Ch.160Arrogant Audition

“Thank you for your hard work!”

The script reading ended quite smoothly.

In romantic comedies, the chemistry between the male and female leads is the most important thing.

‘In that regard, we don’t even need to discuss it.’

The chemistry between Sujin and me was already proven.

They said filming would start from mid-January due to scheduling adjustments.

Until then, it seemed like I could enjoy some relaxation.

‘Well, I’ll be a bit busy with commercial shoots, but still.’

Time flew by quickly again, and it was December 25th.

This year, I couldn’t make plans with anyone for Christmas.

Because…

“Oppa! Why are you always busy?! Won’t you play with your princess?!”

“I was trying to buy pretty clothes for our princess.”

“I only need Oppa! I don’t need pretty clothes!”

Our family’s late-born princess, Seohyun, had laid down the law.

She said if I didn’t play with her on Christmas, she’d never see me again. What could I do?

‘Seohyun is almost 6 years old now.’

I never thought I’d have a sister 15 years younger than me.

With these thoughts, I spent the end of the year thoroughly with my family.

Sitting across from my family at the dining table.

Eating meals, cutting cake, rejoicing in happiness I couldn’t feel in my previous life.

After all that fun, eventually only Dad and I remained at the table.

2 AM.

The ticking clock and the TV sound from the living room created a gentle white noise.

“Son, thank you.”

My taciturn father said that with a gentle smile.

I wasn’t sure what he was thankful for.

But somehow, I felt like I understood.

“And thank you for this too.”

Saying that, Dad discreetly showed me his bank account balance.

“…?”

The number of zeros was strange.

Just as I was wondering what this was about…

“Dad might have found a new talent.”

Then he showed me his Bitcoin returns.

That information I had only mentioned would rise, without saying much else afterward.

But Dad had completely trusted my words.

“…There are… three zeros in the profit rate?”

“That’s the minimum I should make after trusting my son’s advice and investing.”

“Ah, no, this… what on earth…?”

“And I also noticed Tesla… and… Nvidia? Those seem good too. Need to secure retirement funds properly.”

Who calls this retirement funds?

And why is he suddenly so talkative about investments?

‘Was my dad always like this?’

Since I don’t have memories of being with my family after this point.

Perhaps the memories I had of my family from long ago were incorrect.

‘After my parents died, was I… alone for so long that I’m misremembering?’

After that, Dad started talking so much it belied his taciturn nature.

But I could tell he was definitely still the quiet type.

Because I could see his face turning red after talking for a while.

Then.

“So you can do whatever you want.”

Dad suddenly said that.

“What?”

“You don’t need to worry about us, including Seohyun.”

“Dad?”

“The trips you sent us on, everything—I understand your heart. Son, now is the time for you to just focus on moving forward.”

I couldn’t understand his words and let out a confused laugh.

“If things aren’t in order, you’ll be shaken when the waves hit. But we’re fine now, no matter what waves come.”

Dad said that with his flushed face.

“Son, you’re the pride of our family and my pride, our son.”

“Yes.”

“Run until you’re tired, and when you’re tired, come back.”

Since Seohyun gets really upset if you don’t contact her regularly, keep in touch often.

I couldn’t understand what Dad was saying at all.

And I didn’t know why my vision was getting blurry.

‘….’

I didn’t understand.

+++++

Early January.

“No, we can come to you.”

“How could I ask the lead actor to come and go? Of course I should come.”

Director Lee Seongdeok came to the Veritas office.

“I wanted to give this to you personally.”

<The Real Hero, A, B+>

The script for “The Real Hero” with its newly added B+ rating was placed in my hands.

“If it’s not too much trouble, could you read it now and give me your evaluation?”

“Evaluation?”

“Yes, I really want your assessment.”

Suddenly asking for an evaluation.

What difference would it make to evaluate a script for a movie I’d already agreed to do?

“…Alright.”

But Director Lee’s eyes were so serious that I couldn’t refuse.

After reading the script to the end, I deliberately paused at the last page.

And immediately.

‘Immersion.’

I entered the world of the script.

Whoosh!

The world changes in an instant.

The story of “The Real Hero” felt like a sequel to “Hero.”

Starting with the wild dog he killed as a child.

He kills gangsters who break into his home and begins life on the run.

This process passes by quickly, summarized like an opening sequence.

And then the present, rising above that past.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry…!”

“No, no… you shouldn’t beg for forgiveness.”

You haven’t committed any sin against me.

The sinners are elsewhere.

The hero was still actively operating.

Crack!

