novelraw Chapter 184 : What Is OT to a Black Company? (1)
Chapter 184 : What Is OT to a Black Company? (1)
What Is OT to a Black Company? (1)
As the game launched, all five entered the lobby.
According to Genome's explanation, Lee Gyeongbok selected the Exorcist, while the other four picked the Earthbound Spirit.
- Starting off with a skin already?
- Look, he's matching Golcho's concept with that skin, lol
- Isn't that a Halloween-exclusive skin?
- Ah, is it Eclipse's first time playing Davaec?
Since it was Eclipse's first game, he used the default skin, but the other three were different.
Skullkim and Bakjapcho donned skins befitting their names—a skeleton and a straw scarecrow, respectively.
- Genome, lol, crossing the line right away
- It's the first round and he already picks Black Reaper, what's this, lol
- ???: Black Reaper? Didn't buy the shield reaper?
- Seriously, lol, where is that joke from?
- Just get out, please
The skin Genome chose had a different meaning from the other two.
- Pulling out an old-school skin already
- If he hides in the shadows with that one, you really can't see him
- 5252, is it getting dirty right from the start!
Donning a black robe, it wasn't just a cosmetic change—it had practical use. That meant it was hard to see this skin as a means for socializing.
"What do you mean, disgraceful? Did you all forget who the Exorcist is right now?"
Genome protested indignantly.
"You think our boss will be bad at Davaec just because it's his first time? You've got to use any means necessary if you want to survive!"
- LOL, that's true
- ... He's making sense!
- If it's Godple, he'll spot you in the shadows instantly, lol
- He still can't escape from 'Perfect-Eye', lol
The viewers agreed with Genome right away.
If only he hadn't added one more line, the mood might have stayed the same.
"And for the team to win, at least one person has to survive. So I, at least, need to live."
- ?
- One person (Not meaning someone else)
- Truly, you can't fight your nature
- LOL, he really knows how to get under your skin
- If it's Genome, he'd immediately offer up another Earthbound Spirit as a sacrifice, lol
- But you said it was for socializing! For socializing!
- Turns out everyone was just out for themselves, lol
- The rehearsal of Black Company atmosphere is perfect, lol
Lee Gyeongbok laughed at that and added,
"Being thorough with work prep is basic. That's a great attitude."
Question marks filled the chat.
They wondered if Lee Gyeongbok was praising Genome.
"If you keep preparing like that from now on, it would be great. Of course, *by yourself*, I mean."
The added note sent laughter exploding in the chat.
- 5252! Do the staff have to pay for work prep with their own cash?
- Capitalism surge ON!
- Black Company quirk: no gas money for personal cars
- LOL, the company car is for the CEO's family, I'm telling you!
- Work prep is at your own expense, that's common sense at a Black Company, right?
- What's this Black Company common sense now, lol
- Keeping to the concept, right? Right?
Smiling at the chat's response, Lee Gyeongbok opened the Exorcist list. There were many characters, but most were shrouded in a deep ashen gray.
"Ah, I have to buy characters for this?"
As soon as he selected one, the purchase window popped up.
- They're all DLC, lol
- Im.me.di.ate.purchase
- LOL, boss, you have to prep for work, right?
- Hurry, pay out of your own pocket, lol
- The IOU move comes out right away, huh?
Viewers jumped at the chance to urge him to buy, intent on teasing him for his earlier words.
But Lee Gyeongbok simply picked the default character, "Occult Scholar," and said,
"If you have enough basic job skills, you don't have to spend extra money."
- Time for some Purple confidence!
- Now that you mention it, he's right. Logically, you can't argue.
- When Godple says it, you can't say anything.
- Really, lol, if someone else said that, I'd just curse them out
- Black Company quirk: the boss never uses his own money
- LOL, only veterans use the default character!
Now that Lee Gyeongbok had finished selecting, it was time to start the game.
That's what viewers thought, but Lee Gyeongbok had prepared one more thing.
"All right. Now, we'll begin the orientation, but could the shareholders please help motivate our staff?"
With those words, a new screen appeared.
[Winner of the first orientation?]
[1. Exorcist]
[2. Earthbound Spirit]
[(Private vote – Betting results revealed after the game ends)]
A point betting poll had begun.
Viewer reactions were immediate.
- LOL, can't pass up a bet!
- Isn't this obviously Godple's win?
- There's even a debate about this?
- Only a fool wouldn't bet it all on Purple, lol
- You're telling me points can multiply!
- Nope, it's his first time as Godple, so the first round is always a wild card
- Genome's a veteran and Golcho's pretty good too, lol
- Are they just raising the odds for the favorites?
- Oh? Are you a genius?
- Shh! Keep quiet!
- Earthbound Spirit has a real shot to win^^
- Is this that "reading room" betting group?
