Chapter 5: The Rookie Streamer is Too Good, I

Choi Byunghoon plopped down on his chair.

“Whoa…how is he ranked number one in the world by such a huge margin?”

He was still reeling from the shock.

“I’m surprised too.” Lee Kyungbok grinned.

The wide gap between himself and Korea’s top hunter had given him confidence. However, who knew that would also mean being ranked first worldwide?

“You’re going to stream, right?”

“Of course.”

“Yes! Yes! Awesome!”

With Lee Kyungbok’s confirmation, Choi Byunghoon jumped up, pumping both fists in excitement. As he watched his overly enthusiastic friend, Lee Kyungbok raised his hand.

“But there’s something I need to discuss with you.”

“What is it? Huh? Come on, spill! What’s wrong?” Choi Byunghoon eagerly urged him.

“Calm down already.”

“Oh geez, don’t embarrass me like that.” Feeling slightly awkward, Choi Byunghoon composed himself but remained attentive.

“I don’t think starting with a fixed mindset is a good idea.” Lee Kyungbok spoke earnestly. “Posting videos on Youtube from the get-go doesn’t seem like the right approach.”

Kyungbok was about to embark on his streaming journey, so Choi Byunghoon would naturally be his editor. However, Kyungbok couldn’t expect him to work for free just because they were friends. It’d be more appropriate to collaborate once there was some profit to share.

“Haah…” Choi Byunghoon rubbed his forehead hard enough to make an audible sound. Despite covering his eyes, he wore a big grin beneath them. “That’s exactly what I wanted to say.”

“What?”

“It seems like you’re destined to become a streamer.”

“Destined” meant one’s innate purpose given by the heavens.

Choi Byunghoon chuckled.

“In fact, I was going to stop you if you decided to pursue it seriously.”

“Oh really?”

“Yes. The industry has become incredibly competitive lately. It’s not just a red ocean but more like a blood bath now.”

As someone who used to be an editor, Choi Byunghoon had deep insights into this field. He composed himself and spoke earnestly:

“You think only a few people dive into streaming for money? There are many corporate entities involved as well.”

“Well, even back when we were high school students, it seemed somewhat similar.”

“That’s true. However, based on my observations, it doesn’t work that way. Why? Because why would viewers watch such streams?”

“They do because they find them entertaining.”

“Yes, but if you delve deeper into viewer needs, there’s more to it. I could explain at length, but to summarize, viewers want light-hearted and enjoyable content.”

Choi Byunghoon straightened his posture, almost rigidly, reminiscent of a soldier standing at attention.

“However, if the streamer acts too intense and inflexible like ‘I’ve bet everything on this broadcast,’ do you think viewers would enjoy it?”

“No, they wouldn’t.”

“Yeah, it becomes burdensome. People might feel that leaving the broadcast could ruin the streamer’s life. Instead of relaxing, they’d inadvertently shoulder someone else’s life struggles.”

“I remember that meme: ‘Is it a festival? No, it’s a funeral.’”

Lee Kyungbok’s comment made Choi Byunghoon chuckle.

“Yes, exactly! Wow, you seem to have a good sense for streaming. Anyway, let’s start comfortably and focus on enjoying ourselves. If the streamer is having fun, the audience usually appreciates it.”

“That sounds good.”

Satisfied with Choi Byunghoon’s response, Lee Kyungbok stood up with a content smile. He had been unsure how to steer the conversation, but finding their views aligned was reassuring. Now, all that remained was putting these ideas into practice.

“Have you thought about which game to start with?”

Choi Byunghoon casually turned his monitor towards Lee Kyungbok. The main page of Tri, the largest streaming site, was displayed on the screen.

“Y-yes, I looked around while coming here. And I’ve already purchased one.”

During the move from the capsule room to this office space, Choi Byunghoon had brainstormed potential content ideas for his stream.

“Bio Crisis.”

“Oh, that’s fine.” Choi Byunghoon snapped his fingers lightly and typed the game name into the search bar.

[Bio Crisis]

[Viewers: 7,773]

It was a well-known zombie apocalypse-themed game originally released for PCs and consoles. With limited ammunition and healing items, along with strategic camera angles and enemy placements, it created tension and fear, establishing itself as a classic in its genre.

