Genius’s Godlike Game Broadcast-Chapter 66 : The Vague Witch (1)

The Vague Witch (1)
As soon as Lee Gyeongbok arrived home, he checked the email Park Juho had sent him.
[Personal Letter to Sir Purple]
Even the subject didn't seem ordinary.
As he began to read, Lee Gyeongbok could immediately understand why Park Juho referred to it as a "challenge letter."
[Greetings!
I am 'Eclipse'.
Recently, I heard from my vassals that an outstanding knight had emerged, so I looked into it and bore witness to the glory of Sir Purple.
And I felt immense awe.
Your elegant movements and disciplined skills are truly unrivaled!
I have no idea just how much training you've endured to reach this level.
But that's not the reason I'm sending you this personal letter.
Gravekeeper!
Though I've met him countless times, my eyes never saw his true character.
Shamefully, while pursuing knighthood, I never realized he was the same kind of knight as me.
Now that I think of it, his tone and behavior clearly exuded dignity, yet foolishly, I was consumed by the thought of overpowering him.
I would like to meet you in person, as you are the one who enlightened someone as lacking as myself.
According to the vassals, you've declared you would not refuse anyone's duel; what a wonderful example you are for knights!
However, as rushing in recklessly would be unchivalrous, I am sending this letter instead.
I sincerely hope you will grant me the honor of a duel, and I will end my letter here.]
It read just like an actual letter. Lee Gyeongbok let out a small chuckle without realizing it. It really was just like a challenge letter, not in the figurative sense, but in practice.
What Park Juho had delivered was not just that email.
[Eclipse Materials]
Attached separately was a document summarizing the information he had gathered overnight regarding Eclipse.
[As you can see from the material below, Eclipse is what you'd call a 'hommmono'. And not just any—we're talking From Studio expertise level.]
Hommmono.
It was a slang term for a true hardcore otaku.
[Even before VR, he started with the "Dark Ring" series on PC and console. But just playing games doesn't make you a hommmono.
From the way he writes his emails, viewers call themselves vassals and even speak like medieval knights.
Besides streaming games, he also creates content where he hones real-life swordsmanship based on the motion of characters from games.]
The attached video showed a man donned in armor and helmet, wielding a sword.
That was Eclipse.
Eclipse longed to become a knight like those in games. Just with that intention, he trained both physically and in swordsmanship, honing himself.
He chose the name "Eclipse," meaning solar eclipse, because it resembled the crest from Dark Ring.
[He had been training like this even before VR came out. But finally, when VR was released and the first Elden series, "Elden Knights," came along, he became the knight he'd aspired to be.
Naturally, people took an interest in his perfect concept play. From there, he was on the road to success.]
He had the gaming instincts honed from the previous "Dark Ring" series, underwent harsh training for physicality, and fully committed to concepts that maximized viewer immersion.
Eclipse earned recognition from fans of From Studio works.
And this wasn't a story limited to Korea.
[He's fairly well known in Japan and the English-speaking world too. Thanks to that, his channel's subscriptions are in the early 600,000s.
That's quite a big scale for a streamer who digs into just one genre.
Moreover, even From Studio acknowledges him. For the second Elden series game "Elden Kingdom," they included an NPC character as an homage to Eclipse.]
The attached photo showed a heavily armored knight character.
[The Knight of Eclipse]
The armor bore a solar eclipse crest, in line with his name.
[Being such a person, there's no problematic controversy either. As you can see from his email, he really just wants to test his skill, not do any strawing.
If he writes like that even in business emails, the guy is as real as it gets.
Of course, it's up to you to decide.]
After looking over the rest of the materials, Lee Gyeongbok smiled faintly.
'He really knows how to enjoy things.'
Unlike most streamers, he truly seemed to care more about the game and the broadcast than money.
After a moment's thought, Lee Gyeongbok dialed a number using his smart link.
〈Um... Hello.〉
"Ah, hyung, were you sleeping?"
〈No, no... I just woke up a little while ago. What's up?〉
A groggy voice came from the other end—it was Genome.
