Chapter 13 - Not Human (1)

Achieved 100,000 subscribers in the shortest time.

For some, this could be a turning point, a moment that changes their life.

However, Lee Kyung-bok's day remained unchanged.

"Huff, huff..."

He was hanging from the bar, regulating his breathing. Sweat dripped down his chiseled back muscles.

"Hmm."

Since quitting his job, he had been exercising every morning. Even after starting as a streamer, he maintained his daily routine.

After a quick shower, he checked the time and left the house.

"Oh, you're here."

Unlike him, Choi Byung-hoon, who went to bed late and woke up late, greeted him with bloodshot eyes, still looking tired.

They had planned to have lunch together and chat. The menu was tonkatsu, which everyone loved.

"I still can't believe it. I knew it would do well, but I didn't expect it to blow up like this."

Choi Byung-hoon chuckled. In contrast, Lee Kyung-bok tilted his head in confusion.

"Actually, you haven't uploaded that many videos, right? How did you get 100,000 subscribers like this?"

"Quality is more important than quantity on QubeTube. Plus, the situation was a bit better."

"Situation?"

"Yeah. You were asleep, but I was up all night. A lot of people broadcast from night to early morning."

"Broadcast?"

Lee Kyung-bok still looked puzzled.

"Usually, this scene is full of night owls. You showed them the hidden route, and they went wild. So, people tried to jump on the bandwagon."

"Really?"

"Hey, did you know that after your broadcast, the number of viewers for Bark increased to 30,000? Your broadcast almost quadrupled the viewers!"

Before Lee Kyung-bok started broadcasting, the number of viewers for Bio Crisis broadcasts was around 7,000.

But after the hidden route opened and the issue gained traction, the number of viewers skyrocketed to 30,000.

However, he soon shook his head.

"No, I don't get it. I just told you to broadcast."

Choi Byung-hoon reined in his words and chuckled.

"But there are still no night owls who have become vultures. They all tried to save the police at the beginning and failed. If it were easy, the hidden route would have opened long ago."

"It's easy."

When Lee Kyung-bok made a puzzled face, Choi Byung-hoon was momentarily at a loss for words.

"Anyway, Bark is on the rise again, and the overseas reaction is good."

"Overseas?"

"Yeah. Actually, Bark is more popular overseas. It even became a movie."

Bio Crisis, known as 'Dweller Evil' in English, was even adapted into a movie, indicating a strong fan base.

"Have you seen the comments? People from abroad are watching even though you haven't done anything for them."

"Yeah, I saw them."

"So, that's why you hit 100,000. But, I'm a bit disappointed."

"Disappointed?"

Lee Kyung-bok's eyes widened. As someone who became a 100,000 QubeTuber overnight, he found his friend's greed a bit excessive.

"Look. It's good that people are gathering on the channel, but there are more foreigners."

Choi Byung-hoon sent the channel statistics via Smart Link. The graphs and numbers were incomprehensible to Lee Kyung-bok.

Choi Byung-hoon, aware of this, immediately explained.

"62% are foreign accounts. As a QubeTuber, that's fine, but for a streamer, they're just numbers."

"Ah..."

Lee Kyung-bok roughly understood the nature of the disappointment.

"They're not long-term viewers. They just come to watch Bark, and due to the time difference and language barrier, they won't watch the streams."

"Isn't that a problem? I don't know English well."

Lee Kyung-bok wrinkled his nose slightly.

"That's true. If there are more foreign viewers, even the regulars might leave. Why? Because regulars playing together is also part of the content. If they can't understand the language, they'll feel left out."

"Should we block them?"

"Hmm... Not yet. Some foreigners still find the broadcasts, but right now, there are more regulars. They might just lurk and not participate."

"Then it shouldn't be a problem. I'll just keep doing what I'm doing."

"You were going to do what you wanted anyway, right?"

"That's true."

Lee Kyung-bok smiled.

"It's my broadcast."

* * *

The third broadcast of streamer Purple.

The gap between the first and second day was significant, but the gap between the second and third day was even greater.

"Tru."

A slightly familiar greeting.

The explosive increase in viewers and the chat window were proof of this.

-Peru!

-Perelu! Perelu! Perelu!

-The savior of Bark has arrived!

-Congratulations on 100,000 QubeTube subscribers!

-Did I become a 100,000 QubeTuber in my sleep?

-When will you unbox the silver?

Even in the early afternoon, the number of viewers quickly surpassed 1,500. To handle the rapid chat, Lee Kyung-bok changed the settings as Choi Byung-hoon had taught him.

"Yes, thank you for the congratulations. The chat is too fast, so I'll slow it down a bit."

Slow chat.

A feature that sets the interval between viewer chats, often used to prevent spam.

-Our baby Purple already?

-Who are you! Where's our Purple!

-Purple, do whatever you want!

No one was offended.

It was a setting that other streamers usually had from the start.

