By Zephyria 
That day, Lee A-gon completed five scenes. For a shoot with a rookie, it was quite successful. With each cut Lee A-gon delivered, the director’s face became more relaxed, eventually showing a subtle smile.
She turned to the scripter and giggled, saying things like, “Should we use the second take or the third one? But the first one is too good to throw away, what should we do?”
Now it was time to shoot the killer’s death scene. The father who came looking for his daughter drags the killer away and throws him into a cage with zombies, and it ends with the zombies gnawing at the killer’s face.
While the action director marked the movements with tape on the floor, Lee A-gon appeared after finishing his makeup. His face was covered in blood. He seriously rehearsed with the action director.
“He’s quite good.”
Hearing a sudden voice, Park Hae-jun turned around to find Secretary Yang standing there.
He asked, holding up a coffee, “Would you like some?”
“How did you get here, Secretary?”
“I came to check if Lee A-gon could stand on his own.”
Secretary Yang offered the coffee. Park Hae-jun took it without thinking.
The coffee was quite sweet. How does he know my taste? Park Hae-jun wondered, then remembered that he had cloned his phone.
For a while, they both watched the filming site. When the director called “Action,” Lee A-gon approached the actor playing the father with determined steps. The two began to move as rehearsed and started fighting.
“Wonderful.”
“Pardon?”
“Lee A-gon, I mean. Look. Isn’t he wonderful?”
Secretary Yang had an expression of deep emotion. Rather than being impressed by Lee A-gon’s acting, he seemed moved by the fact that Lee A-gon was acting with other people.
“I never thought this day would come. Thank you very much, Mr. Park Hae-jun. I am thoroughly satisfied.”
“Ha-ha,” Park Hae-jun made a polite laughing sound, looked at Lee A-gon, then back at Secretary Yang.
“Secretary Yang, what you’re saying now…”
Secretary Yang also looked at Park Hae-jun. Seeing his face, Park Hae-jun sensed what was coming. As expected, the words he had been waiting for soon came from Secretary Yang’s mouth.
“Yes, Mr. Park Hae-jun has excellently fulfilled the request. As of today, I will end our contract with Mr. Park Hae-jun.”
“…!”
“Huk,” Park Hae-jun inhaled sharply.
The situation he had been hoping for had arrived. The commission that had stretched over five long months was over. He had succeeded in rehabilitating Lee A-gon.
“Before tomorrow passes, I will arrange everything. Professor Seok will return the screenplay to Mr. Park Hae-jun and announce that it was all a misunderstanding. After that, Mr. Park Hae-jun can clear his name and return to his previous life.”
Listening to Secretary Yang with an excited face, a puzzled expression appeared on Park Hae-jun’s face.
“Previous life?”
“Yes. As an ordinary student.”
“…”
“What’s wrong?” Secretary Yang asked as Park Hae-jun’s expression darkened.
“What about Professor Seok? What happens to him?”
“He’ll live normally, I suppose? Teaching students as he does now and occasionally making films.” Secretary Yang shrugged as if wondering why Park Hae-jun was asking him that. “Wasn’t that your condition? To have the screenplay returned by Professor Seok, clear your name, and return to your original student status. Wasn’t it?”
That was true. What Park Hae-jun wanted were those two things. At the time of the contract, he didn’t want to make matters bigger and just wanted to reclaim what was his and return to his place.
Park Hae-jun looked anxiously at Lee A-gon. Lee A-gon was having his makeup touched up. He smiled brightly when their eyes met, as if he had been watching this way.
“It may be sudden, but please move out tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow already?”
“There’s no reason to drag this out. Thank you for your hard work. I will contact you later about the screenplay.”
Secretary Yang bowed. He was neat and courteous, as if they would never see each other again.
Park Hae-jun pulled at his sleeve. “Wait. What about Lee A-gon? What will happen to Lee A-gon from now on?”
“Why are you curious about that? It’s no longer related to Mr. Park Hae-jun.”
“Lee A-gon needs to be told. He needs to be told in advance that someone else will help him instead of me from now on.”
“Someone else? There is no such person.”
“What?”
“I’m saying there will be no one to take care of him after Park Hae-jun.”
“What did you say?” Park Hae-jun was greatly perplexed. “No one to take care of him after me?”
“Lee A-gon has recovered. Also, he is an adult well over twenty. From now on, Woomyung will withdraw from Lee A-gon. Lee A-gon can live as he wishes.”
“What are you saying? Woomyung is withdrawing?” Park Hae-jun unconsciously grabbed Secretary Yang’s clothing.
