Chapter 236

The design factory of the avatar production company ‘Artirial.’

“Is it really made with semi-automatic avatar generation?”

A dwarf-like man rotated my Woloa avatar model with his mouse and gave his impression.

‘Semi-automatic avatar’ refers to a technology that detects the user’s brainwaves and reflects individual preferences.

When I first created my Woloa account, the silver-haired saint Silvia Alpenheim appeared, which was quite shocking.

“Is that really such a special thing?”

“Of course! Kid, you’ve hit the jackpot.”

The ‘automatic’ method, where avatar generation AI is involved 100% from the beginning.

The ‘manual’ method, where humans directly intervene in the settings, whether through home production or outsourcing.

In contrast, the ‘semi-automatic’ method is notorious for producing very crude results, requiring either an incredible amount of time or relying solely on one’s aesthetic sense.

“Correctly portraying a human appearance is something only a select few can do. For example, who would imagine a pretty hand and try to draw it semi-automatically?”

Yoonseul stepped up to represent and attached the brainwave electrodes to her forehead to conduct an experiment.

Then a skull appeared on the screen.

“It’s a common mistake people make; when they think of a pretty hand, they only envision thin and long fingers. The AI reflects that directly, resulting in that kind of skull.”

I roughly understood what was being said.

If the AI doesn’t have specific information about the human body, it interprets honestly, leading to such horrific outcomes.

Thus, it’s essential for users to study the desired model in advance when generating avatars using the semi-automatic method.

“But this model is too unique. Does Samuel know of any celebrities or actors who look like this?”

“At least not in Hollywood.”

“So you’re saying it was generated through an extremely unlikely probability. It’s disappointing; I thought there would be some amazing secret.”

“I’m envious. Kid, you should think that with just one click, you’ve made at least 100 million.”

It felt uncomfortable to have them price my former body, but I could think of no grounds to protest, so I kept my mouth shut.

“So, one safari-themed VTuber avatar and what else?”

“Adella.”

“Adella?”

“Yes, the Woloa NPC Adella. Please grant permission for Adella’s VTuber debut.”

“Please grant it! I’m begging you!”

Yoonseul, seemingly ready to kneel, lowered her head beside me. No, she eventually did kneel.

‘Was my sister’s knee that light?’

‘Shh, quiet!’

And isn’t that the dogeza, not just a bow?

It felt as if we were at a meeting for arranged marriages.

“Adella? That’s a character that was deleted in Woloa.”

“It was deleted in Woloa. But Adella is still active in VR.”

I took out the hologram projector I had prepared in advance.

[Scan completed.]

[The hologram will be emitted according to the corresponding coordinates. Please do not move the device.]

I had kept Adella waiting in a private room while heading to Artirial from the hotel.

The scenery of the private room illuminated brightly, and a figure with cat ears popped up.

Adella seemed somewhat nervous, glancing around.

[Just do as we practiced.]

We all mouthed encouragement to Adella.

“Ah, hello, everyone at Artirial. I am the dawn cat Adella. There were many ups and downs to get here. At first, I was just a part of the game—”

“Wait, wait, wait!”

Suddenly, the man interrupted her words.

‘Oh no.’

‘What was the problem?’

‘What do I do! I forgot the next line!’

For a moment, an ominous air lingered, but he glanced at Adella and said.

“This one’s translation magic isn’t working, is it? Other than ‘hello,’ I didn’t understand a single word!”

“Ah…! Adella was in VR, right.”

Born from German design, implanted with British software, and grown under American hands, this chimera hybrid cat was unfortunate…

“Er… Guten Tag, everyone? Is that right? Hehe… he…”

The Korean patch had been applied.

* * *

Resolving the language problem, Kariri and Adella were busy discussing avatar design with the staff at Artirial.

While Principal Gu On-You was away for a moment to the Consulate General in Frankfurt, I received a ‘Missing Child Prevention Sticker’ from her. How quaint, what is this?

Remaining with Dan Ni El, we returned to a quiet alley connected to Römer Square, where I had been pickpocketed yesterday, and playfully fed the pigeons.

