The Trashy PD Has To Survive as an Idol - Chapter 295

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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295

“Hold on! Let me check the blocking before we start filming!”

Director Jung gazed out at the set beyond the sigh escaping his lips. Dead after Hope was already generating the abbreviated nickname “DeadHope” and receiving considerable public anticipation.
Today, I was scheduled to film the first scene of Kim Woo-ho—the character who would captivate the early-to-mid narrative, dramatically elevate immersion, and then heroically disappear.

‘Please, just let this get buried in editing.’

During the script reading, Seo Ho-yoon had delivered a performance no different from simply reading a book, so I harbored no expectations whatsoever. I could only hope that somehow, editing might salvage something usable.
Clicking my tongue, I reviewed the scene we were about to shoot when the Assistant Director beside me muttered softly.

“Huh… Min Ji-heon, why does he look like that?”
“Hmm?”
“His expression seems a bit…”

But when Director Jung looked up, there was only the usual Min Ji-heon—smiling brightly, appearing gentle.

“…Seo Ho-yoon, I’m counting on you.”
“Yes, same here.”

Before me stood Seo Ho-yoon, exchanging greetings in return.
They said they were from the same agency, and it seemed they already knew each other.

‘Of course, that’s why they forced him in.’

As Seo Ho-yoon outwardly took on the role of Kim Woo-ho convincingly enough, my mood grew even more complicated. In my assessment, Kim Woo-ho was the most difficult role to portray in Dead after Hope.
He appeared honest yet harbored duplicity, ruthlessly exploiting others for his own gain and acting maliciously, yet occasionally displaying humanity. A man with unwavering principles who cuts down those who cross that line with surgical precision.
A character with strong multidimensional depth.
A character with strong multifaceted three-dimensional depth.

Or rather, his acting simply… didn’t leave an impression.
Hazy, one might say.
No, rather than that, his acting… didn’t really stick in my mind.
It’s kind of blurry.

“Ready!”

The actors stepped onto the set, and the slate clapped down.
Director Jung held his script in one hand, his eyes absorbing every movement of the performers.

[Min Han-jun, the protagonist who escaped Apgujeong and joined a new group of survivors. He prepares to venture out to secure food supplies from outside. He proposes to the survivor group that they seek cooperation from Kim Woo-ho, a former national archery champion.]
[Min Han-jun: (cautiously) What if we… took Kim Woo-ho with us? He’s strong, physically fit.]

The survivor group’s expressions darkened, their reluctance evident. According to the backstory, they had repeatedly tried to persuade Kim Woo-ho, but he had consistently rejected them with indifference.

[Survivor 3: That bastard’s a lost cause. What, a national athlete? Damn archery.
Survivor 4: You know how hard it is to win two gold medals? Among our country’s archers, you can count on one hand how many have done it twice.
Survivor 3: Hey, what do you expect? The guy’s got a bum arm. The bow’s probably just for show.
Survivor 4: Why don’t you bring up his younger brother? He was famous too. They said he was originally preparing for the national team with his brother. Kim Woo-ho cherished him so much. But ever since they got separated, he’s been looking for his brother.
Survivor 3: Hey, we’re all dying anyway. That bastard wouldn’t bat an eye. Even if his brother was dying right in front of him, he wouldn’t care.]
[Min Han-jun realizes that the brother from the first survivor group he encountered is Kim Woo-ho.]
[Min Han-jun: No, I saw his brother, and they seemed to care about each other quite a bit…
Survivor 3: Huh? You’ve met him?]

The camera’s focus shifts and pulls back.
Kim Woo-ho comes into frame, slumped against a pillar slightly apart from the conversing group, his back pressed against the concrete.

‘The look in his eyes is crucial here.’

Director Jung’s body leaned forward slightly.
Expressing all one’s emotions through the eyes alone was a challenge even veteran actors struggled with. Those capable of it had already ascended to the pinnacle, basking in universal acclaim.
In that moment, as Seo Ho-yoon slowly raised his head,

“….”

his gaze was decidedly cold.

“Damn….”

His eyes conveyed the urge to overturn everything right then and there, to sew shut the mouths of these thoughtless fools spouting nonsense. Yet beneath that rage lay a thread of restraint—a thin line of reason and self-reproach. He believed that if everything spiraled out of control, it would ultimately be his fault for failing to properly look after his younger brother.
All of it traced back to his own negligence.

“…Cut!”

Director Jung cut the filming and finished monitoring, then spoke with a subtle expression.

“…Well, I’ll move on to the next scene as is.”
“Seo Ho-yoon’s entrance was pretty decent though?”
“Right, what’s the issue?”

