Genius’s Godlike Game Broadcast

Entering Hell (2)

Lee Gyeongbok resumed the game, which had been paused. He had accepted the quest, so it was time to proceed.

"I'll take care of this si—"

Beatrice, who had been back-to-back with him, didn't get to finish her sentence.

Lee Gyeongbok immediately hurled his greatsword and struck the nearest Cerulean.

― Saintly Nuna, absolutely flabbergasted, lol"

― What a madman, lol – just throws without hesitation"

― Ah, lol, even talking wastes time, that's what he means!"

― The massacre begins!"

Lee Gyeongbok quickly drew his pistol and landed shots on the onrushing reptiles.

"So reckless—"

Beatrice's surprised voice was drowned out by the gunshots and the cries of the Ceruleans.

That was because Lee Gyeongbok wasn't just taking out those coming for him—he shot down those closing in on her as well.

― Wait;;; how's his accuracy when moving like that?"

― I know this! Is this Gun Kata? Matjji!?"

― Since ancient times, godple-class shooting style was all double shot, double kill by default"

― Isn't it a bit much to even hit flying icicles?!"

― At this point, I feel like it's more dangerous if Saintly Nuna tries to move, lol"

But the magazine wasn't infinite. As Lee Gyeongbok's gunfire ceased, a few lucky surviving Ceruleans charged in.

"Durante!"

As Beatrice shouted, lifting her spear in alarm, Lee Gyeongbok transformed his gauntlet into a spiked whip and lashed out.

In that instant, while the Ceruleans recoiled, the whip shot toward the greatsword stuck in the corpse of the first one killed.

Like a magnet, the whip wrapped around the sword's hilt, and with a deft flick, Lee Gyeongbok swung it in a broad arc.

Blue blood sprayed the ground along the arc, and the reptiles' heads went flying.

― Whoa?"

― So that's how you use it?"

― This is 100% the intended use, lol"

― Really, don't expect common sense from Purple-style combat, lol!"

― They're slicing them up like there's not even time to move, jeez"

― The shockwave of capitalism is terrifying!"

The viewers couldn't hide their awe at the scene before their eyes. But there was something even more astonishing.

Lee Gyeongbok coolly retrieved the greatsword and threw it at the last surviving Cerulean.

"Shaaak...!"

Unlike before, this one didn't die right away and thrashed about, but at Lee Gyeongbok's gesture, it was pulled in helplessly.

At the same time, Lee Gyeongbok reverted his whip to a gauntlet and slammed the creature to the ground.

With a cracking sound, the floor fractured, and the Cerulean perished.

"We need to see what kind of ability this is, right?"

At those words, the viewers understood his intent.

― There's a smurf progressing the fight even during a quest now!?"

― How come he's good at EVERYTHING?!"

― Come on;;; being good at just one thing would already be impressive!"

― Both quests and ads are about money, after all?"

― Black Company never refuses a profitable job, lol!"

― Ahh, this must be what real 'perfection' looks like."

― Because that's what 'PERFECT' means (nods)"

Even mid-quest, his composure was obvious. The comment section flooded with viewers' admiration.

Lee Gyeongbok smiled and raised his gauntlet.

The gauntlet, now stained with Cerulean blood, began to show changes—frost bloomed in a white sheen across its surface.

"It doesn't activate with a keyword. Is this passive?"

As he commented, grabbing his greatsword, a chill emanated from the blade. He gripped his pistol and squeezed the trigger.

"Oh."

With a splintering sound, the bullet flashed and instantly froze the surroundings.

― Whoa, lol, it's elemental infusion!"

― Chilled-to-the-Bone Association will love this power."

― Ah LOL, nothing beats chilled drinks, honestly."

― For real, lol—having that will save ice money, right?"

― Seriously, adding ice and charging 500 won more is just maddening~"

― Troopers' banter, lol watch them go"

Since Lee Gyeongbok was so at ease, the viewers relaxed as well. Grinning at the chat, he headed straight for a Hellgate forged of ice.

