Chapter 88
Chapter 88
Translator Penny
Chapter 88
Chapter title It Might Be More Fun Than You Think? 2
Those who watched Seo-hyun's performance stared at her blankly.
The character the director had vaguely envisioned was right there, fully formed.
An attitude as if looking down on the world.
And while she sneered at Lee Yul as if he were a moth drawn to a flame, there was a certain pity nestled within it.
Was that really someone who had never acted before?
It felt a little different from Tae-hoon, too.
Tae-hoon, at least, had some fundamentals from attending acting school.
But for someone with no foundation whatsoever to act with such a raw feel and still perform to that level… it was, in many ways, a shock to the people on set.
Director Ahn Jin-ho, in particular, felt it most vividly.
This was a jackpot.
The character of Hyun was right there, fully formed.
In truth, Hyun was a character improvised on the spot.
A character that came to mind the moment he saw Seo-hyun.
It was always planned for the character to receive power from the Dragon, but he hadn't intended to embody it in a character named Hyun.
But a strange flash of insight, yes.
That flash of insight created Hyun’s existence… and as a result, a scene like this was captured.
In fact, Ju So-hyun's Superpower Show was also part of this.
To pull off an improvised script so perfectly.
No matter how much of a king the director was on set… honestly, it was at a level where it wouldn't be strange if complaints arose from somewhere.
It was a relief that So-hyun was so understanding.
In any case, a truly great scene had been captured.
He thought that even if she weren't the chief of the Management Bureau, she could have a great career in the film industry as an actress.
Who else could do something like this?
It was just a shame she was a civil servant.
And the director wasn't the only one who felt that way.
Ju So-hyun, who had acted opposite Seo-hyun.
She looked at Seo-hyun with a gaze mixed with a strange sense of admiration.
Usually, even seasoned veteran actors tended to be overwhelmed when acting with So-hyun… but she didn't get that feeling from Seo-hyun at all.
In a way, she had something in common with Tae-hoon. Tae-hoon had never been intimidated or overwhelmed when acting with So-hyun either.
‘Are all Variants like that?’
She couldn't help but have that thought.
Or maybe those two were just special.
Whatever the case, she was satisfied that they had captured a good scene.
The other scenes would probably be similar.
What she was personally looking forward to was, of course, the scene where she confronts Seo-hyun's true form.
Could she truly shine without being crushed by that immense majesty?
Perhaps, in that scene, the character of Lee Yul might shine the brightest.
Originally, it wasn't a scene of such importance.
It was just a passing scene where he simply meets the Dragon, makes a contract, and strengthens Lee Yul's power.
But the moment the character of Hyun was established, it became a scene that established not only Lee Yul's power but also his character.
So-hyun felt her heart pound strangely.
Wouldn't they film a very, very good scene?
And what about the scene where she meets Hyunhwa after her encounter with Hyun is over?
So-hyun was certain.
This movie, it seemed, wouldn't just end as a one-time-wonder for drawing attention.
* * *
I heard someone shout, "Cut!"
It was the director. In that instant, the atmosphere of the drama shattered, and I went from being Hyun back to being Seo-hyun.
The Lee Yul in front of me was no longer Lee Yul, but Ju So-hyun.
How should I put it… can the atmosphere really change this much just from the presence of a slate?
It was an unfamiliar feeling in many ways, but it wasn't bad. No, it was more fun than I thought.
To think that acting as a me who is not me… could be this enjoyable.
Just then, So-hyun approached me, her eyes shining.
"You were lying when you said you've never acted before, right?"
What was she talking about now?
"Pardon?"
"You're so good! Is it really your first time acting? I can't believe you can do this well without any basic training."
…This was quite embarrassing.
After all, Ju So-hyun, standing right in front of me, was one of the great actors who, despite often being told she had a poor eye for projects, had also hit it big many times.
She was what they called an actress with ticket power, so for her to praise my acting felt like a lie.
Ah, it's probably just lip service.
But that thought vanished when I saw Tae-hoon's reaction.
I could feel her staring at me intently.
"…What."
"No, just. I thought you were good."
"Really?"
"What do I get out of lying to you? You did well."
Huh? It's not lip service? I didn't think I did terribly, but I didn't think I did that well either…
"Just the fact that you acted in front of Sunbaenim without getting intimidated is a high-praise factor in itself."
"Ah, really?"
"You felt a strange power when Sunbaenim was acting, right? Other actors get crushed by that. They feel a weird pressure. Should I say they get devoured by her acting skills?"
