I Was Mistaken as a Monstrous Genius Actor

Chapter 449

Chapter 449: Speed ??of Light (1)

Translator: NovelBin

September 1, early morning.

The setting was one of Columbia Studio’s massive soundstages, where the bustling urban scenery had been recreated in impressive detail. Director Ahn Ga-bok and the team of over a hundred foreign crew members from *Piero: Birth of a Villain* were tirelessly preparing the set.

It was just before 8 a.m.

“Camera angles! Double-check!”

“Extras, get into position!”

“Director! Could you check this angle here?”

This stage, resembling a crowded city street, was filled with buildings packed close together, sidewalks, roads, crosswalks, shops, and various street stalls. Today’s shoot would feature scenes of “Henry Gordon,” Woo-jin’s character. Originally scheduled for 10 a.m., the shoot had been moved up two hours to accommodate Woo-jin’s packed schedule—after all, he also had his first shoot for *Beauty and the Beast* later in the afternoon.

In other words, Woo-jin was taking on a “double shift” today.

“Stand by, Woo-jin!” 

Woo-jin appeared on set, looking every bit like Henry Gordon, with a worn hoodie and jeans. Exchanging simple greetings with the foreign crew members, he maintained his stoic, cold demeanor in line with his character.

“…”

Woo-jin took in the grand urban set around him, a tinge of bittersweet emotion welling up within him.

‘The end is near for *Piero.* I’ll miss this.’

At that moment, Director Ahn approached with the day’s storyboard in hand.

“You’re here?”

With the cinematographer by his side, Ahn Ga-bok outlined the scene to Woo-jin.

“As we discussed, we’ll focus on Henry Gordon’s scenes today. We’ll be jumping around the timeline, so some of the emotions will be a bit fragmented, but I trust that won’t be an issue for you.”

Woo-jin nodded, serious and composed.

“Yes, Director.”

“We aim to finish three scenes before noon—at least two, if we’re efficient. Camera setups should be minimal.”

While Woo-jin absorbed the director’s and cinematographer’s instructions, the set started to fill with extras. More than a few dozen actors walked on sidewalks, waited at traffic lights, drove cars, or browsed at street stalls, creating the vibrant feel of a real city.

In no time, Ahn Ga-bok signaled to the crew to clear the set.

“Starting in five.”

The assistants and crew quickly moved out of view, leaving the extras frozen in place, waiting for their cues. Ahn Ga-bok took his seat in front of the monitors, with about a hundred crew members gathered around. Among them was CEO Choi Sung-geon, standing with his arms crossed.

In the center of it all, Woo-jin positioned himself, fully embodying “Henry Gordon,” his mind alive with the chaotic energy and twisted pleasure that simmered in his character’s psyche.

Henry Gordon was not just Henry—he was Joker in disguise.

Two cameramen moved in, capturing Woo-jin from his right and left, while another camera hung overhead on a crane. Sound boom operators and slate markers joined them.

*Clap!*

The slate clicked, marking the scene.

“Action.”

At the director’s signal, the extras sprang to life. People walked down the sidewalks, chatted, cursed at traffic, cleaned storefront windows, and bought newspapers from street stalls.

*Honk! Honk! Honk!*

A loud car horn blared. Amid the noise, “Henry Gordon” or rather, Woo-jin, appeared, surveying the cityscape, his hands tucked into his hoodie pockets. A subtle smirk crept onto his face.

“Heh…”

He smiled uncontrollably but tried to hold it in. Then the smile crept back, and he suppressed it again. This fleeting expression danced across his face, and the camera captured every nuance as he began to move.

Then, suddenly—

*Woo-woo-woo! Woo-woo-woo!*

Sirens echoed through the city as multiple police cars raced by. Most people turned to watch them, but Woo-jin, or rather “Henry,” ignored the commotion entirely. Unlike in his past, he didn’t flinch, his body upright and unaffected.

The camera followed him closely as he walked toward a street vendor’s stand.

Woo-jin picked up a newspaper from the stand, scanning the headline and image on the front page—a man dressed in a bizarre clown costume. The headline read:

**[Clown Terrorizes City! Who Is He?]**

The byline credited a reporter named Robert Franklin. Woo-jin’s lips curled into a faint smile.

“Well done, my friend.”

At this point, the vendor shouted at him.

“Hey! You picked it up, so buy it!”

The man’s harsh tone caught Woo-jin’s attention, and he stared at the vendor, his eyes piercing and slightly unfocused. The intensity of his expression was chilling, causing the vendor to falter. Woo-jin held the newspaper up to his face and pointed at himself with one finger.

“Tell me, do we look alike?”

Meanwhile, some distance away, Choi Sung-geon had stepped out to answer a call. He’d been watching Woo-jin’s performance moments ago but had retreated to take the urgent call. After a brief conversation, he hung up and sighed.

“Man, this job is non-stop.”

Cracking his neck to relieve tension, he leaned back in the van parked near the actors’ trailers, taking a moment to catch his breath. Running BW Entertainment while supporting Woo-jin and managing their growing array of projects had made his schedule as grueling as Woo-jin’s.

