Chapter 17 of Season 1 of The Genius Archer

7. Turning Point (1)

The total amount of donations received in one day.

"…Oh, five hundred?"

Sanghyun inadvertently blurted out loud.

The total amount of donations displayed on Dojaemok's pad was a staggering 5,360,000 won.

This was the amount of money he would barely receive in a month, even with all the incentives and bonuses from his job.

And this was after deducting the fees paid to Trive.

"Wow, do you usually make this much?"

Dotorimuk shook his head with a bitter laugh.

"No, this is the first time for me too."

This was an unprecedented amount of income even for Dotorimuk.

A day with 500,000 won in donations would be considered a huge success.

But today, it was 5,000,000 won.

All he did was invite Sanghyun and conduct an interview, and create a simple teaser video.

'This is a total win, isn't it?'

Of course, they would have to split it, so it would be around 2,500,000 won each, but it was still an incredible amount.

"If we split it exactly in half… it would be about 2,700,000 won each."

Sanghyun and Juhyeok looked at each other for a moment, then stood there in a daze.

'Is this real?'

'Yeah… it seems so.'

Both of them needed a little time to process this situation.

"Thank you."

After a moment, they both bowed their heads simultaneously.

"I should be the one to thank you. Usually, if I get 500,000 won in donations, it's a huge success, and I don't even get 200,000 won a day."

Juhyeok adjusted his glasses and his eyes sparkled.

He had always thought that donations were the main source of income for game streaming.

"Then… how do you cover your income…?"

"Of course, it's through ads. The basic ad revenue from Trive is proportional to the number of viewers, and it feels like a basic salary now. And…."

Nayeon chimed in to add more details.

"I bring in ads from other external companies. Usually game ads. But you have to be careful with game ads as they can significantly damage your image if not chosen carefully."

"Ah…"

Juhyeok didn't take out a notepad and pen, but he was completely focused, engraving the information in his brain.

Dotorimuk and Nayeon were in a good mood. Such an opportunity doesn't come often. He continued with more questions.

"Then, do you also bring in ads from outside the gaming industry?"

"Yes, in fact, it's often safer. For example, clothing sponsorships, cameras, broadcasting equipment, computers, and capsule sponsorships are typical."

"Ah…"

Juhyeok started making mental notes again.

His understanding of the social foundation was already excellent, so he could accept it quickly.

'It's similar to the entertainment industry.'

It was similar to how actors and singers make money. The revenue from movies and music itself isn't huge, but if you become famous through them, the story changes.

From then on, everything they wear, their earrings, the car they drive, and even the drinks they consume, all become sources of income.

The streaming industry is no different for those at the top. Especially for comprehensive game streamers with a low proportion of donations.

"It's similar to the entertainment industry."

"It is the entertainment industry. Isn't it funny? Female streamers who look like real celebrities get 90% of their income from donations, so they don't have to act like celebrities, but we do. With this face!"

Nayeon pointed directly at Dojaemok's face.

"Ha. What's wrong with this face! It's so funny! This is the best asset in this industry!"

"It is funny. I can't help but laugh."

The two of them described each other's faces with all sorts of colorful words for a moment, then refocused and spoke to Sanghyun and Juhyeok.

The main point was how Sanghyun and Juhyeok would generate income.

Nayeon shared her own solution.

"Hmm… Sanghyun, you could go the semi-entertainment route…"

Nayeon muttered without looking at Sanghyun's face.

"Yeah. Seeing how this guy, who looks like a model, is so nervous and his face is all red, it's clear that Sanghyun could go the entertainment route."

Dotorimuk added with a chuckle.

"But I want to be a game streamer…"

Sanghyun was surprisingly firm.

He was just starting to enjoy the fun of playing games and streaming.

Being an entertainer didn't suit him.

"Ah, being a game streamer is a given, but each of you should have your own strategy."

Dotorimuk corrected Nayeon's statement as if trying to persuade them.

"In my case, the main sources of income are game ads and the number of live stream viewers. I'm a typical game streamer. But for Sanghyun, it might be good to increase the proportion of external activities, like Hornramen."

Nayeon also chimed in.

"Usually, streamers like that have AllTube as their main source of income, and live streaming is more for fan service and communication."

"Ah…"

Sanghyun nodded, finally understanding the ecosystem. He knew who Hornramen was, so it made sense to him.

Hornramen is a manga artist and streamer who also has a high profile in the entertainment industry, appearing on public broadcasts.

If you ask if he's a game streamer, it's a bit ambiguous. In live streams, games are the main content.

'Now that I think about it, it doesn't sound bad.'

It didn't sound bad at all.

Indeed, advice from seniors is always a great help.

