The year is 2035.
Around 2030, virtual reality technology was commercialized, and as people began to earnestly explore the cyber world, some industries declined while others flourished.
What became of illustrators?
Before 2020, illustrators earned a decent amount of money based on their skills, but with the advancement of AI, some saw their incomes gradually decrease.
-I paid 700,000 won for an illustrated cover, and it turned out to be not much different from an illustration an AI spat out with a single click. Hahaha...
The rise of AI gradually diminished the standing of those who drew for a living.
Furthermore, with the VTuber boom and the development of AI to the point where it could instantly generate character illustrations from a simple text prompt, the industry was turned on its head, becoming a winner-take-all landscape.
The survival of the fittest.
Only a handful of illustrators could earn a stable and substantial income, and the middle of the income pyramid began to collapse.
-The copyright for all character illustrations created with our AI belongs to our company. Therefore, you must pay a usage fee for said illustrations.
A major issue erupted in the VTuber scene.
Copyright problems.
AI copyright, which had been a gray area until the mid-2020s, finally exploded, dropping a nuclear bomb on the VTuber industry.
Eventually, people began to seek out artists who were free from AI copyright issues, places that were relatively stable in terms of copyright.
-A VTuber illustration drawn by a human has a soul.
Under this pretext, illustrators found their footing once again.
Moreover, with the development of 3D virtual reality worlds, the demand for ordinary characters also increased, so it wasn't just the master artists who were sought after.
Those who were good at drawing SD characters, those skilled at drawing animals, and even those who seemed to attract clients with suspiciously deep pockets found themselves with a steady stream of commissions.
Still, the foundation of a VTuber is a pretty and cute character.
Especially if one considers it to be another version of themselves in the virtual world, it's hard to create an illustration that would make viewers uncomfortable.
That's why the illustration is incredibly important for a VTuber.
And the person who draws that illustration is just as crucial.
Unless the illustrator causes a scandal, the character they create usually becomes the VTuber's face for life.
"So that's why you call them 'mama'?"
"That's about right."
Rasian seriously examined the portfolios of the illustrators—or "mamas," as they were called—that I had proposed.
"I see. It's similar to choosing an avatar doll to send to the Magic Society."
"I don't quite grasp what it means to go to the Magic Society, but you can think of it as the appearance you'll show to others for the rest of your life."
"It's similar. After I secluded myself in my tower, whenever there was a tower meeting or a society gathering, I would create a doll and send it in my place."
Her eyes fixed on the monitor, Rasian extended her hand to the side and unleashed her magic.
Soon, something shimmering like an opaque hologram, the size of a basketball, began to glow.
"A slime?"
"Yes. It's a slime."
"You were allowed to send this?"
"Who was going to say anything? All I had to do was listen to the proceedings. If anyone had a complaint, they could just fly up to my tower in the sky and tell me themselves."
"Didn't you say they had to break through an incredible magic barrier just to meet you?"
"They had to be capable of at least that much to meet me. Ah, this person looks good."
While looking through the portfolios, Rasian pointed to one illustrator.
"They have the most followers and upload their art regularly. How about this one?"
"They're good. A seasoned professional who's already worked on several VTubers."
"You sound hesitant..."
"Looking at the art alone, they're definitely skilled. A pro. The problem is that I'm an industry insider who knows about their private account."
"Private account...?"
"Didn't the mages in your tower have something similar? They'd laugh and chat pleasantly to your face, but behind your back, they'd gossip among themselves and tear others down."
"It happens occasionally, no, frequently. I never paid it much mind, but it's common for mages to be jealous of another's great achievements. It was the same for the other archmages."
"It's similar."
I turned on my smartphone, shielding the screen from Rasian, and opened the social media account I used to check on illustrators' private accounts.
"Could you read this comment for me?"
"Ari-chan's success is all thanks to me, lololol?"
