I was Mistaken as a Monstrous Genius Actor [EN]: Chapter 474

Before Kang Woo-jin’s name became known around the world, the first award announced at the Academy Awards at the Dolby Theater for ‘Pierrot’ was for ‘Best Costume Design’.

“Costume Award!! Congratulations, ‘Clierrot: Birth of a Villain’!”

It was the award that kicked off the Academy Awards, and Kang Woo-jin’s colleagues in the magnificent Dolby Theater hall stood up. Keith Tap, who was in charge of the costumes for ‘Joker’, was called, and the entire ‘clown’ team jumped up, with applause erupting throughout the hall. Even the cynical Kang Woo-jin stood and offered his congratulations.

From that point, Kang Woo-jin’s frantically beating heart began to calm down.

‘Aww, I was a mess, but I feel better now that we’ve won an award. My head feels a little clearer.’

To be honest, his tension had been so high that he felt nauseous. He’d even considered going to the bathroom to throw up. However, his strong sense of purpose had kept him going. Next, KISSAP, who had won the Academy Award for costume design and looked stunning in a dress made just for the occasion, took the stage.

Meanwhile, the audience around them began to comment.

“Haha, ‘Clierrot’ won an award right from the start.”

“If this is the case, then Columbia’s strategy should be considered a huge success, right?”

“Of course, they’ve already gained a lot of attention with Kang Woo-jin and other issues, but this will bring them even more.”

“I wasn’t sure about the other awards, but I knew they’d win the costume award. The ‘Joker’ costume was truly amazing.”

They glanced at Kang Woo-jin, who was sitting and applauding. It was reminiscent of his performance at the Emmy Awards or the ‘Joker’ in ‘Clierrot’. The costume was unique, but it was Kang Woo-jin who truly brought it to life.

“Kang Woo-jin’s acting kept the momentum of ‘Joker’ alive. He established a solid character, including the costume and the mood.”

Some people may have seen ‘Clierrot’ before its release, but many also remembered ‘Joker’ from the Emmy Awards.

“The impact was incredible.”

Soon, the main costumer, who had received the trophy, stood in front of the microphone. She was already sobbing.

“Huh! I was so happy to be nominated, but receiving this award is like a dream. Hmm! I love you all. Especially, I’d like to thank our ‘clown’ team.”

She continued with difficulty, mentioning her family and colleagues, and as she was finishing, she suddenly brought up Kang Woo-jin’s name.

“And actor Kang Woo-jin. I think the reason I was able to receive this award is because he played ‘Joker’ so well. Thank you.”

Applause erupted.

– clap clap clap clap

The camera focused on Kang Woo-jin in the audience. As expected, he was clapping with an indifferent expression.

“…………….”

But inside, he was extremely embarrassed.

‘What now? Did I do something? Ah! All the attention is on me again!’

He desperately wished people would ignore him. From the beginning of the Academy Awards, the host had mentioned Woojin, and his mind control was faltering. Anyway, Keystab returned to her seat with the trophy, and after receiving congratulations from her colleagues, she briefly hugged Woojin.

The expression on the face of the blonde Kara, who was sitting diagonally behind her and clapping with a faint smile, suddenly twitched.

Kang Woo-jin had no way of knowing this.

Afterwards, the Academy Awards picked up speed. In the beginning, awards such as costume design, art direction, and cinematography were generally given to the key staff members who had worked hard on their projects. Meanwhile, Kang Woo-jin regained his composure.

In the middle of the ceremony, Kang Woo-jin began to enjoy the scene.

‘Wow! Look at how big that guy is? Kim Dae-young is a baby [referring to a Korean actor, implying the Hollywood actor is much larger].’

Even though he was a nominee for Best Actor, he didn’t think much of it. He just maintained a poker face. He was almost like a spectator. The reason was simple.

Because he didn’t have high expectations.

To be honest, he would be lying if he said he didn’t want to win the award, but the veteran Hollywood actors who were also nominated were very formidable. He hadn’t even had time to watch their performances.

‘Here in Hollywood, if you’re a big actor, that means you’re a big deal.’

It was a few levels higher than the Korean entertainment scene.

After the staff awards were over, it was announced that it was the actors’ turn on the grand stage.

“Best Supporting Actress!!”

It was the supporting actors’ turn. Either way, the ‘clown’ team, including director Gabok Ang, Chris Hartnett, and the key staff, were beaming. They had achieved their goal by winning an award. Even if they weren’t nominated for the remaining awards, they had still garnered enough attention.

