Genius’s Godlike Game Broadcast

Chapter 152 : Money Reigns Supreme, Caution (1)

Money Reigns Supreme, Caution (1)

Late afternoon, Choi Byeonghun's officetel.

At a time when most office workers would be exhausted and awaiting the end of work, Choi Byeonghun, whose active hours were different, was actually at his most energetic.

"So, how did it go?"

Unlike him, the two friends who had come to visit had slightly tired expressions.

Lee Gyeongbok and Park Juho had met with Yang Gyuri for a simple lunch and then went directly to meet a patent attorney for a consultation.

"It's a bit ambiguous."

"Ambiguous? What do you mean?"

At Park Juho's answer, Choi Byeonghun frowned. Lee Gyeongbok, sitting beside him, shrugged his shoulders.

"But it was still helpful, wasn't it?"

"So what is it, which one is it?"

Only hearing the gist of the meeting, Choi Byeonghun couldn't suppress his curiosity.

Park Juho adjusted his glasses and let out a short sigh.

"Just like I said. It was helpful. We heard about cases similar to ours, and got advice accordingly. And it was free, too."

"Really? Then why do you look like that?"

Choi Byeonghun scrunched up his nose. Lee Gyeongbok took over answering.

"The problem was, there were too many different cases."

"Eh? If there's variety, isn't it good because you have more references?"

"No, that only works if there's a really relevant case group. But this time, the spectrum was too wide."

Park Juho let out a short sigh.

"Abroad, even if they're not voice actors, actors sometimes do their own acting. In any case, there are all sorts of types among Influencers."

"So we asked to see only streamer cases."

"And only ones that were as comparable as possible. But even when we limited it like that, the game side was still very diverse. Depending on genre, narration can be really important."

Depending on the game genre, consumer base, and company size, contract conditions varied enormously.

"But still, if you searched, there must have been some similar examples, right?"

"Of course we did that, you punk. But this time, the share ratio changed depending on the price of the voice pack."

Lee Gyeongbok let out a stifled laugh as he answered.

"When we sorted it, the royalty share was set somewhere between a minimum of 0.5% and a maximum of 10%."

"Ugh, it was so complicated I gave up listening. Thankfully, the patent attorney was trustworthy."

"Yes, he really was a good person. We booked an appointment in a rush, but he was pretty kind."

At those words, Choi Byeonghun smiled.

"That's exactly what a human detector is for. Isn't that the most important thing?"

"This guy with his detector jokes again."

"Should I call him a human scanner, then?"

As the two friends exchanged meaningless banter, Park Juho cut in.

"Anyway, to sum up, we decided to consider possible cases based on the price standard the company proposes for the voice pack."

"With reference materials for our decisions, we have a baseline. That's enough preparation, don't you think?"

"Yes, this is probably the best we can do."

Lee Gyeongbok silently agreed with Park Juho's answer.

'If something feels off, I'll know.'

He trusted in his divine energy.

But this time, rather than waiting for its judgment, he suggested a direction himself. He thought things could tip towards the ominous, but if they did, he'd just step back then.

Fortunately, the divine energy remained calm.

"Still, I realized there's a lot we need to supplement from this experience."

As he was thinking that, Park Juho spoke up in a serious tone.

"Supplement?"

"We found our weakness. Especially in legal matters, we're vulnerable."

Lee Gyeongbok echoed his words, but unlike Park Juho, he wasn't particularly worried.

"Hey, don't sweat it. Thanks to Genome hyung's introduction, we've got a tax accountant, and now a patent attorney as well, right? We can keep expanding our network like this."

A smile formed on his lips.

It was all the more enjoyable because of the situation.

"I mean, we never could've imagined this a month ago. Don't you feel our business getting bigger and bigger?"

At his question, not only Choi Byeonghun but even the previously stiff-faced Park Juho smiled as well.

"Hey, better than that, the income growth is way more direct. I feel it every time I look at the channel's earnings dashboard!"

"It really is fun. Not just the money, but compared to the days when we suffered so others could profit, this is heaven."

Lee Gyeongbok's smile became even wider at his friends' answers.

"That's why we should focus on what we're good at."

Not someone else's business—our business.

Which made it even more worthy of their full effort.

"It's time to start the broadcast."

* * *

Demon Must Cry demo stream, day 5.

"Trha! Welcome!"

With a single greeting from Lee Gyeongbok, the ten thousand or so waiting viewers reacted all at once.

-(Perha-con)(Perha-con)(Perha-con)

― Purple withdrawal refill ON!

