Chapter 59 : What is your voice? …

SeongWon watched CEO Cha Eunho gulp as she entered the recording studio, looking like a death-row inmate on their final day.

‘I have a plan.’

Whether SeongWon sang well or poorly, he was prepared for either outcome.

No, it was more than just mere preparation.

How well, or how badly, could she sing? Was it bearable, or truly dreadful?

CEO Cha had considered countless possibilities. After heated discussions with TS Media employees, he’d meticulously calculated countermeasures for every scenario.

His plan was flawless!

Of course, the ideal outcome was a stellar performance. If she sang well, there were only benefits, no drawbacks.

A poor performance could be played for comedic effect or character emphasis. If she sang well, they could launch a separate YouTube channel for songs and even consider selling the tracks!

CEO Cha had already made some rough calculations.

‘The Chairman has a pleasant voice.’

The tone, the projection, even the breath control were excellent.

It was the kind of voice commonly described in flowery prose as ‘sweet’ or ‘like pearls flowing.’

‘Someone like that couldn’t possibly be a bad singer.’

And yet…

CEO Cha was bewildered by the result.

“Hey, Team Leader Lee. What do you make of this?”

“Um, well… I’m not sure.”

CEO Cha looked around. The reactions of the employees who had come to help were similar to his own.

“…Uh.”

“Well, this is…”

“It’s…kind of…ambiguous.”

“She’s definitely not a good singer, but she’s not bad either… it’s subtle.”

The TS Media employees’ assessment was spot-on.

Was she good? Hard to say.

Was she bad? Not really…

Strictly speaking, SeongWon didn’t sing well. It was an average, amateur level. Her voice itself was sweet and pleasant, but the singing itself wasn’t anything special.

Some even argued CEO Cha sang better!

Of course, it wasn’t like nails on a chalkboard. Her natural tone was good, after all. And she wasn’t tone-deaf. If she were, she wouldn’t be so good at gaming.

“…What language is that song, anyway?”

“I’ve never heard that language before…”

“Didn’t the Chairman say she doesn’t know any foreign languages? What language is that?”

“…It kind of sounds like church music.”

Considering it was a cappella, SeongWon’s performance was passable. She wasn’t exceptionally good, but not exceptionally bad either.

‘But where is that song from?’

CEO Cha scratched his head.

If she had asked him to find the backing track, he would have. Maybe she was nervous about being in a recording studio for the first time?

“The Chairman’s face is red. Cute…”

“Hey, don’t take pictures, idiot. What if you get caught?”

“But the butler is taking pictures too?”

“Huh?”

After a while, the song ended.

SeongWon, her face slightly flushed, walked out of the recording studio and asked with a crooked expression,

“So, what did you think?”

“Um…”

CEO Cha touched his lips.

‘What did I think…’

Honestly, it was so-so. It felt…unrefined, like a work in progress.

However, CEO Cha couldn’t bring himself to say something dramatic like, ‘The Chairman is an uncut diamond!’ SeongWon was just an ordinary person with some vocal training.

He wasn’t in the music industry, so he wasn’t qualified to use such terms. He wasn’t qualified to judge.

The ball was now in the court of the bearded man, the owner of the recording studio. The bearded man stared at SeongWon with a serious face for a long time, then approached her with a determined look.

“Miss.”

The bearded man asked gravely,

“Is this your first time singing?”

* * *

Does this bearded guy practice some kind of mind-reading technique?

As I stared at him intently, the bearded man chuckled and turned to CEO Cha.

“Congratulations, CEO. I don’t think I properly caught your company name. It’s new, right? Anyway, you’ve got yourself quite a diamond in the rough. Congratulations.”

“Huh? Well…”

“However, some polishing will be necessary.”

“Polishing, you say?”

As CEO Cha blinked, the bearded man chuckled.

“It’s been four years since I left the industry and started this studio, but I still remember the rhythm of my heyday. I think SeongWon hasn’t had any singing lessons. You just cast her based on looks, right? That’s what it seems like to me.”

CEO Cha’s back was drenched with sweat as he faced the bearded man who dared to utter such disrespectful nonsense toward the great chairman. His heart pounded. It seemed he’d have to step in before the CEO fainted again.

‘We can’t have another ambulance call.’

He had a family waiting for him. I couldn’t burden his wife and children with worries about his heart. I pushed CEO Cha back and stepped forward.

“Leave the CEO out of this. Talk to me.”

“Oh? Alright, let’s do that.”

“You think I’ve never sung before?”

“Yes, well. It’s obvious.”

The bearded man shrugged.

“I don’t know what song you just sang, but you clearly don’t know the basics of vocalization. Your vocalization isn’t suited for singing. Um, no. That’s not quite right. It’s as if you’re singing for the very first time.”

He was actually right. I’ve never even been to karaoke.

It wasn’t the first time I’d ever sung. I’d sung a hymn once in the other world. But it was zero times in this world, so it was fair to say I’d never sung before.

“Well, you’re right about that.”

At my words, the bearded man tilted his head and muttered something like, ‘There are people in the world who haven’t sung before? Strange.’ This guy…does he think singing is some kind of prestigious accomplishment?

I gave him a pointed look, but the song-discriminating bearded man shrugged dismissively.

