Genius Archer’s Streaming - Chapter 74
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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 74
26. Records (3)
“That’s unfortunate.”
“It could happen.”
“Either way, the match ended in a draw. It’s just like watching soccer where you console yourself by saying you had high possession even though you lost…”
The refined man appearing on screen spoke words that fell like pearls.
Each one of them was precious.
“Kyaa~ That bastard! That absolute bastard!”
Juhyeok poured himself a beer and laughed heartily.
Since earlier, he’d been thoroughly enjoying himself rewatching the broadcast and teasing Sanghyeon.
It was only natural that Juhyeok was delighted—after all, Sang-hyun Yu, that guy, was finally experiencing something called embarrassment.
“…Ugh.”
Sanghyeon lay on the sofa, pretending to focus on his phone, unable to bring himself to watch the screen again.
Of course, even while doing so, he kept glancing left, catching everything he could hear and see.
‘How did I say something like that?’
Sanghyeon wasn’t the type to filter his words particularly carefully.
But even so, that guy called Almond on screen had gone a bit far. He seemed intensely focused on something. He even seemed angry.
A complete novice tied with the world’s number one, so why was he furious? Even watching it again himself, he couldn’t quite understand.
“Seriously~ Every single word is a gem! Huh? A GEM!”
Just like Juhyeok kept shouting.
Each word was precious.
No, the way Juhyeok subtly slurred the pronunciation—it was like something else.
‘I was really excited back then.’
Sanghyeon admitted it.
At that time, whether consciously or not, he’d been heavily stimulated by the words “world record.”
As a newbie, it was shameless, but he’d desperately wanted to beat Jeon-ja-pa.
In that moment, he wasn’t Sang-hyun Yu, a thirty-something assistant manager at a major corporation, but rather Sang-hyun Yu, an eighteen-year-old archery prodigy aiming his bow at the world record.
That ambitious newcomer stood there again.
Spouting out whatever he wanted to say without restraint.
“Phew~ Thank goodness I didn’t say anything about Korean soccer. And yet my mind was still sharp, huh? Puhahahaha!”
Juhyeok kept rewinding the same scene.
“…It’s just like watching soccer where you console yourself by saying you had high possession even though you lost…”
It was a statement that could have caused problems.
But it was funny.
Dangerously funny, you might say.
“Hey. The outcome was good, so that’s what matters.”
“What did anyone say? I’m saying you did well. You did well.”
Juhyeok, his face flushed from beer, grinned widely.
Since soccer came up, he really wanted to land just one soccer kick on that red face.
If he ever reaches a million subscribers later, maybe he’ll ask for it as an event.
“Ahem…”
I dismissed the crude imagination and simply turned my gaze back to my phone screen.
What I was looking at were gaming-related communities.
Fortunately—incredibly fortunately—the viewers’ reactions were quite positive.
Just as I’d said, the ‘results were good.’
[Compilation of Almond’s ‘That Statement’]
Looking at the comments on the post that had achieved the #1 trending issue, that was clear.
-Wow, but isn’t Almond seriously cool?
└For real lol
└Yeah
└That’s just his face though…
-Korea needs someone like that. Everyone acts like such hypocrites, can’t even speak their minds properly and just act all humble.
└For real lol
└Yeah
-At this rate, he’ll really surpass Jeon-ja-pa, right? Even Hayeon said so.
└Huyeon Yu seems like she’s fallen for Almond lol
└Nah. Hayeon doesn’t care about that stuff.
└Total loser, arrested for destroying parents’ spines
└Lmaooo you’re killing me lol
Stop hitting me ㅠㅠ
-For real, he’s world-class talent. Looks, skill, and character!
└Character lol
-Wasn’t Almond too excited? lol He seemed different from usual
└He’s genuinely pissed he didn’t break the record lol
└For real lol He’s actually insane
“Yeah, right ㅋㅋㅋ He really seems angry. It’s so cute ㅠㅠ”
└22222 I also found it kind of adorable lol
The response was unusually positive.
Honestly, I’d expected there to be quite a few people trying to downplay my results, but they were only a tiny minority.
The reason public opinion turned out this way was unexpectedly due to my final statement.
[Points About Almond That Are Honestly Likeable]
This kind of post is currently running at #3 in the trending issues.
Looking at the content, it goes like this.
==== ====
He could’ve been super happy about beating the VNS numbers and claimed he was the best. Honestly, most people would’ve done that.
A complete rookie in week 3 of the Capsule with those numbers would’ve been thrilled, even if they didn’t brag openly.
But what showed that Almond really has integrity was right here.
He immediately called out how it was just like Korean soccer—grinding out possession stats and winning on fouls—then objectified himself.
‘I only tied. Taking pride in that is pathetic.’
