Genius’s Godlike Game Broadcast

Chapter 187 : What Is OT to a Black Company? (4)

What Is OT to a Black Company? (4)

Skullkim and Bakjapcho clapped loudly and raised their voices.

"As expected of the boss!"

"Wow, even settled karma perfectly."

Not only had Bakjapcho been rescued, but Genome had even been avenged(?) in the process. Eclipse nodded in agreement and added,

"It's all thanks to our lord's wisdom. Now there are only three barriers left."

But was that all?

In the process, they had released another barrier.

"Alright then. Let's split up again and clear the remaining barriers. Three is just right."

At Lee Gyeongbok's command, all three scattered instantly. He, too, headed for a barrier room.

― Frankly, the game's already over lolol

― It was over once those four blinding flashes hit lol

― For real, Genome lost even if he won lol

― All the Jiangshi satisfaction meters are maxed out, that's what I'm saying lol

― Seriously, just look at Golcho's reactions—too funny lol

― Ah! So jealous!

Lee Gyeongbok laughed at the chat's reactions, then suddenly cocked his head.

'But what's Hyung up to?'

He sensed via divine energy that Genome's movements were odd. He was hurrying around quite a bit, but not toward the barriers.

'Did he throw the game? No, his mentality isn't that weak.'

A normal person hit by four consecutive "blinding flashes" would get angry or lose motivation and give up. But Genome was a born streamer.

He might exaggerate his frustration or act dispirited for entertainment, but he'd never just give up.

'Does he have another trick up his sleeve?'

As experienced as he was, Genome might have some unique strategy. But there was no real reason to interfere with that.

Lee Gyeongbok let himself smile faintly.

'That'll just make this even more fun.'

While Lee Gyeongbok was pondering Genome's intentions, he finished releasing another barrier.

― Wow lol that was instant!

― Even the gauge is at zero to a hundred, huh!

― Seriously, how does that gauge fill so fast, it's like an Autobahn

― Superhuman reflexes, that's crazy

Viewers were once again in awe.

If they knew Lee Gyeongbok had been daydreaming the whole time, they would've been even more amazed.

"Well then, shall we check on how our employees are doing?"

On the way to the barrier room where Skullkim and Bakjapcho were, another barrier was released.

"Looks like Deputy Ecl finished as well."

Unexpectedly, Eclipse—on only his first day playing—had finished faster than the other two.

― Wait;;; why is he faster than Golcho!?

― That's why smoke breaks slow you down!

― That's not that Golcho lol

― Guess they've picked up some know-how now?

― For real, ecl's got the physical skills, so as soon as he gets used to it, he'll be great

― There's a reason he's a higher-up!

Viewers didn't find it strange. Lee Gyeongbok was just too overwhelmingly good; the others were no slouches themselves.

"My lord!"

"Thank you for your hard work."

Before long, Lee Gyeongbok and Eclipse reunited. Eclipse had also come looking for the remaining barriers.

"Oh! Boss!"

Skullkim, who was acting as a lookout, spotted the two and brightened. Soon after, he scratched the back of his head with a sheepish grin.

"How are you all so fast?"

"Are there still many left?"

"Yes... still quite a few..."

Skullkim gave an awkward smile and opened the door. Bakjapcho, who'd been diligently disabling a barrier, quickly withdrew his hand and checked the surroundings.

"Huh? You're here already!?"

He was surprised to see all three of them looking at him.

"Now that the both of you have joined, only escape is left."

Skullkim spoke, reassured.

With Lee Gyeongbok and Eclipse pitching in, the barrier release speed would only increase.

But Bakjapcho had a slightly different thought.

"Boss! Could you teach us some of your work know-how? I want to learn how you do it so quickly!"

At his question, viewers chuckled.

― The intern's already after trade secrets?

― An industry spy! Catch him!

― No, it's fine, those secret have already been revealed anyway

― What has been revealed?

― Know-how = Godple himself

― LOL, how you gonna learn pure physical skills

― The answer is to reincarnate!

Everyone assumed Lee Gyeongbok's secret lay in his physical prowess.

But his answer surprised them.

"It's not anything grand enough to be called a know-how, but I do have a tip."

