Chapter 142: Chapter 141

As is the case with many companies at the beginning of the year, LUX was busy as well.

There were many tasks to be done: rigging the 3D avatars for the first generation members of Illusionary Realm, producing their first group song, and recruiting new members for the second generation.

Therefore, verifying the authenticity of a strange application email claiming to be from the famous actress Kim Da-yeon was inevitably pushed to the back burner.

After all, the recruitment period for Illusionary Realm’s second generation was until February anyway.

“Well, if it’s a case of impersonation or not, we can just ask Ha-eun.”

“If it’s really Da-yeon, that’d be interesting, noona.”

“Do you think so?”

Time passed, and on the last day of January, when the snow was gently falling,

It was also the day the first group song recording for the first-generation members of Illusionary Realm was scheduled.

Creak.

“…Ha-eun hasn’t arrived yet, right?”

“Oh, no. Yena was the first to arrive.”

Yena, who had shown up three hours earlier than the scheduled time, quickly entered the recording studio.

Her aim was to finish the recording as soon as possible and escape before Ha-eun arrived.

“If Ha-eun catches me, I won’t be able to go home today.”

Yena vividly remembered the torment she had suffered when Ha-eun had harassed her during Yuna’s cover song recording.

Ha-eun had even recorded the guide vocals herself and made Yuna endure it so fiercely that Yena had nightmares a few times.

Of course, Yena knew very well that Ha-eun was an exceptional singer.

She also knew better than anyone that thanks to Ha-eun’s training, Yuna’s first cover song received positive feedback.

But, at least when it came to singing, Yena didn’t want to get involved with Ha-eun again.

For someone like Yena, who wasn’t a professional singer, Ha-eun’s teaching style was too harsh.

And especially, Yena never wanted to meet those chilling dark sunglasses again…

Creak.

“Hello.”

“Kyaaah!!!”

Almost simultaneously, thud.

Yena, who had just been about to begin her first recording, fell backward right in the middle of the recording studio.

There was still a lot of time before the other members of Illusionary Realm were scheduled to arrive.

Yena hadn’t told any of the other members she was already at the studio.

However, it was a clear and undeniable fact that the person outside the recording studio talking to the composer was Ha-eun.

No matter the reason Ha-eun had shown up earlier than the scheduled time, the truth remained that Ha-eun had met Yena regardless.

“So, who was the person who just fell in the recording studio?”

“That was Yena.”

“Ah? Yena unni?”

“Yeah.”

Yena trembled with nervousness as she listened to the conversation between Ha-eun and the composer through the headphones in the recording studio.

Just a few seconds later…

Thud.

Thud.

The familiar presence she had felt earlier was now right in front of the recording studio door, and it didn’t stop.

Eventually, the encounter she had been dreading came—the dark sunglasses.

“What’s this? Why are you falling like that?”

“You… it’s your fault! And why are you wearing sunglasses again?”

“Ah, that’s because Hye-min unni told me to come as the instructor, not as the youngest today—”

“Ughhh…”

And just like that, thunk.

The news, more terrifying than anything, made Yena slump down onto the floor of the recording studio.

Unfortunately, she didn’t foam at the mouth, but it was still enough to send a chill down her spine.

Ha-eun subtly grabbed both of Yena’s wrists and began dragging her out of the recording studio.

Ha-eun turned to the composer, asking if she could start recording herself.

“I think it’s better to record the guide vocals first. I’ll give feedback on Yena unni’s part after I’m done with mine.”

“Ah, yes. That works.”

The composer, already familiar with Ha-eun’s singing abilities, didn’t refuse her suggestion.

For Yena, this was a total shock.

However, Ha-eun couldn’t understand Yena’s reaction.

The reason Ha-eun had arrived early was to record the guide vocals before the other members did.

In other words, meeting Yena was purely a coincidence.

So perhaps that was why…

“I didn’t expect you to be this passionate. I’m impressed.”

Ha-eun, mistakenly thinking that Yena had come early out of pure enthusiasm for the group song, looked at her with admiration.

This is why Ha-eun had decided to sing Yena’s part in the group song with extra care.

The pure, clear tone of Pinocchio resonated in the studio for a while after that.

The group song, which was about four minutes long, was being recorded solely with Pinocchio’s voice.@@novelbin@@

However, in the end, the song was supposed to have five voices, so…

Thud.

“Uhm, composer-nim. Is this part Ma-il’s? I mean, is it Misun unni’s part?”

“Yes. The next part is Eun-hye’s.”

“Hm… then it’s better to sing in a full voice instead of falsetto.”

After several rounds of feedback, Ha-eun finally finished recording the different versions and came out of the recording studio to speak to Yena.

The terrifying dark sunglasses were still perched on Ha-eun’s face.

“1. Practice with the guide vocal version. 2. Practice with the final version. What would you like to do?”

“3. I’ll come back later and record separately…”

“There’s no such option.”

As always, Ha-eun’s calm voice made Yena feel like she had no choice but to go into the recording studio.

Soon, the melody of Illusionary Realm’s group song Illusion began to play from the headphones.

Ha-eun’s clear voice, which had filled the studio just moments before, now echoed again.

‘…It sounds like Ha-eun’s solo track.’

Maybe it was because Ha-eun’s singing had already been recognized.

The quality of the group song sounded like it could be released as a solo track by the singer Pinocchio, rather than a group song for Illusionary Realm.

To be honest, Yena still didn’t think she could sing better than Ha-eun’s guide vocal.

Nevertheless, Yena had to sing it in the end, because it wasn’t Ha-eun’s part but Yena’s part that was being recorded.

