Chapter 54: I wish I were an actor.

The day of the main shoot for Special Forces Unit 808. Early morning.

One of the members in Lee Sua’s group chat, Monkeying, was once again roaming the internet, having stayed up all night.

With dark circles under her eyes, her hobby was web surfing.

Her daily routine involved enjoying various discussions on different communities, but today was a little different.

No matter which community she visited, the topic was always one:

“… Really, there are all sorts of trash out there.”

The trash, of course, referred to Director Kim Jun-ki.

[Let’s look at the punishments Kim Jun-ki deserves.]

This simple video had over a million views.

It was complete chaos.

Monkeying thought it was to be expected.

Kim Jun-ki’s films were quite famous in South Korea.

Being someone who always stayed on the internet, Monkeying knew his name value very well.

[Kim Jun-ki, did he really do this?]
[The full story of Kim Jun-ki’s atrocities.]
[Kim Jun-ki’s return is impossible, what will his punishment be?]
[The ugly truth behind Kim Jun-ki.]

These videos, which had quickly gone up, had now surpassed 2 million views.

The reactions to Kim Jun-ki were still spreading like wildfire.

The story of someone who had risen to success only to fall endlessly, especially due to their own great crimes, was enough to make people lose their minds and tear him apart.

Monkeying’s usual hangout, the Yang Ha-rin gallery, was no different.

[Yang Ha-rin Gallery]
[He’s falling endlessly hahaha.]
[This guy should just die.]
[If he gets punished, living will be a more painful life.]
[I was such a fool for spending money on his movies…]
[The actors involved in this are so pitiful.]

Monkeying also posted a message.

[Trash.]

Then, on a whim, she also posted one in the Lee Sua gallery.

[What’s the relationship between Lee Sua and Kim Jun-ki? Clarify.]

As always, it was just a playful post.

It’s common among friends to joke around and demand clarifications when something happens.

So, really, it was just a joke.

Later, she had no idea that this post would become legendary.

As Kim Jun-ki was socially condemned and the entire internet community was showing their outrage, the industry was no exception.

Everyone was talking about Kim Jun-ki.

However, the Special Forces Unit 808 production team’s focus was slightly different.

While the public viewed the incident simply as “Kim Jun-ki is a heinous criminal,” they had another focus of interest.

Naturally, that focus was Lee Sua.

First, Mystic.

As Seo Yeon-ju was eating a sandwich with some sauce around her mouth, Kim Sun-il made a face and wiped her mouth with a napkin.

Seo Yeon-ju looked disgusted.

“Wow, I just got chills. What are you doing right now?”

“I couldn’t stand it, it was making me nauseous. You should eat more properly.”

“You do you. Anyway, where was I?”

Seo Yeon-ju took another big bite of the sandwich, puffing her cheeks like a squirrel, continuing to speak.

“It’s about Sua. No matter how I think about it, it’s strange. It’s too impressive to just chalk everything up to luck. Maybe… she really has been touched by the gods?”

“Do you believe in spiritual beings? How pathetic.”

Seo Yeon-ju ignored Kim Sun-il’s response and turned her head toward Kim Yi-seo.

Indeed, Kim Yi-seo was different from Kim Sun-il. She was thoughtfully rubbing her chin, clearly pondering Yeon-ju’s words.

“Hmm…”

“CEO, right? It’s hard to argue with that, isn’t it? Strange things always seem to happen when you’re around Sua, right? And not just once or twice, is it?”

“I don’t believe in phenomena like being touched by gods either. But, I can’t ignore Sua’s intuition anymore. She seems to have a different perspective from regular people.”

“Yeah. It feels like she sees things we can’t.”

“Ah.”

Kim Yi-seo suddenly raised her head, as if recalling something.

“Speaking of which, Sua asked me to get her a script related to music. I just remember it offhandedly without much thought. I was planning to give it to her if I happened to find it someday…”

“What? No! That’s not good! You need to get it now!”

Seo Yeon-ju, who had finished her sandwich, spoke up.

“From now on, let’s act on everything Sua says!”

And then, in the group chat.

[Special Forces Unit 808 Group Chat]

However, it wasn’t a chat room where the entire production team had gathered.

It was the group chat of the supporting cast and extras who had been motivated by Sua and had practiced together multiple times beforehand.

