Chapter 48 of Season 1 of The Genius Archer's Streaming

17. Escaping Hako (1)

The more successful you become, the more humble and calm you must remain.

Although Sanghyun thought this all day, he was still no match for numbers.

He fidgeted inside the capsule, making silly faces, and eventually bumped his head hard against the lid.

Squeak──

The sudden impact caused the capsule lid to open. Naturally, the broadcast was temporarily halted.

“…Huh? What’s going on? Why did you come out?”

Juhyeok, who was just about to turn on his laptop, was taken aback and asked.

“Ah… No, nothing. Something went wrong while I was moving.”

“…Moving?”

There’s no need to move inside the capsule. Is it a virtual reality device? Moving in virtual reality is all it takes.

“Ahem. Anyway, I’m going back in.”

Sanghyun pretended nothing was wrong and went back into the capsule.

‘Did I see it wrong?’

If someone saw it, they might think he was making a fuss over nothing.

‘Clearly, the numbers…’

Ding…

He reconnected to the stream, and fortunately, the server was still running.

- Wow, what just happened?

- It suddenly cut off.

- It’s back on.

- Haha

- Ah!

- Wow, there are so many people today! Haha

Sanghyun’s eyes slowly read the top chat messages and then moved to the current viewer count.

[Current Viewers: 2,319]

He hadn’t seen it wrong.

Not only that, but the number had increased by about 200 from before.

‘2,000…!’

Breaking 2,000 before the game even started was a first.

Especially since he had switched to Battle Royale and the average viewers had dropped by almost 700 to 800.

‘2,000 before the game even starts.’

The intro music hadn’t even finished yet.

[Juhyeok: Haha, did you come out because of this? You were so cool, weren’t you?]

Juhyeok asked, seemingly teasing him.

He must have seen the viewer count too.

[Shut up.]

[Juhyeok: It seems like it’s just starting. Do your best.]

Juhyeok gave an oddly fitting encouragement and then seemed to focus back on his work.

Sanghyun, or rather, Almond, swallowed hard and composed himself.

His camera feed would soon appear.

‘Do my best.’

This is an opportunity.

It’s rare for AllTube viewers to become live viewers.

The current phenomenon means that the Almond character has resonated with the public.

[Current Viewers: 2,910]

Viewers numbering close to 3,000 had gathered.

‘Phew…’

The image of a boy with a bow amidst a crowd, a dream he had since childhood, overlapped with the current screen.

The only difference was the medium.

It was essentially the same situation.

‘It’s starting.’

Dun?

The intro video ended with the final drumbeat.

Ding.

Almond’s face appeared in one corner of the screen.

The broadcast had officially begun.

Almond’s expression on screen was the same as usual.

At least, that’s how it looked to the viewers.

No one would know the storm raging inside him.

Excitement, anticipation, tension, ambition…

A whirlwind of emotions converged and burned fiercely in his throat…

Smile.

He drew a beautiful smile.

“Hi!”

- Ahhh!

- Hello, bro!

- Hihi

- Haha

- Ahaha!

- Amazing!

- Wow, what’s the viewer count today, bro? Haha

- What happened?

- What’s the story? Haha

- Did Battle Royale apologize to you?!

The viewers’ chat messages flooded in, responding to Almond’s greeting.

People curious about the issue, those seeing Almond’s face for the first time today, and regular viewers who had always watched him…

A variety of chat messages appeared.

In the past, the chat messages were uniform, but now it felt like a diverse audience had gathered.

This is the biggest difference between AllTube and Trivi.

Trivi has a relatively limited age range and interests, but AllTube is not. It can be thought of as a platform that almost everyone, regardless of age or gender, watches.

‘It’s definitely from AllTube.’

This was now certain.

The viewers currently joining are all from AllTube.

‘Since there are people who don’t know…’

Almond felt the need to briefly explain why he took a break from streaming yesterday.

There are many regular viewers who don’t care about the issue and just come to watch his stream. He couldn’t leave them out.

“I posted about the incident in the community. Something happened yesterday. Battle Royale banned me.”

Ding.

Juhyeok conveniently displayed the information screen.

Thanks to the manager’s intervention, they had installed an extension program.

- Wow, presentation skills…!

- Haha

- Is this a job interview?

- What’s going on?

- What a professional presentation! Haha

Almond naturally continued, taking the screen.

He and Juhyeok had gone through presentations many times.

“As you can see, the reason for the ban was that I received many reports for being a bad player.”

* * *

After the basic explanation, those who didn’t know the incident now understood the whole story.

- Wow, so that’s why you took a break, haha

- Wow… How could this happen on the first day of switching games… Haha

- Wow, that’s too much

- Did you accept the apology?

[Bro, you’re strong, donated 10,000 won.]

[Bro, at least the viewers increased! Haha, think positively!]

“Thank you, Bro, you’re strong. Yes, I agree. Fortunately, I was able to resolve it quickly thanks to the contact from Funk, where I’m a partner streamer.”

Almond told the truth, and the chat reactions were significant.

- ??!??!

- Wow, so what Smolong said was true

- Wow… Haha

- Chills.

Why are they reacting like this? What did they hear?

Almond tilted his head in confusion but decided to let it go.

It’s best to start the game right away.

‘Three thousand seven hundred…?’

[Current Viewers: 3,709]

With nearly 4,000 viewers gathered, he couldn’t afford to dwell on the issue.

It was better to show the game and keep them engaged.

‘People who know a bit about Battle Royale must have come, right?’

Even if it’s an issue, those who play Battle Royale regularly would have come.

It wouldn’t be an issue for those who don’t play Battle Royale.

