Chapter 74 of "The Genius Archer's Streaming Season 1"

26. Record (3)

"Such a pity."

"It might be possible."

"Anyway, the match ended in a draw. It's just like watching a football game where you console yourself with high possession even after losing..."

The words spewed by the clean-cut man on the screen...

Each one of them is like a gem.

"Kia~ I'm the man! I'm the man!"

Juhyeok drank his beer and laughed heartily.

He had been deeply engrossed in watching the replay, teasing Sanghyun.

It was rare for Yoo Sanghyun to feel embarrassed, so it was natural for Juhyeok to be elated.

"Ugh."

Sanghyun couldn't bear to look at the screen again and lay on the sofa, pretending to be absorbed in his phone.

Of course, even while doing this, he was still listening to what he needed to hear and watching what he needed to see.

'How did I say those things?'

Sanghyun wasn't the type to choose his words carefully.

Still, the Almond in the screen was a bit too much. He seemed incredibly immersed in something, even angry.

Why was he angry after tying with the world's best, even when he himself couldn't understand it upon rewatching.

"Damn~ Every word is like a gem! What? It's like a gem!"

As Juhyeok kept shouting.

Every word is like a gem.

No, it's like a gem, the way Juhyeok strangely slurs his words.

'I must have been really excited back then.'

Sanghyun admitted.

At that time, he was greatly stimulated by the phrase "world record."

Though it was shameless for a newbie, he really wanted to beat Electron.

At that moment, he wasn't the 30-year-old corporate manager Yoo Sanghyun, but the 18-year-old archery prodigy Yoo Sanghyun, aiming for the world record.

That passionate rookie was standing there again, saying whatever he wanted.

"Phew~ I'm glad I didn't say it was Korean football. In the middle of all that, my mind was still sharp, huh? Ha ha ha ha!"

Juhyeok kept replaying the same scene.

"...It's just like watching a football game where you console yourself with high possession even after losing..."

It could have been a problematic statement.

But it was funny.

Almost comically funny.

"Hey. The result was good, so it's fine."

"Who said what? Saying it was good. It was good."

Juhyeok, with his face flushed from beer, smiled broadly.

Speaking of football, I really want to kick that red face once.

If he gets a million subscribers later, maybe I'll ask him to do it as an event.

"Ahem..."

Sanghyun put aside his wild imagination and turned his gaze back to his phone screen.

He was looking at game-related communities.

Fortunately, and very fortunately, the audience's reaction was quite positive.

As Sanghyun said, "The result was good."

[Compilation of Almond's 'That Statement']

Looking at the comments on the post that is currently the top issue, it goes like this.

- Wow, but isn't Almond cool?

└Really, lol

└Agreed

└It's just his face...

- Korea needs someone like him. Everyone just pretends to be humble and can't say what they really think.

└Really, lol

└Agreed

- This guy might really beat Electron, right? Hyeon Jung said so too.

└Yoo Hyeon Jung seems to have a crush on Almond, lol

└No way. Hyeon Jung doesn't know about that.

└Chin-tta, arrested for parental exploitation

└Lol, that's a good one, lol

└Stop it, lol

- Really, he's a great talent. His face, skills, and personality!

└Personality, lol

- Isn't Almond too excited? lol It's a bit different from usual.

└He's really pissed off for not breaking the record, lol

└Really, lol He's a madman

└Yeah, lol He really seems angry. So cute, lol

└22222 I also thought he was cute, lol

The reaction was surprisingly positive.

Honestly, I expected there would be quite a few people trying to undermine his results, but they were a very small minority.

The reason for this public opinion was surprisingly due to Sanghyun's last statement.

[Why Almond is Honestly Very Likable]

This post is currently the third most popular issue.

The content is like this.

==== ====

He could have been really happy and said he was the best after winning the VNS score. Honestly, most people would have done that.

A newbie in the third week of the capsule would have been really happy even if they didn't boast openly.

But this is where you can see that Almond is a guy with a lot of potential.

He immediately pointed out the fact that it's just like the Korean football that loses and consoles itself with possession, and then he objectified himself.

I just tied. It's shameful to console myself with that.

