I Acted Once, and Now They Call Me a Genius - Chapter 7

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

Episode 7

Acting felt exactly like getting completely drunk.

He would forget who he was, where he was, and what he was doing.

Only one thing filled his mind completely.

The color of the character that had devoured him.

Thanks to that, only after pouring out his performance could Seon-woo finally grasp the situation.

Ah, right.

I was acting in front of these people.

He had even forgotten that this was his first time acting in front of many people.

Because Hak-jun’s color had literally devoured him.

Perhaps he was surprisingly suited for the stage.

After the acting ended, worries did come flooding in belatedly.

Whether his acting had been any good or not.

‘It wasn’t bad, it seems.’

But looking at Seo Jin-wook’s face, he could roughly guess the answer.

His lips sealed in a straight line, and his adam’s apple constantly swallowing…

It seemed his acting had been more impressive than expected.

“Good work.”

“…”

He had offered a greeting, but no response came back.

Looking at Seon-woo with a completely distorted face, something was definitely bothering him greatly.

But Seon-woo withdrew his attention from Seo Jin-wook.

There was no need to go out of his way to consider that person’s feelings.

“…What was that acting ability? Saying it’s his first time acting isn’t a lie, is it?”

“He is good though. He didn’t fall behind Jin-wook senior at all.”

“It seems the Director didn’t bring him for no reason.”

The troupe members whispered here and there.

It was captivating acting.

To an unbelievable degree for someone who had just started acting.

Ji-hwan smiled with satisfaction and opened his mouth.

“Well, is everyone satisfied now? Anyone still have complaints about why I brought this guy?”

Naturally, no one raised their hand.

Ji-hwan looked at Seo Jin-wook and chuckled.

“What about you, Jin-wook?”

“…Well, he seems decent enough.”

Seo Jin-wook forced a smile as he spoke.

Watching Seo Jin-wook, Seon-woo inwardly laughed. His displeasure with the situation was completely transparent. It would be hard for a person to have such an ugly heart.

Well, anyway, it seemed like he had overcome the first hurdle.

With this much… hadn’t he at least shed the stigma of being a parachute?

* * *

The parachute is actually a genius.

After Seon-woo’s initiation ended, that kind of rumor spread throughout Cheongseong.

That the Director had brought a secret weapon.

The situation didn’t end at just shedding his bad reputation.

It was better than being called a parachute who got in through connections, but Seon-woo found this burdensome too.

Genius, secret weapon… he hadn’t hoped for things to go this far.

‘I guess it would seem that way?’

The Power of Color Orbs was indeed remarkable.

It felt like overlaying a character’s… soul completely. Thanks to this, when acting, even Seon-woo felt like he became a different person.

Others must have felt it too.

So,

“Why didn’t you start acting sooner?”

“I was busy studying… and I never imagined I’d dream of being an actor in the first place.”

“Ugh, what a waste. If hyung had just started acting a little earlier… you would have been incredible by now.”

This guy was probably saying this now for that reason.

Seon-woo looked down at the boy who was chattering like a squirrel.

The boy’s name was Ye-chan. Both by age and joining time, he was in the youngest tier at Cheongseong.

In many ways, he was someone Seon-woo was grateful for.

He had been in a difficult situation since he didn’t have any close friends, but Ye-chan had approached him first and volunteered to be his guide.

Ye-chan taught Seon-woo many things.

Starting with Cheongseong’s daily routine…

“That guy is the best actor in our theater troupe.”

“His name is… Cha Do-young sunbae, right?”

“Yes, that’s right. He’s incredibly handsome, isn’t he? He already has a fan club!”

This way, he also informed him about who held the real power here.

Cha Do-young.

Seon-woo lifted his head to look at Do-young.

He was the most successful actor at Cheongseong. Twenty-nine years old, three years older than Seon-woo. The same age as Seon-jun.

He was someone who had caught his eye from the beginning.

Since it’s a theater troupe, there are many handsome people, but even among those people… should I say he has a completely different art style?

Should I say he has the kind of visual that brings to mind famous handsome actors?

But to think he’s also the best at acting.

“He’s overpowered.”

“Right? Hehe.”

At his casual muttering, Ye-chan puffed out his chest and looked proud.

Why are you the one feeling proud?

While Seon-woo chuckled, Ye-chan opened his mouth again.

“So there are quite a few people who are secretly jealous of him. Like Jin-wook sunbae, for instance.”

“Jin-wook sunbae… the person I first acted with?”

“Yes. It’s a bit awkward to say this from the start, but… you should probably be careful around that sunbae.”

Ye-chan whispered.

“He’s a really tiresome type.”

“…I think I know what you mean.”

His first impression wasn’t particularly good.

He didn’t really want to get close to him anyway.

That look in his eyes from the beginning, wanting to make him submit, was still vivid in his memory.

Well, no matter how much he was being misunderstood as a Parachute at that point… there are still lines that should be maintained, aren’t there?

