I Want to Be a VTuber

‘Calmness’ is a song sung by Shin Wan-seok, the vocalist of Sekripise, one of Korea’s representative bands.

It’s not just an ordinary song; it’s an anime theme!

Back then, there were rumors because it wasn’t a song imported from Japan’s animations but a brand-new piece. However, the song was so good and the vocalist was Shin Wan-seok, so that chatter quickly faded.

As time passed, many have forgotten it, but there are still plenty who remember the song. But who would’ve thought they would hear that track on a different show, the [Masked Singer]?

For anime fans, it was intriguing from the start that a woman chose this song.

– Wow;; Man-Lap Rabbit has great taste
– This song is a masterpiece ㅇㅇ The original is great, and the anime is good too ㅇㅇ
– So what is this, you nerds?
– You haven’t seen this???? I hope I hadn’t seen it yet, so I can watch it again

Originally, it was a blend of ballad vibes, and until now, Man-Lap Rabbit’s vocal style echoed that, so I thought it’d be similar this time too.
But the arrangement was a bit different.

Starting off with sharp electric guitar sounds and shifting into high notes.

– What? The high notes are cleaner than I expected?
– The voice is nice, so it feels clean
– Originally a male song, so the high notes aren’t exactly there, but it was handled well ㅇㅇ

It was a bit more energetic while still holding on to the essence of ‘Calmness.’
I wondered who did such an excellent arrangement.

As the song played on, the audience’s initially cheerful expressions began to shift.
Is the reaction bad?
No, it was quite the opposite.

There was a charm that made them listen intently to the song.
Like getting lost in appreciation.

Man-Lap Rabbit’s singing oddly had that kind of vibe.
Something that stimulates other people’s emotions.

There was a power that drew out empathy.
People didn’t know why.
Was it that he sang that well?

I don’t know about that, but he made listeners naturally fall into the melody while resonating with those feelings.
The strongest weapon that allowed Man-Lap Rabbit to advance through rounds.

His voice and the ability to evoke emotion.
Was this why the frequency of posts on community and social media dramatically decreased until Man-Lap Rabbit finished his song?

Then.
With the final flourish of vibrant guitar tones, Man-Lap Rabbit’s song came to an end.

– Did this guy always sing this well?
– He really hit it big today
– Ashen Crow won’t have an easy time, huh?

Most predicted a victory for Ashen Crow in this king battle.
Some even said it wasn’t too easy of a matchup.

But after Man-Lap Rabbit’s song ended, opinions were split.
No, the atmosphere actually shifted toward Man-Lap Rabbit.

– Who the heck is this??? A singer???
– Seems like a singer, probably an idol ㅇㅇ
– How can an idol sing like that?
– Nowadays, idols can sing really well

Questions about the identity of Man-Lap Rabbit began pouring in.
The host and panelists kept praising him.

“This song is originally the one that marked the first meeting of my parents.”
And then there was a brief interview conducted in a modified voice.
He chose the song because it was the one that brought his parents together.

– Seriously, are we getting nostalgic here?
– Is that for real?
– Really though? ㅋㅋㅋ
– If that could get me a girlfriend, I should’ve had at least ten thousand by now ㅋㅋㅋ
└ Please… stop…

Anyway, there didn’t seem to be much trust in what Man-Lap Rabbit said.
After all, it should make sense to believe it.

Of course, the panelists and host were just clapping enthusiastically.
Wow, a song that was the reason for parents meeting, that’s impressive~

But those who knew the truth, Suah and Young-bin in the audience, could only cover their faces with their hands and bow their heads.
They never imagined their daughter would introduce the song in such a way.

Anyway.

“With the king’s throne just around the corner, do you think you can seize victory against the formidable Man-Lap Rabbit?”
“Do you think I can win against the formidable Man-Lap Rabbit?!”

With MC Song Byeong-soo’s booming question, the Ashen Crow stepped to the center, gripping the mic tightly.

“Well, my memories will win.”

Cheers erupted from the audience at her bold declaration.

And then, the sound of guitar strummed along with the Ashen Crow’s gestures.

– Declaring victory as soon as she steps on stage, wow!
– “Win!”
– But what song is this?

It felt familiar yet different.

It wasn’t the typical song you hear in Korea, but rather felt like an OST.

The problem was, no one could even begin to guess what it was.
Is it an original song?

Of course, there’s no rule against bringing original songs to [Masked Singer].
But usually, people don’t do that.
After all, you might end up having a new song showcase instead.

If it was indeed a new song, then once her identity is revealed, she’d definitely get a bad reputation.
So, it seemed unlikely she’d take that gamble.

“What on earth is this song?”
“Is this also a cartoon song?”

Those were the general reactions.
But as the Ashen Crow held the mic, the atmosphere completely shifted.

