Chapter 9
Chapter 9
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 9
Chapter Title: The Seungdo Audition
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Cheongsong's auditions were always held as open auditions that the troupe members could watch.
Thanks to that, the auditorium of the Cheongsong Theater was packed with troupe members right now. They had come to watch.
It wasn't to see who would land the role of Seungdo.
If that were the reason, they wouldn't have shown up in such numbers.
They had gathered because word had spread that the new recruit had applied for the audition, and everyone was curious about his acting.
'The newbie must be pretty nervous.'
Eunseok inwardly clicked his tongue as he surveyed the auditorium filled to the brim with troupe members.
Rumors about Kim Seonwoo had already spread like wildfire throughout Cheongsong.
A genius actor with no prior experience.
He hadn't seen it himself, but apparently, during the introductory performance when he first joined, he'd delivered some pretty profound acting. They said he hadn't been outshone even opposite Seo Jinwook.
Honestly, Eunseok hadn't quite bought it.
How good could the acting of some kid with zero experience really be?
'No. I need to watch without preconceptions.'
Eunseok shook his head.
If he were just another spectator like the others, it wouldn't matter.
But today, he was here not as a watcher, but as a judge.
He had originally played Seungdo himself, and he was one of the most senior members in Cheongsong—no one else was as qualified for the panel.
Excluding him... well.
"Hey, Doyoung sunbae!"
"Oh, Doyoung oppa!"
Cha Doyoung. That was about it.
Doyoung exchanged eye greetings with the troupe members calling out to him and walked over with steady steps.
The judges' seats were in the front row.
Eunseok gave an awkward smile as Doyoung sat one seat away from him.
"Uh, y-yeah, Doyoung. Come on in."
"..."
"Still mad...?"
"Let's focus on the auditions."
"Uh, uh..."
Eunseok bowed his head with a sullen expression.
Ever since he'd announced he was quitting the troupe for a movie role, Doyoung had been like this.
He'd half-expected it. Doyoung had never liked people who pushed the troupe to the back burner for whatever reason.
Blockbuster director or not, Doyoung must have felt betrayed by Eunseok suddenly ditching the troupe's schedule for a film.
'I know I messed up.'
He had no excuse, even if he had ten mouths.
Eunseok glanced at Doyoung.
He wanted to apologize, but it felt like it'd only make him angrier, so the words wouldn't come...
"Whoa, everyone's here!"
Park Jiwan appeared.
He chuckled incredulously at the packed auditorium. Eunseok hurriedly waved at the troupe leader.
"Troupe Leader! Come on over!"
"What's this? Since when do you greet me so warmly?"
As Jiwan smirked, Eunseok rolled his eyes toward Doyoung.
Understanding the situation, Jiwan casually sat between Doyoung and Eunseok.
And pretended not to notice as he quipped.
"Ahem. So... why are there so many people? It's just one role."
"They're more interested in the fresh meat than the judging."
"Fresh meat?"
"Yeah. Kim Seonwoo? That guy."
"Ah, so they're still skeptical about Seonwoo?"
"Less skepticism, more plain curiosity, I'd say..."
Eunseok trailed off, then casually asked.
"How is the guy, anyway? Any good?"
"Hm? You still haven't seen Seonwoo act, Eunseok?"
"Nah, just rumors. Haven't even met him yet. But I heard he has no acting experience. Is he even allowed to audition?"
"That's because you haven't seen him."
Doyoung was the one who answered.
"If you had, you wouldn't be asking that."
Eunseok's eyebrows shot up.
He was surprised Doyoung had thawed enough to respond, but the glowing review was even more shocking.
Doyoung was notoriously stingy with praise when it came to acting.
"...Now you're making me actually excited."
"Don't get your hopes too high. Like you said, he's still green."
Jiwan tempered expectations even as his own eyes gleamed.
He still vividly remembered the days teaching Seonwoo. In that short week, Seonwoo had absorbed every bit of acting knowledge he had...
'That expressiveness.'
Seonwoo's expressiveness was on another level—no one could touch it.
A monster who dove deeper and faster into immersion than most method actors.
And on top of that,
'He's surprisingly cautious.'
Seonwoo wasn't reckless.
He didn't overestimate himself pointlessly either.
For someone like that to audition meant he was confident he could handle it.
Of course, Eunseok—who barely knew Seonwoo—still looked puzzled.
His face said he just couldn't picture it.
He wasn't alone. The other troupe members in the seats wore similar expressions, question marks practically floating over their heads.
Genius or not, could he really handle a substantial supporting role already?
And then,
"Seo Jinwook here. Let's begin."
Of all people, Seo Jinwook stepped up as his scene partner. No wonder the skepticism lingered.
