Since I Became a Woman, I’ll Do Cosplay - Chapter 91
Cosplayholic was nothing short of a massive success.
It recorded an initial sales volume of 980 units.
Though it didn’t cleanly hit the 1,000 mark, it was a result bolstered by the promotion of the rising VTuber Scarlet and the strength of her original song.
With initial sales alone reaching the high 900s, it indicated that, depending on the momentum, it was possible to record up to 2,000 units sold by the end of the year.
“Additional sales of ten million won!!!”
At this, Hayoon cheered again.
The initial sales were enough to cover most of the costs incurred from outsourcing the soundtrack.
If time passed and another 1,000 units were sold, it would even cover the costs from the voice actors’ contracts.
In short, after deducting around 3 million won for goods production from the 33 million won profit gained through funding, it meant a clean net profit of 30 million won.
“Massive success!”
“Cheers!”
Hayoon let out a cheer of triumph, and Jin Ho, too, rare for him, shouted loudly, asserting his presence.
With this, Jin Ho also resolved his most pressing concern of finding employment.
Being the sole programmer of an indie team that generated 30 million won in net profit, the experience alone during the development process would serve as an excellent portfolio for landing a job with a large gaming company.
With employment worries somewhat alleviated, it was fair to say they had laid the groundwork for the next step.
“Alright, let’s aim for a large VTuber project starting next year! Now that I’m an adult, it’ll be much easier to go around with contracts, and you can count on me to stamp them without hesitation, unlike some others.”
It was already November.
Jin Ho’s graduation was just around the corner.
Hayoon thought about how to make the best use of Jin Ho as he stepped out of the standardized 12-year schooling structure to become a working adult.
And the decision didn’t take long.
The plan was to fully utilize Jin Ho’s role as the manager of VTuber Scarlet.
“From now on, please relax and look for potential VTubers showing talent in this reincarnation era. Due to overseas and domestic influences, personal VTubers of Japanese origin have significantly increased.”
A single viewer can only watch a limited number of VTubers.
Already, the lion’s share of what the earliest domestic VTubers receive is taken by Hong Seohyun. While there may be some who outperform Hong Seohyun among the later entrants, most won’t be able to match her influence.
“Those who spend a lot on VTubers just to get a panel set up, they’ll feel regretful. Some might think they’re not as talented as someone like Scarlet, believing that they can also sing and broadcast at that level.”
Jin Ho’s role was to monitor and eventually recruit those who harbored such subtle feelings of inferiority over the long term.
Typically, VTuber contracts last for about two years.
Among those who just signed their contracts and debuted, if someone shows potential but has a low growth rate, come December 2022, they could be poached using the debut at the 2022 AGC as bait.
Of course, that would mean…
“Monitoring is on you, senior. I’ll contribute a bit each month, so please monitor VTuber broadcasts meticulously while living as if unemployed.”
“Hey, the wording…”
“Sorry, I’ve been harsh because the viewers these days irritate me.”
“Uh…”
Hayoon’s chatroom was known to Jin Ho, as he “received the blade”, to be a breeding ground for toxicity.
Despite feeling a bit queasy, Jin Ho reluctantly nodded.
“From now on, my sister and I will relentlessly pursue flashy VTuber designs. Scarlet and Haru’s designs were simple and characteristic, relying on accessories to emphasize points, but now that the first wave has stabilized, we don’t have to continue that way.”
Once you’re famous, even if you poop, it will be praised. Isn’t that what they say?
Since Scarlet and Haru have already carved out a position in the domestic VTuber market, now is the time to focus purely on eye-catching designs.
Mixing in one or two Monmusu types shouldn’t be a problem.
Of course, this was just a rough sketch imagined on a blank slate.
It was a plan that could change anytime.
“Lastly, Scarlet?”
“Huh? What?”
“Bring in more money. Lately, it seems like your earnings are increasing. Keep pushing!”
“I’ll work harder, Mama…”
With that slightly child-exploitative concluding dialogue, the November strategy meeting discussing the aftermath of Cosplayholic’s release was finished.
