[TS] Formula One Streamer - Chapter 17

Inside the car returning to the academy, I received worried criticism from Kang Ho-yun and Jihyun Lee.

“Didn’t you decide to hide your identity? But how can you show your skills in front of so many people? What if you end up defeating a player after revealing your skills?”

In conclusion, the concern was what would happen if KING’s identity was revealed to be me.

“You don’t have to worry about that. If I deny it, what can they do?”

Considering that I defeated Han Joo-hyuk today, it is a rational deduction that I am KING.

There are similarities in the timing of my and KING’s appearances, and we both share the commonality of being newly revealed, unknown experts.

However, that is just a deduction.

Today, unlike my usual aggressive driving in ranking matches, I drove defensively and often opened up gaps.

Moreover, in the last lap, I made two critical mistakes at the first corner.

“I’m sure they can’t be certain about me. My driving style was completely different.”

73 races, 71 first places.

Today’s racing didn’t fit at all with that noble and solemn record, so they would soon lose their fervor about my identity.

And if I think about it plainly, would it be a big problem if my identity was revealed?

While the impact of revealing my identity would be less than initially planned, my very existence would have tremendous ripple effects.

“How are you going to attend the academy? The students and teachers will all swarm around you.”

“Do you think it’s just the academy people? External media and Formula One pro team scouts will be a nuisance too.”

I became dazed by their words.

In light of defeating Han Joo-hyuk, my identity as KING had become moot.

There is no excuse for a mere ordinary person, particularly a tremendous beauty, to completely lead and defeat a Korean representative player in front of everyone.

“Ah, I hadn’t thought of that…”

“You really haven’t thought of that? You live so impulsively.”

I’m absolutely averse to nuisances.

So, there’s only one answer.

“I think I should drop out.”

*

*

*

“Why are you suddenly saying you want to drop out? It’s good to live impulsively, but isn’t that too extreme?”

“Yeah. Think about it slowly. It seems too hasty, Hyun-a.”

My statement about wanting to drop out must have been more shocking to them than the fact that I defeated Han Joo-hyuk, as the four of us, including Kang Ho-yun and Park Ha-jin, were sitting in the female dormitory room, a forbidden area, discussing seriously.

Of course, it was not I who was serious, but them.

“I didn’t speak impulsively. I’ve been thinking about it for a while.”

I hadn’t told them, but since I became possessed by Yooihyun, I had been thinking that dropping out might be the best option.

Primarily, it was a burden for me, being a student and Jin Hyun-woo, not having lived Yooihyun’s life at all.

Though Yooihyun knew only a few people, facing them at every moment was a source of stress.

Secondly, there were too many constraints in living at the academy.

I had to stick to a fixed timetable, starting with theory classes that were completely useless to me, and I had to do meaningless practice laps with classmates at entirely different levels.

Repeating that from early morning to late afternoon was maddening as it felt like a waste of time.

For this reason, I thought it might be better to drop out and find a room, but the reason I had endured until now was purely because of Yooihyun.

Though now I had become Yooihyun, originally her life was hers, and living at the academy was her choice.

Thus, the reason I delayed dropping out until now was purely because of Yooihyun.

However, I felt that I had maintained the minimum courtesy I should observe towards Yooihyun.

“…So I had decided to drop out. There’s no point in staying here since no one can teach me anything, and there’s nothing for me to learn.”

I shared only my secondary reasons with them, aside from the primary ones.

Everyone must have agreed about my skills.

They simply nodded slightly.

Although it pained me to see my best friend Jihyun Lee welling up with tears, I wouldn’t completely be out of their lives if I left the academy.

“When you find a place, come visit often. The seniors can come over sometimes too.”

With those words, we disbanded.

I was walking with Kang Ho-yun through the darkened grounds of the academy as night deeply set in.

He had requested to talk a bit, and while we braved the cold wind, I could tell he hesitated as if he had something hard to say.

I thought I knew what it was and opened my mouth first.

“Is it because of the contract? Don’t worry. Even if I drop out, I will continue teaching.”

“No, that’s not it…”

“Then if it’s not that, what is it?”

He sighed and eventually spoke with difficulty.

“You need to find a place, right?”

“Right. I have to.”

“I do have an officetel nearby.”

What did it matter that he had an officetel nearby?

I stopped to ponder.

Seeing me like that, Kang Ho-yun waved his hands and quickly continued speaking.

“Oh, don’t get me wrong. It’s an officetel where I live separately, not my family home, and I don’t go there often…”

“So you want me to live there?”

“Well, it has two rooms, and it would be nice to have someone to manage the place while it’s empty.”

So why was he making that sound so complicated?

I was a woman, and he was a man, so I could understand quickly.

