NOVPUBA day after the broadcast,
A streaming part strategy meeting hosted by Magia was held.
In any case, the second-generation talents are an important cohort for Parallel, marking a pivotal point for the company's next leap.
If the second-generation talents, backed by CAT's support, fail to take off, it would halt Parallel's business expansion and could even derail future large-scale investment plans.
So, this was a part meeting, with the attendees being CEO Cheon Do-hee, Planning Team Leader Ra Seunghyun, and Legal Team Leader Wi Jeong-jin. Except for Magia, everyone present was a team leader.
Magia stood at the podium, holding a wireless presenter (the small remote control used to advance PPT slides), as Momo spoke to her.
"Alright, as expected, the fire's already burning. You and I have talked about this roughly, but I'd like you to share it with these two as well."
The Planning Team Leader attended to discuss how to operate the official channel's editorial direction based on future developments.
If Miho or Orca were to focus on highlighting their unique traits, Eona would make full use of the heated internal drama within Parallel.
The Legal Team Leader, a copyright lawyer, had experience in winning lawsuits related to VTuber defamation, slander, interference with business, and threats with her law school colleague.
If any organized and subversive movements targeting Eona were to surface, they would explore ways to protect her from those risks.
The meeting would align the strategies prepared by each team with Magia's approach, as the leader of the streaming team, to ensure the smooth execution of Eona's debut broadcast.
Magia began.
"First, I'll quickly summarize the current situation and share my predictions for how things will unfold."
People's speculations about Eona's past life are almost certain.
Posts comparing her voice to Serena's popped up simultaneously in almost all communities.
Though the initial fire had calmed down, it left behind a lot of angry people.
Magia understood their feelings and how they came to be so upset.
For the most part, it was because of the words Serena left when she graduated...
"I'll always remember you, even when I go back home."
"When I meet a hero, I'll tell them your story."
"I hope we can meet again someday."
"It was a fun time."
In fact, these were words that anyone graduating would naturally say.
Even though Eona had expressed her desire to make a comeback in Parallel, her debut as a second-generation talent wasn't planned back then.
When she graduated, she had no certainty about the future.
She couldn't have said something like, "We'll meet again soon!"—because if she did, it would have contradicted the sudden transfer she made.
So, saying a proper goodbye was only natural for Eona.
But it must have been heartbreaking for the fans.
Especially for the passionate ones who watched Serena’s streams every day, supported her generously, and participated in events and bought her merchandise.
An idol? After graduation, they stay connected with their fans through personal social media.
For a VTuber, graduation means death.
The character's time completely stops, and no more progress is made.
All the precious memories remain as nothing more than nostalgic recollections.
It’s not just a simple goodbye; it leaves a mental shock akin to watching a loved one die.
That’s why dissatisfaction inevitably boils over.
"Wouldn't it have been nice if they gave us a heads-up if she was going to reincarnate?"
"If I had known, I wouldn't have been so emotionally drained when she graduated," and so on.
And sometimes, these feelings become distorted.
"Parallel must have always wanted this."
"What they showed us in Lapits was all a lie."
These thoughts spread...
In extreme cases, it could twist like this.
... ─ — Lapits (VTuber) Gallery ─ ─ — ...
[This is really too much, lol]
When she graduated, she was crying so much, sobbing uncontrollably,
and I thought, "I'll never see her again,"
but she was just over at the neighbor’s place, laughing and having fun...
She's really a piece of work.
[Comments]
— Lapits784: Wasn't Serena not crying when she graduated?
ㄴ Lapits175: Leave her alone, she's so dark now, can't see anything.
ㄴ Lapits878: Just leave her be, she's just in a state of pure rage, lol
... ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ...
People in this state won't listen, because they believe only what they want to believe, dismissing everything else as a lie.
At times like this, it's better to show them continuously rather than trying to convince them.
As though the person who died has come back to life as a new soul.
She’s waiting to meet you again, reborn as the Owl-Eyed Shaman’s Lion, like a spiritual deity.
This was exactly why Magia had tried to generate buzz with Eona's coupling and suppress the negativity with it.
In fact, when the new youngest member debuted and boldly showed that "she's competing not just with the seniors but even the CEO," it was a refreshing approach.
Most fans didn’t care about Eona’s past life.
This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.
"Oh, so her past life was Serena?"
"Then she’s totally the opposite of Momo, her childhood friend, right?"
"Of course, the heroine shouldn’t have the same personality," they said.
Of course, if this could win everyone's heart, that would be great, but the problem is that there are still people who can't be persuaded.
"I think they’ve probably turned dark... so they’re 'blackened'..."
Cheon Do-hee interpreted Magia's technical jargon for her.
"They're fans who felt betrayed because Eona debuted next door."
"Thank you. Anyway, I think most of those fans have already changed their minds. Some might even switch their main fandom to support Eona. Or they could support both Lapits and Parallel. Rather than hating, they should be grateful that Eona is still alive..."
The problem is those who can’t be swayed.
Or those who never had any intention of changing their minds in the first place—true troublemakers.
The former, at least, would stop caring about Eona, so that’s somewhat reassuring.
But the latter are incredibly troublesome.
"Honestly, if there are people who continue to torment Eona despite her attempts to accept them, I’d say they’re not fans, they’re just troublemakers. Of course, we need to give fans who’ve experienced loss time to accept, so a few weeks’ grace is necessary. But after that, if they keep acting up, that’s pure anti behavior."
Legal Team Leader Wi Jeong-jin spoke up.
