Shriek─!
Kim Sun-il tore open a specific page of the script and Sua immediately checked it. It was a scene for the Kim Yu-han character.
….
From the opposite side came a resolute gaze, a tension so taut it seemed about to snap any moment, and whispers… But it was fine. Sua didn’t feel much sense of crisis at all.
She was just curious.
‘If the role is incomplete, why is it possible to experience it?’
To others, it might look like she was focusing on the script, but in reality, Sua was walking through the corridors of the special hotel.
‘Well, I’ll understand once I experience it.’
She entered a public phone booth.
And the moment she dialed the number 001, Kim Yu-han’s number…
Whoosh─!
Her vision began to turn stark white from the edges.
◈◈◈◈◈
Suddenly, she realized she was in an underground parking lot.
“Hemm~”
The space was densely packed with vehicles, and she sat with her bottom resting on a car bonnet, humming a tune.
“Hemm~”
In her hands were a sketchbook and a pen, and her hands never ceased to move. She was capturing the surrounding landscape on the pristine white canvas – so precise it could be mistaken for a photograph.
To others, she might just appear to be an artist with a deep appreciation for art.
But no, Sua realized it was nothing like that.
Her current vision and thoughts were different from others.
The expanse of the space, the types of cars parked and their license plates, which doors were unlocked, the degree of tire wear, and the assumptions about the drivers based on the items inside the vehicles…
She could perceive it all. Everything was within her grasp.
Her instincts themselves were different from before. Even though she had human eyes, it was as if she possessed the ability to see something more, something unusual.
Genius.
What others couldn’t reach despite their efforts was now commonplace to her. It wasn’t even that she had a purpose doing this; it was simply a pastime that came naturally.
Clack.
At some point, she stopped sketching as a tall man approached her.
“Hello.”
The other side greeted her first.
If rules and norms were personified as a human, they would likely appear like this. Someone who wouldn’t tolerate the slightest deviation.
“I’m Lee Kang-cheol, assigned to the Special Mobility Team, and from today onward, I’ll be working with Mr. Kim Yu-han, using vehicle number 808.”
“Ah…!”
Lee Kang-cheol’s face lacked any expression, yet she rose from her seat with delight. She was excited to meet a new person.
She bowed first.
“I’m new to the Special Mobility Team, so please teach me many things. I will work hard. I kindly request your support.”
At this, Lee Kang-cheol…
“…”
Still expressionless but seemingly internally flustered.
This was very different from the rumors he’d heard about Kim Yu-han, someone impossible to predict, a scatterbrained thinker.
…But somehow, Sua naturally absorbed Lee Kang-cheol’s thoughts into her mind.
She smiled at him.
“Are we responding to an emergency right away? We should delegate our roles first – one to drive, and one to ride shotgun.”
“I heard this area isn’t familiar to you yet. I’ll drive until you’re comfortable with the routes.”
“Oh, you’re very kind!”
She smiled broadly while her eyes darted restlessly.
She could deduce habits from his dress, sleeve, or collar, estimate his strength, sense what might be in his pockets, and even guess at what might be stuck on the tips of his shoes…
After finishing her calculations, Sua smiled and extended her hand.
“A handshake before we depart? We’re the same rank, but you have far more experience. Please treat me casually.”
Lee Kang-cheol seemed less tense upon seeing her demeanor, which was different from the rumors. This was evident in his less rigid movements.
He took her extended hand. Their historical first meeting. A heartwarming scene.
Just then…
“Haha.”
With a laugh that unsettled Lee Kang-cheol, Sua’s hand moved involuntarily. Very quickly.
Whoosh!
Sua snatched the car keys hanging from Lee Kang-cheol’s waist. It happened so fast he didn’t even have time to react.
“…!”
By the time Lee Kang-cheol’s eyes widened, Sua was already in the car, having simultaneously locked all the doors.
“…Mr. Yu-han, what are you doing?”
Though Lee Kang-cheol immediately pounded on the door, she didn’t hear it. Sua turned on the ignition and rested her ear against the wheel.
“Ah…”
An involuntary sigh escaped her.
How many criminals must have been chased in this car?
