GIJS

Chapter 122: An Unexpected Outing

Last night at the Gyeongju accommodation, Gunja couldn't fall asleep.

"···Geu, Gunja-hyung··· Do you like Mission Impossible···?"

"Mission Impossible?"

The "Mission Impossible" series, which Gunja began watching by chance due to Yuchan's suggestion, quickly captivated his eyes and ears.

Boom, kaboom—.

Brilliant explosions that could never be seen in the Joseon Dynasty.

The refreshing action of blowing up cars, tanks, and buildings as needed provided immense vicarious satisfaction to Gunja, who had lived a dignified life.

The first film of the series passed in no time. Gunja looked at Yuchan with wide eyes and said.

"W-what is this?"

"···M-Mission Impossible··· It's an action movie···."

"I see!"

"···Did, did you like it···?"

"Even if I'm not interested in wealth and fame, I am interested in action movies!"

"···R-Rhyme is awesome···."

Once immersed, time flew by like an arrow. The Mission Impossible series had many sequels. Parts 2, 3···.

While watching the sequels, Yuchan fell asleep, but Gunja's eyes remained sparkling.

"Master of Exploration!"

What particularly captured his heart was Tom Cruise, the protagonist of the series.

How can a human be so reckless?

Gunja also had occasionally climbed walls and ridden on circus performers in the marketplace to escape, but Master of Exploration was on a different level.

Gunja was deeply moved by the death-defying stunts.

"How many lives does that guy have?"

Even after staying up all night to watch the entire series, Gunja's excitement did not wane. Early in the morning, he eagerly talked with Taewoong and Hyunjae about the movies he had seen the day before.

"Taewoong, Hyunjae, do you know Master of Exploration?"

"Master of Exploration? Are you talking about Tom Cruise?"

"Yes. I saw him watching the Mission Impossible series with Yuchan yesterday."

"Oh, that's fun."

"So what does Master of Exploration do?"

"That guy? He's Maverick."

"Maverick? Is that a title?"

"Oh, from Top Gun, Maverick is indeed a title."

"So he was in a high position? But Top Gun, did he build a tower? Like the Seokgatap?"

"Not that he built the TOP, but... he himself is the TOP."

"Oh, indeed, a remarkable person."

"Right, he's amazing."

"Hmm, it seems we're talking about something else, but the conversation is oddly flowing."

With his mind filled with Master of Exploration, Gunja couldn't help but be influenced while adapting the Asadal fairy tale.

"Why did Asanya pray at the pond? Because a passing monk said, 'If you pray at the pond, the shadow of the Seokgatap will appear,' right?"

"Yes. But why?"

"However, what was the result? The shadow didn't appear at all, and as a result, the Seokgatap earned the nickname 'Shadowless Pagoda.'"

"···That's right. So it's called the Shadowless Pagoda···."

"In my view, that monk must have been a spy."

"?"

"He must have leaked false information to sabotage the mission."

"···Someone, get Gunja out of Mission Impossible."

Taewoong looked perplexed, but Hyunjae and Hyun-su seemed quite intrigued by Gunja's adaptation.

"It's interesting, but why would the monk leak false information? For what purpose?"

"Hmm···."

After a moment's thought, Gunja came up with an answer.

"Perhaps that monk was Asanya's rival."

"Ha ha ha, so the monk loved Asadal and played tricks on Asanya? A love triangle, then."

"···Suddenly, it's like a melodrama···."

"So the monk was actually a nun?"

"Oh, Taewoong. Drop the prejudice."

"Ah··· well, the gender is one thing, but the monk is still a monk."

"Right."

"Can a monk fall in love? Aren't they supposed to be celibate?"

"Hah, that's why he couldn't enter Bulguksa and was wandering around."

"Wow, was he even an ex-monk?"

"Then he met Asanya and leaked false information."

"Everything adds up."

"No matter how you look at it, that monk is definitely a spy."

At first, the members were laughing off Gunja's wild theories, but soon they were getting drawn into his narrative.

"Okay, that might be true. So how will you adapt it?"

