In This Life I Will Die as an Actress Not a Villainess Chapter 58

That’s when MC Shin Doyoung smoothly began introducing the guests.

“Now, first up—Sena-ssi! This is your first variety show appearance, so how do you feel?”

“I’m so nervous I don’t know what to do. I’ll trust the regulars and do my best!”

At those words, Mason—an idol-turned-variety-show-expert—needled me.

“Noona, you can’t trust us. We’re the people you need to watch out for most.”

She tilted her head at that.

“Sounds like I just need to watch out for Mason saying things like that…?”

At that, Mason backed off with a laugh, like he’d taken a hit.

“Noona’s scary.”

“Oh, Sena-ssi. For someone who says it’s their first variety show, you’re pretty good.”

This should get at least some editing time during the opening introductions.

Now it was Won Hyerim sunbaenim’s turn.

“Teacher Yoon Youngjae too, but you have such incredible charisma. Can you really let all that go and run around?”

At Shin Doyoung’s question, Won Hyerim sunbaenim grinned.

“Of course. I even trained briefly as a national athlete in high school.”

“Huh?”

“Wait, really?”

As the cast’s attention focused on her, Won Hyerim sunbaenim shrugged casually like it was nothing.

“What event?”

“Shot put.”

At that, the gathered atmosphere shattered completely.

“No, Hyerim-ssi. You need to run here. We’re not throwing gold bars.”

At those words, Won Hyerim sunbaenim laughed sheepishly.

Even I couldn’t help laughing at the absurd answer.

Following that, when Lee Seokhyun and Teacher Yoon Youngjae both showed enthusiastic attitudes, the filming site’s mood shot up.

“Alright then! Looking forward to our Palace Flower members’ performance, we’ll now reveal today’s mission.”

The rules were as follows:

Find the mini gold bars hidden somewhere in the NBS broadcasting station and head to the goal point.

They could discover the gold bars by finding hint notes and helpers hidden inside the station, and even at the goal point, if time hadn’t run out, they could steal and be stolen from.

Really—they’d have to run around searching every corner of the entire station, brute-forcing it with pure stamina.

My head was already spinning.

“Our 24K gold bar will actually be presented to the winner!”

At Shin Doyoung’s words, the cast beamed and applauded.

The PD also grabbed the microphone and added one more thing.

“There are other hidden items in the middle too, so look carefully.”

While the regulars swarmed the PD demanding “what are the other items” and “give us more hints,” I checked on the Palace Flower members’ expressions.

Then I caught Lee Seokhyun and Teacher Yoon Youngjae exchanging glances.

Whoa, traitors.

The moment Lee Seokhyun’s eyes met mine, he played dumb and grinned.

Watching that, I ground my teeth.

Then I moved close to Won Hyerim sunbaenim and whispered.

“Sunbaenim, should we quietly go team mode?”

At that, sunbaenim quickly nodded.

The cameras were probably capturing both teams splitting up and creating viewing points.

“Alright, now let’s begin!”

With the PD’s voice, the whistle blew powerfully.

In an instant, the cast scattered with their VJs attached.

I also ran blindly and made it out to the hallway.

Where should I go first?

I paused briefly, deep in thought.

Probably better to spy on the regulars’ directions early on, right?

Watching the cast’s retreating figures, Shin Doyoung and Chae Jui seemed to be starting their search from the first floor, while the other three were heading upstairs.

I quickly chased after Chae Jui, who was closest.

Chae Jui looked like she planned to search the first floor thoroughly.

I got ahead of her and grabbed the freight elevator that would get me downstairs fastest.

My assigned VJ made a flustered expression.

They probably assumed I wouldn’t know the station layout well since I was a rookie.

But this was a place I could draw a map of with my eyes closed.

In my past life, I’d frequented this place like it was my second home, filming daily dramas and weekend series.

I looked at the VJ and grinned.

Then as soon as the elevator opened, I hid in a corner and waited for Chae Jui to come down.

Soon Chae Jui arrived and rummaged around a small office nearby before letting out a small voice.

“Found it!”

A moment later, Chae Jui emerged from the room and snuck away.

Only then did I come out from my corner and head to that office.

A nameplate hung on one wall with a chalkboard.

“Find the ruins”

Ruins…?

Looking at that nameplate, I fell into thought.

This nameplate seems familiar somehow.

“Hmm.”

Where have I seen this before?

Digging through very old memories, something came to mind.

“Ah!”

It was the nameplate hung in front of each department’s door.

But if it’s ruins…

A thought flashed through my mind.

I hung the nameplate back up and moved quickly.

Leaving the office and running fast, the VJ hurriedly followed close behind.

“The old, run-down Recording Studio 2 nameplate from long ago.”

I remembered seeing the recording studio nameplate dangling loosely from being so worn out, ages ago.

If “ruins” refers to an old place…

I could hear the VJ’s huffing breath right behind me.

This would get picked up on both audio and camera.

Just as I broke through to the fourth floor in one go, Won Hyerim sunbaenim called me.

“Um… can I answer this?”

I turned around flustered to find the VJ drenched in sweat.

I grinned and answered the phone.

-Did you find anything?

“They said to find the ruins, sunbaenim.”

-I found a password. 2379. Looks like we need to open something.

Hearing that, I quickly put my brain to work.

A box maybe?

Or a door with a keypad lock?

Thinking that, I reached the recording studio entrance.

A keypad lock I’d never seen before was attached to the recording studio.

“Wait, no way.”

‘Did you find something?!’

Sunbaenim’s voice came through the phone.

“Sunbaenim, I’m in front of Recording Studio 2.”

I swallowed hard and entered the password.

Ding—

With a cheerful sound, the door clicked open.

What waited for me inside was an unexpected item.

“A water gun…?”

