Chapter 26
Chapter 26
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 26
Chapter Title: Fox God VTuber Climbing the Tower
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I want to climb the tower.
[No attack skills needed, just come on over, Wakamo~ I'll toss you a monster, so chow down]—I want to head to a tower that hands out content like that.
Today, I'm officially doing content as a VTuber and going live.
With platform support, I'm doing what other VTubers do: broadcasting in a 3D model.
I wonder what I look like on the screen over there. From a viewer's perspective, how do I come across?
'This is dangerous. Good thing I don't need to breathe.'
If this were a body that had to breathe, I'd probably be suffocating from the pressure right about now.
I've said it over and over: VTubing is all about dreams and romance... but let's talk business, professionally speaking. I'm at a level now where I can proudly call myself a 【pro】 VTuber company.
The order got flipped, but I proved myself, got support from the Ascender Association, became the entity running the 『VTuber industry』, and now I'm broadcasting.
That legendary 0th-gen member called the vice-captain of Virtual Live.
It all started when I teamed up with my manager friend, went to the company president dreaming of becoming a VTuber idol—an unbelievable, miracle-like success story.
Never giving up, believing in the girls' dreams, shedding tears alongside fellow VTubers, building a foundation from nothing with our own hands, laying the groundwork, and finally becoming the top company—a mythic tale of success!!
Virtual Live's president ranked 3rd in the 'Japan Entrepreneur Ranking 2023', drawing attention as a business leader too. He says VTubers aren't just characters—they're talents and artists who perform songs and shows.
Indeed, most VTubers under Virtual Live Productions have top-tier skills. Their popularity isn't limited to the internet or Japan—it's expanded to real-world spaces and globally, pulling off live events for thousands and even charting on the US Billboard, with clear results to show.
As they gain fame, more people flood in. Even Virtual YouTubers with few viewers benefit.
Aspiring VTubers make original songs, collab with idols they admire, and one day stand on that dreamlike big stage singing—the fans watch their growth, cheer them on, share the joy, and achieve dreams and goals together.
That's the quintessential image of VTubers charging through this era. Sure, only a tiny handful actually succeed.
No wonder they say aim for big corporations.
'It's a job born in an era where you can watch broadcasts anywhere. It's a flower blooming on the soil built by Japanese anime and games.'
The smartphone era made it normal for individuals to watch their favorite videos anytime. Once mocked as otaku just for watching, but now generations familiar with anime have grown up, boosting accessibility.
'VTubing makes bank if you succeed. This is the character business of a new era. Like Disney's Mickey Mouse.'
Unlike real celebrities, VTubers stand strong as character IPs.
Licensing deals, merch launches—you can run merchandising strategies just like anime characters.
What's key for anime? Fans.
VTubers operate on a B2C model—business to consumer—so revenue leans more toward viewer donations and platform memberships (fan club fees) than ads. Merch often caters to those fans.
That's why they hustle for live events, corporate collabs, merges, and more—to capture fans across layers.
From a corporate view, it's better to develop avatars and broadcast systems for VTubers, handle management, plan and run live shows, and support B2B deals like licensing partnerships.
In short, I should now be playing at a corporate level with other VTubers, not just merging streams.
But Korean viewers lose their shit over a Korean VTuber merging with a Japanese one—calling it a nuisance?
Then I might as well die.
Guess merges are off the table, even if it kills me.
My sorted conclusion: 【The key to business success is building a 'fandom'.】
Anime has fans loving it for 30 years. It's an era where chatting about the same VTuber feels normal.
"The motion capture studio cost about 200 billion won. Excluding staff and PD personnel costs."
"Hueh..."
This is... my company...? I... finally made it as a VTuber otaku... hahaha...
──But then I thought about those bastards targeting me possibly terrorizing this place, and my head cooled right down. If they attack this building, it's no different from threatening to murder every VTuber's dreams—no need to let them live.
In that case, don't beg for mercy from my fists. You're the ones who kicked it away...!!
"For now, we've registered it on paper as 『Wakamo Corporation』."
"Solid choice..."
Wakamo's company, huh. As the rep... yeah, I'm the president... the face of the company... on par with the ideal VTubers I admire...?
Dangerous... my mentality might shatter and kill me for real...!!
"The building's three stories total. Top floor's living quarters, second floor's the motion capture studio, and first floor has soundproof booths—like a VTuber room for broadcasts. Built near the Ascender Association for safety, with top-tier security in Korea. Basement parking, and emergency evacuation routes if needed."
"I see... but for risk management, maybe separate living space?"
"Haha, we've got the Ascender Association backing us?"
