Chapter 44

Streaming Season 1, Chapter 44

16. Turning Adversity into Advantage (2)

To get a ban on the first try and be labeled as a bad player.

If someone were to hear this, they would probably think it was because he played so poorly that he was considered a bad player.

But looking at the thumbnail of the video, it was clear that this was not the case.

First match! Solo squad! Bow! Victory!

These words were displayed prominently on the screen.

So the viewers would think,

"Did he get banned for being too good? But it's his first match?"

How is that possible?

"Maybe I'll take a look and see if I can be fooled."

With this thought, the viewers couldn't help but click on the video at least once.

Since it was a first-release system, they had to wait about a minute.

In return, when watching the video for the first time, they could chat with the viewers as if it were a live broadcast.

- What is it that's getting a first release? Haha

- If the title is clickbait, it's really a terror. -_-

- Ah, I can't wait 10 minutes!

- Really got banned? The community is going crazy right now.

- RLY??? Hahaha

Since not many people had gathered yet, the hardcore fans could share their opinions as if in a small chat room.

- Yeah, really got banned. Check the Trivia board.

- Just look at the Kingchi board; it's the most popular post. Haha

- RLY, really.

- How is that possible?

As the video approached its one-minute mark,

Suddenly, a large number of people flooded in, and the chat was buried.

- Hahaha

- Ahaha!

- Ah, I missed yesterday's live stream, but the edited version is already up.

- Jia is working hard.

- Ahahaha!

- Haha

- By the way, what's with the clickbait title? Haha

- Not like Almond... ...

A moment later.

The video was finally released, and the chat temporarily decreased.

Dun──

Ordinary background music.

An ordinary start.

The video began with the moment of waiting for the transport in the waiting room.

However, the camera movement was strange.

It zoomed in on the top right corner, not on Almond's avatar.

The pixels were so broken that it was hard to see, but it was clearly a squad match.

Once the game started, this text disappeared, and none of the viewers knew the truth.

Everyone thought it was a solo match.

Of course, for the viewers watching this edited version, this was a funny point.

- Hahaha

- Really?

- It can happen on the first try. Haha

- I did that too. Haha

- Fix that, damn. Haha

- RLY, it's hard to distinguish between solo and squad matches.

It was a mistake anyone could make, but it was amusing that Almond made such a mistake.

- Could he... win first place?

- No way, even for him.

- Are the opponents bots?

The thumbnail clearly stated "victory," but no one seemed to believe it easily.

The situation was so unfavorable for Almond.

However, as the game progressed and he achieved a triple kill with a compound bow,

- Wow Haha

- He's doing great. Better than in Kingdom... ...

- Can he really win first place?

- Look at his clean shots... ...

From then on, the viewers could sense it.

Almond's AllTube title was not an exaggeration but the real deal.

And after overcoming numerous adversities,

The final 3v1 battle.

- Yaa~

- This is the bow of Joseon! You damn fools!

- Got it

Using painkillers and the blue zone, he narrowly eliminated two players.

Now it was 1v1.

The fight didn't last long.

Even though the opponent used a trick to crawl to an unexpected place, Almond saw through it.

Poke!

An arrow pierced the forehead of the sniper hiding behind a rock. Everyone cheered.

- Wow!

- RLY, first place! Haha

- Amazing

- I should have watched it live. T_T

- I really need to watch it live.

- You're insane, really?

- Hahaha

- The other 99 players must all be bad players, right? Haha

Cheers also filled AllTube.

However, there was one additional video that the live viewers didn't see.

Sizzle──

The screen changed with a bit of noise.

Posts from the Battle Royale community, "Bera 31," started to appear, edited into the video.

A background sound that would be used in a thriller or "That's What I Want to Know" also played.

Enlarged posts claiming that Almond was reported.

The only reason they reported him was that he was a popular streamer named Hakko and his skill level didn't match his rating.

- Are these guys for real?

- These community guys... ...

- They're such losers; they should focus on their real lives. Haha

- At least check the basics before reporting!

- Fact: These guys reported that Miho sponsored him.

- Fact.

- Haha, these guys who were tearing Miho apart in her room, saying "Are you a female streamer? Haha," were furious when Miho actually sponsored him.

- ??? : Our Miho! Give it back!

- So, RLY, the report was accepted??

The viewers naturally became curious about whether the report was valid.

The result was soon known.

The video ended by showing the email Almond received.

- RLY

- Legendary

- Legendary damn Haha

- Who is the admin? Are they crazy?

- Haha, this is Battle Royale.

- No, did they just get a free pass because there were too many reports?

- Wow, this is RLY legendary Haha

- First match, bad player Haha

- Check the match history Haha. Can't the staff see it?

- It's the result of not being able to see the battle records, saying it's private. Haha

The viewers, who were still fuming in the chat, soon found the chat closing, leaving about 4,000 viewers with nowhere to go. They rushed to their respective game communities to write posts.

