Chapter 90 – Virtuber(3)
In an investigation, it is an unfortunate incident that occurs frequently when the reporter is the culprit.
We also went through something similar a while ago.
But. Since there were no casualties or casualties in this case, I investigated slowly.
Instead of immediately suspecting the reporter as before, they excluded them and investigated the alibi of all the rest.
If it’s not a self-made play, I’m so sorry.
However, all such procedures are over.
Now I have no choice but to believe in the reality in front of my eyes.
Who has benefited the most from this exposure?
It is none other than the three vertubers themselves.
I ignored their clamor and recited as calmly as possible.
“First, the method of the crime. If you assume that you are the criminal, then the crime becomes very easy. You just have to turn off the program yourself. You can also disable the safety device attached to the program at will.”
“Wait a minute. I was playing the guitar at the time, how could I…”
“Use a simple timer program and that’s it. It’s much easier that way than remote hacking. This comes right out with forensics.”
As soon as the incident broke out at the agency, they kept the desktop for broadcasting separately, so there would be no time to erase the records.
The three of them, whose expressions darkened at my words, desperately made excuses.
“Why did we do that…”
“There are two major motives for the crime. The first is that you don’t like Virtubers very much.”
Almost all of the agency’s virtubers were aspiring idols.
As Shin So-yi said earlier, there are people who actually debuted.
However, at the time of idol debut, people who did not stand out very much or were judged to have no possibility were debuted as virtubers.
From the agency’s point of view, it was to give them a chance in their own way, but…
As a result, it turned out to be the worst number.
The entertainment industry is quite harsh, and there are many trainees who die without even making a proper debut.
As a trio, they had no choice but to accept the opportunity given to them.
Fortunately, the agency had an eye for it.
They weren’t successful as idols or singers, but they had enough talent as broadcasters… And virtubers.
Appropriate wit, foreign language skills, compliant acting skills, and distinctive voices.
Needless to say, music was my original major.
The game skills were terrible, but if you’re not good at it, it’s fun to watch as it is.
It is said that the company’s publicity was on their back, but the trio are classified as mid-level or higher vertubers.
It can be seen that this was an appropriate talent recruitment in its own way.
However, they could never say that they liked Virtuber.
It was a fact that could be known just by watching the broadcast.
Besides, knowledge about otaku culture is almost at the bottom level.
Rather, throughout the broadcast, they secretly expressed their hatred towards them.
They were quite successful as virtubers, but their hearts had already gone elsewhere.
In particular, when the 2nd original album achieved satisfactory results, they began to have vain thoughts.
They were not satisfied with themselves as virtuosos and dreamed of debuting as idols or singers once again.
However, their avatars were tightly bound by contracts with agencies.
From the agency’s point of view, Virtuber was a money-grubber in the debut stage.
Exclusive illustrations and animations, 3D modeling and related equipment, etc.
It’s an original song. Even if you solve it on your own by making use of your major, there are not just one or two places where money goes into it.
Therefore, most of the ownership of vertubers’ avatars was held at the agency level.
In particular, revealing the identity of the actor was forbidden at the contract level.
There was also an intention to prevent an actor from becoming popular as a virtuber and transferring, but…
There was a more fundamental reason for the confidentiality clause.
The trio, who had given up on acting, spoke as if they were unfair because they still did not understand the reason.
“Why don’t you show your bare face? How long are you going to keep that childish setting!”
“Even though we aren’t criminals, we monitor each and every time we write a post on social media… “
“It’s a childish setting.”
It was Mirei, not me, who responded in a sighing voice.
The trio froze for a moment at the words of the senior.
Certainly, the setting of the vertubers has a childish corner.
Nonetheless, he is quite passionate about role-playing.
Is it because all the actors are childish and stupid?
It can’t be.
Mirei explained the reason in a slightly angry voice.
“It doesn’t matter if the setting is a bit childish. It’s okay if you don’t fully immerse yourself in it. The important thing is to add elements that guests can enjoy.”
“Enjoyable elements… Are you making trivial jokes with the settings?”
“Yes. Wasn’t it the greatest strength of internet broadcasting to be able to make even the most trivial jokes? If you can’t communicate, why are you watching lintels?”
She knew
This is not just a story about vertubes.
The entertainment industry is originally an industry that makes a living by selling fantasies.
The moment customers’ illusions are broken, the business is over.
But what the hell are you going to do if you deny that fantasy with your own hands?
