Legendary Superstar

"Let's show them a world-class robber, my ass…" 

Minjae's face crumpled as he stood at the entrance of the audition hall. He hadn't even taken a step inside, yet he could already see the line of people from the outside. 

"A robber yet this many are interested?" He was genuinely shocked to find it out. 

More than a hundred applicants crammed into the lobby of the audition hall, each holding a water bottle. Some were nervously practicing their introduction while some were lost in deep concentration. 

"They seemed eager. Well, I can't judge them. The message said the pay is good." Minjae muttered under his breath as he opened the door and stepped inside.

The pay for extras like them varies each time. For small dramas, the pay would barely be enough to buy food for a few days. However, big-scale dramas like this would usually pay very well.

That was why when a big-scale drama opened its door for opportunity, a lot of aspiring actors like him would scramble just to get the role. Aside from working with the best actors and actresses in the industry, it was also a chance to get noticed by a larger audience.

'I feel like I belong here.' Somehow, with his plain-looking clothes, Minjae could blend well with the crowd. In his opinion, he just looked a little better than the rest of the applicants.

Minjae especially used a portion of the money he got to buy skincare products. He meticulously used each one of them for the last 4 days, every morning and night. It was really helpful though, since his face had gotten a little brighter than before. 

As an actor, his selling point will be his talent in acting and face, with some agencies prioritizing the latter one more. 

The reality in this world was that most people would pick a handsome man with an average talent rather than a very talented ugly man. 

It was unfair, but when did life become fair?

"Good afternoon! Are you here for the audition?" A female staff member at the entrance greeted Minjae enthusiastically. 

"Yup." Minjae answered as he nodded his head. 

"I see. Please take a seat first and wait with the other applicants. The producer will meet with you later for some briefing." The staff respectfully informed, before taking out a number and giving it to Minjae. 

"109?" Minjae's forehead creased as he stared at it. 

"Yes. This is your number. You'll know that it's your turn once your number is called. By the way, please fill in this personal information sheet and hand it to the staff in the audition room. You'll see her immediately once your number is called."

The staff kindly handed Minjae a clear folder filled with multiple pages of paper before stepping to the side and greeting another applicant who had just arrived. 

'So this is how extras apply?' Minjae was in disbelief as he stared at the number and folder in his hand. 

With top actors like him, scripts usually go through his agency. His agency would then carefully evaluate and select the best ones. Applying like this was something that he hadn't done in his whole life.

Fortunately, he brought a pen with him or he'd look unprepared. 

'Lemme take a seat first before I figure this out.' Minjae scanned his surroundings to find an empty seat. When he spotted one from the back, he went straight ahead and sat quietly. 

The studio hosting the auditions was Global Studios, one of the top studios in Korea. It was the same studios that had once produced some of his biggest dramas. 

Memories of his time doing lead roles suddenly flashed in his mind, and for a moment, he was hit by the strange feeling of being an outsider in a place that had once felt like a second home. 

'Ha…' Letting out a sigh, Minjae shook off the feeling and forced himself to focus. He was no longer the star here. He was just one of the many, vying for a single, small role.

With that, Minjae quickly filled in the information needed in the paper that was handed out to him. He realized that the questions were just about his personal information, and it was easy answering all of them. 

After doing all the things he needed to, Minjae's eyes looked from left to right. He saw a mixture of faces. A few looked like seasoned actors, while the rest were fresh faces, who were probably new to the industry. 

'It's fine. I know I can do it. I'm a successful actor.' Minjae closed his eyes for a second, before taking a deep sigh. When he opened his eyes, it became filled with confidence.

"Even if my talents lessened based on the system, I'm sure my skills are still somewhere her." As if something changed with him, he was now more confident. 

His skills right now might have gotten lower, but his knowledge of acting hasn't. It was deeply etched in his heart. It was his life. 

Minjae leaned back in his seat, exuding confidence despite the unfamiliar situation. His gaze drifted back to the applicants around him. In there, a young man next to him, who was looking at the ground, sighed heavily, catching his attention.

"First time?" Minjae asked. He arched an eyebrow as he turned to the man, who seemed to be around his age. He looked visibly anxious. 

"Yeah," the man couldn't help but admit, his shoulders dropping slightly. "Well, it's my first time doing anything this big. I've only participated in auditions for dramas and commercials. Nothing like this."

Minjae gave a small nod. "Dramas, huh? That's where a lot of good actors start," he commented, maintaining a neutral tone.

"Thanks," the guy replied, a bit relieved by Minjae's reassurance. "What about you?"

"Let's just say it's been a while since I've done one of these." Minjae chuckled softly, shaking his head.

The applicant laughed, nodding in understanding before minding his own business. Just as Minjae was about to ask more, the door of the audition room swung open, and a man in a black suit appeared out of it. 

The man looked to be in his late forties, with black hair and a sharp gaze that swept over the room, silencing the murmur of conversations. 

'Isn't this Producer Sean?' Minjae questioned as he saw a familiar man.

Producer Sean, was one of the well-known producers in Korea. He wasn't only talented in producing dramas, but also music. 

"Good afternoon, everyone," Producer Sean greeted everyone, his tone carrying authority.

"I thank you all for coming. We're looking forward to seeing what you bring to this role. This may be sudden but, we've prepared a script for everyone here. We'll start the official auditions in 30 minutes. It's unfair for the first ones, but I can't do anything.

As the producer announced it, multiple staff handed each applicant a piece of paper. The applicants couldn't even react violently at the sudden change of things. They could only scrunch their face and open their mouths as they read through it. 

When Minjae got it, he immediately looked at it. A one-page monologue. It was intense, emotional, and heavy on the character's backstory. Now, he could see why his fellow applicants had a negative reaction. 

The role of the robber wasn't just any extra. The applicants came here thinking they would just snatch a bag or point a gun at anyone for money then run away.

No one knew that the role was more than that. 

"We'll call you in groups of ten, so be ready. This is a test of not just acting but adaptability. Memorize your lines, embody the character, and show us what you've got. Good luck."