Chapter 147
Chapter 147
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 147
Chapter Title: Pathfinder Application
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Starting an internet broadcast had seemed like a good idea.
However, I found myself facing a headache-inducing situation in more ways than one.
...So, what should I do first?
When in doubt, search first.
No, wait.
The internet has plenty of quality info, sure, but it's also full of useless junk and outright misinformation.
In that case, wouldn't getting help from an expert be the best approach?
I immediately called Jo Min-hyuk.
“Hey, what’re you up to?”
- Just editing for a bit. What’s up?
“I’ve watched a ton of internet streams, but I haven’t really kept up with the VTuber scene lately?”
- Ah, so you need some help?
“Yeah. You’re the one who egged me on to do this in the first place, so of course you’ve gotta help out.”
- Fair enough.
Min-hyuk readily agreed with me.
I went ahead and asked him outright.
“Hey, if you’ve got time, could you handle editing my videos and managing my channel too?”
- Huh? Like, hire me as your editor full-on?
“No need to hunt down some stranger. You’ve got the skills for it.”
- True that.
“Be my editor, then. How much pay do you want?”
- There’s industry average rates, but...
“Hey, forget averages. I’ll pay top dollar. It’s not like I’m short on cash.”
- I’ll serve you with all my heart and soul, boss.
“So help me out with this stuff. I get regular streaming, but VTubers? No clue where to start...”
- Ah, so you don’t even know what RP is?
“RP? What’s that?”
- The RP from RPGs. Role-Playing. VTubers usually kick off with something grand and flashy.
Flashy? What did that even mean?
When I asked, he explained.
- It’s a concept, a concept. Like, using you as an example—they’d build a storyline around something like “a dragon from a distant land” as the backbone.
“Do I have to?”
- This industry’s turned into a brutal red ocean over time. If you don’t want to end up with zero viewers, you’ve gotta pull some aggro somehow. And since your capital’s basically unlimited, going hard on investments wouldn’t hurt.
“Investments? What kind?”
- Your avatar. Sometimes called the model. It’s your appearance in the virtual world going forward. That’s VTuber basics. You don’t show your real face, so your avatar quality and streaming gear have to be top-notch.
His point boiled down to this: the foundation of streaming was drawing people in.
Would anyone choose to watch a stream with crappy mic quality?
Would they stick around for a VTuber with an unappealing avatar?
Unless your streaming skills were god-tier, you needed at least some basic investment to hook viewers.
The problem was, even that came with a hefty price tag.
“...Man, VTubers have it rough. The costs are no joke.”
- And even then, you can still flop, so you need real resolve... but for you, it’s not a big deal, right?
“True.”
Since money wasn’t an issue for me, I could max out the avatar quality.
Safe to say I was fully willing to invest as needed.
- One more big thing. VTubers are either corporate or indie. Which way you going?
Corporate or indie.
Corporate meant signing with a company, getting produced by them, and debuting as a VTuber.
You saved on upfront costs, but signed a contract splitting revenue with the company.
Indie, on the other hand, was going solo with no contracts—just pure freedom.
All the initial investment came out of your pocket, but you kept all the profits if you succeeded.
From the basics alone, corporate appealed to me a bit more.
Not just belonging to a company, but networking with their other streamers sounded intriguing.
“Corporate’s pulling me in.”
- Corporate? Didn’t expect that. Thought you’d go indie right away.
I had a clear reason for leaning corporate.
Just this morning, I’d planned to wing it solo... but after hearing Min-hyuk out, it felt like no lightweight endeavor.
Even corporate didn’t guarantee success, he’d said.
Even big companies had flops from bad streamers.
“Corporate doesn’t mean automatic success, right?”
- Yeah, no.
“Plus, I don’t even have a basic framework yet. I need somewhere to provide that structure. Starting from scratch sounds fun and rewarding, but it’d take forever. I want to at least start with a solid streaming setup.”
Truth be told, that was the biggest reason.
Since I was doing this, I wanted to do it right.
