Now That I Have Become a Woman, I Am a Vtuber

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After returning home, the first thing I did was sit on my bed and try to recall my memories.

The more I rummaged through them, the more I felt something strange.

What should I say…

It was not merely nostalgia.

It felt as though the essence of Kim Soo-hyun (Female) and the original Kim Soo-hyun (Male) had fused together.

Of course, I was currently closer to Kim Soo-hyun (Male).

If Kim Soo-hyun (Female) represented black and the original Kim Soo-hyun (Male) was white, then I’d say I was a light gray now.

Or perhaps it was just the influence of the hormones from the body of Kim Soo-hyun (Female).

Anyway, after thoroughly sifting through the memories, it seemed that Kim Soo-hyun (Female) was quite serious about being a VTuber.

Though impulsive, she had done her research quite well and accumulated a decent amount of basic knowledge, giving off a feeling of diligent preparation.

I couldn’t deny that it was shocking to see just how quickly money was spent on equipment and avatars.

Especially, why were virtual avatars so expensive?

The amount spent on this avatar exceeded that of the microphone and camera combined.

The computer specifications were high-end from the start, built for design work, so there was nothing new to upgrade.

Well, I thought, if I streamed and played high-spec games, there might be some lag, but for now, the audition was my priority.

[Miro, here’s the schedule for the public audition once again…]

I reviewed the text message that had just come through.

The time was set for this evening, hosted by an entertainment company filled with major broadcasters, for the project named ‘Celestial Realm Idol,’ comprising four stages: the first public audition, the second interview, the third individual broadcast, and lastly a personal P.R. showcasing past activities.

First, for the first audition, which checks basic introductions and singing abilities, I launched VRChat on my PC and applied the avatar that Kim Soo-hyun (Female) had prepared.

This was my first time trying something like this, but thanks to the prior practice by Kim Soo-hyun (Female), it was applied smoothly.

As I utilized the mirror function to observe my avatar, a complex feeling enveloped me.

Miro, my 2D avatar, was a female character with long pink hair and green eyes, featuring small horns, embodying a playful little devil concept.

“Ah, ah! Huge!”

Rather than a calm vibe, she had more of a mischievous sister or same-age feel. So, I raised my voice a tad.

I opened the recording program and checked my voice one by one.

“Hello~”

[Hello~]

“Hello! I’m Miro!”

[Hello! I’m Miro!]

“Wow, that’s insane.”

Listening to my recorded voice in real-time, it surely was a voice that lived up to its appearances.

I gradually adjusted my tone, trying to ensure it felt natural.

“By the way, about the song…”

Kim Soo-hyun (Female) had chosen two songs.

One was a K-pop idol song while the other was a J-pop song.

For Kim Soo-hyun (Male), the first was a song I had heard many times, while the latter was completely unfamiliar…

“Ah— ah—”

For Kim Soo-hyun (Female), the first felt a bit awkward, while the latter was one she had the lyrics memorized with ease.

After singing both, I checked the recordings, and confidence surged.

“The first audition will be a piece of cake.”

Honestly, I wasn’t singer material by any means, but combining the singing prowess I honed in karaoke with the sweet voice of Kim Soo-hyun (Female) resulted in a decent cover song vibe.

“Come to think of it, I actually benefited twofold from this.”

At twenty-one years old, I had lived for forty-two years in total.

Though my experience in social life consisted solely of school, I had truly experienced two entirely different lives as a hybrid.

As I considered this, a swell of confidence began to rise within me.

Other rivals were merely early twenty-somethings, weren’t they?

Step aside!

Here comes the legendary genius Kim Soo-hyun, aiming for the hearts of boys!

Might I be recognized as a top candidate right from the start, building up expectations too high for comfort?

Well, too much expectation is a problem, though~

Leaning back in my chair with these thoughts, the time for the first audition finally arrived. Brimming with hope, I powered up VRChat and entered the waiting room as I awaited my turn.

“Is this the waiting room?”

This audition through VRChat even featured a waiting room, filled with avatars of different colored hair chattering away in lively voices.

That space, filled with dozens of high-spirited girls in high-pitched voices, honestly felt a bit overwhelming.

“What? You’re participating too?”

“Wow! What a coincidence, seeing you here??”

“Nice to meet you all~”

“Wait! Do you know me?”

In this lively female gathering, filled with laughter and greetings, I found it slightly burdensome.

As I scanned the surroundings, I headed to a corner where there were fewer people.

Once in the corner, I set my character and watched the ongoing audition broadcast.

The first participant finished their self-introduction and the profile for the second participant appeared.

“That avatar is pretty.”

Well, could there even be an unpretty avatar among those gathered here? It was blatantly evident that money had been poured into this avatar.

