Chapter 28 - Not a Troll (3)

The streamer 'GENOME's' broadcast is usually divided into two parts.

[GENOME]

[Victory! I'll have beef tonight!]

[Rank #1 / Kills 17]

His content for today's first part of the broadcast was 'Gunner Ground.' GENOME smiled lightly as he looked at the results.

"Ah, first place again. Kids, sniping isn't what it used to be, huh?"

As his distinctive gruff voice echoed, the chat window filled with laughter.

-They really need to tighten up the snipers lol

-Not really;;; You've just gotten better

-GENOME is killing all the Korean players!

GENOME let out a low laugh and glanced at the time.

"Ah, this is a bit tricky. I was thinking about one more round."

In a normal situation, he would have delayed the second part a bit. However, today's second part was an 'ad,' so he had to stick to the schedule.

He ended Gunner Ground first.

"Kids, what should we do while we wait?"

-Go over tournament highlights

-How about the GoTi World Cup Round of 32?

-Let's eat during the break

-A hardcore game of Mystic?

Among the chat messages, one caught his eye.

"Ah, Mystic sounds good. Perfect for a hardcore game."

GENOME immediately launched Mystic League. When he selected a ranked game, a message appeared.

<Welcome to the new season!>

<Your placement will be determined based on your previous season's results.>

<Your previous season's rank for 'GENOME' is 'Platinum 4'.>

"Ah, right. I was busy last season and couldn't reach Diamond."

GENOME was a skilled player who often fluctuated between Platinum and Diamond. However, the previous season, he had less time for Mystic League due to other game schedules.

-Platinum (not)

-Is GENOME taking the bus? lol

-He'll be a truck to the other team lol

-For real, he's going to crush them

-Is that a police station? I need to report a hit-and-run!

While waiting for the match to start, the viewers joked around. Soon, the screen changed with a thud, showing the lobby.

[>That top lane is solid.]

[>Ah… a top lane veteran.]

[>Let's each pick what we want.]

[>What? GENOME? For real?]

The in-game chat window immediately filled with messages. When one player recognized him, GENOME wrinkled his nose slightly and typed.

[>Yeah, it's me. I'll pick last.]

-Whoa! That's confidence!

-I'll adjust for you.

-High-class bus driver hahaha

-What? On the other team…

-What??

GENOME, while waiting for his teammates to pick, tilted his head.

'The other team?'

He checked the IDs of the opposing team players, but nothing seemed out of the ordinary.

-Oh lol, this is going to be fun.

-Lol

-I hope we end up in the same lane.

Still, some noticeable reactions appeared in the chat.

'Hmm, there must be a streamer on the other team.'

He quickly figured out the reason.

GENOME's broadcasts generally prohibited mentioning other streamers, so he was a bit irritated.

But it wasn't a streamer he knew.

"Whoever it is, they must be a fellow streamer. They meet me in the placement match."

GENOME's comment drew the viewers' attention.

-Who's on the other team?

-Don't know

-Seen them on the community

-Me too lol, but they're really good?

-Do they play Mystic?

-Oh lol, they're going to taste some heat.

The stark contrast in reactions from those who knew and those who didn't. GENOME wondered who it could be.

"…Yami?"

One of the opposing players, 'PerfectPlay,' chose a champion that immediately caught his eye.

-Oh lol

-Why Yami in a placement match?

-Why are you there…?

-Is that person?

-They must be doing a variety show lol

GENOME's thoughts were not much different from the viewers'.

"Isn't this a bit much? Even for a variety show. Choosing a troll champion is crossing the line."

His first impression was not good.

As a fellow streamer, he understood the need to draw attention, but there were limits.

-For real, they're really pushing it

-For real lol, this isn't even a ranked game, it's a placement match

-They need to taste some heat

-Whoa! Are you going to crush them!?

-Let's make the other team suffer~

Amid the viewers' agreement,

['Educator' has proposed a quest!]

[Condition – 10 kills with champion 'Yami']

[Success – 50,000 won]

Someone proposed a quest.

-Oh lol, 10 kills?

-Other champions might be tough, but Yami is a sure thing.

-For real lol, they'll be wiped out

-This is just pocket money lol

-Yami, Yami~!

-Sweet!

['YamiSpecialMeal' has added to the quest reward.]