It was immensely popular to the point where it inspired an English-language movie titled “Dweller Evil”. The film also gained traction and ended up spawning six sequels.

The game had been remade as a virtual reality version, which streamers actively played at one time.

“It’s not as hot now, but it’s perfect for small-time streamers like us.”

Games with high player counts naturally attracted numerous streamers. For someone just starting out, getting noticed amidst such competition would be akin to finding a needle in a haystack.

It was better to aim for games with fewer viewers but less competition.

“And based on your physical abilities, this genre should suit you well.”

“Genre?”

“Yes, game broadcasts can be divided into spicy and mild flavors.”

There were two types of streamers: those with excellent gaming skills who provided a relaxing experience for viewers—the “mild” flavor—and those lacking in skill whose struggles entertained viewers—the “spicy” flavor. In some cases, the latter could also cause discomfort to their audience.

“But you’re beyond mild; you’re more like carbonated water.”

Choi Byunghoon quickly did his calculations. With Lee Kyungbok’s physical abilities, playing games would undoubtedly refresh him like drinking fizzy soda.

“It’s great that this is what you want to do as well.”

If Lee Kyungbok hadn’t made up his mind, Byunghoon was planning to suggest this genre anyway.

“That’s great! So when should we start?”

“We need to buy a capsule first.”

“Oh, right. Broadcasting from a capsule hotel room isn’t ideal.”

“I’ll look into it. I know someone who might give us a discount. Let’s split the cost for now.”

“Huh? Why you?”

“Come on, bro. This is all part of my investment since I made the suggestion. We share the burden together.”

If Choi Byunghoon had his way, he would cover the entire expense himself. However, Lee Kyungbok wasn’t the type to easily accept such favors, which could create unnecessary tension between them. Sharing half the cost would be enough to demonstrate Byunghoon’s commitment.

“Well…sure, let’s do that.” Lee Kyungbok readily agreed.

A few days later…

Having finished setting up and configuring his capsule, Lee Kyungbok decided to try out the game immediately.

Wow.

Lee Kyungbok mentally gasped as he launched the game. After displaying the developer’s logo like opening credits at a movie theater, the game cut straight to a scene.

A hospital.

Perhaps because it was the introduction, he couldn’t feel his body. Instead, it felt more akin to dreaming.

“What is happening?”

“I don’t know! There are too many emergency patients!”

“Hurry up!”

The hospital was chaotic. People dressed in white scrubs rushed around frantically. Strangely, there were also numerous police officers present.

“Communications are down…!”

“W-What should we do?”

“Oh God…”

Soon, his view followed a nurse. With a rattling noise, she pushed a wheeled bed into a hospital room.

“Uh, this patient’s name is…”

The nurse urgently grabbed her pen and chart. Then suddenly, the world stopped. Faintly visible on the chart were some words:

‘Ah, is it time to set the character’s name?’

It seemed that Players could directly write their names. Lee Kyungbok briefly pondered but decided to stick with the default settings.

[Name: John]

At the same moment, darkness engulfed his vision with a pop. The opening cutscene had ended.

‘Oh, here we go.’

Lee Kyungbok started feeling his body. He blinked several times and then sat up.

Oh, hello there?

At this precise moment, one viewer sent a chat message. The semi-transparent chat window appeared at one corner of his vision.

“Ah, hello.”

Lee Kyungbok greeted them while doing some light stretching exercises.

–Eekkkk, it is your first stream.

“Huh? How do you know?”

He was genuinely surprised. Had he given away that the game had just started?

–Wowww, I smell a newbie!

–A true rookie who doesn’t even know about public history settings!

Public History… On the streaming platform ‘Tri’, there was a feature allowing viewers to easily check a streamer’s gaming history.

’…Let’s continue the conversation for now.’

If he only chatted with viewers, starting the game would be meaningless. Lee Kyungbok adjusted his posture and paid attention.

“It is strangely quiet here. There was complete chaos during the opening.”

Unlike the initial urgent situation at the hospital, there were no noises now.

-I’m restraining from chatting to avoid spoilers.

-Sniff sniff, I smell a newbie.

-Newbie!

At that moment, another new viewer entered. In the beginning, the difference between zero and one viewer was significant. It felt burdensome to enter a broadcast with zero viewers but easier if even one person was already watching.

“Yes, hello.” Lee Kyungbok whispered his greeting as if someone might be listening.

