Became the Mother of Virtual YouTubers - Chapter 94
Every Monday is Han A-ri’s regular day off from broadcasting.
But today is an exception.
– Let’s go!
– Open the door, host!!
– WA! 1st Anniversary!!
The intro song had just started playing, but the number of viewers was rising faster than ever before.
Surpassing Han A-ri’s average viewership of 10,000, the numbers were climbing toward 20,000.
This was to be expected since special content was prepared to celebrate Han A-ri’s 1st anniversary.
Though it was just a 1st anniversary, the news that the legendary 3D designer, Jin Ha, who had never once appeared in public, would be a guest attracted countless people.
As the channel waiting screen changed to a nostalgic color, it began to brighten slowly.
Against a pastel-toned café background that overlooked the beach, Han A-ri dressed in light, stylish clothing made her appearance.
– Han-ha Han-ha~
– Congratulations on the 1st anniversary!!
– Happy 1st anniversary!!
“Hello, everyone.”
As Han A-ri greeted with her bright voice, donations congratulating the 1st anniversary poured in as if they had been waiting for it.
[Anonymous sponsor donated 10,000 won]
[Congratulations on the 1st anniversary!]
[Chairperson of the National Han A-ri Association donated 100,000 won]
[This donation is just the beginning]
“Thank you for the 10,000 won donation, anonymous sponsor. It’s great to see you again, Chairperson. Thank you as always. Let’s keep going together.”
The donations congratulating the 1st anniversary continued for over 20 minutes.
The amounts were significant. Many people donated over 100,000 won to change the avatar’s outfit.
In the early days of the broadcast, Han A-ri used to panic and fumble when her outfit changed.
But now, whenever her clothes sparkled and changed, she smiled naturally and expressed her thanks and additional reactions in a gentle voice.
– Han A-ri is now a pro at broadcasting, hahahaha.
– A year transformed a monstrous rookie into a broadcasting monster…
As the rush of donations, which felt like a storm, began to settle down, Han A-ri started introducing the special guest in a soft, calm voice.
“Then, shall we bring out the special guest you all have been waiting for? The world’s best 3D model artist and my beloved Mama, Jin Ha!”
As soon as Han A-ri’s introduction ended, Jin Ha, who was monitoring the broadcast, immediately joined the voice chat room.
At the same time, the avatar representing Jin Ha, ‘JINA,’ slowly faded in on the left side of the broadcast screen.
The character, with shoulder-length black hair and wearing a loose shirt, exuded a languid yet sophisticated atmosphere.
Despite being a fixed 3D model without movement, its unique decadent appearance and intricate modeling were enough to captivate everyone’s attention.
– Stop shooting!! It’s a female character!! It’s a woman!!!
– Look at the detailed character design, hahahaha.
– The expression up until just now looks like it was forcefully dragged out, hahahaha.
– Ugh… Mama…
– Mama is also sincere with her self-created characters.
The chat exploded with reactions once more.
Seeing the rapidly scrolling chat, Han A-ri couldn’t help but smile.
“It seems everyone was really looking forward to Jin Ha appearing on the broadcast? If someone didn’t know, they might think it was Mama’s 1st anniversary instead of mine.”
At that moment, a low, calm voice from Jin Ha flowed through the speakers.
It was a voice that carried a slight languor and a warm resonance.
“Hello, I’m Jin Ha. It’s an honor to greet so many people on such a special day.”
As soon as Jin Ha’s voice was heard, the chat completely went wild.
– What an amazing voice…
– Wait, this person was also a broadcaster??
– Please debut, please debut, please debut, please debut, please debut.
[Anonymous sponsor donated 50,000 won]
[Day 1 of wishing for Jin Ha Mama’s debut]
“Thank you for the donations. However, I have no thoughts about debuting as a broadcaster. I’m busy enough just creating 3D models.”
Despite the fervent requests from countless viewers, Jin Ha firmly drew the line.
She was there just to celebrate Han A-ri and had no intentions of broadcasting.
[Daon donated 100,000 won]
[I will hold my breath until Jin Ha Mama debuts! Ugh!!]
“Daon, you shouldn’t be doing that here. Maybe go broadcast instead at this time.”
– What? Is that the real Daon?
