Chapter 29: Not A Troll (4)

Lee Kyungbok’s teammates bowed their heads. With Platinum-level MMRs, they were avid fans of Mystic League, and if things went well this time, they could aim for Diamond rank. Considering that possibility, admitting their mistake wasn’t difficult at all.

-Look who changed his tune! HAHAHAHA

-Weren’t you calling him a troll earlier?

-Such flip-flopping, LOL

-This proves that Br-Da-Gol-Pl is scientific.

-Caught red-handed being a br-dah!

-Still, he admitted it pretty quickly, right?

-That’s true.

The chat was mostly filled with mockery directed at those team members. Lee Kyungbok swiftly responded:

“Come on, don’t be too harsh. Many people wouldn’t believe even after seeing it firsthand. Let’s focus on winning from this game onwards.”

-HAHA, not being stubborn is impressive in itself.

-Was it just luck?

-If it weren’t for the quest, phew!”

—So just this once?

The viewers sounded as if they were doing him a favor by allowing it. Lee Kyungbok found their reactions quite cute.

“Understood. Then please listen carefully because I’m about to place my orders.”

—Didn’t you say you haven’t done this for over ten years?

—Ordering Legends and Mystics should be vastly different…

—Ha-ha! It’s completely unlike when he used to summon Kimaro, right?

—Even GoDfLaMe would struggle with this one.

As soon as Kyungbok indicated that he was going to start placing his orders, concerns flooded the chat. He understood why the audience reacted this way.

“It’s true that playing with Legends is different from other ranks.” However, he didn’t agree with their doubts. “But based on what I’ve seen so far, I think I can manage.”

—???

—He’s bursting with confidence ᄏᄏᄏᄏ

—His confidence stems solely from Purple’s existence…

—There’s…some truth to that!

—Is this his usual demeanor?

—Haha

–We’ll see soon enough ㅋㅋ

Lee Kyungbok smiled at the numerous question marks and the growing faith of his viewers in the chat window.

“I’ll start with voice chat first.” He quickly spoke up.

In this game, players could use voice recognition to send messages by default. However, voice chat was typically turned off due to its potential for escalating emotions among teammates.

[>Yep!] [>I’m on!] [>Me too!] [>Ready here.]

The replies came swiftly.

Lee Kyungbok’s tone sounded slightly colder than usual as he instructed them, “Keep your answers short and focus on listening. Every moment spent checking the chat is wasted time.”

–Wow, that’s different from your usual voice.

–Your enunciation is crystal clear!

–Huh? I kinda like these orders…

Viewers were pleasantly surprised, having only heard Lee Kyungbok’s cheerful voice before. The chat filled with positive feedback, but Lee Kyungbok kept his attention elsewhere.

His gaze was fixed elsewhere.

“No need to report on the situation. I’ve got everything covered—the state of battle, map reading, and all champions’ statuses.”

Icons representing allied and enemy champions appeared at both edges of his field of vision. Next to each icon were bars displaying unique stats such as health points and chakra levels similar to Yami’s.

-LMAO, Purple has serious charisma

-I thought he was a bus driver, but turns out he’s a mech pilot LMAO

-If anyone else said this, it’d sound like bullshit, but coming from Purple, it sounds legit LOL

=It looks different cuz Godflu is using a HUD display.

-But doesn’t that get in the way during combat?

-In the way? What do you mean?

Attention: The word “obstacle” does not exist in Perfect’s vocabulary.

“Just focus on your lanes and follow my lead.” There was no hint of doubt in Lee Kyungbok’s voice; he sounded utterly confident.

“Let’s begin. We’ll push one lane before our opponent respawns.”

All that remained now was for him to prove himself right.

Kyungbok’s absence was shocking, but his teammates were still Platinum-level Players who could hold their own until he returned.

“We’ll run only as far as the mid tower. Hang tight; I’m coming to gank.” With that, Lee Kyungbok charged forward.

His role was to tip the balance of this fierce lane battle in their favor.

