I was Mistaken as a Monstrous Genius Actor [EN]: Chapter 392

When did it start? Was it when Hong Hye-yeon caught me chuckling to myself? Or when I first confessed my ‘concept’ [a persona or role] to CEO Choi Seong-geon? Initially, it was just a way to get out of a situation, a tough act and persona to deflect the shame. But as misunderstandings and misinterpretations piled up, it grew, and as time passed, Kang Woo-jin crossed a point of no return.

Later, though I don’t remember the exact moment, Woo-jin realized something.

About his persona as an arrogant, monstrous actor.

‘Ah—if I keep going like this, even if I reveal my true self, no one will believe me.’ That was the vague future he foresaw for himself.

It gradually changed from a prediction to a certainty.

Even if I yelled, ‘I have a real self! It’s all been an act until now!’ no one would believe me. But I had never tested it. Would it really be like that? I was curious, but there was no need to try it out, and I didn’t have the time or the opportunity.

But even so, the persona of the ordinary citizen Woo-jin continued to grow.

The past self, anxious about being caught, had completely disappeared, and now he was bold enough to enjoy the danger and walk the tightrope without much concern.

Even to the point of actually doing it.

“Huh? But why do you all look like that? You don’t believe me? I’m telling you, it’s been a mask, and this is my real self!”

He even tried it out at the lead role audition for the Hollywood blockbuster ‘Columbia Studios.’ A hall filled with Hollywood superstars and big shots. On a stage full of cameras. Kang Woo-jin, with countless eyes focused on him.

‘Wow—damn, this is so refreshing.’

He boldly revealed his true self in this enormous place. It wasn’t that he wasn’t nervous. Honestly, his heart had been pounding since the moment he participated in this audition and screen test. There were foreigners with intimidating auras everywhere, and the acting of the world-renowned Hollywood top actors was amazing. It made him realize how vast the world was.

If it were the old him, he would have been desperately frantic.

He would have focused all his energy solely on maintaining his persona and acting. Therefore, his vision would have been narrow, and his brain’s processing power would not have been smooth.

But now it was different.

The entire hall was visible at a glance. The serious face of Director Ahn Ga-bok, the dumbfounded ‘Columbia Studios’ executives and actors, and the flustered foreign staff attached to the cameras.

Even the expression of Choi Seong-geon, with his brow furrowed.

The current Woo-jin used those Hollywood monsters as test subjects and treated the audience as spectators for his first confession to the world about his true self.

‘This is so much fun.’

To them, this place was sacred and profound. Conversely, to Woo-jin, it was just a playground filled with thrills. The difference in perspective was extreme.

Even if I do this,

‘Look at the expressions of those Hollywood top actors, hahaha, they must be wondering what’s going on??’

He was confident that he could outshine those superstars there. When did I decide that? It was probably when I was reading the ‘Pierrot’ script. Woo-jin felt it. That the protagonist of this work, ‘Henry Gordon,’ was similar to him. He also had the appearance of an ordinary citizen, and a ‘Joker’ [a chaotic, unpredictable character] was hidden inside him.

However, it was the opposite for Woo-jin.

‘The real ‘Henry Gordon’ was the ‘Joker,’ and he lived his life acting as an ordinary citizen.’

Kang Woo-jin was the ordinary citizen, and he acted out the persona. There was a slight difference; they were opposite forms, but there was a connection. In the end, both wore masks, and their lives were turned upside down because of it. They become monsters. From here, Woo-jin naturally came up with a story.

I don’t need to borrow ‘Henry Gordon’ from ‘Pierrot,’ do I?

Since we’re in similar situations, I should use my own background. I should show Kang Woo-jin’s life itself, the current situation thick with the persona. Of course, as ‘Henry Gordon.’ At that moment, Kang Woo-jin chose freedom instead of the free performance requested for the ‘Pierrot’ audition. And then, his mind became clear.

There was no need to prepare anything.

“Why are you all making such dumbfounded expressions? Surprised? Well, it’s understandable. But what can I do if it’s the truth? Ha—it feels like a load of crap has been flushed away. Anyway, I had to wear a mask by chance, and that chance was so huge that it changed my life. The current me is proof, proof.”

Like this, he just had to blurt out what was on his mind. It was a luxury to think hard about what to plan. It might be a dangerous act, but the current Kang Woo-jin was in ‘no-turning-back’ mode. Get caught? Get exposed? No problem. That’s then, and I’ll enjoy this confession now. You just have to listen to my story, my true self, quietly.

Sitting on a one-person sofa, Kang Woo-jin, whose outfit was ‘Henry Gordon,’ became increasingly unrestrained.

“Well, there were a lot of funny things because of the mask, and my close friends were so surprised.”

Woo-jin, with all eyes in the hall focused on him, changed the direction of his crossed legs and gestured with his chin towards the judges’ seats on the stage.

