Kang Woojin heard the heavy thuds of footsteps descending the stairs.
Thud. Thud. Thud.
It was Iyota Kiyoshi.
No—Kang Woojin.
He moved with a calm, composed presence. There was weight to him, yet his face remained blank. Strangely, despite that presence, no one paid him any attention as he came down the stairs.
To be honest, he didn't look Japanese at all.
His expressionless face didn't change as he descended. A faint chill crept along his forearm. It was real. At this very moment, he was living inside Kiyoshi's life, experiencing everything firsthand.
He had lost the only thing he possessed, and erased one of the many ordinary things in the world.
In other words, one person had died, and another had been killed.
One willingly. The other unwillingly.
And Woojin, who had witnessed it all with his own eyes, remained unchanged.
"······"
His emotions were still faint. Nothing surfaced on his face.
But—
"What is this?! What is this?!!"
"Kyaaa!!"
"Police!! Call the police!!"
"Aaaah!!"
The school descended into chaos.
Screams erupted from below. Strange cries echoed through the nearby corridors. The staircase downstairs looked like it was about to explode from the commotion. Students ran past, bumping into Woojin's shoulders, while teachers rushed after them in panic.
It made sense.
Two students had suddenly died. It wasn't unheard of. In recent times, cases of students taking their own lives in Japan weren't exactly rare.
Still, witnessing something like that firsthand was completely different.
Cut.
Instead of heading toward the crowded first floor, Woojin stepped into the second-floor hallway lined with classrooms.
He hesitated for a moment.
His gaze dropped to his hand.
As always.
The same heartbeat. A similar tremor. Even his breathing hadn't changed much.
"It's fine."
It wasn't meant to comfort himself.
It was certainty.
Certainty that he wouldn't be identified as the culprit.
So he moved again.
The classroom he entered wasn't his own.
It was Misaki Toka's.
No one was there. Everyone had likely gone to see what had happened. Only the familiar atmosphere of the classroom greeted him.
Click.
He sat down.
Toka's seat.
The desk was covered in scribbles.
Die. Filthy. You stink. Idiot seat.
Woojin stared at the graffiti without expression.
About five seconds.
Cut.
He opened the desk drawer and pulled out a notebook and a pencil case.
Both had the name 'Misaki Toka' written on them.
Woojin opened to a blank page and began writing.
Tsugumune Shinnosuke
A name.
But he erased it.
The man's head had already been crushed.
Below it were nine names in total, a mix of male and female.
After writing them all, Woojin tore the page out, folded it once, then again.
The folded paper slipped into his pocket.
"Not now."
He was talking about the past.
A time when he could erase those nine people without hesitation or consequence.
Murmuring to himself, Woojin slowly left the classroom and walked down the hallway.
"One might be manageable… but all nine is too much. I lack stamina. Intelligence. Experience."
Everything was lacking.
And lack led to failure.
More than anything, acting now could turn him into a target.
"I need to be forgotten."
He had to become a stranger in this world.
Someone no one would remember.
He needed to become quieter. More insignificant. Completely invisible.
Kang Woojin and Kiyoshi chose a long-term strategy.
One year.
Five years.
It didn't matter.
When everything about him had faded from people's memories, and when he had gained everything he currently lacked—
That was when it would begin.
An unpredictable disaster.
There would be many victims.
And it would be a grim sacrifice.
Soon, Woojin stopped walking.
"······"
He looked out the window.
There were countless people outside.
Hundreds of students. Police who had arrived at the scene. Terrified teachers.
And among them—
Those nine.
Huddled together, whispering.
Woojin's dim gaze settled on them.
There was no hatred.
No killing intent.
Just—
"Homework."
Something that had to be done.
·
·
·
How much time had passed?
["A: Concluding Iyota Kiyoshi's reading (experience)."]
Kang Woojin returned.
He had lived as Iyota Kiyoshi.
Naturally, he was back inside the van. Although years had seemed to pass, in reality, only a few seconds had gone by.
That was probably why the van felt unfamiliar.
"Haa—"
It was always like this.
After experiencing a role, the real world felt out of place. At the same time, the vividness of the role only intensified.
'Iyota Kiyoshi' was no exception.
The role had already been deeply engraved in him, but now its outline was several times sharper.
