WeTried Translations
Translator: uglyidol
Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried
◈ I Became a Top Star by Only Playing Villains ◈
Chapter 14: Pleasure and Conviction
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<The Last Clue>
S#64 Alleyway.
Murmur, murmur.
“Everyone, move aside!”
“Secure the civilians first!”
The usually quiet neighborhood had become a commotion.
A resident walking their dog had found “something” inside a shopping bag.
“No...!!! Hye-seo...!! Aaaaaaah...!!!”
Yu Hyeju, the protagonist of <The Last Clue>, arrived at the scene too late.
When she saw what had become of her missing younger sister, she let out a scream.
“Detective Yu...! Calm down first...!”
“No...!! Please...!! Aah...!!”
“Wow...”
“The emotion is incredible...”
The staff stared in amazement at Shin Ah-gyeong’s passionate performance.
As she played Detective Yu Hyeju facing her dead younger sister...
She looked as though she had lost her entire world.
The sorrow and despair emanating from her brought tears to the viewers’ eyes.
But then.
“...”
Director-producer Park Yeong-won was watching another actor.
A smirk.
Someone was smiling as they watched Yu Hyeju scream.
Kim Minu.
Having committed the seventh serial murder, he sneered at the grieving family member.
The following scene, S#65.
Kim Minu gave a short monologue to himself.
“What a bunch of idiot cops. Puhuhu...”
He killed someone.
He deliberately left that person’s body somewhere easy to find.
And he felt delight as he watched someone else scream over losing them.
To the psychopath Kim Minu, all of it was a game.
Hmm-hmm~ Hmm~
Kim Minu hummed cheerfully as he headed home.
Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony.
It was the music he had listened to while killing Yu Hyeju’s younger sister, Yu Hye-seo.
Hmm~ Hmm~
At that moment, Kim Minu’s expression was inhuman.
A demon who felt pleasure at the sight of another person’s suffering.
S#65 ended by showing Kim Minu’s complete lack of humanity.
“Cut!”
Director-producer Park Yeong-won called cut and reviewed the footage again.
“...Huh.”
It was perfect.
Lee Hansol’s facial acting in particular was so perfect that it felt euphoric.
‘Hansol’s scenes will be over soon, won’t they?’
It was a deep shame to think that they would soon have to part with such an ideal actor.
With a strong sense of regret, Director Park called out.
“Okay!”
Once again, a bright cry of “okay” rang out across the set of <The Last Clue>.
* * *
Today’s filming for <The Last Clue> would end after the morning shoot.
Since I had a meeting scheduled for the afternoon, I returned to the car as soon as filming ended.
“Hansol, ready to go?”
“Yes, hyung.”
That was when it happened.
“Hansol!”
“Oh, Director Park.”
Director-producer Park Yeong-won stopped me as I was about to leave in the car.
“Pant... pant. Goodness, why are you leaving so quickly? Without even saying goodbye.”
“Haha, sorry. I have an appointment this afternoon.”
“I heard from President Park. You’re going to a meeting for <Hyde>, right?”
That was right.
I was scheduled to meet with the <Hyde> production team today.
If I made a good impression on the <Hyde> team at today’s meeting, I might get cast.
‘If possible... I definitely want the lead role.’
Perhaps noticing that I was a little nervous, Director Park patted my shoulder.
“If the <Hyde> team has any eye for talent, they’ll definitely choose you, Hansol.”
“Ah...”
“Director Min Jae-yeong of <Hyde>... I know him a little, and he’s very capable. You’ll probably get a good result at today’s meeting.”
So that was why Director Park had suddenly stopped me as I was leaving. Director Park wanted to encourage me.
I couldn’t help but feel grateful for Director Park’s warm heart.
“Thank you, Director. I think I’m a little less nervous now, thanks to you.”
“Haha! No need to thank me. Not between us!”
As I bowed my head, Director Park smiled warmly and reassured me.
The expression directed at me was full of deep fondness and affection.
“I should be thanking you, Hansol! Thanks to you, we got so many good scenes from today’s shoot.”
“Director...”
“You don’t have much filming left now, right? It’s a shame. Let’s have a meal after we wrap filming. I really want to treat you to dinner sometime.”
President Park Dong-pyeong and Director Park Yeong-won alike, why did everyone want to buy me a meal?
I didn’t know why, but it was clear that both of them thought well of me.
“Yes, Director. Let’s definitely have a meal together sometime. Ah... I think I should get going now...”
“Goodness, I’ve held up a busy person for too long. You’ll be late at this rate. Hurry and go.”
“Then, Director, I’ll see you at the set tomorrow!”
“Sure! See you tomorrow, Hansol! Good luck with the <Hyde> meeting too!”
With Director Park’s encouragement behind me, I left the set.