When his fist strikes the face, something breaks.

Probably the nose.

It’s the first part to make contact with the fist, and the bones are weak there.

“Kuhek, puhek… urgh… p-please spare me.”

“Yes, that’s what you should say. You should beg for your life.”

I really like the saying that people don’t change.

It’s like a brand.

I was born a hero, so I won’t change from being a hero.

“You were born trash, so you’ll be trash till the end.”

Perhaps criminals have no chance for rehabilitation from beginning to end.

There’s a saying that when a truck driver hits someone, it’s cleaner to just kill them.

But this rarely happens in reality.

Human life is precious, and killing one’s own kind involves much hesitation.

But occasionally, there are those who ignore this and brutally kill people.

I judge such beings.

Crack!

I hear the sound of the opponent’s collarbone breaking.

It’s one of the weakest bones.

As easy to break as it is effective.

“Please spa…”

“That’s not possible.”

And so the judgment continues.

Because a hero always executes justice.

Then.

Ring ring ring.

A phone rings in the driver’s pocket.

It can’t be family.

I’ve already confirmed all those ties are cut.

Then is it a friend?

Usually, I don’t answer such calls as they can become evidence.

But the saved name was suspicious.

“Refrigerator?”

Why would someone save a person’s name as “refrigerator”?

It was a call I shouldn’t answer, but I couldn’t overcome my curiosity.

Perhaps this was also a hero’s intuition.

Click.

-Hey you bastard, why are you answering so late! Are you crazy? Don’t you know time is life?

Time? Why is time life?

Such questions were momentary.

The other person continued urgently.

-We need to deliver today, okay? Eyes, all that stuff needs to be sent quickly! Get over here!

Eyes, all that stuff.

Even at a glance, these words are immediately understandable.

“So that’s why your truck has a cooler.”

“Urgh…kuk… huk… p-please… spare me…!”

Because organs need to be kept fresh.

This was quite a big case.

I can’t do it alone.

“I’ll spare you. Contact the police.”

I needed a useful hunting dog.

Whoosh!

As the script ended, so did my immersion.

“I’m really looking forward to what happens next?”

“Really? That’s such a relief.”

Director Lee finally seemed relieved at my words.

He relaxed, exhaled deeply, and slumped his body.

“Then we’ll proceed as planned.”

“Yes, I’ll wait with confidence. But have all the other roles been confirmed?”

“No, everyone will audition.”

“…Everyone?”

At those words, I looked at the project plan I had received beforehand.

The list of expected casting included quite prominent actors.

But making all these people audition?

‘That doesn’t seem possible.’

Director Lee is a director who has just released one independent film.

In terms of experience, he’s a rookie.

But such a director is saying he’ll hold auditions?

‘It probably won’t work out.’

Perhaps my expression gave me away.

“Excuse me for saying this, but Kim Donghu, you don’t seem to realize how amazing you are.”

“What?”

“Never mind. Rather than words, I’ll show you with results.”

Director Lee said that much and stood up.

“Actually… most of this has been discussed internally, so some parts are already confirmed.”

“But what does that even…?”

“Since you chose my project for your first leading role, I’ll truly give you the best in return.”

The conversation ended there.

Since I usually leave actor casting entirely to the director.

I concluded that I just needed to follow the schedule.

‘The rating is still A, after all.’

But not realizing how amazing I am…

‘What could that mean?’

++++++

“…Audition? Me? Are you crazy?”

The unexpected audition proposal.

Major actors expressed their disbelief.

“The director is a rookie too? Just one independent film? And this guy is asking me to audition?”

They should be offering me roles, not asking for auditions.

The schedule might work, but the request itself was too presumptuous.

“Just tell them no. No need to even look at the script. Why should I?”

“How arrogant, so arrogant. Could there be a more arrogant audition than this?”

“Just say no. Even if they came begging in person, it would be questionable, so what is this?”

They were in positions where they could get roles without auditioning.

Actors who were in positions of power, not subordination.

Unless it’s a well-known director, they don’t move easily.

Unless the pay is right, that is.

But.

“But, you know… Kim Donghu is the lead.”

At the manager’s words.

“What? Kim Donghu is the lead?”

The actors’ eyes widened.

Is there any place more sensitive to superstition than the entertainment industry?

In that sense, Kim Donghu was at the pinnacle of superstition.

‘Projects with Kim Donghu don’t fail.’

This was already proven by results.

An actor who had never failed, that was Kim Donghu.

And such an actor is participating as the lead?

“…Ask when the audition schedule is.”