I Can See a VTuber’s Red Pills - Chapter 25

On the screen, the version of Ajeong I had personally chosen was breathing. Her slightly trembling gaze, betraying her nervousness, the subtle quiver at the corners of her lips—

This was no mere well-crafted 3D model. It was as though the avatar had perfectly synchronized with the 'real' Ajeong I knew, as if her very soul had taken residence within it.

— Holy shit, what the hell is this?
— Huh???
— Is this for real?
— Mom, when I grow up, I’m gonna be Zel Naga’s son!! Mom, when I grow up, I’m gonna be Zel Naga’s son!! Mom, when I grow up, I’m gonna be Zel Naga’s son!!
— Is this the same VTuber I used to know?
— The quality is insane, fr;; The stage is crazy well-made too lolol
— This is next-level shit?? The production is wild, no joke
— The movements are so damn natural? That’s real-time?
— Ajeong… she’s finally… finally become beautiful T_T
— Nah, this isn’t just "become beautiful"—she’s a whole new person. A rookie?

The chat was pure chaos. Exclamations, screams, fangirling, and worship all tangled together in an uncontrollable frenzy.

The viewer count had already soared past 20,000 and was climbing rapidly in real time.

In this moment, the old 'Clay Ajeong' had vanished without a trace, like dust. A new star—my first perfect creation—had finally unveiled itself to the world.

The stage lights focused on Ajeong, and the surroundings faded back into a soft darkness.

Standing at the center, Ajeong placed a hand over her chest as if steadying her breath, then spoke her first words in a trembling voice. Even her voice sounded different now—clearer, deeper, resonating in a way it never had before.

["E-everyone… hello… I’m Ajeong… reborn…!"]

Her voice was undeniably laced with tension, but beneath it was an overwhelming emotion—unstoppable excitement and awe.

The avatar I had chosen captured even the faintest quiver in her voice, rendering it through slightly parted lips and nervously flickering eyes.

The broadcast setup was flawless. The microphone and audio interface were top-of-the-line, with a dedicated engineer fine-tuning the sound in real time.

To me, she looked utterly precious. Not just a pretty doll, but Ajeong—a living, breathing being with emotions.

["It… took so much help from so many people… to stand here today…"]

Ajeong continued slowly. Though her voice still shook, every word carried sincerity.

["Especially… to the CEO of Zel Naga, who guided me back into the world… and gave me this chance to be reborn in such a beautiful form… I’m truly… truly grateful."]

She bowed deeply, the avatar mirroring her movement perfectly. The physics-engine-driven sway of her hair and clothes was seamless.

The chat exploded with cries of "Naga-ham!", "Shining Naga!", and "Dae Na Ga!"

I stared at the screen expressionlessly. Gratitude meant nothing to me.

What I wanted was the result—and that result was unfolding flawlessly before my eyes.

What mattered was how brightly she could shine on this stage.

And I was certain. She had every right to be the star of this stage—no, perhaps even the entire VTuber scene moving forward.

Soon after, a familiar yet richer, more refined piano melody filled the stage—a reimagined version of a gentle tune, arranged for this showcase by a top-tier composer and recorded with live session musicians.

["I… I’m not confident in my singing at all… but I wanted to express my gratitude… so today, I’m gathering my courage. Even if it’s lacking… please listen kindly!"]

Jeong-A’s voice wasn’t as polished as a professional singer’s, but it was clear and pure. Most importantly, it carried genuine emotion.

As if proving the weeks of grueling practice layered atop her natural tone, she poured her heart into every note.

The audience held their breath. A different kind of focus replaced the earlier frenzy—spellbound by her voice, the avatar’s delicate expressions, and the dreamlike interplay of lighting and music.

The chat’s chaos stilled, replaced by a quiet undercurrent of emotion.

As the song built toward its climax, a subtle detail appeared—a glimmer of tears forming at the avatar’s eyes.

It was a pre-programmed effect, but to me, it overlapped with the image of the real Ajeong crying alone in the dark.

This was the moment her emotions—her struggle to rise past pain—were conveyed unfiltered to the audience through the perfect harmony of song and avatar.

— Ajeong’s crying T_T
— Damn, her voice is so pretty fr
— She said it’s her first time singing? She’s crazy good?
— Wait, but the avatar’s expressions?? Insane
— Who even scouted Ajeong…
— Are those actual tears? That’s a thing? Looks so real
— Legit looks like she’s crying, I’m tearing up too
— So moved, Ajeong… walk only flower paths from now on
— Gotta tell my Hako to apply for Zel Naga’s group ASAP

A brief silence followed the song’s end—then the chat was flooded with an unprecedented wave of emotion.

Emojis of standing ovations, endless streams of crying faces, and shouts of "Ajeong, we love you!" and "Congrats on your debut!" filled every inch of the screen.

It was a success. More than just an avatar reveal—this was the birth of a heartfelt growth story.

The payoff for my investment was overflowing.

Then, abruptly cutting through the emotional atmosphere, a peppy BGM blared from the side of the stage as another flawless avatar bounded into view with playful steps.

This was the secretary-concept avatar I had personally chosen for Jeong-Yeon—ignoring her input—blending mature, intellectual beauty with mischievous charm.

["Ta-dah~! Surprised, everyone? Here to splash cold water on—no, no, to liven up this emotional stage! I’m Linne, the loyal! capable! and beautiful secretary of Zel Naga Entertainment’s CEO! Also the proud first member of the Starlight Project! You’ll all love me just as much, right~?"]

Linne expertly shifted the mood as she introduced herself. Unlike Ajeong, she radiated ease—likely from prior broadcast experience.

Then, as if buttering me up, she struck a pose. A polite bow with clasped hands, followed by a wink and a giant heart formed with her arms.

— Linne what is this lolololol
— Linne’s avatar is gorgeous too? Concept on point lol
— Secretary concept lol Naga-ham’s killing me lolol
— The ass-kissing is adorable lololol
— Ajeong’s one thing but Linne’s avatar quality is wtf
— Love the shamelessness lol
— Legendary from the start lololol

Jeong-Yeon—no, Linne—had reignited the showcase’s energy. With skilled hosting, she interviewed Ajeong, demonstrated the new avatar’s features, and announced future plans.

Her natural airheaded charm and loyal-secretary act injected humor into what could’ve been dry segments.

The contrast between Ajeong’s emotional depth and Linne’s vivacity created unexpected synergy. Together, they were perfection.

The showcase ran far beyond its scheduled time.

Viewership peaked at over 30,000, and even after closing, donations and chats kept pouring in.

Donation records shattered domestic VTuber history, while discussions about the avatars’ quality, "Zel Naga Entertainment," and the "Starlight Project" flooded online communities. The name was cemented.

As the broadcast ended, I turned off the screen with a satisfied sigh.

Everything had gone exactly—no, beyond—how I’d envisioned. A flawless showcase.

["CEO!!! This is HUGE!!! CEO, I’m crying T_T Final viewer count over 30K, donations are… wow, this is record-breaking! Community reactions are exploding!"]

An excited message from Jeong-Yeon arrived immediately, packed with emojis and exclamation points.

I smirked and replied briefly.

["Good work. Get dinner with Ajeong and rest well today."]

I could picture her face at my calm response.

She probably wanted to share the joy of success, but to me, this outcome was already confirmed by data—an expected, inevitable step.

With a rented motion-capture studio, top-tier talent, and near-excessive promotion, anything less would’ve been strange.

More importantly, they needed rest after the tension of the showcase.

What mattered was what came next.

A successful debut was just the beginning. How would I manage these shining stars? What new stars would join my collection?

That was everything.