Genius’s Godlike Game Broadcast-Chapter 18 : It Wasn't There? It Was. (1)

It Wasn't There? It Was. (1)
The zombies Lee Gyeongbok encountered in the sewer weren't just the rats. Could these be test subjects that survived instead of being disposed of, contrary to Jessica's claim?
Mutant zombies, fused from various animals, blocked his path.
But they couldn't stop him to the end.
― So satisfying, lolol
― Two-headed monkey is out!
― Living Point: If it has two heads, just shoot them both.
― At this rate, might as well run a zoo.
A zombie with a monkey's body and kangaroo legs collapsed. Sensing he'd lost control, Gyeongbok knew that was the last one.
"John!"
As the cutscene began, sandra pointed in a direction. Illuminated in the flashlight's beam, there was a ladder.
John immediately turned on his radio.
"Jessica, are you there?"
〈Yes! Yes, I am!〉
"We found a ladder in the corridor marked L-21. Is this the right place?"
〈Ah! Yes! Hold on, I'll open it for you right away!〉
The transmission abruptly cut off.
But John and Sandra didn't let their guard down. Soon, accompanied by a clattering sound, light shone down from the top of the ladder.
"John!"
"Go up first. I'll follow behind."
There was always the chance of more zombies. John sent Sandra up first.
-lol here we go at last lol
― Pretty Jessica incoming!
― Anyone would be swayed by her, honestly
-lol, the hype for Jessica, huh?
― Those two even shook hands, no room for anyone else lol
― Handshake lmao
― First time Sandra and Jessica are meeting, lol
― The tension is going to be real
Viewers eagerly anticipated the meeting of the two heroines. As Sandra finished climbing the ladder—
"Eek!"
A short scream made John snap his gaze upward.
"Sandra?!"
He hurriedly climbed after her.
-huh???
― Was it a trap after all?
-damn
― Did Jessica get caught on her way?
During that brief moment, the chat was flooded with speculations and questions. But what John saw after climbing up was something no viewer had expected.
"... Sandra?"
A blindingly white isolation ward.
In the center, sandra was frisking a woman in a white coat, pinning her down.
One hand still holding a pistol.
-oh my god
-lol, that's classic Sandra.
― She knows how to dominate, lol
― Maybe this isn't a bad combo...?
― Lol at this combo
Finishing the search, sandra glanced at Jessica's head with clear disapproval before standing up.
"Doesn't seem to be anything dangerous. Sorry for that."
"Ugh... You could have just asked, you know..."
With a worn-out voice, jessica turned around. Now her face, framed by slightly bluish long hair, large eyes, and snow-white skin, entered the viewers' sight.
If Sandra had a cat-like face, jessica was more puppy-like.
Her glasses, bigger than her eyes, left a deep, innocent impression.
― Oh...? I think I like Jessica?
― Bagel type, damn
― Viewers know their stuff.
― Still, honey Squad stays loyal!
― Honey Coin crisis! Everyone evacuate!
― Why only one heroine? Lame.
― Let's go harem route, lol
― Even Traditional Dragon would approve
Viewers warmly welcomed the new heroine, but player Lee Gyeongbok wasn't feeling the same.
'What is this?'
From the moment he faced Jessica, he felt an unpleasant intuition.
'Feels similar to when I first saw Logan.'
But to a different magnitude.
If Logan gave the discomfort of sewer stench, jessica was something more.
'... Like seeing a dead animal's corpse.'
Gyeongbok had once seen a cat killed by a car when he was a child—the body just abandoned, the driver gone.
The disgust and chills from back then came surging back.
'Is she, like Logan, just pretending to be good?'
He decided to remain silent.
Judging from the chat's reaction, it probably hadn't been revealed in the main route. No point in spoiling things, so he just decided to watch.
"Uh, let me introduce myself properly. I'm Jessica—"
"The situation is urgent. Let's skip the formalities."
Sandra abruptly cut her off as Jessica tried to tidy her clothes and greet them.
― Sandra skill! Applying pressure!
― Our Sandra is fierce, as always~
― This'd be embarrassing, lol
― One, two, three—Jessica, let's go!
― She's intimidated already~
Jessica awkwardly smiled and nodded, lips twitching.
"Haha... You're right. But I still ought to explain."
She opened a pendant hanging around her neck and pulled out a tiny USB.
"What's that?"
"Evidence. It has proof of Regenfarm's illegal experiments and bioweapon development."
"... Bioweapon?!"
John and Sandra's eyes widened. Jessica fixed her glasses, face serious.
"Yes. To get this outside, we have to go to the top floor, to the lab director's office. That's the only place we can contact the outside."
"But aren't we underground?"
"Yes. Too many eyes on the regular elevators. That's why we have to use the freight elevator. That's what I used."
"Freight elevator? It goes all the way to the top?"
Sandra looked skeptical. Jessica shook her head.
"No. But it does go to the floor below, the R&D lab. From there, we'll have to move up ourselves."
"... Then why didn't you do this alone if it's not that hard?"
The sharp exchange thrilled the viewers.