[Total reward – 70,000 won]

The reward quickly piled up.

GENOME smiled.

"I'll make this a documentary."

* * *

Meanwhile, in Purple's broadcast.

-Is that for real?

-Oh man lol, how is their MMR?

-If you get 33 kills in one game, you can easily reach Platinum lol

-For real, for real

-Oh, but how does he keep meeting GENOME lol

-Is this person a main player? How is their tier so low?

-GENOME is just a good player who's good at games;;

Seeing the chat, Ik-jeong-bok understood who they were talking about.

"Is it really GENOME? Not a fake, right?"

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

-What does this imply?

-Bro? What if you break the rules?

-Ban the manager!

-Everyone, hands off the keyboard!

-Don't fall for it! It's a trap!

-Trolls are already tightening up!

-Already tightening up the trolls?

"No, it's not like that. I'm just really curious."

He was a streamer mentioned a few times during the early days of the Bio Crisis broadcast. They said he was a good player.

But as the viewers kept changing the subject, Ik-jeong-bok said,

"Then, I'll allow mentioning GENOME in this game. But please keep it respectful."

-For real?

-I've been waiting to mention GENOME for a long time

-The manager too!

-For real?

-Just kidding^^

-Info: GENOME has a significant record of winning streamer tournaments. He has achieved MVP in Mystic League five times.

-They're already mentioning him lol

-Lol, how did they hold back their excitement

-They even get quadra kills in ranked games lol

-GENOME refused a contract offer to become a streamer lol

-It's true, he's good at most games, not just Mystic

-He has good physical skills and game sense lol

-Can Purple go head-to-head with him?

-Comparing Purple to him is a bit much;;

The information poured in like a flood. Ik-jeong-bok checked the chat while selecting his champion.

[>Yami? Are you serious?]

[>I'm going crazy, we're up against GENOME.]

[>What kind of troll is this?]

[>Ah, don't joke around, really.]

The immediate reactions from his teammates. The chat window burst into laughter.

-Oh lol

-This is normal

-Last game was with newbies, so it was easy.

-They're just being careful not to get reported.

-Don't be too hard on them lol

-But I wouldn't believe it if I didn't see it lol

Ik-jeong-bok tried to explain calmly.

But then,

[Chat has been blocked.]

The message appeared in front of him.

"Huh?"

The chat window became even more lively at his reaction.

-Oh lol, instant block

-As expected, at Platinum, the reaction speed is fast.

-Blocking everyone, what? lol

-For real lol, if he didn't block one, they could still chat

-Hey! Let's give Purple some orders!

-But you really have to see it to believe it lol

Ik-jeong-bok wrinkled his nose and shook his head.

"Wow, you really hate junglers. Well, if you show me, I'll unblock it."

His gaze then turned to GENOME on the opposing team.

"GENOME, will it be faster if you cut?"

-What???

-GENOME declares a cut lol

-This confidence! It's thrilling! Always fresh!

-Can't stand not getting a named kill!

-The cut is sharp.

The chat window erupted like a volcano. The excitement soon converged on one point.

['PurpleCreditRecovery' has proposed a quest!]

[Condition – No-item kill on player 'GENOME']

[Success – 30,000 won]

The quest proposal made Ik-jeong-bok smile brightly.

"Actually, I was going to do it anyway, but thanks for the quest. I'll take it."

But the chat window's reaction was different.

-Whoa? Did you read the condition?

-No-item kill lol

-Is this a cut? Get a post-mortem immediately!

-You want to go up against GENOME with no items?

-And with Yami lol lol lol

-30,000 won for this condition lol

-But if it's Purple, it's possible.

['PurpleBusPassenger' has added to the quest reward.]

[Total reward – 80,000 won]

Even among the viewers, some believed in Ik-jeong-bok.

-Oh lol, he's in.

-Just Yami? No, 'Perfect' Yami.

-This is it lol

['PerfectYamiON' has added to the quest reward.]

[Total reward – 100,000 won]

['TuitionFee' has added to the quest reward.]

[Total reward – 130,000 won]

The amount kept increasing. Meanwhile, all players were ready, and the game began.

"Wow, your eyes are sharp."

The teammates gathered at the base glared at him before dispersing to their lanes.

With the chat blocked, no voices were heard, but the atmosphere was clear.

