Chapter 48

48. Born to be Yama

"Four-year-olds cry a lot. They cry when they make eye contact with me. Maybe that's why I cover my eyes like this? Hahaha."

Director Choi Min-cheol, with a tired look, made a joke.

He covered his sharp eyes with his hands and sighed deeply, then glanced at the last child's profile.

"Yoon Si-woo... I did hear about it from Senior Lee Han-su..."

‘Am I too picky?’

He debuted as a director at the age of 35 and released four films over the past three years, all of which were box office successes.

100% success rate.

However, among all his extensive experience, the youngest actor he had ever cast was Ryu Seung-hyun...

This was his first time holding an audition for a child actor of this age.

‘Should I lower my standards? My head hurts.’

Just as his values as an adult clashed with his values as a director, a shout from outside the door caught his attention.

"Last one! Number 30~ Yoon Si-woo! Come in~!"

The door opened.

A small child walked cutely into the audition room.

All the people involved in the audition, including Director Choi Min-cheol, automatically smiled.

"Oh, how cute. So adorable."

Si-woo, who had been walking with a seemingly serious expression, seemed helpless.

‘Well... what can you do about your looks? This is a challenge I need to overcome.’

A four-year-old doesn't necessarily need to overcome cuteness through acting, but for this particular role, it was different.

‘It’s a fun character. There are parts of me in it too. Maybe method acting is possible here.’

It was a role he really wanted to cast.

Si-woo found it quite interesting and enjoyable to have such feelings.

"Hello~! I'm Yoon~ Si~ Woo~!"

He did the belly bow as practiced with the staff!

Bow!

The judges clapped.

"Look at how confidently he greeted us. This kid has a good vibe."

"Yeah. For a child actor, not being intimidated is already half the battle."

"But I'm not sure if his face, which is so angelically beautiful, will work."

Si-woo, who made eye contact with the rather intimidating Director Choi Min-cheol and greeted him calmly, made the casting director clasp his hands under the table, hoping he would do well.

"Hello~ Seung... Si-woo."

After greeting 30 people with the same words, the casting director sometimes got the names mixed up.

The casting director continued.

"Are you feeling anxious being away from your mom?"

"It's okay~"

"It's okay. With the uncles... Oh, are you okay? That's good. So you've already greeted the director... You've done all the greetings. That's it? Haha."

"Let him act, let him act."

Director Choi Min-cheol said from the side.

Seeing the confident demeanor of the four-year-old, Director Choi Min-cheol's eyes sparkled with curiosity.

Realizing there was no need to ease the tension or engage in conversation to make him feel more comfortable, the casting director, following the director's words, immediately asked Si-woo to act.

"Si-woo, can you show us what you practiced at home? Would you like a glass of water?"

"No~ It's okay~ I'll do it now~"

"Sure. You're only four, yet you use honorifics well and speak so clearly. Okay, Si-woo, shall we start?"

"Sure~"

Si-woo answered politely and began the acting he had practiced with his mom at home.

Since the most important part was the script acting, he planned to do the free acting in a simple manner.

The judges wouldn't expect a four-year-old to prepare an amazing performance.

But that didn't mean he would do it half-heartedly.

Standing in the center of the audition room, Si-woo, under the watchful eyes of many people, began with facial expressions.

Ultimately, everything comes down to concentration.

Skill is the next issue.

With a frightening level of concentration that even adults couldn't mimic, Si-woo's eyes gradually changed.

With a slightly dejected look, Si-woo opened his mouth.

"Dad..."

Director Choi Min-cheol almost responded instinctively.

Even though the child wasn't calling him, he had to suppress the urge to respond when he saw the child's eyes.

‘They said he’s a scene stealer. This kid has a magnetic presence. He captivated everyone with just one word, "Dad."’

A four-year-old?

Glancing around, he saw that all the staff were smiling and waiting for the next line from Si-woo.

What is it? What could it be?

Asking for a toy?

Wanting to go to the zoo?

Si-woo's voice was heard.

"Make some money..."

Boom!

A loud thunderstorm with lightning and rain poured in the hearts of the staff.

This was a line from the MBS drama "I Came to Make Money," which aired around the same time as "The King's Path" last year.

Originally, it was a scene where a slightly arrogant and cute child complained about his situation, but Si-woo, unlike when he practiced with his mom, continued in a pitiful tone.

"My friends... do you know what they call me~?"

At the end, he slightly brightened, bringing back the original cute feeling for a moment—

"The poorest... in the world..."

Sniff.

Si-woo sniffled briefly while delivering the line, and it was unclear whether it was acting or real.

"Oh, it's okay. It's okay. Don't cry. Ah..."

One of the judges inadvertently spoke, then quickly covered his mouth, realizing his mistake.

Si-woo smiled at the judge and did the belly bow again.

"Thank you~!"

Applause was heard.

Clap, clap, clap!

"Wow! He's good! He's on a different level compared to the other kids we've seen."

"I told you. Talent doesn't lie."

"I was completely absorbed just now. This kid has talent. Haha! Director, what do you think?"

