Genius Archer’s Streaming - Chapter 246

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com

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The Genius Archer’s Streaming Season 1 Episode 246
86. The Finals Begin (2)
When Juhyeok heard that the Installation Technicians had arrived, he rushed out.
“Ah, it’s this way.”
He seemed to have received some information from the CEO. I asked questions while pointing out processes I wasn’t entirely familiar with.
“You’re checking the optimization before you leave, right?”
“No, we’re just the Installation Technicians. The Researchers will visit separately for that.”
“Ah, so when will they….”
I naturally stepped away from the situation.
‘Juhyeok will handle it.’
I opened the cupboard and searched for a stabilizer to calm myself down today.
A cereal box.
Crunch.
The pleasant sound filled my ears, and my lips curved upward naturally.
I also pulled out the ‘roasted almonds’ sitting next to the cereal.
Whoosh.
I poured both into a bowl simultaneously, then added milk and ate.
As the crispy texture and nutty flavor spread across my palate, I turned on my phone, finally ready to start work.
[Takoyaki : Fighting in today’s finals too~]
[Miho : Let’s go, let’s go>~<!]
[Strawberry Shooter : "Almond will handle it anyway"]
The chat room was filled with messages from teammates I'd grown quite close to.
[Still haven't received approval.]
[The Department Manager says to schedule a meeting until 6 PM.]
[Employees selected for Director Oh Ju-chang's father's funeral until 7 PM…]
It overlapped with those days when only office-related conversations passed between company employees.
Back then, every time I saw the numbers carved inside that red circle, my breathing felt like it was getting tighter.
Now when I see numbers in there, energy flows through me.
[Balloon Gum : "Almond will handle it anyway"]
[Miho : "Almond will handle it anyway"]
But my teammates kept repeating that phrase like it was a meme.
[Almond : What is that?]
[Miho : It's a meme from Reel Pro apparently]
Another meme must have emerged from Reel Pro.
[Miho : Go check it out. It's hilarious.]
My teammates even sent me a link to check it out.
But I wasn't particularly interested.
I just wanted to engrave in my mind the sensation of eating almond cereal while bathed in this peaceful morning sunlight.
And to share casual small talk with my teammates, savoring the seemingly leisurely beginning of the day….
[Strawberry Shooter : Oh, since Reel Pro came up, I think you should see this, Almond. Is this really you?]
All of Sanghyeon's plans had to be completely revised.
[Link: 'Video Presumed to be Almond's Past Footage – Insane']
'This is….'
The link Strawberry Shooter sent was a thumbnail of a familiar video I'd seen not long ago.
The quality was lower, probably because it was hastily reposted.
But the title alone was clear enough that I could picture the entire video, so there was nothing preventing me from recognizing it.
So I didn't bother watching the video itself.
I just skimmed through the comments. Naturally, I expected them to be roughly similar, but they were quite different.
-Wow. Insane.
-Almond in high school? Dude's ridiculously handsome
└Bro seriously insanely handsome lol… too much to say…
└That guy above barely didn't cross the line lol
└Hard brake lmaooo
-What's this plot twist. Spill~
-Wow Almond actually shot with a bow. All you guys who said he was some no-background loser working at a company before gaming, come out here lol
Nobody was even questioning whether it was actually Almond. Almond's face wasn't even clearly visible in the video.
Was this the difference between Kingchiman and Lilpro?
While thinking that and scrolling through more comments, I found the reason.
-He looked better back then
-So he wasn't a plastic surgery handsome guy… Damn it. You've betrayed even my last faith. I'll get my revenge.
-Is Almond's real name Sang-hyun Yu??
'…Real name?'
My name doesn't appear in that video.
Could it be….
'The video I have?'
Sanghyeon played the video just to be sure.
'Wow.'
Now I was genuinely impressed.
It was the local broadcast footage video I had!
How on earth did they find something like this and from where?
I was beginning to understand what Juhyeok meant when he said that once the Community gets triggered, it can't be stopped.
Tap.
Just then, Juhyeok came over and tapped me on the shoulder.
"All set. Go ahead and try it."
"…."
"What are you doing? We need to test the Capsule quickly."
"Ah… yeah. But let me just look at this for a sec. I'll go in after."
Sanghyeon thrust his phone toward Juhyeok and headed toward the Capsule.
"What's with you…."
Juhyeok's mouth dropped open as he muttered.
"…That's really fast."

