The Face Genius Actor

Episode 004

In the outskirts of Daehangno, in the basement of an old building, there was a small theater.

Two people who had just finished cleaning were having a conversation there.

They both looked young and naive, as if they had just become college students.

“This is tiresome. How long do we have to do morning cleaning?”

“Shh. Be quiet. What if the seniors come?”

“Don’t you feel unfair?”

“About what?”

“That only we have to do this exhausting cleaning.”

“That’s how it is for all newcomers.”

“What about Si-joon hyung? He joined with us but doesn’t clean and got the lead role.”

“Well, that’s because Si-joon hyung is so handsome. He’s confident too.”

“That’s the problem, that it’s just that. Honestly, I would have been confident too if they suddenly made me the protagonist.”

“True. It’s not like you’re bad-looking either.”

“Right? You’re not bad either. You’re even a better actor than Si-joon hyung.”

“I’d better be. To be honest, I think the director’s judgment might be a bit off.”

“Damn. They only make us do morning cleaning and prop setting. What is this?”

One of them threw the mop he was holding onto the floor, and the other worried about the loud noise it made.

As if responding to that worry, someone appeared.

“What are you so dissatisfied about?”

“Senior Junho!”

“Aren’t you going to pick up that mop quickly?”

When the one called Senior Junho glared at them, the newcomer quickly picked up the mop.

Despite being called a senior, he didn’t seem that much older.

Nevertheless, there was a certain authority that came with the title of senior.

The two who had just become adults felt they couldn’t dare approach him.

“Who were you badmouthing like that?”

“Well…”

“Answer quickly!”

When Ahn Junho raised his voice at the right timing, the two were startled.

“It, it was about Si-joon hyung.”

“Si-joon hyung?”

“We know Si-joon hyung is older, but he joined with us and he’s the only one who doesn’t do morning cleaning, so it feels a bit…”

“…”

When Ahn Junho said nothing, the newcomer seemed to gain courage and his expression became confident.

Certainly, even Junho didn’t understand many aspects of the current situation.

But he couldn’t tell that to his juniors straightforwardly.

Crucially, Si-joon was even older than Junho.

“Even so, it’s not right to badmouth someone behind their back. He’s still your hyung. To me too.”

“Yes…”

“I’ll talk to the director about the morning cleaning. So let’s all try to get along. If you have complaints, say them openly.”

“Understood.”

“Good. Then finish up the cleaning. The rehearsal will start soon, so set up the props.”

With that, the two newcomers trudged towards the bathroom to rinse the mops.

Junho watched them go and let out a deep sigh.

In fact, Junho was also dissatisfied with the director’s decision.

Although Si-joon was 3 years older, Junho had joined the theater company a year earlier and was his senior.

So it was unfair that Si-joon got the role of Meursault, the most important character.

Moreover, Si-joon’s acting skills weren’t even outstanding.

Rather, they were so bad it was ridiculous.

Perhaps because most of the members were in their early to mid-20s, they were more sensitive about these things.

As Junho was lost in thought, he heard the two newcomers loudly greeting someone from afar.

“Good morning!”

“Hello, senior!”

Shortly after, Lim Gyeong-ryeol, the director of this theater company, sauntered into the small theater.

Certainly, 29-year-old Lim Gyeong-ryeol still had a youthful air about him, but he felt the most senior-like.

Junho bowed his head when he saw Lim Gyeong-ryeol.

“Hyung. Good morning. You’re early today?”

“Somehow I woke up early. Where’s Si-joon?”

“Not here yet. But he should be here within 10 minutes, right? He’s such a diligent hyung.”

“He is diligent. Never missed practice. But what’s the use if his acting is terrible?”

Junho was taken aback by Lim Gyeong-ryeol’s words and questioned,

“What? But Si-joon hyung was recommended by you, senior…”

Lim Gyeong-ryeol pressed his fingers between his eyebrows as if he had a headache.

“Sigh. Yes, I recommended him. And I’ve been regretting it every day lately. Junho.”

“Ah…”

“Honestly, our theater company has been struggling since many seniors left last year. So I thought if a good-looking guy like Si-joon could be eye candy, we might avoid a deficit… But actors need to act well, right?”

“Well, that’s true, but…”

As Junho was hesitating on what to say, trailing off,

Lim Gyeong-ryeol, without waiting for Junho to finish, brought up something that perked up his ears.

“So I have no choice but to change Si-joon’s role today. We can’t go on like this. In that sense, would you take on the role of Meursault from the next performance? You’ve memorized the script, right?”

When Lim Gyeong-ryeol said this, Junho’s expression, which had been blank for a moment, changed instantly.

His eyes, which couldn’t hide his discomfort, suddenly sparkled with life.

“I’d be grateful if you gave me the role of Meursault. Si-joon hyung was really too much. How can someone with that face act so poorly?”

The Junho who had just told the newcomers not to badmouth Si-joon hyung behind his back had disappeared somewhere.

It was somewhat opportunistic, but Lim Gyeong-ryeol nodded, seeming rather satisfied.

“I’m glad you think the same as me. But the problem is we can’t change Si-joon’s role without any justification. So I’ve been thinking…”

Lim Gyeong-ryeol looked around and then stepped closer to Junho, whispering something in a low voice.

