Chapter 1: Hell

My profession is a VTuber.

To be precise, you could say I’m Ariel, a streamer belonging to the virtual idol group, Astra.

[I have something to tell you.]

Today, like any other day, I prepare for the broadcast.

It’s just that the title I wrote is different from usual.

Normally, it would contain the contents of that day’s stream.

‘…It might be meaningless now.’

That thought suddenly crossed my mind.

Still, if it’s something that must be done, it’s right to take responsibility and see it through to the end myself.

I pressed the start broadcast button.

[Ariel’s broadcast has started.]

At the same time, many viewers began to flood in.

[- LFG, let the clarification stream begin.]

[- lol, you’re really showing up for this?]

[- Guys, shouldn’t we at least hear her out before we start flaming?]

I feel the atmosphere of the chat, so different from usual.

One thing was for sure, the meaning contained in those messages was definitely not one of welcome.

[- The cancellation squad is on standby.]

[- Ex-]

[- plain.]

[- Ex-]

[- plain.]

[- Mods, can you please clear out all the spammers?]

The chat window activated quickly.

The majority of them were not fans with fan nicknames, but anonymous users.

They probably came to see me now just to feel a rush of dopamine.

They want to tear me down and bite at me, to see me bow my head.

And I am in a situation where I must do just that.

‘How did it come to this?’

It was definitely a trivial matter.

I had just played a self-composed song, which I had just finished working on, for my fans on stream.

That song was scheduled to be included in Astra’s upcoming 2nd full album.

So I just played it for the fans as a sneak peek.

…So how did that song end up becoming the debut song for another group created by the company?

And why have I become a VTuber who plagiarized a song from a big-name composer belonging to the company?

‘I don’t know.’

Honestly, I still haven’t been able to process it all.

The only reason I’m even starting a stream this late at night is because I received a call from my manager saying the community forums were on fire.

‘The song I made is considered plagiarism…?’

Even I couldn’t be sure.

Was there a part that was similar?

It was the first song I had ever composed, a song I made to help the team.

What’s certain is that I had no idea things would get this big.

[- Ex-]

[- plain.]

[- Ex-]

[- plain.]

[- [Byeolmuri_Warrior], you have been timed out for 600 seconds for spamming.]

[- [MelonExterminator], you have been timed out for 600 seconds for spamming.]

[- [TimeoutConnoisseur], you have been timed out for 1,200 seconds for spamming.]

‘…’

I’ve thought about it once before.

What is the most terrifying moment for a streamer who broadcasts on the internet?

It would be the moment they call your ‘downfall.’

A streamer has to be careful with every single action.

This is because any action or word is immediately shown to viewers, spreads, and is delivered.

If there’s a fault in any of it, as a matter of course, streamers end up doing an apology broadcast.

Isn’t that exactly what I look like right now?

[- Black screen lol, same old, same old.]

[- But seriously, how is the pattern the same every time? It’s like an unwritten rule for streamers.]

[- Ariel, if you want a softer landing, you should really take notes from Logic King’s legendary words.]

[- Isn’t she just going to quit streaming anyway?]

It’s obvious that the goal of those chats is to get a rise out of me.

The link must have been shared on a forum, causing a flood of haters.

[- Ah, the fcking idiots are here again ㅡㅡ.]

[- Mods, what are you doing? Please manage the chat.]

[- Aren’t we supposed to stay neutral until the person involved explains herself?]

Fortunately, my stream didn’t just have malicious anons.

There were fans of Astra, and my fans too.

But this time, I can’t grant their wish.

‘I was the one who told them not to manage the chat.’

Managing the chat in situations like this is bound to create more backlash.

It would be better in the long run to just let it run wild.

…And perhaps, what I’m about to say might hurt the fans more than the haters.

Still, I had to do what I had to do.

The long apology statement sent by the company arrived via DM.

I scanned through it, but it was too long.

‘…Honestly, I still don’t know what I did wrong.’

I can say that with my hand on my heart.

I’ve thought about it many times, but I never committed plagiarism.

Something was definitely wrong.

The problem is that the incident has already blown up.

The most important thing for a virtual idol group was their image.

We are streamers who broadcast, but we are also artists.

For a profession that lives and dies by its image, the very fact that a controversy has erupted is a huge blow.

Moreover, Astra had just begun to establish its position on Dwitch.

For the sake of the team, I had to be careful with every single word.

‘Haa…’

In any case, I had to resolve this situation myself.

That’s because I am the leader of Astra.

Many precedents prove it.

How to respond when a controversy breaks.

The words that must be said at a time like this…

I turned on my microphone, dropping my usual RP.

“Hello, this is Ariel from Astra. The truth is….”

In the end, it’s better to be honest.

What fans hate the most are lies.

“I did not plagiar….”

I wouldn’t even glance at the apology sent by the company.

It might turn into a mud-slinging fight, but I had to reveal the truth.

The process might be arduous.

Even if Astra gets hurt in the process… wait.

[Riel! Thanks to you, our first album was a success!!]

