The next day, morning.
Brrrrriiiing~! Brrrrriiiing~!
Suddenly, the smartphone placed by my bedside started ringing loudly.
“Please… just let me sleep a little longer…”
Maybe it was the aftermath of yesterday’s exhausting deep cleaning, but my whole body felt heavy.
My eyelids were as heavy as lead.
‘…If I don’t pick it up and just leave it, it’ll stop on its own, right?’
Brrrrriiiing~!
But the phone only rang louder, as if shouting, “No way!”
I sighed deeply and checked the phone—it was a call from MonsterBox’s Team Leader Eo Jin Lee.
“…Hello?”
“Crea-tooorrrrrrrr!”
The moment I answered, Team Leader Lee’s shout nearly made my eardrums burst.
Thanks to that, all my sleepiness vanished instantly.
“W-what is it? You startled me…”
“Sorry, sorry! But this is an unprecedented emergency! Creator, have you checked the Full Version video you uploaded yesterday?”
The Creator TV channel uploads two kinds of videos on Mutube.
One is the edited video.
These videos go through MonsterBox’s Team Leader Lee Eojin’s editing process before being uploaded, and this is generally the usual type of Creator TV content.
The other is the Full Version.
Simply put, these are the unedited, raw videos uploaded as is.
Unless there are major issues, both the edited and full version videos usually go up on Creator TV.
The video Team Leader Lee was referring to was yesterday’s broadcast.
After finishing the deep cleaning, I looked at my phone and noticed the broadcast hadn’t ended yet.
‘There must have been nothing but the sound of cleaning with no footage on screen… and I just listened quietly all that time? Aren’t these people total perverts?!’
But since there was no problem, the full version video was uploaded on Mutube as usual.
The video likely covered everything from Apung’s vlog through the end of the cleaning.
“…I uploaded the video in the early morning and have been sleeping until now. Has something gone wrong with the channel?”
At my question, Team Leader Lee’s voice became even more urgent.
“You need to see it for yourself! Seeing is believing! Hurry and check the Mutube channel!”
Pushed by Team Leader Lee’s urgency, I quickly opened the Mutube app.
“What on earth is the problem…? Huh…? Whoa…?!”
At first, I couldn’t believe my eyes.
Thinking I was still half asleep, I pinched my cheek hard and rubbed my barely open eyes vigorously.
[Creator TV]
·The World’s Prettiest Apung Vlog! (feat. Deep Cleaning ASMR) [Full Version]
- Views: 2 million
“Wait, two million views?!”
I definitely uploaded the video just before going to sleep.
That meant the video had surpassed two million views comfortably within only half a day.
The comments were explosive as well.
[Comments (999+)]
- What’s that song? It’s insanely addictive ㅋㅋ;;
- This song should be banned during exams.
- Anyone who hasn’t heard this song yet is rare, but nobody listens just once.
- Ah… been on infinite repeat for one hour already… save me…
- Just one hour? I’ve been listening for six hours straight ㅋㅋㅠ
- Still can’t find the source of the song? What are all the info hunters doing ㅡㅡ;
- They’re searching but there’s no similar melody or lyrics anywhere;;
- I thought maybe it was a foreign pop song but couldn’t find it anywhere…
So it must be an original song from Creator TV?
- Whoa… if that’s true, this is huge… Billboard chart #1 totally possible ㅋㅋ
- Came here on a pilgrimage. Please let me eat chicken tonight^^>
- Creator! Please help me get a girlfriend! Please!!
Although the video content was about Apung, 99% of the comments were about the song.
‘…The song? There shouldn’t be any videos of Joan of Arc singing on Creator TV, right?’
I tilted my head and scrolled through the video until I found the problematic scene.
A pitch-black screen.
No footage, just the sound of cleaning.
Then, suddenly, the Ribera Folk Song I was humming started playing clearly.
‘Could the song they’re talking about really be this…?’
At that moment, Team Leader Lee’s excited voice came through the receiver.
“This is seriously incredible! As I always say, Creator TV is legendary! The video has been number one in trending for 4 hours straight! The video is five hours long, so there are a lot of ads in between, and the ad revenue is…”
“Team Leader Lee, is the reason this song is such a hot topic now because of the one I sang toward the end of the video?”
