NIS Agent Reincarnated as a Genius Actor

In contrast to Kim Joo-hyung, who watched the stage with his mouth agape, Yeon-woo began to focus intently on the script. With his singing ability, the chances of performing in a musical were slim, so this might be his first and last opportunity to be a part of ‘Dejandor’. Therefore, pouring his all into this one scene and delivering a performance without regrets seemed like the best course of action.

‘Here, the emphasis should be strong on this part…’, he thought, recalling the version he had seen in France that had left a deep impression. ‘This line should be delivered half a beat faster, just like the one I saw in Austria.’

In his mind, Yeon-woo visualized the scene he would be entering, recalling the numerous versions of ‘Dejandor’ he had seen in different countries.

He began to draw on the strengths of various famous actors’ interpretations, adding necessary elements to his performance and trimming the superfluous ones.

Shane Dillinger’s father had been killed by a rival organization right before his son’s eyes, run over by a car and shot.

The grown-up Shane eradicated the opposing organization and took over the underworld of Detroit, but the disappearance of his targets of vengeance left him feeling as if he had lost his life’s purpose, which frightened him.

He naturally developed a negative view of technological advancements, like the cars and guns that had killed his father, and grew to hate the munitions factories and industrial factories of 1930s America.

On the other hand, his sister Jane was just a girl full of dreams, finding the rapidly changing world fascinating and enjoyable. Eventually, she falls in love with ‘Ezel’, a young man managing workers at an automobile factory, leading to her conflict between her brother and the man she loves.

The role Yeon-woo would briefly take on was that of Ezel, the representative of the factory’s blue-collar workers, or the chief of the blue-collar workers. The scene where Ezel and Shane fiercely clash over their beliefs is a part of the musical that proceeds without song for over five minutes, relying solely on dialogue.

Before long, the troupe had finished rehearsing up to the previous scene and took a short break.

– Clap, clap, clap! –

– Whistle! –

Kim Joo-hyung, who had been engrossed in watching, gave a round of hearty applause, while Manager Kim Min-soo whistled from the side. Then, Jin Yu-han, who had just been ‘Shane’ on stage, came down to speak with Yeon-woo.

“How’s it going, Yeon-woo? Have you memorized the lines?”

“Yeah, I’ve got the lines down. For the blocking, can I just follow what I’ve seen in the original production?”

The blocking wasn’t particularly complicated. There was one part where Ezel and Shane come close to grabbing each other by the collar.

“That’s right. The blocking is just like the original.”

Jin Yu-han nodded, looking at the stage with an expression of anticipation.

Truth be told, Yeon-woo was just as excited.

As Yeon-woo stood up to prepare, it was clear that he might have seen this musical, ‘Dejandor’, more times than anyone else in the troupe due to his long-standing affection for it from previous lives.

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Jung In-chan, a six-year veteran musical actor, was initially intrigued when Jin Yu-han first visited his troupe. Observing the well-known young actor, In-chan nodded at his handsome appearance, thinking.

‘So that’s what it takes to succeed in serious drama.’

Although In-chan felt some resentment when he heard that Jin Yu-han was slated for a lead role, there was also a sense of anticipation—not so much for the stage performance, but for the promotional buzz it would generate.

‘Musicals are a completely different level from serious drama. Let’s see how well he does.’

As expected, Jin Yu-han’s vocalization didn’t quite fit the musical tone, and his gestures, suited more for the camera, seemed too subdued for the stage.

‘Camera acting doesn’t work here. It’s all about looks for him. True acting only shows on stage.’

But the situation wasn’t even amusing to In-chan. It was fine that Ryu Yeon-woo came to support Jin Yu-han, bringing delicious food and helping with the ongoing behind-the-scenes filming. But putting Yeon-woo suddenly on stage, even for a rehearsal?

In his mind, In-chan wasn’t feeling ‘jealousy’ but rather a ‘concern’ as a benevolent senior.

“Mr. Ryu Yeon-woo, this musical, and especially this scene, isn’t one you can improvise. Since it’s just a rehearsal and for fun, why don’t you read from the script?”

Despite the ‘advice’ given by a senior, Yeon-woo quietly shook his head.

“I’ll make sure not to cause any trouble. I’ve memorized the lines while you were practicing the first part.”

Hearing Yeon-woo’s response, In-chan’s expression hardened.