That’s when it happened.

“Um, sorry. Hyung.”

“For what?”

“Actually, I also thought you were a parachute at first and was a bit… you know.”

“…Well, that’s understandable. In a way, I am a parachute.”

“Come on, where would you find a parachute who acts this well? I don’t think anyone in Cheongseong thinks that way anymore.”

Ye-chan shook his head as if that couldn’t be true.

Each time he did, his chubby cheeks jiggled adorably, making Seon-woo hold back his laughter.

“That’s a relief then.”

“But hyung, do you… want to become a movie actor later?”

“If the opportunity comes, I certainly wouldn’t refuse it.”

“Well, of course. Most people here would feel the same way. But it’s better not to bring up wanting to be a movie actor if you can help it.”

“…Is it a sensitive topic?”

“Yes.”

Ye-chan nodded his head.

“Everyone hates it when the theater scene is treated like… a training ground for movie actors.”

“That’s understandable.”

“Especially be careful around Do-young hyung. He’s the type who rejects all the love calls from movie directors and stays here. His pride in theater is especially incredible.”

“…He rejected movie offers?”

“Yes. Amazing, right?”

“Really amazing…”

Seon-woo clicked his tongue in amazement.

He had thought that every actor’s dream was ultimately to appear in movies or dramas, so it was quite surprising to learn there were exceptions like this.

And he became newly curious.

It wasn’t even from auditions, but movie directors were sending love calls first… just how good at acting could he be?

As he was looking at Do-young like that, Ye-chan spoke up with a worried voice.

“By the way, you came at an awkward time, so it must be a bit awkward for you too, hyung. There aren’t any auditions until next quarter.”

“…Well, I’ll have to wait.”

Seon-woo scratched his head awkwardly.

It was all well and good that he had entered the theater company with such fanfare, being called a genius and all… but the problem was that Seon-woo had nothing to do after that.

If you join during regular recruitment season, you get the opportunity to audition for plays right after joining… but he wasn’t that kind of case.

Thanks to that, all Seon-woo could do right now were odd jobs.

Cleaning the theater, moving equipment, controlling the entrance during performances, and things like that.

And occasionally when he had spare time, he would sometimes watch plays.

Yes, just like now.

Seon-woo looked at the stage.

The performance currently underway was Cheongseong’s oldest and most representative play.

The name of the play was [Confession].

It was an omnibus-style play where people came one by one to the protagonist, the ‘Priest’, to confess their sins.

A story structured so that when people confessed their sins, the Priest would deliver appropriate punishment for those sins.

And the most captivating element of this play was…

“Confess.”

The Priest himself.

That transcendent yet beautiful unique atmosphere was [Confession]’s most distinctive charm.

And for that reason, who played the Priest was extremely important…

Cheongseong at least didn’t need to worry about that aspect.

“What sin have you committed?”

The light was suddenly so dazzling that Seon-woo couldn’t help but squint his eyes.

It wasn’t that the stage lighting was bright.

The golden waves emanating from the Priest standing on that stage, Do-young… were so brilliant they were difficult to look at directly.

A sight that could only be described as truly radiant.

Gold.

A color like the golden hue of a wheat field touched by the sun was spreading from Do-young’s Priest.

Not just coloring the entire stage, but filling even the audience seats completely.

The audience was probably feeling it too.

Even if this color wasn’t visible to their eyes, the feeling that acting conveyed was being fully transmitted.

Overwhelming.

It wasn’t just because of his outstanding looks.

The depth of his acting itself captivated the entire audience in an instant.

Acting ability that could only be described as truly fraudulent. Charisma that captivated others with just a subtle glance or tone of voice.

Just watching the stage, he could understand.

Why he was treated as Cheongseong’s mascot. Why everyone unanimously said he had the makings of a top star.

Look at those audience members. They all have expressions like they’re under some kind of spell.

Suddenly, Kim Seon-jun’s words came to mind.

That there are more hidden monsters in theater troupes than you’d think.

Right. This level really deserves to be called a monster.

‘…What would it feel like to perform like that?’

Seon-woo felt a thirst.

He was curious. Even if he couldn’t become like him, he wanted to stand on the same stage.

But it would still be too much for now.

Seon-woo tried to calm his heart.

There was no need to rush. If he practiced step by step and prepared, someday he could go up there too.

He just hoped that day would come quickly, that’s what he thought.

…But that moment came much sooner than Seon-woo had expected.

It was an evening just a few days after watching that performance.

A sudden announcement was posted in the Cheongsong group chat.

⌜Emergency Audition Notice) This is Park Ji-hwan, director of Cheongsong Theater Troupe.

Due to special circumstances, there is a vacancy in the role of Seungdo.

Play: We will newly select an actor to play the role of Seungdo starting next week in Confession.

Time: Tomorrow 7 PM

Preparation: 30-second Designated Acting (part will be announced later)

Number selected: 1 person⌟

It was an opportunity.

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