Genius Archer’s Streaming - Chapter 136
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————
The Genius Archer’s Streaming Season 1 Episode 136
47. The Filming Location (4)
Four arrows embedded in the target, lined up neatly.
All four shots had hit, at least. It wasn’t catastrophically bad—nothing so terrible that I’d completely missed.
Of course, compared to my actual skill level, the result was pathetically mediocre.
I wasn’t so deluded as to think that simply pulling this off meant I could draw the bow again.
This bow wasn’t a precision-engineered competition bow, the target was twenty times larger than regulation archery standards, and the distance was more than twice as close.
My right arm trembled so violently it wouldn’t even fit properly in my pocket, and sweat poured down my torso like rain, drenching the sponsored shirt until I felt apologetic toward it.
Still, I smiled.
‘So I can do this much, at least.’
I could still shoot.
I could still attempt it.
That alone was enough to satisfy me.
* * *
“Wow!”
“That’s insane…”
Department Manager Go emerged from the commotion.
His gaze fixed on the Green Tower with four arrows protruding from it in a line.
‘Didn’t they say there was an injury to his right hand?’
It probably wasn’t a lie.
Department Manager Oh wasn’t the type to fabricate stories, and the photographer had said the same thing.
‘Then… did he deliberately attempt it?’
If so, Almond had rushed to finish filming right now despite the injury, and completed it in a single take as if to prove something.
It was quite a demanding action sequence for an ordinary person. He’d finished it in just one shot.
Department Manager Go’s eyes turned toward Almond, who was now sitting on the ground.
“Huff… huff…”
Breathing heavily, his right hand was shoved into his pocket. The way he’d awkwardly stuffed it in while sitting made it look like he was desperately trying to hide it.
A trembling right hand, ragged breathing, beads of sweat streaming down.
Anyone could see he was exhausted.
Yet despite that, a smile lingered at the corners of his mouth.
‘That smile…’
Miho and the other staff members simply cheered and celebrated his smile.
But Department Manager Go felt a sharp pang in his chest.
He could sense that the smile wasn’t purely born from joy—at his age, having tasted both the bitter and sweet of life, he could feel it.
‘What have you been through, kid?’
What could have happened to someone barely thirty years old that would produce such a smile?
If he was going to smile like that, why attempt it in the first place?
He exhaled a shallow sigh.
He walked toward Almond.
“Hey there, Almond. Are you alright?”
“Ah, yes.”
When Department Manager Go arrived, Sanghyeon naturally rose from his seat. Even so, he maintained his composure.
“…If there’s a problem, please tell me. We can head straight to the hospital.”
“I’m fine. It’s nothing serious.”
Despite saying it was nothing, my right hand never left my pocket. For someone with such careful manners, maintaining that posture meant I was hiding something.
Department Manager Go deliberately didn’t look in that direction.
He looked into my eyes instead.
Eyes drenched thoroughly.
Whether sweat or tears….
“I understand, Almond. You worked incredibly hard today. Among first-timers, you’re the best model I’ve ever seen.”
“Pardon?”
Eyes widening at the sudden praise.
“Ah, actually, you might not even be among the first-timers.”
“…?”
Department Manager Go, who had been expressionless throughout the entire shoot.
He clearly hadn’t viewed me favorably. I was a complete novice, joined late, and somehow received favor from the higher-ups.
Anyone in Department Manager Go’s position would have resented me.
Department Manager Go was naturally the same.
He certainly was back then….
“Why are you so surprised?”
But not now.
Now there was sincerity in Department Manager Go’s eyes.
Not those dry eyes worn down by work.
“You did brilliantly today. Anyone would think so. Even our representative if he came.”
“Thank you.”
“No. I’m the one who’s grateful.”
“…?”
Those eyes held the sensation from when he first held a camera, when he first pressed the shutter—the heat from that moment, however brief.
Watching Almond, that heat rose slowly, blooming from deep within.
No longer simple burning passion, but that warmth tinged with a bittersweet nostalgia.
“Just. Seeing you, Almond, reminded me of when things were good.”
