After hearing the issues from Director Ryan Will, Seojun thought of a few methods.
The first method.
Practice, practice, and more practice, as Director Ryan Will suggested.
However, the more he practiced over several months, the more he realized this method wouldn't work. Still, he didn't give up and continued.
Seojun took a deep breath. He skewed his mana (Seon-ki) towards one side and began the "Basic Breathing of Mine."
The second method.
Wait for a new door to open in the library of Seon-ki (good-aligned) books.
The third door opened like a birthday gift, but it still didn't contain any suitable abilities.
Hearing that he seemed even more virtuous, Seojun fell into deep thought about whether he should even open the library doors anymore.
The white mana (Seon-ki) in Seojun's core crumpled. Seojun waited for the black mana (Ma-ki) to seep into his core.
One hour, two hours. Then seven months, eight months.
The third method.
Open the door to the library of Ma-ki (evil-aligned) books.
To open the door to the library of Ma-ki (evil-aligned) books, he needed Ma-ki (evil-aligned) mana.
Seojun tried to shake off his impatience, but he felt frustrated that the Ma-ki (evil-aligned) mana was not responding at all.
Usually, once he decided on an alignment, he would live with the abilities of that alignment. Good or evil, there was no reason or need to have both alignments.
A single life.
There might be more similar lives, but one life stood out vividly in his memory. A life that remained like a warning in his mind.
It was the life of an elf who lived to avenge his tribe, which was hunted by humans.
The elf, with a good alignment, tried to open the door to the library of evil alignment just like Seojun.
Despite having a good core, the elf sought to obtain Ma-ki (evil-aligned) mana and open the library door to seek revenge.
The elf's life was long, and he had the patience to match.
However, before the elf could obtain Ma-ki (evil-aligned) mana, one of the elf hunters he sought to avenge died of illness.
The elf realized that, unlike himself with a long lifespan, the humans he sought to avenge were easily and quickly killed.
'If I continue this way, I might eventually obtain it. But will it take 10 years, or 100 years?'
The elf closed his eyes and gave up.
Using the bones of liches, the blood of demons, and the flesh of monsters, he became a demon king.
Seojun shook his head at the life that came to mind.
The end of that life was destruction.
The elf, having become a demon king, killed humans, destroyed human nations, and the Ma-ki (evil-aligned) mana eventually consumed his mind, leading him to destroy even his own elf nation.
And in the next life, a high-level black magician who remembered the previous life and opened the library of evil alignment to read the elf's life, embedded the elf's life as a warning in Seojun's mind for his next life.
"Huh."
Seojun exhaled deeply.
He didn't know how long the elf had tried in front of the library.
But unlike the elf with a long life, human life was short, and the filming of Shadowman 2 was even shorter.
Seojun performed the "Basic Breathing of Mine" again.
After much time had passed, the Ma-ki (evil-aligned) mana still didn't respond. Seojun sighed and prepared to wake up.
"For now, let's use the 'Bell Goblin's Trick on Mr. Kim' in Shadowman 2."
He looked at the tightly closed and securely chained door of the evil-aligned library with a regretful gaze.
"And I'll keep practicing, practicing, breathing, and breathing. I will definitely open it."
Just before waking up, Seojun's vision blurred.
"I won't act in any other movies until then. I won't do any dramas either!"
Like a warning, like a promise.
It seemed the library slightly trembled at Seojun's firm words.
* * *
The next day.
After returning from kindergarten as usual, Seojun practiced hard and went to bed. He opened his eyes in the library.
He sat in front of the door to the evil-aligned library and began deep breathing slowly.
He tried to draw in the Ma-ki (evil-aligned) mana emanating from the library with his whole body.
Then, the Seon-ki (good-aligned) mana, which was crammed into a corner of his core, started to move. Seojun frowned as the Seon-ki (good-aligned) mana actively repelled the intruder, and he tried to control it.
But the Ma-ki (evil-aligned) mana, which was intimidated by the aggressive Seon-ki (good-aligned) mana, only circled around Seojun's body and didn't enter.
"Huh. Really."
'Is it impossible for the two manas to coexist?'
Seojun, who was about to give up, sat up straight and started deep breathing again.
'Will the door to the library of evil alignment never open in my lifetime?'
The Ma-ki (evil-aligned) and Seon-ki (good-aligned) manas faced off inside and outside his body.
'Will I never be able to make movies then?'
The library slightly trembled.
Seojun, who was focusing on the "Basic Breathing of Mine" with his eyes tightly closed, didn't see it.
'Can I become a superstar if I can't even act in villainous roles?'
Seojun took a deep breath.
At that moment.
The library of life moved.
It patted the Seon-ki (good-aligned) mana and encouraged the Ma-ki (evil-aligned) mana. It mediated between the two manas and demanded cooperation.
Sometimes it soothed, sometimes it threatened. Finally, it bared its teeth and growled at the two manas that wouldn't listen.
The two manas, unsure of what to do, eventually held hands with a reluctant expression. Their fingers were barely connected, as if they might let go at any moment.
This happened while Seojun, with his eyes tightly closed, was focusing solely on his breathing.
What?!
The Ma-ki (evil-aligned) mana seeped into Seojun's body. It seemed to be about to burst out, but it slowly entered, wriggling.
