Chapter 82
"Allow me to explain that. Seo Jun-nim. Hello. We meet in-game for the first time. I am the Third Elder, the brain of the Demon Cult."
The man with an oddly young face and a fake beard spoke to Seo Jun.
It might have been better to just touch up his avatar, but compared to the other first-timers behind him, he was normal enough, so Seo Jun didn't comment further.
After all, the half-naked guy with orange skin who was uglier than that monster was too hard to look at.
He was curious what kind of item he used to make his skin glow like that.
But they all seem like IDs I've seen in the chat room?
They were definitely normal there.
"Hello. You're the one who chats the most in the Demon Cult chat room, right?"
Seo Jun gave a slight bow.
"Haha, yes."
"Huh. So you're the brain!"
"Quiet."
Dang So, who came over from the unorthodox faction, really got used to the Demon Cult quickly.
Impressive.
"For a moment we digressed because of Dang So hyung, but anyway, Seo Jun-nim, do you know about the current situation of the Demon Cult?"
Thankfully, once they got to the point, Dang So started listening quietly.
"No."
"Originally, our Demon Cult lacks rankers. The battlefield is content where the number of users has a big impact. And the game company hasn't the slightest dream of compensating for that. Damn Movie Soft."
The Demon Cult is evaluated as having overall mediocre performance.
If that were the only issue, they might have won at least once.
But the lack of users that follows bad performance was hard to overcome.
Regular users are fine.
But the number of rankers who gather fame like a Spirit Bomb was about ten short compared to other factions, which was significant.
But Seo Jun made up for that today.
In an amazing way, showing incredible skill.
"Regular users are still a little lacking, but it's safe to say the number of rankers is now on equal footing."
The Third Elder looked at Seo Jun with fresh eyes.
For the first time, a chance for the Demon Cult to win had come.
Thanks to this streamer who chose the Demon Cult because of a nickname made as a joke, not long after starting the game.
When he first heard about streamer Jin Seo Jun, he hadn't imagined even a sliver of this situation unfolding.
"So you're saying we can win?"
"Yes. The number of rankers is that important."
Unless a decisive moment like the final moment or a simple objective is set, it's impossible for regular users to match each other's steps in detail.
That's why the number of regular users who participate daily in the battlefield is excessively small compared to those who've joined at least once.
Because it's much more comfortable and fun to eat popcorn and spectate, then all join in at the important moment.
Occasionally play a game when bored.
"Then were you gathered here to devise strategies?"
"Not really. We were going to quickly finish the four matches and watch Seo Jun-nim's stream, but that guy kept calling..."
The Third Elder pointed at Dang So with a glance.
Ah.
What a guy, really.
"The big picture is drawn up by me and someone called Brain of the Demon, just the two of us, but it mostly happens in the chat room."
"Manager?"
"Brain of the Demon."
I've heard of Demon Brain (魔腦).
In martial arts novels, those in charge of the Demon Cult's administration and strategy are called Demon Brain.
For the orthodox faction, it's Divine Brain, I think.
But what's with the character? Is it the character for 'person' (者)?
I don't know.
"Haha. I see."
Seo Jun just let it slide.
There's more than one or two things to pick apart in Hyeop-eul Wihayeo.
"First, the detailed strategy will keep changing depending on the situation of each battlefield, but we set a broad framework. For the past few years, the mindset was nearly always to watch those guys fight and somehow try to snag second place like a fisherman catching a clam..."
"But the situation changed because this body arrived."
Dang So interrupted again.
"Quiet."
Seo Jun said a word, but the Third Elder just ignored it and continued.
Seems he's already adapted.
"Because Seo Jun-nim won everything today, the situation has changed. A lot. So, if we talk about our strength now, it's definitely Seo Jun-nim's skill."
"My skill?"
"Yes. As the Cult Leader also said, Seo Jun-nim has the best skill that rarely loses. Fourteen rankers being deployed to one area isn't that burdensome. But if those fourteen are at a level where they definitely win, then it's quite burdensome."
Conversely, if he ever loses, that strength will weaken accordingly.
'I'm confident I won't lose, though.'
Probably the enemy will have to make a choice.
Either leave him alone and find another way, or try to stop him somehow.
"Huhuhuhu."
"So what's the basic strategy you have in mind?"
"Hmm, I'm debating whether to reveal that to Seo Jun-nim."
"Why?"
"Because I think Seo Jun-nim would definitely declare the strategy openly on stream and say, 'Try to stop it.'"
Then why call me?
"..."
"Just kidding."
Lee Dong-su and the First Sword Under Heaven behind him laughed.
"For now, we're going to trust Seo Jun-nim and go for a power battle."
"Power battle?"
"Yes."
"You mean a frontal breakthrough?"
"Exactly. You know what happens if we occupy the rearmost region where the enemy's base is, right?"
The regions with faction bases are located at the far northeast, northwest, and southern ends.
If we push through and succeed in occupying that region...
"That faction withdraws from the battlefield."
He knew that too.
