Chapter 99: Official recording

‘She definitely sings well.’

Morae Company party room.

That was my thought after listening to each of the streamers’ songs one by one.

It would have been nice if I had heard everyone sing last time.

Since no one wants to sing in front of me, there’s no way to know.

In the end, I had no choice but to call them here and keep pushing them to find out.

And this time, it was Hongsi’s turn.

I had heard her sing a little bit back then, so I was somewhat looking forward to it.

“·····Then, I’ll start!”

“Yes, do it comfortably.”

Anyway, Ren listened to all of her song.

“Hmm····.”

“By any chance, is there any problem?”

“No, you sing well.”

But·····

It’s a bit too trivial to call it a problem, but I could find a part that was slightly bothersome.

“This, you learned it at an academy, right?”

“Ah, yes···· How did you know?”

“Well, I could tell just by looking.”

I’ve experienced it myself; kids who learned at an academy have that distinctive mark.

Well, that doesn’t mean they can’t sing.

“But, I think it would be better if you fixed this part a little.”

“Yes?”

The disappointing part is that it doesn’t quite fit the mood of this song right now.

What Hongsi sang now was too close to the Korean version.

‘In this kind of translated song, recreating a feeling similar to the original song is also quite important.’

There was nothing to criticize in terms of pure skill.

In the first place, she had even sung an official game theme song.

Not a cover, but a real official theme.

So, the game company had directly requested her to sing the original song.

If someone of that caliber couldn’t sing, that would be even weirder.

‘I roughly understand what happened.’

Thanks to that, I felt things were somewhat falling into place.

Since she was asked by a game company to sing as a vocalist, it would be different from a simple cover song.

Given Hongsi’s sincere personality when it comes to singing, it’s plausible that she enrolled in an academy for vocal training.

If so, since the song was in Korean, she would have learned with that sensibility.

It seems like she sang with that feeling at the time, trying her best…

“This time, just try singing it like you did during your Utaite days.”

“Ah, yes···!”

I had Hongsi, who still didn’t understand, sing again.

Back then, Korean was just the original.

Singing a Japanese original song like this in Korean has to be a bit different.

Anyway, it was just a bit disappointing that it was too Korean-like.

Switching from Korean to Japanese, I felt her sense had improved much more.

Good, much better.

“Wow·····.”

It seemed I wasn’t the only one who thought so, as the other streamers, who had come to their senses, also let out exclamations of admiration.

“Are you all awake now?”

“Ugh, u-uh!”

No, yeees!!

Why are you talking like that again?

What did I do?

I just channeled a bit of Gordon Ramsay, what’s with that reaction.

Of course, I didn’t push them that hard.

Still, with my unique cold-blooded appearance added to it, the pressure must have been no joke.

…Even so.

“S-save me·····.”

“Haa···.”

Seeing them tremble like that, I wondered what this was all about again.

---

And so, a few days after the harsh (?) singing training.

The recording day finally arrived.

As always, the team members gathered in the meeting room and soon headed towards the reserved studio.

However, there was one problem…

“Excuse me··· Do we really have to go like this?”

“Ughm, it’s not usually this much, but·····.”

At those words, Hongsi, who was next to me, glanced at me.

My current attire is an all-black celebrity look.

“Um, it’s a bit much, right?”

She then gestured with her eyes towards the other team members.

Sogeumbbang’s 8th debut anniversary commemorative song.

For that large-scale project, she had called all her acquaintances who sing well.

And a minor problem arose.

‘There are quite a few people here whose faces are known····’

Although it’s mostly composed of no-cam broadcasters, there were also people who do cam broadcasts with cameras.

They’re not celebrity-level, but since they are definitely well-known figures.

There might be a chance that someone on the street would recognize their faces.

‘And I’m even a celebrity.’

And a celebrity who is currently a hot topic in Asia.

It’s definitely a good thing for a celebrity to receive attention for their looks, but there are certainly downsides.

And now is a situation where those downsides are clearly showing.

It was a situation that could inconvenience many people.

Thanks to that.

I was still wearing the celebrity’s signature black, thick outfit and moving far away from the group.

‘Ah, it’s hot.’

The weather is already hot these days, and I’m wearing clothes like this.

Recording hadn’t even started yet, but I felt exhausted already.

‘Am I, am I going to collapse when I enter the studio···?’

Fortunately, thanks to catching a taxi in time, such a mishap did not occur.

Oof, I thought I was going to die.

---

The recording studio wasn’t too far away.

About 15 minutes by taxi?

It appeared after going that far.

“This place is nice.”

“Right?”

It wasn’t an empty compliment; the facilities were genuinely good.

How much money did they spend on this place?

“Excuse me, the person I mentioned then·····.”

“Ah, have you arrived?”