['PeruLoss' has donated 10,000 won.]

[If not now, when can I donate? Haha]

['PurpleIsTheBest' has donated 50,000 won.]

[I've deposited today's friend money. ^^]

['StopStreaming' has donated 10,000 won.]

[100,000 subscribers!]

['KoreanHero' has donated 5,000 won.]

[Please, if you're Korean, subscribe to QubeTube!]

The donations kept pouring in.

He didn't accept donations during gameplay to focus on the game.

"Wow, thank you for the donations. Honestly, I'm a bit surprised. I'm a 100,000 QubeTuber now."

Most of the donations were congratulatory messages for reaching 100,000 subscribers. The chat window turned 'haha' in response to Lee Kyung-bok's answer.

"It feels like a miracle. A miracle created by our viewers."

Lee Kyung-bok didn't get arrogant.

He knew that all the success he was enjoying recently was based on his abilities, but without the viewers, it would have been impossible.

-SweetPurple, what's that?

-What? Trying to quell the controversy?

-Can you read someone's mind from a smiling face? Haha

-Our baby Purple has grown up...

-Is there a baby that became a big company in three days?

-Haha, let's fly before we can even walk~

Lee Kyung-bok confirmed again.

The joy of a streamer is contagious to the viewers.

"And, I have an announcement."

-Announcement?

-Mmm

-Are you finally revealing the color of your underwear like a big company?

-Underwear? Haha

-Isn't that a rule?

-What did you do? Haha

While the viewers played around, Lee Kyung-bok completed the settings.

-The chat management bot is activated.

The notification message appeared in the chat window. Only then did the viewers notice the content of the announcement.

"Let's enjoy as freely as possible, but it's right to prevent any potential problems. The rule is three strikes, and you're out. If you receive three warnings, you'll be banned."

-That's right.

-Actually, it should have been from the start.

-Really, yesterday was full of long-winded trolls.

-GodPaco, loyalty! ^^7

-Stop the toxic regulars!

-Our regulars have changed! ^^

The viewers accepted the announcement as a matter of course. Resisting would be like admitting they were the problem.

In this warm atmosphere, Lee Kyung-bok lightly clapped to draw attention.

"Alright, let's start."

-Cue!

-Oh, now QubeTube will be uploaded.

-Mom, I'm on QubeTube!

-Here we go, here we go, here we go!

-What about the underwear color?

-Kick out the underwear trolls!

With playful chats, Bio Crisis began.

A cutscene following the end of Chapter 2.

John's eyes, which had been closed, trembled and opened.

"...Sandra?"

John immediately looked for Sandra upon opening his eyes. But all he saw was a flashlight lying beside him.

-From the preview of Chapter 3, it seems there's something between them...

-Sandra suddenly changed.

-Whatever it is, John definitely did something wrong.

-Is this a honey trap?

The viewers didn't hide their curiosity. Lee Kyung-bok was also curious and focused on the cutscene.

"Sandra?"

John grabbed the flashlight and scanned the area. The flashlight's beam stopped at a spot.

Unlike the dried bloodstains around, this was fresh, bright red blood. It was clearly recent.

-What is it?

-Is it Sandra?

-No, she was alive until they went to the outlet in the preview.

-Probably just injured.

Like the viewers, John seemed to make the same judgment.

"Medkit, I need to find a medkit..."

John hurriedly climbed the platform. He found a first-aid kit attached to the wall.

"John?"

At that moment, a voice called out.

Turning his head, John saw Sandra. She had bandaged her shoulder, apparently having treated herself.

"Sandra, are you okay?"

John approached her, holding the first-aid kit. But Sandra flinched and stepped back.

"Stop!"

"Sandra...?"

Her face revealed a mix of complex emotions.

-Why is she acting like this all of a sudden?

-A woman's heart is unpredictable...

-Isn't there only one thing a regular can think of? Haha

-Fake force OUT!

-GodPaco! Here!

Sandra, with a sudden realization, pointed to the first-aid kit John was holding.

"RegenPharm products can't be trusted."

"Oh... I'm sorry."

John finally noticed the RegenPharm logo on the first-aid kit.

"That's intense."

Rarely, Lee Kyung-bok spoke.

-Intense...

-Did something happen while he was unconscious?

-There are no spoilers for this first reveal. Haha

Both Lee Kyung-bok and the viewers could easily guess that it wasn't for that reason.

The screen went dark, and the background changed.

John and Sandra emerged from the subway station and came to the surface.

Unlike the city center, the sky was wide open, and low buildings were scattered. The impact of the zombie outbreak seemed relatively minimal.

-Oh.

-This is an unrevealed area!

-What a beautiful landscape.

-Only the insiders knew about this good place.

-Insolent insiders!

Sandra's expression brightened, seemingly pleased with the scene.

"This way!"

She confirmed the sign and spoke brightly. John followed her with a contented look.

