"The mountain is the mountain, and the water is the water..."
Swoooosh—
Screech, screech—
The waves crashing against the breakwater and the seagulls crossing the blue sky.
How had I lived in a city full of exhaust fumes all this time, leaving a place like this behind?
"Unemployed mister, are you really going today?"
"Kid, I told you, it's hyung, not mister."
"You seem like a mister, though."
The son of the owner of the guesthouse where I had stayed for the past few days.
I think I've heard his name about three times, but I've forgotten it.
"And I'm a writer, not unemployed."
"What's a writer?"
"How many times are you going to ask?"
I think I've already told him at least ten times.
Since it's the last time, I should give him some special, tailored education.
"You know Purple Girls' Semi, right?"
"No."
"Ji Seongho, you know Ji Seongho, right? The actor. Super handsome. Tall."
"I don't know him. Ah, but I know Armored Warrior Loreca!"
"...Loreca and I are close."
"Wow, awesome! You're amazing, mister!"
"Yeah. I know."
The scripts I had written, enduring a time of great hardship.
My feet were in no condition to be seen after hastily climbing up and down Hallasan.
I had run around on blistered feet for a mere two weeks, writing like a madman.
"It was so damn hard."
A continuous streak of script writing, covering six parts up to episode 12.
In the meantime, the love line progressed steadily and took shape.
The build-up of the frustrating chaebol family villains was solidified.
All that was left was to unleash the satisfying resolution and sort out the love line.
If I can wrap up the ending well, I think I'll be able to secure a solid base of regular viewers.
Trill-ring—
I turned on my smartphone, which had been sealed away for a long time.
"Why are there so many missed calls?"
From Semi and Jung Saerom, to Director Sung and actor Im.
I called the person who had called most recently.
-Oh! Writer Kim!!!
"Yes, Manager Jung. Anyone would think a war broke out..."
-Wr-writer-nim, where are you right now!?
"Jeju Island."
-...Don't joke around.
"It's true."
The cry of the seagulls and the sound of the waves will prove it.
-Um... do you know that the final audition is in just 2 hours?
"Of course. That's why I'm taking a plane to Seoul around that time."
-How can you say that right now...!"
"Oh, what should I do? They say the plane is taking off soon."
-You just said you were taking it in two hours!!!
"I'll be there soon. See you in Seoul. Poof!"
Click.
"It seems I'm needed more than I thought."
It's as if I've become an indispensable person. I'm very satisfied.
A sense of accomplishment I had never felt during my six years as an assistant writer.
While my smartphone was on, I indulged in the benefits of civilization that I hadn't been able to enjoy.
"A lot has happened in the entertainment world in the last two weeks."
Various incidents plastered all over the news section of the portal site.
One dating scandal, one drunk driving incident, a major drama's programming schedule.
"A major drama... MBS blockbuster?"
"MBS Blockbuster Drama 'Shoot the Sun' Confirmed to Air in Two Months!"
Numerous reporters had copied and pasted the content, multiplying the articles.
The comments below were filled with responses of anticipation.
"Wow, the dramas competing with this are all going to die."
My deepest condolences to the poor souls.
If it's scheduled for two months from now, at least it won't be competing with mine.
It would take at least 6 months for my work to air, at the earliest.
"First, I should go to the airport and see if there's an earlier flight."
Soon, I headed back to the guesthouse to pack my things.
However, when it was actually time to part, the little boy was on the verge of tears.
When I gave him about 10,000 won as an allowance, he was immediately financially cured.
"You have to get me an autograph from Armored Warrior Loreca later!"
"Sure. I'll ask him."
Tempest Entertainment, B1 Conference Room.
"Manager-nim, we're ready."
"Already?"
"Pardon?"
"Ah, no, it's nothing."
In the end, two hours had passed, but Writer Kim was nowhere to be seen.
'Still, I should be glad he at least answered the phone... I guess.'
Pfft—
Thinking of Writer Kim Jinwoo, a laugh escaped her lips.
She wasn't his mother, so why did she have to take care of him like this?
"Manager-nim?"
"Hmm, it's nothing."
The temporarily installed spectator seats filled the B1 level.
Staff members were busily moving around on the stage set up at the front.
"Director Sung, you're here?"
"It's been a while, Manager Jung."
Director Sung looked around, searching for someone.
Seeing that he seemed to be looking for Writer Kim, Saerom spoke up.
