Chapter 4: First Audition

“Oh~ Over here!”

The teacher waved his hand, welcoming me.

“What do you want to drink?”

“Uh… an iced americano for me….”

“You can just drink anything, but okay, I understand.”

The teacher ordered the drinks and quickly brought them over.

“Thank you.”

I sipped the coffee and slightly checked his expression.

Before, I only worked on commercials and CMs, what kind of work was he recommending?

“Are you still working at the convenience store?”

“No, I quit recently.”

“Ah, I see. Then you can record during the day too? That’s good.”

The teacher took out a business card from his wallet and showed it to me.

Usasam Studio… a studio that records various large games like Lol and Cyberpunk.

Surely…?

“Actually, this project is quite big. I think you’ll have to audition for the role.”

“What kind of game is it?”

“Well, it’s a dating sim. But there are quite a variety of characters. The volume is large, and the amount you’ll receive will be equivalent to an association voice actor.”

Just being able to record at Usasam Studio is a huge opportunity.

And a dating sim game? This is an opportunity of a lifetime.

“I-I’ll do it! I’ll definitely try!”

“Okay, okay. Then I’ll give you the audition character list, so practice a lot.”

“Thank you for giving me this great opportunity!”

The audition character list and script volume were heavier than I expected.

Do I have to audition for this much dialogue on the spot?

Looking through the character list, there were about two characters I liked.

Baek Seolha and Kim Eunji.

Baek Seolha was a character that matched my appearance, perhaps to the extent that I could get the role based on looks alone.

However, unlike that, her personality was set to be completely rotten.

She cursed constantly and was only tsundere towards the protagonist….

Let’s move on for now.

If it’s a character similar to my personality, it would definitely be Kim Eunji.

Her appearance doesn’t match very well, but she has a timid yet strong-willed personality.

This one would be much easier to act….

“How is it? Is there a character you like?”

“Ah, I like Baek Seolha and Kim Eunji quite a bit.”

“As soon as I saw the character list, I thought of you, Eunseo, and intended to recommend you.”

The teacher’s insight was excellent.

Even I thought I could do these two roles as well as an association voice actor.

“Thank you! I’ll definitely prepare diligently and try to pass.”

“Okay, there will be another opportunity for the open recruitment later, so focus on this work for now. The audition is the day after tomorrow.”

I bowed to the teacher, took the character list with a fluttering heart, and left the cafe.

Roughly estimating the volume, it’s dozens of pages, so I should receive around 2,000,000 to 3,000,000 won, right?

Even on the way home, I didn’t let go of the character list in my arms.

I kept staring at the lines for both Baek Seolha and Kim Eunji.

Returning home, I entered the small soundproof booth.

In the summer, there’s no air conditioning, so once you go in, you get covered in sweat.

But now it’s relatively cool, so it’s bearable.

I want to check the public opinion on Lumi Live, but it’s obvious it will just make me anxious.

For now, as the teacher said, let’s focus on this work.

“Ahem. Ahh….”

First, for the role of Baek Seolha.

My appearance is exactly like hers, so I can just do it without changing my voice.

“Fine, don’t worry about it. I usually don’t do things like this. It’s not because of you… so don’t misunderstand!”

Oh, that was easier than I thought?

I could fully express my voice as if I were myself.

Game character lists actually don’t provide much information.

This is because they are very sensitive about information leaks and such.

This amount of dialogue I received is probably only a small part.

“Haa. I really… didn’t want to say this, but I can’t stand it! You, don’t you know why I keep taking care of you?”

The highlight confession scene. It’s indispensable in a dating sim.

“You’re such an idiot… I love you!! There, done? I’m not going to say anything more.”

A tsundere character who always appears in dating sims.

Actually, it doesn’t require much analysis. I’ve played a lot of these dating sims since I was young.

I wonder if I can pretty much get this role?

Other aspiring female voice actors don’t play dating sims much.

I lightly cleared my throat with water.

What kind of tone should I use for the role of Kim Eunji?

I always like the feeling of my chest trembling whenever I do voice acting.

Should I say it’s the driving force that allowed me to stick with this for 11 years?

Let’s try imagining my usual timid self.

“Excuse me, that… c-could I help you? I think we can finish faster if we do it together.”

Ah, this feels really comfortable.

Sometimes, when I saw the acting of the women in my class, I felt a slight sense of regret.

If I were a woman, I would have thought of different ways.

If I were a woman, I wouldn’t have done it that way.

This was especially true when acting opposite men.

“From the first time we met, I felt something special. I’m sorry to say this only now… but can you accept my feelings…?”

Wow. This is it.

Listening to the recorded files again, I started to love my own acting.

With this much, won’t I definitely get one of the two roles?

“Hehe… I’m looking forward to the audition day.”

It was evening already.

I had been so engrossed in acting that several hours had passed.

“Ah!! The Lol World Championship!”

I quickly went to the Lol World Championship broadcast.

I can’t miss G2’s match for the finals.

“G2!!! Takes down LCK’s number 1, HLE!!!”

