I was Mistaken as a Monstrous Genius Actor [EN]: Chapter 167

“Um? What did you just say, Woo-jin?”

“It’s because ‘The Vagabond’ swept everything—ratings, popularity, artistic merit, acting, you name it.”

“The actors’ performances also deserve praise, but the ratings were so high that if ‘The Vagabond’ actors aren’t nominated, viewers will riot.”

“Ugh—I hope this year ends without any controversy.”

“Agreed.”

At that moment, a man adjusting his narrow glasses interjected. He was the head of the drama department.

“About the Best New Actor award. It’s tricky to split it this year.”

“Ah—is it because of Kang Woo-jin?”

“That’s right. The other new actor nominees are just too far behind Kang Woo-jin.”

“Hmm, I guess so.”

Several people agreed. Every year, the Best New Actor award at the awards ceremony has been given to multiple newcomers. At least four, including both men and women. But this year, Kang Woo-jin’s dominance was too strong. If there’s a significant gap between actors in the same Best New Actor category, it’s bound to cause controversy.

It was clear, given the data accumulated over the years.

“Then, we should go with a solo Best New Actor award this year.”

“Instead, we should move the actors who would normally be in the Best New Actor category to other awards, like the Scene Stealer Award.”

“Well, everyone was good, it’s just that Kang Woo-jin is too overwhelming.”

At that moment, a middle-aged woman interjected.

“Best New Actor—but isn’t it a bit weak to only put Kang Woo-jin in the Best New Actor category?”

Meanwhile, at BW Entertainment.

Every team was in a frenzy. The PR team was in a heated meeting, and other teams were busy answering phones or pounding on laptops. They only had two actors, but their influence was immense.

Especially Kang Woo-jin.

Moreover, because of the rumors of Kang Woo-jin’s one-year contract, the in-house phones at BW Entertainment had no time to rest.

-♬♪

They were ringing like crazy. Among the dozens of employees, a male employee from the management team picked up a transparent file he had just organized and stood up. His destination was the management team leader.

“Team Leader, this is the summary of Woo-jin’s awards ceremony schedule for this year, as you requested. I gave you Hye-yeon’s yesterday.”

“Ah, okay. So far, where has Woo-jin been invited?”

“As expected, he’s been invited to the Blue Dragon, Grand Bell, and all three major broadcasting stations. The award nominations are only confirmed for the film festivals.”

The team leader nodded and opened the transparent file. There were many words written on the contents, but the core was two things.

-From the Blue Dragon Film Festival Organizing Committee. (Final/Kang Woo-jin included in nominations)

-Best New Actor Nominee (Drug Dealer/Kang Woo-jin)

-Popular Star Award Nominee (Kang Woo-jin)

This was the value of Kang Woo-jin as determined by the Blue Dragon and Grand Bell Film Festivals.

-From the Grand Bell Film Festival Organizing Committee, we are sending the confirmed nominations (Kang Woo-jin).

-Best New Actor Nominee (Drug Dealer, Kang Woo-jin)

-New Wave Award Nominee (Kang Woo-jin)

Soon, the management team leader, who was looking down at the transparent file, was dumbfounded.

“Is this really for a first-year actor? I’ve never seen anything like this.”

A look of disbelief spread across his face.

“Is this even possible in the first year of debut?”

Later that day, late afternoon, back in Buyeo.

Even though the sun was setting, the heat at the large set of ‘Island of the Lost’ was still intense. Director Kwon Ki-taek and the hundred or so staff members were fully immersed in filming, and the actors were giving equally passionate performances. The only saving grace was that the hot weather had cooled down a bit.

Thanks to that, wearing the stuffy military uniform was somewhat bearable.

Anyway, a man in military uniform approached a familiar van among the many cars parked in the outside parking lot. It was Kang Woo-jin, cracking his neck from side to side, feeling stiff.

