Chapter 16: Minor Tastes

Streamer Cafe.

A place where posts about all sorts of streamers active in Korea are uploaded, and like the galleries of real life, a place that pursues endless stimulation.

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#[A female streamer is graduating this time, going to troll lolol]

ㄴ[Don’t do it, you f*cking bastard.]

ㄴ[Moron lol serves you right after sucking up so much]

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People picking fights as always, and people falling for those words and getting angry.

Amidst the community where dogfights were daily life, a type of post not seen before was uploaded.

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#[Otaku-only shelter created lol]

[(Image of Cheongha avatar moving left and right)]

-They say it’s called Vtuber, something done overseas, gather round otakus who wanna watch

I’ll start.

[lol this bastard’s curveball is crazy]

ㄴ[Thought he was gonna diss, but turned out he was the otaku bastard himself lol]

ㄴ[Agreed…So where’s that address?]

ㄴ[Search Kim Cheongha on Live Stream]

ㄴ[What, why are you really telling me]

[Isn’t that animation or something?]

[Now they’re even making anime characters broadcast?]

ㄴ[Nah nah I thought so too but it’s called Vtuber.. mostly Japanese kids do it.]

[Seems like there are a few in places like America too.]

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People’s reactions to the post were largely divided into two.

Those showing curiosity towards the unfamiliar new culture, or those expressing aversion to the unique otaku sensibility.

Of course, positive reactions also existed.

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#[But honestly, about that Vtuber thing.]

-Isn’t it a surprisingly good idea?

-Watching the Japanese kids, they seem to show expressions and hand gestures as they are, shouldn’t ignore those non-verbal expressions…

-[Another otaku caught lolol]

ㄴ[Yeah, doesn’t want to admit he’s an otaku so bringing up stuff learned in Korean class lolol]

-[Isn’t this actually a guy behind it?]

ㄴ[Real lol]

ㄴ[Even if it’s a woman, probably ugly lolol Otherwise they’d just do a cam broadcast.]

ㄴ[Agreed, actually using a voice changer for the voice too]

ㄴ[Sounds so mechanical lolol]

-[But honestly, are the people dissing here even watching that person’s stream?]

-[I hate otaku stuff too but I don’t think it’s necessary to go this far.]

ㄴ[ Nah nah we’re normal people so we know even without watching streams]

ㄴ[lol Didn’t expect to hear this here lolol]

ㄴ[First time I agree with that statement ffs lol]

ㄴ[As long as they broadcast with that kind of thing on, they have to bear it themselves]

ㄴ[Actually, otakus have no excuse even if they get cursed at, it’s visual terrorism in itself.]

ㄴ[Yeah, all otakus die~]

ㄴ[Yeah ur mom]

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Users excited to curse at the newly available target, users refuting them again,

Users starting to curse out of anger.

Even those who entered out of curiosity at the scene and ended up getting hooked on the new culture.

Along with the new fuel, the Streamer Cafe began to blaze hotly once again.

The day after that first greeting, I logged into Live Stream for the broadcast without fail.

Whether internet broadcasting or the entertainment industry, the essential condition for gaining popularity is continuous activity.

Especially since internet broadcasting can be turned on whenever I want, it’s probably best to start at the same time as the previous day.

“Uh…?”

As I entered my account profile to start the broadcast, I couldn’t help but be flustered.

“Follower count… 35?!”

The reason was simple.

The suddenly explosive increase in follower count.

It’s not easy for broadcasting novices who haven’t received the grace of major corporations or algorithms to increase their follower count.

Even on this site alone, there were plenty of people with fewer than 10 followers.

Even if one luckily got caught by the algorithm, a certain amount of time was needed for it to function properly.

And yet, my follower count had exceeded 10.

And that too, just one day after starting the broadcast.

“…For now, let’s start the broadcast.”

Surprised for a moment by the increased follower count, I quickly pulled myself together.

I wasn’t sure how it happened, but it was a good opportunity.

Isn’t there a saying to row when the water comes in?

[Vtuber Kim Cheongha, Day 2 Broadcast]

I immediately entered the title and started the broadcast.

After waiting for some time, people started entering the stream.

The number of viewers gathered was 20, an increase from the first broadcast.

“Yes, everyone.”

“Hello?”

After some time passed, I greeted the viewers.

-Oh, really a Vtuber.

-Amazing

-Didn’t expect to see this in Korea

-Cheongha~

-The name is really exquisite lol

-The ‘Ha’ at the end of the name makes it exquisite, real lol

-Cheongha~

-You know you got posted on the cafe yesterday?

Then the viewers greeted me.

Among the many greetings, one chat caught my eye.

“Yes?”

“Streamer Cafe?”

Streamer Cafe.

It was a place I heard of for the first time, but listening to people’s stories, I could roughly guess the situation.

