Chapter 74
Chapter 74
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 74
Chapter Title: Why Are You Here?
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There are actually plenty of ways to get your hands on a sold-out doll.
Like wandering around offering people more money if they'd just sell you theirs.
Or using my cash to talk to headquarters or even head to the factory and have them make one. If I pull out all the stops, I could probably snag one somehow.
But there are a bunch of variables here.
For starters, the notice said this doll was exclusive to the event site, so it's questionable if anyone would even sell theirs.
If someone offered me money for the one I barely managed to grab, I'd never sell it.
'Well, part of that is because I don't need the money anyway...'
Anyway.
As a limited-edition item, it's unlikely people would sell even for a premium.
They might cave if I offered ten times the price or something ridiculous, but...
That just feels off.
Not that I'm worried about the cost so much as... it feels like snatching something away with money.
And the other methods all involve using my money to sweet-talk people into helping, so I can't exactly call them fair.
'So let's save those as an absolute last resort.'
If the staff hadn't tipped me off about the event, I'd probably be sitting in a corner looking like the world ended, racking my brain for those options.
But now there's a legit way to get it, so I'm focusing on that.
'Speaking of... singing, huh...'
A karaoke event with the game's idol characters.
They want you to sing next to someone cosplaying as an idol bodyguard and really soak in the feeling of being that character.
'Not sure what vibe they're going for.'
Doesn't matter. I'm not backing down.
I don't hit the karaoke bars often, but I've got a solid eighteen songs in my repertoire, and I think I hold my own.
Wait a sec.
'That's as Choi Min-hoo.'
Have I sung anything since becoming Choi Yeon-bi?
No.
Have I even set foot in a karaoke room?
No.
'...What do I do.'
I've never properly sung as a woman. Not once.
At best, humming in the shower.
Lost in these tangled thoughts, I somehow ended up at the karaoke event signup desk.
Am I really gonna bail now that I'm here?
I almost answered yes in my head, but seeing the doll right there up close... I just couldn't.
'A prize doll plus a limited keychain.'
And they're giving limited keychains to every participant, too.
The doll's tempting enough, but for some reason, that keychain I have no real use for is calling to me.
'Attaching it to the doll would be so cute.'
'Yeah, adorable.'
Alright, I'm here. Might as well belt out a tune.
First place is the goal, but even if I don't win, there are plenty of prizes, so I'll walk away with something.
'Still aiming for first, though.'
That doll is mine.
If I don't get first... guess I'll scour the secondhand markets.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Models do all sorts of gigs.
Brand promotions, e-commerce shoots, fashion show runways, and more.
You'd think it's all about modeling clothes and setting trends as fashion leaders, but their fields are surprisingly diverse.
For example, fitness models showing off sportswear in action, or fitting models checking overall design and fit before launch.
And now, models cosplaying for game events like this.
Park Ji-su from Yeon Agency is a well-known fitness and cosplay model.
The reason was simple.
She had the healthy physique and killer style to pull off various characters.
Kim Eun-ah got cosplay offers occasionally but turned them all down because she found it embarrassing.
Kim Min-hyeok and Lee Chan-su tried a few times, but Kim Min-hyeok bombed on character interpretation, got roasted online, got traumatized, and quit.
Lee Chan-su only took roles for characters he actually liked.
So effectively, Park Ji-su was Yeon Agency's sole cosplay specialist.
There were a few others, but they were all rookies who didn't land contracts with big companies like this, leaving her to handle it solo.
And as expected, Yeon-ah just said, "Take 'em if you want, skip 'em if you don't. Why ask me?" So she handled it herself.
Less pressure that way, so Park Ji-su only picked the gigs she wanted.
'Still... gotta tidy up before reopening the yoga studio...'
It was an event she'd normally mull over a bit, but she accepted without much hesitation.
These gigs pay well.
And reopening the yoga studio required a decent chunk of spare cash.
She had savings, but more money was always better.
With that in mind, she skipped a day of yoga with Choi Yeon-bi for personal reasons and signed the cosplay contract.
As with most cosplay modeling gigs.
Busy morning, but plenty of downtime, so it wasn't bad.
