novelraw Chapter 134 : The Demon Wears Purple (1)
Chapter 134 : The Demon Wears Purple (1)
The Demon Wears Purple (1)
The return of Demon Must Cry.
That shocking yet joyous news was enough to stir everyone's emotions.
- Never thought I'd see DemMC come out in virtual reality in my lifetime!
- Is it really that great of a game?
- Sit down, I'll tell you a truly awesome story now!
- Honestly, demMC is still a blast even on console, lol.
- If the action's that good, it probably started with DemMC, lol.
- Ah, that's what we call 'style'.
The news alone was thrilling enough, but what made those present even happier was just one person.
- The awesome game is going to be played by an awesome smurf!
- Playing DemMC with physical prowess? Who could resist, lol.
- Seriously, if Godple plays it, it's going to be unfathomable.
- Please play it quickly! I'm getting dizzy here!
- Open the dog chew! Open the dog chew! Open the dog chew!
- (So happy) I'm getting dizzy, right?
Lee Gyeongbok had already shown off gameplay in other games worthy of being called 'stylish'.
But what if he played a game deliberately branded as 'stylish action'?
Viewers simply couldn't hide their excitement.
And just like the viewers, there was someone else who couldn't conceal her trembling.
"Th-the... so, can I experience it, like, right now?"
Shin Hyerim tried her best to remain cool-headed, but her trembling voice just wouldn't settle.
She was intoxicated by a catharsis she had never felt before.
A totally unexpected scoop—something a reporter might only encounter once in her career if at all, and it was big news.
'If we could publish even a hands-on video here...!'
That would be nothing short of a life-changing opportunity.
Unfortunately, however, the staff member betrayed her expectations.
"Haha, it's still too early to release the demo build. As I mentioned earlier, the 'reveal' is world-exclusive and only for MetaGamer and Godple, but the actual 'play' will be solely entrusted to Godple."
"Oh... I see..."
Shin Hyerim showed her disappointment so openly she forgot she was on broadcast. Strangely, though, her reaction only sparked even more sympathy among the viewers.
- LOL the reporter nuna is crestfallen
- Honestly, metaGamer is just getting some scraps here~
- For real, this is already a pretty sweet deal
- The real thing everyone wants from the dog chew is only Godple!
- Hey! Who dares call it dog chew like some punk?!
- That's actually true, lol. At this level, we should call it King Chew.
- Not quite God Chew?
- Ah, lol, god is already Godple's title
- Can't argue with that, lol
The mood was lively, but Lee Gyeongbok only wore a faint smile.
Sensing the need, the staff member hurried to clarify.
"Oh! Of course, all of this is on the condition of Godple's consent."
At that, Shin Hyerim quickly turned her head. Words weren't needed; her intent was plain from her gaze.
It wasn't just her: more than 10,000 fans on-site, and over 60,000 viewers were all waiting for his answer. The mood was such that most people would find it hard to refuse.
But Lee Gyeongbok was not most people.
'There's nothing particularly holding me back with this offer.'
He calmly organized his thoughts, unshaken by the mood.
He judged that the inherent divine energy would not turn this into misfortune or disaster.
Lee Gyeongbok steadied his breath and chose his words.
"First, I'd like to express my deepest thanks to CAP COMPANY for considering me first."
He began.
The booth quieted instantly, as if no one wanted to miss a word—not just the noise, even the fans on-site held their breath.
"Bio Crisis, Bark was my first game. Not just the first I streamed, but the first virtual reality game I experienced. That makes it a very meaningful game for me."
At those words, the chat erupted.
- Wow, lol, I'm genuinely touched
- Ah, lol, that's our Bark President!
- Bark President didn't forget us!
- What? Why am I tearing up?
- A smurf that doesn't forget his roots!
- Bark-rites seeing the passing on happening, lol
- Is this a guaranteed pick or what?
It was the fans who'd been there since the beginning, who loved him for Bio Crisis, and who understood without it ever needing to be said.
"And my feelings for CAP COMPANY, the developer of that game, are the same."
"Oh...!"
The staff member brightened.
But Lee Gyeongbok's next words defied everyone's expectations.
"That's why I have to say no here."
With that one sentence, Shin Hyerim's expression turned pale, and the staff member looked worried.
