Chapter 61

**The Genius Archer's Streaming Season 1 Chapter 61**

22. Deployment Complete (1)

Thanks to Joo-hyuk's performance, numerous posts like these were up on the Bubblegum fan cafe:

[URGENT!!! Bubblegum is about to get a serious lecture lol]

[Archer vs. Bubblegum! Live!!]

[Bubblegum is about to be toyed with by a Stones newbie in 1 minute]

Bubblegum, a user whose name even the fans of Bubblegum had heard at least once, was a sniper named after Bubblegum. Naturally, he was notorious among the fans.

- Is this real?

- Archer? Almond? lol lol

- I think Archer will lose lol

- That's why lol lol Archer is a Stones player... You're underestimating Bubblegum.

- Wow, this will be fun lol lol

- Oh.

- This is going to be so good.

- I'm rooting for Archer, damn it.

- This can't be boring lol lol

While many disliked Bubblegum, no one predicted Almond's victory. Disliking is one thing, but skill is another.

But what does it matter?

Regardless of who was expected to win, it was clear that this match would be intriguing, and that was what mattered to Joo-hyuk.

'The excitement is building up.'

The views were steadily increasing, and the number of comments was growing.

- Did Bubblegum queue up to get revenge this time?

└ Yeah, if Bubblegum loses again, it'll be a disaster lol

└ It seems he's determined to win this time.

└ He even knew the spawn location.

- lol lol This is so lame. Typical Bubblegum...

- Ah, Bubblegum, you're a disgrace. Just die and stop tarnishing Bubblegum's reputation.

- I'm going to root for Archer, damn it.

- This can't be boring lol lol

This match was something that anyone would be drawn to. It was a guaranteed good show, like a dish made from a combination that can't possibly be bad. Just as an English muffin with bacon and cheese can't be bad.

The clash between a new, talented player who appeared like a comet and a seasoned villain whose skills were acknowledged by all was bound to be exciting.

It was a guaranteed hit, like a movie that's a surefire success. It felt like a movie that draws ten million viewers, even if they watch it while complaining.

- Hey, I came because I heard you met Bubblegum.

- lol lol Bubblegum

- Gum

- So this is Almond.

- Archer hey

Comments started appearing in Almond's chat, and the number of viewers increased by about a thousand.

Just as all the attention was focused on the match,

Thud!

Almond's knife finally pierced Bubblegum's forehead.

Joo-hyuk, who witnessed this scene,

Bang!

He slammed his desk and jumped up.

"Wow! Nice shot!"

He raised his hand and cheered. The joy was short-lived, and Joo-hyuk felt a bit awkward.

He awkwardly lowered his hand.

"Ah, ahem."

An awkward silence fell. The only sound was the whirring of the capsule's engine.

Only then did he realize,

'I was shouting like that?'

He realized how much he was immersed in the game, how much he was engrossed in Almond's stream.

If he had made such a racket at home, someone would have come into the room and scolded him. When he was younger, he would have been hit.

There was a reason he was often called a 'well-behaved child.' Adults liked it, but Joo-hyuk himself didn't.

He had to live with the feeling that someone was always watching him.

'But... this isn't the case here, is it?'

Sang-hyun's house was different.

There was really no one around.

It was just Sang-hyun and Joo-hyuk.

Even though it was an old house in a slum, it was still a standalone house. There was no lower or upper floor.

There was no one to bother.

"!"

A strange sense of liberation washed over him.

It was the first time he felt such freedom. It might sound ridiculous to say this at the age of thirty, but for Joo-hyuk, who had followed a tight, elite course all his life, it was no joke.

He had never, in his entire life,

experienced true freedom.

'Really, it's true.'

A bitter realization.

For the first time in his 31 years, he felt it.

'This is freedom.'

He felt it for the first time.

That he was a free person. He had forgotten for so long.

The sense of liberation was so intense that it was almost overwhelming.

Was that why?

[1st Place]

When Almond finally killed the last enemy, and the word "1st" appeared on the screen,

Joo-hyuk shouted so loudly that the whole neighborhood could have heard him.