"Oh, so, about that..."
Genome had already met Eclipse once while doing his MasterDissection broadcast. Lee Gyeongbok briefly explained the situation.
Genome listened, then let out a chuckle.
〈Oh, really? He wrote like that to you too? That's so Eclipse.〉
"He did the same to you?"
〈Yeah, he did.〉
"What kind of guy is he?"
〈Well... You can't chat with him as freely as with you. He's a bit odd, but he's not someone problematic. Maybe because of that 'chivalry' thing, he's super polite.〉
Genome spoke as if recalling his memories.
〈It's just my opinion, but if you have a duel with Eclipse, you'll probably get some real attention. Well, elden Soul PVP only opens after finishing the third stage, so take your time and think about it.〉
"Really? Got it. Sorry for waking you."
〈Ugh! To be human, you gotta get up! By the way, didn't you already say on stream that all PVP was welcome?〉
Genome stretched and suddenly seemed to realize something.
"Yeah, I did, I guess."
〈So, no worries. Hey, someone like Eclipse at least asks for permission in advance. The stream snipers and strawing leeches are probably plotting right now. Do you think those guys are going to ask as politely?〉
"True. Better to deal with him than with people like that."
〈Right, right. Even my viewers are begging me to do PVP on my stream. But I'm not going to.〉
"Why not?"
〈It's obvious I'll lose, so why join in? Gotta keep my pride as hyung, you know.〉
Lee Gyeongbok laughed at Genome's answer.
"True, hyung wouldn't go easy on me."
〈Oh, you wicked brat. You could at least pretend to lose for me. Anyway, good luck.〉
"Sure, see you next time."
* * *
That evening.
Streamer Purple's second Elden Soul broadcast began.
"Trha!"
As Lee Gyeongbok greeted cheerfully, the waiting viewers flooded the chat window.
― Perha!
― You'll stream for a long time today right? Right? That's true, right?
― I'll, I'll be your dog! Woof woof!
― I've been waiting for a broadcast like yours for so long
― Yesterday's inhumane end of stream violates the Geneva Convention!
Chat was exploding.
'With 7,000 viewers, even with slow mode, this is intense.'
Viewership kept climbing past 7,000.
['PrepayThenWatch' has donated 50,000 won]
[If I prepay, will you make the stream longer, yeah?]
['EldenBroadcastFund' has donated 10,000 won.]
[What are the Eldenbies doing! Hurry up and donate!]
['NeverStopBroadcast' has donated 100,000 won.]
[Ah ㅋㅋ I finally get why I have two kidneys]
['NoBrainDonation' has donated 20,000 won.]
[If you donate, you get a broadcast copy!]
Donations poured in at once.
Viewers, having suffered from the spicy taste of Lee Gyeongbok's sudden end of stream, chose to donate in advance this time.
― Ahㅋㅋㅋㅋ new viewers still don't get it
― Think you can stop end of stream with this pocket change?
― But you never know,ㅋㅋㅋ
― Lol if we keep pushing the capitalism wave, will he go for it?
― What's this kidney joke, dudeㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
Lee Gyeongbok thanked the donators, then clapped to grab attention.
"All right, before we start today's broadcast, I've got a quick announcement."
The chat window filled with question marks. Lee Gyeongbok snapped his fingers lightly.
"Today, for the first time, the emojis are complete! If you've subscribed, just refresh and you can use them right away."
Park Juho's commissioned emojis were done and updated.
There were the simple greeting emojis "Perha-con" and "Perba-con" made in a design similar to Kemalcon, and then the "PerStamp" con, a parody of the "well done" stamp.
― Ooooooh!
-(Perha-con)(Perha-con)(Perha-con)
-(PerStamp-con) Ahㅋㅋㅋ
― It says "Per-perfect!" on the stampㅋㅋㅋ
― AhㅋㅋI have to subscribe immediately
― I can resist text emotes, but not these
The chat window was instantly flooded with the new emojis.
['MysteriousSubscriber' has been subscribed for 1 month!]
[Godple has acquired a new subscriber.]
