How a Loan Shark Survives as an Actor Chapter 86

Chapter 86

 

“I’ll be filming a horror movie soon, and I’d like the two of you to help me.”

“…Us?”

Joo Gyeongbeom replied as if the idea was absurd.

The youngest, sitting beside him, also widened his eyes.

‘They’re probably wondering how they could possibly help with that.’

I knew how ridiculous it sounded, but there was truly no one else who could help me.

Because…

‘In a horror movie, the characters have to be placed in horrifying situations.’

Whether they got stranded in a mountain pension, fell into a river filled with ghosts, or whatever else, the protagonist had to go through some kind of crisis and show genuine fear in the process.

Of course, there were horror comedies where the protagonist remained unfazed and subverted the clichés, but the genre I was filming was pure horror.

‘Which means I have to act scared.’

And that was where the problem began.

What was I afraid of?

‘I’m not trying to act tough. I genuinely can’t remember.’

Ghosts, darkness, monsters… the things people commonly feared… didn’t really provoke any reaction from me.

That didn’t mean I wanted to mock people for being scared of those things.

I simply… didn’t care.

After passing the audition, I’d watched countless horror films, but I couldn’t immerse myself in the characters at all.

‘Is that really something worth being that terrified over?’

Well, of course I’d be scared if I were actually in those dramatic situations. I could die, after all.

‘But it’s just a movie.’

What were the chances of dying while filming a horror movie?

How was I supposed to genuinely feel fear?

‘And ghosts?’

I’d never spent my life wondering whether ghosts were real.

But let’s say they were.

Let’s say one was standing right beside me.

‘So what?’

What exactly could it do to me?

Even if they existed, so what?

It’s not like they’d steal my money.

‘Ha.’

I didn’t particularly want to change that mindset, but I was worried.

I had to portray someone afraid, and I was worried it’d look fake.

‘Of course, just because you’re acting something doesn’t mean you have to actually feel the emotion.’

You didn’t need to genuinely want to kill someone just because you were acting out murder.

But shouldn’t I at least know what scared me and how I reacted to fear if I wanted to portray it convincingly?

‘I can’t just get by this time by copying the people around me.’

It was the same issue I’d encountered while playing Dogeon in ‘What I Loved’.

Back then, I hadn’t had enough reference material to model Dogeon after, and now I felt the same frustration with the protagonist of this horror film.

‘Sure, I’ve seen plenty of people trembling in fear in front of me.’

Whenever debtors who’d failed to pay their interest were dragged before me by my men.

I remembered the expressions on countless faces.

Some couldn’t even breathe properly and went into fits.

Some were so terrified they wet themselves.

‘But that kind of data won’t help.’

The protagonist I was playing, Junho, wasn’t weak.

He’d entered college through an athletic scholarship and knew full well that he was physically strong.

That confidence showed in the way he treated others.

No matter how terrifying the situation became, a guy like that couldn’t lose all dignity and cower pitifully.

‘Maybe at the climax of the movie.’

But before then, I had to portray fear that even the protagonist himself wasn’t fully aware of.

Saying, ‘What’s so scary about this?’ while subtle fear leaked through his expression.

‘Not easy.’

I’d barely solved the problem of how to portray a patient before another crisis arrived.

Ever since entering Yoo Seulho’s body, life had really been eventful.

‘Anyway, I need a solution.’

Now that I’d identified the problem, I had to find a solution.

I needed to figure out exactly what kind of situations made me afraid and practice expressing that fear realistically.

And the two guys in front of me knew the old me better than anyone.

“I have to act scared, but I don’t know what I’m afraid of. You two should know, right? I have amnesia.”

“Ah, yes.”

“I don’t have time to test things one by one, so I need a shortcut. And suddenly, I thought of Boss.”

“Our Big Boss?”

At Hwang Taejun’s words, I smiled.

“Yes. The Boss I remember was someone who feared nothing. So if there was something even someone like him feared, wouldn’t I naturally find it scary too?”

I boldly asked them to tell me everything they knew.

Though flustered, they seemed convinced and obediently started thinking.

“Something Big Boss was afraid of…”

“Hm. Taejun, remember anything?”

“I barely even saw Big Boss smile. But I never once saw him look scared.”

Joo Gyeongbeom nodded in agreement.