I worried that stepping out of the studio building would out me as that VTuber—turning into the red pill. But the manager laughed it off, saying there's zero chance. Why...? No crowds on the streets around the building, weirdly? Government's more impressive than I thought~
"President, you're set for pro status. Otoke! I know merchandising's tough too."
"I'm not the president, and I didn't know the Association head had this much pull... aren't they on bad terms?"
Eh, probably overthinking. No need for a VTuber to worry about government stuff. Assassins aren't sent by the president or some crazy nonsense, right?
Anyway, company talk ends here. Manager Won Da-hye handles president duties; I just focus on tower climbs and VTuber streams. No switching jobs, but who cares? Motion capture studio's here—yay!! Just be happy.
"You lot, behold!! This one's name is Wakamo Inarizushi. Studio's finally here!! Full 3D broadcast today!!"
"Fwiends, hewwo too! This is Hajime. Wakamo's buddy fwom befowe~"
-Yamada, come on over.
-You're here, my drug...
-Mother-daughter banter commences!!
-Boss fought an assassin and seems fine.
-Wow, really! 3D model's just like real life!!!
-Ichigo's are big... don't like that...
-Manager, ban the pedo above.
-That's a nightmare for sure!!!!
-Chat's full of real crazies.
-Stream every day pls.
The room had a mirror showing the character's back, like an idol trainee practice room for dancing and sweating. Viewers flooded in right as the stream started—since it's a merge, but first full 3D studio merge, so only Wakamo's stream for now.
If I turned on Ichigo's too, I'd have to mind the flying donos, risking a loose stream.
Before starting, I promoted the gear model's specs, saying domestic products are great and on discount for other VTubers.
-Real transparent motives, boss...
-VTuber gear ad stream? Or promo?
-Either way, boss did a 7-hour VTuber gear stream before ㅇㅇ
-Wtf, when did y'all start watching lmao
-Ah... call me ancient believer? Bought the dip big time.
-Wow! You buy crypto too?
-Nah, so I'm a retard.
-Figured from the vibes here.
-Ichigo's too cute, going insane.
They came for VTuber streams, not gear ads, so they could've complained. But they knew how obsessed Wakamo Inarizushi was with VTubing—life or death—so they let it slide.
In the midst, seeing Virtual Chat reactions like "Gotta buy one now to corrupt some chicks!!", Wakamo awkwardly went "W-Well, that works too..." and viewers burst out laughing.
The sight of a guy hesitantly pushing VTubing's strengths—like broadcasting as a girl—cracked everyone up for ages.
Amid explanations, viewers enjoyed Hajime dancing cutely alone, swaying her butt side to side with a prim, haughty face.
While mom(?) worked, the kid couldn't stand boredom, running around innocently—Wakamo's ad half-failed.
"You jerks... all staring at Ichigo!!"
-We were staring at your chest too!!
-Didn't count moles or anything!!
-No thoughts of toe stuff at all.
-Boss, gear's sold out— this normal?
-Fox-beguiled males head to the metaverse again today...
-This was a low-birth-rate promo stream.
-Guy can't date anyway—better off as a chick?
-No, believer... don't cross that river...
-Hoe~ Too late! I'm already a chick!
-End times fr lmao
"What...? Didn't expect much anyway. Studio's here, so VTuber basics: song and dance!!"
-Whoa, stop.
-Don't, pls.
-Kids cover ears, boss sings like shit, fr emergency.
-Wtf, how bad is it lmao
-How bad can it be.
-Got super urgent business, gotta bounce fml!!!
-Emergency evac!! Emergency evac!!!!
-Brrrrraaaaaap!!!!
5 minutes later.
-Spare us fml.
-Stop stop stop stop.
-Daytime ghosting!!!
-This witchcraft? Got cursed by boss???
-Pitch rhythm melody all shattered????
-Guy next door making gyudon sounds like heavenly nymph.
-Tongtongi's better than this...
-Damn, brutal.
-Why's retreat PTSD hitting.
-Dragged onstage desperately singing, bombed—that vibe...
-Got so cold turned off AC...
-Humanely, can't clap fml.
-Mountain ghost cries were boss's wail fml.
Manager Won Da-hye had her eyes half-rolled, trembling. Staff shocked into shivers. PD pale-faced, expression twisted, clueless. I gave it my all, full power— was it that horrific?
Turned to see Yu Ying plugging ears, deep breathing, shaking. Torture for her sensitive ears.
-Ichigo shaking so pitiful...
-"I got good ears!" Aaa... can't watch...
-Office worker woes past minor abuse scene...
-Owner risk how tf!!!!
