The rehearsal began, and Deok-Bae and I faced each other with swords drawn. From this point on, we had to coordinate our action choreography, consult with each other, and follow the stunt director's instructions. But maybe because of the tension from the first broadcast, Deok-Bae was already fully immersed in his role. Thanks to that, there was a chilling intensity in Deok-Bae's eyes. The character I was doubling for, Taecheong-Rang, was a traitor under the orders of Baekje, Silla's enemy, and a sworn enemy trying to kill Kim Chun-Chu, a noble of Silla and father of Kim Beop-Min—the role Deok-Bae was playing. Maybe that was the reason he looked like he could swing his sword at any moment. Just then, Ahn Seok-Chil let out a quiet exclamation. "Wow~ Deok-Bae's gaze is great. Yeah. An action actor's gaze needs to be alive!" Thᴇ link to the origɪn of this information rᴇsts ɪn 𝓷𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓵※𝓯𝓲𝓻𝓮※𝓷𝓮𝓽 'No, Mr. Ahn, this is not the time to be impressed by his gaze!' Of course, both our swords were plastic props with special coating to make them look real. And since we were covered in protective gear, there was no risk of getting cut. 'But still, it's gonna hurt if I get hit!' Unaware of my inner thoughts, Ahn Seok-Chil smiled contentedly as he corrected Deok-Bae's stance a few times, then approached me. "Chief Jung's posture is quite good. Have you trained in swordsmanship somewhere?" Ahn Seok-Chil smiled warmly seeing how I held the sword. "For someone who hasn't, your grip is pretty proper." "Oh~ I just picked it up from working with actors." Before the regression, I had often acted as a sparring partner for actors in historical dramas. Actors who weren't action specialists often forgot their choreography, even after rehearsals and guidance from the stunt director. In those situations, I had to play the part of the one getting struck by their swords. Since I had quick reflexes, I could deflect their stabs and fall without getting hurt. However, some actors got annoyed that I was dodging their attacks and swung their prop swords dangerously in frustration. 'Ugh~ just thinking about him gets me mad again...Oh Tae-Joong.' One name flashed through my mind—a male actor currently gaining fame at TNT Entertainment. Back then, I had barely rolled away on the ground to dodge his attack. If not, I could have ended up with a broken bone. Anyway, after Ahn Seok-Chil complimented me, I listened carefully to his next instructions. "Until you've got the moves down, don't speed up your swings. Practice solo about ten times, then slowly increase the speed while working together. Got it?" As Deok-Bae and I responded in unison, Ahn Seok-Chil said, "Okay. Deok-Bae, follow me first. Chief Jung, watch Deok-Bae closely from behind. One step, no, just one more step back. Good." He insisted on a realistic rehearsal, placing us face-to-face. "Deok-Bae, focus on my wrist, not the sword. Think of the sword as an extension of my arm and move ." Ahn Seok-Chil slowly demonstrated the sword movements Deok-Bae would use. Deok-Bae's character Kim Beop-Min was a scholar studying abroad in Tang China, but in the world of Hwaranjeon, he was as skilled with a sword as a national martial arts master. Yet, since he had to hide his martial prowess, he mainly used concise and efficient moves. Ahn Seok-Chil explained the unique style of Kim Beop-Min and wrapped up the demo. "That's it. Deok-Bae, copy what you saw. Let's see how much you remember." Deok-Bae glared at me and began swinging his sword carefully without making contact. Even though there was distance between us, his intense expression made it feel like I was already being cut. When Deok-Bae exhaled and wrapped up his movements, Ahn Seok-Chil was impressed. "Wow~ you're definitely born with it, just natural." He showered Deok-Bae with praise for picking it up after just one demo. "Alright. Looks like the moves are basically down. Let's increase the speed from there until I say it's good." Deok-Bae started repeating the same movements at a faster pace. As the sword sped up, I felt a tingling sensation on my skin. 