I Want to Be a VTuber

TL Note:

We use Nettrix as the translated name for the Korean streaming platform 넷트릭스. This term is a stylized version of the original name, which is a play on the popular streaming service Netflix, but in the context of the book, it represents a fictional or altered version. The use of Nettrix helps preserve the connection to the original name while maintaining the integrity of the fictional world in the narrative. Since Nettrix is treated as a proper noun and specific entity within the story, this translation choice aims to retain both the familiarity and the distinction needed for the world-building in the book.

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Sudden interest in the Net OTT drama.

Amidst a flood of new releases, countless works were dying off like a torrent.

Not only did the works fail to become hits, but there were even those that died without even having their names recognized.

In the midst of this, Mine was an especially notable piece.

The reactions to Mine's PV could be largely divided into three categories. Seoyeon’s acting as Yeonseo in Mine. Then the action scenes. Lastly, Arthur Diaz's appearance.

Director Han Yegun was known for his exceptional action direction. A genius director. He was once called by that title.

However, his somewhat arrogant personality often caused discord with actors. In fact, there are rumors that a third of the scenes in this production were attempted only at the last minute.

This fragment of his style clearly showed in the two-minute Mine PV. Seoyeon’s action scenes. And the brief motorcycle chase.

It was like the video was saying, "I’ve included everything I need to."

Among all the works Seoyeon has filmed, there has only been one true action scene so far. In The Chaser, as Cha Seoa.

But even that was just the fight scene with a detective in the last convenience store. It was an impressive moment, but since The Chaser wasn’t an action movie, it wasn’t long.

But Mine is a drama with twelve episodes. An OTT drama that boasts the quality of a movie.

Even though Seoyeon showed a lot last year, there were certainly people who doubted her. But even that reaction was positive for many companies watching how the public responded.

In the market, the most frightening thing is apathy. To doubt means that the PV was so good that it fooled them.

"Is Ju Seoyeon not doing any ads lately?" "Is there no way to bring her in for one?" "Why isn't she doing ads while she's so active with other things? Doesn’t she want to make money?"

There were several brands that wanted to use Seoyeon for ads, but Seoyeon didn’t accept any offers. Of course, the character she showed in Mine was quite a harsh one, so the amount of attention she received for ads was a little less than expected.

But what’s the problem with that? Even if it’s a little less, that’s only compared to her level of attention.

Right now, there isn’t a female actress who receives more attention than Seoyeon. That’s just how it is.

"The title of a genius actress is really huge." "She really showed it last year. If she had planned the narrative, that’s something else." "Who would have known she’d make such a comeback after 10 years?"

Ten years of rest. And then a year of activity after her return.

When Seoyeon came back after ten years, honestly, not many people had high expectations. How much could a former child actress who had been on a hiatus for ten years actually do?

She was still in high school. Her acting hadn’t matured yet.

Even if she had been praised as a great child actress, when competing against adult actors, she would inevitably fall short. That was the common understanding in the industry. But Seoyeon shattered that common sense in just one year.

"A genius actress." It only took her a year to earn the title that everyone covets. With that image, Seoyeon became a blue-chip celebrity in the advertising industry.

"Of course, playing characters like Cha Seoa, Lee Yoojoo, and now Jin Yeonseo is the problem." "She’s been playing intense characters, so her image is solidifying as that type of character." "We’re trying to balance it out with her variety show image, but..."

Seoyeon was struggling to refresh her image due to the "gorilla meme" from variety shows, but the industry was viewing it the opposite way.

The fact that Seoyeon became associated with the "gorilla meme" and the image of immense strength through variety shows could actually be quite painful for an actress.

"But, the characters Seoyeon has played so far have been like that."

The characters Seoyeon has played until now. The most impressionable characters were largely close to antagonists.

She was so good at playing those villains that there were actors who flinched when they saw Seoyeon. In other words, a fearful image was the first thing that stuck.