Question marks lit up in the chat, and all three paid attention.

"Oh!? I want to see too! Hey, you stand lookout this time."

"Why me? I was the one who asked."

Skullkim wanted Bakjapcho to take his place, but Bakjapcho shot it right back. The chat erupted at the exchange.

-lol is this the breakdown of the Golcho combination

-lol no one can resist Godple's secrets!

― Betrayal is rampant in the Black Company

― This is why I never work out of loyalty lol

― Come on, just play along with the joke, the guy's desperate lol

Lee Gyeongbok raised his hand to bring their attention back.

"It's a really simple tip, so it'll be over quickly."

With that, all three gathered around the magic array. Lee Gyeongbok calmly began to explain.

"Basically, you don't have to worry about blinding flashes."

At that, question marks seemed to appear above everyone's heads.

"In virtual reality, you're not actually damaging your eyes or having any negative effects. Turning your eyes away or squinting at bright light is just a habitual reaction. As long as you open your eyes consciously, you'll be fine."

― Oh?

― I guess that's true, lol

― But is it that easy!?

― Is he telling us to trick ourselves?

― To complete deceit by even fooling oneself!

― This is truly the Deceit within Deceit, Purple confidence!

Lee Gyeongbok chuckled at chat's reaction before continuing.

"That's the basics. Once you're doing that, there's actually a way to predict where the cracks will appear in advance."

As he said that, he demonstrated himself. The gauge quickly soared past the halfway point.

As the light intensified, the three flinched, but soon remembered Lee Gyeongbok's words and kept their eyes on the target.

"Oh?"

"It really works?"

"As expected of our lord!"

They exclaimed, feeling the effects. Lee Gyeongbok nodded and accelerated.

"See?"

At about 70% on the gauge, he pulled his hand away and asked,

― Huh?

― See what?

― Even if I grit my teeth, it's still too bright to look at, how do you do it?

― Lol you Troopers can't do that

― We're watching with our eyes IRL!

― Huh?

― Oh, exbong, you poor thing lol

The puzzled looks made Lee Gyeongbok choose his next words carefully.

"What you should focus on isn't the cracks in the magic array, but the light itself."

"Huh?"

"The light?"

"Light, light..."

The chat, as well as the trio, were still confused.

"You see, before a crack forms, the light splits in that shape first. If you react to where the light splits, rather than waiting to see the crack and then moving your hand, you can act much faster."

"You can see that?"

"No way... is that possible?"

― Wait, you want us to follow the light?

― How much visual acuity and reaction speed does that take lol

― Just react at light speed lol

― Light: What the—why are you following me!?

― Even the light is shocked, lol

It felt impossible to most, but suddenly, Eclipse stepped forward.

"I will give it a try."

As Eclipse volunteered, Lee Gyeongbok gladly stepped aside.

Skullkim and Bakjapcho, as well as the chat, were skeptical. Was it really possible to do it?

"Oh?"

"Whoa!"

But then, as Eclipse moved his hands, everyone gasped.

He wasn't quite at Lee Gyeongbok's level, but his moves were distinctly faster.

― He's really doing it?

― Wow, ecl's physical skills are seriously impressive lol

― Look at Godple's proud face lol

― Finding the prodigy grad student.gif

― Eclipse, have you decided your career after graduation?"

― Professor remembering your name? Time to run!

But the glow soon faded.

As the speed picked up, he eventually made a mistake.

"Close...!"

"Oh, that was so good though..."

Skullkim and Bakjapcho, mesmerized, sympathized as if it was their own experience.

"For a first try, you did really well. As expected of Deputy."

Lee Gyeongbok clapped and smiled, and viewers playfully groaned.

― No matter how you look at it that's incredible, but to Godple it's just 'well done' lol

― Another natural instance of Purple confidence!

― But it's your first time too!

― First run (all-combo)

― Professor! I'll just zigzag, thanks!

― If even Ecl can't do it, what hope do I have?

― Feeling small, huh?

The other two also tried but no one drew it out longer than Eclipse. With that, the last barrier was removed and the escape exit appeared.

"Seeing as he's not coming to protect the barriers at all, he must be camping."

