Chapter 36
Chapter 36
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 36
Chapter Title: A Psychopath's Confession
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Seonwoo stared intently at Yeonwoo's face.
He wondered how she would react, but Yeonwoo just played dumb with a playful grin.
"Acting? Well, because I love acting..."
I knew it. This wasn't about that acting, though.
Maybe it was even a signal to just pretend not to notice. But Seonwoo wouldn't compromise.
"No, not that. I mean right now, and usually too."
He felt like if he didn't address it now, he'd never get close to her.
"Why are you always acting?"
And with that, he finally voiced the question he'd harbored all along.
For the first time, the sky-blue aura enveloping Yeonwoo wavered.
It flared up like a candle on the verge of extinguishing, then... faded away.
How strange. The smile that had seemed so natural moments ago now felt somehow off.
"Mr. Seonwoo, you're really such a weirdo."
"......"
Ever since he started acting, Seonwoo had seen countless expressions.
He had to observe and remember them all to recreate them himself.
But this expression was a first.
Even though she was smiling, it didn't feel like a smile.
Her smile seemed utterly empty.
As if all the emotion that should fill a smile was completely absent...
"Since when?"
Yeonwoo asked.
Seonwoo answered quietly.
"From the first time I saw you."
"I figured as much. You kept giving me those suspicious looks. It's crazy how you noticed right away. Most people don't."
Curiosity flickered in Yeonwoo's eyes.
She leaned in, peering closely at Seonwoo.
"Is it because you're an acting genius? Can you spot other people's acting more easily?"
"...Well, it was just a hunch. Sorry. I wasn't sure if I should ask, but pretending not to notice felt ruder."
"Yeah, I thought so. You kept your distance, so I figured it was either because you liked me or were uncomfortable... but clearly not the former."
Yeonwoo nodded.
Her voice still carried no real emotion. She stood up.
"Want to talk outside?"
"Sure."
How long had they walked after stepping out?
Yeonwoo tossed out casually, as if it were no big deal.
"Must've been uncomfortable around me, huh?"
"...I was curious why you act all the time, even normally. Honestly, it was uncomfortable too."
"Yeah, fair enough. If someone was acting right in front of me, I'd wonder what kind of freak they were."
"You... don't have to talk about it."
Yeonwoo's steps halted.
She turned to Seonwoo with eyes that said, What do you mean, now? Seonwoo mumbled awkwardly.
"I didn't ask why because I wanted to know the reason."
"...Ah? Got it. You can see right through my acting. You just wanted to let me know that."
"Yeah. Pretending not to notice when I could see it felt like I was teasing you."
"True enough. So, you don't need to know the reason?"
"No."
Seonwoo nodded.
He was curious, sure, but not to the point where he had to know. It could just be Yeonwoo's personal secret.
He had no right to demand that.
"Hmm..."
Yeonwoo scratched her head with a blank expression.
The more she looked at him, the weirder he got. He'd said what he needed to, then claimed he wasn't curious about the reason.
That just made her want to tell him.
Yeonwoo smiled.
"No big secret or anything. I can tell you why I act."
And just like that, as if sharing some trivial tidbit, she spoke nonchalantly.
"I'm a psychopath."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ For a moment, his thoughts froze.
"......Pardon?"
Psychopath.
Wasn't that the label that always trailed serial killer news stories?
Yet Yeonwoo had just called herself one. With an endlessly harmless smile.
If anyone else had said it, he'd have dismissed it as a bad joke.
But coming from Yeonwoo? That changed everything.
All the mysteries that hadn't made sense until now... suddenly clicked into place.
Seonwoo realized instinctively.
This wasn't a joke.
And slowly, he parted his lips.
"...I guess that makes sense."
"Makes sense?"
"Why you live acting all the time."
"Not scared?"
"Should I be?"
"I could kill you right now. Like this. Wah!"
Yeonwoo suddenly raised her voice and lunged playfully.
But Seonwoo didn't flinch. Was it because she was smaller? No, more like... she just didn't seem the type to act so randomly.
Yeonwoo sighed, as if her fun had fizzled out watching him.
"I've thought this since way back, but your reactions are so boring, Mr. Seonwoo."
"...I've heard psychopaths don't just kill randomly. Even if you are one, I figured you're well-socialized."
"You calculated all that in those few seconds? Smart guy. It's not just the acting."
Yeonwoo clapped as if impressed.
"Anyway, that's why I act. Psychopath. Official diagnosis: antisocial personality disorder. If I act like myself... people find it weird. Uncanny valley, I guess? Like watching a robot pretending to be human."
Seonwoo silently watched her. He'd half-expected something like this.
Living in constant acting meant her true self must be off somehow.
But I didn't expect it to be psychopath-level...
And he certainly hadn't anticipated her confessing so casually.
...Well, technically, he'd pushed her into revealing it.
"Sorry."
"Huh? For what?"
"For making you reveal a secret you didn't have to."
Yeonwoo gave him an odd look.
"What? You said you didn't need to know why, but I chose to tell you. Anyway, you don't seem that uncomfortable with me."
"If anything, your acting phase was more uncomfortable. Not knowing what you were hiding."
"Now that I've spilled my guts, nothing scary about it?"
"A little scary, but not terrifying?"
"......You're really weird, Mr. Seonwoo."
Yeonwoo stared at him.
"Usually, people run when I say I'm a psychopath."
"In movies, the ones who run die first."
Seonwoo chuckled dryly.
But seeing no reaction from Yeonwoo, it hit him anew. Right, jokes like that probably don't land.
