A Vtuber Better Suited for the Shadows

After the emergence of anomalies, the existing national systems and governments collapsed at an alarming rate. Even if a war were to break out, the government would be able to respond at a state level. That is, after all, the role of a nation. However, because anomalies were something that couldn't even be compared to war—something that the knowledge and common sense of humanity could never hope to counter—it was understandable that the government failed to fulfill its role and crumbled.

It wasn't until the appearance of the Awakened Association that the government was rebuilt and began to function properly again. The damage caused by the anomalies was beyond words, but since the seemingly unsolvable dilemma had been addressed, the nation began to function once more.

Following the re-establishment of the government, the Awakened Association grew rapidly into the most important state institution in the country. The power of the Awakened Association was, quite literally, absolute. If it was necessary for "resolving anomalies," they could do anything. Perhaps the best example of this is the road traffic system required for anomaly resolution: the Awakened Hotline.

Seeing how traffic lights turn green to match an Awakened's path, or the fact that you don't have to worry about accidents even when driving at 130 kilometers per hour in the middle of Seoul, you can get at least an indirect sense of just how terrifyingly immense the power of the Awakened Association is.

And.

I am an Awakened who is considered a "person of interest" within that all-powerful Awakened Association.

To put it bluntly, if I were to call Mr. Kim Junghwan and plead, "Please let me have a partner! If you don't, I'll die," then... I'd probably have a partner by tomorrow.

"Ugh."

I'm conflicted. Whether or not ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠to call Mr. Kim Junghwan and make a threat—or something close to it—to demand a partner. It's a matter of my life. I don't want to be disposed of, and the Awakened Association wouldn't want me to be disposed of either, so if I just asked, I'm sure they'd give me that partner streamer badge somehow.

But it just pricks my conscience. Other streamers have worked themselves to the bone, struggling and suffering to earn their partnership, so it feels wrong to cowardly piggyback on absolute power to get one. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Guilt aside, it hurts my pride.

I’ve worked so hard on my broadcasts. Even if I am a "shadow" Vtuber, honestly, I’ve worked hard enough that I deserve a partnership. There are tons of streamers who broadcast less than I do.

I’ve decided. I’m going to earn that partner badge with my own two hands. If they really refuse to give it to me, I’ll have to use the association as a last resort, but there’s still plenty of time left. It’s not like I’m getting disposed of tomorrow, right?

It’s a whole 60 days. 60 days is more than enough time to get it done.

...

...

...

I made the decision with bravado, but I still had no idea how to actually go about getting that partnership. What else could I do? There’s nothing I can do other than just work hard on my broadcasts. Still, the grace period is quite generous; 60 days should be enough to prove my value to the platform.

Since Ayase had just finished her stream, I decided to ask her for advice. As everyone who watches my stream knows by now, I am an incredibly fervent fan of Ayase. Since I started streaming, I’ve been lucky enough to connect with her, appear on her "Hell Show," and even participate in the Battle Lounge tournament. Even so, every time I talk to her, my mouth still trembles with nerves.

I sent Ayase a message. I asked if she had a moment, as I had something to ask her. She replied within five seconds.

Hup. I didn't expect to be talking to Ayase so suddenly. And so, I started a voice call with her.

"H-hello..."

[Jia-nim! It’s been a while. How have you been?]

"Y-yes!"

Ayase is definitely a living human energy booster. Just hearing her voice like this makes all my worries about the partnership melt away. Regardless, I consulted her about my dilemma. I told her I wanted a partnership but didn't know what effort I should be making.

[Oh, come to think of it, you still haven't gotten your partnership, Jia-nim? Did you not get any contact from the platform?]

"No, not really..."

[That's strange. At your ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠level, it wouldn't be weird if you'd gotten it a long time ago.]

Ayase reacted similarly to M-Bot. However, after thinking for a moment, she let out a small exclamation of understanding and continued.

[Ah, wait. Now that I think about it, giving a partnership to you, Jia-nim... it does seem like a bit of a risk from the platform's perspective.]

"..."

Ayase’s implication was clear. It means my broadcast is incredibly harmful and provocative. It feels strange to have Ayase herself confirm that my broadcast is "shadow" content.

[Well, you don't need to worry too much. You'll likely hit 100,000 followers in the next two months, and once you reach that scale, the platform will have no choice but to acknowledge you, shadow content or not.]

Right. I think so too. 100,000 followers isn't something just anyone gets, and if I reach that scale, they won't be able to help but give me a partnership. The problem is, I only have 60 days of grace left.

"Is there any way to get a partnership faster?"

[Hmm, let's see... If it were someone else, I would have advised them to increase their influence by hosting content or tournaments, but honestly, your influence is already at a level that can't be ignored... I'm not sure what else you could do from ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠there.]

So, time is the only medicine, then. I suppose this is the limit of a "shadow" broadcaster. Religion is a very sensitive subject that can go completely haywire if handled incorrectly. And I’m not just a Vtuber with a simple religious broadcast concept. I’m a natural-born f***ing fanatic cult leader who worships a god named "Shining Stars," so the platform is naturally cautious about giving me a partnership.

If there’s one saving grace, it’s that the viewers think all my words and actions are just RP (Roleplay). If it were ever revealed that this wasn't RP but the real deal... partnership aside, I might even get permanently banned from the platform.

Ugh. If I want to get a partnership within 60 days...

"Shouldn't I start aiming for 'mainstream' (light) broadcasts from now on?"

[Absolutely not!]

Ayase shrieked suddenly. Then, she began to explain at length "why you should never, ever drop the fanatic RP." While it was true that I initially gained a lot of attention for the high quality of my avatar, she said the reason I was able to maintain a stable "concrete" fanbase afterward was none other than the intense fanatic RP. She gave me sincere advice, saying that I have a very entertaining character as the "God of RP" and "Cult Leader," and the moment I drop that, my broadcast could go down the drain.

[I’d rather you never get a partnership for the rest of your life than go mainstream. You suit the shadows, Jia-nim.]

"That's a compliment, right...?"

[Of course it is!]

...It’s a compliment, right? Judging by her reaction, it really seems like she meant it as a compliment, but hearing Ayase officially state that "Lee Jia is a broadcaster better suited for the shadows than the mainstream" didn't exactly make me feel great.

Eventually, the call with Ayase ended without any real results. Is there really no other way but to beg the association? Ah, I really hate that. If I use such a cowardly method to get a partnership, it feels like my entire broadcasting life would be invalidated.

Suddenly, memories of the past three months, where I worked like a dog, flashed through my mind.

I broadcasted every single day. I broadcasted even when I was exhausted to death after resolving anomalies. I broadcasted even when I felt like dying from laziness. And yet, these damn platform guys won't even give me a partnership and treat me like this?

My head starts to heat up, and a rebellious spirit begins to stir. Fine. Let’s see who wins, me or you guys.

As soon as the broadcast started, the believers began to take their seats.

Since I'm heading into the shadows anyway, let’s just aim for a full-blown religious broadcast. I think I need to unleash that content, which I’ve been restraining as much as possible because I was worried about the platform's eyes, after such a long time today.

"Please take your seats. It is time for confession."

A battle of nerves. Yes, this is a kind of battle of nerves. It might be absurd for a mere streamer to have a battle of nerves with a massive platform, but regardless, I decided to challenge the platform head-on. Give me the partnership. If you don't give me the partnership, well, just you wait. Later, I'll gather all the Christians, Catholics, Buddhists, and Muslims to hold a grand religious "Gal-d-cup" (tournament) to see which god is the strongest.