Chapter 23
Chapter 23
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 23
Chapter Title: Heart Attack Recording
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While waiting for my turn, several trainees occupied themselves with their mobile devices, yet I found the recording process itself to be far more compelling.
I filled a paper cup with warm water and sipped it slowly while observing the ongoing session from a vacant spot on the sofa.
The instructor urged the current performer to deliver the lines with a cooler and more forward breath.
The trainee responded with a vigorous exclamation of understanding.
As I expected, the track was promptly added to my digital song collection.
I reflected on the fact that I had already mastered the melody through my own efforts without the assistance of the system.
I felt a brief twinge of regret that the registration had not occurred sooner, yet I decided to view the development in a positive light.
I remained in the waiting area for approximately three hours.
During this interval, I consumed a sandwich that Jeong Ha-neul had offered me and found it to be quite delicious.
After another hour had elapsed, the staff finally announced that it was time for my individual session.
I responded to the call and entered the recording booth with a focused mind.
The staff encouraged me to remain relaxed as I prepared to begin.
The music commenced the moment I positioned the headset over my ears.
The silence of the isolated space caused my heart to beat with a slight increase in speed.
However, I found that the current segment did not require any difficult high notes, allowing me to perform with a relaxed and fluid voice.
I concluded the performance and observed an ambiguous expression on Jeong Ha-neul’s face that was difficult to decipher.
He noted that the performance was good but paused as if he were considering a significant change.
I waited with a sense of quiet anticipation for him to complete his thought.
He eventually inquired if I would be willing to attempt the main vocal part of the song.
I was momentarily stunned by his unexpected request and could only blink in surprise for several seconds.
He explained that while he initially doubted my presence was strong enough for the lead, my live performance had changed his mind.
I responded with an enthusiastic agreement to his proposal.
I reminded myself of the fundamental gamer's philosophy that one must always be willing to dive into a new challenge.
I began to contemplate the specific emotional tone I should adopt for the lead role.
I recognized that I needed to exert a greater level of effort now that the composer had expressed a personal interest in my voice.
I focused my entire attention on the flowing rhythm and the depth of the lyrics.
I resolved to deliver a performance that truly embodied the intensity of a cardiac event as suggested by the title.
I aimed for a fervent and desperate tone, utilizing fierce and pleading breaths to convey a sense of urgency.
I wanted to portray the image of someone desperately fighting for attention and the fear of being forgotten by the audience.
Jeong Ha-neul falls for your tone that strangely hits his taste.
Jeong Ha-neul Favorability +2 (Current: +2)
I infused the performance with a profound sense of desperation by imagining the painful reality of being sent home early.
The composer appeared to be impressed by my choices and requested that I proceed to the following segment immediately.
I confirmed my readiness with an enthusiastic response.
Jeong Ha-neul gradually... gradually... falls for your tone...
Jeong Ha-neul Favorability +4 (Current: +6)
He directed me to perform the lines regarding the lack of regret and the perfection of the listener's choice.
I delivered the lyrics with a tone of absolute conviction, urging the audience to seize the opportunity before it vanished.
Jeong Ha-neul wants to grab your hand.
Jeong Ha-neul Favorability +8 (Current: +14)
He inquired with genuine wonder how I possessed such an intuitive understanding of the emotional core of the song.
He asked if I was affiliated with True Entertainment and if I had any previous recording experience.
I offered my thanks and noted that my past experience was quite limited.
I cast a brief glance toward Oh Hyun-jin, who was watching from outside the booth with his arms crossed.
I suspected that a trainee from a major agency would have surely participated in at least one professional recording session.
Jeong Ha-neul eventually recalled his tight schedule and concluded the session with words of sincere praise.
Though this particular take might not be used in the final mix, I felt that I had achieved something significant.
Nagase Ritsu greeted me with a bright smile as I exited the booth and showed me a message on his phone.
He had used a translation application to express his support, accompanied by an endearing digital emoticon.
I burst into laughter at the charming effort and offered him words of encouragement for his own session.
He responded with a determined expression as he prepared to enter the booth.
The thirty-seven individual recording sessions finally reached their conclusion as the sun began to set.
Jeong Ha-neul addressed the exhausted group and praised their dedication throughout the long and demanding day.
He expressed his high expectations for the upcoming stage recording and thanked everyone for their hard work.
The trainees responded with a collective shout of gratitude before beginning to pack their belongings.
The studio became a bustling scene of activity as everyone prepared to depart for the evening.
I noted that the production team's insistence on keeping everyone until the end was a hallmark of their demanding style.
I retrieved my outerwear from the hanger and prepared to exit the facility.
