Chapter 71

Hayoon, who had returned as a regular streamer, drastically reduced her scheduled broadcasting to four days a week.

The reason was twofold.

First of all,

“Ah, I’ve been so busy lately. It’s driving me crazy, you know?”

– Driving me crazy? What’s gotten into her?

– Is it because of school?

“Uh, it’s because of school. Thanks to COVID, I was fine going live seven days a week, but not anymore.”

Physical stamina was the issue.

Though she hadn’t vocalized it, doing seven-day broadcasts was already a heavy burden.

To be honest, she really wanted to relax more.

People shouldn’t live in crunch mode all the time.

Since taking breaks from broadcasts, she’s felt like she’s been working overtime during her breaks, and there’s been no free time recently.

This was a small reward she was giving herself as the launch of the upcoming “Cosplayholic” game and VTuber Scarlet’s debut were both progressing smoothly.

[1,000 won donation]

– Use the donation for bus fare. Anyway, for someone in the liberal arts, talent speaks more loudly than regular attendance, so don’t stress about school too much. You’ve got talent out the wazoo. Just take it easy.

[1,000 won donation]

– Agree. Anyway, in the liberal arts, it’s not the students who ace math and science tests or receive perfect attendance awards who win in the end, but rather those who excel in their own fields. With your level of drawing skills, it’s enough to attend only a little over the minimum required.

This was the main reason the second rationale for establishing a four-day broadcast schedule could be executed.

Unexpectedly, donations were coming in frequently.

Though fewer large donations were coming in, if accumulated together, they were not significantly less than when she broadcasted seven days a week.

Though there had been a long quiet period, the loyalty of the viewers who tuned into Hayoon’s broadcasts remained high.

Thanks to this, it was possible to maintain her four-day schedule while still earning enough to live by.

[1,000 won donation]

– By the way, isn’t the cover singer you illustrate for and the blue bird person still alright?

Between sketches, she took a short break.

A viewer brought up a topic that Hayoon had wanted to address.

“Cover singer? Scarlet?”

– Yeah, that person.

– Honestly, there’s something off when I see her illustrations on the blue bird platform occasionally. You’re clearly Korean, yet she sometimes speaks Japanese…

It seems Hong Seohyun had gained a reputation among Hayoon’s viewers as quite the eccentric person.

Considering that Korean VTubers from the early days did not emphasize role-playing, it makes sense.

Given that many of the early VTubers were originally no-cam streamers who rebranded by virtualizing their characters, Hong Seohyun’s focused RP building on the blue bird platform might seem somewhat peculiar.

However,

“I don’t think it’s a problem. Ultimately, characters are essential for broadcasting. In my case, the concept of being a high school girl who draws memes is part of who I am.”

[1,000 won donation]

– But you’ve never drawn memes for anyone.

– Cosplayholic drawings also count.

– You’re delusional, ha ha ha…

Don’t treat RP too seriously. What’s essential is how you present a concept while interacting with your audience.

Just look at Hayoon—when jesting about drawing memes led to immediate pushback.

“Hmm, then this time I should raise the bar a little?”

– Ahh, that’s it.

– Alright, let’s see you try.

Mastering the back-and-forth with your audience, responding in a way they like—that’s what makes a broadcasting skillful.

Particularly for lone broadcasters like Hayoon, communication with their audience is especially crucial.

With each occasion where someone disputes Hayoon’s claim to draw memes, her declaration to raise the bar is now a familiar template on her show.

‘If you build only a couple of patterns for RP-related banter with your audience, they’ll keep serving you well.’

This was what Hayoon had learned through direct experience, and briefly thought about sending Hong Seohyun today’s recording for future reference, as a study tool.

-Are you planning to become a VTuber?

While one keen viewer pointed out this possibility, Hayoon’s eyes flickered but quickly returned to normal.

The chat window’s atmosphere remained unchanged.

Nobody paid attention to the VTuber topic.

‘Whoa, that was close…’

Hayoon swallowed her saliva when she realized the danger.

