Genius Archer’s Streaming - Chapter 4

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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 4
2. Let’s Play a Game (1)
Pathetically, shamefully, Sanghyeon found himself crying in a Capsule Room for the first time in his life.
‘It actually works.’
Ten years.
For ten years, I hadn’t held a bow.
I’d brushed it off to Juhyeok Kim as though I couldn’t remember all that time.
‘As if I could forget.’
That date would never fade from my mind. My brain would never allow it.
That traffic accident from back then still feels vivid before my eyes.
The feeling I had when I heard that my right hand would never function properly again—it’s still fresh as ever.
That doctor’s cold, averted face is so clear I could recognize it if I passed them on the street today.
“Ugh… Haa….”
I gritted my teeth and tried to hold back the tears, but they kept flowing endlessly.
I didn’t even know why I was crying.
Was it joy at shooting a bow after ten years? Or was it pity for myself, having endured ten years like an empty shell of a person?
I couldn’t tell.
Either way, something hot and boundless was churning and boiling up from deep within my chest.
And it flowed out through my eyes.
“…S, Sanghyeon.”
Juhyeok approached with a flustered expression. I pushed him away and spoke.
“Don’t come near me. Damn… This is embarrassing.”
Pushing back Juhyeok as he tried to approach, I grabbed the tissues beside me and wiped away my tears.
I seemed to have calmed down somewhat now.
“Are you alright?”
Only then did the CEO approach and pat my shoulder.
“Yes. Thank you. It’s just… memories from the past….”
“I don’t understand… but I think it’s wonderful.”
“Yes…?”
“That you still hold onto that childhood dream so passionately even now.”
This CEO has watched way too many shounen manga, I thought. But after hearing the next thing, I had to respect him even if he watched magical girl manga instead.
“I’ll give you the price of 700.”
“!?”
My eyes went wide.
‘Se… Seven hundred? You’re not talking about the Capsule right now, are you?’
From what I knew, even used ones went for close to 2,000. Seven hundred wasn’t a bargain—it was an outright loss.
“…You’re not talking about the Capsule, are you? You mean some other component?”
“No. It’s the Capsule. You said you’d be streaming, right? All the equipment is set up inside. It’s an older version, but it shouldn’t be bad as starter equipment.”
“….”
My jaw dropped.
“Th-thank you so much!”
I didn’t hesitate for a moment, bowing deeply instead. Since childhood, I’d never had the luxury of declining help. I could only survive by accepting others’ assistance with both hands outstretched.
“I don’t know how I’ll ever repay this….”
“Repay? It’s a cheap unit anyway. It’d sell for around 1,000. 300 is just a favor for a friend, and….”
The CEO scratched his head and flashed a genuine smile.
“Let’s just say you’re saving face in front of Juhyeok.”
“!”
Face….
Yeah. That matters.
I nodded, recalling the incident where an entire department had thrown a fit just to preserve an executive’s dignity.
“You’re a real man.”
When I answered with a serious expression, the CEO burst out laughing.
“Puhaha! You’re really something else.”
“I, I did tell you I’m a bit different.”
Juhyeok also scratched his head awkwardly and added his comment. After laughing for a while, the CEO corrected himself.
“It’s not about face—it’s an investment. Most Capsule Room operators do the same, but I also handle Capsule distribution. If things go well, maybe you could give us some solid advertising later. 300 is a bargain at that rate.”
“…I see.”
Advertising? Who would give something to an aspiring streamer who hasn’t even played a single proper game yet, expecting advertising in return?
This was pure goodwill from the CEO.
I nodded. More vigorously than before.
“Yes! Of course!”

* * *
The next day, the CEO’s staff arrived and finished installing the Capsule.
“Thank you so much! Please have this on your way out!”
“Oh my, thank you. What a kind gesture.”
He handed each staff member a canned coffee and sent them on their way.
After that, following a grueling seven-hour marathon, I completed all the broadcast setup and game purchase preparations.
“Phew. This really is work too.”
Wiping the sweat from my brow, I examined the list of trending games on the streaming platform Tribby.
[Battle Rage] 220,000 viewers
[Life is Legend] 1,570,000 viewers
[Mana Sword] 320,000 viewers
[Bio Jeopardy] 120,000 viewers
.
.
.
Most were online games, and the competition was fierce.
‘Those would be nice too, but….’
While those games were undoubtedly the hottest of the era, I had no intention of touching them. With such popularity came countless famous streamers playing them.
It would be far too difficult for me, a rookie streamer, to gain attention there. The top-ranked monsters already dominated the rankings, and skilled commentators had already claimed their spots.
‘Going too mainstream is impossible.’
From the start, I had no intention of targeting such a red ocean.
I needed to find a game that was moderately popular, yet one I could excel at.
‘I had something in mind beforehand….’
I already had a game I’d been thinking about.
A game that was incredibly realistic enough to apply real-world abilities to, and had decent popularity.
As I scrolled down, I found it.
[Kingdom Age] 17,000 viewers
It was a game called Kingdom Age.
A game where you live as one of the mercenaries in the Middle Ages.
Medieval setting, realistic gameplay, authentic combat.
A game packed with niche elements.
Games like this had loyal fans, and few streamers played them. Because it was so realistic, the game was brutally difficult.
But I, who had never encountered a difficult game in my life, felt no fear whatsoever.
I proceeded to purchase the game from the store linked with Tribby.
[Will you proceed with purchase?]
[59,000 won]
Being a quality game, the price was quite steep. However, I didn’t hesitate.
[Yes]
After all, I was planning to invest 40 million won into this venture anyway, so 59,000 won was nothing.
[Purchase Complete]
Money drained from the account registered in his physical profile, and the game launched.
[Full dive will commence in 5 seconds.]
[5]
Gulp.
Sanghyeon’s eyes snapped open as an odd tension gripped him.
[4]
[3]
[2]
.
.
.
Whoosh!
A brilliant white flash erupted, and in an instant, an entirely different world unfolded before me.

