I May Be a Virtual Youtuber, but I Still Go to Work - Chapter 112

Generally, when companies post recruitment advertisements, it’s rare for them to specify the exact number of positions available.

Why? Because there are so many variables when it comes to hiring people. You might unexpectedly discover a treasure trove of talent, or, conversely, a dumpster fire of unqualified applicants.

Naturally, when Parallel announced its recruitment for second-generation members, they didn’t explicitly state, “We’re hiring four people!” So, technically, they could just hire two folks and call it a day.

But that’s only if we were an ordinary company.

For Parallel, hiring just two and calling it a wrap would be problematic.

First of all, there’s all sorts of rumors swirling around.

Wasn’t there a total of four first-gen members? Naturally, people would assume that the second generation would also consist of four. If the numbers are off, it raises eyebrows, and fans will start speculating, like, “Did someone screw up huge?” if the number is lower, or “Is someone riding a parachute in?” if it’s higher.

All these wildly inaccurate rumors can drive the company and the members up the wall.

And here’s another thing—this is even bigger.

Parallel is a company on the rise. If it suddenly announces that for the second generation, it’s hiring half as many people as before, it might make potential investors think there’s a money issue or that the President has dialed back on funding.

Potential applicants might wonder if the path to debut is getting increasingly narrow, which doesn’t bode well for the company.

“You’re going to sift through the holdovers again, right?”

“Yeah, the number is quite… yikes.”

“Certainly is!”

“The issue is finding someone from the holdover pool who actually fits the bill… but let’s take another look. Are you free today?”

“I’ll help out!”

At least going back to the holdover pool felt like a step in the right direction. After all, candidates who don’t meet Cheon Dohui’s artistic standards and Majia’s past experiences don’t even make the cut for the ‘acceptable holdover’ line.

So, most would-be candidates are simply those who might struggle with group dynamics but could improve through guidance and continued teamwork.

Thus, even if it’s necessary for them to prepare a bit longer before debuting, it’s certainly better to select two more members from this pool than to debut with just two.

Especially since sometimes, when evaluated as individuals, people who seem underwhelming can actually thrive in a complementary relationship.

Picking people who mesh well with the final two successful candidates seemed like the way to go.

Now, here’s the secret…

For the first generation, aside from Dora and Rain, the other two were actually holdovers.

Maru was too much of a fragile snowflake when it came to mental strength, and Komari was just too fiery.

But when I decided to pair them up as an experiment, surprisingly, they clicked like peanut butter and jelly! Maru gained strength, while Komari mellowed out—could this be a fluke?

Of course, back then, the President was feeling pretty adventurous, so the mindset was a bit different than it is now.

Let’s hope the second generation follows this same trend!

* * *

And so, the paperwork review kicked off again.

As I laid out the copied materials and evaluation sheets of the interviewees on the reception table one by one, I first sorted them based on personality traits.

If we’re going to fill those two vacant spots from the holdover pool, it’s essential that the final candidates or the holdovers have personalities that complement each other.

So, let’s start with the final two successful candidates!

First up, number one: An Si-ho.

Her first impression screamed “party girl,” but she turned out to be a homebody who’d never even had a date.

She tried hard during the interview to avoid coming off as too geeky, but eventually, she got caught in the act.

So, she’ll be the one pushing a clumsy sexy persona. She’ll jump on stage and say, “You all must obey me!” but ultimately fold under the audience’s pressure, crying, “Okay, okay, I got you!”

Who would be a suitable partner for An Si-ho?

Probably the person in charge of her bullying, right?

As mentioned, she’s lovable little klutz. Give her a gentle poke, and she’ll stumble in the most exaggerated way that would have been right at home in a silent film.

So, we really do need someone like Komari. You know, the kind that endlessly asks, “Is this right?”

I set aside the person from the holdovers who was a bit rough around the edges.

They might be okay alone on their stream, but when working with colleagues or other streamers, they could find themselves making mistakes again, hence the hold.

‘Let’s set these three aside…’

Next! Number two: Han Bada.

Is it a coincidence that her name affects her personality? She was relaxed from start to finish, never once tensing up.

She gave perfect answers to all kinds of tricky questions, even passing brutal trolley dilemmas posed by the HR manager with her own convictions.

This one was so calm that I worried she might be boring, but…

She had a surprisingly sultry singing voice that felt like a refreshing twist from her otherwise stiff demeanor. Plus, when she got caught off guard—like when her facade crumbled—a cute, sobbing tone emerged. It was golden!

So, Han Bada needs a partner who can shatter her calm demeanor.

When absurdity unfolds repeatedly, that’s when the masks start slipping.

Ordinary viewers would nod along with the moment where the character, Dora, holds out despite being told the answer again and again, only to finally concede, “Hehe, alright, you’re right.”

I picked out two obstinate holdovers who would win in a clash with Han Bada in personality disputes.

‘Now to find two from this group…’

After that, I checked to see if there were any holdovers who might complement each other.

And voila! Two matched up nicely. Amazingly, both were also on the ‘good fits list’ for An Si-ho and Han Bada.

Talk about hitting the jackpot!

I stacked the other documents neatly and left only the two selected candidates’ paperwork on the table as I stretched.

Meanwhile, the President, still deep into paperwork review, asked, “Did you pick anyone?”

“Yup. I think these two fit the bill.”

Soon, after what felt like an eternity of contemplation, the President took the documents I hadn’t touched and compared them with his own.

“Let’s see here.”

He raised an eyebrow, teasingly smirking at the one corner of his mouth.

