Godsent Top Star [EN]: Chapter 29

29. First Acting (1)

November 29, 2021

“Anyway, that’s how the Grim Reaper is portrayed in this play. As the story unfolds, he awakens human emotions and creates tension between the female and male leads. I guarantee viewers will inevitably fall in love with the Grim Reaper character. How can you not love a character who is endlessly clumsy but slowly learns, like a baby taking its first steps? That’s why you’re perfect, Yeon-woo!”

“I don’t really agree with that.”

“…Then just try a camera test, even if you feel like you’re being tricked! I have very high standards, you know? Actually, I’m pushing this because I see potential in you, Yeon-woo, but if you can’t do it, I can’t use you for the role no matter how much I like you. So, just try it once, even if you feel like you’re being tricked.”

Min’s bulldozer-like drive made everyone curious, and they peeked their heads out to look at us.

“Are you going for a camera test?”

Before I knew it, Kwon Seong-hyun had come over and was looking back and forth between Yeon-woo and Min with an interesting expression.

“Kwon Seong-hyun, please talk her out of it. I’ve never acted before, and suddenly…”

“Why don’t you give it a try?”

Oh, Brutus, even you?

“It’s not like you’re losing anything, right?”

His smiling face is truly refreshing.

“I was worried about Yeon-woo being separated. Because I can’t pay attention to Yeon-woo while I’m filming. And, wouldn’t it be fun to act together?”

-Ting!

Sure enough, an alert popped up above Kwon Seong-hyun’s head.

[Harvestable lifespan: +30 days]

As expected of a top actor, Kwon Seong-hyun’s generosity was truly great. Look at that spirit of throwing out 30 days of lifespan in one go!

‘Acting, huh.’

It’s an unexpected scenario. I stepped into this world, but only as an observer. I never thought I would stand in front of the camera myself.

“Well, I understand.”

Yeon-woo nodded.

‘I’m definitely not accepting this because I’m greedy for lifespan. It’s purely because I’m worried that Kwon Seong-hyun’s work will fail and he’ll receive penalties.’

Anyway, those people will give up after seeing me once.

I have no acting experience, and I’m really just an ordinary person.

‘I don’t know what they believe in to be so sure, but it will change after they see me.’

It’s wiser to show them once and end it than to argue.

Isn’t there a saying that seeing is believing?

“Prepare the camera and microphone! We don’t need everything for the camera, just move the main one since it’s a test! Don’t forget the lighting either!”

Director Heo, who immediately got up, called the youngest staff member of the filming team to set up the camera.

Writer Min also approached with sparkling eyes and asked,

“How much do you know about the content?”

“I know most of it.”

“Huh? You know everything?”

“Yes.”

“Oh my.”

Why is she so surprised?

“Writer, Yeon-woo not only knows the content but probably has all the lines memorized.”

“Is that true, Yeon-woo?”

“Well… yes.”

“No, how can you do that?”

“…?”

How can I do it? What am I supposed to do when I just read it and it gets memorized?

‘It’s the harm of all kinds of rote learning I received since I was young.’

Commonly known as a shaman. In other words, becoming a shaman requires a lot of study.

It’s not the end just by receiving the ‘god’.

At least, Yeon-woo’s mother, Kang Yeon-hwa, insisted so.

-In order to serve the gods, you must first learn how to purify your body and mind. In order to use the power given by the gods correctly, you must also learn the correct way to use it.

Saying that, Kang threw a book of Thousand Character Classic [a classic Chinese text used for teaching Chinese characters to children] at young Yeon-woo.

-First, memorize all of this. It is the most basic foundation for spells and talismans. When your power becomes stronger, you will be able to use power without using letters, but not yet, so memorize that first. There will be a test. If you get it wrong, I’ll deduct 100 won from your allowance for each one.

That wasn’t the only thing.

-In order to inherit the spirit and soul of our ancestors, the teachings of the ancient sages are also important. So you must memorize all of these.

Kang gave not only the Thousand Character Classic but also the Elementary Learning and the Classic of Filial Piety. Moreover, that wasn’t the end.

