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Translator: Vine
Chapter Title: The Critic
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"Ugh... I'm sorry, everyone, I'm sorry... I said I'm sorry!!!"
In a studio apartment in Seoul, Chae Nayoung, clicking her mouse while staring at the computer, involuntarily let out a scream.
Tears welling in her eyes, she blocked the comment section of the video. The controversial video, for which she'd taken the drastic measure of disabling comments, was a critique of Egoistic.
"Haa... Seriously, why...?" She let out a deep sigh.
Chae Nayoung, she was a journalist. No, to be precise, she *had been* a journalist, until she was fired this time. Finding herself back on the streets alone, she reluctantly created a channel on a video-sharing platform and began uploading videos. They were current affairs videos, the kind she was best at.
With few subscribers, it barely put food on her table, but it was her only hope now. She was diligently running the channel, even working two part-time convenience store jobs. And the video she had just uploaded had been hit with a dislike bomb.
"...No, is Egoistic some kind of sacred cow? Is he?!" She involuntarily shrieked.
The video she had uploaded this time was a critique of the villain Egoistic. More precisely, it criticized those who mindlessly followed him. No, he's a villain, isn't he? So why aren't even the terrestrial broadcasters criticizing him so harshly?
So, she decided to take the initiative and carve out a blue ocean for herself. She was honestly confident. When there were still few people criticizing Egoistic, if she stepped forward, she could absorb all the opposition factions who criticized him.
And the result?
It was a complete disaster.
".....Ha. I'm ruined. This was my only hope..." She thought, tears welling up involuntarily.
Her viewership was already dropping with each video. Now, her means of living were truly becoming uncertain. Even on the verge of not being able to pay her rent, she was about to collapse under the weight of dislikes and hateful comments.
"...Ah. Should I... just quit everything?"
And then, she murmured with unfocused eyes. Haha, it probably won't work out. Should I have bought a lottery ticket? Ah. How will I pay this month's rent?
As she sat there, eyes hollow, a 'ding-dong' alert sounded.
"....What is it?" Murmuring, she opened her phone. For a moment, she rubbed her eyes.
"...What the. Am I dreaming?"
[DH has sponsored 10,000,000 won.]
[Hello, I always enjoy your videos ^^ I hope you continue to make videos like this without losing your convictions. This video, in particular, I found very impressive. Would you perhaps be interested in starting a business with me?]
"....Huh?" She involuntarily dropped her phone.
***
"Oppa. No matter how I think about it, that doesn't seem like a good idea."
"No. This is an excellent idea."
"I don't think so..." I said, shaking my head at Seo Eun.
No, there's no other way now. And this is the most efficient method.
It's truly strange that there isn't a single media outlet in South Korea that criticizes Egoistic. After doing some research, I realized that whenever someone writes even a slightly critical article, people rush in and shower it with dislikes. That's when I felt it: this needs to change.
My goal is to be a villain who gives Star Dust trials to help her grow. In fact, if you think about it, it's fine as long as Star Dust considers me a villain. Everything I do is for Star Dust.
However. If everyone doesn't particularly criticize me like this, Star Dust might become confused. She might even start doubting herself, thinking, 'Since everyone else doesn't really dislike Egoistic, maybe Egoistic isn't a villain?'
Of course, of course, I believe our Star Dust wouldn't do that. A Star Dust filled with a sense of justice wouldn't entertain such absurd doubts against a villain as utterly wicked as me, unlike others. Still, even so, it's a bit problematic that there isn't a single place criticizing me.
So, I made up my mind. Yes, I'll just start a broadcasting station myself. I'll create a channel specifically for criticizing Egoistic. It's okay for there to be at least one such thing in South Korea, isn't it?
As soon as I thought that, I ran into another problem. No, where would I find the time to do something like that? It's too difficult trying to do everything from start to finish.
As I pondered these issues, something caught my eye. It was the broadcast of a certain woman, who had uploaded the only video criticizing me and then received a dislike bomb.