“Oh yes! Exactly! The whole company is in a frenzy! The phone hasn’t stopped ringing even once since morning! If it’s okay with you, could you tell me where that song you sang came from?”
I couldn’t just answer Team Leader Lee’s question straightforwardly.
‘That song? Well, if you touch the Castle Icon on my desk, you can enter the Small World. There’s a castle village called Rivera there. That Ribera folk song sung during their festival is that very song!’
But I couldn’t just say that.
Since it doesn’t exist in the real world anyway, I decided to give a vague answer.
“It’s not a song I heard from anywhere… I improvised it while cleaning.”
On the other end of the line, Team Leader Lee cheered loudly, as if he expected that answer.
“Creator, you have a talent for composing as well! Oh, by the way! You’ve obviously registered the copyright for the song, right?!”
“…Copyright registration? I haven’t done that.”
“Whaaaat?! No, you have to do it right now! You never know when some hyena-like scoundrels will snatch it away! I can guarantee this is a 100% guaranteed hit! I’ll guide you through the copyright registration process!”
In the end, I followed Team Leader Lee’s detailed advice and started registering the song’s copyright.
Fortunately, it could be done online, and the process wasn’t complicated.
I only paid a few tens of thousands of won for registration and license fees.
“Creator! By the way, have you decided on a title for the song?”
“Hmm…”
I furrowed my brows slightly, pondering what title would suit it best.
Then, my gaze landed on my desk.
What caught my eye was the Castle-shaped Icon floating gently above it.
I smiled softly and answered.
“…Let’s call it ‘Little World.’ That’ll do.”
Clack!
As the taxi door closed behind me, the kindly-faced driver looked back and asked,
“Welcome! You’re the one who called the taxi, right?”
“Yes. Please go to MonsterBox Company in Guro Digital Complex.”
The taxi driver smiled warmly and started the engine.
“Seatbelt on? Then, let’s go~!”
I sank into the backseat and pulled out my smartphone.
Then, I typed ‘Little World’ into the search bar of a portal site.
‘Let’s see…’
[“Little World,” the topic on everyone’s lips! Who is the creator of the so-called “Small World”?]
[Mutube creator’s hummed song shakes the entire nation of Korea!]
[Even a genius composer with 20 hit songs admitted, “Such an enviable talent.”]
[“Little World” shatters Mutube Korea’s short-term view count records!]
[Creator TV is flooded with love calls from popular singers and girl groups…]
It had been a week since the controversial video was uploaded to Mutube.
Little World was creating a whirlwind all across Korea.
Not only was it a hot topic on Mutube and various online communities, but it was also frequently mentioned on TV music shows.
Some broadcasting PDs had even called to invite me on their shows, and newspaper reporters had come to my doorstep for interviews.
…Of course, I turned down every single one.
Not wanting to become gossip fodder, I shut down all proposals sharply.
Ironically, that only reinforced my image as a mysterious composer, making me an even hotter topic.
“Alright~ We’ve arrived! Have a safe trip~!”
Snapping back to reality, I realized I was already in front of MonsterBox Company, my destination.
This was my first time visiting MonsterBox in person.
Of course, my face was completely concealed behind a mask, sunglasses, and a hat.
I sent a message to Team Leader Lee letting him know I had arrived and entered the company.
Then—
“Ah! You must be the Creator from Creator TV, right? You’ve really had a long trip! Let me guide you to MonsterBox! Oh, I’ll carry your bag for you!”
A man I’d never seen before smiled warmly and greeted me.
Looking closely, he resembled the description I’d often heard of Assistant Manager Park, who used to be a team leader but became an assistant manager when Team Leader Lee became marketing team leader.
Assistant Manager Park reached out in a sly manner to take my bag.
At that moment, Apung peeked his head out of my pocket.
“Grrrk! Grrr~!”
“Ah! A stag beetle…?!”
Startled, Assistant Manager Park quickly withdrew his hand and took a step back.
I grinned and gently petted Apung’s ruffled back.
Once the ruler of the Verdant Dungeon, Apung has the ability to sense a person’s aura.
