Chapter 49

Virtual YouTubers have various charms that coexist simultaneously.

The addictive way of speaking, unique avatars, and unexpected singing talent—these diverse charms are not limited to just one aspect; they are the weapons and characteristics of Virtual YouTubers.

However, among the many charms of Virtual YouTubers, I believe the most significant charm is empathy.

Regardless of which enchanting Virtual YouTuber you are talking about, the ability to communicate with viewers is almost a necessity.

One of the basic prerequisites for communication is to empathize with others.

Therefore, I thought that in order to encourage people to come and meet Virtual YouTuber Diah, I must first be able to empathize with them.

After all, people generally prefer to meet those who can empathize with them over those who cannot.

“Common interests.”

I believed that having similar tastes is certainly the most definite method of empathizing with people.

Fortunately, there are overlapping interests among those who watch Virtual YouTubers, so if I understand these well, hosting a broadcast will go smoothly.

Having similar tastes with those who will watch my broadcasts in the future was something I could do even before passing the audition for Fantasy Realm.

Thanks to that, during my middle school years, when I was experiencing the peak of adolescence, I almost regularly went to the newly opened manga cafe near my house.

Aside from that, I had dabbled in many diverse fields.

There were indeed fields I had distanced myself from slightly because I felt I was getting too absorbed….

“Wow, that’s really unexpected. How do you know so much? Usually, entertainers don’t show interest in subculture, do they?”

“Hey, she has been watching her sister’s broadcasts since kindergarten. Ha Eun is someone who was different from the start.”

Seeing their satisfied expressions from my answer made it seem that my efforts to acquire new interests weren’t completely in vain.

Honestly, I was a bit nervous right before the interview, but I’m relieved now.

“Um, Ha Eun. From now on, this isn’t the interview but a discussion about the future, so please feel free to speak without any pressure.”

The questions that followed were related to the broadcast.

They alternated between inquiries about the time slots I could broadcast and how to best set up the broadcasting environment.

“If I think personally, D.A would… I mean, I think it would be good if you broadcast during the evening when Ha Eun was watching my shows.”

“Even if we say the broadcast time will follow what you mentioned, I’m puzzled about how we should set up! Do you think Ha Eun’s parents would allow something like a soundproof booth?”

“Oh, I already have one.”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

“A soundproof booth.”

At almost the same moment, there were blinking eyes.

The expressions directed at me seemed to embody the word “flustered.”

“You mean you have a broadcasting soundproof booth at home?”

“Yes. I’ve already set up the microphones.”

Since the microphone setup was done by Daulby, who is a current singer, there probably wouldn’t be any need for further adjustments.

I added that all that was needed was the setup related to the Virtual YouTuber avatar.

“…Seems like entertainers are exceptional in their preparations….”

Jee Hye-min’s incomprehensible mutter scratched at my ears.

Nonetheless, it was true that I had been diligently preparing, so I didn’t outright deny it.

However, it bothered me that there were no other applicants besides myself.

I remembered almost 200 people had applied in my previous life.

No matter how strict the review of application emails was, it didn’t make sense that I was the only one to make it to the interview stage.

After all, Fantasy Realm is a Virtual YouTuber group consisting of four members.

Moreover, I had wanted to meet other applicants at least once.

I opened my mouth and asked about the other applicants.

“Um, Da Ramji. When will the other applicants arrive?”

“Oh, if you’re talking about the other applicants… they will arrive in three hours.”

“Huh?”

However, the answer I received from Jee Hye-min was quite odd.

Thinking perhaps I had confused the interview times, I double-checked the Fantasy Realm audition notice email, but in the end, I discovered that I hadn’t misunderstood anything.

This meant that the interview times for the other applicants were three hours from now, which made me wonder what was going on as I looked at the two interviewers, my eyes filled with question marks.

“Um, you see, Ha Eun… this sister has been a bit interested in you. I mean, D.A.”

It was not Jee Hye-min who spoke, but the man sitting next to her, Lee Dong-jin.

He proceeded to explain why I was being interviewed alone.

“Originally, friendships shouldn’t influence auditions. If rumors start circulating, things can become complicated.”

“You saw the videos Ha Eun sent, didn’t you? Honestly, there’s no one more sincere than Ha Eun for Fantasy Realm.”

“He was planning to choose you before you even sent the video. If D.A and Diah are the same person, he would definitely choose you.”

In a way, it was as if Da Ramji remembered the nickname Diah as intended by my past self.

However, since it had stuck in his memory more than I had thought, I reacted with surprise.

“For now, we decided to call Diah first. If we ask in front of the other applicants what kind of relationship you have with D.A, it will definitely seem strange.”

‘…Now that you mention it, that’s true.’

To prevent any noises from arising during the Fantasy Realm audition, they had moved my interview time forward.

My discussion about the setup related to the Virtual YouTuber avatar began right after that.

“Since all avatars must share the same world view, the detailed settings and images will need to be created later while consulting with the other members. Is that okay with you?”

