Season 2: Chapter 193: The Cautious Hunter (1)
"Good game~~~~!!!"
A lively shout came from OrangeKing and Kimchi Warrior.
"Wow, Almond is finally free from BornToB! He’s almost invincible now, right!?"
"That's right. You could think of back then as sandbag training!”
"His performance without the sandbag is spectacular!"
— So mean, haha.
— Beating BornToB even when he isn’t here, lol.
— Thanks ShitToB~
— The sandbag effect.
— THE SANDBAG EFFECT.
Almond continued to win in solo rank under the new commander, JosBar. Thanks to JosBar, he almost reached S rank in just one day. Considering Civil Empire’s ruthless rank system where winning one game and losing the next meant stagnation, reaching this point in just one day was a significant achievement.
"Mr. Kimchi Warrior, if things continue like this, you can start bragging about being the one who recruited Almond!"
It was a radical move on Kimchi Warrior’s part to recruit Almond. He had proposed to include a total newbie in the national competition. Naturally, Kimchi Warrior received a lot of criticism from the other team members and a few conflicts occurred during the process.
The main issue was Almond reaching S+ rank. Now, some of that burden had been lifted.
"Yes. This has somewhat eased my mind, but we must not be complacent until we reach S+!”
"That's right, Mr. KimchiWarrior! And did you know?"
"What?"
"Your commentating skills have improved tremendously."
"...!"
Kimchi Warrior was surprised.
"I’m not kidding. You're a completely different person compared to when you started. You might have a talent for this too."
"Hahaha. Thank you for the compliment. It’s nice to hear that from someone at the top of the industry like you."
"Oh! What are you talking about!? Hahahaha," OrangeKing laughed joyfully at his praise.
— He said that just to get complimented. Don't be fooled, Kimchi Warrior.
— But Kimchi's commentary is really good, lol.
— This orange, lol.
— Who's gonna squeeze some orange juice again?
— Kimchi Warrior getting flustered is cute, lol.
"Now, here’s the news. Due to his schedule, Almond will be ending the stream here. Actually, I have a schedule tomorrow too."
"Is that so? Do you have the same schedule as Mr. Almond?"
"Oh. Yes, how did you know?"
"I hear things here and there, haha. It was fun today.
"Yes. Thank you. I also had fun."
After turning off the connection to the commentary desk, Kimchi Warrior stared blankly at where OrangeKing's avatar had been.
'My... commentary...'
He idly touched his chest around his heart. Why did those words surprise him so much earlier? An emotion he hadn't realized swirled up within him.
Due to a shortage of staff, he simply joined the commentary so OrangeKing could have someone to talk to and he could also give Almond live feedback. Before he knew it, he was participating earnestly.
Kimchi Warrior had also once questioned himself.
'Why am I trying so hard?'
Commentary wasn't even his main job, yet he shouted, cheered, and despaired with all his might.
Ding.
[Almond: Thank you for your hard work, Mr. Kimchi.]
[Kimchi Warrior: Of course, Mr. Almond. No scrims tomorrow. You know it's the day after tomorrow, right?]
[Almond: Yes. I also happen to have a schedule for tomorrow. I have to play a champion on The Avatar of LIL...]
[KimchiWarrior: Yes. Haha. See you then.]
[Almond: Sounds good.]
***
The next day, various game communities featured articles that usually circulated around this time of the year.
[G-Star Opening Countdown. What games this time?]
[G-Star invited celebrities "I like that game"]
[G-Star invited world-class domestic streamers?]
These articles signaled the start of G-Star. However, none specifically mentioned who was invited or what games would be exhibited. Despite that, these articles popped up one after another because they garnered many views due to the rising anticipation for new games that would come out next year around this time.
"It hasn't hit the news yet," Ju-Hyeok muttered while sipping warm coffee.
"What hasn't?"
"Our invitation."
Of course, Almond would obviously be invited to G-Star. It hadn’t been officially confirmed until last night when G-Star sent out an email along with an invitation ticket.
"It's a golden ticket," Ju-Hyeok chuckled. "It's a shame. We can’t even show this off to anyone. I didn’t know they also invited managers, hahahaha!"
G-Star golden tickets were only given to VIP invitees. It included nearby five star hotel accommodations, access to the banquet hall buffet, various guide care, etc. All of this was free with this ticket.
Above all, the greatest advantage of being a VIP was directly meeting top representatives at the game company booths. Some would question why this was the greatest advantage, but Ju-Hyeok valued this the most.
"We can even get game ad contracts from all of them."
Direct meetings with top representatives made it easy to proceed with advertising or business talks.
G-Star was known as a game festival, but in reality, it started as a game expo. Games were reviewed to decide what investments to make, whether to buy this game or collaborate as a streamer. It was a sort of market to test the potential of games.
"You’re going too far, Ju-Hyeok."
It was rare to see decisions made regarding advertisements at G-Star.
Sang-Hyeon finished his almond flakes.
"I'm more excited about the challenge than the ads."
"Ah. The challenge. That's also fun."
Ju-Hyeok started explaining the various challenges and listed them off.
"There are ones where streamers face off against each other or betting gifts against the developers. There’s also the one facing off against the company CEOs..."
"..."
Ju-Hyeok stopped talking under Sang-Hyeon's gaze.
"What?"
"You talk like you've been to G-Star a lot."
"..."
In truth, Ju-Hyeok had never been to anything like G-Star. He could recite information like an expert just from a background research.
"No. You know I haven’t. I’m just saying that there's such a thing."
"You just said it was interesting."
"..."
Ju-Hyeok coughed to change the subject.
"Whatever. Just choose an outfit for The Avatar of LIL."
