I Acted Once, and Now They Call Me a Genius - Chapter 97

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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 97

Freshwater Snail: Is everyone waiting for the live broadcast?

oneandonly: hahaha of course, I even ordered chicken too, jealous much

바르고고운말: Fuck, I’m trying to order chicken but all the delivery times are over an hour. Is there some soccer game somewhere today?

sj97: Did everyone order chicken to watch One Room?

바르고고운말: Nah, no way… studio apartments aren’t that bad, are they?

The live chat room of the [One Room] thread was bustling as usual today.

While the chat room was always somewhat lively, during live broadcasts the scroll moved so fast it was hard to even read the messages.

Da-sol typed in the chat with a half-praying heart.

Freshwater Snail: Seon-woo, please win…!

eyesonyou: But who’s really going to die today?

meteor: At least it won’t be Hye-seong, right…?

gogumeatdashi: But honestly, it would be a shame if anyone dies because everyone’s doing so well

eyesonyou: Yeah, it’s like when a character dies in a drama, the actor also leaves the show, so it feels even more heartbreaking…

Checking the chat room’s public opinion, it seemed like anyone could die and it wouldn’t be strange.

This was actually fortunate. If someone had said ‘Won’t it be hard for Seon-woo?’ that would have been a real danger signal.

It might seem like being too concerned about individual opinions, but ultimately those opinions accumulate to become public sentiment and statistics.

In any case, people’s current opinion was telling her this:

Seon-woo… would probably survive somehow, right?

Like this.

“Please…!”

“Just pray, pray.”

“I would have if I had a religion.”

“That’s why I keep telling you to come to church, Sister?”

“That’s not what I meant!”

Da-sol shook her head in exasperation at the surprise evangelism attempt.

Da-yeon grinned and sat down next to Da-sol. She held a cold beer can in each hand.

“Here, let’s drink while we watch.”

“It’ll make me gain weight.”

“You’re really picky. You really won’t drink?”

“…I’ll drink.”

Da-sol took the beer.

Da-yeon chuckled and peered at Da-sol’s chat room.

“You’re really working hard to protect your bias.”

“It’s not protection… it’s support.”

“Lucky you. At least your bias is actively working. My bias has no news right now~.”

“Isn’t he filming a movie right now?”

“Yeah. But there haven’t been any proper articles yet. I think filming should be wrapping up soon though.”

“I’m looking forward to that too. His acting was really good.”

“Right?”

Da-yeon nodded with a beaming smile.

Acting, looks – could there be another actor this perfect in the domestic scene? The more she thought about it, the more she felt she’d chosen her bias well.

And watching Da-yeon like this, Da-sol laughed.

“Still, Seon-woo is the best.”

“Who’s saying otherwise? Go ahead and think he’s the best.”

“I really hope he survives…”

Da-sol anxiously hugged her knees.

Now that it really seemed like anyone could be eliminated at any time, she felt even more anxious.

Of course, if Seon-woo was eliminated, she would get to see Seon-woo’s death acting. Surely Seon-woo would handle that artistically as well.

It would be a lie to say she wasn’t looking forward to that… but still, she wanted him to win.

Because Seon-woo was ‘her baby’ to Da-sol.

And,

“Oh, it’s starting!”

Finally, [One Room] began.

A structure that started straight with the drama without showing making films or anything like that. Thinking about it again, it was a really well-planned structure.

Because they didn’t show such things,

“…Gasp.”

The sudden appearance of Yoo Ji-eun’s bloodless face on screen made them even more tense.

—…What? Who are you?

—Did you… did you really have to kill her? You didn’t have to… you didn’t need to. Right?

What followed was a confrontation between Seo Jin-wook and Kim Seon-woo.

The sadness Kim Seon-woo showed was… how should I put it, extremely heartbreaking.

So much so that it was understandable why Seo Jin-wook, who had been half-crazed and covered in blood, hesitated.

—Then would I just sit still and watch you bastards screw me over with votes? What’s with this good person act, nonsense?