As we entered the studio like that, a man greeted us.

Seeing him here, he’s probably someone from the music industry.

“Uh···?”

The man, who was looking around without much thought, soon made eye contact with Ren.

A familiar gaze felt from there.

In times like these, there are usually two possibilities.

Either it’s because I’m too pretty, or they recognize me as a celebrity.

Personally, I wish it were the former.

But something feels strangely unsettling…

“Um, by any chance···· Ah, idol···?”

“Ah.”

Zannen, it was the latter.

“Um, could you please talk about that later?”

I quietly narrowed my eyes and looked at the man.

Recording comes first for us.

More than anything, today’s protagonist is Sogeumbbang, not me.

If there’s a supporting actor trying to steal the lead actor’s spotlight, they naturally have to be cut entirely.

“Ah, right!”

I’m sorry.

This way·····

The man, coming to his senses at those words, guided the other members.

…His behavior changed drastically.

Until just a moment ago, how should I put it, his gaze and everything felt a bit half-hearted.

But now, he’s become somewhat brisk.

People really need to have power.

I was able to realize anew the dirty truth of the world.

---

“First, Unnie, would you like to sing once?”

“Oh, shall I?”

And so, the recording began.

The one who kicked it off was our protagonist, Sogeumbbang.

They say the protagonist usually appears last, but she’s the main character who appears from the beginning to the end of the song.

Because the song itself has to revolve around her.

Her recording was the top priority, even if just to set that standard.

“Um, then I’ll start?”

Am I starting?

“Yes, quickly.”

At Ren’s continuous urging, Sogeumbbang began to sing.

「⸻♬」

“Oh···.”

It’s definitely better than last time.

That was Ren’s assessment.

“Oh··· You sing really well.”

At that sight, a studio staff member who was watching from outside also let out an exclamation of admiration.

“···Right?”

Yes, that’s our student right there!

At the pride welling up in her heart, Cheongha puffed out her chest.

And, it was the same for the others.

「⸻♫」

「⸻♬⸻♩♪」

Along with the basic MR that played.

As the song continued, an even better singing voice than last time could be heard from beyond the recording booth.

And so, Sogeumbbang’s first part ended, and it was soon Roa’s turn.

After that was Hongsi, and then me.

Kkeudeok- (Nod-)

As Ren gestured from outside the studio, Roa, who nodded, soon began to sing.

After passing through so many people, my turn finally arrived.

I cautiously entered the recording booth.

This is always nerve-wracking.

No matter how much of a veteran Ren was, this was the first time she had recorded a song in Korea.

To calm her trembling heart, Ren took a deep breath.

Since she hadn’t made a single NG so far, she was probably even more nervous.

「⸻♬」

Following that, the song cut off abruptly.

It was a composition designed to completely change the mood of the gentle music.

Simultaneously.

「—Now, Her Majesty the Queen enters!」

The voice of a rabbit, heard along with a fanfare.

It was the voice of the streamer Shim Cheong, who played the role of the rabbit.

This place now is my stage alone.

「⸻♬⸻♩♪」

The sound of passionate wind instruments.

To the background music, which was like an orchestral piece, Ren cautiously opened her mouth.

“Wow·····.”

Sogeumbbang, who was watching the scene right next to her, unknowingly let out an exclamation.

The queen appearing in the cover song is arrogant.

A woman who considers all music to be hers, always arrogant and overflowing with confidence.

But, because of that, she possesses a certain charm.

And she, in the recording booth, also had an aura that made her feel like a real queen, each and every aspect was extraordinary.

Whenever she opened her mouth, an overwhelming charisma gushed out, sweeping away the listener’s emotions.

Like a tsunami.

There was nothing a pitiful human could do in the face of nature’s power.

In the first place, they didn’t even want to resist.

And for good reason.

‘The song is too good, isn’t it?’

It was a singing voice that made one not want to escape at all.

And, it seemed she wasn’t the only one who thought so.

‘Is that person actually a voice actor?’

‘No, what are we supposed to do for a living then·····.’

‘Real singeeer~ Step asiiide~’

No matter how well they themselves sang, it seemed it was impossible to win against a real idol.

「⸻♬⸻♩♪」

As the queen’s song neared its end, the streamers, who had regained their senses, stood before the microphones once again.

Now, all that remained was the chorus by everyone.

Jjinggeut- (Wink-)

‘Eh····.’

Startled for a moment by the wink that flew from over there.

Soon, everyone began to sing the chorus in time.

They might be lacking in pure singing ability, but this much, they could also do.

「—Our very own Music Land—♩♪—!!」

And so, with the final chorus of a total of 10 streamers.

The long-term cover song project that had continued for several weeks.

‘Alisa Music Land’ came to an end.