Chapter 28: Not A Troll (3)

The streamer Genome typically divided his broadcasts into two parts.

[GENOME]

[Victory! Dinner tonight will be Korean beef!]

[Rank #1 / Kills: 17]

For today’s first part, he had played Gunner Grounds. Genome chuckled as he reviewed the results.

“Oh, another number one finish. Guys, snipers these days aren’t what they used to be!”

His signature gravelly voice elicited laughter in the chat window.

-LMAO, snipers are trash

-Noooo… It’s just ‘cause you got better, hyung

-Korean cows are doomed because of Genome!

With a low chuckle, Genome discreetly checked the time.

“Oh boy, this is tricky. I was thinking of playing one more round…”

Normally, he would’ve delayed part two slightly, but today’s second broadcast had to start on time because it served as “advertising.” He wrapped up Gunner Grounds for now.

“So what should we do while we wait, guys?”

–Let’s dissect that tournament match!

–How about a Goti World Cup Round of Thirty-two game?

–Let’s grab some food during intermission.

–Want to play a quick game of Mystic?

One particular chat caught his eye amidst all the suggestions flooding in.

“Ah, Mystic sounds good. Quick matches are perfect.”

He promptly launched Mystic League. As soon as he selected ranked mode, a message popped up:

[User ‘Genome’ achieved Platinum IV last season.]

“Oh right. I was pretty busy last season and couldn’t reach Diamond.”

Genome had the skills to bounce between Platinum and Diamond ranks, but due to other gaming commitments, he hadn’t been able to dedicate as much time to Mystic League during the previous season.

—Platinum (not really)

—Is Genome taking the bus today? LOL

—More like a truck for his opponents! LOL

—LOL, you’ll get run over by Genome

—Hello, police? I’d like to report a hit-and-run!

While waiting for matchmaking, viewers exchanged jokes in the chat. Eventually, there was a loud thud, and the screen transitioned to the lobby.

[>I’m the top player here.]

[>Ohhh… A top-gamer.]

[>Let’s just pick our characters first.]

[>? That guy? The real deal?]

The in-game chat window popped up immediately. When one of the players recognized him, Genome grimaced slightly and typed out his response.

[>Yes, it’s me, Kyungbok. I’ll go last.]

“Wow! He’s so confident.”

“I’ll show him!”

“A high-class bus driver, huh?”

“What? But on the opposing team…”

“Huh???”

While waiting for his teammates to select their characters, Genome read through the chat with a puzzled expression.

Opposing team?

He checked the usernames of the enemy team but found nothing unusual.

-Wah-ha-ha-ha! This should be fun!

-Ha-ha-ha-ha!

—Hope we end up on the same line.

Despite the casual chatter, one message caught his attention.

Hmm, there seems to be another streamer.

He quickly deduced the reason behind it. His own broadcast also had rules against mentioning other streamers, so he was rather annoyed by this breach of etiquette. However, it wasn’t someone he recognized.

“I don’t know who they are, but I guess they’re some colleague. Too bad for them to run into me during this match.”

The viewers’ interest shifted toward Genome’s opponent following his comment.

—Who’s on the opposing team?

—I dunno.

—Seen ’em before on a community forum.

—Me too, But they were pretty good, right?

—Did they play Mystic?

—Oof, Can’t wait to see what they’ve got.

The reactions varied greatly between those familiar with the player and those who weren’t. Genome wondered just who this mystery person could be.

“…Yami?”

One of his opponents, PerfectPlay, had chosen a champion that immediately caught Genome’s attention.

-LMAOLOLLOL

-Yami on a ranked match?!

-WTF is he doing here…?

-Is it him?

-Must be filming for some variety show LOL

Genome shared the viewers’ sentiments.

“No way, this isn’t right. Even for a reality TV show, this is too much. Picking a troll champ crosses the line.”

His first impression was not favorable. As a fellow streamer, he understood the need to provoke reactions from others, but there should still be limits.

-Srsly tho, wtf

-I mean, this ain’t just any casual game; it’s a ranked match

-Gonna teach ‘em a lesson

-Hah! I’ll teach you a lesson?!

-Let’s make them suffer~

The viewers agreed with these sentiments.

[‘Teacher of Discipline’ has proposed a quest!]

[Condition - Kill Champion ‘Yami’ 10 times]

[Reward on Success - 50,000 won]

Someone had suggested a quest.

-Ehahaha, 10 kills?

-I don’t know about other champions, but Yami can be OP.

-Haha, let’s shred him like butter

-It’s just pocket money for this level, haha

-Yum~! Yami-yami~

-Sweet deal!

[‘YamiMealOneMore’ adds to the quest reward.]

[Cumulative Reward - 70,000 won]

Gradually, the rewards kept accumulating. Genome smiled.