Before they knew it, male and female Hollywood actors had received their supporting actor awards, and the stage was empty. By this time, the hall where so many great people had gathered was heating up, and in response, other male and female actors appeared on the wide stage. At this moment, Kang Woo-jin had an intuition.

‘Ah, is it time for Best Actor already?! Oh, well. Let’s just keep a straight face and sit down.’

The ‘Best Actor Award’ was the one that many people were interested in. As if to confirm it, Chris Hartnett whispered to him.

“Woojin, it’s your turn.”

‘No, don’t raise the expectations I worked so hard to erase!’ Kang Woo-jin shouted internally, but responded calmly on the outside.

“I guess so.”

“Aren’t you nervous?”

“Not really.”

“Confidence? Or resignation?”

Kang Woo-jin chose silence. He felt like his voice was shaking from his heartbeat again. However, Chris saw it differently.

‘…Unwavering eyes. Haha, I was a fool for asking. He’s a guy full of self-esteem.’

At this time, the male and female Hollywood actors who were presenting on stage created tension.

-[“I think I should stop talking and announce it now.”]

It meant that the time for the announcement had arrived. Before they knew it, the faces of the nominees were being displayed on the huge monitors behind the stage. There were five spaces, and at the end was Kang Woo-jin, with a serious face. These were the five actors nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor. Excluding Woojin, the rest of the senior actors looked like they had a lot of experience. Kang Woo-jin also felt this.

‘Crazy, what kind of presence is that?? It’s almost god-level.’

Each strand of the competitors’ gray hair on the monitor exuded heavy experience, and each wrinkle showed the skill of a super expert. ‘Yeah, that’s probably what I’ll look like when I get older.’ Here, Kang Woo-jin had a glimmer of hope.

‘I guess I’ll just have to be satisfied with being among them this year. My luck is terrible.’

In fact, among the ‘Best Actor’ nominees, Kang Woo-jin was the only one in his 20s. Career and presence were highly valued here. Although it was Woojin’s idea, the thousands of people gathered in the hall had similar thoughts. Not only that, the chatter of the live audience around the world watching this scene was similar.

With her boyfriend’s success, Miley Kara revealed completely different feelings.

‘Beat those old guys! That’s enough, it’s not a surprise or a twist, it’s just that Woojin’s acting is much better.’

Whatever it was, Kang Woo-jin’s heart felt much more comfortable as he looked at the stage.

All he had to do was stand up at the right time and applaud solemnly.

It was at this time.

“Wow! The ‘Best Actor Award’ at the 95th Academy Awards!!”

Breaking everyone’s expectations, he was named Best Actor at the Academy Awards.

“Kang from ‘Clierrot: Birth of a Villain’! Woo! Jin! Congratulations!!”

It was Kang Woo-jin.

Classical music rang out throughout the magnificent hall. The thousands of people in the audience were stunned for a moment.

“What? Kang Woo-jin?”

“Oh my god, Kang Woo-jin won.”

“Haha, it’s incredible, this is a day that will go down in Academy history.”

“Wow, I never thought Kang Woo-jin would win after going up against those veteran powerhouses.”

“Let’s congratulate him. Perhaps, no, definitely, Hollywood will change starting with Kang Woo-jin.”

“I guess he’s just created a legend.”

One by one, they stood up and began applauding enthusiastically.

– clap clap clap clap

Before long, all of Hollywood’s biggest stars were giving a standing ovation. Kara, with a bright smile, clapped harder than anyone else. Of course, the veteran actors who were also nominated were doing the same. The eyes of everyone in the numerous cameras and the hall were focused on one person.

– clap clap clap clap

It was Kang Woo-jin, still sitting.

Already, the ‘clown’ team around him, including coach Ang Bok and Chris Hartnett, were congratulating Woojin with hugs and pats on the shoulder. Everyone was shouting in joy, but the main character, Kang Woo-jin, had an indifferent expression and didn’t react at all.

‘……Huh?’

It was because he couldn’t believe it.

‘Whaaaaaaaaaaaat??!!!!’

He was so surprised that a scream almost escaped his lips. No, what just happened? Me? Is it really me? Kang Woo-jin’s brain seemed to shut down, and he went deaf for a moment before managing to recover. Numerous shouts, exclamations, and screams hit him all at once.

“$*)@&*@%*(@@**@!!!!”

“@*$@@*@&*$$@$)_$!!!”

Something was pounding in his ears, but he couldn’t understand a thing. It was only then that Woojin’s scrambled brain slowly started to function again. Because on the stage in front, his own face was displayed on a huge monitor, the size of a large screen.

Oh, that’s right. It’s me.

