Chapter 7
Chapter 7
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 7
Chapter Title: Members Over-Immerse in RP
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It's a house that's a bit embarrassing to invite people into.
Windows with poor insulation that let the cold seep right through.
In winter, I stick bubble wrap on them to avoid freezing to death, but it doesn't look great. I'm used to it and don't mind, but having guests over made me a little self-conscious.
Thankfully, the guest who'd come to my place—whether out of consideration or genuine indifference—didn't seem to care at all.
"The setup's done."
"Thank you."
There's this common stereotype that pops into people's heads.
You know, the college girl who doesn't know much about computers asking her tech-savvy older brother figure—especially an engineering major senior—to not only spec out a PC for her but install it too.
But here I am, a guy, with a female manager installing a computer in my home. It felt like the roles were reversed—kind of awkward and embarrassing.
This weird feeling was creeping over me.
Of course, the company provided the computer, handled the specs and order, but watching the manager set it up made me feel like I was the stereotypical clueless girl in that bias. Super strange vibe.
"Check if it's working properly. Do you have any games you usually play?"
"No, I don't game on computers."
It hit me again just how pretty the manager was.
How could everyone at the company be this attractive?
Did they hire solely based on looks?
"Then maybe it's better to avoid games altogether until debut. Hardly anyone doesn't game these days, so that alone could be your unique hook."
"Ah, yeah."
Every time the manager moved, her neatly tied-up blonde ponytail swayed.
I'd probably get in trouble for thinking about tugging it.
Can't control every thought that pops up, though.
"While I'm at it, let me help set up your streaming too."
"You don't have to go that far."
"Better to put my knowledge to use. Any weird glitches would just annoy me."
So cool.
That decisive attitude and businesslike expression.
She had the vibe of an ace, an elite who gets things done.
And she really was handling everything flawlessly.
My primal male instinct to show off in front of a pretty woman stirred, but unfortunately, my PC knowledge was below average. I couldn't do a thing.
"Good luck with your stream, then."
After finishing the broadcast setup and explaining everything, the manager headed back to the company.
I'm not starting virtual idol streams just yet.
No model or songs ready.
But it's not like I got the computer early for no reason.
I'd received a mission from the company—from the president herself.
A three-day broadcast trial run.
Three hours a day.
Just start streaming.
Zero-viewer life, starting from scratch.
They say company-affiliated virtual streamers often peak at their debut reveal with the highest viewer counts.
Because there's a floating fanbase of virtual fans who check out every corporate debut.
The key is how many you retain and how well you hook them with your charm.
Not everyone trends downward, of course.
Talented rough gems eventually shine, riding word-of-mouth or algorithms to steady growth and explosive success.
But since most corporate debuts do decline, mental prep for that is crucial.
For example, if 1,000 viewers show for the debut reveal, then 300 the next day, and 100 after that—how mentally draining would that be?
Get down, stream energy drops, viewers get bored or tired and leave. Vicious cycle.
This zero-viewer trial was mental fortification training for that.
Also time to figure out what I could do on my own stream.
The company doesn't handle every personal stream detail.
Personal streams are free-form; group collabs are company-managed.
'Let's give it a shot.'
I pondered a streaming nickname, then spotted the bubble wrap on my window and went with that: Bubble Wrap.
Just nine hours over three days—disposable account.
No need to overthink it.
An empty stream, no virtual model or character to represent me.
Live hadn't started yet, so I tested the features the manager showed me.
While fiddling, I brainstormed content.
Singing was the only thing I could really do.
I titled the stream: 'Aspiring Singer Sings.'
Starting my first-ever broadcast had me a bit nervous.
But I mustered courage, hit go live, and waited: 10 seconds, 20, 30.
As expected, no one showed.
Viewer count stuck at zero.
'Can't just wait forever.'
A stream no one's watching is meaningless.
Still, I had to start.
The president wouldn't watch live but would review the recordings later.
An empty stream.
Not a single chat message.
Talking to it felt awkward.
Yeah, think of it as a video letter.
But a letter to whom?
"Testing, one two. Zero viewers. Nobody here, but I'll sing anyway."
Maybe someone would wander in while I sang and listen.
So, give it my all.
Laid down a backing track and sang.
Just pretend I'm at karaoke.
Then, I spotted the viewer count tick up to 1.
First guest.
Should I greet them?
Mid-song, can't really.
Finish the song first, then greet.
💬 Chat — FriendlyPerson hi — FriendlyPerson Doesn't even greet here... — FriendlyPerson No interaction stream, I'm out What the—this guy.
They actually left!
Viewers dropped from 1 back to 0!
Just hold on a sec.
The song was almost over; I could've greeted then.
How could they leave mid-song?
If they hadn't come, fine, but they entered my stream!
Maybe my voice actually sucks?
All sorts of doubts flooded in.
"Ugh, ah."
Still, one person came—that's a positive sign.
Not some glitch where no one can join.
So, keep singing, and the next one will come.
...
...No one showed for the next 20 minutes.
'Agro—maybe I need to pull some attention?'
I paused the karaoke content and checked other streams on the platform.
Sorted by lowest viewers: dozens of zero-viewer streams.
Knowing they were in the same boat eased my mind a bit, but jumping into this overheated market? What if I flop even after real debut?
Sure, the point is original songs and memories, but still—who wouldn't want it to go well after investing this time?
Definitely, zero-viewer streams all had bland nicknames and titles.
How to draw people in?
While scouting others, one caught my eye.
📺 Live Stream [Day 1 Broadcast) Doing Roleplay Skits] Category: Talk Viewers: 292 Really Day 1 for this person?
292 viewers already?
Category talk—just talking and pulling this crowd?
Curiosity won; I clicked in.
Then, through my headset: a woman's moan.
-"Argh♡ So frustrating!"
Huh. She was doing some roleplay skit, but that moan was blatantly intentional.
And the voice... it sounded kinda familiar.
'No way.'
-"I♡ Ha! Like this! Hah♡ Admit my defeat!"
What kind of skit even is this?
And why no 19+ tag?
Shouldn't stuff like this go on adult platforms?
-"That was the rock-paper-scissors loser knight roleplay. Thanks for watching."
💬 Chat — Viewer123 Thought she actually got stabbed lololol — RockPaperFan Losing RPS... what can ya do — LolKing Pfffttttt lolololol — FoodieHere This place is delicious — CrazyWatcher Crazy bitch lololololol What was that? How'd she rack up viewers?
No, but that familiar voice...
I couldn't help it—I called the president.
-"Hello?"
"Seems like Evangelion's doing some weird stream."
-"Weird stream?"
"Like, uh, sexy radio? E-radio? No 19+ tag or anything."
After my public service tip-off, a phone ring echoed in the stream titled 'Broadcast Dies in 3 Days.'
-"Hold on, gotta take this call."
But streamer 'Broadcast Dies in 3 Days' never returned.
Probably got chewed out by the president. The stream got banned anyway.
Should've tagged it 19+.
No—shouldn't be doing that kind of stream at all!
You're an idol aspirant!
"Evangelion..."
Was that line about guys loving dirty jokes not a joke?
I heard later she'd pulled viewers with extreme agro tactics plus MLM-style promises.
Posted voice replies on broadcast forums to bait people in, then once she had some viewers, dangled "Hit XX viewers and I'll do OO" to turn them into promo mules...
Even for a three-day throwaway stream, isn't that too reckless?
You're an idol aspirant! For now, at least!
What if it blows up into a controversy or past deeds wiki page?!