I Want to Be a VTuber

The 2nd Drama Department of KMB.

Baek Taesoo, the department director, frowned slightly as PD Hwang approached him early in the morning, looking eager to talk.

What kind of fuss was this first thing in the morning?

"Director, have you heard?"

"Heard what?"

"It’s Kyungsung Lady! The first trailer dropped yesterday. It already has 1.8 million views! 1.8 million!"

"...You mean Director Baek Min’s film?"

"Yes! And what’s more—"

Just as PD Hwang was about to continue, he noticed the pointed looks from his colleagues nearby.

Their gazes practically screamed: Are you seriously that clueless?

"Ah."

It finally dawned on him.

He had merely wanted to talk about the surprising level of interest in a film directed by someone known for their niche, arthouse sensibilities.

But he had completely overlooked a crucial factor—the actress starring in it.

"S-sorry."

"No, it’s fine. So that’s why there’s been a buzz this morning."

The KMB network had been unusually lively since the early hours.

KMB was already riding high on a wave of successful dramas this year. Though the 2nd Drama Department had lagged behind slightly, things weren’t exactly bad for them either.

But today, the mood was exceptionally upbeat.

"Ju Seoyeon, huh."

Baek Taesoo exhaled as he settled into his chair.

He had heard her name more times than he could count this year.

A rising actress—soon to be eighteen.

In just a year since her debut, she had stirred up conversations in every corner of the industry.

"Was The Chaser not enough for her?"

With his packed schedule, he hadn’t paid much attention to upcoming film releases.

After all, films and television were separate spheres.

But when it came to Ju Seoyeon, things were different.

Right now, KMB was the sole broadcaster she worked with.

The higher her star rose, the more leverage KMB had by association.

"Still, getting worked up over a trailer..."

Skeptical, Baek Taesoo calmly played the preview.

Just as PD Hwang had claimed, the view count stood at 1.8 million.

The second-highest for a Korean film this year.

For Director Baek Min, this level of attention was unprecedented.

The screen opened with the colonial-era streets of Kyungsung, the old name for Seoul.

Horse-drawn carriages rolled through the streets, weaving between the struggling masses.

A young woman accidentally bumped into an elderly gentleman, hurriedly bowing in apology before vanishing into the crowd.

Moments later, she ducked into an alleyway, pulling out a stolen wallet.

"Tsk. What a disappointment. A man dressed like that, and he only had a few bills?"

Her unimpressed sigh contrasted sharply with her earlier demure demeanor.

As the camera zoomed in on her, text appeared beside her:

[Kyungsung’s No. 1 Pickpocket, Yeon Seonye.]

Baek Taesoo narrowed his eyes.

Who?

The face seemed familiar, but she wasn’t a well-known actress.

Not a household name from dramas or films—he had probably seen her somewhere else.

More than the girl, however, he was intrigued by the elderly gentleman she had stolen from.

His face had been deliberately obscured, only his back visible.

And yet—something about him felt unmistakable.

"That’s no extra."

Baek’s suspicions were confirmed when the old man appeared again in the next scene.

This time, only his voice was heard:

"Your task is simple. Head to the Amamabi Estate and retrieve this necklace."

As Yeon Seonye inspected the necklace in the photograph, the picture was set ablaze.

"Oh, and while you’re at it—"

"Eliminate the lady of the house."

"Eliminate...? Are you telling me to kill someone?"

"There will be no consequences. Do your job, and I will provide enough money for you and your sick sister to live comfortably for life."

A stack of cash was tossed onto the table before her.

Her pupils trembled.

A sick younger sister.

The kind of money that could save her.

Faced with desperation and survival, Yeon Seonye took the job.

The old man led her to a grand estate, its Japanese architecture lavish and imposing.

The walls were adorned with crimson butterflies.

The camera panned to a woman seated on an opulent, leopard-print chair—a throne-like seat far too large for her slender frame.

She gazed down at Yeon Seonye, her ruby-red eyes filled with languid arrogance.

"Yeon Seonye."

Her voice was cool.

Her demeanor—unshakable and superior.

Holding an ornate kiseru, she elegantly twirled it between her fingers before resting her sharp gaze on the girl before her.

As Yeon Seonye cautiously raised her head, the woman smirked.

"So, you’re the stray dog Isamu brought in." 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

Once again, text appeared beside the woman:

[The Crimson Butterfly of Amamabi, Kasugayama Yuina.]

Ju Seoyeon.

Baek Taesoo’s eyes widened.

This was unlike any role she had played before.

This wasn’t the blade-sharp ferocity of Cha Seoa from The Chaser.

No.

This was sultry decadence—a presence dripping with absolute authority.

There was nothing youthful about her.

She exuded lethargic, oppressive power, radiating the quintessential aura of a villainess.

"So Ju Seoyeon truly shines in villain roles."

Earlier this year, she had dominated the industry with her portrayal of Cha Seoa in The Chaser.

Now, she was once again proving that no one played commanding roles like she did.

Was it her red eyes?

Or was it simply the way she carried herself?

"The Amamabi Estate is currently hiring new maids. That’s your way in."

"And if I fail?"

"Then your head falls along with your failure."

"Pardon?!"

After that first, fateful meeting, the trailer rapidly cut through scenes:

A soft, yet distant voice.

The elegant young woman was utterly composed, lacking the overwhelming presence of Yuina.

