I Acted Once, and Now They Call Me a Genius - Chapter 8

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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 8

Cheongseong is currently the most successful theater troupe in South Korea.

But what we need to focus on here isn’t the part about Cheongseong being the most successful in South Korea.

Cheongseong is a theater troupe.

Yes, a theater troupe. No matter how successful or whatever, it’s still just a theater troupe in the end.

“You got contacted for a supporting role?”

“I’m sorry, Director.”

Ji-hwan sighed as he looked at Eun-seok, the man with his head deeply bowed before him.

Even when Eun-seok had suddenly requested a private meeting, Ji-hwan hadn’t expected to hear something like this.

But suddenly he was saying he’d passed a movie audition?

Actually, Cheongseong doesn’t really criticize actors for dabbling in the film industry. They thought it was somewhat natural for actors to seek out audiences and go in front of cameras.

However, from the perspective of running a theater troupe, it was inevitable to sigh whenever situations like this arose.

“There’s a week left until filming. I’ll make sure to fulfill all the performance schedules until then. …I’m sorry, Director. I really can’t… give up this opportunity.”

“I know. Don’t you think I understand that feeling…”

Ji-hwan let out another deep sigh.

Passing an audition was something to celebrate.

What’s more, what Eun-seok had passed this time was a work by a quite successful ten-million-viewer director. And it was a supporting role with considerable weight too.

It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. He couldn’t tell him to kick it away.

The problem was the role Eun-seok was playing.

Seung-do.

Seung-do is the character who comes to confess his sins in the very final part of [Confession].

To be precise, it would be fair to say he comes to announce his sins.

Seung-do confesses that he intends to kill someone to avenge his father, and wants to ask what punishment he’ll receive when he commits that sin.

And the confrontation between the Priest and Seung-do at that moment is the climax of this work.

It could be said that this was a role that played an extremely important part in this work.

But Eun-seok was leaving.

Even if he fulfilled the schedule as much as possible for a week… what about after that?

A troublesome situation in many ways.

However,

“…I’ll figure something out somehow. So don’t worry about it and just focus on preparing for the shoot.”

“Director… I’m sorry.”

“What’s there to be sorry about. You’re finding your own path, what can I say about that. It’s not like our theater company can feed you for life, and if an opportunity comes up, you should take it.”

Ji-hwan couldn’t become the person who would hold back someone who was just about to take flight.

“I’ll somehow find a replacement and put them up there. Our theater company has plenty of people. It’s fine. Don’t worry.”

“…Are you really sure it’ll be okay? Everyone’s busy with their own projects these days, so the timing won’t work out.”

“Well, it would be like that if I only tried to use the same people I always use. But the new people who joined this time too….”

At that moment, a face flashed through Ji-hwan’s mind.

The face that had been the biggest topic of conversation at Cheongseong recently.

“…You know what. It’s fine. It’ll be fine.”

Ji-hwan thought about it for a moment.

If that guy were to act as Seung-do… what would it feel like?

‘Ah, but even so, putting him on stage already would be too early, wouldn’t it?’

Yeah. It’s definitely too early.

But why is it.

That I keep imagining… that guy standing on stage.

* * *

“Hyung! Hyung! Did you see the text message!?”

Not long after checking the text message, Ye-chan came running over with an excited face.

Seon-woo nodded his head.

“Yeah. About the audition?”

“Yes! Isn’t this amazing? It’s the first time a role has opened up in the middle of a performance like this….”

“What happened?”

“You know Eun-seok hyung, right? He’s going to appear in Director Shin Ju-ho’s movie this time.”

“…Shin Ju-ho? The ten-million-viewer director Shin Ju-ho?”

“Yes.”

“That’s amazing….”

Working with Director Shin Ju-ho essentially meant entering the mainstream of the film industry.

Seon-woo recalled how Eun-seok had acted.

He was certainly someone who performed with intense color. He had a captivating charm that drew people’s attention.

By the way,

“But is it okay for me to audition?”

“Huh? Of course it is! Why?”

“Well, I just joined the theater company… I thought people might talk if I suddenly audition.”

“You don’t need to worry about that at all. It’s not like there’s an atmosphere where people criticize newcomers for auditioning. Cheongseong has just one motto.”

Ye-chan raised his index finger.

“Nothing else matters – whoever acts best is the greatest.”

“…That’s clear-cut.”

“Well, if you’re good you’ll pass, if you’re not you’ll fail. That’s what auditions are for.”

Thorough meritocracy.

Cheongseong’s culture seemed healthier than he had thought.

Even better. Seon-woo smiled and pulled out a script from his bag.

“Actually, I was already preparing for it.”

“…Wow, you’re fast, hyung.”

Ye-chan chuckled when he saw the script Seon-woo had pulled out.

The script for [Confession].

Actually, Seon-woo had decided to apply immediately after seeing the audition announcement text message.

People might talk behind his back?

So what? He wanted to act so badly right now.

Besides, if he passed this audition… he could have the opportunity to act with Do-young.

‘It already sounds fun.’

He wanted to directly enter the world colored by Do-young’s hues.

What it would feel like to act in such a world… just imagining it was already exciting enough.

“Are you doing it too, Ye-chan?”

“No? I already have a project I’m working on.”

“Ah, right. But now that I think about it, aren’t most people already working on projects?”

“Everyone except those who are taking a break would be. And…”

Ye-chan hesitated for a moment before carefully opening his mouth.

“And actually, this audition is like a poisoned chalice, if you think about it.”

“…Is that so?”