Then how many stories must it hold?
Let alone, this exhaust sound…
“…It’s the best.”
She was thrilled.
Emergency response. She was thrilled.
Kim Yu-han felt like fireworks were going off in his mind.
Thrilled. Thrilled. Thrilled.
But boring investigations aren’t allowed. If one of us is the car, the other must run… that’s the only way it’s fun… confronting criminals conventionally isn’t allowed…
Whoosh!
Finally, Kim Yu-han pressed the accelerator, leaving Lee Kang-cheol behind.
“Kim Yu-han! Hey, you son of a—!”
But from behind, Lee Kang-cheol’s shouts didn’t affect her.
“…Senior, you run. Aren’t you familiar with the roads?”
In the rearview mirror, her crazed expression was reflected.
◈◈◈◈◈
Piiii──!
The quite noisy tinnitus eventually faded, and she was back to reality again.
“Huff…”
Sua calmed her breathing and looked around. Still, Kim Sun-il, Seo Yeon-joo, and everyone else were staring at her with immense curiosity.
‘Ugh, their eyes are gonna pop out.’
She couldn’t help but close her eyes tightly. This was because the thoughts and habits of Kim Yu-han were still so vividly lingering.
Everything from the café’s interior design to the people in front of her, Sua wanted to observe every single detail, but this was Sua’s body, not Kim Yu-han’s. Her head was bound to ache.
She shook her head slightly to regain her senses. Even though it was a small movement, its effect was significant. She realized she was back in the present.
“Kim Yu-han…!”
“To give the role of Kim Yu-han a try?”
“It’s a male role, an incomplete one too—”
Sua remained unaffected by Kim Sun-il’s penetrating gaze and the surrounding commotion. Instead, her body itched to reenact what she had just experienced.
There was just one thing she still wondered about.
Sua glanced back at the torn page Kim Sun-il had left behind.
Page 198. [S# 49] Underground Parking Lot / Night
Lee Kang-cheol: “I’m Lee Kang-cheol. I’ve been assigned to the Special Mobility Team, and starting today, I’ll be working with Kim Yu-han, using vehicle number 808.”
Kim Yu-han reacts appropriately.
‘…Ah, now I see, the script ends here?’
It really was an incomplete role. Unlike what Sua had just experienced, the script only included an introduction between the two characters.
Her curiosity deepened.
‘Even the unwritten parts of an incomplete role were experienced by me through this special experience. I wonder what the author would think if they saw it?’
It wouldn’t be hard to find out.
Why not show it to them and observe their reaction?
Finally, Sua began to move.
.
.
.
.
.
“Um.”
In response to Kim Sun-il’s request, Sua shook her head.
“That’s not possible.”
“…Impossible? This is impossible?”
Everyone assumed Sua had refused. That was reasonable since it was an incomplete role of a different gender.
However…
“Let’s do it together.”
The added words caught everyone’s attention.
The tone and attitude were completely different from her usual self. They immediately understood – Sua had merely immersed herself in the character.
Seo Yeon-joo quickly nudged Kim Sun-il and whispered.
“Kim Sun-il, you should take on the role of Lee Kang-cheol. This isn’t just a simple read-through; it seems she intends to showcase the scene through acting.”
“…Alright.”
Despite the sudden request, Kim Sun-il quickly agreed. He was too curious to see how Sua had interpreted Kim Yu-han.
Shooosh──
By then, Sua was pretending to draw something while looking around with ghostly focus.
Approaching Sua, Kim Sun-il spoke:
“I’m Lee Kang-cheol. I’ve been assigned to the Special Mobility Team, and starting today, I’ll be working with Kim Yu-han, using vehicle number 808.”
“Ah…!”
The immediate reaction of joy on Sua’s face took the observers aback.
‘Her entire impression has changed.’
‘Does this face match the old one? She doesn’t seem the same fierce character now…’
A sharp glare that had resembled a blade earlier now curved into a fan-like arc, projecting warmth and allure.
“Oh, you are so kind!”
In her joy, Sua’s eyes darted continuously.
Kim Sun-il couldn’t catch it, but the judges nearby clearly noticed Sua’s meticulous observations of every small detail.
