Vampire in the Room (1)
"Ari, streaming ain't easy."
I let out a sigh. Whatever the case, I was all for whatever Ari wanted to try. I couldn't support her forever, after all. That said... streaming was a bit iffy. As someone who'd watched way too much VTuber content as an otaku, I could say with confidence it was not an easy job. If it were that simple, why would all those VTubers retire or graduate? You hearing this, you guys? Come back right now—don't throw it all away over some pride! Most elementary kids who put "streamer" as their dream job probably only saw the glamorous side. I figured it was because streaming looked like a free ride compared to other gigs—no grueling English studies, no certifications, and way better than pulling overtime at some company. Just broadcast games and chill, right?
But putting all that aside, the real issue was the red ocean market. For every streamer pulling 10,000 viewers, there were ones scraping by with just one. People glossed over that. In the end, if it doesn't make money, it's not a job—it's gambling.
"I can do it well."
Ari expressed her baseless confidence yet again.
"...No, seriously, what kind of stream are you even planning?"
"This."
Ari snatched my phone and played a video. This was...
"Mukbang?"
"Yeah."
Ari nodded. On screen, a streamer was chowing down on various types of chicken. Mukbang, huh... That seemed plausible...
...Wait, is this really okay? I almost bought into it. But from my experience, streaming was no cakewalk...? Still, Ari ate more than your average competitive eater. Maybe her stomach had no limits. And she was cute, too. Not quite on my level as the universe's top idol, but she was my first "Cute Girl Punch" victim, so objectively, her looks were stream-worthy. Great eater and pretty? Yeah... this could work.
"Alright... let's give it a shot."
Our office had a few unused rooms anyway. We converted one into a full mukbang streaming setup. It cost a bit, but Ari would pay it back! I got Ari seated at the table, set up the camera, and Lisa arranged the delivery food we'd ordered. Maybe it was her old food service experience, but even through the lens, it looked perfectly plated and pretty.
"Can I eat?"
Ari asked. I nodded heavily.
Eat.
Ari picked up her chopsticks. She was about to demolish every menu item from the Chinese place solo. Technically, this wasn't a live stream—it was a recording. But I was tense anyway. One take, no reshoots. And the food bill wasn't cheap...
Ugh... gotta take another commission soon...
Three million won each for fake IDs for Ari and Lisa—six million gone. And this mukbang prep burned through a ton more. Still, my bank balance had some cushion left from clearing "Moon's Fall" and "Fox Possession." But money worries loomed ahead. Every "Cute Girl Mod" punch meant another illegal cutie immigrant, and I might have to forge docs for all of them. Thirty million per swing? Oof.
So yeah, I hoped Ari's mukbang blew up. Extra office income was great, and her path to independence? Big win.
Ari dug in—nom nom nom—and I muttered without thinking.
"Reaction's too bland..."
She ate well, but her deadpan face the whole time... Couldn't exactly coach her on reactions either. By the time I snapped out of staring blankly, only empty bowls remained.
"All done."
"Uh, yeah..."
"Did I do good?"
"Hm..."
Saying no would just make her cling again, right...?
"Y-Yeah, good job... Let's do more next time."
"Okay."
That was all I could say. No clue if it'd catch on. Smart move not forcing reactions on her, though. Better to lean into the "Expressionless Gluttonous Cutie Just Eating" concept—might have niche appeal. Popularity? Upload and see. Algorithms wouldn't boost overnight; it'd take consistent posts. But that meant ongoing food budget for Ari... Brutal.
"...Sigh, time to post."
I logged into Mimyeong Net and wrote up a thread.
Pro tip: Liriri Detective Agency crushes Muksi Saengmyeongche!
We might as well promote the agency while at it. Clearing "Moon's Fall" and "Fox Possession" boosted our rep, but no commissions outside the Foundation? Probably cuz folks didn't know the real deal. So, mukbang as promo—why not.
"Dunno if it'll work..."
I muttered. We shot another vid the next day too.
Shin Na-o (real name: Shin Na-o) was pondering. Time to switch to VTuber?
"VTubing seems like a headache too..."
Outsourcing Live2D models, tracking them... Being an internet broadcaster (inbang) was tougher than expected. Long-term success? Even harder. Cam girls had structural issues for longevity. Looks fade with age, and fresh young streamers pop up. Male viewers switch easily. Overcoming that was key to lasting. VTubing? Solid workaround—hides the face.
But Na-o's dilemma differed from other girl streamers. Not prepping for fading looks, but eternal youth.
*knock knock*
"Ah, must be here."
She opened the door to a delivery box in the hall. Styrofoam inside with dry ice and blood packs. She stashed them in the fridge, stabbed a straw in one, and slurped.
Blood got boring solo. Craving background noise, she queued a random vid.
Na-o was a vampire. Blood diet, turning others via bites, immortal sans sunlight... Or so the lore went. But post-transformation, she'd never tasted human blood direct.
In this day and age, how could I hunt people...?
Vampires don't reflect in mirrors but show on cameras. Less "true vampire" and more "vampire legend applied to me." Vampirism stemmed from rabies folklore; patients can't recognize their mirrored selves. Mirrors mattered conceptually. Point? CCTV everywhere—hunting meant instant bust.
Not that convincing—mirrors no, but conceptual CCTV yes? Whatever. She wasn't hurting for it. Even invisible on cam, she wouldn't hunt. Ex-human, after all. Plus, Special Task Force or Foundation capture? Nightmare. Task Force: staked in sunlight. Foundation: endless experiments exploiting immortality. Zero human rights either way.
Ugh, no thx...
So, stream for rice (or blood?). "Blood-mukbang" sounded off. As she thought, autoplay hit a mukbang vid.