Chapter 27: Summary (1)

The aftermath of the showcase lasted longer than expected.

No, rather than lasting long, it was merely the beginning.

Ajung and Rinne, the two stars of the Starlight Project, had literally experienced explosive growth since that day.

An average of 3,000 viewers.

It was a number unimaginable just a month ago.

Even now, that number was trending upwards every single day.

The chat window scrolled ceaselessly, and donations poured in like a flood.

Ajung no longer got easily flustered while streaming like before, and Rinne skillfully hosted her broadcasts, perfectly adapted to her new avatar and concept.

[“Hehe, thanks to everyone, I had a fun stream today too! See you again tomorrow!”]

[“Alright, today’s mission clear! Everyone rest well! See you tomorrow, friends! Loyalty!”]

Their broadcasts were the talk of the town every day.

The perfect avatars I had crafted further enhanced their charms, and the top-tier equipment and stable environment dramatically improved broadcast quality.

Ajung, with her unique clear voice and quirkiness, and Rinne, with her skillful hosting and reverse charm, quickly built their respective fandoms.

The duet cover song video surpassed 300,000 views in just one day, once again showcasing the technological prowess backed by Xelnaga Entertainment’s capital.

Everything was going smoothly.

So perfectly that it almost felt unreal.

Amidst my satisfaction, I leisurely observed the situation while planning the next step.

But where there is strong light, shadows also deepen.

From an unexpected place, or perhaps from a direction that was entirely predictable, dissonance began to erupt.

“Sir, I think you need to see this…”

On a peaceful afternoon, Yoon Taesoo came to me with a stern expression.

His tablet screen displayed posts from various VTuber communities.

Not the ‘Ggizzik VTuber Gallery’ where I was active, but other places.

The Domestic VTuber Gallery, Bottom-Tier Streamer Gallery, and so on.

The titles themselves exuded blatant malice.

---

[Domestic VTuber Gallery]

Title: Starlight’s Red Pill Level LOL

(Photo of an unrelated ordinary woman, origin unknown)

This is the real face of Ajung, whom you guys are simping for.

What’s the use of showering avatars with money when the original looks like that?

Heard Rinne is even worse LOL.

• Wow, f*ck;;

• Is this real? LMAO

• Zelnaga, that b*stard, must regret spending so much money LMAO.

• No matter how you look at it, that’s a bit… Isn’t this fabricated?
  ㄴ Here comes the fabrication accuser again LOL. Prove it if it’s not.

• But the voice doesn’t match?

• Wow.. You should just stick to being a VTuber ㅇㅇ..

---

[Bottom-Tier Streamer Gallery]

Title: Honestly, didn’t Ajung and Rinne get famous by sleeping with Zelnaga?

No, think about it logically LOL.

Does it make sense for some unknown bottom-tier streamers to suddenly have insane amounts of money poured into them and even have a company established to promote them?

Watching the showcase, they were just praising Zelnaga like crazy.

Isn’t it obvious?

Heard that Rinne btch lives right downstairs from him?

She probably rushes over every night to fck him LOL.

• This is real LOL

• Basic common sense = There’s no such thing as a free lunch in this world.

• Everyone was thinking it but just didn’t say it, now someone’s just spitting it out refreshingly LMAO.

• Zelnaga, that b*stard, is such an idiot too LOL. Spending money on girls like that.

• If you made it big by sleeping around, you should just live quietly, but you’re being so f*cking loud.

• But is there any proof? No baseless accusations.
  ㄴ You brainwashed simp, demanding proof LOL.
  ㄴ Triggered?

---

A dry laugh escaped me.

It was utterly pathetic.

My eyes could see Ajung’s and Jungyeon’s real faces, yet they picked up some random photo and fabricated it as a ‘red pill.’

Their low-level jealousy was almost pitiful.

The rumor about them sleeping with me was even more absurd.

It was merely an expression of inferiority from those who had no idea who I was or what the purpose of this project was.

Currently, Ajung and Rinne were solely objects of my ‘collection’; I had no interest in such vulgar relationships.

No, rather, it was unpleasant that such impure suspicions were cast upon something I had put so much thought and effort into.

“So, what do you want to say?”

I asked Yoon Taesoo, furrowing my brow.

His expression was still stiff, but his eyes held a hint of concern.

“I wanted to ask for your intention, Sir. If left unattended, it could damage the artists’ image and negatively affect the company’s overall reputation. We could consider legal action. Firstly, perhaps a direct warning in the company’s name……”

It was annoying.

I didn’t even feel those trashy posts were worth dealing with individually.

Above all, this kind of fabrication and slander was common in the internet broadcasting world.

And most importantly, legal resolution was difficult because Ajung and Jungyeon were VTubers concealing their real appearances.

“Leave them for now.”

“Pardon? Are you saying you’ll ignore it?”

“Those kinds of people will write those things no matter what we do. Ignoring them is the best policy. And……”

I paused for a moment and opened another community window.

Ggizzik VTuber Gallery.

The atmosphere there was markedly different from other places.

---

[Ggizzik VTuber Gallery]

Title: If these guys’ moms are dead, upvote LOL

(Link to another gallery’s fabricated post)

They picked up some weird photo from somewhere and are calling it a red pill.

