Chapter 11: Are there that many farming and farming groups?

Yoo Sea, who would be using the alias Hoshino, quite liked the name.

Fitting for her exceptionally pretty face and body toned by rigorous exercise, she was indeed a former idol trainee.

Not just any trainee, but a super-trainee who was considered a certainty for the debut lineup, ranked at the very top even within the debut group.

It was only natural that her pride was incredibly strong.

In fact, from her prideful standpoint, she might have initially thought it unfitting to attach the name of a character hailed as a legendary top idol in an anime to herself, someone who ultimately failed to become an idol.

No, it was definitely like that at first.

Her pride was hurt, and she felt self-loathing.

But upon reflection, it didn’t seem too bad.

Her dream was to become the best idol, truly a star illuminating the dark night sky.

In a way, she had the talent for it.

Her unparalleled looks, stable and strong vocal skills, dance ability worthy of the center position,
and a physique sculpted through rigorous exercise, diet, and thorough self-management.

However, there was one fatal flaw she lacked control over: the luck of her peers.

“Sea… your team’s director has been replaced.”

“What? Right before our debut…?”

“…Ahem. S-Sea. Actually, about that debut…”

Well, it wasn’t her fault that right before debut, two adult members were caught by paparazzi having a threesome with the director at a motel.

Though it seemed like a childish dream, for her,
who had strictly avoided even the minor deviations others indulged in for stress relief to become the best idol,
it was devastating news. But with such a massive scandal breaking out, the debut naturally had to be cancelled.

At the time, she was nearing adulthood.

She had been a trainee for 8 years since she was 12.

Despite holding on for another 2 years hoping for just one more chance, the company floundered, and no debut opportunity came.

She wanted to move to another company,
but after slapping the cheek of some vice president from a large corporation who tried to grope her breast during a meeting arranged to secure an opportunity, everyone became hesitant to take her.

‘F*cking lolicon trying to prey on underage virgins.’

Eventually, disillusioned with reality, she quit being a trainee, and her family kicked her out for being a useless freeloader.

She was 21 years old then.

Having invested everything for 10 years to become an idol, she didn’t have the grades to go to college.

Following a recommendation from someone around her, she started streaming on AfreecaTV just to make ends meet immediately.

“Oppa-deul! Welcome! Kyaa- Thank you for the water balloons! I’ll drive the cultivator right away!”

She twerked wearing outfits that revealed much of her chest and thighs.

She pushed up her somewhat modest chest with padding as much as possible, bouncing while ‘driving the cultivator’ (a suggestive dance move).

After a few months like that, she managed to become a ‘Monthly Billion Queen’ (top earner) and could pay off the penalty fee stipulated in her trainee contract.

She thought living like this wasn’t too bad.

However, while she was very young, uniquely beautiful, and a good dancer in the streaming world, she lacked the know-how to manage her ‘chairmen’ (top donors).

Yoo Sea suddenly felt a wave of disillusionment when the middle-aged men called ‘chairmen’ on her stream started making sponsor offers.

‘I wanted to be an idol.’

Around the time she quit streaming and fell into lethargy, she happened to hear about the 2nd generation recruitment for the virtual ‘idol’ group, Belus.

Yoo Sea had some knowledge of subculture.

It was natural since she had no school friends due to focusing on trainee training,
and her peers were all practically addicted to s*x trying to relieve stress, so she spent most of her time alone.

Thus, she spent her short leisure time with anime, dramas, and movies.

Thanks to her relatively low resistance to subculture, she could apply to the virtual idol group.

Although it was a niche world far removed from her original dream, it was still being an idol; there would be fans and stages, so it was worth trying.

At least it was better than offering her virginity to disgusting old men or becoming an underground idol altogether.

‘Haruka-nim held a solo concert, so someday there will be a group concert too.’

She was just a girl dreaming of singing and dancing in front of her fans.

So, she passed the interview and came to the lodging.

When the CEO told them not to use real names or when she received the schedule from the manager while thinking about her activity name,
the expressions of others were dark, but she was different.

For her, who had endured the murderous schedule of real idol trainee training, this was far too relaxed.

The peculiar demand not to use real names was child’s play compared to the strict rules of her trainee days.

Besides, she thought it was ridiculous from the start that they could sleep freely from dawn until noon, no matter how irregular streamers’ patterns were.

Anyway, she started the lodging and observed the atmosphere around her.

It was natural, given how badly she had been burned by her peers before.

And she was disappointed.

Their competitive spirit was visible, but it seemed cute from her perspective.

None of them seemed to manage themselves properly, possessing lazy bodies that appeared to have no connection to exercise.

‘Dancing must hurt when your chest is that ridiculously big.’

