← An unknown actor, the audience's reaction began to show.Junho left the filming set and sat down on the stairs behind the set.
The afternoon sunlight warmed the cement wall, and its heat brushed across Junho's face. He closed his eyes, then opened them. He closed them again.
The numbers were still there.
Empathy 58%.
Tension 34%.
Immersion 72%.
Favorability 61%.
Trust 59%.
'What is this?'
Junho rubbed his eyes with his hands. It was a gesture like something from a movie, an attempt to shake off a hallucination. As his fingers pressed against his eye sockets, the numbers wavered. Like disturbing a reflection in water.
Yet they didn't disappear.
Junho lowered his hands. He took a deep breath. The air coming through his nose was cold. That coldness traveled down to his chest.
Let me think. Think logically.
Junho spoke to himself. Like he was talking to someone else, keeping a distance.
First, this is real. Not a hallucination. Because the director reacted. Because that actress reacted. If it were a hallucination, Junho's acting wouldn't have changed, but it did. When the numbers went up, their expressions changed. If what they felt was real, then the numbers had to be real too.
Second, only Junho sees this. No one else asked. No one on set asked, "Do you see strange numbers?" Not the cameraman, not the lighting crew, not the director. They only knew that Junho's acting had changed.
Third, this is perfectly synchronized with Junho's movements. Like a setting. Like a guideline.
Junho stood up. He went down the stairs. He started walking around the filming set.
He entered the room where the set furniture was arranged. The lights were still on. Junho stood in the middle of that room and moved as if he were filming. He mimicked the café employee's gestures like before.
The numbers changed.
Empathy 42%.
Tension 28%.
Immersion 31%.
Favorability 35%.
Trust 40%.
All lower than before. It made sense. This wasn't acting. It was just movement.
Junho tried again. This time, like it was real. With emotion, like before.
He raised his hand, pretending to receive a cup. He pretended to listen to a customer. He pretended to nod. But this time, he put a slight warmth in his eyes. He smiled with a genuine-looking smile on his lips.
The numbers went up.
Empathy 58%.
Tension 31%.
Immersion 69%.
Favorability 64%.
Trust 57%.
Junho's breathing quickened.
'What is this...?'
He lowered his hand. He leaned against the set wall. The coldness of the concrete transmitted through his back into his body.
This is a score. This is an evaluation.
But who? Who is evaluating?
Junho looked up at the ceiling. Lighting fixtures hung there. Black dome-shaped things. No cameras. The filming was already over.
So what is this? Someone is evaluating Junho's acting in real time? Without a camera, without filming?
Junho thought again.
He recalled when these indicators first appeared during filming. When was that? Exactly?
It was when the director said "again" during the first take. From that moment, the numbers started appearing. Like someone had flipped a switch.
'A switch?'
Junho opened his eyes a bit wider.
Could it be... that this is coming from inside Junho?
From his brain? From his nervous system? Something like that?
No. Then why would the numbers be so precise? Why would each one have a name? Why percentages?
Junho slowly crouched down. He squatted on the set floor. He covered his face with both hands.
In that position, after a moment, he peeked ahead through the gaps between his fingers.
Empathy 52%.
Tension 67%.
Immersion 28%.
Favorability 41%.
Trust 45%.
'Tension went up.'
Junho noticed that. When he became anxious, tension increased. And immersion dropped. As if... as if it were reading his emotional state.
No. It wasn't just reading. It was evaluating. It detected that Junho was currently in an 'anxious state' and converted that into the number '67% tension.'
Then this is... some kind of feedback system?
Junho slowly stood up. He looked at his own hands. He bent his fingers. He straightened them. He raised his arms. He lowered them.
Empathy 39%.
Tension 71%.
Immersion 42%.
Favorability 38%.
Trust 43%.
'What is this...?'
A small laugh came from Junho's mouth. A hee... ha kind of laugh. A laugh where he wasn't even sure if he was laughing.
With that laugh, the numbers changed.
Empathy 55%.
Tension 48%.
Immersion 61%.
Favorability 58%.
Trust 54%.
'Ah... this is right. This is normal. These numbers should be at this level.'
Junho knew it instinctively. When the director said "Good. This will do," all the indicators were above 60%. That seemed to be the threshold. Once it exceeded that, someone (something?) seemed to declare "OK."
Junho took another deep breath.
'This is a game.'
When that thought occurred to him, strangely, the numbers stabilized.
Empathy 62%.
Tension 42%.
Immersion 71%.
Favorability 65%.
Trust 61%.
'Because I understood? Because I figured out the rules?'
Junho's eyes sparkled.
Then what is the goal of this game? To raise all indicators? Or to maintain specific indicators above a certain level?
The director seemed to say "above 60%." If all indicators go above 60%, you pass. That seemed to be the rule.
But why? Why this system? Who created it?
Junho looked around again. The set, the lights, the camera stands, the actor's chairs. Nothing looked strange. But something was definitely off.
'First... the fact that only I can see this is important.'
Junho focused on that point.
If someone else saw these indicators, Junho would be evaluated not on his acting skills but on his ability to manipulate these numbers. But no one knows. Then...
'This is my advantage.'
The corners of Junho's mouth rose.
Tension dropped. Empathy went up. Favorability went up.
Empathy 68%.
Tension 38%.
Immersion 74%.
Favorability 71%.
Trust 66%.
All indicators were above 60%.
Junho left the set in that state. He walked down the hallway. The sunlight outside the set greeted him.
Even then, the numbers were still floating there.
As if his eyes had been permanently set to see something different now.
