Chapter 12
Chapter 12
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 12
Chapter Title: Suicide Squad
-----------------------------------------------------------------
I asked An Mu-gwon, who was standing there all serious by himself, in a thoroughly disinterested tone.
"Why? You joining us too?"
"Are you nuts? More importantly, why are you reacting like that? I came to talk to Seo A-ra about something."
"Then go handle your business."
I stepped aside to clear the way, and soon enough, he came face-to-face with the top student in directing and the top in acting.
"Come join our group for this web drama class, A-ra."
His attitude toward her was completely different from how he treated me—fawning and flustered in a way that was almost cringeworthy.
'Anyone would think he was confessing to her.'
Seo A-ra held that kind of status at J University's Film Department, hailed as a once-in-a-generation talent. Even the number one in directing couldn't approach her lightly.
Anyway, she just crossed her arms and fixed him with a gaze as dry as a desert. You could practically hear the sand shifting in her eyes—shhh, shhh.
Then she spat out a single word.
"Pass."
An Mu-gwon immediately started gesticulating wildly, trying to persuade her.
"You won't regret it, I swear...! With Jin-su already in, if you join, it'll be all the top acting and directing students from our year in one group...! Perfect for grades and even contests...! Not like with kids like Yoo Ha-jin or Choi Min-jun..."
Seo A-ra, who had been listening silently, asked softly,
"What's wrong with those guys?"
"Y-you don't know? They're the lowest scorers in our department??"
She snorted derisively, then said in a cold tone,
"Chasing empty titles like first or second place? It's childish."
For some reason, it felt like her gaze flicked toward me. Was that my imagination?
An Mu-gwon stood there dumbfounded.
"Pfft."
Choi Min-jun couldn't hold back his laugh. I jabbed him in the side with my elbow.
"Ow, sorry."
He put on a hurt expression like a kicked donkey.
Whoosh.
After shooting a glare at both me and Choi Min-jun, An Mu-gwon trudged back to his group. Choi Min-jun said incredulously,
"He didn't have to take it out on us."
"It was kinda funny, though."
"Fair."
We exchanged looks and chuckled. But then.
"Why were you just standing there listening?"
For some reason, Seo A-ra asked me, sounding a bit annoyed.
"No need to get worked up over every little thing."
"You're not pissed?"
"Just annoying, that's all? Whatever others do, I focus on my own stuff. Anyway, looking forward to working with you on this web drama project."
I offered a handshake, and after a moment of sulking, Seo A-ra took my hand.
Soon, the time to recruit group members ended.
"Alright, then group leaders, submit your member lists later."
I scanned the faces of the team I'd be working with this class. In my previous life, I'd been filler number one... This time, I'd actually put together a proper group.
'Probably only possible because of Seo A-ra's influence. Whatever.'
Each group had five members. Ours had acting powerhouse Seo A-ra, reliable Choi Min-jun, me, and two more who joined.
Looking at the new arrivals, I found myself surprised again.
'I actually snagged Lee Seok and Shin So-young?'
Lee Seok and Shin So-young. These two juniors had been part of top-performing teams in this class before my regression. They went on to become a freelance sound designer and a 400k-sub YouTuber, respectively. But the most surprising part was.
'Seo A-ra... She originally went with An Mu-gwon and Kim Jin-su's group. They crushed this class and even won a contest prize.'
Best award just below grand prize, I think. Their web drama did pretty well too—episodes split into parts, each hitting over a million views.
Of course, the real shock this time around was that I had my own solid group.
The future 400k YouTuber with thick round glasses broke the silence.
"Th-thank you for letting me join your group, Sunbae Yoo Ha-jin..."
"We're the grateful ones for you joining."
Whoosh.
"Please speak comfortably."
"Really?"
"Yes!"
A shy smile spread across her cute face as Shin So-young blushed.
Lee Seok, who would later shine as a freelance sound designer, got to the point. With his black Mustang jacket and piercings on his ear and under his eye, he seemed like a free spirit.
"Since we're all sunbaes, feel free to drop the honorifics with me too. So, how are we dividing roles?"
This project had five per group. Ours was a bit unusual: three acting majors, two directing, and no one with prior screenplay or directing experience. Lee Seok pointed it out.
"Film Department undergrads can switch roles or multitask, sure... But compared to groups with dedicated directing or screenplay pros, aren't we at a disadvantage?"
I had a solution and made a quiet proposal.
"Not necessarily."
The group's eyes lit up, expectant of some clever strategy from me.
Kim Jin-su glanced at Yoo Ha-jin's group from a distance and remarked,
"Do those guys have a plan or what?"
An Mu-gwon, still reeling from Seo A-ra's rejection earlier, felt a bit better seeing their lineup.
'A quiet, timid girl no one even noticed. Some rebellious-looking outsider dude. Plus our year's bottom two. Aside from one person, it's a total minefield. Seo A-ra's in for a rough ride~.'
