Chapter 2: Preliminary Preparation

‘This is…?’
I blinked my eyes and looked up at the status window, which was flaunting its presence.

It was bewildering, but thanks to my knowledge of subcultures, I understood quickly.
I had wondered if I was seeing things, but it seemed it really was a true status window after all.
However, it was a little different from what I knew.

‘Desire?’

To become the best VTuber, it said.
Since I had similar thoughts, it wasn’t wrong.
After all, it was closely related to the activation of the VTuber scene.
So what did it want to convey?
As my gaze naturally fell to the mission at the very bottom, a message followed as if it had noticed.

[Mission – Preparation]
–To become a VTuber, an understanding of internet broadcasting is essential. First, let’s learn the ways of our seniors!

[Objective]
·Watch any streamer’s broadcast for 1 hour continuously (0/60)
·Become a fan of any streamer (0/1)
·Enter live chat at least 30 times (0/30)
·Receive a reaction from a streamer (0/1)

[Reward]
·2D Illustration Skill Lv.1

Suddenly, there was a lot.
I frowned, wondering if it was asking me to do something difficult, but as I read it carefully, I tilted my head.

‘It’s nothing much.’

Although there were four objectives, they were things I usually did anyway.
For me, who had some knowledge of internet broadcasting culture, it meant it was as easy as pie.
There was no need to do it necessarily.
It also felt unsettling to listen to the words of some unknown entity, whether it was a god or something else.
However, if there was a reward, it was a different story.

‘2D illustration… that’s a skill essential for VTubers, isn’t it?’

To be precise, it wasn’t a mandatory virtue, but it was much better to have it.
Since VTubers themselves share otaku culture, having expertise in drawing gives an advantage, and especially at this point in time, it greatly influences the start of a broadcast.

‘For a VTuber, an avatar is essential.’

If I couldn’t draw it myself, I would have to commission it, but while that might be true in a future where the VTuber scene is established, currently, most artists wouldn’t understand what I wanted.
There was a high probability that the desired quality wouldn’t be achieved, and the price would also be more expensive.
Honestly, I had thought about becoming a VTuber, but at a time when there was no infrastructure yet, I was at a loss as to how to begin.

‘I can’t learn every single skill just to become a VTuber.’

Then wouldn’t the cost outweigh the benefit?
The status window that appeared at that very moment.
It would be a lie to say I wasn’t pleased.

‘Is this an transmigration bonus?’

I had complained earlier, but it wasn’t non-existent after all.
In web novels, there are many protagonists who whine for better abilities, but I had no intention of doing that.
If it’s given, I should thankfully accept it.
Worried it might change its mind, I moved quickly.
The first thing to do was to check the equipment.
There was a PC in my room, but it wasn’t as good as my original one.

‘It’s natural since it’s the past… but it’s a bit disappointing.’

Still, at this point in time, it could be considered top performance.
It seemed that my habit of investing only in hobbies because I had nowhere else to spend money continued here too.
This much was satisfying enough.
Nodding, I immediately logged into CastOn.

‘Then, shall I look for a broadcast worth watching?’

As could be inferred from its name, it wasn’t a domestic platform but an international internet broadcasting platform headquartered in the United States.
Its scale was such that it could never be left out when discussing internet broadcasting.
It was doing very well overseas and even held the number one market share domestically.
Therefore, it was also the platform where the most new streamers flowed in.
Just like me.

‘What should I use for my nickname?’

At the membership registration window for Cast Korea, which was shortened to ‘Caon’ or ‘Cast,’ I racked my brain.
Normally, if I were just a viewer, I’d make something up carelessly, but I was different.

‘Because I’ll probably be active with this ID continuously from now on.’

A nickname was a very important matter.
There were VTubers who changed their names for various reasons, but it wasn’t a good choice.
So, it was better to choose carefully from the start, with the intention of not changing it.
The names of countless VTubers came to mind like a panorama.
What generally gained popularity were simple and pretty nicknames.
If it was complicated or too deep, there were more disadvantages than advantages.
Of course, there were cases where people did it intentionally for attention…

‘Not me.’

I decided.
I typed the carefully considered nickname.
Lucy.
Lucy has its etymology in the Latin word ‘Lux,’ meaning light, which was a fitting meaning for someone in the position of being the first VTuber.
My future stage name.
A smile spread across my face at the thought of taking my first step.

‘There’s a lot going on.’

After creating the ID, I looked around the site.
An old-fashioned UI, different from the 2020s.
There were many broadcasts, but no one I knew.
It was probably because the world had changed.
I didn’t know what to watch.
The solution in such a case was simple.

‘I just need to look at the top.’

The number of viewers was the most powerful indicator in internet broadcasting.
If many people watched, it meant there was a reason.
That was why there was a large floating population at the top.
For reference, I too was a ‘top floater’ until I started watching VTubers.
When I clicked the ‘All’ tab, the number of viewers changed, starting from the units.
I nodded, looking at the top cams.

‘As expected, the peak is male streamers.’

There weren’t no women, but all the very top spots were occupied by men.
Since internet broadcasting itself was male-dominated, it was a natural phenomenon.
I clicked on one of them.
He was a male streamer named ‘Crow,’ and since he was playing a game, it seemed easy to watch.

“Ah! Son of a…!”
As soon as I entered, expletives exploded.
Just then, his character happened to die.

–Idiot
–He got hit by that; didn’t he move?
–Ha.. seriously, what happened to our bro. At times like this, I wonder if he’s really a former pro.
–He marked the ping himself then forgot lol
–These guys are bullying him too much. The opponent just played well.
–Fr, Taejun’s MMR is super high.