#
“Hyun, so…”
Hyun had a deep conversation with Min Jeong-kyun after a long time.
The topic was nothing other than…
“I have a lot of money. The deposit is a bit tight, but it’s manageable.”
“Hmm, how much is the deposit?”
“50 million.”
She was asking him to be the guarantor for her lease.
“How much is in your account?”
“Roughly 50 million. Monthly rent can be covered by what I earn.”
“And yet, you bring this up?”
“It’s better to have some breathing room while moving into a place with such a tight deposit condition. I can also buy better equipment.”
Hyun confidently asked Min Jeong-kyun about it.
It was quite obvious…
“Are you asking me for a deposit?”
“Not like you’ll cover everything… If you give me 5 million, I can use that to buy a soundproof booth, and it’ll ease up my financial situation significantly…”
“Do you have confidence in this?”
“I do. The senior I’m currently contracted with has already amassed 2 million won in monthly donations by the second month of broadcasting. If you think about the high-end donation rates for streamers, it’s on track to reach 3 million won per month next year. The growth rate is excellent.”
Since I’ve worked so hard, I’ve just experienced a bit of initial instability.
So, lend me some money to cover that instability.
Incredibly blatant, Min Jeong-kyn could only grin awkwardly.
“Really… our daughter… who did you take after to become so progressive?”
“I could be conservative too.”
“What?”
“Just kidding, I’m neutral.”
“Is this because next year you’ll have voting rights and you’re already making political jokes?”
“That’s tailored to your tastes, hehe.”
“Ah, our daughter…”
Hyun’s playful joke made Min Jeong-kyun stop laughing.
And then, with a serious face, he returned to the topic.
“Parents can transfer money to their children without taxation up to 50 million won, right?”
“Right?”
“Let’s say we’ve given you around 10 million so far in allowances and such.”
“Okay.”
“I’ll give you 40 million won. Either me or your mom, we both have the financial leeway, and splitting it between us we can afford.”
Perhaps because of the consistent presence of Hyun’s Scarlet cosplay photoshoots and Hyun and Arin’s cosplay shoots…
Yusoohee’s studio had become quite popular among cosplayers like Hyun and Arin.
Maybe it was the promotion, but the shooting techniques and editing styles of Studio Yun inspired many cosplayers.
‘So, am I just taking back money that was earned through my own work…’
Regardless, either feeling relieved she avoided bankruptcy or thinking she has become the daughter who feeds off her mother’s back, she felt a mix of complex emotions but…
“In two years, when I turn of age, I’ll pay back all 40 million won, father.”
“That’s alright. My dear. What kind of father am I? Just call me dad.”
“Okay, dad.”
“That’s better, not awkward. And as for the property you’ve seen, we should go check it out together to make sure. Let’s visit a real estate agent this weekend.”
“Alright!”
Hyun’s dad was such a good person that not only did he lend the deposit money without his wife’s consent, but even arranged to visit the real estate agent.
Soon, the advance headquarters for Hyun and game releases would be established.
#
Whether it should be called a workspace…
Or an advance base…
It didn’t take long to secure a two-room monthly rent apartment under Hyun’s name.
Now, the smaller room would include desks for Hyun and Arin to enable working through the night and attending school afterwards.
Adding a foldable bed for all-nighters should be fine.
Of course, getting permission from their parents for staying up late is an issue to be resolved gradually.
“The soundproof booth will go over there.”
In the larger room, the idea was to place one soundproof booth initially.
A mid-sized soundproof booth costing around 5 million won that would occupy about a third of the room.
And also adding a foldable bed in that room.
When new recruits come through Jin Ho’s efforts, another soundproof booth that occupies a third of the large room would be added.
By installing two more soundproof booths in the living room,
That would allow for up to three juniors of Scarlet to join.
It would be a space exclusively for women, accommodating up to six.
“At this scale, we can’t keep calling it the Game Release Division.”
If they were scaling up to this extent, it would be better to have a proper company name.
Though they initially registered as “Haru Company,” it probably wouldn’t last long since it sounds absurd.
Smiling mischievously, Hayoon anticipated the day when everyone who would live in this house gathered together.