Coming to Me Too? Obituary or Festival Invite? Thud!
"To get this server to blow up, this is the only way!"
Thud!
Baek Yu-na, president of Eterea—the largest VTuber agency in Korea—slammed the conference table, her shout hanging in the air. The VTubers gathered for the meeting fell silent.
"Why's everyone so quiet?"
"Um... President. We need to know what method you're talking about before we can react."
Aohane Dora, a first-gen member, stepped up with her honest opinion at the president's urging. The others nodded in agreement.
"Huh? Didn't I say it already?"
"Nooo."
"Oh."
The president's classic "what the hell" moment (unofficial)—a staple of their meetings—wrapped up. It was like the opening shot signaling the real meeting's start.
"So, today's topic is the massive new Manksub server opening at year's end, right?"
"Yep!"
The agenda was a streamer server, a rare event in the internet broadcasting scene, which had shrunk dramatically due to the Gate disasters. For the past two months, they'd barely dreamed of large-scale content.
But things had changed. With the Tower restoring some safety, and the government's safety promotion policies—already in sync before—still rolling out, everything had converged into this ambitious project. The server's scale was unprecedented.
Not just platform support; word was, the government itself was the driving force. Korea's two major internet platforms, miscellaneous ones, and even famous overseas streamers were invited.
"It's seriously huge."
"Who knew this day would come."
The first-gens whispered. A government-backed streamer server? If you'd told last year's them, they'd have cracked open soju in disbelief. It was unimaginable—and that made it risky.
"Getting weeded out here would be a disaster."
"Totally."
"Spot on. It's basically the whole internet scene on the line. No telling how the board might flip. And our rivals aren't just inside the server."
Tension crept into the president's voice. The government, once wary of the internet scene, was now reaching in. Would they stop there? Sure, lately a certain magical girl had the government watching streamers closely. But still.
Of course not. Around the same time, massive events were prepping in entertainment, sports—any field shrunk like internet broadcasting. Entertainment's big bang. Even overseas, similar vibes.
Festivals hid bloody battles ahead. Slices of pie varied by industry, but overlaps were inevitable, and viewers were finite.
"But can we beat mainstream culture?"
"No shot."
"...Actually, the situation favors us?"
"Huh?"
"Our scene shrank, but streamers did—not viewers."
Other fields were similar. Gates were like the pandemic: stay-home disasters. Demand flooded indoor OTT content. Streamers slurped up the scraps sweetly. And massive influxes from outside, especially post-Lightning—a tsunami sweeping locals and foreigners alike.
Obviously thanks to a world-shaking magical girl. Most newcomers had zero ties or interest in streaming... but millions pouring in meant even a sliver stuck around as huge demand. Supply shrank, but the market boomed.
"Eeeh?"
"Doesn't matter; we can't match their raw power. Therefore! We need an ace up our sleeve!"
"You got something?"
"We're inviting this person to the server!"
Thud! The name on the docs she'd slammed down: Magical girl and half-breed streamer, Geukbing.
Everyone figured she'd be in the vanguard with her momentum, but oddly, she wasn't listed.
"You're really doing it?"
"Can we handle her?"
The first-gens' questions carried double meaning. Once untouchable in the scene. Now, America's nightmare, Japan's idol, Europe's shock—the eye of the storm. Not someone to poke lightly.
"She's amazing, but that level?"
"Super prickly?"
The second-gens' innocent queries left first-gens speechless. Luna Lake, second-gen rookies debuting under a year ago. Many were fresh faces drawn by the booming VTuber market—unaware of that era's drama.
"Uhmm..."
Some had looked it up. Inugami Tenri rolled her eyes. She'd searched World Wiki thinking, "Gotta meet this magical girl senior someday..."
These days, communities got wrecked for messing with her. But as a streamer? Still scary. Couldn't touch her directly, but raids on us? Headache city. That's why Eterea issued guidelines even to Luna Lake.