The chat scrolled up at an incredibly fast pace.
Most of it was criticism and ridicule.
Of course, it was playful, but it was enough to break an ordinary person’s mentality.
However, the streamer, far from cowering, yelled back.

“What did I forget? I knew there was an enemy and changed my strategy. Watch the broadcast properly, will you!”
It wasn’t genuine anger but more like he was stoking the flames for fun.
As if my guess was correct, the chat was flooded with .

‘Wow. He’s good at streaming.’

I genuinely admired him.
Although it was a short time, I could feel the streamer’s composure.
From a simple viewer’s perspective, I hadn’t thought much of it, but from an analytical one, he seemed remarkable.
Even at that moment, the broadcast continued.

‘Ah, this isn’t the time for this.’

The broadcast was entertaining, but I had another objective.
Let’s see.
First, becoming a fan.

‘If I send 1000 cash, it automatically becomes a fan subscription, right?’

If you sponsored the minimum amount, a fan mark would automatically be attached.
Since 1 cash was 1 won, it meant 1000 won was enough.
I immediately charged money and sent the cash.

[Lucy, thank you for your 1,000 cash sponsorship!]
–Hello! I’ll become a fan!

The sponsorship window appeared in the chat.
I had thought about not writing a message, but I put in a simple one anyway.
I had aimed for a reaction too, killing two birds with one stone, but unfortunately, that was impossible.

–Oh
–Ohh, is his form returning??
–Too bad, he could’ve caught him.
–Looks like he’s warming up?
–Fan hi
–PNPN
–Sir, this room starts from 5,000 won.

After a few viewers’ reactions, the sponsorship was buried in an instant.

‘I didn’t expect him to be a major streamer.’

As the size of the streamer grew, so did the trolls, so some channels didn’t display anything below a certain amount on stream.
It was a simple yet effective method.
Still, one was achieved, and next.
I typed in the chat, with the heart of a viewer.

“This feels good? I’m getting chicken this time.”

–Ah
–That statement

–Suddenly casting voodoo magic lol
–No, bro; you were doing well, what are you suddenly saying?
–Isn’t magma coming soon?
–[Lucy] : Ah

“See? I told you this round feels good. Get ready to give me mission cash.”

–Oh
–Ooooh
–Wow, what was that headshot??
–That was insane just now.
–No!! I put all my assets into the mission;;
–Wasn’t it a safe asset???
–[Lucy] : Oh

“FK!! Oh. I finally got it!!”

–Kyah
–Kyahhhh
–It’s chicken, chicken!
–Fking delicious.
–That was awesome 
–Bro, I believed in you.
–[Lucy] : Kyah

Although I didn’t yet know the culture of this room, I was an experienced viewer.
Meaning, I knew how to chat freely without being told to ‘lurk for three days’.
It was by benchmarking existing viewers.

‘Good. It was natural.’

I blended in as if I were a native of this room from the beginning.
Surely, no one would notice that this was my first time watching today.
The proof was that I hadn’t been temporarily banned even once until the mission was completed.
I looked at the status window again.

[Objective]
·Watch any streamer’s broadcast for 1 hour continuously (60/60)
·Become a fan of any streamer (1/1)
·Enter live chat at least 30 times (30/30)
·Receive a reaction from a streamer (0/1)

Before I knew it, an hour had passed.
The rest were all easy, but there was one objective I hadn’t achieved yet.

‘Getting a reaction is a bit tough.’

For the streamer to specifically pick out one person and react to them.
Its difficulty was overwhelmingly higher compared to the others.
Most viewers wished for the streamer to acknowledge them.
That’s why they would greatly rejoice even at a simple reaction.
In other words, it meant there were just as many competitors.

‘Actually, it would be simple if I spent some money….’

That felt a bit wasteful.
I also needed capital myself.
Above all, to become the best VTuber, shouldn’t I be able to solve something like this myself?
Alright, let’s try.
I’ve had years of internet broadcasting experience.

‘This much is nothing.’

What kind of chat did a streamer react to?
It was clearly visible to my eyes.
A long time passed after I settled into the chat window with such confidence.
My former smile was long gone, and my face had hardened a long time ago.

‘……This is a major streamer?’

It seemed I had underestimated the firepower of a major streamer.

“Should we do one more round as a duo? Or a squad?”

–Squad go go
–Squad is more fun.
–A solid duo is fine too.
–Duo with BillJ?
–You’re going to do whatever you want anyway, why ask?
–[Lucy] : How about one more solo game?

“Ah, no one for squad. Going with duo.”

–Too bad
–Pity
–Nice
–But there isn’t really a duo right now, is there?
–[Lucy] : Wouldn’t solo be better for getting chicken?
–Who’s this person keeps asking for solo?
–What solo, f**k.

The chat was furiously fast.
It passed in less than a second; there was no way for a reaction or anything.
It was even hard for me to read.
It couldn’t be compared to the VTubers I enjoyed watching.

‘Of course, most of them were small streamers…’

Major streamers were a different world.
I found myself laughable for thinking it would be easy.
Nodding with the mindset of having learned something, I tried a few more times before deciding.

‘Let’s bail.’

There was no answer for this.
And.
I scrolled all the way down and entered any random small streamer’s room.

“Ah, Lucy! Thank you for the chat! You said you’re enjoying the broadcast? Oh my, it’s all thanks to you all, big bros!!”

Come to think of it, there was no need to insist on getting a reaction from a major streamer.
This is why if your head is bad, your body suffers.