NIS Agent Reincarnated as a Genius Actor - Chapter 118

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

Episode 118. Unexpected Encounter

 

“Oh, Yeon-woo. Huh? But what happened to your hand? Did you fight with someone?”

 

 

 

Writer Kim Jin-ju asked with a worried expression, looking at Yeon-woo’s hand that was still wrapped in bandages and band-aids since it hadn’t fully healed yet.

 

 

 

He fought.

 

A foolish practice addict had foolishly fought with his violin.

 

 

 

“Ah, it’s almost healed now. It’s nothing serious. Anyway, about the idea.”

 

“Yeah, yeah.”

 

 

 

What Yeon-woo felt while reading the scenario was that the setting of the world inside the body was somewhat monotonous for maintaining a long narrative flow.

 

 

 

“The worldview unfolded inside the body is close to medieval fantasy, right?”

 

“Yeah. That’s right.”

 

“The movie starts about 6 years after being trapped inside the younger sibling’s body, and in terms of the human body, it’s around the thigh area, right?”

 

 

 

Writer Kim Jin-ju nodded at Yeon-woo’s question.

 

 

 

“That’s right. It’s the Femoral Kingdom, named after the femoral region.”

 

“Then where did the protagonist start from when he first entered the body 6 years ago?”

 

 

 

Since Yeon-woo’s question was about content not in the scenario, Writer Kim Jin-ju looked at Director Hwang Min-kwon, who was the original creator.

 

 

 

“Huh? Oh, probably from the sole of the foot?”

 

 

 

At Director Hwang Min-kwon’s words, Yeon-woo nodded and continued speaking.

 

 

 

“Then how about a worldview where society becomes more advanced as you go higher, from the sole of foot to thigh, from thigh to heart, and then up to the head?”

 

“Advanced worldview?”

 

“If the thigh is medieval, then the upper body could be modern times, or if you go up to the head at the top, it could be a future society more advanced than the present. Wouldn’t that make the story richer?”

 

 

 

Director Hwang Min-kwon clapped his hands at Yeon-woo’s suggestion.

 

 

 

“If we do that, viewers could more intuitively understand where the protagonist and his companions are. The backgrounds would become more diverse too. Yo-han, is this possible?”

 

“The more futuristic it is, the easier it is to process with CG actually. When creating something that doesn’t exist, you don’t need to worry about details and historical accuracy.”

 

 

 

Seeing Director Jung Yo-han’s reaction, Yeon-woo nodded and looked at Writer Kim Jin-ju.

 

 

 

Her eyes were somehow vacant and unfocused.

 

Writer Kim Jin-ju was muttering incomprehensible words to herself.

 

 

 

“More advanced as you go higher…, thigh is medieval…, brain is future…”

 

 

 

Then she pulled out her laptop from her bag with lightning speed.

 

 

 

“Hm? Writer Kim Jin-ju?”

 

 

 

Yeon-woo shook his head at Director Hwang Min-kwon who was trying to speak to Kim Jin-ju.

 

 

 

“It seems like inspiration has struck her right now, so let’s give her some space.”

 

 

 

So the two directors and Yeon-woo quietly left the meeting room, and after that, only the sound of non-stop typing could be heard from the meeting room.

 

 

 

 

 

The meeting was postponed to next time since it seemed possible to revise the scenario in a better direction.

 

There was no rush anyway due to Yeon-woo’s return to school issue.

 

 

 

‘If a more complete story comes out, I couldn’t ask for more.’

 

 

 

Since the storyline they had seen before getting inspiration from Yeon-woo’s idea was already good enough, he was looking forward to what kind of story it would evolve into.

 

 

 

“Well, let me take care of my business first.”

 

 

 

Yeon-woo entered Korea University’s Economics Building and looked around.

 

 

 

“Hmm, not much has changed from what I expected?”

 

 

 

Elevators had been installed in the building and several large-scale multipurpose rooms had been added.

 

However, since the structure of the building itself remained the same, he felt a sense of familiarity.

 

 

 

Yeon-woo stroked the smooth wooden handrail of the central staircase with nostalgic eyes.

 

 

 

‘In my previous life, I went up and down these stairs countless times.’

 

 

 

Yeon-woo visited the university today to apply for readmission and because his academic advisor had called for him.

 

 

 

Although this was his first time coming in person since enrollment, since he had attended the same department in his previous life, everything around him felt familiar and evoked nostalgia like coming home.

 

 

 

With natural steps, he climbed the central staircase and found the professor’s office on the 3rd floor.

 

 

 

– Professor Kim Tae-kyung’s Research Office

 

 

 

‘Hmm, somehow it’s a familiar name.’

