Chapter 200
I had no intention of preparing for the second audition, considering how things turned out.
Well, I thought I would fail anyway. I wasn’t really serious about it.
So, I didn’t want to awkwardly go through to the second round and take away opportunities from other contestants.
It would be unacceptable for there to be a hidden gem overshadowed because of my presence, just because I happened to capture more attention on Myunghun’s broadcast screen.
Even right now, it was like that. As someone who was quite familiar with the community, after doing a little ego-searching, it turned out that I had received the most attention from the very first day of the virtual idol audition.
There could be various reasons for this, but the biggest one was probably that I was a well-prepared figure in terms of broadcast experience, unlike other contestants.
In plain terms, I had the ‘seasoning’.
Unlike in the past, when I fumbled about what to say during my first broadcasts, I could now handle my own broadcasts as well as participate in others without any issue.
In fact, I found myself enjoying the situation, casually throwing out a few witty remarks and creating some entertaining situations on-air.
This kind of thing was bound to happen. Viewers might seem a bit disconnected, but they are actually very discerning people. If it’s not entertaining, they’ll switch channels in a heartbeat!
From their judgment, I was the most appealing contestant on the first day of Myunghun’s virtual idol audition.
Ignoring my singing skills as an idol or any other traits, it meant I appeared the most charming.
It’s likely that the other contestants were too nervous to showcase their true abilities.
This was a stage where they were being evaluated in front of a myriad of viewers they usually wouldn’t encounter, not to mention heavyweights like Myunghun, Rita, and Ririkei as judges.
It was an inevitable burden. The more one took this content seriously, the heavier the burden became.
They probably froze up, only managing to respond to the judges’ comments without even thinking of performing the prepared songs.
On the other hand, I had no attachment to being an idol, and I approached this with a mindset that it didn’t matter whether I was chosen or not because I was just having fun. I displayed a relaxed demeanor as a participant, even engaging in some back-and-forth with Myunghun and subtly signaling to Rita.
This seemed to resonate well with the viewers. Just scrolling through the community’s popular posts, I could see my name, ‘Lee Jian,’ appearing over and over.
– Lee Jian <<< Today’s broadcast was goat-level, upvote!
- Who is Lee Jian, you weebs?
- Jian is my sister… heh…
There were already posts praising me, saying I had become a fan, that my voice was wonderful, and others speculating or implying they had already figured out my identity.
- So who was Lee Jian in her past life?
- Galju-nim, don’t do this here…
- You were up to something strange while streaming.
While both groups expected my next audition, it seemed I couldn't fulfill their wishes.
"What on earth made you do this?"
It was Rita. She seemed to have already caught on to my identity, and I conveyed my intention not to make it into the second audition.
"You could have at least given me a heads-up…"
Rita grumbled as she took on the aftermath duties, and I added a word.
"But it was fun, right?"
"It was refreshing… At first, I was uncertain, but uncovering your identity added to the fun."
Jay helped with everything from the avatar to the VR, casually dropping behind-the-scenes tidbits as we ended the call.
*
[Welcome to the idol, hahaha]
[What’s going on?]
[Did you rest well?]
[Hah, let’s go]
[Hello, Lee Jian ^^]
[Who the heck is Lee Jian?]
[What’s the connection between this ‘Isekai rock ballad singer’ Lee Jian and you?]
[Teacher, aren’t you 29?]
[29, alluring Miss Mollru…]
[Something strange happens every time you take a break…]
[Why does this person need to clarify so often?]
[She’s a clarification specialist~]
"I have no idea what you all are talking about."
As soon as I switched on, viewers demanded explanations about what happened in Myunghun's broadcast. This had become almost a daily routine.
Streamer Mollru had a habit of stirring things up, so the situation was born from not informing viewers about the majority of her shenanigans happening during breaks.
"Shall we just start the broadcast?"
Mollru decided to ignore them. The effect was impressive.