It's a case that rarely happens except in very special circumstances, but it has happened.
"Yes. They completely withdraw from the battlefield. Huhuhuhu."
The Third Elder finished speaking and laughed heartily, his body slightly trembling.
A hint of madness was felt, but it's understandable.
So far, only one faction has been withdrawn.
Right. That's the Demon Cult.
"I see."
"How is it? Honestly, whatever strategy we bring, we need Seo Jun-nim's cooperation. That's why I asked Dang So hyung to bring you here."
True enough.
Better to talk face-to-face like this than through messages.
Seo Jun shrugged and said.
"Well, I'll follow as best as I can as told. Since I have no pressure now."
"Ah...!"
Literally no pressure.
Whether losing in a game, failing attack or defense positions and missing bonuses, or even missing a single game.
It really didn't matter.
Since he had so much fame, first place was already decided.
"Power battle, that sounds fun."
The basic strategy suited him perfectly.
The finer details would be adjusted daily.
By those guys.
"Huhuhu. Thank you."
The Third Elder cheered, clenching both fists.
He likes it that much.
* * *
The clock hands point to 12:30.
Five and a half hours had passed since 7, Seo Jun's broadcast start time.
And Lee Geon-yeong, who had been sitting motionless in his chair staring at the computer for those five and a half hours, briefly took his hands off the keyboard and stretched his back.
He stretched and closed his eyes.
"Uaaah."
He did various stretches like rolling his neck, then returned to his work.
What had he done during those five and a half hours?
While watching the broadcast, he went into communities and downvoted displeasing posts, even sent links to fellow editor Han Ji-min to press downvote together, but mainly, the time was spent on editing.
Specifically, editing today's broadcast.
"Huaaah."
A tired sound escaped automatically.
Gulp gulp.
He grabbed the water bottle from the fridge and drank the whole thing, replenishing his dried mouth, then focused back on work.
There was no need to rewatch the video.
While watching the broadcast live, he had already checked all the edit points and discussed how to do it with Han Ji-min.
His goal was to finish editing as quickly as possible and upload the video.
The reason?
"I have to upload as fast as possible. Before the fire goes out."
The number of people who watched the live broadcast reached 160,000.
If only 10% of them stay awake and watch the YouTube upload at dawn, views would increase by 16,000.
16,000 itself isn't high.
But the value of 16,000 views right after uploading is different.
"They say a video's fate is half decided within the first few hours after uploading."
If many people watch in the first few hours, the algorithm judges this video as recommendable and spreads more recommendations.
Therefore.
Lee Geon-yeong wanted to profit by maintaining the current spark as much as possible.
Four hours had passed since he started editing seriously.
This was nowhere near enough.
"Though I had the edit points and direction set, it's still hard to finish in four hours."
About half the footage was done.
If he finished editing three hours later, it might actually be worse to upload.
Because most people would be asleep by then, the possibility of high views was low.
But.
He wasn't the only one editing.
Ding.
[Han Ji-min: I'm done. You?]
A laugh leaked out.
"We did it."
They could upload the video before 1 a.m.
[Lee Geon-yeong: I'm done too. Let's combine and if it's good, upload right away.]
The method to edit and upload today's broadcast within a few hours was to split the footage and both edit simultaneously!
A secret technique.
[Han Ji-min: Good job. Once again, we get ground up under the evil boss...]
[Lee Geon-yeong: LOL why talk like the boss ordered it. You said you liked it and wanted to do it right away originally.]
The front part by Han Ji-min, the back part by him.
Time can be shortened efficiently.
If only the editing styles are similar.
And surprisingly, their editing styles were similar.
"It's thanks to learning a lot."
Directly through teaching, and indirectly by watching her videos and being influenced.
[Han Ji-min: I'm checking the sync and it's smooth and seamless. I'll polish a little more and upload by 1 a.m.]
[Lee Geon-yeong: Yes, good work.]
[Han Ji-min: You too.]
"Ha."
He burned white hot.
Lee Geon-yeong thought.
Had he ever worked this hard on something?
At least in recent years, when he did nothing but avoid everything, it didn't seem like it.
His body was tired, but his mind felt at ease, the opposite.
And he much preferred this state.
'Even if absolute time is lacking, it feels like I've glimpsed a little of the lives of people who live fiercely.'
All thanks to the boss.
With a pleased laugh, he hummed as he washed up.
After getting ready for bed, he lay down.
Then he fiddled with his phone and waited.
"I want to at least see it go up before sleeping."
How effective would it be?
Even the experienced Han Ji-min said she wasn't sure.
Where is it common to carry such a massive issue around?
He was expectant, so he wanted to check before sleeping.
But his movements gradually slowed.
Maybe because his body was tired.
Though work hours weren't that long, due to intense short-term concentration, mental fatigue was greater than usual.
'I hope it goes well...'
Slip.
His eyes closed.
Ding.
At 1 a.m., the dark phone screen briefly lit up with a subscription notification.
A notification that a new video had been uploaded to Seo Jun's channel.