About to turn away, Secretary Yang frowned.
“Mr. Park Hae-jun. From there on, it’s not your concern.”
“No, you’re making a mistake. You can’t leave Lee A-gon alone. If you do, he’ll quickly return to being homeless.”
“Even if that happens, it’s not Mr. Park Hae-jun’s business, is it? Park Hae-jun has completed the request. Don’t interfere in Woomyung ‘s affairs anymore.”
It was all correct. The commission was over, and so was the relationship between Park Hae-jun and Woomyung . Park Hae-jun’s gaze moved quickly between Lee A-gon and Secretary Yang.
“You may not understand, but that is Woomyung ‘s way.”
Secretary Yang slowly twisted free his clothing from Park Hae-jun’s grip and continued persuasively, “Woomyung could make Lee A-gon the lead in a tentpole production right now if wanted. If desired, a film company could be established just for Lee A-gon. But the CEO believes that Lee A-gon will never be able to stand on his own that way. Do you understand? The CEO wants Lee A-gon to claim his place on his own.”
The cloth he was holding slipped away. Secretary Yang brushed off the wrinkled part.
“Don’t worry too much. That’s Woomyung ‘s way. Our CEO also had to prove his worth in his youth before being recognized as a member of Woomyung . Now it’s Lee A-gon’s turn. From now on, Woomyung will cut off all support and observe him. Lee A-gon only needs to prove himself once. Then the test will be over, and he can come back under Woomyung ‘s protection.”
“You’re cutting off all support?”
“Yes.”
“You’ll just watch him until he passes this so-called test?”
“That’s right.”
What is this? Is this some kind of chaebol kingship theory?
Park Hae-jun couldn’t understand them no matter how he thought about it.
“But… Lee A-gon is an ability user.”
Park Hae-jun was confused.
“An ability user needs assistance. Someone needs to be with him. What if he goes back to his original lifestyle if left alone?”
Having special abilities was like having ten arms instead of one leg. That kid needed someone to be his crutch. Forever.
“What if he becomes a homeless drug addict again? What will you do then?”
To that question, Secretary Yang responded by shrugging his shoulders again. Meaning there was nothing he could do.
Are they crazy?
None of what Secretary Yang said made sense. The more he listened, the less convinced he was; instead, he could only think that Lee A-gon becoming homeless was all their fault.
“Shouldn’t you at least provide him with an assistant?”
“Do you think Lee A-gon would accept any assistant other than Mr. Park Hae-jun?”
“…”
“Or are you going to take responsibility for Lee A-gon?”
“…”
Park Hae-jun couldn’t answer, and Secretary Yang had an expression that said he knew this would happen.
He said, “Excuse me,” and walked past Park Hae-jun.
Secretary Yang left the studio and took the elevator down to the parking lot. There, he met Park Hae-jun again. Having run down the stairs, Park Hae-jun was catching his breath with heaving shoulders.
“I want to extend the commission.”
Secretary Yang asked with narrowed eyes, “And the price?”
“Bring down Professor Seok.”
“Please be specific.”
“Make it so he can never teach students again. So he can’t create more victims like me. And find all the rightful owners of the screenplays he stole.”
“So you mean to ruin Seok Chang-ho’s career and destroy his social standing. That requires quite a lot of effort.”
He delayed his answer, tapping his forearm with the tips of his fingers as he crossed his arms.
Park Hae-jun continued calmly, “I will take care of Lee A-gon until he completely passes the test.”
A thin smile appeared on Secretary Yang’s face. He seemed somehow pleased.
“Are you confident you won’t regret it? If you fail this commission, you’ll lose everything you were supposed to receive for succeeding in the previous one.”
At those words, Park Hae-jun swallowed hard. What he was supposed to receive through the previous commission.
That was getting back his screenplay, his honor, and his school life.
“Yes.”
But Park Hae-jun nodded. Even if he returned to school, he couldn’t take Professor Seok’s teaching as if nothing had happened. Either that man had to disappear or he had to. It was all or nothing.
“I will definitely succeed.”
“Good. Then shall we renew the commission?” Secretary Yang clapped his hands as if to draw attention. “The new commission is to get Lee A-gon’s name in the opening credits. Any genre is fine. When Lee A-gon’s name appears in the opening credits, that is, when he is listed as a main or supporting actor, Woo-myung will take him back. That doesn’t mean any film will do. The content of the film and acting skills will also be part of the test.”
This meant they would also evaluate the artistic quality of the film.