[Aren't you attending the second audition? I saw an announcement about it.]
[What do you mean audition?]
[Not going to the second?]
[She voluntarily withdrew for personal reasons, they say.]
[Seems she just went for fun.]
[A woman who casually goes to auditions like taking a walk… and overwhelms other virtual tubers with just that…]
[Myung-gong has sponsored 10,000 won!]
– Who is Lee Jian, and what’s all this audition talk?
“Yeah, I really don’t know what these people are saying. They were already strange, so I guess they often blurt nonsense.”
Mollru mumbled that in response to the donations, but the viewers didn’t seem to be in a mood to give up.
[Is there a streamer treating their audience like they’re crazy?]
[They’re being hypocritical then…]
[Molbungee aren’t they more normal?]
[Is this all they’ve learned from watching?]
[So who exactly is Lee Jian?]
[Don’t know Lee Jian? Get out!]
[Seriously, if you don’t know 29-year-old Isekai rock ballad singer Lee Jian, why are you even watching this?]
[If you can’t keep up with the info, just upvote lol.]
[If you don’t know audition participant Lee Jian, then you’re not a real Molbungee, right?]
[Fake Molbungee, tsk.]
[Fake Molbungee? They probably haven’t even subscribed and just lurk!]
For a time, there was chaos in the chat room. A divide emerged over who were the real fans or fake fans of Mollru.
A few who used harsh language or spammed were banned, yet the fire didn’t seem to die down.
Mollru simply watched silently. Every now and then, the sound of her tapping her desk echoed through the microphone.
“Fake Molbungee… fake Molbungee…”
It was as if she had become fixated only on the word ‘fake’.
[The teacher doesn’t seem to like fake Molbungee~]
[Out you fake Molbungee idiots hahaha]
[The battle cry of the Bangjang is heard, pledging to eradicate all fake Molbungee.]
[Until every fake Molbungee in this world is extinct…]
Tap-tap—
Mollru’s hands stopped tapping the desk. Simultaneously, her closed mouth opened.
“I will proceed with a content looking for fake Molbungee. Let’s find out who the real fans and who the fake ones are this time.”
With that statement, the moment halted the chat scroll. It was as if the viewers’ interest had instantaneously shifted in another direction, like flames spreading elsewhere.
“What’s the content… I’ll pick participants and ask questions like the Golden Bell challenge. The questions will, of course, be related to my broadcast. Get it right, and you survive; get it wrong, and you’re eliminated! We’ll continue until only one remains, the final winner. Simple, right?”
[Isn’t that just a quiz show?]
[Mollru’s Quiz Show Season 2, oh wow!]
[So getting eliminated means becoming a fake Molbungee?]
“Hmm… Let’s start off by selecting about 100 participants, and the first 50 who drop out will be called fake Molbungee. Those determined to be fake will be put on display in our cafe.”
The remaining survivors would be recognized as Molbungee. The treatment would split right at the halfway mark; such a dividing criterion was rather lenient.
However, Mollru hinted that it wouldn’t be that easy.
[Just by sitting, half will drop out, yeah…]
[You might end up being a fake Molbungee for nothing lol.]
[It seems better not to participate?]
A sentiment began to emerge that it would be best not to take part. Almost like she could see into their hearts, Mollru proposed a tempting condition.
“But of course, those recognized as Molbungee will also be featured in our cafe. And being displayed like this is actually a good display, right? Plus, I will remember you separately. Ah, so these people are my true fans.”
To be put on display, to be known among viewers, and to remain in Mollru’s memory.
Whether she intended it or not, it was a condition that would considerably boost the morale of those living for Mollru.
[Myung-gong has sponsored 10,000 won!]
– Will the final winner receive any special prizes?
“The grand prize… a grand prize…”
Mollru contemplated a moment before continuing.
“The final winner will be recognized by me as Super Molbungee.”
Super Molbungee—just hearing that name was enough to bring joy and a warm feeling to my heart.