Chapter 1105: I am New Black, Class of ’18 (29)

What was NewBlack's standing in the North American entertainment industry?

If someone asked that question, most industry insiders would give remarkably similar answers.

"Didn't they just win the AMA's top award? They're unquestionably the number one boy band now. Well... I don't even know if 'boy band' is the right label anymore, but nobody can deny how popular they are."

"They're not quite at the very pinnacle of mainstream artists yet. But they're absolutely on the road to becoming one. Every indicator points that way."

"They're already global superstars. A few years from now, they might even become iconic figures in North America."

A superstar backed by tens of millions of fans.

An act racing toward the same status in North America as artists like Hailey Blue and Cold Brown.

That was how the industry objectively viewed NewBlack.

But what if you changed the question?

Q. Then what about NewBlack right now, while promoting Overcooked?

The answer changed completely.

"At this moment? Nobody can beat NewBlack while Overcooked is running. This isn't just popularity—it's a phenomenon."

"Between Supernova Dodgeball, SNL, and hearing Overcooked everywhere you go... isn't NewBlack more recognizable than any other star on Earth right now?"

"At this very moment, NewBlack is probably the only artist whose song is playing everywhere—from the streets beneath the Eiffel Tower to market alleys beside the pyramids in Egypt."

That was the reality.

Their career achievements and award history might not yet place them among the all-time greats.

But if you judged by current popularity alone...

NewBlack overwhelmed everyone.

Just like when a Korean drama pulled in forty-percent ratings and its stars covered every billboard in the country for months afterward...

NewBlack had become the hottest artists in entertainment.

The result was that Studio 13 at Silver Screen was absolutely packed with people.

One crew member whispered to another.

"Isn't that guy from the CG company? What's he doing here?"

"I think he just came to watch. Look over there—even some of the screenwriters showed up."

"...Aren't those people about to hit their deadlines?"

Even staff members who had nothing to do with today's shoot had wandered in, eyes sparkling with curiosity.

A ridiculously handsome face...

Combined with the hottest celebrity buzz in the world.

The male crew members instinctively looked over when they heard the women giggling.

...He really is insanely good-looking.

The makeup department had given Wooju scratches across his cheeks as though he'd been clawed by branches, emphasizing a rugged, feral charm.

If a wounded wolf had transformed into a human...

...this was probably what it would look like.

His hair fluttered beneath the studio fans.

Melancholy lingered in his eyes.

"Huh..."

He looked like someone you wanted to walk over to, pat on the shoulder, and comfort.

Several crew members checking the monitor couldn't help muttering in admiration.

He's perfect.

Fang's appearance was one of the production team's biggest concerns for Guardians 2.

The reason...

...was the weak source material.

Fang was a villain whose entire family had been slaughtered by humans before he sought revenge against all of human civilization.

Unfortunately, revenge stories that expanded from personal vengeance to destroying all mankind often broke audience immersion.

"If he wants revenge, why doesn't he just kill the people responsible? Why's he trying to wipe out humanity?"

Fortunately...

The staff knew the perfect solution.

"Ta-da! Here's Sunny from NewBlack. One of the world's most handsome men. Sunny... give us a howl."

"Hehehehe!"

"Hm... That actually feels convincing."

A face worth more than a hundred lines of dialogue.

It was the same reason romance films rarely spent half an hour explaining why two characters fell in love at first sight.

Sure, they could rewrite Fang's story to deepen his motivations.

But that would force audiences to sit through thirty extra minutes of villain backstory.

Instead...

Everyone won.

Just cast the gorgeous man standing in front of them.

He's the ideal choice.

Standing beside John Edwards, the casting director nodded.

Excellent looks.

Enormous public attention.

Unbelievable popularity.

But above all...

His acting.

That was what impressed the casting director most.

He fits this movie perfectly.

So far, Wooju had only acted in two proper productions.

One was Agent K from the sitcom My Neighbors Are Aliens.

