I Can See a VTuber’s Red Pills - Chapter 24

The day of the final interview. At the appointed time, I welcomed the first candidate in the small study of my penthouse—a room I had meticulously decorated but never actually used until now.

He was a middle-aged man who exuded the confidence of someone who had sprinted down the path of success. His résumé was impressive, having worked at a renowned consulting firm and the strategic planning division of a major corporation.

"Good afternoon, CEO. I was deeply moved by your company’s innovative vision and groundbreaking proposal."

He extended his hand for a handshake and spoke smoothly. But his eyes betrayed not vision or inspiration, but cold calculation.

It was as if he were sizing me up—figuring out how to manipulate this young, wealthy enigma to either crown his career or bring a portion of that immense fortune under his influence.

"First, the virtual YouTuber entertainment market your company is targeting currently holds explosive growth potential. With my experience and network, we can establish a top-tier profit structure and secure market dominance in a short period. I’ve prepared a detailed roadmap—"

He was about to pull out what looked like a presentation, but I raised a hand to stop him.

"That won’t be necessary."

"...Pardon?"

"I have no interest in profits or market dominance."

My firm response froze his expression. This wasn’t the reaction he had anticipated.

"What I want is simple: someone who will carry out my directives flawlessly, without question, and with maximum efficiency. Someone who will structure the company’s external framework, handle all legal, tax, and administrative matters autonomously, and manage everything so I don’t have to bother with it. Nothing more, nothing less."

His face twisted in bewilderment. For a moment, it seemed he wanted to argue, but after meeting my icy gaze, he quickly shut his mouth.

He must have realized this wasn’t the "opportunity" he had imagined.

"Thank you for your time. You may leave now."

I ended the interview curtly. He stood there dazed for a moment before quietly exiting the study with a bitter expression.

His illustrious career and ambitions had no place in my "playground."

---

Shortly after, the second candidate entered. His demeanor was starkly different from the first.

He appeared to be in his early fifties, a former partner at a prestigious law firm with extensive experience in corporate legal affairs and M&A. His name was Yoon Taesu. He introduced himself calmly, without exaggerated greetings or empty pleasantries.

"Let me get straight to the point."

I relayed the same requirements I had given the first candidate: absolute compliance with my directives, flawless management, no unnecessary questions or interference.

Yoon Taesu showed almost no change in expression as he listened. After a brief pause, he spoke in a measured tone.

"I understand exactly what you’re looking for. To summarize, you want an efficient management system that operates under your final decisions, minimizing legal and operational risks."

"...You could put it that way."

"Understood. Aside from the annual salary of 2 billion won, are there any stock options or additional incentives?"

"No. Just the salary. If performance is satisfactory, I may increase it at my sole discretion."

"What about the contract duration and termination conditions?"

"Indefinite term. Termination is negotiable, but the final decision is mine. Of course, the severance package will be industry-leading."

Even in the face of my unconventional—almost unilateral—terms, Yoon Taesu didn’t bat an eye.

If anything, his gaze hinted at an intellectual curiosity about this bizarre "deal." He might have been the type drawn less to the money itself and more to the "challenge" of controlling and managing this unpredictable situation.

"Very well. I accept."

He answered without hesitation. I smiled in satisfaction. At last, I had found the right person.

A cold, capable manager suited my "playground" far better than a flashy opportunist.

"I’ll have Jeongyeon share her contact details with you. Coordinate the contract specifics with her. Start the handover process tomorrow and report anything you need."

"Understood. Then I’ll see you tomorrow, CEO."

Yoon Taesu gave a brief nod and stood. As I watched him leave, I reflected.

Now, the company was truly taking shape—even if its true purpose was merely to manage my personal collection.

---

With the CEO recruitment finalized, preparations for the showcase gained momentum.

Jeongyeon delegated a significant portion of legal and administrative tasks to the newly hired Yoon Taesu, allowing her to focus more on directing and promoting the showcase.

Yoon Taesu adapted to his role with astonishing speed. He grasped exactly what I wanted without unnecessary questions and efficiently resolved scattered legal and contractual issues.

The company and group names were also finalized from the candidates he proposed: "Xelnaga Entertainment" and "Starlight Project," chosen for their simplicity and neutrality. As promised, the winners of the community naming contest each received 10 million won, processed with taxes handled.

The showcase date was set exactly one week later.

‘Starlight Project D-7’

Teaser videos and images announcing Ajeong’s new beginning began rolling out across communities and platforms. The promotional materials, overseen by Jeongyeon and finalized by me, stoked public anticipation to its peak.