Still, Seo Jin-wook soon flared up again and pressed Kim Seon-woo.

But the highlight of this scene was Kim Seon-woo’s reaction. Instead, he looked at the aggressive Seo Jin-wook with sad eyes and carefully carried Yoo Ji-eun to lay her on the bed.

Seeing this, Da-sol unconsciously muttered.

“…Beautiful.”

Beautiful.

The way he carefully handled Yoo Ji-eun’s corpse, and his face showing sadness rather than fear or anger even when looking at Seo Jin-wook with a knife – it was all beautiful.

Like a somewhat tragic male protagonist.

Kim Quokka: Kim Seon-woo’s acting is insane…

Cali: Jieun ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ

Infinite Overtime: Seo Jin-wook is really good at acting too… I think we’ll see him often as a despicable villain in the future

Gahyun: A rude villain ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ it would suit you perfectly though

eyesonyou: No but Seon-woo, isn’t his aura way too gangster-like?

Good Comment Fairy: Seo Jin-wook is just straight up a gangster

눈_눈: Please stop hating on Jinwook…

Even the chat was picking up on Seon-woo’s intimidating atmosphere.

But Da-sol couldn’t pay attention to the chat. The situation was already entering another phase.

—Put the knife down.

—Are you crazy? If I put it down, you’ll beat me up again.

—I’ll beat you up even if you don’t put it down.

—Really? Then try it.

—Stop it!

A standoff between Song Jae-won and Seo Jin-wook.

And Bang Hyeong-bin stepping between them.

—Please, just stop now. Okay? Already… too many people have already died! Please stop killing each other!

At that cry that seemed to come from the depths of his heart, Da-sol felt her hair stand on end for a moment.

Had Hyeong-bin always been an actor capable of such intense acting? Glancing over, she saw Da-yeon also staring blankly at the TV.

—I’ll… I’ll die!

Especially at that scene, both Da-sol and Da-yeon couldn’t help but clasp their hands to their chests.

—If someone has to die again tomorrow, then I’ll die! So please… please stop fighting. Instead of thinking about how to kill each other… let’s think about how we can all live together!

I don’t know if it’s okay to express it this way, but… it was refreshing.

In this game arena stained with blood, anxiety, anger, and irritation, Bang Hyeong-bin’s cry was the only thing shining with pure goodwill.

It was a beautiful moment.

Bang Hyeong-bin’s struggle to maintain human dignity even at the cost of his life was a scene that couldn’t help but move anyone’s heart.

“…I’m getting goosebumps.”

“Me too. I’m covered in them.”

The Da-sol and Da-yeon sisters shivered and rubbed their arms with their palms.

They never imagined they’d see such a scene in this drama. They thought it was a work with no respect for humanity whatsoever.

The people in the chat felt the same way.

눈_눈: Bang Hyeongbin is so freaking cool…

meteor: Hyungbin’s dad ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ

Anonymous: Why is Hyeong-bin’s acting so good, crazy

Kim Quokka: These days all the kids are really getting into their acting roles lol

Gahyun: I didn’t expect him to say he’d die there…

Not a critic: Ryu is a bad writer ㅠㅠㅠㅠ what if they actually kill him after saying this

Anchovy Flavor: Right, Bang Hyeong-bin dies in this episode…

Various opinions mixed together chaotically.

The most noticeable thing among them was that everyone was already sad about the fact that Bang Hyeong-bin would die soon. They already knew who would die in this episode.

Da-yeon muttered.

“But wait, after all that, three people are going to die now.”

“…That’s right.”

“It’s too much, really… No dreams or hope.”

Perhaps that’s why.

When the players found the false wall under Hyeong-bin’s leadership, fear appeared on Da-yeon and Da-sol’s faces before joy.

Whatever was beyond that false wall, the fact remained that it was horrible enough to kill three people.

So,

—Look straight at me. We’re all going to live. Our lives aren’t for someone like you to decide. Do you understand!?

Na Min-hee’s figure pointing straight at the camera lens and shouting must have felt even more tragic.