The other was the independence fighter he portrayed in Shin II, starring Jiho.

His restrained performances...

Characters carrying deep emotional wounds while expressing them with quiet dignity...

...had left an unforgettable impression.

"Shall we begin?"

Director Edwards looked around the set.

Everyone nodded.

Then he turned toward Wooju.

"Imagine you've become a wolf."

"Do anything you like."

"But no dialogue."

A role portraying something beyond human.

Everyone eagerly anticipated how he would interpret it.

Then—

Tap tap tap tap!

Wooju suddenly burst forward—

Running on all fours.

Everyone blinked.

Fast!

...Wait.

A human is actually running on all fours...?

The same story flashed through everyone's mind.

One of those famous tales you'd read in books about mysterious phenomena.

Children supposedly raised by wolves...

Who ran with astonishing speed on all fours.

"What is he doing?"

"Director... Sunny's running on four legs."

...And somehow...

He was really good at it.

Tap tap tap!

The female staff members who'd been admiring the world's hottest idol only moments earlier now stared blankly into the distance.

A few burst out laughing in disbelief.

One assistant director muttered in admiration.

"Wow...

...he's actually incredible."

He happened to spend his free time watching National Geographic.

To him...

Sunny looked exactly like an alpha wolf sprinting across Yellowstone National Park.

Running alongside his pack.

Howling beneath the moon.

Hunting across snowy fields.

...Hold on.

What am I thinking?

He's a human.

His performance was simply...

...that convincing.

As the entire crew watched, dumbfounded, while an actor calmly reenacted a wildlife documentary—

"B..."

A quiet voice broke the silence.

Everyone turned.

Director John Edwards had clenched both fists.

"Bravo..."

Unlike the bewildered crew...

His face glowed with excitement.

"This is it."

"I've finally found the actor I've been searching for...!"

"Director?"

"Joseph, do you see that? He's perfectly recreated the movements of a wolf. Look at that realistic action. Doesn't it feel alive? He's exactly what Guardians 2 needs—a performer whose movements are rooted in animal behavior."

...Two lunatics have found each other.

A mad director.

And a mad actor.

As the crew collectively wondered whether this combination could possibly end well...

Someone turned toward Steve, the action director.

When it came to action sequences, his opinion arguably carried even more weight than the director's.

One of the true authorities on set.

"Steve, what do you thi—"

"My God..."

The giant, bearded man—who looked more like a gorilla than a human—was practically trembling with excitement.

"Someone like this...

...on my set..."

There are three lunatics.

An actor told to act like a wolf...

...who immediately started sprinting on all fours.

One comic-book fanatic moved to tears.

One action fanatic moved to tears.

Before anyone realized it...

A three-headed Cerberus had been born.

The rest of the crew...

...began worrying in earnest.

Running on all fours had been completely worth it.

"Bravo!"

Director John Edwards immediately gave me a thumbs-up.

"That's it! That's exactly what I wanted!"

"Haha!"

It looked like my determination to deliver realistic action had reached him perfectly.

As I scratched the back of my head with an embarrassed smile...

I noticed something strange.

The way everyone else was looking at me had changed.

...Hm?

Why was everyone avoiding eye contact?

"That was excellent. Exactly what I wanted."

The action director, his massive arm muscles practically quivering with excitement, asked,

"How did you do that?"

"I searched MyTube for wolf documentaries."

"And I also consulted an expert in animal behavior."

That expert, of course...

...had been Junghyun.

"Using all that, I tried imagining how a wolf would behave if it suddenly became human."

"Would you like me to show you more?"

"I'd love to."

With Director Edwards' enthusiastic approval, I demonstrated several other ideas I'd prepared.

A wolf-turned-human awkwardly trying to use a fork and knife.

Instinctively sniffing the air whenever danger approached.

Small behavioral habits like that.

Unlike the four-legged sprint...

