Genius Archer’s Streaming - Chapter 616

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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 3 Episode 86
30. It’s Okay, Again (3)
The time allotted before my confrontation with Rome wasn’t particularly short.
It was due to the other teams’ schedules.
Thanks to that, the national team was given nearly a week’s worth of time.
Hee-cheol suggested that his teammates take a brief rest.
“Everyone, clear your heads for a moment. Let’s prepare ourselves once more.”
After saying that, he headed to the quietest of the cafes he operated.
Rest, in his case, didn’t mean spending time doing anything particularly special.
He simply gazed out at the sea beyond the window, listening to the sound of white waves rolling in.
And, as if becoming one with the sea, he breathed in this clean air with all his might, then exhaled it.
As if purifying everything dirty within his body.
When the waves rolled in, he exhaled, emptying his lungs completely.
When the water receded, he inhaled, filling his lungs again.
“Phew…”
Once his mind became clearer, he would brew a cup of coffee and search for articles related to Civil Empire.
This was the best vacation for Hee-cheol.
[Civil Empire Before the National Tournament, Signs of Chart Reversal]
[Civil Empire, Uncovering Joseon’s Victory Strategy]
[Civil Empire Joseon 2 Wins, “Main Tournament Advancement” Highly Likely]
.
.
.
Originally, to read Civil Empire articles, one had to visit foreign websites.
But now, domestic game portals had begun covering Civil Empire quite frequently.
“You really do see things if you live long enough.”
Hee-cheol chuckled with a self-deprecating joke.
Professionals and enthusiasts of unpopular games always dream like this.
That someday the game they play will become widely known to people, becoming bustling…
To be more honest about desire, gaining some fame, receiving more recognition from people, and so on.
Of course, by Hee-cheol’s standards, he had already transcended such desires.
Otherwise, he couldn’t have led the team consistently, participated in tournaments, and developed throughout this period.
“Sales increased by 12%…”
Hee-cheol opened the first article and checked the graph.
It was an article stating that sales in Korea had begun to rise.
12% wasn’t a large number, but for a game that had already been out for quite some time to see increased sales was remarkable in itself.
“Just 2 wins and it’s already this much.”
Joseon had only 2 victories so far.
There were still 4 games remaining to be played in the group stage.
In other words, we hadn’t even won half yet.
Yet despite all this, the Civil Empire’s influence on the internet had skyrocketed to such heights.
Even the Civil Empire Korea branch seemed to recognize this quite clearly.
They were running new player and returning player events—something they’d never done before in their entire history.
Just as people say everything has its proper time, it seems games do too.
After the Korean team’s disastrous performance at the Ril Cup, Joseon began to shine in the national tournament as if in direct reaction… and then.
‘Almond arrived.’
Above all, the recruitment of Almond, a Streamer.
From that point on, everything began to change.
As a popular mid-tier Streamer, he naturally drew people’s attention, and he performed better than any other player in the game.
A Streamer who was already gaining popularity, now excelling in competition—the spotlight was tremendous.
Look at M-bul’s current state, which had barely any traffic before.
[Admin, aren’t you going to expand the servers?]
[Lol seriously, the traffic crashed again today??]
[This isn’t even a Joseon match today, crazy]
[You can really feel how much the influx has increased. txt]
Appreciation posts multiplied, and the forums visibly came alive with activity.
Despite the aggressive tone being the default in online spaces, posts like these were appearing and even becoming trending issues.
1st Place) This isn’t exactly massive popularity, but I’m genuinely grateful to have gained even this much
I literally cried my eyes out reading that post ㅠㅠ
-This is strange. The internet… is this warm?
I’m crying (or sobbing)
-I hope it becomes even more popular going forward.
I came in as a new Lil Pro viewer for the obscene battle, and I cried at the big chew lol
└Crying and upvoting with all my heart
└For real…
└Civil Empire has no people, but it has emotion…
hahahaha lol
└Now I finally understand, Cyber…!
As the atmosphere of the M-bul community showed, every trending post was nothing but positive ones.
2nd Place) Almond’s final arrow toss and shooting gif
3rd place) Almond << I never thought it would turn out like this when she first came lol
4th Place) What happens if we even beat Rome….
Beyond the Civil Empire's rise in popularity, Almond's fame soared even higher.
His AllTube channel subscribers, which had been sluggish relative to his view counts, suddenly began leaping toward the one-million mark.
[Almond]
[Subscribers: 938K]
The proportion of overseas viewers had increased tremendously.
If he continues winning matches, or especially if he wins against Rome, he'll likely hit one million immediately. With the constant surge, he might hit it even faster than that.
'The influence of a single person can be this significant.'
Hee-cheol smiled bitterly.
With just two wins under my belt, I'm already overwhelmed by conflicting emotions.
'I wonder if the others can succeed too.
Riding this momentum, I hope my colleagues—those who suffered alongside me and burned with passion—can receive their own rewards.
They didn't prepare for this tournament expecting compensation in the first place, but Hee-cheol couldn't help but feel concerned.
Not all Players had the financial stability that Hee-cheol enjoyed.
Most people never even get the chance to pour their passion into what they love, swept away by the currents of time.
Many of those people had been my colleagues.
'At least this generation….'
Hee-cheol didn't want to see his colleagues say goodbye to Civil Empire in that way anymore.
It would be easier on his heart if they simply grew tired of the game, if they lost interest and dropped out naturally.
That's what they said.
「I'm too old to be gaming now.」
「It's not fun anymore.」
When they left one by one, they all told themselves convincing stories.
But because of the time spent together, Hee-cheol could read the truth in their expressions alone.
All of it was a lie.
Hee-cheol closed his eyes quietly and whispered to himself.
'This is an opportunity like no other.'
He wasn't just talking about the chance to advance to the Joseon finals.
It was the opportunity for his colleagues—those who poured their passion into this game alongside him—to make their passion and their lives one.
The opportunity to build the team he envisioned.
Even if everything doesn't change this year, if we continue to improve year after year….
It will surely come to pass.
A message arrives for him.
Ding.
[Sivil Empire Korea Promotion Team Manager]
[Hello, Cookie. I'm reaching out because we'd like to plan something with the national team….]
Sivil Empire Korea.
It wasn't unusual for Cookie to receive messages directly from them.
Given how important a position he held in Korea's Civil Empire market, it would be no exaggeration to say he was acquainted with all of them.
'Hmm….'
Still, Hee-cheol stares at the message as if it came from a complete stranger.
It was probably because of the message's content.
[…What if we filmed and uploaded a team documentary? We're well aware that you prefer to avoid media exposure that might interfere with the tournament, but we'd really like to seize this opportunity. For more details, please call….]
A team documentary.
Hee-cheol knows what that is. In truth, despite being called a documentary, it's closer to entertainment programming.
'This? Now? During the tournament…?'
Cookie's expression hardened instantly.
The original him would never have allowed such content. The players wouldn't be able to focus entirely on the tournament.
Yet, he soon finds himself lost in deep contemplation.
"Sigh."
My gaze drifted toward the distant sea beyond the window.
To reflect deeply on myself, I began taking slow, deliberate breaths again.
Whoooosh….
As the waves rolled in white, I inhaled; as the water receded, I exhaled.

