There was a familiar face among the first-years.
A face he felt he’d seen somewhere, but up until then Han Seongtae hadn’t paid it much mind.
‘Because I still have memories from my previous life.’
Since there were faces he’d seen while attending school, there was no reason to react to every flicker of familiarity.
If it were someone truly important, he figured he would inevitably think of them.
‘How could I have forgotten this person?’
And yet now, he couldn’t hide his shock at a name on the list.
Kim Rina.
How could he forget that name?
For someone living as an actor, it was far too familiar a name.
In his previous life, Kim Rina hadn’t risen to a tremendous standing as an actor.
She had talent, but due to personal circumstances she quit in the middle of working as a musical actor.
Even so, there was one reason her name was famous.
‘She was the daughter of the head of Netflix Korea.’
That single fact alone made it impossible for Kim Rina not to become well-known.
At first, she hid the fact that she was the daughter of the Netflix head, but as time passed and Netflix grew larger and larger, her existence naturally came to light.
For a while, he couldn’t forget that they had attended the same school.
‘I just forgot for a bit because life was so busy.’
Across his past and present lives, there had never been a leisurely moment for him.
So he hadn’t had the time to think about Kim Rina in detail.
“I didn’t expect to find out like this.”
Staring fixedly at the name on the list, he let out a hollow laugh.
Right, what meaning did these thoughts have?
He hesitated because she was a remarkable and familiar person.
‘But it has nothing to do with me.’
Whether she was famous or not didn’t change the way Han Seongtae acted.
He would simply focus on his own acting.
Han Seongtae’s day began with the script and ended with the script.
—Jung Dusik: I have to go on a business trip to the provinces, so I might be hard to reach for a while.
—Jung Dusik: There’s no need to rush a project. Take your time and think it over.
The company didn’t expect Han Seongtae to shoot a project immediately.
Thanks to that, he could devote himself wholly to the musical.
“The story of the martyr Ahn Jung-geun. Can I truly draw out this man’s emotions properly?”
He was such a great and venerable figure that he wondered if he could faithfully reproduce him.
[‘The One of a Thousand Faces’ says there’s no need to be scared already.]
[‘The One Who Defined His Era’ is certain you can do anything well.]
[‘The Actor of Eternal Youth’ looks at you with a gentle smile.]
There was no time to let worries consume him.
In that time, he had to read even one more character of the script and utter even one more line in practice.
Rustle.
He turned the page.
He hadn’t stood on many musical stages, but he remembered the content of at least the famous works.
“It’s a bit of a shame this song isn’t registered in karaoke yet.”
If the songs from “Time of Revolution” were in karaoke, practice would be a little easier.
Bzzz.
“Who would call at this hour?”
As night was falling, Han Seongtae blinked at the smartphone vibrating like mad.
Who would call so late?
“The class rep?”
When he saw the call was from Ahn Jae-woo, even greater doubt settled on his face.
‘What business would he have calling me?’
Other than Kim Minseok, Han Seongtae didn’t have close friends.
Even the students hadn’t bothered to take much interest in him.
“Hello?”
—Oh, Seongtae, sorry it’s late. Do you have a moment?
“Uh, I do, but what’s up?”
Ahn Jae-woo and Han Seongtae were the same age.
During the process of assigning roles and receiving the script, they’d agreed to drop honorifics.
—Could you keep some time free in the middle of this month?
“Time?”
—Yeah, I’m thinking of practicing with the first-years. I’d be grateful if you could come help.
At Ahn Jae-woo’s request, Han Seongtae scratched his cheek.
He hadn’t expected to get such a proposal.
‘It’s not bad, actually.’
Practicing with a partner is far better than practicing alone.
“Got it. I’ll keep my schedule open.”
Since he had no plans other than the musical, freeing time wasn’t hard at all.
“It’s starting to get hot.”
Spring had already slipped by and summer was approaching.
The air was warm enough for short sleeves.
Having come outside to get to his destination, Han Seongtae glanced down at the clothes he was wearing.
“Uncomfortable.”
He hadn’t realized when he wore the clothes Kim Miso gave him, but his body had grown quite thick.
As he trained, the volume of his muscles increased, and naturally the clothes he’d worn before started to feel tight.
“I guess I’ll need to go buy a few outfits later.”
He couldn’t keep wearing clothes that were so tight.
Unless he stopped training and shed muscle, that is.
[‘Founder of Jeet Kune Do’ smiles contentedly, saying it’s a desirable look.]
With the god of acting watching, stopping his training midway was impossible.
[‘The One Who Defined His Era’ perks up his ears at your words.]
[‘The One Who Defined His Era’ is curious when you’ll go to Dongmyo Market.]
All he’d done was mutter that he’d go buy clothes.
But the reaction it caused was quite large.
“It’s tough right now. Later, when I have time.”
It’s not like his clothes were unwearable, and he had no intention of going to buy clothes right this moment.