Suddenly, someone reached out and gripped my arm with a firm hand.
I discovered that it was Oh Hyun-jin who had stopped me in such a direct and inconsiderate manner.
The sudden movement nearly caused me to lose my grip on my mobile phone.
I recovered the device and inquired curtly about the reason for his sudden intervention.
He informed me that two other former colleagues were coming and suggested that we should all catch up together.
I noted that he had adopted an informal way of speaking now that they were no longer being recorded.
I stared at him for a moment while considering his strangely friendly behavior despite our lack of mutual goodwill.
I eventually nodded and agreed to join them for a brief meeting.
He released his grip on my arm and I proceeded toward the elevator with a heavy heart.
I suspected that the individuals he mentioned were trainees I had known during my time at the previous agency.
I reflected on the fact that my long period of isolation had caused my social instincts to become dull and uncertain.
The elevator doors opened with a bright chime as we reached the ground floor.
Hyun-jin checked his messages and commanded me to follow him as he led the way out of the building.
We soon encountered two young men who possessed the names of Lee Eun-gyu and Han Do-kyung floating above them.
One of them remarked snidely that my appearance seemed to have improved since I departed from the company.
The other offered a more conventional greeting while noting the long duration since our last encounter.
I decided to respond with an informal tone as well, given the familiar nature of their approach.
I inquired if they were currently doing well and offered a casual greeting in return.
However, the expressions of both men visibly wavered in response to my simple inquiry.
Eun-gyu eventually forced a smile and insisted that they were performing exceptionally well.
He claimed that our other former colleagues missed me dearly and I responded with a polite expression of mutual sentiment.
In a standard social interaction, such a statement would have fostered goodwill between us.
However, the reality of our relationship was immediately revealed by a series of system notifications.
Han Do-kyung suspects if you've been drinking.
Han Do-kyung Favorability -4 (Current: -41)
Lee Eun-gyu suspects if you've hurt your head.
Lee Eun-gyu Favorability -4 (Current: -42)
I was struck by the realization that their favorability toward me was even lower than that of Oh Hyun-jin.
I wondered why they would go out of their way to seek me out if they harbored such intense resentment.
I reflected on whether the original owner of this body had committed some serious offense to earn such widespread hatred.
The two men appeared visibly flustered by my calm and conversational demeanor.
Oh Hyun-jin remained silent beside them as if he were waiting for the conversation to reach an inevitable conclusion.
The streetlights began to flicker on with a low hum as the evening darkness deepened around us.
I watched our elongated shadows on the pavement and felt a sudden and powerful urge to depart from the scene.
I recognized that my instincts regarding social conflict had become much sharper after my previous life experiences.
A new statistic for my instincts manifested within my personal information window.
I recognized the potential utility of the attribute, yet I lamented the addition of another category to manage.
Han Do-kyung eventually offered a forced and wistful smile while placing his arm over my shoulder.
He invited me to join them for dinner, yet I found his display of friendship to be entirely insincere given his favorability rating.
I naturally moved away from his touch and informed him that I already had an appointment with someone else.
I offered a brief farewell and walked away as they allowed me to depart without any further persistence.
I was left with a sense of profound confusion regarding the nature of On Raon’s past relationships.
I decided to leave the mystery for another time and focused on returning to my current residence.
The individual waiting for me was indeed Go Su-jong, the elderly man who had previously offered me a place to stay.
I wondered if his invitation to return was a sincere offer or merely a polite and casual remark.
I had left my belongings at his shop with the full intention of returning, yet I feared the possibility of being rejected.
I sat on a bench at the bus stop and watched several vehicles pass by as the night air grew increasingly chilly.
My phone suddenly vibrated with a text message from the elderly man himself.
The request for household supplies acted as a definitive confirmation that I was indeed expected to return.
I bolted from the bench and dashed toward a departing bus while calling out for the driver to wait.
A wave of genuine warmth spread through my body that had nothing to do with the vehicle's heating system.
***
Han Do-kyung questioned whether I had truly lost my mind after I departed from the group.
Oh Hyun-jin responded in a low voice and confirmed that I had been acting remarkably strange.
Lee Eun-gyu noted that my command of the Korean language had improved significantly since my departure from the agency.
He remarked that I seemed like an entirely different person now, capable of acting with a surprising level of nonchalance.
He had identified the absolute truth of the situation without even realizing the nature of my reincarnation.
He eventually shook his head and turned his attention back to the meal they were sharing.
A look of cold malice glinted in his eyes as he instructed Hyun-jin to keep a close watch on my activities.
Hyun-jin offered a confident and silent acknowledgment of the command.