Director Choi Min-cheol, twirling a pen in his hand, said only one word.

"Wow."

A four-year-old can do this?

Act... act?

Director Choi Min-cheol, who had moved his chair closer, gestured to the casting director.

It meant to proceed with the script acting.

Seeing the director's enthusiastic attitude for the first time today, the casting director said with a broad smile.

"Originally, the most important part of an evaluation is the feedback from people you've worked with. This kid got great reviews on set. I was skeptical, but... Si-woo, you did well! Now, let's do the script acting... Do you know what a script is?"

Si-woo pointed to a young male staff member standing by the door.

"Right~ That's right. He told you. Did you practice a lot?"

"Yes~"

"If you need more time, would you like to go and practice a bit more?"

"It's okay~"

"Let's do one more practice. I really want Si-woo to do well."

Whether a re-audition would be held or not depended on Si-woo.

"..."

Quickly.

Si-woo ran cutely to the staff member.

A few minutes later, Si-woo returned.

"Already? Are you ready now?"

Si-woo nodded in response to the casting director's question.

‘Okay, good. Please do well, Si-woo. We have a lot of work, so please save us. Come on, Si-woo~’

The casting director, reciting a cheer, said to Si-woo.

"Okay! Then... let's see it!"

The look in the staff's eyes was different from when they watched the free acting.

They would soon find out if this was the child the director was looking for.

Si-woo looked up at the ceiling and took a deep breath.

It was time to concentrate.

Fortunately, his mom wasn't there...

Should I do it?

Si-woo took a step towards the direction where Director Choi Min-cheol was sitting.

Whoosh.

At the same time, a strong aura began to emanate from Si-woo's body.

Everyone has their own aura.

Those with a strong aura are often described as having a strong presence, while those with a weak aura are described as having a weak presence.

Actors tend to have a stronger aura than ordinary people.

However,

Si-woo's aura was on a different level.

Although he only emitted a part of his aura, the effect was tremendous.

The moment Si-woo, who had been running around cutely a moment ago, stiffened his expression and looked at Director Choi Min-cheol, the director felt his breath catch.

‘What... What is this? A four-year-old... his eyes... wow...’

Director Choi Min-cheol gripped his pen tightly.

His heart was pounding.

At that moment, a Yama with a cute and adorable appearance but a strangely terrifying presence, as if brought to life from the script he had written, spoke.

"Are you going to keep handling things... so pathetically? No~ Oh! Again! The evil spirits are making holes in the underworld and escaping... Can no one notice?"

The little four-year-old Si-woo placed his hands on his waist and sighed deeply.

Then he said,

"I'll make the path to hell... smooth! Go and roll around a bit!"

The judges were so stunned that they gaped at Si-woo, worried about their jaw dropping.

Just as they had almost responded to the child's call of "Dad" earlier, they felt an urge to immediately get up and roll on the floor of hell at the child's command.

Si-woo, looking at the judges who were staring at him with blank faces, delivered his final line.

"Look at me. You'll be annihilated? Seal the hole immediately and send an investigation team to the human world!"

"Yes!"

...Someone responded.

All the staff looked at the judge who had tried to comfort Si-woo during the free acting, but he shook his head, indicating it wasn't him.

The casting director's eyes were... looking at Director Choi Min-cheol, who was sitting next to him.

The director's face was flushed red.

The director said,

"Why did you respond to the child's acting? No matter how good he is, that's not right."

"Me?"

"You just responded to him."

"..."

"Wasn't it you?"

Ah, so... that's how it is.

The casting director jumped up from his seat.

"Ah, right! It was me! I responded just now! Hahaha! The kid is such a good actor! How can a four-year-old memorize all the lines at once... Wow! What do you think, Director? Isn't this the child you were looking for!?"

The director nodded with dignity.

"Hmm, he's good. Shall we go with him?"

The casting director, who had been watching Si-woo's performance with a dazed expression, decided to forget the director's enthusiastic "Yes!"...

* * *

A few days later.

While doing the dishes, Hyun-ju's phone received a text message about the audition results.

"Si-woo! You passed!"

Si-woo, who was playing a game with Nero, ran to his mom.

"Really~?"

"Yes! They said you did so well that they decided on the spot! I was worried because I couldn't see you, but you really did well!"

"Yay~ I did well~ Mom, I love you~!"

"Me too~ I love you too! Oh, what should I do? Who should I tell?"

First to her husband, Do-jin, then to Seung-hyun's mom.

Hyun-ju called both of them and then called the other people who had supported her, telling them about the good news.

Among them was Seung-hyun.

Thinking he might be busy and unable to answer, she was surprised when Seung-hyun picked up the phone.

"Seung-hyun, thanks to your support, Si-woo passed the movie audition. I'll take good care of him when we shoot next year~"

"Kickboard? He's really good at it! He doesn't go outside without his kickboard."

Hyun-ju readily agreed.

"Sure! Anytime. You're welcome. Will you come alone? Or with your mom?"

"Actor Song Jun-young is coming with me?"

Oh.