['DreamOfExtendedBroadcast' has subscribed for 1 month!]
[If I subscribe, will you stream longer, yeah?]
['EldenBroadcastFund' has subscribed for 1 month!]
[What are you Eldenbies doing not subscribing!]
Subscription messages poured in at the same time.
Lee Gyeongbok thanked them as well, then continued.
"Ah, thanks for all the subscriptions. Sorry, but reading them all will just delay the stream further, so thanks for your understanding."
― Ah then you shouldn't read themㅋㅋㅋ
― Lol just play the game already!
― Even viewers are rejecting thanks ㅋㅋㅋ
― This broadcast might not be so bad?
There was no backlash from the viewers. They just wanted to see Lee Gyeongbok in action as soon as possible.
He snapped his fingers again.
The emoji images disappeared, and the Q-tube channel came up.
[PerfectFULLrray]
It wasn't the existing channel.
"For my last announcement, we've launched a full video channel on Q-tube. Many of you said rewatching was inconvenient. Please show this channel lots of love as well."
― WA! Branch channel launched!
― Finally a full video channelㅋㅋ
― If you're Korean, you have to subscribe to thisㅋㅋ
― How do you open a branch in less than a month!
― Breaking news: Einstein finds 'evidence of relativity from a streamer'. Science world in shock!
― Insaneㅋㅋrelativity lol
Lee Gyeongbok smiled at the lively chat window. In that time, viewership climbed to 9,000.
He clapped lightly to draw attention.
"All right, announcements are over, and we're getting straight into the game!"
As the game started, his vision flipped instantly. Lee Gyeongbok slowly opened his eyes.
A dark forest covered in fog.
― Still gives me chills
― The fog looks like a wall
― You never know what'll jump out
― I always end up inching forward in this zoneㅋㅋ
― How did they make this game so well!
Despite viewers' concerns, Lee Gyeongbok stepped forward boldly. In fact, it looked as if he came out for a stroll, not even holding a weapon.
-???????
― What is this confidence?
― He's just walking through here like that?
― Ahㅋㅋit's started already
― Ah, this is what they call the 'Per-Alpha Swag.'
-(PerStamp-con)
-??? : I have a big liver, you know.
The chat window was filled with surprise and laughter. But Lee Gyeongbok's confidence wasn't without reason.
'Guess there's nothing at the entrance.'
Even with limited visibility, Lee Gyeongbok had a sixth sense. His sharpened five senses cut through the mist and drew a map of the surroundings in his mind.
Maybe because he walked quickly.
Before long, Lee Gyeongbok felt a sharp, jabbing unpleasantness.
'Not an undead...'
It felt different from the undead he'd met at the graveyard. Lee Gyeongbok caught his breath slowly and grabbed his broken longsword.
― What is it? Is this a hint?
― Is it the enemy!?
― Wait;;; there's nothing visible though?
― If Godple reacts, there's something, yeah
― Lol maybe the viewer doesn't know, but Godple does!
His action stirred up the chat window.
As Lee Gyeongbok chanted a spell internally, his weapon glowed red. The buzz in the chat grew louder.
"Shh-shi-shiit—"
Breaking the silence, a strange sound echoed. It was like leaking wind mixed with the bizarre rasping of something being scratched.
― Oh shit!
― Something big's coming, chills
― Yeah, even knowing what's coming, I'm shaking
― No spoilers, please
― GodFly is watching us!
The viewers reacted instantly.
The fog made it impossible to see anything. Still, Lee Gyeongbok spun his body around at once.
The rustling sound of leaves followed behind him. Then a hazy silhouette could be seen beyond the mist.
― What is that?
― A person?
― A head? It looks like a head?
― Wait;;; why is the head shaking like that?
From the mist, something that looked like a human head was moving. But there's no way a normal person's head would sway like that.
"That's definitely not human."
The moment Lee Gyeongbok uttered this.
Swish-swish-swish, the sound sped up. The head in the mist rushed in, revealing its true form.
A shaking human head, with wildly enlarged neck vertebrae growing out like roots, breaking through the body.