Really, a cool guy.

==== ====

For these reasons, his statement resonated with a lot of people.

"…I didn't say it was Korean football."

Of course, the story might be slightly distorted, but it feels good to have his honest feelings recognized.

-Really, lol

-Hey, you didn't say it was Korean football. Our football is doing well, you know.

└I didn't say it was Korean football, lol Everyone understands it that way, lol

└Spirit! Organization! Mental strength! lol K Football!

-This isn't about bashing football, you know, lol

└Really, lol Just focusing on the game is cool. Not consoling yourself with strange numbers.

└Agreed...

-He's really going to make it.

└Yeah, first of all, his face...

-Really, if it were me, I would have put up a banner in front of my house, lol

It was surprising.

To think that Yoo Sanghyun's true self would be recognized like this. He had always been ignored...

Honesty has always been a poison in society.

Yoo Sanghyun's true self was always something to be hidden, like his right hand always in his pocket.

'Maybe there was a path that suited me.'

But here, it's a strength.

It was amazing.

"Haa. Hey, I'm going to sleep now. I'm sleepy from drinking beer."

Juhyeok, who had finished watching the broadcast, got up from the sofa. The window was pitch black. It was already a dark night.

"I'm going to sleep too."

Thud.

Juhyeok and Sanghyun, who were reflected in the black window, disappeared.

* * *

The next day.

In the morning, Sanghyun woke up as usual, stuffed some cereal into his mouth, and prepared for the day.

He was still checking the internet on his phone.

The events from yesterday were now ripening and spreading everywhere.

"…Wow."

Sanghyun, with a spoon in his mouth, was surprised.

'Search rankings?'

Almond was on the search rankings of the popular portal site Javer, along with VNS and Electron as related searches.

Though not at a high rank, it was enough to make his head spin.

This was such a big issue.

He finally realized it.

'Should I make a portal profile…?'

When he clicked on Almond, an image of a cost-effective nut package appeared, making Sanghyun ponder.

'I never thought I would be thinking about this.'

A Javer portal profile. That's something real politicians and famous celebrities make.

Even though streamers are getting more attention these days, I doubt many of them have a profile.

Maybe it's for people who are at the level of chewing gum?

Zing.

At that moment, his phone vibrated.

It was a message.

[Dotorimuk: Mr. Sanghyun. I watched the broadcast. You were amazing! Thanks to you, our collaboration video also went viral, so I'm sending this message to thank you!]

It was Dotorimuk.

Now that he thought about it, they hadn't been in touch since then. It felt good to get a message after a while, reminding him of the early days of streaming.

Sanghyun smiled and replied.

[Thank you! If it weren't for that broadcast, I wouldn't have become a partner streamer!]

[Dotorimuk: What modesty is this, lol Don't say it's like Korean football! Let's have a drink sometime!]

[Korean lol Football lol Got it!]

"Got it!"

Suddenly, Juhyeok appeared from behind.

He was teasing Sanghyun's text message tone.

"Surprised."

Sanghyun, startled, put down his phone.

"Dotorimuk?"

"Yeah. Make some noise next time."

"Got it! Got it!"

Juhyeok, mimicking the tone, headed to the kitchen.

Zing. Zing.

But the phone kept vibrating.

Checking, it wasn't Sanghyun's.

"Hey. Juhyeok. Your phone is ringing?"

"Yeah, I know."

"…Not answering?"

"It's not a call."

"Then?"

"All emails and messages."

Zing... Zing...!

All these crazy vibrations are just messages? Sanghyun was puzzled.

"Did you borrow money from loan sharks or something?"

"Loan sharks? We're doing well now~"

"It hasn't been properly settled yet."

"My share of the appearance fee was 120 yesterday."

"Then what are these notifications?"

"Take a look."

Thud.

Juhyeok put his phone on the table.

"…Can I look?"

While saying this, Sanghyun picked up the phone and checked.

There was no password, typical of Juhyeok.

"!"

When he opened it, numerous texts filled the screen.

[Hello. After watching Almond's broadcast, the fashion edit shop brand 'Amumu Shinsha' is contacting you! Of course, we have many...]