- Makes sense. Most VTubers flop on debut and never recover. Too many trial-and-error headaches for you with everything else on your plate. And hey, if you’re streaming, better to play in the big leagues, right?
“Exactly. That’s the vibe.”
Min-hyuk nailed my feelings. Grinding from zero over and over? I’d get bored before the satisfaction hit.
Corporate debut would also test my personal streaming chops. Their audiences had high expectations.
Fail to meet them... and it wouldn’t paint a pretty picture.
- For a guy like you, I’ve got a recommendation.
“Company? Which one?”
- Pathfinder. They’re prepping their 3rd gen right now. Send in an app if you’re interested.
“Got it. Uh, how competitive is it?”
- Insanely so. It’d be a real challenge even for you.
* * *
At the VTuber agency Pathfinder, they were buried in applications for the new 3rd gen debuts.
“...This is ridiculous. So many.”
Pathfinder’s CEO, Kim Haesol, let out a sigh.
How long would it take to get through all these?
But she couldn’t skip them.
The 3rd gen debut was a major focus for Pathfinder.
Key things to check: skills, personality, clean track record.
And that wasn’t all.
The Korean VTuber scene was flooded with insider leaks.
With red pills dropping anytime, they needed people who at least managed the basics—like their looks.
Pathfinder had picked rigorously image-conscious talents for 1st and 2nd gen; looks-wise, they could all go camgirl if they wanted.
One had even done cam streams before VTubing... People called Pathfinder Haesol’s jewel box for a reason.
“...Let’s take a quick break.”
After poring over files for ages, Haesol rubbed her tired eyes.
Her judgment was essential, so even pre-filtered apps needed her final once-over.
Over 2,000 applicants. Basically everyone trying VTubing had flooded them.
With the industry so cutthroat lately, piling into Pathfinder for that instant recognition made sense.
Debut there, and success was somewhat guaranteed.
But high expectations meant pressure-induced graduations happened too.
Thinking of those VTubers, Haesol resolved:
3rd gen needed mentally tough picks.
She kept flipping through.
Tough criteria meant few met her standards.
Stretching, Haesol glanced outside. The view had darkened.
“...Time flies way too fast. Finish this stack and head home.”
As she vowed and turned the page—
Shock widened her fatigued eyes.
“W-What’s this? For real!?”
In the empty CEO office, Haesol blinked repeatedly.
Was fatigue making her see things?
No, it wasn’t a mistake.
With trembling hands, she set the file down carefully and scanned the applicant’s info.
The attached photo showed a face she knew well.
Dragon-type Mutant, Yoon Seo-hyun.
Otherwise known as... the Mutant Management Bureau Director, a key pillar holding Korea’s system together.
“W-Why would she want to be a VTuber...?”
It made no sense, no matter how she thought about it.
Unconsciously, she tapped her smartphone, dialing the number on the form.
- ...Hello?
A voice tinged with fatigue, but achingly familiar.
“I-Is this the Director...?”
- Yes. This is Yoon Seo-hyun, Mutant Management Bureau Director. To what do I owe the call?
“I’m Kim Haesol, CEO of VTuber agency Pathfinder. Calling about the application you sent... Did you really apply to us?”
- Oh? Yeah, that’s mine.
“Why VTubing...?”
- Just wanted to try it.
“Pardon...?”
Haesol was floored by Yoon Seo-hyun’s response.
What could someone like her possibly lack that’d make her do VTubing?
She could hit play on a stream and rack up not tens of thousands, but millions of viewers.
- It’s hard to explain in detail, but... I got really interested. Did I not make it?
Haesol blurted no without thinking. Not make it?
If possible, they had to accept her.
Looks, talent... nothing lacking. Just look at the recent Ark Angels tour—she’d picked up singing and dancing in no time.
Her VTuber stats were near-perfect. Haesol wasn’t blind enough to turn away someone walking in on their own.
“No, quite the opposite. We’d love for you to debut as a Pathfinder 3rd gen. Could we discuss details?”
- Phone might not be best... If you’re free, I’ll visit Pathfinder soon. Any good days?
Haesol answered instantly.
“Tomorrow works.”