Chapter 7: Um, I think I’ll get off.

Work space.

Three assistant writers were busy working on the script.

Despite the mountain of takeout containers, no one bothered to clean up.

The tight schedule left no time for cleaning, only for focusing on the script.

“What are we going to do about the character of Kim Yuhan? Should we get rid of him?”

“We can’t. Without Kim Yuhan, the story won’t even move forward.”

“Then we can’t change Kim Yuhan’s personality either…”

“We’ll have to change it somehow. There’s no actor who can pull off this role.”

With their eyes glued to their laptops, they spoke rapidly.

Of course, their fingers were even busier.

These three were all assistant writers for Lee Geum-sook.

“Ah… this is driving me crazy…”

Eventually, one of them collapsed backward, groaning.

“It’s really sad that we have to do this kind of work. This writer’s script has no issues at all. It’s almost perfect.”

“Exactly, but the problem is, a drama isn’t the same as a script.”

Although they were all receiving quite a bit of compensation, that wasn’t their only motivation.

They each felt that this script, which they considered flawless, had to be turned into a drama. It was their sole desire.

When this script first appeared, they were simply thrilled.

[Lee Geum-sook announces an ambitious upcoming project]

[Two top actors already on board… who’s directing?]

The script was flawless, with no wasted words. Directed by the renowned Choi Hee-won, starring Seo Yeon-ju, and Kim Sun-il…

Yes, they thought it would soar to great heights.

But reality was more like a dragon still waiting to take flight, filled with regret.

Why? Because they couldn’t find the perfect actress for the role of ‘Kim Yuhan.’

“It’s such a shame to cut down this script, but if we leave it as is, we can’t cast anyone. I’m going to go crazy.”

That’s why, even with cleaning postponed, they couldn’t seem to work any faster.

Kim Yuhan was best left as is, but if they didn’t make any changes, the casting wouldn’t work either…

“These days, there are no actors even applying for the role.”

…Because Kim Sun-il turned them all away. He meddled with all the castings. He’s obsessive-compulsive.”

“Kim Sun-il does have a sharp eye, but it’s too much.”

Then, one of the assistant writers’ phones rang.

“Ah, yes. I got the call. Oh! It’s the writer! Yes…!”

However, it didn’t take long for her voice to darken. Soon, she hung up, looking as though she was on the verge of tears.

“Guys…”

“What’s wrong?”

“What happened?”

Anxiety spread across everyone’s faces.

“The writer is coming with Choi Hee-won PD and two actors. I think today’s project might fall through…”

A collective sigh echoed from everyone, all at once.

This gloomy atmosphere seemed impossible to lift.

A moment later, the assistant writers stood in a line like chicks, ready to greet the VIPs.

Their hoodies were pulled tight over their heads, each of them looking disheveled.

Choi Hee-won PD burst into laughter.

“This writer is truly blessed. Just look at the assistants. You can tell they’re working really hard.”

“Of course, they should work hard. Do you know how much I’m giving for bonuses?”

Then, Seo Yeon-ju and Kim Sun-il entered… truly luxurious individuals gathered in one place.

“Hey, writer!”

But before they could even sit down, the assistant writers, who had been anxiously waiting, rushed to cling to Lee Geum-sook.

“Writer! Please, don’t cancel it!”

“I’ll make sure to modify Kim Yuhan’s character and find the right actor. It would be such a waste if this drama doesn’t happen!”

“Please, just think about it again!”

Each one had a desperate look on their face.

But in reality, Lee Geum-sook simply exchanged a glance with Choi Hee-won PD and let out a carefree laugh.

“Look at these guys. Who gave them permission to cancel my work?”

“…Excuse me?”

The assistant writers blinked in unison, like baby birds.

“Uh… weren’t you all gathered to wrap this up today?”

“Wrap it up? No, we gathered with the intention to make it.”

The loud atmosphere started to calm down.

“Don’t get anyone’s hopes up. The chances of it falling through are much higher.”

Kim Sun-il’s cold voice cut through like a sharp wind. His compulsive nature made him apply hand sanitizer.

Seo Yeon-ju shot Kim Sun-il a quick, disapproving glance.

“Watch your words. You’ll change your mind soon enough.”

“Show me. Don’t drag it out.”

While the two actors bickered, Lee Geum-sook turned on the giant TV mounted on the wall. She was syncing it with her phone.

“Yeah. I was planning to watch it right away anyway. Assistants, you should come over and watch too. We gathered here to see it together.”

“Us?”

Instead of answering, Lee Geum-sook played a video, and the connected TV began displaying a scene.

It was an audition clip of a participant, with the protagonist being Lee Sua.

The assistant writers all tilted their heads.

“…Huh? But Kim Yuhan is supposed to be male?”

However, both Choi Hee-won and Lee Geum-sook only smiled faintly. As if to say, there’s a reason for their confidence.

Seo Yeon-ju asked Kim Sun-il.

“This is the participant from Day 1. What do you think of the first impression?”

“Underwhelming. Only looks like he can play a villain.”

It was a harsh criticism, but Seo Yeon-ju smiled slyly in response.

“Do you know? I thought exactly the same thing as you.”

“If you’re going to say something unpleasant, keep it to yourself.”

At that moment, the assistant writers also started speaking up one by one.

“This writer’s script is so different from this.”

“Yeah. The impression is so strong, it’s hard to find a role that suits them…”

But then, everything changed.

The face of Lee Sua, who had been so confident, crumbled in an instant.

Her face, which seemed incapable of knowing despair, was now filled with fear, and the confusion and discomfort came across clearly.

The flaw that everyone had discussed was, in a way, transformed into a strength. A familiar face, but with an unexpected acting ability.

Lee Geum-sook silently handed her phone to the assistant writers, who, almost in a trance, kept replaying the video over and over again. The repetition seemed endless.