When he had a bit more time and financial leeway, that would be the day to really go buy clothes.
Bzzz.
While he was in transit, he felt the vibration in his pocket and took out his smartphone.
“Ah, Director.”
—Seongtae, what are you up to?
It was a call from Choi Ye-chan.
At his voice asking after him, Han Seongtae said he had an appointment.
—Ah, then I’ll be quick and hang up. Did you see the trailer go up?
“The trailer?”
—Yeah, I told you the movie trailer would go up today. You forgot.
“Ah…”
At Choi Ye-chan’s words, Han Seongtae checked the date.
The trailer’s release date had been just yesterday.
“I think I got too wrapped up in practice. I should’ve watched it first and contacted you. I feel bad. What should I do?”
—Don’t worry about that. Take a look. It came out right.
“Okay! I’ll watch it right now.”
After finishing the call with Choi Ye-chan, Han Seongtae opened the internet.
The first trailer for “War of Villains” had been uploaded.
—I never let go of anyone who lays a hand on me.
—You know why they call that hyung a brown bear?
—It’s that bastard. Get him!
A swell of grand music.
Amidst appearances by multiple actors…
‘There I am.’
He spotted himself among them.
Wearing a suit.
With sharp eyes and a shout, he appeared for just two seconds.
But in those two seconds, he made a very strong impact.
—Just watched it. It’s awesome.
—Choi Ye-chan: Not bad, right? We put in some work.
Texting back and forth with Choi Ye-chan as he walked, Han Seongtae lifted his head and looked around.
“It should be this way.”
He moved, following the location Ahn Jae-woo had sent by text.
[‘The One Who Made Laughter in Tragedy’ says it looks like that place next to the flower shop.]
“Ah… found it. Thank you.”
Thanks to the god of acting, he safely found the meeting spot.
—Choi Ye-chan: I’ll get in touch again later then. Good work.
—Yes, I’ll contact you next time.
Putting his phone back into his pocket, Han Seongtae entered the building.
A café near Korea University.
He could see several people gathered in front of Ahn Jae-woo.
First-years.
Among them, one person came into view.
“It really is Kim Rina.”
The moment he saw Kim Rina up close, suspicion turned into certainty.
“You’re here? Sit here. I’ll introduce you.”
Sitting down next to Ahn Jae-woo, Han Seongtae looked ahead.
The faces of the first-years looking at him were filled with curiosity.
After grabbing a simple bite at a restaurant, Han Seongtae’s group gathered in the Korea University auditorium.
“Shall we start with some light practice?”
As he said that, Ahn Jae-woo glanced at Han Seongtae.
At that look, Han Seongtae tilted his head.
What was he hoping for?
“The kids say this is their first time with a musical. Could you show them a little demonstration?”
“Me?”
“Yeah, you act the best here.”
At his words, Han Seongtae scratched his cheek.
Could he claim he acted best with Kim Rina present?
She, too, had shown good acting when she did musicals.
“…”
Under their unwavering stares, he let out a dry laugh.
Whatever Ahn Jae-woo had told them, the first-years’ faces looking at him were full of expectation.
“Alright. I’ll do something simple then.”
Because he’d already practiced, practicing on the spot posed no problem at all.
After quickly looking over the script, Han Seongtae took his place before them.
[‘The Actor of Eternal Youth’ looks at you.]
[‘The Actor of Eternal Youth’ touches your vocal cords.]
A message from the god of acting.
At the same moment, he felt as if someone were gently stroking his throat.
It was a fleeting sensation, so he decided he’d imagined it and immersed himself in acting.
“Martyr Ahn has staked his life.”
Time of Revolution.
A musical portraying independence activists fighting against Japan’s oppression.
“I know. I know what crimes they have committed.”
His expression set firm.
A figure brimming with resolve.
After delivering his line, he let out a soft breath and began to sing.
The crime of assassinating the Empress Myeongseong of Daehan.
The crime of deposing the Emperor of Daehan by force.
His voice filled the auditorium.
He was in the auditorium, but what he saw was the courtroom where the Japanese judge sat.
Seizing political power by violence…
The crime of destroying Daehan’s independence.
He admitted his own crime of killing Itō and spoke of Japan’s crimes.
In his mouth naming their wrongful deeds, there wasn’t the slightest sign of hesitation or fear.
‘I will let the world know the truth.’
He spoke aloud the truth Japan sought to hide.
Even as the mood around him turned hostile, he did not flinch.
For the independence of Daehan, there was nothing Ahn Jung-geun would not do.
[‘The Actor of Eternal Youth’ looks at you and smiles.]
[‘The One Who Made Laughter in Tragedy’ says strength can be felt.]
While acting, Han Seongtae felt something strange.
His appeal had grown stronger than when he usually practiced.
By the time he realized that, he had already performed the entire scene he’d meant to show.
“…Wow.”
“That’s insane.”
“Is this what a pro looks like?”
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