“…”
“Anyway, you were excellent today.”
*Chuckle.*
Department Manager Go smiled, patted my shoulder, and stepped back, shaking an Almond milk bottle.
“Everyone will remember you fondly.”
* * *
“Wow! Did you see that!?”
Miho spoke excitedly in a rare display of enthusiasm, chattering away.
“Almond, are you actually an athlete? How did you pull off something like that in a single take….”
The funny part was that Juhyeok, who should have been the most delighted, wore the most serious expression, and Department Manager Oh, who should have been second most delighted, wore the second most serious expression.
Department Manager Oh caught Juhyeok’s eye and then dragged Miho away.
“Alright, that’s enough. You go prepare for the next shoot.”
“Yes…?”
Miho, who had expected everyone to celebrate together, wore a confused expression.
Just as she turned back to look at Almond with a question in her eyes.
Department Manager Oh quickly turned her head back around.
“Do you want a scandal?”
“…Yes!?”
She’d shouted so loudly that everyone who didn’t know about the scandal now did. If such a thing actually existed.
“Good grief. How has this girl been working in broadcasting all this time.”
“W-what… I just meant it was an amazing scene….”
Miho’s face turned bright red.
Department Manager Oh felt sorry for her innocent reaction, but right now he needed to redirect Miho’s attention elsewhere.
“Did you sell your manager and pocket the money?”
“…”
Miho averted her gaze. More precisely, she avoided meeting Department Manager Oh’s eyes.
“I heard you sent her on vacation. Why did you?”
“That….”
“Why is that nice car just sitting at home?”
“W-well, I’m not very good at driving….”
“Oh really? You’re not great at it, but you can do it just fine.”
“….”
“From now on, if your manager doesn’t come with you, I’ll consider it a cancelled schedule.”
Department Manager Oh’s words weren’t just a distraction—they were sincere.
Miho was different from other streamers in that a manager was essential for her.
Since she was a female streamer, it was natural that her manager needed to act as a guard against creepy fans approaching her. But she was also a two-way guard who prevented this girl’s occasional bizarre and reckless behavior.
However──
“I didn’t send her on vacation.”
Suddenly Miho answered in a deflated voice.
“…What?”
“The vacation… I didn’t send her on it.”
“Then? Did Balloon Gum send her?”
“No. He doesn’t get directly involved in things like that.”
Sigh.
Miho exhaled a long breath while looking up at the ceiling.
“We had a huge fight.”
Department Manager Oh didn’t get to hear the rest of the story.
“Miho! Please come over now!”
Filming was being set up, and she had to stand in front of the camera.
* * *
When Sanghyeon returned to the waiting area, Juhyeok rushed over and asked immediately.
“Hey. You’re not saying… it actually worked?”
The words were implied, but it was obvious what he was asking.
‘It actually worked….’
So that’s how it looks to others.
Sanghyeon shook his head with a bitter smile.
“Does it really look like it worked….”
Sanghyeon’s gaze fell on the Green Tower playing the giant’s role, where four arrows were lined up vertically and horizontally, embedded perfectly.
Admittedly, looking at it this way, it does seem convincing.
But if I asked the archery Coach whether that looked like a professional athlete’s work, I’d get smacked on the back of the head.
“At first it seemed weird, but didn’t it work out later? Otherwise, how did you do it?”
“With that level of accuracy, it’s impossible.”
“Ah, no, but you did shoot. Multiple arrows too! With practice….”
“No. The archery style and the method I used in Battle Rage are very different. Real combat archery specializes in drawing the bowstring very short and shooting multiple times rapidly.”
“…So?”
“So it means I don’t have to use this arm as much, which is why I shot so many. With archery form, I can’t even shoot two arrows properly.”
“Ah….”
“With archery, even one arrow missing a perfect ten is fatal… honestly, it’s impossible.”
“I see.”
Juhyeok nodded.
He didn’t press further. Sanghyeon’s mood didn’t seem good as he answered.
Pat.
He simply patted his shoulder.
“Anyway, good work. One take was great.”
“Yeah.”
“We’re done now, so let’s rest.”