Woojin calmly gathered his thoughts.
It felt like solidifying his identity.
Out of all the roles engraved into him, he was now closing the chapter on the name Iyota Kiyoshi.
He had grown quite accustomed to controlling it.
"It's done."
Color. Smell. Everything vanished in an instant.
The essence of a master.
That was Kang Woojin.
He immediately grasped the Leech scenario. Others might think he was studying for a different project, but that wasn't the case.
"Next time… yeah, I'll rest."
This was the real Kang Woojin.
An ordinary citizen.
Thanks to the void space buff, Woojin had briefly reviewed The Stranger's Grim Sacrifice and taken substantial rest in reality before immersing himself again in filming for Island of the Missing.
"Standby—cue."
Just moments ago he had been Kiyoshi.
Now, without issue, he became Corporal Jin Seoncheol.
With filming in Japan scheduled in a few days, he had many scenes to shoot.
Meanwhile, the staff of Island of the Missing whispered among themselves.
[Online reactions]
[Staff1: The media is noisy, but Woojin looks calm.]
[Staff2: His acting doesn't seem affected at all.]
[Staff3: He's always been hard to shake.]
[Staff4: Do you think he'll change agencies?]
[Staff5: I think he'll stay with Choi Sunggeon.]
Most of them shared similar thoughts internally.
[Online reactions]
[Staff6: If we could sign Woojin, that'd be insane.]
[Staff7: His YouTube is close to 6 million subscribers.]
[Staff8: And his SNS following is huge.]
[Staff9: That kind of influence is unmatched.]
Director Kwon Gitaek also considered it, but made no move to ask Woojin anything.
Meanwhile—
Bzzz.
Bzzz.
Woojin's phone kept receiving messages.
Friends, acquaintances—
And a flood of agency contacts.
Even if Woojin didn't check them, veteran Choi Sunggeon certainly knew.
"······"
Arms crossed, he watched Woojin from the filming area, organizing his thoughts.
Calculating his value.
'They don't know enough.'
The world, including entertainment agencies eyeing Woojin, didn't fully understand his worth.
Which meant his current valuation was wrong.
Even if the numbers being discussed were already unimaginable for a rookie, Sunggeon believed he was worth far more.
They didn't even know about Director Ahn Gabok yet.
Though not finalized, Woojin was a strong candidate for a major production's 100th project.
And more than that—
'He's aiming for the Academy Awards.'
Anyone who truly knew Woojin wouldn't dismiss that as impossible.
His future value was enormous.
And what Sunggeon coveted most—
'That absurd intuition.'
Woojin's instincts could guide even uncertain futures.
It went beyond talent.
It was something worthy of awe.
The industry didn't know this yet.
But Woojin had already used that instinct to break into Japan and catch Director Ahn Gabok's attention.
Next: Cannes.
Then: the Academy.
Right now, only Sunggeon knew everything.
And that gave him the advantage.
"It's time to act."
He made his decision.
He would give everything—not just effort.
Meanwhile, rumors about Kang Woojin began spreading online.
『[Star Talk] Kang Woojin expected to enter FA market… in talks with major agencies』
『GGO Entertainment admits strong interest in Kang Woojin』
Typical noise marketing.
Even Japanese companies joined in.
『[Issue Check] Japanese agencies sending offers… contract fee expected in billions』
Rumors spread wildly.
Contacts. Secret meetings. Massive contracts. Even talk of a one-man agency.
Some were media-driven.
Others deliberately leaked by agencies.
Either way, it boosted Woojin's recognition.
Among those who saw the articles—
Director Ahn Gabok spoke.
"Hmm… no reply yet?"
At home, he waited.
For the first time since entering the industry.
Beside him, a film company CEO spoke.
"Yes, Director… but we're running out of time."
"He's reviewing it carefully. He's busy. Let's wait a bit longer."
"What if… he refuses?"
Ahn Gabok smiled faintly.
"Then… we might have to beg."
Late at night.
Past 11 PM.
A familiar studio, styled like a kitchen.
The Our Table team's practice set.
Kang Woojin stood there, cap pulled low.
He had come straight after filming Island of the Missing.
No fatigue showed on his face.
Inside, however, his energy was still high.
The same went for his team.
"Alright!! Camera settings complete!"
