Crack.
Heo Tae-gyun, a 700,000-subscriber YouTuber, naturally turned his gaze toward the sound that reached his ears.
Because a rather bizarre noise had come from the direction of the conference room door.
'What was that?'
A sound like something breaking.
The employee who had been talking with him must have heard it too, as they looked toward the doorknob with a puzzled expression.
"Excuse me for a moment."
Heo Tae-gyun thought it was right for him, who was sitting closer to the door, to check, so he stood up from his seat.
'We were right in the middle of a good conversation.'
The Raywill Games employee discussing today's advertisement was, in many ways, someone easy to talk to.
How to proceed when they officially start the ad in a few days.
And discussions about the members participating in this advertisement.
So naturally, Heo Tae-gyun couldn't help but talk about the members scheduled to participate this time.
Namely, Lamiel.
A 200,000-subscriber VTuber.
It wasn't that virtual YouTubers were unfamiliar anymore, but whether someone like that belonged in this kind of advertisement, he honestly wasn't sure.
Above all, unlike himself who was in the Eternity tier, couldn't one question whether that VTuber could even play games properly?
Given that they were including one celebrity, it would be better if the person broadcasting together was experienced with
Since it was a team game, covering for two people would be quite tricky.
"Huh?"
He grabbed the J-shaped doorknob with his hand and tried to open it.
But even when he grabbed the doorknob and tried to push it down, it wouldn't move.
"U-u-uhhh!!"
No, when he came to his senses, he was face-down on the floor, still gripping the doorknob.
!!
"~~~!!"
Silence.
Heo Tae-gyun's wide-open eyes were blinking blankly.
What happened before he could even let go of the doorknob.
At the time, Hwang, the head of Raywill Games' PR Team 1, who witnessed Heo Tae-gyun's appearance, recalled the incident and said:
"It literally happened in an instant."
The incident that occurred before he could even release his grip on the doorknob.
Hwang, saying those words, continuously wiped his forehead with a handkerchief.
"Literally whoosh, his body spun like this and collapsed."
The scene looked as if a first-class judo athlete had thrown a person.
"You know how they say top-tier judo athletes can throw someone just by grabbing their collar."
If a top-tier judo athlete, just two fingers.
Just grabbing the collar could throw a person, they say.
The current scene was exactly like that.
"The one grabbing the doorknob was himself, yet he was already grabbed by the other side!!"
He wasn't grabbing the doorknob; he was grabbed—the contradiction!
An ability that could create situations beyond human common sense.
A technique that could execute that perfection. And power!
Ju Young-bin, the planning team leader at Raywill Games, who had been quietly listening to Hwang enthusiastically recounting the incident, nodded.
"You said you're taking a half-day off in the afternoon, yet you're talking about it at length."
"……."
If you're in pain, just say so honestly.
Hwang couldn't say anything to Young-bin who implied that.
Anyway.
The situation Hwang was recalling at that time.
When Seo-yeon opened the door and entered, she had exactly the same reaction as Young-bin.
"……What are you doing there?"
Heo Tae-gyun's appearance, collapsed in an ambiguous posture while gripping the doorknob, must have looked quite bizarre to Seo-yeon too.
Looking back, it was a truly unsightly posture.
'J-Ju Seo-yeon, the actress?'
Of course, Heo Tae-gyun stared blankly at Seo-yeon, unable to even think of letting go of the doorknob.
When he heard from Hwang earlier, he said the celebrity who would be broadcasting with them today would also come to the meeting.
Even at his words that it was worth looking forward to, Heo Tae-gyun had inwardly thought, 'It'll just be some mediocre idol.'
But the actress who dominated last year was coming inside.
There's a saying that comes up sometimes.
Even among celebrities, not all celebrities are the same.
Especially, there's a big gap between idols and actors.
No matter how pretty an idol is, they say their light fades when standing next to a truly beautiful actress.
Honestly, was it really to that extent? So Heo Tae-gyun had thought, but this time he couldn't help but accept it.
