小火星

Chapter 241: Tidal Wave (8)

From the moment he first experienced the void space, he read (experienced) all the roles in a single work, aside the role he was assigned. It wasn’t driven by any particular information or reason. Initially, it was merely out of curiosity.

In a way, only focusing on the assigned role could be seen as efficient.

But in the end, Woojin’s choice was the correct one. Reading (experiencing) other roles besides the assigned one significantly increased his understanding of the world. The perspective seen through the eyes of the assigned role, along with the perspectives of the surrounding characters. Clearly, it was the same world, but each role had distinctly different viewpoints.

All of that seeped into Kang Woojin.

Naturally, the scale of the work’s world view could only expand. This directly led to an increase in the quality of the role Kang Woojin was to play. Ah, so that’s how it is. That’s how Kang Woojin gradually realized something and walked forward, repeating that process for every work. After all, the time in the void space was close to infinite. If a bit of fatigue could raise the quality, it was 100 times better to do it.

Even though Kang Woojin had the void space, he still had the unique weakness called experience.

This applied to ‘Leech’ as well.

When he first received the script for ‘Leech’, starting with ‘Park Ha-seong’, he read (experienced) all the roles such as ‘Chairman Yoon Jung-bae’ and ‘Yoon Ja-ho’. Moreover, he went through it once more recently. It was because of the audition for ‘Leech’. It was a precaution in case he made a mistake as a judge, something he had never done before.

That’s how he appeared as Park Ha-seong and Chairman Yoon Jung-bae to everyone.

How clear would it be? How vivid would it be?

However, Woojin had some concerns about bringing out roles other than Park Ha-seong. For some reason, it seemed inappropriate to show them as they were. So, he gave them a variation. He also needed to tone it down a bit. One intense character like Park Ha-seong was enough. Maybe around 70% would be adequate?

“And I will definitely beat and surpass you, Woojin-ssi.”

When Han So-jin made this declaration, Kang Woojin let it go in one ear and out the other. Of course, he did have some thoughts like, what is she saying? But the conclusion about his concern came first.

Oh, I see. Should I merge Chairman Yoon Jung-bae with Iyota Kiyoshi?

Role synthesis. Maintaining the foundation of Chairman Yoon Jung-bae while incorporating the void of Kiyoshi. Thus, another Chairman Yoon Jung-bae was born.

“Daughter, my beloved daughter.”

Boiling over with a lust for power and domination. For Chairman Yoon Jung-bae, love and affection were merely tools to maintain power. To Chairman Yoon Jung-bae, his children were the last bastion to maintain his relationship with his wife, who was hidden power behind the scenes. He had planted seeds in case of an unexpected disaster.

So he acted out paternal love.

“Because to me it does seem like that, my daughter. Right?”

There was no way love could exist. This was why Woojin chose Kiyoshi for role synthesis. Just as Kiyoshi saw ‘Eerie Sacrifice’ as a task without any emotion, to Chairman Yoon Jung-bae, his son and daughter were no different from objects. However, they were objects that needed to be cherished to the extent that it would be troublesome if they were lost.

That’s the kind of gaze that was reflected in Woojin’s eyes.

Han So-jin, standing before him. No, Yoon Ji-min was his daughter, but it was a practiced affection. I love my daughter. I cherish her. This is for your future. I say it again, I love you. I am your father. Then why? Why are you doing things that irritate me when I cherish and love you so much?

That gaze froze Han So-jin. Her time stopped.

‘What, what is this? What are you doing?’

Right in front of Kang Woojin. Han So-jin, who met his eyes. In Woojin’s pupils, there was an emptiness surpassing coldness. However, his mouth was smiling. His expression was out of sync, but there was no sense of incongruity. It was because his eyes contained a perfect lie. Daughter? No, an object. There’s a limit to cherishing an object. He spoke of love with his mouth, but the his eyes were lifeless.

It’s just domination disguised as love.

You are an important object, but if lost, well, it can’t be helped. This was the mindset of Chairman Yoon Jung-bae as interpreted by Kang Woojin.

It was at that moment.

-Swish.

Kang Woojin, who had been face to face with Han So-jin, slowly straightened his back. Then he reached out his hand to her. Flinch. Yoon Ji-min, or Han So-jin, trembled slightly. It wasn’t acting. It was because her confused mind had returned. Regardless, Kang Woojin opened his mouth.

He returned to a deep but sly tone.

“I cherish you, my daughter. So, I’ll give you advice. Okay? You are the ruling class. Instead of clumsily sympathizing, dominate instead. Don’t obsess over that servant, that leech, but own him.”