As he plunged his greatsword into it, just like Durante did in the previous cutscene, the Hellgate shriveled up.

"My goodness..."

When the Hellgate was sealed, beatrice finally spoke, her already large eyes wide in astonishment.

"I never imagined you'd be this powerful..."

― Saintly Nuna just stunned after seeing Perante!"

― Whoa, lol, come to think of it, this is her first time seeing him actually fight"

― Probably the evaluation will depend on how many he defeated, right?"

― This merits a guaranteed top-rank evaluation, lol"

― For real, lol, godple did it all alone"

― She's left speechless... (in shock)"

― If she had Kemalcon, she would've used it immediately, right?"

As the viewers typed gleefully about her reaction, Lee Gyeongbok suddenly approached her and wrapped an arm around her waist.

The bold action sent question marks flooding the chat, and Beatrice tensed up.

"There's no time to lose."

Lee Gyeongbok's voice cut through the hush.

There was nothing suggestive about his intentions.

He instantly hurled his spiked whip toward a slanted streetlamp.

― Whoa LOL, tarzan meta, what the heck!"

― Ah, lol, it's faster than running!"

― You mean even the travel time isn't worth wasting?"

― ???: Money's just vanishing!"

― How far will this guy's earnestness goooo?"

― Treating the Saint like baggage, lol"

― Saint or Nuna, none of that matters. For Black Company, money is everything!"

Any confusion the viewers had was swiftly dispelled. Yet when a startled Beatrice clung onto Lee Gyeongbok during this unorthodox traveling method, the viewers' mood flipped.

― Wow LOL he totally aimed for that"

― Look at him naturally receiving a hug, lol"

― Me too! Hug me too please!"

― Note: The Hug That Brings the Storm STEP 1. Get a spiked whip."

― Already failed at the first step, huh?"

― For real, lol, how do you clear an undefeatable boss?"

― Is this the right of the strong?"

While the chat overflowed with envy, Lee Gyeongbok's attention was clearly elsewhere.

'This way, huh.'

His innate divine energy guided his path. Though a ruin, the roads stretched in all directions. But the divine energy pointed a single way.

When he reached the destination, he understood why.

"DaeBurnt...!"

As he landed and set Beatrice down, she spoke in confusion. Before them wandered flaming skulls.

― Whoa;;; just looking at it makes me feel like I'm in a sauna"

― Why's Nuna surprised? That's just a regular Daegu citizen!"

― Seriously, daefrica is hotter than hell?"

― Let's give our Saint a sightseeing tour of Korea, lol"

― A country of four distinct seasons (not)"

Unfortunately, the chat didn't reach her. With a grave look, she said,

"We're in trouble. Even in the Order, we're told never to approach without liquid nitrogen..."

Before she could finish, Lee Gyeongbok launched forward. Her eyes widened once again.

But this time, the viewers weren't startled.

― Ah, lol, the chance to use the ability comes right away, huh?"

― Is he going to dump some kind of freezing rounds?"

― Godple's luck, what's up with that?!"

― Honestly, it doesn't seem like luck though, lol"

― Are the flaming baldies about to get annihilated?"

― Ah, lol, if you're bald, your head should be nice and cool anyway"

― If that flickering flame was hair... sigh"

― No, lol, isn't that going too far?"

They instantly recalled the frost-infusing ability from the Cerulean. And even if the duration wasn't long—

'It's enough.'

Who else but Lee Gyeongbok to make full use of the power?

The moment he activated the ability and swung his sword, frost-laced blade parted the flames.

Shattered bone shards scattered.

Other skulls, a beat slow, flared up even more fiercely and attacked.

"Durante...!"

Beatrice cried out in alarm.

Unable to just watch passively, she swung her spear at the surrounding skulls.

Fortunately, the spear's length kept her safe, but a single misstep could have caught her in the flames.

Lee Gyeongbok didn't overlook the danger.

