Chapter 84
Chapter 84
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 84
Chapter Title: Audition Breakthrough
-----------------------------------------------------------------
At the sound of his name being called, Tae-hoon cautiously stepped forward.
In that instant, all eyes turned to her.
Everyone auditioning, everyone preparing for their auditions.
Even Director An Jin-ho, who had called her into the audition room.
Director An Jin-ho watched her approach in admiration.
She was just walking, yet her presence stood out from the other participants.
Presence. That was it.
Right now, what Director An Jin-ho valued most—beyond even acting skill—was that presence.
No special production needed; from the moment you saw her, your gaze was drawn to her irresistibly.
She wasn't even dressed in attire fitting a movie backdrop, yet she evoked the feel of an Eastern fantasy film.
That was why Director An Jin-ho desperately hoped.
Please, just don't let it be wooden acting or robotic delivery.
As long as it wasn't that, casting her would raise no issues.
No one in this audition room could object to her casting.
Even the lead actors who had come with Director An Jin-ho couldn't tear their eyes away from her.
In today's world, a compelling villain was as crucial as the hero.
A memorable antagonist ramped up the tension and guaranteed buzz all on its own.
Naturally, the role Tae-hoon was auditioning for—Hyeon-hwa—had a backstory worthy of it.
Modern villains didn't need endless tragic tales.
A villain should be a villain.
Better to show unadulterated evil than force sympathy with contrived sob stories.
They called it "laundering" otherwise.
Director An Jin-ho wanted a thoroughly arrogant villain from start to finish, and that was Hyeon-hwa.
Ruler of a faction worshiping arrogance and power, a tyrant who spared no one who defied her will.
Could Tae-hoon pull off such a role?
First up for Tae-hoon was delivering Hyeon-hwa's scripted lines from the story.
At the staff's cue to begin, Tae-hoon's aura shifted dramatically.
She lowered her eyes slightly, gazing down arrogantly at the world.
A faint smile played on her lips.
"Amusing."
That was Hyeon-hwa's line upon first seeing the protagonist who had lost her family—and the line signaling the story's start.
Director An Jin-ho inwardly cheered.
That one line.
That single line made Tae-hoon a pass.
But Tae-hoon didn't stop there.
As if she had become Hyeon-hwa herself, she looked down at an invisible protagonist and spoke.
"Do you want to kill me?"
In Tae-hoon's eyes now was the protagonist's image.
Eyes stained with hatred.
Eyes burning with the will to stab her dead if only they could grasp a sword.
In this moment, Tae-hoon understood Hyeon-hwa—and the protagonist.
"Then try killing me. I'll wait as long as it takes."
Tae-hoon added a slight ad-lib to the scene.
She glanced to her side as if someone were there, delivering the line naturally.
"Will that girl satisfy me, I wonder?"
A line revealing the battle-hungry nature of her character.
And with that, it ended.
An Jin-ho felt his eye for talent still shining bright.
* * *
"……Wow, incredible."
Joo Soo-hyun, the lead actress playing the protagonist, who had been watching from the side, looked at An Jin-ho and said.
"I swear, the moment I saw her at action school, I thought, 'That's Hyeon-hwa right there.'"
"A face I've never seen before…… Was she an actress before mutating?"
At Joo Soo-hyun's words, the director shook his head.
"It's only been about a month since she started at acting academy. She was prepping to be a stuntwoman before."
"……For real? Wow."
Even Joo Soo-hyun, a veteran of the industry, was floored.
Tae-hoon had flawlessly painted the scene, positioned the fitting characters, and delivered her lines.
Above all, the atmosphere around her was no joke. It felt like Hyeon-hwa was really there.
There was a subtle mystique, but more than that, an overwhelming pressure that dominated the room.
But Tae-hoon's performance wasn't over yet.
What followed was equally impeccable.
There were faint rough edges, but that was forgivable.
After all, she'd only been learning for a month.