"It's fine. With the government watching, what can community ghosts do?"
"But will she accept the invite?"
"She never had beef with us directly anyway."
"That means no friendship either."
Sharp point, but the president just smiled.
"No issue. I've got a secret weapon."
"Secret weapon?"
Feels like she's using someone... Her gaze slyly shifted to a member without tipping her hand. Inugami Tenri—Geukbing's cherished "magical girl junior." Using the secret this precious member trusted her with, despite hiding it.
Guilt prickled, but resolve hardened. If we can gain it.
Server hype was secondary for her. Eterea was too established to sweat it. So why the scheming? One reason.
Get the members close to her.
That tale of Geukbing revealing her first transformation to protect a fan? Irresistible. If her members entered the world's strongest Awakener's fold... They’d be safe, even if she wasn't.
The server was major content, but to her, just a natural icebreaker.
...Baek Yu-na thought of the meeting room's sole empty seat. Others thought "vocal rest for throat issues"; really, hospitalized. She flashed a cheery smile, hiding her scheme. Only I need to know.
"Hmm. Played this one before too."
Just turned it on on a whim, got hooked, that's all. Sure, streaming a 6-hour game and then binging 20 hours offline was an issue...
...Too shameless?
"Ehet."
"Right? Why doesn't it?"
Even transformed, only colors change—face stays absolute beauty level. Why always this treatment? As I grumbled—
"Hm?"
Spotted the whisper amid chat. Streamer verified nick. No usual streamer contacts, so surprise was natural. No real ties, but no aversion either.
Inugami Tenri. Frequent Lightning top corp. Seong-yoon mentioned Blade Fang's "VTuber-identical look"—she's the VTuber half.
Hmm. Junior? Or just design-ripped VTuber? Curious anyway—what's the ask? More intriguing from my end. Pushed stream on.
And curiosity's verdict?
New junior's shame-filled voice confession.
"It's real."
"Coincidence, pure coincidence."
Without my influence, even Seong-yoon might've missed it. I hadn't sought it out.
"Hm. Gotta think on it."
But "senpai" from her feels off. More VTuber recognition than magical girl?
"What."
True. If I'm senior there too? Long grind makes corps feel superior. Awkward to junior-ize by tenure.
My rank's rollercoaster-up now, scary. But self-awareness lags. It'll sink in. Casual speech per her request.
Focus: the server pitch. I'd seen invites, but scale was insane.
"Always platform Guard Cups—how'd they pull this lineup?"
Especially all feud-exploding platforms uniting. Shocking. Su-yeon's speech slipped out.
Old days explain it. They'd infight till "bash Geukbing?" united 'em.
"Yeah, gov-hosted?"
Super proactive everywhere. Official notices on communities soon.
"Hmm. Streamer server, huh."
Pre-drama, I'd drawn eyes as VTuber. Participated once. Caused a scene though.
"Huh. You know?"
Thought new-gen oblivious.
Ah. Opened Geukbing/Controversies & Incidents page.
Not that huge. Got serious midway, but wrapped decently.
What happened? My first streamer server. Blocky game they'd poured dev power into.
Way funnier than expected. Got hooked mindless. Streamed, off-stream binged, got caught, backlash... kept live-streaming.
Streeeetch. About 80 hours?
Manager to stop me? Freshly gone as incident #1. No contacts, muted donations for "game hindrance," pure joyride.
My body's leagues beyond normal untransformed. Can zone statue-still a week if willed. Often solo.
But eyes were on. To others: life-gambling server zombie.
Even shady articles. Lucky streamers formed rescue squad, dug me out from basement. Heartwarming reversal saved it. Else? Buried with server as social issue.
Apology tours galore. Health check certified "no harm," smoothed over. Added "Amniotic River" nickname. Fuel for my hate-fests when dragged up.
"Yeah. Awakener now, my circle too..."
"What."
That kind of meaning?