Chapter 59
Chapter 59
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 59
Chapter Title: Miro's Civilization Taste Test
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Summer was finally winding down.
The cicadas that had chirped every dawn, the sweltering nights when I couldn't sleep without the AC blasting—they were all fading away.
The leaves were turning red, and now, when the sun dipped below the horizon, a pleasantly cool breeze would drift in through the open veranda door.
Just as the brutal heatwave that had tormented everyone began to lift bit by bit, and the season of reading and fine dining arrived with its crisp winds.
[The MV production isn't finishing up.]
The Heavenly Realm Project team was in full panic mode.
They'd aimed for a fresh, summer-targeted release from the start, right? But with the schedule dragging on longer than expected, autumn was practically here, and they still hadn't dropped the song.
This was gonna be a total afterthought.
Personally, I thought the song was really good.
From what I'd heard, there'd been some friction on the MV production side?
"So, when's it coming out?"
[I honestly don't know... They're pushing as hard as they can, but those guys are all about quality.]
All about quality, huh... Well, that's a good thing, isn't it? It means they're that confident in their work.
Of course, they were still the type getting paid but missing deadlines.
"Skilled, but not pros, huh?"
[Exactly the right words. No professional mindset. Deadlines are everything in this industry!]
The Manager sounded gutted, like he was about to burst, but I wasn't too fussed. Honestly, even if our song dropped in summer, it wasn't like it'd blow up huge or go viral, right?
"If anything, at least it won't get buried under all the other summer hits. Lucky us?"
[You can be pretty sharp sometimes, Miro-nim. The higher-ups at our company are looking at you and getting all hyped for this song.]
Oh, that's info I didn't need to know. Why would the big shots be pinning hopes on me?
"Why? Feel free to tell them that kind of expectation is a burden."
[Hah, if you said it yourself, they'd listen. As for the hype... don't you know better than anyone?]
No way it's because of Miro 24 Hours? That was an unexpected viewer spike even for me, so using it as a benchmark would be a disaster.
"That's tricky. I'm planning to downplay the viewer numbers big time."
[What?? Why?]
His voice from the phone sounded utterly baffled at the mention of scaling back the viewer count.
Tsk, this is why you can't just go by the books. He had zero grasp of the on-the-ground reality.
"It's too much."
For the viewers and everyone else.
People thought I was some master at handling audiences, like an artisan, but nope.
Sure, I was better than most.
But it wasn't some innate charisma. I just flowed with the reactions, soft like taijiquan.
There were limits, though.
Even a few thousand felt like a lot back then, but now with tens of thousands, the cracks were showing everywhere.
Plus, internet streaming wasn't about short-term spikes.
No matter what I did, a solid core of concrete viewers who stuck around for me—that was the real key, right?
[Fine, whatever. If you say so, Miro-nim.]
"Not gonna talk me out of it?"
[Would you even listen? You know better than me anyway.]
As expected from the elite Manager handling all six members—super adaptable.
[Anyway. Saw you on that variety show.]
"Oh, you watched?"
[I had to catch the live broadcast since I knew about it.]
He must've made a point to tune in, being one of the few who knew ahead of time about my featuring on Hyunsu's song.
Come to think of it, my vocal academy instructor had texted that she'd watched too.
I'd quit when I moved, but dropping it was kinda regrettable.
[Haaah, watching it made me so jealous I could die.]
"Why?"
[If the higher-ups had just greenlit it back then, imagine the buzz for the Heavenly Realm Project's second album coming up.]
Oh... If that'd happened, the pressure would've been insane.
"Then I'd have shut my eyes and bowed out from the stress."
[Miro-nim feeling stressed?]
"What? I'm human too?"
[Your mental game's so abnormal, you know that? You're the only member who hasn't cried during a call with me yet.]
"I cry when I need to."
Like during sad movies—tears just flow.
For streaming stuff... guess the stress just doesn't hit me?
[Sure, whatever. Still wanna see it someday.]
"Crazy. You hoping your own artist goes through something sad?"
[I meant tears of joy.]
"Let's say that's true."
Come to think of it, how's the 2nd Generation selection going?
From community reactions, folks weren't super hyped. Hope the debutees don't get hurt by the backlash.
Still, juniors—if they succeed, it's good for me and them.
"How's the 2nd Gen draft going?"
[2nd Gen? Ha... It's a bit tough.]
"Tough? That's surprising. Figured you'd say it's fine."
[I'm venting 'cause it's you, Miro-nim. The other members are all excited.]
Makes sense. Why would they overthink new juniors coming in? They'd just be thrilled for cute little sisters.
