Chapter 143
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 143
Chapter Title: Dream (1)
Omurice was delicious.
Honestly, I couldn't tell what made it so special compared to Korea's, but... well, it was just reliably tasty omurice.
If I had to pick something unique, maybe the egg was a bit better? Though that might just be my imagination.
"Hoorup."
After finishing the omurice, I sipped the sweet after-dinner tea that came out as dessert, and the president started talking to me again.
"The VTuber industry has advanced thanks to you, Legend. I'm sure I mentioned that much already."
"Yes."
Even hearing it again, it was an incredibly burdensome statement.
I took a sip of the sweet tea to forcibly chase away the post-meal drowsiness and focused on the president's words.
"To be frank, the entire VTuber industry right now is on high alert, watching your every move."
"...Me?"
"Because you have the power to upend the entire VTuber landscape single-handedly."
It was an incredibly blunt statement.
Even accounting for President Asahi's unfamiliarity with Korean, it hit especially hard.
No one had ever said it to me so directly before. His eyes were the same listless gaze as earlier, but I still got tense for no reason and set my teacup down on its saucer.
"Power, you say..."
"Reality is harsh, unlike our dreams, Legend. No matter how much you chase a dream, without money, you can't pursue it properly. That's the reality of this world."
Asahi set his teacup down.
Reality is all about money.
Managing staff costs money, the fluorescent lights shining over their heads cost money, even the water they drink costs money.
DreamLive isn't some loose label like a collective of independents—it's a full-fledged corporate VTuber agency.
Do people even realize how much effort, money, and time it takes to form even one group?
"To us living in that world, your existence, Legend, is like something out of this world."
In just a week or two, DreamLive spends thousands and burns through countless staff, yet still can't match the stages you produce.
Right now, DreamLive lacks spare resources, so they can't even help with everyone's outfits and have to outsource them—yet you whip up VTuber outfits in a day or two.
Even if DreamLive only used spare resources, look at Mika's new avatar that cost tens of millions over years to create.
"Even the new avatar we made for Mika was utterly crushed by your hand."
Legend didn't bother responding and quietly sipped his tea.
It didn't seem like he was demanding an answer.
Unaware that Legend's eyes had sharpened slightly, Asahi continued.
"Under the premise that you're putting your all into it for Myth, it's two weeks at most—outfits in a day or two."
Legend didn't stream often, but whenever he did, everyone in the VTuber backend—modelers, avatar specialists—flocked to his broadcast with eyes blazing.
Asahi still couldn't forget Legend's first stream, the moment he built Myth's avatar.
Hand movements so fast it felt like 30x speed, yet never taking his eyes off the screen for a second, that monstrous focus without pause.
"Even if done a bit roughly, it means you could debut an entire group from our agency in about a month."
Ha, seriously.
Even as he said it, it sounded absurd.
Debuting a standard VTuber group varied wildly by quality, but even by DreamLive standards, it took months.
Especially 3D models for content, not just streams—the costs were steep, so DreamLive hyped them up massively, advertised heavily, charged for lives, all to recoup.
That's why it was all the more terrifying.
All the more frightening.
It was fortunate this man was pouring everything into Myth for now, but what if he expanded his ambitions to full groups?
Myth-level avatars lining up, supported by impossibly high-quality stages and setups.
"I don't know what you're trying to say."
"I want more dreams, for more people to shine under your talent."
The real pitch began.
Asahi narrowed his eyes.
"My talent?"
"Yes. We want that talent of yours, Legend. So more kids can shine even more beautifully."
Legend quietly met Asahi's gaze.
...As I thought.
Now I got it.
That inexplicable unease I'd felt since entering this café and first seeing the president's eyes—the source of that vague discomfort.
"Didn't you say a VTuber's looks don't matter?"
"...It's a sad reality that better-looking avatars rise faster. No one gets charmed by a creepy 5,000-yen rigged character anymore."
The president gave a wry smile.
Well, I agreed with that much.
VTubers being less looks-dependent meant real-life looks, but avatars were still a key charm point.
Why I kept refining Myth's outfits and maps.
"I've seen too many people overshadowed by Myth's light, unable to shine. Not that it's wrong. In this cutthroat competition, talent isn't a crime."
"Of course, I don't expect you to handle everything alone. If you came with Myth, I'd go naked as a dogeza if needed."
"Uh, that's a bit..."
"Just a joke, of course. ...Though if you really want to see, I could show you under promise of your arrival."
Please don't make jokes like that with a straight face.
"I know you're living comfortably, Legend. Makes sense, being Myth's husband."
"...We're not married yet."
"Ah, right, what was it? Lovers. Sorry."
Was that a slip, or intentional?
President Asahi didn't care and pressed on.
"Corporations are vast beasts beyond imagination. Myth's indie earnings aren't negligible, but even among DreamLive, she's outside the top five in revenue."
"Really?"
This time, I was genuinely surprised.
She'd earned enough for two Seoul houses and a lifetime of leisure, yet outside DreamLive's top five?
"That's how sponsors and corps work. Unlike Korea, we have ticketed lives, collabs with subculture companies, billboards, merch, domestic markets..."
The president explained each revenue stream for Japan's corporate VTubers.
"Of course, we can't buy your talent with money. No company in the industry could pay you fairly anyway."
True enough.
I'd made Sara's for free, never charged Myth for avatars.
Last time with my sister's Heatwave event, I took a courtesy fee, but since they'd begged, it wasn't much.
Huh?
Thinking about it, I sound like a total househusband.
"I don't know how you'll take this offer, but it's a massive one."
"What is it?"
"If you join DreamLive, we'll give you 25% of the company's shares."
If money won't work, grow the company yourself and take the profits.
Considering DreamLive's current valuation, Asahi's offer was outrageously generous.
But Legend's response was concise.
Without a second's hesitation, he shook his head.
"No thanks."
"...You don't have to answer right now. Talk it over with others, reassess the value, then—"
"Even then, I'd say the same. 25% of a company. Honestly, it doesn't click for me, but I get it's huge."
No matter how economically clueless Legend was as an early-20s guy, he knew what 25% equity meant.
Yet he rejected it without a thought. For one reason.
"Your offer has no dreams beyond money, President."
Legend glared at the president, Asahi.