I Want to Be a VTuber

Seoyeon honestly never thought she would win on Masked Singer.

It wasn’t about motivation;

it was about skill.

Seoyeon didn’t exactly have an innate talent for singing. She had reached her current level only because others had helped her sing somewhat decently.

That was all she thought she had. Even though adding emotion improved her performance, she still couldn’t fully understand the appeal.

The fact that people on the internet praised the Sky Garden OST was something she secretly took pride in.

Still, she didn’t think she could win a competition where singing was the main focus.

“I’ll just focus on promoting Sky Garden and head back,” she thought,

although she knew it wasn’t a common mindset for other variety show contestants. Seoyeon didn’t mind; she wore her composure like armor.

After all, most actors appeared on shows like this to promote their dramas or movies.

So why couldn’t she do the same?

With that in mind, she confidently stepped up under the nickname “Full-Level Rabbit.”

“But who came up with that name?”

Maybe they couldn’t think of a better name for a rabbit.

However, the host and the audience seemed to react positively, so she let it be.

With these thoughts in mind, Seoyeon looked at her opponent.

He was a man wearing a pigeon mask.

It was clear from a glance that he was exceptionally skilled.

“So, this is it.”

Seoyeon lowered her head and greeted him with composure.

He nodded back with a bold demeanor.

“That’s definitely someone with real talent.”

He exuded confidence, as if he was sure he’d perform his song flawlessly.

And so, the first battle began.

“With just a three-vote difference!!! Full-Level Rabbit takes the win!”

“Wow, only three votes!”

“That was really close!!”

“??”

Seoyeon froze, still holding the microphone.

Wait, did she just win?

The main MC of Masked Singer, Song Byungsoo, was a professional broadcaster.

He had been hosting Masked Singer for nearly five years now. It was a long-standing show, and he had accumulated considerable experience.

He could gauge a contestant's skill level just by watching.

Even the MC wasn’t privy to the contestants' identities due to the show’s strict confidentiality.

They couldn’t risk any leaks, as that would ruin the real reactions.

So, Song Byungsoo often relied on his instincts.

“That’s a win for Noryangjin Pigeon.”

He thought so the moment he saw them.

No matter how much contestants tried to hide their identity, some habits were hard to disguise.

Experienced singers, who were used to performing in front of a crowd, exuded confidence. They moved naturally and seemed to enjoy the attention, with assurance in their songs.

Their presence gave off a “Of course, I’ll win” vibe.

In contrast, Full-Level Rabbit was the exact opposite.

“The mask is really well-made.”

It looked like a recreation of the mythical creature from Western movies, the "Vorpal Rabbit" or the Rabbit of Caerbannog, or something like that.

It had a pretty fierce look.

Compared to Noryangjin Pigeon, the quality was superior.

“But this show isn’t a masquerade ball.”

Of course, the one who sings better wins.

“Full-Level Rabbit is definitely not a professional singer.”

There was a difference in how they held the microphone and looked at the stage.

She seemed familiar with being in front of an audience, but it didn’t quite feel like a singer’s vibe.

It felt oddly awkward, as if holding the microphone wasn’t something she was used to.

At that moment, Song Byungsoo was certain of the winner.

And he wasn’t alone—he suspected the viewers would feel the same way.

“Let’s begin with Noryangjin Pigeon! Please, a wonderful song!”

Noryangjin Pigeon took the stage first. Ever since Gray Crow appeared, Masked Singer seemed to have an influx of bird-themed contestants.

Maybe they were going for a theme.

Either way, the rabbit stood out.

“Good.”

Just as expected, Noryangjin Pigeon was skilled.

His vocal technique and skill hinted at his professional background.

The audience and panel reacted positively.

“And next up is~.”

Full-Level Rabbit.

From the outfit and the altered voice, it was evident that she was female.

She was playfully punching the air in the identity-reveal segment.

What was she even doing?

It looked like she was punching something, but who knows.

“Ahem, well then, Full-Level Rabbit. Let’s see if her singing skills match her name~!!”

With Song Byungsoo’s introduction, a lively backing track began.

The audience and the panel gasped as soon as the music started.

“An idol song?”

Was she really going to sing an idol song for this competition?

Idol songs often had an upbeat tune, usually with dance moves.

But Masked Singer focused more on vocals than dance.

It wasn’t an ideal song choice for this competition.

Was it a song by Summer Girl?

Cha Nahee’s girl group.

Honestly, Cha Nahee was popular, but the group? Not so much.

The song itself hadn’t even cracked the top ten.

Before he could finish his thoughts, Full-Level Rabbit lifted the microphone to her lips.

And then.

“...!!”

Song Byungsoo’s eyes widened.

“No, she’s actually good?”

It wasn’t as though her technique was spectacular.

But as the saying goes, sometimes a voice is all you need.

Her voice was ethereal, and the emotion in her lyrics was palpable.

“Was the song always like this?”

Her rendition was skillful, almost as if Summer Girl had arranged it themselves.

Her emotional voice added a refreshing feel to the song.

While she lacked in technique, her voice was rich, and it seemed to pierce the listeners’ ears.