‘Ha, such arrogance from a youngster? Shouldn’t he listen when a senior speaks? That’s the problem with young people who succeed early. They think they can do anything.’

Some troupe members, sharing similar thoughts, wore inscrutable smiles.

‘Ah, these guys find amusement in a young actor embarrassing himself. What a distasteful hobby. What was Jin Yu-han thinking, making such a proposal to a friend who came to support?’

While most of the smiles were actually born of anticipation to see Yeon-woo and Jin Yu-han perform together, everything seemed off to In-chan, who had started to view everything negatively.

Jung In-chan was convinced that Ryu Yeon-woo would either flub his lines or, even if he had memorized them well, he wouldn’t be able to properly embody the role due to his lack of stage experience. He would simply be reading the lines. With this in mind, In-chan ascended the stage as the lights dimmed, taking his place in front of the glowing markers and waiting for the performance to begin.

The low sound of a trombone, creating an atmosphere of tension, echoed through the space, and a single spotlight fell upon Yeon-woo, standing five paces away from Jin Yu-han.

– Thud. –

“What is this commotion? Who are you people!”

The actors on stage flinched at the first line.

‘He hit it exactly right. It’s as if he knew exactly when the trombone would stop.’

Yeon-woo then took a large step forward, continuing his lines.

“Did you not hear me? Who are you to come into this factory and cause trouble?”

“A dog smeared with filthy soot has a lot to say. Who am I? I am Shane Dillinger of Detroit.”

As Jin Yu-han declared his name, the other actors cringed.

“…Hey, Colson. Did he just say Shane? You don’t think it’s that Shane, do you?”

“Shh! Watch your mouth, James. If you stand out, you’re asking for a beating.”

As the actors naturally stepped back and cowered at the arrival of the mafia boss who ruled Detroit’s underworld, Yeon-woo stood taller and took another step forward, contrasting with their retreat.

Kim Joo-hyung, watching from the audience, sensed that Yeon-woo’s performance was somehow different from the other musical actors.

‘…Ah, so that’s why he seemed smaller at first? He was slightly hunched over on purpose. To make a contrast in this scene and amplify his presence.’

Joo-hyung had been puzzled to see the over 180-centimeter-tall Yeon-woo appear somewhat dwarfed compared to the surrounding actors, but now he understood the reason.

‘Yeon-woo, you had a plan all along?’

Joo-hyung nodded to himself, and Yeon-woo delivered his next line.

“Shane Dillinger? Are we doing roll call? I am Ezel.”

Unlike the others who shrank back at the sound of his name, Ezel stepped forward confidently, offering a handshake to the man before him. Shane felt a flicker of interest as he observed the man, while his underlings laughed exaggeratedly, as if seeing a naive puppy unaware of the danger it was in.

“Ezel. An interesting fellow. I’m here to kill you all and blow up this factory today.”

“I thought Shane Dillinger was an Italian, but it turns out he’s a German. Though, I suppose they’re allies anyway?”

At Ezel’s mocking tone, Shane’s men twitched as if ready to pounce, but Shane raised his hand to restrain them.

“Italy? Germany? What are you talking about? I am an American.”

“I thought you were some Italian mafia wannabes, strutting around the back alleys with your ill-gotten gains from bootlegging, but now you come here in droves, threatening to blow things up and kill people. How are you any different from that mustached man in Germany?”

Yeon-woo delivered the long and complex lines with perfect enunciation, adding a relaxed expressiveness to his performance that impressed the actors on stage. Kim Joo-hyung, who had been analyzing from the audience, was also taken aback.

‘…Something’s different. His acting is different from what I saw in the first part of the rehearsal. What is it?’

Joo-hyung, a self-proclaimed movie buff who had a habit of analyzing everything, was sure there was a difference but couldn’t quite put his finger on it.

‘Ah! That’s it. The other actors feel like they’re performing a Korean-adapted version, while Yeon-woo sounds like he’s directly translating the original version. They’re all speaking Korean, but how does he do that?’

Meanwhile, Jin Yu-han felt the same thing as Joo-hyung. Facing Yeon-woo and exchanging lines, he sensed an unfamiliar tension, different from their usual rehearsals.

‘…Is it the emphasis? There’s something dynamic and fitting about it. How does he do that?’

Unlike the even and flat tone of typical Korean speech, every line Yeon-woo uttered had a distinct emphasis.

