The filming location this time was an outdoor set. There were large trees and green grass spread out.
There was a clean running track that seemed like it could be run on, and the set was equipped with chroma key on all sides.
"Looks like they make all sorts of things. Right, Seojun?"
"Dad, it looks exactly like Central Park."
Seojun nodded after looking around again at Seojun's words. It was exactly like Central Park, where they had first filmed, as if it had been recreated from a photograph.
"But why is there chroma key?"
"They plan to combine this place with the reservoir using CG. It would be a waste to build the reservoir as well."
Suddenly, a voice cut in, startling the two.
Turning their heads, they saw a blonde woman with a wide smile. Seojun and Minjun greeted her warmly.
"Hello! Richelle!"
"Ahahaha. Jun, hello? Hello."
"Hello."
Richelle Hill waved at the two. The three of them sat on the chairs prepared in the actors' waiting room near the outdoor set. Seojun asked,
"Since the background is Central Park, couldn't we film there?"
"Then the content would all leak out, right? Everyone is curious about whether William is a hero or a villain. If we just blurt out the lines there, what would happen?"
"That's true."
"Can I join in?"
While talking with Richelle Hill, another person joined in. It was Evan Block. The three actors and Minjun sat on the chairs and chatted.
"Evan, you're filming the action scenes from the day after tomorrow, right? Can I come and watch?"
"There won't be much to see. The background and the co-star are all chroma key. Besides, I'm not the one filming the action scenes. Most of it is done by stuntmen. I just pose for close-up shots and medium shots, wearing a tight suit with lots of sensors."
Evan sighed deeply. Everyone laughed at his expression, recalling the pre-CG footage of Shadowman 1 floating around the internet.
"Most of Shadowman's attacks are done with CG, so there won't be much to see."
"Still, I want to go!"
"Can I come too?"
"Alright. But you need to get the director's permission, not mine."
"Okay! I'll get it!"
Seojun ran to the director, Ryan, who was walking over, and asked. Ryan immediately gave his permission.
"Sure, no problem!"
"…It seems the director really likes Jun."
"Hehehe."
Seeing Seojun not objecting, the three laughed. Why? I like the director a lot too.
Minjun took out snacks from his bag and distributed them to the three actors. Richelle, holding the snacks, smiled and spoke.
"By the way, I heard there was an NG? Evan, I remember you had to reshoot because you didn't like it, but an NG is surprising."
"Ah, that."
Evan stroked his chin. It might be good to mention it in advance. That scene is also today.
"Jun's atmosphere suddenly changed, and it startled me."
"Atmosphere?"
"It's hard to explain in words… You'll see when you watch it. You should be prepared."
Evan Block's advice made Richelle Hill's eyes dart around, looking at Seojun. Seojun, who was focused on eating the snacks his father had given him, tilted his head at Richelle's gaze.
Director Ryan Will approached where the four were sitting. The two actors went to change their clothes in the makeup room, and Minjun went to take a call from Kim Heesang.
Director Ryan Will sat in front of Seojun.
"Today's filming is the most important."
"Understood!"
"This scene will be a turning point."
Director Ryan Will spoke seriously.
"Whether he becomes a hero or a villain depends on the atmosphere you express."
Seojun nodded heavily.
The filming began. Cameras set up in various places were focused on Seojun and Evan.
Seojun and Evan took their positions. Evan did some light stretching as part of his routine. Seojun tapped his feet,
[(Light) The Elegant Steps of the Cat Baron are activated.]
He triggered the ability in his chest.
[(Dark) The Melancholic Fragrance of a Solitary Flower is activated.]
Seojun balanced the flow of dark and light energy without using any breathing techniques.
Don't be swayed by the two energies; maintain your center. He exhaled deeply. He was now capable of controlling the intensity.
-Ready, Action!
A blonde woman ran over from the other side. It was Bell Natra. Bell raised her eyebrows and raised her voice as she looked at the child.
"Where were you?! I've been looking for you for a while."
"…"
Bell, who had lived longer than the child, must have known. The child looked at Bell silently. Sensing something odd, Bell glared at Mac, who was behind the child. Mac frantically waved his hands.
Then Bell noticed the pendant hanging around Mac's neck. Her eyes widened. This is… Why is this here? Her gaze dropped to Mac's feet.
Unable to bear the continuous gaze, the shadow, which had been pretending to be ordinary, twitched first. Bell's eyes sparkled.
"You."
As Bell was about to speak,
"I'm an adopted child."
Mac and Bell were startled by the child's words and looked at him. The child turned his gaze from Bell to the reservoir.
"My siblings all had outstanding abilities. I was the only one who was ordinary."
Bell, who had grown up with the child, was at a loss. The child turned his head to look at Mac.
His once sparkling eyes were now dark.
Mac's brow furrowed. Something was off. He felt a strange sensation.
The shadow, which had been pretending to be ordinary, twitched.
Danger. Danger. Danger!
"The father who adopted me seemed disappointed and never spoke to me. I didn't want to fall behind. I wanted to be loved by my father. So I did my best for the father I loved. But the results were unsatisfactory because we were of different races."
The child's, no, his eyes glowed fiercely.
"But, what is this?"
Mac swallowed hard at the child's lowered voice. Bell, fidgeting, sent a signal somewhere. He tilted his head.
