Ryan Will and Jonathan returned to the United States a week later. Even until then, the one-man play written by Ryan Will remained stuck at the first line.
Ryan Will and Seo Jun agreed to talk via video call once a week, watching the best recordings of the practice sessions.
In the meantime, Seo Jun's grandparents, who had gone on a European trip, returned safely.
At the airport, the three of them handed Seo Jun torn pieces of the firefly charm paper.
"What should we do? The charm Seo Jun gave us got torn."
"Grandpa's too. Do we need to draw another one later?"
"Yes!"
The delicately drawn firefly pictures were torn in various places. They wouldn't have torn the gift they received from their grandson.
'This must have activated!'
Seo Jun was startled and circled around his grandparents, checking if they were hurt. The adults laughed, thinking he was just excited to see them.
When the grandparents arrived at Seo Jun's house, they happily talked about their European trip and also mentioned the traffic accident.
Grandma realized she had left something at the accommodation and went back with the guide.
Because of this, the package tour bus left about 10 minutes late.
"There was a 10-car pileup, and I was so shocked."
"Everyone blamed the old lady for the delay. But when the driver and guide said, 'If we had left on time, we would have been in that accident too,' everyone fell silent!"
Fortunately, no one died, but if the tour bus had been involved in the collision, it could have been a major accident. The couple and Seo Jun sighed in relief.
The New Year came and passed, and after the Lunar New Year, Seo Jun, who received a lot of birthday gifts, turned one year older.
Now 6 years old. 7 years old by Korean age!
And then.
A new door opened.
"I've been waiting for this!"
Seo Jun, who had read all the books in the two open libraries three times, clung to a thin straw and knocked on the door of the library every night.
He had been waiting for it to open, and finally, it did.
Seo Jun opened the newly opened library door with sparkling eyes.
"Seo Jun seems to be lacking energy today?"
"He's been like this since morning."
Seo Eun-chan, who had visited Seo Eun-hye's house after a long time, asked Min-joon. Seo Eun-chan had been busy taking over and reorganizing Cocoa Entertainment after the president, who had been involved in embezzlement and other crimes, was arrested.
He came to inform his sister and brother-in-law, who had contributed funds for the acquisition, about the progress, but noticed something was off with his usually energetic nephew.
Seo Jun was lying on the living room sofa like a deflated slime.
"Why are you like this?"
"…Nothing."
"Nothing? What's nothing?"
"There's nothing bad."
Seo Eun-chan, unable to understand Seo Jun's words, rolled his eyes and looked at Min-joon. Min-joon smiled bitterly and pointed towards the kitchen.
"Director Ryan came at the end of December."
Min-joon continued the story slowly. When he mentioned that Seo Jun was still practicing the one-man play and having weekly video calls with Ryan Will, Seo Eun-chan looked at the five-year-old sprawled on the sofa with a weary expression.
He thought Seo Jun loved acting, but at that age, wouldn't his interest wane quickly?
"It's already July?"
It was early July, with the summer sun scorching and a typhoon approaching.
For seven months, Seo Jun had been practicing the one-man play diligently every day.
In the first month, he practiced morning, noon, and night, without a break, whether at home or at kindergarten. But realizing it was a long-term battle, he now practiced only at specific times after coming home from kindergarten.
After dozens of video calls with Ryan Will, all of them resulted in rejections.
"Ugh!"
Seo Jun screamed and flailed on the sofa.
It wasn't in the newly opened library either. He had read all the books, but it wasn't there.
He tried a high-probability ability, but was immediately rejected. He even received a comment that he seemed nicer.
'Since the day Ryan came, I haven't done the [Elf's Basic Breathing]!'
It had become so natural that it felt like breathing, but he was trying hard not to do it even unconsciously.
'Oh, I just did it!'
Seo Jun stopped the [Elf's Basic Breathing] he had unconsciously done.
As Seo Jun, who had been flailing, fell onto the sofa, Seo Eun-chan couldn't help but laugh. It was a new side of Seo Jun, who was always so carefree.
"So, we've been seeing a different side of Seo Jun lately."
Min-joon laughed, recalling the past few months: his son getting up suddenly during meals and heading to his room, coming home from kindergarten and taking out the script without washing up, and his father scolding him for daydreaming (definitely acting) while eating snacks.
Perhaps it was because they believed Seo Jun would handle things well.
Despite the adults' belief, Seo Jun was getting more and more tired.
Seven months had already passed. He was confident he could do it for a year, five years, or even ten years. No, Seo Jun shook his head. Even for me, ten years would be tough.
Lying on the sofa and looking out the window, Seo Jun sighed.
At first, he thought he could do it without using his ability, but Ryan Will's evaluation was different. He still said he seemed nice.
