chapter_0001

1 – How am I supposed to go to work like this?

1 – How am I supposed to go to work like this?

Perhaps being a Virtual YouTuber is an extremely difficult profession that not just anyone can do?

Or maybe it comes with a curse that machines will inevitably break down.

“I think I might quit being a VTuber…”

“Um, could you please move away from the door? I came to fix it.”

“Okay…”

I know my thoughts are somewhat detached from common perception.

But I was in a position where I couldn’t help but think that way.

Power that won’t turn on the next day even after confirming there were no issues.

Personal DDoS attacks occurring when everyone else’s internet is working fine.

A motion capture system that works perfectly when I use it, but breaks down only in front of VTubers.

If this happens not just once or twice, but repeatedly for half a year since the debut of our first generation, wouldn’t it be more than just a hunch, but a certainty?

“Alright, give it a try.”

I restored the dead sound to its original state and gestured to our company’s first generation VTuber, Akari Dora, who was anxiously watching from behind.

It wasn’t really a big problem.

Sometimes she streams while eating, and naturally pushes the keyboard or mouse on the table back.

At that moment, she happened to touch the power of the audio interface that manages all the sound output for the stream.

It’s because the product has a power button on the side.

That’s why I told the previous team leader not to buy this.

The equipment itself has a terribly high defect rate, and problems will eventually arise due to the button and dial placement.

There had already been quite a few people who experienced similar issues overseas with Batchu Batchu.

Meanwhile, Dora muttered as she put on the motion capture equipment again.

“Will it work this time? Ugh, I’m going crazy.”

“It’ll work, so go ahead and talk to the viewers right away.”

— Getting old…

— The viewers are rotting away waiting

— Moooom

“Ah, aah.”

The viewers who had been burning up the chat waiting for her return immediately responded to Dora’s voice.

— You’re back?

— Finally

— How can you just fix it now

:: Anonymous donor has donated 1,000 Clouds! ::

:: Sis, did you know? You can live without breathing for 20 minutes ::

— World’s first apocalypse preparation broadcast due to radiation

— This guy gave up 1 minute early, what a loser haha

Fortunately, as soon as Dora realized the sound was restored, she immediately apologized profusely in a desperate voice.

“Ah, ahhh. I’m sorry, I’m so sorry! Hehehe. I’m sorry for being stupid…”

— Still, 20 minutes is pretty fast

— But you still haven’t changed the equipment?

— They say the machines reject her because she’s a dragon ㅋㅋ

— Let’s blame the management first?

“Hey! If I change to different equipment, it’ll take me ages to get used to it, so I’m just using this. They even came all the way here to fix it! Don’t blame them! Protect the management!”

She’s really good at streaming.

She knows how to turn public opinion around.

And on top of that, she even protects our staff.

Of course, I rushed over by taxi in less than 20 minutes at 2 AM, but I couldn’t stop the angry viewers during those 20 minutes.

Since they can’t attack their oshi (favorite), attacking the parallel company has become routine for parallel fans, so we have to get used to it.

As the monitoring staff, I couldn’t help but gauge the atmosphere, so I quietly checked the public sentiment from behind while Dora was streaming.

[I really think there’s discrimination against Dora’s equipment]

[Is management really going to stay like this]

[How about a plate of spicy chicken fan art in this heated moment?]

[Illustrators, what are you doing? This is your chance]

It seems normal, but the firepower isn’t that great.

This has happened not just once or twice, but repeatedly, so the viewers are like, “Oh well, go ahead and make excuses about equipment issues, we’ll just lie down and hold our breath until the stream resumes.”

[Honestly, Dora half-asses her streams ㅋㅋ]

[Dora moms, take it easy;]

[Honestly, Dora moms have been really annoying lately]

Some who were tired of the constant equipment issues were now turning their criticism towards the fan base, saying the Dora moms were the problem.

Equipment issues.

Is there no problem with the fans?

… Of course not, how could there be.

The problem lies entirely with our company for choosing the wrong equipment.

Maybe that’s why I suddenly felt like barging into the former team leader’s house who quit earlier this year, holding this damn audio interface.

So.

I told you.

If you choose this.

Problems will arise.

As I was venting my anger in my imagination towards the former team leader who didn’t listen to me, Dora suddenly shouted.

“Ahhh! What do I do! The sound isn’t coming out again! I turned it off and on like you told me, but it’s still not working!”

Looking behind Dora’s head as she stomped her feet in frustration, the keyboard was pushed back again.

In the original place of the keyboard, there were two chewy jellies prepared for today’s ASMR mukbang.

It’s not that the audio interface’s power went down again.

It’s just that the cursed audio interface has not only a power button, but also a main volume control dial on the side.

I’m glad I waited, expecting this might happen.

If I had left right away, I would have had to turn back after getting a call in 5 minutes.

“Okay, calm down and have some cola.”