'...What is it?'

At that moment, Lee Kyung-bok felt a strange, ominous feeling again. John's expression also turned serious, as if confirming that the feeling wasn't just an illusion.

"Sandra! Hide!"

John pulled Sandra into a narrow alley.

Footsteps followed.

Heavy and quick, they were not from zombies.

"HQ, we've arrived at the subway station."

"Clear."

"Clear."

Soon, RegenPharm's private mercenaries appeared.

-Oh, this is close to the quarantine zone.

-They probably came after hearing about the train explosion.

-That's right.

-The mercenaries are ready to teach a lesson. Haha

The viewers quickly grasped the situation. Lee Kyung-bok understood the context from their chat.

The mercenaries began searching the area with their firearms, regaining control.

Now it was Lee Kyung-bok's turn. Just as he was about to reach for his pistol, Sandra stopped him.

"No."

Lee Kyung-bok had experienced a similar situation before.

"...Well, if we make noise, reinforcements will come."

"Yes, but the situation is different from zombies. If even one of them makes a sound, we'll be discovered."

Unlike mindless zombies, their opponents were mercenaries. Sandra licked her dry lips and pulled out a knife.

"I'll take care of it."

A baton was fine for dealing with zombies, but mercenaries were different. To kill silently, a blade was necessary.

"Just cover me, just in case."

-Is this Sandra's moment to shine?

-Is this to tone down her intensity from the cutscene?

-Shouldn't John ask for a knife like in the subway?

Lee Kyung-bok had similar thoughts.

But unlike before, Sandra rejected the request this time.

"This... I'll keep it."

-You're right to be cautious.

-Wow, what a sudden change?

-Sandra, you're the best! T_T

-Just imagining the hardcore fans crying is so satisfying. Haha

-<The management bot has deleted a message (Warning 1)>

Lee Kyung-bok turned his eyes away from the chat window. Was it right to just stand by?

'That would be no fun.'

His eyes quickly scanned the mercenaries. A slight smile appeared on his lips.

"I'll go."

"John?"

Lee Kyung-bok didn't wait.

He quickly approached the mercenary from the alley.

-Is he really going to do this?

-Is he going to strangle him?!

-Is he going to use CQC?!

-What's CQC, hardcore fan?

The chat window was filled with question marks. The doubts were quickly resolved.

"Huh?"

As soon as the mercenary sensed movement and turned around, Lee Kyung-bok pounced like a shadow.

He swiftly reached for the knife in the mercenary's belt, attached to his thigh.

The mercenaries were equipped with combat knives to avoid attracting zombies with gunfire.

The knife, quickly drawn, immediately pierced the mercenary's neck.

"Gurgle...!"

The mercenary fell with a gurgling sound. But Lee Kyung-bok didn't stop there; he grabbed the mercenary's belt to reduce the noise.

-What kind of physical strength is this?!

-Assassin!

-Different from those fake assassins who claim it's an assassination after killing everyone. Haha

-Listen up, you with the big ears! Wake up! Wake up!

-Fact: If there are no witnesses, it's an assassination.

The viewers finally understood Lee Kyung-bok's plan. After that, it was smooth sailing.

With the combat knife in hand, there was no need for the same trick again. Lee Kyung-bok, hiding behind cover, cut down the mercenaries one by one.

-This is one-shot, one-kill too...

-Double-shot, double-kill is the rule. Haha

-In the original route, the mercenaries' firepower was overwhelming.

-Info: This would be tough without Purple.

-Info request

Everyone thought it would go smoothly.

"Why is there no report...?"

The last one standing was the squad leader. He noticed the silence from his team.

His eyes met Lee Kyung-bok, who held a blood-soaked combat knife.

-Oh no, it's over!

-He's been discovered...

-Even Purple's speed couldn't stop this?

-What kind of conscience do these insiders have?

At the moment the viewers sensed failure, Lee Kyung-bok swung his arm.

With a whistling sound, the combat knife pierced the squad leader's hand and the radio.

-WA!

-Perfect punch! Perfect punch! Perfect punch!

-How foolish, you still don't believe in GodPurple?

-Do you still see Purple as human?

The atmosphere in the chat window changed. But the squad leader was still alive.

However, Lee Kyung-bok had a reason for targeting the radio.

"Ah... Gah!"

A blade suddenly pierced the squad leader's jaw from below. Sandra, who had approached quietly, finished him off.

"Clean."

Lee Kyung-bok had already sensed Sandra's approach.

-Sandra! Sandra! Sandra!

-I trusted you!

-What a duo, Purple and Sandra! Haha

-Ah, this is what a 'couple' is.

-Is this a good development for the duo?

The chat window celebrated, chanting their names.

With all the mercenaries down, the screen went dark, and the cutscene continued.

"We're almost there."

The outlet, which had seemed far away, was now within reach.

"Fortunately