-Kid can't breathe...
Picked her up, hugged, patted back to calm her. No more singing ever...
"Uu... but... I tried my best..."
-Can't even call it a dirge.
-We can't suffer alone. Clip and spread.
-Clipper's resolve continues...!!
-Here we go...! Unstoppable dono-era of clip vids!!
-This lawsuit level tho...?
-...yeah probs.
-Boss tearing up, zero sympathy.
-Nah fml, there's limits. Like parents walking in on porn.
-Porn's better than whatever this is.
-Level they'd think demon summon in room.
"Nah, I know it's bad.... Okay, our Ichigo sings!"
"Nong! What song fwiends?"
Eyes sparkling, leaning close to check chats—eyes darting up-down. Viewers spammed cute. Bad eyesight, so super close—but 3D live, so camera zoom accident.
Near-broadcast fail, but cute—everyone grinned warmly. Ichigo gripped mic, swaying side-to-side, started singing.
-Huh...? Why tears...?
-My ears healing...
-I control music. That melody echoing in your ears steals your heart..
-This.. Ichigo's Bankai...?
-Why perfect pronunciation? Why pro? Why nymph?
-Boss really picked up a talent monster!!!
-Second look: total fairy!!!!
-Gap so huge she sounds even better lmao
-This boss's streaming power...? Totally owned.
-Ah lmao exactly lmao
"Eheehic"
So good Wakamo sobbed. No tears, but overwhelmed.
"Our Ichigo sings great, right?"
-Yes, ma'am.
-Daughter's got nymph talent.
-Good no mom genes.
-Genes = 180cm lmao
-How tf 156cm lmao
-Surprisingly pro??
"Yeah, original or cover songs viable at this level."
Real success-potential talent. Slurred speech normally, but singing synced to beat, clear enunciation—sounded perfect, and the gap charmed.
Staff, PD, managers' relief at Ichigo's skills—like seeing a savior. Felt a bit sad.
Can't all be good at singing...
-Need oil on joints...
-Not feeding the kid...?
-Too floppy?
-Right! Modern dance!
-Cute = win.
Sadly, Ichigo sucked at dance. Flexible and nimble, but nonsense? Floppy like slacking off.
Meanwhile, Wakamo—fight skills show it—fan snaps open with whoosh, golden lines gleaming in dance. Expression unchanged, tricking fans into thinking serious performance.
Rough imitation of pre-stream fan dance, but big crisp moves + fan flair = surprise synergy.
-Rain tomorrow?
-"Dance of Ritual"
-Forgotten traditional dance...?
-Not flashy, near-still, but dance leads—feels it.
-Not showing off, dance itself~
-Boss, play instrument?
"Shall I?"
Good dancing hyped viewers. Yes yes!! This reaction.
Pre-asked manager for instrument—she confidently brought gayageum.
Asked for strings... why gayageum...? Confident violin/guitar, but subtle face getting it. Manager worried: did I mess up?
Can't disappoint hardworking manager...
'Phew, good I did club back then. School fest stage too—long time no see.'
Who keeps gayageum home? Revived old memories, sat cross-legged, placed it. Prepped gayageum model too—thorough. Focus to avoid disaster.
Ding ding─♪
Clear, wistful tones ripple across strings. Melody so beautiful, emotions surged—viewers lost in it, chats forgotten.
Unclear feelings poured in—but Wakamo nailed a famous historical drama OST.
Shown multi-instruments before—skills held.
-Transcends eras instantly.
-CCan't keep rhythm singing, but instruments pro...?
-Effort can't beat nature....
-Aa... tragedy....
-Ah, love this drama...
-What's it called?
-Slave hunter Chuno.
-So mismatched lol...
-You don't know? Sigh... kids these days...
-Hey gramps, quiet. No concert etiquette?
-Ichigo asleep lmao
-Look, tail cuddle lmao
-Hire me too pls...
-Screen itself heals.
-Ugh sleepy... eyes closing...
Lulled to drowsiness, Ichigo nestled in Wakamo's tail, dozed off. Daily streams tire ya.
Good length—end here? Smiled, pulled tail to cradle her. Gayageum sang with her soft breaths.
Manager waiting with haegeum, danso—who knows when—face blooming smile.
Wakamo wondered if okay... but first studio live accidentally became Joseon traditional instrument stream—kept going.
'Club was worth it.'
Wakamo glad to try everything. Viewers/manager marveled: era person indeed! Not pro-level, but millennium-old fox god's play filled gaps charmingly.
Tail-cradled daughter sleeps comfy, mom plays lullaby—viewers surged...
But Wakamo just thought: is this right?