Director Jung exhaled a sigh as he listened to the staff members whispering among themselves.
Yes, the eyes could look impressive if lifted properly. But the problems still accumulated.
Diction, acting rhythm, emotional appeal—everything else.

“Moving straight into the next scene!”

The Assistant Director, reading Director Jung’s mood, hurried the staff along and quickly transitioned to the next shot.

[A situation where they vote on who will go out for food supplies. Survivor 4 earnestly asks Kim Woo-ho for cooperation.]

“Please! Kim Woo-ho, will you come with me? You know this area well, don’t you?”

Seo Ho-yoon gazed at his counterpart with languid, half-lidded eyes.

“Me?”

And with an unlit cigarette between his lips, he asked back. His slightly slurred pronunciation spilled from his mouth.

“Why me?”

His face, tinged with mockery, made those watching involuntarily catch their breath.

‘What?’

Director Jung’s expression crumbled.
It was completely different from the acting Seo Ho-yoon had shown during the script reading.

[Min Han-jun confronts the new group of survivors. Just as he’s about to leave, thinking the conversation won’t progress further, Survivor 3 suddenly exhibits strange behavior. Startled, Min Han-jun becomes certain of infection and hurries outside, where he encounters Kim Woo-ho turning the corner. As Kim Woo-ho explains the situation, Survivor 3 begins accusing Min Han-jun of being the infected one instead.]
Kim Woo-ho is being told about the situation when Survivor 3 starts accusing Min Han-jun of being infected instead.

“That bastard’s infected!”

Seeing the opposing team pushing forward with pointed fingers, Min Ji-heon frowns, and as Director Jung gestures, the camera turns toward Seo Ho-yoon.

[Kim Woo-ho’s bowstring pulls taut, the arrow now aimed at Min Han-jun.]

While the supporting actors murmured nervously, Seo Ho-yoon remained composed.
I simply held the bowstring steady, twenty kilograms of tension coursing through my fingers.

[Kim Woo-ho’s right hand, which had trembled finely ever since the accident, appeared perfectly steady whenever he gripped the bow.]

‘Hmm, his form isn’t bad.’

He’d clearly practiced quite a bit.
Min Ji-heon hesitated and took a step backward.

“I… I’m not… it’s not me!!”

He might actually shoot me.
That terror had burrowed so deep into his bones that Min Ji-heon’s pupils trembled uncontrollably. His words stuttered, his body went limp, and he crumpled to the ground.
The staff members couldn’t make a sound—they covered their mouths in awe at Min Ji-heon’s performance.

“It’s not me, it’s that person! Don’t you see his bloodshot eyes right now?!”

Then the supporting actor playing Survivor 3 shouted.

“Kim Woo-ho! Are you going to believe that mutant’s words, damn it!”
“Hey!”
“You said you were looking for your younger brother!!”

Seo Ho-yoon’s expression remained unchanged as I turned my gaze toward the supporting actor.

[Survivor 3 twists Min Han-jun’s words to his own advantage, spinning lies.]

“I saw him. He was wandering around outside not long ago. You’re good with a bow too—probably because of archery, just like him.”
“….”
“Do as I say, and I’ll tell you where he went.”

[Kim Woo-ho still hasn’t lowered the bow aimed at Min Han-jun.]

“Really?”

Director Jung’s grip tightened on the script without my realizing it.
Finally, it was time for Kim Woo-ho’s proper dialogue to emerge.

“There’s something I want to ask.”

A calm, low baritone voice resonated through the air.

“Did my younger brother help at all?”
“…Yes?”
“His skills must be pathetic.”

It was an oddly abrupt question.
The actors’ attention shifted toward Seo Ho-yoon.

“…He, he didn’t.”

Then,

“…He didn’t help.”

The answer came not from the supporting actor Seo Ho-yoon was looking at, but from Min Ji-heon.
The survivors who arrived at the camp late didn’t know, but only Min Han-jun, who had witnessed Kim Woo-ho and his brother in person, knew the truth.

“He was injured, his arm….”

From the beginning of the scene, Kim Woo-ho’s younger brother was described as having an injured arm.
The moment he heard those words, Seo Ho-yoon—no, Kim Woo-ho’s lips curved upward slightly.

“Right. He fell like an idiot while riding his bike, a few weeks ago.”
“….”
“So? Obviously he can’t use a bow.”

Seo Ho-yoon, who had been murmuring softly, let out a dry chuckle and turned his head to the side.

