I Want to Be a VTuber

Los Angeles, California.

Dressed in glamorous evening attire, attendees gathered in groups within the grand estate, engaged in animated conversations.

But it wasn't just the clothing that dazzled. The people themselves seemed to radiate brilliance, their appearances exuding an almost otherworldly charm.

"Jimmy, your latest film wasn’t bad. It performed about as well as my debut movie."

"Well, aren’t you good at sugarcoating failure?"

Actors and entertainers of renown filled the space—it was only natural. Famous names, voices recognizable from just a note of a song, surrounded the gathering.

This event, however, had a reason for attracting such illustrious guests.

"Oh, Stella!"

A middle-aged man with golden hair spread his arms wide in a welcoming gesture toward Stella, who stood at the balcony. She returned his enthusiasm with a gentle smile.

"My, my, you’ve grown conservative after your trip to Japan."

"Oh, I’ve never been one for such greetings in the first place."

"No charm at all."

"My charm is reserved for a select few."

Her laughter carried an effortless elegance, prompting Aaron Campbell, an American superstar actor, to shrug his shoulders with amusement. As the host of tonight's party, he was also a prominent actor in a famous American superhero franchise.

The crowd, a veritable constellation of stars, had gathered to celebrate his 40th birthday.

"So, did you leave your role in the latest film?"

"Hah! That remains to be seen. It’s up to the higher-ups, but I’m not dead yet. Superman, remember? You know how it goes."

"True, they’d definitely find a way to bring you back—the profits are too good to pass up."

"Stella, it’s just a comic book story. Don’t take it so seriously."

"Oh, I wouldn’t know. I don’t read comics. I’ve been into Marvel lately, but I’ve never been into DC."

"As always, you’re such a contrarian."

Aaron flexed his well-toned physique with a grin, embodying the picture-perfect image of Superman. As one of Hollywood's few true action stars, known for performing stunts without a double, his reputation was well-earned.

"By the way..."

"Yes?"

"I saw it. That Japanese variety show."

"...You did?"

"Now, now, don’t make it sound so harsh."

Aaron chuckled, amused by her sharp tone, as if the young prodigy fairy before him wielded her words like a blade.

"The actress you seem interested in—she’s quite fascinating."

"Aaron, that sounds like stalking."

"Call it the curiosity of a veteran actor intrigued by a talented performer."

Though his words could have been misconstrued, Stella relaxed under his sincere praise.

"Yes, she’s an incredible actress. Someone I’d genuinely like to see in Hollywood someday."

"Perhaps, but this market isn’t just about beauty or acting talent. There are far too many barriers to cross."

"..."

"Still, I’ll admit—I’m intrigued. The Bear Rider, huh? I’ve never ridden a bear myself. It takes some nerve. Japan sure knows how to put on a show, training a bear for someone to ride."

"Well..."

Stella bit her tongue, tempted to explain that it wasn’t the bear that was trained but the actor who rode it. Nevertheless, Aaron’s favorable impression of Seoyeon was a good sign.

‘Although, I’m probably his true target.’

Aaron had long shown interest in Stella—not just as an actress but as a key figure for his directorial aspirations. He dreamed of casting her in his debut project as a filmmaker.

"Well, enjoy the party. Don’t you feel it’s a shame, though, with so many men interested in you?"

"Not really."

"Ah, is that so? Well, it seems one of them might disagree."

Stella’s gaze followed Aaron’s hint. A young man was walking toward her.

"Let’s continue this discussion later. I find myself curious about that actress as well."

With a wink, Aaron departed. His graceful strides made him resemble a living Greek statue, radiating perfection.

"Hey, Stella."

The voice belonged to another striking figure—a man with dazzling blonde hair and a sculpted physique, though not quite as commanding as Aaron’s. Among young male actors, he was one of the brightest stars, his peers few and far between.

"I heard the rumors. You’ve been playing maid to some East Asian girls."

"Oh my."

Stella turned her gaze to him. He looked like a prince straight out of a fairy tale. Unsurprisingly, he had often played princes in films, gaining a significant female fanbase.

