Chapter 217
Chapter 217
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 217
Chapter Title: Embracing the Role of President
-----------------------------------------------------------------
There are things like positions in the world.
Even if she said as an idol not to worship her, she couldn't stop people's status from rising.
Just like how she climbed the tower simply because she wanted to see a VTuber concert and didn't want to die.
This was a kind of inertia.
Once it started accelerating, even Wakamo's will couldn't stop it.
Growing too quickly meant she inevitably lagged in recognizing her own position.
In the first place, she hadn't agonized over it much, hadn't set any grand goals, and had just casually created the company.
The reason Wakamo Corporation was founded was simply to make VTuber activities more comfortable and because of Yu Ying joining.
Unlike other VTuber companies with clear goals and ambitions, it started modestly, so how light was its value?
It might have been worth less than the figures displayed on the shelf.
From the perspective of the VTubers broadcasting here, it was impossible to even notice, let alone recognize.
Only the 【Viewers (Believers)】 could sense it—they felt uneasy but couldn't easily speak up because of Wakamo's stature.
Truly cherishing their idol (VTuber), they staked their lives as fans and boldly confronted her to make her realize.
That would surely be a joyful thing for the idol as well.
The path Wakamo had walked as a VTuber wasn't meaningless, it meant there were fans who loved her that much, and even if Wakamo herself hated herself, there were fans who could shake off their fear and shout that they loved Wakamo.
An idol (VTuber) cannot exist without believers (fans).
She smiled happily at being truly loved by her fans, but at the same time, a bitter taste lingered in her mouth.
For the first time as a climber, she didn't feel despair from the惨 defeat.
She just found her situation pathetic to the point of resentment—having a fan who couldn't stand it anymore come and scream while staking everything.
Compared to others debuting as VTubers for grand reasons, she hated that her own purpose was trivial and lacked conviction.
—But if people were starting to aspire to become VTubers by looking up to her as an idol, she had to correct that attitude.
"I'm trash."
No other word came to mind to describe the current Wakamo.
"Hahahaha—! You idiot Wakamo! Time to graduate from VTubing today!"
It was the promise with the fan that the loser would return to being a clipper, so Wakamo thought about preparing a graduation stream.
Her shocking statement made even Manager Olga stir.
But soon, seeing the post on the community, Wakamo burst into laughter, thinking, "That VTuber has that kind of fan."
[Author: World's Strongest Duelist]
[Title: Won against the boss, proof pic]
(Wakamo Inarizushi sprawled on the floor)
Don't... defy me anymore....
Get your shit together and stream hard.
Stream healthy without getting hurt.
I've only watched you for 7 years.
I love you, you bitch.
-Crazy fucker lololol
-Wait, you actually challenged her and won?
-You can't beat a believer even in death.
-Did you really win, you madwoman lololol
-So the boss is graduating then?
ㄴAuthor: Shut up and tell her to be president.
ㄴlololololololol
ㄴlolololololol
-How is this fandom's trolling so next-level.
-Challenging the boss to a fight, insane;;;
-Saw it live, it was insane.
ㄴHow insane?
ㄴBoss melted 100 million to win lol.
ㄴThat's cheap af?
ㄴEU Federation idiots lololol
"Ha, seriously. Whose fan is that?"
Graduation? No way! A quick-eared loyal viewer preemptively struck first, telling her to just stream.
Losers' words only hurt their own mouths.
Shrinking to [Loli Wakamo], Wakamo brushed off the dirt from her body and stood up.
Today was a festival—once work was done, it was time to enjoy.
"Right, I can't live forever from a fan's perspective."
※※※
The AGF festival gave the VTubers a truly fresh experience.
Aiba was surprised, saying she didn't expect people to work so hard on their figures for cosplay.
Adelheit exchanged contacts with artists specializing in cosplay costumes and secondary creations, delighted at the chance for broader activities as an artist.
Yu Ying said she wanted to try new games but worried about getting too much trolling.
Sadako, for some reason, returned hugging a pile of underworld idol merch. They welcomed her warmly as a fan from Japan, cheering her on more than anyone.
Olga seemed to have a lot of regrets, wandering the festival looking for fans, and ended up winning the cosplay contest by accident.
Amelia had a blast with her dad and uncle, returning with balloons, headbands—all sorts of toys.
Meanwhile, Asuka skipped the festival to edit a fancy video of Wakamo getting beaten by her fan and uploaded it worldwide titled [Wakamo Gets Absolutely Wrecked!].
As a troll, she couldn't miss the moment, her face full of ecstatic pleasure—Wakamo forgave her, thinking how much she'd grown.
She knew she had plenty of faults herself, so even if it spread worldwide, she had nothing to say.
"Ahh—"
There are VTubers who fall for one as a fan, admire them, and join a big company.
They work happily alongside their beloved oshi, while also streaming as proper VTubers with their own fans.
That is the most correct attitude for a VTuber.
