Chapter 93: Last Stream Before the Concert

A new recording?

It’s not like she’s already making a new album, right?

“For the concert?”

“Oh, yeah, yeah. I am slowly working on the next album too, but there’s still plenty of time. No need to rush.”

“True.”

It hasn’t even been two months since the last album—dropping another already wouldn’t make much sense.

Though honestly, with how fast Seolhwa works, it might actually be possible.

Thinking that, I slowly started reading through the stack of papers Seolhwa handed me.

“Huh? These lyrics are the same as last time.”

“Ah, yeah, the lyrics are almost the same. But since it’s for the concert, I’m planning to add some ad-libs. The melody will change a bit in places too.”

To be honest, I don’t know much about concerts, so it’s best to just go along with what Seolhwa says.

I mean, it’s her concert, not mine.

“Oh, can you play the pre-recorded version for me? I’d like to listen to it while working.”

“Sure!”

Wearing headphones, I listened to the version Seolhwa had pre-recorded.

— Sometime~~~

Not much had changed from the original, but you could tell she’d added concert-style ad-libs.

The overall vibe of the song had shifted slightly too.

But there was one thing I was a little worried about.

“…Are you sure it’s okay to perform it like this at the concert? Some people might just want to hear the original version live.”

I’m not an expert on concerts, but I do know a lot of fans go to hear the live version of their favorite songs as they are.

That’s why many artists avoid rearranging their popular tracks.

When I asked, Seolhwa just tilted her head slightly and replied casually.

“Well… it’s not like this is one of my really popular songs, so it should be fine. People do get annoyed when you mess with fan-favorite songs, but this one’s not that big.”

“Oh, I see.”

So she had thought that through too.

She pretends not to care, but it’s obvious she’s thought it all out.

‘No need to worry after all.’

What I was worried about was probably something Seolhwa had already thought about too.

So I figured from now on, I’d only speak up when it was really important, and we began recording.

“If you could just raise the pitch a little in that part and sing it again, I think it’ll sound better.”

“Got it.”

We kept recording, with feedback here and there—who knows how long it went on.

“Oh! I think that’s good.”

“All done?”

“Yep. That should be enough. Since it’s for a concert, it doesn’t have to be perfectly recorded with zero mistakes.”

“Still, maybe because it’s been a while since I’ve recorded… it feels a little awkward.”

Back when I used to record regularly with Seolhwa, singing into the mic felt natural.

But now, maybe because some time had passed, it felt… off.

A little awkward, I guess.

“Okay then, I’ll organize the recordings and send you the files. Let me know if anything sounds off, yeah? I’d like your input too.”

“I’ll listen and let you know.”

“Okay!”

We chatted a little more about the music, then went our separate ways.

[The stream has started!]

To be exact, it was three days before the concert.

I turned on the stream, just like always.

“Should we do an art stream today, since it’s been a while?”

[Ooh nice]

[+Ppalangtui: I like that]

[Let’s go let’s go lol]

[What are you gonna draw?]

[Pepe: Can we not get some LeoRe…?]

[Stop whining about LeoRe lol]

[I don’t care what else you play, but please not LeoRe again]

From the chat, it seemed like some people wanted games, but I just ignored it.

Usually, I’d try to respond, but I had no intention of playing games today.

“I’m sure some of you wanted to see games today, but please bear with me. It’s been a while since I’ve done an art stream, so I’m planning to settle in and draw for a while.”

[+Ppalangtui: This is ittttttttt]

[A chill art stream is kind of rare, though]

[This is it lol]

[Pepe: Ah…]

[Pepe: So, what are you gonna draw?]

I was kind of torn about what to draw.

What kind of drawing should I go for?

Up until now, I’d mostly drawn what the viewers suggested, but today, I wanted to do something different.

Just as I was thinking that.

[Ttokki-nim has donated 10,000 won!]

Do you take drawing requests?

A suspicious donation came in.

“…Drawing requests? I don’t think I’m taking any today.”

I really didn’t plan to take requests.

I just wanted to draw whatever I felt like.

Didn’t really feel like drawing something just because someone else asked me to.

“Well, I’ll go look for something to draw.”