 

 

 

Well, it’s quite a common name anyway.

 

 

 

When Yeon-woo knocked, a middle-aged man’s voice came from inside.

 

 

 

– Come in.

 

 

 

Creak─.

 

 

 

He opened the old door that made noise and entered, and when he turned around the corner of the bookshelf, he saw a middle-aged gentleman diligently writing something among papers piled up like mountains.

 

 

 

“Hello. I’m Ryu Yeon-woo, returning to school this year.”

 

 

 

When Yeon-woo’s voice was heard, Professor Kim Tae-kyung looked up.

 

 

 

“Ah, I see.”

 

 

 

With those words, his head went down again.

 

For quite a while, he focused only on the documents he was looking at, not even glancing toward Yeon-woo.

 

 

 

Yeon-woo stood there, waiting silently.

 

After a considerably long time that anyone would feel was rude, the Professor raised his head.

 

 

 

“Sit over there.”

 

 

 

Yeon-woo was surprised when he saw the face of the Professor who gestured to the Sofa in front and stood up.

 

 

 

‘Ah…, I see.’

 

 

 

A smile briefly crossed Yeon-woo’s lips before disappearing.

 

 

 

Professor Kim Tae-kyung, who sat on the Sofa, looked at Yeon-woo and opened his mouth.

 

 

 

“I’m not particularly interested in popular culture, so honestly I don’t know celebrities’ names well, but I do know about you, student.”

 

“I see.”

 

 

 

After staring intently at Yeon-woo’s response, Professor Kim Tae-kyung continued speaking.

 

 

 

“I’m a straightforward person, so I rarely speak in roundabout ways. Honestly, I don’t particularly like that student Ryu Yeon-woo entered our department.”

 

 

 

Yeon-woo tilted his head at the aggressive words from the very first conversation.

 

 

 

“I haven’t done any activities since entering School yet, so is there a reason you think that way, Professor?”

 

“Because there’s nothing for you to gain by attending our department. Couldn’t it be seen as taking away the spot of another student who could become an economics student? Anyway, student Ryu Yeon-woo will continue acting regardless of what you learn here.”

 

 

 

Yeon-woo smiled slightly.

 

 

 

“You’re saying you’re uncomfortable that my admission would just become a Trophy written in the education section of my Profile.”

 

 

 

Professor Kim Tae-kyung thought for a moment at Yeon-woo’s words, then nodded.

 

 

 

“Well, that’s not much different from what I think. Nothing will change just because I think that way though.”

 

 

 

Professor Kim Tae-kyung had already developed negative feelings toward Yeon-woo without even meeting him, due to reporters bothering him by coming to the University whenever Ryu Yeon-woo achieved something, not knowing whether he was aware that Yeon-woo had taken a leave of absence immediately after admission.

 

 

 

Looking at Professor Kim, Yeon-woo opened his mouth.

 

 

 

“I think it would be truly unfair if my efforts in entering through the same legitimate process as everyone else were diminished just because I achieved success as an actor.”

 

 

 

Professor Kim Tae-kyung showed slight interest in Yeon-woo’s confident expression of opinion and pushed up his glasses with his index finger.

 

Yeon-woo continued speaking while looking at Professor Kim Tae-kyung with calm eyes.

 

 

 

“If I had entered the Film Department because I’m an actor, that would have taken away another aspiring actor’s spot. With that logic, there would be no department I could go to. And Professor, do you think the knowledge gained from the Economics Department curriculum can only be used if one works in finance?”

 

“…Of course not.”

 

 

 

In fact, Yeon-woo chose the Economics Department because he needed to minimize time taken away by studies to continue acting, so he naturally chose what he had majored in during his previous life.

 

 

 

However, since humans are entities who must make continuous economic choices throughout their lives, the knowledge learned in the Economics Department is obviously not only used for analyzing charts or researching economic forecasts.

 

 

 

“Pfft.”

 

 

 

Seeing Professor Kim Tae-kyung reluctantly nod, Yeon-woo burst into laughter without realizing it.

 

Though Yeon-woo could always maintain a poker face, laughter burst out in a moment of carelessness.

 

 

 

“…Why are you laughing?”

 

 

 

Professor Kim Tae-kyung glared at Yeon-woo with a considerably displeased expression.

 

 

 

“Ah, I’m sorry. An old memory just flashed through my Head for a moment.”

 

 

 

 

 

– University Song Festival

 

 

 

A student with glasses staring intently at a Poster hanging large in the Central Corridor of the Economics Building.

 

Another man passing by from behind discovered the male student, approached, and put his arm around his shoulder.

