Chapter 26
I want to climb the Tower.
You don’t even need to give me any [Attack Skills]—just hurry up and let Wakamo in~. I’ll take care of one monster for you, so let’s go to the Tower where there’s plenty of content to enjoy.
Today, I officially broadcast as a VTuber while engaging in actual content.
Supported by the platform, I’m doing what other VTubers with 3D models do in their broadcasts.
I wonder what my appearance looks like to the viewers on the other side of the screen. How do I come across to those watching me as a VTuber?
“Whoa, this is dangerous. If I weren’t holding my breath, I’d probably suffocate from the pressure.”
If I were in a body that had to breathe, I could easily be overwhelmed and feel like I was suffocating at this point.
I always say that VTubing is about dreams and romance… but from a corporate, professional standpoint, I’ve reached a level where I can confidently say, “I am part of the VTuber industry” as a 【pro】.
Although the order was reversed, I proved myself, earned support from the Tower Countermeasure Association, and am now leading the VTuber industry, hosting broadcasts as one of its key figures.
A legendary figure known as the Commander of VirtualLive’s first generation.
A miraculous success story that began when I, along with my friend, the Manager, approached the company president with the dream of becoming a VTuber idol.
A myth-like tale of success, built through unwavering belief in the dreams of young girls, shedding tears and laying the foundations for what would eventually become the top company in the industry alongside other VTubers, starting from nothing.
The president of VirtualLive is also receiving attention as a business leader, ranking 3rd in the ‘2023 Japanese Entrepreneur Rankings.’ He describes VTubers as talents and artists, not just characters, who can show their singing and performance skills.
In fact, most VTubers affiliated with VirtualLive Productions possess impressive skills, and their popularity has expanded beyond the internet and Japan to real-world events, hosting live events with thousands of attendees and even charting on the U.S. Billboard charts.
As their fame spreads, more people become familiar with VTubers, increasing their popularity. As the viewership grows, even lesser-known virtual YouTubers benefit from this rise.
Aspiring to follow in their footsteps, some create original songs, collaborate with VTubers they admire, or one day dream of standing on a large stage and singing. Fans enjoy watching and supporting their growth, cheering them on as they pursue their dreams and goals.
This is the representative image of VTubers racing through this era. Only a handful will achieve major success, though.
There’s a reason why people advise joining a big company.
“This is a profession born from an era where people can watch broadcasts anywhere. It blossomed on the foundation laid by animation and games originating from Japan.”
The fact that individuals can watch videos on their smartphones, and that generations familiar with anime are no longer mocked as otaku, has made VTubing more accessible.
“VTubers are profitable if they succeed. It’s a character business of the new era. Think of it like Disney’s Mickey Mouse.”
Unlike real-life celebrities, VTubers have the advantage of establishing themselves as character IPs.
They can pursue merchandising strategies, just like animated characters, with licensing partnerships and the release of goods.
And what is crucial for anime? Fans.
VTubers, operating under a business-to-consumer (B2C) model, rely more on viewer support and membership fees from fan clubs, rather than advertising revenue. Merchandise often caters to these fans as well.
Therefore, to attract fans, they make great efforts with live events, collaborations with companies, joint broadcasts, and other activities to engage fans of various backgrounds.
From a corporate perspective, it’s better to support VTubers with avatar and broadcast system development, management, and collaboration efforts. They handle everything from live event planning and operation to licensing agreements and business-to-business (B2B) transactions between companies.
Frankly, at this point, I should be working at the corporate level with other VTubers, not just looking for collaboration opportunities.
But some viewers get furious when a Korean VTuber collaborates with a Japanese VTuber, calling it disruptive.
Should I just die, then?
Fine. I’ll refuse all collaboration requests.
After sorting my thoughts, my conclusion is this: 【The key to business success lies in building a ‘fandom’】.
Look, anime has fans who’ve supported it for 30 years. This is an era where it’s not strange to watch the same VTuber, discuss them, and share stories.
“The price of the Motion Capture Studio was around 20 billion won, excluding the costs for staff and producers.”
“Heh…”
Is this…my company? Am I…finally living the dream as a VTuber otaku…?
But then, a chilling thought crossed my mind—what if someone targeted this place in a terror attack? If someone attacks this building, it’s like a death threat against the dreams of all VTubers and I wouldn’t spare them.
If that happens, don’t expect mercy from my fists. You’ve brought this upon yourselves…!!