― Was it just me whose body started leaking and tears trembled from waiting?

― What is this Purple withdrawal symptom, lol

― What's Gemchewing doing right now! Add a 12-hour stream to your homework conditions!

― Why is a day so long?

― It's because the rotation speed is slow, lol

― Oh lol it's because the earth is slacking off!

― Honestly, if the earth watched Godple's stream, it'd be spinning at full power

-lol triple axel right away

― Wow, Purple viewers dropping Purple jokes as soon as we start, lol

― Astronomers in tears, lol

Amidst the surging chat messages, Lee Gyeongbok smiled.

['Addiction Management Support Center' has donated '50,000' won.]

[If Purple channel doesn't cure your Purple withdrawal, you're in 'Purple paralysis' critical stage]

['MembershipTry-it-outReview' has donated '10,000' won.]

[Hyung! Listening to it dubbed by foreigners, I actually understood even less, so Durante felt even more like Durante!]

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

[Did you see that tweet with the console-version cult and Andro relationship translation meme?]

Donations soon started pouring in as well. Lee Gyeongbok gave a light bow of thanks.

"Thank you so much for the support. If watching Purple channel doesn't restore your Purple withdrawal, isn't the answer to just watch more?"

― No! Please extend broadcast time!

― Lol, just increase the view count!

-5252, the opponent is just pure capitalism, right?

Since it was just after the stream had started, Lee Gyeongbok continued answering the support messages lightly.

"I watched the dubbed video myself, and I couldn't understand a word. As for Tweety, I don't do SNS, so I don't know well. And as I said, my condition was to play without prior information."

― Even watched the dubs, lol

― That's a real fan

― But listening to something you don't actually understand does make it sound cooler, lol

― Why don't you just do SNS, godple? Isn't that another way to refill Purple withdrawal?

― Now that I think about it, that's true, lol

― Even smurfs who don't reveal their face usually use SNS, don't they?

― Open.one.now.

― Tweety or Stellagram, please!

― You don't have to show your face, just post your daily life!

― No way, dMs will just attract weirdos

― Crazies can track location from just a photo, you know!?

― Oh lol, godple knows what he's doing!

With the talk veering to SNS after Tweety was mentioned, Lee Gyeongbok quickly shifted the attention since this was an ad, not just any stream.

"Then today, to play more as everyone wants, I'll close support right now. I'll just get through the donations that have piled up, then we'll start."

― A smurf who closes donations for the stream!?

― Don't fall for it! That's Purple withdrawal amount trap!

-lol, I bet the supporter queue is at its limit anyway

― Wait, there's a supporter queue?

― Queue... squeak squeak... urgh! My head...!

― Well, placebo effect ruined because of you guys!

-???: That's why I don't like sharp-witted guys!

― Seriously, lol, if I hadn't seen that chat, it would've felt like more time

― Placebo, lol

In the merry mood, Lee Gyeongbok quickly read through the donations. Thus, the long-awaited moment arrived.

"Okay, let's get back to the demo!"

With the game logo fading in, the background transformed.

"Looks like they're not revealing the connection between Andro and Beatrice."

The cutscene began with a shot of Durante opening the gates of hell.

― No way! How could you do this!

― Gemchewing folks seriously have a talent for getting on your nerves, lol

― That only means the hint is that important

― Ending like that yesterday and doing this today, really?

― Our Saint's eyes are kind! Anyway, they're kind!

While viewers clamored, Lee Gyeongbok smiled. But soon their reactions vanished.

That was due to the scenery revealed as Durante opened the door and emerged.

"Wow."

Even Lee Gyeongbok uttered an admiring exclamation.

Before his eyes spread a vast land, mountains, hills, and peaks—all made of glittering gold and jewels.

The rivers and streams flowing between were filled not with water, but with sweet honey and fragrant liquor.

It was a scene impossible to believe as hell.

― Capitalism ON!

-lol, the concept is crystal clear

― If it's the realm of Greed, you need at least this much

― They even added all sorts of jewels, and the color scheme is vibrant

― Rubies, emeralds, sapphires, is that topaz?

― The art team is working so hard, lol

― At this point, isn't this heaven, not hell?

― The Eden I was looking for, I found it here^^

― The Trooper corruption speed is wild, lol

Unlike the viewers' reactions, durante remained cold. He quickly scanned the area and fixed his gaze on one spot.

"That guy's got a real need to show off."

With his voice, the camera followed his gaze. On screen appeared a castle shining with brilliant golden light.