Meanwhile, she chuckled seeing a notably cute girl looking around with a bewildered expression.

That girl was grinning foolishly one moment, blushing the next, then rolling her eyes—a real mess.

Just as she was about to dismiss the girl as an ‘airhead’ and lose interest, she saw the girl talking to a gyaru-style trainee who looked Japanese, and changed her mind.

Having thoroughly researched before challenging herself with VTubing, she learned that something called ‘Teetee’ was popular among viewers.

Teetee is a core element of VTuber culture, referring to the close and affectionate atmosphere between members or peers.

This was similar in the idol world, so she was confident in creating an even more lesbian-like atmosphere. She decided to form a sort of ‘maknae-line’ (youngest members group) with those two, who seemed the youngest alongside herself.

Showing a friendly dynamic would increase their chances of debuting together and make them seem adaptable, so she aimed for that.

Even better, if they debuted together, they could showcase their chemistry to the fans.

Fans are creatures who would write petitions in blood if rumors of a heterosexual relationship surfaced, but would welcome a ‘Teetee’ atmosphere between same-s*x members with open arms.

That’s why Yoo Sea intended to get close to that airhead and the gyaru.

The airhead seemed likely to be eliminated, but she could debut with the gyaru. Acting wasn’t a big deal if it meant avoiding elimination and being loved by viewers after debut.

She had learned acting during her idol trainee days,

and above all, she was desperate.

Three days had already passed since entering the training camp… no, since starting the lodging at the headquarters.

During that time, we mainly received theoretical instruction about VTubing directly from CEO Kim Kanghyun.

Things like currently popular foreign and domestic VTubers, their characteristics, strengths and weaknesses, trends in the VTuber scene, song choices, the overall atmosphere of the streaming world, and viewer engagement.

When I saw the materials analyzing market demand, past trending games, upcoming games to preemptively claim, and even programs,

it contradicted my usual image of him as a malicious boss, a lunatic, or, as a Belus fandom ‘Rainbow’, a figurehead CEO who just dumped work on the manager. I felt quite impressed.

‘He wouldn’t mind if we left knowing this much information, right?’

Even if we took it, the truly important data would surely be kept separate.

‘So this is what it takes to lead a group like Belus.’

As expected, someone from a major company with the longest tenure in the streaming scene seemed different somehow.

And so, studying and sleeping together, contrary to my initial worries, I became quite close with some of the fellow trainees. Of course, not with everyone; we naturally split into several groups.

For example, me, the gyaru—ah, she’s Mao now—anyway, she and Hoshino are getting along somewhat closely. The Mamang-type, Sumire, and Miyuki, the girl with the wavy amber bob who radiates cheerful energy, generally get along well with everyone.

Of course, just as there are friendly groups, there are also groups engaged in fierce power struggles.

Beyond just a female-dominated group, this lodging consists entirely of women, so the unseen battles are intense.

Their veiled struggles during the short lodging period resembled the legendary verbal battles between Zhuge Liang and Sima Yi.

“You’re really bright and friendly. I’m so jealous… I can’t be like that. Won’t you be the most popular among us if you debut?”

‘Stop sticking to me grinning like an idiot, you wh*re. Are you going to maintain that fake image in front of fans even after debuting?’

“Oh my, it’s better than frowning all the time. We need to practice facial tracking anyway… And even if we’re close, saying things like only we’re confirmed for debut might make others uncomfortable, so let’s be careful. You know I love you, right?”

‘Do you think you can debut with that venomous face? Besides, I can debut, but you can’t. By the way, people are talking behind your back.’

Things like that, for example.

At first, I thought they were just chatting cheerfully, but from the next day, I started hearing their inner thoughts.

Every time I saw the sharp edge hidden beneath a bright smile, it was so chilling I felt like I would wet myself.

This is crazy. I refuse this kind of ‘red pill’.

Of course, not all members spend their time just fighting.

Most seem gentle-natured and work hard.

Hoshino, radiating that idol trainee aura, really just studies silently and even trains personally.

She’s the type of woman who makes you think, ‘She’s definitely going to be picked.’

At first, I thought she was just acting all serious, like a girl with delayed chuunibyou.

And this morning, on the third day, as soon as we woke up, we had to hear the news that two people had already been eliminated.

One person was caught smoking cigarettes in the headquarters’ backyard late at night by CEO Kim Kanghyun, who was working overtime and couldn’t go home. She had to pack her bags and leave immediately.

Another person was discovered by Ms. Ari sending photos of the headquarters facilities to a friend and was hit with a massive penalty fine before leaving.

To ignore the confidentiality agreement even after seeing that amount.

In a way, you could call it brave.

Although such unpleasant incidents occurred, the departure of the two who had constantly stirred up the lodging atmosphere caused the tension, which had just begun to ease, to rise again.