If the conversation had shifted into VTuber territory, she might have slipped up easily.

This was fortunate in a way.

On the other hand…

‘Apparently, the people in the know have already picked up on it.’

The presence of VTubers in the 2020 Korean streaming world was clearly in demand.

The era of the pandemic had increased internet usage worldwide, and Korea was no exception.

In that process, many people had encountered overseas VTubers, and the longing for domestic VTubers was palpable.

‘This is going to work. It has to work.’

This was a convincing sign that Hayoon could convert her fleeting apprehension into unwavering confidence regarding the upcoming VTuber project.

If VTuber was a term even her audience of Enghollic-zhol viewers were throwing around, it only confirmed that the presence of VTubers was quietly growing.

“Hey, maybe I should open a free theme request?”

Hayoon momentarily thought about the subject of her next sketch, then naturally pivoted.

At first, she had wanted to quickly create an original character with a bikini or similar outfit.

But since the situation had unfolded like this, perhaps using the broadcast as a platform to draw VTuber illustrations and gather a new audience wouldn’t be a bad idea.

‘And then naturally funnel that gathered VTuber audience toward Scarlet.’

It was truly a brilliant plan, and Hayoon couldn’t help but admire her own ingenuity.

#

Streaming is four days a week, but school attendance is five days a week.

What does that mean?

“Ugh, man…”

No deep meaning, just that going to school is dog-tired exhausting.

Hayoon released another sigh while heading to school, as usual, cooling herself under the air conditioning.

Today, she came separately from Hong Seohyun.

Closing her eyes in the quiet sanctuary of the east wing, where one could experience the rare privilege of serenity only found there, she listened to the steady hum of the air conditioner.

“For two more years, or two and a half… uh…”

And amidst that quietness, she reaffirmed her resolution.

School.

This god-awful school.

Despite its dogged tedium, she’d graduate with her diploma.

Just as Hayoon’s sweat dried up,

“Ah, you’re here already?”

“Yeah, I usually come in early.”

Hong Seohyun approached and greeted her.

It had been a while since morning routines in the east wing had become a regular habit not just for Hayoon but for the other game department members as well.

Hong Seohyun naturally pulled an extra chair and sat next to Hayoon, with brief pleasantries segueing quickly into business talk.

“Did you review the footage I sent yesterday? The broadcast from last night is a prime example of RP usage.”

“RP usage…?”

“Yes, you don’t have to overthink RP—it’s just a concept, a conversation filler to manage air time. Think of it as a lubricant that makes things easier.”

“Hmm, so that’s…”

With the impending debut of Utaite Scarlet as VTuber Scarlet, and considering Hong Seohyun’s relative unawareness of internet streaming culture, Hayoon was giving what amounted to a crash course.

“It’s a bit difficult…”

Of course, expecting someone with little broadcasting experience to master RP solely through mental simulations was never going to be easy.

“I’ve tried to simulate it in my mind, but I’m not quite getting the feel for how to interact with an audience…”

She hadn’t watched streams regularly and wasn’t a reincarnated VTuber.

Asking Hong Seohyun to naturally develop the techniques Hayoon acquired through much trial and error was a tall order.

But then…

‘But if she fails too early, that’s no good either. Even though there may be more traffic with fewer VTubers domestically, there’s no guarantee that once people come and leave, they’d return…’

Just because more traffic was expected didn’t mean broadcast skills were unimportant.

Even with the hope for VTubers, audiences wouldn’t wait indefinitely if Hong Seohyun were a bore.

Even without her, they could wait for the next VTuber while enjoying no-cam broadcasters they were already watching.

Therefore, Hong Seohyun needed a quick injection of broadcast skills.

And that method would involve…

‘Probably, a joint broadcast might be best…’

Puzzle pieces were falling into place in Hayoon’s mind.

‘The virtual VTuber rigging… surely a month should be enough?’

Good timing. Now it was September, and Scarlet’s debut was exactly one month away.

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