I'm an Unknown Actress, But Everyone Knows Me

Muse

Photography Model Recruitment

Department of Stage Arts — Dokko Min

‘A modeling part-time job?’

There wasn’t much actual information written, but that didn’t matter.

Because the name on the poster—that was what mattered.

“Found it....”

I didn’t even need to see her in person to know. She definitely had Artistry Grade B.

Dokko Min was that kind of person.

My heart pounded just from seeing that name.

‘If I can get Dokko Min... I can complete the second mission immediately.’

I immediately contacted the number on the poster.

* * *

Dokko Min. In Korea, when someone says “photographer,” she’s the first name that comes to mind.

With a single click of her shutter, the photo became the representative image of any actor, idol, or model.

Intube

@Merry Claire Korea 180k subscribers

[Making Film – Actress Do Gyeoul’s Hanbok Photoshoot] 02:22

Views 2 million

-Wow what the hell;; I knew Do Gyeoul was pretty but this is another dimension. How does a photo smell like flowersㅠㅠㅠㅠ (Likes 1.2k)

-Taste of National Treasure TV (Likes 3k)

-Literally Do Gyeoul’s career-best photo lol insane (Likes 900)

Among her works, the most iconic was the hanbok photoshoot of Do Gyeoul—one of the three greatest actresses in Korea. Dokko Min, then just a college intern, shot to the top instantly from that one shoot.

‘Because that photo was displayed in New York Times Square.’

The tourism board stepped in, and that year Do Gyeoul’s drama was a mega hit.

‘Even the news blasted Dokko Min’s photos everywhere.’

Thanks to Do Gyeoul advancing to Cannes, Dokko Min worked with Hollywood actors. In Korea, agencies begged her so much she eventually refused shoots unless she personally wanted the celebrity.

‘Do you know how expensive Dokko Min is? And I’m meeting her now—this is really...!’

I was about to feel lucky when—

The door in front of me burst open and a sharp voice screamed.

“I’m not shooting you! Get lost! One click of my shutter costs more than your life is worth! Get out!”

A man stumbled out, not even wearing his shoes properly. Without noticing me, Dokko Min spat curses and slammed the door shut.

BANG—!!!

For a split second, a bright red text hovered above her head.

[!Debuff!]

Due to [Slump], the user’s skill [Instant Shutter] is locked.

I froze.

“Lucky....”

Maybe... not.

A debuff, and apparently she had an even worse temper back in college.

‘If I go in now, I’m going to die.’

What do I do.

As I hesitated, the system popped up another window as if encouraging me.

A reward will be given if you remove the debuff.

...Well. If there’s a reward, I’m doing it.

Considering how impossible it is to book someone like Dokko Min in the current situation—

“If I think long-term, she’s a perfect connection.”

You could gather a hundred useless seniors trying to use me as an extra and still none of them would match a single Dokko Min.

‘I won’t lose to Do Gyeoul’s connections this time.’

Before debuting, I needed to secure as many allies in the entertainment industry as possible—before Do Gyeoul could sabotage me.

“Good. Let’s go with the bribery strategy.”

I had absorbed every interview Dokko Min ever gave in my previous life, so it wouldn’t be hard. I lifted the corners of my mouth.

* * *

A muse. I need a muse.

Now a sophomore in college, suffering from a slump, Dokko Min desperately needed something—anything—that could spark inspiration.

“All~ of these are below expectations. No—below average....”

She slashed through the list of applicants with a thick red pen.

“If their face is good, their posing is stiff. If they pose well, they lack charm—!”

Not a single person made her want to dive through her viewfinder.

“So annoy~ing~.”

Worst of all was the model who just left.

“He reeked of cigarette smoke—!”

When she rejected him, he even dared to ask how much the “stupid photo” cost.

As she angrily sprayed room fragrance, her studio doorbell rang.

“Hello, I’m Han Yeoreum here for the model interview.”