"So, there are major scenes in the streaming world, like AllTube, which focuses on video content, and Trive, which focuses on live streaming. Among them, Sanghyun could fit into the major scene."

"Got it. Thank you."

"If you're going to focus on AllTube, you need to find a good editor. Like me."

Thump.

Nayeon pointed at herself with her thumb and struck a pose… but then her face turned red, and she turned away.

"…?"

"She's a bit strange. But her editing skills are great, and she can also manage things. She's the best partner. Juhyeok, have you ever done editing…?"

Juhyeok, for the first time, had a blank look on his face.

"Ah… No, I haven't. Never."

Sanghyun also knew.

Sitting in front of a computer and fiddling with video frames just didn't fit Juhyeok's style.

"Hmm. Then you'll need to find someone else. Since your income isn't that high yet, take your time."

"Thank you for the advice."

"No problem."

* * *

After about an hour of advice,

Sanghyun and Juhyeok left the studio. Nayeon and Jaemok also came out to see them off.

It was a chilly day, but they shook hands and said their goodbyes one by one.

"Thank you!"

"Yes, have a fun broadcast again!"

They parted ways in a warm and friendly atmosphere.

Dotorimuk had a hunch.

'By then, he'll be above me.'

What Nayeon had said jokingly didn't sound like a joke. Perhaps that's why he reacted so sensitively.

'What can I do? His talent is off the charts.'

When the difference is this big, there's no room for jealousy. Just being the one to recognize Sanghyun first and build a connection was a stroke of luck.

Vroom…

As Sanghyun and Juhyeok's car disappeared from view,

Dojaemok accessed a community site on his phone.

"…Crazy. What is this?"

He couldn't help but exclaim in amazement.

'It's like the heavens are helping him.'

The post he saw was a separate piece of good fortune from Sanghyun's talent.

Or perhaps, this too was a result of his talent.

After all, it was a work created by his innate charm.

'Well… a good face is also a talent.'

Indeed, finding a field more in the realm of talent than a good face is difficult.

Dojaemok smiled with a bittersweet expression.

* * *

A storm was brewing on the community site KingChim.

Previously, most of the posts were about games, with occasional mentions of Almond or other streamers.

Now, the board was almost entirely dominated by stories about Almond.

-Who is Almond?

-Please, talk among yourselves.

Of course, there were still users who didn't know Almond. But their reactions were completely different.

-You don't know Almond? X-shin!

-Does this guy live in a cave?

-Why blame others for being a loser? Haha

-Feeling inferior, huh? Haha

The atmosphere had shifted to criticizing those who didn't know Almond.

Moreover, the famous "Crown Shot" GIF of Sanghyun had spread beyond KingChim to other popular communities.

It became one of the top 10 best posts on the largest game community in the country.

-Is Almond the savior of Kingdom?!

-It's been so long since a Kingdom-related post made the top 10.

-It's been so long since I heard of ㅇㅈㄹ. Haha

-I've never heard of it.

-Reviving a game in just 5 days… what incredible talent.

While some of the comments were exaggerated, the foundation was true.

A Kingdom-related post had never made it into the top 10 of the entire community.

It was such a niche game.

-Is that possible in that game?

-Crazy…

-Check out this mad movie, pretending to be a teaser by Dotorimuk. It's amazing.

While few people played the game, many understood how impressive Sanghyun's play was due to its notorious reputation.

-I quit and refunded it within 2 hours. Haha

-Indeed, the difference in talent…

They were users who had tried the notoriously difficult game in the past and had painful memories.

Thanks to this, the existence of the streamer Almond was firmly etched into the largest game community in the country.

The surprising part, however, was not just this. This was within Dojaemok's expectations.

What surprised him was a post that appeared in a completely different place.

"Bro, look at this."

Dojaemok's manager pointed him to a video-related community where editors are active.

A post appeared in the game category of this community.

It seemed to be written by a female fan of Almond.

The video she made as a hobby was a mad movie focusing on super plays.

It appeared to be a promotional post for Almond.

The comments were more amazed by the video itself.

-Wow… the quality is insane…

-A hobby? What do you do?

-Really insane. Who is Almond? He's a god.

-Haha

-Post this on AllTube. It's amazing.

-Why haven't you posted it yet?

The mad movie she made as a hobby was, in fact, a crazy movie.

The angles and speeds of the arrows flying, the perfectly matching upbeat background music, and even the cinematic visuals of a war movie.

-…Should I post it?

└Definitely

└Right now!

└If you post it, fans will go wild. Haha

That night,

The video posted on AllTube became a trending video in the game category and recorded 100,000 views.

The channel name was 'Almond Fan Seo Ji-a'.