* * *
Before I saw the Capsule, my mind had been filled with nothing but that archery video from earlier.
'Hmm…'
What should I do? Was I exposed? It didn't feel like that.
It wasn't even a crime.
It was just this unsettling, restless feeling.
More than the fact that the video had spread, the nostalgia the video itself evoked was overwhelming.
I sniffled unnecessarily and entered my room.
"!"
But in that moment….
"Wow."
Everything about the video vanished from my mind in an instant.
'What is this.'
It was so different from any Capsule I'd seen before. Like something that had come from an alternate dimension.
Sometimes people see luxury cars and call them spaceships, say they were made by torturing aliens, things like that.
This looked like it had been directly imported from an alien civilization.
Calling it aesthetically refined and beautiful didn't fit.
Its form was designed solely for user convenience and enhanced concentration.
Each tissue separated and moved like a living organism.
This Capsule was speaking.
I'm not fashion. I'm a weapon.
A perfectly convincing argument.
Whoosh.
I ran my hand over the Capsule once.
'The texture….'
It felt like a living creature.
Ting!
Then, a hologram welcome light activated.
[NOVA]
A logo with the name of a new brand floated in the air.
I stopped in surprise, and one of the Installation Technicians who had been organizing things explained with a smile.
"Ah, customized Capsules read the biometric information of their optimization target and recognize them as the owner. It probably sensed you nearby and activated the welcome light."
Another Installation Technician beside him watched with interest.
I approached and placed my hand on the lid….
[ALMOND]
A new name appeared.
"The CEO named the mass-production model lineup based on this personal Capsule 'Almond.'"
It seemed the CEO had decided to name not just my Capsule as Almond, but the entire line of mass-production Capsules based on this model as Almond.
In American terms, it's something like the Shelby line of Mustangs.
"Damn it. If Almond doesn't win the championship, what's the CEO going to do…."
Juhyeok, who had approached without notice, interjected in surprise.
"Then he'll just switch to DANMUJI."
Sanghyeon countered as if it were no big deal, then
placed his hands where the Installation Technician directed and remained still for a moment.
Whirrrr.
The Capsule then separated into individual components, welcoming Sanghyeon as if opening its mouth wide.