- Reading room, lMFAO, you nuts, lol
- ???: Good news coming! Buy Earthbound Spirits now!
- It's an all-out Machiavellian Black Company shareholder chat, lol
While the chat went wild, Genome took a step forward.
"Please believe in us! With the shareholders' support, getting off work on time is no longer just a dream!"
The mood in the chat changed instantly.
- Off work on time? LOL, not a chance!
- A request from Genome? Absolutely not, lol
- ???: Ah, that's support! Support!
- Gave you my support^^
- Hyung? The only support you deserve is GG!
At the viewers' teasing, skullkim and Bakjapcho, who were standing by, spoke up.
"I don't think the Black Company shareholders want us off early. Isn't that right, supervisor?"
"Kind of feels like you're just stirring things up. Deputy Eclipse, does this seem right to you?"
Given the chance to speak, the usually quiet Eclipse finally opened his mouth.
"I have no intention of resting until I fulfill my lord's orders. Back in my day, I even saved precious sleep time rather than resting..."
The viewers burst into even greater laughter at this.
- No way, lol, Eclipse is such a boomer
- ???: Hey, believe it or not, it's better these days
- But people like that really do exist, lol
- He's already been totally marinated in Black Company culture, lol
- Black Company quirk: loyalists to the CEO have the highest ranks
- Corporate atmosphere is smothering, right?
- This commitment to the concept, lol
Meanwhile, the vote ended.
With that, Lee Gyeongbok clapped to refocus everyone's attention.
"All right, now that the shareholders have decided, let's proceed with orientation!"
At game start, the background changed and the intro began.
Under a dark night filled with storm clouds sat a grand mansion, where the Earthbound Spirits, each enjoying their rest, came into view.
Suddenly, a flash outside the mansion, and a huge dome-shaped barrier enveloped it.
Then, the once semi-transparent forms of the Earthbound Spirits began to take on substance. Alarmed, they looked outside to see an Occult Scholar holding a scroll and a ritual dagger, peering up at the mansion with a twisted grin.
- Haven't seen the intro in forever!
- Landlord excited for redevelopment.jpg
- LOL, hurry and move out already
- I used to pity the Earthbound Spirits, but not anymore
- After getting tea-bagged by an Exorcist a few times, you can't feel sympathy, lol
- For real, there's a reason they haven't crossed over
The intro was designed to explain the game's background to new players.
Viewers reminisced as they watched the intro again.
[Objective]
[Earthbound Spirit – Destroy 5 'barriers' and escape]
[Exorcist – Capture Earthbound Spirits in the 'sealing array' before time runs out]
A system message appeared for Lee Gyeongbok, explaining each team's goals.
- Wow, lol, haven't seen this in ages
- Guess it really is Godple's first time
- Still saying he's going to win!
- Favorites always win!
Encouraged by the viewers, Lee Gyeongbok tried moving his character.
"Huh? This dagger doesn't drop?"
Interestingly, the ritual dagger in his right hand was fixed, restricting his attack direction.
- Ooh! The genuine reactions of a newbie!
- All Exorcists are like that, lol
- Think of attacking with your right hand and using your left for special abilities
- The backseating from Exorcist mains is coming in hot, lol
- Doesn't know the rules for forbidden hands?
- Ah, godple will figure it out, trust me!
Lee Gyeongbok immediately checked the scroll at his waist with his left hand.
[Temporary Barrier Scroll]
[Installs a barrier that temporarily seals the movement of Earthbound Spirits.]
A system message floated above the scroll, explaining the Occult Scholar's special ability.
He understood how to play right away.
"Aha, set a trap and catch them when they're forced in?"
- Yes! Correct!
- Wait, lol, did you pick without even checking your ability?
- That's real Purple confidence!
- He'll win no matter which one he picks!
- Placing traps near the barrier is basic strategy
- Exorcist mains always showing off their knowledge~
- The manager is sharpening his sword!
For Earthbound Spirits to escape, they had to approach the barrier, so it was standard to set traps nearby and ambush them.
Lee Gyeongbok looked around.
'Oh, this is interesting.'
Although his vision otherwise seemed normal, the locations of the barriers he needed to protect as Exorcist shone through obstacles.
Thanks to this, he could instantly move in if the Earthbound Spirits began to dismantle.
But Lee Gyeongbok didn't need to rely on just that.
'For me, this isn't really hide and seek...'
The divine energy that manifested upon entering the game was already feeding him information.
'It's going to be more like tag.'
The layout of the mansion and the scattered locations of the Earthbound Spirits were all vividly mapped in his mind.
There was no one who could hide from him here.
"Well, since I'm done getting my bearings."
He smiled faintly.
"Shall we go and meet our employees in earnest?"