His heart raced. The Seon-ki (good-aligned) mana in his core seemed ready to rush out to repel the Ma-ki (evil-aligned) mana, but it didn't. Instead, it just circled around inside the core.
What's happening?!
Seojun felt his mouth open wide at what was happening inside his body.
Seojun, who had been watching the struggle between the two manas, quickly regained his composure.
He decided to seize the opportunity and luck.
Focus. Focus. Focus!
He cheered on the hesitant Ma-ki (evil-aligned) mana and calmed the growling Seon-ki (good-aligned) mana. He put all his effort into soothing the two manas, which acted like children.
And,
Finally, the Ma-ki (evil-aligned) mana seeped into his core. The two manas, as if about to fight, circled each other warily. Gradually, they calmed down.
At that moment, a blessed notification sounded.
"The 'Basic Breathing of Mine' has been activated!"
Feeling good, perhaps because the two manas were staying in his core without any issues, the notification seemed to be happy too.
"The 'Basic Breathing of Mine'"
"Grants the possessor of evil (dark) the ability to contain mana."
"Does not conflict with other breathing methods. (Except for Seon-ki (light))"
"Balances the possessor's body."
"Uaaaaa!"
Seojun raised his arms high and shouted in joy.
"Finally! Finally!"
He was so excited that he ran around inside the library.
"Yahahaha!"
For his entire 7 years, he had never been this excited! He burst into laughter and ran around, feeling the joy from deep within.
Ding, ding, ding.
"Huh?"
Seojun, who was alone in the library, heard something fall. He turned around with a puzzled look. Three beads were rolling on the floor.
"What is this?"
Seojun picked up the three beads. Each had a pattern. One had a long stick pattern, another had a slime pattern, and the last had a bear pattern.
"......Eek?!"
Seojun placed the beads on the floor and quickly checked his right palm, stomach, and back. They were gone. Gone! Seojun's face turned pale. He couldn't feel the aura of his abilities.
What he had in his body now were only the "Basic Breathing of the Elf" and the "Basic Breathing of Mine" in bead form.
"Why did they fall out!?"
This was a new situation, and Seojun was flustered. He realized it was the first time the Ma-ki (evil-aligned) and Seon-ki (good-aligned) manas had coexisted in his core.
"Since it's the first time the two manas are together, no one knows what will happen. Let's try putting them back."
Seojun picked up the beads. It was the "Slime's Digestion Ability." He put it in his stomach as usual.
A slime pattern appeared on his stomach. He put "Summer Bear's Hibernation" on his back and "Orchestra Conductor's Connection" on his right palm.
Fortunately, they all seeped into his body.
"Did they fall out because the Ma-ki (evil-aligned) mana appeared suddenly?"
Seojun's eyes rolled as he examined his body.
"I didn't expect this......"
The amount of Seon-ki (good-aligned) mana he had been using freely had decreased by half. So, if he had 100 Seon-ki (good-aligned) mana, it was now 50, and the remaining 50 was Ma-ki (evil-aligned) mana.
If he could use 100 Seon-ki (good-aligned) mana all day, now he could only use 50, which meant he could only use it for half a day.
Of course, his core would naturally grow as he aged.
"Since I have Ma-ki (evil-aligned) mana, this is fine."
He could control his abilities during filming. The 8 months of acting practice with Ryan Will were not in vain. Through repeatedly practicing the same role, he had managed to slightly deviate from method acting and could control his abilities to some extent.
"Now, just a little more."
Seojun turned to look at the tightly closed door of the evil-aligned library.
Sensing the Ma-ki (evil-aligned) mana in Seojun's body, the black chains began to unravel with a clinking sound. The chains that tightly bound the black door disappeared in an instant.
Seojun walked over and waved his right hand.
The large door, like that of the good-aligned library, disappeared to the left, and a smaller door appeared from the right. The door gradually became smaller as Seojun touched it.
The final, tightly closed door appeared.
"Now, it's a new beginning."
Seojun placed his right hand on the black door.
Creak,
The door opened.
* * *
Director Ryan Will was reviewing the script for the upcoming Shadowman 2, which was set to start filming next month.
Revisions, revisions, revisions. The script, which he had initially found satisfactory, had become tattered over eight months.
Seojun Lee's part had gradually decreased, and he had a headache trying to adjust the cause and effect and fit in other episodes to fill the gaps, but he finally completed it.
"It may not be perfect, but it will be a hit."
At that moment, an alert sounded. Checking his phone, he saw it was from Seojun. A message said he had sent a video. Ryan Will, familiar with the process, played the video.
The video had just arrived, and it hadn't even been a week since the last one. Ryan Will smiled faintly.
"He has perseverance, I'll give him that."
But it also made him more disappointed. Why can't he act in villainous roles?
Ryan Will crossed his arms. In the past, it might have been different, but nowadays, even villains were popular. Not being able to act in villainous roles meant losing half the roles he could play.
Adding a bit of personal bias, Ryan Will really wanted to see Seojun Lee, who had shown incredible acting, perform a villainous role. He was curious about what aura he would exude and what performance he would give with his small body.
"But for now......"
Hardly suppressing a sigh, Ryan Will played the video.
"......!"
There,
Was a child who was smiling widely but exuded a chilling atmosphere.