“On paper, it’s listed as the Wakamo Corporation.”
“Not bad…”
Does it mean this is Wakamo’s company? Yes…I’m the president… I’m the face of this ideal VTuber I admire…
This is dangerous… At this rate, my mind’s going to break, and I’ll be done for…!!
“The building has three floors, with the top floor serving as a residential space, the second as the Motion Capture Studio, and the first as a VTuber Room with soundproof booths for broadcasting. It’s built near the Tower Countermeasure Association for safety, and we can confidently say it has the best security systems in Korea. There’s also a parking lot underground, and emergency evacuation routes are in place in case of an emergency.”
“Sounds good… but perhaps it would be better to have a separate residence for risk management purposes.”
“Haha, but we have the Association backing us.”
When you leave the studio building, people would know you’re a VTuber, but Wakamo worried that this might expose her too much. Her manager assured her there was no chance of that happening, though. Strangely, the streets around the building were unusually quiet. The government is impressive~.
“President, you sound like a pro. You even know difficult terms like ‘merchandising.’”
“I never imagined I’d have so much power as Chairman of the Association, and I didn’t expect to have this much influence… Are they not getting along?”
Well, it’s just a baseless worry. Do VTubers really need to worry about government affairs? The thought of an assassin sent by the president is absurd.
Anyway, that’s enough talk about the company. Ms. Won Da-hye manages the president role, while I focus on Tower climbing and VTuber broadcasts. Sure, I can’t switch jobs, but who cares? Just the fact that I now have a Motion Capture Studio makes me so happy!!
“Prepare yourselves and witness!! My name is Wakamo Inarizushi. Finally, I have a studio!! Today’s broadcast will be in full 3D!!”
“Hello, friends! This is Hajime Ichigo checking in. I’m part of the Wakamo Corporation team.”
– Welcome, Yamada.
– You’ve come, my drug…
– Mother-daughter comedy begins!!
– I heard the host fought an assassin, seems she’s okay.
– Wow, the 3D modeling looks just like reality!!!
– Ichigo’s going to grow… I don’t like that…
– Manager, please ban the pedo up there.
– That’s a real nightmare!!!!
– It’d be nice if they could broadcast daily.
The room, with a mirror reflecting the character’s back, was arranged much like a practice studio where idol trainees would sweat it out dancing.
As soon as the broadcast started, viewers flocked in for the collaboration stream. Since it was the first full 3D live studio collab, Wakamo’s broadcast was the only one open.
If Ichigo’s stream were on as well, it would have been difficult to keep up with the flood of donations without making the broadcast drag.
Before starting, Wakamo took some time to promote the model of equipment she was using, mentioning that there were good products available domestically, often on discount, that could be useful for other VTubers.
– The host’s intentions are so transparent…
– Is this a VTuber gear ad or a broadcast?
– Either way, the host once did a 7-hour stream on VTuber equipment, lol.
– Wait, how long have these people been watching, seriously, lol?
– Ah…should I call them ancient Believers? Great job on the low buy-in!
– Wow! So you bought coins too?
– Nah, missed that one. My bad.
– You sure seem like someone who would have.
– Ichigo is just so cute; I’m dying here.
Though some viewers were understandably annoyed—they hadn’t come to watch an ad for gear or equipment—they knew how obsessed Wakamo Inarizushi was with VTubers, so they let it slide.
Meanwhile, some viewers on Virtual Chat commented, “I wanted to fall to the dark side as a female, so I’ll definitely have to buy this now!!” Seeing that, Wakamo chuckled awkwardly, saying, “Well, yeah…that’s possible too,” which had viewers bursting into laughter.
They were also amused watching Wakamo fumbling around trying to point out only the advantages, emphasizing how being able to stream as a man in a woman’s form could be a unique strength.
And viewers found it hilarious seeing Hajime Ichigo, in the middle of all this, cutely swaying her hips left and right, dancing by herself with a prim and proud look on her face.
With her “mom” busy, Ichigo couldn’t resist her boredom, bouncing around like a child. Wakamo’s promotion was halfway ruined.
“These guys…they’re all just watching Ichigo!!”
– The host, we were looking at your chest too!!
– Or maybe we were just counting spots!!
– I swear, I wasn’t thinking anything indecent about your toes.
– “Hey, host, the gear’s sold out. Is that okay?
– Males entranced by the fox are off to the Metaverse again today….
– So this is a broadcast promoting low birth rates.
– Wouldn’t it be better if incels became females anyway?
