NIS Agent Reincarnated as a Genius Actor - 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. Musical 「Dejandor」 (2)

Unlike Kim Ju-hyeong who was gaping open-mouthed at the stage beside him, he began to focus seriously on the script.

 

With his singing ability, there would be no opportunities to do musicals in the future, so this was his first and last chance to perform in 「Dejandor」.

 

If that was the case, then pouring everything into this one scene and delivering acting without regrets would be the best approach.

 

‘Here I’ll put strong emphasis on this part…, the version I saw in France was impressive.’

‘This line would be better delivered half a beat faster like I saw in Austria.’

 

Imagining the scene where he would appear in his mind, he recalled the numerous versions of 「Dejandor」 he had watched in various countries.

 

He began drawing small advantages from different versions by famous actors, adding necessary parts to his acting and cutting away unnecessary elements.

 

 

Shane Dillinger’s father was killed before his son’s eyes, hit by a car and shot by an opposition organization.

 

The grown-up Shane eliminated all opposition organizations and took control of Detroit’s underworld, but he feared that losing targets for revenge would be like losing his life’s driving force.

 

Naturally, he came to think negatively about technological advances like cars and guns that killed his father, and grew to hate the munitions factories and industrial plants that began sprouting up like mushrooms in 1930s America.

 

In contrast, his younger sister Jane was just a girl full of dreams who found the rapidly changing world interesting and enjoyable.

Then she fell in love with a young man named ‘Ezel’ who managed workers at an automobile factory, creating conflict between her brother and the man she loved.

 

The role Yeon-woo would take on and act briefly was Ezel, the representative of factory manual laborers—the blue-collar chief.

 

The scene where Ezel and Shane clash intensely while asserting their respective beliefs was a part that, despite being a musical, proceeded with dialogue for over five minutes without songs.

 

The theater company, having practiced up to the previous scene, took a brief break.

 

Clap clap clap!

Whistle!

 

Kim Ju-hyeong, who had been watching with his mouth agape in complete absorption, gave loud applause, while Manager Kim Min-su whistled beside him.

 

Then Jin Yu-han, who had been ‘Shane’ on stage just moments before, came down and spoke to Yeon-woo.

 

“How is it, Yeon-woo? Did you memorize the lines?”

“Yeah. I memorized the lines. For the blocking, I’ve seen the original of this musical—should I follow that?”

 

The blocking wasn’t particularly difficult. There was one part where Ezel and Shane got close enough to grab each other by the collar.

 

“Right. The blocking follows the original exactly.”

 

Jin Yu-han nodded and looked at the stage with an expectant expression.

Actually, Yeon-woo felt the same anticipation.

 

Since this had been his favorite musical from his previous life, perhaps no one in this theater company had seen this musical more than Yeon-woo.

 

“Then shall I get ready too.”

 

Yeon-woo stood up from his seat.

 

***

 

Jeong In-chan was a musical actor in his sixth year.

 

When Jin Yu-han first visited the theater company he belonged to, he was simply curious.

Jeong In-chan looked at the popular young actor and nodded at his handsome appearance.

 

‘So that’s what you need to look like to succeed in legitimate theater.’

 

When he heard that Jin Yu-han was designated for one of the lead roles, he felt some resentment, but since such things were common these days, he also had expectations.

 

Actually, it wasn’t expectation about stage acting, but about how much publicity it would bring.

 

‘Musicals are on a completely different level from legitimate theater and such. Let’s see how well he does.’

 

As expected, starting with voice projection that didn’t match the musical tone, to gestures too small for the stage due to being accustomed to cameras.

 

‘Camera acting really doesn’t work here.’

 

It was all thanks to his looks that he made a living. He thought true acting only emerged when performed directly on stage.

 

‘But this isn’t even funny.’

 

It was fine that Ryu Yeon-woo visited to support Jin Yu-han.

He brought delicious food, and he knew it would help with the making-of filming currently in progress.

 

But suddenly putting Ryu Yeon-woo on stage, even if it was just a practice stage?

 

In his opinion, this was definitely not an emotion like ‘jealousy.’

Rather, it was ‘concern’ as a caring senior.

 

“Mr. Ryu Yeon-woo, musicals, and especially this scene, aren’t something you can handle with ad-libs. Since this is just practice and for fun, how about holding the script and reading from it?”

 

Looking at Ryu Yeon-woo ascending the stage with a displeased expression, he offered ‘advice as a senior,’ but Yeon-woo quietly shook his head.

 

“I’ll do my best not to cause trouble. I worked hard to memorize the lines while you were practicing Act 1.”

 

Hearing Yeon-woo’s words, Jeong In-chan’s expression hardened.

