Genius Archer’s Streaming - Chapter 635

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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 105
37. The Unemployed Fleet (1)
Joseon achieved an easy victory against France, while Espana suffered an easy defeat against Rome.
“Ahhh! Rome! Truly formidable! A complete victory over Espana!”
“Espana, on the other hand, seems to have collapsed far too easily, doesn’t it? In the third era, they had a chance to turn things around by deploying combat monks, but they squandered it so carelessly!?”
“That’s right. It seems they were mentally shaken, somehow…”
With Espana’s loss to Rome, a tremendous opportunity had emerged for Joseon.
Joseon’s next match was against Espana.
A single victory would secure their advancement to the main tournament.
The viewers couldn’t help but be thrilled.
If we beat Spain this time, we’re guaranteed to advance to the main tournament on our own merit ㄷㄷ crazy
Some viewers had already declared that Joseon would advance to the main tournament.
[Wow Joseon’s going to the main tournament lol]
[Currently Chosun 3 wins Spain 1 win lol]
[Really going to the main tournament next opponent where? Vikings?]
Even if Espana beat Joseon, they wouldn’t secure qualification, but if Joseon beat Espana, they would.
For Espana, it was a terrible situation; for Joseon, it was good news.
Moreover, Espana was mentally wavering.
Even the viewers were picking up on it, and such posts were spreading through the community.
[The demon of interviews… cutting down Espana without lifting a finger…!?]
[Is this the power of a demon? Espana really can’t get their head straight]
Why are they like that lol
Rome’s MVP mentioned this even during his interview.
“Pierre. How do you feel about this victory against Espana?”
“Perhaps because Espana’s recent performance hasn’t been good, I could feel them being mentally shaken quite a bit. In fact, I think we won even more easily than last time…”
An interview that was essentially Rome’s ace publicly declaring that Espana was wavering.
-So it wasn’t just us who felt it? Pierre said it too
Pierre’s got good instincts lol
-Hey. Did you feel the curse of the demon grand duke?
-The main tournament really has sharp eyes~
If Joseon simply performed well, they could secure their advancement to the main tournament without needing to consider any other scenarios.