"Ah, I think I know what you mean."
I recalled how So-hyun looked when she was acting earlier. Yes, there was a strange power to it.
"So the director is probably thinking it's a jackpot, too. Same here."
"Oh…."
Just then, Tae-hoon casually asked me.
"Did you, like, watch something to practice?"
"No?"
"This punk, you cheat with your Awakening, and now you're cheating with your acting."
"I'm tied to being a civil servant anyway, so I can't even take up another profession. And this was only possible because it's a type of character I know well. If you told me to act as a different character, I probably couldn't do it."
When I said I knew the character of Hyun well, she tilted her head.
"A type of character you know well?"
"Yeah. I mean, if you watch animations or read novels, you see how Dragons are portrayed. I just referenced that… And since I can memorize the entire script and stage directions after skimming them once, it's easier to get into character."
"That's a cheat, for real. I don't care about the other stuff, but I'm really jealous you can memorize the script right away. I mean, I memorize it twice as fast as other people, but I can't memorize it just by skimming it once."
"Ah, really?"
She shrugged.
"Yeah. Anyway, at this rate, filming might end pretty quickly. Oh, right. Hey."
"What."
"Can you, um… introduce me to Jin-ha later?"
"Why Jin-ha?"
I asked, puzzled. Why Jin-ha all of a sudden?
"Well, we're going to have a premiere after we finish filming all this, right? I don't have anything suitable to wear… You said it before. That Jin-ha makes one set of clothes for free for Variants."
"You have a good memory. Alright. Are you free this week, by any chance?"
"Today's the last day on the shooting schedule for this week. I'm free as early as tomorrow."
"Then let's go see Jin-ha tomorrow. He'll probably welcome you with open arms. Jin-ha, you see, has a secret liking for cute things."
At my words, she looked disgusted.
"Ugh…."
"What is it now."
"Hearing you call me cute makes me want to puke."
"Hey, I'm talking about your appearance, you punk. Looking at just your appearance, you do fall on the cute side, so that's why I said it. You think I'd think of Han Tae-hoon as cute?"
As I was busy chatting with Han Tae-hoon about Jin-ha, it was soon time to resume filming.
This scene was one where Hyun teaches Lee Yul.
Wait a minute. Don't I need to know martial arts for this?
So I mentioned it to the director…
"Ah, you just have to say the lines. It should all be written in the script. In short, you're giving him an epiphany."
"Aha, I see what you mean. I'll give it a try."
Once again, filming resumes.
* * *
Hyun observed Lee Yul with sharp eyes.
Lee Yul was conjuring Black Flames from his hand.
Flames that were filled to the brim with a thirst for revenge.
He was certainly using the power he received from her splendidly for a first-timer… but that was all.
And with just that, he could never defeat Hyunhwa.
Knowing this fact, Hyun spoke to Lee Yul.
"How pathetic, you are."
"What's pathetic? With this much power, I can surely…."
"With that much power, you cannot surpass Hyunhwa. Hyunhwa has gained the power to wield fire, Transcendent of humans. Flames of that level cannot swallow Hyunhwa's flames."
"…Then, what must I do?"
"It is simple. What did I say when I gave you my power?"
"You said it was the power to burn life."
"Just as I said. Those flames are a power that burns with your life as fuel. The more life you burn from your body, the more intensely they will burn. Your instincts are currently rejecting it, which is why they only have that much force."
"I understand what you mean. Goodness, this is quite the loss. I already offered half my lifespan as the price, and now it's a power that requires me to burn even more life."
At Lee Yul's lament, Hyun smiled faintly.
"Do you not lack any lingering attachment to life anyway? Was it a lie when you said you would do anything if you could burn intensely for a single moment and complete your revenge?"
"…Of course not. It is merely a lament. Then, Hyun, as you say, I must use this power in the fight against Hyunhwa."
"That would be best. There is no need to waste your lifespan on something useless right now."
"I thought you were supposed to be training me. Is this training?"
"Huhu, indeed. To call this training, it is merely giving you a slight epiphany. In that case, shall we have a sparring match? I may not know much else, but I am well-versed in human martial arts."
At Hyun's question, Lee Yul's expression showed a hint of panic.
Lee Yul, no, So-hyun couldn't help but be flustered.
Because Seo-hyun's line just now was an ad-lib, not in the script.
Author's Note (Author's Afterword)
Barely made it, safe...
Thank you always for reading.
I will be back tomorrow evening.