Not long after, breaking news dominated portal sites, reporting that all the ornamental figures (japsang) in the pavilions of Gyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung, Gyeonghuigung, Deoksugung, and Changgyeonggung had disappeared.
Following this, Jongmyo, Sungnyemun, Heunginjimun, Sukjeongmun, and Hyehwamun also appeared in the news.
A journalist, who went to the Blue House just in case in pursuit of an exclusive scoop, discovered that all 11 ornamental figures on the main building of the Blue House had also vanished.
There had been incidents of cultural property damage before, but this was the first time such large-scale destruction had occurred.
The police stated that they had not yet identified the culprit and that the investigation would be conducted privately.
Security personnel were deployed around Suwon Hwaseong, where the ornamental figures remained intact.
Suwon citizens also took action by forming a cultural heritage protection militia to provide an additional layer of security.
UNESCO expressed regret over the vandalism and theft of cultural assets. Some neighboring countries offered assistance in recovering the stolen items.
The government requested INTERPOL to classify the ornamental figures as banned auction items while also stating, “This is sufficient, we appreciate the concern, but we must decline.”
The media highlighted past incidents of cultural property damage that resurfaced whenever they were nearly forgotten, emphasizing the need for mature civic awareness.
★★★
[Professor Season 3, New Major Role Considered for Lee Young]
I had completely forgotten about the drama because of the accident on the day I went to the casting interview.
However, from the production company’s perspective, it seemed they believed my involvement would positively impact the drama’s popularity.
When the director contacted me again, I accepted without hesitation.
I remembered my manager, who had come all the way to the stage to deliver the casting news as quickly as possible.
“Yes, I’ll see you at the press conference.”
Once the news article was published, online communities were filled with positive comments such as “I wonder what role he’ll play,” and “The visual combination is great.”
Of course, some people also linked it to my royal ancestry.
I stopped by the salon, got my makeup done, and put on a prepared suit—a white dress shirt, a black tie, and a well-fitted suit.
Perhaps because of the press conference scheduled after the drama launch event, the dress code for today was black.
As I left the salon and opened the door of the parked van, I saw a stranger in the driver’s seat.
I immediately let go of the door handle and took a step back.
Ever since my manager Young-seok passed away—no, ever since I met my grandmother and learned about the divine seal on my shoulder—I had been extremely cautious of people approaching me.
Now, seeing an unfamiliar face in the road manager’s seat made me uneasy.
Since they couldn’t kill me with a truck attack, were they trying to kidnap me now?
“Who are you?”
The man in the driver’s seat turned around. He was dressed just like me—in a black suit, white shirt, and black tie.
Was he also attending a press conference today?
“Why aren’t you getting in?”
The CEO, who had followed me outside, asked as he looked at me standing still. Then, noticing the man in the driver’s seat, he said:
“Oh, this is Kim Woo-jin, your new road manager starting today.”
I turned to the CEO.
“I forgot to tell you earlier. He just joined the company. He doesn’t have experience in this field, but he studied abroad.
Didn’t you say you wanted to learn English? He could also be your English tutor.”
Pushed along by the CEO’s reassuring tone, I got into the van. The man introduced himself.
“I’m Kim Woo-jin. Nice to meet you.”
“Yes, nice to meet you too.”
I was suspicious of the introduction as a foreign-educated road manager, but I didn’t have time to dwell on it because the CEO continued speaking.
“After the event, there’s a press conference… No, calling it a ‘conference’ is too much, right? When the journalists ask questions, I’ll be the host.”
Since the CEO would filter out unnecessary questions, I wasn’t too worried. I just hoped it wouldn’t take too long.
“Don’t worry.”
The CEO lightly tapped the back of my hand.
★★★
I first met the CEO when I was in eighth grade, right in front of my school.
“Hey, student! What grade are you in?”
“He’s in second year,” my classmate answered for me.
“Can I hear your voice for a moment?”
I didn’t answer and just stared at the unfamiliar woman’s face.
“He doesn’t talk much. Sometimes he goes an entire day without saying a word.”
“Who are you, lady?”
As we were walking home, other students started gathering around.
“What’s going on?”
“I don’t know. This lady is talking to Lee Young.”
“Lee Young, do you know her?”
“No.”
As soon as I answered, the woman’s face lit up.
“You’re not just good-looking; your voice is nice too!”
“Ew, she called him handsome.”
“Is she a pervert?”
“Hey, kids! Do I look like a pervert to you?”
“Then, is she a kidnapper?”
“Come on, who would kidnap an orphan? There’s no ransom to pay.”
Everyone, including the woman, fell silent. Probably because they realized I was an orphan.
“Hey, that was uncalled for.”
“But it’s true. Who would kidnap an orphan?”
“Ah, you sociopath.”
“What did you just say?”
Ignoring their conversation, I started walking away.
“Hey, if you say things that hurt others, it’ll all come back to you. It’s called karma.”
“What are you even talking about?”
The woman scolding the kids started walking beside me.
“Your name is Lee Young, right?”
Then, she handed me a business card. The name on it read “Choi Seo-woo, Casting Director.”
“I’m a casting director at this company. Do you know it?”
I shook my head.
Back then, I liked listening to music, but I didn’t know enough about the entertainment industry to recognize talent agencies.
