Chapter 23
Chapter 23
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 23
Chapter Title: Since I Became a Woman, I'll Be a VTuber
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A cafe near the vocal academy.
I had arranged a separate meeting with my vocal teacher to discuss the featuring gig in detail.
"So... the contract is under that virtual character named Miro, which means it's okay for Suhyun-ssi to participate in the song using her own name?"
On a weekday afternoon, the cafe wasn't crowded. My vocal teacher sat across from me, wearing a puzzled expression.
"Uh... I didn't know either, but that's what the manager-nim said."
"Contracts these days are so complicated..."
"Right? I was pretty stunned when I first heard it too."
"Anyway, you're participating, right?"
"Yes, it's a good opportunity, and I want to do it."
"Earning lesson fees on top of that?"
"Oh, the company said they'd cover those."
The manager had quickly gotten approval for covering my vocal lesson fees, apologizing for not getting permission sooner.
"Wow, really? The benefits are great."
"They said they had plans to support vocal lessons from the start."
"Man, the company's pretty good."
"Yeah, doesn't seem bad at all."
I thought The Six was a decent company overall.
For starters, they had the eye to not let talent like me slip away, right?
On top of that, they picked a great debut song, and they handled all the collab schedules and debut showcase logistics, so all I had to do was take it.
"Good for you. Hyunsu really liked your vocals. Oh! Hyunsu is Slim Gold's real name."
"Ah..."
So his name was Hyunsu.
Since I'd decided to participate, I'd searched up Slim Gold diligently, but there wasn't much info on his real name or personal details.
He turned out to be a much bigger deal as a rookie than I'd thought.
Not famous with the public yet, but a rookie getting attention in the industry?
That's what someone had posted on a community forum.
"So how will the meeting go? Online as planned? Personally, since we're doing this, I recommend offline. Nothing beats meeting in person to hash out ideas."
"Ah... Does he even know who I am? It sounds like he's heard my singing..."
"About that... I don't think he knows the details?"
"Huh?"
"I gave him a rough explanation... but he's totally clueless about that stuff... Not sure if he even got it."
"Then the song...?"
"I showed him the video... but he didn't say much about that avatar thing?"
"I see."
So he doesn't know much about VTubers?
Well, hardly anyone does...
"But he doesn't sweat the small stuff. That youthful boldness, you know? He just charges ahead focusing only on his own music... That passion that's a bit over the top—you get it."
Yeah... I kind of got what she meant.
Basically, he ignores everything around him and just does his thing, right?
Might not fly in the corporate world, but for an artist, it didn't sound bad.
"But how did you two meet?"
"He took lessons at our academy for a bit. You'd know if you've heard, but he's kind of in the band scene? So he's really into Japanese music too."
True... Bands are huge in Japan. Korea's band scene lost steam ages ago.
"Since I teach that stuff, we chatted a few times and got friendly."
"So he doesn't come to the academy anymore?"
"Nah, he quit after a month."
"Why?"
"The kid's a genius."
"Huh?"
"He sucked up all the good stuff from the instructor in one month and bounced. Isn't that hilarious?"
That much of a genius?
Hearing that piqued my interest a bit.
His songs I'd checked out online were definitely good.
A bit different from mainstream stuff, but still.
"Hmm... Should we meet up then?"
I thought it over and decided to go for it.
Come to think of it, I'd met the composer in person to record my debut song, hadn't I? This wasn't under Miro—it was as Kim Suhyun. No reason not to meet.
"Really?"
"Yeah, is that guy discreet?"
"He probably doesn't even have friends to tell."
Now I was even more curious.
What kind of person is he?
"Sure, let's meet."
"Great. I'll set something up soon."
"Thanks. Could you give me his number then?"
"Oh, right. Here's his phone number..."
With that, I got Slim Gold's number, and it was time to wrap up.
"Shall we head out?"
"Yeah, thanks for your time."
We stood up fully and parted ways.
While waiting for the bus outside the cafe, I realized I'd forgotten to mention the news I meant to share today.
"Oh, right..."
My debut song was dropping tonight, and I'd spaced on telling her.
***
Back home, I had a quick meeting with the manager and members, reviewed the company notices, then turned on my stream.
[Debut song release at 9 PM.]
-Miha
-Hey hey
-Finally the song drops
I booted up the stream, saw viewers piling in fast, put my avatar on screen, and spoke.
"How was everyone's day?"
-Stuck home playing League all day lol
-So-so
-Waited for you only lol
[Anonymous donated 1,000 won! Thank you!]
Debut song finally out?
"Yep, one hour to go."
-Nice
-Lololol
-Honestly if it flops I'll downvote...