Those btches whose streamers couldn’t get more viewers than their own bottom-tiers are now spewing blood and going crazy because Ajung and Rinne are getting thousands of viewers LOL.

Frankly, if I had as much money as Naga-hyung, I wouldn’t be doing this sht in the internet broadcasting scene, I’d be calling over celebrities and f*cking them coolly ㅇㅇ.

• Seriously, it’s hilarious how they’re spewing blood out of inferiority LMAO.

• I really want to sue all those b*stards LOL.

• Naga-hyung, don’t put up with this stuff ㅇㅇ.

• Those b*stards have been dissing Naga-hyung out of inferiority for a long time ㅇㅇ. They also ostracized Ajung and Rinne because they were Naga-hyung’s picks LOL.

• Hey, even if we diss Naga-hyung, it’s us who do it, you f*ckers.

• If you mess with the Ggizzik Gallery’s cafeteria uncle, do you think I can stand it?

• Those d*mned burger thieves have lost their minds LOL.

• Alright, alright, reverse flow starting now~
  ㄴ Hey, hey, that’s not okay..
  ㄴ If you do that, it’s really war, you crazy b*stard LOL.
  ㄴ Don’t care, just do it ㄱㄱ.

---

The ‘war’ had already begun.

Even before the showcase, Ajung and Rinne were like idols in the ‘Ggizzik VTuber Gallery.’

Simply because they were the VTubers I, who always distributed hamburgers and chicken in the gallery, had picked, they had attained the position commonly known as ‘Gallery Owner.’

The bond formed with the gallery users over a long time of receiving my ‘burgers’ and ‘chicken’ was deeper than I thought.

They felt their territory had been invaded and were collectively enraged by the fabrications and insults from other galleries.

“Looking at this, there’s no need for us to step in and respond. They’re fighting for us instead.”

I said with a chuckle.

This situation was turning out to be quite amusing.

Without me having to lift a finger, the gallery users who had benefited from me were fighting on my behalf.

“But Sir…”

Yoon Taesoo still expressed concern.

“I know. What I mean is that I won’t actively respond, not that I won’t take necessary measures. For now, it’ll be difficult since both Ajung-ssi and Jungyeon-ssi are VTubers, but let’s gather evidence and proceed with a lawsuit regarding those fabricated and defamatory posts.”

I didn’t care if the lawsuit went through or not.

Since they touched what was mine, I would make them suffer for a long, long time.

At that moment, a memory of watching Ajung’s stream flashed through my mind.

When I first met her, she would easily tear up and break down at even a single mischievous chat from viewers.

Although she had gained confidence since the showcase, her inner self was likely still as delicate as glass.

[“…Sob. I’m not that kind of person… Really……”]

I closed my eyes for a moment.

I hated troublesome things, but I couldn’t tolerate any flaws on what was mine.

Especially if those flaws scarred her heart.

“Contact Jungyeon-ssi and tell her to pay attention to Ajung-ssi’s mental care. If she’s struggling because of those posts, get her professional counseling if necessary. Of course, the company will cover all expenses.”

“Understood. I will relay that.”

Yoon Taesoo seemed a little surprised by my instructions but accepted them without complaint.

I brought up the community window again.

It was already a battlefield.

All sorts of profanity, slander, fabrications, and refutations were mixed together, creating utter chaos.

Other galleries weren’t staying quiet either.

A counterattack against the ‘Ggizzik VTuber Gallery’ for invading their territory had begun.

It was truly the prelude to a war, with various VTuber communities tearing at each other.

‘Interesting.’

I even felt like I should get some popcorn.

Amidst this chaos, the name Starlight Project would be mentioned even more, and we would surely see the effects of noise marketing.

Of course, the harm Ajung and Rinne might receive in the process had to be minimized.

I picked up my phone again.

Today, instead of chicken, I felt like I should distribute something more substantial, like pizza or jokbal (pig’s trotters).

I had to make sure those fighting on my behalf were well-supplied.

---

[Ggizzik VTuber Gallery]

Title: Throwing some supplies because you might be hungry from fighting.
■Zelnaga

(100 Pizza + Coke Set Gift Cards)

(100 Jokbal + Makguksu Set Gift Cards)

The gallery is very chaotic right now. Thinking spies from other galleries might eat them, I sent them separately to the moderator.

He said he’ll only distribute them to people who are often seen in the gallery, so get them directly from the moderator this time.
The winning team is our team.

ps. Day 1 of using proper and polite language.

• Kyaaaaaaaah! Naga-hyung’s supply drop class is insane!

• Pizza and Jokbal LOL Thank you, loyalty, loyalty!

• First time getting pizza and jokbal while browsing a community LOL.

• A corporate entity whose CEO distributes supplies on a gallery to protect their affiliated VTubers LMAO.

• You crazy bstard, sue those guys instead of doing this, fck!

• The supplies are f*cking solid. I’ll fight all night for you ㅇㅇ.

With my supply drop, the gallery war was entering a new phase.

Before returning to spectator mode with a satisfied smile, I spoke to Yoon Taesoo.

“Tell Jungyeon-ssi. It’s about time I met Ajung-ssi in person to sign the contract.”

“Yes, I will do so.”

The time to meet Ajung in person was finally approaching.