Chapter 74: Kidnapping of the Union

#[Real-time Status of Korea’s Top Vtuber]

(Dot Entertainment Official Website)

(Streamer List)

=She’s listed as Virtual Idol Kim Cheongha.

Seems like she joined Dot.

-So she really joined…

-But why is she an idol when she doesn’t even sing?

ㄴ idk?

It seems like they just listed her as a virtual idol because that’s what they call them in Japan.

ㄴ It’s up to the site administrator anyway.

-Yeah, it doesn’t really matter much anyway.

She said so herself.

 

#[But This Kid]

=She avoids singing streams like the plague…

At this point, I’d be happy even if she’s tone-deaf, just sing one song.

It’s my lifelong wish.

-Lifelong wish, my ass lol.

-Honestly, her voice tone is so OP, it would probably cover up being somewhat tone-deaf.

-But seriously, why isn’t she a voice actor?

ㄴ That murderer voice back then was seriously scary, fr.

-Agreed.

-As a human being, she has to sing at least once.

 

#[???: Accept Me, Kim Cheongha]

(Drawing of a shotgun with arms and legs, arms crossed)

=’Click’

-lol

-Even if she always says she hates it, seeing her keep using it means she liked it after all!

ㄴ But I bet she really likes it now, right?

ㄴ She got a chicken dinner with a ‘click,’ how could she not like it? lol.

-Where the hell do these kinds of memes even come from? lol.

ㄴ I got it by running it through an AI.

ㄴ A shotgun-specialist Vtuber acknowledged even by machines ㄷㄷ (shivers).

 

#[Real-time: Kim is Looking for an Editor]

(Editor Mon Job Posting)

=This was posted on Editor Mon a few days ago, this is Kim, right?

Is she planning to start her YouTube?

-Oh, for real.

-Any fans who know how to do it?

-idk?

-Definitely not me.

-Can someone who starts learning now also apply?

ㄴ It seemed like it’s possible as long as you’re not completely incompetent.

ㄴ If your sense is that good, it’s totally possible.

-But “Kim,” f*ck lol.

ㄴ This makes her sound like a guy..

ㄴ Do you still see her as a woman?

-Ah, please stop.

-I’m tired of that joke now…

#[A Bit Late, but a Collection of Vtuber Aegyo Gifs]

(Kim Cheongha’s Aegyo Scene)

(Voice Impression Scene)

=A small-time streamer’s desperate struggle for an employment recommendation letter…

-Ah…

-Fck, life is so dmn hard.

-She ended the stream after doing that because of the cringe.

ㄴ Really? lol.

-And then she turned it back on in the evening.

-But considering her scale, isn’t she not exactly a small-time streamer?

ㄴ Agreed, that’s why she got into Dot.

ㄴ Truly small-time streamers can’t even dream of an MCN, fr.

-Suddenly, Vtubers feel relatable to me…

ㄴ That’s just my expression when I’m working overtime.

 

#[But Kim]

=If she opens a YouTube channel, how much do you think she’ll make, for real?

-First, Vtuber geeks will flock to it like crazy, so she’ll probably hit the thousands.

-After that, it depends on how she does it.

-If the editing is good and she speaks well, she gathers subscribers surprisingly well.

ㄴ But for her, the avatar is the variable..

-If her live stream growth rate applies directly, she’ll probably get tens of thousands of subscribers in just a few months?

“Video editing···?”

Jumin’s eyes widened as he was, as usual, browsing the community for new updates related to her.

‘She’s really planning to start a YouTube channel.’

It was definitely a good choice.

YouTube videos, with their relatively short length and stylish editing, could attract the demand of people who wanted something light to enjoy.

Suddenly, he remembered the UCC he had made for a school assignment a while ago.

Unfortunately, due to a lottery draw, he had been assigned the role of editor for that assignment.

At that time, thanks to his inherent perfectionist nature, he had stayed up for three days and nights studying editing and eventually succeeded in getting a perfect score.

Well, anyway.

‘Looking for an editor…’

The phrase, ‘It’s somewhat okay even if it’s at the level of a well-made school UCC,’ particularly bothered him.

It was probably because it was hard to find a good editor.

“…Should I give it a try?”

As long as it doesn’t interfere with his studies, his mom probably wouldn’t care much.

Jumin, who had logged into Live Stream, unknowingly downloaded the video from the attached file.

He was supposed to edit this and send it to the attached email link, right?

“Let’s try it for now.”

Isn’t this an opportunity to work with his favorite streamer?

Studies and work.

Since he was confident he could catch both rabbits, there was nothing to lose by trying.

---

【Virtual Idol Kim Cheongha, Looking for an Editor to Build the Channel Together】

“This should be about right, huh?”

During off-air time.

After posting the job ad on the editor community and my broadcast channel.

I got confirmation from the manager assigned to me via the Discord call system.

[Yes, that should be fine.]

A delicate voice came from beyond the headset.

As I mentioned before, the manager assigned to me was the person I saw in the elevator that day.