-Looking forward
[Artisan Miro donated 10,000 won! Thank you!]
How's the debut song?? Give us a hint
"Ah! Thanks for the 10k. I thought it sounded good? Didn't get tired of it, maybe 'cause my voice is in it."
-BS no way
-Vocals are legit lol
-Heard from others it turned out well?
"Gotta see the MV, but the song's great~"
[Anonymous donated 1,000 won! Thank you!]
Honest guess on chart performance?
"No clue on charts honestly."
Plenty of songs come out and vanish without charting.
Even big artists' tracks can flop quietly these days.
No matter how good it sounds, a virtual idol's song is a tough sell.
"But everyone worked hard, so give it a listen. You know all members recorded in person at the studio, right?"
-For real?
-Yeah
-Everyone but you was capping
-Went there for real?
"Some of you didn't know, huh."
Makes sense. I don't think I'd mentioned it on stream.
[Anonymous donated 1,000 won! Thank you!]
You never spill, how we supposed to know dumbass always yapping about comics spill that stuff
-Nice
-Mind blown
-Loyal fan T_T
"Okay, might as well spill now? It's been a bit."
-Yeah yeah
-Tell us
-Maho hot?
"Maho-unnie? Yeah, super pretty. Made me wonder why someone's like that doing VTuber?"
That was true.
She was so pretty and tall, it was baffling why she'd stream from her room.
-Yeah sure lol
-If hot why VTuber lol
-Girls are all hot anyway
"If I say 'why ask if you won't believe me?' you'd be offended, right?"
-Gasp
-Almost offended
-Wut
[Anonymous donated 1,000 won! Thank you!]
What about Miro-nim?
"Me? Curious?"
-Gasp
-That loyal fan too?
-Kinda yeah..
"Normally shouldn't say, but... honestly, she could go on TV no problem."
-?
-That's a bit...
-BS again
-Still an hour left let's queue League
I smirked inwardly at the skeptical chat.
Whatever, they'll find out someday. Or maybe never.
"Anyway, spilling: Ah! No, we went to the studio, met the composer, recorded?"
-Yeah yeah
-Famous guy?
-He hyped it hard
-Idol song guy right
"But he wouldn't let me go."
-???
-Wtf that mean?
-Gasp
-Wut
"No, kept going 'try this part? Now this...' like that nonstop."
[Stationery Thief Miro donated 3,000 won! Thank you!]
Just you sucking so bad he made you redo? Say it and get banned?
"Gasp... Sorry. Banned you first line on sight?"
-Lolololol
-Bye loser..
"Joking, not that I suck—it's this natural voice making him try everything."
-Yeah sure lol
-I see
-That's it lol
"Anyway, recorded so long Maho-unnie canceled our Sparrow's Watermill Crackdown movie—she'd booked it to watch with me. Too late."
-Gasp..
-Missed it
-What's that?
-Fun yeah
"Ah, missed the timing too, but it's still playing?"
-Yeah still on
-Hit 5 mil
-Go see it
"Still running? Gotta catch a morning show later."
Chatting with viewers flew by time, and debut drop hit.
"Okay, MV drops on The Six official channel. Sound on sites same time."
The Six channel had the 'Heavenly Realm' debut MV up for reservation premiere.
One minute left.
"Everyone quiet and sit tight."
-Yeah
-Flop and die lol
-Hate prep ON
-Time to go?
"You all talk big but you'll loop stream, right?"
-That's for boyband stans right?
-Only if song slaps
-Confident?
Glancing at chat's fake tough talk, I eyed the NerTube window.
Countdown from one minute now at 10.
9...7...
Heart pounding watching it drop.
6...5...
Song was good, right? MV turn out okay?
4..3..
MV flops, communities roast us? Members' spirits crushed.
2..1..
No, no.
We didn't half-ass it that bad.
Just enjoy.
0.
Countdown ended.
Melody flowed through headset.
[With you..]
I closed my eyes gently at the clear voice on the melody's end.
I'd heard the final track countless times, but it still sounded great to me.
Less than four minutes later, I opened my eyes.
NerTube screen showed end replay bar.
And chat exploding.
-The Six..! The Six..! The Six..! The Six..!
-Mom I'm going Heavenly Realm! Mom I'm going Heavenly Realm! Mom I'm going Heavenly Realm!
-Miro you didn't watch MV? Lol
-Wow this bangs
-Please come back down..! Please come back down...! Please come back down...! Please come back down...!
Stream chat skyrocketing.
"Oh, didn't watch the MV."
Realized too late I'd been savoring the song and missed it.
Eh, results look good anyway.