– No, Believer…don’t cross that line….
– Oh no, I’m late! I’m already a girl!
– The end of the world, seriously, lol.
“Well…I didn’t expect much, but now that we have the studio, aren’t singing and dancing what VTubing is all about!!”
– Oh, stop.
– Don’t do it.
– Guys, plug your ears—the host is going to sing. Seriously, this is an emergency.
– No, no. Just how bad could it be? Lol.
– It can’t be that bad, can it?
– Suddenly, I have something urgent to do, so I’m out, lol!
– Emergency exit!! Emergency exit!!!
– Beeeeaaaaam!!!
Five minutes later.
– Please save us, damn it.
– Stop, stop, stop, stop.
– It’s daytime, but it feels like a ghost will appear!!!!
– Is this a curse? Am I under the host’s curse???
– Did the host shatter every pitch, rhythm, and tone, or what, damn it???
– The guy in the next district sounds like a heavenly songstress compared to this.
– Even a cartoon character would sing better than you….
– Wow, it’s truly catastrophic.
– Why does this feel like I’m getting PTSD from a retreat?
– That feeling when you’re dragged onto stage to sing and realize you’ve royally messed up….
– It got so cold, I turned off my air conditioner….
– Honestly, I just can’t clap for this.
– Is that ghostly wailing in the mountains the host’s voice, damn it?
Won Da-hye, the manager, sat trembling with her eyes half-closed, while the stunned staff shivered in shock. The producer’s face had turned pale, not knowing what to do, his expression distorted. Though Wakamo tried her best, giving it her all, was it really that awful?
When she looked around, Yu Ying had her ears covered, shaking with deep breaths. For her sensitive ears, this must have been torture.
– Why does Ichigo trembling look so pitiful….
– I’m a huge fan of her voice! Oh… I can’t watch this….
– Forget job-related suffering—this feels like child abuse….
– What about Owner Risk Control!!!!
– The kid can’t even breathe….
Ichigo was finally calmed down after being picked up, hugged, and patted gently on the back. I’m never singing again…ever.
“Sniff…But still…I did try my best….
– This can’t even be called a requiem.
– We’re not suffering alone; let’s clip this and spread it.
– Here come the clippers’ wills of steel…!!
– Let’s go! The unstoppable era of video donations has begun!!
– Isn’t this clip lawsuit-worthy?
– …Yeah, I think it might be.
– Even when the host is on the verge of tears, I feel no sympathy.
– No, damn it. There’s a limit. It’s like my parents walked in on me watching adult videos.
– Whatever it was, adult videos would’ve been preferable to this.
– It’s bad enough for someone to think they’re summoning a demon in here.”
“Okay, I know it’s harsh…but then, how about we have Ichigo sing for us!”
“Yay! Friends, what should I sing?”
Ichigo’s eyes sparkled as she moved closer to the camera, her gaze shifting up and down to check the comments. The viewers couldn’t help but flood the chat with comments about how cute she looked. She probably moved closer because of her bad eyesight, but since this was a 3D model live broadcast, she ended up right near the camera.
It was close to being a broadcast accident, but it was so cute everyone laughed and watched with warm smiles. Holding the mic tightly, Ichigo began swaying her body left and right as she started singing.
– Huh…? Why am I tearing up…?
– My ears are being healed….
– I control the music. The melody ringing in your ears is stealing your heart…
– Is this…Ichigo’s Bankai…?
– Why is her pronunciation perfect? Why is she singing well? Why is she an actual diva?
– The host really found someone with talent!!!
– Looking again, she’s like an angel!!!!
– Maybe the contrast is just too stark; she sounds even better because of it, lol.
– Is this the host’s broadcasting skill…? We were completely fooled.
– Ah, lol, that’s exactly it, lol.
“Sniff, sniff.”
Wakamo was overwhelmed, nearly sobbing because she sang so well. She didn’t have a body that could cry, but she was deeply moved.
“Our Ichigo sings so well, right?
– Yes, ma’am.
– Your daughter has the talent of a songstress.
– We’re lucky she doesn’t have your genes.
– If she did, she’d be hitting 180, lol.
– How is she only 156, lol?
– Honestly, she’s singing so well.
“Well then, at this rate, maybe we could do an original song or even a cover song.”
There was real potential for success here. Although Ichigo’s pronunciation was still a bit awkward, her clear, powerful singing in time with the rhythm made every word easy to hear, creating a charming contrast.