However, seeing Ms. Ari gathering us with a cheerful smile, seemingly unfazed by the uneasy mood, I started to feel increasingly scared.

I thought she was just the mascot type, but she might unexpectedly be hiding her strength.

“You all know today’s schedule, right? Warm up your throats, and we’ll start practice right away~”

A new rule had been added yesterday.

It was to practice and gradually adapt to using Moe-goe (*a cute or high-pitched voice), eventually using it continuously throughout the lodging period.

It seemed Ms. Ari planned to start practicing it this morning.

Even if it’s Moe-goe, it’s not as intense as it used to be back in Japan, and we’re practicing within limits to avoid straining our voices as much as possible.

Above all, throat health is the most important thing.

“Ah- Ah- Ahem… AEIOU~”

I didn’t know how to properly warm up my voice, so I just cleared my throat roughly, tightened it, and raised my pitch.

A shrill voice came out.

“Ah! Ah! How is it?!”

“Pffft…!”

Ms. Ari covered her mouth, muffling her bursting laughter.

It’s unfair. I practiced until dawn yesterday before falling asleep.

Besides, the Mamang-type, Sumire, who was watching from the side, also covered her mouth demurely, holding back laughter as she pointed it out.

“Y-your voice is thin… but it’s all accent… You sound like a child kidnapped by a villain in a superhero show. Kk-hup…!”

“Is it that bad?”

That’s quite a peculiar analogy…

Next to them, who were clearly trying not to burst out laughing, the gyaru girl, Mao, was sitting sprawled out watching.

Although she didn’t say anything, her mischievous expression suggested she was loading up ammo to tease me again.

As I glared resentfully at those smirking faces, Ms. Ari held up one finger and gave an example.

“Pffft… Ahem, hmm… Instead of just tightening your throat like that, try mixing in more nasal sounds and lowering your voice? It should put less strain on you too. In your current state, your voice will definitely be gone in a week. Now, try following me. Ah- Ah- Hello~ This is Ari~”

“Oh.”

A real VTuber-like moe-moe voice came out.

Why on earth isn’t this person a VTuber?

“Ahem.”

First, focusing on making a nasal sound like her, I consciously lowered my voice.

“Ah- Ah- Aah- Hello~ This is Kotori~”

“Kyaa~ Cute!”

“Sounds like a kid…!”

“Kawaii-!!”

Sumire and Ms. Ari jumped forward and hugged me tightly to their chests, while Mao laughed heartily from behind, slapping my back repeatedly.

Buried between two large chests, it’s hard to breathe.

I already have no tolerance for women, and the rich, feminine scent, like fragrant milk, flooding my nostrils makes it hard to stay conscious.

My heart is pounding like crazy.

For someone like me, who has never had any history with women, this kind of skinship is too intense…!

“Her reaction is cute…!”

Let go, let go, you wenches! I only have eyes for Haruka…!

“By the way, wasn’t her voice just now really cute?”

“Yes! She can stream like this!”

“Then we can just stick with this voice.”

The trio of large-chested women finally released me, just before I passed out, and started chattering amongst themselves, laughing.

I pouted dissatisfiedly while cooling my thoroughly flushed face.

“You said it sounded like a kid…”

Although I had previously self-assessed my voice as kid-like, it still retained a feminine feel.

But now, with the added nasal tone, it sounded exactly like a legal loli heroine from an anime.

Will this really work in Joseon, the land of scholars? (Figurative: Korea)

“It’s okay, the viewers will actually love it.”

“That’s right. It’s unique too…”

“…And?”

Ms. Ari trailed off and gave a wry smile.

And Sumire Mamang looked at me tilting my head and smiled very benevolently.

“Among men who like this kind of subculture, quite a few are… No, maybe it’s still too soon for Kotori…”

“……”

I know exactly what you wanted to say, lady.

……Anyway, are there really that many yuri fans (‘nongnongdan’) in Korea?

“Ah.”

Come to think of it, there used to be that crazy guy who regularly checked in on the Belus Gallery suggestion board once a week with the weirdest comments.

Since the other mods never checked the suggestion board, I always had to delete them, so I still vividly remember the content of those comments.

What he wrote back then was probably…

-Wakyapyahuknooooooooongppyooooooooongheueunghiieek uongae kek..!keeeng hereheuk..!kehek nuooooooooong oong ong kkkkkk softglutinousricecaaaaaake kuhup..nuooooong kkkkkkkkkk noooooong kkkkkkkkkkhukkkkkkhukkkkkkkhuk! Nooooooong kkkkkkek!

“Keuak! My, my head…!”

“Kotori! Are you okay?!”

Let’s not think about it further. Yes.