“Aridus, slow him down. We’re going in now.”

Lee Kyungbok gave the order upon arrival. The sword wielded by Aridus, one of his team’s champions, glowed green for a moment. At the same time, Lee Kyungbok revealed himself.

“Shit…!” Muahmu, the opposing champion, hastily tried to retreat after spotting Kyungbok, but the slowing debuff prevented him from getting away easily.

To make matters worse, Muahmu had ventured deep into enemy territory due to overconfidence and was now out of range of his tower’s protection. Lee Kyungbok wasn’t about to let this opportunity slip through his fingers. He swiftly formed a jutsu, causing the ground beneath Muahmu’s feet to quake violently and launch him high into the air with a thud.

A star symbol briefly appeared above his head.

“Yes!” Aridus seized the moment and immediately stabbed Muahmu from behind. Red blood splatters accompanied the decrease in Muahmu’s health bar as he began bleeding out. With Lee Kyungbok joining in for some basic attacks, Muahmu helplessly met his demise.

[Perfect Play: Legend is Diamond.]

LMAO

-Seriously, he got wrecked LOL

-Ah, that champion is so OP LMAO

-Muahmu couldn’t even use bandages LMFAO

-He may be a tank, but look at all that HP draining LMAO

-I don’t wanna play anymore, seriously ROFL

—Based on your nickname, you seem to be of a certain age…

—Don’t know that attacking elders is against the rules?

—On the battlefield, it’s always best to eliminate the weakest first.

They expressed their satisfaction at the successful ganking maneuver.

“I told you I could do it.” Lee Kyungbok grinned as he read through the chat messages from his viewers.

—Who was it again? Who didn’t believe in Purple?

—Golden Headband! Golden Headband for everyone!

—Yes! (crunch crunch)

—I never doubted you! Loyal forever^^7

—The ten-year gap… It’s like it never happened…

—It existed, but now it feels like it never did.

—Purple’s ten-year hiatus erased with just two games.

—Is this natural talent? Wow, insane reflexes!

—No one can match him

—5252, this level of play is truly ‘perfect’ territory, huh?

Initially skeptical, the viewers were now able to enjoy watching the stream without any reservations.

Lee Kyungbok stopped laughing and turned to his teammates. “Push mid lane while I’m away.”

“Yes, sir!”

After issuing this order, he rushed straight to another lane. Ganking didn’t always lead directly to kills; the opposing team was aware of Lee Kyungbok’s prowess and had been hugging their towers closely as a result.

“Um, shouldn’t we gather for a 1v1 before Muahmu comes back?”

Someone cautiously offered their opinion. Lee Kyungbok checked the chat and frowned slightly.

“We’re winning right now. There’s no need to take unnecessary risks. Instead, use this time to gear up while they’re tower-hugging.”

Had it been any other players on the enemy team, Kyungbok would’ve aimed for a 1v1 battle. But Kyungbok was there, making a direct confrontation too unpredictable as long as he remained alive.

LMAO, who do you think you are?!

Teaching a knight how to drive?! LOL

Wait, isn’t this bus supposed to go straight to the terminal?

Isn’t it getting easier now?

Lee Kyungbok checked the chat window with a relaxed smile on his face. He was grateful that viewers were venting their anger for him. It felt like he could see the indignant expressions of those beyond the screen.

“I’ll keep harassing them until my teammates return.”

He had ordered his team members to reequip themselves, but not himself. From the start of the game, he’d been playing without any items. Thanks to his physical strength and instincts, he didn’t need buffs to perform well. Thus, he chose to stay behind and pressure the opposing champion.

-What kind of evil is this?

-Satan: Even I’m feeling…

-So cruel! Still won’t surrender?

-If this wasn’t LoL, we would’ve quit by now

—If it wasn’t for the forced lane change, I would’ve gone for quick clear already.

He was keenly waiting for his opponent’s champion to appear but saw no need to recklessly chase after him.

“Huh?”

