Chapter 78
Chapter 78
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 78
Chapter Title: The Verdict
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Watching a work you'd acted in yourself... was actually pretty tough.
It stood out all the more in the eyes of the person who'd performed it.
Was my acting truly my best? Were there parts that strayed from my intentions? Where was it lacking, and where did the emotions overflow...
Fortunately, though.
At least Seonwoo didn't find himself all that embarrassing on screen.
'This is my best.'
He wouldn't call it perfect.
But Seonwoo had agonized over doing the absolute best he could. And he hadn't compromised in the slightest, no matter what.
Even if he went back in time, he'd probably deliver the exact same performance.
The audience reactions were what worried him, though.
Last time, Seonwoo had scored an 8 from the audience and 83 from the judges.
Had he done better this time?
Had what he wanted to express... come across to them fully?
He didn't know.
He'd find out from the judging.
But disappointingly, the first name called wasn't Seonwoo's.
"Seo Jinwook-ssi."
"...Yes."
Jinwook looked unusually tense, uncharacteristic for him.
His scores last time had been 82 from the judges and 6 from the audience.
The audience score was probably weighing on him more.
6 points was just too low, no matter how you sliced it.
The relatively high judge score wasn't much consolation, either.
If anything, it grated. It felt like they were saying, 'Your acting's not bad, but you lack marketability.'
"We heard from the production team. You even got acting coaching from Lee Yeonwoo-ssi?"
"...Yes. I did."
"Did you feel the need for a change?"
Seong Junil peered at Seo Jinwook with a smirk.
Jinwook quietly bowed his head.
"...I felt like I couldn't keep going like this. I thought making a living as an actor would be tough."
It was such raw phrasing, you had to wonder if this was even live TV.
It felt like Seo Jinwook from One Room had jumped straight into reality.
Seong Junil smiled at him.
"Not sure if it's thanks to Yeonwoo-ssi... but you're still sailing smooth. Jinwook-ssi, your judge score is... 83 points. And audience score is 7."
Total of 90.
Both scores up by 1 from last time.
But Jinwook couldn't decide if he should be happy about it. He just stood there expressionless, so Seong Junil added softly,
"Don't worry too much. Keep pushing like this... and you'll definitely become a fine actor."
For an actor of Seong Junil's caliber to say 'you'll become a good actor' carried real weight.
But Jinwook remembered how their eyes sparkled when they looked at Seonwoo.
And how they didn't sparkle quite the same for him.
'...Still not enough.'
That thought crossed his mind as he returned to his seat.
Seonwoo, standing beside him, glanced over and quietly spoke up.
"Good acting."
"...?"
What was this?
Some new kind of jab?
Jinwook shot Seonwoo a sour look.
Seonwoo always treated him like a ghost or something invisible. This guy wasn't the type to strike up conversation first. Made the praise sound insincere, somehow.
But right then.
Jinwook's eyes met Yeonwoo's—wait, no, Seonwoo's—who was smiling brightly at him.
Eyes that seemed to say, 'Didn't we make a promise?'
...In the end, Jinwook could only sigh and reply.
"Yeah, thanks."
The awkward air lingered only briefly.
They both turned back to the judges. The next contestant was already up for review.
It was Jieun.
"Our Jieun-ssi... you're such a clean actor."
"Th-thank you."
"But that's not always a good thing."
It wasn't praise.
As Jieun's smile froze, Yoo Miyoung fixed her with a firm gaze.
"Being clean means you don't stand out. You don't need to try so hard for that 'perfect performance.' Get what I mean?"
"...Yes, I understand!"
She didn't, really.
But Jieun nodded anyway. Admitting she didn't might come off like she was picking a fight.
Still, hearing the scores that followed, she wondered if she should've asked.
"Jieun-ssi, judges 75, audience 7... total 82."
Last time: 85.
Down 3 points.
'...Am I getting cut?'
The thought made her eyes flicker with unease.
She'd figured dropout was possible anytime. The remaining contestants were all heavy hitters.
Especially Hyeseong, who went right after her. No need to even mention.
"Perfect."
Same as last time: 94.
The ones after him, too.
"Hard to find any flaws."
Jaewon got 90.
"...I forgot it was acting for a moment."
Minhee scored 89.
High scores none of them could touch, compared to Jieun.
She'd never expected them to score lower than her to begin with. Their experience levels were worlds apart.
But like this, dropout was inevitable for her.
As Jieun's face darkened at the reality,
"Bang Hyeongbin-ssi. What do you think of your own acting?"
Hyeongbin's turn.
Seong Junil posed the question.
