Season 4: Chapter 27. First Mission (3)
The format of a full playthrough in one stream was introduced in events where participants would play a game non-stop and take turns sleeping until they completed it. The format became so popular among gamers that it remained a beloved challenge content among streamers even years later.
The basic rule was that once the stream started, the player couldn’t turn it off until they beat the game. They were allowed to eat, but not to sleep. It was an intense mission, and the payout reflected that.
[Ghostwo Busters Full Playthrough]
[2,000,000 KRW]
A whopping two million won was on the line.
[Do you accept?]
Almond hesitated in front of those words.
‘This would be my first...’
Due to the condition of his arm, Almond had never attempted this type of mission before.
‘But I feel okay today.’
He considered turning it down, but the two million won...
— Wow
— I’m so hyped!
— Almond doing a full playthrough?!
— But is his arm okay?! I want to watch, but I’m worried
— LET’S GOOO
— Legendary stream incoming!
He also didn’t want to decline because of his viewers’ excitement. It wasn’t about the money. Many viewers, even if they rarely said it aloud, had long been hoping to see Almond attempt a full playthrough.
Some posted in fan communities, wondering if they'd ever see him do a full run as a game streamer. Almond’s streams were usually shorter than other streamers.
‘This... is a challenge.’
New challenges always drew Almond in. He rarely backed down, whether it was the LIL or Civil Empire tournament. Compared to those, this mission was a smaller challenge. However, it was a significant one in terms of extending his stream time.
Of course, every challenge came with risks. Like the others, this challenge could aggravate his arm.
[Do you accept?]
The words shimmered on the screen.
[Do you accept this challenge?]
They seemed to morph before his eyes.
***
After Almond’s short stream the day before, the Kim duo came to work refreshed.
"Chief, are you watching today too?"
"Oh, definitely. Drink?"
"Of course."
This ad campaign had become their hope and joy. They would be fretting about it even at home, so why not just enjoy it in the company lounge with some beers?
"See you then?"
"Okay."
When Almond’s stream started after work, the two set up a table and grabbed some beers just like yesterday.
"Did you see the manager today? He seemed thrilled about the sales spike."
"Yup. Said even one week of this campaign could be huge. I’ve never seen him praise something like that before."
They were drinking because of the good mood. The campaign with Almond and Bubblegum was going amazingly well. Sales were up, mentions in online communities exploded, and some even said they could wrap up the two-week plan in just one.
"You think he’ll go for three, maybe four hours again tonight?"
"Probably. Almond’s streams aren’t that long. I looked him up on Wikipedia."
They let their guard down until the mission alert popped up.
Ba-bam!
"W-What the hell!?!"
The manager’s eyes widened.
"W-Wait! What is this!?"
"This... isn’t this a rival platform?! This is crazy!"
The assistant manager fumed too. A playthrough mission?! They expected at least a week of slow progression. Now, Almond was going to finish the game tonight?
"H-He won’t accept it, right? It’s his first time playing this game!"
"Has Almond ever done this before? Is that even something he can pull off?"
"Hold on."
The assistant scrambled to search Wikipedia and every fan site he could find. Almond had never done a full playthrough mission before.
"Nope. Nothing. I don’t think he will from how long he’s taking to decide."
"Right? Plus, wasn’t his arm the issue? How’s he going to survive this?"
"Exactly. It’s also the first time anyone has given him a full playthrough mission. This is wild. Who the hell did it?"
It turned out to be a regular wealthy viewer who just felt eager to move on to the next game.
[AK47: Can you play Kingdom next~]
A glance at the chat confirmed it. They just wanted him to finish the game fast.
"But he’s not going to accept it, right?"
"No way."
"Wait, he’s still thinking. Come on, don’t do it. Don’t!"
Their eyes met, swelling with hope. If Almond refused, that meant another short stream and longer campaign exposure. A promotion and raise were just around the corner. They could see a beam of light shining in their minds, leading straight to a promotion.
“I’ll accept it~”
DUN.
Almond clicked [Accept]. He didn’t hear it, but a scream echoed in despair in a certain Seoul office. All hope seemed lost.
“Wait, hold on. Bubblegum still has to accept it too, right?”
Bubblegum also had to accept for the co-op mission to begin. Another beam of light fell from the heavens into the Kim duo’s office.
"Y-Yeah, he can’t do it alone!!"
"Oh, God, please. I don’t even care if it’s a ghost. Anyone, please just stop this."
They wished for a ghost to carry Almond off, but dared not jinx it.
***
Bubblegum logged into This World. He couldn’t believe what he was hearing.
"A full playthrough mission?"
"Yeah, hyung. I got a full playthrough mission. Is it okay if you join?"
What was that innocent voice even saying?
"Wait a sec. Didn’t you already accept it?"
— LOL
— Took action before asking
— ONE SITTING LET’S GOOOO
— LMAOOO
"Ah... don’t worry about that. Are you in?"
How could he not worry about it? Almond had already accepted two million won!
"Wait, Almond. You just started this game yesterday."
"That’s right."
"I mean... are you sure you can handle it?"
"I mean... I played a champion for the first time in the LIL tournament as well..."
Bubblegum had nothing to say.
