Chapter 66
Chapter 66
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 66
Chapter Title: One Room Premiere
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"So frustrating..."
Dasol clenched her fists, trembling all over.
Even when she failed to get into her top-choice university, she'd just accepted it as fate. But this time, she simply couldn't shake off the resentment boiling inside her.
It was because she'd been rejected from the audience application for I'm an Actor.
'If I get to go, it'd been ages since I last saw him in person...!'
Dasol had already sketched out a full blueprint of how she'd cheer Seonwoo on if she made it as an audience member.
But the result was swift elimination.
No helping it.
In that case, she'd cheer her heart out from her room.
Dasol pulled out the sketchbook she'd prepared just in case and scrawled in huge letters: 'Until the Day Our Seonwoo Debuts!'
Dayeon shook her head, watching Dasol.
"I did introduce you guys, but... I never imagined it'd turn out like this."
"What do you mean 'like this'?"
"...It's heartwarming. Cute."
"Hmph. Should've said so sooner."
Dasol haughtily tilted her chin up and stared at the TV.
Episode 6 of I'm an Actor was about to air any minute now.
Seonwoo's very first drama was finally premiering.
Dasol didn't forget to post a promo shoutout on SNS too.
Dasulgi: 5 minutes till I'm an Actor ep 6! Drama One Room airs too, so tune in lots! Perfect day to jump in!!
Well, one tweet from her wouldn't make waves... but she'd been riding high lately in these circles.
Hunting down every I'm an Actor-related thread and mention to drop comments had boosted her followers into the thousands.
Anyway, that wasn't the point.
'...I wonder what role Seonwoo's got.'
Next to nothing was known about the drama yet.
The official info released so far was...
1. PD is Park Myungjin.
2. Someone gets eliminated every week.
3. Title's One Room.
4. It's about survival games.
That was it.
She was dying to know.
What story would Seonwoo appear in this time? As what character... showing what kind of acting?
"Seonwoo would totally nail romcom too."
Dasol was already miffed that Seonwoo hadn't done any proper melodrama in I'm an Actor.
She remembered his Cheongsong Theater days.
Not full-on melo, maybe, but Heejae's unrequited crush on Yebin... it had that aching pull on the heart.
But a survival drama? Romance was probably off the table again.
'Eh... Seonwoo could pull off anything anyway.'
Dasol hugged her knees.
Whatever it was, didn't matter. It was Seonwoo's debut drama. She was ready to savor it however it came.
And at last, the live broadcast of I'm an Actor kicked off.
—The TOP 10 mission is drama filming.
The broadcast opened with a subdued narration, soon flashing internet reactions.
What, a drama with amateurs?
No way it'll work. Forget it.
Even Park Myungjin PD couldn't save it.
Reactions too dismal to even call jokes.
And right then, the screen showed none other than PD Park Myungjin.
—Not wrong. When they pitched it to me, I thought the same. Crazy—no, downright foolish.
—Even pros make great work a challenge.
—With total newbies? Near impossible.
Unexpected words.
Everyone figured it'd go "Don't worry—we got this!"
But Park Myungjin sounded as pessimistic as the online doomsayers.
Yet somehow...
That made the anticipation build.
His eyes didn't scream "Don't get your hopes up—it's doomed."
—Even so, I plan to make something great.
Yeah.
That vibe.
Realistic hurdles be damned—he'd bulldoze through and deliver.
The PD posed a question.
What does it take to make that great work...?
—Blood, sweat, tears... and a touch of miracle.
Miracle.
PD pressed: Examples?
Park Myungjin answered.
—A great story.
They needed a stellar writer.
But who'd sign on for this experiment? Weekly deaths tied to contest results, scripting on the fly?
Park Myungjin revealed the answer.
—Sounded fun.
A man stepped into frame.
Snow-white skin, face defying age.
Bright brown eyes too sharp to read.
Long hair draping his neck.
And beside him: <Writer — Ryu>
"No way...!"
Even the impassive Dayeon couldn't hold back her cry.
Ryu.
Last person she'd expect here.
One of Korea's highest-paid scribes.
Now it clicked. I'm an Actor wasn't just bluffing.
Park Myungjin and Ryu.
That lineup? Even rookies could birth something special.
'...Wasn't hyped for the drama itself.'
Dayeon's eyes lit up.
Might actually be a banger.
A true well-made drama.
—One Room will be my most experimental—and alive—work yet.
—Character fates tied to actor survival.
—This setup crafts a unique vibe... that'll hook viewers deep.
—So, what is it?
—Simple stuff. Obvious, even.
Ryu grinned at the camera.
—A tale of dying, killing, and surviving.
His interview wrapped.
Then One Room began.
Opening with a blaze-engulfed building, explosions rumbling, teetering on collapse.
Against it, Hyeongbin appeared.
—No, let me in! Please?!
Hyeongbin insists on entering.
Enter and save lives. Can't abandon them.
Defies his superior's orders, charges in—and collapses unconscious as the structure crumbles.
Next, Minhee.
Working University Hospital, she tries exposing a medical mishap—only for her supervising prof to inject anesthetic. Lights out.
Hyeseong's turn was tame by comparison.
Blew his fortune on stocks. Endless nagging at home turns him agoraphobic toward his own doorstep—eventually panic attacks just facing it.
