Chapter 271 : The Effects of the Offline Channel (3)

The ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍Effects of the Offline Channel (3)

A fitness center in downtown Seoul.

Even in the early morning, many people were sweating hard as they focused on their workouts.

In the midst of them, a man in rather peculiar attire appeared.

"Breathe! Watch your breathing! Don't forget to breathe!"

His tight leggings and workout clothes were enough to draw attention, but what really caught the eye was his fake mustache and silicone mask.

Still, no one seemed unpleasantly surprised by his appearance. Instead, they smiled and even thanked him as he passed by.

The man too walked through the crowd as if everything was perfectly normal, heading toward the conference room.

"Perseverance growth!"

As he opened the door, he greeted everyone with a peculiar phrase. Those waiting for him lightly bowed their heads in return.

"You're here!"

"Alright, let's have another enjoyable meeting for our growth today."

Naturally, the man took the seat at the head of the table.

No wonder, since this fitness center was run by the Q-tube channel "Muscle Gallery," and this man was its owner, the Q-tuber "Bald Mountain."

"But before we start the meeting, there's something I need to tell you."

Bald Mountain laced his fingers and looked around at the production team as he continued.

"We received a reply from Purple!"

"Already?"

"How did it go?"

The production team opened their eyes wide and listened intently. They couldn't see his facial expression because of the mask, but his voice was clearly excited.

Had the casting succeeded?

To this, bald Mountain responded in a satisfied tone.

"We were rejected very politely."

"Ah..."

A sigh came out in response, but unlike the others, bald Mountain was not disappointed.

"I told you before, I didn't think it would work out this time."

He had anticipated the outcome even as he made the offer. The reason for the rejection was exactly as he had expected.

"For the time being, he doesn't plan on appearing on any offline broadcasts."

"Oh, it wasn't just us then?"

"No. Just like he said on Seyoung's Dad's joint stream, he doesn't want to be judged by his appearance. So, he said he'll be focusing on online activities for a while."

It would be inconsistent to say not to judge by appearances on channel but then appear on various offline shows.

That was why Bald Mountain was still cheerful.

"I told you, didn't I? He's a person with principles right from the first impression. Man, he's really tempting."

Considering the scale of Muscle Gallery, this could have been a prime opportunity to capitalize on current issues and attention. Yet, Lee Gyeongbok stuck to his words.

Bald Mountain respected that.

'Maybe it's because he has a military background, but he really values this sort of thing.'

'If he had appeared, it probably would've ended as a one-time thing anyway.'

The production team laughed along with Bald Mountain, who was in high spirits. Soon, one member cautiously raised their hand.

"By the way, do you think Purple might find us a bit annoying? Maybe we should've waited a bit longer..."

Bald Mountain had made the offer knowing it wouldn't work. Now that they were actually rejected, the production team was worried.

Bald Mountain quickly waved his hand.

"No, if anything, this gave me confidence. Purple isn't the kind of person to be petty about this."

His offer wasn't simply to gauge Purple's character.

"In the long term, we're moving up the priority list, you see? If we keep making an impression, we get closer to securing him as a guest."

"That's not wrong. Even during the MetaGamer interview, Purple said that he plans to reveal his face someday."

When another producer agreed, bald Mountain became even more assured.

"That's exactly it! When Purple decides to go public with his face, when he feels comfortable with offline shows! At that time, he'll think of us more favorably, since we've been offering steadily, rather than whoever just jumps in at the last minute."

"So, it's an investment, not a failure."

This was the third time Muscle Gallery had reached out, about once a month. At such intervals, it was unlikely Lee Gyeongbok would find them annoying.

"That's right. Isn't a healthy mind in a healthy body? Since he works out so diligently, he has clear standards and plans his channel content accordingly."

Bald Mountain burst into hearty laughter.

To him, Lee Gyeongbok was—

"There's no need to rush. We'll keep building our foundation and finish preparing until then."

—someone well worth waiting for.

* * *

At a similar time, a Team Perfect meeting.

Lee Gyeongbok explained to his team the reason for his rejection.

"So, I'm going to decline all offline activities."

No one objected.

"If that's what the CEO wants, then that's what we'll do."

"You did make it clear. It would feel off if you suddenly went on an offline show."

"And Muscle Gallery aren't the type to give up just because they get rejected once. In other videos with guest appearances, you'll often hear them thank guests for coming on after being asked multiple times."

At Choi Byeonghun's words, Park Juho nodded as well.

"Even if it ends there, it's not a big loss. Our channel isn't mainly about fitness anyway."

"Still, I do kind of want to go."

Lee Gyeongbok said with an embarrassed smile.

"I picked up a lot of workout routines from Muscle Gallery back when I worked at my company. Feels like I owe them something? I'd like to give back if I can, but I hope a better time comes."

Repaying kindness with kindness was his basic principle. If the circumstances had been right, he would have agreed without hesitation.

Park Juho continued with a smile.

"By the way, we also got another offer last night. The men's magazine 'MAXIN' invited you for an interview and a photoshoot. They even said it's fine if you wear your mask."

