Chapter 55 - Rapid Rise (1)

Irresistible momentum (破竹之勢).

Victory in full swing (乘勝長驅).

These words summarized the collaboration between Lee Jeongbeok and Ji-nom.

In the first game, where he was left alone, Lee Jeongbeok achieved a decisive victory, and he did the same in the rest of the games.

[The placement evaluation is now complete.]

As it was their first duo rank game, the results were announced after the fifth game.

[The rank of ‘PerfectPlay’/‘GENOME’ is...]

[‘Platinum’!]

[What a fantastic duo!]

The chat window quickly filled with messages as the shining badge appeared.

- Haha, really got Platinum on the first try, right?

- Fizzy Day! Fizzy Day! Fizzy Day!

- As expected, it's the ZeroBack Bus, I tell you.

- The driver is too strong, hahaha.

- What kind of favoritism is this for Ji-nom?

- Ah, hahaha, still, you did a good job as the navigator.

- Ji-nom, Guide of the Month!

- Haha, it's not easy to keep talking non-stop.

- Audio Platinum, well deserved, hahaha.

- What's an audio ranker, hahaha?

Ji-nom clapped with an excited expression.

"Wow! Did you all see that? Forget everything I said about the bus during my broadcasts! I was just a village bus. This, this is the real bus!"

- Haha, village bus, hahaha.

- You didn't give much to the village bus, did you?

- Haha, you're really harsh.

- Isn't Ji-nom a tour bus? You talk a lot, hahaha.

- You keep going off the main road.

- Tour bus special: stops at weird shops.

- Is this a package tour, hahaha?

While the viewers were focused on his comments,

[‘IWantARideToo’ has donated ‘10,000’ won.]

[How about a ‘Perfect Tour’ next time instead of OTP? Hahaha.]

Lee Jeongbeok's eyes widened at the new donation. It seemed that Park Joo-ho had donated after the placement was complete.

"Thank you for the 10,000 won donation. Oh, a tour event sounds good."

The chat window's atmosphere changed with his response.

- Time to collect donations!

- Ah, hahaha, can't resist donations!

- Let's push the capitalist wave!

- Move aside! I'm first!

[‘BusFare’ has donated ‘50,000’ won.]

[Covering Ji-nom's bus fare, hahaha.]

[‘EvictionParty’ has donated ‘10,000’ won.]

[???: Watching for free is a crime, a crime!]

Donations poured in like a dam had burst. Among them, one stood out.

[‘NewLegend’ has donated ‘100,000’ won.]

[In commemoration of the live broadcast of the Newton Throne defeat]

[‘SniperIsAWeirdo’ has donated ‘50,000’ won.]

[Thanks for taking down those snipers!]

[‘ProperEducatorGodPlay’ has donated ‘50,000’ won.]

[Newton Throne, hahaha, it's a U-turn, hahaha.]

It was the victory over ‘Newton Throne’ in the first game.

- Ah, that was legendary, hahaha.

- U-turn, hahaha.

- Ah, hahaha, just turn around.

- The cue stick is the cue, Newton is the U-turn, hahaha.

- The passing necklace!

- I couldn't even imagine the shotgun malfunction, really, hahaha.

- I'm getting so hyped just watching, hahaha.

- Selected as one of the top 10 best materials for new demon educators!

The viewers were satisfied as they recalled that scene.

‘Is he really that great?’

Lee Jeongbeok was curious but didn't mention it. If he did, the donations might never stop.

[‘WhatIsPart2’ has donated ‘5,000’ won.]

[What's the content for Part 2? I'm asking for the first time...]

[‘PerfectYami’ has donated ‘10,000’ won.]

[Is it my turn in Part 2?]

The donations gradually decreased, and many questions about Part 2 appeared. Ji-nom waved his hand and stood beside the chat window.

"Hey, kids. Didn't you see the announcement? There's no Part 2! There are no plans for it."

- Ah! You're backing out!

- You're not talking about your broadcast, right?

- Haha, you must think we want to see you.

- From now on, this broadcast is taken over by GodPlay!

- Ah, hahaha, then let's switch the host and guest and start Part 1 again.

The chat window was filled with requests for Part 2. The donations were similar. However, Lee Jeongbeok calmly expressed his gratitude.

"Since you all are saying this, I can't help it."

- Oh!

- Finally...!

- As expected, it's the capitalist wave!

- No, that expression isn't for that!

- Ah, it's time to get cut.

The viewers who were excited and those who were giving up. Which one was right?

