Genius Archer’s Streaming - Chapter 879

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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 4 Episode 010
4. Aftermath (1)
That’s how the world of sports works.
While they say everything is evaluated by results, the reality was somewhat different.
Not all victories held the same value.
For example, when someone who always performs well does so again.
It’s surprising in its own way, but compared to that achievement, reactions like “boring” or “him again?” inevitably emerge.
At some point, fans crave the emergence of new powerhouses. They seek fresh stimulation.
So ultimately, what captivates everyone is the underdog’s rebellion.
A team that always struggled showing a miraculous run and reaching the championship.
That was the victory Joseon displayed this time.
Therefore, Joseon’s championship held far greater value than any other victory.
However, there was an important caveat here.
“It’s only true among those who know Civil M.”
As Juhyeok said, to fully appreciate the value of this championship, you had to have known Civil M beforehand.
How weak Joseon was as a team, how poor Korea’s Civil M infrastructure was, and so on.
You’d need to have watched at least from the national championship two years ago to truly feel the worth of this victory.
“But most people in our country don’t fall into that category.”
The problem was that Civil M was an unpopular game in our country.
Most of the influx came during the Korean-Japanese War when Joseon started performing well.
For them, Joseon’s victory would have been something spectacular in itself.
But that was because the match itself was tense and thrilling with back-and-forth momentum, or because Joseon defeated the neighboring Japan and China.
Not because Joseon was an underdog.
Of course, the audience would know it intellectually. Since everyone says Joseon was an underdog, they simply accept it as fact.
But experiencing Joseon’s defeats firsthand from the beginning is different from knowing it intellectually.
If I had watched Joseon’s matches from the start, I wouldn’t have been able to hold back tears when they won the championship this time.
Just like most M-bul players did.
I cried my eyes out ㅠㅠ
I never dreamed I’d cry watching a gaming tournament like this… Now I have no regrets even if I die ㅠㅠ
[Ha… you all really did so well ㅠㅠ]
But what about those who approached this tournament lightly?
They would have been equally enthusiastic while the tournament was happening….
But after that?
“The issue started fading quickly.”
Like everything else, it was gradually disappearing into the depths of memory.
The Civil Empire championship was following that same course.
Actually, all news is like that.
Unless it’s a major incident, there are hardly any stories that last more than a week.
“That’s why this video was so important.”
Whoosh.
Juhyeok swivels his chair around and explains.
“Yaaaawn.”
Sanghyeon, bleary-eyed from a hangover and just waking up, nods while yawning.
“Yeah. Right. Got it.”
He opens the refrigerator without much interest in listening, pulling out milk and Almond cereal.
Juhyeok doesn’t stop explaining.
“Cookie’s story is something anyone can relate to, not just Civil M players.”
To fully understand the value of Joseon’s championship, prior knowledge of Civil M was necessary.
But understanding Cookie’s story required no such thing.
Life and death, and dreams—these were values we all shared.
Cookie, who protected his dream until the very end in the face of death.
Was there any story in the sports world that could move people’s hearts like this?
“There’s a reason Department Manager Jang went through the trouble of producing a video like this. Same with Cookie.”
Because of this, interest in the Civil Empire, which had seemed to be fading, ignited once more.
This would become a major stepping stone for the upcoming Civil Empire Pro League and the players preparing for the professional scene.
“Man. Hee-cheol hyung really did leave something like this behind in the end.”
Sanghyeon mutters while putting cereal in his mouth.
“I hope it’s not the end.”
A small voice, as if bothered by his own words about it being the end.
But he knew.
That such a small wish of his couldn’t change the massive current where life and death diverge.
“….”
Juhyeok watches Sanghyeon put cereal in his mouth with a somewhat melancholic expression, falling silent for a moment.
‘That’s right.’
Focusing only on business, he’d momentarily forgotten the core of it all.
‘Cookie was… passing away.’
The reason all of this was possible.
Because Cookie actually lived such a life.
Just as he said, he had lived through this arduous process beautifully.
“By the way, Cookie. There’s no other news, right?”
“He had a checkup. But I don’t know the results.”
“I see.”
Not telling him the results might mean nothing had changed.
“…I’m going to ask.”
“You’re going to ask?”
Juhyeok was startled.
That kind of question is usually difficult to ask.
And given Sanghyeon’s personality, he wasn’t the type to ask something like that on his own initiative.
So why?
“If the end is coming, I want to prepare properly for it.”
“….”
I had memories of facing the end unprepared.
「You’re quitting archery? You? Why on earth?!」
「It’s not fun anymore.」
「What…? Say something that makes sense!」
Sanghyeon muttered as if he’d made up his mind.
“I need to ask him about this.”

