Dying Roles
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Dying roles.
That obviously didn't include characters who survived all the way to the finale, only to croak peacefully of old age.
No, it was strictly those doomed from the jump—roles that stacked up death flags like a madman, sealing their fate right out of the gate. Only those made the cut for this goddamn dream's twisted mercy.
Who knows, maybe it held its own little review board.
'Dies the second they show up? Okay.'
'Hmm... takes five whole episodes? Let's see. Still, it's a role that's only complete once they bite it. Okay.'
'Lives a normal life then shoehorns in some terminal illness? Nah, out! Roll the tape. Let's go with getting trampled by a rampaging centaur herd today.'
"Damn it."
I ground my teeth, but what could I do? I had no right to file an administrative appeal or sue this cursed dream.
Hell, I wasn't sure there was any truth more useless than this one, even if I did figure it out.
'What actor only lands roles where they die every time?'
At best, maybe reenactments on some seedy crime gossip show.
...Okay, that had a certain appeal.
No, but even so, the problems were too damn many.
Not enough to make me walk back my decision to quit acting.
'Even if I could, it wouldn't actually improve my skills anyway.'
I thought my audition for King and Sovereign went pretty damn well, all things considered. Unlike my usual pounding headaches, my body just moved on its own.
No idea how it looked to the judges, but for my life, it was top-tier acting.
Still, whether it'd beaten out the horde of competitors? Big question mark.
'Sigh.'
I'd nursed a flicker of hope for a second there, but I let it go.
Let out a deep breath and hauled myself up.
'...Get it together and scout some part-time gigs.'
Around the same time Kang Min was riding the highs and lows of hourly wages and commute times in job ads and flea market mags,
MBS Drama Department Team 2's production meeting for King and Sovereign was wrapped in a bloodthirsty tension.
The casting director hunched over, eyes darting nervously.
"Manager Park Seong-gyun."
"...Yes, PD-nim."
"I told you, didn't I? I'm just too swamped vetting mid-tier actors to make it, but bit roles aren't low-priority. Report anything remotely iffy or needing judgment."
".......Yes."
"Yes?! You heard me loud and clear and still greenlit your pick on your own? What the hell kind of man are you?!"
Thud.
Yu Ho-hyeon PD hurled the hefty binder across the table.
The casting director flinched, head dropping lower.
Normally, he'd have blown his top by now. After all, wasn't his uncle Park Dae-geun, CP of Variety? In this cutthroat casting gig with its shit employment conditions, being directly hired by MBS screamed elite connections.
Factor in Park Dae-geun being pegged as the next Variety Bureau Chief, and hardly anyone dared cross him—especially not a PD with tenure but jack for results.
Hell, just demoting "Casting Director" to "Casting Manager" was grounds for a fight—
"Cool it, Yu PD. Give him a chance to explain."
"...Go ahead."
"Manager Park."
"Y-yes, Bureau Chief-nim!"
"Haha, not Chief yet—just the designee. Call me CP."
"Yes, CP-nim..."
Of course, even the mightiest backing had its off days.
The casting director swallowed dryly at Kim Kang-hyun CP across the table. He clamped his trembling legs together in parade rest.
'Goddamn it, what the hell is going on...!'
He couldn't wrap his head around it.
'Just a bit role, dropping one no-name kid! Over that?!'
He'd scoffed when the rookie writer pushed back.
Shrugged when she begged the PD directly.
Brushed it off when the PD summoned him.
Again, his uncle Park Dae-geun CP was Variety's future boss.
But Kim Kang-hyun CP? Drama Bureau Chief promotion locked in.
Scoff at the pesky pup, and it drags in a wolf—no, a full-on tiger...
Kang Min's audition footage on the conference room's small multi-vision didn't capture everything. At least, whatever had chilled the casting director to the bone was missing.
But what remained was plenty to draw a hollow laugh from the prospective Chief.
"Hey, Manager Park."
"...Yes."
"Explain picking 50 over 51. I've got the mileage, and it still doesn't compute."
"I-I know that Kang Min kid well."
The casting director scrambled, piecing words desperately.
"He's a total fail! No real career, can't act worth shit...! Ask anyone who's seen him! I was thinking of the whole production...!"
"Bullshit?"
"......."
"Your face is right here. He acted right in front of you? What more do you need? His stunt double on screen? And the other judges were unanimous, right?"
"...That."
"One more time."
The prospective Chief smiled thinly at the speechless casting director.
"Blind? Bribed? Which looks better on your resume?"
"......."
"If it's the first, I'll gladly make your 'vision' an official agenda item."
Smooth words, naked threat.
The casting director shook like an aspen.
Moments later, one man slunk off for cozy time with Legal. Just two remained.
The prospective Chief tsked, smile gone.
"Goddamn, Ho-hyeon. After all my grind, stuck wrangling trash like that?"
"It's your name on the proposal, sunbae-nim. And he had backing—if you won't step up, what can I do?"