It was a refreshing song.
Like the kinds Man-Lap Rabbit used to sing.

Outstanding technique.
Outstanding skill.
Whatever song it was, it had a power that made you nod along unconsciously.

Opinions on the emotional aspect varied greatly.
Strangely, some things just didn’t resonate.

However, there were those who connected with it.
That was only natural.

– But I think Man-Lap Rabbit was better?
– It’s oddly emotional, but it doesn’t vibe with me.
– But the skill is undeniably impressive.

Those reactions started popping up.

– What song is this? It’s amazing!
– I feel like I’ve heard this somewhere before…
– I do remember hearing it a long time ago, but I can’t recall where.

There were strange reactions too.
Even though it was a song that didn’t fit perfectly, it had a captivating charm that drew people in.

“You see? Because she’s singing whatever song she wants, that’s the response we get,” Yeo-hee said, taking a big swig from her beer can as she watched the broadcast with her manager, Song Ah-ram.
Is that what matters right now?
What’s coming up next is far more important.

“Anyway, she won.”
“Is winning by singing your own song really winning?”
“Well, strictly speaking, it’s not my song. I didn’t even register the copyright.”
“Wow, so you’re admitting it’s a good thing?”

Anyway, manager Song Ah-ram had a headache.
She knew exactly what was coming next.

It was no surprise that the song was receiving such reactions.
After all, Yeo-hee wasn’t singing to the public with this song.

It felt like she sang it while throwing away any chance of going to the Hall of Fame.
It was just a song sung for one person.

So how could people even relate?

“Overflowing with stubbornness.”
It seemed she was careful not to cross any lines.
After all, it just ended with watching from a distance without ever meeting.

Well, who knows how long this situation will last?

“Seems like Director Kang Tae-jin ordered this to be edited.”
Soo-ah and Young-bin were not shown on the broadcast.
They probably wanted to avoid making it easy to guess ‘Man-Lap Rabbit.’

It was evident they took care with the editing.

“Anyway.”
The song was good.
Really.
If Yeo-hee had sung this for the public, it could have definitely resonated with them.

But it was a song for one person.
No, perhaps two people.

The object of her stubbornness and one rabbit looking up at Yeo-hee from below.
She called it the opening.

Yeo-hee always says,
Her life is always an opening.

It seems that this song was the foundation of that statement.
It seems like it was the backbone of the conversation.

“I don’t know if it was conveyed…”

The MC’s exceptional skill in stalling before determining the outcome of the match sparked intense reactions from viewers.

– “Hey, you son of a b!!”
– “So who won already????”

This round had an unusually high level of uncertainty.

In response to such reactions, Yeo-hee thought she had made the right choice.

Of course, if she had lost, her pride would have taken a massive hit.

“Anyway.”

Yeo-hee quietly listened to the sounds of the broadcast stalling in various ways as she thought.

Young-bin, and Seo-yeon too.

Honestly, she could feel some hesitation from them.

Of course, Seo-yeon wouldn’t know the reasons behind this.

But Young-bin had a rough idea.

Now that there are things to protect, it wouldn’t do to recklessly pursue dreams on his own.

She didn’t think it was a wrong idea.

No, it was probably the correct judgment.

However, Yeo-hee wanted to see a bit more of the past version of him.

Starting with his headstrong approach.

“You’ll regret it if you don’t try, Young-bin.”

Thinking of him like that, Yeo-hee let out a sigh.

She truly believed it was okay.

After all, there would be plenty of people willing to support him.

Definitely.

“Sis, sis! It’s out! It’s out!!”

Finally, the results of the [Masked Singer] championship match were announced.

After a lengthy 20-minute stall, the result was a narrow victory for the Ashen Crow by just two votes.

In reality, it came down to just one person’s vote.

Who that one person was remained a mystery.

However, the aftermath was more important than the outcome itself.

At that moment, Yeo-hee and Young-bin were exchanging enthusiastic thumbs-up with each other.

At least that’s how she saw it.

The problem was Seo-yeon.

On the [Masked Singer], the loser must inevitably take off their mask and reveal their identity.

– “Who is it? The most likely candidate is Eleven Rain’s Flora, right?”
– “No way it’s Flora, lol.”
– “It’s definitely someone who can sing for sure. I’m convinced after watching the championship.”
– “If they call themselves a dad, they probably seem young but are definitely an idol, for real.”

Amidst the reactions online.

“Then, without further ado, the moment you’ve all been waiting for, the Man-Lap Rabbit! Please take off your mask now!!”

With Song Byeong-soo’s shout, the Man-Lap Rabbit removed the mask.

It came off with a bit of a struggle, making a ‘crunch’ sound as it tore.

Still, it came off somehow.

Then, long black hair tumbled out from between the mask.

