Workspace.
An astonishing three assistant writers were fully immersed in the scriptwriting process.
Even with takeout containers piled up like mountains, not a single person could spare the time to clean. The schedule was so tight that merely touching the script felt rushed.
“What are we going to do with Kim Yu-han’s role? Should we remove it?”
“That won’t work. Without Kim Yu-han, the story wouldn’t even progress.”
“Even so, we can’t change Kim Yu-han’s character…”
“We have to, somehow. There’s no actor capable of handling this part.”
Each of the three stared fixedly at their laptops, voices busily conversing, though fingers worked even faster.
All three were assistants to the writer, Lee Geum-sook.
“Ah… this is driving me insane…”
Finally, one of them collapsed backward with a groan.
“It’s tragic that we have to do this kind of work. The writer’s manuscript is flawless, practically perfect.”
“Well, but drama is different from writing, which is the problem.”
Though they were all paid quite well for their duties, it was more than just the money that fueled them.
They sincerely wished to see this perfect script adapted into a drama. That was their sole aspiration.
When the script first appeared, they were thrilled.
[Writer Lee Geum-sook to Present Ambitious Next Work]
[Already Two Top-tier Actors Confirmed… Who Will Direct?]
A script with no single word wasted, renowned Director Choi Hee-won, the ever-rising star Seo Yeon-joo, even Kim Sun-il…
Yes, they had all thought it was something akin to the flying dragon ascending to the heavens.
But reality had turned out to be more akin to the sorrow-filled Imugi.
Why? Because the perfect gem for the role of ‘Kim Yu-han’ could not be found.
“It’s a shame to cut anything from the script written by the writer, but if we leave it as is, there’s no actor to take on the part. I’m getting dizzy…”
This was why their work, which left no room for cleaning duties, had been progressing so slowly.
Kim Yu-han was best kept as written, but keeping it the same meant casting was impossible…
“These days, there’s not even a single actor willing to audition.”
“It’s because Kim Sun-il sent them all away. And he’s been interfering in all the castings. He’s got obsessive-compulsive tendencies.”
“He’s precise, but too extreme.”
Right at that moment, one assistant writer’s cellphone rang.
“Ahh, yes. I’ve received the call. Oh! Writer Lee! Yes…!”
But it didn’t take long for her voice to darken. Almost instantly, she hung up with a crestfallen expression.
“Guys…”
“What’s wrong?”
“What happened?”
As unease spread across all their faces,
“Writer Lee is coming with Director Choi Hei-won and the two actors. I think they’ll end the project today…”
Sighs were breathed simultaneously, without exception.
There seemed to be no way out of this despondent atmosphere.
◈◈◈◈◈
A little while later.
The assistant writers stood in line like chicks, receiving the special guests. They were all scruffy, wearing hoods tightly tied and appearing quite untidy.
Choi Hee-won burst into laughter.
“Writer Lee, you’ve been blessed with good fortune. Just by looking at the state of your assistants, it’s clear they’ve been working exceptionally hard.”
“Of course they’re working hard. Given how much bonus I pay them.”
As Seo Yeon-joo and Kim Sun-il entered together, this was truly a moment of luxurious talent gathering.
“Ah, Writer Lee!”
Before they could even sit down, the assistants who had been waiting anxiously rushed to Lee Geum-sook.
“Writer Lee, please! We can’t let this project end!”
“We’ll adjust the script somehow to find a fitting actor for Kim Yu-han. It would be so disappointing if this can’t become a drama!”
“Please reconsider just once!”
Each had a desperate look on their faces.
However, Lee Geum-sook, upon seeing Choi Hee-won’s gaze, burst out laughing.
“Look at them? Who said they could end my project?”
“…What?”
All the assistants blinked in unison like baby birds.
“You weren’t gathering here today to end this, were you?”
“Now why would we? We’re here to create it on purpose.”
As the heavy atmosphere began to lighten somewhat,
“Don’t give false hope. The probability of this failing is much higher.”
Kim Sun-il interjected with a cold voice, while still applying hand sanitizer due to his known OCD.
Seo Yeon-joo glared at Kim Sun-il immediately.
“Watch your words, will you? Even you’ll change your mind soon.”
“Show it, then. Stop dragging your feet.”
As the two actors argued, Lee Geum-sook turned on the super-sized TV hanging on the wall, linking it with her phone.
“So, I was going to show it anyway. You assistants, come over and watch, too. We’ve gathered to watch it together.”
“What? Us?”
Instead of answering, Lee Geum-sook simply played a video and the connected TV began displaying the scene.
It was an audition scene of a participant—Sua was the protagonist.
The assistants tilted their heads simultaneously.
“Eh? Kim Yu-han is meant to be male, right?”
But both Choi Hee-won and Lee Geum-sook simply smiled silently, as if confident they held a justified reason.
Seo Yeon-joo asked Kim Sun-il,
“This is the Day 1 participant I mentioned. What’s your impression?”
“Underwhelming. A face destined to only play villains.”
Though it was merely criticism, Seo Yeon-joo smiled.
“Oh, really? I thought the same.”
“If you’re going to say unpleasant things, just shut up.”
At this point, the nearby assistants also started to voice their opinions.
“The script feels too different from what the writer’s given…”
“Yes. The impression is too strong, so the fitting roles would be…”
But then,
The strong face that everyone had noted so far broke in an instant.
A face that seemed to lack any concept of despair now showed signs of fear, with an unexpected mix of confusion and distress.
The previously criticized defect was turning into an advantage, showcasing unconventional acting that went beyond common faces.
