Hobbyist VTuber

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“Veterans” is a movie that revolves around the theme of rewarding good and punishing evil.

It’s a story about ‘righteous detectives’ struggling to arrest the evil character, Lee Ye-seo.

Most of the main actors in “Veterans” play roles that oppose Lee Ye-seo, played by Ha-eun.

At the first script reading session of “Veterans,” Ha-eun’s Lee Ye-seo had to endure the persistence of several famous actors gathered there.

Perhaps that’s why.

“I’m Seo Jin-tae, playing the role of Jeon Jae-han.”

“I’m Yoo Sung-jae, playing the role of Kang Chan-sung~.”

The two main actors of “Veterans,” who play Jeon Jae-han and Kang Chan-sung, stood up to greet everyone, making Ha-eun slightly nervous.

Yoo Sung-jae, who had worked with Ha-eun in “Moonlight Drawn by Clouds,” is a renowned actor with great acting skills, and Seo Jin-tae is no less impressive.

It wasn’t going to be easy for Ha-eun to match their outstanding performances.

‘…Later, I’ll have to physically fight with those guys.’

Especially the fact that these are the people who will engage in direct brawls with Lee Ye-seo lingered in Ha-eun’s mind.

The two detectives, often referred to as the ‘violent crime squad,’ are key figures in “Veterans.”

‘Clearly, their action styles are different too. …This is going to be tough.’

Jeon Jae-han, one of the detectives who will later clash head-on with Lee Ye-seo, is a seasoned cop with about 20 years of experience.

He has a unique sense and seasoned combat skills, having arrested criminals on the scene himself.

A man who, after long years in the police force, has become familiar with various crimes.

But he is a principled man who believes that any crime must be punished.

Seo Jin-tae, who plays Jeon Jae-han, is a middle-aged actor with a serious demeanor.

He looks like the kind of uncle you’d commonly see in the neighborhood, but not weak.

“A few years ago, I played a yakuza role, but this time I’m playing a detective. I’ll do my best.”

He was an actor with a weighty presence.

Both in real age and acting experience, he was senior to Ha-eun.

On the other hand, Kang Chan-sung, played by Yoo Sung-jae, is the so-called ‘hot-blooded detective.’

A young cop with relatively short experience compared to Jeon Jae-han.

“I’m glad to be on the same side as the senior I respect. I’ll do my best.”

An enthusiastic cop.

A rookie detective full of passion, ready to run into fire and water to achieve justice.

This setting of Kang Chan-sung somewhat matched Yoo Sung-jae’s actual personality.

Especially the proactive part.

‘Still inexperienced, so he’s struggling here and there.’

Compared to the seasoned Jeon Jae-han, he’s a rookie detective in many ways.

But it was clear that he was a character that fit the six letters of ‘righteous detective.’

As the greetings from the two lead actors ended.

Everyone’s gaze gradually shifted to Ha-eun.

‘Hmm, in “More Than Sunshine,” she had a gentle image.’

‘Is it because she’s sitting quietly with no expression? She feels a bit different now.’

To be honest, Ha-eun’s casting was a bit of a question mark.

After all, all the roles Ha-eun had played so far were good characters.

Many still remember Lee Ha-eun as young Han Yu-hwa from “My Love from the Star.”

The image of a lonely, dying young girl was deeply imprinted in people’s minds.

Her appearances in variety shows like “2 Days & 1 Night” or “Infinite Challenge” were also far from villainous roles.

Even the overwhelming aura she displayed at Gocheok Sky Dome was a different kind of aura from a villain.

‘Yoo Sung-jae strongly recommended her, right?’

‘Does someone who’s acted with her see something different?’

Strictly speaking, Ha-eun’s sharp eyes and weighty presence fit a villain role perfectly.

However, Ha-eun’s past acting style was mainly about maximizing emotions.

So, whether she could well portray Lee Ye-seo, who rarely shows emotional changes, was still a question.

‘The director wouldn’t have just cast her without reason.’

‘Maybe because she’s the youngest among the actors. It feels a bit uncertain.’

Thus, various stories about Ha-eun circulated among the staff and actors of “Veterans.”

Even after Ha-eun’s greeting ended, the doubts or curiosity about her remained.

The three people who felt this buzz the most were Ha-eun herself, Yoo Sung-jae who recommended her for the role of Lee Ye-seo, and director Kim Hong-sung of “Veterans.”

A brief discussion between Yoo Sung-jae and Kim Hong-sung followed.

“Then, how about we continue from S#17 to S#18?”

“Hmm, up to S#18…”

Ultimately, Yoo Sung-jae’s suggestion was not rejected.

In Kim Hong-sung’s view, S#17 and S#18 were the scenes that most clearly showed what kind of character Lee Ye-seo was.

In other words, it could determine whether Ha-eun could portray Lee Ye-seo well.

Thus, at Kim Hong-sung’s request, Ha-eun and a few supporting actors had to stand up.

Soon, they moved to a slightly empty space away from the table where the actors and staff were seated.

As the actors’ positions were set, Ha-eun’s atmosphere also began to change subtly.

Thus.

-Smirk.

“Ah, Executive Park. Long time no see.”

Ha-eun’s acting began.

A mask-like smile she had been holding for some time.

“The chairman is interested in this construction project. It’s a project that determines the company’s fate.”

The emotion was also very faint.

It seemed as if she was forcing the conversation.

However, for someone like Executive Park, who had no idea about Lee Ye-seo’s true identity, it wasn’t a strange sight.

