The Script-Eating Actor – Chapter 9

Ch 9

Song Mun-gyo was a bit selfish at first, but he wasn’t an arrogant jerk.

“If one of us three succeeds, let’s really pull the others up. How about it?”

Even when he made this suggestion to me and Moon Sung-i Hyung, I felt like there was a pretty strong camaraderie between us.

But as soon as Song Mun-gyo succeeded, he completely changed into a different person, made his juniors laugh at me, and made my existence insignificant at the company.

‘It’s a project Mun-gyo is in, so it won’t work out, right?’

The managers started to be mindful of Song Mun-gyo.

Naturally, I was gradually forgotten.

I wanted to ask.

‘Why did you do that to me?’

But I was trapped in a pathetic inferiority complex, and I didn’t even think about asking that question.

But.

The reason I was really curious about.

I finally know now.

“You son of a b*tch! You’re trying to screw me over? You did it on purpose, you bastard!”

“…. Ugh! Mun-gyo, please!”

Park Chan-ik Team Leader, unable to stop the extremely agitated Song Mun-gyo, clutched his head and repeatedly sighed.

But Song Mun-gyo raised his fist at me, as if he was about to hit me any second.

“D*mn it! Just because you got one audition, you think you’re invincible?”

“Hey! No fists! Absolutely not the face!”

SBC rooftop. After the reading, all the actors and staff moved to a nearby Korean BBQ restaurant for a company dinner, but only Song Mun-gyo and I are stuck here.

“Let’s stop.”

“What? What do you mean stop, you bastard? You embarrassed me in front of everyone. What do you mean stop!”

“Don’t blame me for your lack of preparation. It’s pathetic.”

“… You, you bastard… are you really crazy?”

As Song Mun-gyo tried to swing his fist, Park Chan-ik Team Leader grabbed Song Mun-gyo’s arm and clung to it.

“No! Not the face! Mun-gyo! No violence!”

“Let go of me! Won’t you let go?”

“I said no! I absolutely can’t let go, even if I die! If you really want to hit someone, hit me instead!”

“Ugh, I’m already so embarrassed to be in the same project as that loser. How can the lead actor be like this! D*mn it! During the reading, I saw him trying to screw me over on purpose! When that bastard was cast, why didn’t you stop it!”

“….”

The reason why Song Mun-gyo ignored me.

After tasting the sweet flavor of ‘success,’ the lives of those who didn’t succeed must have seemed endlessly trivial.

He must have belittled me as a loser for not standing tall like him, and he must have seen me as a plague, as if he would catch some ‘contagion of not rising’ if he mistakenly reached out a hand to me.

“Was that the only reason?”

And he wanted me to not aim for his position for life, and like me a few days ago, crawl on the floor. To feel a sense of defeat and jealousy to the fullest.

I had a hunch, but it’s really such a simple reason. It’s like a comedy all on its own.

“Disgusting, really.”

There were no trivial sentiments like, how did we end up like this.

Now, when Song Mun-gyo is showing his inferiority complex for the first time.

Watching him jump up and down in anger in front of me, I just thought, so this was the sight you wanted to see.

“Curious?”

“What?”

“Why do you think I tried to screw you over?”

At my question, Song Mun-gyo takes a rough breath and rolls his eyes.

But he has a face that says he doesn’t know, no matter how much he thinks about it.

“What’s the reason?”

“Would there be one?”

“… What?”

Reason?

“There isn’t one.”

If I had to make one up, I could, but that kind of thing is useless.

“Why do I need a reason to screw you over? What reason do I need?”

“… What did you say, you bastard?”

“You said this industry is like that. That you can only climb up by pushing aside your seniors, teachers, everyone. Did you forget? Isn’t that the advice you gave me?”

“… You bastard, you still remember that…”

I recalled the past.

The romance movie Song Mun-gyo starred in, .

They urgently needed a minor role there, and that was his answer to my offer to help.

‘Why would I?’

‘…’

‘This place is originally like this. If you were me, would you like someone trying to steal your rice bowl?’

And Song Mun-gyo ‘advised’ me to get up on my own.

‘Win it with your own hands. Don’t think about begging for roles like a bug.’

It’s true. It’s true, but this damn bastard, I definitely want to ask if he had to say it like that.

But I couldn’t say anything.

Well, it doesn’t matter now.

Whatever the reason,

“Why are you acting like this? It’s a natural world, just like you said.”

“…..”

I stepped into this world, and now I’m too deeply involved to pull my feet out.

Now, there’s no turning back. To do that, I have to survive in this world, even if it’s for survival.

To do that, I just needed a kind of sacrifice to step on and rise.

“… Did you intentionally audition for ? Because of me?”

“Hey, come on. What are you to me?”

It’s just that Song Mun-gyo got on my nerves.

*

“Why are you so late? Hurry and come in!”

The company dinner venue was the biggest Korean BBQ restaurant near Sangam-dong.

The table where the director and the senior actors were sitting was located in the center, and on both sides of it were the supporting actors and the production staff. Soyoon and Kim Gyun-o were sitting on the left and right sides of the director, and Song Mun-gyo’s seat and my seat were also at this table.

“Oh, Jae-hee-gun. Sit here!”

Oh Mi-ran Senior, who used to draw a line by calling me ‘Jae-hee ssi’, now spoke to me comfortably and called me to sit next to her.

“I’m sorry for being late, Senior.”

