Chapter 19

**Chapter 19 of Season 1: The Genius Archer's Streaming**

**8. Assassination Mission (1)**

Punk, the largest game distributor in the country.

Mr. Oh, who works there, had a big problem.

It wasn't about the hair loss he was experiencing at his age or the worries about his child's grades.

"This damn Western fantasy game, did I make a mistake bringing it in?"

The sales of the game Kingdom Age, imported from Northern Europe, were his problem.

Certainly, it had received very high praise from experts and was highly rated for its gameplay.

But it just didn't have the commercial power.

Of course, he knew from the start that it wouldn't be a commercially successful game.

"But there's a limit, right?"

The company was surprised that the number of purchases had dropped below a certain threshold.

He never thought it would sell so poorly.

He couldn't even voice his concerns.

If he suggested a new event for the struggling game, the executives wouldn't approve it.

To launch a new event, he needed some basis or justification.

'For example, if a star player appeared...'

This wasn't a sports game, and once you bought and played it, that was it. A star player?

He chuckled.

Mr. Oh laughed to himself.

"It's so bleak."

He could only watch as the number of purchases continued to decline.

Watching the game he had approved for import slowly become a failure was truly painful.

"......?"

While enduring this painful time, a video caught his eye, like a savior.

"What is this...?"

It was a video of a player doing a bow challenge.

Thanks to good editing, the gameplay shown in the video was genuine.

'And he's a beginner?'

Moreover, the main character of the video had only been playing the game for a few days.

His appearance was also stunning.

'This guy, why isn't he a model, doing streaming... No, I'm grateful he's streaming!'

This was a gem with endless potential.

The advertising cost would likely be cheaper than for major streamers, but the potential was enormous.

'If I push this right...!'

Thud!

He unknowingly hit the keyboard.

"This is it!"

His employees looked at him with strange expressions, but he didn't care.

He immediately followed the link to the streamer's channel, where he watched past broadcasts.

'This... will work!'

The viewers' reactions, the upward trend, the skills, and the streaming ability—there was nothing lacking.

Even his appearance was outstanding, as seen in the interview video.

Ding.

At that moment, a notification for followers appeared.

Mr. Oh's mouth dropped open.

'What luck!'

Almond didn't have a fixed streaming schedule, but he had just started streaming.

Mr. Oh quickly entered the chat channel and watched the black intro screen, eagerly awaiting Almond's appearance.

'What...?'

But there was something different from what he expected.

'Are there this many viewers?'

In the videos he had seen, the number of viewers wasn't that high, but now it had increased significantly.

* * *

Sanghyun, who was doing a microphone test, was lost in thought.

'What is this...?'

What is this?

Or, why is this happening?

'Is it the collaboration with Dotorimuk? Perfect Shot? Mad Movie?'

No matter what factor he considered, it made sense and didn't make sense at the same time.

The number of viewers had already surpassed a thousand from the start.

The number of viewers continued to rise after he started streaming.

Despite knowing that mentioning the number of viewers was not a good thing, his lips moved involuntarily.

One thousand.

There's a wall of one thousand live viewers.

From one thousand, it's possible to become a full-time streamer. Of course, achieving that is difficult.

But his viewers kept increasing, as if that wasn't enough.

The number of viewers soared in increments of a hundred.

'Should I mention this, or not?'

In the gap where it was hard to decide, Sanghyun became speechless.

Meanwhile, the chat kept rolling.

- Ah!

- Ah!

- Ah!

- What's going on? Why are you not talking?

- Start streaming! Almond, start streaming! Almond, start streaming! Almond, start streaming! Almond, start streaming! Almond, start streaming! Ah...

- It's on, you idiot.

- Cut the spam.

- I just started, what spam? Haha

- Almond, do you have a manager? I saw someone last time...

The chat was overwhelming, and some people seemed to be losing their minds.

'It was fine when I was filming at Dotorimuk Studio.'

At the time, it was a broadcast watched by 50,000 people, but it was fine because Dotorimuk, a professional streamer, and Ina-yeon, a professional manager, supported him. He realized this now.

'They took great care of me.'

Now, having to handle this level of attention and chat alone made his spine shiver.

Swallow.

Sanghyun swallowed hard and thought.

'...This is amazing!'

Tension, pressure.

Sanghyun, a natural sportsman, was not just fighting these but actively seeking them out.

A strange sense of pleasure enveloped his body.

His engine, the one that drove his body, was making a noise several times louder.

His fingertips trembled not just from tension but from excitement.

Hmm. Hmm.