[Hello~]

The voice was pleasant; surely this one would pass the first round without issue.

To be honest, I was watching with a relaxed mindset.

After all, I was a super ultimate beauty with a voice sure to sway hearts, wasn’t I?

While I couldn’t show my face with the avatar on, I possessed a confident twenty-one years of experience living as a male.

While I was about halfway through the first audition, a deep sigh escaped my lips, and I fiddled with the lighter on the desk.

“…Damn.. this won’t do.”

And ultimately, in my anxiety, I pulled out a cigarette and placed it in my mouth.

“With talent like this, maybe I should’ve aimed to become a singer!”

It seemed I had underestimated this VTuber industry far too much.

“Wow, you sing really well.”

– For real, lol

– No kidding, she is good

– Hmm… Is she for real?

– So mediocre, huh?

– Oh, come on, folks!

– When’s the League of Legends match? When’s the League of Legends match? When’s the League of Legends match? When’s the League of Legends match? When’s the League of Legends match?

– Not a singer, right?

– She’s not exactly a singer…

– But she’s kind of singer-level

– For sure, she’s quite talented.

Thanks to the recent virtual wave, the ‘Celestial Realm Project’ organized by The Six, a somewhat well-known entertainment company in the country, was underway.

And among The Six was the corporate broadcaster Rush, who was currently sitting arrogantly, leaning back in his chair while evaluating the participant singing on screen.

“Though, that self-introduction was a bit dull.”

– Definitely seems lackluster, lol

– As long as she sings well and is pretty, that’s enough.

– For real, haha

– But isn’t she better than most we’ve seen?

– No weird concepts here, seems decent enough?

After that unimpressive participant stepped down, the queue continued, but no promising candidates appeared.

– Hmmm…

– How long is this judging going to take?

– Seriously lacking any personality here.

– (Potato corn)

– This project is doomed, lol

– Seriously, folks! Is this really what you throw us?

– League of Legends, let’s go!

Audiences expressed their displeasure through chat at the continued bland participants, while Ji-hong, who was appearing as a judge while being compensated by the company, was enduring this painful ordeal.

‘Why am I even watching this?’

Though he enjoyed shows like One Piece, Naruto, and Dragon Ball, watching those 2D avatars dance around and act cutesy felt a bit off-putting.

At least with singing, one could still enjoy the auditory aspect, but due to the lackluster skills of many, the atmosphere intermittently went downhill.

‘Ugh, I just want to go play League.’

While the urge to shut off VRChat and dive into League was overwhelming, he bore it as a judge, attempting to soothe the audience while he held on.

Then, about halfway through the audition, a participant took the stage.

“Hello~ I’m participant number 43, Miro!”

Brightly greeting as participant 43, Miro was decked out in an avatar with a pink hairdo and little horns, evidently reflecting some financial investment.

“Oh..”

– Oh?

– Her voice is nice, lol

– Wooo, it’s stunning, haha

– Pass.

– Why’s the chat suddenly filled with such enthusiasm?

– Ugh, those nerds;;

“Shall we hear the song first?”

While I was immersed in admiration for her voice, the judge and host, Cheol-won, seamlessly continued with the event.

“Well, the song I’ll perform is…”

Participant number 43’s songs were quite good. With a pleasant voice and an impressive ability to belt out appropriately, she certainly surpassed the average person.

– Hmmm.. a bit ambiguous, huh?

– For sure, her voice is insane, lol…

– Is it really just the voice?

– So, is that it?

– But what’s with that second song? What a cringy tune.

– It’s a cringe song, yet it’s pleasant.

Outright, her singing felt akin to an average person who sings well once in a while at karaoke, leaving some ambiguity behind.

“Wow, you’re doing great!”

“Your voice is wonderful, so it’s a pleasant listen.”

“Exactly. Have you had any vocal training?”

The judges continued their polite praises while cautiously jotting down scores on their score sheets. Sure, the voice was notably good, but as expected, the company sought a foundation in singing ability.

This was a project, after all; they intended to bring in professionals for the vocals later on, prioritizing those qualities.

“Have you had any vocal training?”

“Not at all!”

“Hmm… Is that so? Would you be interested in taking some lessons?”

Since her voice was good, they inquired about her willingness to learn, to which Miro nodded, expressing her interest if possible, prompting the judges to continue their inquiries.

‘Well, seems alright.’

Ji-hong carefully handed out scores while engaging in conversation. Though her singing was ambiguous, it was by no means unpleasant to listen to. She had a lovely voice and spoke coherently.

How should I say this? More suitable as a streamer than an idol, perhaps?

With her self-introduction complete, Miro smoothly passed, stepping down from the audition stage.

The judging continued, and the audition eventually wrapped up. Three days later, a ecstatic Kim Soo-hyun received the notice of her first round success.