Rookie Talent Agent Knows It All

Chapter 413: Kim Beop-Min Audition (3)

'As expected, Deok-Bae is a natural action star,' I thought.

Thwack!

The wooden sword Deok-Bae wielded clashed with Oh Tae-Hyuk's in midair.

They exchanged strikes cautiously at first, but the two started to pick up speed as their movements synchronized perfectly.

Snap!

When Oh Tae-Hyuk swung his wooden sword in an arc, Deok-Bae's sword moved even faster and precisely intercepted the attack.

Even though Deok-Bae hadn't slept in days, his flowing sword strikes were strong. On top of that, Deok-Bae's long limbs made his movements look far more dynamic compared to those of his previous competitors.

The most notable thing was that Deok-Bae displayed dazzling movements that perfectly mimicked Ahn Seok-Chil.

As such, the resulting scene looked incomparably better than the two actors before him.

After several exchanges of wooden swords, the two quickly created distance between them.

They were preparing for the final sequence of the action performance where Kim Beop-Min swung his sword downward at Guk-Seon who dodged the strike.

They were approximately five meters apart.

Deok-Bae's expression was menacing and almost wolf-like.

'This is the finale, Deok-Bae. You've got this!' I silently cheered.

With just one scene left in the audition, my sweaty palms betrayed my nerves.

At that moment, Yoo-Jin moved closer to me and spoke excitedly. "Oppa, where did Deok-Bae learn swordsmanship like that?"

I shrugged. "Well, he was using tree branches to spar with me during his practice."

"No way! And he's still this good?"

"Yeah. When it comes to action, he's a total prodigy."

At that moment, a button from Deok-Bae's long cashmere coat fell off.

Plink.

At the same time, a cold wind blew and caused his coat to flutter like a cape. Sweaty strands of hair clung to his face and swayed in the breeze.

Despite that, Deok-Bae fixed his gaze on his opponent for the swordplay duel who was standing right before him.

According to the script, Guk-Seon was the most skilled warrior of Silla and Kim Beop-Min, who had trained in secret sword techniques in Tang, was his only rival.

This setup made it seem as if Deok-Bae was genuinely Kim Beop-Min locked in a life-and-death battle with Guk-Seon.

His immersion was so complete that the emotional expression in his action performance far surpassed his earlier general acting.

They silently glared at each other for several seconds before Oh Tae-Hyuk's sword tip quivered.

In that instant, Deok-Bae leaped into the air with a loud shout. "Ta-ahhh!" n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

Thanks to his height and incredible athleticism, Deok-Bae's jump was on an entirely different level compared to earlier competitors.

Deok-Bae moved so swiftly that Oh Tae-Hyuk missed the timing to evade the attack. If things continued, it could lead to a major accident.

Even though it was during an audition, I shouted, "Deok-Bae! No!"

That's when Deok-Bae belatedly realized Oh Tae-Hyuk wasn't ready. Unfortunately, it was impossible to halt the momentum of his accelerating sword.

Instead, Deok-Bae twisted his body.

Whoosh.

The wooden sword that had been descending toward Oh Tae-Hyuk's head cleaved through the air.

With his body twisted in midair, Deok-Bae landed hard on the ground.

Thud.

I immediately ran over to check on Deok-Bae's condition. "Deok-Bae, are you okay?"

Deok-Bae clutched his shoulder with a grimace but forced a smile.

Only then did the dazed Oh Tae-Hyuk snap out of it. "Are... are you alright, Mr. Deok-Bae? I was so nervous that I..."

"It's fine, sunbae-nim. I moved too suddenly," Deok-Bae replied.

Oh Tae-Hyuk shook his head. "No, it was my delayed reaction."

Deok-Bae's tall stature and exceptional athleticism had led to an unexpected situation.

Oh Bok-Hee called out, "Cut! Is everyone okay?"

The audition came to an end.

Oh Bok-Hee asked with a concerned expression. "M-Mr. Jung, is Deok-Bae alright? He's not hurt, is he?"

I nodded. "Yes, this is nothing... he's fine."

Though Deok-Bae might have some bruising, there was no damage to his bones or ligaments.

At that moment, the staff and Oh Bok-Hee began clapping. They were expressing their admiration for the acrobatic movement Deok-Bae had displayed midair.

Ahn Seok-Chil was particularly enthusiastic and clapped so hard it seemed his hands might burst.

Oh Bok-Hee turned to Han Woo-Ju with an excited expression. "Miss Han, what did you think?"

Han Woo-Ju smiled satisfactorily. "I think we should increase the action scenes! The role of Kim Beop-Min can be made even more compelling. A son from a political family who studied in Tang and returned to Silla, but also a martial artist who can rival Guk-Seon—the greatest sword fighter of Silla! Doesn't that sound amazing?"

Ryu Han-Joon also leaned toward Deok-Bae's favor. "I agree. For some reason, I feel like Deok-Bae could be the secret weapon of Hwaranjeon."

At that moment, Oh Bok-Hee smiled and turned to the next person. "And you, Mr. Ahn?"

