The Prodigal Returns
The famous whore of Zenith, Shin Seohee, was in a foul mood right now.
"Ha, fuck. That pathetic pig bastard." She exhaled a long drag from the cigarette clenched between her lips, thickening the already hazy office air with another layer of smoke. The empty cigarette pack lay crumpled on the desk. She'd already burned through the whole thing—there wasn't even a butt left. Shin Seohee crushed the pack with a vicious twist of her fingers and spat out her words like phlegm.
"When he needed me, he acted like he'd give me the whole damn world. But the second that rag Sung Eunha walked out, he starts licking her ass instead. Does he think I'm some kind of exclusive onahole for his sexual frustration?"
The words were so vulgar they sounded less like something an idol would say and more like the crude talk of a top-tier prostitute from a 21st-century red-light district. But in a way, it wasn't strange at all. The way that industry operated wasn't all that different from the entertainment world anyway.
Ayaka smiled sweetly at her. "Sounds like he got dragged in again."
"Don't even get me started. That... streamer server thing? Ever since that shitshow, he's been taking it out on me nonstop."
"Makes sense. With the CEO's personality, it'd be weird if he didn't."
Despite her words, Ayaka had actually predicted the streamer server's failure to some degree. The CEO had outsourced it to Angel, and Angel had then double-outsourced it to some developers, resulting in a rushed, half-baked mess. Naturally, the quality was abysmal compared to the investment, and by the latter half, most streamers had abandoned it due to content drought. It was a defeat that had been set in stone ever since the early attempt to stir up controversy against Sung Eunha had failed.
As a result, the impatient CEO Kim had no choice but to pay the price. If Ayaka hadn't stepped in this time, he would have uselessly burned the "Bad Dog" card. He probably would've ended up just like all those other entertainers who'd vanished at his whim.
Shin Seohee sighed and continued. "Well, it's not like this would actually hurt that rich shit-pig..."
"Still, it's not zero damage. The higher-ups should be applying pressure about now, right?"
Merging the idol division with the new media division had been a heavy burden for Kim Youngho too. By now, performance pressure from above must have come down, and to deflect it, Kim Youngho would probably start throwing around reckless moves again.
And as usual, he'll probably use reporters and the media to attack Sung Eunha.
But without solid justification, that method couldn't socially bury her. After all, she was the one who'd survived even against Park Kiwoo's BK. Acting rashly would only hand her the convenient excuse of being falsely accused.
I can't just sit back and let that happen.
Honestly, the situation itself wasn't bad. A perfectly obedient two-million-subscriber VTuber and one professional clip-farming mutt. Countless long-term pawns obtained through the MCN called Quasar. And on top of that, the "competition" that would be held soon. It was more than enough material to ruin one streamer's broadcasting career.
Of course, that was all under the assumption that she could manipulate Kim Youngho like a puppet.
Ayaka let out a small sigh and muttered, "When the pressure from above hits this time, let's hope the CEO doesn't do anything stupid."
"Stupid?"
"Because the CEO is someone who only moves based on his inferiority complex. If his pride gets wounded, there's nothing he wouldn't do, right?"
"Ha. What could a pig bastard like him even do..."
Shin Seohee snorted at Ayaka's words and reached into her pocket for a new cigarette pack. At that moment, the office door suddenly burst open, and two shadows fell across the smoke-filled room.
One was a portly man in a suit. The other was a disheveled girl with heavy dark circles under her eyes.
Soon, the man in the suit—Kim Youngho—fanned the air with his hand and grumbled.
"...Shin Seohee. I told you, no smoking indoors."
But despite his scolding, no answer came. The moment she saw the girl who'd entered with him, Shin Seohee froze on the spot as if she'd turned to ice.
Clatter. The cigarette pack fell to the floor.
Then, in a trembling voice, Shin Seohee asked, "Hamin...?"
In response, Do Hamin's unfocused eyes drifted as she let out a weak laugh.
"Heh... ugh..."
Her withdrawal symptoms looked even worse than when she'd been heavily addicted to drugs. Shin Seohee, who roughly guessed what had happened, twisted her face into a scowl.
