“Wh-what do you mean by that?”
As soon as Seo Jin-woo’s words hit him, Han Tae-geon was thrown off.
‘Are you really a beast?’
He had known for a while that Jin-woo had a good instinct.
But to think it would be to this extent.
‘It’s just a sham…’
He couldn’t even comprehend on what grounds Kim Donghu had popped into the conversation.
Was it just because he happened to see the audition notice for a play with 11 views?
‘Can that even happen?’
Han Tae-geon tried to mask his surprise as best as he could.
“Why are we talking about Kim Donghu all of a sudden?”
“Unless you have a reason, why on earth are you browsing an audition site? You’re the national star Han Tae-geon!”
Seo Jin-woo looked at him with eyes that said he wouldn’t entertain any excuses.
“Why would you even check something like this? Especially a work directed by a high schooler?”
“Wha-what?! Can you really tell just from that it’s directed by a high schooler?”
“Is he really a high schooler?”
Once he heard Jin-woo’s response, Han Tae-geon felt a rush of realization.
He’d foolishly taken the bait from this beast-like guy without a second thought.
“Donghu, I mean, our youngest is just about to enter high school… The article said he got into Daejong High, right?”
You know how it is at Daejong High; high school kids sometimes try to hold auditions to direct a play.
Of course, there’s never any success—who would want to work under a high school director?
Seo Jin-woo’s calm voice continued.
A beast, having perfectly captured its prey, never lets go of its catch.
“And coincidentally, this notice isn’t looking for a lead? At that moment, it struck me.”
Ah, so it’s because of Kim Donghu that they don’t need to look for a lead.
At that, Jin-woo stopped talking and looked directly at Han Tae-geon.
His eyes clearly said he was sure his reasoning was spot on and that Han should explain himself.
It was like a little detective had pieced everything together and was now interrogating the suspect.
Han Tae-geon couldn’t hide his eyes darting around like crazy.
Then, he decided to face it head-on.
“So, what’s going to happen?”
“What?”
“If Donghu comes out, then what?”
With that bold statement, Seo Jin-woo raised an eyebrow.
“What do you mean ‘what’?”
It was as if the answer had already been determined from the start.
Laughing heartily, he searched for the audition notice on his phone.
“Of course, we have to go audition.”
He burst into laughter.
++++++
Time flew by, and soon it was the interview day for [A Tale of Stars and Moons].
Phew, why am I so nervous?
Ten-year veteran actor Jin Myeong-tae tried to calm his pounding heart.
To be honest, when he first saw the audition notice, he thought it was a joke.
A second-year high schooler auditioning in Daehakro?
But after wiping out his prejudices and reading the script, his thoughts completely changed.
‘This script is definitely going to work.’
It was such a clean and touching story that he even thought it was genius.
The most common mistake made by playwrights is not understanding the uniqueness of theater.
Given that the audience is watching a live performance right before their eyes, many writers insert situations that don’t consider the stage environment.
But [A Tale of Stars and Moons] didn’t have any of that.
There was nothing to run away from.
It was truly a scenario created solely for a play.
There were several roles available to audition for, but Jin Myeong-tae wanted to take on the role of the fool tree.
“But isn’t it supposed to be the baobab tree?”
Maybe they adapted it and changed the name.
Anyway.
So, Jin Myeong-tae muttered lines from the script as he walked to the audition location.
“Wow, this is a really remote place.”
Honestly, this part was a bit puzzling.
Usually, if you’re auditioning, you’d want a public place to promote it too.
But [The Story of Stars and Moon] was having auditions in an extremely secluded area.
“Wasn’t this the place where the landlord said he was selling the theater cheap not long ago?”
Just as he was wondering how they rented this place, Jin Myeong-tae suddenly stopped in his tracks.
“…What?”
The first thing that caught his eye was three huge vans.
Did vans usually show up at auditions?
It was such a rare occurrence that he became curious, and just then.
“Hey, are you really serious about competing with me for a role?”
“It’s been a while! Feels like I’m back to my rookie days. How nice!”
“Oh, really? You wanna go for a role against me? Sounds good, let’s do it!”
Two unfamiliar yet familiar voices rang out in succession.
“…?”
Are those voices really coming from here?
Jin Myeong-tae continued to step closer, questioning this, and finally, the moment he leaned into the place where the voices were coming from.
“Huh!”
He was so surprised that a literal “huh” escaped his lips.
“S-S-S-Seo Jin-woo the actor… and Han Tae-geon… the actor?!”
One was the star of [The Swordsman Baek Dong-su], which led the ratings at 30%.
The other was the star of the blockbuster film [Endless War].
Why on earth were such huge actors here?
As he was in shock,
“Oh my, you’re here for the audition? Nice to meet you, I’m Kim Yu-ryun.”
“G-G-G-Goodness, Kim Yu-ryun the actress?!??!”
The actress once known as the queen of television elegantly stepped down from the van.
What is happening? Did I come to the wrong place? Is this even the right venue?
Jin Myeong-tae hurriedly checked the address to calm his astonished heart.
“This is the right place!”
