Chapter 98: Vocal Training

And so, a few days passed.

The time for a meeting to prepare the cover song once again arrived.

“Ah, hello!”

Um, Ren···

“Just call me Cheongha, please.”

“Ah··· Yes!”

Today’s meeting is this way·····

Morae Company, a place I had grown somewhat accustomed to.

As I entered, an employee guided me.

Following their guidance, I made my way to the meeting room.

“Ah, Cheongha is here??”

“Cheongha, hi~”

I could see my teammates immediately welcoming me.

Indeed, this is on a different level from group projects.

“Yes, hello.”

After greeting the other team members who had already arrived in the meeting room, I sat down in a chair.

Once I swore a bit during the game, the awkwardness really disappeared.

Since swearing isn’t a good thing, it’s hard to say it’s a good method.

But at least within this group, it was a truth that mostly worked for everyone, regardless of age or gender.

Of course, some people who were still a bit awkward were still using formal language with me.

“Ah, come to think of it, Biso-nim?”

“Ah, yes?”

One of the prime examples was Jangbiso, sitting right next to me.

Perhaps because she still wasn’t used to it even after playing the game, she was still speaking to me in formal language.

Well, still, it’s good that we’ve at least started talking like this.

When I discreetly asked the CEO last time, he said she’s very shy, so it’s difficult to even talk this quickly.

I decided to just think that what’s good is good.

“Um, by any chance, is your merchandise out now?”

“Ah, yes.”

You’re talking about the acrylic stand, right?

“Ah, right.”

That one.

“Yes, it’s out··· Why do you ask?”

Why else?

Is there any other reason to ask if merchandise has been released?

“If it’s released, I’ll buy it.”

The competition will be pretty stiff, right?

This person, despite appearances, is a big-shot streamer with over 400,000 subscribers.

Even among these members, who are veterans of the broadcasting world, she’s one of the longest-standing, so she has a very large fixed fanbase.

“Yes···?”

When I asked the question with that thought in mind, Jangbiso looked flustered, as if she had heard something completely unimaginable.

“Why are you like that?”

“Ah, no··· It’s just···· Um, I can’t imagine someone as famous as Cheongha-nim buying my merchandise.”

“Hey, what do you mean famous.”

I’m still a small-timer.

Huh?

Famous, my foot.

I’m still a small-timer with barely 40,000 subscribers after rounding up.

In a nutshell, I’m not in a position to hear this from her, who has ten times my subscriber count!

I really don’t know if she lacks confidence or if she’s just not arrogant.

“········.”

At those words, the other streamers who had been listening to our conversation looked this way as if dumbfounded.

…Right, I know what that means too.

So, it’s strange for me, a celebrity, to buy a streamer fan’s merchandise, right?

‘Sigh·····.’

I sighed at the celebrity perception that still hadn’t been erased.

Since this much is an unavoidable area, I try to just let it pass, but it was unavoidable that it kept bothering me.

‘No, and even if I’m a celebrity, what’s wrong with buying streamer merchandise?’

Huh?

Right now, there’s a global celebrity who would hoard my merchandise even if it cost a billion won, permanently stationed and on standby in my room.

It wouldn’t be too strange even if I bought it, would it?

“Ah, um··· Ah.”

Alright·····.

As I said that and narrowed my eyes slightly.

Fortunately, she seemed to have understood my intentions to some extent and didn’t continue speaking further.

…But, she’s not just scared, right?

Perhaps because my recent track record has been unusual, I keep having strange imaginations.

“Sorry~!”

I’m a bit late, right?

How long had it been since I sat waiting in the cool meeting room, enjoying the air conditioning?

Sogeumbbang burst open the door and came in.

…She should close that door.

All the cool air will escape.

“What, you’re late?”

“Sorry··· I accidentally put all my clothes in the laundry·····.”

“Then hurry up and close the door.”

The air is escaping.

Before I could even say anything, the seniors’ rebukes continued.

Hmm, I should just stay quiet.

She’s pitiful enough already; I felt a bit sorry to deal damage too.

“So, how far has the work progressed now?”

“Ah, the animation work is about half done now, and we’re editing it right away according to the progress.”

So when I immediately asked about the progress level, Sogeumbbang’s quick answer came back.

I thought it would be somewhat complete by now.

Certainly, since it’s a long song over 10 minutes, there must be a lot of work to do.

“Still, it’s faster than I thought, isn’t it?”

Honestly, knowing how much money goes into animation, I thought editing would only start after several more weeks.

“Ah, yes.”

The agency helped a lot.

“Wow.”

Isn’t this agency too good?

Our company would probably offer support if someone said they were doing something, but it wouldn’t be on this scale.

“Then, what did you call us for today?”

“Ah, we should start recording soon too.”

I’ve already booked a recording studio.

“····Ha?”

A declaration out of nowhere.

At those words, Ren’s eyes widened.

Booking a separate studio entirely?

Not just everyone recording at home and sending it in?

“Um··· Excuse me, is there any problem?”

I asked with a cautious face.

For singers or idols, it’s common to go to a recording studio, but we’re a bit different.