― Oh~ Sandra skill! She won't back down!
― That's sharp! She'll cut someone!
― Come on, jessica, hold strong!
― There was no goalie in the main route, right?
― Exactly! Not so easy this time!
― But you still gotta take a shot!
― That's a lot of in-character role-play, lol
Jessica furrowed her brow slightly.
"No need to speak like that. I was going to explain if you let me finish."
"Then go ahead."
"The director's office and medicine lab are highly secured. I can't approach them myself."
"But we can?"
"If you two go first, I'll head to the control room. I'll shut off the power temporarily and disable security, then you two can go in."
With that, jessica handed the USB to John.
― It's basically the same as the main route, just a different location.
― Does this mean the hidden route will also end similarly?
― Are you going to have to choose between Jessica and Sandra in the end?
― Spoilers are barely being avoided!
― Don't forget the creator is watching!
Some viewers grumbled that it felt familiar, but the cutscene wasn't over yet.
"Understood."
"Yes, let's hurry."
"Jessica."
Jessica was about to turn back when John called after her.
― Huh?
― This feels different.
― Shh!
John pulled out his knife and, in full view of Jessica, cut his own hand.
The wound immediately healed.
Jessica's eyes widened as she saw it.
"Could it be...?"
"When did this start happening?"
Before John could ask, jessica grabbed his hand.
"Wait!"
Sandra, startled, tried to hold her back, but Jessica shook her off.
With a fierce glare at Sandra, she turned back to John.
"Have you ever taken a healing serum? Or been bitten by a zombie?"
"Jessica?"
"How's your memory? Unclear, or anything?"
"How do you...?"
Just as surprised as John, the chat atmosphere shifted.
― What's going on? All of a sudden?
― Jessica...?
― This feels off.
― Not the Jessica I know.
― We didn't want this kind of pressure
Even veteran Jessica fans seemed confused.
"Something's odd, all right."
Gyeongbok added a quiet comment.
Jessica suddenly snapped out of it and let go.
"Ah! I'm sorry! Sometimes when I get focused, I don't notice what's around me..."
Appearing similar to when they'd first met. But John and Sandra eyed her warily.
"What do you know? What did Regenfarm do to me...?"
"Elixir."
Jessica flashed a faint smile and looked John in the eye.
"You're definitely a clinical trial for Elixir."
"... Elixir?"
"The ultimate treatment Regenfarm's been researching. Recovers any damage, even grants immortality."
She looked John up and down as if obsessed.
"This whole incident happened because of Elixir's side effects. But now isn't the time. With you, things could change."
"Change how? What are you saying?"
"We have to go lower, to the lab. With you, we can create the perfect vaccine!"
She tried to grab John, but Sandra blocked her path.
"Don't even think about it."
She glared and aimed her gun at Jessica.
"You think I'll let you send John off for some suspicious experiment?"
Sandra's intervention ignited the chat again.
― See? Only Sandra matters!
― Told you Sandra's the one to trust!
― Says what needs to be said! Sanda-cola!
― Why's Jessica so unsettling now?
― She's lost it.
― Quiting the Jessica Squad.
But Jessica didn't back down.
"We don't have time. You know we can't get out without the vaccine, right? Isn't that so, John?!"
The camera closed in on both their faces. Suddenly, the viewpoint shifted, a warning light began to flash.
Whirr—the lights went out and red warning lights shined. A piercing siren blared.
〈Alert! Alert! Isolated test subject escape!〉
〈All personnel, evacuate immediately!〉
〈Research building will be locked down!〉
The speaker's voice blared. Amidst it all were shouts and gunshots.
"Oh no..."
Jessica looked around in panic.
"Now the elevators won't run either."
"What?"
"If you don't trust me, go check yourself! But by then, it'll be too late!"
She glared at Sandra before speaking to John.
"Now our only chance to escape is with the vaccine. Please, believe me."
John grasped Sandra's hand with a grave expression.
"John..."
"Sandra, it's fine. I'm going to get us both out of here."
"Let's hurry!"
Jessica took the lead.
John and Sandra followed, the scene fading to black.
― Yeah! That's a real man.
― Jondra couple confirmed!
-lol at that ship name
― Jessica's stock is about to crash, lolol
― Anyone still not out of the zone?
― Here comes Boomshika...
― Not a boom, more like an explosion!
The scene returned.
The three headed up the stairs, following green emergency lights. Jessica entered first, sandra following just as—
"Sandra!"
John shoved her aside and threw himself forward. With a deafening crash, the entrance to the stairs collapsed.
-huh???
― Must be the escaped test subject?
― This is a "yeah."
That's what Gyeongbok thought too.
The moment the scene changed, his tingling sixth sense flooded his body.
"John?!"
"I'm fine! Go on ahead!"
The view shifted to reveal their attacker. Amidst the flashing red sirens appeared a dark figure.
Boom, boom—the heavy footsteps revealed a hulking monster, gray-skinned with steel restraints.
― Overlord!
-lololololololllllllll
― It's really appearing now, lol
― Wow, true fan service~
― In the main route, it was just a lump of flesh lol
― At least doggum makes good games.