Someone posted about me and Vtubers there.

And because people were fighting over it, it became a hot topic.

No wonder the follower count suddenly spiked.

‘Well, from my perspective, good is good.’

Getting cursed at might feel a bit unpleasant, but thanks to it, the attention was definitely drawn.

And anyway, I’m in Japan so I can’t see it.

Let them curse all they want.

-By the way, what’s the schedule for today?

“Ah, today’s schedule?”

The work of a streamer was mostly simple.

Communicating with viewers while playing games prepared by oneself or doing ‘Just Chatting’ content.

‘However, there’s something I need to do before that.’

Something absolutely necessary for a clean and pleasant broadcast.

“Setting the rules.”

Also known as law enactment, it’s setting the broadcast rules.

-Ah, lol

-Doing this as content

-Isn’t it enough to just ban cursing and stuff?

“Well, banning curses or insults will naturally be included.”

“But other things need to be added too.”

Although there were various types of broadcasts, the broad framework of the rules was mostly similar.

No mentioning other streamers unless mentioned by the host, no cursing or insulting the host.

Other rules also need to be finely set, and those who need pruning must be decisively pruned.

If the broadcast prepared with effort becomes a lawless zone without a single rule, who would come to watch that broadcast?

No matter how few viewers a broadcast has, those kinds of people are truly worse than having none.

-Yeah, gotta be clear about that stuff

-Honestly, if you’re gonna diss, diss outside, hate seeing people come in just to diss

-This host has backbone, posture is set right.

-Honestly, broadcasts without rules are kinda hard to watch

Perhaps because it was a common rule no different from other streams, the chat window’s reaction was favorable.

“And there’s one more final rule.”

I looked over the rules written in the notepad.

No mentioning other streamers, no relaying broadcasts, no backseating.

All were rules that would be naturally accepted in a typical streamer’s broadcast.

‘However, there’s still one more left.’

There’s one more rule necessary for me.

A rule essential not just for me, but for all Vtubers.

Simultaneously, I wrote down the final rule in the notepad.

“Lastly, no digging into my past life.”

Past life (‘jeonsaeng’).

A term used in the Vtuber industry, mainly referring to the real person behind the Vtuber, or that person’s previous account.

‘In my case, it’d be big trouble if it’s actually revealed.’

Rightly so, because considering my identity, it would draw in even those uninterested in the idol industry.

Imagining the trolls and attention-seekers from both Korea and Japan flocking to her broadcast, Ren shivered.

Just thinking about it was bothersome.

-Past life?

-What’s that?

-They say it’s a term used in the virtual industry, guess it’s like what the person was doing before becoming a Vtuber.

-Thank you, Speedwagon!

-In a way, it’s quite a fitting term.

Meanwhile, viewers encountering the Vtuber industry term for the first time expressed curiosity.

Once again, someone in the chat window explained the industry term.

I casually checked the nickname written in the chat window.

‘Oh, it’s that person from before.’

Jumin A, the person who was the only one to recognize Vtubers in yesterday’s broadcast and explain about it.

‘I should remember them well from now on…’

Feeling a sense of kinship as they were the only person in my stream knowledgeable about Vtubers.

“Well then, now that the rules are all set, should we try playing a game?”

Games were content practically essential for streamers.

Because in the internet broadcasting scene, games are what people of all ages enjoy.

-Games are good

-What game?

-Uh oh, variety gaming is a no-no

-Variety gaming from the start is ruin lol

-Wow!

-Since this person brought new culture, they must have brought an amazing game!?

-Pressure x100 lolol

“Well… I did pick out one light game for now.”

I replied to the viewers who were properly anticipating.

Wasn’t there a saying to dig one well even if you dig a well?

Like that saying, variety gaming wasn’t a recommended content for a novice streamer who just started broadcasting.

‘In the early stages, you need to gather even just the game fans.’

Assuming the whole world is full of people you see for the first time, wouldn’t you prefer someone whose tastes overlap with yours?

Like that, games help novice streamers attract viewers.

Variety gaming is something to do after gaining fans.

‘Well, I’m not sure if this game is a major genre though…’

I glanced at the chat window.

Most of the viewers who entered my stream now would likely be male viewers.

Inevitably, I had no choice but to trust their inherent ‘man’s romance’.

After letting out a quiet sigh, I went to the gaming site and launched the game I had prepared beforehand.

[Cretaceous Carnage]

Then, letters appeared on the screen.

-What’s that, never seen it before

-FPS?

-Isn’t that the one where dinosaurs and human teams fight 5v5?

-Oh, no wonder it looked familiar from ads

-This game is famous for being trash, and she’s playing this

“….Yes, backseating is forbidden.”

Why are you like this, this game is quite fun.