Real man, seriously likeable
==== ====
For roughly these reasons, his statement seemed to have resonated with quite a large portion of the public.
“…I didn’t say Korean soccer, though.”
Of course, the story was getting distorted bit by bit, but still, it felt good to have my honest feelings acknowledged like this.
-lol for real
-Yo, he didn’t say Korean soccer. Our country’s soccer is doing well these days, man
└He didn’t say Korean soccer lol the magic of everyone understanding it that way lolololol
└Fighting spirit! Teamwork! Mental strength! lololololol K soccer!
-In the first place, the appeal isn’t from trashing soccer lol
└For real lol Just the fact that he focuses purely on winning is cool. Without jerking himself off with weird stats.
└Agreed….
-He’s really got what it takes.
└Yeah, starting with his face….
-lol if it were me I’d hang a banner in front of my house first
It was strange.
The day had finally come when I, Sang-hyun Yu, was being recognized just as I was. I’d always been overlooked before…
Honesty had always been poison in society.
My true self had always been something to hide. Just like my right hand, always shoved in my pocket.
‘Maybe there really was a path meant for me.’
But here, this was an advantage.
It was astonishing.
“Yawn. Hey, I’m going to sleep now. The beer’s making me drowsy.”
Juhyeok, who had now finished watching the entire broadcast, got up from the sofa. Outside the window was pitch black. Somehow, time had already turned into the dark night.
“I should get some sleep too.”
Click.
Juhyeok and Sanghyeon, reflected in the black window, disappeared.
* * *
The next day.
When morning came, I woke up as usual and hastily shoved cereal into my mouth while preparing for the day.
And I was still checking the internet on my phone.
The incident that had occurred yesterday was now ripe, spreading far and wide across the web.
“…Wow.”
I was amazed, spoon still in my mouth.
‘Search rankings?’
Almond had climbed the search rankings on JayBer, the nation’s most popular portal. VNS and Jeon-ja-pa appeared as related searches as well.
Though the ranking wasn’t particularly high, my head was spinning.
So this was such a big issue.
Now I truly felt it.
‘Should I even create a portal profile….’
When I clicked on Almond, I saw the packaging image of a cost-effective nut and pondered.
‘I never thought I’d be worrying about something like this.’
A JayBer portal profile? That’s something politicians and famous celebrities create.
No matter how much streamers are in the spotlight these days, there are probably almost no streamers who have uploaded profiles.
Would you need to be at least Balloon Gum’s level to appear?
Zing.
Then my phone vibrated.
A message.
[Dotorimuk: Sanghyeon. I watched the broadcast. You’re seriously no joke! Thanks to you, our collab video is trending again, so I’m sending this message out of gratitude!]
It was Dotorimuk.
Now that I think about it, I hadn’t contacted him separately since then. Getting a message after so long brought back the feeling from when I first started streaming, and it felt good.
I smiled and sent a reply.
[I’m the grateful one! I wouldn’t have become a partner streamer without that broadcast!]
[Acorn Jelly: Why are you being so modest again ㅋㅋㅋ Don’t talk like Korean soccer! Let’s grab a drink later!]
Korea lol so funny lol got it!
“Got it!”
Juhyeok suddenly appeared from behind.
He was teasing me about my text message tone.
“You scared me.”
Startled, I lowered my phone.
“Is that Dotorimuk?”
“Yeah. Make some noise next time.”
“Yes! Got it!”
Juhyeok fired back with that same tone and headed to the kitchen.
Zing zing.
Zing.
But my phone kept buzzing with notifications.
After checking, it wasn’t Sanghyeon’s phone.
“Hey. Juhyeok. Your phone’s ringing.”
“Yeah. I know.”
“…Aren’t you going to answer it?”
“That’s not a call.”
“Then what is it?”
“All messages and texts.”
Zzzzzzzing… zing…!
All those notifications going off like crazy were just texts? Sanghyeon tilted his head in confusion.
“Did you borrow money from loan sharks or something?”
“Loan sharks? We’re doing well now~”
“The settlement still hasn’t been properly finalized though.”
“Just my share of yesterday’s appearance fee is 120.”
“Then what are all these notifications?”
“Take a look for yourself.”
Thunk.
Juhyeok set his phone down on the dining table.
“…Is it okay to look?”
Saying that, Sanghyeon quickly picked up the phone and examined it.
There wasn’t even a password set on it. Very typical of Juhyeok.
“!”
As he opened it, countless messages filled the screen.
[Hello. We’re contacting you from the fashion editorial shop brand ‘Amumushinsa’ after watching Almond’s broadcast! Of course, many….]
[Hello. We develop FPS survival games and have launched several masterpiece games….]