 

‘…Ha, the kid’s being arrogant? When a senior speaks, you should listen. Really, success at a young age causes this problem. They think they can do anything.’

 

Among the musical company members, he could see quite a few colleagues with mysterious smiles on their faces, seemingly thinking similar thoughts.

 

‘Geez, what’s so entertaining about a young actor getting embarrassed? Such bad taste. What was Jin Yu-han thinking, making such a suggestion to a friend who came to support him.’

 

In fact, most of the smiles came from anticipation of being able to see Ryu Yeon-woo and Jin Yu-han’s acting directly, but since In-chan had started viewing everything negatively, everything looked twisted to his eyes.

 

Jeong In-chan was convinced that Ryu Yeon-woo would either forget his lines, or even if he had memorized them well, since he had no stage experience, he would merely recite the lines without properly digesting the role, and stepped onto the stage where the lighting was gradually dimming.

 

He positioned himself in front of the fluorescent marker on stage and waited for the performance to begin.

 

The low sound of a trombone creating tension echoed throughout, and a single spotlight fell on Yeon-woo, who was five steps away from Jin Yu-han.

 

Thud─.

 

“What is all this commotion? Who are you people!”

 

At the first line, the actors on stage flinched.

 

‘He came in perfectly on cue. As if he knew exactly when the trombone sound would stop.’

 

Yeon-woo took another large step forward and continued his lines.

 

“Didn’t you hear me? Who are you people to come to the factory and cause trouble?”

“A dirty dog covered in charcoal soot sure talks a lot. Who am I, you ask? I am Shane Dillinger of Detroit.”

 

When Jin Yu-han stated his name, the other actors shrank back.

 

“···Hey Colson. Did he just say Shane? Don’t tell me it’s that Shane?”

“Shh! James. Watch your mouth. If we catch his attention for no reason, we’ll likely get beaten up.”

 

While the other actors murmured among themselves at the appearance of the mafia boss who ruled Detroit’s underworld, naturally stepping back and hunching their bodies, Yeon-woo straightened his posture and advanced one step forward.

 

Kim Ju-hyeong, watching from the audience seats, also sensed that Yeon-woo’s acting was somehow different from the other musical actors.

 

‘···Ah, so that’s why he looked a bit small at first? He was deliberately hunching his body slightly. So he could create contrast and dramatically increase his presence in this scene.’

 

When he first appeared delivering his opening line, Yeon-woo, who was well over 180 centimeters tall, had seemed somewhat diminutive compared to the surrounding actors, which had been puzzling, but there was this reason behind it.

 

‘Yeon-woo, you have it all planned out, don’t you?’

 

Ju-hyeong nodded, and Yeon-woo delivered his next line.

 

“Shane Dillinger? Are you suggesting we exchange names? I am Ezel.”

 

Unlike the others who cowered just at hearing his name, Shane felt a hint of interest as he stared at the man before him who stepped forward with a confident expression and offered a handshake, while his subordinates standing behind him laughed exaggeratedly at what they saw as a newborn puppy that didn’t know to fear a tiger.

 

“Ezel. An interesting fellow. Today I will kill you all and blow up this factory.”

“I thought this Shane Dillinger character was an Italian, but turns out he’s German. Well, they’re allies anyway, aren’t they?”

 

At the mocking tone, Shane’s subordinates behind him flinched as if they were about to charge forward, but Shane raised his hand to restrain them.

 

“Italian? German? What are you talking about? I’m American.”

“I thought you were imitating Italian mafia, since I heard you swagger around the back alleys inappropriately, showing off with money earned from secretly selling liquor with those big guys, but seeing you charge in as a mob today talking about bombing and killing, what’s the difference between you and that mustachioed fellow far away in Germany?”

 

The actors on stage were inwardly amazed watching Yeon-woo deliver the long, complex lines with perfect voice projection while leisurely displaying facial expression acting.

 

And Kim Ju-hyeong, who was watching analytically from the audience, was also surprised.

 

‘···Something’s different. It’s different from any acting by other actors I saw during the first act rehearsal. What is it that’s different?’

 

Kim Ju-hyeong, who called himself a movie buff and had developed the habit of analyzing everything while watching through his club activities, was certain it was different but couldn’t grasp what it was, which made him rack his brain.

 

‘Ah! That’s it. If the other actors feel like a Korean adaptation, Yeon-woo sounds like the original language version being automatically translated. How is that possible when they’re both delivering lines in Korean?’

 

Meanwhile, Jin Yu-han was feeling exactly the same thing Kim Ju-hyeong was experiencing.

 

From his position facing Yeon-woo and exchanging lines, he felt an inexplicable sense of dissonance different from their usual rehearsals.

