I was Mistaken as a Monstrous Genius Actor [EN]: Chapter 275

Iyota Kiyoshi’s sign language. The scene was captured clearly by the camera. However, the cameraman in charge of the camera had a shocked expression.

‘······Sign language?’

Whether it was the original work of ‘The Strange Geisha’ written by Akari or the scenario adapted by Director Kyotaro, Kiyoshi’s sign language setting did not exist in either.

‘This is really unexpected? Kiyoshi knows sign language?’

For the cameraman, it was a completely unexpected scene. It defied common sense. It wasn’t just the cameraman. Everyone, all 200 or so people gathered on this vast set, felt the same way.

No one had imagined it.

That Kiyoshi would use sign language. Moreover, the sign language that Woo-jin was showing was not Korean sign language. It was clearly Japanese sign language. However, few people noticed it. They just recognized that Kiyoshi was using sign language.

Director Kyotaro, with wide eyes, looked at Kang Woo-jin standing in the set mansion, then at Iyota Kiyoshi, his expression gradually changing.

“A sense that casually overturns everyone’s normalcy-”

His shock was slowly turning into joy. A smile spread across his lips.

‘That kind of reverse-thinking interpretation… it’s only possible because of Woo-jin, who possesses absurd things. It’s a weapon, a sharp one at that.’

Director Kyotaro’s arms and neck were covered in goosebumps. And then there was Detective Mochio, or rather, Mana Kosaku, who was looking at Woo-jin head-on.

“······”

He was also speechless. He had resolved to be composed and attack Kiyoshi before starting the free acting, but from the moment he witnessed the sign language, his mind had gone blank.

On the other hand.

-Swish.

Kang Woo-jin, with a flat face, moved his hands again, exuding a clumsy aura. It was a slightly ruthless innocence.

[“As I expected, you’re flustered. It’s natural that you don’t know sign language.”]

“······Ah-”

[“Yes, I knew you were coming, Detective. I was even waiting for you. But right now, I have to pretend not to know, because that’s how I complete my homework.”]

Kiyoshi’s face was impassive, but the words he spoke in sign language were nonchalant. The surface and the dialogue were completely opposite. But he was still clearly Kiyoshi. More precisely, it was Iyota Kiyoshi acting as a ‘stranger’.

What Kang Woo-jin had pulled up through character synthesis now was.

[“This is fun. The current situation.”]

It was the ‘strange man next door’ from ‘Freezing Romance’. He added Japanese sign language to his abilities. The vessel for it was Kiyoshi. The framework of ‘The Strange Geisha’ was broken, but it maintained the foundation of Kiyoshi, and everything combined to create an enormous synergy.

[“I’m confessing, but nothing is happening. It was the same before, when that child threw herself, nothing happened.”]

The rigid thoughts of the hundred or so staff members, film company and distribution executives, began to loosen little by little.

They let out their own exclamations.

‘W, wow- sign language??’

‘I never knew Kiyoshi could do sign language- wow.’

‘I never expected to see such a twist. Today is the most surprising thing that has happened recently.’

‘······Who on this set could have predicted such a cut? No one, not a single person, would have known.’

It was as if Kang Woo-jin had hit them all in the back of the head.

“Amazing. W, we weren’t at a level to judge carelessly, were we?”

“Quiet. It’s a scene that’s enough to just watch.”

Some of the staff members opened their mouths slightly, some covered their mouths with one hand, and some didn’t even close their widened eyes.

Among them, the script staff around Director Kyotaro murmured softly.

“Sign language… what is he saying?”

Most of the staff had no idea. However, there was one person on this set who knew clearly.

Chairman Yoshimura Hideki could understand it clearly.

‘Haha, that actor is truly unpredictable. The Kiyoshi now is different on the surface and inside. He’s confessing, but he’s deceiving not only the other actor but also all 200 people here.’

Of course, it was acting within acting, but he was moved to the point of tingling.

Around this time, Detective Mochio barely regained his senses.

“W, wait a minute, Mr. Iyota Kiyoshi.”

Woo-jin, or Kiyoshi, lowered his hands and tilted his head slightly. It was a questioning gesture. At that sight, Detective Mochio, or rather, Mana Kosaku, was overwhelmed.

