Season 4: Chapter 3. I’ll Remember (3)

Right after Joseon’s victory, posts began popping up on Almond’s fan community.

[Wow, they actually won the tournament. But what about his stream?]

[Is Almond not going pro?]

[So is Almond quitting streaming now??]

For Almond’s personal fans, his victory wasn’t a hundred percent welcomed news. It felt different from when he had won the LIL Tournament. That was a fun event back then where most participants were either retired pros or streamers past their prime.

The International Tournament was different. At least within

Civil Empire

, it was a prestigious pro-level competition. And now, Almond stood alone in the spotlight.

[FINALS MVP]

[Almond]

He had been named the FINALS MVP.

[LOL, he actually got FM]

[Can Almond chill with being so good?]

[FM, holy crap]

[So basically, he was the best in the whole tournament?]

On top of that, rumors already began to spread.

[I heard a proper Civil Empire league was starting in Korea after this. Sponsors are already lined up.]

After the win against Japan, the

Civil Empire

craze began to sweep Korea. Talks about launching a professional scene spread fast. On top of the companies that already sponsored national teams, other corporations were rumored to be joining to form a pro league. And since Korea was already known as the birthplace of esports, everything was moving quickly.

[Is Almond really going? T_T]

[Pro Almond, omg]

[He’s gotta be the top recruitment pick]

Fans began to believe that Almond could become a professional player. It wasn’t a strange assumption at all. Many people streamed before going pro. It wasn’t an unusual transition, but... Almond was a bit different.

[Has there ever been a variety game streamer who went pro?]

Almond hadn’t focused on just one game. He was a variety streamer and a complete beginner when he started

Civil Empire

. Now, he had the opportunity to become a professional player.

This had never happened before. Then again, no one like him had ever become the FINALS MVP of an international tournament either. This was uncharted territory for everyone.

[Let’s just wait and hear what Almond says]

[He’s got the mic now LOL]

[Will he say anything at all?]

His upcoming interview could drop a hint. The reporter would naturally ask about his future plans.

***

After receiving the FINALS MVP trophy, a mic appeared in front of Sang-Hyeon.

"Hello! Almond!"

The reporter’s voice sounded cheerful as always, but her eyes looked red.

"Ah, I cried a lot earlier... That’s why my eyes are red."

She seemed to have noticed Sang-Hyeon’s gaze and explained.

— She cried T_T

— What a queen! T_T she meant it...

— Nah, she probably cried when Almond got FM lol

— Of course she cried, this guy clutched everything till the end

— Even the queen of interviews got emotional.

"First off, congratulations on winning the championship and being named Finals MVP!"

"Ah, thank y—."

Just as Sang-Hyeon began speaking into the mic, a massive cheer erupted from the stands.

"──WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!"

It made sense. This was the first time the crowd was hearing Sang-Hyeon’s voice live.

"Almond! Almond! Almond!"

"Mommmm! Buy me Almond!!"

— His popularity is insane

— Whoa

— That’s wild

— Look at how packed the stadium still is lol

"Wow. What an incredible reaction. Almond, could you please share your thoughts on being selected as FM and leading your team to such an amazing victory?"

Sang-Hyeon, in truth, hadn’t even known the Finals MVP was a thing. He hadn’t prepared a speech either. He came to compete and not for the award ceremony. Facing Rome in the finals left him with no time to think about stuff like this. Still, he tried to say whatever came to mind.

"Ah... First of all, I always believed Joseon would win since the beginning."

Another roar erupted from the crowd.

"WAAAAAAAAAAAA!"

— lol facts

— He always says he’ll win lol

— He just thinks everything is winnable

— Classic gamer mindset lol

"But it really wasn’t easy."

"Which match was the hardest for you?"

"Uh... I don’t remember the earlier matches too well, but just thinking about the final match today... We wouldn’t have won if our commander hadn’t stalled for time. I got the FM thanks to my teammates’ help..."

As he spoke, the screen showed various people associated with Almond. Ju-Hyeok waved at the camera, the Balloon Stars members showed up, and even RubySword and EggPlant appeared.

‘They really came...’

Only then did Sang-Hyeon realize that the people supporting him had traveled all the way to Japan to cheer him on. He knew it in his head, but seeing familiar faces in person still surprised him.

"Ah, you said it was thanks to your teammates and fellow players. Is there anyone else you'd like to thank today?"

"First..."

After such a big win, Sang-Hyeon always thought of one person first.

“Ooh~ Yu Sang-Hyeon. Congrats.”

The voice that always greeted him first whenever he came back from even a small competition with a decent result.

“Aren’t you kind of a genius or what?”

She had always been genuinely happy for him even though she did archery herself and could’ve treated him as a rival. She was the proudest whenever someone called him a genius and used to brag that their archery club had a genius.

“If you win an Olympic gold someday, you have to mention us, okay? Promise?”

As much as she had rejoiced for him, Sang-Hyeon always wanted to dedicate his victories to her. It was the same when he won the LIL Tournament. In the end, he couldn’t bring himself to say her name aloud then.