She threw a pile of books, starting with the Great Learning, as well as the Analects, Mencius, the Doctrine of the Mean, the Book of Poetry, the Book of Documents, and the Book of Changes.

-Learning should be learned widely. Since knowledge is power, you should learn the teachings of other religions as well. Truth is communicated through extremes, so it will be helpful to learn it.

Several Buddhist scriptures and a thick Bible were a bonus.

-Of course, there will be a test on this too. If you get it wrong, your allowance will be cut.

At that time, Yeon-woo was unknowingly giving advice to the guests who came to Kang’s shrine and fulfilling small personal desires.

After being caught, Kang became angry and blocked all routes of obtaining money.

The only thing allowed was an allowance of 4,000 won a month.

Since his allowance was at stake, Yeon-woo had no choice but to grit his teeth and memorize it.

In other words, it was a survival skill.

‘So, I got good at memorizing things quickly… Well, I’ve forgotten everything I learned back then now.’

Anyway, the important thing is this.

Stories like drama scripts can be easily memorized.

“Oh, but I’m going to add some lines to the Grim Reaper, can you memorize that right away too?”

Writer Min, who was shining her eyes, handed Yeon-woo a script that seemed to have been newly printed.

“There have been major revisions overall. I just kept getting inspiration when I thought of Yeon-woo… The role has also increased a bit. But the lines have increased that much, is that okay?”

After checking, it could be seen that the appearance of the Grim Reaper, which had been greatly reduced, had been added, as Writer Min said.

“Can we try scene 7 once?”

Scene 7 was the scene where the Grim Reaper comes to find the female lead.

The Grim Reaper, who has been tracing the traces to correct the errors in the underworld, finally finds the female lead.

He is about to drag the female lead back, but the male lead appears and stops him.

‘It’s the scene where Kim Tae-hoon and the Grim Reaper clash for the first time…’

It is a part where Kim Tae-hoon, who is gradually developing feelings for So Yeo-jin, and the Grim Reaper, who is trying to complete his mission, sharply confront each other and cause conflict.

‘It was also the scene that Lee Deok-chun ruined.’

It was a part where the charisma of the cold and ice-like Grim Reaper had to live up to Kim Tae-hoon, who showed a fierce and sharp presence.

-Y.o.u. D.a.r.e. T.o. I.n.t.e.r.f.e.r.e.e.e.e!

Thanks to Lee Deok-chun, who showed off his skills worse than reading a textbook, the Grim Reaper had to disappear while only shooting his eyes passionately.

According to rumors, Writer Min cursed Lee Deok-chun so much that she overturned that part.

However, the newly received revised version had a greatly increased portion.

“As you can see, it’s a bit different from before. The amount has increased a bit… But since we’re just looking at the feeling, you don’t have to memorize it all right now. The content hasn’t changed much, so just match the nuance to some extent…”

“It’s okay.”

“Huh?”

“I’ve memorized it all.”

Writer Min’s eyes widened.

“You’ve memorized it all? Already?”

“Yes. I think the other parts are the same, so I just need to look at the newly added parts, right?”

“That’s because the added part is not small. Have you really memorized it all?”

“Yes, well…”

“Writer Min, can’t you tell if you do it yourself?”

Director Heo, who was watching the situation and exclaiming with incomprehensible admiration, slipped in.

“Ah, that’s a good idea. Yeon-woo, is it possible right away? If you need time to catch the emotion…”

“I don’t think there’s any need for that.”

“Really?”

“I told you, Writer. Yeon-woo, she’s not ordinary.”

Kwon Seong-hyun, who was watching, also joined the conversation.

“Yeon-woo’s partner, can I do it?”

“Seong-hyun? Directly for the camera test?”

“If Yeon-woo does it, I’ll be working with her anyway. Just think of it as practicing in advance.”

“I’d be happy to…”

“Thank you for allowing me.”

Kwon Seong-hyun, who smiled brightly, strode over.

“Are you all ready?”

“Yes.”

“Then let’s go from scene 7 as instructed by the writer.”