“I need to turn this into a reality show documentary.”

Meanwhile, on Purple’s broadcast:

–Is that legit?

–WTF LOL What’s his MMR now?

–Honestly, getting 33 kills per game should’ve pushed him to Plat LOL

–OMG OMG OMG

–Wow, how did he even meet Genome? LMAO

–Is he retired or something?? Why is his tier so low?

–He just plays damn well, let the man be ;;

Lee Kyungbok knew exactly who they were referring to from reading the chat.

“Are you really Genome-nim? Not pretending to be?”

When he directly mentioned the name, the chat filled with question marks.

–What are you implying?

–Dude? What if he breaks the rules?

–Ban the host, mod!

–Everyone, take your hands off your keyboards!

–Don’t fall for it! It’s a trick!

–Trolls, go away!!

-Is he already trying to discipline us?

“No, it’s not like that. I’m genuinely curious.”

The streamer Genome had been mentioned several times during the early days of Bio Crisis broadcasts. People claimed he was quite skilled.

As the viewers continued to speculate, Lee Kyungbok eventually spoke up.

“Fine, let’s allow mentions of Genome this round. But please stay within bounds.”

-For real?

-I’ve been waiting for ages to mention Genome!

-Master approves too?!

-Really now?

-Joking ^^

-Info: Genome has numerous victories under his belt from various streaming competitions. Notably, he achieved MVP five times in the Mystic League alone.

-Haha, they just couldn’t resist mentioning him

-LMAO, how did you hold back with your lips itching to spill?

-Ha, even in casual games, he gets quadra-kills!

–He turned down pro team offers to become a streamer LOL

–Not just Mystic, he’s good at most games

–Great reflexes and game sense

–Can he go head-to-head with Purple?

–Comparing him to Purple is…;)

Information about Genome flooded the chat like a burst dam as Lee Kyungbok selected his champion.

[>Yami? Are you out of your mind?]

[>Are you insane? You’re up against him.]

[>What kind of troll are you?]

[>Seriously, stop joking around…]

The immediate reactions from his teammates were followed by laughter in the chat.

-LMAO

-This is normal

-I went easy on them last round cuz they were newbies.

-I’m being careful not to get reported for trolling

-Don’t be so salty

-But seriously, I wouldn’t believe it if I hadn’t seen it myself LMAO

Lee Kyungbok calmly tried to explain himself, but…

A message popped up before Lee Kyungbok’s eyes.

[Your chat has been blocked.]

He blinked at it.

“What?”

The chat window exploded with excitement at his reaction.

-LMAO, got blocked

-Figured you’d react fast once you get triggered

-Hahahaha, everyone’s banned now

-LMAO, we could’ve chatted if just one of us wasn’t banned

-C’mon! Let’s give Purple another chance!

-I mean, I need to see this to believe it LOL

Lee Kyungbok grimaced and lowered his head.

“Wow, they really hate junglers, huh? Well, I guess they’ll unblock me once I show them.” Eventually, his gaze shifted toward Genome from the opposing team.

“Could you maybe speed things up, Genome?”

-WTF???

-Genome declares cut LOL

-Such confidence! How exhilarating! Always refreshing!

-I can’t stand it when someone else gets named kills!

-Cutthroat competition here…

The chat exploded like an active volcano, and soon enough, their fervor culminated in one thing:

[‘PurpleCreditRecovery’ has proposed a quest!]

[Condition - No touch kill of Player ‘GENOME’]

[Reward upon success - 30,000 won]

Lee Kyungbok beamed at the sight of this quest proposal.

“Well, I was going to do it anyway, but now there’s a quest too? Thanks, gladly accepted.”

However, the reaction in the chat differed greatly.

-Huh? Did you read the condition properly?

-No touch kill ㄷㄷ

-Is this Queeda? Autopsy immediately!

-Tell Genome to go for no touch?!

-That’d also be epic ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

-Only 30k for these conditions ㅋㅋ

-W-wait, if it’s Purple, it might be possible.

[‘PurpleBusPassenger’ has added to the quest reward.]

[Cumulative Reward: 80,000 won]

Despite this, there were still viewers who believed in Lee Kyungbok.

-LMAO, he’s going for it.

-Just Yami? No, it’s ‘Perfect’ Yami.

-Haha, what a newbie LMAO

[“PerfectYamiON” has added to the quest rewards.]

[Cumulative Reward: 100,000 won]

[“TributeFee” has added to the quest rewards.]

[Cumulative Reward: 130,000 won]

The amount continued to climb steadily.

Meanwhile, all the Players finished their preparations, and the game began.

“Whoa, they’re glaring daggers at me.”