As he changed lanes and entered some brush, Lee Kyungbok spotted something unfamiliar—a pillar-like structure.

—Whoa ᄏᄏᄏᄏᄏ

—Is that a ward?

—Ew ᄏᄏᄏᄏᄏ Now they’re placing wards?!

—Wow, even in the early game, they’re all warded up

A ward is an item used to secure vision of an area. In Legend League, players were often criticized as trolls if they didn’t utilize them, but in Mystic League, they were considered tools exclusively for pros. Since most games focused on laning battles, there was less need for wards, making it more advantageous to purchase other items with the money instead.

“Oh, they’re removing it right away. Let me take care of this first.”

Lee Kyungbok promptly destroyed the ward before continuing his advance. Although his attempt at restraining Kyungbok had failed, the situation wasn’t dire.

-LOL LOL Looks like they’re falling behind on items.

-It’s basically over for them at this point.

-Like he bought a ward just to catch Purple LOL

-He probably misjudged the situation?

Lee Kyungbok’s thoughts weren’t too different from those of his viewers’, but unlike them, he was already thinking several steps ahead.

My position has been revealed, and my teammates have retreated back home. That means…!

As the one calling the shots, Lee Kyungbok had to anticipate the opposing team’s next move, and it immediately hit him what would happen next.

They’re coming after me!

His ominous premonition confirmed that his judgment was correct. His senses heightened as if every nerve ending in his body was being pricked by needles. Time seemed to slow down except for his pounding heart.

Lee Kyungbok relished moments like these.

As Kyungbok ran toward Yami, he barked out orders.

“If you don’t cut him off now, we’ll lose him!”

His teammates abandoned their lanes and regrouped with him. Muahmu also rushed to join them as soon as it respawned.

They all had the same idea.

“The polar bear first, followed by Crow’s attack!”

The team swiftly executed his commands. The enormous white bear charged at Yami upon spotting it. If it hit, the stun debuff would kick in immediately.

Of course, Yami will dodge.

Kyungbok narrowed his eyes. Based on what he’d observed of Yami so far, it should easily avoid such a straightforward attack. That was why he positioned Crow behind the polar bear.

“Take this!” Crow shouted like he was praying while hurling his sickle-and-chain fan. Getting caught in its wide arc would slow down the enemy.

Even if only one of them hit Yami, Kyungbok’s other teammates would be able to take care of him.

“Oh no…!” Kyungbok grimaced.

He’d anticipated that Crow’s attack wouldn’t land on the polar bear, but Yami did even better than expected. He successfully evaded and completed his jutsu just in time for a wave to knock back Crow. The chain sickle was also pushed away, unable to reach its target.

“Agh!”

To make matters worse, Yami pummeled Polar Bear while he was momentarily stunned.

“Sonika, Heal!” At Kyungbok’s command, Sonika, the harp-wielding support hunter, activated her healing skill, saving Polar Bear from death.

“Bandages!” Kyungbok shouted as Muahmu arrived right on cue. Bandages flew through the air toward Yami.

I’ll block his escape route…!

Kyungbok drew and threw an explosion card. The polar bear, Crow, Muahmu, and Kyungbok had Yami surrounded. He aimed for their opponent’s only possible exit, predicting that Yami would try to flee this way.

-“Got him!”

-“This should be it.”

-“LOL, they’re all over Yami.”

-“If he gets out of this one, I’ll admit defeat.”

-“Hahaha, what kind of hunter can’t even take down a single Yami?”

-“Ten kills and not a single kill on his part LOL”

-“Finally gonna die.”

The viewers were convinced this was the end for Yami, but once again, they were wrong.

Yami spun around quickly while forming hand signs, and with a low rumble, pillars of earth shot up from beneath them.

“What…?!”

“That’s insane!” The other team members blurted out exclamations of surprise.

The pillar wasn’t aimed at them after all. Yami had used it as a springboard to leap high into the air—creating his own escape route when one was blocked.

