How to Become a VTuber

Of course I had the desire to try streaming.

I never expected Anna to be the one to bring it up. Still, since I wanted to ask about streaming anyway, the timing was perfect.

"Oh, really? I thought you had no interest in broadcasting."

"I didn't, until now."

Anna's growth had largely wrapped up after the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠last collaboration. I'd been receiving friend fees for coaching her, but honestly, I wondered if there was anything left to teach. Of course she was still lacking—especially in the finer details. Those, however, were things she could overcome with just a bit of guidance. As long as pro-gamer-level skill wasn't required, I believed Anna would turn out fine simply by accumulating experience. After all, her most fundamental problem had already been solved.

Teaching others was quite enjoyable, though.

Making it a full-time job came with its difficulties. It had only been possible because Anna was a colleague at the same company as Leon. To turn it into an actual career, I'd need an established track record first—professional gaming experience or tournament victories, that sort of thing. Living as a pro gamer in a woman's body was uncharted territory, so if I wanted a job that let me earn money while playing games, streaming seemed like the best choice.

It wasn't that I lacked interest. Besides, I was confident I would excel at it. Wasn't I the duke's daughter whom everyone once looked up to? Streamer, pro gamer, celebrity—it didn't matter. It was safe to assume my popularity would pierce the heavens.

"Then please become a streamer! I'll be sure to watch every broadcast!"

"Thank ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠you. But between VTuber and streamer, which do you think is better?"

That was the real question. Leon had suggested I become a VTuber not long ago, but I still didn't fully understand what made it superior to regular streaming. I knew VTubing carried a distinctly different sensibility, yet choosing it based solely on that felt somewhat vague.

"Streamer or VTuber… If I had to pick one, VTuber is definitely better."

Anna answered without hesitation.

"Why? Isn't revealing this beautiful face of mine the superior option?"

"…You're still incredibly self-absorbed. It's true, so I can't really argue, but… you're not entirely wrong, Teacher. There are risks, though."

"Risks?"

"Because you show your face. People might recognize you if they run into you in real life. Of course, being a VTuber doesn't mean total freedom either."

Anna mentioned that some VTubers had even been stalked. …Was stalking possible even when you broadcasted through a model?

"More importantly, VTubing is better from an opportunity-cost perspective. For example… do you know what most VTubers become after they retire?"

"I heard Leon plans to become a manager."

"That's because Senior Leon is a special case… After retiring, a huge number of VTubers switch to regular streaming."

"?"

I could only tilt my head in confusion. …What on earth did that mean?

"There are too many reasons to explain them all, but since I brought up opportunity cost, I'll stick to that. A streamer who already showed their face switching to VTuber, versus a VTuber who hid their face switching to regular streaming and revealing it. Which do you think would create a bigger impact?"

The latter, obviously. I wasn't an expert on VTubers, but thanks to recent influence from Leon and Anna, I'd watched a few of their streams. They didn't go hardcore on RP, but there was still a baseline level of immersion. That was probably why people enjoyed them. Anything that broke that immersion would naturally reduce the fun. Even if a streamer who'd already revealed their face started VTubing, viewers would probably just feel like the format had changed a little.

"Of course, showing your face carries that much more risk. Many viewers specifically love the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠unique sensibility of VTubers. When someone reveals their face, that whole atmosphere dies, and fans drop off in droves."

"That makes sense."

"That's why a lot of retired VTubers end up debuting as brand-new VTubers again."

"…That's difficult to comment on."

"Anyway, I went off on a tangent, but if you're torn between the two, starting as a VTuber is better from an opportunity-cost standpoint."

Anna added that if I decided VTubing wasn't for me, I could always switch course and become a regular streamer. It was a logical argument, so I nodded.

Anna had told me that roughly half of all VTubers rewatched their own streams. In other words, a significant number avoided them entirely. The reason was simple: embarrassment.

That was why Anna refused to watch her old broadcasts. Leon was probably the same. She'd had a complete meltdown when her debut VOD played. I, however, felt nothing but satisfaction.

"Huhu."

I smiled with satisfaction. Even in the archived joint broadcast with Anna, I remained utterly perfect and sublime. I hadn't even revealed my real face, yet where else in the world could you find a being of such beauty? The viewers' reactions delighted me as well. Didn't a villainess naturally attract followers? In that sense, I loved receiving praise from others.

"Yes. Not bad at all."

Nodding, I closed the archive of our joint broadcast. Anna had said it herself—if I was torn between VTuber and streamer, I should try VTubing first. It was better in terms of opportunity cost.

So I would try becoming a VTuber with a light heart. If it didn't suit me, I could always change course.

But…

But what exactly do I need to become a VTuber?

I tilted my head. Wanting to start right away didn't mean I could. I didn't even know how to turn on a broadcast in the first place.

I typed "how to become a VTuber" into the search bar. After digging around, I learned it required far more than I'd expected.

First and most important was the plate. The term referred to the live 2D model VTubers used. The reason Korean fans called it a "plate" was… well, the implication was obvious. Japanese fans apparently called them "chopsticks."

At any rate, the plate was the life and soul of a VTuber, and creating one demanded considerable resources.

Finding an illustrator is going to be a problem too.

To make a plate you needed an illustration, and to get an illustration you needed an illustrator. The problem was that not many artists specialized in VTuber plates. The cost probably wouldn't be cheap, and I had no idea how to even commission one. For a moment I considered drawing it myself. I'd received art lessons as part of my liberal arts education back at the duke's estate, so I was decent with a brush. But on second thought, my style probably wouldn't match, and I didn't even own a tablet.

"I'll look for an illustrator later. Let's handle the other things first."

Next came broadcasting equipment. My PC and VR specs were more than sufficient. The microphone, however… would I need to buy a new one? I already had a headset, but I wasn't sure if it was good enough for streaming. A soundproof room… was that necessary? If I was only playing VR games it probably wasn't, but there was always the chance I'd sing. I'd received music education as part of my liberal arts curriculum too. Having too many talents really was a curse.

The biggest issue seemed to be tracking equipment. The plate had to move in sync with my own motions. That required hardware capable of recognizing me first. Could a webcam handle it? I had no idea. On top of that I'd need to create a channel, install broadcasting software, and apparently a separate program just to run the plate.

Hmm…

It was too complicated, so I called Leon. After hanging up and tossing the phone onto the table, she entered the room with a dumbfounded expression.

"What are you trying to make me do this time?"

"I didn't call you to make you work. There's something I want you to explain."

"Something you want explained?"

"I'm thinking of trying to become a VTuber. What do I need?"

"Huh?"

Leon's eyes widened.

"Sister, you're actually going to do it?"

"Yes."

"R-really…? For real?!"

"…Why are you so surprised? It was your suggestion in the first place."

"That's true, but… I didn't think you'd actually go through with it…"

Leon looked genuinely flustered, yet her face somehow brightened. …Was my becoming a VTuber really such wonderful news? I couldn't understand why she seemed so happy.

"So what exactly did you want to ask me?"

"I did some research on my own, but there were still many things I didn't understand."

How to produce a plate, what broadcasting equipment was necessary, which programs I needed to install, and so on. After listening to everything, Leon tilted her head.

"…Why are you worrying about any of that? Those problems can be solved very simply."

Simply? I gave her a look that asked what she meant. In response, she said:

"Just join our company. We'll support everything you mentioned, Sister."