About ten staff members gathered.
Lighting and cameras were set.
Tonight's purpose was simple.
"Let's start with the cooking content interview!"
A test shoot.
New cooking content for Kang Woojin's Alter Ego.
Plus interviews and teaser footage.
They needed to shoot before his Japan schedule.
Recent uploads had exploded in views.
-[(6)Miley Cara / 'Absolute']Cover [Korean Version]｜Kang Woojin's Alter Ego
Views: 10,050,000
Teasers had already been posted.
The response was strong.
They had to move fast.
Still—
"Okay! That's enough for the interview!"
Woojin began cooking.
The menu was his choice.
Simple recipes for subscribers.
He even took requests from staff.
No hesitation.
Soon, a plate of smoky bulgogi was placed before a male staff member.
Conversation flowed.
The atmosphere settled.
Then—
"Who wants to try avatar cooking?"
"Me!"
"I'll try!!"
Avatar Cooking.
Woojin would give instructions.
Someone else would cook.
Han Yejung, with short blue hair, was chosen.
Her cold image paired well with Woojin's tone.
"Let's begin comfortably."
Staff exited.
Woojin stayed outside the kitchen.
Yejung stood inside.
She asked casually.
"Oppa, what do I do first?"
Woojin remained calm.
'This might actually be fun.'
"Wash your hands and put on an apron first."
"Okay."
"What do you want to eat?"
"That spicy pork you made before. Is it hard?"
"It's simple."
"Good. I'm tired of delivery food."
"Alright."
Woojin pointed at the fridge.
"Let's start with the ingredients."
"What should I take out?"
He listed them calmly.
She followed—imperfectly.
"No, that's ginger, not garlic."
"Really? I mixed them up."
…How do you mix those up?
Woojin began realizing the horror.
"Why did you take out bell peppers?"
"Don't we not need them?"
"…Put them back."
"Okay, oppa. Are you mad?"
"No. Start stir-frying."
"Like frying eggs?"
She knew nothing about cooking.
For Woojin—
It was hell.
"Too hot. Lower the heat."
"But doesn't it taste better burnt?"
"…It'll taste burnt, not flavorful."
"I saw it on YouTube."
Are you… playing with fire right now?
She treated cooking like kindling.
Woojin clenched his fist internally.
"Lower the heat unless you're making charcoal."
"Okay."
"No, not off. Lower."
"Huh? Why did it turn off?"
This is driving me insane.
The ingredients burned.
Woojin's patience snapped.
His concept collapsed.
He was genuinely frustrated.
'Calm down. This is growth.'
He forced himself to endure.
Then—
"This is gold. CEO, this will blow up."
Staff burst into laughter.
Woojin's suffering was the highlight.
Eventually—
"Done."
Spicy pork.
Or something resembling it.
For the final shot, Woojin tasted it.
"······"
He picked up his chopsticks.
'This isn't pork. Is this… chips? No, I might die.'
He avoided the charred meat.
Picked onions.
Tasted.
"Oppa, how is it?"
"From now on, we're ordering delivery."
"That bad?"
"It tastes dangerous."
"Ah."
Everyone burst into laughter.
Except Woojin.
He needed recovery time.
But the teaser—
Was perfect.
Later, while the studio was being cleaned—
Woojin sat alone.
'Long day.'
Midnight.
Despite everything—
It was satisfying.
Then—
"Good work."
Choi Sunggeon handed him water.
"I tried it too. That wasn't spicy pork. That was a massacre."
"Tastes like seaweed chips."
"Ha! Exactly."
"Crispy outside… crispy inside."
Sunggeon laughed.
Woojin drank water—
Then spoke.
"I'll do Leech."
The smile vanished from Sunggeon's face.
"Really? You finished it?"
"Half. It's interesting."
"Instinct?"
"Even if it's Director Ahn, I wouldn't if I didn't like it."
"That sounds like you."
"Tell them I'll do it."
Sunggeon's eyes widened slightly.
"Understood. I'll inform them first thing tomorrow."
Woojin stood.
Cannes next year.
September.
His contract—
Ends in March.
"Got it. Tight schedule."
"Yes."
As Sunggeon organized his thoughts—
Woojin spoke casually.
"Make sure to take care of me at Cannes next year."