However, the lighthearted "gorilla meme" helped offset that image, giving Seoyeon a "friendly" image instead.

Occasionally, magic girl shorts or videos with her riding a bear allowed Seoyeon to engage with the public in a more fun way.

Naturally, journalists who wrote about Seoyeon felt this more clearly.

"Ju Seoyeon is really smart." "It’s not something her manager or agency pushed her to do..." "No other celebrity at Nova Entertainment has taken this kind of approach." "She’s consciously creating a lighthearted image in variety shows because her works are like that." "In fact, in surveys, the impression of Seoyeon as a villain almost contrasts with this image."

In other words, Seoyeon is a cold-blooded female character and a killer. But, the lighthearted "gorilla meme" alleviates the heaviness of that image.

"She’s actually used in memes too. For example, in Ju Seoyeon World, who’s the strongest?" "So, who is the strongest?" "Jin Yeonseo this time? I’m rooting for her." "...Huh? Rooting for her? Where?" "Ah, ahem, never mind. By the way, what about Reporter Han Seona...?"

They spoke like that, looking at the reporter who was the first to publish an article this time—Han Seona. Entertainment reporters. They’re a talkative bunch, but Han Seona kept her conscience.

The media company they were part of, Seonyang Media, was large enough that it wasn’t considered just a tabloid.

"Didn’t an article come out right when Mine was released?" "How do they know?" "I heard she’s close to Ju Seoyeon..."

Such gazes. Han Seona felt them at work.

As a result, her shoulders naturally lifted.

"When the drama releases, the reactions will definitely be hotter."

Having received this information about Seoyeon, Han Seona was already highly motivated. The next article wasn’t going to be about Seoyeon. It would be an article about Jo Sehee.

She had heard that the reshooting for Mine involved Jo Sehee, so she planned to focus on that.

"Next month, all twelve episodes will be released at once, so it should line up nicely."

The actress who worked with Seoyeon in Kyungsung Lady last year. Her acting recognition was higher than Seoyeon’s, Jo Sehee.

However, there was a relatively neutral feeling about her recent acting, and it was being closely watched to see if she could make up for it in Mine. Han Seona knew this fact and had no choice but to ask Seoyeon about it.

Then, Seoyeon said:

"Maybe this time Jo Sehee’s acting will really be good." "Really? I heard it’s a reshoot, did you happen to see it...?" "No, I haven’t confirmed it yet. But I’m sure of it."

Seoyeon said that, carefully choosing her words. Wondering which words would be most fitting.

"A genius actress." "Excuse me?" "People call me a genius actress."

Seoyeon knew that fact. But, is she really a genius? Honestly, she wasn’t sure.

Well, she believed she definitely had talent. She had an unparalleled presence.

But the basis of her acting skill comes from her memories of a past life. In other words, her past self, who lived her whole life acting.

If she didn’t have those memories, could Ju Seoyeon, in this life alone, be called a "genius actress"? She might be able to... but she wasn’t sure.

"I think Sehee should be called that as well."

It was a bit uncomfortable, but Stella was the first to notice it.

When Stella and Seoyeon talked in Korea, Stella had left several remarks hinting at this.

Sehee certainly had a talent passed down from her mother.

However, that talent was still waiting to bloom.

Perhaps it was her mother's acting, which didn’t suit her, that had covered up that talent.

‘To put it another way, even while lost, she was able to deliver stable performances like that.’

Actress Jeong Eunseon had liked Sehee a lot since she was a child.

This wasn’t just because Sehee was a diligent child, but because Jeong Eunseon had recognized her talent.

Why would Jeong Eunseon, a master of method acting, support a child who only acted according to the textbook?

Even her mother, Baek Seoran, never truly practiced method acting.

Originally, when did she first see Jo Sehee, and when did she start teaching her acting?

‘Sehee often talks about actors with stardust in their eyes.’

Those actors with stardust in their eyes often gave performances that felt connected to their roles.