“Hoo-”

He let out a small breath, opened the car door, and got into the van. He had been given about an hour of break after filming non-stop. If the wait was longer than 30 minutes, it was too much to wait at the filming site. Therefore, Kang Woo-jin had come to the car to rest, and this was a familiar sight for him.

Soon.

-Swish.

Kang Woo-jin leaned back in his seat and slowly crossed his legs. What was unusual was.

‘Not bad, actually. Has my stamina really improved?’

Even after filming all day, Kang Woo-jin’s condition seemed quite good. Clearly, compared to his past self, he was excessively energetic. Well, with repeated filming and acting, his actual stamina must have improved, not just his concept. After coming to a reasonable conclusion, Woo-jin checked his phone.

“I’ve got a lot of messages.”

Missed calls, texts, and chat messages. There were dozens of accumulated messages from the shoot. The senders were diverse. Of course, there were several entertainment companies, and also friends, including his best buddies. Among them, Kang Woo-jin stopped at a message from his mother.

-Mom: Woo-jin, when did you say you were going to Japan?

Woo-jin, recalling the script reading for ‘Strange Geisha,’ replied to his mother and then turned his gaze to the several books piled up on the right seat. Of course, they were scripts and screenplays. Since he still had energy left, he thought he should do something and moved his hand.

He could have looked at ‘Leech,’ but what Kang Woo-jin picked up now was the ‘Strange Geisha’ screenplay.

He had already finished reading it several times and had also done a reading (experience), but repetition was necessary. It made it more vivid. Since the script reading was soon, it would be good to review it. With that, Kang Woo-jin opened the ‘Strange Geisha’ screenplay.

It was all in Japanese.

He had also received a screenplay translated into Korean, but Kang Woo-jin insisted on the original screenplay. To understand the writer’s and director’s intentions clearly, it was right to familiarize himself with the original text.

‘Comparing it with the translated version, the differences are definitely visible.’

In fact, it didn’t matter which version Kang Woo-jin used, as he already had native-level Japanese. Soon, Kang Woo-jin focused and began reading the screenplay.

-Flip, flip.

‘Strange Sacrifice of a Stranger’ by Japan’s super-popular writer, Takikawa Akari, is a revenge story. Of course, the movie screenplay adapted by Director Kyotaro is the same. However, the intensity of revenge was missing. It was not passionate.

A composed, quiet, and sorrowful revenge. But there is clearly no mercy. A relentless, stark cruelty stands out. Leading this was the role of ‘Iyota Kiyoshi,’ played by Kang Woo-jin. ‘Iyota Kiyoshi’ was a Korean-Japanese.

This setting was different from the original work.

A change in setting as it moved to film. However, it fit well since a Korean actor was playing ‘Iyota Kiyoshi.’ It was all intentional, so it was natural. The beginning of ‘Strange Geisha’ started with ‘Ijime’ [bullying] at a high school. A disgusting problem that has not been eradicated in Korea or Japan, from the past to the present.

The victim of that ‘Ijime’ was ‘Iyota Kiyoshi.’

It started with something very simple. Just because Kiyoshi was gloomy or had an unpleasant face. Very trivial reasons grew, and as a result, Kiyoshi became an outcast in the entire school, even being called a ‘Korean-Japanese.’

But Kiyoshi didn’t care.

Even when Kiyoshi’s desk disappeared, or his shoe locker was filled with trash, or he was suddenly assaulted, or his gym clothes and school uniform disappeared, or milk cartons from the store were thrown at him, or his money was stolen.

No matter what kind of bullying he faced, there was no reaction.

Not even a hint of agitation.

There was no expression, emotion, thought, or pain on his face. There was nothing on Kiyoshi’s face. He was like a broken robot.

Such a reaction from Kiyoshi fueled the bullying even more.

At school, Kiyoshi was treated like livestock. Nevertheless, that livestock, Kiyoshi, just kept his mouth shut and lived. He attended school without missing a day. The villains slowly began to enjoy the bullying. It became more severe.

At this point, a female student, unable to bear it any longer, appeared.