[Do-hee: Wow, Director Kim Jun-ki]
Do-hee: “He’s causing a huge nuisance around him.”

[Do-hee: (video link)]
<< Collection of actresses who appeared in Kim Jun-ki’s works >>
<< Is my favorite one here? For those worried, take a look. >>

The common theme of the videos posted by Park Do-hee was simple.

The shockwaves caused by Kim Jun-ki were so massive that now, not only Kim Jun-ki but also the actors involved were being mentioned and affected.

The damage caused was so immense that it became a serious issue.

Male industry figures were being hunted down with suspicions of being accomplices, while the female figures were being tormented with questions about whether they were victims.

In either case, the impact on their image was unavoidable.

At this moment, statements were pouring out from all agencies.

[Do-hee: This is really dangerous.]
[Do-hee: If Sua had gone to Kim Jun-ki’s audition, Special Forces Unit 808 would have faced some backlash too. But thanks to her rejection, we’re managing to avoid it.]

[Myeong-pil: What a coincidence, such a coincidence.]
[Myeong-pil: Anyway, it turned out well.]
[Myeong-pil: Let’s just focus on acting.]

[Soo-yeon: Fighting!]
[Dong-ho: I’ll do my best!]

For Special Forces Unit 808, it was just watching the commotion from the sidelines. Miraculously, they hadn’t been affected at all.

And then, in the editing room for the short film Sword.

Director Park Jun had watched Kim Jun-ki’s downfall in real-time from the group Barun-gil and was now more determined than ever to do his best because of it.

It was true that Kim Jun-ki had been his mentor, but he didn’t want to experience the same downfall as his teacher. He was determined to burn his passion endlessly, striving to win awards and prove himself.

“Try splitting the monitor into three screens.”

“Yes.”

“Play versions A, B, and C simultaneously.”

“Okay.”

The three versions of the edited footage played at once, and at that moment, the screen was filled with Lee Sua’s face.

“Her acting is truly amazing.”

“That’s why we’re happy to go through this struggle. Other sets have trouble because the actors can’t perform, but at least our actor’s performance is exceptional. The editing is a nightmare, though.”

On their desk, disposable coffee cups and energy drink cans had formed a great wall, a testament to several nights of working without sleep.

“Director, but this actress rejected Kim Jun-ki’s project, right? She eagerly jumped into Sword, though.”

“That’s right.”

“Hmm… as a newcomer, Kim Jun-ki’s project must have been a huge temptation… but her acting skills aside, she has integrity. This industry is one where love can disappear for money.”

“If you understand that much, maybe you can focus on editing properly. At this rate, we won’t finish on time. The submission deadline is coming up.”

Among all the powers a director holds, the most powerful is, of course, the ability to cut the footage.

When a director collects all the scenes shot, the task of trimming, cutting, and arranging them becomes purely a director’s skill.

Because of this, the director can claim the film as their own by putting their name in the ending credits. Their decisions have a decisive influence on the outcome.

Yes, Park Jun knew this well, but…

“Ugh…”

Park Jun unknowingly grabbed his head in frustration. The others, sitting next to him and sipping energy drinks, were in the same state.

“Director, this is really difficult…”

“Yeah. It’s just not cutting the way it should…”

At that moment, Park Jun made a decision.

“Alright. I’m going to take a gamble.”

“Did you say ‘gamble’?”

“Yes. Let’s leave all of Sua’s acting scenes as they are.”

“Huh?”

The editing team’s eyes widened in surprise.

“Are you saying we should edit the other scenes to match the runtime? Or should we just accept the extended runtime?”

“We’ll have to accept it. In my opinion, as soon as we touch any of it, the essence will be lost. It’s Sua, so I believe there’s a reason she acted this way. Let’s trust it.”

“Hmm…”

Most actors are only focused on their performance, but for some reason, Park Jun felt that Sua had approached this project with the end result in mind.

Especially with the recent situation involving Kim Jun-ki.

For Park Jun, Lee Sua had already proven to be someone extraordinary. She was the one who took Sword, which had been thrown away, and brought it to completion.

It was around this time that the editing team started to agree.

“…Well, it seems like the original is the best.”

“None of our edits are better than the original.”

In the end, they began to arrange Sua’s scenes without any edits, and Park Jun quietly thought to himself while sipping water.