“That sounds good. You’re not charging me or anything?”

“As long as you keep it clean, we can settle it like that. Plus, there are capsules in each room, so it would be easy to play For One.”

“Is it really okay for me to live there?”

The conditions were too good.

Considering his income as a streamer and his living standards, the place must be very nice.

Although I didn’t distrust Kang Ho-yun, accepting such an offer felt a bit burdensome because I couldn’t offer him anything in return.

“There are more than just one officetel… It doesn’t matter.”

“Still, it feels a bit awkward.”

When I pretended to think unnecessarily, he casually said.

“If you really feel sorry, you can just keep teaching after the contract ends.”

Kang Ho-yun, pretending to be relaxed, looked tense as I could see his eyes shaking.

I chuckled and replied.

“That’s not difficult. Apart from that, I promised in the park earlier that if I get into the top 50, I’ll make sure to teach you properly, so work hard.”

“So that’s what we’re doing?”

“Yeah. By the way, I’m planning to drop out tomorrow, so can you help me move my things?”

“Of course. We need to go together anyway to let you know what needs managing at home.”

Having secured a good place with favorable conditions, all that was left was to conquer For One in my newfound freedom and plan my life.

Raising my ranking was important, but my immediate goal was to win the KiwiChi Championship.

And starting my life as a streamer.

*

*

*

That day, late at night after the Formula One team’s event ended.

The four-member team, including Han Joo-hyuk and Yoo Seon-jin, were silently watching the driving video of the participants Jinhyun and Han Joo-hyuk, provided by the headquarters, in a dark meeting room.

Even though they replayed the race, which lasted less than 15 minutes, multiple times, no one complained.

Instead, the footage that would have been regrettable if only shown once.

On the first viewing, Jinhyun’s reckless driving was evident.

On the second, bold driving.

On the third, frustration at having toyed with a driver.

On the fourth, admiration for her ability to pull off such maneuvers.

Subsequently, they were immersed in the realization brought by her racing.

For that reason, they simply couldn’t stop replaying the video.

-Jin Hyun-woo receives the checkered flag…

With the voice of the presenter trailing off in shock, the video came to an end.

At some point during the multiple viewings, the team’s director and player, Yoo Seon-jin, paused the video.

“KING. From what I see, this person is KING. What do you all think?”

KING.

A name that became tremendously famous in a short time.

All the players knew KING, and Han Joo-hyuk was a fan to the extent of replaying the driving video.

Han Joo-hyuk, knowing that she was KING, silently observed the atmosphere.

“I also think it’s KING. The style is a bit different, but the technique is really… perfect.”

“I think so too. While leading, she opens up gaps effortlessly, and her overtaking judgment in the last lap at corners 4 and 5 is just…”

The only disadvantage they thought KING had was that she was too bold, too aggressive.

However, today, Jinhyung, presumed to be KING, displayed a defensive style of racing that perfectly shattered that flaw.

As a result, the offensive and defensive balance was impeccable, with techniques ascending to the peak.

A perfect player in racing itself.

A real F1 driver.

Yoo Seon-jin, who had actively worked as a real F1 driver, evaluated Jinhyun in that manner.

“In fact, whether this woman is KING or not isn’t important. What matters is the performance she displayed today.”

Everyone nodded in agreement with his words.

Indeed, none of them had confidence in winning against her.

“It would be good to recruit her, either as a player or a coach, in any capacity.”

“I think we should at least maintain a friendly relationship.”

The players expressed their opinions.

“For now, I’m trying to contact the team level. I can’t guarantee the results, though.”

Given KING’s mysterious persona, the probability of refusal to contact was high.

If she were to join the representative team, she would need to engage in official activities, which would break the concept she had maintained.

Yoo Seon-jin knew that, which is why he predicted a high likelihood of failure in contacting her.

The only way to convince someone like Jinhyun was by showing strength.

“We absolutely must win the KiwiChi Championship. That’s the only way to recruit KING onto our team.”

This added one more reason to put everything on the line for the KiwiChi Championship to bring KING in.

*

*

*

Dropping out was handled very smoothly.

From the beginning, the Formula One Academy was not a school but a private learning institution, so joining and leaving was free.

By now, the news of the previous day had spread widely, and the teachers asked me repeatedly if I might reconsider.

“I don’t want to! No! Please don’t do this!”

With that triple set, they stepped back, looking bewildered.

I walked through the crowd of students who had come out to watch me, carrying my things, dressed in casual clothes.

Among them was Song Dan-g*n, who had tormented me, along with his group.

I raised my middle finger at them.

“I’m leaving! Go eat dirt!”

Then I hid behind Kang Ho-yun; that was a secret.