* * *
Korea was still in spring weather, so the temperature difference between day and night was significant.
“Wear something over that. It gets freezing at night~”
“…Okay.”
Sanghyeon, who had been about to go out in just a short-sleeved shirt, threw on a thin cardigan at Juhyeok’s nagging and left the house.
“But where are you meeting? What are you eating?”
Juhyeok asks while smacking his lips.
It seems odd that he’s asking about the menu when he’s not even participating in this gathering. But honestly, it’s always been like this.
Surprisingly, Juhyeok gets vicarious satisfaction from things he doesn’t even eat.
For example, if I say we’re going to eat spicy pig’s feet…?
‘Wow! Man… spicy pig’s feet! That charred aroma wafting up, taking a proper bite and putting it on white rice, the soft and chewy texture mixed with the savory white rice grains melting smoothly….’
He just keeps muttering away like that, marveling at it.
Being this kind of person, he gritted his teeth and prepared rice instead of cereal every morning.
Today, Juhyeok is deprived of even that opportunity for vicarious satisfaction.
“We’ll probably just order various things, right…?”
“…You’re getting delivery? For this important company dinner!? Without even deciding on a menu!?”
Juhyeok flinches as if he’d heard something terrible.
“Yeah. Hey, I don’t have time. I’m going.”
“No! Why are you getting delivery!”
Thud.
Sanghyeon shut the door and bolted out like he was running away.
‘Rich kids grow up eating well and have no appetite, right? That guy’s like a mutant.’
Recalling some strange prejudice I’d seen in dramas, I was rushing down the stairs of the poor neighborhood when.
“Huh?”
Screech.
I grabbed the brakes urgently and stopped.
“?”
The person whose eyes met mine was Jia.
‘What. What time is it….’
She seemed to be coming from the company based on her outfit.
‘It’s 12 o’clock?’
Jia, spotting Sanghyeon, waves her hand while laughing, “Haha….”
“A company dinner… I never thought we’d actually do it. But once we started, there was no holding back. We really went all out.”
I’d been drinking for nearly twelve hours straight.
‘Department Manager Jang is no joke.’
Jia enjoyed drinking too.
But those people were like madmen.
“Yeah, it does look that way.”
“Where are you headed?”
“I’m going to meet up with the Think Tank people and others.”
“Ah.”
Jia nodded in acknowledgment.
I was about to pass by when—
“Um…”
Tug.
She grabbed me briefly.
“Cookie is coming too, right?”
“Yeah.”
“Oh… that’s right.”
She hurriedly rummaged through her handbag and pulled something out.
“Our production team wrote this. I was supposed to give it to you tomorrow… well, I guess that’s today now… anyway, I promised to deliver it.”
“?”
“It’s a letter. You know, the kind everyone writes together when someone leaves or a project ends.”
“…Ah.”
I nodded and accepted the letter from her.
It was folded many times over, and when unfolded, it would probably be quite substantial in size.
“Aseng really isn’t sentimental. I never imagined receiving something like this.”
“The top planner didn’t get one either. It’s a major corporation, after all.”
Pfft.
We exchanged a sympathetic laugh and waved goodbye.
I rushed down the stairs again.
‘I’m going to be late.’
The delays along the way meant I might miss my appointment.

* * *
I was checking the bus schedule at the bus stop.
“Wow. Ah, Almond!?”
“It’s Almond! Almond!”
Huh?
My body went rigid in an instant.
‘No. I’ve never had people shout like this.’
It’s become normal for people to recognize me when I go outside now.
Generally, ninety-five percent of people in this country just pass by even when they recognize me.
Or they quietly come over and ask for a photo or autograph.
“Almonnnnd!”
But I’d never experienced people screaming like this, as if announcing the appearance of a gate monster.
“Wahhh! Hyung! Sign for me!”
Once I came to my senses a bit, I could figure out why.
‘Ah.’
The voices were young.
They were kindergarten children.
The kids had spotted me while being led somewhere in a line.
I was flustered since it was my first time being recognized by children.
“Kids! You can’t break formation! You’ll get demerits!”
I could give demerits to each one individually, but if they all move at once, even that becomes meaningless.
“Take a photo with us!”
“Me too!”
Rumble rumble rumble.
All the children rushed toward me.
‘If one person throws a stone, it’s trolling. But if everyone throws together, it’s a team fight?’
I recalled something Taco had once said and scooped two of the children into my arms.
“Alright. Got it. Let’s take a photo.”
“Wahhhhh!”
The children in my arms squealed with delight, their bodies wriggling with excitement.
Though my eardrums felt like they were vibrating, I couldn’t help but smile.
Children’s laughter is nature’s cure.
“Um… I’m so sorry. I’ll just take one quick photo.”
The kindergarten teacher apologized and raised her camera.
Seeing that she’d brought a separate camera, it looked like they were on an outing.
There was a cultural park nearby, after all.
“It’s fine. You can take several.”
Click! Click!
I held the children close and was captured in the photo with a smile on my face.
“Me too! Hold me too!”
“Sure.”
“Wait, me too!”
By the time we finished taking photos in various poses, the bus had already passed by once.
“Kids, you should say thank you~.”
“Thank youuuu!”
“You’re so handsome!”
“Mister! When I grow up, I want to be Almond!”
The moment the shoot ended, the next bus arrived right on cue.
Sanghyeon dashed and boarded the bus.
The children continued waving from outside the window alongside their teacher.
“Goodbyeeeeee!”
I waved back for a while before remembering something.
‘Ah. I should have asked for the photos.’
I wanted to keep the photos we took with the children too. It was a shame.

* * *
Delayed by various incidents, I finally arrived.
“Phew.”
I walked quickly through the alleyway that anyone who’d seen the fake national team would recognize.
“…Already here.”
I stopped in front of an old detached house. It was the Think Tank’s hideout.
‘I wonder how everyone’s been.’
It had been quite a while since I opened this door.

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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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