[Hello. We are the developers of the FPS survival game and the launchers of many famous games...]

[Hello! We are Golden BBQ Chicken! We have a special offer...]

[Hello! We are the marketing department of 'Oh Gangwoo Kimchi Stew', a franchise with a long tradition...]

All sponsorship and advertising inquiries.

"Mi, mind-blowing..."

Not just games, but clothes, and even franchise restaurants.

"Did all these come this morning?"

"Yeah."

"They don't even go home..."

He thought of the marketing department faces he saw every morning at work.

"...They don't. They sleep at the office."

They were a team that lived at the office.

"Probably trying to sign a contract while we're still undervalued."

Sizzle.

Juhyeok, while frying an egg, continued explaining.

"So they're trying to buy us out at a low price."

"Ah..."

He understood right away.

Sanghyun wasn't stupid. It was just surprising that so many companies predicted Almond would skyrocket like this.

"Hey. Actually, I've been getting a lot of inquiries from unknown brands for a while. I just didn't mention it."

"Really? Why didn't you accept them?"

"Why? Because it's not efficient. We need to sell when the price is high, not low. Plus, a strange brand could ruin our image."

"..."

Sanghyun was speechless.

He just stared at Juhyeok's back.

'This guy... He was sure Almond's value would rise?'

He realized again.

How much Juhyeok believed in him.

To reject all those advertising offers, which were worth a lot of money, when he was the one who needed money the most...

He was a guy who could see the big picture.

"So what are you going to do now? These brands are quite famous, right?"

"Hmm... They are, but let's hold out for now."

Thud.

Juhyeok put down the egg and kimchi stir-fry and said.

Sanghyun's gaze naturally turned to the food.

When did this guy get so good at cooking?

"Why? Do you want to eat?"

"...Yeah."

"No way. It's mine only."

"Three people can eat it, right?"

"One person is one serving."

"Huh?"

Juhyeok really ate it all himself.

"Well, anyway, hold out on the ads. We're not in it for a day or two. To last for 10 years, we need to be careful with ads. We're not short of money right now."

"Whatever... I don't mind."

He meant it.

Sanghyun didn't enter this market to make a lot of money.

He was happy as long as he could shoot arrows in the virtual space and make the viewers happy. As long as he could make a living, it was fine.

'But Juhyeok is different...'

He must have entered with the hope of a big success.

"Don't you care?"

To get the money, it would be advantageous to accept a few small ads.

But Juhyeok shook his head.

"No, I'm going to 'last long.' You just focus on today's broadcast. I already have the first ad in mind."

"Really?"

"I won't say. Just in case you drink the kimchi broth."

"Got it."

It's good to have a plan.

Sanghyun thought and went out for a jog.

"Hey! The most important thing for us right now is diamonds! Diamonds!"

Juhyeok shouted from behind.

'Right. I need to run hard today.'

The most important thing was the promise to the viewers.

Sanghyun had to play Battle Royale today, and he had to do it well.

To do that, he needed to follow the doctor's advice and maintain regular exercise and good eating habits.

Zing.

He zipped up his jacket to block the cold wind and slowly went down the stairs.

* * *

3 PM.

It was a bit early to think that Almond's broadcast would start.

Sizzle.

At that time, Sanghyun entered the capsule and took his seat.

"Phew."

He was a bit more tense than usual.

Sanghyun had a rough idea.

He had made it to the real-time search rankings yesterday. Although the edited version hadn't been uploaded to the Fantasia channel yet, the live broadcast alone had a significant impact.

The number of viewers would have increased.

Even if it was just a temporary spike, it would definitely have increased.

'Just proceed as usual, calmly and naturally.'

Sanghyun prepared himself not to be swayed by the numbers.

As always.

[Starting the stream.]

The intro music started, and the viewers quickly gathered.

- Wow, another 3 PM broadcast?

- Perfect!

- I can't wait even a second!

- People who can't wait, gather here!

- Haha, is this time slot fixed now?

- Squeal!

- I knew this would happen, so I didn't get a job. Sigh!

It was fast.

Really, really fast.

It was always fast, but this was really...

'...Historic.'

It was incomparable to any speed he had seen before.