Chapter 8
Chapter 8
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 8
Chapter Title: The Seungdo Audition
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Cheongsong was currently the hottest theater troupe in all of Korea.
But the real focus here wasn't that Cheongsong was Korea's top troupe.
Cheongsong was a troupe.
That's right—a troupe. No matter how successful it got, it was still just a troupe in the end.
"Got a call for a supporting role?"
"I'm sorry, Troupe Leader."
Jiwan let out a sigh as he gazed at the man bowed low before him—Eunseok.
Until Eunseok had suddenly asked for a private word, Jiwan never imagined he'd hear something like this.
And yet, out of nowhere, the guy had landed a movie audition.
Truth be told, no one at Cheongsong batted an eye when actors poked around in films. They figured it was only natural for performers to step in front of the camera and reach the masses.
Still, from the perspective of someone running the troupe, these situations inevitably drew a sigh.
"Filming starts in a week. I'll make sure to cover all the performances until then... I'm really sorry, Troupe Leader. I just can't let this opportunity slip away."
"I know. Think I don't get where you're coming from...?"
Jiwan heaved another deep sigh.
Passing an audition was cause for celebration.
Especially since Eunseok had snagged a meaty supporting role in a blockbuster from a ten-million-viewer director.
A once-in-a-lifetime shot. No way he could tell the guy to toss it.
The issue was the role Eunseok was vacating.
Seungdo.
Seungdo was the man who showed up in the final act of Confession to confess his sins.
Or more accurately, to give forewarning of the sin he was about to commit.
He'd confess his intent to kill his father's murderer for revenge and ask what punishment awaited him once the deed was done.
That tense standoff with the Priest formed the play's climax.
It was a pivotal role, one that carried massive weight in the story.
And now Eunseok was bailing.
Even if he crammed through a full week's schedule...
What then?
A total headache from every angle.
But...
"...We'll make it work somehow. So don't sweat it—just focus on prepping for your shoot."
"Troupe Leader... I'm sorry."
"Sorry for what? You're chasing your own path—what am I supposed to say? It's not like we can feed you forever. When opportunity knocks, you grab it."
Jiwan wasn't about to clip the wings of someone on the verge of flight.
"We'll find a sub somehow and get 'em on their feet. We've got talent to spare in this troupe. It'll be fine. Really."
"...You sure? Everyone's tied up with their own gigs these days."
"Well, yeah, if we only lean on the usual crew. But these new faces we just brought in..."
In that instant, one face flickered across Jiwan's mind.
The buzz of Cheongsong lately.
"...It'll work out. Has to."
Jiwan paused to mull it over.
What if that guy took on Seungdo...?
What would that even look like?
Nah—even so, putting him on stage already feels way too soon.
Yeah. Definitely premature.
But for some reason...
He couldn't stop picturing the kid up there. ◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Hyung! Hyung! You see the text!?"
Not long after checking the message, Yechun came barreling in, face lit up with excitement.
Seonwoo nodded.
"Yeah. Audition stuff, right?"
"Yep! Isn't it insane? A role opening up mid-run like this? First time ever..."
"What went down?"
"That Eunseok hyung, remember? He's in Shin Juho's new movie."
"...Shin Juho? The ten-million-director Shin Juho?"
"That's the one."
"Holy crap..."
Working with Shin Juho basically meant breaking into the film mainstream.
Seonwoo pictured Eunseok's performances.
The guy definitely had a rich, lived-in style. A real knack for grabbing eyes.
That aside...
"But is it okay for me to audition?"
"Huh? 'Course it is! Why not?"
"I just joined the troupe. Feels like jumping into an audition might stir up talk."
"Nah, zero chance of that. Newbies trying out is standard here. Cheongsong's got one motto, period."
Yechun held up his index finger.
"Forget the rest—the best actor wins."
"...Straight to the point."
"Nail it, you're in. Flop, you're out. That's what auditions are for."
Pure meritocracy.
Healthier vibe than Seonwoo expected.
Made it even better. With a smile, he pulled the script from his bag.
"Truth is, I've already started prepping."
"...Damn, hyung. Speed demon."
Yechun snickered at the Confession script in Seonwoo's hand.
Seonwoo had decided to go for it the second he saw the casting call text.
Gossip? Whatever. He was itching to act right now.
Plus, landing it meant a shot at sharing the stage with Doyoung.
Already shaping up to be a blast.
He wanted to dive straight into that world soaked in Doyoung's essence.
Just imagining what it'd feel like to perform there had him buzzing already.
"You going for it too, Yechun?"
"Nah. Got a show running already."
"Right. But aren't most folks tied up these days?"
