Chapter 4

**Chapter 4 of Season 1 of The Genius Archer's Streaming**

2. Let's Play a Game (1)

In the miserable and embarrassing capsule room, Sanghyun, for the first time in his life, cried uncontrollably.

'Really, it's happening.'

It's been ten years.

For ten years, he hadn't touched a bow.

When he spoke to Kim Joo-hyuk, it was as if he couldn't remember those years.

'I can't forget.'

The date of that day would never be forgotten from his mind. His brain would never allow it.

The traffic accident is still vivid in his memory.

The feeling when he heard that he would never be able to use his right hand properly is still fresh.

The doctor's cold face, turning away, is so clear that he could recognize him if they met on the street.

"Ugh... Haa..."

He clenched his teeth and tried to hold back his tears, but they kept flowing endlessly.

He didn't know why the tears were coming.

Was it because he was happy to shoot a bow after ten years? Or because he felt sorry for himself, having survived the past ten years like an empty shell?

He didn't know.

Anyway, something hot and boiling was overflowing from below his chest.

And it was flowing out through his eyes.

"...Sanghyun."

Joo-hyuk approached with a bewildered look. Sanghyun pushed him away and said,

"Don't come over. Shit... I'm embarrassed."

Sanghyun, who had stopped Joo-hyuk from coming closer, wiped his tears with a tissue.

He seemed to have calmed down a bit.

"Are you okay?"

Finally, the manager came over and patted his shoulder.

"Yes, thank you. It's just because of old memories..."

"I don't understand, but I think it's cool."

"Really...?"

"To still have that childhood dream so passionately."

The manager must have watched too many shonen manga. Sanghyun thought so, but after hearing the next words, he realized that even if the manager had watched shoujo manga, he would still have to respect him.

"I'll give it to you for 700."

"!?"

Sanghyun's eyes widened.

'Seven hundred? He can't be talking about the capsule, right?'

As far as he knew, even a used one costs nearly 2,000. Seven hundred would be a loss, not a bargain.

"Are you talking about the capsule, or some other part?"

"No, the capsule. Didn't you say you were going to stream? The equipment is all set up inside. It's a bit old, but it's not bad for a starter set."

"..."

Sanghyun's mouth dropped open.

"Thank you!"

He bowed deeply without any hesitation. Since he was young, Sanghyun never had the luxury to refuse. He had to accept any help with both hands to survive.

"How can I repay this?"

"Don't worry about it. It's a cheap one. It would sell for about 1,000. The 300 is just a friend's discount, and..."

The manager scratched his head and smiled manfully.

"Let's just say I'm saving face in front of Joo-hyuk."

"!"

Face...

Right. That's important.

Sanghyun nodded, remembering the time the entire department was in an uproar because the manager wanted to save face.

"I'm a man."

When Sanghyun answered seriously, the manager burst out laughing.

"Hahaha! You're really funny."

"Th-That's what I said, I'm a bit different."

Joo-hyuk also seemed flustered, scratching his head and adding. After laughing for a while, the manager corrected himself.

"It's not about face, it's an investment. Most capsule room operators do this, but I also handle the distribution of capsules. If things go well, please do a big ad for me later. 300 is a good deal."

"..."

An ad? For a streaming aspirant who hasn't even played a proper game yet, who would expect an ad in return for giving something?

This was purely the manager's kindness.

Sanghyun nodded even more vigorously.

"Yes! Of course!"

* * *

The next day, the manager's staff came and finished installing the capsule.

"Thank you! Here, take this on your way out!"

"Oh, thank you. What a nice gesture."

He gave each staff member a can of coffee and sent them off.

After that, it took about 7 hours to set up the broadcast and prepare to buy the game.

"Phew. This is a lot of work."

Wiping the sweat from his forehead, Sanghyun looked at the list of popular games on the streaming platform 'Tribi'.

[Battle Ledge] 220,000 viewers

[Life is Legend] 1,570,000 viewers

[Mana Sword] 320,000 viewers

[Bio Jeopardy] 120,000 viewers

...

Most of them were online games with fierce competition.

'These are good, but...'

While these games were clearly the hottest of the era, Sanghyun had no intention of playing them. The more popular they were, the more famous streamers played them.

It would be extremely difficult for a new streamer like Sanghyun to stand out. The top-ranking monsters were already in place, and the streamers with good banter had their spots.

'Too mainstream is a stretch.'

He never intended to target such a red ocean from the beginning.

He needed a game that was popular enough but also one he could excel at.

'There's one I've looked at...'

