Chapter 4: First broadcast

Contrary to my initial expectations, the chat window was noisy.

I stared blankly at the rising chat messages.

‘They said at first, seeing chat was like plucking stars from the sky?’

Who was it?

The person who fed me wrong information.

No, rather, should I say it was fortunate?

There was nothing bad about the broadcast being popular.

However.

The problem wasn’t that part, but in the viewers’ reactions.

–No words.

–What kind of broadcast is this?

–Only a strange drawing is displayed;;

–I came in after seeing that, but…

–Is the streamer going to pop out suddenly?

In the future, it was unimaginable for VTubers to broadcast without their avatars.

Rather, no matter what they did, viewers would ask them to show it.

However, these people didn’t even know what an avatar was.

They thought the avatar was simply for attracting attention, and that the streamer was someone separate.

I quietly watched their reactions.

–Oh, the eyes.

–But this is moving?

–How fascinating.

–Seems like it’s looking towards the chat window?

–Nah, that’s a bit much haha.

I smiled and waved my hand.

Then I greeted them.

“Hello everyone~ I’m VTuber, Lucy!”

A characteristic of popular VTubers.

An action mimicking a bright voice and high tension.

But before liking it, the viewers seemed to be in shock.

–????

–Huh??

–What?

The chat messages, which had been cautiously wondering what kind of broadcast it was, began to scroll up continuously.

Clearly abnormal firepower compared to the number of viewers.

–Is that drawing talking right now?

–Seems like it.

–No.. what is this? Haha, how did you do it?

–Wow, is it some kind of animation?

–Are you controlling it in real-time? No way it’s the actual streamer, right?

It meant it was that shocking.

The chat window, with everyone giving their opinions, resembled a community rather than a streamer’s room.

“No. It’s really me? Look, my hand is moving.”

My job was to capture their hearts and turn them into fans.

As I folded and unfolded my hand, the chat window, which had paused momentarily, stirred.

Roughly, doubt and wonder were mixed half-and-half, but the doubt felt stronger.

–Not a macro?

–There should be such a program.

–Seriously looks like an otakuㅋㅋㅋ

–If it’s a macro, it can only do fixed movements.

–Seeing it fiddling around, seems right lol.

It was like saying I was just playing with an avatar like a doll.

It wasn’t wrong, but VTubers were very different in nature.

And dispelling the doubt was simple.

I stretched out my arm and waved it freely.

“How about this? Does this make you believe it a bit?”

–Huh?

–?????

–What is it; it shouldn’t be like that.

–What’s this technology?

–Super fascinating;;

–I thought it was similar to the attention-seeker I saw before, but it’s completely different?

“Of course. Because I’m a VTuber!”

I placed both hands on my waist and puffed out my chest.

Seeing their surprised reactions, my efforts had paid off.

This body seemed to have good flexibility, as its movements were very smooth.

That appearance was directly reflected in the avatar.

It was disappointing compared to a 3D avatar, but a quite decent quality.

This was enough to attract the viewers’ attention.

–VTuber?

–What’s that, you otaku?

–Never heard of it??

–Is that what’s written in the stream title?

This time, it didn’t just end with chat.

The first sponsorship had dropped.

[‘DieOtaku’ has sponsored 1,000 cash! Thank you!]
–It doesn’t come up when I search, what does it mean?

I opened my mouth slightly, saying, “Oh.”

It was a scene I had seen countless times watching internet broadcasts, but this was my first time experiencing it myself.

“Ah, DieOtaku! Thank you for the first sponsorship, and for joining the first fandom~ Congratulations on becoming VVIP, currently ranked 1st in sponsorships!”

The nickname was a bit like that, but not reacting was what a pro did.

–Wow; is even the sponsorship first?

–Fr, it’s a super small stream.

–How is the VVIP cutoff 1,000 won

–Spending money here

–So, the answer??

At the chat urging for an answer, I cleared my throat, “Ahem.”

I composed myself, taking a deep breath.

The question of what a VTuber was.

Depending on my answer, its meaning would change in the future.

It was a historical moment.

“Ahem. Just a moment. This is a bit nerve-wracking.”

I, who had dedicated my life to VTubers, was enveloped in intense pressure.

Of course, the viewers didn’t understand.

–Why so serious??

–Streamer is hilarious

–Is it a fourth-dimensional concept;

–It’s so absurd it’s funny.

–No, so what is it?

That’s too much.

How significant this matter was.

If I had my way, I’d explain its importance in excruciating detail, but that wasn’t possible.

In the end, I opened my mouth energetically.

“VTuber is a combination of Virtual and MyTuber. That’s why it’s VTuber! It was named that to mean ‘active in a virtual space.’ How about it, isn’t it splendid?”

I still think it’s an amazing naming.

That’s why the term VTuber spread so widely, I suppose.

However, people didn’t seem to feel that way.

–So that’s what it means.

–It makes sense, but…

–So he just made it up himself, right?

–This concept is f*ing tough;

–This is neither cam nor no-cam.

“That’s too much…. I thought it was okay.”

I quickly switched to an expression with teary eyes.

This was what they called ‘expression control’.

My seemingly chic avatar making such an expression was extremely cute.

–Oh, what’s with that expression?

–Ugh.

–Is he really crying???

–My resistance power is running out;;

–The technology is amazing.

The effect was weak now without fans, but I was steadfast.

At that moment, another sponsorship dropped.

It was the same person as before.

[‘DieOtaku’ has sponsored 1,000 cash! Thank you!]
–So you’ll broadcast like this from now on? Showing a drawing?

“Drawing? Ah, you mean avatar? No. That’s a strange question.”

–Ah, as expected. No, right?

–Of course.

