Chapter 53 : 2nd Generation Interview

The interview proceeded smoothly, just as the CEO had said.

“Let’s see, do you have any special skills, or should I say, games you’re good at?”

“like Time Click.”

At that, Inaring asked with a sharp voice-

“May I ask your tier……?”

“Platinum!”

“Yep. So it’s literally a game you like, not one you’re good at.”

The CEO asked questions, and Inaring threw in jokes to lighten the mood.

Me and Karin?

The two of us just observed quietly.

There wasn’t anything specific to ask.

Besides, like Karin, my voice was unique, so there was a chance I’d be recognized immediately if I spoke.

So, should I say I stayed quiet, sensing the mood?

Well, honestly, there weren’t any particular questions to ask either.

After interviewing about 10 people like that, a break time arrived.

Of course, it was called a break, but it was really time to share opinions.

“What about Number 7?”

“She sings well, dances well, and is full of talent, isn’t she?”

“Is it because she used to be an idol? She’s definitely quite good.”

“Honestly, I was a bit surprised. That a former idol would apply to our agency.”

“Tell me about it.”

“What do you think, Nanmi?”

At Inaring’s question, I honestly gave my opinion.

“She seemed overflowing with confidence.”

“Hmm…… That’s certainly true, right?”

“But what I want to see is desperation.”

“Desperation?”

“Yes. Because you have to be desperate to work hard.”

The oshis I’ve followed so far.

All of them harbored a desperation to succeed.

Starting with Sonah, then Nanah, and even Inaring right in front of me.

In the early days of their broadcasts, the desperation to succeed could be felt even through the screen.

“So, I’m sorry, but that former idol person, uh, um…… How can I put this nicely?”

“Exclude her?”

“Eliminate her?”

“Uh…… Yes.”

At that, sseuk– Choha smiled.

Nodding, Choha continued.

“Nanmi is right too.”

“Eh? Are you really going to eliminate her?”

At Inaring’s question, Choha nodded and spoke.

“I trust Nanmi’s judgment, you know. It’s the same judgment that found a sprout like you, starting with HaLive’s Sonah-nim, right? Besides, I

set passion as the standard from the beginning, just like Nanmi said. You guys should use passion as the standard too. It’ll make sorting

easier.”

“Oh, that’s surprising. I thought you’d pick the former idol to get one step closer to your dream, CEO.”

“The most important thing is passion. Otherwise, why would I have brought you two here?”

That’s right.

Come to think of it, both Inaring and Karin genuinely wanted to become Vtubers, trusted the CEO, and followed her to the end.

Inaring and Karin thought.

Why did they want to become Vtubers so badly back then?

They checked their outfits.

“Ugh, I don’t want to get a job……”

“A terrible memory suddenly surfaced, keuk!”

It could be seen as the nightmare of wearing a suit and going around for job interviews during the employment crisis era surfacing.

Therefore, Inaring and Karin could establish a clearer standard.

Yes, let’s pick people who possess the same level of desperation we felt back then.

The two had firmly set their criteria.

Nanmi continued.

“Are you going to recruit for the 3rd generation too?”

“Hmm…… We probably will later on.”

“Then let’s see then. If that former idol person applies again then, her sincerity will be felt.”

Although she sang and danced the best among the first 10, she was unfortunately eliminated.

However, saying she applied for the 3rd generation despite being eliminated is different.

That action itself is proof of the desperation she wants to convey.

“Okay, got it. Hmm…… Let’s talk about that later, we still have 20 people left. Shall we continue the interviews?”

“Yep.”

“Alright then, Songa-ssi~ Please send them in.”

-Yep! You can go in now. Good luck.

-Yes!

Along with the energetic reply, knock-knock- the sound of knocking was heard.

It must be interviewee number 11.

“Yes. Come in.”

With the CEO’s permission, the door opened.

And the woman who appeared was the same one who had kindly handed me the number tag earlier.

“Number 11, broadcast name Arur, real name Yoon Mina!”

Along with her energetic self-introduction, she looked at the four interviewers.

But…

“Hm? What’s wrong?”

“Ah, nothing!”

Her trembling pupils were directed towards Nanmi.

She screamed internally.

‘She was an interviewer!?’

And she unknowingly handed that person a number tag?

H-Hopefully, it wasn’t a mistake, right?

Even before the interview started, her mind couldn’t help but be filled with chaos.

‘Uh, hmm?’

Meanwhile, Nanmi couldn’t help but be surprised.

‘Ah, so that person was Arur-nim?’

Arur.

One of the people I had selected just two days ago.

No wonder her voice sounded familiar when I heard it on the first floor earlier.

Still, an interview is an interview.

Even if she left a good impression on me, I need to evaluate her properly.

It was then.

Suddenly, CEO Choha examined her face closely and spoke.

“Excuse me, Yoon Mina-ssi?”

“If it’s not too intrusive, could you tell us your family members?”

