The Villainess VTuber Tears People Apart

Becoming an adult means learning to compromise. Rion thought so.

How many people truly realized the dreams they wrote down as their aspirations in elementary school?

Even when entering high school, most would list their preferred university as SKY, but ideals always seemed just out of reach.

Yeah, let’s compromise.

The more you stack expectations on the scale, the more disappointment you’ll face.

It’s always better to quickly give up and seek another path.

It’s not like my life is going to be ruined just because I compromise now.

So, I just veered off in a slightly different direction.

But then, I ended up living a life completely different from what I had originally planned, and I became afraid of what my elementary school self would think of me now.

Even so, learning to compromise is what it means to become an adult, right?

That’s why I became a VTuber.

And now it’s time to quit being a VTuber.

It was the result of compromise.

===

[General] Announcement on Rion’s Transition to Staff

Notice Regarding “Nekozuka Rion” Staff Activity

We sincerely thank you for always supporting EYEAI.

Our virtual talent Nekozuka Rion will temporarily suspend her activities as of August 31, 2024.

Following this, Nekozuka Rion will be participating as staff at EYEAI.

Sales of goods related to Nekozuka Rion will cease as of August 31, but her VTube channel and live broadcast videos will continue to be available.

We kindly ask for your support as Nekozuka Rion embarks on this new journey.

Additionally, we would appreciate it if you refrain from asking our other virtual talents questions regarding this matter.

July 1, 2024

EYEAI

[Comments]

– What’s this? Is she retiring?

– It doesn’t seem like retirement if the channel is staying up?

– Is she going to be doing staff work as well?

– Honestly, Nekozuka’s subscriber count was really low.

– Is she not going to be a VTuber anymore?

ㄴ Not completely, but she’ll probably do it occasionally.

– Anna killed Nekozuka…

===

[General] Saw a girl who looked like Rion at the supermarket today

The big mart was closed today, so I went to the local supermarket to buy food.

I saw a girl who looked like Rion. It was interesting, so I kept glancing at her, and when our eyes met, she looked away.

When I kept watching her, she put down what she was holding, paid, and left…

So I gathered the courage to follow her, but she suddenly started running away.

Of course, there was no way she could outrun me, with my track experience, haha.

I grabbed her hand and said,

“Hey! Why are you running away? You’re Rion, right?”

Then she suddenly started crying.

“How… How did you recognize me? I’m no longer in my broadcasting persona…”

“As if I wouldn’t recognize you? You’re always my goddess…”

“V-Bung-kun!”

“Rion!”

When we suddenly started a passionate kiss, the people around us started cheering.

“Woohoo! Damn, I believed in you!”

“Ah… is she retiring for marriage…? This is something I have to accept…”

Oh dear… Well, I don’t plan on betraying my virginity, so I won’t be getting married, but maybe it’s okay as a brief amusement?

[Comments]

– She hasn’t retired yet, you bastard.

– What kind of template is this…

– You killed Rion.

– Bring Rion back, you bastard!!

– I’m going crazy, haha…

– You’re gonna get beat up by Rion’s cousin at this rate.

ㄴ (Author) Rion’s cousin? What’s this plotline?

ㄴ [Hyperlink]

ㄴ (Author) This is scary as hell…

===

“…Why are you even reading that?”

Rion frowned without thinking.

The only good thing about the homeowner was her pretty face, but almost everything else was a downside.

She never did anything herself, no matter what it was.

Even though she liked tea so much, she barely made an effort to boil water herself.

So, Rion had been called to Laura’s room to make tea, and while waiting, Laura was browsing through forums.

“You’re here, Rion. Did something like this really happen at the supermarket?”

“Don’t talk nonsense, unnie. Ugh, what on earth is going through these people’s heads to come up with something like this?”

Just glancing at the post made Rion feel dizzy.

Sometimes, as a VTuber, Rion would think that viewers were geniuses, whether in a good or bad way.

Maybe they spent their days thinking of jokes. There’s no way someone could write this sober.

“If you do decide to get married, let me know in advance. I’ll need to hire a replacement housekeeper.”

“I can’t even hit you… Seriously…”

“But I don’t really understand this. Are you really quitting being a VTuber?”

“……”

Rion hesitated for a moment at the question.