‘Attack? Attack what?’

Far from attacking, there was a void. Kosaku had calculated many things before the acting, but he had never imagined a void in the conversation. The silence Kiyoshi had shown earlier was 100 times better.

The flustered Detective Mochio’s appearance was vividly captured by the camera.

It was reality and acting disguised as reality.

The contrasting acting of the two actors gave the scene dynamism. The liveliness was doubled. It was free acting, but it was no different from reality, so it was natural. A strange yet stimulating cut was produced. They were talking to each other, but they weren’t connecting.

Meanwhile, Akari, who had been sitting, unknowingly stood up.

Her heart was pounding.

When Kiyoshi first showed the sign language, she almost clapped her hands. How could that actor’s thinking be so flexible?

‘Of course, it was possible because he could do sign language at a professional level.’

Akari also knew that Kang Woo-jin was good at sign language among several foreign languages. She had seen it several times in Korea and Japan. But she didn’t expect it to come out at this timing, and what was adding to her surprise now was something else.

‘How many characters are there now?’

The Kiyoshi who was using sign language was acting within acting. But those characters were clear yet blurry. He looked like Kiyoshi, but also like someone else. It was that ambiguous. How could he cross such a subtle line of acting?

‘I don’t know… it’s on a different level.’

Akari slowly turned her head to the left. Director Kyotaro, who had almost buried his face in the monitor, was visible.

‘It was the right answer, the decision to entrust this scene to the actors.’

The current scene was almost the end of the scenario. Akari imagined. The audience who had been watching Iyota Kiyoshi up to this point.

‘What would they feel when they saw the scene I’m seeing now?’

At that moment, Kang Woo-jin moved.

-Swish.

He raised his right hand and pointed to Detective Mochio’s jacket pocket. The camera filmed their side view. Soon, Mochio, with a narrowed brow, took out a notebook with a pen attached from his pocket. Then he showed it to Kiyoshi. Kiyoshi nodded.

The pen and notebook were passed to Kiyoshi.

Kiyoshi opened the end of the notebook and wrote something, then showed it to Detective Mochio.

-[I’m sorry, but we can communicate through writing. You can speak, Detective, I can understand by reading your lips. But please speak a little slowly.]

Mochio looked at Woo-jin’s face for a moment and thought. The sign language he had just seen was not something he had learned haphazardly. The brain of the top actor Kosaku was already soaked in the role of Detective Mochio.

And he was confused.

Was Kiyoshi unable to speak from the beginning?

He hadn’t heard of such a situation from his classmates. Then was he pretending? But the sign language he had just performed was beyond that of an expert. What was it? What was his identity?

Confusion.

Mochio’s tenacity began to weaken.

“······Mr. Iyota Kiyoshi, do you remember Misaki Toka?”

-[I know her, she was a classmate.]

His motivation, his suspicion, began to diminish. Anyone would feel that way after seeing such a sight. New information that could turn the tables had emerged, and it meant that Detective Mochio had to start his investigation from the beginning.

Kiyoshi, or Kang Woo-jin, knew that very well. The reason Woo-jin brought out sign language here was also for that reason.

Because Detective Mochio had to feel even more unfamiliar with Kiyoshi.

‘You must have retraced my past to find me.’

Detective Mochio had come to find Kiyoshi alone. The reason was simple. Because Kiyoshi’s past was unclear. Of course, if he looked into it, it might become clearer than it was now.

But that was all.

Kiyoshi had resolved from the moment Toka threw herself. To become a ‘stranger’ in the world. To the point where no one could remember him. He had to be shrouded in fog or a haze.

That was the reason he chose a long-term strategy.

In other words, even if he investigated, it would be faint. It would be insufficient. Moreover, people’s memories are arbitrary. They only store what they want and they are arbitrarily edited. On the other hand, the existence of Kiyoshi was not very impressive to anyone.

As a result, Kiyoshi carried out his homework when he became a perfect ‘stranger’, when the smoke screen was thick.

So, what is certain? The image of Iyota Kiyoshi that Detective Mochio is seeing now? Or the information from the classmates with their murky memories of the distant past? Or a guess that combines the two?

‘No, there is nothing certain anywhere.’