"Oooooooh Okay!!!"

Bang!

The unexpectedly loud shout made Joo-hyuk flinch.

It was too loud.

"Ah, ahem..."

Fortunately, it was 5 PM, and everyone was at work.

"I guess I need to practice to fully enjoy this freedom."

He adjusted his glasses and nodded.

* * *

[Did you see Bubblegum vs. Almond?]

[This guy is the real deal. He might have potential.]

[What was Bubblegum's original rating?]

The reactions weren't limited to the Bubblegum fan page. On Bara 31, many posts were also being generated.

Thanks to Almond's AllTube video, everyone knew who Bubblegum was.

And everyone understood the significance of Almond catching Bubblegum again.

Naturally, such posts received many recommendations.

[Just saw Almond vs. Bubblegum in a high-tier match]

The post contained a video of Almond and Bubblegum exchanging knives in a fierce battle.

- Wow lol lol lol

- This is a high-tier match, damn lol lol

- How long has it been since we saw a high-tier match lol lol

- I didn't expect to see it in the Stones queue lol lol

- Yeah, it's a clash of two geniuses lol lol

- Devil's talent Bubblegum vs. Devil-like talent Almond

└ Haha lol lol It's real

└ I didn't know this guy was good with knives too. He's insane in knife fights.

└ He's the best with the bow. As soon as he picked it up, he got a lot of kills and won 1st place.

└ No, he killed a higher-tier opponent with a weapon that isn't his main one. How good is he?

It wasn't just that Almond won against Bubblegum.

The play they both showed was spectacular.

It felt like the 'mirror match' that made the classic player famous.

- I don't know about the rest, but Almond definitely has star potential.

└ Agreed

└ The classic player also became famous with one video lol lol

└ That's true lol lol

└ I'm looking forward to the future.

People naturally started comparing Almond to the classic player, a major star.

It was that clear to everyone.

Almond's 'star potential' was evident.

- The real star quality is that he can perform like this in such an important match, the final placement test...

└ Yeah, especially when a Diamond 1 sniper was on the final placement. I would have lost my mind and committed suicide lol

└ It wasn't just a sniper. He remembered all the strategies from before and immediately ran to the armory to follow.

There are many elements that create star potential.

In the world of sports and games, where winning and losing is everything, the true star quality is 'decisiveness.'

The ability to perform in crucial moments.

This is what defines a star.

All the great sports stars have performed in crucial moments.

When everyone is crushed under the weight of pressure, they shine. They shine more than ever.

Almond showed this quality.

The final placement test is a tense moment for anyone. Especially when a Diamond 1 sniper is on the line, it's a desperate situation.

Almond had also declared that he would reach Diamond within two weeks.

He was under all kinds of pressure.

Yet, Almond showed even more impressive play and elevated his name.

That's what a star is.

- The real reason Almond has star potential: his face.

└ Fact.

└ Yeah, I'm so jealous lol lol

└ This will cause a riot in women's cafes.

└ If he appears on TV, it's over.

└ Actually, this is true lol lol lol lol

Of course...

It's hard to deny that his face plays a significant role in his star potential.

* * *

"Huh."

1st place.

Only after seeing this number did Almond let out a sigh of relief.

"This round was tough. Especially at the beginning, when the mosquito stuck to me."

Although he said it was tough, his expression didn't show it.

This was a point of amusement for the viewers.

- lol lol Mosquito lol lol

- Bubblegum mosquito

- lol lol Come on, stop it

- Ah, I love it lol lol

- Bro, you're so cool T_T

- Bubblegum, you're a disgrace lol lol

- Public execution, indeed;

Almond smiled at the viewers' reactions.

His gaze turned to the mission window, which had been displaying impressive numbers.

[210,000 won for a perfect placement]

[390,000 won for a perfect placement without using a gun]

[410,000 won for reaching Gold in placement]

[770,000 won for reaching Platinum in placement]

[200,000 won for killing Bubblegum without a gun]

He could immediately receive 800,000 won.