“Yeah, if it’s not Sua, who can we trust?”

The CF team for the unknown energy drink Extreme.

Vroom—!

They were currently in a vehicle, rushing to the Jeonju Film Studio, the location where Special Mobile Unit 808 would be filmed. The purpose was to meet with Kim Yi-seo, the CEO of Mystic Entertainment.

The total number of people was five.

As they continued quietly, one person suddenly spoke up.

“This… doesn’t it seem like a scam?”

“I’m a bit uneasy too. Mystic suddenly gets involved? And it’s not just any other drama, it’s Special Mobile Unit 808? Honestly, why would they consider us for PPL?”

The speaker referred to themselves as ‘just us,’ but no one disagreed. Extreme was an unknown product, and its sales were at rock bottom.

The team leader scratched his head quietly.

Even he thought this was happening too suddenly.

“How did it end up like this?”

Extreme was a product no one cared about. If this CF shoot didn’t lead to some results, it would face the threat of being discontinued.

But with such a situation, they had no ability to secure a famous celebrity. They had only posted an ad online, and the number of applicants was just three, including Lee Sua.

The reason he had called Sua again, venting his frustration, was because Extreme was in such a desperate situation that it was hanging on to every applicant.

But suddenly Mystic?

Suddenly Special Mobile Unit 808?

How should he describe it? It felt like grasping at a straw, and suddenly holding a golden nugget?

The team leader shook his head.

“I don’t know what’s going on either. But one thing is very clear in this situation.”

A spark gleamed in the team leader’s eyes.

“We must seize this opportunity. For us, Extreme, there’s no better chance than this.”

Everyone nodded. It wasn’t an incorrect statement.

Soon, determined expressions appeared on all five faces.

Meanwhile, the protagonist, Sua, had been working hard since the morning.

Today was the day of the actual shoot. Naturally, she had to experience the script one more time. That way, she would have an advantage during filming.

Therefore, she was currently wandering around the special space, the hotel.

Short Film ‘Sword’
‘Acting Commander’ applied
Special Mobile Unit 808
‘Acting Commander’ applied

This wasn’t particularly surprising.

It wasn’t hard for Sua to understand. If she put in her best effort, the work would be positively influenced, right?

But.

“Hmm?”

Sua suddenly stopped in her tracks.

There was a somewhat unfamiliar sight.

Energy Drink CF
Regrading and status readjustment in progress

“…I’ve never seen something like this before.”

Sua tilted her head.

It was finally afternoon. The filming location.

Sua immediately began with her makeup session.

Currently, three stylists were working on her. They seemed not the least bit tired and were fully focused on their work.

“It’s so strange, why is it so fun to do Sua’s makeup?”

“Yeah. It doesn’t even feel like work.”

For Sua, it wasn’t a bad thing. If the people she worked with could approach their job with a willing heart, that was the best outcome.

However…

There was one problem.

“I’m not enjoying this at all. It’s so boring!”

Honestly, when she first had makeup done, it was exciting and thrilling, so time flew by. But after doing it a few times, she had become so accustomed to it that it had become tedious.

More than anything, it took a long time.

Yeah, seriously, it took forever!

So, Sua decided to check her phone.

Of course, she remembered to turn the screen brightness down to 1. She didn’t want anyone around to see what she was doing on her phone.

Sua secretly felt proud of her thoroughness.

“What should I say… Sua thoroughness.”

[Sua: I’m bored]

[Sua: So bored]

[Deer: Go out and do something]

[Monkeying: Isn’t Deer unemployed too?]

[Deer: I’m working, okay?]

[Monkeying: What kind of work? You’re always playing games.]

[Deer: Anyway, don’t worry about it. ᄃᄎ]

[Saeji: I’m the one who’s unemployed.]

[Saeji: I quit today with a weird article.]

The chatroom was particularly lively today.

It was a good thing for Sua. At least she wouldn’t be completely bored.

[Monkeying: By the way, did you see the article about Kim Jun-ki?]

[Monkeying: What a trashy guy.]

[Sua: I agree.]

[Monkeying: So lucky that he didn’t get involved with Yang Ha-rin.]

[Sua: No chance.]

[Monkeying: ?]

[Deer: Another boring conversation.]