The chat was flooded with question marks.
- Eh?
- He's turning this down?
- Wh-what's going on?!
- Sir! Sir, why?!
- Didn't the dog chew guys mess up the last time they gave him homework?
- Honestly, it's the Godple mind at work!
- LOL, straight from King Chew back to dog chew
Lee Gyeongbok gave a wry chuckle and waved his hand.
"No, I'm not saying I won't do it. I just want to be a little more cautious in collaborating on content."
"What do you mean...?"
"I don't stream alone. I'll need to discuss the details with my manager and editor."
At his explanation, everyone breathed out their admiration.
- Wow, lol, that's the right approach
- Now that I think about it, that totally makes sense, lol
- Any other smurf would've bowed and accepted on the spot
- Who could refuse on the spot like this?!
- For real, lol, most would have given an instant yes
- Truly a master of pressure escapes
- Is this the majesty of the Black Company's CEO?
- LOL, not anyone can be a CEO
- Respecting his staff's opinions, but why is it Black, lol
- Still, it's a Black Company, lol
His reply calmed the viewers, but their admiration only grew.
This much attention could easily become pressure. Other people might have been swept up or too afraid to miss such an opportunity and answered on the spot.
But Lee Gyeongbok was different.
- Thought he was only quick-thinking in games, but LOL
- How thick is his nerve, seriously!
- Is this the 'Perfect Nerve'?
- The nickname meme fits perfectly, lol
- Didn't ruin the mood, lifted up the dog chew rep, and showed respect for Bark-rites, lol
Even experienced streamers would have fumbled in this situation, but he declared his position cleanly.
And there wasn't a person who could say they did not understand.
- A level of professionalism you'd expect from a second-month smurf?
- Ah yes, that's 'perfection' for you
- Truly, godple is the real deal...
- ???: Behold, a world where no one is hurt.
- Cut the weird chat!
- How would Troopers know if it's weeb talk or not?
- Oh no...!
- Oh no, lol
The staff member let out a sigh of relief at his answer.
"Yes, of course! We never intended to force a decision right here. We'll make a formal contract proposal."
Naturally, a contract couldn't be signed on the spot. Nor was the developer trying to pressure Lee Gyeongbok.
"We just wanted to show how strong the company's intent is—a message to all those present and everyone who has loved our game."
What the developer wanted was to push back against 'other game companies'.
Although Lee Gyeongbok didn't know it, there were CAP COMPANY staff in the V-STAR Business Center as well.
Facing competition for Purple's casting as share fluctuated, they had pulled out their secret weapon.
"It came across loud and clear."
Lee Gyeongbok replied with a smile.
"Thank you! Now, please enjoy the teaser video we've prepared."
The staff member clapped lightly and operated the Smart Link.
With that, a short video announcing the revival of Demon Must Cry played.
* * *
The tumultuous game show tour had come to an end.
But Lee Gyeongbok and his friends had no time to rest. The three gathered for an emergency meeting.
The setting was a virtual reality studio—they couldn't waste time meeting in real life.
"We got an email right after the announcement."
Park Juho, in a heartfelt expression, started the meeting. The topic was, of course, demon Must Cry.
But before he could continue, Choi Byeonghun raised a hand to interrupt.
"Wait."
"What is it?"
"I know it's urgent, but... can you change your avatar first?"
Choi Byeonghun looked Park Juho up and down. He was still geared up in Sweeties merch.
"I just can't focus like that."
Park Juho glared at him briefly, then operated his Smart Link. Moments later, he switched to the default semi-formal suit preset.
"Ahem. Anyway, what they want is FGT."
"FGT? What's that?"
Lee Gyeongbok wrinkled his nose at the unfamiliar term.
"FGT is short for Focus Group Test. But it's a bit different from a normal FGT."
"Wait, you should explain what FGT is first before saying what's normal."
Choi Byeonghun chimed in.
"You know beta testing, right?"
"Oh, that I know."
"Think of it as a similar concept. But with a focus group—they collect data from testers that match criteria set by the developer."
"The criteria might be gender, age, or skill. I'm guessing you got picked for your skills."
Park Juho added.
With both his friends' explanations, Lee Gyeongbok nodded.