“Ah, yes.”

“Then, we will adjust the schedule on our side and contact you separately!”

Finally, with the handshake request from Jee Hye-min, the Fantasy Realm interview concluded.

Though the interview was somewhat different from what I had imagined, perhaps I qualified for it.

“Ah, Ha Eun. The audition results are… I guess I don’t need to ask.”

Even after returning to Ju Jung-yun’s van, my heart was still racing with excitement.

My lips had a slight smile on them.

However, I still had remaining schedules.

I had to postpone relishing the joy of passing Fantasy Realm for a little while longer.

Fortunately, today’s last schedule, the action school, was not a particularly unappealing one.

In fact, I was looking forward to it just as much as the Fantasy Realm audition, so my tension was still high.

“Ah, welcome, Ha Eun. We’ve been waiting for you.”

This was my introduction to Kim Kyu-tae, who would be my health trainer for quite some time…no, my historical swordplay acting teacher.

True to his status as the head of a well-known action school, he was a person with a notably thick neck.

He was muscular all over, from head to toe.

Despite being a stranger, I felt reassured.

***

“Uh, no matter how much Director Jin is, I don’t think he is expecting a perfect swordplay scene. Expecting a flawless scene without even practicing coordination is the mindset of a thief.”

After that, Kim Kyu-tae discussed what lessons I would be attending while reviewing the script of Moonlight Split by Clouds.

Like many actors before, he explained the training starting from basic physical conditioning to lessons on coordinating with other stunt performers, one by one.

However, to ascertain Ha Eun’s physical abilities, she first needed to change into comfortable clothes.

So, he called a female instructor among the action school staff to take Ha Eun to the changing room.

The surprising truth that Kim Kyu-tae discovered came afterward.

“Excuse me, instructor. Is Ha Eun really 18 years old?”

“Yes. Is there a problem?”

“It’s not exactly a problem, but… for a high school girl, she seems to have quite a bit of muscle.”

Then, the instructor added with an air of caution that she possessed a clearly defined 11-line abdominal muscle.

Up to that point, I thought they were joking.

However, after a brief body measurement time and subsequent stretching, the moment arrived for the one hour of running and basic physical training that most actors who came to the action school found difficult.

‘…Why isn’t she getting tired?’

Even though I told her that she could sit down and rest whenever she felt like she couldn’t continue, she didn’t seem to entertain the thought of resting at all.

It felt like she was a battery in an advertisement, strong and long-lasting.

The more she sweated, the more her expression appeared to become blissfully happy.

Ha Eun’s default expression was calm and composed, so even the slightest smile became noticeable.

If I were to exaggerate slightly, she looked as if the ghost of someone who had died from not being able to exercise had possessed her.

Even seasoned stunt performers, who have lengthy careers, were struggling with tense faces, but there she was, wearing a cheerful expression all by herself—it was impossible not to notice.

Still, it was better than showing a weak, feeble appearance.

Originally, we had planned to start the swordplay lessons only after developing a certain level of physical ability, but today, we decided to start right away.

“Okay, first, we will show you some demonstrations, so please watch with the mindset of memorizing one motion at a time.”

What followed was a swordplay scene focused on Kim Kyu-tae, showcasing multiple techniques.

Plastic swords clashed and fell to the ground, and after a few exchanges, one sword went flying across the area, acting as a visual performance before Ha Eun’s eyes.

This was all based on the script of Moonlight Split by Clouds.

However, in Ha Eun’s eyes, who had already read the original novel, it appeared to be:

‘More dazzling than I had imagined.’

It seemed even more exaggerated and flamboyant than what was described in the novel.

Considering that dramas must capture the “visual appeal,” unlike the written word, this realization made sense.

Thus, all the demonstrations by Kim Kyu-tae and the other stunt performers were captured in Ha Eun’s two eyes.

Not long after, when Ha Eun finally held onto a plastic sword prop, Kim Kyu-tae’s voice rang in her ears.

“Alright, we will start at the original speed for the first practice. For the second practice, we will go at a slow speed!”

Kim Kyu-tae’s note that the first practice would be at the final difficulty level resonated in Ha Eun’s ears.

For her, experiencing the final difficulty level would help gauge how much she needed to enhance her swordsmanship skills.

The plastic swords that had flown toward Kim Kyu-tae moments ago began coming her way.

The sight of bulky stunt performers directing their blades solely at Ha Eun filled her vision.

And, simultaneously, she took a stance identical to the one shown earlier by Kim Kyu-tae.

Within a span of less than a second, she traced a line in the air with the blunt tip of her sword.

– Thud.

She knocked the sword of the nearest stunt performer to the ground.

Taking another step, she immediately made a horizontal slash.

Despite still not stopping, the tip of her sword drew a long line within a one-step distance.

The other stunt performers could only step back.

Shortly thereafter, her sword pierced through the space between the shoulders of the closest stunt performer.

The cheerfulness displayed by Ha Eun just moments ago had transformed into a solid intent to attack against her opponents.

---