After clearing his throat for a moment,

He greeted the viewers with an energetic voice.

"Ha! The welcome is so warm from the start."

The chat, which had been slowing down, sped up again, like his heartbeat.

- Hahaha!

- Uahaha!

- Hi, Almond!

- Almond, hey!

- Show your face! Show your face!

- Oh, by the way, Almond's main stream doesn't show his face. Haha

- Wow, the main stream doesn't show your face? :(

- Why is it only voice?

- There are so many newbies. Haha

- It's a no-cam stream.

- In fact, he's been hiding his strength. Haha

- Show your face! :(

Since many of the viewers had come from the interview, there were many comments about the camera.

'Camera...'

While Sanghyun was looking for the camera function,

Ding.

A message arrived from Joo-hyuk.

It was a DM (Direct Message) visible inside the capsule.

Ding.

Additional photos were sent.

Looking at them, he understood why there were so many requests for the camera.

These were photos of Sanghyun circulating in communities mainly used by women. Photos of him playing the game, coming out of the capsule and drying his hair with a towel, and other interview scenes.

Almost all the scenes where Sanghyun had shown his face had been captured.

'Wow.'

The comments below were so embarrassing that he couldn't even read them.

But he definitely felt good.

His heart was racing.

Being suddenly loved by so many people was incredibly exciting.

To the point where he didn't even need drugs.

He sent a DM to Joo-hyuk.

Sanghyun's lips curled up, and the camera button was pressed.

A small square appeared in one corner of the broadcast screen.

"Ha!"

In the frame, Sanghyun's face, smiling and greeting the viewers, was visible.

- Wow!

- Are you starting with the camera today?!

- :)))) So good!

- :(((((

- Wow.

- Even in the capsule, he's that good.

- Amazing.

- Bro! Marry me!

The chat increased, and support started coming in even before the game began.

Some people were making up for the support they couldn't give during the collaboration.

He couldn't read all of them.

'I want to be a game streamer.'

As he had told Dotorimuk.

The essence is being a game streamer.

"Thank you for the support. I've been delayed, so I'll start the game now."

* * *

Whoosh.

Almond's avatar was summoned back into the world of Kingdom Age.

Whoosh.

The fresh wind blew, and it was still spring here.

"Almond."

A voice as gentle as the spring breeze whispered.

It was Emily.

She was standing on a hill, looking down.

Sanghyun had played for another 2-3 hours with Dotorimuk.

They had cleared the remaining goblin caves.

She was looking at the remains.

"I've heard a lot about your skills."

"It's an honor, my lady."

The scent of flowers wafted as Emily's golden hair brushed past Almond's face.

She turned her head.

She stood up and looked Almond straight in the eye.

"To have so easily cleared the goblins that have been a constant headache for our territory."

"I didn't do it alone."

"No, I've heard everything from Major Roman."

Emily took his hand.

The viewers cheered at her unexpected enthusiasm, which was faster than expected.

- What?

- How much did he boost his affection?

- Almond didn't boost his affection?

- Haha, just face-licking, bro.

- Now that I think about it, it's true. His face is amazing.

- It's just the aura of a socialite.

- Is this a martial arts novel? Haha

Almond hadn't expected this development.

But the next words made sense.

"I have another task for you."

"..."

It was just another task.

- Haha

- If you're grateful, give your life. Haha

- That's right.

- Why did you tell him directly instead of through Roman? Is this normal?

- It's not an affection boost, but a crazy physical boost.

Almond asked.

"Me? Tasks are given to Major Roman..."

"No. I want you to do it alone. This isn't just my decision. The lord also thinks it's a good idea."

A task to do alone. What could it be?

If it's something to do alone, it must be simple.

"Do you see that castle?"

"Yes."

"Please kill the lord of that castle."

"!?"

Almond's expression and Sanghyun's actual expression in the capsule were not much different.

'What are you saying?'

Even Sanghyun, who didn't know much about the game, found this request unreasonable.

- Sister, you're really killing me!?

- Haha, really killing me. Haha

- Did you say 'kill me' by mistake?

- Sister, you're killing me! Sister, you're killing me! Sister, you're killing me!

- E, Emily... Why, why is it like this!

- This isn't her character.

- Is the combat gauge broken? Haha

The chat reactions were the same.

"Um... Does the lord of the castle often go out?"

"No. You'll have to sneak in secretly."

"..."

"?"

Emily tilted her head as if to say, "Is there any problem with that?"

"You have the skills to do it."

She gripped Almond's hands again. Her innocent, bright eyes...

She truly believed in Almond!

Seeing Almond's