"According to Master of Exploration's principles, spies should be eliminated, but since this is in front of a temple, killing is prohibited."

"Good thinking."

"Instead, we'll ditch the spy and sneak into Bulguksa."

"And then?"

"After leaping over the high wall, stepping on the forbidden string, and climbing up to make Asanya's shadow appear under the bright full moon."

"So that Asadal can see the shadow?"

"Yes. Waiting idly is not Master of Exploration's way."

"Ah, the shadow should look nice~"

"···Uh, that's quite an advanced adaptation···."

"But I like it. The parts I didn't like have been nicely changed."

Taewoong, who had initially been skeptical about the adaptation, now had a different attitude.

"I like it too! I'll do the Asanya action scenes!"

"Then you'll need to cross-dress. Are you okay with that?"

"What's wrong with cross-dressing? I'm fine with it."

"No, will the fans be okay with it?"

"Ah."

"Did you skip your beard laser treatment again?"

"Seriously, is this person just an idol to nag me?"

"Why is your idol's chin so bluish? Are you Shin-chan's dad?"

Taewoong and Hyun-su were bickering about cross-dressing, but the real issue was something else.

"···But, hyungs···."

"Yes, Yuchan."

"···Is it okay to adapt it like this···?"

"Uh? What do you mean?"

"···If Buddhist people get angry···."

"Oh."

"That's possible."

"Well, there's no copyright, but since it's related to Buddhist cultural heritage, it's a plausible story."

Yuchan's concern slightly dampened the mood. Apologizing for dampening the mood, Yuchan spoke in a faltering voice.

"···S-sorry···."

"No, there's nothing to apologize for. It's an important issue to address."

"Ah ha ha, so what should we do~"

"Indeed."

The brief silence was broken by In-hyuk.

"Let's ask directly."

"Huh? Directly?"

"Bulguksa is right next door."

"Ah··· Why didn't I think of that?"

The next day, the members visited Bulguksa again, not to see the temple, but to meet a high-ranking monk.

"You said there are worries."

"Yes, Master. We would like to adapt the Asadal and Asanya folktale into a video..."

Team leader Seo Eun-woo, accompanied by the members, was explaining. The monk, who had been listening quietly, burst into laughter and clapped his hands.

"Haha, adapting a folktale. That sounds quite interesting."

"...Uh, are you perhaps feeling uncomfortable?"

"Uncomfortable? Not at all. Folktales belong to all of us. The Asadal and Asanya tale is no exception. It has been slightly altered as it was passed from person to person. Even the story of Asadal and Asanya that you know has undergone many changes."

"Is that really the case?"

"Of course. Originally, Asadal and Asanya were likely siblings, as their names suggest. However, later generations turned them into a couple, adding more emotional depth to the story."

"I see..."

"This is how stories survive. If I were to prohibit editing the folktale, it would actually cut off the transmission of this oral tradition."

"Understood."

"Ha-ha, use your imagination freely. I am looking forward to it too."

"Thank you, Master!"

Hearing the benevolent monk's words felt like gaining a tremendous advantage.

Returning to their lodgings, the members of Chillin Pictures immediately began work on the video.

The script would be adapted with a Tom Cruise style, as suggested by Gunja, so the next step was casting.

While all casting roles were important, the most crucial one was the role of Asanya.

"Haha, it seems a bit like we need some cross-dressing~"

"Oh, so we're picking who fits best?"

"I'm confident. I even got laser hair removal this morning."

"Hey, how about doing this live? I think the fans would enjoy it too."

The cross-dressing contest began unexpectedly, and fans quickly filled the space.

[Lol, a cross-dressing contest out of nowhere? Lol] [Is this a training camp? Lmao] [Yesterday they disguised themselves to go to Bulguksa, and today it's cross-dressing?] [Can someone explain this? Lol] [Why does everyone's makeup look so good?] [Everyone's skin is so niceㅠㅠㅠㅠ] [Yuchan looks prettier than me;;]

Based on the fans' votes, the rule was to eliminate one contestant at a time, starting with the worst cross-dresser.

