Chapter 37

I had some inkling.

A member of Seven Live’s third generation was certainly aware of something.

Among the characters certainly occupying one of those spots, one was conspicuously absent.

Seven Live’s third generation had the concept of non-human characters.

It often featured characters typical of fantasy settings.

And the missing character was Ramiel, a character with the concept of a “harpy princess who can’t sing.”

Although her appearance looked closer to an angel than a harpy.

To be honest, I initially thought she was an angel.

In particular, Ramiel stood out as being especially popular among the third generation members.

Her voice was extremely soft, and she also had great broadcasting skills.

She quickly rose to the top ranks, often referred to as being part of a big corporate entity.

For reference, despite her concept of being unable to sing, she could surprisingly sing quite normally.

Her role-playing followed the usual rules: adhering to just the basics without ever straying from the concept.

Her main content was a communication live stream.

She was good at listening to people’s stories and with her excellent conversational skills, she became very popular.

“…”

“Jiyeon, what’s wrong with you?”

Maybe there was some kind of ‘what if’ situation, but the world was cruel.

How could this be?

“I’ve been trying not to think this could happen.”

Seeing Jiyeon blankly staring at me brought back memories to when we attended the voice acting academy together.

There was no issue with normal vocalization, but the voice for ‘anime’ dubbing was problematic.

It was a hoarse voice but unmistakably one I had heard before.

And even more unsettling, with that voice…

「Joo Seoyeon?」

And just like that, she collapsed.

…Perhaps, I had been aware somehow but was denying it all along.

Why did it have to be Jiyeon?

I couldn’t understand how Jiyeon could be the angel-like Ramiel.

Where did the Ramiel who earnestly listened to and consoled my worries go?

‘Something is definitely wrong.’

There’s a common term known as the “red pill.”

It refers to when someone sees the real identity of a VTuber and the illusion is shattered.

But honestly, the illusion wasn’t exactly shattered in this case.

After all, the Jiyeon before me and the Ramiel I knew were, in essence, completely different people.

And I had been idly thinking I would see her again someday, but now she had suddenly graduated, leaving me in the dark.

‘This time, I really wanted to see properly.’

My feelings when I watched VTubers in my past life could only be described as an attraction toward the unknown.

I sensed something incomprehensible from those who truly accepted the illusion of VTubers rather than the reality.

As someone who lacked normal emotions, that’s all I could say.

When the time came, I watched live broadcasts.

But most of the time, all that was available were short clips edited with transitions.

‘That’s why this time, I wanted to feel that unknown (未知) sensation that I didn’t understand then.’

I felt a bit disheartened.

Someone might say, “What’s the big deal?” but to me, it was a very important issue, for various reasons.

「Joo Seoyeon.」

“~~~!!”

Shaken by the sudden familiar whisper in my ear, I trembled and fell over to the side.

Fortunately, it was a bench, or I would’ve rolled off a regular chair.

Holding my ear that just heard the whisper, I rarely felt flustered as I said,

“What, what are you doing?”

“You’re the one who didn’t respond even after I kept calling.”

“Hmph.”

Jiyeon crossed her arms and frowned.

As if my attitude bothered her a lot.

“You’ve always seemed surprised when I make this kind of voice, haven’t you? Is it really that strange?”

“…Ah, no.”

Her gaze, as if testing the truth of my words.

Unlike before, she now looked as though she sensed something and was watching with interest.

Avoiding Jiyeon’s gaze, slightly embarrassed, I added,

“I don’t dislike it.”

It’s true. I genuinely just get startled.

Everything else about her has changed, but that voice is exactly the same.

‘Even so, I thought there might be someone else with the same voice, but…’

That notion ended yesterday.

Ramiel of this world truly became an angel… well, a harpy but still.

“Hm.”

Jiyeon, sizing me up from top to bottom, then clearing her throat, seemed to think about using that voice once more.

She soon nodded.

“Alright, but I’m not curious about that.”

“Curious about what?”

“I’m talking about the theater audition. When exactly is that happening?”

Jiyeon had always been mindful about my comeback.

Given that I had rarely shown any reaction up until now, it was natural for her to be curious.

“Next Monday.”

“…Huh?”

When Jiyeon questioned me, I responded,

“It’s next Monday.”

If the time didn’t align, I had plans to talk to the teacher and adjust, but fortunately, that wouldn’t be necessary since the audition was scheduled to start late in the evening.

***

In Jongno, Daehak-ro, there are a cluster of theater facilities and various art establishments.

Active theater performances take place there, and various theater troupes and clubs engage in lively theater activities.

And at such a place, the audition for the play I aimed for today was scheduled.

Previously, applications would’ve been more complex, but nowadays, you can simply apply through the internet.

Typically, theater actors pass through two stages: the first and second rounds for assessment.

The first round involves submitting a video of an improvisational performance and a brief profile for review.

‘If I’d failed the first round, it would’ve been a disaster.’

I was quite nervous, as it had been a while since I performed acting in front of others.

Furthermore, this improvisation had to be done alone without any opposite actor.

“Surely it’s around here… Ah!”

The second round involves an in-person audition.

The venue was to be a rehearsal room in Daehak-ro.

Honestly, I don’t know much about theater.

Because I hadn’t experienced it in my previous life, unlike dramas or movies.

And my unawareness of this theater was tied to the events afterward.