– Daon, what are you doing here…
– Welcome to CosmoLive, 4th generation member ‘Jin Ha’.
But the viewers, especially established industry figures, continued to send messages of longing, undeterred.
Of course, Jin Ha didn’t pay any attention to it.
Watching from the side, Han A-ri playfully remarked.
“You’re quite popular, Mama. If I’d known everyone would like you this much, I would have invited you much earlier.”
“…If you keep teasing me like that, I might just leave.”
“Oh, no! If Jin Ha isn’t here, we can’t do today’s content!”
*
“By the way! Before we start the content… Han A-ri, I’ve just sent you a link via email.”
“Huh? A link?”
“Can you download the file in there?”
“Umm… Han version 3 final final genuine final…? What is this file?”
“Since it’s the 1st anniversary, I felt like it would be a shame to come empty-handed, so I prepared a gift. Once you receive the file, could you update your avatar? I added a few new features.”
When Han A-ri ran the downloaded file, the screen flickered briefly and the avatar was reconstructed.
“…?”
On the surface, it didn’t look much different.
The familiar silvery-white hair and refreshing aqua eyes remained unchanged.
As Han A-ri tilted her head as if she didn’t know the difference, Jin Ha, watching her, burst into laughter as if she had been waiting.
“I bet you think nothing has changed right now, don’t you?”
“Yeah…? Ah, no! I mean, it’s not like that…!”
Han A-ri hurriedly waved her hands, flustered from being hit close to home.
At that moment, her avatar’s expression changed erratically, independent of the Face Rig.
The cerulean eyes swayed back and forth.
Her cheeks turned pale.
Cold sweat visibly beaded at her temples.
– What’s with those insane expression details;;
– What’s with that flustered expression, hahahaha.
– The realism is insane.
– Now it’s getting scary…
– The end of the human era has comeㄷㄷ.
Jin Ha enjoyed watching Han A-ri and the chat’s reactions while explaining in a gentle tone.
“The newly added feature is the emotional depth expression module. It infers emotions from Han A-ri’s voice and facial expressions, allowing the avatar to express its true feelings in real-time.”
“What?!”
“So, it means that HANA will now express her emotions more honestly.”
With a small chuckle, Jin Ha added, “From now on, you won’t be able to hide anything from the viewers, huh?”
“Jin Ha… that’s too much…”
Han A-ri, shy, brought her hands to her cheeks.
The avatar replicated that motion very naturally.
At the same time, the pale cheeks began to flush a light pink.
– The blushing cheeks are really amazing…
– Haha, my junior has really grown up now?
-(A comment deemed inappropriate by the clean bot.)
– Ugh! Han A-ri! Stop cosplaying as a VTuber!! Just admit you’re a female streamer!!
[Chairperson of the National Han A-ri Association donated 100,000 won]
[Female streamer Han A-ri, the number one in pasta.]
*
“The intro was a bit long. Now, shall we officially start the talk show?”
Taking a slight breath, Han A-ri opened.
“Come to think of it, this is the first time I’ve chatted with you while hearing your voice, Jin Ha.”
“Right. It’s been a year since we first exchanged emails, and now we’re finally having a proper conversation. How funny.”
“You’re really terrible. I heard you talk to other people often.”
Han A-ri’s cheeks puffed slightly.
I’m sulking, she seemed to convey, giving off a clear hint of disappointment.
She was making good use of the avatar’s new feature.
“I’ve been thinking I should give you my number.”
“Really?!”
Seeing Han A-ri burst into cheers, Jin Ha smiled faintly.
A moment of silence followed.
In that short stillness, Han A-ri carefully opened her mouth.
“Jin Ha, I’ve always been curious about one thing.”
“What is it? Feel free to ask.”
After a moment of hesitation, Han A-ri slowly spoke.
“Why… why did you hand this avatar, HANA, over to me?”
Since the moment she started exchanging messages with Jin Ha, this question had been lingering in her heart.
It was something she would have normally never asked out loud.
But since it was her 1st anniversary, she cautiously gathered her courage to ask.
“Back then, I was nothing… No one recognized me, and there was no possibility. Not even I believed in myself…”
Han A-ri swallowed hard and added in a trembling voice, “Why me, of all people?”