Genius Archer’s Streaming

They were on their way back home after their successful negotiation. Finally, they could talk about their achievement of being ranked first on YouTube. As expected, the main topic of discussion was the comments from online users.

"There's like ten new replies every time I refresh."

"It's that much?"

They never thought JeonJaPa's influence would be this great.

'Now that I think about it, I don’t know about him.'

After arriving home, Ju-Hyeok immediately sat in front of the computer and researched JeonJaPa.

While reading through the information on Wikipedia, he adjusted his glasses. He murmured, "Hey, it's true JeonJaPa had a significant impact on the gaming industry, but his greatest contribution was to the domestic streaming market."

"... Really?"

"Yeah. Since that guy appeared, the image of game streamers improved significantly and the average viewership increased tenfold."

It was true that there was a time when having more than 10,000 live viewers was considered the highest level. Sang-Hyeon nodded his head.

'So that's what happened after JeonJaPa appeared.'

Due to the popularity of online users, people's attention momentarily shifted to capsule games and related streams. In fact, Sang-Hyeon was one of those who discovered game streaming for the first time during that period. He didn't know then that it was because of JeonJaPa.

"I didn't pay much attention so I didn't know, but this guy was quite the looker himself."

On Ju-Hyeok's monitor was a large picture of JeonJaPa's upper body. It was the face Sang-Hyeon always saw on broadcast while learning about LIL. It was an aesthetically pleasing face. With that face and being the world's best in gaming, it was natural that he would skyrocket in popularity. Ironically, even Sang-Hyeon, who was focused on work at the company, knew who JeonJaPa was to some extent.

But...

'... Hmm?'

A strange sense of unease washed over him. The more he looked at the face, the more he felt it.

Amid his wavering thoughts, Ju-Hyeok blurted out something unrelated, "I don't think you can turn into JeonJaPa, but maybe a value version of JeonJaPa."

"What are you talking about?"

The current difference between JeonJaPa and Almond was indescribable.

"What? You can be the JeonJaPa of streamers or something. You're good-looking and have a background that the public likes. If you score big advertisements on the major channel, you'll easily get ten billion won... huh? Hehehe..." As soon as Ju-Hyeok started talking about money, he laughed weirdly. Ten billion in a month would make anyone laugh.

"JeonJaPa earns that much?"

"Ten billion might be a little exaggerated, but... he earns to the point where numbers are meaningless. Apparently, he has five sports cars and an enormous house. There are even rumors that he comes from a wealthy background."

"Hey... you're rich too."

"You can't even compare him to me. Apparently, he's as rich as in the movies."

‘As rich as in the movies…’

Sang-Hyeon felt that before from that woman. He scanned JeonJaPa's face again.

'Hmm...'

He felt that the passing face of that woman resembled the man on the screen. Although they rarely spoke, the cheerful and lively atmosphere of the streamer and the dark, somber atmosphere of the woman from before were quite different. However, they did have a similar appearance.

'Are they siblings?'

The woman he met was also rich. If JeonJaPa came from a wealthy background as well, there was a chance that they were siblings because being that rich was rare. They also looked similar.

'What if they are siblings?'

Of course, he knew nothing about JeonJaPa's family relationship. It was none of his business. He simply thought that he could express gratitude for the comment if they ever ran into each other. Sang-Hyeon decided to focus on what he had to do. The tournament was the most important thing right now. He had to start implementing the training program he devised from today onwards to achieve that.

"Hey, I'm going to work out a little in the courtyard."

"... Hm? In the courtyard?"

"Yeah. A new training."

"Sure."

Sang-Hyeon stepped into the courtyard, turned on a YouTube video, and started exercising. Strangely, all the movements were focused solely on his left arm.

Swish. Swish.

Moreover, the exercises focused more on performance than typical strength training. It was almost reminiscent of swordsmanship.

'What is he doing? Does he think he's still playing video games?'

While adjusting the curtains, Ju-Hyeok watched that scene and tilted his head in confusion. Despite watching for a while, Sang-Hyeon didn't perform any other exercises. He simply swung his left arm vigorously or suddenly dashed in a different direction, performing movements that made him look like a crazy person.

'It does look like a hard workout.'

One thing was for sure, the exercise didn't look easy.

***

Tap.

The woman placed a tablet on her knees and said, "I can at least do this much activity, right?"

"..."

The butler didn't like it, but it was only a couple of months ago when she pestered him to go into the capsule. Compared to then, this was doable.

'Unless the lady has changed her tactics.'

He wasn't sure what she was up to, but ignoring it was a good idea.

"It doesn't matter, but there will be articles. You know the influence you have in that industry, right?"

"Of course~ I'm still popular~"

He hadn't seen her this happy in a long time. Even with that fact alone, it was worth ignoring the issue.

"Are you interested in that person?"

"Yeah."

The butler stared at the woman in surprise. The woman just looked at him with a smile.

"I like anyone who's good."

Bling.

A notification appeared on the comment she made.

[Almond liked your comment.]

'Sometimes I don't.'

Her eyes turned toward the dark room. It was where the capsule was.

Bling.

Another notification popped up.

[Almond has started streaming.]

The girl clicked on the notification out of habit.

"... You can go now. I'm going to watch the stream."

"... Alright."

With hundreds of other spectators, she was part of the first wave of viewers.

— AlHa!

— AlHa!

— AlHahahha~~

— Almond!!

— Wow! Streaming!

The happy messages from the viewers appeared. The woman just stared into the screen.

“Hi, Treevy~!” As always, Almond cheerfully greeted them.

When she saw him at the hospital, he was a lot more calm... The woman scratched her head in confusion.