–There’s no way he’d stream like this.

–Who would watch that kind of otaku stream

–He’d get a fload of hate, right?

–So you’re attracting attention and then what??

The chat window reacted with ‘as expected’.

I secretly scoffed.

I understood the feeling of rejecting new things, but sometimes it was unavoidable.

Knowing that VTubers were an unavoidable trend, I was utterly confident.

“This is me, though? Of course, I have to broadcast like this. I’m flustered that you’re asking something so obvious.”

At my shameless words, the chat window exploded.

–Ah

–I’m going crazy, seriously;

–So fing confident

–Isn’t it just because he lacks confidence in his looks, so he’s using an avatar?

–Fr, lol, he doesn’t even look like that.

–If he were pretty, he’d be a female cam streamer, admit it?

–But maintaining the concept is fing tough.

–Was he a former streamer lol.

The sponsorship window also echoed that sentiment.

[‘DieOtaku’ has sponsored 1,000 cash! Thank you!]
–Ah, damn Professor Otaku! You should only overdo it on that site, what are you doing bringing it to broadcast too;

The default voice, with no settings yet.

The chat chuckled and responded to the sponsorship sound.

‘As expected.’

With no foundation formed yet, I didn’t expect VTubers to be accepted.

Rather, it felt milder than I had anticipated.

As it was an expected outcome, I could continue the broadcast leisurely.

“Do you have any questions? Ask anything~”

I couldn’t do games or content from the first day.

Naturally, it became like a communication stream.

Perhaps thanks to watching many eloquent VTubers, my comments came out more fluently than I expected.

The number of viewers decreased compared to when I first attracted attention, but at some point, it stopped going down further.

And as the broadcast continued, people gradually adapted.

–Streamer seems good at talking?

–But her voice is fing good.

–Is she using an expensive microphone?

–My ears have been tickling since earlier;;

–Why is she cute..?

–Ha.. I’m f*ed; watching her, she’s cute;;

–Why am I watching this?

I also enjoyed my first broadcast.

As I enjoyed myself, I often laughed, and that added vivacity to the avatar.

Perhaps because of that, confused chat messages were often seen.

Though there were still more negative chat messages.

“It was fun today, everyone. See you tomorrow!”

–Bye bye

–It was fun.

–I accidentally came in and got stuck, ah;;

–Probably won’t watch again.

–See if I come again haha.

Thus, my first broadcast successfully concluded.

Circle.

Besides derivative communities, internet broadcasting platforms often had their own communities, and this was also true for CastOn, the largest platform.

Circle was CastOn’s community site.

At first, it was a place where internet broadcast news or events were the main posts, but as always, people wanted to express their opinions.

Currently, it was functioning as a single, large community.

[Today’s Taejun’s Super Play]
(GIF of Crow single-handedly slaughtering an enemy squad)
Seems like his pro-era form is returning these days.

–Legendary

–Should’ve done this sooner.

–He’s definitely good, yeah;;
└He gets a lot of unfair criticism, but his skill is undeniable.
└He was flying high when he was active, so the guys who just trash-talk him are weird.

And usually, the keywords that dominated Circle were fixed.

Cam streams, which made up the majority of streamers, especially the most successful top-tier streamers.

The styles of female and male broadcasters were different.

As Circle had many users sensitive to stimulation, its main interest was top-tier male streamers.

Circle, where posts from well-known streamers were endlessly uploaded as usual.

At one point, a single post that appeared caught attention.

[The level of female streamers debuting these days]
(Image of Lucy waving her hand)
(Video of Lucy introducing herself)
She is claiming herself to be a VTuber.

–Huh?

–What’s this now?

–Otaku.

–What’s a VTuber?
└I think it was Virtual + MyTuber.
└Is it a compound word? Was it already existing?
└No no, she said she made it up.
└That’s ridiculous lol.

–Wow, disgusting.

–Even someone like this streams.

–The technology looks good though?

It was a broadcast unlike any before, in various senses.

The rapidly rising views attracted even more attention.

–What’s with this sudden trending post?

–Why is something like this being posted?

–Is she really broadcasting like this? Not just a temporary concept??
└That’s what they say lol.
└Wow.. should I say she has guts;;
└I’m not the weird one, am I?
└Honestly, it’s a bit much..

Most of the evaluations were negative.

It was a natural outcome.

The internet broadcasting ecosystem, primarily focused on cam streams, was still negative towards otaku culture, and from that perspective, the newly appeared VTuber was nothing short of perplexing.

Continuous criticism and ridicule.

However, not all comments were like that.

–But it was watchable.
└Seriously?
└Yeah yeah, I also wondered what this was at first, but it got interesting as I watched. The streamer is also good at talking. Especially her voice, it’s legendary.
└Otaku b*stard.
└If this is fun, you should go to a hospital.
└..Your words are a bit harsh;; I just said it was watchable, why are you all like this?
└Yeah, you too, otaku.

Although a very small number, there were also those who defended Lucy.

They were the people who had watched her broadcast today.

–It was mildly entertaining.
└Here’s another one.
└Otaku arrested.
└Go back to your gallery.

–Why are these guys so on edge here;;

–The control is fing amazing Can’t even say it’s fun? Isn’t this an internet broadcast community?
└What kind of broadcast is that crap?
└Don’t you know it’s just for attention? 100% she’ll mess around for a few days then quit.
└Ah, come on; talk after watching the broadcast.
└You watch all you want, you otaku
└Yeah~ Even if I don’t watch, it’s fing boring~

Of course, they couldn’t contend with the sheer volume, so every post they wrote was lynched and disappeared.

The flames naturally grew fiercer.

Thus, due to a single post, Circle burned until dawn.