Yeonwoo belatedly clapped. "Ah,"
"That was a joke just now, right?"
"Yes."
"Sorry. I'm pretty good at reading emotions now, but there's still some buffering sometimes."
"Didn't you say you can't empathize?"
"Emotionally, yeah. Logically, though? I can. Why someone says something, what an expression means—I memorized it all like formulas. So I can understand emotions that way too."
She just doesn't feel them.
Seonwoo suddenly recalled her earlier words.
Emotions are just a skill, she'd said. Maybe she had to think that way to cope. It was how she'd adapt to society.
Her insights into emotions while acting... were traces of that struggle.
"Does it creep you out?"
"Not creepy, just curious. Why tell me?"
"Didn't feel like hiding from you. You don't seem like the loose-lips type. But now I'm curious."
Yeonwoo tilted her head blankly.
"Why ask in the first place? Pretending not to notice would've been easier. Was it really just politeness?"
"...To be more honest, you're such a great teacher."
Yeonwoo furrowed her brow.
That answer felt totally out of left field.
But Seonwoo scratched his head and continued.
"I'll probably need more advice from you going forward, and I didn't want this awkwardness hanging over us."
"...Mr. Seonwoo. Do you know something?"
"What?"
"To me, you're not normal either."
Yeonwoo gazed at him steadily.
No trace of that usual sky-blue aura in her voice.
"You seem more psycho than me."
She meant it.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Yeonwoo's psychopath confession was honestly surprising.
But nothing really changed.
Her having a personality disorder didn't mean he'd stop talking to her tomorrow, nor did he feel the need to.
If anything, resolving that nagging awkwardness meant he could seek her acting advice more freely.
But why acting, then?
Does she love it?
Or is there some other goal?
He was curious, but he had too much else on his mind to dwell.
Like the dejected back of Sion's head buried in the bed.
"Sion. You getting up?"
"......I'm up."
"Come on, breakfast."
"Can't I skip?"
"No. You need to eat more when you're down."
"Okay..."
Was it because of the harsh judging yesterday?
Sion stayed thoroughly downcast.
The confidence from the four-person scene seemed wiped clean.
I really need to look out for him this time.
He didn't know what the next mission would be.
But Seonwoo was willing to team up with Sion if needed.
Some might say that's overkill for a competition show, but he was still a kid. And his roommate.
He wanted to take care of him.
It felt like the adult thing to do... and it wasn't hard anyway.
Just watch out for him a bit more.
As he dragged Sion toward the cafeteria, he spotted Hyeseong and Yechun.
Yechun grinned wickedly at Sion and called out.
"Hey, Kim Wimpster!"
Creative nickname.
Wimpster immediately bristled and yelled back.
"I'm not a wimp!"
"Heard you bawled yesterday?"
"Gasp, h-how did you...!"
"...What? I was just guessing, but you really cried?"
"N-no! I didn't cry!"
Sion clenched his fists and shouted.
Seonwoo smiled inwardly watching him. He'd been worried about the low energy, but this fire was a relief.
Thanks to Yechun. Always teasing, but subtly looking out for him.
"Look at those puffy eyes. Total Kim Wimpster~!"
"I'm not a wimp!!"
...They seemed pretty evenly matched, honestly.
As he watched them laugh, Hyeseong approached.
"Sleep well?"
"Yeah, out like a light."
"Impressive. If Imu-beom called me a genius on camera, I'd be up a week."
"...That does sound burdensome."
Seonwoo sighed.
Hyeseong nodded sympathetically. A heavyweight like that dropping it on national TV? Terrifying.
"Still, that's a win. Other audition shows hype anyone decent as a 'genius' nonsense."
"That's malicious in a different way."
"Exactly. They don't care about the backlash. But you could handle that image."
Hyeseong grinned mischievously.
"Maybe even rock it~?"
"Absolutely not. I'm at my limit already. No more."
"Eh, probably fine anyway."
Hyeseong nodded.
"How much more can they hype you?"
Seonwoo agreed.
Overpraised as a genius by Imu-beom himself. Things couldn't get worse.
......That's what he thought.
It was lunchtime that day.
📢 ANNOUNCEMENT 📢 All participants, please gather in the central lounge. The announcement blared.
Not the usual call to the plaza studio. Central lounge? As they headed there puzzled, the reason became clear.
"The teaser just dropped!"
"We're just filming reactions—watch relaxed!"
It was intriguing.
Reactions to a teaser, not the main show? Teasers weren't that react-worthy.
But when it started moments later, Seonwoo had to rethink that.
—An actor audition show? Nice if it existed... but would it work? —Honestly, any real actors on those shows? Even pros on screen are stiff half the time. How many amateurs have talent? The teaser opened with skeptical chuckles.
Expectations tanked. Untalented folks stay unknown for a reason.
They must suck. The doubts piled on.
And then.
—He's too good. —Unbelievable. Totally different level. Contestants' stunned voices followed.
Cut to faces: Jaewon, Minhee, Yeonwoo, Hyeseong... all the standouts flashed by.
And then.
Seonwoo's face appeared next.
Not shocking so far. He'd shared screen with others.
The problem came after.
—Never thought I'd say this myself. Imu-beom's voice boomed, Seonwoo's direct gaze filling the screen again.
Followed by Imu-beom's line.
—A genius. Screen blacked out.
...Framing Seonwoo like some ultimate secret weapon.
As it ended, heads turned in unison.
All eyes on one person.
Seonwoo.
Seonwoo let out a hollow laugh.
"...This is insane."