Whether they'd actually be younger... we'd see.
"What's the issue? You always counsel me, so let me return the favor."
[What an honor. Miro-nim counseling? The Mirodan would be jealous.]
"Make it content later? Anyway, you're Mirodan enough yourself."
Didn't he say he watches my streams while working? Bet his watch time's stacked.
[Content? Sounds good. They'll love anything you do, the Mirodan.]
"They better. Now, open that heavy mouth. What's wrong with the 2nd Gen? Auditions aren't over yet, right?]
Didn't they say it'd be next year for us too? This timing, they should be quietly running multiple rounds.
[Competition's good, but... it's overheating.]
"Overheating how?"
[After announcing the 2nd Gen recruitment, we've been steadily growing, right? Upward trend.]
"Yeah."
Heavenly Realm Project was solid, even by my standards.
Auditions pulled aggro, the company knew streaming inside out so direction was on point, and above all, they picked me—Miro—so great eye.
They took their cut but delivered accordingly, and the biggest plus? No real competition.
VTubing was big in Japan and abroad, but The Six's Heavenly Realm Project was spreading it in Korea, successfully onboarding newbies.
[And Miro 24 Hours proved it, didn't it?]
"Proved what?"
[Yeah. That Korean VTubers can draw tens of thousands like the big broadcasters.]
That big a deal?
It was a huge crowd, sure, but I worried the company was overinterpreting.
"Overinterpretation?"
[They call it the happiness circuit too.]
Ah.
"The company folks and 2nd Gen candidates think that way?"
[Spot on. And honestly, I'm in that group too.]
Even the Manager's optimistic? Then maybe it's real.
"Still not sure myself."
[The point is, those people are overcompeting. Even folks we should cull are going overboard to snag better talent.]
"Isn't that good? Overheated competition has issues, but the results are solid, right?"
Heavenly Realm Project was in growth mode.
Time to stomach some pain, grab talent, and accelerate.
[True. But crafting your own unique style? Not easy.]
"Right? Finding and polishing individuality is tough."
I'm out here showing my true self as my "style," aren't I?
[They gotta win the competition first, no time to build their own—so they copy the biggest success case.]
No way...
Who’s the top success in Heavenly Realm Project?
Anna with her stable broadcasts?
Roa with her insane monetization?
Nah, to outsiders, it's me—Miro—with the explosive viewers.
"They're copying me? That work?"
First thought on imitation: doubt.
Miro's just... me.
[That's exactly the problem—it doesn't.]
"True, Miro can't be manufactured."
Would copying make a Miro? This life experience? Unique.
[Plus, what's Miro-nim's signature?]
Signature?
Kim Suhyun's was clear, but VTuber Miro's...
"Sharp wit, situational judgment, and confident, quick action."
[Unbelievable. Is that how you've seen yourself?]
"...Then what?"
[A tightrope walker with a beast's heart.]
What? That's how you saw me?
[It's concept now, but early days? Pure tightrope.]
"It was risky, but I never crossed the line."
[That's why you're still streaming unscathed. But the auditioning 2nd Gen hopefuls? Not so much.]
Aha. Uncontrollable super-lucky Muros mass-producing—a crisis.
[Even strong individualists are getting influenced.]
"Full-on Miro-ism. Like an ideology."
Kinda cool? Everyone becomes my followers, building the Miro faction.
[Seriously... Scary if 2nd Gen picks up this vibe.]
"Don't worry. A superhuman like me isn't made—I'm born."
[Ugh, can I record this and play it for the auditionees?]
"That’s a bit... Gotta keep senior dignity."
[Hang up now?]
"Haha, hope your mind's eased a little."
[Yeah, now my troubled heart's just full of rage.]
"Good work."
Click—he hung up first.
Managers have their own headaches, huh.
From what he said, he seemed beyond just Manager—lots to juggle.
Never doing Manager life.
Better to be managed than managing.
Anyway, Manager's his thing—time for mine.
Parents not back yet, so played with Boksil in the empty house, then entered the soundproof booth.
Set up the stream like a pro, launched the prepped game.
Did the previous series as a guy—curious about this new one.
Prep done—stream on.
[Miro's Civilization Taste Test]
Last stream was Miro 24 Hours, so viewers flooded in even faster than before right at kickoff.
-hello hello
-What's on tap today?
-Became a fan after yesterday's live!
-First time live-watching
Viewers hyped for today's content faced a somewhat old-school game start screen.
-???
-What game?
-lmao
-Don't do me like this lol
-Pls
Popular game? Lots recognized it.
"Today's content."
Let's see how many follow.
Who'll come along?