[Okay, okay]

[+Ppalangtui: I wonder if there’s anything good to draw]

[Just pick an anime character or something]

[Is there even anything left? I feel like we’ve already drawn all the good characters]

[There are so many anime characters in the world, though lol]

[Pepe: Please draw a male character for once…]

As I was browsing through anime characters—

[Ttokki-nim has donated 100,000 won!]

—Please draw a rabbit.

A really high-quality one.

That was a heavy donation.

I was a little thrown off.

A rabbit drawing?

And they want it to be high quality?

“…A rabbit? I haven’t really drawn animals before, so I’m not sure.”

Even though it was a big donation, I really didn’t want to draw an animal.

Especially because of what happened last time.

The animal drawing I had posted on Bluebird was still making rounds through retweets…

‘I really don’t want to draw this.’

I truly didn’t want to.

If I wasn’t careful, I could end up being known as that artist who only draws furry art.

So I replied honestly.

[Ttokki-nim has donated 100,000 won!]

—You know what I mean.

Please.

I’m begging you.

A plea that felt genuinely heartfelt.

I was a bit shaken.

To be this sincere about it…

“You seriously want me to draw it?”

[+Ppalangtui: Bruh lmao]

[How obsessed is this person with rabbits…]

[They really, really love rabbits lolol]

[Is this real life?]

[Pepe: This is hilarious lmaooo]

[The furry age has arrived… the world is changing…]

Still, just because someone begged didn’t mean I was going to do it.

I was still suffering from the fallout of one furry drawing I posted ages ago.

No way I wanted to deal with that again.

[Ttokki: Yes.]

[Ttokki: Please draw it.]

[Ttokki: Isn’t there any way? Please?]

But the viewer kept pleading.

I really didn’t expect them to be this persistent.

‘What should I do…’

I started to waver a bit.

And that’s when it hit:

[Ttokki-nim has donated 300,000 won.]

“The one you drew last time… I’m requesting that same style, so please don’t say no. Please.”

Another donation came through, along with the plea.

But still.

“Hmm… I’m sorry. I just don’t want to draw that kind of art again.”

Unless it was a joke or parody, I had no desire to revisit that type of drawing.

Not even for money.

“I’ll refund the full donation. I don’t do that kind of drawing anymore. Just send me your account email and I’ll send it all back.”

[+Ppalangtui: Sent the email instantly LMAOOO]

[He was ready with the email]

[Pepe: Bro’s speedrunning fake receipts for those donations]

[But come on, just draw it once, he clearly wants it lol]

[If you do it once, you’ll have to do it for everyone]

[How expensive are your commissions usually?? That’s a lot of money to turn down]

[Ttokki: Ah…]

[Ttokki: Just a moment]

At first, I thought it might all be a joke.

But considering how much he donated and how earnest the request seemed, it was clear he was serious.

Even so, I decided to refund him.

It’s not like missing out on that money would ruin my life.

“Alright then, let’s look for something else to draw.”

[+Ppalangtui: Any anime characters we haven’t seen yet?]

[+Ppalangtui: Would be nice if something cool popped up]

[Honestly, anything’s fine lol]

[Got anything worth sketching?]

[Pepe: Can’t you at least play some music?]

[Pepe: It’s kinda quiet in here]

[Play some Reiji tracks at least]

[How about Yeongdo?]

“Yeongdo is absolutely off-limits.”

No chance I was ever going to draw Yeongdo.

That would destroy the tone of the stream.

Gotta be careful about that.

Just as I was thinking that—

[Ttokki-nim has donated 500,000 won!]

“…Is there really no way?”

“…Huh?”

A donation I absolutely did not expect came in.

[????]

[+Ppalangtui: ??]

[What the heck]

[???]

[They said they wouldn’t draw it and then donated that much LMAOOOO]

[Pepe: Is this even real?]

[Do they have too much money or what…]

[Honestly, there really aren’t many people who draw that kind of thing]

[What is it about furry art that’s worth that much…]

[This can’t be real]

[I’m losing it]

[If you’re gonna throw money around like that, just give it to me, please]

…At this point, things were starting to get a bit uncomfortable.