-Ugh, already scared?

-The Bark is indeed frightening.

-This guy is really a first-timer.

-Look, it’s true!

-Then things might get tough for you.

-I’m actually fine with it.

The chat became livelier now that there was someone to converse with, which also helped ease Lee Kyungbok’s burden.

Just then…

…Again.

His instincts flared up once more, sensing something ominous outside his hospital room. Reflexively, Lee Kyungbok grabbed onto the IV pole next to his bed.

-Ooh, nice move!

-I thought I’d need a mousepiece, but nope.

-Ah, common sense dictates weapons in zombie games, right?

As Lee Kyungbok read the chat and opened his mouth to speak—

“Aaargh!” A scream erupted from outside.

He immediately rushed towards the door.

-The immersion is insane.

The scream sounded so real that he couldn’t believe this was just a game.

-Wow, here they come!

-Spoiler alert!

-Let’s ban Calvin.

-No manager, so who will do it?

Lee Kyungbok swallowed nervously as he cautiously opened the door. A strong scent of blood immediately assaulted his senses. The hallway was covered with dried and sticky blood, while the lights flickered intermittently.

“Huff, huff…!”

His heightened hearing picked up heavy breathing. At the end of the corridor, under the blinking lights, he spotted a shadow running towards him. And behind it, several other shadows were in pursuit.

“Looks like someone is being chased.”

It was clear that a zombie outbreak had occurred. Lee Kyungbok didn’t wait for any chat messages and quickly stepped out.

-I commend your bravery.

-Yup, real man stuff!

-Nice move!

As soon as Lee Kyungbok emerged into the corridor, the owner of the shadow appeared. It was a sturdy black police officer, his face furrowed as he turned around the corner. The moment their eyes met…

“Run!”

Following his cry, there were sounds resembling animal wails. Then, corpses clad in white robes—now stained red—chased after him.

-Domhwa-cha!

-Zombies detected!

-Waaah, scary

The chat messages popped up on screen.

“Hurry!”

Contrary to the viewers’ comments, the police officer was still alive. He bought time by shooting zombies with his pistol.

“A gun.” Lee Kyungbok’s eyes sparkled.

Based on the audience reactions, it seemed typical for people here to run away, but he didn’t want to follow suit.

“It’d be handy if I grab that.”

He immediately sprinted down the hallway.

-???

-Lollll

-No wonder people can’t stop watching this stream.

-Right on! LMAO

The number of viewers had increased to four. They all anticipated Lee Kyungbok’s death.

-Ah, ignorance is bliss LMAO

-Zombie: Rocket delivery is really fast ^^

-Meat is friendly and the president tastes delicious!

Despite the mocking chat messages, Lee Kyungbok smiled.

They already know.

In the middle of the dimly lit corridor, zombies suddenly emerged from both sides. Surely, countless others before him must have thought the same thing. The producers were well aware that some Player might make this choice. Hence, they positioned surprise zombie attacks within the darkened corridors.

I’m aware of it.

However, Lee Kyungbok was already prepared for this scenario. Knowing ahead of time made it significantly easier to counteract.

“Hup!” Holding his breath momentarily, he swung the mop handle, its end wrapping around a zombie’s neck like a hook.

Lee Kyungbok pulled on the zombie’s neck while twisting his body and striking the head of another zombie with his polearm.

-Huh?

-WTF?

-What is this?

His fluid movements resembled martial arts straight out of a movie. In no time, both zombies were helplessly tumbling to the ground. One had its skull caved in, while the other was still alive but swiftly dispatched by Lee Kyungbok stepping on it. Blood dripped thickly down the polearm.

He grinned sardonically. “This game is fun.”

And he meant it. His body moved exactly as he intended.

-A newbie just did that?!

-But he said he’s only played ten times?

-Who are you?! You’re not a newbie!

The viewers reacted intensely.

There was another group having a similarly intense reaction:

-Grrrgh!

-Urggghh!

Zombies fell under police gunfire. Lee Kyungbok caught his breath briefly before moving again.

Five zombies remaining.

It seemed the police’s shooting skills weren’t bad at all. Thanks to the fallen zombies blocking the path ahead, Lee Kyungbok arrived just in time.

“You…!” The policeman was startled by his sudden appearance.

