one would remember his name.
The two unpacked at the hotel and contacted Seojun and his parents. They were surprised to hear that they had come to Korea so quickly and gave them their address.
Seojun shook hands with Ryan Wild. He was still tall. Jonathan, who was awkwardly waving from behind, was also visible.
After a brief conversation, Ryan Wild got to the point.
"I have something to talk to Jun about."
"Oh, should we leave then?"
Eunhye and Minjun were about to leave. Jonathan also got up, looking around. Ryan Wild shook his head.
"I'm fine."
"Me too!"
Still, it seemed to be an important matter, so the three of them sat a little away from Ryan Wild and Seojun.
Ryan Wild looked at Seojun, who was sitting in front of him. Seojun couldn't guess why Ryan had come and his eyes darted around.
Director Ryan spoke.
"I saw The Exorcist. Jun."
"A Korean movie?"
"There were few theaters, but it was shown in movie theaters."
It was released in the US too! Seojun's face lit up, and Director Ryan nodded.
"I don't know much about shamans, but you did a good job."
"Thank you."
Seojun said, sounding nervous. It was because he couldn't tell what Director Ryan's expression meant. The couple and Jonathan also watched the two of them intently.
Seojun swallowed.
Well, he didn't think Director Ryan came all the way to Korea just to give compliments.
"Anyway."
"Yes."
"Do you remember the audition we had?"
"Yes."
Seojun nodded. When his uncle went to the US to sign a contract, he met Director Ryan Wild at Marine Co.
"I don't care what race the actor is, but I won't allow an actor who can't act in my movie."
Saying that, he gave Seojun a short script and conducted an audition. Seojun passed as expected and even signed a contract.
"I thought the strange atmosphere I felt from your acting was the aura of a villain."
Seojun looked into Director Ryan's eyes.
The first villain. When Seojun heard that 'William' was a villain, he postponed the audition and searched the library.
But he couldn't find any higher abilities in the first or second door. He was sure he wouldn't find any in the third door that had just opened.
In the end, Seojun used [The Goblin's Trick on Mr. Kim] in the audition.
For Seojun, who had a good nature, being a 'villain' was just a prank. A witty prank that could make even the victim laugh.
So, during the audition, Seojun used the goblin's energy, which he thought was the most fitting, and acted. He thought that was enough.
"But after seeing The Exorcist, I realized it wasn't."
Seojun's eyes wavered. He had a feeling. A strange feeling after the audition. The one thing that bothered him. Ryan Wild had come to point that out.
In the serious atmosphere, the couple and Jonathan listened quietly. The couple thought it was a bit early. No, it was too early for a child who was almost seven.
But the couple believed that Seojun's talent, ability, and effort were different from those of ordinary children. They believed he could overcome this challenge.
Jonathan, who had seen the audition and The Exorcist, bit his lip. His uncle knew, and the young Jun knew, but Jonathan hadn't realized the flaw. He still didn't know. He needed to analyze and study more.
"If you appear in just one scene as that villain, people won't know. They'll just think the strange feeling is the villain's aura, like me. But 'William' doesn't appear in just one scene. He'll appear throughout the movie, and since it's a series, there might be several movies. Then people will realize that the 'William' you're playing isn't a villain."
Ryan Wild recalled The Exorcist he saw in the theater. The aura he felt beyond the golden CG.
"The strange energy I felt when I saw The Exorcist gradually became warm and great. It was definitely good, though I had never experienced it before."
Seojun had nothing to say. It was as Director Ryan said. No matter how he packaged it, [The Goblin's Trick on Mr. Kim] was a skill with a good nature.
"Now, when people who saw The Exorcist see the 'William' you're playing, they'll feel the same. A villain, but good. And they'll find it strange. That's not the 'William' I want."
Ryan Wild sighed involuntarily. If it had only been that, people who hadn't seen The Exorcist might have felt that Seojun's 'William' was a villain.
If he could somehow get through the filming of Shadowman 2, gain more experience as he grew older, and broaden his acting range, he could have played a perfect villain in the subsequent Shadowman series.
At least that was Director Ryan's plan.
The reason he thought of Seojun, who had little acting experience, for the role of 'William' and lowered the standards for William's performance in Shadowman 2 was because of this plan.
"But the broadcast you appeared in has become a problem."
"Broadcast?"
Everyone listened intently to Ryan Wild's unexpected words.