Ahn Seok-Chil, who had remained silent until now, finally voiced his opinion.

"If Deok-Bae takes on the role of Kim Beop-Min, I believe I can enhance the action even further. With movements like the ones he showed earlier, he could deliver action sequences other actors wouldn't even dream of."

Although his general acting fell short, Deok-Bae's extraordinary action performance instantly tipped the scales in his favor.

After exchanging glances, the four nodded and Oh Bok-Hee made the decision. "Then the role of Kim Beop-Min goes to Deok-Bae."

The audition was a success.

***

When Deok-Bae was confirmed for the role of Kim Beop-Min, Seo Yi-Jun was irritated and Park Jung-Min looked incredulous.

Deok-Bae stood up and smiled. "Hyung... did I really pass?"

I smiled. "Yes, you're Kim Beop-Min."

Just then, Deok-Bae started to stagger. The aftermath of days without sleep and performing at full strength was taking its toll.

I quickly grabbed Deok-Bae's waist to support him. Deok-Bae's body radiated intense heat.

"Then... I'll just... rest a little now," he mumbled.

"Sure."

Deok-Bae gave a faint smile and slowly closed his eyes.

"Huh? Deok-Bae?"

As Deok-Bae collapsed against me, the staff began to panic.

"What? What's going on? Mr. Jung, what's wrong with Deok-Bae?"

"It's alright. He just hasn't slept for days."

I reassured them while laying Deok-Bae down on the ground.

Deok-Bae completely passed out and began breathing deeply. It seemed he had been so exhausted that even his breathing carried the sound of whistling air.

I called 119 just in case and asked the staff for a handkerchief.

At that moment, Yoo-Jin standing nearby handed one over. "Oppa, take this."

"Thanks. Could you also bring some water?"

"Of course."

I opened the water bottle Yoo-Jin handed me, dampened the handkerchief, and placed it on Deok-Bae's forehead.

I looked down at Deok-Bae in my arms and quietly offered my congratulations. 'Deok-Bae, you did great.'

A faint smile appeared on Deok-Bae's unconscious face as if he heard my words.

***

An ambulance arrived at the set with the blaring sound of sirens.

"Where is the patient?"

"Right over here!"

Once Deok-Bae was placed in the ambulance, the paramedics quickly turned to me. "Only one guardian can ride along."

All the staff looked at me, but I turned to Lee Yung-Jin and said, "Yung-Jin, go with Deok-Bae to the hospital. Call me if anything comes up."

"Me? But shouldn't you go instead?"

"I still have things to wrap up here."

Although the audition was over, I couldn't leave the scene casually since the presidents of Ace Entertainment and TK Entertainment were present. After all, they wouldn't have traveled from Seoul to Gyeongju without a purpose.

Lee Yung-Jin quickly climbed into the backseat of the ambulance. "Alright, Mr. Jung. Then I'll go and call you later."

Only then did the staff let out a sigh of relief.

At that moment, Oh Bok-Hee turned to the staff. "Alright, everyone. Let's take a break and have a hearty meal. The afternoon shoot will proceed as scheduled."

"Yes, Mrs. Oh."

The staff returned to their tasks with uplifted expressions, pleased with Deok-Bae's spirited performance.

Just as expected, Im Sung-Hak of Ace Entertainment began to make his move. He turned to Oh Bok-Hee and said, "PD Oh, let's have a word."

"I'm sorry, but I'm a bit busy right now. Can we schedule a meeting later?"

"Later? No way. The evaluation criteria for today's audition are a bit strange, don't you think?"

While organizing the script, Oh Bok-Hee furrowed her brow at Im Sung-Hak's complaint. "Strange?"

"Yes. No matter how close you are with Team Lead Jung, how can you make such a biased decision?"

"Are you trying to say that Yi-Jun is better than Deok-Bae?"

It was an absurd remark, but Im Sung-Hak replied shamelessly, "Of course he is. We can always use doubles for action scenes. But Yi-Jun was the best when it comes to presence, wasn't he?"

Im Sung-Hak's behavior stemmed from two reasons. First, he wanted to appease Seo Yi-Jun who couldn't accept the outcome. Second, he hoped to use this as leverage to secure future roles for Ace Entertainment actors.

However, Oh Bok-Hee immediately saw through his intentions and responded boldly. "So what you're saying is... I'm a director so clueless about assessing actors that I'd make such a foolish decision, right?"

"Hey! Why are you twisting my words like that?"

"Twisting them? Mr. Im, save your tricks for someone else. I acknowledge Yi-Jun has improved a lot! But so what? He's not better than his competitors in any area!"

As Oh Bok-Hee's tone grew sharper, Im Sung-Hak faltered. "No, that's not what I meant..."

Oh Bok-Hee interrupted him. "Mr. Im, let me warn you to stop while you're ahead. If you push this any further, Ace Entertainment won't get anything from this production."

There were countless roles for supporting and minor actors in a fifty-episode historical drama. For companies like Ace Entertainment with a large pool of actors, securing those roles was crucial.

