Chapter 168: Silver vs. Master (1)

They were on their way back home after their successful negotiation. Finally, they could talk about their achievement of being ranked first on YouTube. As expected, the main topic of discussion was the comments from online users.

"There's like ten new replies every time I refresh."

"It's that much?"

They never thought JeonJaPa's influence would be this great.

'Now that I think about it, I don’t know about him.'

After arriving home, Ju-Hyeok immediately sat in front of the computer and researched JeonJaPa.

While reading through the information on Wikipedia, he adjusted his glasses. He murmured, "Hey, it's true JeonJaPa had a significant impact on the gaming industry, but his greatest contribution was to the domestic streaming market."

"... Really?"

"Yeah. Since that guy appeared, the image of game streamers improved significantly and the average viewership increased tenfold."

It was true that there was a time when having more than 10,000 live viewers was considered the highest level. Sang-Hyeon nodded his head.

'So that's what happened after JeonJaPa appeared.'

Due to the popularity of online users, people's attention momentarily shifted to capsule games and related streams. In fact, Sang-Hyeon was one of those who discovered game streaming for the first time during that period. He didn't know then that it was because of JeonJaPa.

"I didn't pay much attention so I didn't know, but this guy was quite the looker himself."

On Ju-Hyeok's monitor was a large picture of JeonJaPa's upper body. It was the face Sang-Hyeon always saw on broadcast while learning about LIL. It was an aesthetically pleasing face. With that face and being the world's best in gaming, it was natural that he would skyrocket in popularity. Ironically, even Sang-Hyeon, who was focused on work at the company, knew who JeonJaPa was to some extent.

But...

'... Hmm?'

A strange sense of unease washed over him. The more he looked at the face, the more he felt it.

Amid his wavering thoughts, Ju-Hyeok blurted out something unrelated, "I don't think you can turn into JeonJaPa, but maybe a value version of JeonJaPa."

"What are you talking about?"

The current difference between JeonJaPa and Almond was indescribable.

"What? You can be the JeonJaPa of streamers or something. You're good-looking and have a background that the public likes. If you score big advertisements on the major channel, you'll easily get ten billion won... huh? Hehehe..." As soon as Ju-Hyeok started talking about money, he laughed weirdly. Ten billion in a month would make anyone laugh.

"JeonJaPa earns that much?"

"Ten billion might be a little exaggerated, but... he earns to the point where numbers are meaningless. Apparently, he has five sports cars and an enormous house. There are even rumors that he comes from a wealthy background."

"Hey... you're rich too."

"You can't even compare him to me. Apparently, he's as rich as in the movies."

‘As rich as in the movies..’

Sang-Hyeon felt that before from that woman. He scanned JeonJaPa's face again.

'Hmm...'

He felt that the passing face of that woman resembled the man on the screen. Although they rarely spoke, the cheerful and lively atmosphere of the streamer and the dark, somber atmosphere of the woman from before were quite different. However, they did have a similar appearance.

'Are they siblings?'

The woman he met was also rich. If JeonJaPa came from a wealthy background as well, there was a chance that they were siblings because being that rich was rare. They also looked similar.

'What if they are siblings?'

Of course, he knew nothing about JeonJaPa's family relationship. It was none of his business. He simply thought that he could express gratitude for the comment if they ever ran into each other. Sang-Hyeon decided to focus on what he had to do. The tournament was the most important thing right now. He had to start implementing the training program he devised from today onwards to achieve that.

"Hey, I'm going to work out a little in the courtyard."

"... Hm? In the courtyard?"

"Yeah. A new training."

"Sure."

Sang-Hyeon stepped into the courtyard, turned on a YouTube video, and started exercising. Strangely, all the movements were focused solely on his left arm.

Swish. Swish.

Moreover, the exercises focused more on performance than typical strength training. It was almost reminiscent of swordsmanship.

'What is he doing? Does he think he's still playing video games?'

While adjusting the curtains, Ju-Hyeok watched that scene and tilted his head in confusion. Despite watching for a while, Sang-Hyeon didn't perform any other exercises. He simply swung his left arm vigorously or suddenly dashed in a different direction, performing movements that made him look like a crazy person.

'It does look like a hard workout.'

One thing was for sure, the exercise didn't look easy.

***

Tap.

The woman placed a tablet on her knees and said, "I can at least do this much activity, right?"

"..."

The butler didn't like it, but it was only a couple of months ago when she pestered him to go into the capsule. Compared to then, this was doable.

'Unless the lady has changed her tactics.'

He wasn't sure what she was up to, but ignoring it was a good idea.

"It doesn't matter, but there will be articles. You know the influence you have in that industry, right?"

"Of course~ I'm still popular~"

He hadn't seen her this happy in a long time. Even with that fact alone, it was worth ignoring the issue.

"Are you interested in that person?"

"Yeah."

The butler stared at the woman in surprise. The woman just looked at him with a smile.

"I like anyone who's good."

Bling.

A notification appeared on the comment she made.

[Almond liked your comment.]

'Sometimes I don't.'

Her eyes turned toward the dark room. It was where the capsule was.

Bling.

Another notification popped up.

[Almond has started streaming.]

The girl clicked on the notification out of habit.

"... You can go now. I'm going to watch the stream." historical

"... Alright."

With hundreds of other spectators, she was part of the first wave of viewers.

— AlHa!

— AlHa!

— AlHahahha~~

— Almond!!

— Wow! Streaming!

The happy messages from the viewers appeared. The woman just stared into the screen.

“Hi, Treevy~!” As always, Almond cheerfully greeted them.

When she saw him at the hospital, he was a lot more calm... The woman scratched her head in confusion.

“I think I mastered Sana already yesterday..”

Almond spoke as if he had something different prepared for today's stream.

— ???

— True

— Taunting us already?!

— You didn't even do her story mode yet! Get her rapport level to 100!

— Do Sana's story mode, please!

“It's true I didn't do the story mode, but... it's too long to do before the tournament. And to learn a new skill... is a lot of work. Besides, Sana's rapport goes up pretty easily.”

— That's only for you...

— Just for you!

— Sana does go up pretty easily, but not as well as yours.

“Since I had some money left over, I bought more champions.”

Almond showed the champions he purchased from the shop on his stream. He purchased four more. While Almond was showing the champions, the screen started shaking. The woman's hands were slightly trembling.