episode_0030

Seo Eisu’s lackluster, chaotic, and seemingly meaningless acting lessons that felt almost apocalyptic continued for a long time.

Of course, Seo Eisu’s knowledge of acting was lacking.

Most of what she said was at a common sense level, and she didn’t know much more than that.

Ironically, it was probably Okyungbae, who had attended acting academies, who knew much more.

If she wanted to become an actress, Seo Eisu should learn from Okyungbae.

But Okyungbae was too kind to point that out.

“Do you understand? Will you comprehend?”

“Yes. Of course. Thank you for teaching me so much. …Haha.”

“Yeah. It seems like you’re the only one who appreciates the effort I put into filming.”

“Haha. That’s true. It can’t be helped though.”

“Hmm?”

“Oh, it’s nothing.”

Anyway, that’s how it was.

Seo Eisu, despite her lack of knowledge about acting, desperately swallowed her words to continue the lessons.

She wanted to shine on set, to be recognized and praised by everyone.

And so, the unique and unnecessary acting lessons by Seo Eisu continued for quite some time.

Until Shin Jihu returned and assessed the situation of the two.

“…What is she doing?”

When they returned from discussing the staff, schedule, and Seo Eisu’s accommodation.

Shin Jihu was surprised to see Seo Eisu rambling about not forgetting the lines in the script while Okyungbae responded with a Buddha-like face, “Yes. I see. Impressive, sis.”

It was a bizarre and dreadful sight.

“Hey, what trouble is she causing now?”

Shin Jihu, startled, quickly ran to rescue Okyungbae.

“Why are you holding onto this strange person and talking nonsense?”

“What? I was giving her acting lessons. If you interfere, even you, Shin Jihu, won’t be forgiven.”

“Acting… lessons? You? Make sense.”

“W-What?!”

Ignoring Seo Eisu, who was throwing a tantrum.

Shin Jihu looked apologetic towards Okyungbae.

“Our actress was rude. I apologize.”

“No, it was fun, really. It felt like babysitting my nephew.”

“Haha. That’s what I always do.”

“Thank you for your hard work, manager.”

The two men shared a deep understanding with each other.

And…

There was one gaze watching them.

It was Han Seonyul, who was resting in the assigned room of the accommodation.

Since Seo Eisu’s acting lessons took place right in front of the pension bench, Han Seonyul could hear everything she said.

Those pitiful and pathetic words…

Han Seonyul is a child actor.

Even as she aged and stopped her activities, she never neglected her studies.

That’s why she knew better than anyone how pitiful Seo Eisu’s knowledge as an actress was.

“Just…”

So, Han Seonyul felt upset.

“Just to think she showed that kind of acting with that level of knowledge.”

Yes, Han Seonyul felt upset.

About nothing else…

“She’s talented. Unlike me.”

She felt upset at her lack of talent compared to Seo Eisu.

As she aged and became uncertain about continuing as a child actor, and on the other hand, couldn’t make a leap to the adult stage.

So, she was disappointed in her own lack of talent that forced her to stop acting.

“What am I even doing here?”

Unable to give up on that thought.

Feeling disillusioned with her situation of appearing in a newbie director’s film where she couldn’t even improvise scenes.

She was frustrated with her lack of talent.

But despite that, she couldn’t bring herself to give up acting.

Perhaps it was because of her burning passion.

Or maybe it was due to her cold-hearted determination, but Han Seon-yul wanted to act, anyway.

“……Sigh.”

An empty room.

Han Seon-yul sighed and wiped her face.

Another day on set was passing by.

Seo Yi-soo, eager to make a mark on set.

Oh Kyung-bae, worried about whether he could handle his role as a lead actor as a beginner.

Han Seon-yul, feeling down about her talent as a child actor.

The team, casting such unique characters as the lead actors.

What incidents will follow their filming journey?

It remains to be seen.

***

is a low-budget film.

They were so short on money that they couldn’t even afford a ferry for shooting emotional scenes.

They had to save every penny.

There was no room for wasteful spending.

Even for the team.

“Alright, everyone gather around! Actors, please stand here in front.”

They were all actors rolling the film.

In other words, they were superstitious and believed in jinxes.

“Shin Ji-hoo.”

“What?”

“What’s all this about? Why did you cut off a poor pig’s head and display it like that?”

“It’s a ritual.”

“A ritual?”

Seo Yi-soo raised an eyebrow.

Before her eyes, a scene she couldn’t quite comprehend unfolded.

A mat laid out on the ground outdoors, with a tablecloth spread out and all kinds of food placed on it.

The highlight was the pig’s head on the table.

Seo Yi-soo, who had seen countless more gruesome things in her hometown, wasn’t disgusted, but she couldn’t understand why a poor pig’s head was cut off and displayed like that.

Shin Ji-hoo explained, “It’s a superstition. By performing this ritual before filming, we’re wishing for the success of the movie. We even put money in the pig’s head and offer prayers.”

“I see.”

With that explanation, Seo Yi-soo understood the current situation.

“It’s a ritual. Earth is disappointing. If it were magic, it would be different. Relying on such primitive rituals.”

Of course, Seo Yi-soo’s understanding was filtered through her twisted perspective.

Such rituals existed in her hometown as well.

They were mostly performed in underdeveloped areas where magic wasn’t prevalent.

Seo Yi-soo frowned.

“I don’t like it, but… it’s for the success of our filming. Well, I guess I have to sacrifice a bit too.”