Unlike the harsh comment section, the video was quite well-made. The editing skills were clean, and the woman's voice was clear and articulate, just like a public broadcaster's anchor.
As I watched her video, mesmerized, I realized something. ....Wait. Now that I think about it, instead of doing it myself, couldn't I just nurture this woman and have her make videos criticizing me?
"..." I immediately put the idea that came to mind into action. Alright, open wide, the sponsorship is coming. Shall we have a serious talk?
***
"Hehe..." Chae Nayoung. She kept grinning foolishly without realizing it, then startled herself. Right, I shouldn't be *this* happy. Let's work, work.
"...Yes!!!" But she involuntarily sprang up from her bed.
Right. A ray of salvation had descended upon her life, which had seemed destined for rock bottom. She had gained a sponsor. And one who recognized her abilities, no less.
That mysterious sponsor who had suddenly sponsored her ten million won out of nowhere. Startled, she contacted the sponsor with trembling hands. Soon, she had many conversations with him.
The anonymous man, no, *that* person, who asked to be called simply by the ID [DH]. He said her most recent video was very much to his liking. Yes, the video that criticized Egoistic.
He said that all he had left was money, so he would support her generously, telling her to really *tear into* that guy Egoistic. He even said that depending on the quality of her future videos, he might sponsor her more. No, *invest* more.
That's right. She had been chosen by someone presumed to be a second-generation chaebol.
"Thank you... Thank you..." She murmured involuntarily towards the mysterious sponsor.
Honestly, she felt like she was dreaming. Was this reality? Money had suddenly rolled in like a vine?
And the reverence she felt for her sponsor. Yes... could this be love? She had now reached the point of almost worshipping her sponsor. How could such a humble person like her... dare to be...
"Right... this isn't the time for this." She sprang to her feet.
This opportunity. She absolutely couldn't miss this once-in-a-lifetime chance. Never.
The reason her sponsor had chosen her was because of that video criticizing Egoistic. In other words, she needed to work hard so as not to disappoint him.
And that very day, she immediately rented a studio with the money he had sponsored her—no, *invested* in her.
Yes. I, Chae Nayoung. I will definitely show my potential to my sponsor and earn his recognition. That I am a woman who gets things done. That there's no one in this world who can criticize Egoistic more savagely than me.
***
A week passed like that.
"Haa... Haa..." Chae Nayoung, having finished the final edit, slumped down in front of her computer.
"...I burned myself out completely..."
She could confidently say that she had poured everything she had into making this one video.
It looked like a public broadcaster's 9 PM news report, if only it had a logo. The content of this high-quality, highly credible-looking video was thoroughly filled with criticisms of Egoistic. Solely for one person, her sponsor.
"Sponsor-nim... are you watching? This is my symphony for you..." With trembling hands, she uploaded the video to her newly created channel. Now. The die was cast.
***
A week after I sponsored a YouTuber named Chae Nayoung and did something very productive. To be honest, I had almost forgotten about it after a week. Then my phone jingled, and when I looked, there was a notification that she had uploaded a video.
"Ah, she finally uploaded it. Shall I take a look?"
And the video I watched? It was truly shocking. A video that relentlessly criticized Egoistic from beginning to end. And with incredible quality, produced as if it were a news report. It was exactly what I had wanted.
And that's when I realized. ...This is a gem. It can become huge.
Immediately after making that judgment, I rushed to Seo Eun.
"Seo Eun! You have the manipulation tool, right?"
"Huh? What? A manipulation tool?"
"Yes. The YouTube view manipulation tool. Use it quickly, let's make this video number one on the real-time trending list."
"No, what is this? ...This one?"
"Yes. My gut tells me this is a go. If we push her, she'll become famous."
"What? Oh... well... *sigh*... Alright, I get it."
And so. A rare event occurred, as [Egoistic, the Cruel Psychopathic Villain: Let's Uncover His Hideous Side] ascended to the number one spot on South Korea's YouTube real-time trending videos.
