I Acted Once, and Now They Call Me a Genius - Chapter 105

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 105

AnxiousPing: I’m going to go wash my underwear…

Gahyun: No way… I knew Seo Jinwook was going to die, but they’re killing him off already? It hasn’t even been 20 minutes since it started ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

Ppuppo: Maybe it’s better to kill off whoever needs to die quickly and move on

eyesonyou: But seriously, Lee Yeon-woo’s expression is giving me real chills… That’s exactly how a real psychopath would look

WhiteRat: What do I do about Seon-woo’s pitiful expression… He really looks like a parent who lost their child

OneBrain: Kim Sunwoo feels like he finds everyone who appears here pretty ㅠㅠㅠ He seems like he’d be sad no matter who dies

RoundMan: Pya

Chat, chat, chat.

The chat explodes.

It couldn’t be helped.

The emotions being conveyed to them in this moment were so intense… it felt like they had to release it somehow or they wouldn’t be able to bear it.

It felt like the panic and terror inside that Game Room was transferring to them as well.

Right now, there were few people whose palms and feet weren’t sweating.

And amidst all this, the story continued to unfold.

—Wh, what should I do. I, I…

—Calm down… calm down, Yeon-woo.

—What have I done…!

Lee Yeon-woo disgustingly continues her act of being shocked.

Naturally, Kim Seon-woo and Jeong Hye-seong couldn’t suspect her. They kept comforting and soothing Lee Yeon-woo, saying it was okay.

—N, now… now we don’t need to fight each other anymore. Now if we just get along well… then maybe we can all survive!

Jeong Hye-seong speaks with a hopeful voice.

Perhaps from his perspective, that might really be true. Now that Seo Jin-wook, the only dangerous element, was gone, at least they wouldn’t need to fear people anymore.

Yes, from Jeong Hye-seong’s perspective.

meteor: That’s not it, Hye-seong…

Jung Junho: Hyesung hyung ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ

eyesonyou: Seriously, Lee Yeon-woo playing innocent is so creepy

Cali: No way ㅠㅠㅠㅠ How is that not obvious? Actually, I guess it wouldn’t be… Even I’m getting fooled by it when I know everything that’s going on

But the viewers’ perspective is different.

They already knew how terrifyingly dangerous Lee Yeon-woo was. Even in scenes where she’s crying like a fragile girl, they couldn’t help but feel tense.

And amidst all this, Kim Seon-woo stares blankly at Seo Jin-wook.

Seo Jin-wook’s corpse, with a knife stuck in the back of his neck, glaring at empty air with an aggrieved and resentful face until the very end.

Kim Seon-woo slowly approaches Seo Jin-wook and begins to lift him up.

Not caring that the blood flowing from Seo Jin-wook’s neck was staining him,

—S, Seon-woo. What are you doing?

—…We can’t just leave him like this.

—That’s true, but…

Kim Seon-woo lays Seo Jin-wook on the bed.

And as he closes Seo Jin-wook’s wide-open eyes, Lee Yeon-woo, who had approached at some point, quietly speaks.

—Did I, do something wrong?

Lee Yeon-woo looks at Kim Seon-woo.

It was a strange look. A look that seemed curious about Kim Seon-woo’s reaction.

Kim Seon-woo doesn’t turn to look at Lee Yeon-woo and answers in a low voice.

—…What’s the point of assigning blame. It’s just sad.

—What…is?

—This person just wanted to live too. Everyone just wanted to live. That’s not wrong…

—…You feel sad even though this person was a murderer? He deserved to die.

—Still.

Kim Seon-woo quietly turns to look at Lee Yeon-woo.

—People dying is a sad thing.

—…

And for a moment, all expression disappeared from Lee Yeon-woo’s face.

This would be the first time in [One Room]. Whether she wore a cheerful smile or showed sadness, she had always displayed various emotions on her face.

—Seon-woo is kind.

Perhaps Lee Yeon-woo thought this in that moment.

Kim Seon-woo might be the only person who would feel sad even if she died. That must have been why.

In the next moment, Lee Yeon-woo quietly slips the knife she had been hiding behind her back into her pocket.

meteor: …Crazy, was she about to kill Kim Seon-woo just now?

