I was Mistaken as a Monstrous Genius Actor [EN]: Chapter 41

Kang Woo-jin was heading to the filming area for the main shoot. When he first overheard the conversation between Song Man-woo PD and the VFX team, which included foreigners, he thought,

‘Huh? Is there a problem? It sounds serious.’

He wasn’t particularly interested. But even if he tried to ignore it, the foreign team’s conversation kept reaching his ears. The English they were speaking was so fluent, unlike anything he’d heard before.

‘Oh, okay, I understand what they’re talking about. Wow, that’s really amazing? It’s so cool.’

Intrigued, Kang Woo-jin listened to their English from a few steps away, almost as if he was enjoying it. But something seemed to be getting lost in translation. ‘Ah, shouldn’t that be corrected?’

Since he was the actor playing Park Dae-ri, he couldn’t help but feel concerned.

‘Should I intervene?’

That was all.

‘I’ll have to use English eventually anyway, so it’s fine to do it now.’

Honestly, now that he had acquired the language skill, he also wanted to use it at least once. It was also a bit of an experiment. So, Kang Woo-jin stepped forward. His target was the slightly serious, bald foreigner from the VFX team. When Woo-jin explained something in fluent English, the bald foreigner was taken aback.

Woo-jin didn’t forget to introduce himself at the end.

“Ah, I’m the actor playing that role.”

‘A foreigner understood my English?’ Kang Woo-jin maintained a poker face, but inside, he was doing a mental victory dance. He could have such a casual conversation with a foreigner.

Around this time.

“……Huh?”

“???”

At Kang Woo-jin’s appearance, and the fluent English he was speaking, the people gathered around widened their eyes. All the dozens of staff members and actors. All eyes were on him, but Woo-jin took a step closer to the bald foreigner and continued his explanation in English. He was on a roll.

His tone was still calm.

“The world changing into colors is to express the character’s twisted childlike innocence. It’s not that he sees animals or people as living beings, but rather just as colors. He sees them as lightly as objects.”

There wasn’t even a hint of hesitation. The bald foreigner, even more surprised, asked in English with some difficulty.

“…The part where the fireworks explode.”

“It’s about portraying the brutality like a fairy tale. Imagine a child seeing blood spurting from a neck when something is killed. The writer expressed the bursting blood as red fireworks.”

“I see. Grotesque innocence.”

“That’s right. This character has a firm world and psychology of his own. He has a perspective that others can never understand.”

“It should be emphasized.”

“It would be good to add gradation to the colors. I think it will be noticeable and a focal point.”

Woo-jin’s design knowledge was also evident. Their conversation was so natural. It looked like two Americans were having a casual chat, and Kang Woo-jin and the bald foreigner continued the conversation calmly. But the people around them were not calm.

The first to react were the dozens of staff members around them, with wide eyes.

“What? Why is Woo-jin so good at English? Isn’t it almost like his native language?”

“……He’s kind of cool. No, he’s super cool. Woo-jin’s English tone is insane.”

“That’s… it doesn’t seem like the level you get from studying, does it? Did he live in the US? He doesn’t hesitate; it’s like he’s not even thinking about the words.”

“Wow, he’s just casually throwing out English with that indifferent face, and his pronunciation is so good… I’m smitten.”

The staff members were whispering non-stop. Of course, Song Man-woo PD, who was watching Kang Woo-jin next to him, let out a small chuckle.

‘Yeah, I knew it. It’s obvious he’s from overseas. His native-like pronunciation is just like a Korean-American, no, even better.’

The actors, such as Ryu Jung-min and Hong Hye-yeon, were also not quiet.

“……Look at him. He’s definitely been overseas.”

“What? Hye-yeon, did you know something??”

“No.”

“Ah, there was a rumor that Woo-jin was from overseas in the beginning. Isn’t that what you’re talking about? Anyway, he’s like an onion. You keep peeling and more comes out.”

“Woah, or did he practice aiming for Hollywood before his debut?”

“Oppa, do you think that level of skill can come from studying for a few years? It must have been at least a decade. He must have lived overseas. He’s having a casual conversation with a foreigner, look at that.”

Woo-jin and the bald foreigner were still calmly continuing their conversation, but the people around them were becoming more and more excited and confused. Most of all, the one who was beaming was CEO Choi Sung-gun, with his ponytail, a few steps away.