‘Even now... It’s the same.’

Even now, he couldn’t get the words out. He’d seen people dedicate their victories to those who had passed away during award ceremonies. He never used to think much of it. He hadn’t known what kind of pain they went through to say something like that. Not until he stood on the stage himself.

‘I dedicate this victory to Han So-Yeon, who is no longer with us...’

How heavy those words were. What it meant for him to say out loud that Han So-Yeon was no longer with them. It meant truly letting her go in every sense, both internally and externally. It meant that she was gone.

"... Almond?" the reporter asked again when he hesitated to respond.

Sang-Hyeon took a moment to collect himself before lifting the mic again. He looked back at the screen. RubySword, EggPlant, and Ju-Hyeok were all there. The Balloon Stars members could also be seen.

"When I first started streaming, four viewers happened to tune in by chance. I still remember that."

Now, Sang-Hyeon had others in his life too.

"Who were they?"

"I won’t say any names. It’s bannable to name them, so I’ll refrain."

"?"

— LMAO

— This guy even censors himself

— That’s a real streamer right there

— Legend

— Classic Almond

"Is it... bannable?"

"You gotta be careful."

"Got it."

The reporter nodded even though it seemed unclear whether she actually understood.

— Reporter just nodding along lol

— She really tried to move past it

— That reaction was gold

— Don’t worry, there are no bans in real life LOL

"I’d like to thank the people who were there at the beginning. Who were there for Almond’s beginning."

Almond hadn’t started in some high school archery team. His beginning had been in a tiny home in a hillside neighborhood.

"To the viewers who’ve watched since then and until now. To my manager from the start— No, it’s CEO Ju-Hyeok now. And editor Ji-Ah, Mr. Lee Kang-Seok who sold me a used capsule machine at a discount. And..."

— Where’s he going with this lol

— "Sold me a used capsule machine" LMAO

— Respect

— This is wild

Surprisingly, some people had been with him since that tiny, humble start. And most of them were still with him now.

"To the Balloon Stars members who came all the way here to cheer me on. Thank you as well. If it hadn’t been for the LIL Tournament, I don’t think I’d have ever even considered participating in a team tournament."

The screen showed the Balloon Stars members.

"WAAAAAAAAAAAA!" the crowd cheered wildly when they waved.

— God-tier Miho

— Man...

— Miho’s crying again lol

— Gum’s tearing up too!

— Wow...

— They’re all here??

— True loyalty

Come to think of it, the Balloon Stars members always supported him. And so did the partnership with Punk, which first brought them together.

"To Manager Oh from Punk, who first partnered with me. To Director Han, who gave me lots of help. To the folks at

Civil Empire

Korea..."

"...?"

The thank-yous continued seemingly without end.

— Almond’s memory is unreal

— This dude’s brain is a machine

— Glad he didn’t go all the way back to Ah-Sung

— This is overkill lol

— Brain overload haha

"Ah... um..."

The reporter, unsure of where to cut him off, just nodded and added small comments.

"And to the greatest capsule company in the universe, Divers. Not using my custom capsule today made me feel like I was dying. Also, we can’t forget the real MVP of this win—Monster sports drink. And the eye-comforting Ah-Sung display..."

— Okay, this isn’t a thank-you anymore

— He’s doing ads now lol

— Capitalism demon mode: engaged

— That wasn’t gratitude, it was a financial audit

— Human billboard

— This guy’s dripping sweat after the match, only to shill ads... A true capitalist. He’ll never be a communist.

— ??? "This program was brought to you by..."

— This is literally a LIL Tournament flashback

And just like that, Sang-Hyeon kept listing everyone he was grateful for without holding back. He poured so much effort into the thank-yous that he began sweating profusely as if it was pouring rain. Only then did he stop and bring the speech to a close.

"... To all the people I’m thankful for, and this place, and this moment."

Everyone stared at him blankly. Sang-Hyeon placed his hand over his heart.

"Even if all of this disappears one day... I think I’ll remember it all forever."

"WAAAAAAAAAAAH!"

A standing ovation erupted.

— Damn

— What a perfect closing

— I’m crying too T_T

— He’ll remember it forever, for real

— Beautiful

He pulled it together and delivered a real closing statement just when everyone thought he’d end it as a walking advertisement.

The reporter sighed with relief and spoke, "What a powerful thank you speech! That was truly moving. So then, Almond..."

She now moved to the most important question she had prepared about Almond’s future.

"You started as a streamer, and now you’ve won the championship and been named the MVP. Many fans are curious, do you have any thoughts about going professional?"

At that moment, all eyes turned to him. Even the players who had been looking elsewhere. Choi Sa-Rang, in particular, stared intensely at him almost as if drilling a hole through him. A brief silence fell as everyone waited.

Then—

‘Huh...?’

Sang-Hyeon suddenly staggered.

THUD!

A loud crash echoed across the stage. He had collapsed without warning.