The team members gathered in base glared fiercely before dispersing to their respective lanes. Although his chat was blocked, so he couldn’t hear their voices, the mood made it clear:

-Noob haters LMAO

LIs there such a thing as a passenger cursing out their bus driver while riding said bus?

LOmg, these trolls…

LI wish I could tell them that Purple just came from Bronze tier…

Lee Kyungbok checked the chat briefly before heading to the jungle.

“I’ll locate Genome first.”

He peeked at the minimap from his hiding spot in some bushes and blinked in confusion.

…Why can’t I see him?

The champion Genome had chosen was Dystopic Destiny, commonly referred to as DD. As a mage marksman wielding cards randomly drawn from a deck, she didn’t possess any stealth abilities. Yet, Didi wasn’t visible on any lane.

…Could it be?

As soon as this thought crossed his mind, he was overcome with a sense of foreboding.

Lee Kyungbok hastily threw himself to one side as the sound of something whizzing past his ear caught his attention.

“Oh?”

He quickly adjusted his stance and turned toward the source of the noise. Didi, the champion wearing a bowler hat with cards in hand, emerged from some bushes, surprising both players momentarily.

Was my position predicted ahead of time?

How did he dodge my Predictive Shot?

The Genome had anticipated that Lee Kyungbok would play as a jungler, so it preemptively scattered its cards throughout various bushes where he might hide.

However, their surprise didn’t last long.

“I hold no personal grudge against you. This is just because I’ve accepted a quest.” The Genome swiftly shuffled its deck. Each shuffle granted Didi five random cards.

As a champion, Didi relied not only on physical agility for throwing cards but also quick thinking and analytical skills.

“I’m here for the same reason.” As Lee Kyungbok replied, he swiftly formed hand seals while avoiding Genome’s electrically charged cards.

Vines shot out of the ground and wrapped around Genome’s body, but it remained unfazed. It immediately threw its card, causing duplicates to fan out and shield Genome from harm.

It has excellent kaiting skills.

While Lee Kyungbok was preoccupied with evading attacks, Genome freed itself and put some distance between them. Kyungbok chased after it, but Genome wouldn’t allow him to get close.

–Kya-ha-ha! What madness, ha-ha-ha!

–The skilled recognize each other…

–This one is quite good.

–Let’s have a fair fight!

–Why engage Didi in melee combat? Ha-ha-ha!

–Because they can’t rely on their cards anymore, ha-ha-ha-ha!

–Is this a showdown between Purple offense and defense or what?

–They’re dodging everything by mere inches!

The viewers thoroughly enjoyed watching these two champions engage each other. While it appeared to be an even match on the surface, one of them felt differently.

I’m at a disadvantage.

Lee Kyungbok quickly realized Genome’s strategy. Yami could use skills only when he had enough chakra, but Genome could replenish his abilities through card shuffling. Of course, there was a penalty if he ran out and needed to restock back home, but for now, Genome held the upper hand.

He’s trying to wear me down.

To recover chakra, Lee Kyungbok either had to attack normally or wait over time, but since Genome wouldn’t let him close the gap, his recovery rate slowed significantly.

“Uh-oh, this doesn’t look good.”

“Whoa, lol. That’s exactly what Genome is aiming for!”

“This matchup isn’t favorable for Didi.”

“He should retreat first.”

“Hyung! Use Dome Breaker!”

“Withdraw strategically!”

The viewers belatedly realized what was happening. There was no need to persist with this unfavorable battle. They could retreat for now and try ganking him later.

No, that might make things even harder.

Having engaged Genome, Lee Kyungbok knew firsthand how formidable his opponent was.

I want to defeat him.

His competitive spirit, which had been dormant for many years, flared up again after encountering such an excellent adversary. The fire of victory from his school days reignited within him.

If I let him go now, he’ll only get stronger.

Kyungbok would suffer a penalty for not touching his opponent, but Genome wouldn’t face any such consequence. If given time, Genome was guaranteed to return even more formidable.

Then…!

Lee Kyungbok’s eyes sparkled with determination.

“Oh! Purple Hunter is smiling! He’s laughing despite being on the ropes!”

“Yeah, it’s that killer smile.”

“When Purple smiles…someone dies…”

“Is death knocking at your door? Ha-ha-ha-ha!”

The viewers weren’t entirely wrong in their assessment. Lee Kyungbok had just come up with a plan to defeat Genome.

But Genome was laughing for another reason.

“Ha! This isn’t some variety show. He’s actually serious!”

Given that Yami had a similar MMR, viewers expected him to be decent at performing jutsus, but he surpassed their expectations.

-He’s not trolling, is he?

-Look how fast he forms hand seals!

-Have you ever seen such precision before?

-Is he an acrobat or something?

-I-it looks like Hokagame.