In other words, emotional acting, like Stella and herself, could be deep method performances.

Method acting has more drawbacks than advantages.

It’s not absolute, and honestly, Seoyeon doesn’t do it well anymore.

In fact, excessive emotional acting can often feel too much to the audience.

It can become so exaggerated that it feels like an overabundance of emotion.

But.

‘Sehee, maybe...’

Since she naturally performed in a subtle way, if color were added to her acting,

If her emotions were expressed more diversely, it would definitely be different.

And this reshoot would likely be the opportunity to show that.

"So, I’m counting on you for this article too."

Seoyeon thought that this time, Sehee would find her place again in Mine.

From the moment she debuted, Sehee had been Seoyeon’s rival.

Recently, Stella had been in that position too, but Sehee was the first.

The person who gave Seoyeon the biggest stimulus in her return.

Seoyeon hoped that Sehee would regain her confidence.

And she hoped Sehee would understand.

That the stardust she longed for was also within her.

****

"Hahaha!! I believe in Ju Seoyeon. This ad was really good. And you’re now a Biol ambassador, right?"

"Ah, yes."

"Our Eclat Etoile had our eye on her, but it’s a shame. Actually, she’s already our ambassador."

Baek Minchan, the director of Eclat Etoile, smiled widely as he spoke to Seoyeon.

As Seoyeon’s success grew, Eclat Etoile’s stock, which had been purchased at a low point, was soaring.

Recently, when Baek Minchan spoke at a board meeting, it felt as though everyone else lowered their heads.

Even the president couldn’t act freely around him anymore.

Of course, the most important person in the company was the one who brought in the most money.

And who brought that person to Eclat Etoile?

'It was me.'

They say a position makes the person.

As long as Seoyeon continued to model for Eclat Etoile, Baek Minchan’s status would never fall.

400 million.

That’s how much it cost to make Seoyeon an exclusive ad model three years ago.

It didn’t even make sense to hire a star with this much value for that price.

Of course, they had provided Seoyeon with many things, but Eclat Etoile had gained a huge benefit from it.

'Well, it’s not just us.'

Baek Minchan thought of ADIZ, who had been joyously singing praises recently.

They always managed to secure a seat for their products in any project Seoyeon participated in.

More than anything else, that’s what they focused on.

Eclat Etoile was the same, constantly placing sponsorships in projects Seoyeon starred in.

At first, it was just Seoyeon’s projects, but now they were sponsoring in a variety of works.

Eclat Etoile’s prestige was steadily growing.

However...

'It feels like we’re using this as an excuse in variety shows...'

Baek Minchan hesitated to speak as Seoyeon looked at him blankly, but eventually, he shut his mouth.

When Seoyeon made excuses for her firm skin in official settings, she often said, "It’s because of Eclat Etoile’s cosmetics."

At first, it was fine, but later, it turned into something resembling exaggerated advertising, and now they were receiving some criticism for it.

But it wasn’t something that could be stopped when an actress promotes something in an official setting.

'At this point, we’ll just have to catch up with the benefits she mentions, even if it’s only half!'

That was Eclat Etoile’s only challenge at the moment.

"Whoo."

Seoyeon sighed as she finished her meeting with Eclat Etoile.

Meetings with companies were always exhausting.

‘I’ll have to work harder in the future.’

Still, Eclat Etoile treated Seoyeon quite well.

In fact, they provided her with cosmetics for free.

Her mother, Sua, was very happy with this, so Seoyeon thought it was a good deal.

'Next month.'

Seoyeon thought.

The time left until Mine's release.

It wasn’t much time, but there were many works that would be released during that period.

The works, quickly produced after the success of Child’s Game, were going to be released around the same time.

She knew of three works for sure.

If she counted those that she couldn’t even remember, it would probably be double that.

'It’s actually a good thing.'

Seoyeon knew.

Right now, the timing wasn’t great.

Because, for the next month, Nettrix was going to become a graveyard for Korean dramas.