After the tearing sound, a splintering noise rang out—the projectile pierced the flames, freezing the skulls' bodies.

She didn't miss the chance. A strike delivered with the freezing effect shattered a skull's body to pieces.

― Ah, lol, this is cooperation!"

― Check out Nuna's reflexes"

― Godple's enchanting ability is insane"

― Seriously, lol, he keeps changing between greatsword and pistol"

― Even Dog-Chew wouldn't have imagined that kind of use, lol"

― This must be the 'Baptism of God', huh?"

― 'En'chant? No! It's 'God'chant!"

― Ah, lol, turns out the 'En' was for human, lol"

Their demon hunting continued smoothly. Strictly speaking, Lee Gyeongbok's counterplay and support dictated the outcome.

Now with Beatrice actively assisting as well, the battle ended even more quickly.

"Once again, elemental infusion."

Lee Gyeongbok commented as he touched a skull frozen by an ice round to check the ability.

As with the Cerulean, the blade now burned with flame and shots converted to incendiary rounds.

By now, the viewers could no longer miss the pattern.

― So each Hellgate seems to have an element?"

― There are five, so it must be the Five Elements?"

― Ooh, this follows the Fire, water, wood, metal, earth order"

― Now that you've got fire, should you head for the wood gate?"

― You could, but that'd mess up the matchup flow, lol"

― If it's original Five Elements, the order is Fire〉Metal〉Wood〉Earth〉Water〉Fire"

Because the audience was game-savvy, many knew about elemental relationships.

Meanwhile, Lee Gyeongbok sealed the flaming Hellgate and swung his whip again.

Having experienced it once, beatrice didn't look surprised anymore—she just looked away shyly, avoiding his gaze.

But this was fleeting; viewers concentrating on chat missed her reaction.

― But how does he know where the metal one is?"

― For real, lol, if it were a replay it'd be one thing, but this is first run"

― Ah, lol, anyway, godple just knows!"

― He really seems to know, though?"

― His action speed, whoa"

It wasn't until Lee Gyeongbok started moving again that the viewers' attention returned.

He traversed the streets swiftly and spoke.

"The answer was already right there."

A flurry of question marks filled the chat in response. Was he saying he actually knew, and this wasn't coincidence?

"Didn't you all see during the cutscene?"

At their reaction, Lee Gyeongbok retorted as if mystified by their confusion.

― Cutscene?"

― Wait? When the Hellgate first appeared?"

― Full throttle, that one?"

― Insane LOL, he remembered that brief moment?"

― He didn't just memorize the types, but their locations too?"

The number of question marks increased. But after all, who was it saying this?

― Wow, he's gone and Godpled it again, lol"

― Non-human level instant memory, whoa"

― Wasn't he looking past the barrier? His spatial cognition, what?"

― GPS? More like PPS!"

― PERFECT POSITIONING SYSTEM, lMAO"

With Lee Gyeongbok, acting beyond the norm was the norm.

He let out a stifled laugh and spoke again.

"Our advertiser already prepared all the boss strategies for us. You don't see this kind of thoughtful game design often, do you?"

― Sneak advertisement, lol"

― Capitalism in overdrive!"

― That's why Purple Coin is skyrocketing, lol"

― I'll buy the game! Buying it right now!"

― Ah, lol, pre-order incoming!"

― A god advertising a game, now it's GOTY"

Everyone enjoyed his opportunistic ad remark.

* * *

The progression went just as the viewers predicted.

Lee Gyeongbok was now facing a living, muddy demon called "Mudman" emerging from the final, 5th Hellgate.

Roots erupted in the wake of his sword, covering the mud, and the Mudman's sticky body dried up in an instant, crumbling to dust.

― Ssakparadise!"

― This is how tough farming can be, sigh"

― Sending an Action Beam in honor of the nutrient-turned demon!"

― What kind of reworked Action Beam is this, lol"

The viewers jeered at the swiftly vanquished demons. Meanwhile, Lee Gyeongbok sealed the last Hellgate.

