NOVEL NEXT Chapter 122
BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! The horn signaling the start of filming blared, and actors dashed out in all directions.
A twenty-something actor nimbly sprinting around the filming set looked almost dazzling.
‘As expected, they all have confidence in their physical abilities to some extent.’
Seo-yeon chased after them, her eyes darting around quickly.
Since everyone was claiming to be an action actor, there was no one with a slow body.
‘Ah, one person.’
There was someone running rather slowly.
Jo Seo-hee.
Not to say anything too harsh, but she looked like she’d be taken down in no time.
‘Anyways.’
Seo-yeon exhaled.
This was variety show material, but not really.
It was, after all, an acting audition.
Naturally, she needed to get into character and act properly.
‘My character is…’
After the meeting had wrapped, she received a message from Hyper Action Star.
They asked her to explain her abilities to write the script.
They were probably going to solidify her abilities right here.
Of course, Seo-yeon replied that she was a “Regeneration Ability user.”
She had no intention of changing that.
And then she received the script.
It clearly stated that Seo-yeon’s ability was “Regeneration Ability.”
The abilities of other Group A participants were listed as well.
The reason was simple.
‘This ability itself is the script.’
Professor Kim Hong-baek had mentioned it before.
What was most important in action acting?
“It’s about matching the rhythm.”
Even if you move exceptionally well alone, if others can’t keep up, it’s just gymnastics. Simply ridiculous, meaningless movements.
“So, for action acting, you must repeat countless times and engrave the partner’s movements in your eyes.”
Hitting, kicking. Getting hit and falling down.
For that entire sequence to look natural, in the end, one must synchronize.
“But if all this acting is done live… that’s where the action actor’s skills are revealed. All acting is essentially improvisational.”
Abilities are the bare minimum safety net.
If you memorize what the opponent’s abilities are in advance, you can sync up on the spot.
‘So, the script.’
The lines weren’t written down.
However, all the opponent’s abilities were outlined.
So, when they perform, they had to act as if clashing swords right at that moment.
Seo-yeon recited the lines of the script in her head and examined the abilities of those in view.
Then, she surveyed the surroundings.
The LED screens on the walls, and the number of cameras.
‘Other than the cameras set up everywhere, there are twenty moving cameramen.’
A rather astounding number.
With that many, you could think of it as each person being assigned a cameraman.
‘There are five people watching me.’
As Seo-yeon raced through the set shaped like ruins, she sensed the eyes tracking her.
Glares fixed on her from the start, keeping a close watch.
Among them, three were moving as if they formed a team.
They must have silently allied before the shooting began.
Seo-yeon inwardly thought they were clever.
Surely three together would work better than one.
And by grouping together, they also gained character depth, with three cameras following them around.
‘10 seconds.’
The LED screen showed names, and all displayed 0 points next to them.
They probably aggregated points in real-time.
Since they weren’t wearing any sensor devices, they must have been checking them live.
‘5 seconds.’
Seo-yeon turned her body while running.
Towards the three who were following her.
“…!!”
As Seo-yeon suddenly turned, the three actors pursuing her flinched momentarily.
But realizing she was outnumbered, they shot her sharp glares.
‘Joo Seo-yeon.’
She was probably the most recognized actor among those participating in this audition.
Of course, Jo Seo-hee was there as well, but that was a realm not easily touched.
After all, she had never done action acting, so it was hard to gauge her skill.
‘If they can’t eliminate me quickly, it’s dangerous.’
Acting is about presence.
Cha Seo-ah’s presence demonstrated in The Chaser was just that remarkable, and her action scenes were great.
‘I don’t know what the missions ahead will be like…’
This first mission, being a pure score-based mission, was clearly the best time to eliminate Seo-yeon.
Simply getting hit by a paintball would result in -1 point.
A fatal injury leading to death would cost -20 points.
On the other hand, hitting the opponent with a paintball would earn +1 point.
If it was a hit to a critical area, then +5 points.
