I Returned as a High School Girl

Not only did Rail Universe Studios produce the most successful film series, it was also considered the current representative symbol of Hollywood. Just the fact that a Korean actor had managed to be cast in one of their films would be huge news.

The stock value of GNF would skyrocket the moment that news of Kang Ra-Eun being cast as Black Cat spread throughout the nation. Chief Jung was on cloud nine.

“You have no idea how worried I was about what to do if you had refused this offer.”

Ra-Eun was not like other actors; she had absolutely zero ambitions in terms of success as a celebrity, so she just did whatever she liked. Due to her uncontrollable nature, Chief Jung always considered the possibility that she could refuse whenever he presented her with an amazing offer. It had been the same this time as well, but contrary to his worries, Ra-Eun fortunately accepted the casting offer without any conditions like previous times. Chief Jung found Ra-Eun to be quite generous today.

“When does the shoot begin?” Ra-Eun asked. 𝒃𝙚𝙙𝙣𝙤𝙫𝙚𝒍.𝒐𝙧𝒈

“The shoot? Well... I believe it’ll be around the first half of this year, but...”

Chief Jung was being hesitant as if there was an issue. He explained in more detail about the offer that had been given to her.

“To tell you the truth, you received a casting offer, but it’s apparently not a sure thing.”

“What does that mean?”

“Director Geneve thinks you’re perfect for Black Cat, but the others are dissatisfied with his unilateral decision. So, Director Geneve posed a suggestion.”

Geneve Levan was the director of Steel Man 3. As for the suggestion that he had posed to erase everyone’s doubts about Ra-Eun...

“He wants you to take a private audition.”

***

An audition was the most surefire way to prove an actor’s ability to a production team, which was likely why Director Geneve had suggested such a thing. A private audition was pretty much a casting offer with a prerequisite. It would be unimaginable for Ra-Eun in Korea since her acting ability was already tested, proven and acknowledged by every single person in the film industry. However, the same did not go for Hollywood.

“What if I fail the audition?” Ra-Eun asked.

“The offer will become null, probably.”

It was very simple.

“And of course, accepting it or not is your prerogative. You can do as you like.”

Chief Jung personally hoped that Ra-Eun would take the offer, but the choice was entirely up to Ra-Eun herself. If she found the production team’s suggestion uncomfortable, then she could just refuse.

“What’ll you do? Do you need some time to think about it?” Chief Jung asked.

“No,” Ra-Eun replied. There was no need. “I’ll give it a shot.”

She had already made up her mind, so she decided to push through with it for the sake of her precious fanboy opportunity.

***

Ra-Eun pulled out a comic book that had been on her shelf for a very long time. It was Cat Fight, a Rail Universe comic series volume with Black Cat as the protagonist. Black Cat was one of the very few female Asian superheroes in the Rail Universe, but was not as famous as their well-known superheroes like Steel Man, Raul, or Raven. However, there were a fair number of fanatics obsessed with her due to her gutsy and energetic attitude, as well as her sexy action scenes.

‘It’s fine, but her costume is just too much.’

It was far too revealing, likely to enhance the sexiness of her scenes. The only thing that was making her hesitate was Black Cat’s costume. However, like Chief Jung had said, it would be modified so that the film would be appropriate for all ages.

‘In that case, it would be far less revealing.’

Ra-Eun did not know how exactly the suit would be modified, but...

‘It’s not like I’ve passed the audition yet.’

It was not too late to worry about the suit’s design after passing the audition. There was something more important to take into account, and it was that all of her lines were in English. In other words, she needed to be fluent in English. However, she wasn’t worried about that in the slightest.

‘English is just the basics.’

Ra-Eun had ended up learning several foreign languages naturally due to her former occupation as a bodyguard. Her clients had not always been Korean; she had been put in charge of security for famous foreign individuals who had business in Korea. Thanks to that, Ra-Eun had managed to learn languages of several countries, such as English, Japanese, Chinese, German, and some others. Although it was only up to a level of basic conversations, that was more than enough.

‘The private audition is... Next week.’

The filming schedule was quite tight, so they needed to secure roles as quickly as possible. Hence, the audition would be held next week. Director Geneve just happened to have business in Korea next week, so he would be personally coming.

‘I’ll have to be fully ready by then.’

Ra-Eun opened the comic book, decided to forget about her revenge for a short while and fall into her fanboyish joys. Things like this were necessary from time to time.