Finally collapses at the entrance. A black-clad man looms overhead. Fade to black.
"...Damn, Jeong Hyeseong's got that something else."
Dayeon whistled low.
Hyeongbin was polished, Minhee gorgeous... but Hyeseong? Profound.
His burdens, despair, panic seeped right through the screen.
Dasol nodded.
"Looks like they're spotlighting each character one by one."
"Yeah. Never seen a drama roll out like this..."
"Won't light up every one equally. Not this fair."
"...A drama only this show could pull off."
Any normal studio? Instant rejection.
Wondered why Ryu shopped the script here—but it was starting to make sense.
"Spotlighting solo like this... gonna breed comparisons."
"Totally. Perfect chance to gauge their levels."
Dasol gulped.
What level would Seonwoo hit?
Hell, what character even?
Soldier vibe'd suit... or lawyer? Ugh, everything fits him.'
As Dasol inwardly fan-girled, the next scene loaded.
Prison.
No way Seonwoo's an inmate, right? Then—a familiar face.
Red hair, roots gone black. Prisoner.
Jinwook.
"...Kinda suits him, weird as that sounds."
"Yeah. He's got that edge."
Dayeon agreed with Dasol.
Jinwook's rep for rotten attitude went way back. Perfect casting, really.
But his acting? Razor-sharp.
—I said don't touch me, you fucking—!!!
Eyes half-rolled back, he smashed the already bloody face of another inmate. Chilling, even knowing it was acting.
—Why won't you leave me alone! Huh?! WHY!
Screaming, Jinwook takes a baton to the skull from a guard. Eyes glaze. Drops.
'...Nailed it.'
Before they knew it, Dasol and Dayeon had forgotten this was an audition show. Fully immersed.
Zero red flags so far.
Even the rest holding up.
Jinwook's follow-up: Jieun.
Her character? Bland third-time exam-taker. Snaps at parents. Nothing standout.
Still, the sisters tensed.
"She'll... pass out too, right?"
"Bet on it..."
"Eek, spooky..."
Every prior character ended unconscious.
No exceptions for Jieun.
Spot-on guess.
Jieun scoffs at study-room pals' chatter: "Heard kidnappings spiking in the neighborhood lately."
Kidnappings? In this day and age?
So on her walk home, she approaches an old man grunting with a heavy load in a dark alley.
—What a kind young lady~.
She smiles briefly at the praise.
Then senses wrongness. Dim light hid it, but streetlamp reveals: not old man—a young guy in rags.
Too late.
—......!
He clamps her mouth.
No scream. Chemical reek from damp cloth hits. Eyes glaze...
Fade out.
"......"
"......"
The Dasol-Dayeon duo went mute.
Back-to-back shocks left them clueless how to react.
The others? Same vein.
Park Munhyeon: Unjustly "encouraged" to resign, realizes his life's company-only. No family, no friends.
Drunk, he storms the prez for a shouting match—gets shoved down a slope.
Justin next... simplest arc yet.
Club crawler, wasted on booze and pills, throwing pickups everywhere. Bathroom dealer slips him "new stuff." Downs it. Collapses, eyes blank.
"...I see the pattern now."
Dasol finally spoke.
Yeonwoo and Seonwoo left.
But no different. Some troubled life hits crisis, blacks out.
Safe bet every viewer shared.
Eight consistent beats.
Nothing wild ahead.
Tension easing—
Crunch!
Eerie snap echoed.
What? Screen pitch black.
Next frame explained.
—Know how a human neck differs from a chicken's?
—Ugh... aaAAAHHH!
—Chicken necks? Squeeze hard—crack! Snaps easy. Slim, weak spine muscles. Humans? Thick meat gripping bone. Gotta twist with force! Then it snaps. Neat, huh?
Human neck wrenching.
...No. A killing.
Dasol's eyes glazed.
All prior? Victims. Prey vibes heavy.
Sudden apex predator.
Serial killer offing folks like toys.
And the role? None other than Yeonwoo.
'He's this good?'
Knew he could act.
Not like this.
Yeonwoo always felt 2% shy. Solid, but missing spark.
Now? Dasol shivered—deeper than even Hyeseong's depth.
Raw presence no normie has.
Held firm as he chased a fleeing victim, relishing it—till car-smacked.
—F...uck...! Y-you—what the hell—!!!
Clang! Shovel to dome. Out cold.
But his menace? Made even the takedown terrifying.
At this point...
'...Seonwoo, you're screwed.'
Dasol bit her lip, anxious for the next.
Whatever Seonwoo's role, topping this impact? Tough.
When Seonwoo showed as a plain office drone, Dasol inwardly waved the white flag.
No beating Yeonwoo's punch today.
Impossible.
Yeonwoo OP'd out.
Even prime role wouldn't top it easy.
Fine then—focus on enjoying Seonwoo's debut moment.
Historic, after all.
Issue was...
'Character's... kinda drab.'
Lacked oomph.
Wished for punchier, sharper-edged type.
Everyone else nailed fitting roles. Seonwoo alone drew the short straw? Kinda bummed—
'Huh?'
Dasol's face shifted, intrigued.
'What's this?'
Why... does it feel so good?