Chapter 88
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Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 88
Chapter Title: Tamra Script Reading (2)
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In Korea, whenever talk turned to acting, one name was an absolute staple—the screen-dominating powerhouse who could command the frame with a single glance.
Choi Man-cheol.
The moment he appeared, the lively buzz of the script reading room fell silent in an instant, the air growing heavy.
"Welcome! Sir!"
Kwak Hoon jumped up in a fluster to greet him.
The others shot to their feet one by one, bowing to Choi Man-cheol as well.
He was a figure of immense influence, after all—the senior most among them all.
'As expected.'
Shin Yi-han watched the man approach, a subtle smile tugging at his lips without him even realizing it.
'What presence.'
It was the same overwhelming aura as in his past life.
The perfect intensity for the villain role.
Shin Yi-han was already more than satisfied.
It was spot-on casting, just as he'd imagined—enough to make the villain's downfall all the sweeter.
And then, as Choi Man-cheol drew near...
"Hello, Senior. I'm Shin Yi-han!"
"Ah, hello!"
Shin Yi-han stood from his seat, taking Do-ha's hand and bowing together with her.
But Choi Man-cheol's gaze didn't stray to Do-ha—it went straight to Shin Yi-han.
"So you're the one. Shin Yi-han."
His eyes gleamed with keen interest as he looked Shin Yi-han over.
His face was still intimidating as ever, but a flicker of anticipation played at the corners of his mouth.
"I've been enjoying your work lately. I have high hopes."
From Choi Man-cheol's perspective, Shin Yi-han was a fascinating rookie.
His performances on screen were impressive even to a fellow actor—the level was top-notch.
Unlike these days' idols who were too busy primping for the cameras, here was a gem who threw himself into the role without holding back.
Of course, he'd have to see how he held up in person.
"Thank you."
But it started right then and there.
"Looking forward to working with you, Senior."
Choi Man-cheol took an immediate liking to Shin Yi-han from the first impression.
Unlike other directors and actors, he wasn't flustered or trembling—just nodding calmly.
Hmm? Choi Man-cheol's interest deepened at the younger man's demeanor.
Not only was the greeting polite and proper, but there was a subtle warmth in his expression, like he was genuinely pleased to meet him.
'Not your average guy, huh.'
Choi Man-cheol chuckled softly.
"The pleasure's mine."
"Yes, Senior."
He even extended his hand for a brief shake with Shin Yi-han.
The movie already felt promising from the script reading alone.
But not everything pleased Choi Man-cheol.
"Oh, and this is the child actor who'll play Lee Yul, the deposed king of Tamra."
As Shin Yi-han introduced her, Choi Man-cheol's eyes finally turned to Lee Do-ha.
"...I'm Lee Do-ha!"
Her voice came out shaky, laced with fear.
Do-ha couldn't help but shrink subtly behind Shin Yi-han.
He patted her head reassuringly, but there was no helping her fear.
It was all down to Choi Man-cheol's signature stern expression.
Any kid would be terrified by that piercing gaze.
Honestly, the fact she wasn't crying was already a win.
Whether Choi Man-cheol warmed to her was another matter entirely.
'Jeez.'
In truth, he was sighing inwardly.
His mood soured in an instant.
He'd heard a no-experience child actor had been cast.
To Choi Man-cheol's eyes, Do-ha was just a pretty little thing—nothing more.
'Director Kwak, I didn't peg you for this.'
It screamed visual pick.
His first commercial film, so maybe he got ambitious.
'Why grab some model kid who looks good but that's it.'
For such a crucial role, acting skill should've come first.
Already half-failing by being scared of him.
'No matter how young, if you're gonna act, you need guts.'
Anyway, let's make it work. Choi Man-cheol wrapped up the perfunctory greeting and headed to his seat.
His tone made it clear he wasn't impressed.
Do-ha wilted at the sight.
"Don't worry, Do-ha."
But Shin Yi-han had no such concerns.
"Once the reading's over, he'll come straight to you first. Saying how great you were."
"Really...?"
Shin Yi-han pinched her cheek lightly and smiled.
"Of course."
Who picked the kid, after all?
All they had to do was look forward to the script reading about to begin.
After a brief round of greetings among the cast, Kwak Hoon took his seat.
"Alright! Everyone's here, so..."
As director, he signaled the start to all.
"Let's begin the script reading."
A Joseon-era zombie tale.
The story was finally underway.
"Since it's a zombie flick, we'll skim the escape and action scenes. Focus on the emotional beats."
With Kwak Hoon's explanation...
With a screen legend like Choi Man-cheol seated there, tension rippled through the room.
Anticipation built too, for the Shin Yi-han who'd been shaking up the film and drama scenes lately.
And amid that atmosphere...
Unfortunately, Lee Do-ha got the opening line.
All eyes turned to her—including Choi Man-cheol's sharp ones.
#2. The young king following his uncle.
Do-ha began her lines with a trembling heart.
Her pulse pounded.
But she mustered her brightest smile to greet her uncle returning from recovery.
"Uncle! Welcome back!"
Even though she'd nailed this part in auditions...
She couldn't tap into that skill now.
Too nervous.
It was standard child actor fare—decent delivery, nothing more, nothing less.
Choi Man-cheol sighed inwardly again.
'Not bad, but...'
He couldn't shake the feeling she'd been cast for looks alone.
'Should've picked someone better. Jeez.'
He shook his head.
Do-ha shrank further under the scrutiny.
Her voice started quivering soon after.
Shin Yi-han quietly took her hand.
Even adults felt the pressure—with Choi Man-cheol staring like that, no wonder her acting faltered.
And it continued that way.
Do-ha kept deflating. The next scene was Choi Man-cheol's turn.