Under his unsmiling gaze, Hyeongbin stammered,
"...I think there are still a lot of shortcomings."
"Sure, plenty of shortcomings. But does that mean you should lose confidence?"
"Um, no. That wouldn't be good."
"That's all I wanted to say. I like your acting, Hyeongbin-ssi. People do too. Just have a bit more confidence."
Jieun swallowed unconsciously.
She figured Hyeongbin's score wouldn't be great, either. Maybe enough to scrape by...
"Judges 77, audience 7... total 84."
...Or so she'd thought.
Not high, but still 2 points above Jieun.
No telling how many dropouts today, but Jieun being one seemed certain.
'Who left...?'
Jieun glanced at the other contestants.
And smiled bitterly to herself.
'...No hope.'
Yeonwoo and Seonwoo.
Monsters whose performances could've claimed first place either way.
Sure, judging might not go their way, but dead last? No chance.
Done for.
As Jieun quietly accepted it, Yoo Miyoung spoke up.
"Yeonwoo-ssi... you're a rare talent."
"Oh, thank you!"
"Not just lip service. There's no other actress in our country who can act like you. You know that, right?"
"...Hmm, never really thought about it."
Yeonwoo shook her head.
She didn't agonize over being an actor. Her uniqueness as a performer wasn't something she dwelled on.
Yoo Miyoung's eyes sparkled as she watched her.
"Start thinking about it now. I want to see you become a real star someday. Want to watch more of your work."
Rave reviews.
And Yeonwoo's score matched: 94.
Down 1 from last time, but tied for first with Hyeseong.
Yeonwoo jumped with a bright smile, but truth be told, she wasn't fussed about the score. No real perks for first.
What caught her attention instead was,
'No actress like me?'
Well, obvious.
How many women were hiding psychopathy to pursue acting?
But unsure whether to take it purely positively, Yeonwoo's expression turned a touch serious when,
"Seonwoo-ssi."
The main judge called him to the stage.
A few audience members cheered the moment Seonwoo stepped up.
His episode 2 performance wasn't flashy... but unforgettable.
So subtle and deep, it lingered like an afterimage in the memory.
Seong Junil was no exception.
His eyes sparkled as he looked at Seonwoo.
"I'm sitting here as a judge... but I'm still curious. How'd you do it?"
"...Do what, sir?"
"Kim Seonwoo, that deeply melancholic character... how'd you make him sparkle like that?"
Sparkle.
Seonwoo couldn't help smiling at the word.
It might've been exactly what he wanted to hear most.
Just last judging, when Yi Mubeom had said it sparkled, Seonwoo hadn't grasped it.
Now here he was, getting asked how it sparkled.
Worth the effort.
Seonwoo smiled back.
"Honestly, I was stumped at first. Wondered if a guy like Kim Seonwoo could even sparkle."
"Changed your mind?"
"Yes."
Seonwoo nodded.
And turned to Park Moonhyeon in the audience.
"Our section chief told me. People shine... in their own way, from their own place."
Park Moonhyeon looked flustered as the spotlight swung to him.
Seong Junil glanced at him, then smiled warmly.
'Always knows how to pass the credit.'
Time he wanted to show off a bit himself, but no ego like that.
Maybe that's why he was even more likable.
The judges' smiles deepened.
Seonwoo's eyes sparkled as he spoke.
"And thanks to Yi Mubeom teacher, too."
"Me?"
Yi Mubeom's eyes widened as he stared at Seonwoo.
Seonwoo nodded with a smile.
"Yes. If you hadn't said Kim Seonwoo sparkled last time... I don't think I could've pulled this off. It's thanks to you."
"Ahem..."
Yi Mubeom let out a pleased yet awkward cough.
Truth was, that comment hadn't been meant to inspire this performance. He'd just said it honestly.
Seonwoo had sparkled in his eyes.
Yet that one remark led to this.
'Sharp kid.'
Yi Mubeom nodded inwardly.
Seonwoo claimed he couldn't have done it without that word, but Yi Mubeom disagreed.
A kid who drew lessons and inspiration from anything.
Even without it, Seonwoo would've found his best somehow.
But right now, Seonwoo didn't need that kind of praise.
'What should I say?'
Yi Mubeom's gaze deepened.
A kid who took even 'sparkle' as a lesson.
It'd been ages since Yi Mubeom felt this pressure. His words could shape Seonwoo's next performance.
How to guide him.
What to point out.
How to make him sparkle more.
No matter how long he pondered, only one answer came.
Yi Mubeom finally smiled and spoke.
"Great acting."
No better words, all things considered.
"Loved watching it."