A sly smile spread across Junho’s face as he listened.

* * *

It was just as I had expected.

The Method Mask allowed for multiple practices of the same scene.

Thanks to that, I was able to act out all the scenes of “The Stranger,” which consisted of 4 acts in total.

Not only did I act, but I felt all of Meursault’s expressions, gestures, and emotions as I wanted.

As I took off the mask, I thought,

‘It’s not yet at a satisfactory level, but…’

This much could be considered significant progress.

The acting practice through the Method Mask was that helpful.

Along with that, I was able to gain some additional information.

First, I could take off the Method Mask whenever I wanted.

At first, I was worried if I could take off the Method Mask, but once I decided to, I could remove it more easily than I thought.

Also, when I was wearing the Method Mask, it seemed like I was just sitting still in my place.

When I didn’t come out after being called several times for dinner, my father came into the room and shook my shoulder.

“Son.”

“Yes?”

“What are you doing sitting still on the bed wearing that strange mask? Is it theater makeup?”

“Ah. Yes.”

“Come on, let’s have dinner.”

“I’ll be right out.”

Thanks to that, I also learned that if someone touches me from the outside, the Method Mask system shuts down immediately.

‘Lastly, I also found out that the Method Mask shows this strange phenomenon only to me.’

Just in case, I had my father try it on, but the Method Mask showed no reaction.

As a result, the miracle of the Method Mask was a special experience only I could have.

While I was practicing acting using the Method Mask and discovering some of its secrets,

Tuesday came, and I got ready in time and headed straight to Sorisaem’s small theater in Daehangno.

It wasn’t just the Method Mask that I had become familiar with over the two days.

I had also become accustomed to the fact of my regression, so I could naturally finish preparing and go out.

“What? Why is he so handsome?”

“Is he an idol trainee?”

“He looks like a celebrity.”

“Wow. He must be crazy.”

At the same time, I had to receive all the attention from people.

I thought no one would recognize me since I had regressed, so I went out comfortably.

It seemed that drew people’s attention.

It was a mistake.

‘Right. It was always like this even before I became a celebrity. I should have worn a hat.’

But it was too late for regrets.

I was already passing through the busiest street in Daehangno.

In fact, I started hearing people’s whispers after entering this street.

I had no choice but to flee the bustling street.

Then I quickly bought a hat from a street vendor and entered the small theater entrance.

‘This way, I won’t have trouble when I go home.’

I was thinking this as I was passing through the theater corridor.

At the end of the corridor, I saw faces that were vaguely familiar in my memory.

They were two newcomers who had joined around the same time as me in the past.

“Hyung. You’re here?”

“You came right on time.”

“Ah. Yes. Did you rest well? You two came early?”

I couldn’t remember their names, so I just changed the subject.

Then one of the newcomers, who seemed somewhat dissatisfied, answered.

“Newcomers have to do morning cleaning, you know.”

Only then did I suddenly recall a memory I had forgotten.

Despite being a newcomer like them, around this time I was exempt from morning cleaning because I was relatively older and had the lead role.

At the time, I accepted this special treatment without much thought, but now I knew it wasn’t right.

It was something I realized belatedly when I lost the lead role and had to do morning cleaning.

“…You two must have had a hard time.”

“Well. It can’t be helped.”

“I’ll do it from tomorrow too.”

“What?”

“The morning cleaning. I’ll do it from now on too.”

“Ah…”

When I brought this up, the two of them looked surprised.

It left a bitter taste in my mouth.

To see such expressions after saying something that should be obvious.

It was a moment that showed how wrongly I had been living.

‘I should correct this now, even if it might not make them feel better.’

While I was thinking this,

One of the newcomers who had been looking blank suddenly wore a sly smile.

“It’s okay. It’ll be like that soon anyway.”

“Huh?”

As I asked this, I felt another sense of déjà vu.

Because a man standing on the stage of the small theater waved at me.

“Si-joon! You’re here! Come down here quickly!”

The man was Lim Gyeong-ryeol, the director of Sorisaem and the actor playing the prosecutor in “The Stranger”.

And next to him stood Ahn Junho, who played the role of Raymond and was like the second-in-command of this theater company.

Perhaps because they were key figures in Sorisaem, I could recall not only their faces but also their names relatively clearly.

After confirming their faces, I could easily identify the source of the déjà vu.

I thought as I walked towards the two of them.

‘It’s certain… Today is that day.’

The day I lost the role of Meursault and was forced to take on the role of a prison guard amidst the mockery of the theater members.

It was definitely that day.

“Hello! Seniors!”

As I pushed my thoughts aside and bowed politely, Lim Gyeong-ryeol patted my shoulder lightly and said,

“Yes. Our Si-joon looks radiant even though it’s only been two days. Joo-yeon is nearby too, so let’s start the rehearsal as soon as she arrives. I’d like to start from Act 4, is that okay?”

Act 4 of the play “The Stranger”.

This scene, where Meursault’s acting is the most difficult and important, could be considered the climax of the play “The Stranger”.

It was a choice that clearly revealed Lim Gyeong-ryeol’s intention.