To those with a kind aura, he happily shakes his horns in greeting, but to those with impure auras, he shows hostility and makes threatening noises like just now.
He’s known as the “Apung Scouter.”
While Assistant Manager Park hesitated, Team Leader Lee appeared from the elevator.
“Creator! You came early! I’m here to escort you!”
Unlike before, Apung shook his horns and welcomed Team Leader Lee.
Team Leader Lee smiled softly back at Apung.
“Wow, so you’re Apung! You’re even cooler in person.”
Rat-!
Apung gently licked Team Leader Lee’s finger.
‘…When it comes to kind people, there’s no gentler stag beetle than our Apung.’
I followed Team Leader Lee toward the MonsterBox conference room.
The table was neatly arranged with documents, snacks, and drinks.
“Creator! Shall we start right away?”
“Yes, no problem. Let’s get going.”
There was a reason why I, who usually hated leaving the house, made a special trip to MonsterBox.
To put it bluntly, I’m not particularly good at singing.
Not tone-deaf, but just average at best.
But the fact is, my voice isn’t suitable for singing Little World.
“Songs are meant to be sung by singers, dubbing is for voice actors, and acting is for actors.”
So, after much thought, Team Leader Lee and I came to one conclusion.
Let’s give the song to a talented singer!
Of course, nothing in this world is free.
We planned to sign a contract and share the profits from the song at a fair ratio.
But before that, the priority was to find a capable singer to hand the song to.
That’s why Team Leader Lee and I painstakingly sent out an official notice to various agencies.
[Creator Audition]
- Looking for the musician who will be the owner of ‘Little World.’
- Participation Requirements: Anyone!
- Audition Location: MonsterBox, Guro Digital Complex
We decided to select the singer who would receive ‘Little World’ through the audition.
So I arrived at MonsterBox to judge the audition as the copyright holder of the song.
Of course, the entire audition process would be broadcast live on the Mutube Creator TV channel.
‘I can’t miss such a big, sensational content.’
At that moment, Team Leader Lee, sitting next to me, spoke excitedly.
“Creator, a lot of trainees from major agencies applied for this audition. This is your chance to sit on a goldmine! You absolutely deserve this!”
Team Leader Lee was genuinely happy as if it were his own achievement.
If a popular musician sings the already sensational ‘Little World’…?
The outcome would be obvious.
Number one on music show charts would be a piece of cake.
“Lick lick lick lick lick”
Apung seemed equally excited.
Then—
Knock knock!
“Creator, Team Leader Lee! The audition is about to begin! First contestant, please come in!”
With guidance from a MonsterBox employee, the conference room door swung wide open.
At the same time, eight statuesque, model-like girls entered in an orderly fashion.
My impression was straightforward.
‘Celebrities really do look like gangsters in person.’
I immediately understood why people say that.
Each and every one was as beautiful as a doll, lined up neatly and greeting us.
“…Two, three! Hello! We are the six-member girl group, Blue Rose!”
Meanwhile, Team Leader Lee’s expression grew serious.
Looking down, Apung was standing proudly as well.
His majestic posture reminded me of a strict instructor who wouldn’t miss even the smallest mistake.
But Team Leader Lee and Apung were only here as advisors.
In the end, the final choice rested on me, the song’s copyright holder.
I lifted the corner of my mouth slightly and started the Mutube Live broadcast.
[Little World Audition Live Broadcast [LIVE] … Creator TV]
Ding! Ding~! Ding~! Ding~! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding~!
As if waiting for this moment, viewers started pouring in by the thousands.
- Live viewers: 20,000
- Hey hey! Creator! I nearly collapsed waiting for you~~
- Whoa;; What? Blue Rose is auditioning too?
- I heard SN trainees, JYJ trainees, and YC trainees are also participating!
- Creator audition class is on another level… insane~
- Please open voting! Creator! I’m getting dizzy!!
- No text voting? I’ll pay 100 won, just hurry and open it!
- ??? : Take my money!!
Then, I opened my mouth in a serious tone.
“Then, we will now begin the Little World audition!”
The unprecedented Mutube live audition to find a talented musician had officially started.