Please Do Your Debauchery After You Die - Chapter 22

Chapter 22 Bluebee

I personally believe that a crew is essential for virtual streamers.

It doesn’t have to be an explicit crew.

It would be sufficient for viewers to perceive that “someone is really close and friendly with someone else.”

Why am I so fixated on that perception?

The reason is simple.

The survival rate of a “desert island” broadcast in this harsh wilderness of the streaming community drastically decreases.

Just look at big company streamers.

Even those who seem capable of doing well on their own are all actively engaging in crew activities.

This applies to both virtual and human streamers.

They know from experience.

How broadcasting can be efficient.

If there is a boundary like a crew, it allows you to escape from “desert island” broadcasting.

What does that mean?

It means that human exchanges, including interactions with viewers, become more active.

Essentially, viewers don’t just follow one broadcast.

When their favorite finishes streaming, it’s normal for them to look for another broadcast to alleviate their boredom.

In such cases, the presence of a crew can be a wonderful alternative.

As the same crew members, they can mention their favorites in the chat room and receive a warm welcome, creating a second hometown feel.

Naturally, streamers benefit from this as well.

Depending on the days off of the crew members, they can receive viewer pumps and occasionally earn candy sponsorships.

If there was no crew, the candy sponsorships that could have flown to totally unknown streamers would be kept within the boundary as much as possible.

And most importantly, having a crew means there are a lot more possibilities.

For a simple example, consider just playing games.

Desert island broadcasts mean that they must grind solo ranking endlessly.

Even Steam games can only be played as single-player, and if you’re thinking about content, anything that can’t be done solo is doomed from the planning stage.

Thus, the presence of a crew can be said to be almost essential for growth.

If you can’t have a crew, you at least need connections and friendships that can rival it to survive in this brutal wilderness of the streaming community.

In that sense, the existence of “V-mellodi” to which Lucy belonged before the reset was a complex entity for me.

“I was really happy at first. After all, our geeky Lucy, who had no friends, got a crew.”

I remember making a considerable effort to visit all the crew members’ rooms to sponsor friendship fees.

Pretending to be the chairman… I tried hard to boost Lucy’s spirits.

And I imagined joyfully.

Now that Lucy has a crew, there would be more viewers and her broadcasts would go well.

That expectation turned out to be only half true.

There were new influxes and diverse content while engaging with the crew members, but when you lay it all out, there wasn’t much substance.

For instance, when creating content as a group, the most notable roles tend to be taken on by Bluebee and Iruri.

To maximize the crew’s effect, they adjusted their personal broadcast times; Mayo changed to lunchtime, Miho to morning, and Lucy to late evening.

However, Bluebee occupies the prime time slot that viewers find most comfortable.

Huh? Is it strange that I feel this way? If it looks like I’m just being paranoid and slandering Bluebee… then I have nothing more to say.

Since Bluebee is the leader, he prepares the most content and does the most crew-related work.

For these reasons, Bluebee fans argued that he deserves that level of consideration.

Up until this point, I would have subtly protested in Mayo’s and Miho’s channels as well.

But because there were tangible benefits, I had no choice but to turn a blind eye.

That is, candy sponsorships which can be said to be nearly everything for a streamer.

Bluebee’s sponsorship was often referred to as the “big hand”. Whenever there was joint crew content, he would sponsor 2,000 to 3,000 candies in each room.

With five members, that amounts to spending 1 to 1.5 million won on crew content occasions.

And Bluebee also generously provides personal sponsorships during his broadcasts.

Naturally, other rooms that lack support can only be envious.

It’s petty and nauseating, but that’s the social world and the adults’ realm.

What if the candy sponsorship trickle disappears because of Bluebee’s discontent?

The streamer’s income could drop by 500,000 to nearly 1,000,000 won a month; who’s going to take responsibility for that?

If I can’t take responsibility, I have no choice but to remain silent, even if it’s unreasonable.

If I can’t hold back my anger and can’t avoid it, I would only have the option of leaving my favorite.

“I’m not the only one feeling this way. Being in a crew doesn’t mean we’re equals. Other crew members were like servants to Bluebee!”

In truth, it wasn’t a special case.

This dynamic can easily be seen both in the streaming community and in reality.

Yet, the painful reality that Lucy could only be a servant instead of the protagonist in such a common scenario was too sad.

If I had the capability to be better than Bluebee and could provide more support, things might have been different.

In the end, all I could do was despise Bluebee.

It’s truly pathetic.

I knew that fact too.

So after the reset, I planned to avoid getting involved with Bluebee.

Just his existence triggers past unpleasant feelings.

“d*mn it.”

But that became impossible.

I never imagined Lucy would be so deeply connected with Bluebee.

An interconnected history that began before broadcasting.

So I pondered for a moment.

Should I just leave it alone since Lucy will likely transfer between February and March next year without my intervention?

In the meantime, I could level up significantly and then offer my support when it’s time for the transfer.