‘We already have equipment at home, so why bother?’

They are all streamers who make a living with their voices, and they’ve recorded cover songs many times.

I also chose a microphone with very good sound quality.

In that sense, the quality of the equipment was more than sufficient for recording a song like this.

More than anything, what we’re recording now is a cover song that doesn’t generate profit.

It was almost unheard of to rent a studio specifically for such a recording.

If you rent a good place, the price is beyond imagination, and if you rent a shabby place.

That’s worse than not renting one at all.

“Hmm, there’s no problem, but···.”

“Then?”

“Well, um··· It’s just, as I was preparing, I wanted to do it even better····.”

At my question, Sogeumbbang said with a slight blush on her face.

“It’s a gift for the fans who have run with me for 8 years, isn’t it?”

I want to show them the best possible version····.

“Ah···.”

“And, I can certainly afford to rent a studio with my own money.”

Of course, it will cost quite a bit of money…

Sogeumbbang’s smiling face as she said that was, how should I put it…

Ah, this is it.

“···Unnie.”

“Y-yes?”

“I, I’ll really work hard on this cover song.”

At the protective instinct welling up in her heart, Ren grabbed Sogeumbbang’s hand.

If it’s someone with this kind of mindset, you can’t help but want to cheer them on.

That’s why I like our kids.

These genuine entertainers who always strive for their fans with such a pure heart.

Their profession is just streamer.

It was the same for this person.

‘····Alright.’

I will definitely lead this cover song to the heavens.

“If it’s not too much trouble, could I perhaps give you some feedback on the song?”

They all sing at a high level already, but isn’t it better if they sing even better?

I may look like this, but I’ve been singing for almost 10 years, so I’m experienced and can definitely be helpful in this aspect.

“Um, if you do that, I’d be grateful···?”

At Ren’s declaration.

Sogeumbbang answered with a slightly reluctant expression.

Then there’s only one thing left to do.

As her proposal was accepted, Ren slowly recalled memories from her trainee days.

This was a self-hypnosis she was performing on herself.

‘Alright, debut team.’

From now on, these people are the debut team···.

After taking a moment to catch her breath, Ren soon opened her eyes.

“—Then, everyone, prepare yourselves in advance.”

“Uh, uh···?”

I’ll show you the tenacity of a human who desperately struggled to survive in this sh*tty entertainment industry.

---

Switch streamer, Hongsi.

Even among the broadcasting industry, she was a streamer famous for singing well.

She sang so well that her first YouTube video was also a Japanese song cover.

Later, she even received contact from a game company and officially proceeded with game soundtrack recording.

And, in her eyes, an overwhelming figure stood right before her.

Kim Cheongha.

Approximately 30,000 subscribers.

That alone was enough for her to receive a good evaluation….

But the true face hidden behind that was so enormous that it made even most large corporations seem insignificant.

The woman inside that avatar, idol Sakamiya Ren, was an even more amazing person.

Anyone interested in music who looks up related information would have heard her name at least once.

The sole hope of the Japanese idol industry, which has now effectively collapsed.

In terms of skill as an idol alone, she was a talent who could easily surpass even most Korean idols.

‘Why is this person a Vtuber···.’

When she first heard about her identity, she didn’t believe it.

Frankly, if she were really such a person, she wouldn’t need to be a Vtuber; she’d do well just by doing cam streams.

No, she wouldn’t even need to broadcast at all.

She could just make a living with music.

But then, why is she broadcasting like this all the way in South Korea, where she has no connections?

“Eueoeo····.”

Just as she was lost in thought, Hongsi snapped back to her senses at the voice she heard.

Then, what came into view was.

The karaoke party room she had been dragged to like last time.

And, the other streamers sprawled on the chairs as if dead.

“Uh, Unnies?!”

What’s wrong!!

“R-run away···.”

“The idol is killing people···.”

Simultaneously, someone walked towards her with heavy steps.

Hongsi unconsciously turned her head.

Then, what she saw before her eyes was…

···Huh, what’s this?

A grim reaper?

A dark room.

Other people collapsed as if dead.

And someone in black clothes approaching her.

“—Hongsi-nim?”

“Kyaaaak?!”

Simultaneously, a scream erupted from Hongsi’s mouth.

“Why are you doing that?”

“Ah!”

Ah, no··· Um, I just saw something for a moment····.

Fortunately, what appeared before her eyes was Ren in black clothes.

Hongsi let out a sigh of relief.

“First, um··· Could you sing your assigned part once?”

“Ah, alright!”

Hongsi, quickly answering Ren’s words, swiftly grabbed the microphone.

‘Hey, surely I won’t die, right?’

The sight of her seniors sprawled over there was a bit concerning,

But although her main job was a streamer, she was also, unavoidably, a musician.

A top-tier celebrity who was active until recently is offering to give direct confirmation!

She didn’t want to miss such an opportunity just because of a ‘maybe’.

“Then, I’ll start!”

Steeling her trembling heart, Hongsi took a deep breath.

…Why did it feel like someone in black clothes was beckoning to her this time?

“⸻♫”

Hongsi, holding the microphone with a trembling hand, began to sing.