This time the rest of the crew reacted enthusiastically too.

"Excellent. Very good."

"Let's see a few more."

"Of course."

I performed a few simple emotional scenes and short dialogue exercises.

The reactions became even warmer.

It almost felt as though everyone had already decided I'd been cast.

Sure enough—

"Sunny."

After filming ended, while I was wiping away sweat, Director Edwards extended his hand.

"Officially...

Welcome to the team."

"It's an honor."

...I did it.

A wave of satisfaction washed over me as I shook his hand.

The surrounding crew applauded.

"Welcome aboard!"

One after another, they came over to shake my hand.

"Thank you. Thank you."

After exchanging congratulations and promises to work well together...

The crew gradually returned to their respective jobs.

Once I'd changed back into my regular clothes, Director Edwards called me over.

"Watching your performance today finally helped me settle on the character."

"Really?"

"Do you remember me telling you not to read the comics before coming here?"

"Yes."

He'd emphasized it repeatedly.

No matter how curious I became...

...I wasn't supposed to research the character in depth.

"The reason's simple."

"There are countless different versions of Fang. The character's been around for decades."

"Every interpretation is a little different."

"But they all share certain core traits."

"If you only know half the material, you'll end up mixing different versions together while acting."

"So partial knowledge actually becomes a disadvantage."

"Exactly."

He pulled out a yellow memo pad.

"So now..."

"I'm going to write down exactly which material you should study."

He filled the paper with issue numbers.

Issue #17.

Several other key comics.

After handing me a list of five or six essential stories, he added one more thing.

"And I recommend visiting this place."

"What is it?"

"An old comic shop."

"I've been going there since I was a kid."

"If you tell the owner what you're looking for..."

"...he'll take care of the rest."

For some reason...

It felt less like receiving directions to a bookstore...

...and more like being introduced to the black market.

"...What do you mean by 'take care of the rest'?"

"You'll understand when you get there."

"Heh heh heh."

"Director?"

"Oh, Steve's calling me."

"We'll talk again."

Still chuckling ominously, Director Edwards disappeared.

I stared at his retreating, round silhouette before looking down at the address he'd written.

Seokhwan hyung peeked over my shoulder.

"What's that?"

"The director said I absolutely have to visit this place."

"He said I should research the comics there."

"Really?"

"...It somehow feels awkward going alone."

Ding.

My phone vibrated.

A picture Jiho and Ri Hyuk had posted appeared in the group chat.

Smiling to myself...

I tapped the screen.

Me: Ri Hyuk.

...

No response.

Me: Want to go to a bookstore?

Ri Hyuk: A bookstore?

Watching the pirarucu bite the bait...

I smiled with satisfaction.

Ri Hyuk wore an utterly unimpressed expression.

"You said we were going to a bookstore."

"It is a bookstore."

I pointed toward the comic shop's sign.

"Comic books are books too."

"Technically, yes."

"But people call places like this comic shops, not bookstores."

I lightly bumped our main vocalist's shoulder before flashing him an eye-smile.

"That trick only works on the fans."

"It doesn't work on me."

"Then how about this?"

I adopted an impossibly dignified expression.

Ri Hyuk's pupils trembled.

"W-Wait..."

"That's King Sejong's expression from his portrait!"

"Hohoho..."

"The language of our nation differs from that of China..."

Unfortunately...

Our main vocalist wasn't so easily defeated.

"No chance."

"The surviving portrait of King Sejong is only a later reconstruction."

"Which means nobody actually knows what he really looked like."

"Tch."

As Ri Hyuk and I bickered, Jiho threw an arm around both our shoulders.

"Hyungs, stop fighting. Let's go inside."

"Sounds good."

We were standing in a quiet neighborhood outside Los Angeles.

Cars occasionally rolled down the road.

Among the small storefronts stood a weathered sign.

Bunny's Comic Shop

Jiho's eyes sparkled.