It was natural.

Yeon-woo had referenced numerous top-tier musical actors from around the world who had performed ‘Dejandor’ in their native languages, selecting the best intonations for each line and meticulously crafting them together, ensuring the dialogue naturally resonated.

“Interesting story. The reason I’m here today is to eradicate the very things you compare me to. The cars, tanks, and guns that you produce are the root of all evil that sickens this society.”

Watching Jin Yu-han spit out his lines with a biting intensity, Yeon-woo’s eyes sparkled.

Ezel, portrayed by Yeon-woo, took a light step forward, spreading his arms as if to orate, drawing the audience’s attention to himself.

“Is the sin of harming a neighbor with a knife the fault of the knife or the one who wields it? If we eliminate all knives, will people stop dying? Then, what do you use to trim your mustache at the barbershop, and what do you use to prepare the ingredients for the stew you had this morning?”

“Nonsense. Knives and tanks are different. These iron beasts you create… they serve to alleviate people’s sense of guilt.”

– Bang. –

– Shriek. –

Shane, played by Jin Yu-han, fired a gun into the air, his eyes gleaming with madness.

“Just a flick of a finger can end a life. There’s no need to experience the horrific sensation of slicing flesh and bone, feeling the blade strike against the bone.

Ezel, with a furious expression, took a step forward and shouted as he saw the factory workers cower and cover their ears at the sound of the gunshot.

“Is this what you consider justice?”

“Justice? I don’t have such grand reasons. I just need a target for my father’s revenge.”

Initially, Ezel was five steps away from Shane at the start of the scene.

One step forward as the trombone ceased.

Another step as he straightened his shoulders while others stepped back.

A step as if offering a handshake while talking about roll calls.

A step forward, spreading his arms as if to orate.

And finally, a rough step forward with an angry expression.

Unnoticed by the audience and Shane, Ezel had swiftly moved close enough to snatch the gun Shane was holding and aimed it at his head.

“Hey, big guys. If you don’t want a new hole in your boss’s head, get out of this factory now.”

A momentary silence filled the stage, overwhelmed by the charisma emanating from the performance.

Despite it being a scene they practiced daily, the actors felt overpowered by the distinctly different pacing and atmosphere of the dialogue.

‘…What is this? Was this scene always capable of such intensity?’

‘My body feels electrified. Can such a commanding presence really be coming from that young actor?’

As the silence stretched, everyone turned to look at one person.

Jung In-chan, who had been displeased with Yeon-woo’s participation, was frozen just like the rest.

“Jung In-chan! It’s your line.”

Startled by the senior actor’s shout, In-chan hastily spoke.

“…What can you possibly do?”

Embarrassed and momentarily blank, In-chan struggled to recall his next line.

‘Damn it, what was it?’

Then, Yeon-woo murmured softly.

“How dare you order around the brothers of Detroit.”

“Ah! How dare you order around the brothers of Detroit!”

Relieved to have overcome the moment of crisis, In-chan’s face briefly lit up with a smile, which quickly turned into a grimace.

‘Damn!’

Before the play, In-chan had told Yeon-woo, who he assumed hadn’t memorized the script, to read from it. Yet, it was In-chan who ended up needing Yeon-woo’s help for his brief line, a humiliation he hadn’t anticipated.

The other actors were internally shocked once more at this turn of events.

The actors on stage weren’t the only ones surprised.

‘Did he memorize not only his lines but everyone else’s as well…?’

Kim Joo-hyung, from the audience, felt chills down his spine with every moment of the rehearsal.

‘…So this is acting.’

Witnessing Yeon-woo’s performance firsthand, Joo-hyung felt like he finally understood what he had been longing for.

‘This is what I wanted to do.’

Of course, he didn’t dream of becoming an actor. He knew his limitations and that acting wasn’t his forte, but he could still recognize true talent when he saw it. Initially, his journey began with binge-watching ‘The Summer Wardrobe’ after completing his college entrance exams, reveling in the newfound freedom post-exams.

Gradually, his growing passion for films led him to join a club. But today, watching the play, he felt a powerful desire.

‘I want to write plays. I want to write dialogue that feels alive.’

It was a moment of realization for Joo-hyung, who would someday soon become a playwright, envisioning a future where he could cast Ryu Yeon-woo and Jin Yu-han in a double bill. It was the moment he first acknowledged his own ambition.