"The illustrator was going around saying things like that on their private account. That the VTuber's success was all because of the art... and the artist themselves was the one bragging about it."
"And you're recommending someone like this?"
"Their skills are undeniable. And a risk like this is manageable enough."
I had met this person face-to-face and put them in their place once.
Even now, I could find their studio in Japan in a heartbeat, and even if they fled to their family home in Okinawa, tracking them down would be a piece of cake.
I've done it before.
"I didn't even suggest anyone with unmanageable risks. Take a look at this person."
I brought up another illustrator from the follower list of the one we were just discussing.
"The art, what do you think?"
"It looks similar, yet different. Are they experienced? It seems they've created quite a lot... but all uploads stopped three years ago?"
"Yeah. They're in prison."
"Prison...? You mean they committed a crime?"
"They were jailed for a hit-and-run. Because of that, the VTuber who had them as their 'mama' was suddenly forced to find a new illustrator."
Things like this happened often when I was at the company.
While not as extreme as hitting someone with a car and fleeing, many illustrators came with various risks.
Ideologies, certain ideologies, or secretly embedding symbols of those ideologies into commissioned illustrations.
"The illustrators I've shown you are ones without the worst-case scenario risks. They've all worked with me at least once, and they're professionals. If you're debuting in Korea, having a Japanese illustrator will also slightly lessen the risk of your real identity being exposed."
"'Lessen' implies there's still a risk? Is there a way for them to find out I'm an archmage from another world?"
"No, not that. The issue isn't with you, Lady Rasian. It's on my end."
I displayed the representative works of the illustrators whose portfolios I had shown her.
"These people also know I quit the company and returned to Korea. They were the 'mamas' of the VTubers I managed."
"Hmm... ah, I understand."
Rasian snapped her fingers, pointing back and forth between me and herself.
"The person who supposedly returned to Korea due to poor health is suddenly preparing a VTuber business right here in Korea. The problem you mentioned before would ignite immediately."
"Exactly. But even considering that risk, they're worth contacting. The greater the risk, the greater the reward, and the value these illustrators possess is immense."
"What kind of value?"
"The fact that they are famous illustrators whom I personally helped go independent, allowing them to continue streaming with their original character art."
In a way, I had done them a great favor.
"From an illustrator's perspective, they want the art they created to be seen and appreciated by others. They don't want to see it put up for auction because the company went bankrupt, you know?"
"Auction?"
"Yes. VTuber avatars being auctioned off is a common thing now. When I was younger, it was just an uncomfortable story you'd occasionally see on internet forums, but now, character illustrations are listed in court auctions just like real estate. As virtual avatars."
"So because you provided legal protection to prevent their work from being sold off carelessly, they would be willing to accept a commission from you, Producer?"
"That's right. And if we go as far as to publicly reveal the illustrator... we could generate buzz by branding you as 'sisters' with those who have hundreds of thousands of subscribers."
Simply sharing the same illustrator as another VTuber creates a selling point.
Recognition is extremely important.
"...This is not something to be taken lightly."
Rasian's posture straightened.
A new seriousness entered her eyes as she reviewed the portfolios again.
"I may need to approach this more seriously than preparing a registered spell for the society to represent my tower. Producer, could you give me some time? I'd like to research the relevant information and approach the matter of choosing my 'mama' with due diligence."
"...Normally, this is something the company would handle exclusively, and not something I'd entirely entrust to someone from another world, but."
I had already seen what Rasian was capable of.
Multitalented, a genius even.
If she had any shortcomings, it would probably be her abysmal life skills, a result of handling every aspect of her life with magic.
"Alright. Let's spend about a week researching. It doesn't have to be a Japanese artist. There are incredibly talented artists all over the world, and many specialize in this field."
"Understoo... excuse me, Producer. Something called a 'work email' just arrived."
"Hmm?"
A pop-up window appeared at the bottom of the internet browser.
The subject line, which Rasian read, was written in a formal, business-like tone.
