Chapter 26
Chapter 26
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 26
Chapter Title: Seizing the Golden Ticket
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A short while later, Seong Junil burst back into the waiting room, buzzing with excitement.
The moment he spotted Yumi Yeon sipping her tea, he launched into speech with an eager voice.
"Senior! You won't believe the hilarious thing I just witnessed."
"Hilarious?"
"Well..."
Seong Junil recounted exactly what he'd seen.
The heated exchange between Seonwoo and Seo Jinwook. Yumi Yeon, having overheard the whole thing, let out a hollow chuckle.
"They haven't even started acting yet, and they're already filming their own drama?"
"Right? If only a camera had been rolling, it would've been an iconic scene..."
Seong Junil smacked his lips in regret.
It had been an incredibly provocative moment. Seo Jinwook declaring he'd do anything for the sake of the performance, and Seonwoo insisting on holding the line where it mattered.
But at the same time, it felt familiar.
It was the kind of conflict every actor faced at some point.
Seong Junil's eyes grew serious.
"Now I'm really curious. What kind of performance will that team bring?"
"Seonwoo... that kid from back then, right? The one who only trained for four or five months but was insanely good."
"Yes, that's him."
"Kid's got story luck."
Yumi Yeon wore a subtle expression.
What was the most important thing for an actor to become a star? Looks? Acting chops? Maybe, but even with both, countless actors faded into obscurity.
In the end, the key virtue for an actor—no, any entertainer—was buzzworthiness.
The ability to grab attention no matter what and generate topics of conversation.
Seonwoo had that buzz.
From building his genius image to landing in this situation.
But that buzz only mattered if he survived this show.
'Golden Ticket.'
Aiming for it so the whole team could advance together.
Noble goal.
But not as easy as it sounded.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "S-Sorry..."
The moment they got back to the dorm, Sion apologized out of the blue.
Seonwoo waved it off in confusion.
"No, no, what's this sudden apology? Did something happen?"
"No, it's just... I feel like I'm constantly messing up and causing trouble for you, hyung..."
Had he picked up on Seo Jinwook's discomfort?
Seonwoo felt guilty for making the kid so self-conscious. He shook his head.
"Don't worry about that. Just focus on your performance from now on. That's all."
"I feel bad too."
Hyungbin scratched his head.
"I kept stealing your time because I couldn't get a feel for it."
"I'm fine. Let's all push together. We need that Golden Ticket!"
"Yeah! Let's do it!"
For Seonwoo, coaching their acting didn't feel like a handicap at all.
Watching their performances actually deepened his own understanding of the play.
And both Hyungbin and Sion had clearly improved since the start.
They'd made it this far through brutal competition for a reason. They had potential.
Just easing their tension was enough to draw out solid performances.
Especially Sion...
"Grandpa said this day was Brothers' Day. The day we go on the trip."
'His emotional line is strong.'
He was even surprising Seonwoo now.
With the tension gone, Sion dove into the role with unnatural focus for a kid his age.
He'd struggled a bit at first with interpreting the character, but once Seonwoo broke down the traits, he nailed it right away.
'He's better than expected.'
Seonwoo nodded inwardly.
He'd heard "genius" tossed around thanks to his color marble ability. But true talent, in his view, was this: grasping a character purely through instinct and making it your own, no cheats involved.
Hyungbin was shaping up too.
He'd panicked over the rushed character analysis, but with Seonwoo's steady guidance, he was finding his footing.
Surprisingly, Seo Jinwook cooperated more than expected.
He didn't take the lead in teaching, but he always stepped in as the scene partner when asked.
Well, refusing would've been ridiculous anyway.
Thanks to that, preparations progressed smoothly.
Except...
'Can we win with this?'
Seonwoo pondered.
Only two Golden Tickets out of twenty-five teams.
They had to be top two.
Think about it: other teams might be all theater actors or indie pros.
Could they outperform those?
'Not like this.'
Their show was decent enough to watch.
But not gasp-worthy.
