In This Life I Will Die as an Actress Not a Villainess Chapter 84

Crash!

Another massive boulder materialized in midair and slammed into the asphalt.

I hurled my body toward it.

For half a day I’d been dodging boulders, awakening every latent ability I possessed.

“What kind of script possession is this?!”

I ran and flew for my life, shouting into the air.

But below where the new boulder was flying, I spotted a woman pushing a stroller.

“No!”

I squeezed my eyes shut and threw myself toward her.

Then a sword appeared from somewhere and found its way into my hand.

“?!”

Before I could process what was happening, my arm instinctively drew the blade from its sheath and slashed through the air toward the boulder.

A shockwave burst from the sword, shattering the boulder instantly.

The fragments rained down below.

I stood frozen, staring at the unbelievable sight.

“Did I just… do that?”

Dazed, I looked down at my hands.

[Mission Complete.]

* * *

Without warning, I began falling through endless space.

I screamed and curled into a ball.

“Aaaaaah!”

As I plummeted, I cracked my eyes open.

The ground was visible far below.

Following what I’d just learned, I prepared for a landing roll with my limbs together.

Get it together, Han Sena.

Or you’ll die.

The moment my body touched the ground, I rolled forward multiple times to minimize impact.

It was a technique ingrained into my body from the script world I’d just left.

Roll, roll, roll…

How many times did I tumble?

“Huh?”

Someone’s voice reached my ears.

The extremely startled voice sounded strangely familiar.

Without time to worry about it, I quickly spun my body and got to my feet.

“Hah, I’m alive!”

I patted down my entire body, rotating my arms and legs to check for injuries.

I actually made it out.

Wait, this script world was absolutely brutal beyond belief.

Rage flared up inside me.

What the hell kind of stunt is this?

I’d barely survived death how many times?

While I fumed and tried to calm myself down…

Someone was staring at me with an utterly dumbfounded expression.

“…?”

Only then did I turn my head to look—Lee Nara was standing there.

I blinked hard.

Am I still in the script?

Why is she here?

But somehow, behind Lee Nara, I could see the audition venue building.

“Why is that here.”

I’d been at the action school just moments ago.

“No way.”

I started frantically patting down my entire body for my phone.

Of course it wasn’t there.

I turned to look at Lee Nara standing before me.

“Don’t tell me today’s the audition…?”

Lee Nara’s expression twisted sharply.

“Are you seriously telling me you came to the Warners second-round audition?”

“…!!!”

My worst fear had come true.

I felt like collapsing right there.

Time in reality had jumped forward a whole week while I was in the script.

Until now it had stayed frozen—why change on me now?

Are they seriously expecting me to walk into that audition venue just like this?

There was absolutely zero autonomy for me in this damn system.

When I didn’t respond, Lee Nara slid down her sunglasses.

“Ignoring your sunbaenim?”

“Ah, yes. Hello.”

I gave a quick bow and tried to pass, but as expected, Lee Nara wasn’t one to let things slide.

“Where’d you learn English that you’re auditioning for something like this? Dream big, don’t you.”

Ugh, I literally just came back from the brink of death and now she’s starting up again.

I swallowed my frustration and tried to deflect.

“How did you get here, sunbaenim?”

Lee Nara’s response dripped with sarcasm.

“Flew on a plane. What, you think I used superpowers?”

“Ah, I see.”

I had nothing to say.

I really did just come from that world. Crossed over from the afterlife…

I grabbed hold of my scattered thoughts and answered.

“That’s not what I meant. I was asking if you also got here through a recommendation… Never mind.”

I trailed off with an awkward smile.

Lee Nara whipped off her sunglasses.

“You got recommended?!”

This person is way too easy.

“Yes, somehow…”

“Somehow?”

Lee Nara cut me off with a hollow laugh.

“Oh, so for you this is just something you somehow, someway drift into?”

Seeing my aggrieved expression, I waved my hands frantically.

“That’s not what I meant.”

“I paid my own money to fly here and audition, but sure, I must look like a real joke to you.”

Hearing that, I hung my head.

“I also…”

“What?”

“I also paid for my own plane ticket. I only got the audition recommendation…”

“You’re actually insane!”

Lee Nara finally lost it and raised her voice.

This time too, the area below Lee Nara’s neck flushed bright red.

People passing by the audition venue turned to look our way.

“Sunbaenim, you need to maintain some dignity. Remember what I told you last time?”

I whispered quietly to Lee Nara.

Lee Nara started to yell again but bit down hard on her lips.

Just then, perfectly timed, the honk of Lee Nara’s manager calling for her echoed over.

Lee Nara glared at me, put her sunglasses back on, and spun around.

* * *

In the blink of an eye, I was back in the audition venue.

Anxiety made me hide both hands behind my back, pressing my fingernails into my fingers.

I’d only gone in and out of the script world once, but ultimately I hadn’t gotten to practice with wires even once.

“How was your preparation time?”