No one disputed Jinwook's acting chops.
"...I am trying to kill a man."
Jinwook's performance was undeniably clean.
The hollow, empty eyes holding nothing. The feral expression like he was about to stab someone any second.
His sharp features actually worked in his favor here.
'Gotta admit, the guy's got skills.'
Eunseok gave credit where it was due.
Jinwook's acting was top-tier, not just in Cheongsong but anywhere.
"I'm going to kill the man who murdered my family. How will you punish this sin?"
That must be why this perennial troublemaker was still with the troupe.
In any case, the question marks hovering over the audience only grew larger.
Could Seonwoo really match that performance?
He'd held his own against Jinwook last time, sure. But could lightning strike twice against this honed intensity?
"Hello, I'm Kim Seonwoo."
Could his acting turn all those question marks into exclamation points?
'Whoa, he's handsome!'
Well, at least one exclamation point popped up in Eunseok's mind.
This was the first time he'd really looked at Seonwoo.
Pale skin, slender features—like a tofu statue, maybe? His face was a bit soft because of it, but even accounting for that, he was strikingly good-looking.
'If his acting holds up, he could lead with a face like that.'
If his skills matched the hype... he'd definitely help sell tickets.
Handled right, he could build a solid fanbase too.
But for Seungdo, looks weren't the point.
Acting was.
"Ready to go right into it?"
Jiwan asked Seonwoo.
Seonwoo nodded calmly.
"Yes. Shall we start?"
"Yeah. Whenever you're ready."
"Got it."
With that, Seonwoo closed his eyes and slipped into character.
No sign of nerves.
Just serene composure. As Eunseok watched Seonwoo's calm face with a spark of interest,
"...I am trying to kill a man."
Seonwoo's performance began.
And in that instant, Eunseok felt the air around him shift dramatically.
Humidity, temperature, scent... everything changed in a heartbeat.
Seonwoo's presence.
That presence seized control of the space, making the air feel utterly transformed.
'...Whoa?'
Eunseok's eyes widened.
Doyoung's endorsement had piqued his interest, but... what was this uncanny atmosphere?
It grabbed your attention in an instant.
Drew you right into the scene.
"I'm going to kill the man who murdered my family. How will you punish this sin?"
Gazing into the void, Seonwoo carried on slowly.
It was shockingly vivid. The raw anguish of a man consumed by nothing but revenge... it poured from every word he chewed out.
No raised voice yet, no dramatics. Just those empty eyes—staring into them sent chills racing up your arms.
But that wasn't all.
"How... will you punish me?"
'...Huh?'
Eunseok's eyes widened again.
He wasn't the only one. Jiwan, Doyoung... everyone in the auditorium let out a collective gasp.
What kind of character was Seungdo?
A man who'd lost everything, barreling toward ruin.
His confession was a challenge to the priest. How dare you call what I'm about to do a sin?
No, I don't see it that way.
A declaration of war.
But...
Look at that gaze in Seungdo's eyes.
Those eyes brimming with tears about to spill, filled with agony.
Those eyes were...
'...Pleading?'
For what?
Doyoung wondered, then realized the answer.
Seonwoo's Seungdo wanted the priest to stop him.
To pronounce a harsh punishment, tell him to quit it. To beg for salvation from this endless fall.
The declaration that he would commit the sin... was really a plea to be stopped.
It was a brand-new interpretation.
But it didn't feel off at all. If anything, it made him wonder why no one had played it this way before... it felt more natural.
Doyoung wasn't the only one who got it.
Eunseok and Jiwan understood too, their expressions sobering.
Jiwan let out an inward wry chuckle.
'...I almost kicked this kid out?'
He was certain.
For the first time since meeting Doyoung, he felt that certainty. This kid was the real deal. He'd make it big someday, no doubt.
The performance ended.
Seonwoo still looked a bit dazed, lost in the afterglow of his own acting.
Finally, Eunseok couldn't hold back.
"...Seonwoo? What the hell was that? How did you even think to interpret Seungdo like this?"
He couldn't hide his excitement.
Impossible. As someone who'd played Seungdo himself... he'd never imagined this take.
And Seonwoo's response was a doozy.
"That's what I think I'd do if I were Seungdo. I'd want someone to stop me."
In short: 'It just felt right.'
Eunseok was floored. He'd pulled this off on pure instinct?
Fine, say analysis could come with some effort. But embodying that analysis in performance? Totally different ballgame.
Yet Seonwoo had delivered this fresh interpretation with the ease of someone who'd lived in the character's skin for years.
He hadn't felt this way since first seeing Doyoung. This was...
'A monster.'
Eunseok's lips twitched.
What the hell was this kid?