I smiled brightly and sat next to Oh Mi-ran Senior. The meat on the grill was already nicely browned.

“Give me the tongs. I’ll grill from now on.”

“Oh? You will? But why is Mun-gyo ssi standing there?”

“….”

At Oh Mi-ran Senior’s question, Song Mun-gyo hesitated, then walked to the most remote seat at the table.

“Oh? Mun-gyo ssi. The meat at that table isn’t cooked yet? Why don’t you come here?”

“I’m just feeling a bit unwell.”

As Song Mun-gyo, who should be taking care of his seniors first, instead drew a line, Oh Mi-ran Senior’s expression subtly distorted.

“… Why did you come to a Korean BBQ restaurant if you’re feeling unwell?”

And she muttered in a small voice that could barely be heard.

“The lead actor should sit in front of the director. What kind of rude behavior is that.”

But somehow… the comment is a bit strong.

But it wasn’t wrong either.

If you’re a lead actor who will determine the success or failure of a drama, you should be taking care of your seniors respectfully at a place like this and be the director’s companion. But Song Mun-gyo, whether he heard it or not, continued to remain silent.

“Is that friend always like that?”

Oh Mi-ran Senior frowned and turned her gaze towards me and asked.

“I don’t know. I’m not close to him either.”

“… Is that so? Tsk, he shouldn’t be like that already.”

And she changed her gaze 180 degrees and even put a piece of meat on my plate, putting the finishing touch.

“Jae-hee-gun. Eat while you do.”

With a very bright and kind smile.

“… Thank you.”

Oh Mi-ran Senior.

She has a subtle sense of authority, and she’s someone who has clear expectations of her juniors as an actress.

“…..”

The thought that I must get on her good side flashes through my mind.

At that moment, the director got up from his seat, raised his glass, and said.

“Alright, alright. Fill your glasses. Everyone here will take turns making a toast, so everyone, prepare your speeches?”

There are at least thirty people here, how much are we going to drink if everyone makes a toast?

But I erased all the random thoughts from my head and raised my glass high.

“Alright! Actors, you all worked hard on the reading today. Let’s do well in the future.”

There’s sparkling soju in front of me, and thick samgyeopsal.

For now, let’s eat and think.

“Cheers!”

Clink!

The sound of glasses clinking fills the Korean BBQ restaurant.

*

I was offered a two-day vacation.

“The reading went well, so take a good rest for two days.”

“… Is this a kind of vacation?”

“Yeah. Once you start the project, you won’t have time to rest. So, don’t drink, just rest. I’ve seen many kids who didn’t rest and played around, then regretted it when filming started.”

My answer to Park Chan-ik Team Leader’s words was.

“I’m tired of resting now.”

I’m tired of resting.

How much have I rested until now.

I wanted to start working right away tomorrow, but they advised me to wait patiently, saying that the set was still being built and it would take some time until filming.

“They say that resting well is also part of an actor’s job. If you’re bored of resting, then read this for now.”

“What is this?”

Park Chan-ik Team Leader handed me a few scripts and said.

“These are movies that will start filming in the second half of the year, and I brought them because I thought they’d be good for you. If you find a project you like, pick it. I’ll put you in for an audition.”

It seems like I’ve definitely made an impression on the company with this incident. They’re giving me ‘new scripts’ that no one had ever offered me before.

There were three scripts in total.

━ Unreleased Movie

━ Unreleased Movie

━ Unreleased Movie

They were all neatly bound movie scenarios.

They said that pre-production was in progress and that they would be holding auditions for roles soon.

“… Thank you.”

“Is this the first time we’re giving you a script? I’m sorry. I should have recognized you sooner. I saw you during the reading, and you act really well. If you finish this project well and do one or two movies, maybe you’ll even get offers with your name on them.”

… Offers.

It’s an exciting word just to hear it.

Not me winning through an audition, but people trying to get me, calling out bigger sums of money to try to win me.

“… That’s nice.”

“I think you can look forward to it. Mun-gyo didn’t have a bad start either. But somehow, the more experience he gains, the more tangled he gets? It’s such a stress. Well, it’s not something I should be talking to you about.”

“You must be going through a lot.”

“But are you really going to be okay with Mun-gyo?”

I nodded lightly.

“It’s okay. He’s not a child, and he’ll be careful in public.”

Even while saying that, I know.

That he’s a child who always wants attention and thinks he’s the center of the world.

So far, he hasn’t caused any trouble other than being arrogant, but it won’t be long.

“Then, rest well. See you in two days.”

Park Chan-ik Team Leader got into his car and returned to the company, and I climbed the stairs of a remote villa building in Dogok-dong alone.

I’m slowly returning to everyday life.

『Do you want to absorb?』

The three scripts in my hand spoke to me without fail. I suppressed the anticipation of wanting to read the scripts as soon as possible and stepped into the house.

But.

Something is different today.

『Script Affinity has reached MAX status.』

『The unreleased area ‘Perfection’ is now open.』

『Measuring the perfection of the script.』

『Unfinished scripts have no effect.』

A voice that suddenly rang out.

And on the three scripts in my hand, small numbers were written.

━ Unreleased Movie 『67/100』

━ Unreleased Movie 『58/100』

━ Unreleased Movie 『62/100』

It seemed like the texture itself was different from the ink used for printing scripts in the first place.

“…. This is.”

A new ability.

< The Script-Eating Actor ━ Episode 9. > End