Im Sung-Hak started to back down with Oh Bok-Hee's unexpectedly firm stance. "Alright, alright! There's no need to get so worked up... Fine, I'm sorry. My bad."

While Im Sung-Hak backed off, I quietly approached writer Han Woo-Ju. It was time to address Park Jung-Min's earlier antics with Yoo-Jin.

"Excuse me, Miss Han...?"

Han Woo-Ju, who had been watching the argument between Im Sung-Hak and Oh Bok-Hee with interest, turned to me. "Yes, Mr. Jung?"

"You're aware that TK Entertainment is trying to push their actors into our drama, right?"

"Yes, I know."

"I suspect Park Jung-Min is also waiting for a chance to snag another role in our production. Have you heard any rumors about him?"

Han Woo-Ju's eyes gleamed. "What kind of rumors?"

Sensing the perfect opportunity, I shared some gossip about Park Jung-Min's history with women. To be precise, it was information I knew from my past life but slightly exaggerated for effect.

After hearing my account, Han Woo-Ju fumed and rolled up her sleeves angrily. "Leave it to me. That guy won't set foot in my work!"

As Im Sung-Hak retreated, Kim Tae-Kwon of TK Entertainment started a conversation with Oh Bok-Hee. "PD Oh, may I have a moment?"

"What is it? Are you also here to claim Jung-Min did better than Deok-Bae?"

Unlike Im Sung-Hak, Kim Tae-Kwon gracefully acknowledged the decision. "No, no. Why would I criticize your judgment? After watching Deok-Bae's action performance, even I was impressed."

Kim Tae-Kwon's subtle approach shook Oh Bok-Hee slightly. "Ahem... Really?"

"Yes. But it's just that not casting Jung-Min feels like such a shame. Please give him any role in Hwaranjeon and I guarantee he'll do well."

When Oh Bok-Hee showed a hint of hesitation, Han Woo-Ju standing beside me boldly stepped forward. "Actually, I'm not a fan of Mr. Park Jung-Min."

Caught off guard by this unexpected interference, Kim Tae-Kwon turned to Han Woo-Ju. "Writer Han, why the sudden opposition...?"

"Mr. Park Jung-Min is notorious for his messy relationships with women. If we cast him and some scandal breaks out, who's going to take responsibility for that?" Han Woo-Ju questioned.

The visibly flustered Kim Tae-Kwon stammered, "W-what are you talking about?"

"I didn't want to bring this up, but I'll say it. I can understand him dating Choi Tae-In from Bless Entertainment. But two-timing her with a fellow group member? Are you seriously unaware of this?"

Choi Tae-In, the leader of the girl group Pinky Love, was twenty-four years old and older than Park Jung-Min. At the same time, Park Jung-Min was also romantically involved with Lee Ye-Ju, another member of the same group.

This scandal would cause a huge uproar for Park Jung-Min in about a month, but only a select few were aware of it for now.

When Han Woo-Ju mentioned it so abruptly, Kim Tae-Kwon's face went pale. "N-no... W-where did you hear such nonsense? That's just a rumor! A baseless rumor!"

"A rumor, huh? Then how about we verify it right now? If there isn't a single photo or contact detail of them on Jung-Min's phone, I'll apologize and give him a great role. What do you say?"

At that moment, Kim Tae-Kwon gritted his teeth and shot me a glare. 'This was you, wasn't it?'

I returned his glare. 'Why are you looking at me?'

Kim Tae-Kwon's glare intensified. 'Who else could it be?'

I maintained a shameless expression, unfazed by Kim Tae-Kwon's accusing gaze. 'Do you have proof?'

Just then, Yoo-Jin leaned in and whispered. "Oppa, why are you having a staring contest with Mr. Kim?"

"It's nothing."

"It's not nothing. You were the one who gave that information, weren't you? Is this what you meant earlier about putting him in his place?"

'Yoo-Jin is as sharp as ever,' I thought.

When I feigned innocence, Yoo-Jin flashed a bright smile. "Honestly, oppa... you're something else."

At that moment, Yoo-Jin spoke in an almost inaudible voice."Thank you..."

"Huh? What did you say?"

"Nothing. Forget it."

Yoo-Jin turned away and began watching Kim Tae-Kwon awkwardly explain himself to Han Woo-Ju while sweating profusely.

I wasn't finished dealing with Park Jung-Min just yet. He had crossed a line he shouldn't have, and such actions couldn't go unpunished.

So I sent a KkTalk message to Choi So-Hye discreetly without letting Yoo-Jin know.

[Team Lead Jung Yoon-Ho: Ms. Choi, I've got a tip for you. It's about TK Entertainment's star model, Park Jung-Min...]

Choi So-Hye's reply came instantly accompanied by a cheerful emoji of her signature bright, winking smiley face.

[Reporter Choi So-Hye: ^ᅲ^ Thank you~!]

I am Jung Yoon-Ho, and sometimes, I'm a man who holds grudges.