[Hello! This is Golden Barbecue Whole Chicken! The reason for our contact is….]
[Hello! From the marketing department of ‘Ogangwoo Kimchi Stew,’ a franchise and eternal traditional establishment….]
They were all sponsorship and advertising inquiries.
“This is… insane….”
Not just games, but clothing, and even franchise restaurants were sending inquiries.
“All of these came in this morning?”
“Yeah.”
“These guys don’t even….”
The faces of the marketing department members who were always already there when he arrived in the morning flashed through his mind.
“…They don’t leave. Ever.”
It was a team for whom sleeping at the company was routine.
“They’re probably trying to sign contracts quickly while our value is still low.”
Sizzzzle.
Juhyeok continued his explanation while cooking the rolled omelet.
“In other words, they’re trying to pull a full buyout while the stock price is low.”
“Ah….”
I understood quickly enough.
Sanghyeon wasn’t an idiot, after all. I was simply amazed that so many companies were predicting Almond’s stock would skyrocket so dramatically in the future.
“Look, honestly, offers like this have been coming in from obscure brands for a while now. I just haven’t mentioned them.”
“Really? Why didn’t you take them?”
“Why? Because the returns weren’t worth it. You sell when the stock price goes up, not when it’s low. Plus, if it’s some weird brand, it just ruins your image.”
….
Sanghyeon fell silent.
He simply stared blankly at Juhyeok’s back.
‘That bastard… he was certain Almond’s stock price would rise?’
I felt it anew.
How much Juhyeok trusted me.
The advertising rates were substantial, yet he’d turned them all down. The guy who needed money more than anyone right now… had rejected it all.
He truly knew how to see the bigger picture.
“So what are you going to do now? The brands that came here are pretty famous ones, aren’t they?”
“Well… yeah, they are. But let’s hold out for now.”
Clack.
Juhyeok set down the rolled omelet and stir-fried kimchi as he spoke.
Sanghyeon’s gaze naturally drifted toward it.
When did this guy’s cooking skills improve this much?
“What? You want some?”
“…yeah.”
“Nope. Not happening. This is all mine.”
“But there’s enough for three people here?”
“If one person eats it, that’s one serving.”
“Wha…?”
And so Juhyeok truly ate every last bit himself.
“Anyway, we’ll hold off on ads for now. We’re not just doing business for a day or two. If we want to run long-term with a ten-year vision, we need to be careful about ads. It’s not like we have no revenue right now.”
“Well… I don’t mind.”
I meant it sincerely.
Sanghyeon had never entered this market chasing big money in the first place.
I was simply happy if I could shoot arrows in the virtual space and if viewers enjoyed watching it. As long as I could make a living, there were no problems.
‘But Juhyeok must be different….’
He surely came here hoping for great success.
“Doesn’t it matter to you?”
To pull in money, it would have been advantageous to accept at least a few smaller ad deals.
But Juhyeok shook his head.
“It’s fine. I’m going for the ‘long~run,’ so you just focus on doing today’s broadcast properly. I already have my first ad sponsor in mind.”
“Really?”
“I’m not saying anything. I might spill the beans otherwise.”
“Got it.”
At least I have a plan, which is fortunate.
With that thought, I headed outside for my jog.
“Hey! What matters most to us right now is diamonds! Diamonds!”
It was like Juhyeok shouting from behind.
‘Right. I need to run hard today too.’
What truly mattered was my promise to the viewers.
I had to stream Battle Rage today as well. And I had to perform exceptionally well.
For that, consistent exercise and good eating habits were essential, just as the doctor said.
Zip.
I pulled up the zipper to block out the crisp wind and slowly descended the stairs.
* * *
3 PM.
It was a bit early to expect Almond’s broadcast to start.
Whirr.
At that time, I entered the Capsule and settled into my seat.
“Phew.”
Unlike usual, I was somewhat tense.
I had roughly anticipated this.
Yesterday had even trended in real-time searches. Though the edited broadcast hadn’t been uploaded to the Fantasia Channel yet, the live stream alone had created significant ripples.
The viewer count would have increased.
Even if it was just a temporary surge, it would definitely have grown.
‘Just proceed as always, calmly. Naturally.’
I steadied my mind so as not to be swayed by those numbers.
As I always did.
[Beginning stream.]
The intro music began playing, and viewers flooded in rapidly.
-Wow, streaming at 3 PM again today?
-So sweet!
-I absolutely can’t miss a second!
-People who can’t resist, gather here!
Haha, so this time slot is fixed now?
-Kyaa!
-That’s why I didn’t get a job. Siiigh!
It was fast.
Really fast.
The gathering speed had always been quick, but this was truly….
‘…record-breaking.’
It couldn’t be compared to any speed I’d witnessed before.
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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
—————