And the time taken was—

[1:47:51]

Just over 22 minutes.

― That's not the elapsed time, right?"

― Crazy, just crazy, honestly"

― That's barely 4 minutes per gate, lol"

― Wow, seriously, that's insanely fast"

― If you subtract travel, isn't it really only 3 minutes each?"

― What's the record difference?"

[Quest Complete!]

['IWonderIfThisGuyIsSerious' has donated ₩550,000!]

The quest success message answered the chat's earlier question.

― Nice timing!"

― Was IWonderIfThisGuyIsSerious waiting for someone to ask? LOL"

― Fifty-five minutes, lol, legendary"

― ???: Why are you provoking with 55?!"

― Dolkreet infiltration, the end!"

[Quest Complete!]

['CapCompany_Kor' has donated ₩500,000]

Followed by the sponsor's settlement.

Laughter blossomed even more in the chat.

― A smurf just earned ₩1,000,000 with one time attack?!"

― That's PER-FECT collection for you."

― Ah, lol, from here on you should use IWonderIfThisGuyIsSerious's testing method"

― It's so effective, lol"

― Godple's earnestness—look down on it and your wallet gets hurt!"

In such a lively atmosphere, Lee Gyeongbok smiled and relayed his thanks.

"Thank you for the quest settlement! I'm glad everyone's satisfied. Ah, I noticed one thing during this time attack that I'd like to see improved."

A test shouldn't end just with results. If there were suggested improvements, they should be made.

The viewers' attention focused at his words.

"Since the stream showed all the Hellgate locations, don't you think keeping them fixed makes things less fun?"

With an innocent grin:

"What if the Hellgate locations were randomized each time a cutscene forms them?"

He concluded his feedback.

The viewers responded right away.

― ?"

― Hyung?"

― What are you saying?"

― Perfect-saying, pause!"

― ???: If it's too easy, it's not fun (actual quote)"

― Wait;;; we don't find things fun just because they're hard!"

― It's already hard enough to even imitate, you know?"

― LOL, we're blockheads who'll keep checking the map like five times!"

― Stop overestimating the Troopers!"

― Waah! I'm just a baby Devil fandom! Leave everything to the saintly Nuna!"

― Ultimate Chad approach, what the heck, lol"

A chorus of half-joking, half-serious protests rang out. Lee Gyeongbok laughed and resumed the game, which had been halted for the settlement.

Implementing feedback would be something for the devs to consider.

"Ah, cutscene time already."

At his words, the previously uproarious chat quickly refocused.

"I can't believe you actually closed all the Hellgates."

Beatrice glanced at Durante and murmured. The feeling behind that gaze was a familiar 'wonder' to viewers.

"For just one person to defeat so many demons..."

As she mumbled, her pupils flashed. She seemed to realize something.

"Could it be... the reason the first invasion suddenly stopped?"

― Whoa, even our Nuna's figured it out now"

― Honestly, this is basically him begging for someone to notice it, right?"

― For real LOL, he just reenacted it right in front of her!"

― If she misses it now, that's a brainpower problem, lol"

Not content to let it end with just a deduction.

"Durante, was it you?"

Beatrice asked directly and candidly.

― Look at that fastball, straight to the point, lol"

― Peak mature woman move: no hesitation"

― Definitely the top-tier woman, whoa"

― Best couple, lol"

― Totally clearing up the plot thread~"

Durante didn't answer immediately. Instead, he looked away to her, then clicked his tongue briefly.

"I suppose it was me."

"Suppose...?"

"... I don't remember the actual process."

She frowned. The viewers shared similar feelings.

― He doesn't remember?"

― Wait;; is this another dropped plot thread?!"

― We're instantly getting a new mystery."

― Durante's got amnesia?"

Durante turned his gaze toward the demons' strewn corpses. With this, the cutscene's color faded to black and white.

"All I remember are the demons' blood and corpses, and waking up buried amid them."

