[TS] Formula One Streamer - Chapter 31
It wasn’t about sliding smoothly; it was about having slid.
To the point where it could only be expressed that way, Yooihyun’s race car rushed freely across the wet track.
Swoosh!
Thump thump!!
Scrape scrape!!
The tires expelled water to the limit, and the engine did not stop its hot piston action. The brakes were at a temperature where they couldn’t perform optimally, but they were trying to fulfill their duty with a sharp m*an.
So, the race car and the driver. Everyone was moving towards the best possible outcome in the current situation.
Chwaaaak!!!
Perhaps it was like driving on ice. Yooihyun avoided the puddles that had formed all over the circuit and humbly accepted the unavoidable ones.
Isn’t it said that if you can’t avoid something, you should enjoy it?
She even used the aquaplaning phenomenon as a factor in F1 and as a technique.
“Lap 16…”
Lap 16, 17, 18, 19…
It was a dramatic situation, but as the race approached its midpoint, Yooihyun’s mind was becoming clearer rather than clouded. The road conditions that were already destroyed couldn’t worsen any further, and all she had to do was repeat the modified circuit and racing line she had ingested in her mind.
Now it was time for Yooihyun to do what she did best.
All that was left was to dash towards perfection, towards first place.
*
*
*
She was adapting.
Thump thump!! Whoosh!!
In this d*mn weather where rain was pouring continuously, both her body and the race car were adapting.
And gradually, the results were showing through the lap times.
② KING 1:41:035
Not satisfied with that, I continued to update my lap times.
I found rules in the irregularity and established order amidst chaos.
To drive fast, I gave up on straight-line driving and started weaving left and right; I deactivated the DRS.
It was completely different from the driving I had done until now and not familiar, but there was no problem.
I was good at driving itself.
To communicate, I opened the chat room and opened my eyes.
“This is kind of fun too. Don’t you viewers want to try wet racing?”
Now, the feeling of sliding slightly due to aquaplaning was enjoyable.
[Yeah~ Only you want to do it~]
[But you asked if we wanted to do itㅋㅋ]
[You little rascalㅋㅋㅋ]
[But I didn’t say you could do itㅋㅋㅋㅋ I just asked if you wanted to do it]
[But how can you see ahead at all? Did you really memorize everything?]
[If I memorized it, I would be able to drive like this…]
[Isn’t it even more amazing to drive like this without memorizing?ㅋㅋ]
[Whether it’s true or not, today’s race is very fun]
Watching the fixed chat at one point slowly, the reactions were interesting.
Some said not to trick others, while others advised focusing on the race if they didn’t want to be annoyed.
Normally, communication during a race consisted only of stiff and serious team orders that performed necessary functions.
Thinking that others were enjoying my racing while communicating with me in real-time made me feel joyful as well.
“Is that not possible? You can just do it…”
[Ahㅋㅋ just do it~]
[??? : Why isn’t this working? Aren’t you a commoner…]
[Shut up and just drive, teacher]
[Talent-rich KING is dead]
[I love you, please marry me]
[You’re humiliating 60 million viewers ㄷㄷ;;]
It was enjoyable. The race was so enjoyable.
The race that was already fun became even more fun!
I set the chat room ablaze and focused back on racing.
Even though I had already adapted to the inclement weather, I was still racing on thin ice, so I could not let my guard down to bring Yao-ming down.
Here we go!!
The corner that appeared at the end of the straight.
I slowed down early and entered the corner as if drifting. The direction of the vehicle’s spin was opposite to the direction of the steering wheel. To prevent wearing out just one side of the tire, I released the brake while pressing the accelerator, then pressed the brake while releasing the accelerator repeatedly.
It was the quickest way to navigate while minimizing damage.
Next was straight again.
I turned the steering wheel toward the front and gently pressed the accelerator, letting the chassis bounce back into position.
The race car broke through the soaked surface, and I, wearing a helmet, broke through the falling raindrops.
Click!
【 Gear 4 – 5↑ 】
Vroom!!
The speedometer was rising pleasantly.
The acceleration felt through sight and sound was exhilarating.
When had it been since I hadn’t driven so vividly?
The excitement I felt for the first time in a while sent shivers down my body, and it seemed like I wasn’t the only one feeling that way.
Despite the rain, the chat room was ablaze with excitement, and viewers began to flock back in.
As many as had left, or even more than that, were gathering to watch my broadcast.
The continuous donations clearly demonstrated that popularity.
If they came with expectations for my broadcast, I also had to return the favor.
The best reaction I could present to them was driving.
“Welcome to the new viewers. Shall we pick up the pace a bit?”
I began to raise my pace.
I minimized weaving in the straight to shorten the final distance and redefined the points at corners I had previously set with much leeway.
The race car surged forward and narrowly avoided obstacles.
It would only be a matter of time before I would see the bright red taillights of Yao-ming’s race car.
Not yet.
I could go faster.
“Hurry and run away.”
*
*
*
“Is that racing or skating?”
“It’s insane. I thought the game crashed when there was an accident, but it’s following like this?”
“You told me last week that I was a KING fan and cursed at me. Apologize.”
“I’m sorry…! I’ll do a dogeza at the dorm later.”
The auditorium of the academy felt like attending a concert at a high price, where every scene, every moment was being witnessed live in KING’s match.
