Chapter 121
Chapter 121
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 121
Chapter Title: The Ballad Singer's Autograph
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“Is... is that really true?”
Lee Kang-jun stared at me like he couldn’t have possibly imagined it.
“Um, are you perhaps a singer?”
...Well, I don’t think of myself as a singer.
But if I said, “Nah, not a singer, hehe~” right here, wouldn’t the composer next to me feel a bit offended?
We did work on the song together, after all.
“Uh, yeah, well... that’s why I’m here, right?”
At my words, Lee Kang-jun said with the same shocked expression.
“No wonder your voice... If it’s not too much trouble, could I hear you sing?”
He probably means my song here, right? Unfortunately, I don’t have anything official yet...
In that sense, I glanced at the composer, who nodded.
That means it’s okay to share, right?
“Want to hear the upcoming release track, then?”
“Yes, I’d love to hear it.”
And so, I played the song for him.
Unlike when I played it for Hyun-su earlier, it felt fair since we only had one hand each.
Once the song ended, Lee Kang-jun’s mouth hung open even wider as he looked at me.
“...Wh-when is it releasing? No, more than that...”
He started to ask about the release date, then seemed to remember his own song and fell deep into thought.
What now?
He could at least compliment it since he heard it.
After waiting a bit, Lee Kang-jun finished thinking and looked at me.
“By any chance, are you the one who did the featuring on Wonderland...?”
He figured it out that quickly?
Hyun-su said he liked the song, so I figured he knew Wonderland, but...
Is a singer still a singer, after all?
“That’s right. You nailed it.”
“Ah, no.”
He panicked for a moment, rolling his eyes, then picked up a notebook from the desk.
Isn’t that the composer’s?
“Um, that... could I get your autograph?”
Those words gave me a fresh feeling.
So, an autograph as Suhyun?
“I really loved it. Wonderland. I was searching hard for the featuring vocalist... and she was right in front of me.”
Seeing him like that stirred a strange feeling in me.
Was it because I had someone right here showing pure fandom through the song alone?
In the end, I signed for him.
An autograph written as Suhyun, not Miro.
***
The next day.
Essentially the last day of vacation, I called the manager.
[Hello?]
“Oh, hey, Manager.”
[Yes, what’s up? How’s your ‘vacation’ going?]
Whoa, from the manager’s tone, he still seemed to have that vacation stored up in his heart.
But the results were good, right?
The game company even proposed an additional contract.
The one warning sticker on Twitch was a bit regrettable, but... I could just be careful from now on, couldn’t I?
“Haha, I’m having a great time. Even got some modest results.”
[Results?]
“Y-yeah. You’ll be super surprised later.”
I didn’t mention upfront that Hyun-su promised me a song.
The song hadn’t even arrived yet, and isn’t the surprise the best part?
[Haha, you always surprise me, Miro. Looking forward to it.]
Whoa, did he just grit his teeth? This time it’s really good news.
Anyway, what I wanted to ask on the phone today was something else.
“Manager.”
[What’s going on?]
“How do you make an MV?”
That was the main point.
Once I get the song, I’d need to make an MV, right?
That’s VTuber ‘common sense.’
[MV?]
“Yeah, thinking about doing an original Miro song.”
[What, all of a sudden?]
The manager sounded extremely shocked that I was considering an original song.
Was it that unexpected?
“Is it that surprising?”
[I figured you wouldn’t be interested, but I’ve been gently suggesting it to the other members.]
“What? Why not me?”
[Didn’t think you’d go for it.]
“What?”
Me excluded?
If Hyun-su hadn’t given me a song, I probably wouldn’t have thought of it...
[And honestly, I only subtly suggested it to the others too. Personal original songs cost a ton, and it’s tricky for the company to fully fund them.]
“Why not just support it generously? You guys never skimped on this stuff before.”
That’s not like The Six.
Don’t they usually support generously?
[From the company’s perspective, it’s better to use that money for group songs.]
...Fair point.
Still, how much could one original song really cost?
“By the way, how much does it cost to make a personal song? From buying the track to everything, including the MV.”
Figured the manager would know, so I asked.
Gotta know the general ballpark, right?
[If you start from scratch, especially for a streamer with no knowledge in this, it’s easily several million.]
“Huh? Several million?”
[Yeah, that’s what it runs. And there’s no guarantee it’ll blow up, so it’s hard for the company to back.]