“…”
Seo Yeon-joo placed her coffee cup down.
“Ah…”
Her expression mimicked that of someone experiencing sexual excitement. While her acting was vivid, what truly left everyone amazed was something else entirely.
She had traced the script multiple times with her hands.
‘Incomplete… these parts are not written? Is this…?’
Yet there was no hesitation in Sua’s performance.
“…This is amazing.”
Everyone watched without blinking.
Even as Kim Sun-il stood stiff, Sua continued her act, proceeding as if it were her natural path.
“…Senior, you run. Aren’t you familiar with the roads?”
With that, it ended. Just as playfully as she started, Sua’s face reverted to its fierce expression, delineating the boundary between act and reality.
Silence.
It remained silent for a while.
“…Um, that concludes it for now.”
Even after Sua declared it was over, the silence stretched on.
Eventually, it was Lee Geum-sook who broke the silence.
“Sua-young.”
Her voice trembled slightly as she spoke that single word.
“I’d like to ask why you acted that way.”
“I experienced it that way.” Sua almost blurted that out but caught herself in time. Another explanation might be necessary.
But this was more complicated than expected.
‘…What’s this reaction? Did they not like it?’
She couldn’t just brush it off. She felt the intense determination in the author’s piercing gaze to extract an answer.
Finally, Sua carefully began to express her thoughts.
“Genius, someone who inconveniences those around them with their eccentricities but remains fiercely devoted to the pursuit of justice and catching the bad guys… That’s how the character came across to me.”
“Elaborate. Give me more specifics. Why did you interpret the character this way? No details should be left out.”
“Umm, well…”
Should I be straightforward about this? Ah, I don’t know. There’s nothing else to say other than what the experience gave me.
“…It’s because of the Lee Kang-cheol character.”
“Lee Kang-cheol?”
“Yes.”
Sua nodded.
“Criminals are those who have defied conventions, but the main character, Lee Kang-cheol, always adheres strictly to the rules. Given that, someone who could create a turning point for such a rigid Lee Kang-cheol felt right as a counterpart… That’s the impression I got.”
Boom!
The moment she said that, Lee Geum-sook abruptly jumped up from her seat.
The desk shook violently, spilling coffee and ice cubes from the cup onto the floor.
‘Why is she acting so crazily all of a sudden?’
Sua was startled as if electrocuted.
“Why? Why are you doing that?”
“Sua-young, please wait a moment. My laptop. Hand me my laptop.”
Lee Geum-sook grabbed her laptop from Producer Choi Hee-won and began furiously typing as if possessed.
While the coffee soaking her slippers turned brown and the other people present ignored their spilled cups, Sua found the whole situation bizarre.
“This is good. Change it here and here, like this…”
Tappa-tappa-tappa─!
It was insane. She seemed hypnotized, like a pianist.
Thud! Finally, the author closed the laptop.
She then looked at Sua and declared.
“Sua-young, your interpretation was brilliant, and your performance perfectly matched it. I truly appreciate it.”
“Uh…“
Sua thought: So this is a compliment, right?
“But, let’s add one more detail to our setting.”
“Detail?”
“Yes. A strong addition that will pack a punch.”
What kind of detail was she going to introduce? Sua was curious, and soon the author made a shocking announcement.
“I’m going to change Kim Yu-han’s gender to female, but in the early stages, we’ll have her disguised as a male. Then in the later stages, ta-da! A dramatic reveal as a woman.”
“So, you mean, a male-disguised female…?”
“That’s right. Kim Yu-han is an eccentric genius, right? I imagine someone who would do anything to catch criminals and even deceive her allies if necessary.”
Lee Geum-sook was extremely excited. Extremely.
“Besides, Sua-young doesn’t have much acting experience yet, meaning none of the viewers would recognize you.”
Like someone possessed by divine inspiration, the author nodded earnestly.
“…Sua-young, please take on the role of Kim Yu-han. You absolutely must. No one else can do it. Only Sua-young, with your unique interpretation of Kim Yu-han, can pull this off. Let’s give the viewers a real shock.”