"For a veteran, that's kind of shameful behavior... Oh, I'll just leave it at that."

Bakjapcho and Skullkim shook their heads, and Lee Gyeongbok agreed.

'Guess even camping needs some prep.'

Genome's frantic path had included the escape exit. Whatever he was preparing, he kept dashing between the exit and another room.

"Doesn't matter if he's camping. We just have to block his vision again and we're through, right?"

Eclipse pulled out some ectoplasm. Cooldown was already done, so if the four of them blinded him together, they should get through.

"That's true, but..."

"I doubt he'd go this far in a friendly game, but if he uses the final weapon only Spirit Buster can use, blinding flash might be useless."

But both remained skeptical.

* * *

End of the third-floor hallway, in front of the window escape exit for Jiangshi.

Genome finished his preparations and waited for his opponents to arrive.

― He's really pulling this off, lol

― Did he want to win this badly?

― As expected of Chu(lol)

― Well, if you're gonna be shameful, you might as well win

― But what if he does all this and still loses?

― How can anyone get through that, lol

― But what if, just what if, godple...?

As Genome was about to say something, the Jiangshi team appeared beyond the hall.

"Oh, boss and my dear colleagues, you're here!"

Genome raised his voice triumphantly and pulled the trigger. But the muzzle wasn't aimed at the Jiangshi—it was pointed at the wall.

The fired beam hit a mirror on the wall and bounced. Another mirror lay along the path of the reflected beam.

Over and over, the beams reflected, filling the hallway.

"I put this together just for you all!"

This was Genome's ultimate secret weapon—a mirror laser trap.

The irregularly moving laser beams spread like a spider web.

"Wow, I can't believe he really did this."

"So much to learn from this supervisor. I mean, I wouldn't go this far... I'll stop there."

Bakjapcho and Skullkim were floored by the sight. Genome, apparently pleased, laughed even harder.

"If you're going to do a job, do it right! Blind me or whatever, do your worst!"

He closed his eyes confidently, taunting them.

His tactic didn't mind if he was blinded—he'd already locked onto the mirrors.

"But if we just wait, don't we win?"

Eclipse asked with a confused expression. Not exactly a sure-win strategy.

Exorcists had a time limit, after all, so Jiangshi didn't actually need to escape.

But that was only true for a regular game.

'A streamer can't just wait.'

Lee Gyeongbok immediately saw through Genome's aim and smiled slightly.

This was a live broadcast—waiting at a loading screen? Not even a newbie streamer would dare, let alone with over 20,000 viewers.

― The forced loss is ON!

― Seriously lol, he's making things so difficult

― I expected this, but it's still too much

― If this were a regular game, jiangshi would rage quit lol

― So dirty, you have to dodge it

― So what will Godple's team do!?

How would the Jiangshi team respond?

With the viewers' attention focused, Eclipse moved first.

"My lord, I'll block it! Escape while you can!"

If you blocked the trajectories of a reflected laser trap, you could make a safe space.

But Lee Gyeongbok shook his head.

"Thank you, but that's not the best idea. If your stamina drops, you'll collapse—there's not enough time to get out."

Getting hit by the laser reduced stamina. If you lost too much, you'd collapse and the trap would snap back to normal.

"Then I'll block too!"

"Me too! Boss, you just get out!"

Skullkim and Bakjapcho joined in. If all three blocked the lasers, maybe Lee Gyeongbok could escape in time.

― What is this spirit?

― As expected, Eclipse's knightly spirit!

― The perfect boss who inspires loyalty even from interns!

― Ah yes, that's 'Perfect Charisma'

― Makes Genome look even worse for camping like this lol

― Now that Genome's out, the company mood is so much better!

"Hey! Why am I the only one working!?"

Genome put on a comical pout, making the viewers laugh.

"Their work attitude is excellent. But I decline."

Lee Gyeongbok scanned the laser trap and smiled.

"Everyone should clock out together."

At those words, the others—and even Genome—looked at him with wide eyes.

"You can't mean you all plan to get through?"

To dispel their doubts, Lee Gyeongbok gathered the three and whispered something. Genome's eyes shook.