* * *
An elderly man with white hair and graying eyebrows—his stern expression unmistakable.
Crackle.
He reads a large newspaper made from recycled paper.
In one corner of this antiquated publication, a single phrase stood out of place.
[The flame of Korean esports has not been extinguished]
It was uncommon for such a newspaper to feature esports coverage on pages one and two.
The article chronicled Joseon’s remarkable performance in this international tournament.
How Joseon, who had consistently underperformed in practice matches, was now soaring in actual competition.
“So they always lost in practice matches. I suppose games are sports too—you never know until you actually compete, do you?”
Tsk.
The middle-aged man clicks his tongue.
One glance at his stern expression would suggest he was about to complain loudly about why such an article was even published, but….
“It’s a shame there’s no photograph.”
Instead, he laments the absence of a photo in this article.
“That guy without his bow is nothing but a shell. Why didn’t they include that?”
Tsk.
After muttering quietly that newspapers have lost their touch these days.
Crackle.
He folds it in half with a practiced gesture.
Read newspapers typically end up in the trash.
If recycled, they might become wrapping for cheap goods or cloth for wiping windows.
This man chose neither option.
He opens a drawer on the side of his desk.
Slide.
In one corner of the drawer, newspapers were stacked neatly like documents.
Their faded appearance spoke of the passage of time.
From what was visible on the front pages, they were local newspapers reporting medal news from archery competitions.
The man gazes at the newspaper for a long moment, lost in contemplation.
Then.
Knock. Knock.
Someone taps on the door, calling for him.
“Director. It’s Coach O.”
“Ah. Yes. Coach O. Come in.”
A young man cautiously opens the door and enters.
“The new players have come to introduce themselves.”
“…Ah. Right. Yes. Bring them in.”
“Yes. One moment.”
Coach O leaves the door open as he turns and exits.
It was only a brief moment.
The newly recruited players were probably lined up somewhere around the corner outside the hallway.
It would take about a dozen steps to reach them.
Within the span of those steps, the middle-aged man’s eyes unfolded with memories of the past.
A small boy entering through the door and bowing respectfully.
“So you’re Sanghyeon.”
It was my first meeting with that kid.
Beyond being handsome in a delicate way, he was a taciturn boy with nothing particularly special about him.
He preferred just nodding rather than speaking, and he was somewhat lacking in manners too.
“Listen here, kid. When an adult speaks, you answer back. Life in a sports club isn’t easy.”
“…Yes.”
An archery club newly established within a small middle school.
From a few years before that point in time, it was hastily created with the help of budgets the government poured out, claiming to boost participation in recreational sports.
Truly, the world was full of unknowns.
“I heard you were the first to apply. Why do you want to join a sports club?”
The boy who first entered this archery club, which may have been created carelessly and for show, was the most outstanding talent I had ever seen among all the children I’d watched up to that point.
Who would have known then that this boy would become the most exceptional talent I’d ever encountered.
“A sports club? Isn’t it an archery club?”
“Yes, it’s a sports club. Doesn’t archery seem like a sport to you? Why did you come? Sports clubs in our country are tough.”
“They said I could get tuition support if I do archery.”
A boy at such a young age boldly speaking of receiving tuition support.
“This kid… he’s got guts.”
“?”
Ignoring the expression that seemed to ask, “Then are you a girl?” I deliberately hid my emotions and moved on.
“Then without further ado, let’s see you shoot.”
“Shoot? But I don’t know anything.”
“Just try once. For fun.”
“Ah… for fun.”
Twang—
I still haven’t forgotten that moment.
The ‘trajectory’ of the arrow that flew from the bow of that kid, who had picked up a bow for the first time in his life and drew it carelessly.
“You… did you lie?”
“What lie?”
“You said you didn’t know anything? How do you know how to shoot?”
“I saw it on AllTube yesterday.”
An arrow shot after watching AllTube yesterday was at the level of a decent amateur competition.
“So unlike your appearance, you do prepare beforehand.”
At that time, I brushed it off as if it were nothing.
Beginner’s luck.
It always exists.
There was even something called the prodigy’s dilemma.
What initially seemed like an impossible talent often turned out to be nothing more than having a head start on the starting line.
Just a matter of growing faster than others.
Most of these children fell into that category. In fact, there was even a jinx that those who showed promise in youth would collapse once they became adults. The world truly was unpredictable.
‘Of course, that bastard was different.’
Yes, the world was truly unpredictable.
The dilemma of a prodigy, a poor family background, an archery club hastily established with bare hands.
Breaking through all those limitations, he ultimately stood at the very top of his generation.
Moreover, critics evaluated him as someone who had already secured an Olympic medal.
The world truly was unpredictable.
And yet that kid ended up like this….
“Director?”
At the Coach’s words, the Director unconsciously slammed the drawer shut.
Thud—
In an instant, the entire scene before him changed.
Bang!
At the sharp sound of the drawer slamming shut, the players in white uniforms standing ahead flinched.
“Director…?”
The Coach, noticing the Director’s distraction, walked back and forth in front of them as he spoke.
“Ah… yes.”
The Director nodded and rose from his seat.
He slowly examined each player’s face.
There was no need to ask for names. Name tags were already attached to their chests.
The Director cleared his throat briefly and spoke.
“Welcome to the youth national team. I’m sure you all have the basics down already.”
He wasn’t one to speak at length.
“Now that you’ve made it this far, shoot with all your might, cry if you miss, laugh if you hit. Those who improve will move up, and those who don’t will move out.”
As the Coach gave a signal from the side, the players responded with spirited voices.
“Yes!”
“Good spirit. I like it.”
The Director smiled and waved his hand.
“I’ve seen your faces now, so that’s enough. We’ll be seeing each other every day anyway. Go on.”
“Yes!”
The players turned and left with the Coach.
As the last player was about to leave, the Director casually asked him something.
“You there.”
The player hesitated, unsure if the Director was talking to him, then answered.
“Yes?”
“Do you happen to have any older siblings?”
“No, sir. I’m an only child.”
The Director gazed at him for a moment, then nodded.
“Right. Looking at it again, they don’t really resemble each other. Anyway, that name doesn’t seem easy. Work hard at it.”
My name?
It was strange enough to tilt my head in confusion, but still finding the Director difficult, I answered spiritedly again.
“…Yes!”
Bowing respectfully and turning back, the name ‘Kang-hyeon Yu’ gleamed brilliantly across my chest.
‘What a coincidence.’
Watching that retreating figure, Coach Yang leaned back in his chair for a moment and closed his eyes.
‘I knew it wasn’t there….’
Had I grown old?
Time is merciless.