* * *
Not long after Sanghyeon entered the Capsule.
Two Researchers arrived.
They weren't here for installation, but to assist with synchronization verification checks.
"Hello. We've come to help with the final optimization check on the Capsule today. Ah… did we arrive a bit late?"
They asked while observing the operating Capsule.
Juhyeok shook his head.
"No. He just entered. I heard you'd be checking while it's running anyway…."
"Yes. That's correct. You remember well."
Juhyeok had received separate instructions from the CEO, so he had memorized every step of the process perfectly.
When using an optimization Capsule, a dedicated Capsule for the first time, the most critical aspect is 'external diagnosis.'
Checking the Capsule's exterior doesn't mean that—rather, it means re-evaluating the optimization from outside the Capsule.
Since the Capsule diagnoses its own condition within the algorithm programmed into it, there could be errors initially.
If skilled personnel check this once more from the outside, it's said you can reliably reduce synchronization gaps.
The Researchers immediately installed the kit with practiced movements and began connecting thick cables to the Capsule.
"Since he's playing a game right now, we'll connect and check immediately. It won't have any effect on Almond."
Juhyeok nodded and watched their screens together.
'What is any of this….'
He pretended to understand while watching—thinking he should appear diligent—but honestly, he couldn't comprehend any of it.
Silence stretched on for a long while.
Gulp.
Nervousness made him swallow dryly for no reason.
Finally, one of the Researchers spoke.
"…There are no problems."
No problems.
But the nuance felt slightly off.
"Is there something unusual?"
When Juhyeok asked back, the Researcher turned his head. His revealed expression showed considerable bewilderment.
"The synchronization reading has increased higher than what we previously measured."
"…?"
The Researcher brought the screen closer as if to say, look carefully.
I don't know anything just by looking at it….
The only thing Juhyeok could possibly understand from watching was Almond, who was practicing with the Blink Blade on one corner of the screen.
Though it was a solo training mode, his fluid movements were captivating enough to draw the eye.
Whoosh! Clang! Slash!
The series of motions—throwing the blade, moving, catching it again, and slashing at enemies—flowed together in an instant as if it were a single skill.
If one didn't know the concept of the Blink Blade, they would have thought that was the original skill itself, the movements were so smooth.
Above all, I could feel how freely he used both his right and left hands without any hesitation.
Juhyeok simply sat in awe at the kind of beauty and aesthetic pleasure the movements conveyed.
The Researcher seemed to sense some dissatisfaction and hastily added an explanation.
"Well… there's really nothing to worry about. Higher synchronization is always better. I was just surprised because your synchronization has increased beyond what we measured."
Only then did Juhyeok feel somewhat relieved.
But suddenly, a past incident came to mind. Hadn't the Capsule used in Fantasia had such high synchronization that it ultimately didn't eject?
"But there were cases where it would eject because the synchronization was too high."
"That was only with mass-produced Capsules. With a personal Capsule made for just one person, that doesn't apply."
"Ah…."
In other words, this Capsule could fully utilize Sanghyeon's high synchronization rate.
Then another Researcher beside them added a comment.
"We're simply paying attention to the fact that there's a difference from what we measured. So it would be good if we assisted from the side while the finals are underway. I'll contact the CEO first and come back."
Two Researchers would diagnose the Capsule from the side throughout the finals. Naturally, that was a good thing.
Juhyeok readily agreed.
"Please do."
"Ah, and the user's subjective experience is most important. No matter how perfectly everything is set up, if the user feels uncomfortable, we may need to make changes. So when Almond comes out──"
Whoosh.
At that moment, the Capsule opened as if on cue.
Looking at the screen, the practice mode was already finished.
Sanghyeon raised his upper body along with a slight cool breeze.
Both the Researchers and Juhyeok were watching only his mouth.
What he would say was the most important thing in this situation.
The finals were happening today, and if there was any problem, even the fastest repairs could have an impact.
'What on earth.'
From Sanghyeon's eyes, there was no way to tell what he was thinking.
Only when he opened his mouth would they know.
"Hmm…."
Sanghyeon tilted his head.

* * *
6 PM that same day.
Darkness had settled over the arena.
A single, solitary beam of light pierced through it.
Whoosh!
A silhouette, charred black against the brilliant white light.
He thrust his arm upward and bellowed.
"Ooooooooh──"
Boom!
The entire arena ignited, light sweeping across every corner.
Through the fragments of brilliance, the spectator stands were visible—packed so densely there wasn't a single empty spot.
"──Thank you for waiting!"
Whoooosh…!
The black silhouette grew larger and larger.
Until it consumed the entire arena.
"The long-awaited Nant Championship Finals!!!"
With that massive frame, he swung his arm powerfully once more.
"Let's──get started! Now!"
Boom!!!
The entire arena blazed white, and fireworks erupted with deafening force.
-Uwaaaaaaaaa!
And then, a roar that drowned out even the explosive thunder.
The chat scrolled upward in an instant.
-Let's go~
I cannot translate this as it is not a meaningful word or phrase in Korean. It appears to be repeated consonant clusters (ㄷㄱ) without vowels, which does not form valid Korean text.
-Finally!
-Let's──get started───!
I cannot provide a translation for this text as it appears to be random Korean consonants without meaning rather than actual Korean words or sentences.
.
.
.
The viewer count was staggering, even when compared to the entire history of Nant Championships.
[Current Viewers: 326,000]
The source of this explosive viewership could be traced to a major channel on Ollytube.
[TimeTraub]
[3.2 Million Subscribers]
A mega-channel specializing in major issues, commanding 3.2 million subscribers.
There, a video uploaded roughly two hours earlier was prominently featured.
[Proof that South Korea's Archery is the World's Strongest]
That was the title.
The thumbnail featured large text reading "The World Shocked" and "World-Class VNS Levels," with Sanghyeon's face partially obscured by a white hat embedded in the image.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com

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