Sanghyun had a game in mind.

A game that was realistic enough to apply his real-world skills and had a moderate level of popularity.

Scrolling down, he found it.

[Kingdom Age] 17,000 viewers

Kingdom Age was a game where you lived as a medieval mercenary.

Medieval setting, realistic gameplay, and authentic combat.

It was a game filled with hardcore elements.

Such games have many loyal fans, and not many streamers play them. The game is extremely difficult due to its realism.

But Sanghyun, who had never played a difficult game in his life, felt no fear.

He proceeded to buy the game from the store linked to Tribi.

[Do you want to purchase?]

[59,000 won]

Given the quality of the game, the price was quite high. However, Sanghyun didn't hesitate.

[Yes]

After all, he had planned to invest 40 million won in this venture, so 60,000 won was nothing.

[Purchase Complete]

Money was deducted from his registered account, and the game started.

[Full dive will begin in 5 seconds.]

[5]

Sanghyun felt a strange tension and opened his eyes wide.

[4]

[3]

[2]

...

Flash!

A bright flash exploded, and in an instant, a different world unfolded.

* * *

Crack!

A thick palm slapped his cheek.

"Ugh!"

'What?'

Sanghyun sat up in confusion. The game was clearly a game, yet his cheek was tingling. Was it just a feeling?

"Get up! Bastard!"

Suddenly, a rough curse.

"Mercenary, are you sleeping at a time like this?"

Ah, the game has started.

Sanghyun had to remind himself that this was a game.

'Too realistic, isn't it?'

The game's astonishingly realistic implementation. No wonder he felt like he had just been slapped and was about to get angry at a game character.

The sense of presence was on a different level from Olympic games. The sound quality was also incredible.

Clatter. Clatter.

The sound of wagons moving busily, screams and shouts echoing everywhere, and the clashing of metal.

'A battle?'

Sanghyun, a new recruit waiting in the supply wagon, couldn't see clearly, but it looked like a battle was happening.

The veteran mercenary barked urgently.

"Bandits are attacking! Get up! Grab your weapon!"

The veteran mercenary gestured roughly.

However...

"Grab it quickly! Bastard..."

His face froze in a strange expression.

The entire screen froze.

[Choose your weapon.]

The tutorial began.

Swish.

Sanghyun's view was suddenly forced to turn.

A pile of straw in the cargo area.

[Sword]

A sword on top of a box in the corner.

His view turned again, this time to the left.

[Spear]

A spear stuck in the wagon's outer edge.

Finally, his view turned to the veteran mercenary's back.

[Bow]

He was carrying a bow.

"Wait, why does he have the bow?"

Sanghyun scratched his head, momentarily confused, but he had no hesitation.

As he reached for the bow,

-Choosing the bow? Doing a bow challenge?

A chat message suddenly appeared.

"!"

Sanghyun looked at the lower left corner.

[5 viewers]

'Five already?'

Was his game choice good?

On the first day, he already had five viewers.

'There's a moment to talk, right?'

In the early days of streaming, every chat and every viewer is precious. Sanghyun paused the game and responded.

"Bow challenge?"

When he asked, a chat message immediately appeared.

-Don't know about the bow challenge? It's something old-timers do sometimes in the 3rd or 4th playthrough.

Sanghyun had watched many game streams. He understood the general idea, but what he was curious about was different.

"Do you... not like the bow?"

If old-timers do bow challenges, it means the bow isn't very good.

-Don't know? It hits allies, bounces off armor, and the number of arrows is strictly calculated, making it really difficult.

-Or, did you not see the stream title?

-??

-It's the first day of streaming. The first day of the game.

Other viewers chimed in.

Anyway, the stream title. Sanghyun tilted his head and checked the top.

[Auto-set stream title]

The title was set to 'Newbie Streamer, Game Beginner.'

'Ah, I must have forgotten the title.'

The algorithm had automatically set it because he rushed to start the game. But it wasn't bad.

-Check his playtime.

-He's almost a new account.

With the advanced body recognition system, people could immediately tell he was a complete beginner.

-Wow, he's really a newbie. Haha.

-So cool lol

The atmosphere was welcoming rather than hostile to his inexperience.

It seemed to be a hardcore game with only old-timers left.

'Good choice.'

Sanghyun thought his game choice was excellent.

"Do you find the bow difficult?"

When he asked, the chat filled with 'yes' from all five viewers.

"I see."

Sanghyun chose the bow.

-?!

-This newbie is sharp and cute.

-I don't like stubborn kids~

-He's going for a spicy stream, huh?