“But don’t worry. This can be corrected with training. Hmm, how should I put this? It’s like, in soccer, you’ve got amazing physical skills, but you don’t know the rules of the game.”

Hmm. What a strange analogy. As I scratched my chin, the bearded man exclaimed excitedly,

“But even though you don’t know the rules, you still managed to kick the ball into the goal. That’s incredible! You instinctively kicked it in there, even though you didn’t know that putting the ball in the goal is how you win. That’s tremendous talent!”

“I don’t understand. Your analogy is confusing.”

“Haha, sorry. I’m not a humanities major.”

Humanities and analogies don’t really seem related…

Anyway, I get the gist.

“I’m dying of boredom.”

So, I’m a genius at virtual reality games, and also a genius at singing. What’s going on? Is the world rigged in my favor?

‘Were there other rewards besides the lottery that the Lord God gave me?’

No, if there were, He would have told me already.

Did he secretly give it to me without telling me, and then pretend it was my natural talent all along? If so, I’ll find a way back to that world and stab Him in the gut. I’m serious.

‘Then what is this?’

As I tilted my head, the bearded man continued,

“Well, singing requires a good sense of rhythm and good body control. Your vocal cords are muscles, you know.”

As if reminded of his glorious past, the bearded man began to ramble with TMI, his eyes closed.

I hadn’t intended to listen for so long, but CEO Cha was in a dazed state, and Miley was muttering over some strange piece of paper, so I was the only one who could stop this bearded chatterbox.

“I used to work with some idols back in the day, and it’s like dancing. I see you’ve got good posture. Did you do gymnastics? You’re very fit. You know, people who are good with their bodies are usually good singers, too. I’m serious!”

It felt like I was listening to some dubious vocal theory.

For the record, I didn’t do gymnastics, I just worked out.

Of course, Chris, the head of security, freaked out when he saw how much I could work out with such a small body.

But honestly, it’s not that hard. This body is the vessel of an agent who defeated an evil god. Of course, the physicals are good.

I quickly came to a conclusion.

“So, you’re saying if you have good senses and body control, you’ll be a good singer?”

“Ultimately, yes. But that’s just theory. Just because you’re a soccer player doesn’t make you a singer. You have to refine the raw talent through training and practice. Of course, your raw talent is large and solid, so with proper polishing, you’ll become a brilliant jewel. Haha.”

So, it means I’ll be good if I practice.

“…I see. CEO Cha.”

“That’s great news. Then I’ll arrange for a vocal coach.”

CEO Cha beamed.

Sigh, honestly, I really didn’t want to do it, but since he said it’ll work with practice, I can’t ignore it.

CEO Cha proclaimed that this could boost my YouTube channel, and I’m not one to shy away from something I *can* do.

I clicked my tongue lightly and sighed.

“Fine. Next.”

“Next? What do you mean?”

“Miley hasn’t…sung yet…! ”

That’s right.

Miley Saintraphya…!

No, Miley Mackey now…!

“You, you have to sing too…!”

You also have to undertake this ridiculous quest of ‘singing alone in a recording studio with everyone staring’! Feel the shame of being exposed before the eyes of all!

‘Hehehe…’

Miley’s a terrible singer. Everyone knows this. I’ll exploit her trauma, inflict shame upon her. Be ashamed! Be afraid!

And never defy my will again…

At my words, Miley nodded, her face slightly flushed. Then she showed something to the bearded man.

The bearded man’s eyes widened as he took the paper, then he nodded.

Miley quietly entered the recording studio.

Simultaneously, a majestic melody filled the air.

“Huh?”

“Th-this is…! ”

The TS Media employees began to stir in surprise. It was a classic, instantly recognizable.

‘She chose this song…with the insane high notes?’

Even I, someone who’s never sung before, knew this song was notoriously difficult. And she chose *this*?

‘Miley, you…!’

Is this the ‘death with honor’ strategy?

It was a song universally acknowledged as difficult, so failure was excusable. As expected of a former saintess, well-versed in strategy and tactics. I applauded Miley’s strategic insight as I quickly set up my smartphone.

This embarrassing video will be preserved for eternity…!

* * *

Screams erupted from all directions.

Everyone stared wide-eyed at the recording booth.

When the song ended, sighs of admiration filled the air.

“Oh my god…!”

“What a voice…”

“Wow, the butler sings so well.”

“She could be a professional singer.”

“It’s different from the original… a comforting feeling…”

“Isn’t the butler French? Why is she so good at singing Korean songs?”

“I don’t know? The power of K-pop?”

SeongWon looked gloomily at CEO Cha.

He was clapping enthusiastically. The corners of his mouth were upturned; he was definitely plotting something evil again.

SeongWon looked the other way.

‘The bearded guy, he’ll be different…!

The bearded man gave a standing ovation.

“Bravo! Bravo!”

Wrong. It seemed his brain was infested with divine power—a brain-divine parasite. We’ll have to abandon him.

SeongWon saved the recording and slumped into a chair. Miley emerged from the studio, basking in the applause.

“Miley…why are you so good at singing? You used to be terrible… You hated minstrels… why…?”

Miley smiled softly and whispered,

“Because I’ve been reincarnated, Master.”

“Damn it. This is cheating.”

Reincarnation privilege…isn’t that cheating?