Chapter 269 : The Effects of the Offline Channel (1)

The ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍Effects of the Offline Channel (1)

The PerG-Day afterparty channel with Seyoung's Dad became a hot topic across various communities.

That was because not only people who enjoyed games watched the channel, but also viewers who loved cooking and food.

Since the actual faces of the PerG-Day members, except for Eclipse, had been revealed to some extent, most communities showed similar reactions.

However, there was one community whose response was noticeably different.

[]

[Wow... Why is Godple so handsome? Why?]

[〈StartUp〉]

[You can just feel he's crazy good-looking even from his jaw alone lolol]

[〈SmileDoor〉]

[Seriously, they need to impose a good-looks tax on Godple, lolol]

The anonymous office worker community 'Companion'—more specifically, its gaming topic area, game Lounge—was the place.

While praising Lee Gyeongbok's looks was the same as in other communities...

[]

[Wow! Finally! Now I can say it! Everyone, godple is insanely handsome!]

[-〈NewCompany〉 For real? Did you see him in person?]

[- Right, lol, probably saw him when signing the contract with Godple]

[- What? Then you saw him even without his mask?]

[-〈StartUp〉 What the heck! Why are you the only one who's seen him!?]

[]

[So the Godple face embargo is lifted? lol But he really is super handsome]

[-〈NewCompany〉 Embargo my ass, lolol the hype is insane]

[- Hype? It's about keeping the streamer's privacy, obviously]

[-〈SmileDoor〉 Ha, as expected from the NewCompany crew, lol]

[- Just to be clear in case of misunderstanding—Godple didn't ask for this]

[-〈CoralAbyss〉 If you're normal, you'd know to keep quiet on your own, lol]

[-〈NewCompany〉 Is there anyone here who'd want to get on Godple's bad side? It sucks to get flamed because of that, maybe I need a new job]

[]

[He's not just good-looking lolol. He was totally kind and gentlemanly. Honestly, since our company is an SME, I thought he'd look down on us, but there was none of that at all.]

[- Hey, didn't I tell you not to talk about that! Now even more people are gonna want to meet Godple!]

[- Isn't he already Tier 1 for invites anyway lol]

[-〈CoralAbyss〉 He's got a good personality too? This is insane]

[-〈NewCompany〉 Literally every brand that's done an ad contract with Godple only says good things... I'm so jealous, when will we be at the level to invite him...]

[〈Reality〉]

[Godple is so in-demand that, if we didn't already have an exclusive model, we would have considered signing another contract, lol

But it kinda sucks. Feels like being able to work with Godple was a privilege only for the businesses that got him, lol]

[-〈StartUp〉 Wow, reality hyung is here]

[- Seriously? Right now the Reality model is D'Artagnan, isn't it?]

[- Wasn't it last month when Capsule did the unboxing? At that time, d'Artagnan was already considered on the same level?]

[-〈StartUp〉 Whoa, for someone to be able to replace D'Artagnan's resume, just how good-looking is he?]

[-〈Reality〉 But honestly, in the last channel, godple didn't even look as good as in real life. Weirdly, his face came out looking dark on camera]

[-〈CoralAbyss〉 That's him looking bad?]

[- Yeah, that's the real truth]

[-〈NewCompany〉 Seriously, just how handsome is this guy]

The staff at the companies that had signed with Lee Gyeongbok kept testifying. They'd refrained from commenting on his looks out of consideration, but since he'd now revealed himself publicly, even in part, they could talk about it.

With vivid stories only accessible to those inside, the Game Lounge was overflowing with talk of Lee Gyeongbok.

[]

[Man, damn, we should have signed with him right after V-STAR ended]

[- Didn't all participating companies make offers then? Didn't Godple refuse them all?]

[- Come on, like it's easy to get on the Purple Coin ride lol]

So the companies that couldn't snag a contract could only express their regrets. On the other hand, those who had worked with Lee Gyeongbok could reply leisurely.

[-〈Reality〉 Don't you know why Godple rejected you?]

[- For real, lol, godple's not the type to do stuff just for the money]

[- If it's fun, godple will play it even for free, lol, didn't he even play Bark before there was a contract?]

[- He was like that with Roderi too, right? Even after the ad ended, he still did joint events of his own free will, lol]

It hadn't been a matter of the offered sum being too small.

[〈Reality〉]

[Hey dev team,

Don't you feel anything watching Godple?

Does he stream games just to milk the viewers for cash?

Can't you see he's always trying to do something that's just plain fun?]

More than anything, what mattered to him was the content, and the foundation of that was 'fun'.

[Stop pouring all your marketing budget into random celebrity models who never even appear on-screen—enough, grandmaster!

Just please, start by making a fun game, lol]

Everyone who worked with Lee Gyeongbok already knew this.

[No matter how much money you throw at Godple, he'll never do something that's no fun, lolol]

He was a streamer who knew the basics.

* * *

Meanwhile, at the PerG-Day fan café.

[Honestly, I think it was actually good that Godple didn't reveal his face until now]

[Seriously, if he'd led with his face, everyone would have been talking only about his looks lolol]

[This is why editors have no choice but to do what's demanded of them lol]

[Seriously, if not for his gameplay, they'd have just focused on his looks]

[Godple was the perfect streamer from the start, this much is true]

[It's too bad Ecl doesn't show up at all, lol]

[What if Ecl is secretly super handsome too?]

The fans all agreed with Lee Gyeongbok's decision. But there was an even hotter topic at hand.