Finally revealing, rabbit-like crimson eyes.

– “?????”
– “What the heck??? Is that Joo Seo-yeon???”
– “Seriously??? Wait, Seo-yeon’s singing is like that???”
– “Then why did she act like that in Dream Future???”

As the masked face was uncovered, the audience and panel erupted in surprise.

Most had thought she was a singer or an idol.

No one would have guessed she was an actress.

Moreover, it was known that Seo-yeon had only recently begun learning to sing.

How could she have such skill?

“Well played.”

Yeo-hee squinted her eyes at the surrounding reactions.

Whoever arranged the piece did a fantastic job.

Tailored perfectly for the singer, bringing out only Seo-yeon’s advantages.

Whoever it was, they were not ordinary talent.

Anyway, what’s important now is not that.

“The Man-Lap Rabbit is none other than actress Joo Seo-yeon!! Wow, that’s amazing. How long have you been practicing singing?”

Song Byeong-soo spoke with genuine surprise.

No, he was truly astonished.

He never imagined Seo-yeon could sing this well.

– “Wait, wasn’t the Sky Garden OST sung by Seo-yeon?”
– “That? Ah?”
– “Seems real??? When you hear it now, the voice is super similar.”
Right now, his voice sounds pretty similar.

– But seriously, can a person’s skills improve this quickly???

Amidst such intense reactions, Seo-yeon blurted out several things she could infer about him.

“I’ve been working on a lot of music lately. So I think my skills improved a bit faster.”

She was talking about her music work.

“My sister, who’s appearing in the drama with me these days, helped a lot with this arrangement.”

The sister who’s appearing in the drama these days. If we’re talking about someone capable of music, there was only one person.

Summer girl, Cha Na-hee.

– Did Cha Na-hee arrange it?
– Wait, Cha Na-hee was this good? The song was amazing!
– What kind of group is this Summer Girl that’s wasting such an idol…
– Shut up, she’s just taking a break right now.
– But they’ve been pretty inactive lately, haven’t they? LOL
– What are you talking about? They handled the Sky Garden OST!

Just as a fight with the Summer Girl fandom was about to break out, Seo-yeon’s shoulders shrugged as if she felt she had fulfilled her duty.

She had a strangely proud look on her face. Despite having lost in the King of Kings competition, she felt relieved, which made people realize the reason late.

– No way, LOL! She came out to promote the drama but ended up the King? That would’ve been hilarious!
– True, she must’ve been there to promote the drama, huh? LOL

After all, there was no reason for Seo-yeon to appear on Masked Singer. It had recently been known as a celebrity washing program, so it was actually quite cute for promotion.

In fact, Seo-yeon’s shrugging shoulders were a move we often see in variety shows when she’s feeling good. A pose familiar to Joo Seo-yeon’s fans.

“So, is there anything else you’d like to say as a final remark?”

Host Song Byeong-soo asked one last time. Seo-yeon seemed ready to shake her head in response.

“Oh, I actually have something I want to say last.”

Suddenly, she brought this up. At that moment, both Yeo-hee, who had been drinking beer, and her manager turned to the TV, eyes glued to it.

Both had been distracted and hadn’t properly heard what Seo-yeon said at that point.

But judging by the reactions that followed…

“I shouldn’t have coolly said I wouldn’t watch the video back then.”

Yeo-hee, who had rejected the video they promised to send out of regret, had received countless curses from Song Ah-ram.

“The song sung by Ashen Crow, I knew it too.”

“Oh, really? I didn’t know that song before.”

Everyone thought it was an original piece. But apparently, Seo-yeon had heard it before.

– Wait, what? It’s a real song?
– Oh, I remember it! I heard it at a university song festival like ages ago, no joke!
– University song festival??? What the heck is that, you ancient fossil?
– Isn’t it now a daughter’s festival or something?
– No, they still have university song festivals these days… It was a long time ago that I heard it, though…

In the midst of all this, curiosity focused on what song Yeo-hee had sung. For reference, Yeo-hee and her manager, Song Ah-ram, exchanged glances of disbelief.

“A long time ago, my parents used to run a gaming club. Back then, they made a game… and it had that song inserted in it.”

“Yes, that’s, um, an original song, right?”

“Yes. The voice was similar to the person who sang it, so I was a bit surprised.”

As she said this, Seo-yeon subtly stuck her tongue out toward Ashen Crow, making a face that seemed to say, “Nah-nah!”

At that moment, she hadn’t understood the meaning of it, but now she could.

It was a petty jab.

Though she had lost, it seemed she wanted to have a little fun.

But this wasn’t just a little fun.

“No way, this…”

Of course, Yeo-hee, who belatedly realized the meaning behind that gesture, covered her head with both hands.

And at the same time…

Yeo-hee’s phone started ringing as if it were on fire.

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