***
Shin Haru. The person she had thought about the most throughout the week was, as always, Egoistic.
What exactly did it mean that he lived in the same house? That he was as close as family with his colleagues? ...She knew nothing about him, yet he supposedly lived with his colleagues like family. She didn't even know a single small piece of information about him, not even his name, but his colleagues were supposedly family, so of course they would know that much. What she, no matter how hard she tried, could never know.
And that terror attack. What exactly was the purpose of the terror attack he instigated this time? He went to the trouble of taking hostages, then released them without harming a hair on their heads. It was as if he had taken the hostages for no other reason than to call out Star Dust herself. ...Then why on earth did he cause this terror attack? For what purpose?
And her intuition told her... Somehow, it felt like this terror attack was Egoistic's way of appealing that he was, indeed, a villain. Of course, it was probably just her absurd delusion, but the thought had involuntarily crossed her mind.
...Egoistic. Should she truly consider him a bad guy? Could he even be called a villain?
As Shin Haru entertained such thoughts again, she involuntarily shook her head.
...Egoistic is, of course, a villain. A cruel villain. She shouldn't keep having strange thoughts. She mustn't weaken herself with pointless delusions. Egoistic is clearly a villain, and she just needs to capture him. End of story.
As she pondered these various thoughts, her head naturally began to ache. Shin Haru sighed and went onto YouTube, thinking she might listen to some music.
And then, her gaze was caught by a video with a large thumbnail, marked "Real-time #1."
[Egoistic, the Cruel Psychopathic Villain: Let's Uncover His Hideous Side]
Seeing the title, she clicked the video as if mesmerized.
The video began, showing a woman who looked like an anchor. In a calm voice, she began to meticulously list the evil deeds Egoistic had committed so far.
Attempting to blow up a boat full of civilians with a bomb, tying people to train tracks, dropping an airplane, destroying property by blowing up bridges, and so on.
The anchor, who had systematically detailed Egoistic's misdeeds to date, finally cried out in an impassioned voice:
[This cruel, psychopathic madman must be locked up immediately!! Citizens, do not be deceived! He is an irredeemable, insane piece of trash, and even the death penalty wouldn't be enough!! If there's a bad guy in this world, it's this Egoistic, who's worse than a dog!!!]
The video ended with the impassioned cry of the excited woman. Below it, countless dislikes flooded the screen. The comment section was filled with a torrent of insults. Directed, of course, not at Egoistic, but at the anchor.
And after watching the video to the end, Shin Haru, still dazed, quietly thought.
"....." ...No, Egoistic is certainly a bad guy, but still, isn't this going too far?
As she pondered this, she found her fingers involuntarily typing a comment in the video's comment section.
[Newday313][This seems a bit too forced in its criticism. The logic is weak, too. I don't think Egoistic is *that* bad of a guy.]
Having immediately posted the comment, she quietly thought.
...Right. This is a kind of justice. No matter if the opponent is a villain, you shouldn't criticize them while hurling insults like this, certainly not. Honestly, at this point, Egoistic is almost pitiful. Yeah. They insulted him too harshly... so I couldn't help it.
Shin Haru, spurred on, even pressed the dislike button on the video. ...Somehow, she felt an inexplicable sense of displeasure seeing a video that insulted Egoistic.
***
"Wow, Oppa. The like-to-dislike ratio for the video criticizing you has surpassed 1 to 10,000. It's almost an all-time record, you know?"
Looking at Seo Eun, who was teasing me, I told her:
"Seo Eun. That means nothing."
Right. This video was effectively made for just one person, Star Dust, Shin Haru. Since she definitely watches YouTube during her breaks, she must have seen this video. If she watches this and once again realizes how bad I am, and her hostility towards me burns brightly, then I've succeeded. Even if the comment section is full of people defending me, Star Dust wouldn't be among them, so it doesn't matter.
"Yes... that's all that matters...."