“Uh…… I have one older sister?”

“May I ask your sister’s name?”

“Th-That’s…… Yoon Miyeon.”

The moment she heard that, Choha’s eyes widened unconsciously.

“Wow, goodness…… Are you perhaps Larne-nim’s younger sister?”

“Ah, yes……”

Nanmi’s eyes widened unconsciously too.

Larne.

The main vocalist and eldest member of Elive, Korea’s representative virtual idol group.

But this person is her younger sister?

“Yes……, that’s right……”

She nodded, unable to meet their eyes, seeming embarrassed or shy.

At that, CEO Choha asked the reason.

“Uh…… Is there a reason you hid your family relationship?”

“I didn’t want to pass based on my sister’s influence.”

“Romantic. That person seems cool, Sacho.”

“I want to pass based on my own strength.”

Oh.

I like that mindset.

It means she possesses not only passion but also confidence.

Sseuk– Nanmi’s lips curled up.

It was the first time Nanmi spoke during the interview.

“Nice.”

At that, not only CEO Choha but also Inaring and Karin looked at Nanmi.

As the gazes of all three focused on her at once, Nanmi flinched unconsciously and spoke.

Why?”

“Hmm~ Come to think of it, Nanmi brought this person in, right?”

“Oh? Wait, wait? Don’t tell me you knew?”

“N-No, I didn’t? How would I know that? Unlike the CEO, I’ve never seen Larne-nim in person.”

Meanwhile, Yoon Mina, listening to the conversation, her eyes widened.

‘Th-That person is Nanmi-nim!?’

To be precise, she said Nammi, not Nanmi, but anyway, her thought was correct.

The last member of Blue Art’s 1st generation.

The world-famous Nanmi herself.

“Wow……”

Witnessing her in person left her speechless.

Wow…… Nanmi-nim in real life is incredibly small and cute……

“Alright, anyway. We’ll still conduct the interview properly.”

“Ah, yep!”

“Okay then, let’s begin.”

---

The interview began with singing.

Yoon Mina’s singing skills were decent, similar to her sister’s.

Singing, at least, passed.

I only look for passion and motivation, but the CEO also looks at skill.

Seeing her nod as if pleased, she seemed satisfied.

Well, even to my ears, she seemed to sing better than me.

Next is checking motivation and passion.

How do we check that?

There was a simple method.

“You submitted a nightingale impression as your talent, right?”

“Ah, yes.”

“Did you perhaps prepare anything else besides that?”

“Yes!”

Proof that she prepared many things to show during the interview.

Whether she does them well or not isn’t important.

That alone was enough.

It was tantamount to showing her determination to pass and become a 2nd generation member.

It’s even better if the prepared talent is funny.

Since I’ve already spoken, should I ask a question too?

“Um…… I have something I want to ask. What is your reason for wanting to become a Vtuber?”

Could it be that she wants to follow her sister and become a Vtuber?

At my question, Yoon Mina answered, seeming slightly embarrassed.

“Well…… It’s a long story.”

“Feel free to speak comfortably.”

“At first, I auditioned for Eungtae-nim’s regular member spot. With my sister, too.”

Wait? Does that mean……

“Were you perhaps together at the Elive regular member audition?”

Elive also initially auditioned for regular member spots.

With the same idol concept.

And they caught Eungtae-nim’s eye and debuted as virtual idols.

But she was there?

“Yes…… Though my sister and I were in different venues.”

“Wow……, you could have potentially become an Elive member then.”

“Hmm…… I don’t think so. Opportunities come differently for everyone. And the reason I brought this up is because my motivation for

applying to the regular member audition back then is the same as my motivation for applying to Blue Art now.”

“I see. Then what is your motivation for applying?”

“I want to play games with famous people.”

Uh…… She’s a surprisingly honest person?

“I want to play games with famous people and become popular.”

“A-And I want to have lots and lots of fun playing with a huge number of viewers!”

This person isn’t just extremely honest, she seems faithful to her desires.

But it’s not a bad desire.

It doesn’t seem like that desire will become poison either.

Should I say it’s a dream anyone would want?

Summarizing her words together-

“You want to become famous, right?”

“Yes, yes……”

“Okay. Thank you for telling us.”

“Thank you for your time during the interview, Yoon Mina-ssi.”

“Ah, yes. Thank you!”

And so, her interview ended.

After Yoon Mina left the interview room, the CEO asked.

“How was it? I think she’s quite good?”

Choha’s criteria were skill, motivation, and passion.

And Nanmi’s criteria were motivation, passion, desperation, and one more thing she hadn’t told anyone yet.

“She had a charm that draws attention.”

“Charm?”

“Yes. I got a strong feeling that it would be fun if she streamed.”

“Oh, really?”

Is that so?

Nanmi’s eye for spotting sprouts is practically proven, so-

“Should we put her on the list for now?”