Chapter 216: Aren’t you getting too immersed?

He had seen tens of thousands of performances.

He had seen millions of human faces,

and the expressions that appeared upon them numbered in the hundreds of millions.

When Hye Ho became absorbed in acting, he was an excellent actor.

Even when he was not acting, the countless pieces of data he had accumulated allowed him to easily create expressions that resembled those of humans...

But one day, when he stripped all of that away in front of a mirror,

the true expression of “Actor Hye Ho,” the expression that had even felt unfamiliar to himself, was probably something like that.

“He may have grown in ways that will surprise you.”

His mother’s words, almost like a prophecy, came back to him.

He had never shown his true self to Yu Myeong.

So how had he learned that expression?

?[Stand by—ready—action!]

Freed from Terca, Ars accepts it without confusion or hesitation.

[I do not know the reason, but I was that species, not a human. So... that was why I alone could never conform to the average.]

From childhood, emotions had never naturally surged within him even once.

The fact that he had been forced to steal the appearances of those around him and survive that way—

all of it was because he was not human.

[Should I return to my home planet? But I do not know what their intention is in searching for me. The method they use is far too cruel. Just what kind of place is my home... ]

Cruel.

Without realizing it, he had been judging them by “human standards.”

And then he remembered Hetty, who had been placed in danger twice because of him.

[If she is to survive, she cannot remain close to me.]

He arrives home.

The house where he had lived together with Hetty.

She is still hospitalized due to the aftermath of the previous terrorist attack.

When the music academy was destroyed, her teacher, her friends, and the many people she saw every day were all killed.

It left a tremendous psychological scar.

But if it is her, she will overcome it soon. Because she is stronger than anyone.

Ars packs his belongings.

Inside the room, he removes every trace of himself as neatly as possible, as though scraping away every mark he left behind.

Then he leaves a note informing Hetty of their separation.

Before leaving for the final time, Ars walks around the house once more to check whether he has forgotten anything.

Ding—

In one corner of the house sits an old, small piano.

He presses one key and thinks.

He wants to hear her music again.

?[Cut—okay. Excellent work.]

Once again today, the first takes continue to receive approval.

Then the filming of the cuts included in Scene 68 continues from multiple angles and with various shot sizes.

Even after that scene ends, Miho does not reveal herself to Yu Myeong.

She quietly observes him.

The praise that his acting keeps getting better.

The staff member telling him they will change his costume.

The director’s instructions for the next scene.

Yu Myeong responds to all of it while smiling and speaking as usual, but...

Why is he like that?

Miho can see it.

He still has not escaped Ars.

He is merely creating ordinary expressions.

?[Scene 69, Ars and Hetty shot!]

When Erhi Dever appears after finishing her makeup, Yu Myeong’s gaze naturally follows her.

Hetty...

Normally, when the female lead appeared on set, everyone’s attention would gather.

But because of her subdued presence, the staff remain focused on their work without losing concentration.

Even with that faint presence, to Yu Myeong, only the area around her appears vivid, almost as if colored.

Is this Ars’s perspective?

Even when he was not acting, he had never before been affected by a role like this...

Kyler, seated in the director’s chair, gives his instructions.

[Yu Myeong, you already know this, but this is an extremely important scene. We will repeat it as many times as necessary until we get the best take. It is not because I am dissatisfied with your acting. I am telling you in advance so you do not become anxious. We are simply trying to capture the best version.]

That was true.

This scene was the greatest turning point in the entire story.

Yu Myeong had spent most of his rehearsal time on this scene.

The moment when Ars, who had only ever imitated others, first develops affection for a human.

[Yes, don’t worry.]

[Good. The same goes for you, Erhi. In this scene, Hetty must be stronger and more beautiful than ever. We will have many close-ups of your eyes, so please be careful not to blink too often.]

[Yes, Director.]

[Good. Let’s go.]

Tap, tap.

He strikes the rolled-up script against his palm.

[Ready—action!]

?This scene is the first meeting between Ars, who has realized his true identity after being abducted, and Hetty.

On opposite sides of a closed front door of a house stand Ars and Hetty.

[Ars! Ars! Ars Predator!]

From the very beginning, her voice is heated.

Bang. Bang.

Hetty pounding on the door is nothing like her usual calm and contemplative self.

Ars had unilaterally announced their breakup, and after being discharged from the hospital, Hetty had gone to the house of Ars’s sister Olivia after reading his note.

On the other side of the door, Ars responds coldly.

[Go back, Hetty. We’re finished.]

[Why are you doing this all of a sudden? Something happened to you, didn’t it?]

[There is no reason.]

[Please, Ars. At least let me see your face and talk to you, okay?]

He hesitates.

Would it really be so bad to open the door and speak face-to-face?

He is slightly curious whether her condition has improved after being discharged.

More than anything, seeing her emotional state, so different from the usual, awakens his curiosity as an observer.

Making excuses like these, Ars opens the door.

Her face spreads into the room together with the light outside.

Ah.

Hetty Lamb.

It feels as though it has been an incredibly long time.

I am happy to see you, but if you remain connected to me, you will be in danger.

You are still meaningful data to me.

You need to be preserved safely.

So for now, let us stay apart.

[I no longer love you.]

A declaration of separation falls from Ars’s lips.

With eyes wounded as though pierced deeply by those words, Hetty answers calmly.

[You never loved me in the first place.]

What...?

Clunk—

For the first time, his heart sinks.

?Yes.

When he was exposed as someone who had never truly felt emotions, it was only natural that Hetty would realize his love for her had also been fabricated.

But she had never once complained about being hurt.