So, he waited for the next library to open, but all the lives inside were the same. Here, a nice kid. There, a nice kid.
"Ha."
Seo Jun sighed heavily, as if carrying the world's burdens.
But maybe if he tried a bit more, it would get better. Seo Jun jumped up from the sofa and headed to his room. Practice. Only practice could save him.
While repeating practice and library visits, Seo Jun received unexpected news.
Ryan Will had come back to Korea, and Jonathan was with him. The sudden appearance of the director made the couple and Seo Jun tense up. They had a gut feeling that something big was about to happen.
Today, Seo Jun performed in front of Ryan Will. He had memorized all the lines and his body movements were perfect. But, as expected, he was rejected. Watching Seo Jun sigh, Ryan Will suddenly spoke.
"We're starting to shoot Shadowman 2 in September."
At those words, the couple and Seo Jun froze. Seeing Seo Jun's restless eyes, Ryan Will involuntarily wiped his face. He had planned to wait a bit longer, but...
"…Shooting?"
"Yes. I have no choice."
Considering the schedules of the other actors in Shadowman 2 and the release dates of new Marineza films, Ryan Will had delayed the start as much as possible. But it was no longer possible.
Seo Jun hesitated to speak. Acting had always been fun, and shooting too. But today, he wished it hadn't come.
"Then, acting…."
"For now, let's shoot the performance you did at the audition."
Seo Jun was speechless. After seven months of practice, he was told to do the first one. His mouth opened and closed, and he changed the subject.
"Are my photos still circulating?"
"Even the FBI can't remove them."
While they tried to remove the photos floating on the internet, they couldn't remove the ones people had in their possession, especially if they were printed.
Ryan Will and Seo Jun shook their heads. Ryan's mother had printed Seo Jun's photos and put them in his house, and Kim Hee-sang had even framed them in Seo Jun's house.
When Seo Jun pouted, saying he didn't want to see them, the couple put them in their room.
"By the way, Jonathan said that in some countries, they even make them into souvenirs like cups and fans. They say it brings good luck and is very popular."
"Ryan!"
Seo Jun, who had regained his energy from Ryan's casual words, shouted. After dozens of video calls, they had become close enough to share self-deprecating jokes.
"So, you were just too good. Maybe you were too into the angel role on Christmas Eve?"
"How could I have known this would happen?"
Seo Jun pouted. At that time, on Christmas Eve, he was so happy with the live broadcast that he used his ability, feeling like he was blessing the whole world. He couldn't deny Ryan's words.
After the self-deprecating joke, silence remained. After a long silence, Ryan Will spoke first.
"How about it? Can you prepare?"
"Yes."
Seo Jun nodded. This time, he would go with the "Bell Goblin Teasing Mr. Kim" and next time, he would practice even harder.
"I'll try."
* * *
Jonathan watched Ryan and Seo Jun talk.
After informing Seo Jun of the shooting date, Ryan stood up. The couple and Seo Jun said their goodbyes.
Jonathan, who had thought about staying longer to give acting guidance, followed them to the front door.
"Where are you going?"
"To revise the script."
It was the umpteenth revision. Jonathan watched Ryan's back as he pressed the elevator button.
He had been so happy to find the perfect actor, even though he didn't show it. His drooping figure was pitiful.
"More revisions?"
"The actor is trying, so I should too."
Even though he thought it was time to change the actor. Jonathan kept quiet. Ryan, who had been making movies for years, couldn't be unaware of this.
Seo Jun must know too. But neither of them was giving up.
Jonathan and Ryan got into the elevator. A heavy silence enveloped them.
* * *
Seo Jun stood in front of the library. Director Ryan Will had come and announced the shooting of Shadowman 2.
"Ha."
It was now August. Today, Seo Jun turned around and walked slowly. The bright library of the good tendency gradually disappeared behind him, and darkness approached.
After walking for a while, he saw several doors. Unlike the colorful doors of the good tendency library, these were all black.
The library doors were covered with thick black chains.
Seo Jun approached and touched the library door. Neither the door nor the black chains reacted.
This dark library was where various bad past lives gathered.
"The evil tendency library."
There was only one way to unlock the chains and open the door: to possess evil tendency mana (malignant qi).
If Seo Jun had used the [Mind's Basic Breathing] to create a source, the evil tendency library would have been wide open, and the good tendency library would have been firmly wrapped in thick white chains.
It had been eight months, and he did this every day, but he was still nervous.
Seo Jun exhaled and relaxed his tense body. The good tendency mana (benevolent qi) inside him seemed to stir under the influence of the evil tendency library.
Seo Jun sat in front of the evil tendency library and closed his eyes.