The scene shifted as he described it. No one missed the implication that this was Durante's recollection.

But only briefly—then the world returned to normal.

"All that lingers faintly is my name, and the need to return to hell."

He muttered softly, then turned to Beatrice.

"But even that reason is murky. I just feel vaguely compelled, as though I have to find something."

He looked into Beatrice's surprised face and laughed wryly.

"Maybe it's like some sort of homing instinct. For demons, hell is like home."

"No."

Beatrice abruptly cut in at his self-deprecating remark.

"Demons... don't have this kind of warmth."

She gently took Durante's hand. Soon, her gaze, which started at their joined hands, rose slowly to his face.

"Being human isn't just about your species."

A close-up on her face, with Durante reflected in her large eyes—as though she held him within herself.

"There are people as monstrous as demons. So I don't think it's strange for there to be a demon as human as a person."

Soon, a gentle smile blossomed on her face.

"If you asked me which is human, my answer is decided."

Her hand gently touched Durante's chest. All sound faded, leaving only the pounding of his heart.

"Durante, you're someone certain to me."

― Nunaaaaa!"

― Mm! That juicy flavor!"

― I've cried in all four cardinal directions for this emotion, sob"

― What? Stack more heroine points?"

― At this rate, you could reach Mars with those stacks!"

― Saint's Coin—upward momentum? It's a huge opportunity!"

― ???: Gonna take you to Mars now!"

― Peak woman's approach, huh?"

― Ah, lol, if only I'd ever received such a move, could relate better"

― Ah...!"

Explosive reactions filled the chat. Maybe Durante felt similarly.

For once, he gave a gentle smile. The mood in the chat became even more charged.

― Ah, lol, obvious mouth collision setup"

― Calling a kiss 'mouth collision' what even, lol"

― Now only Godple benefits from this!"

― Monopoly on good things! It never ends!"

But things didn't play out as viewers expected. Beatrice suddenly tensed and froze as if paralyzed.

As the camera panned down, it showed the limp spiked whip.

― ?"

― What? What is this all of a sudden?"

― Did he paralyze Nuna?"

― What's going on, what's happening?!"

The mood flipped in chat.

But the reason was immediately made clear.

"Beatrice, remember this."

His gaze passed beyond her, to the city ruins where lights were beginning to gather.

"Hell is no place for humans."

Slowly, he turned his back on her.

"Only demons, or those destined to become them, can enter there."

Durante dashed into the city.

Once again, the two grew distant.

― Ah..."

― He's forcing her away because it's dangerous"

― He even confirmed the Holy Knights arriving after all the Hellgates were sealed"

― Is this how a true man shows thoughtfulness?"

― Looking forward to the ending where, after coming back from hell, it's, 'My feelings haven't changed. We'll continue to work together. I won't let you go again.' Right?"

― Devil fandom's demands are so detailed, lol"

The chat showed mostly understanding and sympathy. Meanwhile, durante reached the city's center.

There was a massive hole before him, its depths lost in utter darkness.

He leaped into it without hesitation.

"It seems the location's changed immediately."

His vision went pitch black.

Yet Lee Gyeongbok, synced with Durante's senses, could feel when the fall ended.

Just how deep was he? It was too dark to guess.

Then, with the clang of metal, sparks leaped up from the floor.

Durante had scraped his greatsword along the ground to light his vision.

― There are some kinds of grooves or scratches on the floor?"

― What's that?"

― Come on, at least make this a bit more visible with game logic!"

― Honestly, it's a bit inconvenient, lol"

― Dog-Chew? You watching this?"

Amid the intermittent glimpses of light, they could see patterns carved into the floor.

While pondering what this could be, suddenly the sparks vanished.

"Huh? Durante just stabbed himself in the chest?"

Sensing something off, Lee Gyeongbok narrated the scene. Before the chat could react, it changed again.

Blood followed the grooves from earlier. Astonishingly, the blood glowed, driving away the darkness.

And the blood was flowing out from Durante.