"Killing Bubblegum without a gun... I'll take the perfect placement and the no-gun perfect placement mission rewards. Thank you."

Ding.

Several sponsors' IDs appeared, and the money was deposited one by one.

- No way. No way!

- I thought it was impossible to kill Bubblegum without a gun, but he did it.

- No way lol lol Killing Bubblegum without a gun is a joke, but he did it?

- There's no such thing as a safe mission, folks...

The viewers chattered excitedly as the supposedly safe missions were completed one by one.

"Now, the rating will be displayed soon, right?"

Back in the waiting room, Almond opened his information window.

[Placement test calculation is complete.]

[Check rank]

He could now see the result of the placement test by pressing a button.

The banner, which was currently colorless, would either turn gold or platinum, determining his fate.

"Honestly, Silver won't appear, right?"

- Yeah, Silver won't appear lol lol It's a perfect placement.

- A perfect placement means at least Gold.

- But it's unlikely to reach Gold 1, and Platinum has never happened.

- I remember that even the classic player only reached Gold 1 in placement.

"Ah, not even Platinum?"

Almond frowned.

- lol lol The Platinum mission is practically a fishing mission.

- Those who have reached Gold 1 just give up.

- lol lol lol lol Gold 1 is hopeless. Just take the reward now.

- Ah, he's just a kid... He doesn't understand fishing missions...

- He was hoping for Platinum? That's a complete rip-off.

Apparently, it wouldn't go below Gold, and even Platinum was out of the question.

'So what?'

The viewers were playing a joke on him.

Almond felt a strange sense of revenge.

"Ah, how about a prank here?"

- ??????

- ???

- What?!

- Crazy lol lol

- The crazy guy on the stream... Almond!

- The crazy guy for the prank! Almond!

- lol lol He's gone crazy lol lol

- Oh no T_T

- No, really?!

- There's a time limit on mission rewards!

- Platinum can still appear!

There was a time limit on mission rewards.

When it was said that Platinum wouldn't appear anyway,

"If Gold is certain, I'll just take the Platinum mission reward, what's the problem?"

If Gold was certain, he would take it in advance, and since he couldn't get the Platinum reward anyway, it didn't matter.

- No, you crazy guy!

- Wow, you're insane. Almond!!!!

- lol lol lol lol

- You're insane! Almond! You're insane! Almond! You're insane! Almond!

- I won't let this go, really...

- Wow, he'll investigate everything until the next stream lol

- Almond always follows through with his pranks, guys.

- Show us how many Gold ranks you got!!!

At that moment,

Bam!

A loud trumpet sound accompanied a sponsor message.

[Miho has sponsored an incredible '500,000 won'!]

[Almond, please show us before you go!]

- Miho!?

- Eyes are bleeding

- I'm dying! Dying from the money!

- Hero! Miho!

- I'm here! lol lol

- Are they dating!?

- Wow, is Miho really here?!

- For real?

'500,000 won...?'

Almond was speechless.

Although the Platinum mission reward was 770,000 won, it was a high amount, the mission reward was a collective effort from many viewers. (Besides, it was a mission that couldn't be completed anyway.)

A single 500,000 won sponsorship was different.

Moreover, this person...

'Is she a streamer?'

Miho, a streamer who plays Battle Royale.

She mentioned a clan the other day. Could there be another meaning behind this?

His head was spinning. He didn't know how to react.

"Ah..."

Almond scratched his head.

"This is too much money to refuse."

Ha ha.

Still, he didn't show his confusion, and he clicked the rank check button.

This was the only way to change the topic.

- Crazy shift lol lol

- Haha lol

- Ah, he's so good at pranks!

- Almond... You're so lame...

- Damn, you're a nutcase lol lol

- Ah, just lol lol

Thud!

With a heavy effect sound, Almond's banner began to glow brightly.

After a while, the light dimmed, and the gem-like color began to show.

[Platinum III]

It was a bright platinum.