Partly because his standards had risen from Cheongsong stages. Still, some contestant would match that level.
Complacency was death.
So, what to do?
How to elevate their stage?
Seonwoo thought.
The issues were Sion and Hyungbin. They were trying hard, but not fully embodying their roles yet.
That's what his eyes saw.
'They haven't fully immersed themselves.'
Colors flickered in their lines and actions, moment to moment.
But when syncing with Seo Jinwook...
"What nonsense is that? You think Dad wrote the will like that?"
"Nonsense? Is that how you talk to your brother?!"
The colors wilted.
Not surprising. Even Cheongsong members lost their hue around Seo Jinwook.
It was selfish acting.
Burning everyone else as fuel to shine brighter.
Great if partners matched his intensity, but toxic with acting newbies.
'If I tell him to tone it down...'
Seonwoo shook his head.
Seo Jinwook, already grumbling about helping them? No way he'd listen.
Better leave him be while he was cooperating.
But they couldn't coast.
Golden Ticket would slip away.
Seonwoo might advance solo anyway.
But it wasn't just about them.
'If we're performing anyway, might as well make it great.'
And a happy ending for all? Even better.
Push as far as possible.
And then it hit him.
Faces of Cheongsong supporting actors flashed in his mind—Hyeseong and the others who played scene-stealers.
Masters at enhancing the play's vibe. Acting with them made Seonwoo's colors flow easier.
How to describe it? Their acting guided him.
'Can I do that?'
Seonwoo ran another rehearsal.
This time, not focusing on personal colors, but the play's overall flow.
The flow was the colors' current.
Emotions intertwining between characters. Leave space for partners' colors.
Gaps for emotions to breathe.
And then,
"I told you, I don't know! If I had the password, I'd have cracked it already!"
Hyungbin delivered far smoother than before, like he'd been waiting for this.
Not just him. Sion flowed naturally too.
Seonwoo got it.
Their tension wasn't just from the tight schedule or filming pressure.
He might've been suppressing them.
Seo Jinwook watched Seonwoo's shift with a strange look.
"..."
Shock, annoyance, displeasure—all mixed.
Seonwoo ignored it.
Seo Jinwook felt the change too, probably.
But his thoughts didn't matter now.
'We can do this...!'
Potential sparked.
This way... Golden Ticket wasn't impossible.
We can win.
All survive.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ ⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ << The time has come. >> Night.
All the [I Am an Actor] contestants gathered in the plaza.
The judges on stage scanned the crowd.
As always, Seong Junil took the mic.
⚙ ANNOUNCEMENT ⚙ << You've grown attached to many of the cast in that short time, I'm sure. >> << Some of you dream of earning the Golden Ticket and advancing together. >> << To make that happen, there's just one thing you need to show us here. >> << Great acting. >> The smile faded from Seong Junil's face.
⚙ ANNOUNCEMENT ⚙ << Show us you're great actors. >> << Give the audience a reason to see you, remember you, and love you. >> << From the bottom of my heart... I wish you all victory. >> Stirring words.
Reminders of the massive opportunity and stakes here.
Every contestant's face hardened with resolve—then Yumi Yeon's voice rang out.
⚙ JUDGE'S WORDS ⚙ << One more thing I'd like to add... This is a competition, but it's also a chance to introduce yourselves to the public. >> << Even if you go home today, someone will remember your performance. >> << Keep that in mind when you act. I'd appreciate it. >> Seonwoo flinched watching her speak.
For a moment, it felt like their eyes locked too long. Probably just his imagination.
No reason for her to single him out yet.
He glanced at his teammates.
Exhausted from nonstop practice right up to arrival.
Sion especially, struggling more due to his age.
Was all that practice worth it?
Seonwoo recalled their final run-through.
Each character's colors alive, breathing, interacting seamlessly.
Beautiful even in memory.
'We can do it.'
Seonwoo clenched his fist.
Preparations complete. Time to prove it, as Seong Junil said.
Grab it.
The Golden Ticket.