So, everything adds up to millions, and no guarantee of success, making investment tough?
“But where does all that money go?”
[It varies a lot by quality, but song production alone is insanely expensive. From lyrics and composing to mixing and MV production—money piles up everywhere.]
“I see...”
[Plus, for a streamer, you’re a total newbie in this field. No connections means no discounts—it’s pure cash burn.]
Thinking about it that way, I realized I’d been getting it all for free so far.
Getting a new song from Hyun-su just for one featuring, and ‘Fork in the Road’ with the composer—I barely contributed anything.
They handle most of it themselves, so costs are low, but that doesn’t diminish the value.
If anything, they’re leagues better than bought tracks.
Anyway, I’m in a better spot than most.
The song’s already there... just need the MV.
And the MV’s 2D anyway, right? My inner little artist, a total pro in that, is ready.
[Still, from my view, every VTuber should have at least one original. It’s symbolic.]
“Hmm... got it.”
[Since you brought it up, think about it seriously. You’d nail it, Miro.]
“Yeah, planning to do one.”
[Really? Want me to look into it?]
“Uh, could you check on the MV side?”
[Song’s good? It’s daunting to source from scratch...]
“Oh, I’ve got that covered.”
[Got it. I trust you’ll handle it well— I’ll look into MV options.]
“Thanks.”
That wrapped up the MV talk.
Manager said he’d check, so he’ll do it properly.
He’s reliable like that.
[Anyway, any schedule today?]
“Schedule today? None at all.”
[Hmm... How about testing a NerTube live stream?]
“NerTube live stream?”
[Yeah, just in case you get banned on Twitch again, why not try it now?]
...Banned again? What does he take me for?
I’ll never! Get banned again!
But his intentions didn’t seem limited to that.
“You can say you’re hoping I switch to NerTube.”
[...A little, yeah.]
A little, my foot.
Eyes on NerTube streaming, where viewers aren’t capped like Twitch.
He even asked for simulcast on Miro 24 Hours for that reason.
“Fine, I’ll do it today.”
[Really?]
“Yeah, not a tough request, right?”
[Then, what time? I’ll make sure to watch.]
No need to watch on purpose.
“Ten...”
[Ten o’clock? A bit late, but okay...]
“Minutes. Or, ten minutes from now.”
[Huh?]
“Almost time. Let’s end the call—I gotta prep the stream.”
[Oh.]
I’m the type to rip off the bandage quick.
And so, I fired up a NerTube live stream right away.
[Miro appears]
I’d done a simulcast before, but this was my first pure NerTube stream.
-Wut?
-Switching?
-Miro switching lol
Turning on NerTube live—newcomers were panicking.
Hmm...
Not switching, but yeah, it was pretty sudden.
Rumors of switching would be bad.
What would Twitch think of me?
But... honestly, switching boldly wouldn’t be bad.
I could declare my little heart whispered to go to NerTube—and head to the global giant NerTube.
Though that’d land me on Twitch’s blacklist after.
Anyway, I ran the stream while eyeing the awkward NerTube chat.
“Everyone, it’s been two days, right? How’s it feel? Locked in a time warp?”
-Yep switched to Roa~
-Came quick
-Already 3 days?
True to 0-viewer newbies, chat rebelled right after greetings.
These guys?
I started a day earlier than my ban would’ve allowed.
Even taking the NerTube detour.
“Sigh, time flew? Fine, let’s spend one more day then.”
I said, playing threatening end-stream BGM.
Meaning: fix that cheeky attitude, or I’ll smash your jaw.
-See ya tomorrow
-Bye
-Today’s stream was packed fr
But after countless threats, they’d toughened up and called my bluff.
Ha! Think I won’t end it?
They don’t know—my barrel’s loaded with real bullets.
Less than three minutes in, I ended the stream.
These folks.
Senses dulled after just two days off.
If they cross lines from the start, I have to enforce discipline.
Took a short break, fired up League for two ARAM games, then restarted the stream.
“Everyone, it’s been two days, right? How’s it feel? Locked in a time warp?”
-Okairi... (wistful tone)
-Kuso... been waiting
-Said you’d come back quick! Why so late...
-Two... days? Damn, felt like 2 years...!
Yes, this is it.
This is the proper Miro stream.
“Knew you’d be waiting with bated breath.”
Satisfied smile on, I announced the start of the stream.