"...Yeah, what's a hotshot senior for? Use me before you snag Chief."
"Yes."
"Yes? Cheeky bastard."
Griping about dealing with Variety pricks, the prospective Chief sighed softly.
Yu Ho-hyeon PD stared at the multi-vision again, mesmerized.
Had to be the dozenth replay, and no burnout.
"That hooked?"
"Yes."
"...Dunno. Impressive sure, but maybe a one-trick thug pony."
The casting director had to go. Can't let him wave casting power like some god in front of a 10-year vet.
But as prospective Chief, he couldn't shake the worry his junior was overreaching.
'Some actors fit a character like a glove.'
So perfect no other image fits, their performance alone wowing the room.
Those don't last. Rare hits, maybe once or twice—if at all. Versatility and range matter that much.
And rewriting the script around an unproven one?
Crazy to anyone.
"At this level, we tailor the role to the acting."
Yu Ho-hyeon PD muttered.
"No one's expecting our drama anyway. KBC's blockbuster, SBC's Jeong Min-jae PD comeback. Best case flat—even then, worth one dice roll."
"That's PD talk?"
"CP-nim's arms crossed saying leave it to you—what more can PD do?"
"You little—"
The prospective Chief's eye twitched, then stilled.
Seeing his serious junior glued to the footage, he sighed.
'Fine, this gig's his CP shot or bust. Give him a real push.'
Even as CP, his career wouldn't wow. Likely shoved out post-retire.
Grasping at straws? Understandable.
As the Chief mulled, Yu Ho-hyeon stared unblinking.
Narrowed eyes, furrowed brow—rippling focus, easing, repeat.
Silence hung oddly.
Then, phone rang.
"It's here."
Like he'd been waiting, Yu Ho-hyeon PD's face lit up.
He jabbed the answer button.
"Yeah, got it. How'd it go? When can Actor Kang Min start?"
And,
His expression blanked in seconds.
"...Yes?"
"Eh, this should do."
Same time, writer Baek Chae-i wrapped revisions, stretching with a groan.
Nods, moves to close Word—pauses.
Ponders long, swallows hard, looks up again.
'...One more polish?'
Like all things, one never stayed one.
Reads halfway, restarts from top.
Tweaks a word that bugs her, reverts minutes later.
Shuffles paragraphs, polishes sentences, rubs temples, reverts.
Forces through to end, stands—"Done!"—then "Argh, seriously!" flops back, hands on keys.
Classic revision hell loop.
Worse with pre-written stuff. Baek Chae-i wasted near two hours reading, agonizing, no progress—finally sprawled on bed.
A groan leaked from under her arm.
"The character's too real..."
Auditionee 51—Kang Min's acting was phenomenal.
They say seeing great acting makes writers fret the role, not the actor; genius acting, the whole script.
Baek Chae-i hadn't got it before. Now she did.
The character pierced even her rewrite.
'Thought I could handle it...!'
She squeezed eyes shut.
King and Sovereign's synopsis was simple.
King drops dead, Left State Councillor revolts. Props up puppet king, plans dumb war. Crown Prince hides, plots comeback. That's it.
Drama tropes: meets heroine, petty conflicts, "You're my first," cringey "Jin-ah!" "Your Highness!" sidebranches. Core: Prince vs. Councillor.
Warrior Hui-yul? Undersecretary of Rites' guard—Prince ally. Minor, appears ep 8, dies.
Baek Chae-i aimed to bump him to Prince's side for heft.
Sounded solid.
Had.
"The character's too real..."
Started pumped, head bursting with ideas.
Fizzled fast.
Couldn't picture lame idol lead meshing with Kang Min's chilling skill.
Dazed thirty minutes, Baek Chae-i slapped her cheeks, rose.
'...Still gotta.'
Priceless turnaround. Can't bail 'cause hard.
Resolve to nail this Hui-yul—light reignited in weary eyes.
"Yes, got your call."
Yu Ho-hyeon PD called.
Mood set—Baek Chae-i pouted picking up.
"Yes, hello."
But brightened quick.
"Ah, yes! You got the word!"
Bolted upright in bed.
No need to say: 51, Kang Min—acceptance reply.
Casting dir stirred shit midway, but pass was done deal. She'd started rewriting pre-notice.
Stuck now, but meet him? Sparks fly. Unexpected breakthrough—grinning, she stood.
—Froze blank.
"...Yes?"
"He... rejected? No, why?!"
"You went to audition. Isn't it obvious you went hoping to pass?!"
Baek Chae-i reined her tone.
Rookie writer vs. 10-year PD—who'd humored her nonsense.
Nod polite, hang, then vent.
Tough.
The content...
"...Yes."
"Yes?"
"D-did I hear right?"
Yu Ho-hyeon PD affirmed glumly over the line.
So,
Utterly incomprehensible.
"What actor turns down a role for that reason in this world!!"