NOVEL NEXT Chapter 21
Surprised by such a straightforward proposal from the start, I cautiously glanced at the other person’s expression before opening my mouth.
“Uh, can I ask just one thing?”
“Sure, feel free to ask anything.”
With a warm cup of tea pushed towards me and some snacks offered by the Deputy Manager, who was smiling amiably, I couldn’t help but recall the female employee I had seen earlier at the desk.
“As you know, I’m not exactly a streamer with a lot of viewers on Twip, am I? So while I’m grateful for this proposal, I’m also a bit curious about your intentions.”
“Ah, I understand. I’ll explain that point now.”
I was worried that I might be throwing cold water on such a good proposal, but the Deputy Manager, smiling as if he had expected my question, pulled out a sheet of A4 paper.
I thought he was going to take out a contract to explain, but there was nothing written on it.
“As Mr. Cosmo knows, there are many diverse concepts emerging in the live broadcast realm these days. From virtual streamers to those who produce various types of content independently.”
“That’s right.”
The competition in the live streaming world is fierce enough to call it a red ocean.
As the Deputy Manager said, most of the content out there is just the same stuff most streamers have already tried, and in the meantime, viewers are endlessly searching for something fresh.
Even I, with an average of 300 viewers despite having no standout content, sometimes feel like I’m doing something incredible.
“In that sense, we regard Mr. Cosmo’s broadcasts very highly. As you may already know, most broadcast content is increasingly becoming more provocative nowadays.”
Well, that may not matter for established top streamers, but for those just starting to gather viewers, they tend to try something more eye-catching and novel to stand out.
Because of this, some streamers engage in excessively risqué broadcasts, and it’s not uncommon for them to create content that could raise social problems.
Recent articles make that clear enough.
“In that regard, Mr. Cosmo’s broadcasts represent a really unique concept in today’s market. Moreover, it’s worth noting that you’re achieving a certain level of success with it.”
“Um….”
Is that so? I’ve heard viewers sometimes say my broadcasts are unique, but honestly, it’s hard to gauge how much that truly is.
There are indeed a few other streamers who focus on similar content, like a counseling room, so I’m not sure if ‘special’ is the right term to describe it.
“Haha, it seems like you’re having a hard time accepting that.”
“Oh, I’m sorry. You’re saying such nice things that I’m just a bit stunned.”
Realizing I had been lost in thought with the person in front of me, I belatedly offered an apology.
The Deputy Manager waved his hand dismissively, chuckling heartily, and spoke again.
“That’s alright. Just think of it as us having a very positive view of you, Mr. Cosmo. Honestly, to speak quite directly, we haven’t made such offers to other streamers with similar viewership.”
“Oh….”
That explains why I hadn’t heard much about other streamers with similar audiences making trips to Aiver. Even when they did, they only reportedly heard about the new platform without any talks about contracts.
It’s possible that they just didn’t mention contracts because they were purely discussing broadcasting, but based on the Deputy Manager’s words, it sounds like they might not have received such offers at all.
It appears my positive evaluation is quite undeniable.
“I understand that you currently don’t have a YouTube channel, am I right?”
“Yes, that’s correct. I’ve thought about starting one, but… I find it easier just to stream casually.”
Some viewers have suggested I should set up a YouTube channel and upload edited clips. But it seemed like too much of a hassle, and I wasn’t sure how to effectively hire an editor for that job, so I dropped the idea.
When he pointed that out, I felt a bit awkward and scratched my head unconsciously.
“We see that point positively as well. As you know, these days, live broadcasts and YouTube often create a positive feedback loop. If viewers enjoy the stream, they’ll watch the edited clips, and if the clips are fun, they’ll pay more attention to the live broadcast.”
“That’s true. It’s hard to find a streamer who isn’t also on YouTube these days….”
In the past, there were times when people saw YouTubers and internet broadcasters as separate, but recently, they’re mostly regarded as one and the same. Sure, there are those who don’t do both, but the reverse is almost unheard of.
As the Deputy Manager mentioned earlier, most streamers break into YouTube aiming for that positive feedback loop. There’s profit involved, of course.
“In that sense, Mr. Cosmo, not having any YouTube activities while holding this level of viewership is a very positive sign.”
