An Actor Who Has Lived For 10,000 Years [EN]: Chapter 2

The Actor Who Lived for 10,000 Years (2)

Episode 2 #1 – Camera Shyness (2)

Taptaptap.

Numerous horses visible in the distance.

Countless enemies riding those horses.

The view blurred by the sandstorm whipped up as the enemies rapidly approached.

“Protect His Highness! Your Highness, you must escape quickly!”

The approaching enemies collided with our soldiers in an instant.

Clang.

Clang.

Both enemies and allies fell, splattering blood, gradually closing in on His Highness, whom I was guarding.

“Your Highness! You must leave this place. Quickly! Leave this to us…”

He shouted with a firm expression at me, who spoke with murderous intent.

“You must come with me.”

“But Your Highness…!”

Someone was needed to protect him.

Protecting this country and the Crown Prince were both my duty and my responsibility.

I had to fight with my life and protect His Highness at all costs.

Something hot surged from deep within my chest.

I gave my life for the country.

I had to protect everything.

The screams and shouts around me gradually faded from my ears.

Then, when I came to my senses, all the sounds suddenly became clear.

“Argh!”

I drew my long sword and severed the enemy’s breath in one swift motion as he approached His Highness.

I shouted, continuously swinging my sword.

“Quickly, you must move quickly!”

At that moment, my vision suddenly began to blur.

Poof.

Before I knew it, my eyes snapped open.

And in front of me, I saw the ceiling of my room and the pure white wallpaper that I always saw.

What is this?

Is it a dream?

“Haa, haa.”

I blinked my eyes repeatedly, panting for breath.

And then I felt a damp sensation.

I wiped the sweat flowing down my cheeks.

My whole body was soaked in sweat, and my pillow and blanket were all damp because of it.

I squeezed my eyes shut while lying down.

Momentarily, memories flashed through my mind.

That moment when every small cell in my body was tense.

The beads of sweat flowing hotly down my spine.

The dark red drops of blood that splattered on my face.

And the tears I shed as I watched the enemy take the lives of my comrades and allies before my eyes.

Every memory flashed vividly, giving me goosebumps all over my body that I couldn’t calm down.

Each and every scene from that time, and all the memories and feelings.

The life of a soldier I saw in my dream.

The 10 years of that soldier’s life flashed through my mind like a panorama.

It wasn’t just the memory of that brief moment of protecting the Crown Prince that I saw in my dream.

Memories spanning a full 10 years.

The life as a soldier.

Happy memories, sad memories, all the unspeakable memories from that long period came to mind.

The entirety of that 10-year life was precisely etched in my mind.

The dream I had just had was also indescribably vivid.

What is this?

How can a dream be so vivid?

It felt like the sensation of swinging a sword was still in my hands.

Moreover, why can I recall scenes that I didn’t even dream about so vividly?

I’ve never had a dream like this before….

What kind of dream did I have?

I shook my head violently and looked at the pure white ceiling once more.

And then another stream of sweat flowed.

My heart began to pound like crazy.

And I slowly turned my head to look at the clock on the wall.

Damn it…!

I’m late!

I quickly jumped out of bed and hurriedly put on the hoodie and jeans hanging on the back of the chair.

***

Beep.

“That’ll be 3,800 won [approximately $3 USD]. Do you need a bag?”

“Yes, please.”

I pulled out a bag with the convenience store logo emblazoned on it and put my items in it.

“Here’s my card. Thank you.”

“Yes. Have a nice day.”

The customer left, and I was alone in the convenience store.

Making sure that there were definitely no customers, I peeked my head out and looked around.

Sometimes, thinking no one was around, I would sing along to the music playing.

Once, while I was engrossed in singing, a customer who had been browsing the snack shelves suddenly stood up and awkwardly applauded.

Since then, I always check carefully.

It’s embarrassing for both of us if we run into each other.

After confirming that no one was around, I cleared my throat loudly.

“Ahem!”

Then, I quickly put strength into my eyebrows and opened my mouth.

“The enemies targeting the Princess are… Aaa, aeiou.”

I loosened my mouth once more and shouted in a majestic voice.

“The enemies targeting the Princess are increasing.”

The other person’s lines are also my responsibility when practicing.

“Are you certain?”

Playing two roles, I quickly changed my expression.

“Yes. I don’t know how much longer this place will be safe. You must move your residence immediately.”

What is this?

It feels like I’m more immersed today than usual?

This convenience store has always been my main practice room.

A small studio apartment of only 5 pyeong [approximately 180 square feet] could hardly be soundproof.

Once, while I was practicing my lines, someone shouted at the wall, ‘Be quiet, you bastard! Let me sleep!’

It was no different from a cramped boarding house with walls right next to each other.

After that, I could only quietly recite my lines at home; I couldn’t immerse myself and practice loudly.

Of course, it’s not like I’ve ever had so many roles that I had to practice lines all day long.

So, at some point, the convenience store became my means of earning money and my practice room.

That’s not to say I ever neglected my convenience store job.

I practiced my lines while filling empty shelves with goods, and I practiced my expressions while looking at my face reflected in the beverage display.

And even practicing my movements while moving around to clean.

Once I started thinking of this place as my practice room, I had to quickly immerse myself and practice during the brief moments when there were no customers.