“You don’t? Then… Ah! Do you know Oh Ara? ♪ La La La, Come Closer, Just the Two of Us ♪ Do you know this song?”
I had never heard it before.
“Lady, why are you dancing weirdly in front of the school? Do you know her, Lee Young?”
Our class president had followed me and was questioning the woman. I shook my head and quietly answered.
“No.”
“Guys, hold on a second. Lee Young, I want to meet your parents—oh!”
The woman suddenly stopped mid-sentence and covered her mouth.
The atmosphere turned silent. The situation struck me as oddly amusing.
“I have to go. Please don’t follow me.”
But the next day, she was waiting in front of the school gate again.
By the third visit, she finally had a meeting with the head nun at the orphanage.
That woman was the casting director at the time and is now the CEO of our company.
For me, who started training at fifteen, she was like a second head nun.
She founded a company to debut us when our previous agency kept delaying our debut. Even now, she trusts CAKE and works hard to keep the team together.
To the outside world, she’s known as a watchdog of the industry—if someone barks, she bites. That’s why she’s even more reassuring.
★★★
I stepped out of the waiting room and stood in the hallway leading to the stage. The CEO entered the banquet hall first.
I fidgeted with the sleeve of my perfectly pressed jacket, waiting for my turn to enter.
The host of the production presentation began speaking.
“Before we start, we would like to thank the journalists who have joined us today.”
Since the previous season of the drama had been successful, the hotel banquet hall was packed with reporters.
The event was also being livestreamed, and I had seen in the waiting room that the number of live viewers was quite high.
“Looking at the number of live viewers, it’s clear that there is already significant interest in the drama.
Also, after the production presentation, there will be a separate session for questions about actor Lee Young, so please keep your questions during the event focused on Professor Season 3.”
This was an agreement between the production company and the CEO, as they anticipated that many personal questions about me would arise.
First, the production presentation would take place, followed by a separate time for my personal questions.
“…”
I slowly exhaled.
“You okay?”
My senior, the lead of Professor, placed a hand on my shoulder and made eye contact. I sent a reassuring smile. He was someone I truly respected.
“Ah, yes. I’m fine.”
“Good. I’ll go up first and set the atmosphere.”
“Thank you.”
I bowed slightly in gratitude as he sent me an encouraging look.
“Now, let’s move on to the photo session. Please come up one at a time.”
Click, click, click, click, click!
As soon as it was my turn to step onto the stage, the sound of camera shutters and flashing lights filled the room.
Click, click, click, click, click!
With this many flashes, the banquet hall would still be bright even if the lights were turned off.
“This is actor Lee Young, who is newly joining this season.”
Following the host’s cue, I turned my gaze to the center, then to the right, then to the left, posing accordingly.
“Now, let’s take a group photo of the cast—”
The host’s words abruptly stopped.
The lights in the banquet hall had all gone out at the same time.
What had been an almost blindingly bright space was suddenly plunged into complete darkness.
I blinked, wondering if my eyes would adjust to the darkness.
How could this happen in a high-end hotel where the venue fee was expensive?
“What’s going on?”
“Someone, try using a flash!”
“Journalists, please wait a moment. The issue should be resolved soon.”
Even as the host tried to calm the room, the reporters were anxious, worried that they might lose the articles they were writing.
Some photographers started flashing their cameras toward the journalists’ laptops to give them some light.
The banquet hall doors opened, and hotel staff rushed out.
Ping!
With a strange sound, the lights flickered back on.
As murmurs of complaint spread throughout the hall, the reporters’ gazes returned to the stage where I was standing.
But I wasn’t alone.
A man, wearing an apron and holding a rectangular Chinese cleaver, was standing beside me.
We locked eyes.
His pupils glistened ominously black.
A bad feeling crept over me.
As I took a step back, the man swung his knife. My hand instinctively shot forward.
The blade grazed my palm.
A burning pain seared through my hand.
“Huh?”
“Lee Young!”
It was the CEO’s voice.
“What the hell!”
“Scream!”
As the man raised the knife again, I struck his wrist with the edge of my hand. But he didn’t let go of the weapon.
In the drama, I had taken down multiple people like this.
Reality was different from acting.
He lifted the knife again, this time bringing it down from above.
I grabbed his wrist, but I was overpowered.
The knife plunged into my shoulder.
“Urgh!”
“Lee Young has been stabbed! Breaking news!”
“There’s a guy with a knife here!”
The thick cleaver embedded itself deep, hitting the bone.
I felt the cold intrusion of metal piercing my skin, the sticky warmth of my blood trickling down, the dull reverberation of pain echoing through my bones.
And a burst of white light radiating in all directions.
‘Light?’
The white light extended from my wounded shoulder toward my palm, stretching and taking form.
It became a silver sword.
And before I knew it, I was gripping a blood-red hilt.
“Argh! So loud!”
The chef covered his ears, then raised his knife again.
Clang!
The silver blade moved on its own, blocking the cleaver.
Unlike earlier, I wasn’t being overpowered anymore.
So, it’s all about the weapon, huh?
Sensing an opportunity, I pushed the man back.
“Ugh! Everyone, get out of here!”
Slightly off balance, the chef roared and lifted his knife again.
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