“That old man over there is praised as a living legend in the Korean film industry, but even that veteran was judging me as he pleased. Right, old man?”

A faint smile spread across Kang Woo-jin’s lips. Many foreigners, including the general producer, turned their gaze to Director Ahn Ga-bok. He spoke the truth, but Director Ahn Ga-bok’s narrowed brow did not relax. In that gap, Woo-jin spoke again.

“I was actually just a clueless idiot. I’ve improved a bit now.”

Kang Woo-jin was openly confessing himself right now. He was speaking the truth with his pure 100% self.

But the reactions of the people watching were strange. It started with Director Ahn Ga-bok, who was openly targeted.

‘……I see. He’s applied ‘Henry Gordon’ to the current situation. The situation is Kang Woo-jin, and the ego is ‘Henry Gordon.”

The shrewd Director Ahn Ga-bok started a clever misunderstanding. It was a crazy scene where misunderstandings were blooming even though he was openly confessing.

‘It’s as if ‘Henry Gordon’ is attending this audition.’

At this point, not only Director Ahn Ga-bok but also Choi Seong-geon in the audience should have been shocked and jumped up. It wouldn’t have been strange if the Hollywood monster foreigners were angry, wondering what kind of person had come to the audition. But the more Kang Woo-jin opened his mouth, the more truth he spoke.

“But it’s fun. It feels like I’ve started to enjoy it because this situation keeps repeating?”

The bizarre misunderstanding grew.

Even Choi Seong-geon, with his ponytail, who had witnessed the truth before his eyes, was no different.

‘That’s why he said it didn’t matter at all even if the audition method changed. If he acts out the current situation itself as ‘Henry Gordon,’ there’s no problem with any embarrassing audition process. That amazing guy. And I love you, Woo-jin.’

Confessions didn’t work on them. And gradually, a contagious disease called ‘misunderstanding’ began to spread in the minds of all the foreigners in this hall. Starting with the female producer with a strong impression sitting next to Director Ahn Ga-bok.

“Could it be—is he showing the appearance of Kang Woo-jin participating in this audition as ‘Henry Gordon’?”

“That’s right.”

“He’s sublimating reality into acting, that’s true free acting.”

Several executives of ‘Columbia Studios.’

‘Is it a production where ‘Henry Gordon’ is experiencing the current situation itself?’

‘He sat on the sofa right away, drawing everyone’s attention with an unexpected action, and then he’s acting as if ‘Henry Gordon’ is freely talking. It’s unexpected.’

Even the dozen or so key staff members and Hollywood actors.

‘From the moment he stepped onto the stage, was he……’Joker’? Anyway, it’s a unique performance.’

‘His acting method—is it method acting? He’s definitely good enough to win the Best Actor award at Cannes.’

In particular, Chris Hartnett’s smile deepened as he watched Kang Woo-jin sitting on the sofa on the stage.

‘It’s like—watching a one-person talk show. The protagonist is ‘Henry Gordon,’ and the audience is everyone here. Haha, what an amazing idea. It doesn’t even look like acting? It’s like the real ‘Joker’ is having fun talking. You can see how much time he must have spent to master such realistic acting.’

No one in the hall understood Kang Woo-jin’s true feelings. It was truly maddening. Woo-jin had never shown any acting since he came on stage, but everyone judged that he was putting on a realistic performance. Well, Kang Woo-jin didn’t care much.

‘Hmm—look at that, no one looks like they believe me, right? I knew it.’

Because he had roughly expected it. It didn’t matter. This situation wasn’t so bad for Kang Woo-jin. No, rather, it could amplify his presence several times over. The reason was simple, wasn’t it? He had never shown ‘acting’ until now, and the real ‘Henry Gordon’ was starting now.

Soon.

-Swish.

Kang Woo-jin, who had been sitting on the sofa with his legs crossed, suddenly stood up, with all the cameras focused on him. He naturally adjusted his red jacket.

“While we’re at it, shall I show you my foolish, ordinary citizen self before I wore the mask? It’ll be fun, as a special event.”

In a short moment, Kang Woo-jin pulled up the ‘Henry Gordon’ within him from ‘Pierrot.’ To be precise, the early part of ‘Henry Gordon.’ However, just bringing ‘Henry Gordon’ was boring. He additionally summoned ‘Private Jin Seon-cheol’ from ‘Island of the Lost’ through character synthesis. Both the weak and the rough one. The three characters mixed.

The lines didn’t need to be limited to the world of ‘Pierrot.’

For Kang Woo-jin, the ‘freedom of characters’ had been unlocked. He could do whatever he wanted, say whatever he wanted, with the synthesized ‘Henry Gordon’ character.

“……Ah—that, that is.”

Suddenly, the confidence disappeared from Woo-jin’s face. A 180-degree different expression. His posture was also slightly bizarre. His shoulders and back were bent, and his hands were trembling slightly. Eyes that hit rock bottom in self-esteem, a gaze full of anxiety, an air of depression. In an instant, the person on the stage changed. For Kang Woo-jin, who had confessed, this was just the beginning.

