Chapter 86 of Genius Archer's Streaming Season 1

30. Power Suit Play (3)

When you think about it, it’s a really arrogant title.

[Battle Large EP.6 - Yes, Almond put on the power suit.]

What’s the point of Almond putting on a power suit?

It wouldn’t be strange to get a response like that.

However, after watching the video, you can’t help but think one thing.

“Goddamn!”

What if he acts a bit snobbish after drinking?

What if the young guy is a bit rude?

He’s a goose that lays golden eggs!

“21st place? Even for a single video, this is really big, isn’t it?”

Even if just one of the three videos is 21st place.

This is an incredible achievement.

You can tell by the scale of the channels in the same ranking.

From 1 million subscriber channels that are slowly losing steam to channels with over 300,000 subscribers that are explosively rising, they form the 20th place line.

But Almond’s subscribers are still at 50,000.

‘Crazy.’

It really means 50,000 hardcore fans.

When the average views of a video exceed the number of subscribers, the channel is still growing.

You can tell how much it’s growing by the difference between the number of views and subscribers.

Almond’s channel, with just 50,000 subscribers, is considered to be growing rapidly.

‘Of course, there are channels that rise and fall with just a few videos. I need to stay focused.’

As the saying goes, there are many cases where a channel gains a few million views on a few videos due to a hot issue but then collapses.

Almond can’t let that happen, so he needs to stay focused.

‘By the way, 50,000 subscribers… Do we need an event?’

He realizes once again how incredible the growth has been.

Even Joo-hyuk, his manager, didn’t see the moment the subscribers hit 50,000.

For beginners who have just started on AllTube, 10,000 or 20,000 subscribers are already impressive numbers.

Indeed, talented people are different.

No, they should be called talented people, including the editor.

Talent × Talent, squared talent.

They are truly enviable talents.

“...Haha.”

Suddenly, a bitter feeling washes over him.

Despite being armed with all sorts of impressive credentials, he had no standout talent or great passion.

Society had actually recognized him more for that.

It wasn’t bad, but if being diligent and doing what society tells you is considered a talent...

Isn’t that a bit too lonely as a person?

What kind of life have I been living all these years?

My 30 years...

Somehow, they felt less dense than Yoo Sang-hyun’s 30 years.

“?”

Ah, now that I think about it, Yoo Sang-hyun is 28, isn’t he?

“Ah.”

* * *

Thump.

Sang-hyun jumped out of bed as if he had been shot.

‘Ah...’

Throb.

The headache that immediately hit his head told him he had overdone it yesterday.

It was frustrating that even though he drank so much, he still didn’t have a good night’s sleep.

When he swept his hand across his forehead, his sleeve got wet.

Looking at the pillow, it was soaked with sweat.

“Everyone knows they’re just chasing your back.”

That voice, which should be tiring by now.

Every time he thinks of it, his heart races.

At least it’s not a hallucination, only happening in his dreams, so that’s a relief.

“Haven’t you slept in a long time, little brother?”

Joo-hyuk’s shadow spoke from the doorway, which must have been open.

He must have sensed the movement.

“...Yeah. I drank a lot.”

“Yeah, you did. A lot, little brother. And you told me you were the little brother.”

What a sly guy.

Is there such a thing as a sly person?

Actually, he lied about being 30 when he was 28. Whether he’s 1 year younger or 3 years younger, what’s the difference?

“Yeah. It must be nice to be older, Joo-hyuk.”

Sang-hyun lightly countered, quoting Jia, and headed to the bathroom to shower.

Joo-hyuk was saying something, but it was drowned out by the water.

He was probably just being a nag again.

Shhhhhhh...

Seeing the white water break, he thought of yesterday’s game.

‘Power Suit Play... It was fun.’

The feeling of wearing the power suit came back, making his heart race.

It was a different feeling from when he picked up the bow again.

Of course, picking up the bow again was overwhelmingly more exciting.

But this was also a good feeling.

What kind of feeling is this?

‘...Fun?’

Is he enjoying the game? Not just because he’s shooting arrows, but because he’s really enjoying the capsule game itself?