[In that instant, Survivor 3 transforms rapidly. Min Han-jun gasps in shock as he sees an infected creature lunging toward Kim Woo-ho and tries to stop it.]

“Gasp! Watch out—…!”

Thwack!!

Min Ji-heon reached out hastily, but Seo Ho-yoon was faster. He brought the bow down in a sharp arc, then wiped the blood that had splattered across his face with the back of his hand.

“Then who’s the liar here?”

Min Ji-heon, frozen in shock, blinked several times in bewilderment.

“…Wait, you have a bow, so why didn’t you shoot…?”

Against his pale skin, the droplets of blood appeared all the more vivid crimson.
Lowering the bow with one hand and brushing himself off, Seo Ho-yoon’s lips curled into a smirk—a mixture of delight at finally obtaining the information he’d sought and a hint of irritation.

“Hey.”

Director Jung didn’t notice his script was completely crumpled, too absorbed in Seo Ho-yoon’s performance.
Director Jung was certain.
This had to be the scene.

“Arrows are precious.”

The moment when former national archery representative Kim Woo-ho would be properly etched into viewers’ minds.

***

“Thank you for your hard work~.”

Ugh, seriously. This drama is such a mess.
I kept smiling brightly and acting unbothered, but honestly, this setup felt so off and pathetic.
Playing a character searching for a lost younger brother.
In a way, it was just another tired, emotionally manipulative role, but given the circumstances, I kept getting pulled too deep into it.

“Thank you for your hard work!”
“Ho-yoon, you were seriously amazing today!! So cool!!”
“Haha.”
“Like a psychopath, and amazing!!”
“…That’s a compliment, right?”

Despite no major NGs, filming stretched late into the evening.
I walked toward the parked van, leaving my Manager to receive the next schedule from the Assistant Director, and checked the System Window that had appeared before my eyes.

Quest Complete!
Begin your first filming for ‘Dead after Hope’!
You have successfully completed your first filming.

[10,000 points have been awarded.]

Kim Woo-ho’s appearances weren’t numerous.
He was a character inserted for dramatic scenes in the early-to-middle portions of the story. At most, only enough scenes remained to count on both hands going forward.

‘I need to hook Min Ji-heon in the meantime.’

Pondering when to cast my bait, I stepped into the underground parking lot.

Bang!

The emergency stairs door swung open, and Min Ji-heon appeared.
He’d been running—his breathing was ragged and heavy.

“Huff, hah….”
“Hello.”

Well, how convenient that he came looking for me on his own.
The way he burst in without patience confirmed he was a pure-blooded Korean through and through.

“Min Ji-heon, looks like you’re heading somewhere. You worked hard today. I’ll see you next time.”

I deliberately played ignorant and moved to pass by him. That’s when Min Ji-heon grabbed my arm and blocked my path.

“What are you?”
“What do you mean?”
“Don’t play dumb, will you? We both know what’s going on here.”

This bastard—now he was dropping the act and speaking plainly.
I brushed off his hand and wiped the contact spot on my pants before responding.

“You seem to have quite a few things going on, don’t you?”

Pretending to know things from the scraps Min Ji-heon had let slip was easier than eating cold rice.
How perfect for pulling off a con.

“And someone like me? You’ve probably never seen before. There are just these black blobs floating around everywhere, right?”

Min Ji-heon’s gaze swept over me slowly.

“…You seem to already know something about it?”
“Of course.”
“So? My ability won’t be a problem for me. Besides, I wouldn’t have anyone to trust anyway.”
“Unfortunately, well, that’s true.”
“…How exactly do you know about me?”

I smiled crookedly and spoke.

“Five hundred won if you’re curious.”
“….”

After a moment of silence, Min Ji-heon fumbled through his pockets as I extended my hand.

“Just kidding. Five hundred won seems too cheap. How about this instead?”
“…What?”

He sent me a look filled with suspicion.

“Once we hit eighteen percent viewership, we’ll talk about it then. I’ll tell you what Min Ji-heon is curious about.”

And you’ll tell me what I want to know.
Min Ji-heon’s eyes widened slightly—apparently this wasn’t a condition he’d anticipated.

“…Eighteen percent?”
“Yes, eighteen percent.”

This all came from your own head.
I stopped as I was about to move away and added quietly to Min Ji-heon.

“Oh, right. Min Ji-heon, you know roughly how old I am, don’t you? At least, not the age of this body.”
“…So?”
“So.”

Seeing Min Ji-heon’s bewilderment, I pulled my lips into a grin.

“From now on, you’d better speak respectfully to me, Ji-heon.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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