Chapter 24

Kim Hyunji stood at the classroom door, lost in admiration of the lead actress's performance.

"Wow, Purple Girls' Se-mi..."

A popular idol, and even more so, a visual member known as the center.

Her charm was immense, especially when she put on her acting makeup.

Moreover, she was the top female lead in a 16-episode drama.

It seemed like an unattainably high level for a rookie actor.

Even if it took five years, or perhaps even ten, it was uncertain whether she could reach such a level.

Her acting was as brilliant as her appearance.

She effortlessly delivered a flawless performance, one that was impossible to find fault with.

"Her perfection is so enviable."

Se-mi received the director's approval without a single NG, with such ease.

Kim Hyunji could only look at Se-mi with admiration.

"…She's a genius."

She had almost no acting experience as an actress.

Yet, she surpassed the level of other idol members.

Her overwhelming talent seemed like she was projecting herself into the character.

"Cut. Next scene."

Se-mi put on the coat her manager handed her and walked over slowly.

'Oh, she's coming this way…!'

Hyunji was flustered as she watched Se-mi approach.

It felt like meeting someone from a different world in reality.

"A, hello!"

"Yes?"

"That is… I'm a new actor from Tempest Entertainment, Kim Hyunji!"

"Oh… Hello, Actor Kim Hyunji."

Se-mi smiled brightly, and it was as if a goddess had appeared.

"Um, could I have your autograph…?"

"Of course! I'll give you ten."

Her image matched 100% with her public persona.

In reality, Se-mi was an angel, pure and simple.

Kim Hyunji hurriedly searched for paper and a pen.

At that moment, Se-mi called out to someone with a beaming smile.

"Writer Jino!!!"

She was looking behind her with a bright smile.

Who could make Se-mi smile like that?

Even as a woman, she felt a twinge of jealousy at the sight.

She turned to see who it was.

'Writer Kim Jino…?'

Hyunji was taken aback and greeted Jino.

"Hello! I'm Kim Hyunji!"

The situation was completely different from when they met at the café.

He was already in a position of responsibility, working alongside stars.

'Why… Why is he looking at me like that?'

Kim Jino looked at her with a strange expression without responding.

He didn't even greet Se-mi and slowly spoke.

"Did we meet before?"

"A, at the café… I'm really sorry. I didn't know you were a writer…."

"Actor Kim Hyunji."

"Ah, yes! Writer."

Kim Hyunji answered like a new recruit with strict discipline.

The person who discovered Se-mi and Jaejun and recommended her to Tempest.

If she made a bad impression on him, her acting career could be in serious trouble.

"Thank you."

"Yes?"

"Thanks to you, I can keep writing without a break."

"???"

Meanwhile, Se-mi, who had been watching from the side, was staring at Kim Hyunji.

* * *

I never thought I'd suddenly have a second drama.

Actually, when I first met Actor Kim Hyunji, I had a feeling this day would come.

'I'm glad I came here.'

If I had wandered around and met another actor, who knows what would have happened.

I might have ended up in a project with a difficult actor, like Yuminseo.

Then, a voice called out.

"Se-mi! We need to go to the next schedule right away."

"A, yes."

The manager from Rainbow Entertainment called from a distance.

"A! Se-mi, I'm sorry about earlier. How was today's shoot?"

"…It was fine."

"I guess you need to go."

"Y-yes…."

Se-mi's shoulders seemed to droop for some reason.

She glanced at Actor Kim Hyunji and turned away.

'She was great during the performance… but suddenly she looks so down. Is something wrong?'

Kim Hyunji was looking at me with a puzzled expression.

I left her there and checked the next project assigned by the system.

【Content: The Eraser 1st Part】

【Genre: Time Loop, Romance, Crime Thriller】

【Location: 403, Geumcheon Building, Digital-ro, Guro-gu, Seoul】

【Time Limit: 34 days】

【※ Silver Upgrade: 110-110101-1011 (Virtual Account, W Bank)】

【※ Deposit Amount: 0 won / 100 million won】

'The Eraser…'

I like the genre, and there's plenty of time.

Better than being stuck as a romance writer.

The system has always given me plenty of time.

Even when I went to Jeju Island and wrote two scripts in a row.

Since the first episode hasn't aired yet, I have over a month.

This is why I usually think location is more important than time.

I should check out the location first.

At that moment, Kim Hyunji spoke to me.

"Um, Writer…?"

I must have been staring at her too intently.

Then, I asked her a question.

"Have you ever been to Guro recently? Or in the past?"

"No. I don't really remember…."

It's likely the main actor visited the location.

It could be related to Actor Kim Hyunji, or…

'It could be related to the male lead.'

There's a press conference scheduled for the weekend.

I should check it out before then.

* * *

"This male lead… He's not a real gangster, right?"

It feels like everything is going smoothly.

The genre is a crime thriller, so I'm a bit nervous.