The lyrics seemed to suit Yuna more than Diah, the spirit.

The guide vocals contained a fiercer charisma, like a demon king reigning over all, rather than the innocence of a youthful spirit.

‘At times like this, I feel like you know Yuna even better than I do…’

The emotions contained in the song were aligned with each member’s role-playing, and the volume and tone of the guide vocal changed as it shifted from Yuna’s part to the next.

“Ha-eun, uh… how’s it?”

“It’s good. It’s rewarding to see you do well.”

Ha-eun’s expression seemed to suggest that it wasn’t bad at all.

The composer, sitting right next to Ha-eun, also praised Yena for singing well.

‘…Was I just overly scared?’

Just as Yena started to feel relieved by the positive reactions,

Beep.

“Unni, can you sing the last part a little louder? Like, giving it more accent?”

As usual, Ha-eun’s calm voice came through with the adjustment request, and Yena’s heart sank at the same time.

“Why? Was something wrong?”

“No, it’s not that. But if you sing the last highlight part a little louder, it might sound better.”

The words “a little louder” sent chills down Yena’s spine.

It reminded her of the nightmare-like experience when she had to repeatedly re-record the same section, trapped by that “a little more” comment.

Yet, Ha-eun, unbothered, waited for Yena’s song to start again.

Yena, desperate, turned to the composer next to Ha-eun and asked,

“Composer-nim, do you think it would be better if I sang the last part a little louder?”

“Hm… I think it would be better to try singing it louder first and then compare.”

In the end, Yena couldn’t escape the recording studio.

So, reluctantly, she sang the last highlight part louder, just as Ha-eun had said.

But for some reason…

Beep.

“Definitely sounds better when you sing it louder.”

“So, is it done now—”

“Wait, there seems to be a little breath noise at the start of your part.”

This time, the feedback shifted to the beginning of her part, and soon, Ha-eun was asking for adjustments in volume, timing, and slight rhythm changes, forcing Yena to continue recording.

Creak.

Yena was trapped in the recording studio until the scheduled time.

In other words, she had been stuck with Ha-eun for the full three hours.

While there were moments when Ha-eun came into the studio to demonstrate,

Yena’s mental and physical strength had already been drained from Ha-eun’s never-ending feedback.

Finally, when the other members arrived, Yena managed to escape the recording studio.

Step.

Step.

Thud.

“119, someone call 119 for me….”

Of course, no one took out their phone.

Everyone, except Yena, just figured she was overreacting and didn’t think much of it.

It was probably a relief for Yena that Ha-eun’s attention had shifted away from her and toward the other members.

“Since Yena unni and I are done with our recording, let’s start with Misun unni.”

Then, as Illusionary Realm’s eldest, Park Misun, entered the recording studio, completely unaware of what was about to happen,

“Ah, right. Ha-eun, there’s something you need to check. Could you come out for a sec?”

Ji Hye-min, who had been standing behind Jeong Maria, called Ha-eun out of the studio.

Then, from Hye-min’s bag, a new tablet was pulled out.

“I don’t think it’s true, but just in case.”

The image that appeared before Ha-eun was a screenshot of an application form for Illusionary Realm’s second generation.

The problem was that the name and contact number written on the form were eerily familiar.

“…Hye-min unni, is this really an application form?”

“Why? …Could it really be Da-yeon?”

At the same time, Ha-eun’s head, which had been trembling slightly just before, lowered briefly, then lifted again.

“Really? Is this really Da-yeon’s number?!”

“Yes… It seems like it’s really Da-yeon.”

Strictly speaking, there were no other disqualifications for the applicant other than the uncertain personal details.

Now that those uncertain details had been confirmed to be true, it meant they couldn’t reject her.

“Ha-eun.”

“…Yes?”

“Da-yeon is an actress, like you.”

“…Yes.”

“She wrote a good application, and she sings well.”

“……………”

“But! If you’re uncomfortable with this, we can think about it more.”

Shakes head.

“The opportunity should be fair. If things like family connections or personal ties affect the interview, it would stir up problems.”

‘…Then what does that make me?’

Ha-eun, who had been chosen for Illusionary Realm just because she was the broadcast manager D.A.’s closest friend, couldn’t help but think of this.

But in the end, all the other factors were good enough, and Ha-eun was accepted.

It wasn’t something that could be avoided just because they were close friends.

So, like Ha-eun back then, Da-yeon was going to have her interview.

Strictly speaking, neither Ji Hye-min nor LUX would lose anything.

Because, quite literally, it was like a pumpkin falling off the vine.

Just as Ha-eun had held Illusionary Realm’s first generation together,

Da-yeon, who had been famous since her childhood, could be expected to hold the second generation together.

“But please, just don’t make us meet.”

“Ah? Why?”

“Diah doesn’t know that I’m me.”

If she found out the truth, both she and I would be ashamed.

Ha-eun muttered to herself quietly, and Ji Hye-min nodded.

“Ah… I understand now.”

And just as the conversation about Da-yeon was wrapping up,

“Ha-eun.”

“?”

“You know that Da-yeon is Noeul, right?”

“Yes, I do.”

“Then, if Da-yeon passes, Ha-eun, you’ll be Noeul’s plaything for a day.”

Are you okay with that?

At Ji Hye-min’s somewhat worried voice, Ha-eun’s mind went blank.

After all, she knew very well how much Da-yeon loved Diah.

But, the water had already been spilled, and the bus had already left.

“…Well, at least the views will be great.”

In the end, Ha-eun reached a state of enlightenment.

Her gaze, which had been aimed at the floor, lost all focus.