Ever since he appeared on offline channel, others besides Muscle Gallery also wanted him.

"What? From MAXIN?!"

Choi Byeonghun's eyes widened. Without waiting for a reply, he blurted out in surprise.

"Wow, he's really made it. MAXIN only goes after streamers who are as verified as MetaGamer."

"Really?"

"Yeah. D'Artagnan is their usual representative, and they also have a mixed-race streamer called Dolyeonsa."

To Madman's curiosity, he answered quickly.

"Magazines are on a different level. With something like MetaGamer, they can just delete the video later if problems arise. But magazines are physical, there's nothing the publisher can do after printing. So they're even more careful about who they pick."

"Right. That's real recognition."

Lee Gyeongbok, watching the two excited men, smiled but soon looked puzzled.

"Wait, it's a photoshoot, but you wear a mask?"

"Oh, well, in fashion, masks actually aren't that much of a hurdle."

The response came from Jo Daehan, who had experience as a model.

"In fact, in fashion shows, there are lots of cases where models wear masks. Sometimes the aim is to highlight the clothes rather than the model, or use the mask as an accessory."

He looked closely at Lee Gyeongbok's face and added seriously,

"But with your visuals, CEO, I think it's more about mystique—a concept around secrecy. That's probably more attention-grabbing. Hiding your face doesn't make you seem unattractive."

"I agree. The interview part probably isn't the focus since you just did one with MetaGamer. I think this is mainly about the photoshoot."

Park Juho chimed in, then explained another offer.

"There's more, too. Maybe because they noticed the makeup for color correction on screen, there were also offers for cosmetics sponsorships, and even more food companies—besides Cheoeumjedang—reached out after they liked your eating streams."

"See? This is what happens when you move into offline."

Choi Byeonghun laughed contentedly.

"With sponsorships piling up like this, streamers basically don't have to buy anything. This is the kind of benefit only truly successful streamers enjoy. You can really feel the channel picking up momentum, you know?"

Lee Gyeongbok chuckled wryly.

"I told you, I'm not planning on doing any of those. Let's move on to the content planning meeting."

"Got it. I'll politely decline these offers as well."

At his words, Park Juho finished up and moved to the next agenda item.

"For Roderi's next game, we should avoid similar concepts, right?"

"Uh... But I still hope we get to use guns though?"

Madman sheepishly voiced his own preference, and everyone smirked.

"Didn't we get viewer votes through the Q-tube community before? Why don't we just pick one from those?"

Choi Byeonghun, as if presenting his trump card, suggested confidently. They had collected that data while deciding on a second content series after Bio Crisis.

But Park Juho immediately shot it down.

"No, there were too few participants. Compare then and now: our viewership has grown so much, those votes are hardly valid anymore."

"Hmm, you're right."

Choi Byeonghun, who started to protest, instantly agreed. Their channel's rapid growth made it a fair point.

"Well, don't we have another source of data?"

As Lee Gyeongbok, who'd been quietly listening, chimed in, everyone turned their attention to him. Rather than explain, he simply started typing.

Instead of the Q-tube channel, a new web page appeared.

"Oh, right, there's the fan cafe."

"Yeah, in terms of sample size, that's even bigger."

The place where fans actively accumulated data: the PerG-Day fan cafe.

* * *

A channel streamer's fan cafe serves many roles.

Above all, it acts as a communication channel between streamers and fans, but that communication was subdivided into various types.

From simple chit-chat to hot topics, jokes, fan gifts like fan art or videos—there were various boards for these things.

And among them, there was always a board related to "requests."

[Game Recommendations]

Since the PerG-Day members were game-specialized streamers, they accepted requests from fans about which games they wanted to see them play.

[(Genome) Hyung! 'Jigeojin 5' just dropped!]

[(Genome) Super god-tier game 'Alone in the Dark,' wanna try it?]

[(Genome) WA! 'Jump Queen' DLC released!]

[(Genome) 'Dr. Rhythm' has a new song update, time to clear it!]

To avoid confusion, fans tagged their requests by streamer.

[(Eclipse) The battlefield awaits you! Please conquer 'Kivali'!]

[(Eclipse) What is honor! Please enlighten us on the field of 'No Honor'!]

[(Eclipse) Sir, you are more than suited to be a knight order commander. Please try 'Mount & Blood'!]

Thanks to this, each streamer's fan preferences were clear.

"Wow, Genome gets nothing but impossibly hard garbage games."

"For Ecl, it's what you'd expect—mostly Medieval, knight, sword games."

Lee Gyeongbok and the rest of Team Perfect laughed as they browsed the board.

"Alright, let's check ours next."

Park Juho selected their own tag.

Everyone's eyes widened at the list.

"Wait..."

"There are way too many."

"It's stacked!"

Unlike the others, there were so many game requests that they couldn't see them all at a glance.

Park Juho quickly offered a solution.

"If we sort it by recommendations, it'll be fine."

It made sense to prioritize the games viewers wanted most.