chapter_0027

27 – Pearl Necklace on Jia’s Neck

27 – Pearl Necklace on Jia’s Neck

“Instead of that, if there’s a problem, I’ll do a dogeza.”

When Majiya said those words, Cheon Do-hee didn’t take it seriously.

She thought it was just the usual joking around.

Since Jia was the type to try anything without hesitation, Do-hee smirked, thinking this was another exaggeration.

“Are you going to start streaming by yourself?”

“If I do it, I’ll do it. What’s the big deal?”

However, she couldn’t keep smiling after hearing what followed.

The sincerity revealed in Majiya’s expression just now.

What could be felt from it was ‘doubt’.

As in, ‘Why are you worried about something like this?’

Do-hee was dumbfounded.

She had been making all her judgments under the assumption that Majiya disliked streaming, but perhaps that assumption itself had been wrong from the start.

Although Majiya had shown potential by displaying her talents on Dora’s stream, Do-hee thought it was just to accommodate Dora.

Was that not the case?

… She really has no reservations about streaming?

‘I guess I can’t avoid it this time either…’

Cheon Do-hee had always been cautious since Majiya’s talk of resigning.

But she couldn’t do that this time.

Because an intuition that she had to confront it now flashed through her mind.

“Are you serious? I thought you didn’t like streaming.”

“…When did I ever say that?”

Majiya, who had been grinning, slightly lowered the corners of her mouth upon seeing Cheon Do-hee’s stern expression.

“The atmosphere suddenly… But wait. I don’t think I’ve ever specifically said I dislike streaming.”

“Remember when I casually asked you? What did I say… Ah, right. I said even if I told you to become a VTuber, would you do it? What did you say then?”

Jia frowned.

That’s because she had already given an answer to that at the time.

“I said, ‘If you tell me to, I guess I would,’ didn’t I?”

“… Ah.”

Do-hee smacked her own forehead and hung her head low.

“Well, that’s true. But didn’t you politely refuse after that?”

“That’s because I thought you wouldn’t debut me even if I said I would. Debut someone who’s not qualified? The boss I know would never do that. That’s why I said it that way.”

To sum it up, it seems Do-hee had been flailing about on her own.

The problem is that Majiya also doesn’t always speak her true feelings.

After all, isn’t Majiya a long-time fan of Do-hee?

There are hardly any fans who can flatly refuse what their favorite asks them to do.

Moreover, Do-hee is not just a simple favorite, but also her boss.

So Do-hee pressed once more.

To hear Majiya’s real, honest thoughts.

“Don’t beat around the bush. Can you tell me honestly? If you had to debut, what would make you not want to do it?”

But how could Jia have ever thought about such a thing?

If she were to debut, it would be by the boss’s decision (since Cheon Do-hee would have to acknowledge that she’s qualified to stream), and if the boss ordered it, Majiya would have followed without any doubt.

“Just a moment. I’ve never thought about it before…”

But since the boss was asking directly to her face, she had to answer properly.

After a brief contemplation, this was the answer Jia came up with:

“I think I wouldn’t be able to stream because I watch other people’s streams. I much prefer watching streams.”

Cheon Do-hee was puzzled.

The reason didn’t come from the singing, dancing, or entertainment-related areas.

Of course, seeing her impersonations and rap, the kid isn’t completely lacking talent in those areas. But don’t people usually worry about those things first?

“… You’re okay with singing and dancing?”

“I think those would be different if I learn them properly. It’s not like all the 1st gen members were good at singing or dancing from the start, right? Some were good at singing, some were good at dancing.”

Majiya was making nothing but valid points.

In fact, after passing the audition, the 1st gen members went through all sorts of training like entertainment agency trainees for about 3 months in a training camp, and vocal and dance training are still ongoing even now as they continue broadcasting.

… Anyway, that one word about resigning, that small snowball Majiya had thrown, how far it has rolled and grown.

The missteps Do-hee had been making until now rushed back, making her face flush hot.

“Hahaha…!! So, aren’t you curious about how the fan art is coming along?”

“Given Dora’s skills, I’m sure it’s well done. Is my avatar really that important anyway? It’s more important that people respond well to the 1st gen’s new song teaser…”

“That’s right. You’re correct.”

People will probably flock to see Majiya first.

There are quite a few people drawn to the fireworks that started with the shot aimed at Mugeon.