“Well, it seems you’ve chosen wisely!”

“Did you too?”

“Seems like my instincts didn’t fail me either. But you know, picking just two feels somehow… lackluster.”

“Yeah, I feel that too.”

The two they selected from the holdovers are decent, but they are a lot like Komari and Dora.

Debuting them would probably mean they’d snag a piece of the pie from the original members.

All the effects I’ve mentioned so far could be easily replicated during broadcasts with veteran members like Komari or Dora.

So even after choosing two candidates from the holdovers, it seemed unlikely to increase the number of final successful candidates.

With a sigh, the President flopped onto the couch.

“This is maddening. No matter how I arrange it, I can’t find a clear answer…”

“Don’t you know any other individual-scale VTubers?”

“I’ve already tried reaching out. Plus, getting someone already established in the corporate space to make a comeback can be tricky. If we were part of a big corporation like Bachu Bachu, then maybe…”

If I just dropped a casual bombshell that we were teaming up with CAT, we’d have tons of applicants knocking on our door.

But that’s still an open question.

Producer Nahyeon Gon insisted that we need to nail the first song before we can take the next steps.

If we start using their names at this point, we’re just lowering the chance of collaboration.

Right now, we need to show that we can do this ourselves.

‘Look, we’re actually good enough to impress big corporations!’

To do that, we first need to get our second-gen numbers in check.

“Hey, we debuted our second generation!”

“How many members?”

“Just two!”

If he heard that, producer Nahyeon Gon would probably raise an eyebrow.

With a chuckle, he might muse, “Is Parallel really choosing between hot and cold water right now?”

But we can’t just pick anyone!

“Let’s give it one more round of scrutiny.”

The President shook his head, “Nope, if those folks are who we’re debuting, it’d be better to just debut you instead.”

“Shall I start preparing?”

Realizing what he’d just said, the President quickly retraced his words, “That was just a throwaway comment; don’t take it seriously.”

“You know I would if you asked me to.”

“Nope, don’t even think about it. I don’t want to rob a hardworking kid of their free time…”

“I also take breaks when I need to!”

“Oh dear, but what if someone who works hard collapses and ends up in an ambulance?”

You can bet I’ll be reminding him of that moment forever.

Not because I wanted to pass out but because it happened, and I was just staring at him!

The President groaned and muttered, “We really need to start considering casting for debuts instead of auditions. The talent pool for VTubers is limited, and finding suitable candidates for corporate performances is even scarcer.”

“Maybe we should look into voice actor or idol aspirants.”

“There are lots of talented individuals in the Utaite, voice actor, and idol circles. If we have a corporate appearance, that’s a viable option, too.”

“If we become closer to CAT, we could also be a viable option for those giving up on idol debuts.”

“That’s tough right now, though. In fact, wouldn’t it be faster to reach out to recent alumni VTubers?”

“Hmm… that’s a solid point.”

We shared a moment of intense eye contact, as we both knew someone who’d come to mind.

In the near future, we’d soon be witnessing a VTuber totally leaving Rapitsu after their graduation broadcast.

That’s Serena!

She has a character that’s completely different from the first-generation members and the two final candidates, proving her broadcasting stability and social skills.

She might be the ideal match, hands down!

“Do you think bringing Serena in would be pushing it? If we could at least fill three slots, we could make the numbers work.”

“Wait a second. I did have a recent conversation with the representative over at Rapitsu.”

As you may have heard, our former employee, who has been processed for termination, was reportedly inappropriate toward Majia’s representative. I sincerely apologize for that.

Furthermore, if she were to transfer to Parallel, I’d assure you that it’s not tampering.

I mentioned those points in the conversation.

“Since debut preparation usually takes us about six months.”

“Right.”

“The chances of backlash over something like that would likely be minimal. We wouldn’t have a reason to refuse someone with a proven track record and talent, especially if they’re already on friendly terms with us.”

Plus, Serena would be invaluable for both Maru and the team’s emotional management.

I can only imagine the stress—it’s a tough profession where you need a thick skin!

Trying things for those dopamine hits can go wrong fast, causing mental distress.

But our kids don’t openly express their struggles.

While four of them are tight-knit, support each other, and the President regularly treats them to meals and checks in on their mental health, they manage quite well.

But now that Serena’s departure from Rapitsu has left a noticeable void, the operating team there now has to shoulder the work she’d been helping with.

Whether it’s feeding them or comforting them with a listening ear, it was Serena’s quiet influence that kept the group thriving.

So, as news of her departure spread, other members started showing signs of wanting to leave too!

Regardless, Serena’s a proven talent, and as such, the job of wooing her fell on me.

“Let’s connect with Serena tomorrow and see if we can set up a chat with the three of us.”

“Would it be okay to wait a week? I think she’ll need some time to process after her graduation broadcast.”

“Huh?”

“After all, Serena’s leaving so she can spend more time with her fans. Giving her even a short goodbye feels a bit shabby, so I think she’d appreciate a little time to recuperate.”

I pulled out the earbuds I had tucked away.

As soon as the President saw, he looked at me incredulously.

“Were you watching the graduation broadcast the entire time?”

“Yep, that’s why I’m aiming to catch any potential issues before we get her on board.”

“Wow, Serena really wanted to join us…”

I shrugged.

“I’m betting within a week, she’ll reach out to us first.”

While we may not be implicated in any tampering controversies, processes need to be upheld.

If we rush and gloss over things, it could definitely backfire later on.

“Let’s reconsider this at that point. How does that sound?”