Ch.84When will the audition start?

“W-what are you talking about?”

As soon as he heard Seo Jinwoo’s words, Han Taegeon was flustered.

‘Are you seriously some kind of beast?’

He’d always known Jinwoo had good intuition, but this was something else.

‘He’s basically a shaman.’

He had no idea how Kim Donghu’s name had even come up. Just because I happened to be looking at a theater group’s casting call that had only gotten 11 views?

‘Is that even possible?’

Han Taegeon tried his best to hide his confusion as he continued speaking.

“Why are you suddenly bringing up Kim Donghu?”

“Why else would you, Han Taegeon, national star actor, suddenly be browsing actor recruitment sites? And for a high school student’s production at that?”

Seo Jinwoo stared at Han Taegeon with eyes that said he wouldn’t accept any excuses.

“Why would you be looking at something like this? Especially a project directed by a high school student?”

“W-what?! How could you tell the director is a high school student just from that?”

“So it really is a high school student?”

As soon as he heard Seo Jinwoo’s response, Han Taegeon realized his mistake. He had thoughtlessly taken the bait this beast of a man had thrown.

“Donghu, our youngest actor, is about to enter high school… According to the news, he got into Daejeong High, right?”

They often have this at Daejeong High, high school kids recruiting actors because they want to try directing. Of course, none of them ever succeed—who would work under a high school director?

Seo Jinwoo continued calmly. A predator that has perfectly spotted its prey never lets go of its quarry’s neck.

“And I noticed this posting doesn’t include a lead role. That’s when it clicked.”

Ah, they don’t need to recruit a lead because they already have Kim Donghu. At that point, Seo Jinwoo stopped talking and just stared at Han Taegeon.

His eyes said: My deduction is clearly correct, so explain yourself. Like an elementary school detective who has revealed everything and is now waiting for the culprit’s confession.

Han Taegeon couldn’t hide how his pupils were frantically darting back and forth. Finally, he decided to go with a head-on approach.

“So what if it is?”

“What?”

“What are you going to do if Donghu is in it?”

At Han Taegeon’s bold response, Seo Jinwoo’s eyebrows shot up.

“What am I going to do?”

As if the answer had been decided from the beginning. With a deep smile, he searched for the same posting on his phone.

“Obviously, I’m going to audition.”

He smiled broadly.

++++++

Time flew by, and soon it was the day of the interview for “Story of the Moon and the Stars.”

‘Whew, I’m getting nervous for no reason.’

Jin Myeongtae, an unknown actor of ten years, tried to calm his racing heart.

Honestly, when he first saw the casting call, he thought it was ridiculous. A high school sophomore holding auditions in Daehangno? But after setting aside his prejudice and reading the script, his opinion completely changed.

‘This script is guaranteed to succeed.’

The story was clean and moving, like it was written by a genius. The most common mistake theater writers make is not understanding the unique characteristics of theater.

Because of the nature of performing directly in front of an audience, many writers include situations that don’t consider the stage environment.

But “Story of the Moon and the Stars” had none of those issues. It was a script truly made for theater.

There were several roles he could apply for, but Jin Myeongtae wanted the role of the foolish tree.

‘Or is it a baobab tree?’

Maybe the name had been changed in the adaptation.

Anyway, Jin Myeongtae walked to the audition venue, muttering lines from the script.

‘This place is really out of the way.’

That part was a bit puzzling. Usually, auditions are held in public places for publicity purposes. But “Story of the Moon and the Stars” was holding auditions in a very remote location.

‘I think this is where the building owner was trying to sell a theater cheaply not long ago.’

How did they rent this place? Just as he was wondering about that…

Jin Myeongtae stopped in his tracks.

“…What?”

The first thing he saw was three large vans.

Were vans normally present at audition sites? It was so unusual that he became curious, and then…

“Hey, are you seriously going to compete with me for a role?”

“It’s been a while. It feels like we’re back to being rookies, which is nice.”

“Oh really? You want to compete with me for the role of Jo Jongsu? Fine, fine. Let’s do it.”

Two voices, unfamiliar yet familiar, were heard in succession.

“…?”

Is it right that these voices are coming from here?

Jin Myeongtae continued walking step by step with doubt in his mind.

Finally, the moment he entered the place where the voices were coming from.

“Huh!”

He was so surprised that a literal “huh” escaped his mouth.

“S-S-S-Seo Jinwoo a-actor and… H-Han Taegeon… actor?!”

On one side was the lead from “Swordsman Baek Dong-soo,” which had achieved 30% viewership ratings.

On the other was the lead from the 10-million-viewer film “Endless Frontline.”

Either one of them alone would cause a sensation, so why were these incredible actors here?

While he was in shock…

“Oh, you’re here for the audition. Nice to meet you, I’m Kim Yuryeon.”

“K-K-K-Kim Yuryeon actress?!??!”

The actress once called the queen of television stepped elegantly out of the van.

What’s going on? Did I come to the wrong place? Is this actually somewhere else?

Jin Myeongtae hurriedly checked the address, too shocked to even try calming himself.