* * *
There was no real need for Earthbound Spirits to stick together.
To escape faster, it was best to dismantle barriers simultaneously, which also helped throw the Exorcist into confusion.
So, Eclipse and Genome headed for nearby barriers as soon as the game started.
"Seems safe here."
"Still, be careful. The opponent is the boss."
But the Golcho combo, skullkim and Bakjapcho, chose to move together.
The two proceeded down the hall, visibly tense.
"If we can't hear anything, he must've gone somewhere else?"
For Earthbound Spirit players, the most important tactic was so-called 'sound play'—tracking by ear.
Unlike ghostly Earthbound Spirits, the Exorcist's footsteps could be heard when moving.
"I guess. And since it's his first time, he won't know the map well."
Bakjapcho nodded.
Exorcists could see where barriers were, but not the routes to reach them.
Wandering a bit at first was only natural.
Amid the silence, the two arrived at their destination, a barrier room.
"You disable it. I'll keep watch."
Skullkim glanced around and whispered. Division of labor—that was why they chose to stick together.
Skullkim, skilled as an AD Carry, had great visual acuity and volunteered for lookout duty.
"If someone shows up, I'll yell right away, so hide in the shelter."
"Got it."
Bakjapcho carefully opened the door and looked inside. Amidst the antique furniture, a glowing barrier stood out.
Approaching it, he jerked and called out.
"Gol! There's a temporary barrier here!"
A trap was set around the barrier.
"What?"
"Do you see the boss anywhere?"
Startled, skullkim braced himself, but there were no footsteps and no hint of movement in any corridor.
"Nope, nothing!"
"So what's going on?"
"Maybe he came by first, set it, and left?"
Skullkim peeked into the room. Bakjapcho hesitated, then nodded.
"Must be. Definitely a newbie move, placing it somewhere so obvious."
"Then hurry and dismantle it!"
"Yeah, I was about to!"
At Skullkim's urging, bakjapcho grumbled as he disabled the temporary barrier. Meanwhile, skullkim stepped back into the corridor to stand guard.
'Okay, that's one down. Maybe we should just stick together and keep doing this?'
But the tension was already easing—a dangerous thing, as they figured Lee Gyeongbok had already passed through.
That's when the floor creaked.
'What was that?'
Suddenly alert, skullkim scanned for the source, his skull spinning like a radar.
'This way? No...slightly off?'
Then, tap, tap—footsteps drew closer. Skullkim whipped his head in every direction, then his jaw dropped.
The sound was coming from—
'Inside the room!'
Bakjapcho's room, of all places. But why wasn't he signaling?
He held his breath and pushed the door, peering through a gap.
'What the...?!'
Bakjapcho, the scarecrow, was trapped in a translucent cylinder, banging frantically on its walls.
It was incomprehensible.
Bakjapcho should have removed the temporary barrier right away.
'The position's changed!'
Realization struck Skullkim. The squeaky noise, the swapped trap location, and above all, the direction Bakjapcho's hand was pointing.
'It was here from the start!'
Lee Gyeongbok had never left.
"What a perfect setup...!"
He turned to run, but before he could—the door burst open and a dagger flew at him.
"Ugh!"
With a brief scream, skullkim collapsed. On the floor, the faint remnants of the Earthbound Spirit, "ectoplasm," spread out.
"It's so nice to see interns mingling well."
Flicking ectoplasm from his dagger, Lee Gyeongbok smiled.
"But isn't it more efficient to do work separately?"
- Speaking sweetly, but he's a Black Company boss
- LOL, do your work alone, each of you!
- Can't stand wasted manpower!
- In a Black Company, even tasks for three are dumped on one person, that's just how it is
The audience, who was laughing at Lee Gyeongbok's remarks, quickly grew impressed.
- How did he get a double kill on the first round?
- Wow, lol, a perfect set-up trap!
- I was wondering why he put it somewhere so obvious, turns out it was a decoy
- For real, just to make them let their guard down
- Bakjapcho didn't even notice as he was captured while disabling the barrier
- The best move is that if he'd gone for Bakjapcho first, skullkim would've run!
- Why are you hiding in the spot made for Earthbound Spirits to hide? LOL
- Insane call, insane result, lol
The audience enjoyed reviewing Lee Gyeongbok's gameplay.
- Is it really his first try?
- Amazingly, it's the real deal
- (Kemalcon)(Kemalcon)(Kemalcon)
- LOL, time for the underdogs to wake up?
- Betting should always be based on scientific data
- Science?
- Don't you know the Uhwooper inside the Uhwooper, lol
- In the end, Purple always wins, that's just the basics
- Is this that "basic science is important" thing?
― Basic science,"
LOL
The satisfied crowd had placed their bets on Lee Gyeongbok's victory.