Chapter 5
[Why people who “know music” are going crazy these days lol.]
The king has returned…
┗ So what’s the reason?
**“Ah… if we’re talking about him…
The one who revived the dying Music Cloud,
Uploaded only two songs, both surpassing a million views,
Known only to be male from his voice…
Anyway, everyone on Music Cloud knows him.
He deleted his previous two songs and came back after a whole year.
I used to listen to ‘The You I Imagined’ every day, so I was pissed when he deleted it.
But this new song is so good, I forgave him.
And this one is a massive hit lol
Already over 5 million views.
Even general listeners are coming in now.
Getting 1 million views on Music Cloud is already hard—5 million is insane.
At this point, he’s basically paying for the platform’s server costs.
Rumor says he sold the song to a rookie singer…
Honestly, I feel bad for them—they’re definitely going to get compared.”**
┗ “He’s still just some unknown composer with less than 50k subs lol.”
┗ “On YouTube, 1 million views is normal.”
┗ “Even Music Cloud gets 1 million easily lol.”
┗ “He’s the reason that became normal…”
┗ “Did anyone ask?”
┗ “Stop overhyping.”
┗ “Just listen first—then complain.”
Even though only a week had passed since the upload, the growth of “Will You Only Look at Me” was abnormal.
Five million views—
And not even on a major platform like YouTube, but on Music Cloud.
It was practically a miracle.
Meanwhile, the person responsible for that miracle—
He was sitting in his room, holding his head.
“…I can’t write…!!”
Unlike the previous song, which had simple adjustments, this one required reworking everything while keeping its core intact.
That made it harder than writing a new song from scratch.
“…Should I just not do it?”
Yeah. Why am I trying so hard?
If I don’t want to do it, I don’t have to.
I collapsed onto my bed.
Ding.
My phone lit up.
Annoyed, I rolled around before eventually grabbing it.
Probably spam.
[Participate in the Music Cloud Concert!]
Not very interesting.
Still, I opened it.
[You’re invited to perform!]
—A live performance in an online metaverse—
Date: March 21
Requirements: Original songs only
Submission: Audio file (3–4 minutes), avatar design, 3D file
Process:
- Apply by March 15
- Equipment shipped by March 20
- Perform in virtual space on the 21st
- Judging + audience voting
- Winners announced April 1
Prizes:
- Participation: Microphone
- Popularity Award (5): Virtual instruments + keyboard
- Excellence Award: 5 million won
- Grand Prize: 10 million won
So basically—
A public music competition.
“…10 million won…”
I hesitated.
But I quickly shook my head.
Performing in front of people?
No way.
I could barely even talk to others without shaking.
But then—
“Avatar…? Metaverse?”
I searched it.
Virtual world… like Pokémon GO?
So—
Instead of being the player, I’d be the character?
“Wait.”
Equipment provided.
Avatar identity.
No one would recognize me.
My eyes lit up.
A stage.
A performance.
Things that made my heart race.
If I used an avatar—
No one would know who I was.
And more than anything—
I wanted to perform again.
That thrill.
That heat.
That overwhelming love.
Maybe I had become addicted to it.
Idols live off attention.
Without it—
They wither.
Even after everything…
I still wanted it.
“…I’m seriously insane.”
I laughed bitterly.
Then stopped.
No.
I wouldn’t become an idol again.
A singer, maybe.
But not an idyll.
I remembered the brutal schedules.
Three hours of sleep for others—
None for me.
Producing, planning, performing—
Endless work.
Strict diets.
Exhaustion.
Even collapsing once just to get three hours of rest.
“…Yeah. Not doing that again.”
Still—
I started making a new track.
This time—
My own solo song.
One I knew best.
I entered a flow state.
Unlike before, there was little to fix.
Even with limited tools, the sound turned out richer.
“Good enough.”
I immediately applied.
Even before acceptance—
I felt excited.
And scared.
“What’s gotten into you? Something good happened?”
My mother noticed my faint smile.
“…Yeah. Maybe.”
She beamed and gave me more food.
I forced myself to eat—
And ended up with indigestion again.
Later that night—
A message arrived.
[Your performance slot is confirmed.]
March 21, 9:00 PM – Performer #22
Only then did it feel real.
“…I actually did it.”
I closed my eyes.
At the very least—
I had to perform well.
Winning… would be a bonus.
I glanced at Music Cloud.
Still full of notifications.
Then—
I wrote a short post.
* * *
[I’ll be participating in the Music Cloud Metaverse Concert on the 21st.]
No details.
No time.
No avatar.
No identity.
Still—
It spread everywhere.
“…Nebula is performing?”
In a dark room, someone smiled brightly.
“Then maybe I should join too.”
He picked up a bass guitar.
The room was filled with instruments.
Keyboards, guitars—
Professional equipment.
A true musician’s space.
“I’d like to say hello.”
He gently played the bass—
Then he leaned toward the microphone and spoke.