It looked as if bones had exploded inside the body—its true identity was a Bone-spine Centipede.
― Uhel er eong huh!
― From's monster designs are legendary
― Bone-spine Centipede always gives me chills
― When I first saw this, I was so scared I ended the game immediatelyㅋㅋㅋㅋ
― Ahㅋㅋㅋ my mom came in asking what that was
― Calling for mom, hahaha
― Why isn't Godple startled!
While viewers expressed their horror, Lee Gyeongbok stayed calm.
If anything, he seemed a little disappointed.
'Not even as strong as the Gravekeeper.'
Though it was more menacing than the undead, it was no match for the awakened Gravekeeper.
Without hesitation, he charged at the Bone-spine Centipede.
"Shh-shi-shiit—!"
The strange sound came from its head. More precisely, it was the sound of air scraping through the centipede's neck bones as it moved.
Sharply protruding bones shot at him like arrows.
'It might be tricky.'
The bones came at him in staggered intervals, filling his field of view. For most people, it would be unthinkable to break through.
But a perfect path appeared before Lee Gyeongbok.
― Wowㅋㅋㅋhe dodged all of that!?
― Why isn't he rolling on the ground?!
― FYI: rolling is the signature dodge in Elden Soul (not used)
― Ahㅋㅋwhy roll when you can just sidestep?
― You really can't call that just sidesteppingㅋㅋㅋ
Having pierced through in one go, Lee Gyeongbok swung his weapon at the creature. With a dull impact sound, the bone cracked.
― Ahㅋㅋso satisfying!
― Is that the bone-popping therapy move?
― Bone-breaker Godpleㅋㅋㅋ
-???: Aah! Wait, I got hit in the bones!
― Bone-spine Centipede instantly becomes a weaklingㅋㅋㅋ
― Go break those bones, bone-spine Centipede!
― WowㅋㅋI died to this so many times after just clearing the tutorial
-77eok! So refreshing and satisfying
-(PerStamp-con) Well deservedㅋㅋㅋ
As Lee Gyeongbok completely dominated, viewers were more than satisfied.
The centipede swung its long body to fight back, but it was in vain.
Lee Gyeongbok tenaciously targeted its weak point, the neck, and eventually broke it. With a thud, the centipede's body crashed down and scattered into dust.
"I kinda expected more from a monster, but it's just another mob."
Lee Gyeongbok's short review filled the chat window with question marks.
― Wait;; It really is a mob, but
― What does that make us who died to this thing?
― Mob 〉 viewer
― Talking about looks here?
― At least Bone-spine Centipede is intimidatingㅋㅋㅋㅋ
-???: Whew, thought it was a mob
― This is our story......
― Hey! Tease us for our skill, not this!
― Did deception breath just get confusion status?
As viewers clamored, a halo appeared over the scattered centipede debris.
Lee Gyeongbok widened his eyes and reached out a hand.
[Soul (25) acquired.]
As a message appeared, the halo flared, turning into a golden form.
It looked as if Lee Gyeongbok's own outline had been copied to form its shape.
[Head – Intelligence/Concentration (50)]
[Arms – Strength/Vitality (50)]
[Torso – Endurance/Vitality (50)]
[Legs – Strength/Endurance (50)]
[Soul – Limit (50)]
Each of the five parts had a different explanation.
"Ah, so this is the growth function. The numbers on the right must be how many Souls you need."
He got it immediately.
― Ah, rightㅋㅋㅋthis is already unlocked huh
― Ahㅋㅋㅋeasy freebie
― But each upgrade needs a different amount?
― Guess the difficulty's higher since it's a multi-run content
― Yeahㅋㅋit was like 10 for run 1, right?
― But this IS first run, isn't it?
― First run but multi-run...augh, my brain!
― Gestalt collapse incoming!
Lee Gyeongbok laughed at the viewers' reactions and turned away. With not enough Souls, there was no need to linger.
"From what I've done so far, I don't really need to level up."
-????????
