"[Sir, the sales continue to rise, steadily,]". Sunday reported in her usual calm tone.
She projected the hologram right in front of me, a neat blue chart that stretched across my living room. The bars climbed so high it looked like a goddamn skyscraper skyline.
"Still going strong on day ten, huh?". I asked, leaning back on the couch, half-smiling.
"[Yes],". she said. "[The trajectory hasn't slowed. At present, Silent Hill: First Fear has sold 248 million copies… Active play retention is 82 percent. At this rate, we can expect long-tail growth over the next three years.]"
I gave a low whistle. "Jesus… That's nearly a quarter of a billion people. Playing my game, In just ten days."
Sunday flicked her wrist—well, her holographic simulation of one—and the chart zoomed out. Ten billion dots highlighted across the globe, blinking in clusters where VR activity was high.
"[This world's population exceeds ten billion,]". Sunday reminded me. "[Combined with the dominance of gaming as a primary entertainment medium, Silent Hill's virality ensures constant market penetration. I estimate another 50 to 100 million units before the week is over.]".
I chuckled, rubbing my temples. "I used to be proud when my janky little Ren'Py VN hit 1,200 downloads… Now I can't even process this number.".
The internet had become a living advertisement. Every time I scrolled Chirper, there were clips of people screaming in the hallways, crying at the fetus sink, or laughing at GasFunk yelling at the ghost. Facepage was clogged with memes—"Lisa is my sleep paralysis demon now." Every VR clip felt so real that even non-gamers were curious.
"[I would say the number will continue to rise,]". Sunday said matter-of-factly. "[Even after the initial popularity dies down, Silent Hill has achieved cultural integration, it has become a phenomenon.]".
I raised my soda can in a mock toast at the chart. "To cultural integration, then."
The bubbles hissed loudly when I sipped, filling the silence. My smirk widened. A part of me was relaxed, but another part—the gamer side of me, the otaku dreamer—was buzzing like I'd just cleared a raid with one HP left, and it was satisfying. I thanked this world for being so desolate with their arts, creating a perfect ground for me to simply spread my wings.
I set the soda down, stretching on the couch. "Alright, Sunday… let's leave the gaming side for a bit..."
Her holographic eyes blinked in curiosity. "[You wish to divert focus from Meteor Studio's core?]".
"Not divert entirely,". I said, wagging a finger. "Expand… yep, let's expand a little bit…".
I paused, my gaze drifting to the ceiling as thoughts bubbled. This world… after everything that happened to me since I landed here, after the Silent Hill chaos, after watching the world froth over something I knew was just the beginning—I realized I wanted more. I kinda wanted to be an internet figure, like influencers, I mean since I do have the chance to do so, why not just do it.
"Sunday," I said slowly, "I want to be more than just the hidden guy behind Meteor Studio... I want to be out there, too, not as Sael Hardcox, but… someone else.".
She tilted her head. "[Define 'out there,' sir.]".
I grinned. "I want to be a MeTuber again. No, scratch that—a VTuber."
Sunday's hologram flickered with a faint smile. "[Naturally, sir. That aligns with your previous hobbies and interest… Should I begin generating models?]".
I laughed. "God, you don't even question me anymore. Yes, Sunday. Let's try the VTuber thing…".
Truth was, I'd always liked VTubers. Back in my old world, I personally to me, they were fun. They resonated with me, made me laugh, made me feel like there was an anime character living and breathing right there on screen. The beauty of it? They weren't pretending to be real. They were already fake—but in that honesty, they felt more genuine than most influencers who plastered on smiles. VTubers like Hololive's all of them were genuinely entertaining for me, although the VTuber landscape often plague with scandal, all thanks to the corporation behind them being too greedy and the VTubers that doesn't deserve to be one.
I leaned forward, clasping my hands. "Look, I've always loved anime, right? VTubers were like… the natural evolution of that. You take a cartoon and make it perform, sing, joke… People fell for it because it was safe, but still personal, and in this world—" I gestured to the hologram of sales still hanging in the air. "—they've had yet seen on that can make it big… so, I will be the one,".
Sunday nodded. "[Your reasoning is valid. By introducing VTuber culture into this world, that can break into the mainstream, you may establish another monopoly.]".
I smirked. "And it'll be fun; I don't want to just be the faceless genius CEO... I want to shitpost on Chirper as an anime guy while the world burns over my games…".
Sunday blinked twice. "[Very well, sir. I will prepare accordingly.]".
"Sunday," I said, snapping my fingers, "Make me a VTuber…".
Her eyes glowed. "[Confirmed. Initializing model creation.]".
The room dimmed as wireframes spun in the air. A figure began to form, polygons smoothing into a humanoid shape.
"[You want me to design a character from scratch, sir?]" she asked.
I shook my head. "Nah… Don't complicate things... Let's keep it simple, just… me.".
Sunday blinked. "[You?]".
"Yeah," I said with a grin. "Take my face, my body, slap a 2D anime filter on it. That's it, no need for crazy costumes or animal ears or whatever, just me, but drawn and become 3D".
Within seconds, the hologram adjusted. My own reflection stared back at me—except smoother, sharper, more anime-like. Big expressive eyes, sharper jawline, hair that actually looked styled instead of messy.
I whistled. "Damn! I look good as an anime boy...".