-Look, the cop is still alive!

-No way…!

-The lines have changed!

-Could there be another route?

-Are we witnessing an exclusive reveal?

-Save this clip…quickly…!

The number of viewers had increased to six at some point. Despite being text-based, their excitement and fervor were palpable.

Lee Kyungbok smiled. He intuitively felt that things were progressing smoothly, like sailing with the wind at his back.

“Wait! Danger—!”

Before the officer could finish speaking, Lee Kyungbok’s eyes darted away from the chat window towards a horrific zombie lurking nearby.

‘Indeed.’

His senses had become more acute than ever before, and this heightened perception combined with his instincts. He effortlessly sorted through the flood of incoming information as naturally as breathing. The organized data then transformed into the optimal way to navigate this crisis.

“One.”

Lee Kyungbok swung the IV pole like a golf club, causing the closest zombie’s legs to buckle and collapse. The next zombie stumbled over its fallen companion, losing balance due to the sudden obstacle.

“Two.”

Without resisting the momentum, Lee Kyungbok pivoted, striking down on the second zombie’s head. With a sickening crack, the shattered zombie fell atop the first one, effectively blocking it.

“Three.”

The durability of the IV pole wasn’t great. The end was now bent and wouldn’t serve as a weapon anymore. However, Lee Kyungbok didn’t care about that. He used the curved IV pole like a hook to grab and pull down a zombie.

“Damn!” Meanwhile, the police officer didn’t remain idle either. After cursing briefly, he pulled the trigger. It had been difficult to aim with Lee Kyungbok blocking his line of sight, but it became easier once the zombies were on the ground.

‘As expected.’

Lee Kyungbok’s plan worked perfectly.

“Dangerous!” The policeman urgently shouted.

While their colleagues fell one by one, the remaining zombies approached closer. The length of the IV pole actually put Lee Kyungbok at a disadvantage in this situation. Yet, even that posed no problem for him.

“Four.” Lee Kyungbok held the IV pole horizontally, trapping a zombie against the wall with its mouth clamped onto the pole.

The strong pressure was too much for his decaying flesh to bear. With his jaw broken, the corpse slid slowly down the wall.

“No…!”

However, there was one last zombie left. It lunged at Lee Kyungbok’s back. The police officer urgently pulled the trigger but…

Click.

He heard only the desperate sound indicating he had run out of bullets. He tightly closed his eyes.

Yet,

“Five.”

Instead of screams, it was a quiet voice that eventually reached him. Standing before the trembling zombie, Lee Kyungbok’s face splattered with dark red blood held a bloody pen in his hand.

-WTF did I just see?

-LJ…

-I guess there’s a reason why ‘John’ is the default name. HAHAHAHA

-Could this be John from the Wook family?

-I think this is beyond physical and magical…

It was the ballpoint pen found in the pocket of the zombie he had just defeated. Lee Kyungbok immediately turned around, pierced the eye with the pen, and destroyed the brain.

“Maybe it’s because it is a tutorial, but it seems easy.”

As Lee Kyungbok continued talking, the chat window filled up with ’?’ marks. There were only six people, but since there was no limit on flooding the chat, one side of the screen became full.

-I will follow you for now.

-Why is this newbie here?

-WTF! What is happening?

Lee Kyungbok wanted to respond to these reactions, but he couldn’t. Suddenly, his body stiffened before moving involuntarily, indicating the start of a cutscene sequence.

“Are you okay?” A pleasant baritone voice resonated.

Surprisingly, John’s voice sounded exactly like Lee Kyungbok’s due to advanced voice synthesis technology.

“T-thanks to you, I survived. How… No, that doesn’t matter.”

The police officer gritted his teeth and handed over a gun with ammunition.

“There is a storage room for items belonging to the officers stationed underground. There may still be some equipment left. Here’s the card key for access.” He passed on a plastic card.

This revelation caused further chaos in the chat window.

-Hidden! It’s a hidden route!

-Wild Hidden route has spawned!

-Why call him newbie? Why? Why? Why?

-Done yet. Done yet. Done yet. Done yet. Done yet.

-Live4Life is a cop!

Lee Kyungbok was taken aback by the sudden frenzy in the chat.

Wh-what’s going on…?

It turned out the viewers searching for a newbie weren’t newbies themselves after all.