I picked up a flyer lying in front of the office.

"Loan available! Lowest interest rate guaranteed!!!"

The interior of Geumcheon Building felt dark and gloomy.

Especially since 403 was a loan office.

"Is this even real?"

It looks more like a gangster office.

Who came up with the idea of writing a drama script here?

"Still, I'm here…"

I want to check if there's any light, but I hesitate to take a step.

Then, a burly man with a rough appearance glared at me.

"Um… I came for a consultation…."

"Come in."

Creak—

The burly man opened the door and went in first.

'I'm going crazy.'

Because of the system, I've even been to a gangster office.

"How much do you want to borrow?"

"Um…."

He walked in a different direction without waiting for my answer.

A fluorescent light was out, but it was brighter than anywhere else.

I sat on the sofa and let the light envelop me.

I couldn't write the script, but I wanted to see the content of the drama.

Suddenly, a white light filled my mind.

I remembered the entire first part of the new drama as if I had just watched it.

'Wow, this is amazing…'

I was only left in awe when I remembered the first part of the new drama.

"Here, look at the interest rate…."

"I'm really sorry. Can I just take your card and come back later?"

"Are you playing with me…? Fine, do as you please."

"I'm sorry!"

The man scowled and waved his hand.

It seems I'm not the only one who does this.

Creak—

I left Geumcheon Building and entered a nearby café.

"First… I need to write down what I remember."

I can't remember every line of the drama, but…

If I write it down in advance, it will save me a lot of time when I come back.

Not as vividly as when I was enveloped in light, but…

Most of the scenes came back to me in bits and pieces.

Tap, tap, tap—

【The Eraser】

The protagonist has a fraudulent ability to return 24 hours in the past.

However, the side effect of the ability causes him to lose his existence.

At first, he thought it was a blessing and abused it.

He accumulated enormous wealth and became a famous anonymous genius investor.

But people around him gradually forgot about him.

He was puzzled when a close friend didn't remember him.

He felt a sense of crisis when a close friend forgot him.

He realized the serious flaw in the ability after losing his entire family.

For the next five years, he sealed his ability and lived like a neighbor to his family, who didn't remember him.

"Actor Kim Hyunji appears at the end."

The first part ends with a scene where the man witnesses a hit-and-run accident late at night.

The protagonist regresses as soon as Kim Hyunji is hit by a car and thrown 10 meters away.

"But… Who is this man?"

He's definitely an unknown actor, but…

I feel like I've seen him somewhere before.

"I can't quite remember."

He might be a washed-up actor, a former child actor, or a new actor.

His face is perfect for sad and emotional scenes.

His expression when he performs a pitiful scene is amazing.

"Wait a minute."

The office I visited is a loan office.

Is it only gangsters who go there?

There must be more people like me who come to borrow money.

If I check the list of customers, I might find the actor.

"I should meet him once… If it doesn't work out, I'll use a skill."

But how do I get back into that office?

I need to write the script, so I have to go back.

The burly man seemed to remember my face.

"Well, I still have a month."

I'll wait until he forgets my face before I go back.

* * *

A few days later, at the press conference.

Manager Jeong Saerom sent a text to the always late Kim Jino.

"A, you need to arrive 30 minutes early."

Ding—

The text arrived to Jino.

［Slept in ㅠㅠ］

［Taking a taxi now ;;;］

［Wrote the script last night…. ㅎ］

"Script? Is there anything left to revise?"

I noticed his sense of time when we were in Jeju Island.

If it weren't for his talent in writing scripts, I wouldn't even associate with him.

"How can you always be late on important days!"

Soon, I saw Kim Jino running towards me from a distance.

Fortunately, he won't be completely late this time.

"Writer Kim, go to the waiting room and get your makeup done."

"Ah, yes."

Jino turned and rummaged through his bag.

He pulled out a dozen crumpled A4 papers.

"Here, I wrote this last night. Read it once."

"Um?"

"Since the female lead is from Tempest."

"???"

Kim Jino left with those strange words.

Saerom was curious and tried to open the script.

"Manager, I need to talk about the poster…."

She had to leave to attend to a request from an employee.

"Team Leader Byun, read this."

"Um?"

"Check if there are any good roles for our actors."

"Ah, yes! I understand."

Team Leader Byun Hyukjun, who handles various tasks behind the scenes.

He had a keen eye for talent, just like Saerom.

"…"

Byun Hyukjun was one of the closest employees to Actor Yuminseo.

He had been her road manager for four years since her debut.

"The female lead only has one scene, so I'm not sure…."

But the charm of the supporting female lead stood out.

The project had a promising scent of success.

The main characters of this project were destined for glory.

"Manager Jeong really cares about Writer Kim Jino."

Byun Hyukjun had a completely different roadmap in his mind.

He thought about the best candidates for the male and female leads.

A script written by Kim Jino, not by the system.

Who would become the main characters of the project was anyone's guess.