Editor: Veris
[Kang Jang-gu. Did you receive my message?]
“I was in the middle of a lecture…”
[I’m contacting you regarding the movie Seoul Square. I’m the casting director. Can you talk now?]
“Oh, yes.”
I left the classroom while still staring at the system window in front of me. As I moved out of the lecture hall the voice on the other end seemed to get louder.
[Director Park wants to meet you, Kang Jang-gu. He seemed to like you a lot from the audition!]
“Thank you.”
“I’ve sent the meeting location via text. Please check your schedule.”
“Just a moment. Yes, yes, I can make it.”
“Great! See you on that day then.”
After hanging up, I saw the basketball team sweating profusely in the distance, hard at work bouncing a basketball.
As an athlete, winning a competition once felt harder than dying…
‘Isn’t this too easy?’
Of course, my honed athletic skills from my past life played a part, but…
Putting my smartphone back in my pocket, I smirked.
A pleasant breeze brushed against my forehead. Regardless of anything else, this role of a zombie suited me perfectly right now.
I just needed to focus more on the stage directions than the lines.
‘Let’s go.’
Then, I turned my gaze back to the system window that hadn’t disappeared from my sight.
‘Confirm reward.’
You have earned 1 point as a reward for the supporting role casting in the movie Seoul Square: The Last Day.
Open the status window now and distribute your stats.
‘It’s the same.’
Fortunately, the structure of the system was the same as my previous life, except for the change in goal from an athlete to an “actor.”
‘Status window.’
As I imagined the status window in my mind, the current status of my body appeared.
Kang Jang-gu (22)
– Acting: C
– Mask: D+
– Physical: S+
Special Notes:
– Reenrollment as a second-year student in the Theater and Film Department at the Korea National University of Arts.
Filmography:
– None.
The confirmed information was grim. To have a body that should have been destined to become the greatest actor with a mask rated ‘D+’… This was a figure that should have been acceptable only for an athlete.
The fact that my physical stat was S+ seemed to have little use in my actor’s life.
‘No, wait.’
Thanks to my physical stat, I could maintain a stable posture during auditions, so it could be seen as somewhat helpful. Looking at it positively, these days were the era of individuality. Perhaps a unique mask like mine would be appreciated more than a perfectly sculpted face.
‘…But still, D is a bit…’
‘Of course, stat distribution should go here.’
No matter how individualistic the world had become, a D grade was unacceptable. D grade meant “ugly” no matter how you looked at it. You had to at least reach the “average” level with a C grade. For the time being…
“I’ll put it all into the mask.”
After deciding to invest points into upgrading my appearance, I closed the system window, feeling a slight warmth spreading across my face.
You have used 1 point on the mask.
Subtle changes are detected in the mask.
Mask D+ ▶ C-
Your appearance is now “slightly average.”
‘…’
What exactly does “slightly average” mean? It’s not just average; it’s slightly average. Moreover, to only now become slightly average, does that mean I was originally below average?
‘Hmm…’
At that moment, a wild dog-like creature dashed towards me, accompanied by two junior students who seemed to have masks rated at ‘B’ or higher.
“Where did this guy wander off to? Here he is.”
“Senior~ We’re hungry. Can you buy us some food?”
“Let’s go. Minji and Sora are hungry.”
“Huh?”
I’m not your wallet.
“Sorry, but I have to go somewhere.”
“Where to?”
“Hey! Didn’t you promise to treat us to something delicious today?!”
Considering the fact that Kang Jang-gu was a returning student, he might have been quite gullible.
“Wow. But senior, your skin looks really good today. What did you do to your face?”
“Wow! Really?”
Unfortunately, the real me was definitely not that kind of person.
“Get lost.”
“Bu…”
“Shh!”
“If you have any business, let me know. But today, I’ll treat you guys, so let’s go. Do you want to drink instead of eating?”
I could somewhat guess why Seong Jun-won’s nickname was “crazy dog.” It was because he whispered something in secret.
“You’re not Hong Chi-ryeon, are you? Cooperate a bit, huh?”
A familiar name slipped from his lips. I waved my hand dismissively and pushed him away, shouting, “Get lost,” while pondering over the odd name, Hong Chi-ryeon.
‘It’s her. …the daughter of LS Entertainment.’
There was a gem hidden in the classroom.
* * *
The black top-roofed Carnival van. East’s manager, who was sitting in the van to go to the schedule, had a serious expression as he answered the phone.
– Thud.
Opening the door and entering, Seo Woon-chan sat on the passenger seat with a bright expression.
“Hyung, good morning.”
He looked at the manager with an excited expression from the morning. The reason was simple.
Today was the day the audition results for Seoul Square: The Last Day were announced.
The agency almost expected Seo Woon-chan’s casting to be confirmed. Although they held a public audition, it was almost certain that he was already selected.
“…Oh, let’s go.”
But for some reason, the manager’s expression wasn’t as bright. He quickly ended the call and swiftly turned the steering wheel.
“Do you know the schedule? We have a fan signing event today, and then we’ll go straight to the practice room.”
“Yes, I know.”