"So, you’re suggesting that for people who continue attacking after the designated time, we can proceed with legal action based on the severity of the case?"
"Yes. Honestly, I think it’s best to just block and ignore them as long as it doesn’t affect the broadcast... but since this is the first time we’ve debuted a VTuber with a past life, I think we should leave it to the Legal Team Leader to decide the proper boundary for this."
"I’ll consult with Lawyer Do."
"Thank you."
The Planning Team Leader, Ra Seunghyun, who had been listening, spoke up.
“Just a thought. How about expanding your harem to create more buzz?”
It was surprising that Ra Seunghyun even knew the term "harem." 𝚗𝚘v𝚙𝚞b.𝚌𝚘m
But at least knowing it made the conversation easier.
"Wasn't it originally your harem, CEO...? I kind of get the vibe, but could you explain a bit more?"
"Right now, it’s you and the CEO, and then there's Eona. The two of them are already tangled up with you, right? Well, if we’re being technical, Taro from Bachubachu should also be included...”
At that, Do-hee shot a sharp glance at him, but Ra Seunghyun continued nonchalantly.
"Of course, it’s tricky to write a story for someone from another company, but among the first-generation talents, there's someone who can’t live without you, right?"
"...Are you talking about Maru?"
"Bingo. I think the others would fall for you too, but not as much as Maru. Remember? The time when Maru spilled the beans about the super-large escape room event with you and the second-generation talents, which made the members think there were four of you?"
Do-hee nodded along with Magia.
"If you heard the story through Eona back then, writing the narrative becomes easy, right? Everyone knows they’re friends. And the whole thing with friends fighting over one person? Nothing better than that, right?"
It was a suggestion more fitting for a seasoned soap opera writer than a Planning Team Leader, but honestly, it wasn’t wrong.
"That’s true."
"Anyway, the second-generation debut congratulatory video going up today—Maru's is last, right? We could talk to her and ask her to use the NG footage."
"...? What kind [N O V E L I G H T] of video are we talking about?"
Soon, she returned to her seat and brought the video.
In a way, it was just typical Maru.
[Miho, Orca, Eona. Welcome! It’s so great to have cute juniors. But Eona? You need to know your place, right? Wanting to monopolize Gia, huh? If you’re going to be so cocky and jump ahead, I won’t just let it—]
[Okay, that’s enough~.]
[What’s wrong with this girl?]
[Calm down, calm down.]
Maru suddenly picking a fight with Eona and her teammates in the recording studio quickly stepping in to stop her.
Normally, this would have been stored away as an NG cut, but for what Ra Seunghyun had suggested, there couldn’t have been a more fitting video.
Technically, the company could use it however they liked from the time of recording, but out of courtesy, Gia decided to send it to Maru for confirmation first.
[Me: (Maru_take4_ng.mp4)]
[Me: Is it okay to use this for the second-generation debut congratulatory message?]
Maru was very positive about it.
[Maru: Really?]
[Maru: You’re gonna use this?]
[Me: I think it’ll help Eona.]
[Maru: ...?]
[Maru: If it helps Eona, then sure!]
[Maru: But if this goes out, does that mean I’m in your harem too?]
[Me: That’s how the fans will see it.]
[Maru: Then can I use my free pass? Like, on a broadcast with Eona, I could take you with me?]
[Me: You don’t need to.]
[Me: Originally, I was planning on group collabs starting in the second month, but]
[Me: Think of this as an exception. We're planning content with Eona this time.]
[Maru: Oh, yeah!!!!!!]
After finishing the conversation, Magia nodded at Ra Seunghyun.
Maru, okay.
While watching the meeting unfold, Do-hee spoke.
"I don’t think anything too serious will happen. The Lapits CEO also had to deal with a lot of people complaining about Serena’s graduation, so they decided to post something on SNS to confirm there was no issue with it...
But just in case, I took out a few insurance policies. Gia, how are the people you reached out to doing?"
Magia scrolled through the contacts and messages exchanged on TikTok, muttering to herself.
First, backup one.
That would be the members of the "Failed So Badly" team, who had won the Combat Tournament together.
"The 'Failed So Badly' team said they'd participate in a group collab anytime if we asked, as long as we gave them a month’s notice. Youngun already knew before I even mentioned it. He said, 'So when can we collab with Eona?'"
It would probably take at least two months before a group collab could happen, but
Seeing how passionately Youngun, who was a huge fan of Serena, had been supporting Eona since her debut, it would certainly help create a positive atmosphere.
Next, backup two.
"Eona from Lapits also asked if she could tell the story of her meal with Eona. She’s still doing well, but she’s getting frustrated with people spreading rumors about them having a falling out. She says it’s ridiculous."
She even half-jokingly said she’d go to pull Magia's cheek if Eona struggled in Parallel.
But anyway, she was definitely one of the most reliable backups.
Additionally, there was a trump card, one that came up from the other side first.
It might be a bit of a burden on them, but they said they'd gladly show it on stream for Eona's sake.
Magia showed the related message to Do-hee, who nodded with satisfaction.
"Okay. That’s good. Now, there’s only one thing left."
Do-hee pointed at Magia with her index finger.
"From now on, you and Seunghyun need to focus on managing the second-generation talent chatroom. Got it?"
No matter how many strategies and tactics you use, you still need a frontline to protect your side from the troublemakers.
Do-hee had always been at the forefront of the battlefield, whether it was during the first-generation debut, or countless broadcast accidents and controversies that followed.
Magia shrugged her shoulders.
"Honestly, I think the summer mosquitoes are more annoying now."