Clippers debut as VTubers, and those VTubers eventually become presidents raising other VTubers.
It's a rare case, but Wakamo was one such person.
Separating VTuber and clipper— from the president's perspective, what was Wakamo?
An idol is something that imitates a god to receive worship (a clipper).
An idol is something that shines like a star, receiving worship from believers (a VTuber).
An idol is someone who leads believers and bears the responsibility of guiding them (a president).
Wakamo, doing all three, still hadn't shed her clipper days attitude.
Saying she hated herself as a VTuber was rude to other VTubers, a nuisance, and an insult to those who liked Wakamo.
She had to change.
Like a child giving up many things upon becoming an adult.
Bearing the responsibilities and duties fitting her position is what makes an idol (president).
It's like climbing the tower.
Like gaining experience in life and leveling up.
She thought climbers and VTubers were completely different, but they turned out to be the same.
In the grand form of a 『VTuber Company』, the president role is the most crucial.
Even Japan's largest VTuber company, 『Virtual Live』, is faltering with graduations due to stock listings and various issues.
But that's because it has a direction, making problems complex.
It could be due to rapid growth lacking substance.
On the other hand, there are VTuber groups tied as companies without an actual company.
Wakamo's VTuber-run group falls there.
Comparing to powerhouses like Gang Gong Ji Ju or Wakbat would insult them—Wakamo was trash-tier.
If anything, Wakamo was around the level of that jaundice smiley on some blue site.
Listing just the minor issues Wakamo knew:
Privacy invasion, verbal abuse, sexual harassment, assault, nighttime escapes and fraud, leaking trainee info, cursing, spreading falsehoods, poor responses, collusion remarks, bullying, exposing industry secrets, abuse of power, unilateral project cancellations, etc.
And these were just the famous ones, excluding the abyss.
Copyright issues left to VTubers, or scams in character creation leading to debt.
"Argh!! iMas!! VTubers!! My head!!"
Companies forcing excessive survival shows or ignoring active VTubers' mental health.
—Wakamo was now in the same villainous president position as those bastards!!
"Me, on the same level as that guy from the blue site I shouldn't mention...?"
The mental damage was so huge she passed out for 2 hours, waking with dizziness and rambling incoherently.
She lost her grip for half a day, despaired a bit, skipped VTuber streams of graduations, debuts, birthdays, and brooded.
"Wakamo, let's just end it— no other answer no matter how I think."
Even Mei, agonizing, advised, "Main body! Hurry and end it!"
Gang Yeo-ul neatly seppukued in her place, sacrificing one life.
"I can hold out with 4 more clones left."
"While you agonized, Bong and the robot slit their guts too—producer did too, only I'm left."
"My mentality is wrecked because of this VTuber president position!!"
"Get it together, main body... we have a meeting."
Mei Xiaolongbao, as a 1st gen member, boldly smacked Wakamo's head and pushed her to work.
Wakamo dragged her heavy steps to the meeting room where all affiliated VTubers gathered.
With even 2nd gen VTubers now, the company was practically a mega-corp!!
Among Korean VTuber groups, it had the biggest scale, for sure.
"Can I... step out to puke real quick?"
"Why is your mentality so fragile now, Wakamo?"
"I don't think I can handle it."
"I'll prep the rope."
Mei casually tied a rope to the ceiling in the meeting room corner like it was routine, slipping her head in naturally.
Adelheit and Aiba freaked, pulling her down to a chair; seeing Gang Yeo-ul climbing, Won Da-hye kicked the ladder, toppling her.
Finally seated in a chair, all eyes turned to Wakamo.
Her face pale beyond death, practically melting, Wakamo slapped her cheeks hard and spoke in a trembling voice.
"For the 1st time, as president of Wakamo Corporation, we'll seriously hear complaints from our affiliated VTubers. I feel like Wakamo the VTuber has been too indifferent as president, so please share your opinions one by one."
Thus, Wakamo looked at Hajime Ichigo—Yu Ying. As a 0th gen debut, she was the longest-serving veteran.
Soon turning 19, she could quit VTubing and live lavishly as 【Emperor】 in China—why keep VTubing?
Eyes sparkling, perhaps with much to say, Yu Ying opened her mouth.
"Early on, you took good care of memberships, did stuff together, pampered me. But as I got better, you neglected me—less headpats, less praise, no hugs calling me cute, less sleeping together cuz you're busy, hing hing."
"That's got nothing to do with VTubing, Yu Ying."
"Sis, sh. ut."
"Shut my mouth, got it."
It was petty complaints, but to Yu Ying, starved for Wakamo's attention and love, they were vital. No big praise for new songs, no more duo collabs, so lonely lately—she ranted for 10 minutes about mom neglecting daughter.
Wakamo sat her on her lap, stroked her, and promised collabs.
"I've basically been neglected since day one? Do whatever I want, no restrictions on drinking. Song-making's all me—but honestly, no company feel? Learned VTubing from bro, not boss."