"Wow, hyung."

"His name's Bunny too."

"That's Bernie, Jiho."

"Ours is Bunny."

"But it's pronounced the same in Korean."

"..."

I opened my mouth...

Then gave up.

"So this is the place Director Edwards recommended?"

"Yep."

"He said if I had questions about the comics, I should ask here."

"I figured it'd be good to bring you too."

Both Jiho and I were already confirmed for our respective roles.

News had even started leaking out.

There wasn't much point hiding it anymore.

Maybe Jiho could find useful reference material too.

"But I still don't even know my character."

"Damn..."

"Why won't they tell me?"

"Maybe we can ask here."

"That actually sounds like a good idea."

With that...

We pushed open the door.

Jingle.

The unmistakable smell of paper.

Shelves packed with books.

Figures and collectibles decorating the walls.

"Wooooow..."

As we stood admiring the place...

Five or six customers glanced toward us.

Their eyes were wary.

Feeling awkward, we greeted them.

"Hello~"

"Hi."

They answered politely.

...Without lowering their guard.

Even while browsing the shelves...

Their eyes followed us.

Who are these guys?

I'd never experienced that sort of suspicion before.

Confused, we approached the counter.

"Welcome."

An elderly man greeted us.

His gray hair framed a weathered face.

Reading glasses rested on the tip of his nose.

He wore a black T-shirt featuring a roaring superhero.

"So..."

Bernie looked at me, Jiho, and Ri Hyuk in turn before abruptly asking,

"Which one of you is starring in which movie?"

"...Do you know who we are?"

"Should I?"

"...No."

I blinked.

"But how did you know that?"

"People who look like you never come into comic shops."

"They're usually holding girls' hands, not books."

His certainty was absolute.

The other customers, who had clearly been eavesdropping, all nodded with warm smiles.

Bernie continued,

"So..."

"Are you rookie actors?"

"Uh..."

"Yes."

"You don't sound American."

"We're from Korea."

"I see."

"Heroes come from all over the world these days."

Unlike everyone else we'd met...

He genuinely didn't seem to know who we were.

Still...

There wasn't exactly any graceful way to fake a coughing fit and go—

"Cough! Overcooked! Cough!"

So I let it go.

Pointing to Jiho and myself, I explained,

"He and I were cast in a film."

"The director said you could recommend some books."

"Oh?"

"Actors come by here all the time."

"Which movie?"

"Guardians 2."

"What role?"

I handed him the note Director Edwards had written.

His eyes immediately lit up.

"...Fang."

"Yes."

"Everyone."

"Come over here."

The customers instantly gathered around.

Whispering among themselves.

While Jiho, Ri Hyuk, and I stood there blinking...

They suddenly scattered.

W-What?

Is this some kind of military formation?

Like a perfectly coordinated squad, everyone spread through the shelves, pulled out comics, then returned to stack them neatly on the counter.

One fan, eyes blazing with passion, pointed emphatically.

"Read these."

"Focus on Issue Seventeen above everything else."

"And only read the first half of Issue Thirteen."

"The first half."

"Uh..."

"Okay..."

"If anyone ever recommends Superior Guardians Issue Five..."

"...you have my full permission to punch them in the face."

"So absolutely do not read that."

"Understood?"

"Promise me."

"I..."

"I will."

Completely overwhelmed by his intensity...

I could only nod.

Then he looked at me with heartfelt sincerity.

"May I ask you one favor?"

"Of course."

"Please..."

"Don't ruin Fang the way the actors ruined the villains in the first movie."

"Please play him properly."

"I will."

I smiled and nodded.

The comic fan returned an equally warm smile.

One only true enthusiasts could make.

"But..."

"If you ruin this character..."

"We'll come find you."

"Hahahaha!"

"..."

"...I'll do my best."

As I respectfully clasped both hands together...

Jiho and Ri Hyuk covered their mouths, desperately trying not to laugh.