I’m an Unknown Actress, But Everyone Knows Me - Chapter 3

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

Episode 3

* * *

Professor Geum Bitkang yawned in the traffic-jammed car.

The new semester welcoming freshmen always used to make her heart race, but these past few years had been nothing but boring.

‘Maybe it’s time to retire soon.’

Geum Bitkang.

She was a celebrity who once held the position of national actress with her solid voice projection honed through theater and rich facial expressions that captivated everyone.

‘…Right.’

As she gradually aged, working on set became too demanding so she became a professor, but now even that seemed to be coming to an end.

‘Just until this year.’

Now her lingering attachment to acting and passion for nurturing promising talent had both faded away.

She still wanted to act, but time passed quickly, and though she wanted to pour everything into teaching, no one followed.

‘At least this year there were about two decent ones…’

Geum Bitkang thought of the freshmen. Of course, they weren’t quite at the level to become her personal disciples.

‘This should be just right for washing my hands and leaving.’

Do Gyeoul, the only daughter of a famous actor and a former child actress herself.

Myeong Jeha, who at nineteen a year ago carried one of the pillars of a ten-million-viewer movie.

‘Come to think of it…’

Geum Bitkang’s eyes briefly lit up as she was mentally organizing the freshmen.

‘Among this year’s freshmen, there was quite an interesting one.’

Korea National University of Arts, abbreviated as KNUA, said to be the hardest to get into in Korea.

Among them, Geum Bitkang, who held the central position, had stronger influence than anyone in freshman selection.

That student whom everyone said was still lacking had passed entirely thanks to Geum Bitkang.

“I will begin the free acting.”

Geum Bitkang chuckled as she recalled that clumsy performance from back then. Han Yeoreum, whom she had chosen for her appealing eyes but who was full of shortcomings.

‘She seemed to have no fear.’

Those shining eyes that seemed to know nothing of nervousness weren’t bad.

‘No self-consciousness either.’

She knew how to act instinctively without calculating how others would view her.

Geum Bitkang added one last name to her list of notable freshmen.

Han Yeoreum, who supposedly had less than half a year of acting experience.

‘Of course, that’s unlikely, but.’

If just one of them could learn everything Geum Bitkang had to offer, she found herself thinking she’d gladly postpone retirement.

* * *

‘How long has it been.’

I took a deep breath in front of the school building. School after such a long time.

When I first heard I had passed this place, how happy I was.

‘Of course, I couldn’t even graduate from that either.’

Hyeong Changwook had said that. That I had to debut through the proper route.

“Back then I would unconditionally listen to whatever my senior said, so I just believed that was right.”

After being forced to give up the lead role to Do Gyeoul in the first-year theater production, I immediately filed for a leave of absence.

Then, following Hyeong Changwook’s advice, I went to Hyehwa and started as the lowest member of a theater group.

‘All I did was sell tickets, clean, and serve as a practice partner…’

Right. I wasted time.

After that, I kept grinding away at the theater group while occasionally doing some extra work. I practiced like crazy on my own, but no major roles were given to me.

‘I auditioned so many times though…’

Every single time, accidents would happen.

Later I gave up and just took whatever extra roles Hyeong Changwook could get me.

‘All that luck went to Do Gyeoul, so that’s why I was in that state.’

Even those roles were apparently inserted by Do Gyeoul just to watch my acting.

‘This time I absolutely won’t make the same mistake.’

I let out a light sigh and regained my composure. Since I have all the memories of the future. Bad luck was no longer my share.

Movies and dramas that would be hits, useful brand CFs, trendy styling and SNS usage methods – knowing all this, only good things were left ahead.

‘Oh right. Add web novel adaptation dramas to that too.’

I searched my memory and tried saying a line appropriate for this situation.

“Status… window?”

Ding-!

Then an indicator showing my current status appeared.

‘But what is this?’

With stats this low, it was clearly a newbie’s status window.

“…No way. I’ve been acting for 10 years and my grades are this modest?”

How is there not a single A in my stats? I held my forehead and sighed. Even the level was written so coldly.

“Unknown…”

I stood frozen in place, unable to believe this status.

Then the status window provided additional explanation this time too.

I had to put in a lot of effort to understand this cold reality, even forgetting that I was cutting it close to being late.

“Ah~.”