“Yes. The role is short, but the preparation period is too short as well, so if you actually get cast, you might end up suffering instead. No, it would be good if it just ended with suffering… If you can’t prepare enough in that time frame, it’s a real disaster.”

That was true enough.

They would practically have to prepare for the performance in just a few days. The timeline would be quite tight.

Ye-chan shrugged his shoulders and added.

“But if we look for the bright side… because of that, the competition probably won’t be that fierce. That means we have some chance of winning.”

“No, you won’t have any chance.”

That’s when it happened.

A sly voice cut between them.

Just from the voice alone, they could tell who it was.

Seon-woo managed his expression that was about to crumple and turned his head.

The snake-faced man, Seo Jin-wook, was looking at them with a crooked smile.

“Hello.”

“Don’t tell me you’re thinking of applying?”

Seo Jin-wook looked at the script in Seon-woo’s hand and tilted his head.

The nuance was like, do you even have the qualifications to apply right now?

But Seon-woo nodded confidently.

By now, he had finished analyzing what kind of character this guy was.

His conclusion was that if you showed weakness once, he was the type of person who would bark endlessly.

“Yes. I’m planning to apply.”

Then there’s no need to back down.

There’s no law saying he can’t apply in the first place.

Perhaps not expecting Seon-woo to respond this way, Seo Jin-wook’s eyes twisted for a moment. But then he immediately put on a relaxed smile.

“…Really? I was thinking of applying too. My schedule happens to be free.”

So what was he supposed to do about that?

Was he asking if Seon-woo would still apply even though he was going to? Something like that?

He didn’t know. He didn’t particularly want to know either.

Seon-woo answered calmly.

“Yes. I look forward to working with you. Let’s have good competition.”

“…Hah, competition?”

Those words seemed to have properly gotten under Seo Jin-wook’s skin.

He burst into laughter as if incredulous and narrowed his eyes.

“Your spirit is impressive. Fine. Go ahead and compete well. I’m curious to see how it turns out too.”

After snapping at him like a growling animal, he left without even a word of farewell.

Only when he was out of sight did Ye-chan click his tongue disapprovingly.

“Looks like his pride got hurt when he acted with you last time? Seeing how he’s being so petty about it.”

“…Is that person always this childish?”

“I told you, didn’t I? To be careful.”

His head was throbbing.

He never thought he’d get caught up in such childish quarrels even after becoming an adult.

But thanks to that, it actually became motivation.

He now had one more reason to pass the audition. If nothing else, he wanted to avoid losing to that guy.

Then he needed to show even better acting…

Seon-woo looked down at the script.

‘I can’t rely only on Color Orbs.’

He knew that Color Orbs were his greatest weapon.

Without these Color Orbs in the first place, he probably wouldn’t have been able to enter this Theater Company.

But Color Orbs weren’t omnipotent either.

‘Color Orbs only help me express characters to the extent that I understand them.’

To properly use the power of Color Orbs, he first needed to deepen his understanding.

Fortunately, establishing direction wasn’t difficult. He had been watching Eun-seok act as Seung-do all this time.

The color of Seung-do he saw through him was dark red.

Stained with hatred, despair, and anger… a color that clearly contrasted with the golden radiance emitted by the Priest.

Certainly, Seung-do had lived a life that could only have such dark imagery.

Seung-do’s father lost all his wealth to a con artist and committed suicide by jumping.

His mother fell ill with grief after his father’s death and eventually passed away, and following these successive tragedies, Seung-do even broke off his engagement.

All that remained for Seung-do, who had fallen into the abyss, was his desire for revenge.

This was why Seung-do was the character who decorated the climax in [Confession].

A character with such explosive emotional lines that he could momentarily overshadow even the Priest’s absolute presence.

But there was one thing that worried him….

‘Is it okay to burst this?’

Seon-woo hesitated for a moment as he looked at the Color Orb that seemed like a mixture of blood and ink.

When he burst a Color Orb, he could experience that person’s inner thoughts directly.

The problem was Seung-do’s inner thoughts.

Just look at this terrible and ominous color.

He could already tell. Being dyed in that color would definitely not be a pleasant experience.

…But what could he do about it.

In truth, Seon-woo had no choice from the beginning.

Let’s just burst it first. Burst it and see… then think about what comes next.

With that thought, the moment he burst the Color Orb.

“…!”

——It felt like getting an injection of boiling water straight into his veins.

Hot. Burning. A rage that felt like it would burst his blood vessels flowed through his entire body with each heartbeat.

His heart felt like it would melt away rather than just ache.

He wished someone would please end this pain, but at the same time he realized. This pain would never end.

Why?

…Because he had now lost everything.

Because there was nothing left.

“Gasp…!”

Seon-woo collapsed to the floor, breathing heavily.

His hands and feet were trembling. What kind of emotion he had just felt… he felt like he knew, but his mind was too chaotic.

And that’s when it happened.

Once again, the familiar Color Orb appeared before Seon-woo’s eyes.

As if it were speaking to him.

Can you handle it? Just back away and rest even now.

Then you won’t have to endure this pain. Like that.

…Honestly, he was a little shaken.

Seung-do’s Color Orb was… more terrible than he had thought.

Emotions that ordinary people couldn’t experience even if they wanted to….

Thanks to that, his heart still feels like it’s throbbing.

However, he cannot retreat.

If he was going to back down so half-heartedly, he wouldn’t have started in the first place.

And above all… as painful as it is, he’s become curious.

About this person called Seung-do.

About the feeling he’ll experience when he acts him out.

“…Let’s do this.”

Seon-woo clenched his fist and burst the Color Bubble.

And, as if it had been waiting, Seung-do’s color dyed him.

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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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