"You're kidding? Even for the boss, how...?"

He tried to think of a countermeasure, but nothing came to mind before the Jiangshi started to move.

Lee Gyeongbok and Eclipse stopped right at the trap's edge.

"Let's go!"

"Let's clock out!"

Immediately, skullkim and Bakjapcho ran at full speed down the hallway. The two in front braced their hands together to form a support.

― Huh?

― A running start?

― They're going to jump over the trap?

― That's insane

― But knowing them, it might actually work—trap!

Because Genome worked alone, he couldn't position the mirrors very high. The space above the laser trap was wide open.

"What the...!"

Genome flinched at the sight.

He thought about aiming at the two vaulting over, but realized something.

'If I move, the trap breaks.'

If reflection stops, the laser trap disappears—his own hands were tied instead.

"Going first!"

"Finally, 'Goal-in!'"

The two landed safely and casually jumped out the window.

Back outside the barrier, the two Jiangshi floated freely as spirits again.

"Damn...!"

Genome frowned, but soon grinned again.

"But you can't all escape!"

There was a flaw in the method.

"One person always gets caught in the end!"

Among the last two, one couldn't get a running start. At least one had to stay behind.

Just as Genome predicted, Lee Gyeongbok was still standing in front, while Eclipse was running down the hall.

"My lord, I believe in your safe escape!"

Eclipse succeeded with the helping hands, leaving only Lee Gyeongbok.

― The boss sacrifices himself?

― Really cares about his employees, huh

― A shame, but at least Jiangshi still wins

The game was basically over—or so viewers thought, until Lee Gyeongbok limbered up beyond the hallway.

-?

― What is this foreshadowing?

― No idea!

― He can't possibly go through alone, right?

― But how would you dodge all those lasers?

― But if it's Godple, maybe?

As he started running, the chat filled with anticipation. Genome's eyes only shook more.

"What is this? A psychological game?"

Maybe there really was a way through. Should he change aim and try to hit him directly?

But maybe Lee Gyeongbok was provoking uncertainty to make Genome end the trap himself.

'No, keeping it going has a higher win rate!'

There'd already been a case when Genome tried a direct aim and missed. He decided to keep the trap active.

At last, Lee Gyeongbok dove into the web of lasers. His elegant body rotated in a spiral, slipping through the beams.

'Got him!'

But there were still more lasers at the far end. Genome was certain of his victory—

"What..."

With a 'splut,' the lasers abruptly vanished. Genome's eyes shifted to the source of the sound.

"Huh?!"

Lee Gyeongbok, spinning, had hurled ectoplasm. But it wasn't to blind—it was aimed at the mirror, severing the chain of reflection.

The beam patterns themselves were chaotic, but the order of mirror reflections was set.

Lee Gyeongbok had aimed perfectly, using ectoplasm on the mirror to stop the reflection.

It didn't last long, though. The lasers melted the ectoplasm and the reflection pattern resumed.

But that moment was all Lee Gyeongbok needed.

"Employee Ji."

Genome turned to the voice beside him.

"That was fun."

His smiling face flickered past like a ghost. Genome belatedly turned the muzzle but—

"Boss!"

"My lord!"

"That's insane!"

Lee Gyeongbok, having cleared the window, was greeted by the other three.

A split-second later, a stray laser hit the now-closed window.

"Argh!"

The beam reflected from the glass right into Genome's eyes. Unprepared for that "blinding flash,"

Genome reeled back with a shout.

― Yo, lol, what the heck!

― Self-inflicted blinding flash, lol

― Started and ended with Chu, that's what I'm saying, lol

― Chu to the end—what a finish!

― He's a legend in a...unique way

― The ultimate teabag is to teabag yourself!

At last, a message appeared before them.

[All Jiangshi have safely escaped the barriers.]

Announcing the Jiangshi team's "perfect victory."

― Godple wins! Godple wins! Godple wins!

― He really made it through?

― That's insane

― What accuracy!

-(Kemalcon)(Kemalcon)(Kemalcon)

― Wow, did he really calculate everything before jumping?

― That's what you'd expect from a former Escapers member!

― Wow, his physical skills are true legend

Viewers, too, savored the victory.