Though he was bewildered, Kang Woo-jin slowly stood up, his emotions becoming visible. It was unconscious rather than intentional. He was remembering what his whole body had been doing for the past four years.

Like this.

– clap clap clap clap

– clap clap clap clap

This magnificent hall. The sound of a standing ovation from many great figures around the world. That intensity penetrated the ears of Kang Woo-jin, who was standing there.

Woojin slowly looked around. Everyone to his right and left was showering him with praise. Kang Woo-jin felt goosebumps. All those famous names were clapping for him.

How could he express this thrill that made his spine tingle?

It felt like an electric current was passing through his entire body.

‘Wow, this… … … … … .No, this is crazy.’

At this moment, the live broadcast of the ‘Academy Awards’ was going wild with comments from the public all over the world. Dozens of responses were pouring in every second, and although Kang Woo-jin couldn’t hear them, his family in Korea was screaming at the top of their lungs.

“Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa”

“Yes!! My son won!! He won!!”

“Uuuuuuu, my son. I’m so proud of you! Well done! Well done, son!”

His friends, everyone in the entertainment industry who knew him, and all Korean citizens, including fans, were shouting Kang Woo-jin’s name. The same went for Kang Woo-jin’s fans around the world, including Japan.

Eventually, Kang Woo-jin, after expressing gratitude to those around him, began to move.

-Sigh.

As expected, his face was indifferent, but his steps toward the stage were full of energy. Tap, tap, tap. Meanwhile, the standing ovation continued, and the closer Kang Woo-jin, wearing a tuxedo, got to the stage, the more his expression changed. However, inside, he was spitting out terrifying thoughts.

‘Wait a minute! Wait, wait, wait!! What did they say? What about my acceptance speech? Wow, seriously, I didn’t even think of a single word??! Just say thank you and come down? No, are you an idiot? This is the Academy Awards!!’

It was a chaotic mess, but the face captured on the camera next to Kang Woo-jin was full of composure.

Like that.

-Widely!

Woojin, unable to come up with any answer, stepped onto the dream stage. This was what filmmakers all over the world, including Hollywood, longed for. The scene on the vast stage was completely different from what it looked like from the audience. The bright lights were also hot. Wow, what is this? In an instant, the worries that had been suffocating Woojin about the award ceremony disappeared.

At the same time.

“Congratulations, Kang Woo-jin.”

“Congratulations. ‘Clierrot’ was truly amazing.”

The male and female Hollywood actors who greeted Woojin started by shaking hands and presented Kang Woojin with the famous ‘Academy Award’ Best Actor trophy, decorated in gold and in the form of a human figure.

Kang Woo-jin’s first impression of holding the trophy was simple.

‘It’s heavy.’

This was the weight of the ‘Best Actor Award’ at this prestigious awards ceremony watched by many big names. Together.

‘I don’t think it was given lightly.’

It was also proof that Kang Woo-jin was not chosen out of thin air. He looked down at the trophy in his hand without saying a word.

By this time, the applause that echoed throughout the hall had subsided. There was silence. Everyone was waiting to hear Kang Woo-jin’s voice. But Woojin didn’t move right away.

Was he worried about what to say for his acceptance speech?

No, he wasn’t.

Kang Woo-jin wanted to savor this moment and the scene, at least for a little while.

In fact, Woojin had made his decision implicitly when the trophy was handed over to him just now. How should he express his acceptance speech? There was nothing to worry about. Maybe it was confirmed when ‘subspace’ [a reference to a concept in the story] was attached to him.

Kang Woo-jin wanted to preserve this moment and the scene, at least for a little while.

In fact, Woojin had made his decision implicitly when the trophy was handed over to him just now. How should he express his acceptance speech? There was nothing to worry about. Perhaps ‘subspace’ was confirmed from the moment it was attached to him.

-Sure.

Soon after taking a deep breath, Kang Woo-jin, the Best Actor winner at the 95th Academy Awards, stood in front of the standing microphone. The lights on the ceiling and the thousands of people in the audience focused on him. Kang Woo-jin glanced at the magnificent audience with a poker face, but with a light touch.

He suddenly relaxed his stern face and raised the corners of his mouth. An expression that changed literally in an instant.

“Ah, I won, I really didn’t even think about it.”

The tone of his voice, the stress, the mood, the atmosphere, etc., when speaking fluent English. It was completely different from him, who had a strong persona in everything. The reason was simple.

“Honestly, I still wonder if this is real? Is this trophy really mine?”

Kang Woo-jin was not the strong-minded Kang Woo-jin or the persona he had maintained. In other words, it was the truly pure Kang Woo-jin.

“Or tell me now, please.”

He shed his skin in front of the whole world.