---

[Zzizik Virtual YouTuber Gallery]
Title: [D-7] Xelnaga Ent’s Ajeong Showcase Teaser Dropped ㄷㄷㄷㄷ
(High-quality teaser video link)

- Bruh this production quality??? LMAOOOO
- Nah, Naga-ham really went all out with the budget ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
- Wait, they only showed the avatar’s silhouette but it’s already so pretty ㄷㄷㄷ
- Group name’s Xelnaga Entertainment? Based. ㅆㅅㅌㅊ ㅇㅈ
→ Did you actually get 10 mil?
→ Yep, Naga-ham even handled the taxes, got exactly 10 mil.
→ Holy shit.
- They said she’s singing too? Hype af.
- Rinne’s redebuting with her, right?
→ Yeah yeah
- They hired some exec for 2 bil a year? What the hell does Xelnaga even do??
- How many viewers you think the showcase’ll pull?
→ Every VTuber fan’s gonna swarm in.

---

Everything was progressing smoothly, just as planned. Like a director watching a stage come together, I waited for the day of the showcase with quiet satisfaction.

---

Showcase D-1.

"Hah… Hah…"

In the empty practice room Jeongyeon had hastily arranged, Ajeong gasped for breath. The vocal trainer’s voice through her headset remained strict, but it had softened considerably compared to the beginning.

[Good, Ajeong! Your breathing’s stabilized, and your pitch is much more accurate now! At this rate, you’ll do great on stage tomorrow!]

"R-Really? Thank you, Teacher!"

Her face brightened at the praise, and she bowed deeply.

For the past two weeks, outside of her streaming hours, she had poured nearly all her time into vocal practice.

At first, even stepping outside had been difficult, but now, even that felt familiar.

During her first session, she had struggled to keep rhythm, but her natural vocal talent and sheer determination had accelerated her growth at an astonishing pace.

After finishing practice and returning to her dorm, Ajeong collapsed onto her bed. A pleasant exhaustion washed over her.

Tomorrow… Tomorrow, she would finally stand before everyone in her new form.

Trying to calm her racing heart, she picked up her phone. The fan café was already flooded with posts cheering for tomorrow’s showcase.

And… Xelnaga’s occasional community activity caught her eye. Even now, he engaged with people in his own unique way, offering them interest and joy.

‘Tomorrow… I’ll do my best. I’ll make sure to thank Xelnaga-nim properly.’

Holding her thumping chest, Ajeong closed her eyes. She drifted off, dreaming of the new beginning that awaited her.

---

Showcase Day.

I woke up slightly earlier than usual and finished all preparations. The largest screen in the living room displayed the showcase broadcast, while smaller monitors on either side showed community reactions, real-time viewer counts, and emergency communication channels with Jeongyeon and Yoon Taesu.

Everything was under perfect control and surveillance. Sitting quietly at the center, I waited for the showcase to begin.

[Starlight Project – Ajeong RE:Debut Showcase D-DAY]

Ten minutes before broadcast, the waiting screen already had over 10,000 viewers. The chat exploded with excitement.

- It’s finally happening ㅠㅠㅠㅠ Ajeong ㅠㅠㅠ
- Naga-ham, I’m counting on you.
- If the quality doesn’t match the hype, I’m rioting.
- Goodbye, Clay Ajeong ㅠㅠ (lol)
- Rinne’s appearing too, right? Hyped for both ㅋㅋㅋㅋ
- Bruh the VTuber fans are swarming—15k before it even starts? zzzz

Exactly on schedule, the screen darkened, and a countdown began.

10, 9, 8…

I felt my heart beating slightly faster. It wasn’t me on that stage, yet the tension was palpable.

Perhaps this was the anticipation for my "first masterpiece."

…3, 2, 1, 0!

The screen brightened, and an intro video played to a grand BGM—a meteor streaking across the night sky, an aurora blooming at its end, and finally, the "Starlight Project" logo.

The next scene gradually revealed the silhouette of Ajeong’s new avatar. The stylish editing and overwhelming visual quality were enough to draw gasps.

And then… as the video ended, the stage lit up at last. At its center stood—

"……."

The new avatar. Ajeong, in the exact form I had chosen.

The avatar on screen wasn’t just a pretty illustration or 3D model. She was breathing, her slightly trembling gaze nervously meeting the viewers beyond the screen.

To my eyes, the perfectly realized avatar and the "real Ajeong" within it overlapped seamlessly.

- WHAT THE FUCK IS THIS
- HUH????
- HOLY—
- Mom, when I grow up, I wanna be Xelnaga’s son!! Mom, when I grow up, I wanna be Xelnaga’s son!! Mom—
- This is next-level.
- How the hell are her movements this natural??
- IS THIS FOR REAL??
- Ajeong… Ajeong finally became pretty ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ
- WHAT IS THIS I CAN’T—

The chat drowned in shock and praise. In this moment, "Clay Ajeong" had vanished completely, and a new star was born.

Unable to look away, I smiled in satisfaction at the Ajeong on screen.

My first collection.

A perfect beginning.