Woojin’s faintly smiling hand hovered around Han So-jin’s cheek and then settled on her shoulder.

“That way, you can cherish and break him, right?”

It was from experience. The proof is you, daughter. Chairman Yoon Jung-bae’s snake-like smile.

The scene wasn’t over. Nevertheless, it had reached its terminus, and perhaps because the acting of the two actors was so intense as if in a play, the small theater was silent. Yet, many were watching the stage.

The most notable among them was the veteran actor Sim Han-ho.

‘Chairman Yoon Jung-bae’s- new interpretation. But that side seems more… realistic.’

With over 30 years of acting experience. It was a first. He had stood up after watching Woojin’s acting. It was an unconscious action. He didn’t even realize he was standing. The face that once exuded the presence of a tiger was nowhere to be found. He was just staring at Woojin. No, he was staring through Kang Woojin’s acting with widened eyes.

‘How is this possible? Perfectly portraying Ripley Syndrome with Park Ha-seong was already astonishing. But being able to pull off Chairman Yoon Jung-bae’s role like that… it’s nearly impossible.’

However, on stage, Kang Woojin seemed unfazed. The one who had just portrayed Park Ha-seong was effortlessly embodying Chairman Yoon Jung-bae. Isn’t that beyond the scope of an actor? Meanwhile, Sim Han-ho was meticulously analyzing Woojin’s acting, one detail at a time.

He clearly weighed it against his own cultivated interpretation of Chairman Yoon Jung-bae.

He felt a sense of lacking. The regret grew. The gap in his own interpretation became prominent.

‘Yes, such an aspect is possible too.’

Sim Han-ho was readily acknowledging. It wasn’t the Chairman Yoon Jung-bae he had shaped, but he had to take what he could. Ignoring what one could learn was the act of an amateur.

At this moment.

“Daughter. Did you understand?”

Kang Woojin’s chillingly soft voice spread throughout the small theater. At that moment, Han So-jin, who had come to her senses, began to breathe heavily. I don’t know, I really don’t know. He seems like the Chairman Yoon Jung-bae I know, but I’m confused. What interpretation has he brought? Han So-jin’s mind became slightly hazy. This was because Kang Woojin’s acting had far exceeded her expectations.

However, Han So-jin somehow held onto her sanity. The deeply rooted poisonous spirit gave her strength.

“Ah, I understand cherishing. But breaking? Why?”

“Why? Owned things tend to become tiresome. Or sometimes they break. Dealing with that is the ruler’s responsibility. Understand?”

“…No, I said no. Stop talking about that disgusting servant. If you continue, I’ll tell mom.”

“This isn’t about that leech. It’s a reminder. Keep it in mind. You are a ruler. When the time comes, there will be moments when you have to break what you own.”

Chairman Yoon Jung-bae, who implanted in Yoon Ji-min’s mind that it was her duty to break the leech that crossed the line, was her perfect match. She was inherently a daughter with a confused, cloudy mind. And sometimes, affection coupled with obsession could unexpectedly exhibit aggressive tendencies.

Kang Woojin’s hands gripped Han So-jin’s shoulders. The emptiness that had vanished from his eyes returned.

“You are my daughter, Ji-min-ah.”

Woojin’s face rapidly shifted through multiple expressions. Han So-jin suddenly felt as if she had stepped into Yoon Ji-min’s world. And she wanted to escape. Not as an actress, but as Yoon Ji-min. From the monster called ‘Father’ standing before her.

“Ung…”

At this point, Director Ahn Ga-bok was feeling awe.

“…”

He couldn’t speak or form clear thoughts. He was merely enjoying the world of ‘Leech’ unfolding before him. At this moment, he wasn’t a director. He was just a member of the audience. Witnessing an actor who would someday turn the world upside down stretching his wings.

This is delightful. This is the true pleasure of a director.

Why Kang Woojin could handle other roles, how he could bring such interpretations—none of that mattered.

‘It’s a pity. I wish I had met you a bit earlier.’

Here, evaluations were of no consequence. Remembering the thrill that actor Kang Woojin personally delivered was enough. When this play ends, he would praise the insane acting with words like ‘bravo’.

Meanwhile, the staff and assistants watching ‘Leech’ weren’t able to fully enjoy it like Director Ahn Ga-bok.

“…Wow.”

“H-How is that even possible?”

“How would I know.”

The staff, forgetting their own tasks, were completely absorbed in the audition performance. Choi Sung-gun had a look as if he’d been struck on the back of his head since earlier, his eyes bulging.