'Deok-Bae, you're not actually trying to kill me, right?' Just when that thought crossed my mind, Deok-Bae stopped moving. Ahn Seok-Chil nodded. "Deok-Bae's better than some of our own action team members. Hahaha. Alright, Deok-Bae, take a short break..." Satisfied, Ahn Seok-Chil now looked at me. "Chief Jung, the role you've taken on, Taecheong-Rang, needs flashy swordplay. So focus on keeping your grip light and increasing speed. Just make sure your starting and finishing poses are solid. If needed, I'll step in as a double for the middle section, so just focus on the beginning and end." Taecheong-Rang was one of the four leaders under the national martial arts master, known for his flamboyant sword techniques. That was the reason Han Sun-Myung, who originally played Taecheong-Rang, had undergone three months of special training in swordsmanship. Knowing I wasn't ready yet, Ahn Seok-Chil said he would cover for me if necessary. However, I intended to give it my all to make Deok-Bae shine even more. At that moment, Ahn Seok-Chil swung his sword swiftly. Unlike the demonstration he gave Deok-Bae, his moves now were breathtakingly flamboyant. In the blink of an eye, Ahn Seok-Chil finished his demonstration and dropped the sword from his right hand. He then clutched his stomach with both hands and pressed down. Ahn Seok-Chil was acting out Taecheong-Rang being struck in the abdomen by Kim Beop-Min. After collapsing to the ground, Ahn Seok-Chil leaned against the railing and performed a complete death scene. Moments later, he slowly dropped his head and stopped breathing. "Phew~ That's it." Ahn Seok-Chil got up, brushing off his rear. "Chief Jung, just do as much as you can. Don't overdo it." "I'll give it a try anyway." At that moment, Deok-Bae held up his sword across from me to help with immersion. "Hyung, I'll hold the sword too." Looking at Deok-Bae's fierce expression, I pulled the blue mask of Taecheong-Rang over my face with my left hand. Though it was just a rehearsal and the mask wasn't necessary, I wanted to treat it like the real thing. As I wore the blue mask with openings only for the eyes, nose, and mouth, my mood calmed. The world felt silent for a moment and I summoned all my senses, recalling Ahn Seok-Chil's earlier movements. The background noise vanished and my senses sharpened. I took a deep breath and began swinging the sword rapidly. Lost in a trance, I dropped the sword as I had seen in the final move and collapsed to the floor. Then I slowly lowered my head and closed my eyes. But even after a few seconds, it was strangely quiet around me. 'What's going on? Did I mess up?' Confused, I opened my eyes and looked around. Deok-Bae, Ahn Seok-Chil, and all the staff and actors preparing for the shoot had frozen in place. I even took off Taecheong-Rang's blue mask and asked them, "What's wrong with everyone?" At that moment, Ahn Seok-Chil shouted in a loud voice, "Chief Jung! What was that? You said you've never learned swordsmanship?" "Then... how can you be that good? Wow~" That's when the staff around us also began to murmur in awe. "Whoa~ that was unbelievable." "Chief Jung's sword technique is way more refined than Sun-Myung's, and he trained for months. Maybe it's his proportions?" "Should we even let Taecheong-Rang die here?" "Right? Maybe we should just use Chief Jung as the double." The praise was so overwhelming that it left me stunned. Then, Ahn Seok-Chil came over and helped me to my feet. "I was talking about doubling for you without even knowing you had skills . Hahaha. Let's run through it right away." Saying I was good enough to go straight into it, Ahn Seok-Chil immediately positioned me in front of Deok-Bae. 'Wait a second. A guy needs a moment to catch his breath.' However, Ahn Seok-Chil insisted we not lose the momentum and began having Deok-Bae and me face off with our swords. Now that he knew I could handle it, Deok-Bae swung his sword confidently. I had to dodge and counter him with all my effort. I lowered my sword and used it like a cane to support myself. Deok-Bae did the same, leaning on his sword and gasping for breath. "Pant, pant. Hyung, you're amazing." "Amazing my foot... I'm dying here. Huff, huff." Even though I was breathless, I felt relieved that the action scene turned out pretty well. And thanks to my unexpectedly solid performance, the unease among the crew was fading. 