“Are there cats in the savannah?”

“I talked to the boss yesterday, and it seems you can just insist that Adella is a savannah cat.”

“That was a joke… Right, Ni El, but isn’t a savannah cat brown?”

“When I did a search, I found they also come in gray.”

“Oh, really?”

“And the animal you’re thinking of is probably a serval. Savannah cats are hybrids between servals and Siamese cats.”

“So, savannah cats don’t live in the savannah?”

“Maybe?”

Ecology is profoundly mysterious.

There are so many animals I’m still unaware of.

“Did you sleep well yesterday, Na Me?”

“I slept alone with the principal. It wasn’t exactly comfortable.”

“Actually, I feel the same.”

Principal and student, boss and employee.

Neither relationship is particularly comfortable.

While Principal Gu On-You and I talked about Academy life yesterday, they reportedly had an in-depth discussion about future plans.

“Did Yoonseul give you any advice as a VTuber?”

“That’s the problem, Na Me. The boss hasn’t told me anything. Just said to show my true self in the broadcast.”

That’s strange. The character Kariri, played by Seo Yoonseul, is essentially the opposite.

It was surprising that she gave such advice to Dan Ni El instead.

“Everyone has their reasons.”

“What should I do? Is it too late to back down now?”

“Your sister even paid for your flight to get here.”

“Huhh… I’m doomed—”

She had already crossed the irreversible river.

The path of VTuber corruption.

“Who’s ever done well from the start? Originally, you experience failures—”

“The boss said if I fail, I’ll be hired as a maid.”

“I absolutely cannot fail.”

I couldn’t even imagine what had transpired between them.

In fact, Dan Ni El had extraordinary looks that seemed a waste to be made into a VTuber.

Her VTuber debut—starting from a negative aspect—made finding charm in other areas a top priority.

However, even introverted Yoonseul shows an extremely extroverted personality in front of the public, so judging a person’s character is truly a difficult task.

Ding—

A message arrived from Yoonseul.

It conveyed that they had just finished the avatar design discussion.

“Our sister has determined the VTuber outfit.”

“What animal is it supposed to be?”

“A black mamba, do you know?”

“Black e…?”

“The second-longest venomous snake in the world after the king cobra.”

“What… what is that! How am I supposed to act wearing that!”

It’s a mountain behind a mountain.

Since it wasn’t my job, I barely held back a chuckle.

“Don’t laugh! It’s really serious…”

“A cute yet deadly concept? Something like that?”

“I don’t know. I don’t know, I don’t know, I don’t know.”

“Oh, this fits perfectly for you, Ni El. It somehow seems like it suits you? After all, confidence seems crucial in broadcasting.”

“Confidence?”

“Yeah. The confidence to captivate the audience. The confidence to ban annoying viewers. The confidence to sometimes miss the broadcast time.”

“Hah. What is that!”

“It just means that!”

Pigeons that had gobbled up the crumbs we distributed flew away into the sky.

I thought they didn’t understand the kindness of the food and were leaving as soon as it ran out, but that wasn’t the case.

“Hey yo! Ni hao!”

Four well-built men approached us.

They all wore black tank tops and posed with strange smiles that made their intentions unclear.

“Die Chinesen sind wirklich überall. (The Chinese are truly everywhere.)”

“Ching chong! Ching cheng chong!”

They even threatened by pulling their eyes with their fingers.

“Na Me, let’s quietly ignore them and go… They look dangerous.”

Ni El grabbed my hand and tried to lower her head to escape the crowd.

But each time, the men laughed and continued to block our path.

“Yo mother? Ah no? Where is mama?”

“Vielleicht ist er bereits krank und gestorben! (Maybe he’s already sick and died!)”

“Hahahahaha!”

“Cough cough! Corona! Corona!”

I felt I had endured enough.

I brushed off the man who kept pulling my sleeve and said.

“Hau ab, bevor ich deine Eltern töte und sie in Sauerkraut verwandle. (Get lost before I kill your parents and turn them into sauerkraut.)”

“…?”

“Huh?”