Moreover, if you inflicted a fatal injury on a high-scoring opponent to bring them to “death,” half of their points become yours.
‘Roughly that’s the rule.’
And of course, since this is acting, if you’re “dead,” you can’t move anymore.
That was left to the discretion of the actors.
No one would accept someone moving with obviously fatal injuries.
“1 second.”
Someone called out.
The guns clenched in their hands shifted, aiming at their respective targets.
Three gun barrels aimed at Seo-yeon.
From afar, Lee Ki-tae, watching the scene through the camera, clenched his fists.
At the same time, his recent conversation with a director from GH Group resurfaced in his mind.
“If we proceed with this kind of survival mission, the likelihood of Seo-yeon dropping out will be quite high.”
“Is that so? I actually disagree.”
Director Kang Tae-jin of GH Group rested his interlaced hands on his knees.
“Didn’t you watch The Chaser?”
“Yes, I did.”
“Did you happen to see the interviews?”
“Interview… what do you mean?”
He realized he hadn’t seen it.
Had there even been one?
As he pondered, Director Kang continued speaking.
“Right after reaching ten million viewers, there was an interview with the production team and the actors.”
There, Kim Dae-heon, who played Detective Im Seung-cheol, and Park Hee-jun, who played Detective Seo Kwang-il, said:
“The final fight scene? Ugh, don’t even get me started. I thought I was going to die. I’m sure actor Park Hee-jun can relate!”
“Ah, yes. I, too, had some confidence being ex-special forces but….”
They said that while filming The Chaser.
It could have taken just one shot.
“One shot?”
“Yes, but I wasn’t satisfied. Seo-yeon was perfect.”
“Is that even possible?”
The surprised reporter questioned.
Typically, action scenes require multiple takes as synchronization is essential.
Thus, the physical strain is significant, and the difficulty is high, so stunt doubles are usually employed.
Professional stunt actors who specialize only in action.
But while both had experience, how about Seo-yeon?
If these two actors were unsatisfied enough with their own acting to want to retake, just what level is she at?
“What do you think those two actors would have replied?”
With that question in mind, Director Kang Tae-jin could now clearly remember how the two actors answered.
“They said, ‘We watch and match the rhythm.’ …right?”
“Watch and match the rhythm?”
That meant, the moment Seo-yeon saw the opponent’s action…
“Seo-yeon seems to have countless action sequences flash through her mind the moment she sees the opponent’s performance.”
“Is that, possible?”
“Who knows? Maybe it’s only possible because it’s possible?”
It’s only possible because it’s possible.
Director Kang Tae-jin’s words echoed in Lee Ki-tae’s ears.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
Paintballs were fired from the guns.
The camera following Seo-yeon zoomed in at that moment.
The direction the barrels moved was towards Seo-yeon’s chest.
If hit, it could result in a fatal injury, no matter how regeneration abilities were in play.
‘The script mentioned two weaknesses for Joo Seo-yeon.’
The script outlined her abilities, but each also had critical areas.
Especially since Seo-yeon was a Regeneration Ability user, details were necessary—namely, her heart and head.
If there was no vulnerable area to inflict a fatal injury, in this rule, she would practically be invincible.
So the three actors chasing Seo-yeon aimed for her chest.
After all, intentionally shooting her in the face would result in immediate disqualification.
The moment they pulled the trigger.
Seo-yeon locked eyes with them.
She couldn’t help but see it.
Her vividly glowing red eyes.
In that instant.
Seo-yeon lowered her body and twisted dramatically.
“……!!”
The three paintballs whizzed past her.
‘No way!!’
Could she have dodged that by seeing it?
It was such a concise evasion that it felt that way.
“What are you doing, shoot!!”
Just as her panicked partner shouted, Seo-yeon planted her foot.
“Gah!!”
Is she attacking back from here?
Normally, you’d assess the numbers of your opponents and seek cover to escape.
Or, you’d usually shoot to defend.
‘Why?’
But Seo-yeon dove forward as she was, gazing at them with her flushed pupils.
‘What was her setup again?’