― Wait;;;
― I'm speechless, it was tough for me but you just crushed it
― Lol, godple's base stats must be super high
― Ahㅋㅋㅋhis real-life stats are way too good!
― Ugh! It's deception! This is what local flavor is!
― Local flavor gagsㅋㅋㅋㅋ
Lee Gyeongbok resumed his journey.
Despite fierce fighting in the fog, he wasn't worried about getting lost.
'I sense something good in that direction.'
His spiritual energy was guiding him. Thanks to that, it didn't take long to discover a strange place.
"This place is..."
Through the slightly thinned mist, unusual structures became visible.
Intricately crooked branches hung from trees like bizarre crests, and several totems, clearly touched by human hands, stood here and there.
Most prominent was the altar standing at the center.
― Whoa?
― What? How did he get here so fast?
― Wait;;; don't most people wander for 3 hours?
― What the heck!
― Ahㅋㅋeveryone else gets unlucky but Godple's luck stat is maxed!
During battles in the fog, players naturally lose their sense of direction and end up wandering the area. For ordinary players, getting lost in the Misty Forest while fighting is the norm.
"That's true. I was lucky."
Lee Gyeongbok made a casual remark and walked toward the altar.
He sensed his control slipping away.
"This place is..."
Just as the protagonist murmured in confusion—
Somewhere, a wind blew, rustling the leaves. Like a whirlpool, the wind sucked in the fog.
Mysteriously, the ashen mist didn't dissipate but instead coalesced into the form of a woman.
"You are... one of the Broken."
A sweet voice befitting the figure emerged.
― Nunna!
― Lol, her voice is melting my ears.
― Welcome, our nunimㅋㅋㅋ
― You can see her looks just from the fog alone!
"Looks like an ally."
Lee Gyeongbok, agreeing with the viewers' positive mood, nodded. He sensed no threat from her at all.
"Who are you?"
Yet, the protagonist stayed alert in the cutscene. At that question, the fog rippled.
"My name and my body both faded away before time. Now I'm just called 'the Vague Witch'."
"The Vague Witch...?"
"A name is but a scrap of existence. It does not define me. Isn't it the same for you, broken One?"
The Vague Witch slowly circled around as if inspecting the protagonist.
"There isn't much difference between us. Both of us struggle not to become undead. I only abandoned my body, rather than my mind."
"Is that why you have the shape of mist?"
"Yes. But... being without a body is rather inconvenient. If it's all right, would you make a deal with me?"
"A deal?"
"Give me the Gravekeeper's Soul that you possess. As long as I have a Soul, I can simply make a body again. And of course, you will be properly rewarded."
When the witch said that, chat stirred.
― Wait? But the Soul function was already unlocked?
― Come to think of it, that's right?
― Oh, usually the Soul function unlocks here?
― Yeah, nunim opens the Soul engraving here
― Phew, now it's no longer a spoiler
Normally, meeting the witch would unlock the Soul function. This cutscene was supposed to end here.
But he still didn't regain control.
"What will you give me?"
In response to the protagonist, the witch circled around him again.
"You know how to engrave on souls, don't you? Hmm... That's not easy to learn; how many times have you been broken..."
-???: Huh? It's my first time though?
-???: Broken? That's never happened to me...
― Ahㅋㅋㅋcome to think of it, that's right
― YeahㅋㅋGodple never even met Yudahee
The chat window buzzed for a moment.
"I see, you're a sorcerer? Then that changes things. Give me the Soul, and I will teach you a sorcery I know."
At this, the mood changed at once.
― Whoa?????
― The witch nunim will teach a sorcery?!
― Witch's sorcery revealed?
― Wait;;; you don't usually get sorcery here
― Something big's coming! Something big's coming!
― Nunim teaches sorcery?
― Ohㅋㅋthe reward must differ depending on your background?
― Hidden Master Godple! Hidden Master Godple! Hidden Master Godple!
-(PerStamp-con)(PerStamp-con)(PerStamp-con)(PerStamp-con)
― Ahㅋㅋㅋlegendary moment again
The chat raged like a storm.
The witch's sorcery was a piece of content never before revealed.