“Sounds good.”
About an hour later, all the filming was finally finished.
The three streamers who came out of the building looked quite exhausted.
“I’d like to grab a drink or something. Though I suppose it’s impossible, right?”
“Ha ha….”
Balloon Gum made the suggestion somewhat casually, but everyone was too tired as expected.
“Then let’s do it next time.”
Balloon Gum left with his manager in his own car, while Department Manager Oh, Miho, Sanghyeon, and Juhyeok boarded the van exactly as they had on the way there.
“Thank you for your hard work.”
After a formal “Yes” was exchanged,
the car departed with a subtle engine hum. The world beyond the windows grew progressively darker, and the headlights of passing vehicles grew increasingly bright.
Checking the time, it was already 8 PM.
It was prime rush hour. Department Manager Oh glanced over with concern, wondering if the traffic jam would irritate them, but
they were all completely oblivious to the world, dead asleep. He even thought the traffic might actually be a blessing for them.
“Where should we stop first? It doesn’t really matter which place we visit first, does it?”
The employee handling the driving asked.
He was asking whether to go to Miho’s home first or Sanghyeon’s home first.
That question was essentially asking who should be dropped off last.
“Head to Huchae first.”
“Understood.”
Department Manager Oh decided to visit Miho’s home later.
There was still more he needed to hear from her.
* * *
“We’re here. Huchae.”
Tap, tap.
Only after being tapped on the shoulder did the two of them wake up.
Juhyeok adjusted his rimless glasses and looked around with startled eyes.
“My goodness, you two really sleep hard.”
“Oh…! I’m so sorry.”
“It’s fine. That’s what I’m here for—to drive you around.”
Juhyeok had no idea he’d actually fallen asleep right next to Department Manager Oh.
That’s how exhausting today’s filming had been.
As for Sanghyeon, who was sitting one row back, there was no need to mention it. He was still sleeping with his mouth hanging open stupidly.
Only after Juhyeok poked his forehead did his eyes snap open wide.
“Huh…?”
“What do you mean ‘huh’? Wake up. We’re here.”
Sanghyeon scratched his head and simply got out without saying much.
He didn’t even seem particularly surprised.
The more I see him, the more peculiar his behavior is.
“Thank you.”
“Of course. Let’s see each other again if there’s another opportunity!”
As Department Manager Oh closed the door, the van departed.
Vroooom…
Perhaps because of the hectic day since morning, the sound of the departing engine felt strangely hollow.
Click, click…
An orange streetlight flickered and made noise as if nearing the end of its life.
Beneath it stretched stairs that looked like hell itself.
“…Ugh.”
“Let’s go.”
Sanghyeon strode ahead as if he hadn’t been sleeping just moments before, moving with effortless speed.
It was frustratingly impressive stamina.
Sanghyeon, who had been trudging forward, suddenly turned back to look at me.
“Oh… Hey. The settlement statement. The Ollytube settlement must be today. Just came in.”
“…?”
Juhyeok, still catching his breath, looked up at Sanghyeon.
Right. The settlement was due today.
Juhyeok hadn’t seen it. Since the Ollytube account was under Sanghyeon’s email, only he and Jia, the manager, would receive the notification.
“Yeah, I guess. But couldn’t we check it later? Damn it….”
Juhyeok loved money as much as anyone else.
Seeing the settlement statement would normally be thrilling, but these Daldongne stairs were pure hell—enough to erase any such joy.
Sanghyeon chuckled.
“Yeah, right. Poor stamina, huh. Must be because I’m over thirty….”
“You crazy bastard──”
That was when Juhyeok thought about grabbing him by the collar.
-Kyaaaaaaaa!
Suddenly, a woman’s scream pierced the air.
Both of us turned our heads toward the sound.
“!?”
“…?”
Looking to the side, I saw a familiar gate.
It was Jia’s front door.
Chills ran down my spine. I remembered the man who had been loitering in front of Jia not long ago.
“…What, what is it?”
“What’s happening?”
Just as Juhyeok and I spun around to rush over.
Another scream echoed out.
-Crash!
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————