Mochio was a detective whose foundation was ‘certainty’. Conversely, Kiyoshi was fog. Kang Woo-jin had increased the confusion for Detective Mochio and the audience.

Here, the ‘sign language’ itself was not very important.

The point was ‘doubt’.

The character of Kiyoshi should not be judged by any standard. Whether it was Detective Mochio or the audience. He had to be unfamiliar and confusing from beginning to end.

And he had to be bizarre.

After all, there were no witnesses to point him out in the numerous deaths. They were all dead. There was no evidence either. Rather, Kiyoshi had delivered definitive evidence. Nevertheless, Kiyoshi had to remain a question mark until the end.

The bizarre form of a stranger was Iyota Kiyoshi.

That was Woo-jin’s own judgment.

Moreover, after all, in this world, only Kang Woo-jin had lived Iyota Kiyoshi’s world, and only he could understand it. He might be wrong. But it wasn’t bad to try, was it?

Soon.

“······”

Detective Mochio, who had opened and closed his mouth, scratched his head vigorously.

And then.

“I’m sorry.”

He took the notebook from Kiyoshi and bowed slightly.

“I’ll come again.”

Whatever he did now was disadvantageous for Detective Mochio. Maybe he even wondered if any of this was worth it. He had always had a carefree air about him.

Then, Kang Woo-jin, who nodded slowly, raised his hands again. It was sign language. Was it a final greeting?

Mochio remembered Woo-jin’s last short sign language.

“······Then. See you next time.”

Detective Mochio remembered.

Behind him.

Director Kyotaro’s ‘cut’ echoed throughout the set. Then, Director Kyotaro ran to Kang Woo-jin. It was to ask the meaning of the sign language inserted in the scene.

Kang Woo-jin, who quickly shed the scent of Kiyoshi.

“It started with ‘I’m sorry, I can’t hear what the detective is saying.’”

He recited the meaning of the sign language he had shown in a low tone to Director Kyotaro. And he also explained all the reasons for choosing sign language.

As a result.

“Let’s go with this.”

Director Kyotaro chose Kang Woo-jin’s acting. Of course, no one, including Akari, objected to this decision. It was because they wanted the audience watching ‘The Strange Geisha’ to see that twist and shock.

The entire set was already quiet.

In a situation where everyone was looking at Kang Woo-jin, Director Kyotaro asked Woo-jin again.

“Ah- what was the meaning of that last sign language?”

When Kang Woo-jin told him the meaning, Director Kyotaro paused for a moment. It was about 10 seconds. He, who had been frozen, created a scene that didn’t exist in a short moment.

“Okay, I’ll add that sign language to the pre-ending scene. Mr. Mana Kosaku, let’s talk for a moment.”

It was about adding a few more cuts of Detective Mochio before the ending of ‘The Strange Geisha’. Of course, it was a scene derived from Kang Woo-jin’s sign language.

“Hi- Action!”

After the set was roughly organized, filming continued. The cut that included sign language was repeated about 4 times, and after that, there were several more reaction calls.

Because it was such an important scene.

Around early afternoon, the set to be filmed was changed. Kang Woo-jin was also out. The set was the interior of a police station. Along with several extras, supporting actors and Mana Kosaku were the main focus.

The cut that Director Kyotaro had created on the spot. Fortunately, the police station set was already made, so there was no problem.

In the setting, about 2 weeks had passed since Detective Mochio met Kiyoshi. The whole of Japan was still noisy with the serial death cases. But the police had already closed the cases. Thanks to that, the police station where Detective Mochio was located was bustling with other cases.

There were so many cases in the world. Of course, Mochio was also assigned other cases.

Mochio, sitting in his seat, let out a long sigh.

“Ha- I’m tired, so tired.”

It was then.

“Huh?”

Mochio, who was stretching, saw a junior detective investigating a witness sitting next to him. What was interesting was that one of the witnesses was using sign language, and there was an interpreter conveying the meaning of the sign language.

In an instant.

“Ah.”

Iyota Kiyoshi, who was using sign language, flashed through Mochio’s mind. To be exact, his last sign language came to mind. Perhaps it was a final greeting. He didn’t remember anything else, only that was somewhat clear.

-Swish.

He moved towards the sign language interpreter.

“Excuse me, but do you know what this sign language means?”

