Chapter 49

The total number of applicants is 871.

Originally, it was close to 800, but more applications arrived even during classification, increasing the count.

Out of these, there are 340 for Manager.

531 applied for Editor.

I thought it would have been better to select them separately, but both are essential positions right now, so there’s no other choice.

I have to deal with it.

“I’ll pick the Manager separately; let’s watch the editing videos together and decide.”

Unlike the editing videos, the Manager’s applications only include personal information and broadcast viewing history, so there’s not much to evaluate.

The videos have entertainment value, so that’s how we’re selecting them.

[O.O]

[Lily, do whatever you want]

[Wow, a lot applied, though lol]

[Aah, can’t resist LilTube, lol]

[Make sure to pick a good Manager; if a weird one gets picked, it’ll be chaos]

[Hahahahahahahaha]

[It seems like a lot of skilled editors applied this time]

[I’m looking forward to it]

[Please]

[Lilyland donated 10,000 won.]

─So does it end in one day? No more applications?

“Too many people have already applied… if they wanted to be editors, they should have sent their applications earlier, right?”

Opportunities are seized by those who are prepared.

It’s a talk mentioned a lot by the Celestial Race when it comes to revenge and cost.

They blurt out those words to show their greatness and value, but…

The issue is that the Celestial Race is already born to seize opportunities from the very start.

“It’s a funny story, but it’s not completely wrong.”

I also don’t like those who ask for opportunities without doing anything.

And I have already witnessed with my own eyes the hundreds and thousands of my videos flowing on NewTube.

Unless something special happened, more than 30% of them probably sent their applications, right?

[For real, lol]

[Is LilTube a joke? Should have sent it earlier, lol]

[Hahahahahahahaha]

[If it’s Lily, then okay]

[For sure]

[If you’ve been broadcasting for a week, you should have prepared it beforehand]

[Those who didn’t apply are at fault, ah, lol]

[Honestly, if they had accepted a few more days, those who don’t even watch Lily would have applied; closing it in a day is the right call]

[Gotta close it before the idiots come]

“Anyway, out of the 531, a total of 80 were classified as ‘Keep.’ The criteria for these 80 were based on the immediate fun of the videos and basic compatibility.”

It took quite a long time to reduce 531 applicants down to 80.

While the fun of the videos was one thing, there were numerous application emails that didn’t meet the criteria set by Yena beforehand.

And in the bottom section of the form, phrases like “Even though I don’t meet the criteria, I’m ready to work hard…” were abundant.

Though it didn’t meet the criteria, there were plenty of statements like “I’m ready to work hard…”

I understand, but I can’t help it either.

I’ve seen too many things that can’t be done just with willpower and effort.

It’s not their fault, but they don’t necessarily have to do it either.

[80 d]

[First round is 80 people, ugh]

[d d]

[Oh, the criteria]

[Are minors cut out?]

[Minors need to wait until they’re older…]

[But isn’t the criteria not that strict? If you know Lily’s broadcast well, have a lot of time, and are an ordinary person, it’s definitely possible.]

[Actually, the criteria aren’t much at all, haha]

That’s right.

In fact, there wasn’t really anything to call a standard.

If the criteria Yena sent were too strict, I would have changed them long ago.

“Then let’s watch the first video.”

I played the top video from the Keep category.

It started with Yena and me meeting for the first time, receiving gold coins, and looking confused.

The scene quickly transitioned, and it seemed like the fonts were used pretty well too.

[Not bad, huh?]

[The first video seems quite good.]

[One more Keep?]

[Pretty average.]

[We should pick at least two or three editors, right?]

[Keep?]

[Eliminated.]

[It seems like there’s some cut editing.]

[Just looks ordinary though;;]

[As someone who’s done editing for a while, it just feels like basic cut editing. I’m not impressed.]

[Let’s go with Keep.]

The opinions were divided in the chat window.

But separate from the chat, my decision was already made.

“Let’s move on to the next one.”

[d]

[?]

[Looks like a sword.]

[Wow.]

■

I wonder how many people have seen it.

I don’t know exactly.

What’s certain is that the future boss will soon play their own video.

That much is certain.

“Phew… How many have stuck around so far? Five?”

The Editor, White Autumn, anxiously focused on Lily beyond the screen.

About 50 people had seen it so far, so the pass rate was 10 to 1.

A pretty decent rate compared to the reputation, but this was just the second round.

To officially become an editor, there’s one more procedure left.

White Autumn pulled the narrow chair a bit closer.