She had never asked whether he truly loved her.

She had always worried about whether he was suffering, but she had never blamed him for how his condition affected her.

Even after spending years together.

Why had he never realized it?

[This isn’t me blaming you. It doesn’t matter because I love you. I’m just saying that you no longer loving me isn’t a reason for us to break up. Ars, something happened to you, didn’t it?]

[...]

[Tell me. No matter what it is, my feelings won’t change.]

Why are you this strong?

Even after learning the truth, will you continue to remain someone I cannot understand?

That is why.

The reason I want to tell you the truth is because I want to know your reaction when you learn it.

Curiosity.

There is no other reason.

[Hetty.]

[Yes, Ars.]

[I am not human. The terrorist attacks that happened around you were caused by aliens searching for me. Perhaps the reason I never had emotions was because I was never human to begin with. And if you remain beside me, your life will be in danger.]

What will come flying back?

An accusation telling him to stop making excuses?

Tears asking whether he has finally gone completely insane?

Or...

Will she truly believe him and scream before running away?

But Hetty Lamb’s reaction was none of those.

[I see.]

[...]

[So... that was why.]

It was acceptance without a trace of doubt.

[Then it was only natural that you did not have human emotions. And yet you tried so hard all this time to match humans. I’m sorry, and thank you. I will never again try to measure you by my own standards.]

[...]

[I understand why you went that far too. To save me...]

An understanding and tolerance that accepted him exactly as he was.

[Thank you. And I love you, Ars.]

And...

A love that never changed.

[I would rather die than live without being faithful to what I want and love. So it’s okay. Let’s get through this together.]

Hetty looks up at him with the same unwavering eyes.

Her raised hand touches his cheek once again.

Just like that day when she overcame her instinctive fear and reached toward him with her own strong will.

One drop of rain falls onto the dry heart.

Then another.

Before long, the scattered drops become a downpour, soaking the barren earth completely.

Even after the drenched ground absorbs every bit of water it can hold, it pushes out the final remaining drop.

Tock—

The moment that tear falls to the floor,

Yu Myeong understands Miho’s heart from “that day.”

?[Cut.]

Even after the cut was called, the silence on set did not easily break.

The moment when a being beyond humanity, who had never understood human emotions, finally gained one.

The miracle of a single sprout blooming from barren soil seeped directly into the hearts of everyone watching.

And Yu Myeong was remembering a certain night.

[I love you, so it doesn’t matter.]

—Then, can you continue acting?

The world had only ever been an object of curiosity.

He had never felt affection toward it.

But because of his love for acting alone, he became fascinated by a strange human who said he could lose everything and still never abandon acting.

[Ars, something happened to you, didn’t it?]

—If you choose that method, then what happens to our contract?

A fragile creature who seemed as though it would crumble from the slightest touch worried about him.

Even when the world tried to break him by throwing every possible hardship at him, his spirit continued to bloom beautifully.

[I understand why you went that far.]

—Why are you doing that much?

And he looked at him with a warmer gaze than anyone else ever had.

A strong and righteous human.

Someone he had never encountered anywhere else...

[I would rather die than live without being faithful.]

—Yes. I intend to give you my body.

The moment he saw that honest expression, affection toward a human rose within him for the first time.

I want to protect him.

This insignificant being,

who nevertheless continued overcoming his own insignificance with strength.

Even if I must sacrifice something I possess.

—Because you are my benefactor.

He wanted to continue remaining his benefactor.

So that was your heart...

The tears continued falling from the eyes of the human who had already returned from Ars to Yu Myeong.

Miho’s heart.

Even while always standing beside him, even while being grateful for his existence, he had never understood why she continued accepting “losses” for his sake.

Like a baby bird, he had simply accepted everything she gave him.

He had only enjoyed the happiness he experienced for the first time in his life.

But all this time,

she had been protecting him with a heart this large and warm.

[Yu Myeong... You’re truly incredible. How did you get a cut like this in one take... Uh... are you okay?]

[...]

[No, I mean... the tears aren’t stopping. Did you get too immersed in Ars?]

[I... You said we would continue shooting several times... We need to keep going... Why is this happening all of a sudden...]

[No. It’s approved. Even if we shoot this again several times, there is no way it will come out better than this. Your acting surpassed even the image I had imagined.]

Kyler raises his voice with an overwhelmed expression.

[All right, everyone, let’s take a short break. Yu Myeong, go rest in your waiting room and have something to eat. We’ll resume filming this afternoon. Erhi, you did well too. I thought we would be shooting this scene all day, but it ended absurdly quickly. Haha.]

As Yu Myeong leaves the frame, all the staff on set begin applauding.

Clap, clap, clap, clap, clap—

There are no cheers.

Only overwhelming applause.

It is applause of respect for an actor who has shown a performance they might only witness once in their lifetime.

As Yu Myeong walks toward the waiting room, a familiar blue form enters his sight.

You’re back, Miho.

{......}

Thank you. Thank you, always.

{...Are you okay? You looked completely possessed by it, meow.}

I’m fine. Thanks to that, I was able to feel a little of your heart.

It reminds me of the saying that we do not realize the value of something that is always by our side.

{You always say thank you until I’m tired of hearing it, meow.}

...I think I finally understood the true meaning behind those words.

Embarrassed by Yu Myeong’s gaze, Miho suddenly flies upward.

{Did anything happen while I was gone, meow?}

Many things happened. But nothing happened.

After entering the waiting room,

Yu Myeong sat down on the sofa and gently stroked Miho’s large, adorable ears and fluffy tail for a long time.

The last remaining tear fell onto Miho’s head.

Tok.