Her name was ‘Misaki Toka.’ Toka was a transfer student, and after seeing the atmosphere of the school, she, with what courage, shielded Kiyoshi. She spoke confidently to everyone. To stop. And then she asked Kiyoshi if he was okay. It was the first time Kiyoshi had ever heard such words.

Why? Why is that woman protecting me?

Kiyoshi was still indifferent, but he became interested in Toka. It wasn’t something romantic. It was closer to respect as a human being. He observed and watched her. Fortunately, her appearance temporarily stopped the bullying against Kiyoshi.

Thanks to that, Kiyoshi was able to spend time with Toka.

They ate lunch together and talked. She saw people as people. When he was with Toka, Kiyoshi felt a cool breeze blowing through his desolate heart.

But that time did not last long.

The bullying hadn’t stopped. Without Kiyoshi knowing, the target had changed to Toka. Kiyoshi realized this when she didn’t come to school for several days. When she came back to school, there was a scar on her face.

However, Toka was not as indifferent as Kiyoshi.

Unfortunately, Kiyoshi was also the one who saw her end. Of course, Kang Woo-jin experienced Toka’s end vividly with his own eyes, not just through text.

-[7/Scenario (Title: Strange Sacrifice of a Stranger), S+ Grade]

-[*This is a very high-quality movie scenario. 100% reading is possible.]

Becoming the protagonist, Kiyoshi.

[“‘A: Iyota Kiyoshi’ reading in progress······”]

[“······Preparation complete. This is a very high-quality script or scenario. The implementation rate is 100%. Starting the reading.”]

Kang Woo-jin’s gaze was shared with ‘Iyota Kiyoshi.’ Something ambiguous, neither cold nor hot, spread. His heart was parched. His feelings were like an endless desert. Nevertheless, the wind brushing his cheeks and the sunlight shining down were warm.

Cherry blossoms were scattering in the distance.

-Saa.

Is it spring? Kang Woo-jin’s, Kiyoshi’s, empty eyes moved. Woo-jin was standing on the school rooftop. And in front of him, a woman with a school uniform skirt fluttering on the railing was visible. Short hair and of average height.

It was ‘Misaki Toka.’

She was sitting on the precarious rooftop railing, staring somewhere straight ahead. It was dangerous. But Kang Woo-jin didn’t move. He just looked at Toka’s back with a stiff face. At the same time, he noticed her school uniform top. Why the buttons were undone, why there was so much dust on it, why her injuries had increased.

At that moment.

“Kiyoshi.”

Toka, who had been looking straight ahead, turned her head and spoke to Kiyoshi. A gentle but detached face.

“I don’t regret meeting you.”

Kang Woo-jin, who had been in the same position since earlier, replied in an emotionless tone.

“It’s time for lunch.”

But Toka, who showed no sign of getting off the railing, smiled at Woo-jin.

She disappeared.

However.

“······”

Kang Woo-jin’s face remained expressionless. He just stared endlessly at the railing where no one was now. There was no excitement, and even his breathing was steady.

And then.

-Swish.

Standing still, he folded his right-hand fingers one by one. He quietly recited names. One person, two people, three people······ It was like making a list. It was then.

-Thud!

Someone ran up to the rooftop. It was a male student with a pointy face. One included in the list he had just been making. Then, he checked the state of the rooftop and asked Kiyoshi, who was standing next to him.

“Did you see it?”

“Yeah.”

“Heh heh, I should have come sooner.”

The smiling male student strode over and leaned his belly against the railing where Toka had been just a moment ago. Then he glanced down.

“He- amazing, how can you from such a high place! Aaaah!!!”

In an instant, the male student let out a strange scream and disappeared over the railing. A scream was heard again from below. Kang Woo-jin, who had done it, slowly left the rooftop with an expressionless face. On the stairs, he gave a belated answer to Toka.

“I do regret it.”

Soon, Kang Woo-jin folded his right thumb among his ten fingers and quietly murmured. It was an indifferent tone.

“First, one person.”