"Great work. Next up, around 3 PM, get into position in front of the karaoke booth for some shots. Then photos with the winners, and your official schedule's done. After that, feel free to roam the event, but remove all makeup and costume..."
'Almost over.'
Plus, she didn't have many stage appearances, so it was pretty relaxed.
Unlike her, the male model looked drained.
'First time, probably.'
With the work wrapping up and tension easing, Park Ji-su let out a light yawn behind the stage tent.
She fired up the game to analyze the character's movements and expressions one more time.
So far, just striking poses. But soon, she'd pose with game players.
'Half-ass it, and I'll end up like Min-hyeok.'
She suddenly recalled laughing with the other models over his SNS backlash from a cosplay gig.
— Looks like total shit
— Doesn't suit at all
Pure hate like that, and:
— Did you see the video? Walks like a total slut, wtf
— Handsome but... something's off
— Dragon? More like an imugi?
— Not even an imugi, just a snake
Granted, as the game's top character—a mighty dragon hiding in the human world—the expectations were sky-high, harsher judgment.
Not that he nailed the character perfectly; she couldn't fully defend him.
Maybe a 7:3 split. His poor grasp of the character being the 7.
Anyway, to avoid that mess, Park Ji-su played the game hard and practiced poses at home.
Still, these gigs always brought a bit of nerves.
'Standing like this... yeah. Event outfit from this game, so review the event story again.'
Even breaks spent studying the character.
Once she had a solid plan and pictured likely fan poses,
"Time to head out~"
She stood at the staff's cue.
Flawlessly acting the part as she stepped out, she spotted a familiar face.
'Huh...??'
For some reason, Choi Yeon-bi was on stage.
Her expression slipped the moment she saw her.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ 'Damn. Why are there so many people?'
Stepping onto the stage, the crowd was packed.
These aren't even pros—why the huge turnout?
'Maybe because of me?'
Yeah, right.
Anyway, with everyone staring, my heart's pounding.
Not stage fright, though.
If I had that, I wouldn't be up here.
Sang at a middle school festival once, even belted a line up front when a college fest MC called me out.
I know embarrassment, but I don't bail when asked.
Still, voluntarily taking the stage like this? Rare enough to make me tense.
'Should've just bought a used one.'
Too late for regrets.
And honestly, I'd still sign up for the event.
'Just sing one song, grab the doll, and go. Keep it chill.'
Keychain and stamps as bonuses.
"Alright! Next explorer up! Big applause and cheers, please!"
With the MC's intro, the pretty woman in security cosplay below the stage smiled at me.
'Ah, now I get the concept.'
The game character smiling at me for real? Nice vibe.
That's the hook, for sure.
Anyway.
Time to sing.
My pick: my number eighteen.
— Nowhere to Go
As the intro played, people murmured in admiration, eyes locked on my face.
Takes me back to middle school fest.
Spent weeks after as the "Nowhere to Go" shuttle, singing it nonstop.
I nailed it then. Should be fine.
Deep breath in, slow exhale.
Just the first verse, then off. Steady...
Women's voices are higher, trickier pitch, but familiar song—I'm matching it.
Now the highlight.
The second it left my mouth, I knew.
'Off-pitch.'
Sure enough.
The cracked note boomed through the venue.
MC smiling, barely holding back a laugh.
Crowd averting eyes.
Face burning instantly.
Wanna vanish right now.
Anywhere.
Worst. Absolute worst.
"And that's a wrap! Great job on 'Nowhere to Go,' explorer! Everyone, give it up!"
Stumbled off amid the polite claps.
Gonna need a new blanket to kick.
"Haa..."
Hid below stage to cool my flushed face.
Sighing over my lost singing skills, someone called out.
"Yeon-bi!"
"Who..."
I know who.
The game's heroine.
Not actually alive from the game, so I asked.
She looked disappointed.
No, really, who?
"We did yoga together..."
Yoga?
Did the heroine do yoga?
Oh.
"Unnie...?"
The heroine was none other than Ji-su.
Models do cosplay too, huh.
Wait, then the stage earlier...
"...You heard?"
"Yeah."
Ji-su's blunt honesty hit, and I wanted to disappear again.
Poof. Gone forever.