‘This is starting to feel hopeless.’

If I’d known it’d turn out like this, I wouldn’t have explained so seriously.

Feeling deflated, I urged them to think harder.

“Even if you ask me like that, I honestly don’t know. I’ve served Boss since he was a student, but I’ve never seen him afraid of anything…”

Seeing Joo Gyeongbeom speak so sincerely made me despair.

If even Gyeongbeom said that, then he truly hadn’t seen anything.

Still, after dragging out the conversation this long, I felt I needed to gain something.

“Then what are you two afraid of?”

The youngest immediately answered.

“There is one thing. Once, because of my mistake, I lost a contract with a client and caused several hundred million won in penalties. Big Boss’s face back then was the scariest thing I’ve ever seen.”

“Even thinking about it now gives me chills.”

I stared blankly at him.

But Joo Gyeongbeom nodded in agreement.

“Same. The Boss scares me the most.”

“Oh, and there was that time I went out to feed stray cats and ended up late. Big Boss yelled at me then too, and it was terrifying!”

“Yeah. I thought you were dead that day.”

“……”

I was dumbfounded.

Though they didn’t know it, they were badmouthing me right in front of me.

‘Seriously?’

Where would they find a more rational boss than me?

What’s scarier… getting scolded, or getting hit by a car because you were carrying a twenty-kilogram bag of cat food around like an idiot?

Stupidity is what’s scary, you bastards.

‘Whew.’

Forget it. I was the fool for expecting anything useful from them.

“Understood. Then I’ll be going.”

“Ah, but don’t misunderstand Big Boss!”

As I tried to get into my car, the youngest hurriedly grabbed me.

“Just because he scolded me doesn’t mean he was some cold-hearted person.”

“I don’t think that. I’m sure you deserved it.”

“Well… I can’t argue with that. Anyway…”

Sweating nervously, he continued.

He explained that one of the stray cats he’d fed for a year had become sick and needed surgery to survive, but he’d had almost no money.

“I cried my eyes out and begged Big Boss for a loan. I promised I’d repay it with interest and asked him to help me just once.”

“You did? First time I’ve heard that.”

Joo Gyeongbeom tilted his head.

Embarrassed, the youngest laughed awkwardly.

“He told me not to cry over stupid things and smacked me a few times, but then he paid for the surgery. Later, when I tried to repay him with my savings, he hit me again. Said he’d kill me if I kept acting up…”

Hwang Taejun smiled shyly as he told the story.

He probably thought he was sharing one of my heartwarming stories.

But all he was really saying was that I’d beaten him and threatened to kill him.

I stared at him in disbelief, but he wasn’t done.

“Big Boss always thought of himself as cold and ruthless, but he wasn’t. Sure, he’d be harsh with troublesome clients, but with people he considered his own, he always gave in.”

“That was the kind of person Big Boss was.”

Watching him smile proudly, I quietly asked,

“Are you certain Boss considered you one of his own?”

“Huh? Of course! I’ve served him for years… Why? Did Big Boss say something to you?”

Seeing Hwang Taejun suddenly grow anxious, I shrugged.

“Who knows? I don’t remember.”

“Liar!”

“Well, I’ll be going. Thanks.”

It was time to head home.

And just as I was about to get into my car…

“Wait!”

Someone grabbed my arm again.

This time it was Joo Gyeongbeom.

‘These bastards keep using delayed attacks.’

That settled it.

Forget being allies. I was going to beat them.

Turning around, I snapped,

“No, seriously, you guys–”

“I remembered.”

Joo Gyeongbeom’s eyes shone brightly.

“What the Boss was afraid of.”

His face was full of joy, as if he’d uncovered a memory buried long ago.

“What our Boss feared was…”

 

***

 

That evening, I stopped by a convenience store on my way home.

Then I bought the item Joo Gyeongbeom had mentioned.

‘Ha.’

Can’t believe the day has come when I spend my own money on this.

Feeling strangely empty, I paid and headed home.

As soon as I entered, Choo Seomok, who must have been waiting for me all day, rushed to the entrance.

“Mr. Seulho! I realize I crossed a line today and upset you.”

“Forget it. Move.”

“I’m truly sorry. From now on–”

He was about to continue rambling when he noticed what I was holding and tilted his head.

Then he identified it.

“Nail clippers?”