I’m an Unknown Actress, But Everyone Knows Me

I checked the stats of all the freshmen here, and no one except Do Gyeoul had a Concentration stat of grade B.

‘That doesn’t mean I can expect Do Gyeoul to acknowledge me, though.’

The subtle hostility in the expression looking at me now said it all.

Right. Standing here with the top student must make her wonder who I am.

“Do whatever you want. But if it’s not theater, make sure it’s something you’re confident in.”

The professor standing in front of us had a Concentration stat of A+.

Which meant…

‘We have to gain the professor’s recognition.’

I stifled a laugh trying to escape.

‘Thankfully, the first mission is easy.’

I felt certain I could succeed immediately.

Without explanation, I dove straight into acting. The key was making the audience speak for themselves.

‘If Do Gyeoul is an actor who knows the stage….’

Right, I was an actor who knew the audience.

During my time in the theater company, I had spent countless days unable to act, merely watching from offstage.

‘But thanks to that, I learned exactly what kind of scenes immediately draw audience reactions.’

It’s always the observers who understand such things best.

‘And fortunately, I know a film that was wildly popular around this time.’

Total audience: 7 million.

Rating: 9.2.

It not only won the lead actors Rookie of the Year awards but also took home Best Screenplay and Best Original Score, garnering endless buzz from critics and audiences, making its impact feel far greater than its official numbers.

A review by a renowned critic circulated the internet for ages.

@Sunwoo Sunwook
“A bitter time machine that perfectly brought everyone back to that era.”

“Growing up is, sadly, a humbling experience. Never as radiant as the first moments of youth.”

Retweeted: 22.2k | Quoted: 2,234 | Likes: 9k

‘Good. I couldn’t pick a better piece.’

The atmosphere inside grew restless, with attention scattered toward Do Gyeoul, who had returned to her seat.

‘So now I need to draw the focus back.’

I slowly lifted my right foot and slammed it down with a loud thud.

Thud!

A brief reverberation spread far and wide. The startled classroom instantly quieted.

And naturally, it created a situation where it seemed like I was trying to frighten someone in front of me.

Ding!

System

[40]% of the audience is starting to focus on you!

Current audience: 38

As I began acting in earnest, a status window appeared before my eyes.

‘40%?’

This meant not even half of the audience was focused on me. Barely half.

However….

‘Good.’

I wasn’t worried at all.

I was confident I could make 100% of the audience focus on me.

***

Do Gyeoul briefly turned her gaze toward the audience.

The looks of admiration and reverence directed at her had become so familiar that they no longer moved her.

‘How dull….’

Gyeoul was only slightly irritated by the freshman who had come on stage with her.

Who on earth was she, standing shoulder to shoulder with her and ignoring Myeong Je-ha, the runner-up sitting over there?

At that moment, the loud thud drew attention, and Yeoreum opened her mouth to deliver her first line.

“You… don’t want to grant my request, do you?”

Gyeoul, who had been indifferent, paused for a moment.

‘…That voice?’

It was a point immediately noticeable to anyone with acting experience.

‘Without a mic….’

Even though it was a casual line, her resonant voice filled the lecture hall like a seasoned theater actor.

It wasn’t just Gyeoul who noticed this; Myeong Je-ha, sitting in the front row, turned his gaze to the stage.

‘He didn’t even look up from his phone during my performance.’

Unknowingly, a surge of emotion climbed up her throat.

Han Yeoreum continued her lines smoothly, walking as though heading toward her destination.

As if the stage were a vast campus.

“No, it seems like you really want to help….”

With just two lines, Gyeoul recognized what piece Yeoreum was performing.

‘Of course I know.’

Yeoreum was perfectly reenacting the performance of the actor who had played the protagonist.

Gyeoul herself had studied the piece and couldn’t miss the details. A question sprang to her mind.

“Do whatever you want. But if it’s not theater, make sure it’s something you’re confident in.”

It was a relatively recent film. Geum Bit-gang had emphasized choosing something ‘confident.’

Even so, there must have been a reason Yeoreum chose such a recent work.

‘…Why this one? Of all the pieces?’

It didn’t take long for Gyeoul to realize why Yeoreum had chosen it.

A clumsy first love story of being twenty, the Korean version of a high school drama.

This scene had been featured so often in trailers that no one in the room could be unfamiliar with it.

Intube
@Movie Trailer Subscribers: 2.1k

[Freshman Welcome Preview] 1:53

Views: 30k

– “When you’re 20, it’s my story; at 30, it’s our story.” (Likes: 1.2k)

– “Left the theater sobbing… Maybe it wasn’t my first love I missed but the purity of who I was back then.” (Likes: 800)

– “The ending credits with the OST gave me chills, made me feel like a college student of that era.” (Likes: 522)

It was a piece everyone had emotionally connected to, as evidenced by the trailer’s comments.