For Sang-hyun, who had never really experienced great fun other than archery and had no time for it, it was a strange feeling.

Sang-hyun shook his head as if to shake off the water.

‘Whatever, it’s good that my heart is racing.’

He decided to focus on what he needed to do right now rather than what state he was in.

Shhhhhhh...

He closed his eyes, letting the hot water wash over his body.

‘Diamond. I have to go there.’

The most important thing for him now is to reach the Diamond rank.

That’s his promise to his viewers and the way to meet Balloon Gum.

It will be a stepping stone to do the game and broadcast for longer.

Then Sang-hyun will be able to feel this feeling more.

He will be able to hold the bow for longer.

* * *

After drying off, Sang-hyun briefly checked the community reactions. It’s a habit he always does before broadcasting.

To see if anything special has happened or if any new opinions have formed.

Checking it regularly has become a part of his life.

‘Huh?’

He saw something strange.

[Real-time Almond video ranking!!! Crazy lol lol lol]

Almond’s video?

If it’s about AllTube, it shouldn’t be out yet. Jia also drank a lot and went home yesterday.

Is a past video making a comeback?

Is that even possible?

Sang-hyun tilted his head and went in.

==== ====

19th) Battle Large EP.6 - Yes, Almond put on the power suit.

Almond’s video is 19th! Crazy lol lol lol in just one day!

I’m so impressed!

==== ====

At first, he suspected it was a fan’s manipulation.

But looking at the comments, it doesn’t seem to be fake.

-Really? lol

-Wow lol

-Is 19th place that good? I don’t know much about AllTube rankings.

└Really lol I just watch recommended videos, there are too many garbage in the rankings.

└I don’t know much either, but considering the scale of AllTube, 19th place is pretty good, right? Damn!

└Why are you so angry lol lol lol

└Operation to catch malicious nut fans!

-19th place... Impressive. Are you really taking off now?

└We’ve seen many cases where they just crash.

└If they get a rivalry with Electromagnetic, they could fall into hell in a blink. Don’t you know about the Dragon Eight?

└By the way, I saw a bit of Electromagnetic’s broadcast yesterday? Really surprised.

└Yeah, it seems like a mistake, but he’s alive.

└Is it to check on Almond?

└Crazy guy lol lol lol What kind of check on Almond lol lol

└Please live your life! Nut fans!

-Wow, AllTube is doing well too. Usually, only one of live or AllTube does well. Damn, he has it all...

└The editor is top-tier.

└Really lol Just a fan, but amazing.

Seeing some jealous comments, it’s clear.

This is really 19th place.

“Wow... 19th place.”

Sang-hyun’s exclamation of amazement was interrupted by Joo-hyuk.

“Yeah, 19th place. Little brother. It was 21st place earlier, but it’s up again.”

Joo-hyuk was eating.

“No... What’s so special about this video? How did it get there?”

“Only Jia knows that. She seems to be sleeping now.”

“No, why is he ‘Lord’ and I’m ‘little brother’ when he’s much younger?”

“Well, he’s not a human, but a ‘God’.”

Tsk.

Joo-hyuk shook his head as if Sang-hyun didn’t know anything.

“You’ll feel it when you watch the video.”

“...”

He’s being ridiculous.

Sang-hyun decided to hold back this comment for now.

Let’s watch the video as Joo-hyuk suggested and think about it again.

It’s a video made after drinking, so he’s a bit anxious.

* * *

“Jia is a god.”

Sang-hyun concluded.

“Maybe it’s like a holy seat. I received Jia’s holy mark.”

Joo-hyuk chuckled at Sang-hyun’s reaction.

“I told you, little brother.”

Even in the middle of it, he didn’t forget to call him ‘little brother’.

Sang-hyun thought for a moment.

About how to deal with that guy.

Finally, he spoke.

“Isn’t that wrong? Usually, the older one doesn’t call the younger one ‘little brother’, and the younger one calls the older one ‘older brother’.”

“...I know, little brother.”

“People with lower ranks usually have to use different language instead of names. So, you’re basically calling me ‘older brother’.”