As a result, I’ve become somewhat skilled at quickly immersing myself, wouldn’t you say?

But today, I feel particularly more immersed.

The Princess and the bodyguard.

Even though I’m playing both roles, it’s only natural that I’m more immersed in the bodyguard role, which is a male role.

But it wasn’t just because it was a male role that I felt so drawn into the character.

I can’t just stay still on days like this.

I jumped up from my seat and grabbed the mop that was leaning against the pillar next to the beverage display.

“Certainly…! That will be the case.”

After reciting the next line, I began to thrust the mop I was holding into the air, using it as a sword.

What I was holding was a blue plastic mop, but in my imagination, it felt like a very large and heavy long sword.

“Let’s try again!”

I readjusted my posture and quickly immersed myself.

“The enemies targeting the Princess are increasing…. Certainly…! That will be the case!”

Four short lines.

Because I always mess up my lines as if I’m cutting them off when the camera rolls, I have to practice these four short lines until they come out automatically.

I raised and lowered my shoulders, took even breaths, and then opened my mouth again.

“The enemies targeting the Princess are….”

During several repetitions, I never lost my immersion.

No, rather, the more I practiced, the deeper I fell into the role.

Something really feels strange today?

“Certainly, that will be the case.”

I thrust the plastic mop forward.

“Huh?”

“Oh! I’m sorry!”

“Pfft, it’s okay.”

Damn it.

I was so immersed that I didn’t even hear the sound of the door chime when a customer came in.

The customer, startled by the sword I swung, no, the mop, burst into laughter at my apology.

And then, without realizing it, my face turned red.

I felt so embarrassed that I wanted to find a mouse hole to hide in.

***

Endlessly sitting people.

These are the people participating in today’s audition.

There were people who came to audition for the same role as me, but there were also people who came to audition for other roles, so the line was endless.

And as always, this waiting line was a mess.

“Do you really want to die?”

“Please spare me. If you spare my life, I will do whatever it takes….”

“Argh!”

Everyone was practicing the lines of the role they were auditioning for, creating a chaotic atmosphere.

I quickly shook my head and immersed myself in practicing my role.

“The enemies targeting the Princess are….”

Today, just like when I was practicing at the convenience store, the lines flowed out smoothly.

“Wow, you’re really good.”

“Excuse me?”

A man approached me and spoke with his mouth open.

A clean, completely slicked-back hairstyle that revealed his forehead.

And thick eyebrows visible below that forehead.

Thanks to his strong features, the man’s first impression caught my eye.

“Your acting! You’re really good. I think you’ll get the part in today’s audition?”

“Ah…. Thank you.”

“I hope we both get the part and meet on set. Haha.”

He admired me and, with those words, returned to his seat.

He must have come to audition today too.

As soon as he sat down, he began to recite the lines of the role he had prepared.

These four lines.

I know it too.

Beyond perfect memorization, I was more immersed and acted better than anyone else.

I’ve always done well in auditions.

Enough to pass most auditions.

But the reason why I’m still stuck in minor roles, not even supporting roles.

It’s because of the camera.

A pounding heart and a blank mind whenever I see a camera, the so-called ‘camera shyness’.

It may seem absurd for an actor to have camera shyness, but that’s me.

In auditions for minor roles like me, not to mention leading or supporting roles, there are often cases where they proceed in a rough and ready manner without a camera.

Thanks to that, I was able to receive satisfactory evaluations and hear back that I had passed and should come to the set.

But the moment I saw the camera on set, I couldn’t perfectly deliver even a few lines, no, not even one line.

I heard that the only way to get rid of camera shyness was to get used to it. But no matter how many times I saw the camera, I couldn’t get used to that camera, that set.

But what else could I do but try.

“Ha.”

I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and calmed my mind.

But every time I repeated the lines, I felt something boiling deep inside my chest.

That dream I had a few days ago, so vivid.

Every scene, every scene was so vivid that the emotions were still raging in my heart.

I quietly closed my eyes, imagined the scene, and recited the lines one more time.

And I was sure.

The moment I was enveloped in the conviction that today’s audition would be strangely better than usual, my heart began to pound.

Yes, I have a good feeling about this one!

“Number 37! Number 37, please come in.”

The noisy waiting room became as quiet as a mouse when the voice calling out was heard.

And everyone looked around as if looking for number 37.

“Yes! I’m coming.”

I fidgeted with the paper with ’37’ written on it that was pinned to my chest and got up from my seat.

With my fists clenched tightly in both hands, I strode towards the audition room, following the staff.

“You can go in here.”

“Yes, thank you.”

The staff opened the door and guided me, and I calmly took a deep breath and stepped inside.

Today is different from usual.

Putting aside my nervous and excited feelings, I stopped where it was marked on the floor with a confident expression.

Before greeting, I quickly scanned the place in front of me with my eyes.

‘Huh? What’s that.’

For a moment, my breath stopped, and my body froze.

And I fixed my gaze on one place.

That thing with the red light on, it’s a camera!

‘I thought they said there wouldn’t be a camera test today….’

The moment I saw the camera, my heart started pounding again.

Even though I had made up my mind several times before coming in, I felt like my camera shyness was coming back.

What… should I do?