"But what's strange is that FGTs are usually private."
"If it's private, is it like a closed beta?"
"Yeah. If it's public, other groups might be influenced by what they see. But this time, they're allowing a broadcast, which is pretty unusual."
Choi Byeonghun tilted his head, puzzled. But Park Juho adjusted his Anqing and his eyes gleamed.
"I think I know why."
Both friends turned to him as he operated his Smart Link and brought up a Q-tube channel.
The hologram displayed a list of videos.
"I've only seen them in video, but you guys experienced them firsthand, so you'd remember."
He meant the Bio Crisis video list.
"They already had an issue with Bark. Difficulty balancing failure and a disconnect between gameplay and cutscenes—those were two big problems."
The developer saw Lee Gyeongbok's gameplay and patched the difficulty downward. There was also that episode where although he hadn't obtained the rocket launcher, his character held it during a cutscene.
It might have been a laugh for the viewers, but from the developer's standpoint, it was a serious matter.
"They must need to preemptively prevent such issues from happening again. And the answer was picking Gyeongbok himself."
"Oh...! You're right! Most QA testers wouldn't even be able to reproduce that!"
Choi Byeonghun's eyes widened as he agreed excitedly.
"Problems found after release are blemishes, but problems found in pre-release testing directly build trust. And with your play, plus viewer reactions, they get a sense of what the public will feel about the difficulty."
"Wow, the developer really thought this through."
"And most importantly, Gyeongbok is the optimal influencer for this game."
"Optimal? What else?"
Park Juho nodded lightly.
"DemMC is all about 'stylish action.' If it's you, you'll show them exactly what they hope for—maybe more. It's no wonder the developer is willing to risk an open declaration."
"Now that you say it, you're exactly right. This guy, really, his brainpower is something else."
Choi Byeonghun smiled broadly and nodded. Park Juho smirked and turned to Lee Gyeongbok.
"It feels nice to be rated so highly. But still, this is business. We need to check the merits first."
Even in his satisfaction, Lee Gyeongbok didn't forget to separate business from pleasure. His friends heartily agreed.
"The contract terms will be clear in a direct meeting. But, since they made a public declaration, the deal will probably be even better than expected."
"Money is money, but I don't see any reason to refuse for other reasons, either. 'World exclusive' and 'sole' content? And not from some unknown, but from CAP COMPANY's DemMC? That's the kind of opportunity money can't buy!"
His friends' words and hopeful expressions made Lee Gyeongbok smile and nod.
"That's a relief. I was going to try to persuade anybody who wanted to say no."
He'd already been leaning toward yes before the meeting was even set.
"The reaction on-site was no joke. I really wanted to try it for myself."
For a streamer, there's nothing more important than the viewers' interest, and when Lee Gyeongbok saw their expectation and excitement, he couldn't resist the urge.
"Unanimous, then. Let's schedule the meeting right away."
"Leave it to me."
"Okay! This is great, just great!"
His friends grinned, beaming at the decision.
"Hah, guess I won't be able to sleep tonight after all."
"Why? Got a lot to prep?"
"Planning to commission Madman?"
His friends responded to Choi Byeonghun's words, but he shook his head with a smile.
"No, you idiots. I mean think about the reactions."
"Reactions?"
"Yeah! The communities are already probably exploding, but what matters most is the MetaGamer article."
Choi Byeonghun couldn't hide his excitement as he spoke.
"International webzines must be tearing their hair out. They can't write their own stories since it's an exclusive, but as soon as the MetaGamer article goes up?"
There was no way such big news wouldn't spread worldwide.
"This is different from when it was Elden Soul."
Lee Gyeongbok had already made his name internationally with the Elden Soul clear and the revealing of the Dark Rune Remaster.
"Back then, those guys edited or removed names as they liked."
Back then, Purple's name was at the discretion of the various local editors; for instance, Japanese webzines simply omitted his name.
But this time was different.
"This time, they can't write their own articles—they can only cite."
The MetaGamer article, as a domestic webzine, would feature 'Demon Must Cry' and 'Purple' side by side in the headline.
"Geniuses are bound to stand out eventually."
And the foreign webzines would not be able to change even a single letter of that report.
***
**New Names, locations, skills, techniques List**