Everyone panicked at this unexpected turn of events.

“Focus!” Kyungbok grinned.

I thought so…

It was a long shot, but he’d suspected that only someone like Player could pull off such a move. Thanks to his hunch, Kyungbok reacted quickly.

There’s nowhere for him to run once he’s up there!

His teammates immediately caught on to what he meant and gathered around Yami.

-LMAO, surviving this far is legendary tbh.

-Well, at least he’s not trolling anymore.

-Yeah, his physical abilities are insane!

-How is he even running on those pillars?!

-Looks like he’s playing a different game altogether.

The viewers acknowledged Yami’s skills and felt relieved, confident that they would finally witness his demise this time around. However, everyone had forgotten one crucial fact.

-??

-Huh?

-What now?

-Broadcast error?

-I’m the only one who can’t see anything anymore?

In an instant, their screens went completely dark, catching Kyungbok off guard as well.

What? Wait, no way…!

His jaw dropped as realization hit him.

…Is it his ultimate skill?

Since Yami was considered a troll champion, nobody bothered to consider that he might have an ultimate skill just like other champions did.

There was another reason he hadn’t considered it before now.

The condition for activating Yami’s ultimate skill is…!

Unlike champions from the Legend League, which operated on levels, those from the Mystic League required certain conditions to be met in order to use their ultimate skills. In Yami’s case, the requirement was using at least level-four jutsus of all five elements within one game. The condition had been adjusted due to Yami’s low selection rate; originally, players needed to cast level-five jutsus of all five elements.

This animation… It has to be his ultimate skill!

As fitting for a champion named “Yami,” or darkness, the visual effects were pitch-black. It took Kyungbok less than ten seconds to fully grasp what was happening.

“Huh?!”

“What’s going on?!”

“Ahhh…!”

“What the—?!”

Meanwhile, screams erupted around him.

Yami’s ultimate skill absorbed HP from enemy champions within his domain as chakra, and it accelerated with proximity. The beast hastily threw itself backward.

“Argh…!”

As a ranged damage dealer, Kyungbok managed to survive by maintaining some distance between himself and Yami. However…

[Perfect Play: LegendisDia]

[Perfect Play: LosingIsNotAnOption]

[Perfect Play: JoonYoungParkOfS.Korea]

[Perfect Play: OnlyMeCanUseLance]

[Quadra Kill!]

The others weren’t so lucky.

Kyungbok stared at the black-and-white area in disbelief. Standing alone amid ancient runes shining brightly was Yami.

“Whoa…”

“A quadra kill? By Yami?”

“OMG OMG OMG”

“I didn’t know he had an ultimate skill!”

“First time seeing this outside of YouTube LOL.”

Beyond the semitransparent chat window, Yami charged toward them. Kyungbok no longer had the strength to resist.

[Perfect Play: GENOME]

[Penta Kill!]

The screen turned black and white, as there were no surviving teammates left to observe.

[Player Namamanarenche has proposed surrender.]

[Yes (1)] [No (0)]

A message popped up before Kyungbok’s eyes.

[> Let’s just give up.]

[> I agree.]

[> Seriously insane…]

[> We lost.]

Total defeat. Those two words echoed in their minds.

[VICTORY!]

It was just two short words, but everyone loved hearing them. Lee Kyungbok was no exception.

“Well done.” His calm comment quickly prompted a flurry of messages in the chat box.

[>That was fucking awesome!]

[>Wow, this is my first time playing a game like this.]

[>Can I add you as a friend?]

[>Me too! Even after we’re not teammates anymore, I want to learn from you.]

The chat box filled with laughter emojis at their reactions.

-LMAO couldn’t even cut off the bus at zero seconds

-RFLMAO can’t ride any other buses now

-The passengers are still dazed by that luxury bus

-Are there games where mindlessly following someone guarantees victory?

-LMAO Purple did all the thinking for us

-I’ll be your friend tooooooo!

-Are tickets for the bus still available?