"Thank you for watching today's broadcast. We'll see you next time with an even more interesting broadcast."

The latter was correct.

- No! Don't go!

- Don't go, aaaaaah!

- No;;; How can you just leave after showing something this good?

- Step on me to leave!

- Now I can't enjoy any other broadcasts!

- Are the streamers going crazy, hahaha?

Lee Jeongbeok checked the chat window and smiled brightly.

"Truba!"

With those words, Lee Jeongbeok's image disappeared. Ji-nom, who was left alone, turned with a smile.

"Hey, kids, there actually is a Part 2."

The atmosphere in the chat window changed again.

- Really?

- As expected, you're the best! I trusted you!

- 5252, you're quite good!

- Phew, these pranksters.

- Is this a one-time performance?

- Ah, it feels intense.

- That expression is the one where Ji-nom becomes Ge-nom.

- Ah, I'm already hyped.

Ji-nom opened his mouth with a playful look.

"Ah, as expected. You're sharp, you're sharp. From now on, it's only me in Part 2! I'm going out for a drink with Purple! Truba!"

- Hey! You Ge-nom!

- I knew you would do this! Ah!

- Absolute night broadcast! Absolute night broadcast! Absolute night broadcast! Absolute night broadcast!

- You're finally on the bus, hahaha.

- Enjoy yourself in front of me!

Ji-nom casually ignored the chat and ended the broadcast. He didn't even host, and the screen turned black.

- Ah, hahaha, it turns out the streamers were the ones evicted.

- Haha, this is Fizzy Day.

- We were the sacrifices, hahaha.

- Ah, I need to watch the replay.

- Watching the replay is inconvenient...

- Does GodPlay have a full broadcast channel?

* * *

Late at night, in a sushi restaurant in a bustling area.

Despite the restaurant's large size, there weren't many customers.

"Isn't it too expensive to rent the place?"

"Eh, it's not that expensive. We're not renting it for the whole day, so you can order whatever you want."

Ji-nom laughed and answered Lee Jeongbeok's question.

"Byunghun will be kicking himself."

"Actually, it's better that he's not here. He would have ruined the sushi without any shame."

Lee Jeongbeok said with a hint of regret, and Park Joo-ho, who was sitting next to him, adjusted his glasses and spoke.

Choi Byunghun chose to work on video editing with his assistant editor, Madman, instead of joining the dinner. There was a lot of footage from today's collaboration, and the workload was significant.

"Hey, did you see that? You should show some of that passion too."

"Bro, passion comes from the wallet, you know?"

Ji-nom playfully teased the editor, who responded immediately. In the warm atmosphere, they enjoyed a light drink.

"Ah, Mr. Ji-nom, I have a question."

"Ah, sure. Go ahead."

After having a few drinks, Park Joo-ho casually asked.

"Do you know a good tax accountant?"

"Tax accountant? Ah, right. You need to start thinking about taxes. It doesn't feel like it's been a month since we started broadcasting together. Hey, Dongmin!"

"Me?"

Ji-nom called out to the manager at another table.

"Introduce Mr. Purple to a good tax accountant. The one we used last time, Mr. Jang, right? He did a great job."

"Ah, sure. Just a moment. I'll get the contact information..."

"If it's okay, let's talk outside."

Park Joo-ho got up and moved to another spot with the manager. Thanks to this, Lee Jeongbeok and Ji-nom were left alone.

They shared a light drink.

Ji-nom opened his mouth with a smile, as if to break the silence.

"Seeing Mr. Purple, I really envy you."

"Me?"

"Not just your skills, but also how quickly you found good people around you."

"No, it's because we've been friends since high school. My friend, the editor, is also the reason I got into broadcasting."

Ji-nom refilled his empty glass, and Lee Jeongbeok did the same.

"And I consider you a good connection. If it's okay, let's talk more casually."

"Ah."

Ji-nom laughed awkwardly and finished his drink first. Lee Jeongbeok was slightly surprised and tried to match him, but he waved his hand.

Then he refilled his glass again.

"Actually, I'm not the type to talk casually with others."

Ji-nom's online and offline personalities were different. In broadcasts, he talked casually with viewers, but in real life, he used polite language even with younger people.

"It took five years for my editor and manager to start talking casually with me."

"Five years?"

"Yes, well. As you know, this industry has a high turnover rate. But rumors spread quickly in this small world, so I'm careful with my words and actions."

Lee Jeongbeok nodded.

‘Did I speak too soon?’

The vibe from Ji-nom had become more positive than before, but that was from his perspective. It might be different for Ji-nom.