Detective Mochio moved his hands clumsily, but as best as he could remember. On the other hand, the sign language interpreter, who seemed slightly flustered, looked at Mochio and scratched his chin.

“It’s not exact, but roughly- ‘I’m going to live a normal life now?’ something like that.”

“······”

Detective Mochio frowned briefly.

If Kiyoshi’s sign language, which he showed as a final greeting, was to be shown clearly, it would be like this.

-[“I’m going to live a normal life now.”]

Mochio unknowingly let out a hollow laugh.

“Haha, I see.”

What he focused on in the meaning of the sign language was ‘now’. It was an answer, but also a confusing word. It was impossible to know whether it meant he would live his life after parting with him, or whether he had returned to square one after a long time.

But for some reason.

-Rip!

Detective Mochio took out his notebook and tore out the page with Kiyoshi’s information. Then he crumpled it up and threw it in the trash. It was the moment when Detective Mochio confirmed Iyota Kiyoshi as a ‘stranger’, and he said to his junior detective.

“If you’re almost done, let’s go have lunch.”

Later, at night.

The ‘Strange Geisha’ team, which had been working hard all day, moved to a nearby subway station. It was an outdoor shoot. However, it was late, so there were no citizens on the subway, and the subway company had already been contacted.

“We need to film and get out of here as quickly as possible!!”

“We’ll set up the extras first!”

“The lighting is insufficient! The director wants more!!”

The ‘Strange Geisha’ filming equipment was rapidly set up on the subway. The necessary male and female extras also entered. There were quite a few of them. Roughly, there seemed to be more than 50 people.

What was unusual was.

“Everyone, please put on your suit jackets!”

Everyone was wearing black or navy suits. Although it was night in real time, they were going to make it look like the morning commute through directing or technology. There were also many cameras set up. On the ceiling, in the back, in the front, etc. At least 7 were installed.

Then.

“Standby!!”

At the assistant director’s shout, dozens of extras lined up in front of the stopped train. In between them.

“Kang Woo-jin is coming in!!”

Kang Woo-jin, wearing glasses, a suit similar to everyone else, and a side bag, entered. He stood in the middle of the crowd.

“······”

His expressionless face was clear, as if Kiyoshi had already permeated him. The dedicated camera attached to Kang Woo-jin was set up in front of him.

Soon.

“Here we go-”

Director Kyotaro’s shout through the megaphone spread.

“Hi- Action!”

The dozens of people who had stopped and Kang Woo-jin entered the train as if they were used to it. That cut was repeated several times.

“Cut cut cut! OOOOK!”

After about 5 takes, this time, dozens of extras and Kang Woo-jin waited inside the train. Director Kyotaro in front of the monitor shouted again.

“Action!!”

At the same time, numerous people poured out of the train. Of course, Woo-jin was also part of the wave. No one paid attention to each other or spoke to each other. They were no different from robots in black suits.

Woo-jin’s, or Kiyoshi’s, expression was more withered than ever.

But somehow, it wasn’t too depressed. Although faint, a subtle purpose and goal were contained in his eyes. As he participated in the large-scale movement, he suddenly.

-Swish.

He began to slow his pace as the group of extras began to climb the stairs. Then he stopped in the middle of the stairs. But the surrounding crowd in suits ignored him and climbed the stairs. They sometimes bumped into Woo-jin’s shoulder as they passed.

No one looked back at Kang Woo-jin.

The camera hanging on a small crane slowly approached the back of Woo-jin’s head.

And.

“······”

Kang Woo-jin, with an impassive face, turned his head back. He stared quietly at the camera that was filming him. The camera gradually got closer to Woo-jin’s face. By now, his face was swirling with numerous emotions. Although there was the dryness of Iyota Kiyoshi, his foundation, a certain amount of vitality had seeped in.

Emotional growth, the wick of a new life had been lit.

He looked at the camera. No, he was speaking to the audience or ‘strangers’ who would see him.

‘I am living a normal life.’

After a silence of about 10 seconds.

“······Cut.”

Director Tanoguchi Kyotaro got up and murmured softly to Woo-jin, who was standing on the stairs.

“OK.”

It was the final sign of the ‘bizarre sacrifice of a stranger’.

End