OneBrain: You’re right, you’re right. He was trying to get 2 kills in an instant ㄷㄷㄷㄷㄷ

WhiteRat: But why did she spare him? Kim Seon-woo wasn’t on guard at all so she could have killed him… Is she saving him for later?

Kim Quokka: I think she was moved by what Kim Seon-woo said. Lee Yeon-woo is actually a murderer herself. He basically told her she’s not someone who deserves to die.

WhiteRat: I don’t know. A serial killer’s mindset is too difficult…

AEIOU: shivering

The chat room becomes chaotic.

And the story that followed was uneventful.

After Kim Seon-woo finished seeing off Seo Jin-wook and returned to his room, Jeong Hye-seong comes in. And they have various conversations.

Trivial talk.

How they would live when they got out of this place. What they wanted to do.

And at the end of such conversations, Jeong Hye-seong asks.

—But, Seon-woo, you hardly talk about yourself.

—…Me?

—Yes. What you were doing outside, what you want to do… You don’t have to if you don’t want to talk about it. I’m just curious.

—I…

Kim Seon-woo hesitates before opening his mouth.

—Actually, I tried to die.

—Yeah. I see. …Huh? What, what did you say?

—It’s not that I wanted to die. But… I just couldn’t find any reason to live. I wanted to find that reason somehow, but I couldn’t find it.

It was a plain confession.

The viewers listening to this confession felt a bit strange.

The one making this confession should be Kim Seon-woo from [One Room], it definitely should be… but why did it feel like they were listening to Seon-woo’s story?

They didn’t know.

The only reason viewers could find was something like immersion. The work’s immersion was so strong that it made them forget this was even acting.

—My life felt so worthless.

—…Do you still feel that way?

—Now….

Kim Seon-woo hesitates for a moment before shaking his head.

—I realized something. That you don’t actually need a reason to live. That life itself is dazzling. That’s why life must be protected….

—You too, Seon-woo?

—…Yes. Me too. I have to live. I… want to live.

Even as Kim Seon-woo said this, he looked a bit confused.

As if he couldn’t believe he had spoken the words ‘I want to live’ himself, he muttered blankly.

—I want to… live. Yes. I want to live. Haha, hahahaha… I want to live. I’ve come to want to live.

Kim Seon-woo lets out a hollow laugh and then starts giggling, his shoulders shaking. Jeong Hye-seong looks at Kim Seon-woo with a slightly surprised expression, then soon pats his shoulder with a pitying look as if understanding him.

—That’s right, live.

—…I still don’t know what I should do with my life. But still, I still want to live. Is it okay for me to live?

—Of course. Those kinds of things, you’ll eventually come to know them whether you like it or not as you live. So… let’s live for now, us.

Jeong Hye-seong clenches his fist.

—We can live.

White Rat: …I really wish I could live.

meteor: Can’t they just let Seon-woo live?

Cali: Ah really… I want to turn on my hope circuit but it won’t turn on.

Ppoppo: But if we each vote for ourselves, can we survive?

Gahyun: That’s not certain either, it’s just speculation

eyesonyou: Can they even vote for themselves in the first place? I don’t think Lee Yeon-woo will just leave it alone…

MaryKim: Still, judging by her reaction earlier, Lee Yeon-woo seemed somewhat favorable toward Kim Seon-woo…

AEIOU: 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

Chat messages pour in.

People who studied psychology might have laughed watching this. They could clearly see the psychology of people desperately trying to understand the situation by fitting it to the predetermined result that Kim Seon-woo survives somehow.

It meant that people were genuinely caring for and supporting Kim Seon-woo.

And finally, a day passes and voting time returns.

When they gathered in the Common Area for the last time before voting, Kim Seon-woo speaks.

—Can I ask for one favor?

—…What kind of favor?

—If we all manage to get out safely this time… then, let’s go out and have a meal together.

Kim Seon-woo quietly looks around at them and smiles.

—I’ll pay for it.

—…Just eating? No drinking?

—If you want, drinks too.

—Hehe, sounds good.

Jeong Hye-seong laughs pleasantly and looks at Lee Yeon-woo.

