Chapter 44

**Chapter 44 of Season 1 of The Genius Archer's Streaming**

**16. Turning Adversity into Advantage (2)**

To be banned on the first try as a noob streamer... If someone were to hear this, they would probably think I was banned for being too bad at the game. But looking at the thumbnail of the video, it was clear that wasn't the case.

The video's thumbnail read: "First Match! Solo Squad! Bow! Victory!"

These words were displayed prominently on the screen. So, the viewers would think:

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

How is that even possible?

"Maybe I'll check it out and see if it's a scam."

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

[First Public Release in 10 Minutes]

Since it was a first public release, they had to wait about a minute. However, when the video was first released, viewers could chat with each other as if it were a live broadcast.

- What could it be to warrant a first public release? Haha

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

- Ah, I can't wait 10 minutes!

- Really banned? The community is going crazy.

- RLY??? Hahaha

With only a few people gathered, the genuine fans could chat with each other as if in a small chat room.

- Yeah, really 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 was about to be released in a minute.

[First Public Release in 1 Minute]

In an instant, many 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!

- Hahaha

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

- Not like Almond... ...

[First Public Release!]

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.

[Squad Match]

The screen was so zoomed in that the pixels were broken, but it was clearly a squad match.

Once the game started, this text disappeared, and no one among 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 funny that Almond made it.

- Could he... win first place?

- No way, even for him.

- Are the opponents bots?

The thumbnail clearly said "Victory," but no one believed it easily.

The situation was not in Almond's favor.

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 title on AllTube was not an exaggeration but the truth.

And after overcoming numerous obstacles.

The final 3 vs. 1 battle.

- Yaa~

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

- Nice shot

Using painkillers and the blue zone, he narrowly eliminated two opponents. Now it was 1 vs. 1.

The fight didn't last long.

Even though the opponent used a trick to crawl to a different spot, Almond saw through it.

Poke!

The arrow hit the sniper's forehead, who was 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.

- He's insane, really.

- Hahaha

- The other 99 players must be noobs. Haha

Cheers filled AllTube.

However, there was an additional video that only live viewers saw.

Crackle──

The screen changed with a bit of noise.

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

A suspenseful background music, like something from a thriller or "That's What I Want to Know," played along.

[Reporting the noob streamer]

[He's clearly a cheater, really. Haha]

[Such a bad guy]

The posts, enlarged, reported Almond.

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

- Are these guys for real?

- Community members...

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

- At least check the basics before reporting!

- Fact: They reported him because Miho sponsored him.

- Fact.

- Haha, the Miho fans who used to mock him as a female streamer are now furious because Miho sponsored him.

- ??? : Our Miho! Return it!

- So, RLY, the report was accepted? Impossible?

The viewers naturally wondered if the report was valid.

The result was soon revealed.

[In the end, Almond's account was suspended for one year.]

The video ended by showing the email Almond received.

- RLY

- Legendary

- Legendary. Haha

- Who's the admin? Are they crazy?

- Haha, this is Battle Royale.

- No, did they just ban him because of too many reports?

- Wow, this is RLY legendary. Haha

- First match, noob streamer. Haha

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

- They can't see the match history because of privacy. Haha

The viewers, still fuming, saw the chat close.

[First Public Release has ended.]

With the chat window closed, about 4,000 viewers had nowhere to go. They rushed to their game communities to write posts.

This incident was both infuriating and quite interesting, so it attracted a lot of 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 on popular portals.

[Popular Game, Battle Royale. Admin Flaws Exposed... Netizens Furious.]

The credibility of the news article was on a different level from community posts.

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

- Even the news is reporting it. Haha

- Bera 31 members are really causing trouble. Portal news repost.

- Ice cream fans. Haha, the news is out.

* * *

"How's it going?"

Sanghyun, brushing his teeth, asked Joo-hyuk, who was behind him.

"The reaction is good. You're clearly innocent."

"Thank goodness."

Sanghyun, nodding while glancing at the monitor over his shoulder.

"But... I'm not sure if this is actually a good thing..."

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

Joo-hyuk shook his head.

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

"?"

"Are you going to play Kingdom again? That's already old news. Even though many people say they miss it... today's topic has made everyone expect more from Battle Royale."

"Ah..."

The problem Joo-hyuk pointed out was that the game was currently suspended, and 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... What do you want me to do?"

"I don't know yet.

Sigh.

Joo-hyuk sighed.

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

Joo-hyuk's words seemed true.

They might just ignore the incident to avoid admitting their mistakes.

Sanghyun's suspension would continue.

"Probably at least a formal reprimand."

Sigh.

Sanghyun, who had experience with companies, could imagine the situation.

"Still, we'll see by tomorrow."

"If there's no response by tomorrow? What if they just ignore it?"

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

"..."

"With whom?"

"With the manager."

"!"

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

"Can you do it?"

"I'll try."

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

Joo-hyuk, with a relaxed expression, sprawled out on the sofa.

* * *

Deputy Manager Kim Gi-yeol muttered a rough curse.

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

Click.

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

[Summary of Streamer Almond's Current Situation]

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

"Did our team do this?"

"Yeah... I did."

"Ah, 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," but he stopped when he saw Kim Gi-yeol's burning gaze.

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

"A, ah... Sorry."

"Huh."

He sighed deeply and finally turned to the team leader.

"Damn, it's really over."

"Will the team leader... try to cover it up?"

"I don't know. Wouldn't he want to cover it up? It's just one noob streamer. Plus, he hasn't played much and it was 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 team leader wants to cover it up, it'll be different."

A moment later.

A loud shout echoed from the team leader's desk.

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

Bang!

The sound of a desk being hit echoed.

"You didn't even check the match history and just let it go? 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?"

"Sorry."

"Huh..."

The team leader wiped the sweat from his forehead, which was running due to the heat.

"How many average viewers does he have?"

"About a thousand."

"Any other special points?"

Kim Gi-yeol didn't know that Almond was a partner streamer with Pung. He hadn't checked that far because the viewer count was too low for a partner streamer.

"What are you standing there for? Cover it up. Call the community site managers and set up a meeting."

"Ah, I understand!"

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

"Huh... It's almost time..."

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

The interview was the only thing left.

* * *

The next day.

Evening came.

"Still no statement?"

Sanghyun, dressed in a suit, asked, 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 cover it up. Just go and do your best."

Sanghyun checked the meeting place again and laughed it off.

"Hehe."

"I'll be back."