"My life was here. Look over there."
He pointed to a place where a child was holding his parents' hands and smiling happily. It was a picture of a happy family.
"I could have lived like that. Regardless of my abilities, there were parents who would love me. Didn't you see? Just live wherever you are."
He laughed in a defeated manner. His biological parents were still waiting for and loving him.
Mac felt the aura emanating from him before understanding his words.
This is!
Mac's expression hardened instantly. It was a presence he would never forget. His shadow flickered.
"But my father ruined it."
"Natra!"
Mac's voice made him laugh. Bell grabbed the child's shoulder in surprise. How did you know?!
But Bell couldn't speak, hearing the child's defeated tone. Her hand trembled.
"Right. Natra."
Seojun moved.
[(Dark) The Melancholic Fragrance of a Solitary Flower is activated.]
[(Dark) The Basic Breathing of Mine is activated.]
[(Light) The Elegant Steps of the Cat Baron are deactivated.]
He added more power to the dark energy.
"I am Jin Natra, the son of King Natra."
Darkness burst from Jin Natra's body. The chilling aura that seemed to devour him made Mac step back.
Bell unconsciously let go of Jin Natra's shoulder. People around them collapsed, affected by the aura.
Jin Natra tilted his head, not noticing Bell's confusion.
The man who stood firm against the aura, the man with a flickering shadow.
"I know who you are."
"Damn! What is this?!"
Mac shouted at the sight of people collapsing.
Memories from a year ago surfaced. The buildings and structures collapsing under the attack of the Natra ship. People bleeding and falling. And a woman crying over the loss of her son.
It was a memory etched in his heart like a trauma. He clenched his fists so hard they bled. His shadow moved in response.
Jin Natra, seeing this, laughed and continued.
"That human's words. Mac. Or, Shadowman."
"…"
Is that man the one who stopped us five years ago?! But that pendant… that shadow…! Bell's mind raced.
Mac looked at Jin Natra with a dazed expression. Jin Natra's face, the face of a 10-year-old who should still be growing up with his parents' love, momentarily distorted.
"You should have defeated Natra. And."
The child, who lost his happy daily life with his parents, shed a tear. It rolled down his cheek.
"You should have saved me."
-Cut! OK!
Director Ryan called out. But no one moved. They just stared at Seojun in a daze.
The memorial hall was surprised by the sudden change in atmosphere. They thought it was impressive just to do that much. But it wasn't. An even more intense performance unfolded here.
Seojun quickly deactivated the dark inclination skills and activated [Elf's Basic Breathing]. Then he waved his right hand.
[(Light) The Fan of a Low-Rank Angel - Low is activated.]
[(Light) The Fan of a Low-Rank Angel - Low]
A warm breeze blows.
It has a certain probability to free targets from abnormal states.
It has a strong effect on dark energy of the lowest rank and below.
The warm breeze from Seojun's hand woke up some people who were depressed by the damp fragrance. The gentle breeze also brought the audience, who were lost in the performance, back to their senses.
As the dark energy felt from some people disappeared, Seojun deactivated his ability and sighed.
Using dark inclination skills was too difficult. Finding the right ability was one thing, but the aftermath was also challenging.
'Finding a good ability was fortunate.'
With just [The Fan of a Low-Rank Angel], he could use the lowest rank skills without worry.
[(Dark) The Lonely Fragrance of a Solitary Flower] was an ability that used fragrance as a medium, so it wouldn't affect the audience watching the movie much.
'But that "atmosphere" remains.'
Wasn't that the case with the video Director Ryan Will saw? It was enough to make him rush from the US to Korea.
While Seojun was checking his mana, Jonathan's voice was heard.
"Let's prepare for the next filming!"
Everyone returned to their positions upon hearing the voice.
Seojun wiped away his tears and went to fix his makeup. Richelle collapsed on the grass, sobbing.
She swept her golden hair, which sparkled in the sunlight, and said with a dazed look.
"If I hadn't heard your words, I would have given an NG. If I had given an NG during such a performance, I would have been nagged by the director for a long time."
Evan Block, sitting in front of her, laughed. Richelle Hill's hand on Seojun's shoulder was genuine, not part of the performance.
"I almost gave an NG too."
"? You've experienced it before, haven't you?"
Evan Block rubbed the back of his neck. The sunlight was strong, but his neck was still cold, and the sweat running down his back wouldn't stop.
"His eyes were different. In the memorial hall scene, he didn't look at me."
Evan Block recalled Seojun's black eyes. The eyes that seemed kind turned to pain and finally to resentment. The clear change almost made him miss his lines. What was the atmosphere that matched those eyes?
"And…"
Evan Block looked at where he had stood during filming. It seemed the damp fragrance was still lingering in his nostrils.
The damp fragrance and the sudden wave of melancholy.
The emotions Jin Natra felt overwhelmed Evan Block.
Sadness. Resentment. Melancholy. Pain.
'If I take even a step back, I'll be devoured.'
Thinking this, Evan Block turned the melancholy into the trauma from Mac's past.
It wasn't easy, but he at least tried to make it look that way. It was the first time he had acted spontaneously without a plan. It felt different from usual.
'Now that the fragrance is gone, it's fine… but was it just an illusion?'
Thinking of the new analysis to write in Seojun Lee's notebook, Evan Block finally let out a defeated laugh.