Lee Geum-sook simply handed her phone over to the assistants without a word, and they were so mesmerized that they replayed the video repeatedly, endlessly.
“Wait, this face… can do such acting?”
“This doesn’t make sense, but it also makes sense, right?”
The assistants were flabbergasted.
“For someone with such skill, how did we not know about her? Is she new?”
“No prior experience. Acting is just a hobby for her.”
“…Writer, are you teasing us?”
“It’s true. She even said so herself.”
Lee Geum-sook was telling the truth. A simple introduction exchanged between Seo Yeon-joo revealed such. The reason was more than enough to leave the assistants speechless.
“Wow.”
“Maybe we can delay script modification? There’s a good chance we might just cast this actress for a role…”
Then,
“Hey, isn’t tomorrow the second audition?”
Kim Sun-il’s question made the assistants close their mouths in unison. He was known to interfere harshly in casting for various roles and admitted to no compromise. It was better to assess the situation.
Seo Yeon-joo answered.
“Yeah. You won’t know unless you see.”
“Should be a different script for the audition, right? Show it.”
Kim Sun-il was handed a script from Seo Yeon-joo—not from Lee Geum-sook, but the one specifically prepared for the secondary audition.
“Hmm…”
Kim Sun-il furrowed his brows.
“Does this guy even have the eye to read scripts?”
“What’s wrong?”
“This script is garbage. Even for auditions, it’s disappointing if you force actors to perform nonsense like this.”
“Because Mr. Son Ji-woon prepared it. I actually considered canceling the audition and showing Lee Geum-sook’s script to go straight to the drama.”
“Hmm…”
After a short consideration,
“No, don’t say it yet.”
“What? Why all of a sudden?”
Kim Sun-il simply stared at the one participant confined within the screen.
“I’m curious about the response.”
◈◈◈◈◈
Meanwhile, in Sua’s apartment.
“…Huh?”
Sua, looking at the link received from Director Son Ji-woong, voiced her confusion upon seeing something different from her expectations.
“Wha? Eh? Huh?”
Sua repeatedly observed herself acting; she played the footage nearly twenty times.
Eventually, she had no choice but to acknowledge the truth.
“I’m actually pretty good at acting?”
Despite feeling somewhat embarrassed watching herself on-screen, acting was a separate issue altogether.
“Wait, I’m actually really good at this?”
It felt like looking at another person entirely—almost as if it wasn’t Sua but the character Sua had experienced from the script.
Sua’s eyes sparkled.
‘If this happens, all my problems will be solved!’
Firstly, the grade mentioned in the script she worried might be a five due to her supposed failure to reproduce it correctly was found to be a misunderstanding. Clearly, it was a gauge of potential success.
Moreover, after the first audition, the comments from the judges and Director Son Ji-woong’s later actions made sense now.
“Was I actually considered extraordinary all this time?”
Summarizing the situation, it was clear and concise.
She had obtained the special ability to truly experience the script, her reproductions were not bad, and she could even confirm the quality of a work not yet finished.
This…
Then…
If done well…
“Actress…! Could I really become an actress?!”
Right when Sua’s mind was awash with rosy visions,
─♩♪♬
Her phone rang. The caller was Director Son Ji-woong.
Sua no longer hesitated to answer. After all, I’ve realized I have talent for acting.
“Hello?”
“Ms. Sua? This is Director Son Ji-woong. Have you checked the link?”
“Yes.”
“I was secretly worried about the large file size, but since there was no problem reproducing it, that’s a relief. And, uh, by any chance…”
Son Ji-woong sounded like he was checking Sua’s response.
“Yes. I’ve thought about it.”
“Oh, you’ve thought about it?”
Sua sensed something unusual in Son Ji-woong’s voice on the other end.
“What’s wrong?”
“Huh? Oh, nothing. Don’t think I’m mad at you, Ms. Sua. It’s just… um…”
It was clear Son Ji-woong was hesitating about something, making it awkward for Sua to announce her decision to participate.
As she waited,
“Ms. Sua, how about this? Usually I shouldn’t do this, but I’ll give you the original script that will be used for the second audition.”
“…?”
Sua tilted her head.
“Is this allowed?”
“This is a script specifically crafted for actors. However, under no circumstances should you say you received it early.”
“I won’t.”
“Then, don’t hang up just yet, and check your messages?”
And with that, Son Ji-woong added earnestly,
“Ms. Sua, I’ve never provided these kinds of favors to any participant. I’d love to see you tomorrow if you can make it.”
The script arrived in Sua’s messages. With wireless earphones on, she could handle both the call and reading with ease.
Sua skimmed through the script quickly.
She wasn’t afraid.
No, she was even filled with excitement now.
After all, I have three solid advantages.
However…
S#2 Torture Chamber / Midnight
2nd Mission Script
‘…?’
Why is the location like this?
Sua’s eyes flickered.
A “It’s been quite a while since you betrayed us. Did the other side treat you exceptionally well? You even left your comrades who were like family. “
You (with teeth pulled out, slurring speech) “…”
‘…?’
Sua’s eyes flickered again.
A “Soon, you’ll be begging me to kill you. Isn’t that exciting?”
(Standing up and rolling up shirt sleeves)
(Extending hand to receive tools from an assistant)
Your eyes show disdain.
Then, brutal torture continues.
You can’t sleep, and needles pierce under your nails.
Your body is cut limb by limb, but even after all four limbs are gone, you remain silent to uphold your dignity. Failing to extract information, A grows anxious.
“…”
Sua closed the message window.
“Well, I’ll bow out then.”
“Excuse me?”