― So straightforward, lol

― Obvious that's where the domain lord of Greed is, lol

― Honestly, if they made players wander around like in the console version, it'd be infuriating, lol

-lol, but this is fair—they put it right where you can see

The viewers instinctively sensed that would be Durante's destination. As expected, durante began moving in that direction.

He hadn't gotten far when—

'An enemy?'

Lee Gyeongbok's intuition detected a sticky, unpleasant sensation.

Soon the mound in that direction began to tremble. The vibration caused the jewels to ripple like waves.

"Huh?"

Durante easily leaped over the surging jewels, evading them.

― What's this, a landslide?

― What's hell maintenance doing! No falling rock warning?

― Lol, jewels are technically rocks

― Where does hell maintenance even exist, lol

― Jewels pouring in like that are honestly scarier, eeek

― Oh? Something's coming out?

As he landed, the reason for the mound's collapse became clear.

A lump of gold hidden beneath the jewels melted like liquid, then formed into the figure of a plump human.

"Durante!"

It howled ominously, looking around. Anyone could see its hostility.

Durante's eyes thinned. He immediately aimed his pistol at the golden human and pulled the trigger.

Gunshots rang out—the bullets struck the golden human's body.

― The real man: answers with bullets, not words

― No, that's not what being a real man is about!

― Only devils here anyway, so he shoots first, lol

― Why is gold so tough?

With a metallic clang, the golden human remained intact. Durante clicked his tongue and holstered his pistol.

Then, just as he drew his greatsword and prepared to charge—

"What are you? Where is Durante?!"

The golden human's words drew Everyone's attention.

Both Durante and the viewers, along with Lee Gyeongbok, had question marks popping up above their heads.

― Eh?

― Looking for Durante in front of Durante, lol

― Must be the angry type, whoever it is

― What a nuisance, lol

― That's how you know it's a devil (nods)

The viewers were dumbfounded, and so was Durante.

"I doubt there's a brain in that head."

He scoffed, drawing his greatsword.

"Insolence! Do you know who I am?"

Durante's reply seemed to further inflame him.

"I am the master of gold, the king of treasure! My name is none other than the splendid Midas!"

The golden human, midas, shouted as he extended his hand.

"All who set foot in my domain shall become my belongings! Come forth, gem minion!"

With that cry, the surrounding treasures shook and rose. Hidden underneath, grotesque beings whose bodies were consumed by jewels emerged.

― If it's Midas, is it THAT Midas' hand?

― Yeah, that seems to be the motif

― Lol, why is the devil called Gem minion?

― Why are they "gemminis," lol

― Gem minion isn't a bad name, but damn, lol

― Lol, time to teach Gem minions a lesson?

In Korea, the name had a slightly(?) different meaning, but to everyone else, they were simply devils with that name.

While the chat burst with laughter, the Gem minions quickly surrounded Durante. Midas, feeling triumphant, raised his voice.

"Where is Durante? If you tell me honestly, I'll change you into the most valuable treasure among these!"

"Why is he looking for Durante?"

Even surrounded by devils, durante wore a bored expression.

"Revenge, of course! Every devil in hell desires it!"

"Ha, revenge without even knowing your target?"

"What?"

"I don't really remember, but looking at you, I must have made a mistake. My apologies."

The chat was filled with question marks—Durante, apologizing?

But then, durante twisted his lips at Midas.

"This time, I'll erase you without mistake."

― Lol

― Right, leaving a guy like that alive is the mistake

― Durante's dirty talk is on point

― Once Perante comes through, it's over, right?

― Didn't expect to meet the boss this quickly!

Viewers expected battle to begin right away. But the cutscene wasn't over yet.

Midas stared dazedly at Durante, then broke into mad laughter.

"Durante? So you're calling yourself Durante?"

At that, durante frowned.

"A waste of time. I was sure I felt Durante's soul..."

After finishing his words, midas melted back into liquid and vanished. Durante tried to pursue, but Gem minions blocked his way.

"Oh? That seems like a hint."

At Lee Gyeongbok's words, the viewers immediately agreed.

― Yeah, there's definitely something going on

― Durante's not actually Durante?

― What the heck is this supposed to mean!?

― Cannot wrap my head around this story

― So what now, what now!

― Should be revealed if you catch Midas, right?

― Hyung! Please take out the Gem minions!

With the cutscene over, control returned. Lee Gyeongbok gripped the greatsword and looked at the Gem minions.

Without hesitation, the new form moved.

The Gem minion struck by his attack clanged off the floor with a metallic sound.