“Alright. I’ve explained enough. Let’s start the game. The game for today is──”

[Kingdom Musae donated 1,000 won.]

[Tada! The poop game Kingdom!]

A lively voice suddenly joined the chat.

- Perfect timing, haha

- Kingdom!

- Perfect timing, haha

- Haha, Kingdom Musae, damn

- Unfollow the Kingdom Musae stream!

- Pay attention~~

[Starting Battle Royale.]

There were a few people who missed the old game, but Almond chuckled and started Battle Royale.

“It’s Battle Royale!”

* * *

Dun?

Dun dun──

Almond’s avatar landed on the shore, accompanied by the grand background music of Battle Royale.

This was the waiting room before the survival match began.

- Bro, you picked the right solo mode this time?

- Haha, you’re a legend in squad mode.

- I want to see squad mode, haha

The viewers first confirmed that it was a solo match.

- It’s a solo match, haha

- Oh, you did well this time.

- Wow, if this happens, you’ll sweep them all, right?

Almond had chosen the solo mode correctly, and the viewers were looking forward to his performance.

He had dominated in squad mode, so how strong he would be in solo mode was naturally anticipated.

- I predict almost 20 kills.

- Nah, no one knows in Battle Royale, really, haha

- Even the best can be out in 5 seconds if they have bad luck, haha

- If this bro can’t handle the bow, I predict top 99.

- The bow is so common, I predict top 10.

Almond’s performance was a one-off.

Naturally, there were still those who doubted him. Battle Royale is a game where you can never predict how it will go.

Even the top-ranked player, whose skills are well-verified, can’t guarantee a win every time.

Almond still has a lot to prove.

[Believe donated a mission: 300,000 won if you win the first match.]

[I predict a win. I’m setting a win mission.]

- Wow

- Oh, win the first match.

- Wow, the scale is huge…

A grateful viewer appeared, offering a 300,000 won mission.

[Mission accepted]

Almond immediately accepted the mission and thanked the viewer.

“Believe, thank you. A whopping 300,000 won… I’ll definitely win it.”

- Is he really grateful? Haha

- His greeting is a bit strange?

- Haha

- It’s fun if you win, so it’s a good deal.

First solo match.

Win mission.

4,000 viewers.

‘Good. The stage is set.’

All the elements for a big moment are in place.

Now, he just needs to play the game well.

Everything depends on Almond’s fingertips.

Some might find this pressure overwhelming.

‘But this is what I wanted.’

Almond enjoyed such pressure.

The more pressure he felt, the stronger he became.

More focused, more cautious, and sharper.

[All players are ready.]

[The game is starting.]

Soon, the waiting room screen turned black, and he was already preparing to parachute from the helicopter.

Whirr──

The propeller noise was deafening.

From behind, a roar that could make your ears bleed.

“Jump! Damn it, jump!!!”

“Ah!”

“Jump! Damn it!”

The shouting had a strong military vibe.

Almond bit his lip and looked down.

This wasn’t his first match.

‘First, I need to avoid overly competitive areas.’

He had no intention of jumping out just because someone was shouting from behind.

He would move according to his plan.

“Hey! You there! What are you standing around for? Damn it, jump!!!”

The instructor, who seemed ready to hit him, was shouting in his ear.

Almond remained calm and looked down.

‘Now.’

Jump…! Jump!

The instructor’s voice was hoarse and about to crack.

Thud──

Almond pushed off with his feet and jumped out.

Whoosh!

He fell, cutting through the air resistance.

* * *

Thud.

A solid landing.

This time, he didn’t roll awkwardly.

- Oh…

- Now he’s out of the newbie phase, haha

- Damn, it would have been funny if he rolled.

- Wow, his skills improved after just one match. And it was two days ago, haha

Almond’s appearance was clearly different from his first match.

Not only the viewers but Almond himself could feel the difference.

‘The sensation is different. Much smoother.’

Comparing it to a mouse game, it felt like the mouse and his body were one.

That’s exactly how Almond felt now.

He had perfectly adapted to the avatar’s body in Battle Royale.

Thud.

He quickly ran to a house and opened the door.

Securing weapons before others enter is crucial in the early stages.

‘Am I the only one here?’

He had chosen a good spot. He was the only one in this house.

His eyes scanned the house thoroughly.

Then.

“Oh.”

He saw something that made him exclaim in surprise.

[Compound Bow]

A weapon with which he had a deep connection.

- Wow, again?

- Haha, is it a bow challenge!?

- No, Almond would naturally pick it up.

For other players, it might have been a weapon to hesitate using.

But not for Almond.

He picked it up without any hesitation.

At that moment, time seemed to freeze.

“…!”

He heard footsteps approaching.

‘Outside.’

He could now roughly gauge direction and distance by the sound of footsteps.

“I’ll take one out on the way.”

Almond confidently spoke before acting, ran fiercely, and pushed the door with his shoulder, drawing his bow.

The opponent, stunned by the sudden appearance.

“Wh…?”

Almond, drawing his bow, was reflected in the opponent’s wide eyes.

The draw and release happened in an instant.

The arrow flew, aiming for the eyes?

Thud!

It hit the center of the forehead.

[Almond → Tom]

[Eliminated!]

[99/100]

- Wow!

- What? I didn’t even see him shoot.

- Wow, how much has Almond improved….

- He’s even stronger, damn

- Battle Royale picked the wrong person to mess with! Haha

- It’s expected, but he’s even better than the first match!?

- Wow, saying it before and then eliminating, so cool… sniff

Today’s Almond had no time for hesitation or zoning out.

He played the game as if he knew everything in advance.

It was unbelievable, but it was clear.

He had become stronger.