― King Overlord is legit!
The audience exploded with reactions. This was on another level.
What kind of boss was this?
For the first time, Gyeongbok paused the game.
"Is this a famous character?"
Given the welcoming frenzy, he figured he should know.
His question caused another storm in the chat.
― You don't know King Overlord?
― Dude, kids these days don't play consoles anymore.
― Ah...ahh...
― Guess there's a generation who doesn't know King Overlord...
― Viewers outing themselves as old, lol
― No way, I'm not old!
― What is King Overlord?
― Old folks pretending ignorance so hard, lol
― FYI: Overlord's always been the final boss of the console version of Bio Crisis.
― Old person confirmed.
A tale from the days of PC and console gaming, not VR.
Strictly speaking, Gyeongbok was part of the late console generation, but he'd never played, so he didn't know.
-lol, I'm not old, not at all!
― King Overlord, where's your fedora and coat...
― There you were, Ryan Kim.
― Are you going to zombify or not?
― Bring the vaccine... the vaccine...!
― At this rate, everyone's dead!
― Not old, but can't help quoting the meme!
Overlord's outfit on consoles reminded people of a drama character, turning him into a meme.
Viewers began to quote those meme lines en masse.
"Ah, that's it. Thanks for the kind explanation. Let's continue."
Gyeongbok grinned—he knew the drama meme—and resumed the game.
The resumed cutscene showed Overlord stretching both arms. Muscular flesh began to writhe and morph into sharp blades.
Then, seizing the wall, overlord tore it off and transformed that arm into a hand cannon.
― Is this the final boss then?
― Looks like it?
― Wow, how do you even win?
― It upgraded again, lol
― Doggum is going hard.
― That's what happens when a series runs long—power creep.
― You can't beat that with just a pistol and shotgun...
Viewers assumed Overlord would be the last boss, as usual. But Gyeongbok thought differently.
'Jessica's role as a villain still isn't clear. There's more to go.'
He decided to handle this quickly and catch up with Sandra. He felt control return as the cutscene ended.
"Here we go."
Boom boom—Overlord charged. Gyeongbok dashed.
By a narrow margin, fragments clutched by Overlord's fist burst like buckshot where he'd just been.
― Whoa, almost died at the start.
― Purple's reflexes, what the heck!
― If it's Purple, he might just win?
― Obviously, he's invincible lol
Those familiar with Purple's skill expected a win, but not the majority—the bulk of viewers were Bio Crisis fans, familiar even with the console version.
― Nope, you need the weak point or no damage.
― Newbies so cute, lol
― You actually need that thing to deal with Overlord.
― But we don't have it?
― So what is it?
― Can't say it on stream or the dev will get mad, lol
― Even Purple's got it tough this time.
― Would it be the final boss if you could beat it with pistol and shotgun?
The viewers were right.
While running, Gyeongbok squeezed the trigger several times, but Overlord wasn't scratched.
To be precise, overlord seemed to "pass through" the bullets himself.
'Able to expel the bullets with body transformation. Tricky.'
Rolling across the floor, Gyeongbok quickly reloaded. Only hitting the weak point would work.
'Problem is, it's inside that restraint.'
He'd figured out the weak spot from the start—thanks, as always, to his sixth sense.
― Dev team probably proud, lol
― First time Purple's actually struggling~
― Purple, find a weapon first!
― No one asked for help, but here come the backseat gamers.
― First time a reset might happen?
Seeing the chat, Gyeongbok smirked. Didn't this look less than "perfect"?
"I think I've found the weak point. Got to remove that restraint first."
He dodged the storm of shrapnel and spoke over the explosion. Viewers agreed.
― Yup, anyone can tell it's suspicious.
― But how do you get it off?
― Hey kid, bring me the toolbox!
― Crowbar... need a huge crowbar.
― Why mention crowbars, lol
― Guess you've got to run and loot anyway.
The chat was awash with jokes and theories, but Gyeongbok wasn't interested in any of them.
"I'll just take it off now."
A flood of question marks hit the chat. Like always, Gyeongbok showed with actions, not words.
He focused every nerve.
Sharpened senses and tingling sixth sense converged on a single point.
'Now.'
Gyeongbok, as if it were natural, pulled the trigger. Without checking the result, he kept firing.
With a clang, sparks flew as the bullets struck the restraint's joint.
Clunk—the restraint crashed to the floor. From Overlord's solar plexus, a throbbing, blood-red core appeared.
That was Overlord's weak point.
-?????????????
― Excuse me?
― What is that?
― Did he hit the same spot again?
Through the chat, you could almost see people's dumbfounded expressions.
― The weak point's out!
― Seriously, balance patch needed!
― Overlord: "What kind of game IS this?!"
― This is just Purple being Purple, got a problem with that?
― Breaking News: The Royal Society says the correct spelling of 'physical' is 'Purple'.
Then came the cheers.
With Overlord's weak spot exposed, the mood turned at once.
"No need to run or loot."
Gyeongbok grinned.
"He's not that tough."