That die-hard fan who had been watching my broadcasts since the Golden Watch viewer participation content.

I heard that this person is also in charge of managing other streamers besides me.

Did they say there are about 6 managers in this company?

They must have a lot to do.

A feeling of sympathy welled up for a moment.

-[I can’t believe Cheongha really joined our MCN…]

I have no regrets even if I die now…

Well, still, she’s living while doing what she wants to do.

Given Jisu-ssi’s personality, he’ll treat her properly without skimming money or anything.

“Ahaha… Thank you for seeing me that way.”

[I like animation.]

So lately, I’ve been interested in Vtubers and then I found Cheongha····

I quietly played along with the manager’s excited words.

For reference, this person didn’t seem to know much about my real identity.

Thanks to that, it’s convenient because I don’t have to explain.

Anyway.

“I’ve posted the job ad on Editor Mon and the Live Stream board, but will it work out?”

[Hmm, if it’s Cheongha, I think quite a few good people will apply.]

You’re quite famous in the virtual community, after all.

It wasn’t entirely free of anxiety, but since it was the word of an experienced manager, I decided to trust it for once.

[In Cheongha-nim’s case, it would probably be better to aim for the Live Stream side, where you have a large fixed viewership.]

As I said before, I may look like this, but I’m a top-ranking streamer on Live Stream.

No matter how small a market Live Stream is compared to Switch, with this kind of scale, it means I can more than secure a mid-tier broadcaster position there.

Large broadcasters sometimes gather editors through places like YouTube communities, but that’s mostly for those who have already reached a certain scale.

For someone like me, who just created a YouTube account, that kind of board isn’t very helpful.

In a nutshell, this side, where I’ve built up a history, has a higher chance of exposure.

Well, then, this part seems somewhat resolved.

Now, next is the avatar…

‘Actually, this is the biggest problem.’

Thinking about it now, money wasn’t the issue.

The person I commissioned for the avatar production is Mayuri.

Thinking about it now, she’s too busy.

The novel she was in charge of has started serializing again, and she even recently received an freelance illustration job from a game company.

There’s no way a professional illustrator like that would have the capacity to care about a mere indie virtual personality’s avatar.

‘I did contact her, though…’

For that reason, the new outfit will be significantly delayed due to a long reservation queue.

I’ll have to postpone related content until later too.

[Then, is there anything else you need?]

“Ah, no.”

I think I’m fine.

[Okay, then I’ll hang up.]

If you have anything else you want to ask separately, please contact me at the phone number I gave you last time!

Thanks to exchanging phone numbers during the last call, I could easily make calls with the manager.

Isn’t it more convenient to just call by phone than to use the Discord call system?

Without having to log into Discord every time I have something to discuss.

An idol—Vtuber—and a fan who succeeded in exchanging phone numbers.

Isn’t this what people call a successful fan?

After ending the call with the manager, I, with nothing else to do again, leaned back in my computer chair.

Well, there’s still some time left until the broadcast starts.

Should I catch some sleep in the meantime?

Since the broadcast might go late into the evening today, it didn’t seem like a bad idea.

As my thoughts reached that point, I immediately closed my eyes.

Am I getting old now?

My body feels unusually tired these days.

And so, I fell asleep, oblivious to the world.

Yes.

Diring-

Diring-

Without even noticing the continuous messages coming through my Discord.

Ttareureung-! (Ring-!)

“Uung…?”

How long had it been since I was half-forced into REM sleep?

Ren snapped back to her senses at the continuous computer notification sounds.

Looking at the computer, she could see the sender.

[Jisu: Cheongha]

It was Gu Jisu.

A message arrived from our CEO.

‘What, did I have a collab scheduled for today or something?’

I carefully retraced my memories.

Hmm, let’s see.

My schedule is…

‘····There’s nothing.’

No matter how many times I thought about it, the result was the same.

Neither I nor he.

Had ever suggested anything first, and if we had, there’s no way I would have forgotten it.

[Cheongha: Um, is there something going on today by any chance?]

Unable to find the answer no matter how much I thought, I eventually decided to ask directly.

Right, well, even if it’s not necessarily a collab.

He might have contacted me because something urgent came up, right?

Could it be that the advertiser found out I’m a Vtuber and is trying to cut the ad?

Then that would be a really big problem.

Shortly after asking the question.

[Jisu: Dude]

[Cheongha: Yes…?]

A reply came from Gu Jisu.

Judging by that tone, it doesn’t seem like it’s as big a deal as I worried.

Then what could it really be?

Just as the tension was building.

[Jisu: Wanna play Inri together by any chance?]

“·····Yes?”

At the out-of-the-blue suggestion, my face momentarily went blank.

If I looked in the mirror right now, wouldn’t I be making a strangely funny expression?

…But, what did he just say?

[Cheongha: Yes?]

[Jisu: There’s a Discord room, so join here (link)]

(Gu Jisu has left the chat room)

“No, this, what on earth.”

What·····.

With Jisu disappearing in an instant before I could even ask anything back, I was left speechless.

This, you collab kidnapper.