Kwon Seong-hyun stood opposite Yeon-woo to create a scene where the two beings face each other for the first time and lead to conflict.

“Okay, then!”

Clap!

Instead of a slate, Writer Min clapped her hands.

“You, what are you?”

Min Seong-hyun, who was smiling brightly, had already become Kim Tae-hoon, a third-generation chaebol [a wealthy business owner from a family-run conglomerate].

Kim Tae-hoon, who was arrogant, knew no defeat, and had always enjoyed a successful life.

He could see souls, but it didn’t shake his solid mentality.

But only one thing. So Yeo-jin was different.

Naturally, hostility arose towards the person who was trying to take So Yeo-jin away.

“Then what are you?”

A cool voice with no inflection leaked out gloomily in response to Kim Tae-hoon’s question.

With his outstretched arm still grabbed, only his eyes turned to stare at Kim Tae-hoon.

“What are you that you can see me, grab me?”

Extremely emotionless, inorganic eyes.

“I think I’ve seen quite a few ghosts so far, but you’re unique. You’re fine even if I catch you. Do you have any status?”

“That’s none of your business.”

However, it didn’t take long for the Grim Reaper’s emotions, which seemed to be almost non-existent, to awaken like a white flame.

“That remains to be seen. That woman is my woman, so I can’t let you touch her carelessly.”

The corner of Kim Tae-hoon’s lips went up.

The Grim Reaper’s brow twitched slightly as he watched it.

It seems that the coolness, like a winter ice rink, is cracking little by little.

“How dare a lowly human interfere with the work of the underworld…?”

A low tone.

However, the contempt and disdain contained within were very well felt.

How dare you.

The lips that moved slightly as if mocking revealed how ridiculous Kim Tae-hoon was.

“Since you seem to have some talent, I’ll let you off once. If you interfere with the work of the underworld carelessly, you will only hasten your death.”

“I think you have a tendency to understand easy words in a difficult way. Didn’t you hear me? Don’t touch my woman.”

Kim Tae-hoon growled.

“Ha.”

Suddenly, the Grim Reaper burst into a short laugh.

It was a dry laugh with no expression.

The absurdity was clearly visible in that extremely restrained short laugh.

The Grim Reaper, who had regained his composure and returned to his expressionless face, easily shook off Kim Tae-hoon’s arm.

Swoosh.

Only the eyes that turned silently brushed past Kim Tae-hoon.

However.

“…I told you. I won’t let you take her.”

Kim Tae-hoon’s lips twisted into a ferocious smile.

As he waved his hand, the Grim Reaper’s steps toward So Yeo-jin stopped.

Because the target that was clearly visible disappeared in an instant.

“You, you dare… interfere?”

The Grim Reaper’s head turns slowly.

As if he had never been calm, a white flame blazed in the Grim Reaper’s eyes.

“Are you confident that you can handle the karma for interfering with the work of the underworld? I don’t know if you’re ready to burn your body in the fires of hell. If I find your name in the register, you will no longer exist in this world. But you still dare to interfere with me?”

“You talk too much. What does it matter to you that I protect my woman?”

If eyes could kill, Kim Tae-hoon would have been hacked to pieces hundreds of times.

That’s how cold and fierce the Grim Reaper’s anger was.

The noble pride controls the expression of emotions, but the unpleasantness of being disturbed by a trivial being stands out through it.

That subtle emotional tension is also a device that further highlights the supernatural existence of the Grim Reaper.

“Don’t just threaten me and find it yourself. Can’t the great Grim Reaper even find that? To be bound by the skill of a mere human being. Isn’t it actually nothing?”

“This is the last time you’ll be using your petty tricks. I don’t know what trick you used, but you will definitely regret your choice. The laws of the underworld are extremely strict. You will surely pay the price.”

“This is exciting? Why don’t you try it.”

It was a moment when the pride of the two beings collided fiercely.

No one made a loud noise, but the fierceness was sufficiently evident only through subtle changes in expression, speed of speech, tone, and eyes.

It was quiet, but the knives that went back and forth in it were extremely sharp.

And.

“Cut!” The director’s cut sign rang out.