Seo Yi-soo wasn’t pleased about sacrificing a delicious and pitiful pig for a mere ritual.

But her enthusiasm for filming was remarkable, and she still wanted to make an impact.

Her desire was burning brightly.

On the other hand, Oh Kyung-bae, restrained by not receiving proper praise for his acting demonstration on the deck, was feeling even more suppressed, and his desire was swelling.

“….”

A strange light flickered in Seo Yi-soo’s usually bright eyes.

She was trying to use magic.

“Earth seems primitive when it comes to magic and rituals. Harming the life of a sacrificial animal so ignorantly might lead to its soul’s resentment, hindering the fulfillment of wishes.”

It wasn’t a particularly powerful magic.

Magic required mana, and mana was like Seo Yi-soo’s lifespan.

Seo Yi-soo was planning to use a simple magic spell to comfort the soul of the sacrificial pig.

By doing so, the pig’s soul would be pleased and lend strength to the fulfillment of people’s wishes.

It was a simple magic spell that didn’t require much mana.

If Seo Yi-soo’s total mana were converted into a hundred years, the mana to be used for this spell would be equivalent to about 17 seconds.

The incantation was activated.

The magic was cast.

***

Meanwhile.

“I’m nervous. This is my first time experiencing such a formal event like this. Hyung, you must have been through a lot, right?”

“…….”

As Han Sunyul and Oh Kyungbae, the first actors to bow at the awards ceremony, were chatting, their attitudes were contrasting.

“Hyung, hyung? Hey, please respond. It’s awkward talking to myself.”

Oh Kyungbae continued to speak warmly.

He wanted to learn a lot from Han Sunyul, who had more experience and was older than him. That’s why he had decided to share a room with Han Sunyul.

But on the other hand,

“I’m not in the mood for small talk.”

Han Sunyul was cold.

It wasn’t that he didn’t like Oh Kyungbae.

It’s just that…

Emotionally, Han Sunyul was in a fragile state, making it difficult for him to be friendly with someone on set.

“Still, we’ll be filming together in the future. It’s better to get along early on.”

“I don’t feel like getting close to anyone on set.”

Han Sunyul was mentally preoccupied.

It meant he was defensive.

So, he didn’t feel like getting close to anyone while filming.

As the lead actor, it wasn’t the right attitude to have, considering his responsibility to hold the center of the work.

If things became awkward between him and Oh Kyungbae, it would be difficult to create the right synergy in the already challenging conditions of the drama “Sea Diary.”

Han Sunyul was aware of this.

But he simply didn’t have the luxury to focus on anything other than his talent and acting skills.

‘I’m a mess, aren’t I?’

Because Han Sunyul wasn’t selfish or narrow-minded, he felt even more frustrated.

With a bitter feeling, Han Sunyul bowed at the awards ceremony with Oh Kyungbae.

But then,

“……Huh?”

When he raised his head while bowing, he happened to see the corners of a pig’s mouth curling up.

“Oh my gosh!”

Startled by the eerie and creepy sight, Han Sunyul screamed.

“…Hyung, what’s wrong? Why are you acting like that all of a sudden?”

“A pig!”

“…?”

“Didn’t you see? That pig just smiled!”

With a pale face, Han Sunyul grabbed Oh Kyungbae’s arm and clung to him.

He didn’t want to get close.

He didn’t have the luxury to do so.

The composed attitude he had just a few seconds ago was completely forgotten.

“Haha.”

Seeing Han Sunyul’s pathetic state, Oh Kyungbae burst into laughter.

“Hyung, you’re more fragile than I thought.”

“No, it’s true! Didn’t you see?”

“How can a pig’s head smile? Does that make sense?”

“….”

“Okay, I get it. You’re right, hyung. Hehe.”

Oh Kyungbae chuckled as if finding Han Sunyul cute, who was a year older than him.

‘Even Lee Nuna is like that. The lead actors in this drama are all cute. I should take good care of them.’

Thinking like that, the kind-hearted Oh Kyungbae smiled.

Although he didn’t have any ulterior motives, Han Sunyul, who guessed Oh Kyungbae’s true feelings from his expression, frowned.

“You’re annoying.”

“Haha.”

“Stop laughing.”

“Okay, I’ll do as you say. Don’t be mad.”

“….”

With the situation unfolding like this, Han Sunyul no longer cared about the creepy smile he had seen earlier.

Instead, he thought he must have misseen it and corrected his memory based on common sense.

‘Why did I have to see that at that moment?’

Han Sunyul scratched his head nervously.

“Hyung, take care of yourself, okay?”

Saving face.

The situation had turned out completely different from what he had intended.

But now, he didn’t know what to do with the clinging Oh Kyungbae.

Han Sunyul felt awkward.

“Whatever.”

And that’s how the two lead actors, who would have originally been awkward with each other, started their relationship.

“Hoohoo. Thanks to me, the effect of the magic has increased. This will be another great performance, right?”

Seo Yisoo was boasting in a silly direction without even knowing what kind of feat her magic had accomplished.

Anyway, she had to make some kind of achievement in one way or another, so she had to make it happen.

Of course.

She was an actress.

The true essence of an actress’s performance lay solely in the acting itself.

Seo Yisoo was a person with more than enough talent and enthusiasm to shine as an actress.

Low-budget film.

Novice director.

A few inexperienced lead actors.

It was the team, poor and pathetic on one hand, yet infinitely unique in composition.

Their full-fledged filming was about to begin.

“Alright, let’s start filming!!”

It was the start of the crank.