'But is this really the best we can do?' Taecheong-Rang's death at Deok-Bae's hands felt a bit underwhelming. If I could die in a more dramatic way, it would highlight Deok-Bae's impactful entrance in episode 14. 'Isn't there something more intense I could do?' Just then, I remembered a scene from a historical fantasy drama that left a strong impression before my regression. In Black Moon, there was a scene where the protagonist slashed the villain, who then dramatically flew off the bridge and died. Because of how cool the villain's death was, it emphasized the protagonist's strength. That scene became so iconic that the actor had to keep reenacting it every time he appeared on TV for a while. I figured I might as well try something like that. 'Yeah. I'll just go for it. If it doesn't work, we can always reshoot.' I made up my mind to take a risk to make Deok-Bae's entrance more powerful. Just then, Oh Bok-Hee shouted, "Everyone gather up! We're starting the shoot." At Oh Bok-Hee's cue, Park Hee-Sang, who played Kim Chun-Chu, and the royal guards headed to the bridge. The assassins were hidden in the forest on the other side of the bridge. Since Deok-Bae would appear after the assassins showed up, he waited in the woods while I walked to the bridge alone. Now it was time to die properly for Deok-Bae's sake. I was standing on an arched wooden bridge on the Tang Dynasty set. The bridge was only about one meter above the stream, but it was fairly wide, about five meters across. It stretched roughly ten meters with red railings that came up to waist height. The stream underneath was artificial and its water level could be adjusted. The deepest point was about two meters with the center of the stream being the deepest and the sides gradually shallower. In the upcoming scene, some of the guards and assassins would be slashed and fall into the water when the royal guards and assassins fought on the bridge. To prevent injuries during the fall, they had raised the water level by about 50 centimeters. Since I was now standing roughly at the center of the bridge, I figured I would be safe even if I fell. "Alright~ Stand by, everyone." At Oh Bok-Hee's command, everyone took their positions. I stood beside actor Park Hee-Sang, ready to draw my sword. We were filming scene 20 and then scene 21 in one go. Scene 20 was the intense swordfight with the assassins, and scene 21 was where Taecheong-Rang tried to kill Kim Chun-Chu, only to be intercepted by Kim Beop-Min, who drew his sword to fight me and save his father. First up was scene 20. "Rolling. Starting with the assassin entrance. Ready~ Action!" As Oh Bok-Hee gave the cue, six assassins in black masks appeared at the edge of the bridge. 『Lord Kim, this is the end of your fate!』 The assassins charged all at once, and the first action sequence kicked off. The scene was played out with stunts stabbing, slashing, and leaping through the air. A whirlwind of chaotic swordplay unfolded with the action actors. But for this scene, my role was just to stand by Kim Beop-Min and set the tone, so it wasn't too demanding. Oh Bok-Hee called out, "Cut! Okay~" At that moment, Geum Eun-Dong shouted while looking under the bridge. "Action actors who fell into the stream! Are you alright?" As the actors swam to shore one by one, staff rushed over with towels. Even the entertainment reporters watching from the sidelines couldn't stop admiring the scene. "Wow~ why is the action so good today?" "At this rate, it could rival the Queen Jeong-Hee scenes!" Normally, reporters wouldn't be allowed on set, but Oh Bok-Hee had made an exception for today. The goal was to flood the media with articles and bury the school violence scandal. As a result, the entertainment reporters didn't waste their rare access, snapping pictures nonstop. "Mrs. Oh, we're all set." The staff helped the soaked actors out of the water and cleaned up the set. Afterward, the art and props teams splattered fake blood on the bridge and strapped a blood pack around my abdomen. With the blood pack secured tightly, I gripped my sword handle firmly. In the last scene, I had only stood by Kim Chun-Chu's side and barely used my sword. But now, it was time for Deok-Bae and I to face off in a real duel. "Alright~ moving on to Scene 21. As soon as we start, Taecheong-Rang kills the last remaining guard and points his sword at Kim Chun-Chu's neck." As Oh Bok-Hee gave the standby cue, the crew started moving quickly. The jimmy jib rose again to capture a wide-angle shot from above. Once everything was ready, I pulled Taecheong-Rang's blue dragon mask back over my face. Wearing the mask again brought a sense of calm over me. Then, Oh Bok-Hee shouted through the megaphone. "Ready~~ Action!" At that exact moment, I swung my sword casually at the last guard standing and panting before me. The guard collapsed with fake blood gushing from his chest. At the same time, I turned and brought the sword up to the neck of Kim Chun-Chu, played by Park Hee-Sang. 