Sunday's lips curved faintly. "[I only enhanced based on your natural features, sir.]".
I rubbed my chin. "And the name… let's keep it just Sael. No numbers, no fancy title. Just Sael."
"[Understood,]" Sunday replied.
"Sael is common enough," I continued. "On top of that, all my old social media accounts are private, no friends, no connections. Nobody's gonna link this to me... It's secure."
Sunday tilted her head. "[Would you like me to adjust the voice modulation?]"
I leaned back, thinking. "Give me a deeper tone, Internet loves that. You know what they call it—a thirst trap... Girls lose it when a voice gets all smooth and low...".
Sunday's expression didn't change, but I swore she rolled her digital eyes. "[Done. Vocal resonance adjusted. Try saying something.]".
I cleared my throat. "Hello… this is Sael."
The voice that came out was deeper, smoother, a velvety rumble that sent a shiver down even my own spine.
"…Goddamn," I muttered. "If I was a chick, I'd fall for me."
Sunday nodded serenely. "[Mission accomplished, sir.]".
I stared at my anime self for another moment, grinning like an idiot. It was surreal, stupid, and yet perfect.
"Alright, Sunday. Meet the new me—VTuber Sael."
I leaned back in my chair, watching Sunday adjust the anime version of me floating mid-air. The lines of the character sharpened, the colors became richer, almost alive.
"Looks like me… but also looks like I finally got a haircut," I muttered, rubbing my chin.
Sunday raised an eyebrow—digitally, of course. "[Would you like me to program in grooming habits for your virtual counterpart, sir?]".
I snorted. "Nah, let him be better looking than me… That's the whole point, right? The VTuber Sael isn't supposed to be some hobo in pajamas...".
"[Understood,]" Sunday replied.
My eyes lingered on the hologram. "Sunday, listen… This isn't just some hobby, well... that just half of it, But VTuber Sael isn't gonna be another pretty face yelling into a mic… He's gonna be the guy, the artist, the voice and the creator."
Sunday's gaze sharpened. "[Elaborate.]"
"Sael the VTuber will be the one dropping my… greatest hits,". I said, spreading my arms dramatically. "Songs, manga, novels, comics, everything art-related that this world never had…. Every piece of brilliance I brought from Earth? It's gonna be released under that name…".
Sunday's head tilted. "So, Meteor Studio creates the games… and VTuber Sael releases all the cultural works?".
"Exactly," I said, snapping my fingers. "Silent Hill already shook the world, now imagine if we stack on Vivaldi, Joji, Kendrick, the whole arsenal of art humanity that were gone here… If I time it right, people will hound me endlessly, but instead of just chasing Meteor Studio, they'll chase Sael the VTuber as well...".
Sunday blinked. "[So, you are splitting your identity into two lanes: the hidden CEO and the public creator.]"
"Yup," I said casually. "And the best part? I get to have fun with it. I get to shitpost, stream, sing, drop comics, while Me… I can simply enjoy everything peacefully…."
"[And the risk of oversaturation?]". Sunday asked.
I shrugged. "Eh… I'm not gonna flood the market instantly with everything... Just release enough to keep them hungry and wanting... I want to be famous, sure, but not so famous I can't walk outside without paparazzi camping my trash bins…. That is why I created Sael VTuber persona…".
Sunday's eyes narrowed. "[You underestimate your own effect, sir.]".
I grinned. "Yeah, thanks but... I wanted to be at peace while enjoying everything, alright… integrate me with Sael VTuber please…".
"[ Understood, Initializing virtual studio…]". Sunday announced.
The room melted around me. Walls peeled away, ceiling stretched, the floor dissolved into a smooth digital white. A massive virtual screen appeared, and there he was—me.
Or rather, anime me.
"Well damn," I whispered. "That's me... Me, but with cheekbones…".
Sunday's holographic presence stood beside the avatar, tilting her head. "[Because it is you, sir.]"
The avatar moved, its mouth opening as I spoke. "Testing, testing… damn, it syncs perfectly."
"[Of course,]" Sunday said.
I folded my arms, studying the model. "Alright, let's tweaks a little bit, make me still look like me, but a bit Older, a little more mature, like I actually know how to pay bills on time.".
The avatar's jaw sharpened, hair fell neater, the shoulders broadened.
"Give him… my deep voice," I added. "Make it sound like whiskey poured over ice."
Sunday's lips curved faintly. "[Voice modulation set. Speak again.]".
"Hello, everyone. This is Sael," I said into the mic. The deeper resonance rolled out of the speakers. Smooth. Charismatic. I shivered at my own voice.
"Holy shit," I muttered. "Chat would go insane over this... Women would definitely get their clits vibrating to this... hehehe.".
"[Would you like me to optimize the vocal timbre for maximum female arousal?]". Sunday blinked.
I nearly choked on my laugh. "Sunday, you can't just ask me that so casually!"
"[It is a feature, and you wanted to,]" she said.
I held my stomach, laughing. "Fine... Yes, Maximize the thirst factor, I feel like I'm min-maxing a hentai protagonist… Make my voice so sexy that it can make any girls masturbate over my voice…".
"[…. Maximizing thirst factor,]". Sunday ignored me, but do it anyway.
"Sael the VTuber," I said proudly, gesturing to the avatar. "Artist. Talent. Employee of Meteor Studio. My alter ego…. Oh, how marvelous~".