"It's a consulting request, but the sender is [Crazy Bitch]. How should I interpret this?"
"...Ah, she's just a normal person. I just saved her contact like that because her actions are crazy."
"Is it acceptable to save someone's name like that for a work email?"
"I think it's fine. After all, this isn't my business email; it's my personal one."
"...."
"Ha. If this wasn't a mistake, it means she just recklessly sent it to me... Huh?"
As I was about to reply to the email, the specific details of the consulting request piqued my interest.
"Lady Rasian."
"Yes, Producer."
"Would you mind waiting here at home? This just happens to be something that could be a great experience for you."
"What is it? ...[Review and Evaluation of Applicants for New Virtual Idol Project?]"
"That's right."
Choosing an illustrator is important, but what's most crucial is the VTuber's individual ability.
"I'm going to show you an example of just how desperate these kids are to succeed as VTubers."
"Hmm..."
"You don't have to come with me. Just stay here at home. I'll record what happens on-site and when I get back..."
"There's no need for that."
Rasian extended her hand toward me.
"I am an archmage, after all."
Fwaaa.
A brilliant golden light enveloped me.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
[One day later. Gangnam, Seoul. A certain studio.]
"You said you were producing a male VTuber idol, so why are you suddenly talking about female VTuber idols?"
"Hey, what's that ring on your left ring finger?"
My old rival, Jin Sooyeon, whom I met as soon as I returned to Korea, stared at the gold ring on my finger, her jaw dropping.
"Don't tell me you got married...?"
"It's not that. I'm just trying to pretend I'm married."
"...Sounds like you're asking to get stabbed."
"Ahem. No harsh words. And don't say things like that so carelessly. Someone might misunderstand."
The gold ring was nothing special.
It was crafted from magic, a sort of listening device that allowed the archmage staying at my home to listen in remotely.
"I guess so. If you had worn it on your index finger, some of the girls we're meeting today might have gotten ideas."
"Stop talking nonsense. So, what's with the sudden change of heart to female idols? This isn't some self-conscious overreaction on my part, is it?"
"...."
"It's not, right?"
"Too bad. I was half-seriously considering it. It would have been perfect if we teamed up as producers."
"You..."
"Can't be helped if you're not interested. So, shall we get straight to business?"
Jin Sooyeon pointed to the five young women sitting inside the studio.
Thanks to the one-way glass, they couldn't see me, so I could observe them clearly.
Their real selves, not their VTuber personas.
"These are the girls preparing to debut as the third generation for our company's VTuber project."
"Are you considering a real-life reveal for them?"
"Maybe a partial cam reveal, like a hand cam."
"...They look like they could just debut as regular idols, not VTuber idols."
"We're considering that to some extent. Build up their recognition in the VTuber scene first, then go mainstream, and maybe even a global VR debut."
"I see. So you're planning to use the VTuber scene as a launchpad?"
"'Launchpad' is a bit of a strong word, but..."
"I'm not trying to criticize. It's just..."
Viiiing.
The ring vibrated.
[Producer.]
And a voice began to echo in my ear, as if someone were whispering right beside me.
[That blonde one over there, something feels off about her.]
The voice coming from the golden ring was audible only to me.
"...Right. Hmm, yeah. You're right."
I caressed the ring, pretending to be talking to myself as I answered Rasian.
"Hey, can you show me her profile?"
"Haroya? You see potential in her?"
"Her VTuber name is already decided?"
"Yep. The illustrations for all the girls are done. Just need to rig them."
"...."
"What's wrong? You see something that bothers you?"
The VTuber name, Haroya.
I could see a dark, murky aura flowing from her.
"Sorry to say this as soon as I arrive for a consultation, but."
It was probably 'confirmation'.
It could have been an illusion shown by the archmage, but it was more likely my intuition, honed from producing countless VTubers, manifesting visually.
"Is she, by any chance, trying to reincarnate here after causing trouble in a past life?"
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