-Perma-noobs lol

-There's a passenger cursing the bus driver?

-Ah, Platinum players…

-If Purple had a chance to talk about rising from Bronze, he would have ㅠ

Ik-jeong-bok glanced at the chat and headed to the jungle.

"First, I'll figure out GENOME's position."

Hiding in the brush and checking the minimap, he tilted his head.

'…Why isn't he here?'

GENOME had chosen 'Twisted Fate,' commonly known as 'TF.' TF is a magic marksman who uses cards drawn randomly from a deck as weapons. He doesn't have a stealth ability.

But he wasn't in any lane.

'…Could it be?'

As a thought flashed through his mind, a sudden, ominous feeling washed over him.

Ik-jeong-bok threw himself to the side. A whistling sound brushed past his ear.

"Oh?"

He immediately straightened up and turned his gaze toward the source of the sound.

The brush rustled, and a champion with a hat and cards, TF, emerged. Both were slightly surprised.

'He guessed my position?'

'How did he dodge a prediction shot?'

GENOME had anticipated that Ik-jeong-bok would play the jungle. He had thrown a card into the brush where he might hide.

But the surprise was short-lived.

"I have no personal feelings. I accepted the quest."

GENOME quickly shuffled his deck. TF receives five random cards each time the deck is shuffled.

Throwing cards is the basic physical skill, but it requires quick judgment and analytical ability.

"Same here."

Ik-jeong-bok, while answering, dodged a sparking card and quickly formed a hand seal.

Vines sprouted from the ground, wrapping around GENOME. However, he didn't panic.

He immediately threw the card in his hand, which multiplied and fanned out to cover Ik-jeong-bok.

'He's good at kiting.'

While Ik-jeong-bok dodged the attack, GENOME pulled away.

Ik-jeong-bok pursued, but GENOME didn't allow him to close the distance.

-Whoa lol, they're insane lol

-They recognize each other's skills…

-GENOME is good.

-Fight fair!

-Why is TF engaging in close combat lol

-He has to if he can't throw cards lol lol

-Is this the level of GENOME vs. Purple?

-They're dodging each other by a hair

The viewers were enjoying the exchange between the two champions.

On the surface, neither had a clear advantage, but the players had different thoughts.

'I'm at a disadvantage.'

Ik-jeong-bok easily recognized GENOME's strategy.

Yami can't use skills when his 'Chakra' is depleted, but GENOME can refill his skills by shuffling cards.

Of course, if all the cards are used, he has to return to the base to replenish, but GENOME had the advantage for now.

'He's trying to draw me into a war of attrition.'

To recover Chakra, Yami needs to land basic attacks or wait for time to pass. But since GENOME doesn't allow him to close the distance, the recovery is slow.

-Oh, this isn't good.

-Oh lol, GENOME planned this

-This matchup is bad.

-We should retreat first.

-Bro! Retreat first!

-Strategic retreat!

The viewers also realized this a beat later. There was no need to stubbornly fight a losing battle.

He could retreat and target GENOME later with a gank.

'But, that might make it even harder.'

Ik-jeong-bok, after engaging GENOME, clearly felt his exceptional skill.

'I want to win.'

The competitive spirit he had forgotten over the years resurfaced with GENOME, an excellent opponent.

In school, the idea of 'winning' in games reignited.

'And if I retreat now, GENOME will only get stronger.'

He has the penalty of no items, but GENOME doesn't. If he gives him time, GENOME will return even stronger.

'Then…!'

Ik-jeong-bok's eyes sparkled with a smile.

-Oh! Purple is smiling! He's smiling while on the defensive!

-Oh, he's showing a killer smile.

-When Purple smiles… someone dies…

-Are you the Grim Reaper? lol

The viewers' reactions weren't entirely wrong.

A plan to catch GENOME had formed in Ik-jeong-bok's mind.

* * *

GENOME was smiling for a different reason.

"Wow, this isn't a variety show. It's real."

He had expected Yami to be somewhat skilled, given the similar MMR, but in reality, he was even better.

-Not a troll?

-Hand seal speed is insane!

-Is there a streamer like this?

-Are you an acrobat?

-No, he's clearly a Hokage.

-Hokage, for real lol

The number of viewers in his broadcast had surpassed 6,