"Pretty much, yeah—unless they're on break. And..."
Yechun hesitated, then spoke carefully.
"To be real, this audition's kinda like a poisoned chalice."
"...Oh?"
"Yeah. Lines are short, but the prep window's tiny. Land it, and you might suffer. Hell, botch the prep, and it's a full-on disaster."
Fair point.
It'd mean mounting a production in days flat. Schedule was brutal.
Yechun shrugged.
"Silver lining, though—not a ton of competition. Means you've got a fighting chance."
"Nah. No chance at all."
That was when it happened.
A slimy voice slithered between them.
One he recognized from sound alone.
Seonwoo smoothed his budding scowl and turned.
The snake-faced Seo Jinwook stood there, lips curled in a smirk as he eyed them.
"Hey."
"You seriously thinking of applying?"
Seo Jinwook tilted his head at the script in Seonwoo's grip.
Complete with the vibe of You got time for that?
But Seonwoo nodded boldly.
He'd pegged the guy's type by now.
Give an inch, and he'd yap forever. That was the verdict.
"Yep. Planning to."
No need to fold.
No rule saying he couldn't.
Catch him off guard? Jinwook's eyes twitched. Then a forced casual grin.
"...Huh. Was gonna throw my hat in too. Schedule cleared up nicely."
What, so what?
Like, even if you apply, you think you will?
Who knows. Didn't care to.
Seonwoo replied evenly.
"Cool. Best of luck. Let's make it a good competition."
"...Competition?"
That hit a nerve.
Jinwook barked a laugh like it was ridiculous, narrowing his eyes to slits.
"Gutsy one. Fine. Give it your best shot. I'm dying to see how it shakes out."
He spat it like a growl and stalked off without so much as a goodbye.
Only once he was out of sight did Yechun click his tongue.
"Guess his pride's still smarting from that scene with you. Has to act all prickly like this."
"...Is he always this juvenile?"
"Told you. Watch your back."
Seonwoo's head throbbed.
Never figured adulthood would drag him into playground scraps.
But damn if it didn't light a fire.
One more reason to nail the audition. Anything but losing to that guy.
So he'd have to bring his A-game...
Seonwoo peered into the script.
Can't lean solely on the color orbs.
He knew they were his ace.
Without them, he wouldn't have made the troupe.
But they weren't a cure-all.
The orbs just help me portray the character to the degree I grasp them.
To wield their power right, he needed deeper insight first.
Good thing pinning down the vibe wasn't tough. He'd watched Eunseok play Seungdo plenty.
The color he'd seen through him: dark crimson-black.
Stained with hatred, despair, rage... a stark foil to the Priest's radiant golden aura.
Seungdo's life left no room for any other hue.
His father lost everything to a con artist and drowned himself in despair.
His mother wasted away after and followed. Back-to-back tragedies cost Seungdo his fiancée too.
Revenge was all that remained for the man in the abyss.
Why Seungdo owned Confession's climax.
An explosive emotional arc that could dim even the Priest's towering presence.
One worry, though...
Is it safe to pop this thing?
Seonwoo eyed the color orb—like blood and ink mashed together—and hesitated.
Popping it let him live the character's heart image raw.
The snag was Seungdo's heart.
Just looking at that horrific, ominous shade...
He could already tell. Getting dyed in it wouldn't be fun.
...But what choice did he have?
Never really one to start with.
Just pop it. Deal with the fallout after.
With that, he burst the orb.
"...!"
—It hit like boiling water injected straight into his veins.
Hot. Scorching. Rage threatening to rupture every vessel, surging through his body with each heartbeat.
His heart didn't just ache—it felt like it was melting down.
God, if only someone would make it stop. But then realization dawned: it never would.
Why?
...He'd lost everything now.
Nothing left.
"Hah...!"
Seonwoo gasped raggedly and crumpled to the floor.
His limbs trembled. He got the emotion he'd just felt... but his mind spun too wild to pin it.
And that's when it happened.
The familiar color orb floated before his eyes again.
Almost like it was speaking to him.
Think you can handle it? Back out now. Take a breather.
Spare yourself the agony.
...Okay, it shook him a little.
Seungdo's orb was way uglier than he'd braced for.
The kind of raw emotion ordinary folks couldn't—or wouldn't—touch...
His heart still pulsed with phantom throbs.
But retreat? No dice.
If he was gonna half-ass it, he never would've started.
And above all... the suffering only stoked his hunger.
For this Seungdo.
For that rush of bringing him to life.
"...Let's do this."
Seonwoo clenched his fist and shattered the orb.
And Seungdo's color rushed in, eager to claim him.