Became the Mother of Virtual YouTubers - Chapter 106
After sending Seo Ah and Ye Rin off first,
Jin Ha and Hyo In walked down the corridor leading to the presentation hall.
“Did you sleep well today?”
“…Actually, I had a restless night yesterday too.”
“Considering that, you look fine today!”
“Ahaha…”
Yesterday, Jin Ha had shared a room with Seo Ah, who had been considerate.
Naturally, she had stayed up all night.
‘It’s a relief that Seo Ah booked only one room… No, that’s not it!’
Though she was tired, excitement filled her heart.
Perhaps the reason she wasn’t feeling too nervous before the presentation was because of this.
“Still, knowing that Jin Ha will be beside me on stage makes me feel reassured.”
“To be precise, it won’t be me, but my ‘avatar’ that will be beside you.”
Hyo In burst into a giggle at Jin Ha’s languid voice.
“What’s it matter? Even if it’s an avatar, in the end, you’re still you.”
*
Long before the presentation began, the auditorium was packed with an audience.
“I almost wouldn’t have had a seat if I had arrived a little later.”
“True. The presentation I saw yesterday didn’t seem this crowded…”
The murmured voices seeped into Seo Ah’s ears as she barely managed to sit in the back row.
“Is Jin Ha Na’s paper really that amazing?”
“I heard from some friends at the archive that she’s the hottest researcher in 3D avatar generation algorithms and they almost worship her like a goddess.”
It wasn’t that she intended to eavesdrop, but upon hearing a familiar name, she found herself unintentionally listening to their conversation.
“Looking at her paper, it makes sense. Apparently, all humanoid type avatars can be rigged perfectly… It’s really innovative.”
“Isn’t that just exaggerating the research results?”
“Surely not. The paper Jin Ha presented two years ago on animation-style avatars was of really high quality.”
“Did you know? Jin Ha is the one who designed Kamishiro Rei’s solo concert stage for NiseLive KR!”
“Wow, wow. Calm down, nerd.”
“But you saw it too!”
“…Of course, I can’t deny it was a great stage. Oh— my great fairy!”
Seo Ah’s eyes widened as she silently listened to the conversation.
Now she realized everyone here was waiting for Jin Ha’s presentation.
Of course, she had already known that Jin Ha was an impressive person, but…
“…I didn’t expect she was recognized globally.”
A faint smile spread across Seo Ah’s face as she muttered softly.
It was a feeling she couldn’t fully understand.
The person who just played around, created content, and exchanged kind words with her.
At this moment, feeling so large and distant…
It felt a bit unfamiliar.
Just then, the presentation before hers ended, and applause erupted from the audience.
When the host called Jin Ha’s name,
the murmuring stopped, and a tense atmosphere began to circulate in the room.
The stage was bustling.
A special screen was laid on the floor, and a projector was installed on the ceiling.
Seeing this made Seo Ah and Ye Rin unintentionally hold their breath in nervousness.
“It feels just like decorating a concert stage.”
“Right? I wonder what Jin Ha has prepared.”
Soon, all preparations were complete.
The lights dimmed in the auditorium.
Seo Ah unconsciously clenched her hands.
Clack clack—
The sound of heels clicked briskly.
What emerged from where everyone’s gaze was directed was none other than the avatar, JINA, who looked just like Jin Ha.
“…!”
Gasps of surprise erupted from all around as the avatar walked naturally.
Even without greeting,
just by appearing,
it proved the effectiveness and innovation of the paper.
After all, showing something once is worth a hundred words.
Among the astonished people, Seo Ah unconsciously took a breath.
It was the avatar she had seen so many times and thought she was familiar with, but
today, it looked completely different.
Its presence and charisma were overwhelming.
Even in front of hundreds of audience members,
the unshakeable, languid smile was incredibly striking.
“Hello, I am JINA.”
JINA, standing in the center of the stage, lightly bowed and naturally continued speaking.
“Originally, it would be correct for my creator, my master, to present instead, but… since my master is too nervous, I’m here to greet you on their behalf.”
Light laughter spread across the auditorium.