The script shifted to the burning palace.
- The young king was deposed, his uncle taking the throne.
- The boy was exiled to an island.
Now the story truly kicked off.
- In time, the uncle sought even his life.
- Blind to the greed he shouldn't indulge.
Tension spiked.
The moment revealing the tale of the uncle plotting to kill his deposed nephew wasn't the real truth.
The hidden story emerged early.
The first twist, sowing greater dread.
Yes. The true blackguard lurked elsewhere.
Turning the king into a zombie revenant.
"Look! He's still alive, isn't he?"
A corrupt minister reveling in power he'd seized.
Left Prime Minister Seo Cheon-man.
Seo Cheon-man had revived the dead king to cling to the power from his rebellion.
And that was Choi Man-cheol's role.
"Ahh!"
True to his legend, Choi Man-cheol poured raw emotion into every line.
"Your Highness!"
Crack, crunch. The king's body twisted unnaturally as he roamed the prison-like chamber.
Witnessing him brutally devour a palace maid.
"You must rest well today too!"
Choi Man-cheol, fully immersed as the mad Left Prime Minister Seo Cheon-man, unleashed his fervor.
The sheer force left everyone flinching.
But his charge didn't end there.
Zombies spread through the palace from the infected king.
Soon unmanageable.
When a minister urged killing the revenants as too dangerous, the prime minister laughed.
"No. It'd be a shame to keep this hell to ourselves."
He had no intention of relinquishing power.
"We'll wipe out the entire royal line. Yes."
He began loading the zombies onto ships.
To end the exiled young deposed king of Tamra.
"Then the closest kin—me..."
His greed overflowed.
"I shall be king!"
This avarice, a calamity unto itself.
And his booming, sinister laugh froze everyone in the reading room.
The overwhelming performance demanded silence.
As if testing what acting they'd muster before his mastery, Choi Man-cheol's gaze intensified the pressure on the cast—including child actor Lee Do-ha.
But the real trouble loomed next.
"We'll skip the zombie scenes and jump to protagonist Mu-yeong's lines."
The next beat belonged to lead Shin Yi-han.
Or more precisely, back to Do-ha.
The other actors could only pity her mounting burden.
'Poor kid. Shook up already.'
'First reading too. Heartbreaking.'
'Told ya, should've cast a better actor. Sigh.'
Her earlier average showing had tanked expectations long ago.
'But honestly, who could perform properly after that intensity?'
'I'd forget my lines a hundred times.'
'Whew. Terrifying. Tension's no joke.'
Some even sighed in relief it wasn't them after Choi Man-cheol.
Even Yoo Na-bi felt the same.
She always gave her all in acting.
'This reading room's already brutal.'
The pressure was real.
'But I can't help being curious how Shin Yi-han'll handle it.'
Excitement bubbled too.
Especially since the scene required syncing with the struggling child actor.
Yoo Na-bi watched Shin Yi-han intently.
The other actors eyed him too, full of doubt.
'Hmm. Can Shin Yi-han pull it off? Kid might break immersion.'
'He might coast through the first scene.'
'Even for him, weak partner means no full potential.'
In that atmosphere, Kwak Hoon read the stage directions.
The protagonist, played by Shin Yi-han.
Guard Mu-yeong fought off the zombie horde to save his king.
From the highest vantage, taking shelter.
He locked eyes with the deposed young king 'Lee Yul'.
And sure enough, Shin Yi-han met Do-ha's gaze casually.
Slowly easing her as he delivered his line.
"Here."
As if this were truly unfolding before them.
"We'll be safe for a while."
Matching her pace to draw her into the story.
Do-ha, being Do-ha...
"Your Highness."
Hesitated no longer.
Shin Yi-han had become Mu-yeong, calling to the young king.
As if his liege remained singular.
And Do-ha was a smart kid.
Child, yes—but sharp.
The instant she spotted Mu-yeong the guard on Shin Yi-han's face.
Do-ha's eyes changed.
'Right. That couldn't have been her true skill earlier.'
Shin Yi-han savored the thrill, pouring out emotion to sharpen her focus.
Pity and sorrow, yet desperate hope his lord wouldn't tremble more.
Before this horrific vista teeming with revenants.
In this tragedy where only two survived.
Letting it become solely Mu-yeong and Lee Yul.
Do-ha forgot the surrounding stares, truly settling in.
No.
She began trembling, blinking rapidly.
"Mu-yeong."
"Yes."
Revealing her innate talent.
"Those things outside..."
Her childlike voice carried mature weight.
"Did Uncle really send them?"
Overlapping past betrayal's cruelty with the present, she shuddered.
"He could've just killed me—why unleash those beasts?"
Every word perfect.
"No. It's just a plague."
"Liar."
Deposed king Lee Yul touched his throat with trembling hands.
"I saw it all."
Resentment and agony toward the uncle now seeking his death.
Tormented in this gruesome reality.
"Those bitten... how they change. Eyes rolled back, mothers tearing into their own children."
Tears welled in the young king's eyes.
"Mu-yeong. I don't want it."
Shaking her head, clutching Mu-yeong's hem.
"I don't want to live on like that—monstrous!"
Becoming the cornered child, battered relentlessly.
Pouring out crumbling emotions.
And before her...
"......"
"......"
Everyone in the room gaped.
The actors who'd pitied her moments ago were speechless.
They could only stare at the child's quivering shoulders.
Not just because it dwarfed her earlier effort.
The terrified 10-year-old crushed by Choi Man-cheol was gone.
In her place stood only the cliff-edge young king 'Lee Yul'.
Yes. Undeniably.
A voice too raw for a 10-year-old—desperate beyond belief.
It clenched fists in every viewer.
Tragedy incarnate.