— LOL
— Born different, I swear...
— Full playthrough = new champion
— The alpha life
‘Ah, shit. This isn’t going to work.’
Bubblegum had an illustrious full playthrough career and an even more infamous punishment history. He feared full playthroughs more than most and never attempted them unless the conditions were perfect.
Even high-paying missions didn’t move him because of the physical exhaustion from prolonged streams and the absurdly brutal punishments. It was never an easy decision, but Almond had just casually announced it as if going on a picnic.
‘I mean, even if this guy is good... is this really doable?’
— Bubblegum’s pupils are trembling LOL
— Finally, a full playthrough mission? Even after begging all this time
— Let’s vote for punishments first!!
While Bubblegum panicked, the viewers felt thrilled.
Ding!
[Roadblock has donated 100,000 won!]
[Wow! You’re doing a full playthrough? I’ll donate my entire life savings!! I’m 12 years old and saved every coin in a piggy bank!]
— LOL
— That’s not fair hahaha
— His entire life savings... Too touching
— No turning back now...
— If he says no after this, he’s really the devil!
Bubblegum’s expression hardened. Here it came. They would push him into a full playthrough and start voting on outrageous, embarrassing punishments.
"This... this setup feels all too familiar. Ahh..."
Bubblegum nervously tried to appeal to Almond. He needed Almond to decline, so he could decline too.
However, Almond’s reply was just as outrageous.
"Huh? But bro, you’re bad at memorizing patterns anyway."
— LOL
— Bruh that’s not the point
— This guy only cares about gameplay lol
— HE’S NOT WRONG THOUGH!!
‘Huh?’
Bubblegum laughed soullessly.
"Y-Yeah... fair."
"Let’s try and beat it all today."
Trying to keep his composure, Bubblegum cautiously asked, "Uh... Almond, do you even know the theoretical playtime of this game? I mean, the two million won isn’t the point."
— He’s trying to back out LOL
— Someone donate more so he can’t
— Don’t let him go!!
"Uh... no? How long is it?"
Almond didn’t even know!? Bubblegum was speechless.
— Almond doesn’t know. He just doesn’t.
— Wait he accepted without knowing?!
— He physically might not be able to finish it tonight
"I mean, if it’s a massive game—wait, hang on."
Bubblegum figured that words wouldn’t be enough. He started calculating.
"Guys, if the theoretical playtime exceeds twenty-four hours, then seriously just call it off. Almond can’t overdo it. This would be a scam, honestly."
— Respect
— That’s a real bro right there
— Not everything is possible
— Even 20 hours without sleep is insane!
Bubblegum genuinely tried to rescue Almond from an impossible challenge.
"WOOOOOO!"
"Bubblegum! Bubblegum! Bubblegum!"
The Kim duo cheered the loudest. Moments later, they joined Bubblegum in despair.
"I found it. And, well... haaa," he sighed and couldn’t even finish his sentence.
— That sigh LOL
If it was over twenty-four hours, he’d have said so. It seemed close.
"The exact theoretical playtime comes out to twenty-three hours and thirty minutes. This is insane..."
— It really is a ghost game lol
— Even the runtime is cursed
— What a fitting number...
"That’s just pure playtime."
That was how long it’d take if a player never died and made zero mistakes. Basically, only an AI that had mastered the game could pull that off. For a human player playing for the first time, that number was pure fantasy.
Just then, donations poured in.
Bababam!
[MiddleSchooler has donated 200,000 won!]
[Wow a full playthrough mission! My whole family—mom, dad, grandma, grandpa—are all seated and watching now!]
Babam!
[SobStory has donated 100,000 won!]
[Our elderly dog’s dying wish was to see a full playthrough mission. He normally can’t bark, but he’d cry out "Play! Play!" when watching your streams, begging for a full playthrough... but you never accepted... until now...]
Bubblegum was speechless.
— Play play!
— The dog speaks!
— These viewers are next level
— Mission guilt trip in full force
“Sigh,” Bubblegum exhaled a deep breath.
‘There’s no way out now.’
The room had fully transformed into a mission arena.
"Guys, seriously, even twenty-four hours is nuts. Since we skipped the Gatekeeper already... sigh... fine. I’ll do it."
DUN DUN!
Bubblegum turned on dramatic BGM and raised his arm.
"Mission accepted!!!"
— Wooooo
— LET’S GOOOO
— The hype is real
— LOL
Pew!
Almond and Bubblegum reappeared in the cursed university building as they resumed the game.
"Ready."
Almond bent over like a track runner.
"BANG!"
He sprinted off.
Tatatatatatak!
— ???
— Wut
— BANG!
— Why is he running like that? LOL
Bubblegum chased after him. "Wait, what?! Why are you running!?"
Almond suddenly charged in a game where anything could pop out at any moment like a minefield. Was this some new tactic?
Almond simply replied, "Because of the mission."
— LOL
— I think he misunderstood the mission.
— Literal speedrun
— Bruh, he’s serious
‘No way I’m spending twenty-three hours on this.’
Almond was clearly trying to save every second.
‘If I’d known the playtime, I wouldn’t have accepted.’
And just like that, Almond’s very first full playthrough mission began.