However, that option was quickly discarded.

Suddenly, such a thought struck me.

Then what would be different between pre-reset Lucy and now Lucy?

If she just continues broadcasting, receiving my sponsorship and assistance… the only thing that would change is the target from Bluebee to me, while Lucy would still remain an extra in the story.

“Indeed, I need to get Lucy transferred and participating in auditions as soon as possible.”

That was the only way.

To elevate her to a position that’s somewhat equal to mine.

However, the problem is that Bluebee’s cooperation is needed to encourage Lucy’s transfer.

Considering how much Lucy relied on Bluebee regarding broadcasting, it was more than I expected…

“Ha! It’s so annoying.”

They say to hit first when you’re insulted.

Suppressing the annoyance bubbling to the surface, I sent a friend request to Lucy’s Discord ID that I received.

Then I called her.

The distinctive call tone of Discord rang.

A short wait came with a palpable tension.

My mind was swirling with various thoughts.

What should I say to persuade the other party?

Should I appeal using the straightforward approach on how Pangea TV is a land of opportunity at this time?

Or should I suggest an under-the-table deal?

“Hello.”

“Ah… yes. Hello.”

“I heard a brief story from Lucy. She said you would be streaming on Pangea TV.”

Her voice had a slightly proud tone and manner.

I was a bit taken aback.

The Bluebee I remembered had a younger sound, imbued with a bouncy cheerfulness.

There was definitely a gap compared to the current voice.

“Could it be that she’s using a voice modulation program? But that doesn’t seem like it.”

If she used a program, I would have noticed it long ago.

The difference between a real voice and one altered by a modulation program is impossible to hide.

“I heard you have something to say regarding Lucy’s transfer.”

“Ah! To explain that part, there is currently a virtual boom happening on Pangea TV…”

“No. I don’t need that explanation. I have my own questions.”

“……”

Stronger than I expected.

And still maintaining the authoritative leader’s position.

Ugh, I’m feeling PTSD from the memories before the reset.

Back then, she wielded power over Lucy like this.

I wanted to argue but for now, I remained in the position of “Eul”, listening quietly.

“I saw the avatar you’re using. And the avatar you’re passing on to Lucy also has rather high quality; which artist worked on it?”

I had asked Lucy permission to show Bluebee the avatar to gain her contact details.

Since Bluebee was also seeking transition from Durahan to virtual, I thought it might be a good bait, and that judgment hit right.

“An extremely skilled artist. And since they’re not very well-known yet, their schedule is relatively flexible…”

I deliberately trailed off there.

Nothing is free; if you want to be introduced to the artist, you need to pay a price.

“Really? In fact, I’m positively considering transferring to Pangea TV as well. I’m just trying to coordinate the timing. Existing virtual streamers can transfer right away, but people like me and Lucy have many things to prepare.”

Subtly, she links herself with Lucy.

And she emphasizes that the two former Durahan streamers need good avatars to break into the virtual community.

“She’s surely skilled. Is it right that she and Lucy are the same age?”

Checking my memories from before the reset, Bluebee was around 24 years old during this time, the same age as Lucy.

That makes her a year older than Seo Min-ah.

After graduating from college, at this age she would hardly have started her professional career, yet here I am thinking of the stern employees of a business.

“Still, I see a possibility. She’s definitely trying to communicate what she wants clearly.”

Leaving aside the memories filled with hatred, Bluebee is undeniably someone who knows how to conduct a deal.

So I proposed.

I would introduce the artist, but she must completely disengage from Lucy.

Bluebee then smirked and said,

“That’s not possible. We’re ‘friends,’ you see.”

Even while saying “friends,” she doesn’t question the rudeness of my proposal.

She’s clever and definitely the person I considered her to be before the reset.

“Then let’s settle this. Aim for the transfer as soon as possible. But if you try to delay it on purpose by persuading me weirdly, it’ll be no fun.”

“You seem overly worried. If my friend does well, it’s a good thing for me too. Well… yeah. Let’s do it that way.”

Disliking further conversation, I ended the call and left a message with Bebetang’s contact information.

I had already asked Bebetang for permission in advance.

There’s a chance someone I know might request a commission.

Thanks to having offered extra money for various tasks over time, Bebetang happily said okay.

“Ha!”

I unintentionally let out a deep sigh.

Was it a sigh of relief from everything ending well?

Or was it because I was making a deal with the despised Bluebee?

I couldn’t tell; ambiguous emotions were swirling inside me, impossible to define clearly.

“But one thing is certain…”

If history repeats itself as it did before the reset, Bluebee will surely stand out in the virtual community of Pangea TV.

While not reaching the status of a big company, she will surely become well-known among virtual streamers.

That fame will become attainable by exploiting the hard work of talented crew members.

For that reason, I made a resolution.

I will become a successful virtual streamer, surpassing Bluebee without fail.

I will definitely achieve it.