“It feels familiar somehow.”

As he pondered, Song Byungsoo suddenly realized something.

It was just like the OST from Sky Garden.

“That’s it!”

He had been a fan of the drama, so he recognized it immediately.

While others might have been watching Grand Game, he had been faithfully watching Sky Garden.

The emotion in that OST and the feeling Full-Level Rabbit’s song evoked were strikingly similar.

As the song ended, there was some murmuring among the audience and the panel.

It wasn’t that she was an exceptional singer, but the performance was strangely powerful.

It was that intensity.

No amount of technique or vocal skill could achieve that level of intensity.

That was Full-Level Rabbit’s biggest weapon.

So.

“With a three-vote difference, the winner is Full-Level Rabbit!!”

There were few surprises at the announcement.

Even Noryangjin Pigeon clapped heartily to congratulate her.

“Noryangjin Pigeon is Park Ren!! Yes, it’s rapper Park Ren!!”

“Wow, really? The winner of Hip Under Show?”

“Yes, I wanted to show a different side of myself since I don’t usually sing songs like this.”

Even though Seoyeon won, her opponent had been Park Ren, the winner of the rap show Hip Under Show.

While the battle hadn’t been in his field, it was clear that Full-Level Rabbit had won.

“Who exactly is Full-Level Rabbit to have beaten Park Ren?”

Park Ren hadn’t been bad at all.

While the song choice had stifled his usual expressiveness, his rhythm and sense of timing were intact.

And yet, Full-Level Rabbit had managed to beat him.

“With this, Full-Level Rabbit moves to the next round!”

In the midst of the applause and cheers, two people were bewildered.

“Wait, how did I win?”

Seoyeon.

And.

“Hold on. Could this... be dangerous?”

Perched on his throne, Gray Crow felt an uneasy thrill.

“Congratulations!! How about a karaoke trip next time? I know a great place, you’d love it!!”

[Running Bunny Emoji]

“Oh, you’re coming, right?” 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

Seoyeon squinted at her smartphone, raising an eyebrow.

This was suspicious.

“It’s her, isn’t it?”

The first to contact her after the broadcast was Jo Seohui.

How did she always manage to find out about these things?

Seoyeon was keeping her identity a secret, so for Seohui to know, someone must have tipped her off.

Seohui wasn’t the type to watch variety shows regularly.

“Lee Jiyeon.”

Yes, it had to be Lee Jiyeon.

Not many people knew Seoyeon was on Masked Singer.

So if she heard it from someone, it was probably Jiyeon, and Seoyeon had a hunch where that happened.

“Those two have been acting weird lately.”

It wasn’t that they were in some mysterious relationship.

Jiyeon had been learning acting from Seohui more often than from Seoyeon.

And Seohui, in turn, seemed to be getting some “help” from Jiyeon.

“That Villainous Lady persona.”

It had to be Seohui, right?

At first, she wasn’t sure, but watching the broadcasts made it clear.

That character, with her aristocratic flair.

How many people could Jiyeon know like that?

As far as Seoyeon knew, only Jo Seohui.

It was just a suspicion, but it was growing.

“Thanks to beating Park Ren, there’s a lot of interest in the community! Taking off the mask will be a great promotional opportunity.”

Her friend Jo Seohui kept going on.

Seoyeon, who had been mildly interested at first, had to accept the reality at this point.

“Alright, let’s do karaoke next time.”

Finally, Seoyeon replied, sighing.

Honestly, Masked Singer had been a bit exhausting for her.

She had put in a lot of practice, more than she would have liked.

With so much going on, she had half expected to be eliminated in the first round.

“Seoyeon, we’re about to start filming. Ready?”

“Oh, yes.”

Looking up, she saw Sky Garden’s director Kim Ilsu giving her a thumbs-up.

“So you’re Full-Level Rabbit, right? You’re doing so much better than before.”

“How did you know?”

Did someone tell him?

Seoyeon gazed at him, wondering.

“Ahem, no one told me. I just figured it out. Who else has been watching you improve but me?”

It was amazing that he recognized her just by her voice.

“Still, let’s make sure it doesn’t affect the filming. You understand, right?”

“Yes, of course.”

“Great! Let’s get today’s shoot started.”

Director Kim’s concern wasn’t lost on her.

She was juggling many responsibilities.

If not for her resilient TS body, she might have collapsed by now.

Perhaps that’s why...

She felt eyes on her from the set.

Some of the younger actors.

Among them, she noticed Kim Hyeonseok, who had been giving her a hard time lately.

Not that he was outwardly hostile, but the atmosphere was tense.

She knew why.

In Sky Garden, all the focus was on her character, Lee Yoojoo.

It made sense, as she was the lead.

If the lead didn’t get attention, it would be a problem.

However,

She understood the frustration from the harsh criticisms.

“This isn’t good.”

Such criticisms could affect the other actors too.

Tomorrow’s episode 10 shoot could be a challenging one.

Sky Garden had 20 episodes, and episode 10 was right in the middle,

a critical turning point that would change the tone of the drama.