Even if it is childish and funny, it is the role of an actor to be a special being, but the trio gave up on that on their own.
Mirei said as if to vent her accumulated anger.
“It’s okay if you don’t do RP. There’s no big problem if you treat your avatar as your business card. In the end, the important thing is whether customers can enjoy it.”
“…”
“But I want you to stop making weird misunderstandings.”
“What a strange misunderstanding…”
“You guys have no hope as musicians, so you’re working as virtubers. At least the agency thinks so.”
“!”
It was almost a rant now, but she had no one to stop Mirei from.
Shin So-yi, who was sitting next to her, just smiled sadly.
“As singers, no matter how well you perform, you are second-rate. Even if virtubers are quite good, their profit and stature are still far below that of first-class singers.
“That, stop! What right do you have to talk nonsense like that…”
I knew the three people who continued to protest.
That Mirei is the one who can say such things.
The agency has already proven her planning skills through her Mirei …
As she said, the trio’s music was second-rate at best.
The success of the previous albums was thanks to the careful packaging of the virtuber wrapping paper.
In fact, it should be seen as a marketing victory.
If they had competed purely through singing, they would have been devastated.
No one else, they themselves have already proven it.
Mirei continued her words with a sharp, sharp tone.
“Don’t get me wrong. I’m not trying to say that a virtuber has a lower level than a singer. It’s said that there are no nobles in the profession. .”
“…”
“What on earth did you believe in asking me to debut as a singer again? Have you listened to the songs of the newly debuted kids at our agency? Do you think you can be their partner?”
Oh my God, did you even ask for that?
I know that the relationship between seniors and juniors in the entertainment industry is quite rigid…
Seeing this makes me feel like a lie.
It’s good for a big senior like Mirei.
I got the story back on track before they burst into tears.
“Anyway, this was the best way to debut as a singer again based on your popularity as a virtuber. Exposing your face in person is a breach of contract, but it’s okay to expose your identity in an accident.”
Even the death threats from stalkers have nothing to do with them.
Because it’s a self-made drama anyway.
Alice, who understood the motive for the first crime I suggested, cautiously asked from the side.
“Then what was the second motive?”
“It’s kind of hard to say that this is actually the motive for the crime, but anyway… It’s worth the bottom line.
“Have you seen it before?”
At my words, the shoulders of the three people who were bowing their heads trembled.
I couldn’t have imagined that I had read this far.
I smiled bitterly and nodded.
“Usually, what do people think about before committing a crime? Of course, they worry about being punished for failing. That negative mindset of people is the biggest help in preventing.”
“…”
“By the way, there was little risk in this case from the point of view of these three people.”
Usually, false reports in this way are punished for obstruction of justice.
To be precise, it is ‘obstruction of execution of public affairs by hierarchy’.
And in most cases, the penalty for obstruction of justice is very light.
“The crime of obstruction of justice is that there is a possibility that you will be acquitted even if you call the police or fire department dozens of times while drunk. Our country is very lenient when it comes to overworking public officials.”
To be precise, he is very tolerant of overworking low-level civil servants.
Thanks to this, among the courts and social welfare officials, there are even suicides every day.
From that point of view, this case was very light.
“Even if it’s a false report, no one actually got hurt or died. The victims are just viewers who were deceived by VTubers. It’s not clear whether they will be punished or not.”
A waste of valuable investigative manpower?
Okay. Because this is Korea.
Welcome to a developed country that is generous to its naughty citizens.
In order to be jailed for making a false report, you have to make a false report about explosives.
“In this case, the actual investigative manpower was wasted, so I could pay a fine, but… Honestly, it’s a bit annoying.”
“That, like that…”
“I’m sorry, Detective.”
The three of them apologized to me in one voice as if they had practiced in advance.
It was natural that they were passive in the investigation.
In fact, for them, the fact that I came this far was surprising and unwelcome.
It is natural that this should have been rejected due to lack of investigative power.
If I had been less motivated and busy with work, I might have neatly ignored it.
I sighed and asked them.
“You should feel sorry for the viewers, not me.
“Umm…”
The moment Tia tried to say something, she glared at her and blocked it.
An unexpected excuse came out of the three people.
They chose the wrong way to gain my sympathy.
“Well, we didn’t want to do this either.”
“How disgusting and perverted the viewers of Virtube are.”
“…Yes?”
I laughed heartily and operated my smartphone under the table.
Misunderstanding my reaction, the three people eagerly raised their voices.