― That mood, whoa"

― Wow;;; the capsule version really is next level"

― That immersion you just don't get on console!"

― Something's definitely happening now"

The blood quickly filled all the grooves in the floor. Then, the ground quaked, and a massive stone gate rose up from below.

― Wait, is this the 'Gate of Hell'?"

― They used the console version's design, lol"

― Wow LOL, still, in capsule form this grandeur is a different level"

Oldbies instantly recognized it.

As soon as the stone gate was fully up—

With a crashing sound, it shattered and collapsed.

― Huh?"

― Why did it break?"

― Come on;;; what's with the shoddy construction?!"

― Why bother with all the mood if it just collapses?!"

The viewers were dumbfounded.

"As expected."

But as Durante ran a hand behind his neck and muttered, focus returned.

"I probably broke it, didn't I. Having to fix it... how absurd."

With that monologue, control returned.

Lee Gyeongbok immediately sensed what to do.

"This is a puzzle segment."

It was clear he had to reassemble the broken Gate of Hell.

He quickly sorted through the fragments. Matching the neat corner pieces was easy.

― Oh? Is this like a jigsaw puzzle?"

― Eh? There's a puzzle element too?"

― Yeah, there was one in the console version, too."

― Wow LOL, on console, this was so much running around"

― But in the capsule you can solve it right there, lol"

― It looks kind of hard, though?"

― Corners are easy, but the middle's tough, lol"

Oldbies reminisced and typed rapidly, though some were worried.

― Ah, lol, our Godple's going to be perfect at puzzles too, right?"

― For real LOL, you don't know his second run OTP?"

― Info: 'Physical prowess' is a combo of physical and brainplay skills"

― For him, this level of puzzle's nothing, lol"

Most knew Lee Gyeongbok's achievements and remembered his glory days in Escapers.

For Lee Gyeongbok, there was zero concern.

'I already know the answer from the start.'

His innate divine energy showed him the correct location of every puzzle piece.

Still, there was a reason he didn't just instantly solve it.

'If I just do it instantly, it's not a boss guide stream.'

He had to set a direction for the audience. Thankfully, the devs included some clues.

"Looks like there are letters carved into each piece."

He held up a fragment, pointing to the inscribed spot.

"This one reads 'in hell', this one's 'reap', this one is 'step', and over here..."

The chat, as if taking dictation, filled with the words he recited.

― Write them down! Just write!"

― Trooper intelligence, full power!"

― Ooh LOL, assembling a sentence with the words?"

― Nice! We can help out Godple too, lol!"

Lee Gyeongbok found the viewers' fuss endearing.

― In hell. 'In hell'!"

― Where does 'reap' go?"

― With a particle, is it some kind of reaping?"

― Looks like we failed after all?"

― If you're not gonna help, just move aside!"

― Okay, reap, wallah, in, all"

― Brag sh... Ah, lol definitely not that"

― You'll get banned for that, lol"

― Turns out it's a group project, right?"

Yet despite their efforts, the answer didn't come easily. Lee Gyeongbok watched the determined chat and lightly cleared his throat.

"Ahem, it's solved."

― It's already done!?"

― King Lee, god's hand?!"

― Actually, I just waited for Godple to finish, lol"

― You too? Me too!"

― I just kept copying the same words so others could work on it, lol"

― What kind of gospel truth is this, haha"

He swiftly arranged the pieces.

The completed message:

[In hell]

[Those who set foot]

[Erase all]

[Hope]

Perfectly aligned, with not a single mistake.

― Dang! That cleanliness, lol"

― Fragments... ASSEMBLE!"

― Ah, lol, I was so stuck on where to put something between 'brag' and 'hell'"

― Real talk, there were two hells, so I confused myself over and over"

― Let's stop making dangerous comments already!"

― I kept thinking with 'step' and 'reap', it was some luxury brand, lol"

― LOL, it's a luxury, alright"

As soon as the puzzle was solved, the fragments began to buzz. The quivering pieces seemed to fill in their own gaps, almost like they were alive.