During the ride, the manager didn’t say much. Even when they arrived at the bustling fan signing event and he finished the event with a smile or when the members filled the car after the signing event and moved back to the practice room.
‘Did I get the date wrong?’
Surely the staff at the audition venue said the results would be announced three days later… Seo Woon-chan glanced at the manager who seemed unusually low-spirited, looking out the window.
At that moment…
“Right, Manager Hyung. Didn’t they say today was the day the results of Woon-chan’s audition would come out?”
“Huh? Oh…”
The leader of East, who had been exchanging trivial jokes and laughing, suddenly threw a question at the manager.
“It didn’t go well. Looks like it’s someone else.”
“Excuse me?”
“I was going to tell Woon-chan earlier, but I was busy today. Woon-chan, it seems the zombie role didn’t suit you after all. Some of our members have been cast in dramas, and there are many movie offers, so we’ll…”
It was the moment when Seo Woon-chan’s intuition hit the mark.
No wonder the manager seemed particularly solemn today.
“Really? Wow. Woon-chan didn’t make it?”
“Then who did?! There’s no way anyone did better than him among those who auditioned…”
“Wow. Woon-chan was really looking forward to that project… He’s a huge fan od Director Park Jun-dong, you know.”
“Yeah, he auditioned for the zombie role because he was even willing to try any role.”
The members tried to console Seo Woon-chan and expressed their doubts.
Then, shadows fell upon Seo Woon-chan’s face, which had maintained a bright expression all day long.
“Hyung, then who got it…?”
* * *
As soon as the lecture ended, the place I dashed off to, resisting the temptation of the crazy dog, was JW Action School.
‘Wow…’
Upon arrival, a familiar scent, no, a familiar smell, greeted me.
Starting from stunt actors practicing aerial stunts with wires, to those increasing their basic stamina with skipping ropes or running, and to those pounding on punching bags or kicking targets with their toes.
Seeing the action school filled with them, it was impossible not to recall my past life.
“Phew, the smell of sweat.”
Perhaps hearing my murmurs, a staff member came over and handed me a cup of cold water.
“We were supposed to clean up, but the smell is still lingering, isn’t it?”
“Oh, no, it’s fine.”
“Are you Mr. Kang Jang-gu? The director is busy right now, so you can wait here for a moment. He’ll be done soon.”
Turning my gaze towards the direction where Director Ha Jae-woong, the martial arts director, was standing, I saw him engaged in a heated conversation with someone, exchanging loud words.
“Looks like he’s busy right now. Should we come back later?”
“No, I came all the way here… Let’s wait for a moment.”
As I spoke, the staff member knocked on the glass door and went into the room to say something to the director.
Then, Director Ha Jae-woong, who turned his gaze towards me. He made an effort to smile, waved his hand, then furrowed his brows again, shouting loudly.
“The director will be out soon.”
“What’s the matter?”
“The stunt performer we had arranged suddenly bailed out due to personal reasons. He’s really pissed off right now. We have to shoot right away, but the person we worked so hard to get suddenly has personal matters to attend to, so it’s understandable that he’s angry.”
“What kind of stunt performer?”
The employee spoke with a worried tone.
“He’s a professional tennis player… He suddenly got a coaching job overseas after getting an international coaching license. We’re starting shooting next week, but… that’s why the situation is like this. The director is a really nice person. He doesn’t usually get this angry, so don’t be too scared.”
As the employee awkwardly smiled, Director Ha Jae-woong, the martial arts director, came out of the room and shouted.
“Director, I know many professional players, so…”
“Oh, enough. How can I trust friends of yours like Min-sik? Be careful. Take care on your way home.”
“Ha, understood.”
Ha Jae-woong’s expression changed rapidly as he looked at me, bursting into a big smile.
“Oh, who is this? Mr. Kang Jang-su?!”
“It’s Jang-gu.”
“…Ah, I got the name wrong. Sorry.”
“What’s the matter?”
I asked Director Ha, again.
The reason I asked the question was simple.
Because I was the person Ha Jae-woong was looking for.
‘This is an opportunity.’
By about the tenth round of life, you naturally learn that you should never miss such opportunities.
“Oh, so you heard everything. Well, our friend’s business is none of our concern. Let’s forget about that and talk…”
“I actually know how to play tennis a bit. I used to play a bit before.”
Ha Jae-woong’s expression momentarily turned serious at my words.
“Really… a professional?”
“Well, not quite to that extent. But if you give me a racket, I can show you.”
At Ha Jae-woong’s gesture, a staff member quickly brought a tennis racket and ball. I took the ball and racket and walked onto the empty mat in the middle of the action school.
“There are too many mirrors here…”
“Why? Don’t you want mirrors?”
“I’m afraid they might break.”
I pointed to the area where they had set up mats for falling practice.
“That looks good over there.”
Just as I was starting to feel uncomfortable with the familiar sensation of the tennis ball after a long time, I quickly took the trophy stance and served a strong forehand.
– Thwack!
The tennis ball hit the mat with a loud impact, piercing through it. All the actors who were training turned their attention to me in an instant, following the sound’s source.
“…What, a not like a professional… you say?”