But.

“Hmm?”

“Huh-”

“J-just like that?”

To everyone in the hall, including Director Ahn Ga-bok, it looked like a change of pace. Kang Woo-jin was playing with them. Regardless, Woo-jin, who had been looking down at the stage floor, barely raised his eyes. He scanned the audience and then quickly lowered his gaze again. The tension was high. Scary, trembling, painful, please don’t look at me. That was the kind of posture he had.

“I feel like I’m going to throw up, how, how long do I have to do this?”

Their gaze was burdensome. It was desperate. Woo-jin wanted to run away. It was the first time he had been on stage like this, like a protagonist. Why? Why do I have to fight with those monsters to win a role? It’s okay to just live quietly, isn’t it? Should I give up? Yes, let’s lower my eyes and go down quietly.

Woo-jin, who had decided, took a step back while maintaining his bent back. The sound of shuffling on the floor was sensitive.

Why is the sound so loud?

At that moment.

-Swish.

Woo-jin, who had hunched his shoulders, met the camera next to him. To be precise, he made eye contact with the man behind that camera. The man’s blue eyes were filled with curiosity. But in the eyes of Woo-jin, who was ‘Henry Gordon’ before his awakening, that gaze looked different.

Disregard, contempt, disregard, discrimination, oppression.

Don’t look. Don’t look at me like that. I didn’t do anything, did I? Why are you attacking me? People’s gazes are not physical violence. But if they accumulate, it’s like mental assault. In an instant, anger surged in Woo-jin’s heart.

“D-don’t look at me like that.”

It suddenly amplified.

“Damn it, I said don’t look.”

It was thanks to the rough side of the synthesized ‘Private Jin Seon-cheol.’ The suppressed anger overflowed. His heart felt like it was going to explode. His blood was boiling. Woo-jin, with his back bent, clenched both fists tightly. A murderous intent appeared in his eyes, which had been low in self-esteem. It wasn’t much, but it was definitely rising.

Should I punch him? Headbutt him? Or with the steel chair behind that bastard?

The solidified anger felt like it was about to burst. His bent back and shoulders and his low self-esteem were the same, but the true colors of the monster swirling inside were slowly raising their heads.

At this time, a brake was applied.

Hold on, hold on. It was ‘Henry Gordon’s’ social reason. He unfolded the fist he had clenched. Then he avoided the gaze of the man he had met. He turned his body. He moved his feet. But the anger didn’t subside. He had only avoided it, not calmed the rage.

-Thwack!

Woo-jin hit his own head.

-Thwack, thwack!

About three times. The intensity was strong. Even so, Kang Woo-jin sat back down on the one-person sofa. Then he hit his own head again. He let out a long sigh, as if he had calmed down to some extent.

“Hoo-”

About 5 seconds of silence. Kang Woo-jin, with his back bent, was staring at the stage floor. At this point, everyone except Woo-jin thought.

‘……Is it over?’

That the performance he had prepared was over. In the meantime, the first to speak was.

“Mr. Kang Woo-jin.”

It was the bald executive of ‘Columbia Studios’ among the people sitting in the judges’ seats. He was about to start asking a question. But.

“Hehehe, hahaha!”

Suddenly, Woo-jin, sitting on the sofa, laughed. While slowly getting up. That Woo-jin changed his posture. He straightened his bent back and shoulders and puffed out his chest. He shoved one hand into his pocket. Thanks to that, the bald executive who was about to speak was speechless, and Kang Woo-jin, with a smirk on his face, strode towards where he was sitting.

His gait was completely different from his previous miserable appearance.

-Swish.

Woo-jin, who had arrived right in front of the judges’ seats, looked down at the bald executive. His right hand moved. He took something out of his inside jacket pocket. It was a pack of cigarettes. Woo-jin, who put a cigarette in his mouth, lit it. A grotesque smile deepened. Kang Woo-jin, who took a long drag of his cigarette, blew smoke towards the bald man.

“Hoo-”

The bald executive narrowed his brow. He looked up at Kang Woo-jin, who was right in front of him.

‘What is this crazy bastard doing now! But his eyes……something.’

The smell of Kang Woo-jin when he first came on stage and was talking nonsense and the current Kang Woo-jin was strangely different. It was like the madness and violence had increased several times over?

What is it? It’s not the same as his first appearance? And what should I say about his current actions?

Acting? Or reality?

Just as the bald executive’s mind was filled with questions, Kang Woo-jin’s right hand, with a cigarette in his mouth, moved.

-Thud!

His hand landed on the bald executive’s head right in front of him. Woo-jin, who shook the executive’s head slightly as if grabbing a squid’s head, brought his face close to the executive’s face. His mouth was twisted as if it was about to tear.

“Call me ‘Joker,’ you damn baldy.”