On the way to the meeting place, Seongsu, who was in the driver’s seat, glanced over at me reading the <Hyde> script.
“Hansol. Today’s meeting isn’t an audition, so just relax and have a conversation. And you’ll definitely do well.”
“Thank you, hyung.”
“I heard our president even called the director of <Hyde> and praised you a whole lot.”
“Oh... I appreciate it, but is that really okay?”
“Come on, it was only a few words of praise. Besides, is the lead role in <Hyde> a position you can get through influence? Our company isn’t that powerful yet.”
He was right.
The lead role in <Hyde> was not something that could be gained through connections.
The most important thing was skill.
Understanding the role and explosive emotional acting.
On top of that, only someone with a deep love for <Hyde> could become its lead.
Winning the lead role in <Hyde> certainly would not be easy, but...
I still had to work hard for the people supporting me.
More than anything, <Hyde> was a work I loved dearly.
I definitely wanted to be the lead.
“We’re almost there, Hansol. If you’re really nervous, I’ve got some Cheongsimhwan. Want one?”
“No, I’m okay. I’ll just go up, hyung.”
With my resolve firm, I headed to the production company office for <Hyde>.
* * *
“Hello, I’m actor Lee Hansol!”
“I’m Min Jae-yeong, the overall director of <Hyde>.”
During my two years of obscurity, the thing I had improved at most was reading the room.
You could say I’d reached the point where I could roughly tell what someone thought of me just by looking into their eyes.
“Welcome. Please, have a seat.”
On the surface, Director Min Jae-yeong welcomed me warmly.
But...
There was obvious surprise beneath the surface of his eyes.
I understood.
He must have been surprised that my appearance was plainer and less distinctive than expected.
It wasn’t Director Min’s fault.
For actors, appearance was a more important factor than most people imagined.
“Today isn’t an audition, just a brief meeting, so please make yourself comfortable.”
“Yes, I understand.”
“Then, first...”
Even so, Director Min began the meeting courteously and in a relaxed atmosphere.
Some people treated me poorly based on my appearance alone, but Director Min was at least not one of them.
“Hansol, I heard you’re quite fond of <Hyde>. How many times have you seen our play so far?”
“Once when I was in high school, and twice after becoming an adult. Three times in total.”
“Hmm, I see.”
Director Min nodded impassively when I said I had seen <Hyde> three times.
<Hyde> had a very solid fanbase.
There were probably people who had watched <Hyde> alone more than twenty times.
Just three viewings did not even qualify me as a serious fan.
“You must know the story of <Hyde> quite well, then.”
“Yes, I do.”
“Then do you think you could portray Han Siwoo, the lead of <Hyde>, well?”
There was a sharp blade hidden in that gentle tone.
It was a direct question: ‘So, do you think you suit the lead role in <Hyde>?’
“Hmm...”
Excessive humility could be poison instead.
I slowly presented my strengths to Director Min.
“I’m currently playing a serial killer in the drama I’m filming.”
“Oh.”
Kim Minu, the main villain of the drama <The Last Clue>, was a serial killer.
And...
Han Siwoo, the lead of the play <Hyde>, was also a serial killer.
“Ah. Come to think of it, this is confidential... You’ll keep what I’m saying a secret, right?”
“Haha! Of course. Everything discussed at today’s meeting is confidential, so please feel free to speak.”
Director Min gave a faint smile and asked me.
“Are you saying you can portray the role well because the serial killer you’re currently playing and the lead of our <Hyde> are similar characters?”
“No, that’s not it. The serial killer I’m playing in the drama kills for pleasure.”
Kim Minu from <The Last Clue> was both a serial killer and the owner of a flower shop.
While running the shop, he killed people for his own pleasure.
But...
“Pleasure... Then in your view, what does Han Siwoo, the protagonist of <Hyde>, kill for?”
“Conviction.”
“...!”
Han Siwoo, the lead of <Hyde>, was both a serial killer and a police officer.
After losing their parents in a hit-and-run accident during their school years, Han Siwoo became a police officer as an adult.
They became a police officer to uphold justice and punish evil people.
But reality was different.
“After becoming a police officer, Han Siwoo comes to have serious doubts about Korea’s justice system.”
No matter how diligently they caught criminals,
the sentence was reduced if the criminal showed remorse,
the sentence was reduced if the criminal had been drinking,
the sentence was reduced if the criminal had a mental illness,
and sometimes, an incomprehensible decision by a judge resulted in a light sentence.
Was the modern justice system as it stood truly the best possible system?
“Consumed by self-loathing, Han Siwoo suffers from severe depression and lethargy...”
“...”
“As everyone knows, they go to see a psychiatrist and are prescribed a mysterious drug.”