The monitor was now clearly in view.

Lily, the boss, was more ruthless than expected.

She didn’t hesitate to hunt monsters or people without mercy, and while I couldn’t say she was entirely kind, I still thought her nature was good.

Seeing that they don’t hesitate to become what they are, it can’t be said they’re purely good, but I thought their nature itself was kind.

So I figured I’d at least give this edited video more than half a chance…

“Brutal.”

If it looks terrible at a glance, they cut it without hesitation.

If it seems worth watching a bit more, they’ll watch for about a minute and ask viewers for their opinions.

If the viewers think it’s lame, they move on immediately; if the feedback is good, they’ll watch for another minute before shifting to the next.

Every case that has passed so far has been decided within a minute under the boss’s judgment.

In other words, whether they watch longer or shorter, if it goes beyond a minute, it’s an automatic fail.

White Autumn held its breath in the dark room.

The old will creaked, and only tension filled the quiet space.

Only one thought occupied White Autumn’s mind.

“I want to eat chicken.”

How long has it been since I had chicken?

As I continued such trivial thoughts, the long-awaited screen finally came into view.

“Wow, it’s here!”

Right after the somewhat loose editing video passed, the one with their own name – White Autumn (Final Final Final Edition) – started.

It was a video they had been preparing even before the boss announced the contest.

Hearing the news of the contest, they went through edits after edits and finally managed to send it off.

“Please! Let me eat chicken!”

The video began with a short preview that seemed to slam down on the selection process.

Everyone probably edited the first meeting between the boss and Miss Yena, so they purposely edited the most recent collaboration instead.

Even though there was only about a day’s time, pulling an all-nighter somehow made it happen.

But that didn’t mean they did it haphazardly or lessened the effects.

“10 seconds… has passed?”

The boss murmured, just watching, and the chat window’s reaction was…

“Not bad!”

This isn’t too shabby at all.

Now all they need is for it to pass.

But even as 20 seconds and 30 seconds went by, the boss was still silent.

Instead, it seemed like they were deep in thought.

Whether to reject it or not.

“No! Please approve it quickly!!!”

Time is passing.

The time of death is passing.

50 seconds… 60…

“Ah.”

A minute has gone by.

In the video, the boss is getting into a spat with the selection process.

And my life is also in dispute.

“I’m done for…”

It’s a fail now.

“Goodbye, my chicken…”

─What do you think of this person?

[Good?]

[Seems like a keeper]

[It’s okay]

[But you won’t pick it anyway, right? lol]

[For real lol]

[LOL]

[Well, that effect was on point!]

[Eliminated LOL]

[Looks like a pass, but is it really elimination? LOL]

[Well done]

[And just like that, it’s the ultimate final version LOL, how many edits did this go through?]

[Ultimate super edited version]

[LOL]

The boss (not anymore) asks for opinions from the viewers.

But what’s the point?

No one has passed after a minute.

In the video, Lily, who got into an argument, looks at the five crew members.

Seeing Yena fidgeting in the back like a scene from a movie, Lily turns to her.

“I’m going.”

“Is it a bit difficult?”

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to cause trouble.”

With those last words, Lily returns the straw hat and grins.

“Creeeeh… so crazy…”

Such a powerful scene that even watching it again was legendary.

I replayed it over ten times while editing.

The chat window overflowed with praise, reminiscing about that day’s scene.

But the compliments were more about praising Lily’s iconic moment than the editing itself.

“Oh no, this can’t end like this!”

If it finishes blandly, it’ll totally be game over, right?

But if I overdo the editing on this impactful scene, it might be bad, so I purposely kept it light.

“Ugh… I should’ve just thrown it all in.”

White Autumn shook his head in regret and raised his head in confusion.

“But why isn’t it ending?”

It definitely feels like it has passed two minutes already.

─It’s fun. The video isn’t overdone. I think you have good skills.

“…Huh?”

─I’ll pick this person.

You’re picking? Really?

Not a keep, just picking?

Seriously?

On that day, the roar of someone crying out for chicken echoed from a small one-room apartment in Seoul.

■

“Why did you choose…?!”

Well, you know.

Isn’t someone who can edit a video perfectly in a day a bit of a gem?

“Lily, listen carefully. It’s a bit harsh to say, but editors are best when they’re like slaves. Though that doesn’t mean we pay them like slaves.”

……It’s not like I chose because I was thinking like Yena.

Anyway, as long as both parties are happy, that’s what matters, right?

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