"I mean the broadcast where you appeared in angel clothes. The broadcast was captured, and your photo spread worldwide."
Seojun tilted his head. That's a problem? Wouldn't it be better if his face was known?
"Unlike a movie like The Exorcist, which requires 2 hours of attention, a photo can leave an image in your mind in just 1 second. And its reach is incomparable to a movie. Even in places without theaters or where The Exorcist hasn't been translated, the photo can spread through phones, computers, and printed copies. Plus, it can be seen again and again."
Seeing the photo Jonathan brought, Ryan Wild immediately understood the problem.
"You're too good."
Although it sounded like a compliment, Ryan Wild's serious expression made everyone stop looking.
"The image is set. Unless you have an overwhelmingly powerful performance, people will see your acting and can't get rid of the image in the photo."
At that moment, everyone remembered the story of the woman who started a new life after seeing Seojun's photo.
Ah, that's it. No one took it seriously, thinking it was a good thing, but only Director Ryan, who had watched Seojun's acting, realized the seriousness of the situation.
"It's not for nothing that a character from a previous work affects the next one. The image in the work becomes the image in advertisements. Once people think that way, it's hard to change."
"…So, can't I do the movie?"
Seojun's question made Ryan Wild frown.
"Why don't you say you'll study to play a villain? You're a genius. You can do anything if you learn. Good image? Overwhelm it with your acting!"
Seojun looked at Ryan Wild with dark eyes.
Since he started [Elf's Basic Breathing] when he developed a sense of self, it formed his core.
This core, like his soul, was oriented towards goodness and could only use good-natured abilities.
Even if he acted without using his abilities, his core, filled with good mana, would emit 'goodness' when he played a villain.
Even if he stopped [Elf's Basic Breathing] now, his nature was already fixed as good.
"…What if I study and it doesn't work?"
It was bound to fail. That's why Seojun had to ask.
"Then you'll only play similar roles for the rest of your life."
Director Ryan was cold even to a 6-year-old child.
"Hmm."
He didn't want that. A superstar had to perfectly play any role. It was fine if he couldn't play a role because of his appearance, like a 30-year-old playing a teenager. Seojun wanted to perfectly play any role.
As Seojun fell into thought, Ryan Wild said,
"Let's practice."
"Practice?"
"I'll help you until you can do it. I wanted you to play William from the moment I saw you. If you're going to give up here, I wouldn't have even thought about making Shadowman."
Jonathan, who had heard about Ryan Wild's persistence from his father, nodded. His father still shuddered and said, "A movie maniac!"
"Hmm."
Thank you, but if it doesn't work, it doesn't work. To the hesitant Seojun, Ryan Wild asked with an angry face,
"Are you not going to do it? Are you going to give up like this?"
Give up.
The word pierced Seojun's heart like an arrow. Despite living many lives, Seojun had never given up. Even if he was to die just three days after being born, he lived his life to the fullest.
Seojun's eyes sparkled.
"…I'll do it. I want to."
"Good."
Ryan Wild, with a satisfied smile, took out a paper from his bag. It was a script densely written in English.
"It's a one-man play. I wrote it for a villain your age. Let's start with this."
Seojun took the script.
"Don't worry. I think you can do it in a few months."
Seojun, who had been down, nodded.
In Seojun's room, the practice between Ryan Wild and Seojun began. The sound of the two sharing their thoughts could be heard.
Minjun and Eunhye didn't know what to do outside the door. Jonathan studied by writing down Director Ryan's sharp advice on paper.
* * *
Seojun opened his eyes in the library of good nature. He slumped in front of it and sighed deeply.
Despite acting in front of Ryan Wild, the effect of [Elf's Basic Breathing] was powerful. He couldn't look 'evil' for a moment.
He looked up at the two open doors. The library he had already explored.
"It won't be there."
Seojun was disappointed.
Seojun looked at the book of his first life, which he hadn't seen in a long time. The book was still old and about to crumble, but he could still read it.
It was a life that felt suffocating even when read again. But he didn't give up.
Seojun fell into thought.
He could only play good roles. He could still become a superstar. But that was giving up. Avoiding. Seojun closed the book.
"I don't want to give up."
But what could he do? Seojun, who had been looking at the book of his first life and the library doors, turned his head without realizing it.
On the opposite side of the library doors, a dark darkness was visible.