『This is the end, Lord Kim.』 『Taecheong-Rang! You... You didn't... Don't tell me you've colluded with Baekje?!』 To Park Hee-Sang's thunderous accusation, I gave a slight smile. Since my expression was hidden by the mask, I could act freely without pressure. 『My deepest condolences, Lord Kim. I will let everyone know you were slain by Princess Yu-Hwa's assassin when I return to my homeland. Hahaha.』 Laughing heartily, Park Hee-Sang shouted in a panic. 『No! If that happens, there will be a bloodbath in Gyerim... Wait... Don't tell me?』 『Exactly. That's what I want. If the royal heirs fight among themselves, Baekje can easily take Silla, can't they?』 『You wretched traitor!』 I chuckled quietly under the mask and raised my sword. 『One strike will end it. There will be no pain. Farewell.』 I slowly lifted my sword. At that moment, I heard the sound of Deok-Bae running across the wooden bridge behind me. Pretending not to notice, I waited. Park Hee-Sang blinked at me and gave the prearranged signal. As rehearsed, I swung my sword horizontally at him without looking back. At that instant, fake blood splattered from Park Hee-Sang's chest. Now, it was Deok-Bae's time to shine. At that moment, I lowered my head and rolled forward. The wind swept over my head as Deok-Bae's sword had just missed me. After putting some distance between us, I turned to see Deok-Bae, panting and pointing his sword at me. 『You... filthy traitor!』 Deok-Bae's booming voice echoed across the bridge. 『Annoying, but now I get to take care of both father and son at once. Hehehe.』 Like a true villain, I let out a wicked laugh and began swinging my sword. Our blades clashed. There was nothing normal about the force behind Deok-Bae's swings. As if he had truly become Kim Beop-Min, determined to kill the assassin targeting his father, Deok-Bae's strikes were far more powerful than during rehearsal. Deok-Bae and I locked swords and began a power struggle. Our faces were so close our breaths touched. Then, gasping for air, Deok-Bae spoke. 『How could a proud Hwarang become Baekje's dog?! Why?!』 I too, breathing heavily, responded. 『Did you really not know? No matter how hard we try, this cursed world won't let us rise! That's why... Gyerim must fall!』 Channeling the rage of Taecheong-Rang, a man resentful of Silla's bone-rank system, I poured out my fury. Just then, Deok-Bae clenched his teeth and shoved his sword forward. I stumbled and was pushed back. At that moment, Deok-Bae swung his sword powerfully at my abdomen. He was aiming precisely at the fake blood pouch strapped over my protective gear. The moment his blade hit, I launched myself backward with force. As if struck by his mighty blow, I soared into the air. I flew over the waist-high railing and fell into the stream below. It was only a one-meter drop, but in midair, everything spun for a moment. Landing on my back, water from the stream splashed everywhere. A chill wrapped around my entire body. With arms and legs spread, I slowly sank beneath the surface. As I reached the deeper center of the stream, I removed the mask. My body sank, but the lightweight Taecheong-Rang mask floated upward. Just like the mask rising to the surface, I hoped Deok-Bae would also rise in the entertainment world. At this point, I felt I had done everything I could as a talent agent. Then I heard Oh Bok-Hee's voice from above the water. But unexpectedly, I also heard Deok-Bae shout. Deok-Bae jumped into the water. I could see through a blurred vision Deok-Bae's face coming toward me underwater, trying to save me. I couldn't help but smile. At that moment, a memory from before my regression came back to me. 'Wait, Deok-Bae... you can't swim, can you?'