Surprisingly, the last place wasn't taken by Kwon Tae-woong.

"And the last place is... Oh, how unfortunate. Cha In-hyuk~"

"Ha-ha-ha."

Even though In-hyuk had put on makeup and a wig, his mountain-like physique did not suit cross-dressing at all.

"...Yeah..."

"This hyung seems to have been quite ambitious."

After In-hyuk, who was now in 7th place, was eliminated, the next person to be eliminated was Kwon Tae-woong.

"6th place is Kwon Tae-woong~ Ugh, I really dislike this lip color~"

"Hey, Ha Hyun-jae, don't you know how to do over-lips?"

"Hey, who puts over-lips all the way to the philtrum?"

"This isn't it?"

"Well, you look like you just ate a ketchup-stained Korpachi."

"Damn it!"

After the two physically fit members of 7IN finished at the bottom, the competition became intense.

"5th place is the delicate beauty Ji-hyun-su! Many said the fragile look was good but that she looked too sickly. 4th place is... Ugh, them. 3rd place was something I wanted to be..."

"Haha, I'm in 3rd place~"

With Ji-hyun-su, Ha Hyun-jae, and Hyun Si-woo taking 5th, 4th, and 3rd places respectively, only Gunja and Yuchan remained.

Gunja, who recently raised his looks to S-class, now boasted features even more beautiful than most women.

Even without much additional makeup, just wearing a wig made Gunja look like a beautiful girl.

[Wowwwww] [What is this? Lmao] [Why so pretty? Lmao] [Gunja, let's have long hair for the next activity please] [Does it suit anything you doㅠㅠㅠㅠ] [Even beauty looks luxurious] [ㅠㅠㅠㅠ Yuchan needs to be acknowledged tooㅠㅠ] [Look at our perfect skin shining!!] [Wowww, can't decide who's better] [I give up, just let both win]

"The finals are too close~ It's impossible to decide with viewer votes! So, the final results will be revealed next time~"

[Wait a minute] [Is this how it ends? Lmao] [Why the cross-dressing contest? Lmao] [Don't just leave us with a cliffhanger, wrap it up pleaseㅠㅠ] [Hyun-jae, don't goㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ] [Why cross-dressing? Why cross-dressing? Why cross-dressing?]

"Hehe, I can't tell you much right now. You'll find out soon enough! So, bye!"

After ending the live broadcast, the members entered the final meeting for casting Asanya.

Seeing the other members discuss, Gunja swallowed hard.

Normally, he wouldn't have been greedy in front of someone like Yuchan, who was like a younger brother, but he had a strong desire for this role.

It was a role that required infiltration and stealth. The lingering feeling of Mission Impossible was still in Gunja's heart.

"Hmm, both are so pretty."

"What do you think, Director Hyun Si-woo?"

"Haha. Since all the action scenes will require stunt doubles, we need someone who fits a bit better..."

"Wait."

Gunja interrupted Hyun Si-woo's words at the mention of stunt doubles.

"Haha, why~"

"Using stunt doubles? Why?"

"Haha, it's because the action scenes are dangerous~"

"Dangerous? What's dangerous?"

"You have to climb over walls and ride ropes in the middle~"

"If that's the case, there's no need for stunt doubles."

"Haha, it will be dangerous~"

"Yes, even if he's an older brother, it's still dangerous."

"That's right, Gunja. We should do this safely."

It seemed like everyone, including Director Hyun Si-woo, didn't trust Gunja.

"...Seeing is believing."

"Huh?"

"It's better to see it directly and judge."

It seemed showing it directly was the best option.

Instead of persuading his colleagues, Gunja put on his shoes. He carried the fan he had used during the presentation.

"I saw it on the way, there's a folk game area nearby."

"Oh, I saw it too..."

"Let's go check it out."

"Wait a minute! Are you going in cross-dressing!?"

"What's the problem? Isn't it better if people don't recognize us?"

"...Oh my god, going out like this..."

And so, the cross-dressing seven set out on an unexpected outing without even removing their makeup.