This incident was both infuriating and quite interesting, so it was good to get attention.

It was a perfect topic for community users who love attention.

The numerous posts they wrote spread like wildfire.

Eventually, it even made it to the official news articles on popular portals.

The credibility of a news article was on a different level from community issue posts and hot topics.

This made it a great source for community users to use as "evidence."

* * *

"How's it going?"

Sanghyun asked, brushing his teeth while standing behind Kim Joo-hyuk.

"The reaction is good. Since you were clearly wronged."

"Good to hear."

Sanghyun nodded, glancing at the monitor over his shoulder.

"But... I'm not sure if this can be considered a blessing... "

"Um? Why? You're getting a lot of attention."

Joo-hyuk shook his head.

"What are you going to do on today's broadcast?"

"?"

"Are you going to play Kingdom again? That's already old news. Although there are people who say they miss it... but because of today's topic, everyone is more excited about Battle Royale."

"Ah..."

The problem, as Joo-hyuk pointed out, was that the game was currently on hold. There was no game to broadcast today.

Switching to another game was out of the question, and going back to Kingdom Age was also awkward.

"Maybe... take a day off from broadcasting."

Sanghyun said this casually, but Joo-hyuk shook his head.

"Yeah, you can take a day off."

"..."

"What if it's still unresolved after two days?"

"Ugh... then what?"

"I don't know yet.

Sigh.

Joo-hyuk sighed.

"The problem is... if they reverse their decision, they'll have to admit that their management was a mess. They won't just admit it. Besides, they're already getting a lot of criticism for their recent management."

Joo-hyuk's words seemed to be true.

They might just pretend this incident never happened to avoid admitting their mistake.

Sanghyun's ban would continue.

"Well, at least a formal reprimand."

Sigh.

Sanghyun, who had worked before, could imagine the situation.

"Still, we'll have to see what happens tomorrow."

"If there's no word by tomorrow? What if they just sweep it under the rug?"

"It's fine. I have a meeting tomorrow."

"Meeting with who?"

"With the manager."

"!"

Joo-hyuk's expression changed, finding it amusing.

"Can you do it?"

"Let's see."

"Okay. I believe you. Let's just take it easy today."

Joo-hyuk lay on the sofa with a relaxed expression, something he hadn't done in a while.

* * *

Deputy Manager Kim Gi-yeol muttered a rough curse.

"Did you see this? Damn, what do we do?"

Ping.

The monitor he was fiddling with showed a popular post on a community site.

It had even made it to the largest game community in the country.

"Did our team do this?"

"Um... I did."

"Um, what do we do? We're already getting a lot of criticism for our management... "

"If we admit this, we'll be burned at the stake. It'll be over."

"But the evidence... is too... "

The deputy manager's eyes wavered, about to say "it's too clear... "

Kim Gi-yeol glared at him with burning eyes.

"Do you think I don't know that?"

"A, ah... sorry."

"Hah."

He sighed deeply and finally turned his gaze to the manager.

"Damn, it's really... "

"Manager, what will you do...? Just sweep it under the rug?"

"I don't know. Wouldn't you want to sweep it under the rug? It's just one Hakko guy. Besides, he's not a frequent player; it was just his first match."

That's why it's more of a problem... The deputy manager swallowed his words.

"I'll report it. But if the manager wants to sweep it under the rug, it'll be different."

A moment later.

A loud shout echoed from the manager's desk.

"Kim Gi-yeol, you bastard! What are you doing, you bastard!?"

Bang!

The sound of a desk being hit echoed.

"You didn't even check the match history before banning him? Are you crazy?"

"Sorry... there were too many reports... "

"Ah. So if there are many reports, you just ban them? Damn, the users will be so happy to hear that? Should we vote on your termination by majority rule?!"

"Sorry."

"Hah... "

The manager wiped the sweat that had rolled down his face from the heat.

"How many average viewers does this guy have?"

"About a thousand."

"Any other special points?"

The manager didn't know that Almond was a partner streamer with Pung.

He hadn't bothered to check that far. The number of viewers was too low to be a partner streamer.

"What are you standing there for? Sweep it under the rug. Call the community site administrators and set up a meeting."

"Ah, got it!"

Kim Gi-yeol's expression brightened, but the manager looked troubled.

"Hah... soon... "

His gaze turned to the list of those who passed the promotion written exam.

He only had the interview left.

* * *

The next day.

Evening came.

"Still no statement?"

Sanghyun asked, buttoning his suit, hoping for some action from Battle Royale.

Joo-hyuk, lying on the sofa, shook his head.

"Nope."

Thud.

Joo-hyuk got up from the sofa and shook his head again.

"No. There are no posts about you either."

"..."

Sanghyun was momentarily stunned but soon nodded, understanding the situation.

"I see."

"They're determined to sweep it under the rug. Just go and do your thing."

Sanghyun checked the meeting place again from yesterday and laughed it off.

Pfft.

"I'll be back."