When she came to, she found herself standing on the grassland.
Saaa–
The wind that caressed her cheeks and hair reminded her that this was indeed reality. The emerald earth and a sky of pure blue without a single cloud.
It was certain. Sua was not in a dream.
“…What is this? Did I die again?”
Sua, who had already experienced one reincarnation.
Maybe I died one more time? No, last time it was a car accident. There is absolutely no reason why I should be dead this time.
Then, a sudden thought struck her like a lightning bolt.
“Hold on, what about my third special ability?”
She was certain it had been unlocked. What happened to it?
Could it be that being thrown into this grassland is the end of it? What am I supposed to do here? Set something on fire? Is the special ability of ‘smoke’ related to the smoke from burning grass?
“…It was so hard to unlock.”
It was her hard-earned special ability after trying her hand in various fields such as swimming, golf, and soccer. What if something went wrong? If so, suicide would be the only option.
Lost in her thoughts, she eventually noticed something.
There was something like a smartphone notification floating in the air.
[ ‘The Time to Act’ has been activated. ]
[Actor Training for Audition Scripts]
▶Low Capacity
▶Lacking Basic Elements
“…”
Sua’s response was exceedingly brief.
“This is nonsensical.”
It was completely filled with inexplicable stories.
However, humans instinctively focus on the parts they can understand. Sua’s eyes immediately fixed onto the part labeled ‘Audition Script’.
Only then did her memory return.
“That’s right. This isn’t the time. My audition!”
What exactly happened to me?
Did I miss my turn?
Anxiety began to grow within her.
She resolved to get out of here first when, suddenly, the fonts on the notification started to extend downwards.
[Actor Training for Audition Scripts]
[Starting.]
“Huh?”
Though she expressed her confusion, it went unanswered. The notification seemed to only focus on executing its task.
[This is not classified as a ‘script’.]
[The training elements are insufficient.]
[Basic elements are temporarily generated.]
[…Temporarily extracting suitable characters…]
[…Temporarily extracting suitable situations…]
[…Temporarily extracting suitable locations…]
For a long while, Sua could only stare blankly.
Paaass–
Like puzzle pieces, the world around Sua slowly began to crumble. It then changed completely into a pitch-black world until eventually, it reassembled into an entirely new landscape.
After a moment.
When Sua closed her eyes and opened them again, the tantalizing aroma of food reached her nose. In front of her, a familiar figure was busy preparing vegetables.
…The kitchen?
It was unmistakably the kitchen where she had recently quit working.
But the problem was that she couldn’t understand this situation at all. Had time been rewound perhaps?
Sua cautiously spoke out.
“Head Chef?”
“Hey, that’s right. Sua.”
Upon hearing the voice, Sua was certain it was her known head chef. However, when he turned around swiftly and locked eyes with Sua,
“…”
Sua instantly felt an unusual sense of unease distinct from before.
Desire.
The chef’s eyes were brimming with an intense emotion. She instinctively understood that was potent, raw desire.
I must escape.
That instinctive alarm. Sua involuntarily took a step back.
“Sua.”
The chef swiftly grabbed Sua’s wrist.
It was rough. The sheer strength of the grip sent shivers down her spine. She started breathing heavily.
“…Let me go.”
“Sua, Sua.”
In the next moment, the chef strangled Sua’s neck.
Kung!
Both fell to the floor; the chef continued to strangle her neck. The fear in her heart grew ever darker.
In an instant, it had all gone terribly wrong.
“Chuk, Keh…!”
Unable to breathe. This could really end in death.
How did this happen?
Why am I being subjected to this here? As incomprehensible as it was, she had no time to make sense of it. She had to fight. To survive, she must do everything she could to fight. She must survive, absolutely.
“Khghup…!”
It’s real. This pain must be real.
I don’t want to die. I don’t want to.
“Uuuuuu—!”
Pa! Pa!
Sua wildly flailed her arms, striking the chef’s neck and face. It was futile—like hitting a rock with an egg.
With no effect from the strikes, her hands began frantically searching the ground for anything. Please, anything. Grasp what you can reach.
Had her desperate prayer been answered?
Chak.
Finally, something was in her grasp.
Sua didn’t hesitate. Driven by instinct, she thrust the object forcefully into the chef’s neck with all her might.
Fuuuuk—!
“!”
Their movements stopped simultaneously.
“Huhk…!”
The sound that escaped Sua’s lips.
She was shocked by the realization that what she had wielded was a kitchen knife, and even more so by how easily it pierced human flesh.
“Huh… Huuhk…! Uuuuu…!”
Sua, after kicking the chef away, retreated until her back met the wall. Covering her mouth with both hands, she sat down heavily.
He’s going to die. There’s no way around it.
Everything was crystal clear.
The chef’s desperate struggle to survive, the copious flow of blood beyond her expectations, his face flushed as if it might burst, his enlarged eyes…
After a while, the chef’s movements ceased entirely.
“Excuse me, excuse me…?”
Trembling all over, Sua called out.
“Excuse me…?”
There was no response. Shaking the shoulder elicited the same result.
…Is he dead? Really dead? For sure?
Did I really kill someone? Me?
“Ah… I’m going insane!”
Overcome by massive shock, Sua shuddered violently.
Why did it come to this?
It feels unjust. The chef had tried to kill her first. All she did was resist with all her might!
Just then.
The world did not even grant the time to sort her thoughts.
Tingling—
The bell attached to the shop door rang. A customer had arrived.
“!”
Sua immediately stood up.
I can’t be discovered.
That thought filled her mind.
