Chapter 17 - Includes Paid Advertising (3)

As the game began, a cutscene started. John and Sandra were looking at the radio with serious expressions.

"Oh, it seems like right after receiving the call."

-It seems so? The background is the same as the preview.

-It looks like right after Jessica's call.

-???: Big brother, who was that woman just now?

-Oh lol, the atmosphere suddenly turned into an interrogation.

-Jealousy, are you watching today? lol

The viewers agreed with Lee Gyeongbok's comment.

Meanwhile, John stood up from his seat. Sandra grabbed him as he was gathering his equipment.

"Sandra?"

"It might be a trap."

Her eyes became sharp.

"Jessica is ultimately a member of RegenFarm. She might be trying to lure and eliminate survivors this way..."

Her words stirred up the chat window.

-Kingly insight!

-As expected, Sandra is the best.

-Really lol, how can you go just by the radio?

-Sandra is definitely different, isn't she? lol

Many viewers agreed with Sandra's opinion. However, not everyone felt the same.

-Why are there so many Barins? lol

-If you don't know, start by breaking the existing route.

-Really lol, Jessica is also a heroine, let's see.

-Is John going to cheat and immediately get killed? lol

Viewers who had cleared the existing route actively defended her. They already knew that Jessica was an excellent ally.

"Sandra, I don't fully trust her either."

"John..."

"But how did Jessica know and contact us?"

"That's..."

"You know better than anyone that there are no police left."

Sandra fell silent at his words. John gently wrapped his arm around her shoulder.

"Even if it's a trap, I'll protect you."

"John..."

Sandra's moist eyes looked at John.

-Sandra immediately felt reassured, didn't she?

-Oh lol, Jessica and all that, she's not my type.

-After all, the main heroine is Sandra, right?

-All the skills go to Purple, and all the charm goes to John. lol

-Really, it's unfair!

-And you're going to edit the bed scene?

-What's wrong with your conscience, you guys?

Most of the viewers were already fans of Sandra, so they enjoyed her reaction.

"And... I really want to meet Jessica."

But the atmosphere in the chat window changed with John's next line.

-What? What are you implying?

-Are you boldly requesting a transfer? lol

-If you see Jessica, your heart will change. lol

-Our Jessica is also pretty, you know! lol

-Jessica's stock is rising, let's go!

-Only Sandra, only Sandra, only Sandra, only Sandra.

-Sandra fans, you're the best!

-Nice boat ending, maybe?

At this moment, Jessica's fans took the lead. As the chat window became chaotic, John continued speaking.

"My body... is definitely related to RegenFarm. If we make contact with Jessica, we might find out something."

"Ah..."

Sandra's eyes wavered.

A scene from the past appeared and disappeared between the cutscenes. Her image of asking John if he was human.

"Alright."

In the end, Sandra stood up to follow him. The screen then went dark, and the cutscene changed.

The two arrived at the entrance of a sewage system, where water was dripping.

-Oh, why is the sewage so realistic?

-Why does it smell? lol

-Really lol, I can suddenly smell the sewage.

-Is this synesthesia?

"It's not as strong as I thought... but it's unpleasant."

Lee Gyeongbok said, looking at the chat window.

It wasn't a stench, but it was certainly an unpleasant smell.

-It's probably because Purple has the highest immersion setting. lol

-Really lol, it's normal not to feel unpleasant sensations.

-But good sensations are extremely good. lol

-You know the law of reciprocal exchange!

-What?

"It's disappearing quickly. Maybe it's adapted, or maybe it's just giving the sensation."

Lee Gyeongbok immediately typed the next line. It actually changed that way.

'Still, it's a broadcast with ads.'

There was no reason to say anything that would make the game look bad.

Of course, he had already confirmed with the developers that he could play freely, but he should still maintain some decorum.

"There really are no mercenaries here."

"Thankfully. But the internal lighting... seems to be non-existent."

While Sandra was on guard, John shone his flashlight at the entrance and spoke.

The damp interior of the sewage system was revealed. John and Sandra entered, dispelling the complete darkness.

The sound of water could be heard with each step.

"Jessica."

John turned on the radio and spoke, but only static was heard in response.

"Seems like we can't contact her here."

"Yes, we need to go deeper to adjust the communication range."

To contact Jessica again, they needed to go deeper. The view then shifted to behind them, towards the entrance of the sewage system.