[Man, when I heard our hyung was bullied at school, it hit me really hard]

[To be honest, I expected him to be the kind of guy who jokes around in class based on his usual channel persona]

[Our hyung is really tough mentally, huh]

[If it were me, I'd have become a total recluse right away—I can't even imagine how much effort it took]

Now, the café was for PerG-Day fans, but it had originally been a fan café for Genome. So naturally, most members were die-hard fans of Genome, and they, in particular, resonated with what had come out about his school days during the recent joint stream.

[I always thought he was just half-joking when he got all serious and said thanks on channel, but damn]

[I actually mocked it without knowing a thing;;;]

[No no, let's just act like usual lol, that's probably what hyung wants]

There was no need to worry about Genome. He'd already stated clearly he'd overcome his past.

[But now that he's revealed his face, I bet people from his past will start reaching out]

[Ha, just the thought of it is already stressing me out]

What worried the fans was not Genome himself, but others—the sort who always reach out when someone goes public.

[No way, hyung already said on channel it wouldn't happen]

[Our hyung already officially announced he has no friends, remember, lolol]

[Anyone who shows up now is either a bystander or an offender admitting guilt, lolol]

[Yeah, for real, anyone who butts in now is literally asking for brain memes]

Because of what Genome had already said on channel, the fans were able to settle their unease.

So, as the conversation was about to naturally change topics...

[Genome's old classmate shows up on Tnight!]

A new post rekindled the fading embers. Even though Genome had been so open, someone still came forward?

The fans rushed to the post ready for battle—but soon found themselves baffled.

[What is this? Is this not a leech?]

[Everyone, hands off the keyboard!]

[This is a bit ambiguous;;;]

This person wasn't trying to leech off Genome's fame.

[We can't really say anything about this, I guess]

[Yeah, this is up to hyung to decide]

[Maybe this is for the best?]

[It's not wrong to want to apologize, is it?]

They wanted to recognize Genome and apologize for their wrongdoings.

* * *

At about the same time, in Lee Gyeongbok's home.

Lee Gyeongbok was reading the post on Genome's fan page.

[This is the classmate Genome mentioned.]

It was a short title, but impossible not to click.

[Even as I write this, I'm very cautious.

I'm not sure if it would be rude to use his real name, so I will just refer to him as Genome.

〈photo〉

This is my high school yearbook.

I've blurred out the school name, but it should be easy enough to identify.

After watching today's channel, I was shocked. I sometimes watched Genome's channel, but I never knew he was that friend.

That's because he's completely different from the person I remember. I'm not here to reminisce, so I'll keep it brief.

Everything Genome said is true. I wasn't a direct perpetrator. But after I found out about what he was going through, I ignored it. I was a friend who turned away.

I won't make excuses. I'll take any criticism.

I want to apologize to Genome for my wrongdoing.

If you reply through any means, I'll respond in whatever way you wish.]

Lee Gyeongbok's expression grew heavy as he scrolled down. Below, there were comments from Genome's fans padding the thread.

[-So he was even worse, then?]

[-Physical wounds heal, but scars to the heart last a lifetime.]

[-You ignored him at the time, and now you want to apologize, lol, it's disgusting]

There were those who were just angry at his very existence.

[-The ones who need to apologize never do, damn]

[-Sensei, the ones who reflect are the ones who didn't commit school violence in the first place]

[-Still, at least he admits guilt, so I guess that's better]

Others acknowledged even just the effort of trying to apologize.

[-Honestly, this is between them so we can't really comment]

[-Yeah, really, genomes, don't cross the line]

[-This isn't for third parties to butt in on]

Above all, there were fans who wanted to respect Genome's opinion.

That showed how mixed people's reactions were.

'This is tough.'

Lee Gyeongbok's thoughts were the same.

But he was putting himself into Genome's position a bit differently than the fans.

'It's not quite the same, but maybe this is what Juho was talking about.'

It wasn't black and white, and interpretations differed from person to person.

It wasn't exactly the same, but if Lee Gyeongbok were ever to reveal his own face, he might run into similar situations.

What would I do?

After contemplating it, Lee Gyeongbok furrowed his brow.

'This really isn't easy. Hyung must be having a hard time.'

No matter how much broadcasting experience Genome might have, this was probably his first time dealing with something like this. So Lee Gyeongbok judged that Genome would need some time to work it out.

'Maybe if I hear him out first and help, it'll be alright?'

If he could hear what kind of approach Genome wanted to take and read the divine energy, maybe he could help him avoid the worst-case scenario.

'But I don't know if he'll accept it......'

Whether Genome would listen to Lee Gyeongbok was another matter. People like Park Juho or Choi Byeonghun would gladly accept, but Genome didn't know much about Lee Gyeongbok's background.

While he was wrestling with that...

['GENOME' has started a channel!]

[〈Response〉]

A Tweety channel alert popped up.

Lee Gyeongbok's eyes opened wide.

"Already?"

Judging by the channel title, he obviously saw the post as well. Contrary to expectations, Genome's response was extremely fast.

That's why Lee Gyeongbok was even more worried.

'I hope he's not acting on emotion?'

At any rate, Genome had made his decision. Lee Gyeongbok immediately gauged the divine energy.

'Hm?'

Fortunately, he didn't have any bad feelings.

With his anxiety calmed, curiosity took its place.

So—what kind of answer had Genome prepared?

A faint smile crept across Lee Gyeongbok's lips.

'Seriously, there's always so much to learn being around this hyung.'

And with that, he immediately joined Genome's channel.