[Deer: I swear, some people are so boring.]

[Deer: Can’t someone kick them out?]

• The chatroom manager has kicked out Deer –

Soon, Sua received a message.

[Sender: Go Eun-bi]

▷ If you don’t lift the ban right now,
▷ I might actually beat you up.

Sua couldn’t help but let out a small laugh.

Even though they bickered, the group chat was full of energy, and Sua enjoyed this kind of atmosphere.

It was loud, yet comforting in its own way.

In a way, it felt like her mental home.

However, Sua’s break didn’t last long.

Click!

A flash went off from the side.

When she turned to look, she saw Kim Yi-seo and PD Choi Heewon, along with several members of the Special Mobile Unit 808’s production and filming team, gathered nearby.

“What’s going on?”

When Sua blinked and asked,

“We’re filming the preparation process. Once viewers start to identify with the actors, they’re curious about what they look like outside the filming set. This scene looks good too.”

“Ah, I see.”

Sua nodded.

She understood what they were saying, but it was still a bit disappointing.

‘Ugh, I can’t use my phone now.’

She had been enjoying the chat today, but she didn’t want to be filmed while using her phone. This was when Sua started focusing on managing her image.

Kim Yi-seo continued speaking.

“And one more thing. I just finished talking with PD Choi. They’ll probably come by around tonight to discuss the drink PPL (Product Placement).”

“Drink PPL?”

“I was a bit surprised, since it’s such an unknown and underperforming company, but there must be a reason why Sua chose it. Don’t worry too much about it. We’re in complete control here.”

It was then that Sua remembered.

Right. I did apply for a drink commercial.

She wasn’t sure how it had come about, but now Kim Yi-seo was managing her small schedule, and Sua felt confident that Kim Yi-seo would handle it well.

‘Looking at it this way, things have really changed.’

When she first applied for the drink commercial, she had been in a subordinate position. But now, look at this — she was the one in charge. She had just been doing her part, but now she had become the lead.

Her motivation was rising even more.

And then, at that moment…

“…?”

Sua suddenly felt the presence of more people nearby.

The attention was familiar, but today it felt different.

Some people were bowing their heads slightly, hands clasped in front of them as they looked at her, while others were suddenly making the sign of the cross.

What is this? Are they crazy? Why are they doing that?

Things were unfolding in a way that Sua couldn’t understand at all, and at that moment, PD Choi Heewon burst out laughing.

“Apparently, there’s a weird rumor going around among the cast members. They say that being around Sua brings good luck.”

“Am I supposed to be some kind of mountain spirit or something…?”

“Well, Sua-ya, mountain spirits don’t really suit you. Maybe a fox spirit that grants wishes would be more fitting?”

A fox spirit?

An arctic fox spirit?

The moment Sua heard the word “fox,” her mind immediately connected it to the arctic fox.

‘…I see. I resemble an arctic fox.’

Suddenly feeling much better, Sua straightened her posture and puffed out her chest, causing a few of the male actors to unknowingly take a breath.

‘Ah.’

Around this time, PD Choi Heewon suddenly remembered something.

‘Oh right, Director Go Tae-min is coming today…?’

He hesitated, wondering if he should inform Sua in advance, but quickly shook his head. Instead, he slightly raised the corners of his mouth.

‘No, it’s better to just observe. After all, Sua wouldn’t get nervous, so there’s no need to tell her in advance.’

Meanwhile, at Go Tae-min’s movie studio.

Tadah-tadah—

The director was currently seated at a grand piano, producing various melodies. His appearance—white hair and a thin frame—made him resemble a musician at first glance.

Then, at some point, he suddenly stopped his fingers.

“Are they here?”

“Yes. I’m sorry if I interrupted your performance.”

A visitor had arrived. The staff member immediately bowed their head, but Go Tae-min lightly waved his hand as if to say not to worry.

“No, it’s fine. I was just waiting and tapping for a moment.”

“That’s a relief. Then, let me show you this first…”

The staff member presented a tablet with neatly organized information in front of Go Tae-min. It was about Kim Jun-ki.

“Director Kim Jun-ki is completely finished.”

“Yeah. He did things behind the scenes that I could never have imagined.”

Go Tae-min’s expression wasn’t a pleasant one.