Until now, he had seen celebrities in person once or twice.
Among them were some reasonably famous idols, but none had surprised Heo Tae-gyun like this.
However, Ju Seo-yeon was different.
An appearance where the beauty that could steal one's spirit in an instant felt truly real.
"Are you going to stay there the whole time?"
Only when she said that did he realize he was face-down on the floor.
'W-What kind of disgrace is this.'
He quickly stood up, bowed, and sat down in the meeting room chair.
It was the same chair he had been sitting in comfortably just moments ago, but now it felt like he couldn't sit still.
A feeling like he had come to the wrong place.
It was partly because Seo-yeon's appearance was stunningly beautiful to the point of being overwhelming, but also because she was looking at him with especially cold eyes.
'Why on earth?'
What did he do wrong?
'……Well, if someone was lying face-down on the floor after opening the door, I suppose that reaction makes sense.'
Heo Tae-gyun couldn't understand why such a thing had happened to him.
Was it lack of exercise? Did his legs suddenly give out?
Heo Tae-gyun continued to ponder, but he would never learn the truth.
***
'I wasn't caught.'
The doorknob had broken, so she grabbed the rod-like thing inside and twisted it forcefully to open it.
During that process, she thought it was a bit stiff~, but who would have imagined someone was holding onto it.
'I'll have to ask Dad to fix it later.'
Seo-yeon felt relieved, if anything, by the fact that Young-bin was a team leader at Raywill Games.
'Anyway.'
Seo-yeon stared at Heo Tae-gyun, who had taken a seat in the meeting room.
Honestly, she didn't feel comfortable.
Hadn't he criticized Lamiel!
'Yeah, that can happen.'
However, since it wasn't a highly aggressive remark, Seo-yeon held back for now.
Well, she didn't really hold back, but she couldn't go over and hit him, could she?
After the Pyo Ji-woo incident, Seo-yeon had learned to control her anger.
"The remaining person will participate in the meeting remotely."
When Seo-yeon and Tae-gyun took their seats, the discussion about the promotion began in earnest.
Seo-yeon and Heo Tae-gyun sat side by side across from Hwang.
And there, a laptop was placed.
As if trying to point the laptop camera toward Hwang.
'Come to think of it, Lamiel…… must be busy right now?'
Could she even participate in the meeting?
That thought briefly crossed Seo-yeon's mind.
Anyway,
A truly narrow escape.
If the number of theaters and the screening period hadn't been that long, it wouldn't have crossed the 10 million threshold.
Even so, it doesn't change the fact that it achieved 10 million viewers.
However it was surpassed, 10 million is 10 million!!
Moreover, having recorded nearly 7 million in Japan as well, it could be called an incredible achievement.
Because of that, Ji-yeon was currently overseas.
As the lead, she couldn't help but be busy.
Seo-yeon hadn't really played lead roles in movies, so she hadn't done that kind of promotional tour, but she was quite busy during her drama days.
Let alone,
"……Is this person participating via video chat by any chance?"
"Yes. They insisted on attending the meeting no matter what."
Hwang cleared his throat and spoke to the two.
Then he glanced at Seo-yeon.
Her posture was truly elegant, and her beauty went without saying.
'If only my daughter could be even half like that.'
Of course, he didn't mean her looks.
Look at that upright posture; she looked like she'd be good at studying too.
Hwang was an avid fan of
He was also the one who had practically begged for Seo-yeon to appear in this advertisement.
Was it because she embodied the protagonist Lee Yu-ju of
In his eyes, Seo-yeon looked like the top-ranked student in the nation.
"By the way, I heard you know Lamiel well, who will be doing the promotional broadcast with us."
Hwang knew to some extent about Lamiel's identity.
Of course, from Young-bin.
There's a common concept among VTubers called the 'red pill.'
The person behind the 3D avatar.
If the face is disappointing, it's the red pill.
If it's good, they call it the blue pill.
In this case, it would be the 'blue pill,' but even so, a VTuber's true appearance is the greatest of secrets.