"I think he'll be a little late. Writer Kim Jinwoo is currently..."
It was then.
"Are you looking for me?"
Everyone's attention focused on the voice coming from behind.
"Writer Kim! Where on earth have you been that you're only now...!"
Writer Kim Jinwoo, showing himself for the first time in two weeks.
However, his appearance was far from normal.
His half-torn jeans and large backpack were impressive.
He looked as if he were a shipwreck survivor who had just been rescued.
"What's with your appearance!"
"You told me to come right away. I even moved up my flight time."
At that moment, a staff member on stage asked in a loud voice.
"Director-nim, it's time to start. Should I tell the first actor to get ready?"
"No! Let's start right away."
Hearing Director Sung's instruction, the staff member headed to the actors' waiting room.
"It looks like Writer Kim went to Jeju alone for location scouting. Am I wrong?"
"Oh! That's about right."
Hearing Director Sung's words, Jinwoo quickly agreed.
At this, Saerom said to him with a puzzled expression.
"Writer-nim, let's talk separately after the audition."
"...Can't we not?"
"No!"
A moment later,
the sound of the first actor being called was heard from the stage.
"We'll start with the first actor, Mr. Lee Changsoo!"
One of the twenty who had made it to the final audition.
For more than half of them—no, for most of them—the interview didn't hold much meaning.
"Ah, hel... lo. I'm, I'm actor Lee Changsoo!"
The interviewee stuttered, perhaps from being extremely nervous.
Unless he showed a huge impact, he wouldn't even be given a second glance.
And if he made even a small mistake, like the actor Lee Changsoo in front of them now.
BEEEEEP—
Director Sung Kihoon picked up a microphone and opened his mouth.
"That's enough. Good work."
"Ah, y-yes!"
Being cut off in the middle of acting essentially meant elimination.
After going through 8 participants like that, it was the ninth turn.
"The next participant is from a theater company."
"Oh, then can we look forward to this one a bit?"
With the staff member's introduction, the ninth participant entered.
"Hello. My name is Jo Ganghyun!"
Hearing his self-introduction, Manager Jung threw a question.
"You've been in theater in Daehangno for a long time?"
"Yes. About 8 years."
"So, since you were twenty?"
"Yes. I believe I've been running for this day."
Jo Ganghyun, who had been in theater in Daehangno for 8 years.
However, his skills fell far short of the expected level.
In the end, this time too, Kim Jinwoo cut him off in the middle of his acting.
"Are you sure you've been acting for 8 years?"
Hearing Kim Jinwoo's harsh criticism, the participant's expression hardened.
Starting with my evaluation, Manager Jung and Director Sung also added a word each.
"You need to show the role of an arrogant and haughty chaebol... but what should I say."
"It seems you haven't understood the character."
"That's right. The excessive gestures are particularly grating."
The participant, who was listening to the pouring criticism, self-destructed.
"...I haven't even shown half of my acting yet."
Sigh, how did he even pass the first round with skills like that.
I glanced at Saerom's face next to me, and our eyes met.
Soon, she shrugged as if to say she didn't know.
So this is the reality of how few actors with the right feel there are.
Soon after, the participant, frowning, was about to leave without even a bow.
But I felt like I had seen him somewhere before, so I quickly stopped him.
"Just a moment."
"Yes?"
"Are you, by any chance, from the Jang Geurae theater company?"
"Ah... yes. That's right."
Perhaps because the person who had given the first harsh criticism called him, he became tense.
'Jo Ganghyun. Jo Ganghyun...'
Right. No wonder he looked familiar, this bastard was on my death note.
He was one of the seniors who had instigated things when my sister was being cursed out.
That bastard Jo, what is he doing here? This is absurd.
And to think he came here to play the main male lead in my project, of all things.
It might be a different story if he could at least act a little.
But with skills like that and a rotten personality to boot, there's no hope.
"Mr. Jo Ganghyun."
"Yes?"
"A drama official I know went to Daehangno a while ago. To see a play called 'Good Choice'."
"Th-that's from our theater company..."
If I publicly shame him here, he won't do that trashy stuff to his juniors again.
"Yes. Thanks to that, the Jang Geurae theater company is famous among drama production companies."
"...?"
"When that person visited the theater, he apparently stopped by the waiting room to see if there were any good actors."
"S-such a thing..."