― That hit feels so satisfying

― Is this a batting center? lol

-lol, that metallic sound is crisp

― Isn't this a home run?

The viewers showed their satisfaction, but Lee Gyeongbok was different.

"These guys, they're built for pure defense."

The Gem minion he hit stood right back up. Surprisingly, the jewel covering its body hadn't even chipped.

― What's up with the mob defense?

― No damage at all?

― The pistol won't work either then?

― So what are we supposed to do!?

― Isn't it better to escape than fight?

― Let's at least try neutralizing them with queue cubes!

Many suggestions filled the chat. Among them was one Lee Gyeongbok was about to try.

"I don't think there's any need to run."

He swung his greatsword at the Gem minions charging at him.

But the motion was more like swinging a baseball bat than swordsmanship.

A series of crisp metallic smacks rang out.

― Wow, the hit sound is insane

― This could be spun off as a separate mini-game

― Seriously, this would be great for stress relief

― Q-tubers will make a segment out of just this for sure, lol

As viewers enjoyed themselves, Lee Gyeongbok grabbed the last charging Gem minion.

He activated the absorbed ability as a keyword.

"This one's passive, too."

The surface of his gauntlet shifted, taking on a pattern resembling the Gem minion's jewel-covered body.

― Oh? Is that a defense boost?

― No but what are you going to do with a defense boost now!?

― But the greatsword doesn't change?

― So, what, do you have to block attacks with just the gauntlet?

But unlike before, it wasn't an element buff, so other equipment remained unchanged.

Viewers wondered about its use, but Lee Gyeongbok immediately saw how to apply it.

"Oh, I see."

He sheathed his greatsword.

The chat began filling with question marks, but soon enough, they figured out his intent.

He assumed a boxing stance.

A Gem minion lunged at him again. Nimbly stepping aside, Lee Gyeongbok dodged and launched a straight directly at the obvious opening.

This time, instead of metallic clang, a clear cracking sound echoed.

― Dang! That's it!

― This punch feels great, too

― Is this a stress-relief stage?

― Can't wait to bonk some gemminis~

― We're talking about the Gem minions, right?

Gem fragments burst off as its head was partially shattered.

But Lee Gyeongbok spoke with some dissatisfaction.

"So you have to finish them like this, huh..."

Even damaged, the Gem minion didn't fall.

"For first-time players, this works, but I'll try something different."

It wasn't his style.

"Absorb and attack, repeating it—it'd get boring."

― Eh?

― You think it's boring?

― Lol, from Godple's eyes, sure, it'd be boring

-lol, if it were us, we'd be Elden fan-ing hard, all tense

― Are there smurfs who find this not fun because they're too good!?

― But there's no other way, is there?

Hand-to-hand combat with no weapon, just grappling. For normal players, it would be thrilling and satisfying, but Lee Gyeongbok was different.

"I'll move past this part quickly."

If he wasn't having fun, neither would his viewers. That was the fundamental principle of his streams.

He thought of the queue cube keyword.

But what he activated wasn't the Gem minion's power.

-????

― A whip?

― They're made of jewel, so they can't get stunned, can they?

― Just planning to get out?

― There aren't even lampposts here to swing from

As a surge of question marks filled the chat, Lee Gyeongbok smiled faintly.

He swung the whip, capturing a Gem minion.

"If you can hurt them with the same material, you should use a big one."

With those words, he twisted his waist deeply. The captured Gem minion, swung with great force, drew a massive arc.

In that path stood other Gem minions charging at Lee Gyeongbok.

Upon impact, a chain of cracking sounds rang out.

-lol, insane

-lol, why bother taking them down one at a time

― Smacking one gemmini with another, what is this?

-lol, this is the only way

― Is this "Gem with Gem" or what?

― Hot damn! Feels so refreshing!

As the Gem minion used as a weapon broke apart, it defeated all the rest in an instant.

"Ah, it broke..."

Unfortunately, just one wasn't enough for the rest.

-lol, broke it

― Not even devils can avoid being used as tools by him!?

-devil (consumable item)

― Classic Black Company attitude, right here

-5252! When even devils fall into a Black Company, they're ground down at once!

Viewers pressed the joke, but Lee Gyeongbok was already experienced with this.

"It's fine. I'll just grab another."

― He's really running with it!?

― Eek! Devil, please leave our hell!

-lol, devils being kicked out of hell?

-???: Such infinite human evil...!

― At this rate, even Satan would start a union, lol

― Please, stick to the devil labor code!

He could only enjoy such chat.