The lights on the set went out one by one. The footsteps of the staff grew more distant. Junho sat in his chair and waited for them to leave completely.
After confirming that the last lighting technician had packed up and left, Junho slowly stood up.
The set was now empty. A massive box-like space with Junho alone remaining in it. Each step he took echoed through the silence.
'Let me check first.'
Junho stood where the camera had been positioned. From that vantage point, the stage was the space where he had just performed. He took a deep breath.
The indicators changed.
Empathy 45%.
Tension 72%.
Immersion 52%.
Likability 38%.
Trust 41%.
Tension was the highest. It made sense. Junho was tense right now.
'The fact that indicators appear even without an audience...'
Junho moved forward slowly. He deliberately opened his shoulders. A smile appeared on his face. His eyes softened.
Empathy 58%.
Tension 38%.
Immersion 61%.
Likability 67%.
Trust 64%.
Everything changed.
Junho's expression relaxed. Truly. This wasn't acting. For a moment, it felt like the difference was reflected in the indicators.
'When emotions change, the indicators follow. Then...'
This time, Junho tried the opposite. He deliberately controlled his body. He maintained the smile, but let his eyes waver slightly. He breathed shallowly. Like someone trying to hide something.
Empathy 42%.
Tension 68%.
Immersion 55%.
Likability 51%.
Trust 38%.
Trust dropped. 38%. The lowest.
'Ah. It detects the mismatch between facial expression and movement?'
Junho returned to the starting point. This time, he focused on just one thing. Likability.
How to raise likability? Junho recalled videos of his recorded voice. The expressions, voices, and gestures of actors people liked. They had something in common. Warmth. Openness. A hint of vulnerability.
Junho took a step forward. As if looking at someone, he fixed his gaze. He slightly raised the corners of his mouth. At the same time, he lowered his shoulders just a bit. A posture that mixed a touch of tension while conveying sufficient comfort.
Empathy 71%.
Tension 42%.
Immersion 68%.
Likability 79%.
Trust 72%.
Likability rose to 79%.
Junho's heart raced. This was no coincidence. There was a pattern. A clear pattern.
This time, he went more dramatically. He closed his eyes gently, his expression as if holding back sadness. His hands rested in front of his chest. He controlled his breathing. Deep, slow, and intentional.
Empathy 87%.
Tension 51%.
Immersion 81%.
Likability 68%.
Trust 76%.
Empathy rose to 87%.
'This is it.'
Junho's lips moved. Not a smile, but something else came to mind. Excitement. No, there was a more precise word for it.
'Control.'
These numbers were the audience's emotions. Or at least, they were the 'standard' of emotions the audience should feel. And the moment he realized he could manipulate them, Junho's world changed slightly.
He returned to his original posture. Without emotion. Without intention. Just standing there.
Empathy 38%.
Tension 45%.
Immersion 32%.
Likability 29%.
Trust 35%.
All indicators dropped. Even likability fell to 29%.
'People dislike this lowered state.'
Junho reflected on that realization. The set's lights illuminated his face. The contrast of shadow and light. Was that an important factor too? Or was it purely expression and movement?
He maintained the same posture but this time turned his face toward the light.
Empathy 41%.
Tension 43%.
Immersion 34%.
Likability 32%.
Trust 37%.
Almost the same. So light wasn't important?
'No. Since there's no emotion in this state, the light is meaningless too.'
Junho resumed the high-likability posture. A warm smile, open shoulders, soft eyes. This time, he turned his body toward the light.
Empathy 73%.
Tension 40%.
Immersion 70%.
Likability 82%.
Trust 74%.
Likability rose to 82%. Light had an effect. Lighting mattered.
But that wasn't all. Junho maintained the same posture and this time added his voice. In the empty set, he murmured something like talking to himself.
"Thank you."
Just two words. But the indicators moved again.
Empathy 76%.
Tension 38%.
Immersion 73%.
Likability 84%.
Trust 77%.
Likability rose to 84%.
Junho breathed deeply. He breathed in the set's air. While being conscious of his solitude, he simultaneously felt he wasn't alone.
Someone was watching. Definitely.
He didn't know what that someone was or where they were. But if these indicators kept changing, something was definitely evaluating him.
Junho pulled up all his emotions once more. He mixed sadness and hope. He harmonized tension and stability. All indicators above 60%.
Empathy 68%.
Tension 42%.
Immersion 74%.
Likability 71%.
Trust 66%.
Perfect. All indicators were above 60%.
At that moment, Junho laughed. A real laugh. Not a controlled laugh, but pure joy bursting out.
But even that laughter was reflected in the indicators.
Empathy 62%.
Tension 51%.
Immersion 68%.
Likability 75%.
Trust 69%.
Everything was measured, and everything was being recorded.
Junho slowly left the set. Fluorescent lights in the hallway greeted him. He headed toward the exit. Even as he opened the door and stepped out, those numbers still floated before his eyes.
The world had changed. No, his eyes had changed.
Junho walked out into the sunlight. The indicators continued to dance.
Empathy 71%.
Tension 38%.
Immersion 75%.
Likability 73%.
Trust 70%.
A perfect range.
'Now I know what I need to do.'
Junho headed to the parking lot. He opened his car door. As he sat in the seat, the indicators still floated in his vision.
As if he had been born with this ability from the start, naturally.
He started the engine. The radio came on. It was news.
"...Actor Lee Junho's minor role has received unexpected acclaim..."
Junho's hand stopped. He turned up the radio volume.
"...there are even predictions he could be nominated for a newcomer acting award..."
The corners of Junho's mouth rose.
All the indicators shot above 80%.