SCT-Novel Chapter 156: Acceleration (5)
Chapter 156: Acceleration (5)
Kang Rojun appeared at the script reading room for ‘Like a Kaleidoscope’. The Japanese actors, who had been chatting noisily, gasped and looked at Rojun, and Suzuki Rie, who had previously thought of Japan’s top male actors as squids, turned her gaze.-Swish.
Once again, her eyes landed on Rojun’s face through the crowd of actors.
‘……??’
She immediately realized something was strange. Of course, it was related to Kang Rojun’s appearance.
‘W-What?? Rojun’s face… it looks several times more handsome-’
She was probably the one who knew Kang Rojun best in this reading room. She had watched ‘Produce That 100!’ dozens of times. Naturally, she had seen Kang Rojun often. She had also watched ‘Rental Lover’. She had been surprised even then when watching ‘Lover No. 4’, but the Kang Rojun standing before her today far surpassed even that.
‘Plastic surgery?? No, no way. Surgery doesn’t explain this. What the heck is going on?’
Even when Rojun first appeared in ‘Produce That 100!’, Suzuki Rie had thought his face was unbelievable. But was that not the end of it?
Her mouth opened naturally.
Suzuki Rie’s reaction was understandable. What she had seen was before the passive ‘Overwhelm’ and when his appearance stat was at 100. The current Rojun had an appearance stat of 150.
The other Japanese actors, who had no way of knowing this, looked at Rojun standing right in front of them.
‘……W-What is this. I can’t move my body.’
‘Crazy. Can a human being really be this handsome??’
‘This… isn’t something we can evaluate, is it?’
‘He’s not just good-looking, his gaze and the aura he’s giving off are way too intense. Damn, he didn’t hear what I said earlier, right?’
With low gasps of astonishment, they inwardly screamed in embarrassment or shame.
Who the hell were we trying to evaluate?
No matter what else, when it came to appearance, Kang Rojun’s aura was overwhelmingly powerful. He was just wearing an indifferent expression, but already some of the actresses’ hearts in the reading room were pounding. Wearing a light blue shirt and a short padding jacket, Kang Rojun tilted his head slightly in thought.
‘Why are their reactions so bland? Ah, is it because of my ‘Overwhelm’?’
All the Japanese actors were stiff. In any case, Rojun greeted the actors again.
“Hello.”
Only then did the ice start to melt, and the Japanese actors responded with half-forced smiles, half-awkward ones.
“Ah, hello.”
“Nice to meet you, wow- you’re really handsome.”
“Writer Rojun, I enjoyed ‘Rental Lover’.”
Within moments, over a dozen Japanese actors rushed to greet him. However, to Rojun, it felt less like actors greeting him and more like strangers from Japan saying hello.
“Yes. Thank you, I look forward to working with you today.”
The actors poured out praise for Kang Rojun’s fluent Japanese.
“I heard about it, but you really do speak Japanese well.”
“Right, I look forward to working with you today, writer. No, actor?”
For a few minutes, Kang Rojun exchanged greetings with the Japanese actors, and among them was Suzuki Rie, who had already stood up at some point.
“I’m Rojun.”
“…I’m Suzuki Rie.”
Unconsciously, she reached out her hand. She was asking for a handshake. Rojun lightly smiled with his eyes and shook Suzuki Rie’s hand. Glancing sideways at Rojun, Suzuki Rie was still dazed by the warmth she felt in her hand.
‘That ridiculous face with a beautiful voice. He’s a youkai. If you let your guard down, anyone would be enchanted.’
By now, Kang Rojun had taken control of the atmosphere in the reading room. So much so that Manager Kim Ki-baek, who followed in behind Rojun, was convinced.
‘He only showed up and said hello, and already his presence is overwhelming. Even with a quick look around, there’s no one with an aura like our Rojun.’
Japan’s top actors were thoroughly overshadowed by the rookie actor and writer Kang Rojun. And this wasn’t just Manager Kim Ki-baek’s opinion, it was likely something most of the actors in the reading room also felt.
As attention gathered on Rojun, he looked at the character list placed on the ㅁ-shaped table.
‘Is this my seat?’
He saw the name of the role he was assigned and pulled out the chair.
-‘Murata Sho’
Then he picked up the stack of papers nearby. It was the script for ‘Like a Kaleidoscope’. The title engraved on the purple cover. When he opened it, the pages were filled with stage directions and lines written in Japanese. Seeing the Japanese version of the script in person, Rojun felt a strange sensation.
-Swish.
At the same time, dozens of people rushed into the reading room. It was the production team for ‘Like a Kaleidoscope’ and staff from Netflix Japan. The actors, including Rojun, all stood up, and a foreigner with a familiar face who was greeting others spotted Kang Rojun.
“Writer Rojun.”
