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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 28
Chapter Title: William's Smile
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"That must be one of the kids for the audition, right?"
Nara replied as she entered the makeshift tent.
"Probably. Looking at the script, it does seem pretty scary for a kid."
"Will Seojun be okay?"
"Yup!"
He was totally fine. In fact, he was excited about the upcoming shoot.
Seojun answered and sat down on a small chair set out for the child actors.
The makeshift tent, seemingly a waiting room for the auditioning child actors, contained two cots, a large table, a small side table, a mirror, and several chairs for both adults and children.
There were also simple snacks like cookies, sandwiches, and juice.
Seo Eunhye also looked around the tent. An American movie set—it was fascinating. She had never even been to a Korean movie set before.
Nara handed Seo Eunhye a cup of coffee and spoke.
"Feeling the pressure since it's a Marine Company film?"
"I was a nervous wreck for three days straight."
Seo Eunhye replied with a sigh. Her hands had even been shaking when she signed the audition and filming consent form sent by mail.
Marine Company!
If you were to name the most famous movie studios in the world right now, it would be in the top three.
Marine Company had become famous for producing live-action adaptations of their comics and superheroes.
Their most popular movie was Redbone.
Redbone 1, which no one had paid much attention to, turned the world upside down after its release. Fans of Redbone sprang up all over the globe. They were currently filming Redbone 2, and the public interest was immense.
"Auntie Nara, is Redbone in this?"
"No, it's a Marine Company movie, not a Redbone movie."
"Aww!"
Seojun, who had enjoyed Redbone, pouted. Then again, even if it were a Redbone movie, the scene Seojun was filming was very short. A brief scene that the audience would forget in a second.
Nara chuckled softly as she watched Seo Eunhye gulping down her coffee, trying to compose herself.
"This is a secret, but I heard that since the filming for Redbone 2 was delayed due to an accident, Marine Company decided to produce and release two other movies before it. That's why the shooting schedule is so tight."
"Two movies?"
Just as Nara was about to answer Seojun's question, a cough was heard from outside the tent, followed by a woman's voice.
"Excuse me. May we come in?"
"Yes, come on in."
A man and a woman entered the tent. The woman was forcing a smile, and the man was wearing a thick overcoat.
"Hello. I'm Melissa, and I play William's mother."
"Hello. I'm Baron, I'll be assisting with the shoot."
Seojun got down from his chair and bowed his head.
"Hello. I'm child actor Seojun Lee."
The two of them widened their eyes before smiling. They had heard the last child actor was the youngest at four years and ten months old, but he was quite smart and well-spoken. Melissa said with a smile,
"We came over because we thought it would be better if we got to know each other before the shoot."
This was the fifth time she had come to the child actors' waiting room saying those words. The corners of Melissa's awkwardly raised mouth felt like they were twitching.
"It would be scary if I suddenly lifted you from behind, after all."
Of course, Baron felt the same.
"Oh, please sit. I'm Seojun's mother, Eunhye Seo."
"Nice to meet you. I'm Nara Kim."
After the introductions, the waiting room fell silent, but the awkward atmosphere soon dissipated. The sociable Nara Kim proactively asked about the film set.
"It must be tough for you to repeat the same performance over and over."
Melissa shook her head.
"I can act as much as needed, but the problem is that the kids cry so much."
"In front of them, a woman they've never seen before is screaming her head off, and from behind, a strange man grabs them."
Baron smiled bitterly.
"I guess it's really scary for them since they're so young."
"We just have to do our part, but it's the staff who are having a tough time."
Melissa and Baron thought of Jonathan Will, the youngest and smallest of the tough-looking staff members, who had been tasked with looking after the children.
Jonathan Will had been running around frantically all day, soothing and caring for crying children.
Melissa and Baron decided to accomplish the purpose of their visit.
The three actors—Melissa, Baron, and Seojun—sat in their chairs and talked. The conversation flowed from stories about playing with a neighborhood friend, Jack, to other movies they were currently filming.
Watching Seojun chat happily, both Seo Eunhye and Nara smiled with pride.
Melissa asked.
"Jun, have you read the script?"
"My mom read it to me."
"What did you think? How do you think William felt?"
"He must have been incredibly happy."
Melissa and Baron, recalling the scene they had already shot several times, widened their eyes. Happy? That couldn't be right.
"Why?"
"Because his mom called his name."
Seojun recalled the script his mother had read to him.
The scene Seojun was in was short. Enemies invading Earth had created wormholes all over the planet. Seojun's scene was one of those showing the resulting damage.
A baby playing alone in the garden looks up at his mother, who has rushed out of the house after seeing the emergency news.
'William!'
When his mother screams his name, the baby, hugging the teddy bear he was playing with, smiles brightly.
At that moment, a terrifyingly pitch-black wormhole opens up behind the baby. The despairing mother calls out.
'William!!'
But the baby only smiles more brightly at his mother's scream. And in an instant, the baby disappears into the wormhole, leaving only a single shoe behind.
"William doesn't know anything. He was just happy because his mom called him."
"That's a good interpretation."
A strange voice was heard. No, it sounded similar to one he'd heard earlier.
Seojun looked up to see a man entering the tent. Sitting in his chair, Seojun had to crane his neck so far back it hurt to see the man.