Lee Kyungbok chuckled and shook his head as he read through the chat.

“My apologies, but I must decline your friend requests. Hmm, it’s because our ranks might differ.”

Though Platinum rank was impressive to most people, it wasn’t good enough for Lee Kyungbok’s standards. He planned on playing with even better players once he ranked up, so there was no reason to team up with these two.

—What’s this AOE damage?!

—Stop trolling!

—Ow… Ahhh…

—Phew, almost sent you a friend request ^^

—LOL, that’d be funny

—If you wanna ride the bus, level up first LOL

—I guess it’s more of a mountain-climbing bus

Lee Kyungbok returned to the lobby and opened his list of friend requests.

“Huh?” As he quickly rejected them, one unexpected name caught his eye.

[GENOME has requested to be your friend.]

[Hello. This is streamer GENOME.]

Unlike other requests, this one couldn’t be easily ignored.

—Whoa?

—He friended him first?

—LOL, what a mistake.

—Wasn’t he pissed at Kyungbok earlier?

—Nahhhh, seems like a cool dude.

—They’re friends now?

—Show us! Let me see!

The viewers were also unable to hide their curiosity. Lee Kyungbok debated it for a moment before opening the message.

[Hello there! This is streamer GENOME.

Firstly, I would like to apologize to PerfectPlayer.

After seeing your Yami picks, I mistakenly assumed you were just putting on a show and trolled during the placement matches, leading me to make some inappropriate remarks during my broadcast.

Later, after witnessing your true skills firsthand, I acknowledged my mistake and corrected myself on air, but I feel obligated to personally apologize to you, PerfectPlayer.

I deeply regret making assumptions based on my limited knowledge and humbly ask for your forgiveness. Ideally, I’d prefer to convey this apology directly, but due to my broadcasting schedule, I have no choice but to send you this message first. If possible, I’d appreciate it if you could accept my friend request as well.

When time permits, I would very much like to offer my sincere apologies in person and play with you again.]

Thank you for reading this long message.]

[Accept] [Decline]

It was a very courteous apology.

Lol wow…class act

Long-running streamers have their reasons, I guess

Refreshing change of pace

Can’t deny his skills, tho

This message is perfect, isn’t it?

Lee Kyungbok’s reaction mirrored that of his viewers.

“Wow, seems like he’s got a good personality after all. Someone with those skills would be welcome here anytime.” Smiling, he accepted Kyungbok’s friend request. The competitive spirit and sense of fulfillment he’d felt during their match left him feeling content.

“Well then, just one more quest to complete!”

-LOL LOL LOL LOL

-1,000,000 on one game!

-Only Q agent would do this for his fans LOL

-Respect x2^^7

-The big spenders are different^^

-Chew, chew… One million is like gum to Q agent, no?

-I mean, isn’t that less than what you usually give out during your previous broadcasts?

-Being mindful of students^^

-Q agent weeps LOLLL

Lee Kyungbok grinned from ear to ear as he prepared to start the third round.

However…

LTake some refugees!

LCame here after watching Kyungbok’s stream!

LSmash! Smash! Smash!

LIs today really the first day of the Mystic League?

LBoss! Following you now!

Despite having set the chat speed to slow, messages were suddenly flooding the screen at lightning speed.

Huh?

Lee Kyungbok’s eyes widened as his viewer count skyrocketed.

LWhat’s going on?

LI came from that other streamer’s broadcast.

LDone with homework LOL

LNo more Taes jokes, please…

LYeah, but why so serious?!

LLet’s calm down for a sec.

The viewers had migrated to Lee Kyungbok’s channel after Kyungbok started advertising his sponsor.

“Oh wow, welcome, refugees! Please follow my rules!” Lee Kyungbok enthusiastically greeted them. He couldn’t be happier about this turn of events.

He’d never been able to reach this milestone during his Bio Crisis broadcasts.

Lots of people—over three thousand!

His viewer count had surpassed thirty hundred thanks to their arrival.