In this scenario, she couldn’t recall clearly the words in the script.
They weren’t just simple lines; how could she remember who had which superpowers?
BANG! BANG!
Amid her confusion, paintballs were fired repeatedly at her hesitant partner.
Seo-yeon deflected them with her left arm.
“!!”
Typically, getting hit by a paintball would make it impossible to use your arm.
If this was acting, that’s how it should go.
But Seo-yeon was a Regeneration Ability user.
Her weakness was her heart, but conversely, if it didn’t hit her heart, it didn’t matter where else she got hit.
‘I should’ve chosen Regeneration too!!’
Most actors opted for physical enhancement as their abilities, with telekinesis or fire manipulation being common choices.
But with the latter, without CG, it wouldn’t shine through properly.
Yet, with a regeneration ability…
“Acting.”
Suddenly, Seo-yeon’s face was right up close to her partner’s, who was surprised.
A small voice that could be whispered.
“I must, right?”
She didn’t realize how close she had gotten.
Before they could scream in shock.
Seo-yeon’s right hand moved.
It touched the protective gear beneath her clothing.
BANG!
With a lively sound, a paintball lodged itself in her partner’s chest.
Before there was any opportunity to react—-20 points.
“……!!”
It was hard to say shoot when Seo-yeon was pressed so close to her partner.
On the opposite side, Seo-yeon had also stood still, using her partner as a shield.
She could’ve shot instead.
The other two actors realized why Seo-yeon hadn’t acted on her own.
‘Could it be she can’t shoot long-range?’
Given Seo-yeon’s physical abilities, that seemed impossible.
But her actions suggested it wasn’t the case.
‘It’s a setup.’
Seo-yeon’s character choose to be bad at long-range shooting, needing to shoot up close.
This one scene explained that perfectly.
With a regeneration ability, she stuck to close combat.
It clearly demonstrated that pros and cons.
“Are you done, or are you done?”
Seo-yeon’s voice was chilling.
Her gaze, indifferent, conjured Cha Seo-ah’s emotionless expression.
Her lips curled upwards menacingly.
‘Acting.’
When exactly did it become acting?
The actors felt a chill run down their spines.
‘Wait, is that even ordinary human movement?!’
‘That’s a physical enhancement user, right!!’
All three had chosen enhanced physicality.
They thought it would be easier for action scenes.
Yet, seeing Seo-yeon before them, they couldn’t dare say such things.
Didn’t we look too much like extras? They couldn’t help but wonder.
“Yikes!!”
One of them made a move and gestured.
While he drew Seo-yeon’s gaze, he intended for the others to shoot.
‘Even if she has regeneration, her left arm probably hasn’t healed yet.’
With that thought, the moment he stepped forward.
“?”
Seo-yeon was gone.
As he slowly turned his head to see where she went.
THUD.
A gun barrel pressed against his side.
The two startled actors turned their barrels towards Seo-yeon.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
Three consecutive gunshots rang out.
*
The LED screen displayed the scores.
Joo Seo-yeon: 13 points.
With the lively sound, everyone’s gaze turned to the screen.
Among them was Min Do-ha, watching the battle from afar.
“……”
She attempted to find an opportunity to dive in but sensed the situation was unusual.
Wait, how on earth is she evading paintballs?
Seo-yeon looked at the three who had fallen.
The three actors, who hadn’t acted before, gave their all in death scenes.
Min Do-ha, feeling a bit bittersweet about their fatal performances, aimed her gun at Seo-yeon.
‘If it’s a moment of carelessness.’
Slowly, and quietly.
She pulled the trigger from behind Seo-yeon.
BANG!
With that sound, Seo-yeon took a step back.
The paintball bounced off her left shoulder.
“Uh?”
She aimed directly at the center of Seo-yeon’s back.
Did she just dodge that by hearing the sound?
“…….”
As she considered this, Seo-yeon’s gaze shifted.
Those red eyes locked onto Min Do-ha.
In that moment, Min Do-ha turned and fled.