Chapter 116: Competitors (2)
Chapter 116: Competitors (2)
“I’m going to be a bit busy for a while, so I might not be able to visit as often.”
The full-body tracking equipment was familiar now.
So was the 3D character reflected on the other monitor.
These were things Lee Ji-yeon had grown accustomed to.
It had started as a birthday present for Ju Seo-yeon, but now, she had found genuine enjoyment in it as both a hobby and a job.
“…….”
Ji-yeon let out a dry laugh at the Super Chat sent by someone feigning ignorance.
The name of the donor was someone very familiar to her.
Seriously, why is she sending money?
Ji-yeon sighed, wondering how she was supposed to return this.
Did she keep sending it because she knew Ji-yeon would return it?
No, that didn't seem right either….
At first, it felt like she was teasing, but she seemed sincere.
Sometimes I just can’t figure her out.
Seo-yeon was surprisingly serious when it came to VTubers.
For instance, despite clearly knowing that Ji-yeon was Ramiel, she never breathed a word about it.
However, while she usually didn't make it obvious, there were moments when she couldn't help herself.
Like when Ji-yeon did a collaboration or spent time with 'Wizard Erzsebet'—the older sister who had helped her a lot when she first started out—Seo-yeon would give her this subtle, unreadable look.
Ji-yeon found that part hilarious and teased her quite often, though she didn't plan on overdoing it.
Two thousand concurrent viewers already.
Her growth was beyond smooth; it was incredibly rapid.
She had met several other VTubers through her 'sister' as well.
Funny enough, they had no idea who Ji-yeon really was.
She sometimes worried about what they would think if they found out she was actually an actress.
Surprisingly, I have a knack for this.
Ji-yeon enjoyed planning and trying out new content.
If she hadn't become an actress, she might have pursued being a VTuber as a full-time career.
If I hadn't met Seo-yeon…
The thought crossed her mind.
If she hadn't met Seo-yeon, she would have stayed with Eunha Entertainment.
Considering how Eunha Entertainment ended up, her own end would have been truly miserable.
Would she have continued acting?
Honestly, she didn't think so.
Ji-yeon took great pride in being an actress, but it had started simply because of her mother's prodding.
To be honest, her motivation and will hadn't been that strong at first.
Everything changed after she met Seo-yeon.
Sometimes I wonder.
Seo-yeon occasionally acted as if she knew the future.
The movies Ji-yeon was going to star in.
The commercials.
Seo-yeon would subtly hint at what was good and what wasn't.
At first, she thought it was a coincidence, but when it happened repeatedly, it could no longer be called mere chance.
……Maybe I’ve been reading too many comics lately.
Ji-yeon chuckled to herself.
She figured she was having these delusions because she’d been binge-watching anime and reading manga to study characters.
But still….
Ji-yeon shook her head, dismissing the thought.
For now, the audition was more important.
Jo Seo-hee seemed to have given her the opportunity without much thought, but for Ji-yeon, it was a golden chance.
A film by Director Baek Min-chan.
To be honest, not many actors would expect a box-office hit.
He was a director whose films fluctuated wildly in performance because they were so artistic, making him less than a favorite among production companies.
Still, he had a solid cult following, so there was always a steady demand.
Also, he’s a director with more recognition abroad than domestically.
There were definitely actors who would participate with that in mind.
The numbers might be small, but the quality would be top-notch.
She didn't even know what role was being cast through the audition.
Was it the lead? Or a supporting role?
Knowing Jo Seo-hee, it wouldn't be a minor part.
Likely the female lead.
And if a role was given to Seo-yeon, it was highly probable that it wouldn't be a simple supporting role either.
The first movie I’ll film with Ju Seo-yeon.
She didn't know what Seo-yeon thought, but for Ji-yeon, it held immense meaning.
Seo-yeon had always been just out of reach.
That hadn't changed even after a ten-year hiatus.
Ji-yeon had always believed that if Seo-yeon ever returned to the industry, she would be a star that could shine at any moment.
And just as she thought, Seo-yeon was growing at a terrifying pace.
She was already running ahead of Ji-yeon.