Kim Jun-ki had once been a passionate director and a member of ‘The Right Path.’ The fact that a friend who had shared meals on set for so long had turned into a criminal was quite bitter.

But this was a crime. It was something that couldn’t be excused.

“It’s only natural for those who commit crimes to pay the price. But what worries me more is the trouble he’s caused. There’s more than just one person who’s been affected.”

“True. To think that Director Go is about to start a new project, and yet this is happening. There’s a lot to worry about.”

“What can we do? We just have to do our best in the work we’re assigned. Let’s stop talking about Director Kim Jun-ki. What about the interview videos?”

“Yes, I brought them. There are a lot. About ten people.”

Go Tae-min watched the interviewees in the videos that the staff member showed him. He was looking for one specific role.

A character who suffers from autism but has a natural talent for the piano. A character whose gaze changes when facing music.

But after a while, he reviewed all the videos.

Sigh.

Go Tae-min shook his head and let out a sigh.

Even if the autistic role was acceptable, there wasn’t a single interviewee who seemed to fit the role of a piano prodigy.

With a face that showed clear reluctance, he pointed to two people.

“First, I’ll leave these two, but honestly, they’re not great either.”

Skill can be improved with practice, but there wasn’t a single interviewee who gave off the feeling of truly loving music. What Go Tae-min wanted was someone who seemed like they couldn’t live without music.

“Director, these days, instruments are often handled with post-production. Sometimes CG is cleverly used. The higher up you go with the actors, the less time they have to practice instruments…”

“It’s fine if it takes time. It’s better than making a bad film.”

“Isn’t it asking too much? I dare say this is my advice.”

“I know I’m asking for a lot. But there must be at least one actor in the world who fits that. I just want to say that it’s my job to find that person. That’s what a director should do.”

Go Tae-min said this and handed the tablet back.

“Anyway, it’s time. Let’s go watch Park Do-hee’s performance.”

“You look tired, so do you really need to go in person? Honestly, I can go alone. I’ll record in high definition and upload it.”

Go Tae-min shook his head.

“I need to see it in person. That’s what a director does.”

Night.

At the Special Task Force 808 filming location.

Sua stood there, blankly looking around.

‘Wow….’

The 808 team headquarters, which was firmly set up, with lights on as if it were a real working building, was quite a sight. Plus, the police cars stationed around with siren lights on.

Her heart started to race. It was finally sinking in.

From now on, she would be part of the main filming.

Sua stood still for a while, feeling overwhelmed by the moment.

She looked like someone who had stopped mindlessly at a crosswalk, but the reason Sua was standing still was because the people around her were moving around frantically.

They were all holding something in their hands.

“Did you check the lights? It’s important since we’re filming at night.”

“The lighting’s fine. I think the sound crew said they needed to meet with the PD earlier?”

“Make sure nothing’s dropped on the floor! This is the main filming! We can’t leave even the tiniest mistake!”

Yellow tape was placed everywhere to limit movement, and signs saying ‘Special Task Force 808’ were posted around.

The lives of detectives were busier and more intense at night, so now, with the full moon hanging high, the main filming was about to begin.

Meanwhile, PD Choi Heewon had one more task to take care of.

It was to greet a distinguished guest and show proper respect.

Director Go Tae-min arrived at the scene, smiling brightly.

“PD Choi, long time no see.”

“Ah, Director Go, you’ve come? We need to start filming right away, so I don’t have much time to entertain you. After filming, let’s definitely have a coffee.”

“It’s fine. Just being here to watch is enough of a treat.”

With that, PD Choi Heewon hurried back to the set, and Director Go Tae-min began inspecting the area, carefully checking from the edges.

A filming set always had a way of sparking some kind of inspiration.

At some point, Go Tae-min’s gaze lingered on someone.

A person with white-dyed hair.

Even though only their side was visible, their sharp eyes and nose stood out, and their expression and movements were stiff, as if frozen in place.

It was probably due to nervousness. It was common for actors to feel nervous, but Go Tae-min felt something strange about this person in particular.

There was an unusual aura about them, especially in the way their white hair seemed to change color every time the sirens flashed red and blue. With each flash, they looked like a completely different person.

It was like a canvas that changed its impression every time it was painted.

“Is that person an actor?”

He asked himself and then nodded.

“Yeah. I hope they’re an actor.”