The Incompetent Everyman's First Broadcast
- That fucking bastard
- Isn't that part-timer slacking off? Do something about these idiots
What's probably got everyone curious is how many they picked from interviews—out of ~2000 applicants, only 50 made it. They planned to do all interviews on day 1, but with the numbers and time, it was impossible, so they extended to 3 more days.
Anyway, only those 50 survivors get to do the survival broadcast, all on the same day in the same building, fairly, on Twitch. Check it yourself if curious. Time: July 9th, 9 AM to 12 PM. Then 1.5-hour lunch break (stream off then). Back on at 1:30 PM after lunch till 5 PM dinner time. Selection by Maerchen staff + viewer votes combined. Content's freeform. Could be hilarious or total snoozefest, judge for yourself. Results same day, debut date TBD. Peace.
Go check it.
Unlike my confident shout of "job change," my daily routine stayed the same.
Before heading to the KR Maerchen Live headquarters, I sent the outfit I'd been working on to Tsupi and sipped an espresso.
'Gotta order this more often.'
The pure bitterness of the beans sent a thrilling shiver up my spine. That's why I can't quit espresso.
I wiped my mouth with a tissue, tossed the empty cup in the sink, and got ready to leave. As usual, I covered my eye-catching white hair and headed out.
The headquarters wasn't far from home, so I walked.
Once inside, a staff woman approached.
"Are you an 11th gen applicant?"
"Yeah. They told me to go to room 405."
"We have a quick verification process—could you show me the email?"
"Sure, one sec."
I showed her the email, and she escorted me right to the broadcasting room.
"It's 8:40 now, so about 20 minutes left. Need any gear for the stream? We'll provide whatever we can."
Oh right, they mentioned support like that. I skimmed the email too quick—should've read it properly.
"Could you hook up a drawing tablet then?"
"Oh... you're an artist."
"Ahaha..."
She naturally said yes and left to prepare. While waiting, I checked out the room.
A small soundproof booth under 5 pyeong, with a computer. AC to keep it cool too.
'I don't overheat anyway.'
No need for AC. I sat in the chair, fiddled with the keyboard and mouse. I could set it up like my home workstation, right?
"Hold on~."
The staff returned and set up the drawing tablet.
"Good luck! I'll be cheering. Room 405 makes you applicant #5."
"Thanks."
Guess there are 50 rooms. Makes sense—over 40 VTubers under KR Maerchen. But VTubers stream from home... just burning cash?
"I'll head down now—got other applicants."
"Wait, have this before you go."
"Candy? Thanks, yum!"
She took a soda-flavored one from me with a bright smile and left.
Now just wait? Computer's on, but gaming might be iffy.
I leaned back in the gaming chair, staring at the ceiling. Bright LEDs, but not eye-straining. I prefer dark though. Lights off should be fine.
I killed the room lights, relying only on the monitor and tablet glow.
Mm. This feels right. Like my workspace.
[Aah. Twitch live broadcast in 5 minutes. All 50 will stream simultaneously...]
A small speaker in the ceiling corner announced it, so I straightened up.
Starting now, huh. I stretched and looked at the monitor—a girl was stretching too.
What the. When'd she get there?
Dark room hid it, but there's a cam on the monitor.
"Wait, that's my artwork."
Up close, it was my early, clunky avatar. The rough style made me wince.
'All of them like this?'
High chance. I gave away some low-quality ones since I felt bad charging. This was one. But it kinda looks like me—white hair, blue eyes. Difference: mine's short hair, hers long?
[1 minute remaining. Please prepare. Thank you.]
With the stream imminent, my mind wandered. How to greet? What content? Drawing to kill time? But gaming's cliché—
"A."
I hesitated and missed the cue.
*
10 minutes before broadcast. Tsupi was in a great mood for once. No, amazing mood.
"Team leader~ I saw the prettiest person earlier? White hair, eyes like a foreigner’s blue! But not like premature graying or anything!"
A same-team staffer's words naturally brought someone to mind. She was so grateful Muil had agreed to her request.
"I know. Muil's got a unique look."
"Huh? Muil?"
"You know her, right? Our KR outfit illustrator."
"No waaay?! That's who it was?!"
"Yeah. I was shocked too when I first saw her. Thought a fairy from some icy kingdom popped out."
Tsupi grinned at her monitor. Teammate/junior Eunhye was still reeling.
"So the drawing tablet..."
"Muil mostly just draws. Probably doesn't game much."
"But isn't that unfair? Could stir drama if caught."
"It's fair? Same quals, same interviews, same broadcast."
"...Yeah?"
"Not saying Muil's guaranteed to win. She's lived as a total normie forever—broadcast pressure must be huge. Bet she thinks the same."
Eunhye stared blankly; Tsupi shrugged.
"Anyway, starting soon—sit."
"Heard all gens up to 10th are watching this survival."
"New juniors after months? Of course everyone's tuned in."
Tsupi's monitor showed one stream: a black, off screen.
Soon it lit blue-green, new backdrop. The white-haired girl who appeared looked like someone real.
[A.]
The enigmatic "A" echoed as the stream went live.
The girl froze briefly. After seconds of silence, her mouth opened.
[Nice to meet you. I'm number 5.]
With her soft voice.