Why are these great actors at the audition for [The Story of Stars and Moon]?
Where could there be a mistake?
There were just too many things to point out.
But here,
“…Are you all truly here for the audition?”
As if there were still more surprises in store, a figure caught his eye.
“You do know this is a play being held in Daehangno, right?”
This person brought the perfect question to address Jin Myeong-tae’s confusion.
But he didn’t feel any sense of camaraderie.
‘So, the lead role was, then, already determined…!’
He didn’t even have the strength left to voice his surprise.
The star of a 40% rating drama.
The protagonist with a 40% chance.
Attached with the title of the nation’s prince,
A rising star actor who is undeniably gaining recognition.
He swept all the rookie awards at the year-end ceremony held by the three major broadcasting companies.
People say he has the best looks in existence, a living statue.
“Kim Donghu… ugh, ugh…”
I didn’t have the strength to continue speaking.
Jin Myeong-tae staggered, and just as he was about to collapse,
“Haha, you’re still young, but if your legs are this weak, what’s the point?”
Someone supported Jin Myeong-tae’s body.
“Th-thank…?”
Jin Myeong-tae finally raised his head to express his gratitude.
“Here, Jang Geonho, the actor…”
And then he drooped his head again.
To maintain my composure,
In this harsh environment, it was way too cruel for a 10-year veteran nobody.
+++++
“Haha, looks like the young lad fainted from surprise.”
“…”
Of course, I would faint too.
‘Even I would faint in this situation.’
I scratched my head, thinking, ‘Why has it come to this?’
‘What’s wrong with the members?’
Looking at the members, it was a special task force of elite actors gathered to snipe the ratings.
“…Did everyone really come for auditions?”
I asked with a heart full of hope.
“Of course, I’ve been waiting for the day I get to act with you.”
Seeing everyone nodding at Jang Geonho’s words, I wiped my face dry.
“I’m really, really sorry, but I can’t match your appearance fees.”
A polite refusal.
I had a bad feeling that things were about to get out of hand.
I gathered my thoughts and said it all.
“I’m not here for the money; we originally came for the auditions, so don’t worry too much.”
Everyone nodded at Han Tae-geon’s words, and I wiped my face dry again.
“You know this, but the first performance isn’t for… regular audiences, right?”
“We came knowing that; do you think we wouldn’t?”
Again, everyone nodded at Seo Jin-woo’s words.
‘This has gotten way too big.’
I was just supposed to perform in Daehangno,
Wondering how grand a Grade A play could be and why Sims recommended this.
‘Was it for this?’
Sims had seen this future?
It was way too elaborate.
So grand that the canvas might tear from the size.
‘These aren’t members who’d perform in Daehangno.’
But the even funnier and sadder part was that everyone who came was indeed part of the audition.
The view count for the audition notice was a mere 23 times.
In a way, it’s quite a feat that this many showed up.
The problem was, it wasn’t about the quantity, but the quality was ridiculously high.
“Is this a scene that even senior Bong Jinwoo should watch?”
“Am I about to faint?”
Why do these predictions always turn out ominously true?
Seriously.
“What’s happening outside? Why is there so much noise…”
The moment Bong Jinwoo stepped outside, he was met with an absurd sight.
“Well, well, the director is here!”
As soon as he saw Jang Geonho chuckling leisurely,
“Whuuuhhh…”
He immediately lost his wits and collapsed face-first onto the ground.
“…How about we take a moment to discuss things, seniors?”
Watching that scene, I strongly felt the need for a strategy meeting.
+++++
Why the Little Prince?
Why did we have to adapt the story of the Little Prince?
To that question, Bong Jinwoo answered.
“Because that’s our story.”
Like having been born in a remote place.
Having been dropped at an orphanage, unable to enjoy anything one should have at a young age.
Missing out on the experiences that should be a given in childhood.
That’s why we’re still so young,
And even though we have much to learn, we remain in the little planet.
“This is a play to plant our dreams.”
Thus, it is the story of [The Tale of Stars and Moons].
In the orphanage,
It’s a story filled with the will to live unfettered by reality.
So we wished for success.
So we rudely clung onto Kim Donghu.
“So certainly.”
Just as he was about to continue speaking, his vision blurred.
Flash!
He opened his eyes.
‘I must have just passed out.’
Why did that happen? Was it because I only slept about four hours yesterday?
What could be the problem?
At that moment, as those thoughts crossed his mind, light filtered through his eyelids, and his vision gradually returned.
Surely, I had just witnessed something absurd before passing out.
“Oh, our director and writer is awake!”
A familiar voice echoed.
A voice often heard from beyond the screen.
“…?”
Bong Jinwoo was speechless upon witnessing the scene before him.
Han Tae-geon, Seo Jin-woo, Kim Yu-ryun, Jang Geonho, Kim Sujin, Kim Donghu.
All the actors, who could easily boast a hundred headlines together, were looking right at him.
And then came the shocking words from Seo Jin-woo.
“When is the audition going to start?”
You want me to evaluate these people’s auditions?
‘M-Me?’
Bong Jinwoo fainted again.
It was far too harsh a trial for a second-year high school student.
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