‘Crazy… so being overseas meant he was in an English-speaking country. Why did he hide that? Or did he just not mention it? Then what about Japanese? Why did he ask me to look for Japanese scenarios? Could it be – does he speak both English and Japanese??’

A rookie actor from his agency has native-level English skills. What CEO wouldn’t like that? Instead, Kang Woo-jin’s identity became even more of a mystery.

“Anyway, he’s at a level where it wouldn’t be strange to put him in Hollywood right now.”

At this moment, Kang Woo-jin’s manager team approached Choi Sung-gun, who was feeling a thrill. It was road manager Jang Soo-hwan and stylist Han Ye-jeong.

“What is it, CEO!! Was Woo-jin hyung an American?!!”

“…That can’t be. Anyway, there are plenty of top stars who can’t speak English at all, but Woo-jin oppa is a total cheat character?”

Regardless, Kang Woo-jin’s cynical English continued.

“When he feels murderous intent, the world changes into colors. You’re right, you can think of it that way.”

“Oh! Thank you, it helped a lot with the image.”

Kang Woo-jin was purely happy inside, regardless of the misunderstandings around him.

‘This works? No, of course it does. I can’t believe the day has come when I’m talking to a foreigner. It’s thrilling, so amazing.’

A plump man wearing a mask was watching this situation from a distance. It was Director Kwon Ki-taek, who had already been infected with the delusion by his host, Song Man-woo PD, and had sneaked in today because he had important business with Woo-jin.

‘Song PD was right. He’s from overseas. Really, the more I know about him, the more mysterious he is.’

The number of individuals infected with the delusion increased rapidly.

Several tens of minutes later.

For the on-site verification scene, dozens of police officers, reporters, and onlookers gathered at the filming zone where the doll was placed. Of course, they were all extras. There seemed to be over 30 people. About half of them had serious expressions. They were aspiring actors.

And the rest were people who came for part-time work.

They were all busy whispering lightly, regardless of gender. Looking at the actor playing ‘Park Dae-ri’ who was slowly approaching. That is, Kang Woo-jin.

“I saw that actor earlier, he speaks English at a native level?”

“Yeah, I saw it too. Is he like a Korean-American?”

“I guess so. He’s a new face; is he a rookie actor?”

Regardless, Kang Woo-jin, who was handcuffed.

“……”

He just walked indifferently. He blended into the crowd. Soon, with the baby-permed Ryu Jung-min.

‘Should I ask about the English… No, he said he had some circumstances in the past, so maybe not? Looking at his expression, it seems like he’s getting into character.’

Hong Hye-yeon, with her hair tied up, etc.

‘I’m curious! I’m curious! Ha- I know he has some circumstances, but would it be okay to ask where he lived overseas? Is that too much?’

The actors preparing for the scene glanced at Kang Woo-jin. But Woo-jin’s poker face was too strong. However, Kang Woo-jin was chuckling inside.

‘Nice, nice. Ah- where can I use Japanese?’

At this moment.

“Woo-jin-ssi.”

Jang Tae-san, who usually had a cheerful vibe, suddenly asked Kang Woo-jin. He didn’t know about the delusion-filled circumstances.

“Did you live in the US? You’re really good at English?”

At the same time.

“Oppa!”

Hong Hye-yeon, with her brows furrowed, covered his mouth and pulled him back.

“Everyone has things they can’t talk about; you need to be more considerate.”

“Huh? No, what did I do? Can’t I ask?”

“Shhh, shhh.”

At this moment, Song Man-woo PD shouted from the back where dozens of staff members were gathered.

“Standby!!”

A sign that they were about to start filming. Thanks to that, various cameras and lights were set in place, and Woo-jin, who was handcuffed, also erased his thoughts about English and lowered his gaze. He could see a human-shaped doll.

‘Hoo- it’s still a bit uncomfortable.’

It was an uncomfortable scene. He had made up his mind, but when he actually arrived, it was awful.

Of course, he had read the script in advance and imagined it several times. After that, he made a decision, entered the subspace, and did a reading (experience). After the experience, Kang Woo-jin had been throwing up. It was acting, but it was still vivid, and even though it was acting, it was definitely imprinted.

Murder. Kang Woo-jin had committed murder in the world of the script.

