“I’m sorry for being late. The traffic was really bad…”
Someone muttered in irritation, “Do you think the rest of us have so much free time that we just got here early for fun?”
But the beautiful woman ignored the grumbling and instead offered a bright smile as she continued speaking.
“At least this way, I get to greet everyone at once. Nice to meet you all. I’m Min Yerin.”
The one who was most impressed was Dongjaryeong.
[Wow… This is my first time seeing Min Yerin, and her mental fortitude is insane. The confidence to say she doesn’t have to greet everyone individually…!]
Yeonwoo felt the same way, though for a slightly different reason.
Is she even human? Or just a walking mass of negative energy?
Her entire body—shoulders, waist, and legs—was completely covered with clinging, leech-like specters. It was a wonder she could even walk properly.
Behind her, a hollow, empty-eyed man followed like a shadow.
“I… I’m sorry. I’m late… The traffic was bad…”
The man repeated the same excuse as Min Yerin.
“Tsk. Looks like you were late because you were tagging along like a remora fish.”
From that sarcastic remark, Yeonwoo immediately understood who the man was—an idol who had been forcibly included in the casting package along with Min Yerin by their agency.
Yeonwoo’s eyes widened.
[Wow… This is insane…]
The man was so buried in negative energy that his face was barely visible.
And as if that weren’t enough, one or two wandering spirits were slipping in after him.
Yeonwoo thought to himself:
If Min Yerin is just a regular coffee, this guy is an espresso shot of negativity…!
“I’m Heo Youngho, the director of this project. With so many talented actors gathered here, I have high expectations for this drama. Writer Min’s script is also excellent, so I’m sure this will be a success. Let’s all work together and make something great.”
With everyone now present, the formal introductions began.
“I’m Min Suji, the scriptwriter for this project. Nice to meet you.”
Min Suji’s introduction was brief.
Next, Kwon Seonghyeon stood up from his seat.
“I’m Kwon Seonghyeon, playing the role of Kim Taehoon. This role is far more than I deserve, but I will do my best with my limited skills. Please take care of me.”
“Hah! Seonghyeon, why are you asking us to take care of you? It’s us who should be thanking you! Everyone knows that every project you star in turns into a massive hit. You better make sure this one does too, got it?”
“I’ll do my best.”
The director’s joke lightened the atmosphere.
Then, Min Yerin stood up and bowed.
“I’m Min Yerin, playing the role of So Yeo-jin. It’s an honor to be working with so many amazing actors. Please take care of me.”
The introductions continued one after another.
When it was the idol’s turn, he introduced himself.
“I’m A-Yo, playing the role of the Grim Reaper. Please take care of me.”
Someone immediately asked, “A-Yo? Is that your real name?”
“Ah… It’s my stage name.”
“It feels a bit weird to call you ‘A-Yo.’ What’s your real name?”
It was likely just a casual question. His stage name was unusual, so it made sense for someone to ask.
But—
“Why do you even need to know that?”
His response was sharp.
“I mean… I was just curious…”
The person who had asked looked taken aback.
“Tch. Mind your own business, asking about other people’s names like that. How annoying…”
The muttered complaint was quiet, but in the now-silent meeting room, it was loud enough for everyone to hear.
The atmosphere instantly turned cold.
“Ahem. Ahem, let’s move on,” the director interjected to break the tension, but the mood didn’t recover.
At that moment, A-Yo and Yeonwoo’s gazes met.
The idol’s already sour expression twisted even further.
[That guy… He looks like he’s misunderstanding something.]
“A misunderstanding? What kind of misunderstanding?”
Yeonwoo’s voice was quiet.
[He’s looking at you like you’re his rival.]
Dongjaryeong casually referred to the idol as “that guy.”
“You know him?”
[Yeah. He’s part of a famous idol group, but lately, he’s been trying to break into acting. Problem is, he’s notorious for being a terrible actor. Want to know his real name?]
“What is it?”
[His name is Lee Deokchun.]
Yeonwoo quickly controlled his expression.
That’s… quite the old-fashioned name for an idol.
Ah, so that’s why he was so sensitive about revealing it.
The first official script reading.
The atmosphere started off stiff and awkward.
But then—
“Don’t lie. I can see you clearly inside there.”
“W-what? No! It’s really me!”
“Do I look stupid? You’re the first of your kind that I’ve ever seen, so just tell me the truth.”
“Hic! I swear! Hic! It’s me! Hic!”
As soon as Kwon Seonghyeon began acting, the mood in the room shifted.
With Min Yerin’s quirky, exaggerated performance adding to the scene, the tension in the room eased noticeably.
[Whoa, this is so cool! I thought script readings were just actors reading their lines flatly, but they’re actually acting it out. If I closed my eyes, I’d think I was watching a TV drama.]
“This is weird.”
[What is?]
“He doesn’t seem possessed.”
[Who? Our lead actor?]
“How can a person change so completely?”
Even with careful observation, there was no sign that Kwon Seonghyeon was possessed.
Yet, the moment the cue signal dropped, he became an entirely different person.
That’s not Kwon Seonghyeon. That’s Kim Taehoon.
He had pulled Kim Taehoon—the fictional character—straight out of the script and brought him to life.
Yeonwoo recalled Kwon Seonghyeon’s status window.
- Special Skills:
- Master Acting [S]
- Scene Control [S]
- Script Memorization [A+]
- Presence Domination [S]
- Expressing with Eyes [S]
- Charming People [S]
I thought his skill list was ridiculously long, but now it all makes sense.
Yeonwoo had been surprised by the status window, but seeing it come to life in reality was an entirely different experience.
No wonder professional photographers wanted to recruit him—he’s that good. But if an A-rank skill is already that impressive, how insane is an S-rank one?
This ability to acquire the talents of highly skilled individuals was like gaining powerful game skills.
Of course, without lifespans, none of this would matter.
Yeonwoo still needed more lifespan.
Luckily, the entire room was filled with it.
“I made the right choice coming into the entertainment industry. With Kwon Seonghyeon around, I won’t have to worry about penalties.”
Kwon Seonghyeon was—above all else—a highly useful lifespan provider.
No—he was a remarkable person.
Yeonwoo smirked.
Alright. Time to start mining this gold vein.
Meanwhile, the first script reading continued toward its climax.
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