Dr. Fermi's PhD Graduation Challenge
The third member of Scalaiive's 3rd gen corporate VTubers, existing in quantum superposition as both PhD holder and aspiring VTuber. Dr. Fermi. Before the viewers could even cheer her arrival, they started worrying first. It was that title she uttered before even saying her name that got under their skin. Super-Genius Perfect PhD Holder.
Of course, titles like "super-genius" or "perfect" didn't need much attention. After all, plenty of VTubers had that kind of RP. But this PhD Holder bit? That had potential for trouble. In Korea, thanks to various scandals, academic credential fraud was seen as a pretty serious crime—or close to it.
Sure, if she actually held the degree, no problem. There was even a VTuber next door with a real PhD. (Let's not question why something like that exists.) So the viewers had to ask Dr. Fermi directly about this PhD.
All the worry and anxiety in the chat spread across the entire stream, creating a shared vibe among all 8,000 viewers watching this debut. But Dr. Fermi's response to the emotional turmoil? It was, to put it mildly... artistic.
"Voice."
— !!!
"Do not... raise your voices...."
Just two short words. And with that alone! She dismissed all the agitation, all the emotions!
This "strong-sounding" line from Fermi! It felt like reciting a poem... like Mirror Flower Water Moon might pop out any second! Swept up in that indescribable something, the viewers shut their mouths. And lowered their voices.
"Ask not... for soon I shall answer..."
A truly overwhelming response. Watching the chat quiet down with her own eyes, tap—Fermi pressed a single key.
The stream screen transformed. The all-white lab was now a calm classroom vibe, with a green blackboard... no, a PPT mimicking a green blackboard design right in the center.
The PPT title read:
[Fermi's Grand Journey to Becoming a 25-Year-Old PhD Graduate Cute Girl VTuber]
The viewers were stunned by the PPT title.
That title meant a lot. How she got her PhD at 25, the trials and pains along the way, and how she ultimately joined as a Scalaiive 3rd gen corporate VTuber. It encompassed all that...
Fermi... no! The 25-Year-Old PhD Graduate Cute Girl VTuber opened her mouth!
"I know you doubt my 'academic' authority and the existence of my social 'license'..."
"I am profoundly dismayed by this, yet I shall accept it rationally."
"Graduate students, you shall soon step into the battlefield of knowledge..."
"You will face hundreds of scholars denying your hypotheses, and experimental data riddled with errors and noise..."
"Endless failures will grab at your ankles.."
"In every moment, you must doubt, hone logic and knowledge relentlessly, and build irrefutable evidence in your thesis that no one can challenge."
"Thus, without concrete verification, such skepticism is most ideal—blessings upon your journey."
"Now. The introduction ends here... I shall reveal...!"
"How I became a 25-Year-Old PhD Graduate Cute Girl VTuber...!!"
With that, Fermi advanced to the next slide.
There was...
[ ]
"..."
Fermi fell silent at the massive blank space on screen.
Hundreds of question marks flooding in from viewers.
"Thank you."
Watching them, Fermi bowed to the audience. Bow—bow—tilting her avatar's upper body side to side. The meaning was simple.
'Couldn't do it.'
The viewers rebelled.
She'd completely betrayed their expectations. In technical terms, an "expectation con"? Though the usage might differ a bit.
Viewers unleashed endless criticism in chat, but I was unfazed.
"Come on, guys... think logically... Does a PhD look like a joke to you?"
PhD criteria are crystal clear. Uncover knowledge unknown to the world, or solve unsolved problems. In other words, push humanity's knowledge frontier with something brand new no one's discovered. Easy? Hell no... How many scholars leave their mark in textbooks? How many researchers grind away even now? Squeezing in meaningful results among them? Not easy;; Super not easy;; I know 'cause I tried...
"Plus, why would someone who got a PhD at 25 become a VTuber, huh?"
In Korea, pre-25 PhD holders can be counted on one hand. (Including Seol Yujin.) And all of them get big corps or labs begging them to join. (Including Seol Yujin.) Turning that down for corporate VTuber? Pure 100% lunatic. (Seol Yujin—about 50%—included.)
"Ugh, so impatient. I haven't finished yet."
Tap—Fermi hit the keyboard again. Big text appeared on screen.
[In Progress]
[Let's Get It--]
"25-Year-Old PhD Graduate Cute Girl VTuber... isn't that a super appealing title?"
"So I'm gonna try it."
"21-year-old Fermi's last dance in life...!!! Starting RIGHT NOW!!!!!!"
Dr. Fermi. She finally declared it.
'This body challenges PhD graduation.'
'Please watch.'
'Sign, trouble.'
====
After Fermi wrapped up her shocking "PhD graduation challenge" declaration, the viewers' reactions were unanimously the same.
It was like staring at a madwoman. Of course, Scalaiive 2nd gen fans were in the debut stream too, and they'd tasted two lunatics already—but those were the polar opposite of plain old "Fermi" (not Dr.).
To classify precisely: those two fell under the chuunibyou category. Specific examples:
Chuunibyou: "Guh...! My right hand's Black Flame Dragon!"
Namgung Yul: "Guh...! My right hand's Azure Wind Sword Style!"
Adelaine: "Guh...! My right hand's Black Rose!"
This "Fermi" was in the anything's possible category. Specific example:
Anything's Possible: "Hm... animal...? Possible."
Fermi: "Hm... PhD...? Possible."
Just hearing it oozed madness. I wanted to give Scalaiive's president an Ig Nobel for dreaming up and executing the insane idea of making lunatics like this into VTubers.
As the manager struggled with endless [Deleted Message] from the "crazy bitch..." barrage, the slightly calmed viewers fired chats at Fermi.
Still mostly curses, of course.
"Ah... your attitudes are truly heartbreaking."
"Here! A young Korean has decided to devote his entire youth to academia...!"
"Instead of praise and cheers, you hurl demotivating criticism...!"
"Have you no hearts at all!!"
"Why not? Does a person have to do just one thing in life?"
Like how quantum stuff is both wave and particle, right? No reason I can't. Duh.
"Oh, a concrete plan. Love plans. I'm an INTJ, you know? Good at making 'em."
"Oh right. Yeah."
Come to think of it, hadn't done RP intro yet.
"Hm. RP intro first then?"
"Uh... skip it?"
Fermi's debut stream, dominating the mental game from the start, was giving viewers headaches.