Kim Youngho placed a hand on Do Hamin's shoulder and spoke in a dry voice. "What's with the surprise? It's been a while since the detention investigation ended with no charges, hasn't it?"
At the word "no charges" from Kim Youngho's mouth, Ayaka's eyes narrowed. It seemed he'd once again used his influence inappropriately to pull some pointless stunt.
"......"
Ayaka silently looked up at the CEO's face. His bloodshot eyes, yellow and glistening. Was it because of the pressure from above? Or because of his inferiority complex toward Sung Eunha? Day by day, Kim Youngho was falling apart like someone addicted to drugs.
...Of course, the person actually addicted to drugs was standing right beside him.
Shin Seohee rolled her eyes upward and demanded, "Why did you come? And why bring the kid with you?"
In response to her question, CEO Kim Youngho answered with a sly smile.
"It's a comeback."
It was nearly a year since her last appearance.
"Ah. Now that I think about it, I need to release an original song too."
The chat exploded the instant those words left my mouth.
The viewers were panicking and stirring up a storm at my single casual mention of an "original song." But I continued speaking as if nothing was wrong.
"I mean, it's not like I'm some corporate spy... it's not really a leak or anything."
"......"
At the roasting from one viewer, I felt my blood boil for a second before calming it down and continuing in a composed voice.
"It seems like you all don't know this, so let me remind you again. I am, in fact, an idol."
"What are you talking about? Ever since my debut, I've been a '17-year-old high school girl VTuber who dreams of becoming an idol.'"
"They really don't believe me..."
The viewers seemed skeptical, but I was completely serious. The only reason I became a VTuber was to stand on the stage of Jamsil Main Stadium. And to achieve that goal, I needed enough songs to fill an entire concert.
At least ten, maybe as many as fifteen songs.
Despite needing that many tracks, VTubers rarely released original songs. Most of them focused on cover songs for their singing content. Because of that, there weren't many originals, so concerts often featured covers. Even Angel hadn't performed an all-original set at her Jamsil concert.
But...
Who do they think I am?
I was undeniably the greatest idol in South Korea. The main vocalist of Zenith, Sung Eunha. Borrowing someone else's songs for my performance would be beneath me. Honestly, given Zenith's scandals, it was questionable whether any singers would even give permission.
So just in case, the more original songs the better. Releasing one at my one-year anniversary and another at a few hundred thousand subscribers like other VTubers simply wouldn't be enough.
"Besides, NewTube is almost at a million subs now."
"It's not confirmed yet."
Still, if I started looking for composers seriously from now on, it should be doable. It had taken three months to go from 500k to over 800k, so reaching a million would probably take even longer.
That's why I gave bonuses to Pudding and the Dream Production team too.
Once I found a composer, I could produce the music video myself. So all I needed now was someone who could deliver the songs on time, and I'd be able to release originals.
There are actually a few people who come to mind right away...
Well, I'd think about that later. For now, the urgent fire at my feet was more important.
"Anyway, enough chit-chat. Shall we get started?"
"Then... allow me to introduce today's special tutor."
I delivered the line like the MC of a famous TV show and connected the call. Soon after, a familiar male voice came through the speakers.
"Ah, hello... this is Prism..."
"Yes... please take care of me..."
Maybe because it had been three months, Prism seemed even more awkward than when we'd first met, stuttering through his words. I left the now-total-bot Prism in the corner for a bit and continued.
"Well. Since I said it was game tutoring, I'm sure you all knew Prism would be coming..."
"Yes. We have one more guest today."
I nodded at the viewers' excited chatter. And as the saying goes, speak of the tiger and it appears. Right after I mentioned it—
Ding!
My second tutor immediately joined the call. He greeted me cheerfully.
"Assalamualaikum."
And now it was in Arabic.
The chat instantly descended into chaos at the unexpected appearance. Regardless, I smiled and greeted Ali.
"It's been a while, Ali."
Ali Abab. Hidden behind his concept, most people didn't know, but he was also a famous streamer known for his insane gaming skills.