The somewhat tense atmosphere relaxed immediately.
As expected, it was a classic Jin Ha beginning.
“I apologize on behalf of my master, and today’s presentation will be conducted by me, JINA…”
Before JINA could even finish speaking,
the avatar quickly diminished with a gentle effect.
Now facing the audience from the stage was—
“…And I, MINA!”
The very same avatar created for So-yul, MINA.
The voice had already transformed into a bright and cute tone.
So-yul’s pre-recorded voice had been taught to the AI with Roji’s help.
“I’ll be proceeding together with JINA on behalf of my master!”
The cute performance filled the auditorium with explosive cheers and applause. Some even whistled.
In this moment, everyone present was convinced.
This year’s Best Paper Award at the conference would be taken home by the person whom those two avatars called ‘master.’
*
After that, the presentation officially began.
While the content was important, the avatars’ natural transitions and movements captivated the audience’s attention.
When it was JINA’s appearance, there were calm and static movements that highlighted the core of the paper,
and when it changed to MINA, it bounced around, lightening up potentially boring sections.
It wasn’t just a simple academic presentation.
It felt almost like a performance,
and the audience held their breath, focusing solely on the presentation.
One of them was Seo Ah.
Even someone like her, who was just an ordinary person, became completely absorbed in the presentation.
Suddenly, she recalled Jin Ha’s remark, “I have no talent for broadcasting” that she sometimes mentioned.
“What the… that’s a lie.”
She seemed more devoted to roleplay than anyone else.
Who would think she lacked talent?
Indeed, Jin Ha was a special person.
“Wow…!”
Next to Seo Ah, there was another person thinking similarly.
Ye Rin’s eyes sparkled as she looked at the stage.
Jin Ha’s presence felt so immense that it made her heart swell.
At first, it was merely admiration, but now,
she began to feel something deeper.
‘I, too, will someday… conduct such research…!’
Before she knew it, a significant goal had firmly taken root in Ye Rin’s heart.
It was the moment when the poor little chick decided to become a lifetime slave in the research world.
All of this was because of Jin Ha(?).
Soon the presentation ended. It felt like less than a minute had passed.
As Jin Ha expressed her thanks, the auditorium was filled with applause and cheers that could shake the walls.
At the same time, hands were raised all around.
This reflected the strong interest in Jin Ha’s paper.
“I have a question regarding the technology applied for the natural transitions between avatars!”
“When looking at the MINA model, the body structure ratio seems different from that of realistic avatars, how did you set the weight values for this?”
“Is there any service on the market that applies this technology? If not yet, do you have plans to sell the technology?!”
Even with somewhat tricky questions, JINA maintained a relaxed smile and calmly continued to respond.
From time to time, she changed into MINA, playfully cutting off questions with a cute voice.
“I’m sorry, everyone~ time is limited, so I can’t take many questions! And for business or technology partnership inquiries, please reach out via email~!”
Her cute, nasal voice that seemed out of place in a conference room once again filled the space with laughter.
Most of the people present were parents with sons or daughters, so it was inevitable that they would be softened by such charm.
Nevertheless, not only did they fill the designated question time set by the conference, but they also overshot by a few minutes.
This was due to the high level of interest in Jin Ha’s paper.
Additionally, one of the co-first authors of the next presentation was already on stage.
“Now, let me introduce the next presenter!”
At the end, MINA brightly smiled and interrupted the host’s commentary.
Of course, this too was a pre-agreed performance.
“Actually, I have one more master! It’s none other than Hyo In, the next presenter! Please give her a big round of applause!”
Just like a big company streamer hosting the viewers in their room to a close friend who is also a streamer,
Jin Ha seamlessly transferred the heat focused on her to Hyo In.
*
With a loud round of applause, Hyo In walked up to the podium.
Her steps toward the center of the stage felt heavy.
What was she feeling right now?
…To be honest, it wasn’t that great.
Though she was glad that the audience’s attention was heightened…
‘Jin Ha, how could you be so cruel?!’
After such a tremendous presentation in front of her,
what was she supposed to do for her own presentation right after…?