Her identity appeared beside her:

[A Beautiful but Wilted Flower, Amamabi Michiko.]

The second lead.

Played by Jo Sehee.

Her measured steps and poised expression immediately set her apart as nobility.

"Jo Sehee’s performance is as steady as ever. Not as intense as Seoyeon’s, but perfectly fitting."

More than anything, she looked the part.

Given the long-standing rumors of her coming from a wealthy family, this role was tailor-made for her.

"A well-crafted trailer. But more importantly..."

Baek Taesoo’s gaze flickered to the shadowy old man.

His voice was familiar.

Painfully so.

Yet—

"Could it be...?"

As the trailer neared its final ten seconds, anticipation gripped him.

"Wait a second."

Baek Taesoo rewound the video by ten seconds, focusing on the moment the voice changed.

That grating voice—just a second ago, it had been eerily familiar.

Then, the flicker of a lantern illuminated the man's face, if only for a moment.

It was barely there, but it was enough.

Baek Taesoo knew that jawline.

Not just him—who in Korea wouldn't recognize that face?

A once-revered actor, a man who had once represented the Korean film industry.

"...No way. Lee Sangsoo is in Kyungsung Lady?"

If this were true, then this was no time to simply be applauding a well-made trailer.

*****

"Did you see the trailer? Our Seoyeon looked gorgeous!"

"God, I swear my heart stopped. She was born for villain roles—her presence is insane."

"But wait, who was that guy at the end? Was that really Lee Sangsoo?"

"Nah, no way."

"But everyone keeps saying it's him..."

Walking down the street, snippets of conversations about the trailer were everywhere.

Originally, Kyungsung Lady had attracted attention not because of its director, Baek Min.

Instead, it had blown up due to Ju Seoyeon, the rising actress who had been making waves in Japan.

With her gaining traction overseas, the film had even secured a simultaneous release in Japan—a massive rarity.

National pride played a role, too.

Even if a Korean movie wasn’t groundbreaking, the fact that it was earning recognition abroad made locals naturally more invested.

On YouTube, film-related channels had latched onto this, breaking it down:

"For a Korean film to have a simultaneous release in Japan? That’s practically unheard of. I don’t think it’s ever happened before!"

"Japan’s film market is infamously closed off—even globally popular films take one to two years to premiere there!"

"But Kyungsung Lady? Releasing in both countries at once? And you know that’s not even the biggest shock!"

Normally, cyber clickbaiters spewed nonsense, but when YouTubers with over a million subscribers started saying the same thing, people had to take notice.

And among them, Han Bongsik, a 1.45-million-subscriber channel owner and self-proclaimed Ju Seoyeon’s biggest fan, had his own breakdown:

"I mean, let’s be real—Seoyeon’s acting is insane."

"Ahem. Exactly! Look at this—her languid stare, the way she flicks the kiseru. Masterful!"

"I swear, it’s pure admiration! Anyway—jokes aside, the real reason Kyungsung Lady is blowing up isn't just because of Seoyeon. It’s the fact that Japan is freaking out over it."

"What? No way—!"

Bongsik stopped mid-sentence.

Could he really say no to that?

If a young actress literally rode a bear, of course it would get international attention.

"...Okay, fine. That might have played some part."

To shift the topic, Bongsik pulled up a new image—one of Stella Baldwin.

"Another reason is because Stella Baldwin won’t stop hyping up Kyungsung Lady!"

Stella Baldwin—the "Fairy of the Century."

Her endorsement alone had launched Kyungsung Lady into global discussions.

In fact, it was gaining more traction overseas than in Korea.

"And then—the trailer dropped yesterday."

Bongsik flooded the screen with stills from the trailer.

"LEE SANGSOO. This is Lee Sangsoo! The GOAT of Korean cinema!!"

Bongsik grimaced at the chat.

Lee Sangsoo’s failed Hollywood career had soured public perception.

While he was thrilled about the actor’s return, most of the internet wasn’t impressed.

"ANYWAY! With Lee Sangsoo in the film, Kyungsung Lady has officially blown up! That’s the real reason it’s trending!"

Wrapping up, Bongsik ended the stream.

It wasn’t wise to dwell too much on an unreleased film.

Things had already snowballed, so the actors involved would have no choice but to address it soon.

"Even if they want to stay silent, someone’s going to crack first."

And just as he expected, major broadcasting stations and internet news outlets had already begun scrambling for interviews.

Yet—

Every actor involved in Kyungsung Lady had remained tight-lipped.

Even with the massive speculation, no one had officially confirmed or denied anything.

Some fans had even started commenting under her agency’s latest vlog, demanding ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) answers.

While the film community burned with speculation—

Ju Seoyeon, the woman at the center of it all, was...

"Alright, Seoyeon, you’ll be practicing with Doha first. You know the scene—the one where you escape from the lab."

"Got it."

"It’s good that you’re motivated, but don’t overdo it."

"Of course."

"...I’ll hold you to that. Arthur, you’re up next, so hang tight."

Seoyeon enthusiastically responded to Professor Kim Hongbaek, the stunt coordinator for Mine.

Her excitement for the upcoming action sequence was palpable.

She shadowboxed the air, warming up in eager anticipation.

"..."

Meanwhile, Min Doha wanted to cry.

Because she was the poor soul who had to act opposite Ju Seoyeon’s boundless energy.