So, he could only speak indirectly.
'Actress Lee Ji-yeon and Actress Ju Seo-yeon are students attending the same school, and best friends, right?'
Since it came from Young-bin, it must be certain.
So, he brought it up to prevent Heo Tae-gyun from making any severe criticisms about Lamiel.
If he knew Lamiel was connected to Seo-yeon, he would have to be careful.
"Yes, I know her well."
"Then you can be comfortable during the broadcast……"
"I'm a huge fan, you see."
"?"
For a moment, both Heo Tae-gyun and Hwang looked at her with puzzled expressions.
Of course, the two's reactions had slightly different nuances.
Hwang's reaction was: I heard they were friends, but is she disguising it that way?
But Heo Tae-gyun's face was extremely flustered.
'Seriously? No, it's a joke, right?'
Seo-yeon, who seemed a million light-years away from anything like a VTuber, was a fan of this 200,000-subscriber VTuber?
Especially for someone who had just shown negative reactions about her skill level and promotional value, it was truly embarrassing.
"……Ahem, anyway, it seems they've arrived, so let's start."
Hwang checked the message that just came in and turned on the laptop.
Then, a familiar 3D avatar appeared.
Seeing that appearance, Heo Tae-gyun felt an indescribable emotion.
Should he call it a literally surreal scene.
'Since it's a meeting, I thought the person themselves would come.'
He never thought he wouldn't even get a chance to see her real face.
Was she that unconfident in her real appearance?
Perhaps she thought showing her face in front of an internet broadcaster like himself would be a slightly risky judgment as a VTuber.
Even so, he was just amazed that Raywill Games allowed this.
Was it because it was a game company? Are they generous about these things?
「Hello, this is Lamiel.」
It was a neat voice.
A voice that made one feel relaxed just by listening.
Even Heo Tae-gyun, who harbored uncomfortable feelings inwardly, thought, 'Nice voice.'
"Hello, this is Ju Seo-yeon."
At those words, Seo-yeon promptly replied first.
Seeing that attitude, Lamiel—Lee Ji-yeon, who was watching Seo-yeon through the camera, became a bit puzzled.
'Does she really need to greet me like this?'
That thought.
Well, there are other people too, so she's probably just adapting to the situation, Lamiel thought and responded.
「It's really nice to meet you, Actress Ju Seo-yeon. I'm a fan, you see.」
Lamiel's appearance as she spoke with a bright smile was very composed.
Even facing a celebrity, her reaction was rather subdued, to the point that Heo Tae-gyun was surprised.
Honestly, he thought she'd be a bit more excited.
'But for Actress Ju Seo-yeon, isn't this a subtle reaction.'
He wondered if she might be offended by the too-mild reaction, so he looked toward Seo-yeon.
Drip.
"?"
A single tear rolled down her cheek.
"Ah, I'm sorry. Inadvertently, my heart was overwhelmed."
"……Yes?"
"So this is what a fan feels. I should treat my fans better from now on."
"??"
Anyway, from the standpoint of someone who had been a Lamiel fan for a whopping ten-odd years(!) including her past life, having the opportunity to actually converse with her was a first, so a thrilled emotion filled her heart.
So much so that her eyes inadvertently became moist.
'What is this, scary.'
From Lee Ji-yeon's perspective, watching that through the camera, she got goosebumps.
No, she knows it's me.
She knew, but Lamiel and Lee Ji-yeon are truly separate people, you know?
"Ahem, l-let's first discuss the promotional broadcast."
Hwang made an effort to change the subject at the somehow strange reactions.
Because Seo-yeon's eyes looking at Lamiel were too burdensome.
"I already discussed with Streamer Heo Tae-gyun who arrived first, but I would appreciate your opinions on the broadcast concept and how to proceed."
Roughly, this promotional broadcast was scheduled to run for 2 hours.
They were also planning to shoot a separate promotional ad, but they heard that celebrity promotional ads were difficult to achieve good results, so they were still pondering.