“I think I mastered Sana already yesterday…”

Almond spoke as if he had something different prepared for today's stream.

— ???

— True

— Taunting us already?!

— You didn't even do her story mode yet! Get her rapport level to 100!

— Do Sana's story mode, please!

“It's true I didn't do the story mode, but... it's too long to do before the tournament. And to learn a new skill... is a lot of work. Besides, Sana's rapport goes up pretty easily.”

— That's only for you...

— Just for you!

— Sana does go up pretty easily, but not as well as yours.

“Since I had some money left over, I bought more champions.”

Almond showed the champions he purchased from the shop on his stream. He purchased four more. While Almond was showing the champions, the screen started shaking. The woman's hands were slightly trembling.

[Flashy Blade - Swift]

It was the champion she recommended and was good at.

'What's wrong with you? You're the one who recommended it to him.'

The woman gathered her emotions and refocused on the screen. However, no matter how much she tried to suppress her emotions, she couldn't get rid of the strange feeling in the corner of her heart. It was an indescribable and unmanageable emotion that couldn't be defined or categorized.

***

[Interaction Room]

Almond proudly showed off his room.

"Now, I have a lot of champions too."

— So cute

— Wow, that's a lot of champions

— You got four, LOL

— Ohhh

— He had a lot left over because he got Sana for free.

Almond purchased a total of four champions. It felt like a crowd since four more champions were added to the room with only Raina and Sana previously.

"What's going on now?"

The voice was a little aggressive. It was Raina.

— She's the first one to come to him, LOL

— What's going on? (Heart is thumping)

— I think Almond needs to ask what's going on. Where did you come out from?!

Despite her words, Raina was always the first one to come out and greet him. She looked a little upset because he had only been playing Sana these days, but because they were already so close, there weren't any actual consequences.

"Ah, Raina. I wanted to talk to you for a moment."

Almond talked to Raina about what she liked. Raina's lips slowly formed a smile.

"Alright. Have a good time."

Almond passed by Raina and went into the forest. A small boy was wandering around the forest.

Almond pointed at him and said, "The champion we're going to try out today is this guy."

He was a boy with blonde hair and blue eyes that emanated a mysterious and noble aura.

— Oh, it's Ran!

— Ran?

— Ran doesn't shoot arrows, though?

"Ran does shoot arrows, no?"

— LOL, I guess that's an arrow too

— I mean, Raina's is a mana arrow too, after all.

— As long as there's an arrow, Almond can do it all!

— That's up to Almond, haha.

Ran’s alias was The Pure Sniper. Like Raina, he was an archer who actively utilized mana, but leaned more towards being a mage. He was renowned for handling pure and refined mana, which allowed him to have a flexible shooting style. Some individuals shot arrows like a bow while others threw them like projectiles. It was natural for Amond to choose the bow-style approach.

"I'm just going to say hi and go into a game immediately. I wanted to show you guys, but apparently he gets his feelings hurt easily so I can't just go."

— Wow, Almond studies now...

— Hey! You're studying little boys now?!

— Ran does get feelings hurt easily

— Sana: hehe

— Even in-game, he gets hurt easily. He's so squishy.

Ran warmly greeted Amond when he came to say hello. He had the image of a pure, golden-haired youth from a noble family. Sometimes, he was even referred to as the Innocent Devil. With his innocent face, nothing was more entertaining than seeing him play pranks and watching others get worked up about it.

[All the teammates are now ready!]

The first game to practice Ran was found.

[Takoyaki has donated 10,000 won!]

[Ah, sorry. I'm a little late. I'll spectate right away…!]

Even Takoyaki, who was supposed to coach him, was here. The summoners were summoned into the battlefield, and the game began.

***

'He picked Ran today?'

Tako tilted his head in confusion after seeing Almond select Ran.

'It doesn't match him, no?'

Almond was a player with insane reaction speed and fast target acquisition as his strengths. On the other hand, Ran was quite slow regarding range. Ran tended to gather his energy and aim for a single powerful strike. He was the opposite of characters like Raina, who had a sense of speed and agility. However...

'Wait, what's going on?'

As the game progressed further, Tako realized it.

'... Holy shit. This is the champion for him!'

Almond specialized in shooting with precision rather than shooting rapidly. Ran was a character designed to allow players to fully focus on accuracy. At that moment, Almond's potential truly exploded.

Kwang!

With a single shot fired from a considerable distance, his pure mana precisely struck the enemy's head.

[LazySoldier is legendary!]

[Quadra kill!]

Almond demolished the game in fifteen minutes, killing four enemies and destroying their nexus.

***

"Wow... I'm speechless."

Tako wiped the sweat off his forehead and thought he needed to decide now.

"Hey, everyone. You know that Strawberry and Almond are competing for the ADC position, right?"

— Yes

— Of course

"Honestly, I think Almond has a higher chance than Strawberry."

It would be controversial, but it was better to say it now.

"But who would agree with me? An unranked over a master tier? So..."

The chat was already in chaos. It was filled with question marks and mockery.

— Are you saying an unranked is better than a master tier???

— Are you delusional?

— Is Almond paying you? This is a normal game!!!

— Wow... come on, man

— Strawberry fanboys are here now, LOL

He expected this much of a reaction. They were angry, but Tako knew they would be excited if they heard what he was about to say next.

"We have to make a roster for our team in five days. How about we determine it with a 1 vs. 1 match on that day?"

— Ohhhh! A 1 vs. 1?!

— Wow, that's nuts

— 1 vs. 1?!

— Master vs. Unranked, LOL

— This guy is baiting us.

"There's a 1 vs. 1 mode. You fight in the abyss, right? I'll decide on the position after that!"

After Tako's statement, five days passed.