In This Life, The Greatest Star In The Universe

Cameo appearance.

Usually, the purpose of casting a cameo is to briefly bring in a famous person in a film or drama to draw attention.

A small point of fun that doesn’t affect the story.

"So you really don’t need to feel pressured~ Just say a line or two comfortably and that’s it."

Annoyed by the maknae speaking so leisurely, I jabbed him in the side.

"Eek!"

"You’re talking like it’s nothing. If it were you, wouldn’t you be nervous?"

"Why? It’s not your first cameo."

That was true.

I had appeared once in , where the maknae had a minor role, as one of the delinquent high schoolers dragged into a police station.

But.

"That’s different. This one wasn’t prepared in advance."

For someone like me, who only felt at ease after preparing something perfectly, this felt unsettling.

The maknae dragged Biju over.

"Do you remember when Biju hyung made a special appearance in as a customer buying apples?"

"Yeah."

"He didn’t have much time to prepare either, but he did really well."

"That’s true, but......."

Biju looked at the maknae and smiled as if asking, Did I do well? The maknae nodded enthusiastically.

Jiho grumbled.

"Hyung, that’s your problem. You’re too thorough."

"No, this is a problem you created. You!"

"Still, you overprepare. Who puts their whole soul into preparing for a cameo?"

"That’s......."

Annoying as he was, he wasn’t wrong.

American celebrities like Hailey Blue sometimes appeared casually in domestic dramas, and friends of directors or lead actors made short special appearances as well.

Many cases were just people visiting a set and getting pulled into a cameo.

"And you’re such a good actor!"

"......."

At the maknae’s sparkling eyes, I cleared my throat.

"Go on."

"Winner of the 2017 Korea Arts Awards Best New Actor! Lead of a thirty percent rating drama!"

"Keep going."

"Critics said, ‘When you look into Wooju’s eyes, you feel an indescribable melancholy.’ The supreme master of eye acting!"

"More."

"The unparalleled actor who played the criminal Kim Wooju—"

"That’s going too far."

Even as I tried to stop him, the corners of my mouth kept twitching upward.

I cleared my throat again and said solemnly,

"Well, then. Shall I do it properly?"

"As expected of our hyung!"

As I flipped through the script with satisfaction, the maknae stared into the distance with a look that said life was hard.

"Hm? Don’t you like me doing a cameo? That expression just now...?"

"No! Of course not!"

"I’m a bit thirsty."

He ran off like the wind and brought back a bottle of water.

"Here you go."

"You should open it first."

"......."

Ri Hyuk burst into laughter beside us.

With trembling hands, the maknae twisted the cap and handed it over.

"Hmm......."

I calmly looked over the script he had given me.

Even I thought my perfectionism was excessive.

It was something I had been thinking about lately.

That caring too much about everything might not be good in the long run.

Not long ago, when I hosted the Pyeongchang G 100 Concert, I focused so much on my lines and pronunciation that I came down with a fever afterward.

So.......

"Maybe I should ease up a little."

If I treated even minor schedules like album production or stage performances, my body wouldn’t last.

Now that I was in my mid twenties, my stamina wasn’t quite the same as in the beginning.

For a light, spontaneous event like this, maybe it was right to approach it lightly.

Light things lightly.

Heavy things heavily.

"......."

A sudden realization brought a smile to my lips.

As the burden in my heart lifted, I thought, Yeah, let’s just have fun with it.

Only then did the script properly come into view.

It no longer looked like a pile of text I had to conquer, but an actual script.

After familiarizing myself with it, the director and writer called me over.

"The role you’ll be playing is an unnamed independence fighter."

"Yes, Director."

Writer Bae Yejin calmly and seriously explained the background of my character.

An unnamed Jin.

"He grew up as part of the wealthy class in Gyeongseong, but for some reason crossed into Manchuria and devoted himself to the independence movement."

I pictured the details of the character in my head.

"He once dreamed of becoming a painter, but now he’s active as an independence fighter. And just before attacking the Japanese army, he meets Jiho’s character, Shin Ihan."

The explanations flowed smoothly from the director and writer.

The maknae chimed in here and there.

I nodded at their shining eyes.

"I understand."

The director asked carefully,

"Then could you try it once?"

"Yes."

I nodded calmly.

"I’ll try."

Murmur murmur.

Extras and staff looked toward the birch forest with eager expressions.

"I heard Wooju is doing a cameo?"

"What’s going on? We’re going to hit it big."

When Wooju appeared in makeup, people gasped.

Even with soot covering his face like an independence fighter who had suffered in Manchuria, his looks weren’t hidden.

The members snapped photos with their phones, and Wooju smiled slightly.

Soon, he stood in the clearing.

"Please take care of me."

"Fighting!"

While staff applauded the grateful cameo actor.

Near the campfire set, the director, Jiho, and Wooju discussed blocking and camera angles with serious expressions.

Behind them, Writer Bae Yejin smiled happily.