She flung the door open instantly. Like a cat, Dokko Min circled Yeoreum and gave her habitual rapid-fire critique.

“Cute. Good skin. Especially the nose wings and lips are smooth and round—very likable. Mm-hmm. And the eyelid line only showing at the end when viewed straight on is nice too.”

And more than anything, she smelled good.

As Dokko Min sniffed curiously, Yeoreum smiled and pulled something out of her shopping bag.

“I smelled cigarette smoke on the person who left earlier, so....”

It was Dokko Min’s favorite flower—lilies.

The lingering cigarette smell vanished as a soft floral scent filled her nose. Her lost concentration snapped back into place.

“Mmm~.”

Her eyelids blinked slowly, like the click of a shutter.

Her pupils, holding Yeoreum within them, sharpened.

Sparkle!

「The Second Look (C)」

Online or offline, what a star needs is the public’s gaze! Whether your real presence, your photo, your video, even your voice—people will pause and focus for a ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ moment.

It was the moment Yeoreum’s skill hit Dokko Min perfectly.

Flowing hair, white T-shirt, the large elegant lily held in small hands, sunlight glowing from behind—

Dokko Min wanted to capture it all.

“You.”

With that single word, she summed up Han Yeoreum.

“I like you.”

* * *

‘Thank you, Cigarette Boy.’

Your sacrifice is the reason I’m standing in front of Dokko Min right now.

‘But seriously, fix your manners. Don’t smoke before a meeting.’

I had been standing in front of Dokko Min for dozens of minutes now while she circled me over and over.

“But what do I do? I want to shoot you. I like you. But I need something that really sparks—mmm. Something twisting what I usually do. Developing it. Making it better. Something that really catches the eye.”

She spoke every thought in her head exactly as it came.

I stayed quiet so she could think comfortably.

‘Status window.’

And I checked her status window again.

[Name: Dokko Min]

Level: Follower 30k

Title: The One Whose Skill You Can’t Criticize

Fame: D

Artistry: C (A-)

*Artistry stat has been nerfed due to Debuff.

Skill

〈Instant Shutter〉 C (!Debuff!)

Her Artistry was high enough to clear the mission.

‘The problem is that debuff sitting under that beautiful Artistry stat.’

If she took my photo right now, I wouldn’t meet the mission requirement.

‘Time to move.’

I remembered every fashion shoot Dokko Min ever did.

Her tastes, preferred angles, and the photos she considered her personal best—

All of it was stored in my mind.

‘That’s why I brought lilies.’

—The reason I ended up collaborating with Do Gyeoul? Mmm~, it’s because that was my “life shot.” She brought lilies to our meeting. Lilies are my absolute favorite flowers. When I’m stressed, I run straight to a flower shop.

Before regression, Dokko Min’s style was firm and unmistakable.

‘Among countless photos, Dokko Min’s color was instantly recognizable.’ 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

Her use of natural lighting was eerie in its perfection.

She mixed it with artificial lighting to create a signature new color.

‘Where is it....’

Between the rows of lights, I found it—Dokko Min’s identity.

‘This one.’

I took a few steps forward and placed my hand on one of the lights.

“What about using this?”

It was a blue-toned light.

Cool and refreshing, not something normally used for profile photos.

‘It was better suited for concept shoots.’

Modern actors’ and models’ profile photos usually followed a fixed formula:

Serious, natural.

Most featured black turtlenecks under shadow-heavy lighting, or white shirts with softened daylight beams.

‘But Dokko Min was different.’

She reinvented the style of profile photos.

Wet hair + blue light → making it look like someone had just surfaced from underwater.

Primordial. Clear and transparent.

“Blue lighting, hmm~.”

The red debuff text above her head flickered, then solidified again.

‘Still not feeling it, huh.’

Click.

I turned on the blue light and my face brightened instantly. The cool glow washed over my white T-shirt.

I held out the example to Dokko Min.

‘React, Dokko Min.’