Her potential was limitless, and An Jin-ho couldn't help anticipating what kind of actress she'd be by filming's end.
Above all…… An Jin-ho knew her true worth.
What he'd seen at action school.
If that emerged on set…… Who knows.
It'd cause a stir.
He still couldn't forget it.
Her forging a blazing sword and wielding it with expert skill.
An Jin-ho was genuinely looking forward to the shoot now.
* * *
Tae-hoon clutched her pounding heart.
Had she ever been this nervous in her life?
No, never.
Glancing around, everyone was focused on her.
'……Did I blow it?'
The thought flashed through her mind, but her mutant senses picked up nothing but praise for how amazing she was.
'This isn't some hidden camera prank, is it?'
The surreal atmosphere had her wondering if she was dreaming.
Honestly, she barely remembered how she'd acted.
She'd just immersed herself fully in Hyeon-hwa.
She'd added her personal interpretation, but as ad-libs, expecting possible criticism.
Directors rarely praised improv unless it was flawless.
But…… since she'd decided to become an actress, Tae-hoon figured she might as well create something uniquely hers.
With a trembling voice, she awaited the director's verdict.
What came was rave reviews from the director and lead actress.
Immersive. Overwhelming presence.
Hearing such high praise left Tae-hoon even more dazed.
'……This has to be the most epic prank ever.'
But pinching her cheek confirmed it was reality.
In a daze, she exited the audition room.
Relief washed over her.
So the words slipped out.
"……Wow, it actually worked."
* * *
Arriving with Han-gyeol to meet Tae-hoon, she looked utterly exhilarated.
……Now I knew: when she got excited, the tips of her horns turned faintly reddish.
Who knew.
"Did the audition go well?"
At the question, Tae-hoon beamed and flashed a V-sign with her fingers.
"Super well, I think?"
"……Oh. So you're hitting the big screen now too?"
"Maybe? But I wasn't sure. The others were no joke. I wondered if I'd stand out…… but they were really positive."
"Just being polite?"
At Han-gyeol's words, Tae-hoon wagged her finger side to side.
"I overheard the other participants saying I did great. Competitor feedback is the real deal, right?"
"……True. You must've killed it. Wow, what's gotten into Han Tae-hoon?"
Han-gyeol stared at her in genuine disbelief.
And I felt the same.
Hadn't she only been learning acting for a month? And she got rave reviews at the audition?
Did she have real talent?
Who knows.
"So, lunch on you today?"
"Promised, so yeah. Good work, anyway."
"Ehehe. Thanks."
Tae-hoon laughed lightly.
Even post-mutation, she was still the same old rascal.
Han-gyeol had changed a fair bit with the religious stuff, but this one seemed unchanged.
Whatever. Good is good.
* * *
Tae-hoon got the news of passing the audition while lounging at home.
During a rare rest day at home, just staring blankly at the ceiling with no thoughts, the message hit her like a bolt, eyes widening in shock.
"Whoa, hold on, for real? Not a dream?"
Her hands shook uncontrollably as she stared at her smartphone, pinching her cheeks nonstop.
It stung. It hurt.
Thus, reality.
"Uwaaaah!"
Nearly screaming, she quickly called Seo-hyun.
-……What.
Freshly woken, Seo-hyun replied in a half-asleep voice.
"Hey, hey!"
-What's with the fuss…….
"I passed!"
-……What?
"Passed! The audition! Main villain too! Uwaaaah!"
-Waaaah!
And Seo-hyun screamed right back.
-Crazy, insane? Han Tae-hoon a movie star? Main villain for her debut? This real?
"Right?! Doesn't make sense! Hey, not a dream?"
-No, no! Wow, damn. Hey, so you'll be at premieres and stuff later?
"Uh, probably……?"
-Come on, take me.
"Come, yeah. I'll hook you up with time, place, tickets. Surely a main villain gets at least one ticket……?"
Tae-hoon declared confidently. No way they wouldn't.