* * *
Crack!
A thick palm struck my cheek with force.
“Ugh!”
‘What the—?’
I jolted upright in bewilderment. It was supposed to be a game, yet my cheek stung. Was it just my imagination?
“Get up! You bastard!”
Suddenly, crude profanities assaulted my ears.
“A mercenary sleeping at a time like this?”
Ah. The game had started.
I had to remind myself once more that this was indeed a game.
‘It’s far too realistic.’
This game’s astounding fidelity was the reason. The slap I’d just received was infuriating enough that I nearly lost my temper at a mere game character.
The sense of presence was on an entirely different level from the Olympics game. The sound quality was extraordinary as well.
Clatter. Clatter.
The sound of cargo wagons moving busily back and forth, screams and shouts echoing from all directions, accompanied by the sharp clang of metal striking metal.
‘Is this combat?’
As a new recruit waiting inside the cargo wagon, I couldn’t know for certain, but it certainly seemed like a battle was underway.
The veteran mercenary barked urgently.
“Bandits are attacking! Get up! Grab a weapon!”
The grizzled mercenary gestured roughly.
But then….
“Hurry and grab one, you bas——.”
His face froze in an odd expression.
Everything on screen had stopped.
[Choose your weapon.]
The tutorial was beginning.
Whoosh.
My vision suddenly forced itself to turn.
A cargo wagon bed piled high with straw.
[Sword]
A sword resting atop a box in the corner came into view.
Then my gaze swiftly turned again. This time to the left.
[Spear]
A spear planted into the outer edge of the wagon.
The final direction my vision turned. It was the back of a veteran mercenary.
[Bow]
He was carrying a bow.
“…What? Why does only he get to carry the bow?”
I scratched my head and felt momentarily flustered, but hesitation never crossed my mind.
The instant I reached toward the bow.
-Choosing the bow? Going for the bow challenge?
Chat suddenly popped up.
“!”
I shifted my gaze to the lower left.
[5 Viewers]
‘Five people?’
Was choosing this game really the right call?
Five viewers on the very first day.
‘I should have time to respond, right?’
Back in my capsule room days, even a single chat message or one viewer was precious. I paused the game briefly to respond.
“Bow challenge?”
As I asked, chat came pouring in immediately.
-You don’t know about the bow challenge? The hardcore players who are on their 3rd or 4th playthrough do it sometimes.
I watch plenty of game streams myself. From the tone, I can roughly guess what it means. But that wasn’t what I was curious about.
“The bow… isn’t it good?”
The fact that hardcore players did bow challenges meant the bow wasn’t particularly strong.
-Don’t you know? Friendly fire is on, arrows bounce off armor, and the arrow count is calculated so strictly it’s genuinely a pain.
-That’s not it, didn’t you read the stream title?
-??
-It’s the first day of the stream. First day of the game too.
Other viewers chimed in.
Speaking of which, the stream title. I tilted my head and checked above.
[Auto-Generated Title]
With this message displayed, the title read “Beginner Game Streamer’s First Broadcast.”
‘Ah, I must have forgotten to set the title.’
Sanghyeon had hastily launched the game, so the algorithm had automatically selected the class for him. But it wasn’t a bad choice.
-Check out this guy’s playtime.
-The account itself is basically from yesterday.
With the advanced body identification system, viewers could immediately tell he was a complete novice.
-Wow, he’s definitely a newbie. Haha.
-That’s so funny lol
Rather than disliking him for being a beginner, the atmosphere was actually welcoming.
It seemed to be because only hardcore veterans remained in this niche game.
‘That was a good choice.’
Even Sanghyeon himself thought the class selection was excellent.
“Is the bow difficult for you all?”
In response to his question, the chat began filling with ‘yes yes yes’. All five viewers agreed it was difficult.
“I understand.”
Sanghyeon selected the bow anyway.
-?!
-This newbie is stubborn but cute.
-Though disobedient kids are another story~
-Lol looks like we’re going for the spicy stream

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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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