“No way, this face… can act like this?”

“This doesn’t make sense, but… it somehow works?”

The assistant writers were speechless.

“How could we not know with that kind of skill? This is the first time seeing it?”

“No experience. Acting is just a hobby for them.”

“…Is this writer messing with us?”

“It’s true. They even said it themselves.”

Lee Geum-sook’s words were true. In the following conversation between Seo Yeon-ju and others, their introductions confirmed this. It was enough to leave the assistant writers stunned.

“Wow.”

“I think we could delay the script revisions for a bit. We really should give this actor a role…”

At that moment,

“Is this person having a second audition tomorrow?”

Kim Sun-il’s question made the assistant writers close their mouths.

He had always been picky when it came to casting, never giving an inch. Since there hadn’t been any significant reactions yet, they couldn’t help but be cautious.

Seo Yeon-ju answered his question.

“Yeah. We’ll see.”

“There must be a separate audition script. Give it to me.”

Kim Sun-il received a script from Seo Yeon-ju. It was not Lee Geum-sook’s script, but a short one originally prepared for the second mission.

“Hmm…”

Kim Sun-il furrowed his brow.

“Does this person even know how to read a script?”

“Why?”

“This script is garbage. Even for an audition, if they perform like this, it would be disappointing.”

“Well, it’s the one prepared by PD Son Ji-woong. Honestly, I’m thinking about telling them to drop the audition and just go straight to the drama with Lee Geum-sook’s script.”

“Hmm…”

After a brief moment of hesitation,

“No, don’t say anything yet.”

“…What? Why?”

Kim Sun-il was still staring intently at the single participant trapped in the screen.

“I’m curious about their reaction.”

Meanwhile, in Lee Sua’s apartment,

“…Huh?”

Sua, who was looking at the link from PD Son Ji-woong, expressed confusion. It was a sight completely different from what she had expected.

“Huh? What? Huh?”

Sua repeatedly observed her performance several times. At least twenty times, if not more.

At last, she had no choice but to admit it.

“I can act, can’t I?”

It was a bit embarrassing to face herself on screen, but her acting skills were a separate issue that needed to be addressed.

“No, I’m actually pretty good at this.”

It felt like she was watching someone else. As if it wasn’t her, but the character she had experienced in the script, living through that role. The performance she had done turned out far better than expected.

Sua’s eyes sparkled.

“If this keeps up, all the problems will be solved in one go!”

First of all, the grade listed in the script—her worry that she might have only gotten a 5th-grade rating due to her poor performance—was proven to be unnecessary. It was clear that the measure was about potential success.

Moreover, the comments the judges had given her after the first audition, and the actions shown by Son Ji-woong after…

It all made sense now.

“So, did they actually think I was something special?”

Summarizing the situation, it was simple and clear.

She had gained a special privilege to experience this, and her performance was far from bad. Not only that, she could even check the rating of a piece of work that wasn’t even complete.

This…

If this goes well…

“An actress…! Can I really become an actress…?”

Just as a rosy carpet seemed to be laid out in Sua’s mind,

The phone rang. The caller was PD Son Ji-woong.

Sua no longer hesitated to answer the call. Hah, now that I know I have a talent for acting.

“Hello?”

“Sua, this is PD Son Ji-woong. Have you checked the link?”

“Yes.”

“It was a bit worrisome because the file size was large, but I’m glad it played without any issues. And, uh… actually…”

Sua could sense that Son Ji-woong was hesitating.

“…Have you thought about appearing in the second audition?”

“Yes. I’ve thought about it.”

“Ah, you’ve thought about it, huh.”

What’s this? Normally, she wouldn’t answer like that. From the other side of the line, she could faintly hear Son Ji-woong muttering under his breath.

Sua wondered, Did I make a mistake just now?

“Why?”

“Huh? Oh, it’s nothing. Please don’t misunderstand, I wasn’t angry with you, Sua. It’s just… um…”

Son Ji-woong seemed to be hesitating again, and Sua felt like it was a strange time to confirm her decision to participate.

She simply waited.

“Sua, how about this? This shouldn’t normally happen, but I’ll show you the script we’ll be using for the second audition in advance.”

Sua tilted her head.

“…Is that okay?”

“This is the script for how I became an actress, but please, never mention that you received it in advance.”

“I won’t.”

“Then, please don’t hang up just yet. Could you check your messages?”

Saying this, Son Ji-woong added in a pleading tone.

“Sua, this is the first time I’m offering this kind of privilege to a participant. If possible, I really hope we can meet tomorrow.”

Soon, the script arrived in Sua’s messages. As she was putting on her wireless earbuds, it wasn’t difficult to juggle both the call and reading the script.

Sua quickly skimmed through the script.

She didn’t feel scared.

In fact, now she was filled with excitement.

She had three strong advantages now.

However…

S#2 Torture Room / Early Morning
Script for the second mission
…?

Why is the setting like this?

Sua’s eyes shook briefly.

A: “It’s been a while since you betrayed us, looks like they treated you pretty well over there? You even abandoned the colleagues who were like family.”

You (with a stutter in pronunciation): “Kk…”

…?

Sua’s eyes shook again.

A: “From now on, you’ll be begging for death. Cool, huh?”

(Standing up, rolling up shirt sleeves)

(Extending a hand to receive a tool from an assistant)

Your eyes show a look of contempt.

Then, a series of brutal tortures follow.

Unable to sleep, needles pierce beneath her nails.

Her body is severed at the joints, and in the end, even after her limbs are completely cut off, she chooses to stay silent, holding on to her loyalty. A grows desperate, unable to extract information.

Sua closed the message window.

“Hmm, I think I’ll withdraw.”

“Excuse me?”