"Arthur."

"Hm? Did I say something wrong?"

Arthur Diaz approached her with a mischievous grin.

"Your inferiority complex seems worse than the last time we met."

"...And you seem to have lost your verbal filter."

"Hahaha!"

Arthur frowned as Stella’s clear, melodic laughter cut through the tension. Though he didn’t truly harbor feelings of inferiority toward her, his competitive streak was undeniable.

Born into a family of artists, Arthur was considered a prodigy. His father, a renowned composer, and his mother, an opera singer, had gifted him with extraordinary talent. Whether it was acting, action, or even singing, Arthur excelled in every arena, climbing rapidly to the pinnacle of Hollywood stardom.

And yet...

"Would you like to hear something interesting, Stella?"

The young woman before him had begun to overshadow those accolades. Stella, five years his junior, had claimed the Best Actress award at the Berlin Film Festival as a child, a feat that dulled even his brightest achievements.

"The Korean drama featuring that actress you’re so interested in—they’ve offered me a role."

"Really."

For the first time, Stella showed a genuine reaction, her usual indifference giving way to curiosity.

Arthur found it fascinating. The Stella he knew rarely showed interest in anything, especially people. Her angelic smile often masked an impenetrable reserve, as though she belonged to a different realm entirely.

"So?"

"Naturally, I declined. The lead actress is a child, barely an adult. How could it be a proper drama?"

"If they reached out to you, it’s probably not an ordinary production."

"It’s likely an OTT drama—Netflix, perhaps. Aiming for the East Asian market, no doubt."

Arthur shrugged dismissively. Stella, however, smiled faintly.

"That’s a relief."

"Oh? Why is that?"

"If you’d taken the role, you’d have been humiliated."

Humiliated? Arthur furrowed his brow, puzzled by her cryptic remark.

"Are you referring to me?"

"Who else?"

"Stella, I’m Arthur Diaz. How could I possibly be humiliated by a mere OTT drama?"

"Hmm. Let’s see."

Stella stepped closer, her icy blue eyes locking onto his. They gleamed like the Antarctic ice, reflecting his face back at him.

"Arthur, from what I see..."

She whispered, her voice melodic yet sinister.

"You’re no match for her."

Her words, as though uttered by a witch from a fairy tale, made Arthur instinctively step back, his face twisting into a grimace.

"Me? What does that mean? Are you talking about acting? Or..."

"Everything."

Stella leaned back and took a step away, her expression unreadable.

"Acting. The action you pride yourself on. Everything."

"You must be joking. She’s just a child actress!"

"Yes, that child actress."

Her words hung in the air like a spell, leaving Arthur visibly unsettled.

Then, with a subtle smile:

"Even I couldn’t beat her. What makes you think someone like you could?"

"What?"

Arthur chuckled at Stella’s remark, thinking it must be a joke. No way Stella could lose in acting, of all things.

Though he harbored jealousy and, at times, a tinge of inferiority toward her, he still respected Stella’s acting above all else.

But now, she was claiming she had been bested?

Stella was no liar, but she never spoke poorly of herself. Her towering self-confidence was one of her greatest strengths.

"That’s why it’s fortunate, Arthur. You almost ended up as a defeated dog, running away after being utterly humiliated by a young Eastern girl."

"You..."

"Hollywood is a big cage, but... it isn’t everything, Arthur."

With that, Stella turned her back to him.

"That’s enough. We’ve talked far more than we ever should."

Her posture made it clear she had no intention of continuing the conversation. Arthur’s lips twisted into a scowl.

"A dull joke."

Arthur glared at Stella’s retreating figure before turning away abruptly. The sound of his footsteps faded into the distance as Stella glanced skyward.

The night sky glittered with stars.

"Must be daytime in Korea right now."

Stella reflected. The thought of not being able to look at the same stars together was a bit melancholic.

Still, Arthur Diaz was talented and remarkable. His presence would surely benefit the project.

"I hope it helps, just a little."

With that thought, Stella smiled brightly.

*****

"Seoyeon, you’ve got a new ad offer."