[When we have content for our next collab stream, I’ll plan it, so you have to do it with me, okay?]

[Yeah, everyone, let’s just keep going forward without any trouble.]

I flinched.

“Ah…”

[Ariel unni, what’s going on all of a sudden?]

[It’s… not plagiarism, right?]

[Riel, why are you being so scary… Does this mean we’re over?]

Huh.

Why are the conversations I had with the members popping into my head?

So suddenly?

[Everyone, our group name has been decided! It’s Astra, to match our project concept!]

[Oh, right. We decided to go with Byeolmuri for the fandom name!]

[…You want us to decide on individual fan names too? Hmm, should we take a vote?]

This is strange.

I had firmly made up my mind.

But for some reason, the words wouldn’t leave my lips.

‘…’

I stare straight ahead at the monitor.

The chat window, rapidly changing in contrast to the black screen.

I stared blankly at the scene.

At the same time, a heavy silence flowed.

“…”

I closed my eyes for a moment.

I just stayed still, not thinking about anything.

How long had I been like that?

“I’m sorry.”

In the end, that was the only thing I could say.

I don’t know why I did it, but it felt like I had to.

[- lolololol she admitted it, right?]

[- Wow, that mask she wore all this time was insane?]

[- Please just fck off.]

[- Can-]

[- celled.]

[- Can-]

[- celled.]

[[Byeolmuri_Ketchup] has donated 1,000 won. Thank you!]

[[Arisongi_Helen] has donated 1,000 won. Thank you!]

[[PlagiarismMasterRiel] has donated 1,000 won. Thank you!]

[[CorruptedAriel] has donated 1,000 won. Thank you!]

Everything became strange.

Even the sound of the donations hitting my ears didn’t register in my head.

Only the black screen seemed to be sucking me in like a black hole.

That was my last memory of Astra.

[To all the fans who love the virtual idol group Astra]

Unfortunately, we are here today to deliver sad news to you all.

We would like to inform you that the artist Ariel, who debuted through the Children of the Stars project, will be concluding her activities under mutual agreement with Stellaris Entertainment.

This decision is the result of meetings with our executives and staff regarding not only the recent plagiarism controversy but also the various behaviors Ariel has shown while active as a member of Astra.

Furthermore, Ariel’s records and related activities from her time in Astra are scheduled to be deleted.

Astra will be reorganized and will continue activities as a four-member group, and we plan to take legal action against the false information being spread through online communities.

We deeply thank all the fans for the support you have shown,

And we ask for your warm encouragement for Ariel’s new future.

Thank you.

-Stellaris Entertainment-

[Summary of recent controversial VTuber’s apology (45)]

[lolololololol (50)]

[From apology stream to quitting in record time (150)]

[(Poten) The currently cancelled VTuber (450)]

[Ariel fan here, I’ve turned to the dark side (220)]

ㄴ【Arisongi_Muhwa】(LV95) [Author]

Hoo… it’s the second day and the reality of it is hitting so hard I can’t sleep.

I think a lot of Byeolmuris, and Arisongis, feel the same way I do.

Wow, but is it for real that she just quit streaming like this?

She’s just going to leave after only saying sorry?

Fck, at least fcking explain the situation.

What is this?

The company cut ties with her immediately too, I’m just stunned.

No, but I never imagined they’d go as far as to wipe her records.

Is this right?

I need a cigarette, going for a smoke, fck.

• lolololol a level 90 turning to the dark side. But since it’s a record-wipe ending, shouldn’t you change your fan name?ㄴ [Author] Yeah, whatever you say, level 30? If you have a problem, let’s see you in the Porum.ㄴ lolol VTuber simp, you’re all worked up.
• But I do get it. I didn’t even watch Astra that much but the reality of it is kinda hitting me too.
• It’s probably because it’s the idol scene, so Stellaris reacted sensitively? Stellaris invested a ton in the new group they just made. The plagiarism thing was related to them, so they reacted even faster.ㄴ [Author] Haa… exactly. That’s what I’m saying. But why the hell did that btch Ariel have to plagiarize that specific song?ㄴ idk? How would I know? Maybe she really wanted to show off to her fans? lolololol by plagiarizing.

  ㄴ[Author] Haaa… going for another smoke.

• You btch, get out of the room. Arisongis shouldn’t be butting in with the Byeolmuris now. Change your name. It’s a record-wipe ending.ㄴ[Author] A*hole lol, what can you do? What are you gonna do if I don’t do anything?

The community was on fire.

It was literally burned to the ground.

The popular posts on Fan Korea’s Dwitch board were spammed with posts about Ariel all day long, and some even reached Poten, where they were torn to shreds, leading to fights between boards.

The controversy did not die down easily even as the days passed.

Every controversy has an expiration date.

Seeing how long this one was burning, couldn’t you say it showed just how much interest and love Ariel had received?

And what am I, the person at the center of the controversy, doing now?

“That’ll be 500 won.”

Beep.

“Thank you for your visit.”

I was working the early morning shift at a convenience store.

“Haa…”

Surprisingly, I’m still alive.