‘He can perfect even other roles like that? Did he have the time? No, he didn’t. Absolutely not. Woojin, what the heck are you?’

Choi Sung-gun, who was almost always with Kang Woojin, was several times more shocked. Perhaps more than anyone else in this theater, he was trembling. Between that hellish schedule, even handling multiple roles was astonishing. Other actors wouldn’t be able to do it.

But was that not even his limit?

Even understanding if he mimicked them to some extent would be hard, but this was enough to immediately take on Chairman Yoon Jung-bae’s role in filming without any problem.

The surrounding actors’ assistants were equally bewildered.

“Just now, something changed again.”

“Why is he switching between roles like that?”

“He’s not even looking at the script.”

“Can someone like that be considered an audition partner?”

“Unbelievable.”

And then.

“Wow—”

At the very back of the small theater, a unfamiliar woman with her arms crossed was watching in amazement. The woman, wearing a hat, was Oh Hee-ryung, who had briefly stopped by the audition. She was the actress confirmed for the role of Yoo Hyun-ji, the wife in ‘Leech’. She had come to take a brief look out of curiosity about Kang Woojin, who she would be facing the most.

“I came without much thought, but I saw something incredible.”

Afterwards.

The audition performance Han So-jin had chosen on stage reached its end. As a result, Kang Woojin, who had been filled with Chairman Yoon Jung-bae, quickly returned to his original self.

‘Phew- that was exhausting.’

Then, he gave a small bow to Han So-jin standing in front of him.

“Good work.”

Han So-jin, caught off guard, responded to his bow.

“Ah- yes, good work.”

At the same time, Kang Woojin thought to himself.

‘This should be good enough, right? It wouldn’t feel like I’m slacking off by skipping the audition evaluation.’

It was quite satisfactory.

‘I synthesized other roles besides Park Ha-seong, so there weren’t any overlaps.’

That was the extent of his thoughts. But the auditions were not over yet. In this tense situation, Director Ahn Ga-bok continued the auditions. After Han So-jin, it was Hwalin’s turn.

“Please take care of me. Woojin-ssi.”

“Yes, me too.”

She too had to compete for the role of Yoon Ji-min that Han So-jin had set her sights on, but the scene she chose was different. This time, the counterpart was not Chairman Yoon Jung-bae but Yoon Ja-ho. Again, Woojin quickly transformed into Yoon Ja-ho.

Once more, the small theater was thrown into chaos.

But as if that wasn’t the end, Kang Woojin swiftly brought out Park Ha-seong, the counterpart for Hong Hye-yeon, right after Hwalin’s audition ended.

Indeed, this place was completely dominated by Kang Woojin.

Interestingly,

‘… He’s a madman. Truly possessed if not.’

This was the reaction of everyone inside the theater. What to say, the atmosphere shifted from shock to gradually acknowledging him. At this moment, no one viewed Kang Woojin as a first-year actor. From the start, it was utterly absurd.

It was something they had never experienced before.

It was the first time in their lives, making any judgment impossible. Their thoughts had stopped. Like that for a few hours.

“Cut.”

With Director Ahn Ga-bok’s signal, the auditions finally concluded. However, even though the audition performances were over, the theater remained filled with silence.

“…”

“…”

“…”

The thoughts of those who had watched everything about Kang Woojin had changed 180 degrees from the beginning.

‘I understand why Director Ahn Ga-bok insisted on making him a judge. With that level of skill, it would be impossible not to.’

‘It’s a warning. If you approach this project half-heartedly, you’ll be buried.’

‘Damn! That’s not just a stimulant! It’s like poison! What actor can withstand that!’

However, Kang Woojin, with an indifferent expression,

-Swish.

casually greeted the audience.

“Thank you for your hard work.”

Then, he walked calmly to his seat. Naturally, he attracted everyone’s gaze. About ten staff members and managers, Director Ahn Ga-bok, Sim Han-ho, and others all followed Woojin’s movements with their eyes. Of course, Kang Woojin noticed. The stares were burdensome, but he maintained his solemnity.

Soon.

“…”

As Woojin sat down cynically, Director Ahn Ga-bok, who had been watching him, glanced at Sim Han-ho sitting on his right. Then, his gaze returned to Kang Woojin at the far end.

‘So, that’s why Kang Woojin suddenly volunteered to be the counterpart instead of a judge.’

Abruptly, the seasoned Director Ahn Ga-bok reached a new conclusion.

‘He has established the acting benchmark for all the roles in ‘Leech’ for everyone.’

*****

TL: New Cover

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*****

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