The light from the entrance gradually faded away.

-Scary, huh? lol

-What? It's closed?

-No, it's probably just expressing that they're moving away from the entrance.

-100% it won't just pass like this.

-Really lol, what's going to happen?

-How did they enter the main building in the existing route?

-They hid in the mercenaries' vehicle.

While the chat window was buzzing, the cutscene changed again. The two were seen relying on their flashlights in the darkness.

'...Ah, something's coming.'

Lee Gyeongbok held his breath, sensing the impending danger.

"Jessica, Jessica?"

John tried to contact her again, but there was still no response. Only static and the sound of water could be heard.

But something was off.

"John?"

Sandra, who had been on guard behind him, suddenly bumped into John. She turned and asked, and John put his finger to his lips.

"Can you hear that sound?"

"Sound?"

-Can you hear it?

-What can you hear?

-Damn... is it a sudden appearance?

-Oh lol, the sound will be muted right away.

-I was prepared for this by learning the silent movement skill.

-Silent movement skill, lol

The viewers, sensing the ominous atmosphere, expected something to jump out. But nothing did.

Instead, the sound John heard was transmitted.

It was a different sound of water splashing. But both of them were standing still, so there was no reason for the sound.

Then.

"John...!"

"Something's coming!"

With that cry, control returned to Lee Gyeongbok. It was his turn to move.

"This way!"

The sewage system wasn't a single direction. There were forks in the middle, and John and Sandra were standing at one of them.

-Isn't that precisely determined?

-The sound is echoing from all directions.

-Is it recorded?

-He's doing this in a split second. lol

-Oh lol, Purple can do it. lol

As soon as Lee Gyeongbok turned the flashlight, something stirred in the dark passage.

What was a shadow quickly came into the light of the flashlight.

"Rats...!?"

Sandra's eyes widened.

It was a rat. Its fur was black and contaminated with sewage, and its eyes were red and bloodshot.

But it wasn't just one. The wet, black fur was interspersed with red eyes.

It was composed of hundreds of rats, each one clinging to the other like cells.

-Wow, damn

-Is this a good design...?

-If it makes you swear in a zombie game, it's well done. lol

-Is it similar to a cluster?

The viewers speculated about the identity of the zombie. Since it was an unrevealed route, the zombie was a new species.

Meanwhile, Lee Gyeongbok quickly switched his equipment. He held a golden shotgun in both hands. Sandra also had a flashlight, so there was no problem with visibility. There was no reason to hesitate. With a thunderous noise, the shotgun pellets swept through the swarm of zombie rats.

With a thud, the rats were instantly turned into a bloody mess.

-They were killed right away?

-They look scary, but they're not much.

-Can Purple handle this?

-It was too easy.

-What's this sudden easy difficulty? lol

The viewers thought the problem would be solved right away.

"No, not yet."

Lee Gyeongbok thought differently.

Because the ominous feeling that had been concentrated in one place suddenly spread in all directions.

The rats, which had been intact, began to separate and climb the ceiling and walls.

-Damn, they can separate too?

-Are they detachable zombies?

-What; how do you deal with this?

-They're overstepping the line again.

-It turns out that breaking them up was a bad idea.

-Is there a flamethrower or something?

The viewers expressed their dissatisfaction at the swarming zombie rats.

Right then.

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

[They're not always enemies! You can run away! If you don't, you might regret it!]

The message played along with the donation.

-What? Donations are open?

-Oh lol, the donations are coming in.

-What? Why only donations?

-Host! Open the door!

-What kind of discrimination is this?

Some viewers expressed their confusion. Did Lee Gyeongbok make a mistake?

Of course not.

'Ah, that's it.'

Lee Gyeongbok had blocked donations from regular viewers but allowed donations from developer accounts.

This was because he couldn't explain everything himself if a situation like Giant Logan occurred.

Since the interest in the broadcast would decrease if the branches were known in advance, it was agreed that the developers would notify him of branch points through donations.

-Is this your first time watching a homework broadcast?

-There are many newbies. lol

-What's the regret?

-Don't tell me to work or not to work.

-Purple can do anything!

Fortunately, most viewers were familiar with this format of ad broadcasts.

Therefore, Lee Gyeongbok didn't need to stop the game. He could follow the donation message, but the choice was ultimately his.

Lee Gyeongbok smiled faintly.

"If you