Moreover, he repeated the reading (experience) to maximize the power of the subspace. Of course, it was Park Dae-ri’s life, not Kang Woo-jin’s, but it was no different from what Kang Woo-jin, who possessed it, had done. It was acting. It was just acting. But Kang Woo-jin had killed a person. It was the world of the subspace, but it was reality and it was real.

Kang Woo-jin had seen death, witnessed death, and killed.

Even though he had only worked on two projects, Kang Woo-jin had experienced everything about death. Yes, other actors would probably experience considerable stress just from analyzing, shaping characters, and imagining. Kang Woo-jin was vaguely aware of that.

‘I can’t only experience good things from now on.’

Contrary to the subspace having terrifying abilities, Woo-jin had to overcome many things that no one else had experienced. There would be amazing things, but there could also be hellish things. This could be seen as the proper penalty of the subspace.

‘Now that I think about it… the concept and misunderstandings that I started by chance seem to have helped quite a bit.’

The misunderstandings and delusions of others clearly emphasized Kang Woo-jin’s ego, not the character in the script, and the concept, which was mixed with bravado and bluff, shouted at him from time to time that he was here.

Both became strong shields.

What made Kang Woo-jin exist as Kang Woo-jin was absurdly the misunderstandings and the concept. It was those two things that made him look back at himself. Woo-jin laughed inwardly as if he was dumbfounded. At the same time, he decided to cherish himself even more.

‘So what? The things I experience are just possessions.’

At this moment.

-Clap!

A staff member called out the scene number and hit the slate, and Song Man-woo PD’s sign was thrown through the megaphone.

“High- Action!”

At the same time, the reporters surrounded by the police frantically flashed their cameras. Their target was naturally Park Dae-ri. The onlookers poured out curses at Park Dae-ri.

“You trash!! Go die!!”

“You parasite!!”

“Die!! Just die!!”

“Give him the death penalty!!”

But.

“……”

The handcuffed Park Dae-ri just scanned them indifferently. No, was he smiling? The corners of his mouth twitched slightly. Then, as if he couldn’t hold it in.

“Pfft.”

He let out a faint laugh. It was a kind of disregard. Then the onlookers became even more enraged, and the flash barrage amplified several times. At this moment, Hong Hye-yeon. No, the tenacious detective Jung Yeon-hee pushed Park Dae-ri’s back.

“Don’t act like a dog, do it right.”

Park Dae-ri turned his head back and looked at Jung Yeon-hee. He sniffed, sniffing the air.

“You smell good, detective.”

“…What?”

“The smell of sweat. You’re wearing the same clothes as yesterday. Couldn’t you go home?”

“Shut your mouth. Just do what you’re supposed to do.”

“Yes, I will do well.”

Park Dae-ri’s lively eyes were grotesque and empty, but his mouth formed a small smile. It was as if only his mouth was moving separately from his face. Soon, Park Dae-ri picked up the red rope at his feet.

-Swish.

Slowly, slowly, Park Dae-ri moved his feet. Towards the doll lying on the floor. Then, Park Dae-ri kicked the doll lightly and chuckled.

“It’s crude.”

He indifferently acted out the murder he had committed in the past. He wrapped the rope around the doll’s neck and pulled from behind. Not too hard. Gently. But Park Dae-ri’s eyes were looking at Yoo Ji-hyung, who was standing with his arms crossed in front. Park Dae-ri tilted his head slightly.

He was putting force on the rope around the doll’s neck, but his target was Yoo Ji-hyung.

Since all of Park Dae-ri’s attention was on Yoo Ji-hyung, Yoo Ji-hyung felt like his own neck was being strangled. But it was okay. That was just Park Dae-ri’s light joke. Yoo Ji-hyung smiled slightly and waved at Park Dae-ri.

At this moment.

-Thwack!

Perhaps because he had put too much force, the rope that Park Dae-ri was pulling snapped! And Park Dae-ri brought his cheek to the face of the doll he was holding from behind. He rubbed his cheek against it. Then Park Dae-ri shrugged his shoulders slightly. His gaze was fixed on Yoo Ji-hyung.

“It’s alive; you can’t kill a person with something this weak. Give me a new one.”

About 10 seconds of silence followed.

What broke the silence was.

“Oooooookay!!!”

It was Song Man-woo PD.

“Good, good! That was great! Okay- let’s keep that and go straight to the actual cut with that emotion!”