-Hokagame ᄏᄏᄏᄏ

The number of viewers watching his stream exceeded six thousand, and most reached similar conclusions.

“Still, Yami is Yami. His chakra must be running low by now.”

There was no time to check the chat window. Even a brief lapse would mean losing distance from his opponent. Despite this, Genome maintained a steady stream of commentary like a true pro.

-This is hilarious.

Despite this, Genome maintained his professional demeanor and kept engaging with the audience.

Lol, Yami is done for LLL

-Look at kaiting dominating!

-Yami lost, no doubt about it! LOL

-The meat of Yami’s defeat seems rather tough today.

-Needs some tenderizing work LOL

No one doubted that Genome would emerge victorious. As he claimed, Yami had reached his limit. He attempted to cast a jutsu, but the kanji on his robes merely flickered without activating anything. Hesitating briefly, Yami then leaped into the bushes.

“All right, let’s end this.” Genome went on the offensive. It was clear that Yami had depleted his chakra.

-5252, I’ve been waiting for you!

-Glad he lasted longer than expected LOL

-There’s no shame in losing to such a strong opponent.

-Too bad it wasn’t you, or I would’ve given it a shot LLL

-I feel sorry for him; he must have practiced relentlessly to be this good LL

-Huh? Is that his second match already?

-What’s going on?

The chat messages flooded the screen, but Genome was focused solely on chasing Yami.

It’s over here.

He relied heavily on his hearing. When a champion hid in the brush, their body became invisible due to Stealth activating, and any sounds they made were muted. However, the rustling of the bushes themselves couldn’t be silenced.

Now!

With a swift flick of his wrist, a card flew through the air. The moment there was a whoosh, Yami’s figure materialized.

“Oh, a metal-type jutsu?”

Had Yami recovered his chakra while fleeing? He threw himself toward another bush, confident he’d found Kyungbok’s location this time.

“Guys, I’ve got him now.”

The jutsu Yami had just cast was likely his last resort. All that remained for Genome to do was follow and devour him. With that goal in mind, he boldly gave chase.

This way… Wait.

As Genome focused on tracking Yami, he suddenly became confused as multiple rustling sounds echoed from various directions simultaneously. It wasn’t like Yami possessed any clone techniques despite being modeled after a ninja, right?

Then it hit Genome.

“Oh.” With a short exclamation, he flung a card at one of the bushes. A silver wolf burst out but stumbled backward upon impact with the projectile.

“A creep…!”

Creeps were neutral monsters found within jungles.

—????

—What is this?

—Is it a bug?

—WTF?

The viewers couldn’t hide their confusion. These creatures normally guarded specific areas, so why did they appear here?

“Damn, I fell for his trap.” Genome realized too late that everything was part of Yami’s scheme.

As other creeps charged at him, Yami suddenly emerged from behind them, proving the deception.

He lured these creeps to recover chakra.

Genome hastily drew another card but had no opportunity to throw it as Yami’s jutsu filled his field of vision with blinding light and scorching heat.

[Perfect Play Genome]

Lee Kyungbok’s kill mark appeared as soon as he landed on the ground, followed by another message:

[Quest successful!]

[The passengers of Bus Purple and 27 others have sponsored you 3,700,000 won.]

It was the notification for completing the group quest.

LMAO! LMAO! LMAO! He crushed that creep!

LOL! Did Yami just take down a diamond ranker?!

Who’s laughing now?! LOL! LOL! LOL! LOL!

Yami! You’re my hero! Yami! You’re my hero!

Why do you want to be a mom? LMFAO!

???: I don’t harbor personal feelings.

That guy is making a name for himself LOL. Can’t wait to see him face off against Purple!

Domo mina-san, perfect Yami desu!

The chat window exploded with excitement. Lee Kyungbok finished off the remaining creatures leisurely before addressing his fans.

“Thank you for your kind words. The game isn’t over yet, so please let me refocus.”

His words dramatically shifted the mood of the chat room.

-LMAO, you’re so funny, Jin.

-Hahahaha, our bus ride isn’t over yet, folks!

-Hang on tight, everyone! We’re heading to the final stop!

-The next station is Victory, Victory Station.

-Purple going all out every game? I’m here for it.

Just as Lee Kyungbok was about to check his ganking timing again…

[I’m sorry. Were you perhaps training to be a pro?]

An in-game message popped up before him. One of his teammates had unblocked him.

[I blocked you thinking you were a troll. My apologies.]

[I acted too hastily. Please accept my sincere apology.]

Soon, other team members joined in with their own apologies. The reason behind this sudden change in attitude was clear:

[If you’re playing the jungler position, could you also take orders?]

[Please let us know whenever you plan to gank.]

They desired victory just like he did, and they realized that Lee Kyungbok held the key to achieving it.