I sighed deeply. But hearing my voice resonate from inside to outside, confidence welled up again.

“Still, it doesn’t matter!”

My stats are locked, but my voice remains the same.

A voice that showed the worth of practicing daily on empty stages. I decided to trust the path my past self had walked.

* * *

“Now, before I explain what kind of lecture I’ll be giving-.”

The professor’s voice standing at the front of the brightly lit lecture hall could be heard clearly to the very back.

Professor Geum Bitkang, who was explaining the lecture with pronunciation more precise than a news anchor, spotted a freshman sneaking in through the back door.

‘Look at that?’

How dare someone be late to Geum Bitkang’s class on the very first day. A displeased smile spread across her face.

“Student.”

Geum Bitkang pointed to the valedictorian sitting in the front row.

“And.”

After calling out Do Gyeoul, Geum Bitkang looked at the impudent freshman in the back row who had barely found a seat.

“Student. Come forward.”

The latecomer was an interesting student that Geum Bitkang remembered. It was Han Yeoreum.

As the two stepped forward, the freshmen’s attention was immediately drawn to them.

Unlike Do Gyeoul, who was naturally comfortable with others’ gazes, Han Yeoreum seemed slightly nervous as she looked at each student’s face one by one.

‘There needs to be someone with Concentration B-rank or higher among them to complete the mission. Since they’re freshmen, their stats are zero.’

Of course, Yeoreum wasn’t nervous at all—she was simply checking the freshmen in front of her solely for mission completion purposes.

Professor Geum Bitkang watched the two of them and continued greeting the freshmen.

“I don’t think there’s a single freshman here who hasn’t seen a play!”

Her vigorous voice, unusually strong for her age, resonated loudly throughout the lecture hall.

“Theater, you see, is literally explaining to the audience through words and actions. It’s different from movies! Different from dramas! Musicals? Even more so!”

She meant you couldn’t rely on the power of editing. Theater was something that would literally destroy you if you lacked the fundamentals.

“You have to take persuasiveness directly to the audience’s eyes and shove it in their faces!”

Everyone wore serious expressions, showing they understood. Geum Bitkang smiled slightly and gestured to Do Gyeoul with her chin.

“Anything is fine. Try reciting some lines.”

The freshmen who recognized child actor Do Gyeoul’s face fixed their gazes on him.

Those features that already showed celebrity qualities served as excellent entertainment just by existing.

Do Gyeoul opened his mouth like a prepared actor without showing any sign of panic at the sudden situation.

“The Seagull. I’ll begin.”

Do Gyeoul immediately started acting.

His appearance without the slightest hesitation even in front of the great actor Geum Bitkang overwhelmed his classmates.

Do Gyeoul’s eyes had changed when he slowly raised his head after bowing it.

“I’m not too late… I’m really not too late, am I? I was worried all day, so terribly afraid!”

Though not as much as Geum Bitkang, his precise pronunciation, natural expressions, and use of his hands were quite good.

His hands clasped over his chest were trembling slightly. Do Gyeoul on stage gazed into empty space, speaking persuasively to someone beyond.

“I really frantically… drove the horses on and on.”

Pure concentration poured toward Do Gyeoul as he slowly bowed his head and continued speaking.

It was natural since he had chosen a famous play that everyone had practiced at least once.

“Look. I’m so… out of breath.”

His panting and catching his breath was also beyond expectations.

It was then that he raised his head again, which had been hanging weakly.

An inexplicable power worked in that slow movement.

“But like a seagull.”

Do Gyeoul, who paused for a beat and breathed, was an actor who knew the stage. He knew how to control intensity.

“…I’m drawn to this lake.”

Everyone held their breath and waited until that final line came out.

Do Gyeoul, who had been gazing into space with shining eyes, slowly lowered his gaze to finish.

“My heart is full of you.”

After a brief silence, cheers gradually spread along with someone’s applause.

“See? The actor’s greatest weapon. Theater is decided by skill. No matter how luxurious the set, there are limits. It’s a world with CG, 3D, even 4D. For an actor to have marketability, there’s only one thing. Absolutely skill.”

Professor Geum Bitkang then looked at Han Yeoreum, whose gaze was still anxious. It was a signal to begin.

“Um…”

Yeoreum cautiously opened her mouth and asked.

“Would it be okay if it’s not necessarily theater lines?”

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