It felt like getting struck by lightning. Cold sweat ran down her spine. She can’t be discovered. Absolutely not. No way.
After discarding the bloodstained apron, she rushed forward to the customer, blocking them before they could get too far. All the while repeating in her head: I can’t be discovered.
“Exc, excuse me. Are you here to eat?”
Of course, at a restaurant, wouldn’t the answer be the same? Sua knew her question was foolish, but she couldn’t help it.
“Yes?”
“Materials… The materials, um. Right now, the materials….”
Breathing was as difficult as speaking. Sua clenched her fists and pounded her chest several times—hard.
“All the materials are used up. I’m sorry. It looks like I have to close today, so please go back.”
Even trembling and sweating profusely, lies came easily to her. She couldn’t help it. I merely resisted. It’s unfair to become a murderer. It’s so unfair.
“…”
When the customer looked at her curiously, Sua managed the best natural smile she could muster. Despite her efforts.
The customer seemed to be leaving.
“Ah.”
Suddenly, the customer stopped.
Turning around to face Sua.
Sua’s heart sank.
“Why, why, why?”
“Is there something wrong?”
“Something wrong?”
Sua asked with a vacant expression.
Was there a smell of blood coming from the kitchen?
Or was her own expression off?
What if they’ve noticed? What will become of my life? Am I to become a murderer at this age and spend the rest of my life in prison? They say you can’t easily commit suicide in there. What must I do?
While these thoughts raced through her mind,
“Just asking because you look unwell. Go see a doctor.”
That was all the customer said. Turning around again, they calmly walked away.
Sua stared at the retreating figure until, finally swallowing dry saliva,
She locked the door and even closed the shutter, double-checking to be sure. Only then did she collapse, letting out a long breath.
“Huuuuuuuu…”
Breathing finally became easier.
But nothing was truly resolved. At first, she tore her hair out, then eventually scratched her face with her fingernails.
“What is it! What is it?! What, in the world, is it?!”
This time, she narrowly avoided trouble. But what about next time?
The murderer in her mind was nothing but trash.
But then again, was it really her fault the situation had come to this? The chef had tried to kill her first. She resisted merely out of the instinct to survive…!
Is this how I’ll become a murderer? Am I?
…How am I supposed to live from now on?
My life! What is going to become of me?
“I don’t want to… I don’t want…”
Tears began pouring down from her overwhelming fear.
“I don’t like this… I only wanted to check my aptitude! What is this going on?!”
How long did she cry?
How deeply did she despair?
“Kuh… haaa…! KHH…!”
After a long while of sobbing, her vision went white again.
.
.
.
.
.
[Ending the Actor’s Training with the Audition Script.]
[Your ‘Future Me’ gauge is now 100%.]
*Your future self will appear.
A notification filled her vision. Before she could even properly register the words, a voice pierced through her ears.
“Ms. Sua?”
She saw a staff member gazing at her intently, holding the script on the opposite side from her.
“Ms. Sua, can you hear me?”
Sua merely nodded.
After a while, she realized the situation. The experience had not been real after all. One thought immediately came to her.
‘Thank goodness. Thank goodness. Thank goodness….’
She breathed heavily, feeling out of place. Strangely, while her skin remained goosebumped, her body felt refreshed as if she hadn’t encountered any distress at all.
“Come along. It’s your turn, Ms. Sua.”
In silence, Sua followed the staff. Still in shock, her legs wobbled slightly.
“…Wow, guiding Ms. Sua isn’t easy.”
“Huh?”
“It’s because of your unique presence. Should I say intimidatory?”
“It’s a misunderstanding. I’ve been like this from the start.”
Her response was brief, not a lie. She was currently in an extremely dazed state, and this impression came naturally, so she couldn’t help it.
Finally, they entered the interview room.
There were as many as five judges.
Three of them she didn’t recognize at all, but she managed to recall only one person. The famous writer who struck gold with every release, Lee Geum-sook.
“Check the script, and please start the performance within one minute.”
Sua silently followed the instruction.
The stack of paper was fairly thick, but it turned out to be a bluff. There were only two concise sentences inside.
[You accidentally killed someone.]
[Perform freely based on the above theme.]
“…”
Sua paused momentarily.
She was confused, but not in the way she expected.
Other participants might have been bewildered, pondering how to portray the theme outlined in the script, but her confusion was distinctly different.
It’s just too familiar.
‘Accidentally killing someone? Didn’t I just…’
While retracing her vivid memories,
“You must begin within one minute.”
She received another prompt.
Sua hesitated a moment but quickly made her decision.
Anyway, her third special ability was acting. In other words…
‘My life’s direction is set towards acting. Don’t avoid it.’
There must be a reason why the special ability is special. There must be a different something compared to when she attempted other fields. Thinking this way, Sua began reenacting her experience.
A short while later.
“…”
Sua was sitting on the floor, shaking.
“…”
She felt embarrassed.
Blushing, she stood up.
“…That’s all for now.”
Actually, if asked to continue, she couldn’t. There were no more experiences for her to enact anyway. This was the best she could do…
—
The silence lasted longer than expected.
Sua’s thoughts multiplied as silence deepened.
‘Ah, I’m losing it.’
The deeper she thought, the more she felt she had made a mistake.
What have I done? More importantly, is this even a special ability?
Ah, I should have just checked it at an acting school. Why did I entertain unrealistic expectations…
As Sua bowed her head lower,
“Sua-san,”
someone called out to her. The well-known gold hand, Lee Geum-sook herself.
Unable to meet her gaze, Sua responded,
“Yes.”
However,
The question made her raise her head involuntarily.
“Have you ever accidentally killed someone?”