Wooju’s cameo.

Because she had been writing a drama worth ten billion won, she hadn’t slept properly in weeks.

She even had nightmares of Netplus chasing her yelling, Give me my money back, and of netizens flooding her with malicious comments.

She had been desperately searching for anything that could help.

And the best promotional fairy in the country had appeared.

And a proven actor at that.

Even if ratings were high, winning Best New Actor at the Korea Arts Awards for a sitcom was incredibly difficult.

It was only because he prioritized music over acting.

He was the leader of NewBlack, currently receiving countless offers from dramas and films.

And that person was asking to be called for a cameo anytime?

Do it immediately.

If she let him go now, who knew when their schedules would align again.

Cameos weren’t something you formally signed contracts for in advance.

This was a golden opportunity.

It was burdensome to contact a singer advancing globally and ask, Um... when would you be available?

And it felt odd to ask the busy lead actor, Jiho, about Wooju’s schedule.

"Ha......."

The director, finished directing, returned and sat in a folding chair.

"How was it?" she asked.

"It feels good. They’re both insanely focused. It felt like I was being pulled in."

Writer Bae nodded.

Wooju is good.

As soon as she heard he would cameo, dozens of characters and scenarios had popped into her mind.

"Oh, it’s starting."

The much rumored acting of NewBlack’s leader.

Extras and staff watched the two members with curious eyes.

"Alright, let’s slate it. Junhyun."

"Yes."

Junhyun appeared and clapped the slate with a cute pop! and filming began.

Whooooooosh.

A snowstorm swept across Manchuria.

"......."

Shin Ihan stared blankly at the fire in front of him, lost in thought.

Flames burning fiercely.

His eyes reflected the red light, as if showing the years of a man who had lived a very long time.

"What are you looking at so intently?"

At the words of the neat looking man sitting across from him, Shin Ihan cast a quiet glance.

One of the independence fighters moving with him.

Looking at the fighters dozing against trees, Shin Ihan replied,

"I simply cannot sleep."

"I see."

The conversation ended there.

"......."

Shin Ihan was currently pursuing another anomaly.

While chasing the anomaly being transported to Manchuria by the Japanese army, he had connected with the local independence forces.

It was easy to win over the commander.

It was still a time when the authority of the Provisional Government held weight.

For a being who had lived for centuries, deceiving humans with special abilities was no difficult task.

Thus, Shin Ihan joined the independence fighters to ambush the Japanese army crossing into Manchuria.

"You truly came from the Provisional Government?"

"I did."

The man smiled gently at the one looking at him with suspicion.

"There is something I wish to ask. What kind of place is Shanghai?"

As Shin Ihan told him stories of Shanghai, the man’s eyes sparkled with interest.

He scratched the back of his head sheepishly.

"Aside from Gyeongseong, I’ve never been anywhere in Joseon. Just a country bumpkin. The only places I know are Gyeongseong and this Manchuria......."

"Shanghai is nothing special."

Shin Ihan spoke in a cynical tone.

"The language people use and the goods produced may differ. But in truth, anywhere people live is much the same."

"Is that so."

The man smiled warmly.

"Still, I was curious. What kind of life unfolds in a place untouched by the hands of the Empire."

"......."

"Haven’t you imagined it? What you would do, what kind of life you would live once independence comes."

The man who had been smiling at Shin Ihan looked at the other fighters with affection.

"Dolseok there used to be a butcher back home. The smell of blood stuck to him so badly that he said once independence comes, he’ll farm instead. And that Joon over there keeps saying he’ll find a good bride and marry first thing."

He laughed and continued, looking at each of them.

Each had their own dream.

Their own hope.

Young men clutching those dreams slept curled up.

"It’s such a cold, harsh land that you need at least one dream like that to fall asleep. Haha."

"And you?"

Shin Ihan asked with a disinterested face.

"I will paint."

"Paint?"

"Yes. I’ll open a small shop in Gyeongseong and paint."

"Why?"

"Because I like painting. Does a person need a special reason to do what they want?"

"I see."

Silence passed.

After the campfire crackled a few times.

The fighter who loved painting called out.

"Chief of Staff."

"Speak."

"Are we truly going to find the Japanese army?"

"......."

A subtle tension filled the air.

Watching the perceptive man, Shin Ihan’s sharp nails twitched.

Should I silence him?

Though he was too perceptive, unnecessary killing did not appeal to him.

The man’s gaze demanded an answer.

Perhaps listing his comrades’ dreams earlier had been a roundabout message.

After a moment of silence, Shin Ihan spoke.

"If this operation succeeds... you will step closer to the independence you desire."

It was true.

They were also preventing a plot to bring a cursed thing into Manchuria to eliminate Koreans.

The man looked into his eyes.

Then a weak smile appeared.

"I see."

Conversation ended again.

As if apologetic for his suspicion, the man pulled out a crumpled piece of paper.

"Chief of Staff."

"What is it?"

"Would you care to have your portrait drawn?"