‘This is the right place…’

Why are such famous actors at the audition site for “Story of the Moon and the Stars”?

If there was an error, where was it?

There were too many things to question.

But then…

“…Are you all really here for the audition?”

As if there was still more to be shocked about.

Another figure caught Jin Myeongtae’s eye.

“You know this is a play being performed in Daehangno, right?”

Someone who perfectly voiced the questions Jin Myeongtae had.

But he didn’t feel any sense of camaraderie.

‘T-the lead role, t-t-the reason the lead role was already decided…!’

Now he didn’t even have the strength to express his shock out loud.

The star of a show with 40% ratings.

The one with the title of “Nation’s Prince,”

The undisputed rising next-generation actor.

The one who swept all the rookie awards at the year-end ceremonies held by the three major networks.

The one people say has the best looks alive today, a living sculpture.

“Kim Donghu…uh, uhhh….”

He no longer had the strength to continue speaking.

Jin Myeongtae staggered, and just as he was about to collapse…

“Haha, you’re still young, but your legs are this weak? That’s no good.”

Someone supported Jin Myeongtae’s body.

“T-thank…?”

Jin Myeongtae belatedly raised his head to express his gratitude.

“J-Jang Geonho a-actorrrrr….”

And promptly dropped his head again.

For a 10-year unknown actor,

This environment was too harsh to maintain consciousness.

+++++

“Haha, the young man fainted from shock.”

“….”

Of course he fainted.

‘I’d faint too if I were him.’

I scratched my head, wondering how the situation had become like this.

‘What’s with this lineup?’

Looking at the members, it was like an elite special forces unit of actors assembled to target ratings.

“…Are you all really here for the audition?”

I asked with disbelief.

“Of course, I’ve been waiting for the day I could act with you for so long.”

Seeing everyone nodding at Actor Jang Geonho’s words, I rubbed my face dry.

“I’m really, really sorry, but I can’t match your usual fees.”

A roundabout refusal.

I had an ominous feeling that things were getting too big.

I gathered all those feelings and spoke, but…

“We’re not here for the money. We’re the ones who came to audition, so just make it comfortable for yourself.”

Seeing everyone nodding at Actor Han Taegeon’s words, I rubbed my face dry again.

“You know that the first performance isn’t… it’s not for the general public, right?”

“We know all that. Do you think we wouldn’t know even that much?”

Again.

Everyone nodded at Actor Seo Jinwoo’s words.

‘This has gotten way too big.’

I had just wanted to put on a performance in Daehangno,

To see how amazing A-class theater could be, and why Sims had recommended this.

‘Is this why he recommended it?’

Did Sims foresee this future?

It was too grand a picture.

A picture so excessively large that it would tear the canvas.

‘These aren’t actors for a Daehangno performance.’

But what’s even more funny and sad is that these people were all the audition participants.

The audition posting had a whopping 23 views.

In a way, even this many people showing up was impressive.

The issue wasn’t quantity but quality.

‘Is this a scene that Senior Bong Jinwoo should see?’

Wouldn’t he faint?

Why do these ominous predictions always come true?

Indeed.

“What’s all the commotion outside? Why is it so noisy….”

As soon as Bong Jinwoo came outside, he witnessed an impossible scene.

“Ah, the director is here.”

As soon as he saw Jang Geonho laughing casually and speaking…

“Huuuuuh….”

He immediately lost his senses and collapsed face-first onto the ground.

“…Seniors, how about we take some time to talk?”

Seeing this, I strongly felt the need for a strategy meeting.

+++++

Why “The Little Prince”?

Why did they have to adapt the story of The Little Prince?

To that question, Bong Jinwoo answered:

“Because it’s our story.”

Like being born in a remote place.

Being dropped off at an orphanage and not receiving what they should have at a young age.

Not experiencing what they should have during childhood.

That’s why we’re still young,

And despite having much to learn, we remain on our small planet.

“This is a play to… plant dreams.”

That’s what “Story of the Moon and the Stars” is for.

It’s a story about living without being crushed by reality,

A story from the orphanage.

That’s why he wanted it to succeed.

That’s why he had rudely clung to Kim Donghu.

“So, without fail—”

Just as he was about to continue, his vision became blurry.

Flash!

He opened his eyes.

‘I was just passed out.’

Why did that happen? Maybe because he’d only been sleeping about 4 hours a day.

What could be the problem?

As he was thinking this,

Light entered through his half-open eyes, and his vision cleared again.

He seemed to have witnessed an impossible scene before fainting.

“Oh, our director and writer is awake!”

A familiar voice was heard.

A voice he often heard through screens.

“…?”

Bong Jinwoo was speechless at the scene before him.

Han Taegeon, Seo Jinwoo, Kim Yuryeon, Jang Geonho, Kim Sujin, Kim Donghu.

Actors who would make headlines just by being in the same place were all looking at him.

And then came Actor Seo Jinwoo’s shocking words:

“When do we start the audition?”

I’m supposed to audition and evaluate these people?

‘Me?’

Bong Jinwoo lost consciousness again.

It was too harsh a trial for a high school sophomore.