***

Many reporters worked busily to take photos of Director Geneve as he landed in Korea. His Steel Man?series was extremely famous even in Korea, so his fame was obviously through the roof. Director Geneve got in the car after shortly waving to the reporters. He and the production team had come to Korea to take a look around Incheon Port, which had been chosen as one of the set locations of Steel Man 3.

He asked his manager for today’s agenda, “We’re going to be looking around Incheon Port and then have Ra-Eun’s audition in the evening, right?”

“Yes, that’s how we’ve scheduled it. Is there a problem...?”

“Could we delay it for about an hour?”

“The audition?”

“Yes. There’s someone who wants to see Ra-Eun’s performance with their own eyes.”

“Who?”

An unplanned judge had been included. Director Geneve smiled and mentioned the name of the man who had decided to fly all the way to Korea to see Ra-Eun’s performance.

“Lotier.”

He was the protagonist of the Steel Man series.

***

Ra-Eun actually did not have much experience taking an audition. She could count the number of occasions with one hand. She had proved her skills through the screen so many times that she was cast for films even without auditioning for the roles.

However, Hollywood was a completely different beast. Ra-Eun had resolved herself for it, but her heart raced crazily once she saw one of the judges. His facial features were clearly visible despite wearing large sunglasses. He had the classic handsome Western male features such as a dandy cut and a well-groomed beard.

Ra-Eun greeted the judges and looked at the man in sunglasses.

“Are you perhaps Lotier?” she asked.

Lotier took off his sunglasses and smiled. He was one of the greatest Hollywood stars. Ra-Eun had been right on the mark.

“It’s nice to meet you, Ra-Eun. I’ve heard a lot about you on my way here. I’ve heard that you were an amazing actress, so I wanted to check for myself how skilled you were to impress even our meticulous director here.”

Ra-Eun laughed bitterly at Lotier’s slightly witty remark. Like he had said, Director Geneve was an extremely meticulous person. He would get up from his seat and leave the audition if Ra-Eun were to make even the smallest mistake.

The audition would be divided into two parts; one was to test her acting skills while reciting English lines, and the other was to test her action performance skills. Ra-Eun quickly read through the script that she had been given in advance for the last time. She then laid it down on her chair and walked up to the center of the audition stage. Her expression changed in an instant.

“Are you suggesting we set off the bomb while there are still people inside? Are you insane?”

The judges’ eyes changed despite that short line delivery, especially those of Director Geneve and Lotier. Ra-Eun did not pay attention to their reactions and stayed true to her performance.

“Taking those sons of bitches down is fine, but our job is to prioritize saving people. Preventing unnecessary sacrifices takes priority over punishing evil!”

Black Cat looked cold on the outside, but she was actually more compassionate than any other hero. Ra-Eun’s lines were representative of Black Cat’s personality traits. While observing her performance, Lotier suddenly shot up from his seat, grabbing the attention of the other judges. He walked right up to Ra-Eun and exhaled.

“More people will die if we don’t stop them. I’m sure you know that, don’t you?”

It was Lotier’s line that had been written in the script. His impromptu performance had not been planned. Ra-Eun hardened herself while looking up at Lotier, who was far taller than her. She recited her lines calmly despite the situation calling for confusion.

“There’s no point in peace established through the sacrifices of few. Aren’t we here so that we can save those few people as well? Heroes are beings that embody those miracles and accomplish them! You’re the one who told me that.”

“...”

Lotier kept silent. Although he was far bigger than Ra-Eun in terms of height and build, Ra-Eun felt like the bigger one in terms of acting ability and presence.

He put his sunglasses back on and asked Director Geneve and the other judges with a smile, “Don’t you think that’s enough?”

Ra-Eun looked at the satisfied judges and thought that she had passed the primary audition.

***

They moved to somewhere with more space for the secondary audition.

While everyone around her was watching to assess her action performance, Ra-Eun said to the extras confidently, “I’m ready when you are.”

Ra-Eun took a large step back after observing the bat that the extra had swung in her direction to the very end. She then pretended to deal a devastating kick on the side of the extra standing beside her. Since this was an audition, she couldn’t hurt them for real; safety was crucial above all else.

Ra-Eun’s movements were large and exciting to watch. People couldn’t take their eyes off of her performance, which even male actors had a hard time doing.

Director Geneve whispered to Lotier, “I think she does action scenes better than you.”

Lotier wondered whether he should be laughing or crying.