The Long Era of Mockery and Persecution... Time to Return as a Real VTuber [Broadcast Normalization / 4,396 Watching]

A few days had passed since I'd roughly spent time on virtual adaptation streams. After that, relatively calm days followed. Streaming, tidying up around the place, babysitting Seong-yoon when she dropped by, replying to Aris's messages. The hype had died down to just lingering embers, and viewers mentioning gates or real-world issues had tapered off too. In other words, the boiling frenzy had finally settled, if only for a moment.

And I'd finished preparing my trump card. The shock-mitigation efforts might not have massive effects, but I'd done them anyway. Now was the perfect timing. The ideal moment to trigger the change—or rather, the normalization.

"The virtual adaptation period is over. Starting today, I'll reveal my full VTuber vision, and all the content I held back for you new viewers' sake will make a comeback."

What, it just sounds that way. Low-chat covers a ton of stream types. Extremes like that official Japan announcement last time were classified as low-chat too.

"And! Now that the overheated vibes have cooled, I'm opening up the paid features I've blocked for so long."

"Starting right now?"

The announcement had just wrapped. Ignoring the chat's dumbfounded reactions, I fired up the new virtual program I'd acquired.

"Magical Change."

Keeping the cam on, I uttered the transformation call. Wrapped in the signature chill of the shift, I watched myself on screen transform.

The overall design stayed the same. The transformation form and virtual avatar shared the look from the start. But this new program wasn't like the old Live2D flat animation—it was full 3D. More like overlaying a 3D virtual filter on my actual body. Closer to AR than VR, my cam self morphed accordingly.

"This is the virtual magical girl, Geukbing!"

The result? A magical girl with a convincing 3D virtual feel, courtesy of minimal cost and tech. Sure, "minimal" still cost a fortune. The workload was light for the creators, saving money there, but the gear was the killer—especially for riverside streams. They recommended high-end wearable stuff like costumes.

Viewers split between awe and disbelief. Honestly, even I wondered mid-stream if I'd gone too deep into the bit. But now there was no need to hide behind RP, and I could flaunt magic openly. No more breathing room issues for virtual stuff either. It'd always been similar anyway—forcing a reason felt weird. Livelihood or magical girl identity, it all boiled down to one thing. I just liked this daily life shape.

"Why go this ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠far? 'Cause... it's fun."

The chat lit up at my ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠honest words.

Not that embarrassed... Anyway, I tweaked the program to summon the reborn 3D mascot.

"Oh, and our mascot's here too."

The AR style made it feel like it was really beside me, unlike the old avatar's vicarious thrill. Should've done this sooner? Yeah, magical girls need mascots to feel complete.

I personally deleted the unforgivable slur—no manager needed. Then I unveiled more features.

"I can even draw my beloved sword like this."

Bingryuna. The blade born from my magical girl powers, an extension of myself.

...This one's actually unrelated to virtual tech, despite bundling it in. It's just an object, a tool. No need to force the virtual overlay on non-humans. Unlike me with constant sensors, summoning it on-demand is tricky to sync.

Not a big deal for viewers, so topic shifted quick.

"Ahem. Yeah, it is... but there's a story."

"But hear me out."

Bingryuna wasn't for jokes from the start. Back when I first transformed. Most magical girls have gear tied to their costume, like Blaze's staff. But I was one of the rare bare-handed types—nothing in my hands.

Solutions? Fight unarmed or craft a weapon with magic. Hated bare hands, plus concept synergy, so I went magic route.

"-And that's how it was born."

"Thing is, for magic-made stuff, a clear image boosts quality."

Images matter for all magic, but creation spells amp it up. My strongest, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠firmest image back then? Weapons from manga and anime.

Modern creations are precise, detailed. Flashy effects fuel imagination; tight worldbuilding solidifies images. Thus born, Bingryuna protected me through countless otherworld battles, grew with me slicing foes, becoming my ultimate blade. In a way, quite diverged from the 'original'.

...But since I spilled on stream, chat Aris later.

"Nah, not just that. As my magic, it grows with me. But separately, Bingryuna as a spell grows independently too."

Heavy influence from my traits... but other magical girls can too.

"Like, deep bond and long ties make magic respond?"

"Too tough?"

Per their analysis, near impossible. Magical girls pull it off 'cause we wield magic via innocence and emotion, not theory. Reduce uncertainty or not—that splits it. Mages with precise formulas? Stick to static spells.

Hm? Wait.

"Awakeners different?"

No need to fit awakener norms. Awakenings vary wildly per quick search. No magic academization here anyway.

"Hm. Depending on disposition, could work."

No, my viewers! Foreheadpalm at the sudden viewer drop from the off-topic derail. Low-chat always goes off-rails. Sighing, I reeled it back.

"After Bingryuna, I made another for dual-wield, but can't use that now."

Replacements exist... but can't match a blade from the same era as Bingryuna. Thought Earth peace meant no weapon worries, but chaos changed that.

"Huh, true?"

Yeah, balance means boosting the weak side. Worth considering, but stream first.

"Anyway, new virtual intro done—today's content: riverside walk."

"Huh? Oh, fine. Perception inhibition's on."

Transformation amps it stronger. Even spotting the stream, no recognition.

"Magic that makes recognition hard, literally. Passive for transformation magical girls."

"Whoa."

No way they clocked it from one mention?

"Sharp-eared fans, huh..."

Tsking, I quietly enabled donations and subs, returning as a true pro streamer. Formed ice crystals, magicked the cam afloat, headed to ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the door.

Five minutes out. Strolling near home, I picked today's spot.

"Today, hmm, grab some takeout."

Habit locked in from hobo days—not universal. Plus, banking on perception block for bold moves.

"Thinking pufferfish soup."

Local gem for hearty takeout lasts days. Steak recs incoming anyway. One shout and dozens flood—viewers halved during virtual reveal tho.

"Eh? They got time?"

Chatting idly while walking, a chat caught my eye. Awakener streams? Thought gates kept 'em busy.

True, some watched streams. Seong-yoon said response teams were volunteers surprisingly.

"Felt like they'd conscript everyone. Unexpectedly chill."

"True."

Awakeners pack power baseline. No dumbass risks alienating multiples.

Desperate times... Hope Aris is good. Short stay due to harshness, but crammed all lessons.

Population perks—solid info amid the flood. Beats news. Thinking that, reaching for the pufferfish joint door.

"Huh."