In the past, she wouldn't have thought much of it, but now…
“Because sometimes, I want to give her a run for her money.”
At Ji-yeon's words:
“…….”
Watching the consecutive Super Chats fly in, Lee Ji-yeon banned Seo-yeon from the room.
*
Cheonghong Action School.
Kim Hong-baek scratched his head as he looked at the list of students who recently applied to train under him.
A sudden influx of actors who previously had no interest in action had applied.
Famous management agencies had even reached out directly, asking if he could personally instruct their well-known actors.
“Is it because of the GH Group project?”
“I heard they’re filming an action movie this time. But there’s a chance the variety show might become the main attraction.”
A large-scale survival audition for action actors.
Since nothing like this had ever happened before, many were more interested in the audition itself than the movie.
Even if it was difficult to get on public broadcast, if it was released on the web, it could potentially be picked up by general programming channels.
A battle between action actors fighting for the lead role in a movie!
That seemed to be the catchphrase.
“I heard that almost every young actor confident in their action skills has applied.”
“Hmm. I see….”
The project sounded interesting even just hearing the pitch.
In fact, GH Group wanted Kim Hong-baek himself to appear in the variety show.
He was the top martial arts director in South Korea.
It would be stranger for him to be left out of such a show.
However.
“……Is Seo-yeon participating too?”
“Most likely, wouldn't she?”
Kim Hong-baek and Professor Seong Ho-cheol, who had been by his side for a long time, fell silent for a moment.
They thought of a certain actress who came to visit excitedly every week.
She had seemed a bit awkward at first, but now she roamed Cheonghong Action School without a care in the world. Now, even the other trainees didn't dare say anything to her.
If they accidentally caught her eye and heard her say, "Would you like to help me practice?" they might as well book a hospital room in advance.
“Uh, she’ll be okay, right?”
“She should be fine now. ……Probably.”
At first, Seo-yeon had been like a runaway train, but now that she had practiced to some extent, she should be alright.
And physical talent aside.
Her acting is incomparable to before.
Action acting.
When she first filmed The Chaser, she was a bit awkward, but things were different now.
Professor Kim Hong-baek saw the talent Seo-yeon possessed as an actress.
Her gaze control.
Her restrained, non-excessive movements.
She didn't just rely on physical ability; every movement was diverse and ever-changing.
The Seo-yeon of the past and the Seo-yeon of now were practically different people.
“So she doesn't really need to come anymore, but….”
“I suppose she’s bored.”
“…….”
Actually, he knew to some extent.
Seo-yeon came to Cheonghong Action School to relieve stress.
Not work-related stress, but because she wanted to use her body properly.
Kim Hong-baek squeezed his eyes shut.
At least Seo-yeon always made sure to pay for whatever she broke.
Thanks to that, the equipment at Cheonghong Action School was gradually becoming brand new.
It was just that the new stuff became old stuff very quickly.
“I should stock up on more punching bags….”
The cheapest way to keep Seo-yeon in check.
Professor Kim Hong-baek muttered to himself.
He couldn't bring himself to tell her she didn't need to come anymore.
*
The new survival variety show prepared by GH Group.
Its working title was Hyper Action.
A true showdown where young action actors would compete solely on skill for the lead role in a movie.
The competition would be divided into male and female divisions.
It was a natural move.
Internal information suggested that the protagonist of the movie was a 'female lead,' so the female division was much more competitive.
Of course, the exact plot hadn't been revealed yet.
And so, an informal meeting was held before the variety show filming.
A place was prepared for the participating actors to see each other's faces.
“GH Group is doing something interesting.”
An actress with a sharp gaze and a languid face muttered.
Usually, there were no pre-meetings like this for actors.
However, at her murmur, some actors who knew her swallowed hard.
Min Do-ha.
She was a twenty-one-year-old actress who had gained significant recognition from a previous action movie.
The movie itself received poor reviews, but her action acting was highly praised.
She was the actress who had drawn over 4 million viewers solely through her action scenes.
“They’re probably trying to build motivation by having us see each other.”
A woman spoke in a light tone, and the languid-looking woman replied.