He was huge.
He was so tall and broad that it made one's jaw drop. Seo Eunhye's and Nara's eyes widened as well. If he hadn't become a film director, would he have been an athlete?
"Director!"
Melissa and Baron, who were sitting next to Seojun, shot to their feet.
It was the director of this movie, Ryan Will.
Ryan Will stepped into the tent. Beside the director stood a makeup artist holding a cosmetics box and a stylist holding the clothes Seojun would wear.
Ryan Will sat down in front of Seojun. Seojun's and Ryan Will's eyes met.
Ryan's blue eyes moved up and down, studying Seojun. The child was bigger than he had appeared in the video.
Black hair. Black eyes. His features were distinct, so he would probably look good on screen. His height seemed about right, too. And he didn't look scared, even when faced with a stern expression.
Moreover, for what was merely an extra's scene, he had come with his own interpretation of the script. He was different from the other child actors who just moved as their guardians told them.
Ryan Will grinned fiercely and extended a hand as big as Seojun's face.
"Seeing as you're not scared of me, you must have some nerve. It's a pleasure to meet you. I'm Ryan Will."
"Hello. I'm child actor Seojun Lee. Please call me Jun."
Ryan Will's large hand and Seojun's tiny hand met.
"That's right. No matter how sad or serious the situation around him is, William doesn't know anything. So you have to smile happily, Jun."
"Yes!"
Seojun beamed at Ryan's words. *I even prepared a secret weapon!*
After greeting Seo Eunhye and Nara Kim, Ryan Will left the tent to prepare for the next shot.
"Shall we get you changed first, then?"
The stylist said, looking at her watch. Seojun changed his clothes. Fortunately, the movie was set in autumn, so Seojun was dressed quite warmly.
"The weather is a bit chilly, but the fabric is thick, and we've put a warm heat pack inside, so you should be fine."
"There's not much need for makeup either."
Having finished their tasks, the two quickly left the tent to find other work.
"We'll get going too, then. Good luck, Jun!"
Melissa, who played William's mother, and Baron, who would lift Seojun from behind and help him disappear into the green screen—playing the role of the wormhole, so to speak—also went out to prepare for filming.
Nara also stepped out of the tent for a moment to take a call. As if by agreement, everyone had left, and only Seo Eunhye and Seojun remained inside.
"What do you want to do, Seojun?"
"Meditate!"
Seojun pulled a flat slime pillow from his zombie bag. It was a pillow Kim Heesang had made for him, and it was Seojun's absolute favorite item that he carried everywhere.
"Not sleeping?"
"No. It's meditation."
Seo Eunhye smiled. She wondered where he had picked up the word 'meditation'. She was past the point of being surprised by her son's verbal development, which was far superior to that of his peers.
"Alright. I'll be here reading a book."
"Okay!"
Seojun climbed onto a cot placed in the corner of the tent. He then lay down, resting his head on the slime pillow. His mother covered him with a blanket that was on one side.
"I'll wake you up when it's time to film."
"It's meditation."
Pouting, Seojun closed his eyes.
The [Summer Bear's Hibernation - Lowest-grade] engraved on the back of Seojun's head worked wonders. The moment the back of his head touched the pillow, he fell asleep.
[Summer Bear's Hibernation - Lowest-grade]
For the summer bear, which is active only in the sweltering summer, autumn, winter, and spring are too cold, so it only sleeps.
For 30 minutes a day, you will fall asleep instantly upon contact with any surface.
Slightly increases restorative power while sleeping.
* * *
The Library of Life was before his eyes. The door, which had only been blue before, now had another one open next to it. It was a yellow door.
Seojun quickly brought the ability-filled orb he had found in the yellow door's library three days ago close to his face.
The orb shimmered, and smiley-face patterns appeared on both of Seojun's cheeks.
[Smiling Face Mushroom's Illusion - Low-grade]
When you smile, an illusionary magic is cast upon anyone who sees your face.
The target will feel compassion for the user for a certain period.
The effect and duration vary depending on the target.
"This was a problem because it activates automatically when I smile."
Rubbing his cheeks, which felt slightly warmer, Seojun recalled what happened a week ago.
It was an ability he had spent all night searching for after his mom read him the script. He was so happy to find the perfect ability that he registered it right away.
The next morning, he smiled at his mom and dad as usual.
[Smiling Face Mushroom's Illusion has been activated.]
Huh?
Suddenly, his mom and dad hugged him tightly. Tighter than usual! Then, as if unable to contain the overwhelming emotion in their hearts, they called out to him in tearful voices.
"Our Seojun!"
"Our adorable Seojun!"
They kept calling his name. The effect varies depending on the target. It seemed to have evoked a more intense emotion because they were his parents.
Fortunately, their emotions soon subsided. But under the skill's influence, Seojun had to stay within his parents' sight for half the day. By that evening, all the effects had worn off.
It was a better ability than he had expected. Seojun chuckled to himself, then quickly froze his expression in surprise and forced himself to sleep. He couldn't use this skill casually. He had to cancel it as soon as today was over.
Because of that skill, Seojun had no choice but to sleep on the set.
"The real problem starts now."
He absolutely could not smile. Seojun patted both his cheeks and opened his eyes.
#
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