Seeing Ichigo’s singing ability put the staff, producer, and manager at ease; they looked at her as if she were a saviour, which was a little bittersweet.
It’s okay to not be able to sing…
– Needs some oiling in the joints…
– Did you forget to feed her…?
– Isn’t she moving too limply?
– Correct! Modern dance!
– Being cute is all that matters.
Unfortunately, Ichigo wasn’t very good at dancing. Her body was flexible and nimble, but her movements were somewhat awkward. It looked as if she wanted to lie around and avoid work.
On the other hand, Wakamo’s skill in body movement was evident; she flicked open her fan with just the snap of her wrist, moving gracefully with golden fans. Although her expression didn’t change at all, this made her look so serious that it gave the Believers the impression she was genuinely performing.
She was only roughly imitating a fan dance she’d seen before coming here, but her big, sweeping movements and the brilliance of the fan created an unexpectedly impressive synergy.
– Is it going to rain tomorrow?
– A ceremonial dance of the gods.
– Is this an ancient, forgotten traditional dance…?
– It’s not flashy but feels composed, with a solid core.
– So this is what it means for a dance to be the subject rather than the performer~
– Host, show us your instrument skills too?
“Shall I?”
As Wakamo’s dancing improved, the viewers began to enjoy themselves. Yes, yes!! This was the reaction she wanted.
She had asked the manager to prepare an instrument in advance, so she signalled for it to be brought over. With a confident expression, the manager handed her a gayageum.
Wakamo had indeed asked for a string instrument, but…why a gayageum of all things? She’d been prepared to play the violin or guitar, but her expression must have shown her doubt. The manager looked at Wakamo, as if wondering, Did I mess up?
T/n: A haegeum is a traditional Korean string instrument. It is a type of fiddle with two strings and is played with a bow.
Wakamo couldn’t disappoint such a hardworking manager…
‘Whew, I’m glad I tried it out in my school club. I even performed at the school festival, so let’s give it a go after all this time.’
Honestly, who keeps a gayageum at home? Recalling her memories, she sat cross-legged, placing it in her lap. Impressed with the studio’s attention to detail, even modeling the gayageum, she focused her thoughts, determined not to mess this up.
Ding ding─♪
The sound was delicate yet poignant, resonating through the strings. The melody was so beautiful that viewers were moved, captivated by the performance and forgetting to chat.
It was hard to know what emotions were conveyed, but Wakamo’s playing, a theme from a well-known historical drama, was mesmerizing.
She’d shown off various instruments before, so her skills had not diminished.
– I feel like I’m transcending eras.
– She can’t keep time when singing, so why is she so good with instruments…?
– No matter how hard you try, you can’t overcome what you’re born with….
– Ahh…so bittersweet….
– Oh, I like this drama.
– So what’s the title?
– It’s called The Slave Hunter.
– Geez, it doesn’t sound like it would fit at all…
– You don’t know this? Ugh…kids these days…
– Ah, Grandpa, quiet. Don’t you know concert etiquette?
– Ichigo’s falling asleep, lol.
– Wow, look at her wrapping her tail around herself, lol.
– Please hire me, I beg you…
– This screen alone feels so healing.
– Oh, I’m sleepy…my eyes are closing…
Ichigo, naturally lulled by the soothing music, lay down and began to drift off, nestling into Wakamo’s tail. She must have been tired from all her broadcasts lately.
The performance had gone on long enough, so, smiling, Wakamo drew her tail closer, cradling Ichigo as she played. The soft sound of her breath harmonized with the gentle tune of the gayageum.
Meanwhile, the manager was waiting with a bright smile, holding a haegeum and danso—when did she even prepare those?
T/n: A danso is a traditional Korean wind instrument, specifically a type of vertical bamboo flute.
Wakamo wondered if this was okay… but, caught up in the moment, the studio’s first live broadcast had unintentionally turned into a showcase of traditional Korean instruments from the Joseon Dynasty.
‘I’m so glad I joined that club,’ Wakamo thought, realizing how valuable her experiences had been.
The viewers, the manager, and everyone watching marvelled at her as if she were from another era. Although it wasn’t professional-level, the thousand-year-old Fox God playing these instruments had a charm that more than made up for any lack of technical precision.
With Ichigo nestled comfortably in her tail, drifting off as though she were Wakamo’s daughter, viewers increased steadily. But Wakamo couldn’t shake the feeling…is this really what it’s supposed to be?
—
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