As he settled in the passenger seat, a stack of scripts on the floor caught his eye. These were scripts Woo-jin had been sent—various offers from Korea, Japan, and Hollywood. But none of them had reached Woo-jin. With his schedule fully booked through the next two years, there was no point.

“Oh, right, I meant to give him this one.”

Choi Sung-geon picked up the top script, titled **Guest**. As he leafed through it, he muttered to himself.

“Looks like they did a good job adapting it. They expanded a Korean short story into a full-length feature and kept the sound-focused direction of the original. Mystery, thriller, suspense…plus they added occult and horror?”

While reading, he casually called a director he knew.

“Haha, Director Shin Dong-chun! How have you been?”

Shin Dong-chun, the director of *The Detective Agency*, answered enthusiastically.

Several hours later.

The sun shone brightly over a world blanketed in snow, which covered the vast, ancient castle nestled in the mountains. Despite its age, the castle’s garden seemed strangely well-maintained, with trees and flowers that had somehow withstood the test of time.

Inside, however, the castle was shrouded in darkness.

The atmosphere was eerily silent and unnervingly still. A blonde woman peered cautiously into the garden, her golden hair loosely tied back and draped with a worn-out, mud-stained apron. Her dress was white, faded and frayed at the edges, yet her beauty shone through, her blue eyes wide with curiosity.

She was “Bella,” the village’s beloved beauty. But what had brought her to this eerie castle?

As she glanced around the garden and slowly approached the grand entrance, Bella stiffened, her gaze lingering on the strange, vibrant flowers.

“These didn’t grow here naturally. Someone is taking care of them.”

Her expression became serious as she looked up at the looming castle. Despite her fear, she took a deep breath and moved forward, finally reaching the entrance. The camera followed her as she cautiously opened the massive door.

*Creak…*

“Wow…”

The interior of the castle unfolded before her, grand and surprisingly clean. Bella had expected dust and decay, yet it seemed inhabited, as if someone were living here and maintaining the space. The ceilings towered above her, intricate designs adorned the floors, and golden pillars lined the hallways. In the center, a staircase split in two halfway up, leading to the second floor.

“It’s beautiful.”

Lost in wonder, Bella wandered into the hall, admiring the carvings on the pillars and the soaring architecture around her. She ran her hand over one of the gold pillars, marveling at how pristine it was, and pressed her face against a high, spotless window.

“Spotless…”

She could hardly believe it.

At that moment, Bella shook herself back to reality, gently slapping her cheeks as if to focus.

“I know someone’s here,” she called out, her voice echoing. “Please, talk to me.”

“…”

There was no response. Only her voice echoed back.

“I know someone lives here. Show yourself.”

Still, silence.

Suddenly—

*Clang!*

A sound echoed from somewhere within the castle, metal clanging against wood. Bella froze, her eyes widening as she shouted.

“Who’s there? Come out! I heard you!”

But no one appeared. Bella, more determined than ever, stepped toward the staircase.

“I’m coming up if you won’t come down.”

She climbed the first step, then another.

“Stop.”

A deep, gravelly voice thundered from behind her. Startled, Bella spun around with a small gasp. She looked toward the open door but saw no one there.

“Who…who are you?”

The voice answered again, this time even louder.

“Leave at once!”

“Please, I have questions I need to ask you—”

“I said leave!”

The roar was deafening, nearly a growl. Terrified, Bella stumbled back, falling to the floor.

“Ah…”

The voice came again, colder and darker.

“You invaded my home without permission

! Now get out, or I’ll tear you apart!”

This time, the voice came from the second floor.

Bella, heart pounding, managed to pull herself together. She couldn’t leave—not yet. Forcing herself to her feet, she resolutely walked to the door, slamming it shut behind her.

With her back against the door, she called up to the second floor, her blue eyes blazing with defiance.

“Fine! Then come down and tear me apart if you must!”

“…”

The voice fell silent, replaced by the sound of footsteps.

From the shadowy stairs, a hulking figure slowly descended, the dim light revealing more and more of his monstrous form. The creature was massive, covered in shaggy fur, his face fierce and intimidating, his eyes trained on Bella with a gaze that seemed ready to devour her whole.

It was the Beast.

“…”

Bella’s stern face twitched.

Then—

“Pfft!”

Unable to hold back, she burst into laughter, quickly covering her mouth and bowing her head.

“Oh, I’m so sorry, Woo-jin. I couldn’t help myself.”

The director’s voice crackled through the speakers, breaking the silence.

“Cut! NG!”

The first take of *Beauty and the Beast*’s opening scene ended in a lively NG. The cause? Bella’s laughter.

“Cara, please take this seriously,” Woo-jin said, now in full Beast character, giving her a stern look from atop the stairs.

Cara’s laughter bubbled up again as she looked up at him.

“But it’s just…Beast Woo-jin is too adorable!”

Indeed, Woo-jin was dressed as the Beast, though in a rather unconventional outfit. Standing on the stairs with his hands on his hips, he was trying to act composed, but inside he was cringing.

‘This is humiliating!’

From head to toe, he was clad in a skintight, gray bodysuit covered in tiny markers, creating an absurdly un-Beast-like image.

‘I swear, this costume is the worst!’ 

A truly fearsome sight—if only he didn’t feel like a deep-sea diver in a skintight suit.