 

 

 

“Hey, Tae-kyung. What are you staring at so intently?”

 

“…Ah, it’s you, Su-hwan.”

 

 

 

It was Yeon-woo from his previous life.

 

 

 

“University Song Festival? Do you like Singing?”

 

“…Not just songs, I like heavy metal bands.”

 

“Heavy metal? What’s that. Groups like Red Crumbling?”

 

 

 

Tae-kyung, who usually wasn’t very active and tended to be somewhat isolated from his peers, suddenly lit up.

 

 

 

“You know Red Crumbling?”

 

“Ah, I don’t know them well, just heard the name.”

 

“Want to listen once?! I have Tape and a Cassette Player in my locker!”

 

 

 

Though he wasn’t particularly interested, this was the first time he’d seen his classmate Kim Tae-kyung show such passionate enthusiasm, so Jeon Su-hwan nodded somewhat bewildered.

 

 

 

“…Uh, sure. Let’s listen.”

 

“I’m going to be the first heavy metal group drummer from Korea University Economics Department. Doesn’t that sound cool?”

 

“…Hmm, I see. It sounds cool?”

 

 

 

 

 

Yeon-woo, who had been thinking about the past, looked at his aged classmate in front of him, composed the laughter that had burst out in a careless moment, and managed his expression again.

 

 

 

‘Interesting. The guy who wanted to use his academic background as a Trophy throughout University life has somehow become such a stubborn Professor.’

 

 

 

Looking at Kim Tae-kyung, who still seemed uncomfortable due to the burst of laughter, Yeon-woo chuckled.

 

Yeon-woo pointed to the Turntable and LP Record placed in the corner of the research Room and opened his mouth.

 

 

 

“Professor. This is out of the blue, but what kind of music do you listen to? Do you know bands like Red Crumbling?”

 

“···Why are you suddenly asking that question, and how do you know that band? It’s a band that would be difficult for someone your age to know.”

 

 

 

Though his tone was sharp, he couldn’t hide his expression.

 

Despite his age, it was the same expression he used to make in this Economics Building over twenty years ago.

 

 

 

“Well, masterpieces transcend time periods. For instance, Fantasia sung by Red Crumbling.”

 

“···You know Fantasia? You have unexpectedly unique taste for a young person.”

 

 

 

Though he was pretending otherwise, Professor Kim Tae-kyung’s face momentarily relaxed into a grin beyond mere interest.

 

 

 

‘He’s just as simple now as he was back then.’

 

 

 

Whether twenty years ago or now, despite appearing cold on the outside, he was still such an easy person to read.

 

 

 

“Fantasia is good, but Blue Star is also quite a masterpiece.”

 

“···Blue Star? Isn’t Lore from the same album better than that?”

 

 

 

In the conversation that followed, Kim Tae-kyung eventually clapped his hands and beamed with joy.

 

Yeon-woo was also quite pleased by this unexpected encounter, and as they talked, time flew by and he had to leave.

 

 

 

“I should get going now.”

 

“Leaving already?”

 

 

 

Professor Kim Tae-kyung, who had been excitedly going on about bands, showed signs of disappointment.

 

 

 

“It’s already been about an hour.”

 

“Ah, has that much time passed?”

 

 

 

Yeon-woo left the professor’s office with Professor Kim Tae-kyung seeing him off.

 

 

 

‘The world is truly amazing – to think Kim Tae-kyung, who was determined to become a band drummer, became a professor at his alma mater.’

 

 

 

Actually, ‘Jeon Su-hwan,’ who was Yeon-woo in his previous life, had been closer to becoming a professor at Korea University’s Economics Department.

 

He had devoted himself to his studies throughout school life and was known among the professors of that time as a diligent student.

 

 

 

‘If Tae-kyung were to learn about my situation, joining the National Intelligence Service would be surprising, but above all, being reincarnated and re-enrolling like this would be impossible to explain.’

 

 

 

As Yeon-woo descended the central staircase with an amused smile, students were putting up posters in the first floor entrance.

 

 

 

Old memories of his classmate Professor Kim Tae-kyung came flooding back, so he stood in front of the poster the students had just put up and left, reading it.

 

 

 

– University Theater Festival

 

 

 

‘University Theater Festival, not University Music Festival?’

 

 

 

As Yeon-woo stared at the unexpected poster content, someone came up behind him and put an arm around his shoulder.

 

 

 

“Yeon-woo! There you are.”

 

 

 

For a moment, old memories with Kim Tae-kyung overlapped as he looked back, but standing there was Kim Ju-hyeong, code name ‘Pension Part-timer.’

 

 

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