“Can it be interpreted that way?”
“Absolutely. There are several streamers and YouTubers currently pushing for content similar to yours, and they’re seeing substantial viewer inflow, especially through shorts and edited clips.”
The Deputy Manager wrote down some streamers I might recognize and detailed their growth with concrete numbers, sketching graphs that illustrated their progress.
Looking at it this way, it’s clear their growth has been striking since opening their YouTube channels. It’s almost shocking.
“And once this inflow settles as viewers, you’ll be able to gradually broaden the scope of your activities, starting from a general gaming content to various other kinds. Viewers of these types often stick around due to the streamer’s captivating personality as much as the content.”
“That’s fascinating….”
I found myself unintentionally impressed by the Deputy Manager, who was presenting this detailed growth direction I had never even considered.
They must be incredibly knowledgeable compared to me, who had only streamed. Perhaps they know much more about the live streaming industry than I ever will.
“Anyway, I believe you’ve got a good sense of how much interest we have in Mr. Cosmo now.”
“Yes, to be honest, it feels a bit overwhelming with such high expectations.”
“Haha, is that so? You shouldn’t feel too pressured; otherwise, it might hurt the contract.”
The previously serious atmosphere lightened instantly as the Deputy Manager pulled out another document from the envelope.
It was none other than the partnership contract for Cheese Streamer.
Well, here we go, I thought, swallowing absentmindedly, as I began to read the contract while tuning in to the Deputy Manager’s detailed explanations.
Truth be told, my heart had already been set for this moment.
“Please take care, Mr. Cosmo! I look forward to seeing you again! If you have any questions, feel free to contact me at the number on the business card anytime.”
“Yes, thank you. Well….”
Finally, having signed the contract, I bowed slightly and discreetly glanced at the meeting room door where Mr. Exit had gone in.
It seems they are still in the midst of discussions. I wouldn’t expect negotiations for a major streamer’s contract to be resolved easily. There’s likely a lot to discuss and debate.
It’s a shame; I wanted to at least say goodbye one last time before leaving.
“Whew….”
As I thought I had passed a significant hurdle, the tension melted away, and a natural sigh of relief escaped me.
Having kept my neck and shoulders tense for so long, I felt an odd stiffness that seemed to linger. I felt like I could use a quick break at a nearby café before heading home.
“Hey, isn’t that Mr. ASF?”
“Huh? Really? What brings you to the company? You’re not usually seen around here…”
As I dragged my heavy body to the first floor, I heard a buzzing noise coming from somewhere.
Although the content was hard to hear, it seemed people were reacting as if they were surprised to see someone.
I turned my head in the direction of their gazes and saw a stunning woman approaching through the rotating door on the first floor.
…Wait, isn’t that Older Sister Seo-ha?
“Shh…!”
“……?”
But for some reason, Older Sister Seo-ha, who was walking toward the elevator, seemed to gesture for the surrounding people to be quiet.
What’s up with that? Does she know someone here? Now that I think about it, she did mention she was close with someone associated with this place recently. Maybe she’s meeting a friend.
“Older Sister Seo-ha!”
“Oh! M-Mr. Cosmo…! What a coincidence.”
As I waved my hand out of delight, I sensed all the surrounding eyes suddenly turn toward me.
It must be just my imagination, I thought, as I walked closer to Older Sister Seo-ha to greet her, only to find her waving with an awkward tone and a stiff expression.
“What brings you here?”
“A friend works here. I came to see them but found out they’re not in today…”
“Ah, I see.”
So that’s someone I heard about before. It’s a bit unfortunate that she made a wasted trip. But at least I got to see her, so that’s good.
“Uh, so what about Mr. Cosmo? Just finishing a meeting?”
“Yes, I was thinking about grabbing a coffee on my way out.”
“Oh! Then let me treat you to a drink to celebrate. Let’s have it together.”
“No, I’ve treated you before; it’s my turn to buy today. Come on, let’s go.”
I grinned, thinking I wouldn’t miss the chance to buy Older Sister Seo-ha a coffee on such a nice day, and insisted.
She seemed delighted and started to follow me, but then suddenly stopped and threw a sharp glance around before starting to trail behind me again.
What was that just now?