"A portrait?"

"Yes. We have time, and since you haven’t moved, my hands are itching."

Shin Ihan agreed.

Soon, the artistic eyed man moved his hand across the paper and presented a portrait.

"How is it?"

"It is a fine drawing."

The skill was evident at a glance.

"I should pay you."

"No."

Because the man repeatedly refused, Shin Ihan could not reward him.

As conversation dwindled.

He realized he did not know the man’s name.

"We forgot introductions. What is your name?"

"I abandoned my name long ago. Just call me Jin, nobody in particular."

The man smiled.

"Cut!"

Exclamations erupted.

"Wooow......."

Staff applauded the two actors who had performed by the campfire.

They were immersed as if watching a real drama scene.

The members muttered in awe.

"They’re incredible."

"How do they immerse like that?"

Unlike others, they knew the maknae and eldest well.

Yet they were still impressed.

"Ah, hyung!"

As soon as filming ended, Jiho frowned.

"Who draws a portrait like this?"

"I’m not talented in art."

Jiho waved the paper Wooju had handed him.

"Everyone look! He drew me as a stick figure!"

"Hahahaha!"

It was because of Wooju’s portrait.

Since they would insert a CG portrait later, he had been told to draw it roughly.

So he really did.

Jiho complained about the ugly stick figure.

"Come on, what’s wrong with that?"

Wooju grinned.

"I did well, right?"

"It was amazing!"

Writer Bae Yejin and the director answered with beaming smiles.

He did better than expected.

They had told him not to feel pressured, that he could adjust lines comfortably.

Yet aside from a few minor changes in endings, he delivered the cameo lines flawlessly.

"Let’s move to the next scene!"

As preparations for the next cameo scene began.

The director rubbed his chin.

"He’s really good."

"Right? I was surprised too."

The assistant director nodded.

"Wooju feels different from Jiho. There’s a sense of realism."

"If Jiho transforms like a chameleon, Wooju wears the role like a tailored suit."

The director clicked his tongue.

Two actors like that in one group.

What a waste.

As the first cameo scene wrapped successfully, they looked at the script.

"The next one is this."

"If we pull this off well, it’ll double the emotional impact."

It was a scene that could be cut depending on quality.

"Alright! Let’s continue filming!"

This time Ri Hyuk.

He popped the slate and accidentally smacked his own finger.

Filming began.

Shin Ihan took a deep breath.

"Hoo......."

Wiping blood from his forehead, he looked at the chest containing the anomaly, then turned his gaze.

Corpses.

The forest was filled with bodies.

"......."

Looking at the bodies scattered across the snow, the ancient being closed his eyes briefly.

Death never becomes familiar.

Annihilation.

As he closed the eyes of fallen comrades.

Grab.

"......?"

Someone grabbed his ankle.

A man lay there, soaked in blood.

"The... monster."

The man swallowed hard. 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

"Did you defeat it?"

"I did."

Facing someone about to die, Shin Ihan’s speech returned to normal.

Jin smiled faintly.

"The story about the Provisional Government... was a lie, wasn’t it?"

"You knew?"

"I suspected."

He spoke with difficulty.

"But... you weren’t wrong. If such a thing remained in Manchuria, we would have been slaughtered."

"......."

"In the end... I will not see independence. Haha."

Blood filled his lungs as he breathed roughly.

Watching him accept his fate calmly, Shin Ihan’s fingertips moved.

He did not know why.

Sometimes, in the dry valley of his emotions, a single drop of water would rise.

"I will show you one thing."

He placed his hand on the dying man’s head.

At that moment.

Visions passed before the man’s eyes.

A distant future.

Children dreaming not of independence, adults not dying for children.

A future of laughter, peace, and prosperity.

As beautiful scenes passed, tears gathered in the fighter’s eyes.

"I am not seeing illusions, am I?"

"It is not an illusion. It is the future."

"I see. I...."

A faint smile.

His breath faded.

Left alone once more in the forest, Shin Ihan closed his eyes and sighed.

Human lives are so short.

He tucked the portrait into his coat.

"I have paid the price."

So rest in peace.

"Cut!"

Fake blood mixed with tears at the corner of my mouth.

Jiho’s expression returned to normal.

"Jiho."

"Yes?"

Ignoring the swirling emotions, I changed the subject.

"This tastes pretty good. Is it ketchup?"

"There’s some ketchup in it. Good, right?"

I grabbed his hand and stood.

"Good work!"

"Thank you!"

The corpses around us got up laughing.

As the director and writer celebrated.

Jiho and I walked arm in arm to the others.

But.

"Sob!"

"Sniff!"

Why are they crying like that.

Ri Hyuk was sobbing historically, and the others were in tears.

"Guys. Don’t cry."

But when I approached.

"Sob!"

They cried even harder looking at my face.

"What’s wrong?"

"Sob!"

Ah.

I wasn’t sure if I did well.

But judging by their reaction, I must have.