Ironically, the music playing at this moment wasn’t sad or solemn music. Rather, it was a playful dance tune with bouncing piano sounds.

A direction that made their life-and-death struggle seem like mere entertainment.

And,

—These bastards…

Certainly, this rebellion seemed to be mere entertainment indeed.

What the players faced after breaking through the false wall and leaving the game arena was a hallway with a collapsed floor. And on the wall right next to it was a suspicious lever attached.

And,

“…! Wait!”

“Th-that’s Lee Mu-beom, isn’t it?”

Shortly after, Da-sol and Da-yeon raised their voices in shock.

Lee Mu-beom was standing at the far end of the hallway. An atmosphere that overwhelmed the entire scene in an instant just by standing still and watching.

Even they, who were outside the screen, felt eerily unsettled, so how much more so for the people inside?

—If you check the wall, you’ll find a lever. If you pull that lever with all your strength, a bridge to cross will appear.

—Y-you…!

—…Hey, old man. Is it you? Are you the one who trapped us here?

—But you must be careful. If you stop pulling the lever even for a moment, the bridge will disappear immediately. Let me say it once more. Please remain in your designated positions. If you don’t, your safety cannot be guaranteed.

An amazingly businesslike voice.

An attitude as if he couldn’t care less that the people before him were risking their lives on this adventure.

These were people whose emotions were highly charged in the face of mortal danger, yet even their momentum was broken before Lee Mu-beom.

While everyone was overwhelmed by that surreal presence,

—…Why are you doing this?

Kim Seon-woo spoke up.

And Da-sol’s eyes became blank for a moment.

It wasn’t just because her Seon-woo had received a solo shot.

—Why does it have to be this way? Everyone died so meaninglessly. If they had just stayed alive, they could have done anything, could have become something. They were people who would have shone someday… Why on earth.

A quiet cry of anguish.

Kim Seon-woo didn’t shout. He didn’t redden his face or make any particularly big gestures. He simply looked at Lee Mu-beom and spoke.

That was enough.

Everything was contained in those eyes, in that voice.

The grief Kim Seon-woo felt, the sadness, the regret… all of it.

Especially those eyes sparkled with such a sorrowful light that Da-yeon finally couldn’t hold back and opened her mouth.

“This is insane…”

“Right…”

It was a visual that couldn’t help but draw reactions, whether you had a bias or not.

That face made you immediately think it would be great to use in a melodrama later instead of something like this. His wounded expression was so captivating.

That charm seemed to move even the GM.

The GM spoke up. With eyes that seemed like they would never engage with anyone, now filled with Seon-woo, even wearing a smile.

—Kim Seon-woo. Now that I see your face, I want to ask you something. Do you want to live now?

—…!

And Seon-woo made a stunned expression as if he had been struck somewhere unexpected.

As Lee Mu-beom slowly left his seat, Seon-woo still stared blankly at the empty space where Lee Mu-beom had departed.

With his face full of sadness.

And,

‘…That’s it.’

At this moment, Da-sol was certain.

‘With this level, he’ll survive.’

She had been a bit worried at first.

Since the other people were so formidable, she thought that even Seon-woo would find it difficult to survive this time.

But seeing his acting now, she understood.

Seon-woo would survive.

It was acting ability that left no other choice. Acting this well, how could he possibly be eliminated?

Indeed, even the chat messages were,

바르고고운말: Sunwoo’s fucking crazy lol

eyesonyou: God Seon-woo…

Kim Quokka: A genius is a genius for real, how does a first-year actor perform like that

Unknown actor: I was an aspiring actor, but as of today, I’m giving up on my dream.

Everyone was gushing like this.

The tension in Da-sol’s expression eased a little.

She had been constantly anxious about what would happen if he showed any inadequate performance… but it seemed there was no need to worry about that.

‘Seon-woo will survive!’

—Or so, she had thought.

Who could possibly compete with someone going this crazy?

But five minutes later, after seeing the acting that the other actors presented, Da-sol found herself biting her nails again.

‘…Can he survive?’

Seon-woo wasn’t the only one going crazy.

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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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