But after thinking it over…

‘What was there to hide now? The last time Anna streamed, they found out I was still a VTuber.’

“Yeah, I’m quitting.”

She said it.

But as soon as she did, she realized she didn’t really want to say it.

Quitting.

She didn’t particularly like that expression.

“Even though I’ve been supporting you, you’re going to quit? That’s disappointing.”

Laura said this as if she didn’t really care.

‘Supporting? Supporting?? …Should I really hit her just once?’

“VTubing just doesn’t seem to suit me. So I’m thinking of becoming a manager instead.”

“Manager? Weren’t you going to be a video editor?”

“Oh, that was also discussed… Originally, I was going to be a video editor, but they asked me to do some management work instead.”

Rion dragged a chair and sat down heavily.

Compromising wasn’t difficult.

It felt like she had always lived her life compromising anyway.

She wanted to attend a prestigious SKY university, like everyone else. That didn’t work out, so she compromised with a college in Seoul.

She had written down “celebrity” as her dream job in elementary school, but she didn’t have the talent, and her parents were strongly opposed, so she gave it up.

So, she compromised and became a VTuber, but that didn’t work out either.

But thanks to compromising quickly, she found a path, and that was enough.

She didn’t expect to compromise again, moving from video editing to management, but that’s just how life is. You never know which way it’ll go.

‘Things really don’t go the way I want…’

Sometimes, even though she was living her life, it didn’t feel like she was the one in control.

Rion thought to herself.

“I see. Do your best.”

Laura simply sipped her tea.

Calm and composed. Yet even in this, she was so beautiful that it didn’t even stir feelings of inferiority.

Rion was still envious.

‘If only I could be as beautiful as her’, she thought.

But thinking about things you can’t have is pointless, and hating someone is something she just couldn’t do.

Maybe that’s why it’s even more painful.

“Unnie, have you ever thought about becoming a VTuber?”

Suddenly, Rion found herself saying that.

Laura raised an eyebrow in slight surprise.

“A VTuber?”

“Yeah.”

Rion nodded.

Even as an ordinary person, she had become quite the sensation in the VTuber gallery.

There was no doubt she had star potential.

Just as it had been in games, it felt like Laura would never face any hardships in life.

She had talent.

A talent Nekozuka Rion didn’t have.

And Rion was too diligent to just ignore it.

“Laura, you’re perfect for being a VTuber.”

***

“A VTuber… A VTuber, huh…”

I muttered to myself as I sank into the recliner.

Once again, I logged into VR.

I didn’t log in to play ranked games; I had arranged to meet Anna in VR. I was planning to train her today as well.

There’s still a bit of time before Anna arrives.

I recalled the conversation I had with Rion earlier.

– “Then become a VTuber, unnie. Laura, you were born to be a VTuber.”

– “It’s like you were born to be a VTuber, no joke.”

It had been so long since I saw Rion so passionate.

Which, in reverse, means she was very serious.

“It’s not that I don’t want to be a VTuber.”

I said to the empty air.

I’m someone who wants to play games every day. What could be better than making money while playing games?

But wouldn’t it be better to just be a regular streamer? I can’t help but think that way sometimes.

“I’m pretty, aren’t I?”

That was the truth of this world. It was as obvious as the fact that night follows day.

As an absolute beauty, wouldn’t it be better to just turn on a camera? That alone would make the masses fall at my feet in worship.

But VTubers don’t show their faces. Instead, they stream using Live2D or 3D models.

Of course, even if my beauty was hidden, my voice was undeniably beautiful. But is there really a need to hide it so completely?

Being a VTuber doesn’t seem better than being a regular streamer.

“But to dismiss Rion’s words, I realize I know too little.”

In the first place, I don’t even really know what a VTuber does.

It wouldn’t be good to jump to conclusions without knowing. Whether it was managing the ducal family or fighting on the battlefield, having preconceived notions was never a good experience.

Maybe I should ask Anna when she arrives.

“I’m sorry, Teacher! Could you cancel today’s training…?”

As I was thinking that, Anna spoke up, bowing her head repeatedly.

“Did something urgent come up?”

“Yes, um, well…”

Anna hesitated.

“There’s a broadcast I really want to watch…! So, I can’t do training today!”

…What?