“Who could have predicted it? The scenario to defeat the LCK giant, HLE.”

After a fierce battle, G2 won 3-1.

Tears of emotion gushed out.

I felt the same emotion as when they reached the finals in 2019.

…But I didn’t cry even then.

I turned on my phone and tried to take the MBTI test again.

When I was a man, my MBTI was ISTP.

Perhaps, a significant psychological change hasn’t come over me?

I carefully looked at each question and thought about it.

…

ENFP…? Everything changed except the P.

Furthermore, the F score is 98%.

I had become a complete bundle of emotions.

“Even better.”

Whether it’s voice acting or broadcasting, there’s nothing bad about having high emotional sensitivity.

I have to practice for the role tomorrow too, so I should go to bed early today.

“Sh-should I check the public opinion just once…?”

My hand reached for my phone again.

Slap–

I slapped my reaching hand, stopping it midway.

“Ah, no… Let’s focus on the character audition….”

Anyway, the voting results are still a long way off.

Let’s not check until after the audition.

I threw my phone far away and went to bed.

***

In the early morning when Eunseo was sound asleep.

The Lumi Live gallery was still filled with fervent excitement.

[I’m a vocal trainer, and #3 noona is definitely a pro ㅇㅇ]

Her voice tone, pitch, and rhythm were all perfect.

It seems she’s been training for at least a few years

-It’s true ㅇㅇ She’s like an adult who came to a kids’ playground ㅋㅋ
ㄴ #3 is gonna take 1st place this generation, seriously
-Bullshit, verify you’re a vocal trainer ㄱ
ㄴ Welcome, #2 and #4 fans ㅋㅋ

As compliments poured in for #3, the atmosphere was positive.

Thanks to her unique skill and voice, many people were cheering for #3.

However, amidst this, the fans of #2 and #4 looked at the situation with discomfort.

[Refuting the post below, I also worked as a vocal trainer]

It’s okay that #3’s voice is good ㅇㅋ
But am I the only one who thinks her emotional expression is f*cked up and super awkward?
Looks like it was covered up with mixing

-Seriously ㅋㅋ #4 expressed the emotions much better, and her song sense is good too
ㄴ #4 is the GOAT at high notes ㄹㅇ

As time passed, not only the fans of #2 and #4 but also the attention seekers of the early morning began to join in.

More and more comments criticizing Eunseo’s singing skills started to appear.

-The emotional expression of #3 seriously feels forced, there’s no emotion in the song at all, it feels like she just hit the notes
ㄴ This is all thanks to mixing ㅇㅇ
-Just pick #5

[Don’t degrade #3 noona]

Is her singing skill bad? x
Is her voice tone bad? x
Does she have a past life? x

She’s simply the GOAT of this generation

Of course, within that, the supporting fans were also formidable.

However, amidst the various provocations, rumors completely unrelated to the truth also began to emerge.

[Seems like #3 noona’s past life has been found]

(Link to another company’s VTuber video)
If you watch from 2:37, don’t the diction and pronunciation seem a bit similar?

-Wow, this is real
-How did they find this?
-#3 noona, I’m disappointed, she had a past life;

[Hey you f*ck, who doesn’t have a past life?]

Is there really anyone among the 8 people who doesn’t have a past life?
You guys are f*cking around with something so ridiculous, just don’t vote ㅋㅋ

-Welcome, Confucius ㅋㅋ

In the end, the gallery was divided into two sides.

The fans who defended #3 and the people who wanted to dethrone #3.

The tense standoff between the two camps didn’t seem like it would die down until the vote.

Completely unaware of the situation in the gallery, Eunseo was in a deep sleep.

***

“Whew… pull yourself together.”

After diligently practicing, the day of the character audition finally arrived.

The Usasam Studio building… it’s really huge. Is all of this a studio?

As I entered the entrance, the interior, reminiscent of a futuristic atmosphere, stood out.

“Oh? Are you Voice Actor Sung Sihyun’s student?”

A staff member near the entrance, wearing headphones around his neck, recognized me and came to greet me.

“Yes. I’m Lee Eunseo!”

“I heard a lot from the Voice Actor. He said your skills are incredible?”

…What on earth did my teacher describe me as?

Perhaps because the groundwork was laid unnecessarily, my tension increased.

He looked over my attire and guided me to the audition venue.

A recording studio that seemed several times more expensive than the one I used at the academy….

It was so spacious that I didn’t feel stifled at all.

“Please wait here for a moment. But aren’t you uncomfortable in the suit?”

Since I didn’t have women’s clothes, I came wearing the same suit I wore for the company interview.

The discomfort is bearable.

“It’s okay. Around what time will it start?”

“Hmm… I think you’ll have to wait for about 30 minutes.”

The staff member left, and I carefully warmed up my voice.

I should warm up a lot when I’m alone.

Creak–

While I was in the middle of warming up, someone entered the recording studio.

“Oh? Eunseo-ssi. Long time no see.”

Hearing my name called in an unexpected place, I turned my head towards the direction of the sound, completely tense.