 

‘···The stress is different? It feels somehow dynamic and perfectly fitting. How is he doing that?’

 

Unlike the even and flat tones of Korean speech, each line Yeon-woo delivered had distinct stress patterns.

 

It was natural.

 

Yeon-woo had referenced countless top-tier musical actors from around the world who had performed 「Dejandor」 in their native languages, extracting only the best intonations for each line and sculpting them together like a craftsman, so the lines couldn’t help but stick perfectly to his speech.

 

“An interesting story you tell. The reason I came here today is also to eliminate all those like the mustachioed German you speak of. The automobiles, tanks, and guns you people create are the root of all evil that sickens this society.”

 

Yeon-woo’s eyes lit up watching Jin Yu-han deliver his lines with a grinding tone.

 

Taking a light step forward and spreading both arms like an orator, Yeon-woo’s Ezel drew all eyes to himself.

 

“Does the sin of harming one’s neighbor with a sword lie with the sword or with the one who wielded it? If we eliminate all swords from the world, will people not die? Then what would trim your mustache at the barbershop, and what would prepare the ingredients for the stew you ate this morning?”

“Sophistry. Swords and tanks are different. These chunks of metal you people create, you see. They serve to lessen people’s sense of guilt.”

 

Bang─.

Kyaah─.

 

Shane’s eyes gleamed with madness as he fired his gun into the air.

 

“Like this, with just a flick of a finger, you can kill a person. No need to directly experience the horrible sensation of swinging a sword, cutting flesh, and feeling the blade strike bone.”

 

Ezel stepped forward with an angry expression, shouting at the factory workers who cowered and covered their ears in fear at the gunshot.

 

“Is this what you consider justice?”

“Justice? I don’t have such grandiose reasons. I simply need targets for my father’s revenge.”

 

When the act began, Ezel had been five steps away from Shane.

 

One step when the trombone sound stopped.

One step while straightening his shoulders as others retreated.

A step as if offering a handshake while mentioning exchanging names.

One step while spreading both arms like an orator.

And finally, one rough step with an angry expression.

 

Without the audience or Shane realizing it, Ezel had reached close range and with swift hand movements snatched the pistol Shane was holding and aimed it at his head.

 

“Hey, you big guys. If you don’t want your boss’s head to get an air hole, get out of this factory right now.”

 

A moment of silence fell at the charisma felt on stage.

Despite this being a part they practiced every day, the actors were overwhelmed by the distinctly different breathing and atmosphere of the dialogue.

 

‘…What is this? Was this a scene that could be driven with this kind of breathing?’

‘I’m getting goosebumps. Is that power to dominate the stage really coming from that young actor?’

 

As the silence grew longer, everyone looked at one person.

Jeong In-chan, who had been displeased with Yeon-woo going on stage, was equally frozen.

 

“Jeong In-chan! You need to deliver your line.”

 

Startled by the senior’s sharp command, he opened his mouth.

 

“…Wh-what are you to…”

 

Jeong In-chan panicked and his mind went blank for a moment, unable to remember his next line.

 

‘Damn it, this is driving me crazy! What was it.’

 

Then Yeon-woo quietly murmured.

 

“How dare you give orders to the Detroit Brothers.”

“Ah! How dare you give orders to the Detroit Brothers!”

 

A smile briefly spread across Jeong In-chan’s face from the relief of overcoming the crisis, but it quickly turned into a disgusted expression.

 

‘Damn it!’

 

Before the stage began, he had told Yeon-woo to hold the script since he probably hadn’t memorized it, but instead he had received help from Yeon-woo to barely deliver this short line—there was no greater humiliation.

 

The other actors were inwardly surprised once again at this sight.

 

‘He probably had his hands full just memorizing his own lines, but did he memorize everyone else’s lines too…?’

 

Meanwhile, it wasn’t just the actors on stage who were surprised.

Kim Ju-hyeong watched the rehearsal from the audience seats and got goosebumps at every moment.

 

‘…This is acting.’

 

After seeing Yeon-woo’s acting with his own eyes, he finally seemed to understand what he had been longing for all this time.

 

‘This is what I wanted to do.’

 

Of course, he wasn’t dreaming of becoming an actor. He didn’t have the talent for it, and even if he couldn’t act, he could at least look in a mirror.

 

It started with staying up all night watching 「Summer’s Closet」 out of the liberation he felt after finishing his college entrance exam studies throughout high school.

Then he gradually became absorbed in movies and even joined the club.

 

But today, watching the stage, he felt an intense longing.

 

‘I want to write theater scenarios. I want to write dialogue that seems to come alive and move.’

 

This was the moment when the playwright who would someday in the near future double-cast Ryu Yeon-woo and Jin Yu-han first confirmed his passion.

 

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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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