‘Audiences immerse themselves unconsciously while watching a play….’

And theater, above all, demands the audience’s immersion.

‘And the current setting….’

It was identical to the film’s background. It couldn’t have been more immersive for the audience. Yeoreum moved freely as if the stage was her own.

She had chosen an acting style completely opposite to Gyeoul, who dominated with expressions while standing still.

“Let’s skip class! Just this once!”

It was an improvisation that was too clever, as though she had studied the stage endlessly for this moment.

For the first time in her life, Gyeoul felt as if the role of the protagonist had been stolen.

‘…Right now. Everyone….’

The atmosphere was completely different from when she had been acting just a moment ago.

‘Are you… smiling?’

Yes. Even Geum Bit-gang was smiling.

“Traitor if you don’t skip!”

Han Yeoreum turned around.

It was time for the film’s iconic scene—the hooking moment of the heroine that left everyone in awe.

‘Slow motion… followed by.’

Everyone waited eagerly for Han Yeoreum’s next move, laughing in anticipation.

‘Close-up.’

Gyeoul recognized the scene too.

It was then.

“Hurry up.”

Exactly like the scene in the movie.

It was as if Yeoreum’s face filled her vision, an illusion of being drawn in, just like the original.

The moment, though identical to the original actor’s scene, movement, and line delivery, was distinct.

Gyeoul was certain.

‘…It’s the same, but somehow….’

No one here would think of the original actor.

‘…What is this?’

It was as though the film’s protagonist had always belonged to Han Yeoreum.

‘What is that?’

The sight gave Gyeoul a strange, indescribable sense of unease.

Yeoreum, who turned to smile brightly, entered her vision instantly.

The sunlight streaming through the open window shone on Yeoreum like a spotlight.

***

“Wow! Amazing!”

“Korea National University of Arts’ first love!”

Applause erupted the moment Yeoreum finished her performance.

Not even a second of silence passed before it filled the room.

My heart pounded fiercely, mimicking the beat of a drum.

‘Yes. This is what I wanted….’

These gazes, this applause.

As Professor Geum Bit-gang fixed her gaze on me—

System

[100]% of the audience is focused on you!

Current audience: 39

The stage concluded successfully.

▶ Current Space Temperature (15°C) [F]

A status window appeared.

“Have you seen that movie? I’ve watched it twice.”

“No, but now I suddenly want to go watch it.”

Everyone began chatting with their seatmates about the movie, as if Do Gyeoul’s earlier performance hadn’t even happened.

‘Most people probably went to the theater after their college entrance exams at least once.’

It worked well. The lecture hall’s atmosphere was vibrant, completely different from before.

Professor Geum Bit-gang silently gestured for us to return to our seats.

But I could tell she was quite satisfied.

Because.

Ding!

「Mission: Captivate everyone’s attention」

The first step to stardom! Among freshmen filled with passion for acting, you have successfully left a strong impression.

Success Conditions
[You have gained recognition from a person with a Concentration stat of grade B or higher.]

Reward
Your [Fame] has increased.
You have received a [Random Skill Draw Ticket].

〈Check Now〉 〈Store〉

The window showing the mission’s success popped up.

“We speak through expressions! Convey through voice! Express through gestures! That’s theater. From now on, you’ll learn how to dominate space.”

Professor Geum Bit-gang briefly looked at me.

“Like the acting just now, you must perfect your basics from your walk onward. Even if you sweep across the stage, it shouldn’t feel awkward.”

I stored the Random Skill Draw Ticket in my inventory, trembling with exhilaration.

‘…Yes, this is it.’

The self I had desperately longed for and dreamed of.

Thump, thump. The satisfying rhythm of my heartbeat spread throughout my body.

‘If only they’d clapped a little louder.’

I didn’t show it outwardly, but deep inside, my desire for more recognition bubbled up.

It had been so long since I’d been acknowledged like this. And it was obvious to anyone that I had drawn a bigger reaction than Do Gyeoul.

Even some classmates turned to look back at me, exchanging eye contact as if acknowledging me.

Among them was Do Gyeoul.

‘Did you enjoy watching, Do Gyeoul?’

I sent her the same brief eye contact I gave to the others.

‘The performance you were so intently stealing.’

Do Gyeoul, who had been silently watching me, turned her body back without any reaction.

‘Keep your expression under control. I don’t like you either.’

As I clenched my fist, a thought suddenly flashed in my mind.

Come to think of it… I thought I saw something strange in the status window earlier.

Final Audience: 39

‘…Huh?’

Sure enough, the number of audience members in the status window had increased by one midway through.