It was normal for a third-generation chaebol heir to show interest in the company’s affairs.

“Then, I’ll see you at the executive meeting.”

Friendly but businesslike.

Neither pretending not to know nor acting overly familiar, maintaining an ambiguous distance.

However, it wasn’t suspicious at all.

The atmosphere was so calm that there was no sense of incongruity.

Crucially, from Executive Park’s perspective, Lee Ye-seo was just a kid who got a director position through family power, nothing more, nothing less.

There was no reason to dig deeper into Lee Ye-seo.

In other words, Lee Ye-seo’s true identity was still completely unknown.

Thus, those watching Ha-eun’s acting felt more clearly how Lee Ye-seo’s image management felt.

‘No awkwardness.’

‘Seems okay?’

Thus, Ha-eun’s ordinary, unremarkable appearance continued until the end of S#17.

The Lee Ye-seo others saw was just a young company director.

The twist occurred just as S#18’s acting began.

“Secretary.”

“Yes?”

“I want to get some fresh air for a moment.”

Alone.

A single softly spoken word brought the first sense of incongruity.

It felt like emotions had completely settled.

Still holding a faint smile.

However, just as the supporting actor playing the secretary disappeared from Ha-eun’s sight.

-Swoosh.

The slightly raised corners of her mouth turned into a straight line.

Almost simultaneously, a slow gesture of brushing her hair up.

‘Huh?’

‘The atmosphere…’

Ha-eun’s gaze.

Complexion.

Expression.

Everything turned cold in an instant.

No, it was more like it disappeared.

“……………….”

The silence that followed erased even the faint trace of friendliness.

It felt like facing a mannequin rather than a person.

The atmosphere, emotions, and mood that should be felt from a person vanished like a turned-off light.

Nothing was distinctly felt.

An empty gaze.

An expressionless face closer to a doll than a person.

-Thud.

The quietly echoing footsteps pressed down on the surrounding air.

Only then did they realize that everything in S#17 was an act.

In other words, a twist.

The fact that all the previous expressions and voices were artificial naturally brought a chill.

‘This is more than just okay.’

‘Is this acting…right?’

A completely empty face.

The emotionless gaze lacked any feeling.

After walking and walking, she finally faced the supporting actor playing the victim, crouched in a corner.

-Whimper! Whimper!

“Sorry, uncle. There are a lot of people calling today.”

With a calm expression, Ha-eun then pretended to search for something in the air.

The gaze of the supporting actor, who was supposed to be imprisoned by Lee Ye-seo, followed Ha-eun’s fingertips.

Not long after, Ha-eun’s hand seemed to grasp something.

Then, the other hand gently brushed over what Ha-eun was holding.

The description of touching something sharp brought to mind a knife or a kitchen knife.

An invisible weapon took shape in imagination, held in Ha-eun’s hand.

Thus, thud.

Soon, another thud.

Finally, Ha-eun reached right in front of the supporting actor and slowly bent down.

The eye levels of Ha-eun and the supporting actor finally matched.

“…You know, uncle.”

With that empty gaze, Ha-eun stared directly into the supporting actor’s eyes and extended her hand forward.

Almost simultaneously, a dull sensation was felt below the chest.

‘She stabbed with a knife.’

Since the supporting actor was familiar with the S#18 script, he immediately realized what Ha-eun was doing.

His expression twisted as Ha-eun’s hand slowly turned clockwise.

“Don’t make it too hard for me.”

Thud. It sounded as if blood was pouring out.

She had stabbed the supporting actor’s chest with an invisible knife, pulled it out, and stabbed again, twisting it to commit murder.

-Stab, stab.

“Honestly, erasing CCTV is annoying. Let’s keep it clean, clean.”

-Stab, stab, stab, stab….

-…Swoosh!!

“…Ah, damn. I ruined the clothes. What are we going to do with this?”

Brushing off the blouse she was wearing.

She acted as if blood had really splattered on the clothes, looking down at the victim, who was already a corpse, with contempt.

“You were sticky and annoying till the end. You bastard…”

Then, turning away from the victim, she began to unbutton her blouse from the top.

However, just as she was about to undo the second button, a cautious voice was heard.

“Ye-seo. You said you were going out for some air. Don’t tell me you’re at it again….”

“Yeah, oppa. Let’s just take out one more bag of trash.”

She acted out a phone call with another supporting actor, her clothes slightly disheveled.

No emotional changes were felt.

Thus, with a slight sigh as she ended the call, S#18 concluded.

However, neither director Kim Hong-sung nor anyone else could easily speak up.

Even Yoo Sung-jae, who brought Ha-eun to this position, was speechless.

‘I thought she’d do well.’

But not this well.

Ha-eun, who naturally acted out a cruel daily life treating human life as less valuable than clothes, left everyone speechless.

Not only was there no sense of thrill or guilt from killing someone.

But more importantly, the detail of that cruel stabbing.

‘Did she really kill someone…?’

Not just stabbing someone with a knife.

But twisting the knife inside to inflict more fatal damage, messing up the victim’s organs, kept bothering them.

However, Ha-eun herself couldn’t understand why people were looking at her with trembling eyes.

After all, she had just imitated a scene from a famous VR horror game.

‘I tried to follow it as best as I could…. Was it awkward?’

Just as the people watching Ha-eun were nervously gauging her reaction.

Ha-eun herself could only nervously gauge others’ reactions.

 

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