Amidst that enthusiastic atmosphere, Jihyun, who knew that KING was Yooihyun, was more absorbed than anyone else.
“Lee Hyun, hang in there!”
Jihyun, who enjoyed For One, surely knew how difficult and strenuous wet racing was. The pressure of needing to hit the accelerator and brake, anxiously wondering when there would be a slip, while the race car could barely perform due to the heat was overwhelming.
It was a blessing that it wasn’t any worse.
External to the race, her whole body was soaked by rain, and the moisture-laden flame-retardant suit clung heavily to her body, bringing a weighty fatigue that left her mentally and physically exhausted.
Even so, seeing Yooihyun fighting hard, Jihyun was proud.
With both hands clasped together, she watched the match wishing for her to turn the tables, but heard a voice chime in from the side.
“I know you’re doing well, but can you really keep up with that?”
“Maybe when the weather clears up, but right now, it definitely won’t happen.”
“True… Even if he’s KING, overtaking in this situation must be tough even for a good player, right?”
“To be honest, no matter how well he does, he’s just an ordinary person. I don’t understand why everyone overhypes him.”
“There’s a bit of a feeling that they’re overrated. If he was that good, he wouldn’t have crashed earlier.”
Jihyun gritted her teeth.
KING was driving comfortably and skillfully while communicating, and it seemed that the boys beside her, just watching the screen, were having trouble grasping that feeling.
If they had ever experienced wet racing, they wouldn’t have made such remarks.
Moreover, it infuriated her to hear her friend Yooihyun being insulted right in front of her.
These brainless remarks made with confidence were definitely from first-year students.
Jihyun asked, even knowing the answer.
“What grade are you in?”
With an extremely oppressive and authoritative tone!
“Uh, y-yeah? I’m a first-year…”
“Have you ever raced in this weather? Huh? Have you ever raced in this weather?”
“Y-yes, I’m sorry.”
“In my time…”
Somehow, her appearance was starting to resemble Yooihyun more and more.
*
*
*
Name / Time / Laps
① KING 1:39:529 28/51
② Tallent is all 1:44:883 5.354 28/51
The rankings changed in an instant.
Yao-ming, focused on defending his position, was unable to control the precarious racing and was being dragged along irrelevant to his own will.
A driver should not be dragged by racing but must be in control of it.
To grasp victory, one must act as they think, want, and calculate.
Therefore, I was capable of reclaiming first place.
Yao-ming began to drift away, and with newfound momentum, I began to drive more boldly.
In places where I felt safe, I briefly activated the DRS, and I also trusted the performance of the wet tires to pass through shallow puddles.
Amid all my attempts, as lap 30 passed, the sky began to clear up as if it were all a lie.
Thick raindrops turned into a drizzle, and the dark clouds covering the sky moved away, finally letting bright sunlight shine down on the circuit.
As the rain, which had been tapping on my helmet, disappeared, my sight quickly cleared.
The droplets on the buildings and walls sparkled like glass beads as they reflected sunlight.
I raised the corners of my mouth and said.
“Finally, the sun is shining. It’s amazing, amazing.”
[ㅋㅋㅋ Is there really a map where it rains for 30 laps?]
[Ah, I’ve finally realized how precious the sun is…]
[This setting is so funnyㅋㅋ It suddenly stopped pouring after raining so hard.]
[The tears shed by the For One production team, moved by KING’s skill, are now the subject of academia.]
[Don’t crack such boring jokes.]
[What can I do about that?]
[Jammin should just disappear.]
The viewers reacted intensely, clearly glad the sun was shining.
“Well, since the sun is out, shall we get ready to race?”
With the sky clear and not a cloud in sight, the track seemed like it would dry quickly.
While the puddles wouldn’t evaporate instantly, with the wet tires capable of draining 61 liters per second, it wouldn’t take more than three laps for the surface to clear up somewhat.
Surely, if there was a conscience, the sun would clear up the remaining moisture.
Grumble!
I drove through the puddles, splashing water everywhere.
There was no need to conserve the tires.
Having already used them for 30 laps and with the weather improving, I had to change to dry tires anyway, so I could handle them harshly for the three laps until the track dried.
Swoosh!!
Now that the rain had stopped, I could feel the wet tires lacking in grip.
They were also known to lose power.
Even though the engine seemed to have a surplus of power.
The race car was getting impatient.
It wanted to be fitted with new shoes as soon as possible.
Not boots, but running shoes.
I shared the same opinion, so as soon as I completed Lap 3, I slowly entered the pits.
[Please select the type of tires to be replaced.]
With 18 laps remaining, the tire that needed to be used was already determined.
“Super Soft.”
As I stopped in the pit, the mechanic NPCs rushed out to change the tires.
Whoosh!! Clunk!!
In just 1.5 seconds, the tires were quickly replaced.
The SS tires, glistening and eager to return to the circuit, were clamoring.
Yao-ming also entered the pit to change his tires.
Sorry, but I think it would be better to stay in the pit.
KING: If you’re tired, you can just rest here.
I returned to the circuit first while waiting for a reply that didn’t come.
As the temperature rose, the super soft tires clung comfortably.
Vroom!!!
With overflowing power, the race car pushed ahead vigorously.
Click!
【 DRS Activation 】
It was time to decorate the finale of the race.