“I can’t! I can’t gulp during the stream!”

“You’ve already done it several times without muting the mic. There are already five clips—”

“Kyaaa! You’re so mean!”

Not thump thump thump, but whack whack whack.

The punches thrown by the 171cm tall Dora, who was bigger than me, were heavy and painful.

Well, this is.

A punch representing the weight and responsibility of a working adult.

As I was trying to catch a taxi to go home, I got a phone call.

My oshi, who has the third most subscribers among Korean VTubers.

With light beige hair and pink eyes, known for her wolf ears and tail, a YouTuber with 1.6 million subscribers.

It was Momo, the CEO of Parallel, the VTuber group I currently work for.

“Hello.”

[Thank you for your hard work today.]

“It’s nothing. Dora’s sound should be fine now.”

[I’m sorry. For the second generation, I’ll make sure to thoroughly train the kids on equipment before their debut. I’ll also be very careful when choosing equipment.]

“Well, back then we were too busy with so few people to check all these things. And you called me to the company to do this kind of work, right? I come to work later than others and don’t have much to do at the office, so I should at least do this.”

Sigh.

A short sigh was heard from the other end of the phone.

[There you go again. You always tend to put yourself down too much. Do you think it’s common to find someone who resolves issues that come up with the kids without complaining every time?]

I pondered deeply.

Someone who wouldn’t be fazed by seeing VTubers in person.

Someone who would continue to be a fan even while suffering from the pressure of VTubers.

Someone who would be on 5-minute standby until late at night despite being a company employee.

I was the only one who fit that description.

So as the CEO said, I was a person with clear value, but.

If I hadn’t been caught in reality while sniping the CEO 5 years ago when I had nothing to show for myself, I probably wouldn’t have become an office worker like this.

It’s not that I’m dissatisfied with the work, it’s just that I feel so inadequate compared to the other people working at Parallel.

I would have probably just worked some part-time jobs, kept sniping the CEO as usual, and lived a mediocre life.

So in this great environment where I can hear the CEO’s voice every day, watching the first generation’s streams and leaving work late at night while getting paid.

Shouldn’t I be grateful to the CEO for this, rather than receiving gratitude?

In short, I’m not that great of a person.

I just work hard at whatever the CEO tells me to do because she’s my oshi, so I think of myself as just a loyal puppy.

Coincidentally, the CEO Momo’s fan name is also Mong Mong, so I would often act self-deprecatingly by whimpering whenever she gave me difficult tasks.

“Anyway, I’m heading home now. You should get some sleep too, CEO.”

[Thank you. Get home safely. Don’t forget there’s content at 8 PM tomorrow as Dora’s substitute.]

“Yes, I know. I’ve prepared everything.”

Of course, even for me who was like the CEO’s personal secretary and could accomplish any task given, there was something that made me nervous.

It was the content scheduled for this evening.

“Find Rain” hosted by Aoyagi Rain, a first generation member who studied abroad in the US.

The concept was to pick out the real Rain, who uses a unique accent and awkward Korean, among voice-modulated fakes.

I was designated as the substitute after Dora, whose equipment I just fixed, had to drop out due to family circumstances.

I’ve supported the CEO’s streams silently a few times, but this is my first time actually using my voice.

I’ve never even pretended to be someone else online before, so I’m nervous.

Having to pretend to be an idol while surrounded by idols.

‘Work life isn’t easy…’

But as an employee trusted by the CEO, I should be able to handle difficult tasks with ease.

Since the CEO was confident it would be much more fun with my participation, there was no reason to back down.

I’ve watched all of Rain’s streams without missing a single day.

I’ve also prepared thoroughly for a week.

If I can just overcome the embarrassment, I’ll sacrifice myself for our first generation members.

“Yaaawn.”

When I got home, I kept yawning.

Half-asleep, I barely managed to get into bed and immediately fell into a deep slumber.

As my consciousness faded, I mumbled softly.

“The kids’ streams won’t be over for a while…”

The next morning.

I was about to enter the bathroom to wash up when I started a staring contest with the full-length mirror.

“What is this cute creature?”

Black hair with a bluish tint under the warm morning sunlight.

Blue eyes so foreign they made me wonder if I was really Korean.

“Ah, aah. Ah. Aah! Aah?”

The sleepy-looking eyes resembled those of a calm herbivore.

The height had shrunk considerably, matching perfectly with the childlike voice.

In the mirror, a cute girl who could be mistaken for a child actor was touching her face with a very confused expression.

Various thoughts raced through my mind.

Did someone switch my soul while I was sleeping?

Am I still dreaming?

And the last thought that came to mind was:

“How am I supposed to go to work like this?”

 

Author’s Note (Afterword)

Somehow I ended up entering the contest very late.

There will be 2 chapters released per day until the weekend,

After that, it will be 1 chapter per day.

 

TN Note:

This is translated by and for Fucknovelpia.