The director smiled and asked.

How was it?

I almost died.

I clutched at my unsettled feelings and smiled while shrugging my shoulders.

I couldn’t give any response.

Because I was about to embarrass myself on an international scale.

Seeing my shrug as an answer, the director looked intrigued and gave me a thumbs up.

Oh no, this isn’t right.

Things were spiraling completely out of control.

“Shall we have a look?”

Staff members approached and attached the wire apparatus to my body.

“We’re being pretty fussy about this audition, aren’t we? The fight scenes in this film are particularly difficult. We wanted to select someone who’s already prepared.”

The assistant director added an explanation.

I couldn’t hear a word of it.

My mind had gone completely blank.

I took deep breaths, desperately trying to calm myself.

“Ready, action.”

At the director’s cue, my body lifted into the air.

I squeezed my eyes shut…

‘Huh?’

At barely 2 meters high, my eyes snapped open.

Come on, what is this?

Compared to the heights I’d been soaring at with the birds in the script, this was child’s play.

Suddenly my mind settled and my head cooled.

If this is how it’s going to be…

I smoothly drew the sword the staff had handed me.

“The time has come. I know that too.”

The line came out instinctively.

I gripped the sword with both hands and slashed hard through the air.

The wind created by the blade sent the bangs flying on the nearest staff member.

Far away, the seated director’s eyes slowly widened in surprise.

From that moment, I began smoothly connecting the movements I’d performed in the script world.

Aerial turn, landing with a roll, lifting back into the air, then crossing both arms in a defensive stance.

As if pushed back by a massive villain’s power, I raised my guard with both arms and kicked my legs in midair.

“I won’t lose anymore! Not to the past, not to myself, and not to you.”

I threw my head back toward the ceiling, tensed my entire body, and let out a sound close to a scream.

Then I came back down to the ground, leapt high, and used the wire’s momentum to jump right up near the ceiling.

In that brief second at that height, I looked down at the people watching me.

Everyone had their heads tilted back, looking up at me.

As if in slow motion, I could see each person’s expression in detail.

“From now on, I’m a hero.”

* * *

I came back down and swept my disheveled hair back.

The complicated thoughts filling my head vanished.

Everything felt like it was reaching a lull.

Like rough waves calming down.

Silence filled the audition venue.

After a moment, someone started clapping.

That applause spread rapidly.

It was applause I’d never heard before in an audition venue.

I lifted my gaze from the floor to look at the people before me.

The director looked at me with an expression of disbelief.

And for over thirty seconds, he didn’t open his mouth.

The assistant director sitting beside him also sat there in a daze.

The assistant director snapped to attention as if waking from sleep and tapped the director beside him.

Without any critique, the director simply asked:

“Sena, want to work with us?”

* * *

A few days later, back at the workshop.

Time had flown by in a blur—it was already the final class.

“Everyone worked hard. I hope you all get good results.”

David looked at me and sent a quick wink as if asking how it went.

I responded with an awkward smile, trying not to show too much.

James also delivered his prepared closing remarks.

“Anyone who got roasted by me about their acting and wants revenge—I’ll give you my social media handle. Go leave hate comments there.”

Everyone burst into cheerful laughter at his words.

Very James-like way to wrap things up.

Beside me, Kkotbyeol wore an expression full of regret.

“All right then, should we all head home?”

David clapped his hands.

As we were about to leave the workshop, someone approached us.

“Aiden Farrell…?”

Aiden Farrell came up to us and gave an awkward wave.

Kkotbyeol and I exchanged confused looks as we returned the greeting.

“Hello. I heard you’re from Korea.”

Aiden initiated conversation.

“Yes, that’s right. Where are you from, Aiden?”

“Born in Ireland, raised in America. Mind if I sit here for a moment?”

“Of course, have a seat.”

In the now-empty classroom, Aiden plopped down beside us.

Sunlight streaming through the window bathed Aiden’s orange hair in a golden glow.

Up close, the faint freckles on his face that I’d only seen on screen were much clearer.

What’s going on here?

Why would Aiden Farrell approach us?

“I watched your performances with real interest.”

Aiden even offered a compliment.

“Wow… thank you. I’ve actually been a fan of yours.”

At my words, Aiden’s face flushed with embarrassment.

Then he changed the subject.

“So, how do you like Hollywood?”

“Hectic, but exciting.”

Aiden nodded and turned to Kkotbyeol.

“And you?”

Kkotbyeol answered.

“Boring! Only the workshop’s fun.”

At that, Aiden threw his head back and laughed heartily.

“I know, right? It’s practically a relic. Now that the golden age has passed, it’s just a hot city.”

Aiden’s personality seemed much more outgoing than I’d expected.

I thought he’d be the quiet type.

That’s when Aiden asked an unexpected question.

“So, could I have the chance to make things more interesting for you two?”

Huh?

Both Kkotbyeol and I widened our eyes.

“Don’t you need a guide?”

“What??”