* * *
"Now. Slowly. Take a deep breath for me."
Ssssshhhhh….
Beneath the cynically white ceiling and white fluorescent light, an odd sound echoed.
"Slowly now, exhale. Good. You're doing well."
Shhhhhhh….
Why did breathing sound like Darth Vader?
Probably because I was wearing the same respirator-like mask that he wore.
"Guardian? Your breathing seems stable now, so I'll remove the oxygen mask."
"Yes, of course."
I heard Juhyeok's voice.
Straining to turn my eyes, I caught sight of the hem of his large, neat dark green padded jacket.
"Hah!"
As the Doctor removed the oxygen mask, I exhaled what I'd been holding back.
"Haa… haa…."
My rough, hurried breathing soon began to stabilize.
Perhaps the breathing technique the Doctor taught me had worked.
Or perhaps it was because Juhyeok was squeezing my hand firmly.
"…What happened?"
My voice came out weakly.
"You collapsed at the bank. Don't you remember?"
"The bank… ugh."
I clutched my throbbing head for a moment.
The memory came back to me.
"Now, patient. You fainted due to hyperventilation. For now…."
The Doctor advised me not to overexert myself and to rest, then gave the guardian some time to speak privately.
Swish.
After the white hospital curtain was drawn, Juhyeok approached and asked.
"What's going on? Exactly?"
"What do you mean, what's going on? I just overworked myself. I ran down the stairs on an empty stomach while overworked, went to the bank…."
I glanced at the IV line inserted into my arm.
"I'll be fine once this is done."
"Take a break from editing for a while. I've contacted the assistant editor. I'll have them take over the work temporarily…."
"No way!"
Jia suddenly let out a sharp cry.
"You scared me. What's wrong?"
"Ah… no, I need to keep working."
"Look at the state you're in. How can you keep working?"
I had to.
I needed to pay off the debt first.
Jia lowered her head.
It was difficult to meet Juhyeok's eyes.
'Hmm?'
Just then, the white light of the hospital gleamed across Juhyeok's glasses as he looked down at me.
He had noticed something.
"What's going on?"
"I told you, I just overdid it."
Jia turned her head away completely, muttering.
"If you overdid it, you should rest, but you said you don't even want to rest."
"It's not serious."
Of course I didn't want to tell Juhyeok about this.
It was a humiliating memory.
I absolutely didn't want to say it. How stupid I had been.
"You suddenly collapsed in the middle of a bank. That's not serious?"
"…I'm completely fine right now."
"Just tell me."
"Tell you what?"
Contrary to her blunt response, a sound resonated from deep within her.
「──!」
I couldn't understand what that sound was.
"Jia. Don't try to deceive me. It won't work."
"Deceive you about what?"
"Just tell me. Let me try to fix it."
"Let go…"
Jia tried to pull her hand away.
But Juhyeok gripped it tighter and pulled her closer.
"Whatever it is, if I pass by without knowing, it will hurt me more."
"…"
"I can handle it. Or rather, if we're together, we can handle anything."
Jia's eyes trembled.
"You're going to hate me."
Her voice trembled as she spoke these words.
Yet Juhyeok answered without a hint of hesitation.
"It's okay. I'll fall for you again soon enough."
Dong──!
A sound resonating within her.
That mysterious sound was the tolling of an enormous golden bell.
A flower garden bathed in five-colored light with white silk fabric drifting through the air. Upon it rested a massive golden bell.
Jia's face reflected across that golden world.
Her lips trembled.
"It's about someone I met before…."
Jia decided to bring up an old story.
"I once established a corporation as co-CEO with that person."

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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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