That woman was also one of the actors drawing attention here.
Han So-yu.
An actress who had appeared in a disaster-escape drama, she was well-known for her excellent athletic nerves.
I heard she performed most of her scenes without a stunt double.
Nerves of steel.
Surprisingly, that was the most important element in action acting.
It was only natural for humans to fear injury.
However, Han So-yu lacked that fear.
Because of that, the scenes she filmed were bold and thrilling.
Even though it was a drama on a general programming channel, it had recorded significant viewership ratings.
She was one of the actors XN Entertainment had been pushing recently.
As they sat around a large table, a strange tension flowing between them, another woman made her appearance.
“……!!”
The eyes of some actors widened.
The person who appeared was truly unexpected.
Jo Seo-hee!
A woman they didn't expect to see here.
Had Jo Seo-hee ever even appeared in an action movie?
The room began to buzz.
It was only natural, as Jo Seo-hee’s name value was higher than any other actress in the room.
She was an actress who didn't need this kind of 'audition.'
She was in a position where she could receive scripts and choose her roles.
Is she… trying a new challenge with action acting?
It’s true that this is a good opportunity to properly show off her skills.
As the actors watched her with those thoughts, Jo Seo-hee scanned the room.
The actors instinctively felt pressured by her sharp gaze and shrank back, while Jo Seo-hee casually took an empty seat.
At her appearance, Min Do-ha, who had been wearing a languid expression, gave a thin smirk.
Establishing dominance? Interesting.
It was a fierce gaze that said, "You and I are on different levels."
She had a savage aura that made it hard to believe she was younger than them.
Of course, contrary to what the actors thought…
Ju Seo-yeon isn't here yet.
Jo Seo-hee had simply been scanning the room to see if Seo-yeon had arrived.
She had purposely arrived late so she could naturally sit next to her.
When she frowned slightly in disappointment, she felt the tension around her rise.
After all, Jo Seo-hee’s appearance was the definition of a 'Villainess,' so the atmosphere she exuded was on another level.
As the seats began to fill up one by one…
And when only the seats around Jo Seo-hee remained empty…
Clack.
The door opened, and a girl walked in.
Jet-black hair.
A slender figure and a pale face.
Striking eyes with a hint of red.
Ju Seo-yeon.
At her entrance, all eyes turned toward her.
This was… another unexpected and formidable opponent.
The action scenes she showed in The Chaser.
And considering her recent appearances on variety shows….
They had assumed the action parts or the chase scenes in The Chaser were filmed by a stunt double.
The fact that she wore a raincoat was a clear sign they intended to use a double.
But even putting that aside, her 'action acting' was clearly at an excellent level.
Furthermore, considering the dancing she showed in Dream Future, her athletic nerves were bound to be good.
The feats she showed on variety shows also had many extraordinary aspects.
The question is how much of it was exaggerated by the production….
To be honest, most of the things shown on variety shows were so absurd that it was hard to tell if it was the production or if she was actually like that.
But that appearance.
And that atmosphere.
Since she was a young actress rising at a terrifying pace, everyone couldn't help but be on edge.
“?”
Seo-yeon tilted her head at their reaction, scanned the empty seats, and realized the only ones left were next to Jo Seo-hee, causing her to wince slightly.
Well, an acquaintance was better than a stranger.
As she sat down with that thought, an excited Jo Seo-hee spoke to her.
“You’re late.”
“I ran here straight after school.”
Because the room was so quiet, Seo-yeon’s voice was clearly audible.
Of course, Jo Seo-hee didn't care about that.
She was the type who thought it was only natural for people to pay attention to her.
Furthermore.
“……Isn't your school Yeonhwa High School?”
At Jo Seo-hee’s words, the actors all stiffened at once.
They finally realized the reason for her late appearance.
A show of force.
Yeonhwa High School was five subway stops away from here.
The fact that she had run all the way from there was proof of how incredible Seo-yeon’s stamina was.
“?”
Of course, Seo-yeon was a bit puzzled by the reaction around her.
She had simply run because she was afraid she’d be late due to the traffic.