He'd thought Yoo Ha-jin was recruiting strategically when he boldly approached the loners in the corner. But nope—it was obvious no one else wanted them, so he just grabbed whoever was available.
As if to prove it, one of the female juniors piped up about Yoo Ha-jin's group.
"Those are my classmates. Hmm~, no directing or screenplay skills. It's like they drew lots."
A male classmate added fuel to the fire.
"Looks like a dumpster fire, huh? Heh."
Kim Jin-su clicked his tongue.
"Seo A-ra shouldn't have joined them. Tsk tsk tsk."
Seo A-ra was the only one worth worrying about. Great if she was on your side, but a nightmare as a rival. But now, no need to stress.
'Even if it was a mediocre group, maybe. But with that ragtag bunch, what can even Seo A-ra do?'
An Mu-gwon scanned the classroom. No real competition in sight. He leaned back in his chair, relaxed.
Professor Do Sang-jae, instructor for Web Drama Production and Practice, stood quietly observing the students. His calm gaze lingered on one male student.
'Yoo Ha-jin...'
He'd never had a bad impression of Yoo Ha-jin before. If anything, it was positive. Even in roles with no lines, he always gave his all—studying scripts, refining himself. Do had quietly rooted for him.
'But he's changed. For the worse.'
Yoo Ha-eun's graduation film was on the brink of collapse. Professors unusually allowed first- and second-years as leads—just to graduate the seniors. They trusted Ha-eun's grit.
Then regretted it. The lead was her brother? They weren't that desperate; he'd heard recent auditions with underclassmen.
'The siblings took the easy road.'
Not competing on skill, but nepotism, pushing each other. The Yoo siblings underestimated the industry.
Do could tell at a glance—Yoo Ha-jin looked unmotivated, like a slack-jawed mollusk, screws loose. The fall of a diligent student was sad, disappointing, infuriating.
Thus, he abandoned any expectations for the Yoo siblings.
"...You really want to go with that group setup?"
I answered Seo A-ra without hesitation.
"Yeah, it's the most balanced."
Choi Min-jun, thrust into the new role, didn't complain much. Instead,
"With three acting majors, I get it. One project like this could be good experience. But... can you trust me with screenplay and directing?"
He voiced concerns, but I replied with conviction.
"I've thought it through—this is the best."
Future freelance sound designer Lee Seok spoke up.
"Our group... feels like a shoddy apartment."
Too polite as a junior, so Seo A-ra chimed in.
"He's right. Replacing the core structure with bamboo skewers?"
Choi Min-jun looked bitter.
"...Man, even the skewers sound offended."
"Didn't mean it that way. Sorry."
The mood was uneasy with distrust. But I had no intention of reshuffling.
Lee Seok on all sound work. Shin So-young on filming and editing.
And... the biggest gun of all, future 30-million-view director Choi Min-jun.
Him handling screenplay and directing would create the ultimate synergy. As if to dispel doubts, I said,
"Guys, don't worry. We're a dream team—a dream team."
"Why does that keep making me think of movie titles?"
"Which one?"
"Suicide Squad."
Silence fell over the table for a moment.
"..."
The title bubbled up from deep memory. Some B-movie about misfit heroes? I nodded slightly after thinking.
"Idiots heading to their doom. But it ends happy, right? Sounds good? Let's go with it."
"I'd rather die."
Seo A-ra objected fiercely, uncharacteristically.
The rest seemed agreeable, regardless.
"Yeah, they take on impossible missions and pull it off anyway? Not bad in that sense~."
"I-I think the meaning's nice too..."
"Doesn't matter to me."
Seo A-ra's voice rose in horror.
"Y-you guys are really okay with Suicide Squad?? You sure, juniors???"
"Done deal by majority vote~."
"Haaa... Fine, team name's not that big a deal. So, who's the leader?"
"Hmm, leader?"
Perfect candidate in mind, so we discussed it together.
Professor Do Sang-jae, leading Web Drama Production and Practice, blinked at the female student before him.
Handsome features clashing with a cold aura. Seo A-ra, the girl who exuded mystery. He adjusted his gold-framed glasses, eyes on her.
"A-ra. You've never been a group leader, right?"
She stood out more than anyone, yet tried not to. That was Seo A-ra.
"...I figured I'd try it this time."
She recalled the one who had enthusiastically nominated her, hand shooting up.
Yoo Ha-jin—unpredictable this semester... Now he'd made her leader, something she'd never done or wanted to. Unable to say it, she swallowed the rest.
"Trying new things helps as an actor. Here's the member list?"
"..."
Do Sang-jae startled at the team name field, narrowing his eyes.
"...Suicide Squad?"
Nearby students burst into laughter.
"Pfft."
"Heh heh."
One was practically sobbing.
"Heh heh heh heh."
The professor asked, giving her a chance.
"You sure about this?"
"...Yes."
Majority vote—she couldn't argue. Thus, the web drama project team name for the year was set: Suicide Squad.