The restored Gate of Hell.

On its surface, reliefs of screaming humans and demons. Durante's blood welled up across it.

"Home sweet home."

Durante sneered and strode through the newly opened gate.

― So relaxed just before entering hell, lol"

― His voice and the atmosphere, what a fit"

― Maybe Godple could do a decent English dub?"

― Ah, lol, suddenly I want to buy a membership"

As the scene shifted, the chat scrolled rapidly. But the cutscene wasn't over yet.

Having exited the gate, durante looked around. The new location was completely unlike the one before.

He whistled lightly.

"Who'd have guessed someone living in a place that looks like this would actually have such classic taste."

Old stone walls, tiny windows—the interior looked much like a medieval castle. Looking out the window, there was nothing below but a bottomless chasm.

Durante quickly lost interest in the scenery and strode ahead.

When he opened the door at the end—

The head of a hunting dog, as big as a house, was there.

― Holy!"

― jmd ael..."

― Come on;;; why the sudden jump scare!"

― Ah, lol, beer all over my keyboard"

― In another sense, I just lost it"

― And Godple being unfazed, what's up with that?"

― Because that's PERFECT composure (nod)"

The viewers freaked out, but Lee Gyeongbok was cool. So was Durante.

"... Did I do this too?"

The hunting dog's head was severed from its body. And it wasn't just one—three heads were scattered about, with the body slumped to the floor.

― That's Cerberus, isn't it?"

― A three-headed dog could only be that one, lol"

― Isn't it the traditional guardian of the gate of hell?"

― Maybe Durante killed it while leaving hell?"

― Oh! Given he broke the hellgate too, it fits"

As nothing threatened him, Lee Gyeongbok felt no tension. That's why—

'Something's appeared.'

His sixth sense picked up another presence.

Just a moment after Lee Gyeongbok felt it, durante's expression hardened. He drew his pistol and fired into the darkness.

― ????"

― What? What is it?"

― Ambush?"

― Probably whoever killed Cerberus?"

― Oh, lol, that is plausible"

― So maybe Durante wasn't the one who took care of it?"

― Ah, lol, still, took a hit, right?"

Viewers speculated about the sudden turn.

"No, there was no hit sound."

With Lee Gyeongbok's commentary, someone emerged from the darkness.

A man with pure white hair slicked back, skin even paler than his hair. Notably, one arm was wrapped with a black serpent.

"I also prefer action to words, but I haven't come to fight you."

The man spoke as he opened his hand—flattened bullets rolled across the floor.

"I'm not foolish enough to antagonize Durante."

"You can't trust a demon's word."

Aunque keeping his aim steady, durante replied. The man's smile stayed relaxed.

"That's true as well. Trust isn't something built just on words."

With an eye-smile, the man dipped his head.

"Forgive the late introduction. I am Andromalius, but you may call me Andro for short."

Durante replied by pulling the trigger again. But Andro, still bowing his head, caught the bullet.

"I'm glad to see you haven't changed."

"... Haven't changed?"

"Yes. I've always hoped for your return, durante."

Andro straightened and shrugged lightly. The unfolding situation threw the chat into chaos.

― Huh?"

― What's with this development?"

― Why is a demon waiting for a demon hunter?"

― Is this a betrayal setup for that demon?"

― So confusing!"

― At the very least, from the hints, it's clear Durante was in hell before losing his memory!"

― Maybe Andro is an ally?"

Lee Gyeongbok smiled inwardly as viewers proposed theories.

'Is this collective intelligence? They're actually solving it.'

In truth, andro gave off none of the discomfort or threat of a normal demon.

He was definitely an ally archetype.

But there was something Lee Gyeongbok couldn't understand.

'Why does the cutscene end now?'

As soon as Andro introduced himself, control returned.

'Does that mean I can fight him if I want?'

If play was allowed, combat might be an option.

***

**New Names, locations, skills, techniques List:**