Being an online influencer is one of the most in demand jobs today. In demand, in the sense that everyone wants to be one. The career path in reality is bloated and highly competitive. Some people will make content for years before ever getting popular assuming they have the passion to continue doing it for that long. Most people quit after the first few months and thousands of dollars on equipment are drained. The successful ones are usually only successful, because they would do it with or without the money. They usually only take the money, because it lets them do it full time. (Atleast that's what a lot of them say.)
Don't get it twisted, I enjoy what I do, but it's pretty time consuming and I spent a lot of money on a VTuber avatar. Streamers that use virtual avatars rather than their real faces. Unlike most influencers, (I assume) we have a persona. We are like actors roleplaying a character. I personally have been playing the role of Kanin, the Rabbit Wizard. She's a cute, but dorkishly eccentric wizard with a love for fantasy RPGs. She even has a rabbit as a familiar named Plaunin that viewers can donate money to interact with/through.
"Ok, that's it for today! I hope all you lovely constellations had a nice stream!" The chat was completely empty. I clicked the end steam button. It was still light out, but I was tired. I wanted a coffee. When I took a step out the front door, I was met with rain. I could've sworn it wasn't raining a minute ago, but that wasn't going to stop me. I grabbed an umbrella and rain jacket and pushed forward.
The place I like was within walking distance. Just down and across the street. I was drowsy so I wasn't exactly paying full attention to my surroundings, and this is usually the part where I would cross the street and get hit by a truck. However my next life wasn't some sick twist of fate.
The street was empty. It was raining so it made sense, but for some reason this made me uneasy. I continued walking anyway. I was just about to cross the street, and that's when it struck me. A brief shock followed by me lying on the ground seizing. Well, I wasn't, my body was. I had already began my journey to whatever came after. It turns out that lightning kills you pretty quickly. I was surprised by all this, but the only thing I could find in my soul to let out was a simple "well shit." At least that's what I would have said, had I had any of the necessary parts to say it with. What else could I say. I was tired, and I still hadn't fully processed that I died.
[Human - Analyzing Importance]
[Kanin, The Rabbit Wizard]
[Reincarnating on var: Homerealm]
[Reincarnation interrupted]
[var: Homerealm set to '2c3cf20d-0513-4bcf-b596-74f25e105331']
[Retrying]
[Reincarnation interrupted]
[Loading Divine Plane]
The messages appeared and disappeared somewhat rapidly. I was a little embarrassed that it called me Kanin rather than Kay. To be fair that probably should have been the least of my worries, but I like to separate work from life (and even death I suppose.) I was so surprised by the use of my screen name, I didn't take the time to consider the clear errors that were happening in whatever simulation I lived in.
Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.
Then, I guess, it finished loading. A small cotton ball sat in front of me. No taller than 5 feet, clad in green robe, his beady little eyes stared up at me. "You must be Kanin!"
"It's Kay." I interrupted what seemed to be the beginning of a rehearsed speech.
"You're not the rabbit wizard?" He looked a mixture of shocked and disappointed.
"No, Kanin is just my screen name."
"Oh, of course! Well, Kanin, I'm, Turba, a Constellation-" The word choice of 'constellation' stood out to me as it's what I used to call what few viewers I did have back home. ", and I would like to sponsor your arrival to this world."
"What is this world? -And what do you mean by sponsor?" I had a lot more questions, but these were what came to mind first.
"Listen, human's like to make money just as much as we do right? This will be an opportunity for us both to make a lot of money."
While I'd like to say my death has brought a new perspective on the fleetingness of worldly possessions, I did in fact like the sound of money. However, "that sounds really sketchy."
"Here's the deal! I'll record and manage you, and you will be the protagonist of this world. Constellations from all over will watch and donate. I just want a 50% cut of those donations."
"50% seems outrageous considering it seems all you do is record!"
"Do you know how complicated opening a channel for Constellations to watch is? Especially at my level!"
"Then why don't I just go to another constellation then?"
He seemed stumped by this. "Well... It's just that. You're not actually supposed to be here, and there is no telling what might happen to you if another Constellation finds out."
"Well, then put me back where you got me!" I was getting a little frustrated at this point.
"I could bring you back to Earth, but I you're old body is already dead, so you'd have to start again." He seemed apprehensive to tell me this important detail. "B-but, I'll take 27% no more."
I let out a deep sigh. It was beyond preposterous that I was stuck with this guy, but I didn't want to be a baby again, and I did get a much better deal. "Okay, all I have to do is play the protagonist right?"
He gave deep smile. "Yup, just click here to confirm."
The contract put in front of me was pretty simple. He would record and manage me for 27% of all profits made from his channel, everything else would go to me. "Hmmm, just a few things."
"What?" He looked worried.
"I want the ability to opt-out. You can keep everything I make if I do decide to."
"Uh right, sure."
"And I want 100% ownership over any items I get or buy as a result of the channel. I also want you to cover any and all penalties of me not being of this world." His expression got sadder with each right I added, but he never argued. I'm not supposed to be here, he probably can't afford to have me snitch. I haven't been here for long, but I've already made this being that's powerful enough to pull me here from another world my bitch. "What are you anyway?" I asked as he continued to add the adjustments to the contract. "I get that you're a constellation, but what does that mean? Are you a god?"
"Some of us, not me personally though. Most of us are spirits or other things like that. There's a food chain to it."
"So how high are you on the chain?"
"I'm above average." He said this with too much pride. "Ok, well if you're happy now will you sign the contract?" The window appeared before me again and I pressed confirm.