"He said you were cursing at and hazing your juniors. He said the seniors there have a lot of personality problems."
"..."
"Mr. Jo Ganghyun... you're not one of those seniors, are you?"
Feeling the uncomfortable gazes of the people, Jo Ganghyun quickly fled.
If he still does that kind of stuff after all this, he's not even human.
"Writer Kim, which drama production company do you know..."
I heard Saerom's words and gave a grin.
"There's no such thing."
A moment later, the last participant finally took the stage.
"Hello. I'm Im Jaejun. I look forward to working with you."
Whoever discovered him, he's a sturdy one.
It looks like his acting will be amazing.
I looked at actor Im with a fond expression, as if he were my real younger brother.
"Just looking at his appearance, he has the right feel."
"His gaze is deep, so he has a captivating charm."
"His physique is solid, and his expressions are varied."
"Well, let's see his acting first before we judge."
The fact that I had recommended Jaejun was revealed, and he received everyone's attention.
"Writer Kim praised him so much. Let's see how good he is."
"I'll be looking forward to it. I'll have to watch closely."
No, why are they all like that.
Director Sung and Manager Jung were completely deflating my dear actor's spirit.
After hearing that, not even Al Pacino could pull it off.
At that moment, Im Jaejun murmured softly.
"Do you dare to handle me?"
It was a line for the role of Cheon Jiho from the revised script I had given him.
The opening of the first episode, showing off his arrogant and haughty personality.
"I don't think you can even buy one of my house's pillars with that money."
His concentration, immersing himself in the role in an instant.
His vocalization, which hit the ear like a rapper's.
An aura that suited the role of a chaebol.
And a heart that could digest cringey lines with shamelessness.
As expected, it proves that my eyes were not mistaken.
Even those who had been looking at him with suspicious side-glances were soon drawn to Im Jaejun.
They all knew what kind of character Cheon Jiho was from reading my script.
A moment later, Im Jaejun finished his 20-minute performance.
He looked straight at me without avoiding my eyes.
His gently curved eyes showed a firm resolve.
Unlike his usual self, his fully made-up face was as outstanding as any idol who gets professional care every day.
The moment Im Jaejun finished his last line, a silence fell among the judges.
And then, just a moment later, a relay of compliments poured out as if a dam had burst.
"He's just Pure-hearted Macho itself, isn't he?"
"How much must he have practiced to play with every single syllable."
"Those are not the skills of a rookie actor."
Seeing the evaluations of the judges, who each threw in a word, everyone's opinion was unanimous.
Director Sung, with a satisfied expression.
Manager Jung, looking at me with surprised eyes.
'It's unanimous.'
Barring any unforeseen circumstances, the casting would be confirmed.
However, at that very moment, a staff member hurriedly ran to the judges' table.
And then he whispered something directly into Director Sung Kihoon's ear.
'Huh? What is it.'
A strange feeling took over my mind.
Even more so, seeing Director Sung's serious expression.
"I'll be the one to tell Director Bang."
No, but what is it.
Director Sung Kihoon disappeared in an instant without any explanation.
Soon after, Manager Jung Saerom, who had received the news from the staff member.
She paused for a moment and then said to me.
"Actor Kim Minhyuk fell from a horse and was rushed to the ER."
"And... so?"
The main character of the JTBS drama scheduled to premiere in two months.
"Don't tell me..."
"Yes. It seems our drama will be scheduled much earlier than expected."
"Then the first episode has to air in just two months?"
How on earth, in just two months...
'No, wait a minute.'
What was that news I checked in Jeju?
MBS's most anticipated work of the first half of the year, Shoot the Sun...!
A blockbuster drama scheduled to air on MBS in two months.
It had become a direct competitor in the same time slot, with only a one-week difference.
"...The filming schedule is going to be incredibly tight."
"Do you think that's what's important?"
She was right.
The problem wasn't just that filming was rushed.
"No one will invest. In our drama."
The drama industry is a market that runs strictly on capitalism.
There isn't a single investor who will sponsor a drama that can't even recoup its advertising costs.
Especially in the case of our work, which is filled with strong competitors and rookie actors.
'We're screwed, right?'
Manager Jung Saerom met my eyes for a long time.
Then, with a determined expression, she spoke firmly.
"Writer-nim, you just write. I'll make this drama happen, come hell or high water."
I could see the blazing will in her eyes.