Today's meeting was strictly about how to conduct the 2-hour promotional broadcast.
"Just playing the game normally isn't very entertaining."
Even so, Heo Tae-gyun, who had been doing internet broadcasts for a long time, cautiously brought it up.
Because Ju Seo-yeon was only interested in Lamiel, and Lamiel was, for now, showing a listening attitude since it was a video call.
"It's good to set each person's concept to some extent and do the broadcast accordingly. The easiest is…… deciding who hits and who gets hit. Ah, of course, not anything too extreme. Just a seasoning level of feel."
This doesn't mean extreme words, but there needs to be someone who takes the hits appropriately for it to be entertaining.
Of course, if it's excessive, it's dangerous, but that much can be decided.
Well, there might be other broadcasting formats, but Heo Tae-gyun always did it in a similar way when doing collabs, so this style suited him.
"Usually, it's best to decide between the skilled player and the unskilled player. Which one to make the one who takes the hits changes depending on which side you choose."
Of course, Heo Tae-gyun didn't want to be on the receiving end.
So, while he was conscious of Seo-yeon, he directed his gaze toward Lamiel.
Because that was the direction he had been discussing with the team leader earlier.
He was flustered because he didn't know Seo-yeon was a Lamiel fan to this extent, but he had to bring it up.
In the first place, since he couldn't even know how that VTuber would broadcast, it would be better to adjust to the moderately unskilled side for a decent picture.
'Of course, the unskilled side takes some negative image too.'
But isn't she a VTuber in the first place?
Unlike him who broadcasts selling his face, she'd have some defense.
'And I can carry for the rest.'
As for Seo-yeon, he figured he could somehow cover for her even if she just walked around.
So he couldn't be in the position of taking hits.
It was a bit of an excuse, but if the carry side is repeatedly teased even as a joke, public opinion actually turns against the one doing the teasing.
Like, why criticize someone you're riding the bus with?
Of course, if the other two were somewhat skilled, it would look like a joke, but…… he didn't know their skill levels.
「Then perhaps that role would be good for me. I'm only at Plae level, so my skill isn't that high yet.」
"Plae level?"
No, that's higher than expected?
Of course, Plae level in Eternity Camp isn't considered very high.
But from Heo Tae-gyun's perspective, he thought she hadn't even played the game properly, so it was unexpected.
Well, at this level, it might not be bad?
He was thinking that and nodding, when he felt a gaze from beside him.
As mentioned, currently in the meeting room, Heo Tae-gyun and Seo-yeon were sitting side by side.
"……."
The face that had been filled with overwhelming emotion just moments ago had turned expressionless and was staring at Heo Tae-gyun.
Eyes that had turned cold.
When the bright red glowing eyes fixed on him, Heo Tae-gyun's words caught in his throat.
'How should I deal with this guy.'
Should I slaughter him after all.
A rage that couldn't even be compared to Shine Moon.
A great fury that even Law couldn't dare to reach boiled up in Seo-yeon's mind.
"Ah, ah. Of course, something like this should be done by me. I'm incredibly good at playing the one who takes the hits, you see."
Heo Tae-gyun's head was bouncing around like a pinball in her mind, but at his words, Seo-yeon regained her reason.
However, as he said, if Heo Tae-gyun became the one they teased, he would likely look quite unappealing.
She didn't care, but shouldn't she avoid negatively affecting Lamiel's image?
"Rather, I think it would be better if Tae-gyun-nim takes the role of criticizing me."
"Yes?"
"Isn't that the best option?"
"No, well……"
Heo Tae-gyun was flustered.
So he was supposed to play the role of criticizing Seo-yeon during the broadcast?
No, he was supposed to criticize an actress who could cause controversy even with playful teasing?
A 10-million actress.
Moreover, Seo-yeon, who had absorbed a massive fan base last year—he imagined the reaction that would come back if he said something to her.
"……You don't like it?"
"No, I think it's a very good idea."
Heo Tae-gyun decided to quietly follow those words.
Because finishing the broadcast peacefully came first.