And the moment they took that mysterious drug, a new personality awakened.
That new personality was Han Siwoo’s evil nature... Hyde.
“Han Siwoo personally punishes criminals out of powerful conviction. Filled with deep anger and hatred toward evil... they choose to become evil themselves.”
In my past lives, I had lived the lives of countless evil people.
Anger and hatred.
To me, they were as familiar as everyday life.
“Personally, I’m confident at portraying sharp emotions such as anger and hatred. I believe I can express the emotions of Han Siwoo, the lead of <Hyde>, better than anyone.”
“Ho... You’re very confident.”
Director Min looked at me with interest as he softly voiced his admiration.
“If you’re that confident, may I see an improvised performance? Choose one of the famous scenes from our <Hyde>.”
An improvised performance.
When Director Min requested one, the other <Hyde> production staff stirred.
No matter what, suddenly asking someone to act without preparation was rude to the actor.
But...
“Yes, I can.”
In truth, I had been waiting for him to ask me to act.
All of my answers up to now had been intended to lead to this moment.
“I like how decisive you are. Shall I give you some time to practice?”
“No, I don’t need practice time. Let’s begin right now.”
Smiling faintly to myself, I immediately found the emotion without wasting time.
A few seconds later.
Tears began streaming down my face.
* * *
A few seconds after beginning his improvised performance, Lee Hansol immediately burst into tears.
“Sniff... This isn’t right... Something is wrong...”
Director Min Jae-yeong immediately recognized which scene Lee Hansol was performing.
Han Siwoo, the protagonist of <Hyde> and now a police officer,
was watching the hit-and-run driver who had killed their parents during their school years live happily, and was overcome with self-loathing.
“My parents can never come back to life... So how can you smile?”
“I cry every night thinking of my parents. What about you...?”
“Do you regret your crime...?”
“Don’t tell me... You’ve already forgotten?”
“Sniff...”
It was heartbreaking.
Lee Hansol radiated such agonizing emotion that everyone watching felt wronged alongside him.
‘Wow...’
Lee Hansol was astonishingly good at acting.
Was that why those three bigshots had recommended him?
‘But this still isn’t enough.’
To become the lead of <Hyde>, something beyond that was needed.
Overwhelming charisma.
The lead of <Hyde> needed to dominate the audience with an immense aura.
Hansol did not yet seem to possess that aura.
“What did my mom and dad do to deserve to die like that...?”
Still, this was more than enough to show potential.
With intense training from here on, perhaps Hansol could become the lead of <Hyde>.
‘I’ll have to think it over further, but I should at least put Hansol’s name on the list of lead-role candidates.’
Just as Director Min was feeling a not-unfavorable degree of satisfaction with Lee Hansol’s acting, it happened.
“This... isn’t right.”
“This isn’t the justice... I wanted.”
“This world is... wrong...”
“...Huh?”
Lee Hansol did not stop acting. He continued on.
‘Don’t tell me he intends to do the next part too...?’
The next part was not something that could be done through improvisation...
The next moment, Director Min and all of the <Hyde> production staff were shocked.
“You’re right, my friend.”
“...!”
As Lee Hansol, who had been weeping uncontrollably, lowered his head, a voice entirely different from before flowed from his mouth.
If the earlier voice had belonged to a bright, innocent young person...
Hansol’s voice now was rough and phlegmy, like that of a middle-aged person who had smoked for decades.
“This world is terribly wrong.”
“What the... That’s insane.”
Startled, Director Min let out a short curse without realizing it.
Even the established stars of <Hyde> had struggled with acting out the dual personalities.
Yet Lee Hansol was now performing that difficult acting on the spot.
And it was...
Perfect.
No, more than perfect.
When Han Siwoo, who had been sobbing uncontrollably, raised their head again, sorrowful tear tracks covered their face.
But at the same time...
A chilling smile bloomed across their lips.
“Does it make any sense for bastards like those criminals to live comfortably without a care in the world?”
Hyde, the other personality of Han Siwoo that had been born after taking the mysterious drug.
Hyde spoke in a voice filled with conviction.
“It’s a task someone has to do.”
An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth?
Wrong.
Criminals who made victims shed tears should shed tears of blood.
Reformation? Rehabilitation? Remorse?
Fuck that.
Who would compensate the victims for their suffering?
A world where criminals lived proudly and happily could never be tolerated.
Creak.
Hyde wore a chilling smile while grinding their teeth hard.
“Let’s set this broken world right, together.”
Their hatred and rage toward this broken world burst forth.
Like a massive tsunami...
It swallowed everything whole.
“...”
“...”
The <Hyde> production staff froze as they witnessed that unbelievable acting.
No one dared open their mouth before the overwhelming charisma Lee Hansol radiated.
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