* * *
“Ugh… it’s freezing.”
February was passing now, so it should have been warming up soon.
Whiiiiiiing.
Outside, unseasonable cold and blizzards were raging fiercely.
Who would exercise on a day like this?
“I’m heading out for a bit.”
Sanghyeon bundled up anyway and set out on the road in the morning.
After losing to Rome, something had changed in me.
Or rather, it was more accurate to say I had returned to my original self.
From my playing days, I had always been accustomed to maintaining precise rules and patterns.
There was no way I would abandon my morning routine over this trivial late-winter cold snap.
Knowing this, a Writer from the documentary team followed along as expected.
“Oh, you’re going jogging again today? I honestly wasn’t sure you would.”
The Writer, whose hair was frosted white with snow, asked. Even though he had heard the news that Sanghyeon would exercise today, he had thought there was no way he’d actually come out.
Yet Sanghyeon had ventured outside anyway.
“Is there a reason you’ve started exercising again every morning like this?”
“Well… I used to do it, but lately I just wanted to start again.”
“Ah… even in this cold?”
“If I stop, it becomes difficult to start again.”
I gave such a simple excuse.
But there was a reason behind my desire to resume endurance training.
‘My stamina has declined.’
During the Rome match, I had felt my stamina deteriorating.
In the final battle, my concentration had been inferior to that of my opponents.
It was still vivid in my eyes.
Shing!
The speed and precision of that blade cutting through the air.
The man who deflected the arrows shot before my eyes and cleanly bisected me.
‘Was it Pierre?’
Pierre.
He wasn’t an Assistant Commander like Tres, nor was he in a Leader position.
He was simply a Player who excelled from a regular player’s position.
Yet he had conducted MVP interviews twice with that Rome army.
He was unmistakably Rome’s ace.
The moment we closed in, I couldn’t beat him at all.
If only my focus had remained as sharp as it was at first, could I have done something about it?
I don’t know.
That’s what makes it all the more regrettable.
To resolve that regret somehow, I started running again this morning.
“Yo! You made it! And you didn’t even trip on the way down!?”
As I descended all the stairs of the poor neighborhood, Pangeo was already waiting.
“Uh….”
But my gaze was directed elsewhere.
There was another person behind Pangeo.
A training outfit that didn’t seem to be worn only during exercise, a thick short padding jacket, and a tightly tied ponytail.
“Ah, this is Danggeun. First time seeing her in person, right? Say hello.”
Danggeun? Surprisingly, this was my first time seeing her in reality.
“Oh. Danggeun. Hey.”
“A… Hello….”
She’s quite bold in games, but for some reason she seems shy in reality.
“Are you joining the exercise club too?”
“Huh…?”
I felt like teasing her more, but I decided to let it slide for now.
“Let’s go.”
“Yes! Let’s do this! Captain! Come on, run!”
Pangeo started running ahead first, but I quickly took the lead from him.
Whoooosh…!
The Writer and one Cameraman followed on a scooter as expected.
“Danggeun! Why did you come this time!?”
“Ha… I came… to exercise….”
“Why come all the way out here! Why not exercise nearby!”
“Because that friend isn’t there.”
“Ah….”
Listening to the conversation while running ahead, sad music automatically started playing in my ears.

* * *
In any case, the morning jogging group, now expanded to three members, met every day and ran with dedication.
Pangeo’s stamina began to increase rapidly, and Danggeun, being younger, saw her endurance grow dramatically as well.
What surprises first-time runners is how easily endurance builds up to a certain level—far more easily than one might expect.
“Huff… huff… Whoa! I can actually keep going now!?”
“Yeah.”
Sanghyeon nodded, then began to increase his pace.
“Alright, now we’ll run at ‘normal speed~'”
“Gasp… Hey! Hey! I think you’re misunderstanding something!? You’re not normal, man!”
Pangeo spent the entire day cursing his own tongue for that ill-advised boast.
In any case, as the days passed with morning runs like this.
[Joseon vs Espana]
The match day that would determine their fate in advancing to the main tournament drew near.

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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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