The men were at a loss for words, seemingly surprised that I understood and used German.

As they scowled and pressed serious faces towards us, Ni El whispered in my ear.

“Na Me, what did you just say to those people?”

“I told them to get out of the way because we’re going to eat sauerkraut.”

“Are… are you sure? They seem to be thinking completely differently?”

What if they think differently?

“Having the confidence to stand up to racism is a basic quality for a VTuber, so take note.”

A country where magic cannot be used?

Instead, there is Aura.

How many independence activists have shouted “Long Live the Republic of Korea” in a barren environment with just a tiny bit of Aura, pretending they couldn’t use magic?

Now is the time to emulate their will.

Although in my past life, I was also a part of imperialism, as Master Shin Chae-ho said, there are ‘a in the b’ for a reason.

Even if I am an outsider, if we share a mindset to resist unjust violence and oppression, they would certainly understand my situation.

However, my body is still weak.

Even a slightly precocious nineteen-year-old Ban So Wol couldn’t be beaten in strength, and I was even considering to draw my weapon if necessary.

Golden Aura swirled explosively and gathered in my right arm.

Upon closer inspection, these men were also dangerous individuals who could handle Aura well.

The snake tattoos that covered their arms had mana flowing in an orderly fashion, almost like the circuits of a magic circle.

They had inscribed the circuit itself onto their arms.

In that case, there’s no more room for mercy.

“Sorry? Na Me, did they just say sorry—”

“If saying they’re sorry ends the matter, then why are there laws and why do people fight!”

I should have just killed that pickpocket back then.

Surrounded by this Aura barrier, particles and such.

Suddenly, I thought that modern duels are all rotten.

In reality, the only reliable barrier is one’s own Aura.

And having charged this much, there was no turning back.

[Rage: Sekhmet]

[Kaizen style: Sovereign Lockdown]

* * *

“Damn it, we messed up!”

Mackie, a German TikToker active on the channel ‘Justice Mackie,’ faced the greatest crisis in broadcast history.

The plot of having pre-cast actors threaten powerless civilians, with Mackie coming forward to save them, had always been hugely popular.

This incited a sort of empathy and vicarious satisfaction for heroes.

However, caution is always necessary when it comes to overseas prank content, introduced as ‘prank.’

Sometimes, actors would get injured from a wrong touch, and not just once or twice had police been called.

So, after Mackie gained some recognition and money, he began only hiring capable security staff as actors.

“What the hell…”

The scene was gruesome.

The largest man, towering at two meters tall, was sent flying against the wall after being struck in the solar plexus, losing consciousness immediately.

Later, when other men tried to restrain the rampaging girl, they were hit in the face, collapsing with a nosebleed.

Mackie realized how much blood can pour from a person’s nose.

The man who finally regained consciousness helped stop the bleeding of his comrade, but the stone floor was already drenched in dark red liquid.

If the person they targeted had been from a prominent political family in Germany or a fighter wielding Aura, Mackie would have fled without looking back.

But now, seeing four grown men drop down to a girl who should still be in a car seat, he couldn’t help but doubt his own eyes.

In the golden Aura, purple electric sparks began to gradually settle down.

At that moment, a cameraman who had been waiting about a hundred meters away to avoid being noticed by passersby hurriedly joined them.

“Mackie! What the hell is going on! You aren’t pranking me, are you?”

“Ambulance.”

“What?”

“Shut up and call an ambulance, you bastard! Someone’s going to die!”

Mackie, not being able to abandon his security team or approach the girl out of fear, despondently bit his nails down to the quick.

After a few exchanges of words with the man lying on the floor, the girl looked around and discovered Mackie.

He cursed internally.

“Why is she coming here…! Don’t come!”

The Asian girl looked younger than Mackie had assumed.

As she approached, her estimated age seemed to decrease by a year with each step.

Finally, when she stood right in front of him, she barely reached his waist.

Using her phone to skillfully activate the translation magic, she spoke to him.

“Let’s go to the police station together. I know someone there. Although I haven’t been able to go to a restaurant or sauna with him.”