‘How many people typically attend a theater audition?’

Such information was not easily obtainable, even when I searched.

In particular, today’s audition was for an antagonistic role.

So, I vaguely assumed there wouldn’t be too many.

Creak.

When I carefully opened the building’s door and stepped inside,

I froze instantly.

‘…This many people?’

I knew it was a fairly well-funded play.

Thus, I’d heard the competition ratio was fairly high, but at a glance, it appeared there were over 50 individuals.

Actresses dressed according to their interpretations of the role filled the building.

‘If there are this many second-stage qualifiers, it must mean hundreds of people applied.’

I felt nervous.

Honestly, I don’t have much experience with auditions.

The two auditions I participated in during my child actor days were all I had under my belt.

But, this was the first audition I’ve attended with such a large number of people.

‘Besides, these are adult actors, or should I say aspiring actors?’

Some individuals who had received the scripts after the first audition were warming up their voices and preparing to grasp their emotions.

All of them, being actors, were strikingly attractive.

“High school student?”

Someone murmured upon seeing me, seemingly without intent.

This role didn’t have specific age restrictions.

However, considering the character’s age group, one needed to appear adult-like, so I barely met the criteria.

“Really?”

“Isn’t she in high school?”

Various complex gazes were aimed at me:

Questioning why a high school student would be here.

Wary glances.

And even curiosity.

Fortunately, those gazes didn’t linger long.

As if everyone deemed it a waste of time to focus on others right now.

‘Okay.’

I pulled out the script I had prepared.

The somewhat worn-out script, which I’d reviewed multiple times already.

It was the same for everyone else.

We were given the script a week ago. Preparing sloppily wouldn’t suffice.

Given that auditions often present scripts on the spot, this one-week preparation period indicated a high level of standards.

‘…Alright.’

I took a deep breath.

Recalling the character I was supposed to portray today, I began to immerse myself in the emotions.

Let’s overlook the method approach for now.

It wasn’t the time to excessively exhaust my emotions.

‘The character I’ll be portraying today is Hong Jeong-hee from “Close Your Eyes.”’

“Close Your Eyes” is a poetic and romantic play.

But Hong Jeong-hee is far from romantic.

She is a fanatical stalker of the main male lead, “popular idol Baesung-hak.”

A social misfit whose intense possessiveness towards Baesung-hak is her defining trait.

Later in the play, when Baesung-hak forms a special relationship with the female lead, “Song Min-seo,”

Hong Jeong-hee attacks Song Min-seo, wielding a knife.

‘Even though her role doesn’t have much screentime…’

Unquestionably, it’s a role that leaves a strong impact.

So, it must be because of this “Hong Jeong-hee” character that additional casting offers are expected.

‘Naturally, this role doesn’t align with the method approach.’

If I were to act this character using the method, I would undoubtedly be depressed for days.

I soon closed the script and closed my eyes.

Breathing slowly, I etched the character into my mind.

Through the emotions written in the script, I imagined Hong Jeong-hee.

I had already memorized all the lines.

Looking at the clock, there was still some time before the audition began.

‘Let’s practice.’

Since there were already many people around rehearsing their lines,

I decided to revisit the character of Hong Jeong-hee.

Thinking so, Seoyeon slowly opened her eyes.

***

The gathered actors and aspiring actors at the audition venue frowned upon the arrival of a late female student.

‘Is she in high school?’

‘How did she pass the first round?’

Her attire was a school uniform. In auditions, it’s common to wear clothing suitable for the role, which helps visually convey one’s understanding of the character.

But she’s wearing a school uniform.

The age of the Hong Jeong-hee character isn’t clearly stated.

Only the vague setting “currently on leave from school” is mentioned.

It’s unclear whether she’s in college or high school.

‘Moreover, her looks…’

Jet-black long hair.

Contrasting it, snow-white skin.

Beauty so striking that even actors, who are familiar with pretty faces, couldn’t help but exclaim.

Even though she’s still a high schooler, her appearance looks like that of a fully polished actress.

‘But acting isn’t done just with looks.’

‘No matter how pretty one is, the ultimate competition lies in the acting.’

Even so, the sight of the high school girl reading the script was picturesque.

A worn-out script.

It at least indicates that she has done some basic preparation.

‘Still.’

‘Something about her face feels familiar?’

The people watching the high school girl felt an odd sense of familiarity as if they had seen her somewhere before.

Perhaps she has experience appearing on TV?

Being an alumnus of child acting wouldn’t be strange in this setting.

‘But, shouldn’t someone with a face like hers have already made headlines?’

A high schooler is at the age where they’ve just begun blooming from child acting to becoming a full-fledged “actor.”

In this tight-knit industry, there’s no way news of a girl with such striking looks wouldn’t have spread.

Tap.

The high school girl suddenly closed her script after reading it.

Had she finished her review?

At that moment—

The girl slowly opened her eyes.

“…!”

The atmosphere didn’t abruptly shift or become tense.

It was calm.

Impassive and composed.

It wasn’t as if she was wearing an acting face.

‘Could it… be about her acting?’

Actors generally have what’s known as a “base expression.”

This is the face they start from when beginning to act.

They layer emotions and expressions on top of this foundational face to act.

Veteran actors can even convey emotions and act solely through their base expression.

“Could it be…?”

Yeah, exactly like this. Right now.

Tap.

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