“...Shit.”

Joo-hyuk finally gave up on being the older brother. What a quick surrender.

“Yeah, what’s with this older brother, little brother nonsense now! I’m being magnanimous!”

His mental victory was also incredibly fast.

That’s why he was recognized in society. Sang-hyun learned something from Joo-hyuk again.

Indeed, Joo-hyuk is someone with a lot to learn from.

“Let me eat too.”

Sang-hyun naturally sat at the table and targeted the food Joo-hyuk made.

This guy’s cooking skills are getting better. As expected, this guy is an elite and can do almost anything.

Clack.

Joo-hyuk’s chopsticks stopped him.

“Haha, just eat some Almond Flakes.”

“...You, holding a grudge.”

After a few chopstick battles, Joo-hyuk finally admitted there was food left in the kitchen.

There were no other side dishes, just leftover Mapo Tofu.

It was quite delicious.

The taste of China and Korea were well mixed, making it new and easy to eat.

Where did he learn this from?

“Ah, by the way, we have 50,000 subscribers. Shouldn’t we do an event or something?”

Almond was momentarily stunned.

‘I haven’t thought about it.’

Now that he thinks about it, he only thought about kicking Joo-hyuk’s ass when they hit 1 million subscribers.

He hadn’t really thought about it.

“Hmm... I don’t know. I don’t have any ideas. You think of something.”

“Got it.”

Joo-hyuk answered simply and quickly finished his meal.

Then he started exploring other channels.

Sang-hyun finished eating and did the dishes.

‘It’s already 3 PM.’

He headed to the capsule for the broadcast.

It’s the 5th day since he decided to reach Diamond.

In two days, half of the promised period will be over.

‘Was it Platinum 2...?’

Already at Platinum 2 tier, not even halfway through.

It’s much faster than he planned, but he can’t be complacent.

If he loses a few in a row, all the time he invested will be wasted.

Of course, Almond didn’t think about that.

It’s a crazy thought, but...

Almond wanted to shorten the 2 weeks to 1 week.

└2 weeks, let alone 1 week, I think Almond will reach Diamond in a week.

After leaving this comment, Almond entered the capsule.

* * *

“Miss, don’t you have anything to say about yesterday’s incident?”

The butler asked.

The wheelchair was turned away, as if she had no intention of answering.

“The doctor clearly said, just a little more──”

“I know. It was a mistake.”

A lackluster response came back.

Her gaze was still fixed on the TV, as it often was lately, on Almond’s channel.

[Arrived at Platinum 2 faster than expected, right?]

The butler’s gaze also shifted to the voice.

“...Do you feel any competitiveness?”

“I answered. Leave.”

Her voice was cold like a frosty icicle.

A coldness that was hard to distinguish from heat.

The butler, sensing her real anger, bowed and left.

“Then?”

The woman was alone again.

[Maybe I can reach Diamond within this week? Haha.]

Her eyes, as if no one had come and gone, were fixed on the screen again.

[Let’s push hard today.]

Despite the light words, as if he was going for a light jog, Almond won game after game that day.

His MMR had already exploded, and his rating shot up with just a few wins.

He reached the Platinum 1 promotion match in one day.

“...Ha.”

A hollow laugh escaped.

The broadcast ended there for the day.

[We’ll continue tomorrow.]

The next day, the broadcast started at 3 PM.

She, as usual, pulled her wheelchair into the room and turned on his broadcast.

The Platinum 1 promotion match was a chaotic battle. There were many forces trying to interfere.

But he broke through as usual.

The strategy was the same.

Raid the armory from the start. It was so crude it was amazing...

A beautiful strategy.

Yes, there was a beauty in that straight-line breakthrough.

A sublime something felt in a battle decided solely by skill.

After reaching Platinum 1, Almond played a few more games to boost his rating.

And the next day came.

[Finally, the 7th day.]

The day he declared he would reach Diamond, 7 days later.

Snap...

She bit her long fingernails.

An old habit she didn’t realize she had.

[Today, I’ll push hard.]

She was anxious.

Almond’s condition seemed particularly good today.