It was Tom Cavill, the Executive Director of Netflix Japan. With his curly blond hair, he approached Rojun with a smile and introduced the man beside him, who gave off a mostly gloomy vibe.
“Writer-nim, this is the PD who will be directing ‘Like a Kaleidoscope’.”
The director PD, whose eyes were bloodshot, greeted Kang Rojun.
“Nice to finally meet you, writer-nim. I’m Noguchi Ken.”
He looked as though he might collapse any second. Rojun slightly bowed his head, thinking how this man resembled PD Woo Han-suk from the past, when he had pulled all-nighters for several days.
“Hello.”
“I really enjoyed reading the script. I’ll put my life into the directing.”
After a brief conversation, PD Noguchi Ken sat at the front of the ㅁ-shaped table. The actors also took their seats, and Tom Cavill and the others settled onto the folding chairs in the back. Once it seemed everyone had arrived, the script reading officially began.
“Nice to meet you all, I’m Noguchi Ken, the director of ‘Like a Kaleidoscope’.”
The director PD started with his self-introduction, then moved on to the writer.
“As you all know, writer Rojun-nim will also be playing the role of ‘Murata Sho’ as an actor.”
Applause followed.
-Clap clap clap clap.
The introductions continued. With over twenty actors present and the Netflix Japan staff, it wrapped up with Tom Cavill’s words of support. PD Noguchi Ken opened the script placed in front of him.
“Then, let’s begin the script reading for ‘Like a Kaleidoscope’.”
Meanwhile.
Just as Kang Rojun was blending into the script reading session, a flood of photos related to him was spreading across Korea.
《[Star Photo] ‘Rojun’ fully charged with handsomeness at Gimpo Airport / Photo》
《‘Vanguard’ Rojun, perfect 365 days a year! A visual that moves hearts》
《Rojun departs for Japan, ‘Turning the airport into a runway’ / Photo》
《Hundreds gather to catch a glimpse of Rojun… already a star!》
They were, of course, pictures taken at the airport, and the situation was no different in Japan. Even the members of ‘Vanguard’ under GN Entertainment were checking out the articles about Rojun during lunch.
Si-hoo kept expressing his amazement.
“Look at that crowd of fans! If I were them, I wouldn’t be able to resist actor Rojun either.”
Kang-min was curious about the script reading.
“I wonder what the reading room in Japan is like. I should’ve pretended to be his manager and followed hyung.”
Do-kyung kept a dry tone, but his shoulders were sky-high.
“Rojun hyung’s visuals are insane today. Those Japanese actors are seriously pitiful.”
Around the same time, the A&R team was out at a filming studio. In a vast space like a warehouse, dozens of people were busily working according to blueprints. In front of one section, the A&R team was checking the layout.
“Looks good, right?”
“Yeah, it came out just the way we wanted.”
This was one of the sets where the ‘Vanguard’ music video would be filmed.
“For now, this set is confirmed.”
The first set was given the OK.
Meanwhile, in Japan, Kang Rojun sat quietly, listening to the director PD’s stage directions and the actors’ lines.
‘Hmm.’
For now, he didn’t react in any particular way. Currently, PD Noguchi Ken was conducting the reading of episode 3.
‘Like a Kaleidoscope’ had a total of 10 episodes forming a connected universe, but each episode told a different story, like an omnibus. The male lead was a detective, and the cases he experienced were the main storyline. As such, the actor playing the lead detective had the most lines.
Rojun glanced at the Japanese top actor sitting across from him.
‘That guy is Endo Takuto?’
With long hair and an aristocratic aura, Endo Takuto was famous in Japan as a skilled actor.
‘He’s had a lot of hits too.’
Of course, Kang Rojun had researched the cast of ‘Like a Kaleidoscope’ beforehand, and among them, he had looked up the most information about Endo Takuto, who played the lead. Soon, without revealing anything on his face, Rojun listened intently to the lines of Endo Takuto and the other actors.
That went on for 30 minutes.
The reading was progressing in a rather dry manner, and as the reading of episode 3 ended, PD Noguchi Ken rustled the script and spoke.
“Next, we’ll do episode 1, subtitle: ‘The Vanished Women’.”
At this point, from the folding chair area, Executive Director Tom Cavill,
‘It’s writer Rojun’s turn.’
Along with Manager Kim Ki-baek and most of the staff, all turned their attention to Kang Rojun. He was one of the leads in episode 1. The same went for Suzuki Rie, whose cheeks were flushed, and the Japanese actors. Everyone was glancing at Kang Rojun.
Their eyes held curiosity, as well as a hint of doubt.
‘He speaks Japanese well, but can he… act?’
At that moment, the director PD read out an additional stage direction in Japanese.
“S#3 Night. Detective Nagai steps into Kabukicho, ablaze with neon lights.”
‘Detective Nagai’ was the protagonist of ‘Like a Kaleidoscope’.