The Avatar of LIL was a game entertainment show hosted by the developer of LIL, Police Corporation. It showed how skilled players understood and interpreted a newly champion without knowing anything.
The entertainment show didn’t only invite pro gamers. They also invited streamers. In fact, this made it easier for the general bronze, silver, and gold ranked players to understand.
"Hmm… The outfit..."
Sang-Hyeon pulled out a hoodie from the wardrobe.
"Will be this one."
***
Clap!
After the slate sounded, a familiar and cheerful voice greeted the audience.
"Hello, contractors. It’s OrangeKing from The Avatar of LIL."
However, OrangeKing was wearing a slightly strange attire.
— LMAO.
— What kind of concept is this?
— He’s been stressed too much recently.
— Are you from the ancient past?
He wore tattered leather as if he threw them on and his rough attire made him look like a caveman.
"Wow. They put a lot of effort into the studio today," OrangeKing cheerfully said as one of the cast members whose role was to lift the mood.
The studio included a tropical jungle background, resembling a family restaurant with a bizarre concept.
"Yes. The champion we're introducing today was from such a place."
"Ah. Is it from Brazil?"
“Hahaha.”
Laughter passed among the cast members.
— From Brazil, lol.
— LOL.
— Amazon, hahahaha.
"No. It's not from anywhere that close. It came from Hochal, the largest tropical rainforest in the Life is Legend world," OrangeKing said and kept his voice as quiet as possible.
"Why are you speaking so quietly?" a fellow cast member teased.
They seemed quite close to OrangeKing, so they couldn’t hold back their laughter whenever they looked at him. In truth, it would be hard not to laugh at his primitive outfit even if they weren’t close with OrangeKing.
OrangeKing quietly asked back, "Do you know the nickname for today’s champion?"
"No, but why are you speaking so quietly?"
"Exactly, it’s the Quiet Hunter."
"...?"
OrangeKing had been speaking quietly to match the champion’s concept.
A brief silence followed.
— ?
— ??
— What?
Confusion filled the chat.
"It's the Cautious Hunter, isn’t it?" the host immediately corrected OrangeKing.
Today's champion was nicknamed the Cautious Hunter.
"Oh..."
— LMAO.
— Did you stay up all night? Lol.
— Not again, lol. He got it wrong right at the start.
"Let's learn about the Cautious Hunter Sori from the Hochal tropical rainforest, shall we?" OrangeKing smoothly continued the show as if nothing happened.
"Ah. Is the name Sori?"
"Yes. Sounds like Korean, right?"
"Oh. It really does. Is she pretty?"
Only OrangeKing had seen the champion's illustration, so the host wanted to take a guess by asking OrangeKing various questions.
“It’s a guy."
"Oh..."
— LOL.
— He’s not interested anymore.
— Why is he disappointed? lol.
"Sori is a male name?"
"No. Actually, it’s a female."
"...?"
"I just wanted to see how obsessed you were with women."
"What…?"
— Oh…, lol.
— Hahahaha.
— Ouch! OrangeKing, it hurts! Stop telling the truth!
— Lol.
— He’s so meannnn~
OrangeKing and the host lightly exchanged jokes and discussed the new champion.
The Cautious Hunter Sori, as inferred from her nickname and origin, quietly hunted her prey hidden in the underbrush. She used a bow and shot arrows imbued with three elements.
A video clip played as the explanation roughly ended.
— Wow.
— She’s so pretty!
— So OP.
— She shoots four times and has a cooldown, so she needs to shoot cautiously.
— This champion is too weak.
— OP?
— She seems to really suck.
Reactions were always divided whenever a new champion was released.
OrangeKing pointed this out as he began.
"Now, you must be either saying she’s OP or she sucks, right?"
— LOL
— I feel exposed.
— The viewer tamer, OrangeKing lol
"The truth is, we don't know whether this champion is OP or trash until we play. Today, we'll have to find that out."
"That's right, but neither I nor OrangeKing can fully unleash this champion’s potential."
"Yes. That's why we've invited an expert."
— Ohhh!!!
— An expert?
— Here it goes~!
— Our nut is coming~!!
"This person can be considered a god with the bow..."
"Yes, in reality and in the game! We’ve invited Almond, who single-handedly slaughters his enemies when he holds a bow!”
— ???
— What’s going on with his fashion?
— ?? Lol.
— What??
Almond walked out dressed as a tropical rainforest hunter. He greeted them with an expression that said, ‘Why did you ask me to choose what to wear?’
Then he bowed.
"Um, hello. I'm Almond. I got invited because I heard there was a champion who uses a bow."
— Why are you reacting like you don’t wanna be here? Lol.
— Hahahaha.
— He got invited lol
— But he still looks cool
— Jungle man, please take off your top!
— He’s still handsome even with that outfit.
— I can’t believe he’s wearing the same clothes as OrangeKing.
— Looks like he came from a luxury jungle.
***
Meanwhile, a man and a woman were discussing something behind the cameras at the shooting site of The Avatar of LIL.
"How does it look?"
"Hmm."
The woman didn’t take her eyes off Almond while fiddling with her long nails.
"His appearance is well-known, and he’s got some stories to spill."
"That's right. It’s nice that we came and saw him, right?"
"Yes, he’s got a good personality. He might be a bit risky at times, but that’s better than being bland. He's quite popular too."
"Yeah, I think so too. He's a streamer, not an idol, so there's less risk."
They were employees from a management company and coincidentally saw another shoot in the same studio. They stopped by upon hearing that Sang-Hyeon was the guest for today’s show.
The woman's eyes scanned the vicinity of the shooting site. She could see a few others who looked similar to them.
"There will be quite a bit of competition here," she smirked and murmured.
"Of course, everyone has a similar eye for talent."