Just as Lee Jeongbeok was about to apologize for the indiscretion,

"However."

Ji-nom smiled and raised his glass.

"I don't think it's necessary with Mr. Purple. I was already hoping to become closer, so thank you for suggesting it."

"Ah."

Lee Jeongbeok also smiled and took the glass.

"Then let's talk more casually."

"Sure, I will. But you should too."

"Ah, right. Should I call you Ji-nom-ssi?"

"Outside, just use my name. Ah, by the way, we don't even know each other's real names. I'm Nam Jihwan."

"I'm Lee Jeongbeok."

"Got it, Jeongbeok. Cheers."

They clinked glasses again.

"Jeongbeok, do you know why I like you?"

"You have to tell me."

"You, look at your adaptability? Anyway, you're a good person."

"Good person?"

"Yeah. It's rare to find someone with your skills who doesn't look down on others."

"Really, in broadcasts, you call it manipulation or something."

"That's different. When I see you, I can tell you really love broadcasting."

"Is that so?"

Ji-nom nodded and refilled his glass.

"To be honest, I know because I've been in your shoes. When I collaborate, I focus on the guest."

"I know."

"Right, but how did you handle it in today's broadcast? In the first match, you told me to use the minigun, right? You were trying to give me screen time."

Even though he seemed like a clown in broadcasts, he was a pro. And a pro broadcaster thinks about how they appear to the audience.

"To be honest, if you had said you wanted to use it, no one would have objected. In fact, they might have welcomed it. But you considered my feelings. I was really surprised by that."

Ji-nom's smile widened as he thought about it.

"I've done a lot of collaborations, but everyone was focused on their own screen time. Why? Because streamers live off attention. It's natural to try to stand out whenever possible."

"That's true."

"Right, but you, who have only been broadcasting for a month, considered me? That's not a common attitude. I can't help but like you."

"That's a bit much. I just thought it would make the broadcast more interesting."

Lee Jeongbeok responded nonchalantly. It was indeed what he had thought.

Some of his viewers were also Ji-nom's fans, so he figured they would want to see Ji-nom perform.

"That's why you're a genius. You prioritize the broadcast, not your own ego. You're a broadcasting genius."

"Bro, you're saying all sorts of things even though you're not drunk."

"I tend to be like this in front of good people, so get used to it."

"Then I shouldn't have suggested it."

Lee Jeongbeok joked, and Ji-nom chuckled. Meanwhile, the managers who had gone outside returned.

"Hey, there's some good news."

"Bro, it's a big deal."

Lee Jeongbeok and Ji-nom looked at the managers with curiosity. Park Joo-ho gestured for them to speak.

"Mr. Purple, you're also participating in the pre-experience event, right?"

"Really? Why didn't you tell me earlier!"

Ji-nom clapped his hands and smiled brightly.

"Wow, this is great. Jeongbeok, how about we team up again?"

"Team?"

"The pre-experience event is a squad battle. Mr. Ji-nom is the squad leader."

Park Joo-ho added from the side. Ji-nom nodded.

"Being the leader doesn't mean much. But I have the chance to pick a wildcard, and I think it would be perfect for you."

Lee Jeongbeok thought for a moment.

But it didn't take long to decide.

"Let's do the Fizzy combo again."

The viewers really enjoyed it, and it was better to team up with someone he knew rather than a stranger.

"Hey, this is really a good day. How about we do another collaboration to build camaraderie with the other team members later?"

"Who are the other team members?"

"Ah, I don't know yet. GGG is forming the teams."

The manager answered. After listening to his brief explanation, Lee Jeongbeok nodded.

"One skilled player, two for entertainment, and one wildcard. But why didn't we know?"

"It seems only the chosen leaders were informed first."

Lee Jeongbeok frowned, and Park Joo-ho answered.

"I'm not saying we have to do it, but it would be good to get to know the team members beforehand. It makes the broadcast better and helps with promotion."

"Sure, let's see how it goes and decide."

Lee Jeongbeok nodded, and Ji-nom added with a smile.

"Don't worry. You beat Newton Throne, so no one will dislike you."

"Ah, Newton Throne. I was going to ask about that. Who is he?"

"Viewers call him a sniper. I looked him up, and he's quite a well-known name."

Park Joo-ho added, and Ji-nom slightly wrinkled his nose.

"I've been streaming for a while, but I can't figure out his true identity. But one thing is certain."

"What's that?"

"He has an insane competitive spirit. Once he sets a target, he won't stop