On the table lay a water gun along with a note saying “Special Item.”

<Shout “I’m taking the shot!” and you can steal the gold bar from the person holding it. However, you need a majority of survivors to agree to take the shot. If you don’t get agreement, it’s judged as a “misfire” and the person who shot is out.>

Oh ho. So this was hidden here.

-The gold bar?!

Sunbaenim asked urgently through the phone that was still connected.

“No, it’s a special item. One that lets you steal the gold bar.”

-That kind of thing?

“Yes. I’ll head down.”

After hanging up with sunbaenim and heading down, the moment the elevator doors opened, I heard footsteps rushing somewhere.

“Found it!”

That’s Mason’s voice?

I quickly chased toward where the sound came from.

Far away, Mason was holding the gold bar and heading toward the goal point.

I swiftly ran and blocked his path.

“Huh, noona?!”

I pulled out the ridiculously toy-looking small water gun from my pocket.

I’ll eliminate you first before I go.

With that thought, I briefly declared:

“I’m taking the shot.”

“Huh? What’s that?”

Mason tilted his head, completely confused.

A few seconds later, “Accepted” echoed through the station speakers.

And Mason’s eyes widened.

“Wait, I’m out now?!”

I too looked at Lee Seokhyun with a slightly surprised expression.

Then I grinned and approached Mason…

“My ball! My gold!”

From somewhere, Lee Seokhyun came flying like he was attacking.

Lee Seokhyun snatched the gold bar in an instant and started sprinting at full speed.

“What?!”

But it’s the end of the hallway…

Teacher Yoon Youngjae stood there with gleaming eyes.

“Come here.”

Lee Seokhyun, who’d been running straight ahead, couldn’t turn and crashed into the wall.

A physical struggle began between the two.

Teacher skillfully slipped his hand between Lee Seokhyun’s armpit and smoothly extracted the gold bar.

Then he began running in earnest.

The goal point was at Han River Park near the broadcasting station.

I chased closely behind Teacher.

I could hear the cast running behind me.

The chase began in earnest.

Thinking about the broadcast, this would be around the climax.

Won Hyerim sunbaenim quickly took the lead and snatched the gold bar from Teacher Yoon Youngjae.

“Sorry, Teacher!”

“Give back my gold bar!”

But sunbaenim, who’d been running with such momentum, ran out of steam before even reaching the goal point.

Then she got caught by Lee Yul, and while they were struggling, Bang Chaehyuk picked up the gold bar like a fisherman’s luck and ran off.

It was chaos.

Watching and running, my side was starting to run out of breath too.

Now it was time for me to make my move.

While passing by Won Hyerim sunbaenim, who was fuming, I discreetly gave her a thumbs up.

“Huff, huff… If you roll me this hard and then betray me, you’re dead!”

I grinned at sunbaenim and picked up speed.

My VJ was almost completely exhausted.

Bang Chaehyuk, who’d been running in the distance, had hidden himself somewhere—he was no longer visible.

How do I find him?

As I looked around, a group of people who’d been resting with their bikes parked in one corner of the park approached.

“Oh! It’s variety filming, right?”

“Palace Flower is so fun!”

“He went that way, that way!”

The people told me where Bang Chaehyuk went without even being asked.

“Thank you! I’ll definitely win!”

Leaving behind the applauding people, I ran again.

“Go Sunim, win! Win again! Fighting!”

“Catch Bang Chaehyuk!”

As I approached where Bang Chaehyuk was hiding, I saw Lee Seokhyun, who’d somehow gotten ahead.

But Lee Seokhyun’s movements seemed suspicious.

Why’s he being so cautious?

Wait, does he have a water gun too…?

In the distance at the goal point, Teacher Yoon Youngjae was already standing there waiting.

Three minutes left until the mission ended.

I ran to Lee Seokhyun.

“Ack, you scared me!”

“Shh!”

I grabbed Lee Seokhyun and spoke to him.

“Want to team up? I’ll take your side, so use that item to shoot Bang Chaehyuk.”

Lee Seokhyun raised one eyebrow.

It wouldn’t be easy to refuse.

The regulars’ voting direction was unclear, but if he got Teacher Yoon Youngjae’s vote on top of mine—who’d already picked a side—he could gather exactly half the votes.

Lee Seokhyun pulled out the gun with a determined look.

“Shooting! I’m shooting!”

Gotcha.

I smiled slightly—just enough for the VJ to see—and waited for the PD’s signal.

As the countdown began:

“3, 2, 1!”

I raised my hand sharply.

“Reject!”

From far away, I heard Won Hyerim sunbaenim’s voice too.

“Me too—reject! Completely reject!”

Lee Seokhyun’s eyes widened as he looked down at me.

“What?!”

Soon the PD’s voice flowed from the radio.

“Lee Seokhyun-ssi, you’re out from a misfire.”

Serves you right.

This is how I get revenge for being rolled on stage.

I grinned at Lee Seokhyun and quickly left the spot.

In the meantime, Teacher Yoon Youngjae snatched the gold bar from Bang Chaehyuk’s hands.

That gold bar was stolen again with dazzling skill by Won Hyerim sunbaenim as she approached.

And Shin Doyoung suddenly popped out and chased sunbaenim closely.

Like a game of tag, the trembling chase continued, with only fifteen seconds remaining.

I chased after Shin Doyoung while waving at sunbaenim.

“Over here! Throw it!”

From far away, Lee Seokhyun shouted furiously.

“You were on the same team?! Traitor!!”

There was no way that would reach my ears.

Five seconds remaining.

After confirming I was at the goal point, sunbaenim flung the gold bar.

The gold bar cut through the air…

“No!”

“Catch it, catch it!”

I barely caught the gold bar that almost slipped away.

Three, two, one.

“Game over!”