"From where?"

"Gom-Pyo Paint."

"..."

At any rate, Ju Seoyeon, age 17, was steadily heading toward her 18th birthday, and her final months as a 17-year-old were marked by a stream of high-profile ad offers.

While Stella’s remarks had helped shield her reputation, the Bear Rider, Ju Seoyeon, wasn’t going anywhere. The scene was too impactful to fade easily.

Had it only aired quietly in Japan, it might have ended there...

But instead:

"[Ju Seoyeon transitioning to MMA. Ngannou: 'Korea is committing a crime.']

[International Animal Association pleads dramatically, 'Stop the violence. Bears are our friends!']

[A Korean actress tramples Japan’s top actors and turns an American fairy into her maid.]"

The story spread like wildfire on YouTube, with countless commentators creating content around it. The Bear Rider meme exploded, leading to endless edits of Seoyeon riding a bear in various scenarios.

For example, she appeared photoshopped next to Putin riding a bear or atop a polar bear.

Even interviews for Kyungsung Lady promotional appearances inevitably circled back to the incident.

"Seoyeon, weren’t you scared riding that bear?"

"I was scared... It just sort of happened..."

"For someone scared, you sure slapped that bear’s head pretty hard."

"..."

Captured footage left Seoyeon with little room for excuses. Still, she couldn’t skip out on promotion while Lee Jiyeon and Cho Sehee were busy filming in Japan.

Since her segments were filmed first to accommodate her schedule, Seoyeon took on the bulk of promotional activities.

‘Well, it’s not all bad.’

Surprisingly, her popularity skyrocketed at school due to the Bear Rider incident. Unlike her other work in dramas and films, it made her feel more relatable to her peers.

The viral fame even brought back her haunting portrayal as a ghost crawling in Kyungsung Lady. Some male students realized she was the girl from the staircase scene at their school festival.

"Ju Seoyeon seems a lot more fun than I thought."

"Right? Honestly, she doesn’t seem like the type to do stuff like that."

"Acting’s tough, huh?"

"Apparently, she’s into gaming too. Someone said they’ve seen her at the esports club room."

"Really?"

The murmurs around her grew, and more classmates began striking up conversations.

‘...Now, with only two months left of my first year.’

Just as Seoyeon’s high school life was finally starting, her first year was nearly over. Would she have to start over again as a second-year?

If she ended up in a different class from Lee Jiyeon, not even in the neighboring one, Seoyeon felt she might genuinely cry.

‘When will the Violl ad launch? Hurry up and release it!’

Seoyeon clung to the hope that the Violl ad campaign might help overshadow her Bear Rider image. The Ju Seoyeon who pounded Park Jungwoo’s heart and terrified Youngbin as Princess Yeonhwa!

Surely, it had been two weeks since the promised release date, and still, no news. Instead, Mine’s production schedule suddenly accelerated, leaving her surprised.

"Arthur Diaz."

Manager Park Eunha spoke to Seoyeon with excitement.

"Arthur Diaz is joining your drama, Mine!"

"As the male lead? Or...?"

"Probably not the male lead. Maybe the villain? ❀ Nоvеlігht ❀ (Don’t copy, read here) I’m not sure."

Seoyeon tilted her head at Park Eunha’s uncertain answer.

‘Didn’t the director say he’d be the male lead?’

Perhaps it wasn’t finalized yet, or maybe they were spreading misleading information. But weren’t the roles of male lead and villain completely opposite?

‘Oh, maybe...’

A thought crossed Seoyeon’s mind. She couldn’t be sure until filming began, but she had a guess.

‘Still, why would Arthur Diaz join a Korean drama?’

Arthur was a proud American actor. As far as Seoyeon knew, he had never appeared in any Eastern films or dramas.

Though his international status was far below Stella’s, Arthur was significantly more famous in Korea due to his blockbuster fairy-tale adaptations. For a time, "prince" was synonymous with his name.

Two days after hearing the news of Arthur Diaz’s involvement in Mine, the Violl ad campaign finally began rolling out in department stores—complete with behind-the-scenes footage.