—You’ll come too, right Yeon-woo?

—….

Lee Yeon-woo doesn’t answer and maintains silence.

But that silence didn’t last long. Soon she smiles faintly and nods her head.

—Of course. That sounds wonderful.

And finally, voting begins.

—We will proceed with voting. Players, please write down the name of the person you want to eliminate.

Jeong Hye-seong, Kim Seon-woo, Lee Yeon-woo.

Along with rising music, the faces of the three appear alternately.

Jeong Hye-seong who seems to be optimistic about the situation, Kim Seon-woo with a somewhat tense face, and… expressionless Lee Yeon-woo.

And,

—Voting has ended.

A mechanical broadcast sound echoes.

—As a result of voting, player Kim Seon-woo has been eliminated.

And the music ends.

In the quiet Game Room, only their heavy breathing can be heard.

—What…?

Jeong Hye-seong’s jaw drops, and soon Kim Seon-woo’s face fills the camera.

And at that moment, everyone watching had to hold their breath for an instant.

Kim Seon-woo’s face was contorted.

In despair? No. In betrayal? That wasn’t it either.

Pure terror.

That expression couldn’t help but come as a shock to everyone. This was Kim Seon-woo, who had always maintained his composure no matter what situation arose.

This was even the same Kim Seon-woo who had once tried to throw away his own life and die.

Yet that very Kim Seon-woo’s face was paralyzed with fear.

Anyone with eyes couldn’t help but feel goosebumps all over their body at this moment.

—…No.

Kim Seon-woo muttered.

Soon his gaze turned toward something.

What exactly was contained in those eyes?

As if about to collapse at any moment, despair, sadness, and regret filled his completely distorted face.

—I don’t want to… I said no. Please, don’t…!

A quiet scream.

And then, fade out.

The screen turned black… and [One Room]’s quiet yet eerie piano OST began to flow.

And amidst all this, the chat room didn’t update for quite a while.

As if no words could be spoken at this moment.

The first chat that broke the silence that had consumed the digital world was,

AEIOU: …

Ironically, yet another silence.

* * *

Throughout filming [One Room], Seon-woo had aimed for just one thing.

To shine.

In whatever color, in whatever form… to shine completely.

And thereby imprint himself on everyone who saw him.

That there was an actor like this in the world.

An actor who painted various pictures in truly diverse colors.

This goal was more difficult than Seon-woo had thought.

Acting had this strange aspect where the more you knew, the more confusing it became. Like an onion with endless layers to peel.

In fact, even up until today, Seon-woo lacked confidence.

Getting the OK sign on the film set didn’t mean he had shown his best.

He kept worrying.

Had he perhaps shown clumsy acting?

Even in moments he thought he had shone, had he actually been dull?

It was like this every episode.

Even after watching the live broadcast, those feelings didn’t really change much. His appearance captured on screen was better than what he had worried about, but still didn’t sparkle as much as he had hoped.

In fact, today was no different.

While watching Kim Seon-woo scream on screen, Seon-woo felt moved but at the same time felt regretful on one hand.

Kim Seon-woo was definitely alive.

His sadness, disappointment, regret, lingering attachment… all of it was conveyed without explanation.

Nevertheless, he couldn’t help but think such thoughts.

Couldn’t it have been a little more desperate?

Couldn’t he have shown something a little more painful, a little more hurtful, a little more pitiful?

It felt like he could have done better.

Better acting… it felt like he could have painted a more convincing color.

When the screen finally faded out and turned black, Seon-woo couldn’t help but lower his head in such regret.

How exactly had he appeared in the audience’s eyes?

Had it been a finale worth watching?

It was the moment he was thinking such thoughts.

“…Incredible.”

“Waaaaaaah!”

“Bravooooo!”

Cheers and applause began to ring throughout the audience seats.

Seon-woo looked around in a daze. People were clapping. The cheers were more thunderous than any episode of [One Room] had ever received, almost deafening.

The audience members sitting near him had even stood up and were sending him enthusiastic applause while looking at him.

Seeing their sparkling eyes, Seon-woo finally realized.

…Apparently, he had shone brighter than he had thought.

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