On top of that, the unexpected reveal of Majiya’s avatar will bring all the people starving for content due to Parallel’s company-wide streaming break to Mugeon’s stream.

Originally expecting 20,000 viewers, now it could reach 30,000 or even more.

It’s a number that’s hard to see unless there’s something really special going on.

“A lot of people will gather tomorrow. Aren’t you worried?”

Cheon Do-hee would understand if Majiya got scared and ran away here.

She herself had a brief bout of hyperventilation when her viewer count first exceeded 10,000.

However, Majiya smirked as if it was no big deal.

Well, whether 30,000 or 50,000 people gather, they’re all just viewers, aren’t they?

To Majiya, a 6-year fan, 6-year troll, and 5-year manager, viewers are just friends.

Sometimes mischievous and disobedient friends, but friends who share the same hobby of VTubers.

“Well… No matter how many thousands there are, they’re all fans like me.”

That evening, Dora called before starting her stream.

[Jia-nim, Jia-nim. Can you check your email now?]

“Yes. Just a moment.”

She really completed the illustration in less than a week.

Why do they say artists burn brighter when drawing fan art than when doing paid commissions – this is just Majiya’s thought – maybe that’s why it was so fast?

“I opened it…”

After downloading the file from my inbox, I tilted my head.

“Isn’t this a character sheet? Dora-nim, I think you sent the wrong work file.”

It was a character sheet typically prepared for debuting VTubers, with full body and separate parts drawn from front, back, and side views.

Meanwhile, a character wearing a large witch hat clearly caught my eye.

Blue eyes a bit brighter than my real ones.

Similar eye shape, but with a clear mischievous curl at the corners of the mouth.

A small, animal-like crouched posture holding a broom with both hands.

It was even cuter with the long hair tied in osage (a downward-facing twin tail style).

‘It seems vaguely similar to me…’

In any case, it was a very eye-catching appearance.

If I had to say, it stirred my heart about as much as being hit by a 2.5-ton truck.

Just about the same feeling as when I first saw the 1st gen members in illustrations.

For a moment, I thought it would be perfect for the 2nd gen’s cute type, since the boss tends to balance cuteness and glamour evenly.

Dora said:

[No, I sent the right one. That’s the fan art.]

I blinked for a while, looking at the character again.

It certainly did resemble me.

… No, now that I look closely, it’s blatantly similar to me.

I look in the mirror every day to get used to being cute, but I didn’t notice how much it resembled me.

“This is fan art? This?”

Dora started rambling excuses:

[Ah. Well, I felt like just drawing fan art wasn’t enough~ So I kept adding things and suddenly went overboard. After drawing the front view, I wanted to see the side view too. After the side view, I wanted to see the back view. I wanted to see it without the hat, without the robe… That’s how it turned out! Hehe.

I’ll send you separate png files for the different outfits, so pick whichever one you want to use tomorrow!]

A legendary situation has occurred.

To be struck by my own avatar.

But this isn’t necessarily a problem.

There’s nothing wrong with a VTuber-loving fan being enticed by a pretty avatar, right?

‘Well, it’s a shame.’

I do want to see this character that so much effort was put into come to life and move.

But it’s unthinkable to ask someone else to stream with an illustration I received as a gift.

All I could do was bow my head to the illustration.

Thinking that if it had met someone else instead of me, it could have gone to greater heights…

“Well. Anyway, thank you Dora-nim. You didn’t need to put in this much effort. I’ll use it well tomorrow.”

[Yes! You must use it when we collab later too!!]

“The best thing would be for Dora not to play horror games though.”

[Eeh. Don’t say that. I really want to play games with you, Jia-nim.]

Click.

After unilaterally ending the call, I examined the character sheet again from various angles.

It’s definitely cute.

Maybe it’s because it’s Dora’s sincere drawing, but the small details are really well done.

Especially this outfit.

The reverse effect of cuteness when a tiny child wears a slit skirt like a female office worker.

And to emphasize the clumsy witch concept, an oversized witch hat and robe that don’t fit…

“… Hmm. This is really too good to waste.”

To think something this precious would fall into my hands.

It’s like putting pearls before swine.

But what can I do?

I didn’t expect Dora to put in this much effort either.

Still, since she made it with such dedication, I should use it whenever I show my face on stream.

… ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ …

[MOOVING] Re: Hello Mugeon-nim, this is the Parallel operations team

From | Mugeon movgun1@mooving.com
To | Parallel Operations Team parallel_official_operation@parallel.com

OTNXSU9XcTFURXdtd0tweHpoait4akVEQVJoTmMrTm16VjVSWTNEeEJiUmpyYzJGTmJNcktaNzdQek52WVhEbg

📎Attachment: Untitled_5_NoHat_NoRobe_WithEmployeeBadge.png

Hello,

I have received the image file you sent.

I will set it up next to my cam during the stream.

Thank you.

Mugeon
MOOVING Crew

… ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ …

Other than delivering my avatar in advance, there wasn’t much to prepare for the stream.

I just needed to keep an eye on Mugeon’s stream in the Talk Code I had joined beforehand and enter the chat room when it opened, so there wasn’t really anything to memorize.

Although I’ll be participating in the stream from the company’s single-person broadcasting room, I brought the mouse I use at home on purpose, so there shouldn’t be any issues with gameplay.

But just in case, I practiced in the training room. Bang bang bang.

I tried firing the shotgun and running through smoke.

The mouse moves well, good sensitivity.

The keyboard presses well, good movement.

‘I hope I get lucky with the team.’

The best situation would obviously be to be on a different team from Mugeon.

If we fight on the same team, my presence could be overshadowed by Mugeon’s.

But if I take down Mugeon while tens of thousands are watching?

Especially if my ID is ‘1stGen1stAnniversarySongNovember5thRelease’.

The 1st anniversary song release date imprinted in people’s minds.

Me, who took down Mugeon, a Parallel employee.

Combined: Parallel 1st Gen 1st Anniversary Song Grand Release on November 5th!

“Perfect.”

Team selection has to be left to luck,

but if there’s a god of promotion out there, please just this once…

As I put my hands together and prayed for promotional success, I got a call through the chat of the Talk Code for the internal match.

[Mugeon: Employee D-nim, please standby]

[Employee D: Yes]

After waiting a moment, Mugeon showed the empty seat in the waiting room and began introducing me to the viewers.

[Now, as you can see on the screen, today we have 23 people instead of 24. You know what that means, right?]

— Guest
— So who is it?
— Tell us quickly, hyung
— I’ve been holding my breath for 3 days for this
— Hurry and reveal

[Now now, don’t be too impatient. I’m about to introduce them. Let’s see. First of all… they look like this.]

My avatar is revealed first.

It was the version that best captured the office worker image among those Dora had carefully drawn.

Instead of the witch hat and robe, wearing an employee badge.

A small but cute office worker appeared.

— ?
— Who are you?
— ???
— Who is this
— Oh, are you a VTuber?
— What’s with this unfamiliar face…
— Cute though?

[Now, have you gotten a little familiar with today’s guest? Are there any Parallel fans here?]

— e
— There are some
— Could it be Employee D?
— No streams today so nothing to watch ㅠㅠㅠㅠ
— What’s this, I’ve never seen this avatar before

[Oh my. Even the fans don’t know? Can’t be helped. I’ll call them right away so we can hear their self-introduction.]

Since it was time, I calmly joined the voice chat.

Ahem, after testing the mic, I asked Mugeon:

“Ah ah. Can you hear me?”

The chat’s reaction becomes quiet like entering the eye of a storm when faced with a shocking situation.

But that silence is temporary.

Soon after, the letters quickly build a tower, rising against the sky.

— ??
— Employee D?
— What
— Is it Hotan?
— Huh
— What
— Signal flare?
— What?
— ?
— ???
— Whoa the illustration quality is amazing
— No way
— ??
— Is it really Employee D?
— Did Employee D debut???
— What
— What is this?
— No way!!!!!!!
— ?
— Damn I’ve been waiting for this!!!
— What;
— Is it really Employee D?
— ED!ED!ED!ED!ED!

Author’s Note (Afterword)

Starting today, I’m entering a week of consecutive updates!
(7pm 10pm, or 8pm 11pm, or 9pm 12pm)

I was originally considering attending a fan event,
but I decided to cancel my plans and write instead…!!

I think that’s the right choice!!!!!

Thank you so so much for your support through donations, comments, and recommendations!!

If I had my way, I’d even sing you a fan service song.

Hiiiyaaaak!