How much did Wakamo Inarizushi help Mare Pirate's growth?
Even without climb streams, her overflowing VTuber talent meant big growth anyway. Sadako joined via Kwon Wang's connections for strength—reflecting, she was even more freely neglected than Yu Ying.
She preferred it that way, but honestly admitted she barely felt the company's presence.
"Vacations or big content help, but as boss's subordinate, I feel more climber than VTuber affiliation?"
"Cough!!"
"Honestly, I make my songs, run my streams—bluntly, boss as VTuber is optional. No duo collabs with you?"
"Stop, Sadako—president's dying."
Sadako shrugged as Wakamo bled out near death.
"Asuka has no complaints. Working as company cog!"
Bonus: Anywhere she could troll was fine.
At least one okay was a relief, her tears burning hot.
Next, the problematic 1st gen—especially one seemed full of words.
"Not long since joining, but as a company, manager help, support—no big complaints. Freedom's Wakamo Corp motto? Which president reimburses smokes?"
"Adelheit has zero complaints with Wakamo? Weird to nitpick my life-saver owner? Built your gallery too! Honestly, feels more artist than VTuber. Climber bonds stronger! As VTuber, no affiliation!"
"President."
"Yes, Olga."
"Say my full name."
"Iosif Khan."
"You know better!!"
Olga back-hugged and lifted Wakamo, slamming her with a backdrop.
Then Olga's pent-up grievances poured like a magic chant—more frequent streams together, big group content as president, not solo songs but group songs like 2nd gen—.
Didn't stop: Get closer, make memories, as company VTubers, interact, collabs, all that—but everyone's free-ranging, so president do something!—she wailed, flipping her over.
For Iosif Khan with 4 albums, year-end concert gets more time for her.
"[2nd gen has group songs, collabs, fun together?]"
"Our uncle does manager stuff?"
"[No president talent.]"
With Rias, Ben, producer/manager assigned, 2nd gen environment vastly differed from 0th/1st.
Won Da-hye lacked VTuber interest as manager, Wakamo was half-assed busy VTubing.
"I lack president qualifications!!! I'll live in a cave!!"
"No, don't drink that!!"
Originally an otaku clipper obsessed with VTubers.
Thought she'd grown in 2 years, but only as VTuber Wakamo.
She'd lacked president self-awareness!
"Sigh, Sadako... behead this incompetent lord."
"Japanese tradition, but don't make me."
"Don't Japanese have decap passive?"
"Yu Ying, Chinese dissing sis now?"
"Fung Wei said so."
"True diss?"
Various chaos ensued.
But as president, earnestly heard VTuber opinions, promised more love/attention, even wrote contracts.
Wakamo yelling for Sadako to chop head, or Yu Ying pushing "Japanese good at it!"
"Christmas—real party all together! Big live stage! Super flashy!! Spend big!!"
Olga wept black tears, "President finally sane," writing wishes.
"But even non-VTuber, full support—great job, right?"
Adelheit unbothered by company/VTuber labels, just followed Wakamo.
"Never had such a good job. No grad—till 80, bad knees."
Aiba, once eager to grad quick, now adapted: VTuber till knees give out.
"Asuka just wants to troll."
"[How does she grow like this?]"
Worrisome future: Asuka dark-evolving on weird emotions, Russian tower lord anxious seeing her future self.
"Ehehehe."
And Amelia, simply happy laughing, chatting, being together.
VTubers can shine solo plenty.
But stars in the night sky don't twinkle alone.
Stars connect to gain meaning.
"Year-end—let's go huge—!!"
"""""Yay!!"""" "
"Troll freely too?!"
"No harm to us. Hit Germany, Asuka."
"I'm shaking... Owner!!"
"[Might as well, [My Worlds] or [Wakamo 1F] inside tower—give perms, I could decorate? Summon fun monsters.]"
And stars shining in night sky move people.
Wakamo Inarizushi declared to her beloved VTubers here!!
Raising her glass high, Wakamo said.
"As president!! I'll make my precious beloved VTubers shine brighter than anyone!!"
More specially, more preciously, more lovably.
Won't hide loving VTubers as fan.
Now, Wakamo would proudly tell all.
She loves most the VTubers who trust her, join her, share memories.
"To the year-end concert—cheers!!"
""""""Cheers!!""""""
"[Cheers!]"
Glasses clash, shatter, drinks splash everywhere.
Drenching each other, laughing, chug whole bottles hot.
They were VTubers, and climbers scaling the tower.
"I love you, my VTubers!!"
"Yahoo!!"
Amelia leaping into her arms right after "Jump into my bosom!" was unexpected.
Boom—!
Wakamo Corporation building collapsed spectacularly that day.
2 years was a good run.
Amelia embedded upside-down in asphalt, road caved but no injuries.
Wakamo exploded but regenerated like a mineboo.