“He walks past drunks and people handing out business cards, and stops in front of a large signboard painted red and yellow. His destination is a host club. Detective Nagai clicks his tongue, looking displeased.”
As soon as the stage directions ended, Endo Takuto, with long hair and playing the role of ‘Detective Nagai’, opened his mouth.
“Tsk, I can already smell something foul here.”
The baton returned to the PD, who continued reading the next stage direction.
“Grumbling, Detective Nagai enters the host club. After requesting a specific host and waiting in the room, a man with a handsome face walks in.”
Now it was Kang Rojun’s turn. However, Rojun did not act rashly, he exuded a notably calm atmosphere. There was no need to panic. He had steadily practiced his acting all this time.
‘I’ve already finished learning this long ago.’
The role he would be playing, ‘Murata Sho’, was one he had completed learning for quite some time. At that moment, Suzuki Rie, who was looking at Rojun, slightly furrowed her brow.
‘Huh?’
It made sense. The atmosphere around Kang Rojun had suddenly changed from just a moment ago. It was soft and flexible. Like cold water. But not to the point of freezing. It was chilly, yet glamorous.
His expression, that is.
“Detective?”
One line. Rojun’s dialogue in Japanese echoed throughout the reading room. But for some reason, the eyes of the Japanese actors in attendance widened slightly.
Diction and vocalization.
Even in a short line, it came through clearly. The character’s form, personality, tone of voice, and intonation.
‘…When he greeted us earlier, his tone was low. But now, it’s completely smooth. As if this had been his voice all along.’
Rojun had erased his own scent and simply became ‘Murata Sho’ as he welcomed Detective Nagai.
“I heard you requested me.”
A faint smile. But mechanical. A monetized smile developed over many years in the workplace. Thanks to Kang Rojun, who showed the essence of a character’s color with a single expression.
“……”
The male lead, Endo Takuto, briefly faltered before returning to ‘Detective Nagai’.
“Disgusting words. I didn’t request you. I just called someone.”
“Yes. That’s fine. But I’m a little expensive.”
“I know. I saw that damn face of yours plastered on the big signboard upstairs too.”
Kang Rojun deepened the density of that mechanical smile toward Endo Takuto. Speaking with his eyes and aura: if you’re not going to pay, get lost. But ‘Detective Nagai’ brought up the main issue as if it were nothing.
“You heard, right? Four women who came to this host club have already gone missing.”
“Is that so.”
“…Start by looking at these photos.”
The subtitle of episode 1 of ‘Like a Kaleidoscope’ was ‘The Vanished Women’, and the actual content revolved around female customers who had come to the host club and began disappearing one by one. The character Kang Rojun played, ‘Murata Sho’, was a legendary No. 1 host. But one with a touch of mystery to him.
Rojun tilted his head slightly. His eyes shifted upward. As if thinking.
“I wouldn’t know. I meet a lot of people.”
“They were all women who met you, and afterward, they vanished without a trace. You didn’t have any additional contact with them?”
Crossing his arms and leaning slightly forward. Kang Rojun lightly shook his head.
“That’s what an amateur would do. I’m a professional.”
At this point, the Japanese actors around them gasped. How could he be so natural?
‘Just a moment ago, he was nothing more than a damn handsome idol. But now… I can only see a host.’
Not a single actor in the room dared to criticize Rojun’s acting. Not even PD Noguchi Ken, who was leading the reading.
In fact, as he watched Kang Rojun’s facial expressions.
‘He’s guarded, but doesn’t reveal it. The overall mood is like water, but the voice that comes out has oil mixed in. Water and oil. Two things that don’t mix, yet somehow they’ve been forced into the same bowl.’
It gave him chills.
‘His tone is direct, but he comes across eerily. How can someone express such profound nuance… with just their eyes and expressions? That can’t be a writer- no, a rookie actor.’
He was taking control. That was Kang Rojun. With just a single line, just a single expression, he could adjust the pacing. With tension mounting, the male lead Endo Takuto swallowed hard and brought back ‘Detective Nagai.’
“Professional or not! Cooperate properly with the investigation! Stop twisting things like a damn snake!”
An agitated ‘Detective Nagai’. It was written that way in the actual script, but as Kang Rojun watched it unfold, he didn’t like what he saw.
‘That’s not it.’
Just as PD Noguchi Ken was about to read the next direction.
“‘Detective Nagai’ stands up abruptly.”
“Excuse me, sorry.”
Rojun, completely shedding the aura of ‘Murata Sho’, suddenly raised his hand and interrupted the PD. Then he spoke to the Japanese top actor across from him, Endo Takuto. Or rather, he gave direction.
“That last bit of acting was a bit over the top.”
Before he was an actor in ‘Like a Kaleidoscope’, even Tom Cavill, the Executive Director, couldn’t speak casually to him,
Because he was the writer.