As soon as he finished speaking, the dozens of extras and actors who had gathered at the filming zone quickly left. The doll and various props were also removed. Some of the lights were also removed. The staff moved quickly. The handcuffs that had been on Kang Woo-jin’s hands were also removed. Of course, his clothes were also changed.

Kang Woo-jin wore a black windbreaker with the zipper pulled up to his neck and a hat.

Before they knew it, the filming zone was empty and slightly dark. A desolate feeling was in the air. Then, a woman in her 50s with a perm entered. She was a minor actress. And behind her.

-Swish.

The indifferent Kang Woo-jin stood. This time, it was time to film the actual cut of the murder he had reenacted. Then, Kang Woo-jin said in a low voice in the ear of the minor actress.

“I’m sorry.”

“…Yes?”

“No, it’s a bit of an excessive scene.”

“Ah, it’s okay. It’s acting. Why are you sorry, actor?”

“I’ll do it properly and get it done in one take.”

“Thank you.”

The minor actress made up her mind. Around that time.

“High- Action!”

Song Man-woo PD’s sign was thrown, and suddenly Park Dae-ri grabbed the back of the woman’s permed hair. And pulled her. The woman couldn’t help but scream.

“Kyaaaak!”

At that scream, Park Dae-ri looked up at the sky and opened his mouth.

“Haa-”

It was because he had unknowingly felt an orgasm at the moment when his lust and desire were realized. Joy, elation, thrill, whatever the word, a real smile, not a practiced one, spread across his lips.

Then, Park Dae-ri whispered in the ear of the woman he was holding by the hair.

“Good, ahjumma [aunt/middle-aged woman]. Good.”

“P, please save me… please save me.”

“Well. You’re going to die today, ahjumma?”

Park Dae-ri’s lips trembled. It was a convulsion caused by being unable to overcome the pleasure. He couldn’t stand it; how could he stop this? Addiction. Park Dae-ri was a man who didn’t smoke or drink. But he was addicted to murder.

That expression was now all over Park Dae-ri’s face.

His excitement was rising. His dark pupils dilated, and his breathing became rapid. His upturned lips showed no sign of coming down. At this point, the main camera zoomed in on the woman and Park Dae-ri behind her. It shook slightly for a sense of realism.

Regardless, Park Dae-ri didn’t care.

-Thud!

He slammed the woman to the ground. The camera did the same. The woman struggled frantically. It was a desperate message to be saved.

“Kuhuk! H, don’t do it! Save me! Save me!!”

But Park Dae-ri took out a red rope from his windbreaker pocket. He wrapped it around the woman’s neck.

Slowly, leisurely. He gave the woman enough time to feel the danger.

The camera moved to the side of Park Dae-ri, who was tying the rope. He was happy. Park Dae-ri was like a child with a gift in front of him. It was an expression that was too far removed from the current environment and situation. The grotesqueness created by that gap was hard to express in words.

That’s why.

“……Oh my god.”

Hong Hye-yeon, who was watching Park Dae-ri on the monitor, covered her mouth.

‘It’s murder? Why does it look like he’s actually done it?’

It wasn’t admiration. It was closer to fear. Ryu Jung-min bit his molars slightly.

‘If I were to do it… no, I probably wouldn’t be able to do it like that. It’s scary; the level of immersion is scary.’

All the actors couldn’t really express their feelings while watching Park Dae-ri. He was just amazing. As fellow actors, the scene they were watching was no different from reality.

And Song Man-woo PD was glued to the monitor, not moving. Instead, he cursed.

“Shit… that’s it.”

He also smacked his lips. As a director, he was experiencing an amazing moment. The faces of the extras and staff members who had gathered were all shocked. Some had their mouths slightly open, while others frowned and turned their heads away.

It was brutal.

But Park Dae-ri’s pleasure did not stop. He dragged the woman, whose neck was tied with a rope.

-Scrape, scrape.

It was like he was walking a pet. The woman’s screams continued.

“Kyaaak! Kuhuk! I can’t! I can’t breathe!”

The lighter Park Dae-ri’s steps became.

At this moment.

-Swish.

The camera zoomed in on Park Dae-ri’s face and captured it, and Park Dae-ri bent down and whispered in the ear of the woman who was struggling on the floor.

He suddenly turned expressionless.

“A little more. I wish the screams were a little louder. It’s not as arousing.”

The woman who made eye contact with Park Dae-ri trembled her hands and feet.

“……Ah.”

It wasn’t acting.

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