[TS] Formula One Streamer - Chapter 41

Can we say it’s a home game with Kang Ho-yun?

Since it was the Paul Ricard Circuit in France where I used to run tirelessly while teaching him during practice, it wouldn’t be a problem to say so.

After finishing a fun home game with One-Man Show, I went up to the podium with him and we had a voice conversation.

I wanted to speak out, but since the situation was being broadcasted, I couldn’t just presumptively act like I knew things.

One-Man Show: It was really fun, even though I fell. Racing with you really clears the mind.

KING: Am I like a stimulant on the circuit?

One-Man Show: Oh… that’s a nice one, a stimulant.

We casually waved at the broadcast camera, bowed, and continued speaking.

One-Man Show: There are a lot of viewers. Is it because Hamilton is commentating on your race?

KING: Hamilton is commentating on my race?

One-Man Show: He pointed you out himself. He wants to commentate on your race.

KING: That’s kind of funny.

That Hamilton is commentating on my race.

Imagining Hamilton, who was always behind me in second place in a previous life, giving various evaluations while watching my race is quite amusing.

If it was Hamilton, he would definitely have been venting out his frustrations about me.

It’s reasonable, considering he was a perennial second place due to me.

One-Man Show: By the way… didn’t we have something to discuss separately?

Kang Ho-yun hesitated and opened his mouth, which was uncharacteristic of him.

Something to discuss separately…

Ah! We agreed to collaborate if Kang Ho-yun was eliminated.

I remembered our conversation about sharing my race broadcasting rights with him.

Although the situation has changed a lot since we thought it would be mutually beneficial back then.

Two hundred sixty-five thousand two hundred thirty-one people.

As the number of players decreased from 100,000 in the round of 1024 to the round of 32, my value increased due to the races we’ve had.

Kang Ho-yun experienced a rise in viewer numbers, doubling as he defeated New Age, but in front of me, he now looked just like Hako, who had just started as a streamer.

I’m not one to care about such things, but still…

If it’s Kang Ho-yun, there’s a high probability he’s really concerned about it.

He’s probably so worried that he feels sorry about it.

Just simply comparing his viewer count to mine shows it’s about seven times higher.

With such a gap, the potential benefits I’d gain from collaborating with him would be negligible, making it hard for me to suggest collaboration, even out of pity.

But we’re not in a relationship built on calculative and cold interests.

Your success is my success, and my success is your success—it’s a relationship based on trust.

In this world, I didn’t want to treat people with reasons like those.

Jin Hyun-woo lived that way and, as an F1 champion, had everything, but at the same time, he lost everything too.

Here, I have no intention of living like that, not even a little.

KING: You’re talking about collaborating, right? Let’s do it right away.

One-Man Show: Huh? Are you sure that’s okay?

KING: If you do well, then it’s good for me too. But how do we do it?

One-Man Show: First, we need to go to the waiting room…

I heard that we had to go through a complicated process of moving to the waiting room and managing the broadcast with the Kiwich management team, filling out various documents.

“King, I’m a fan. If it’s okay with you, would you like to partner with me?”

“Partnership? What’s that?”

“It’s collaborating during the tournament. Would you like to?”

“I’m okay with it.”

“Then, let’s go.”

Since we couldn’t just abruptly head to collaborate while the viewers were watching, Kang Ho-yun and I improvised awkwardly.

[What? Are One-Man Show and KING acquaintances???]

[Teacher… you race well, but acting isn’t really your thing.]

[What’s their relationship?]

[Wow, they’re in a league of their own.]

[There are only 11 players in Korea with F2 or above; they must know each other by now.]

[Right? They probably share information and stuff. They must be making good money too, haha.]

[As expected… their own league.]

I didn’t expect any backlash, but thankfully, there wasn’t much.

Thinking about it, just like how big company chairmen know each other, it’s weirder for these top players in a small land not to know each other.

“Kiwich can’t be streamed on external platforms. Also, you can only designate one partner during the tournament period. If you understand, please sign below.”

When we moved to the management team, a gentle-voiced woman explained the points carefully.

The Kiwich 1v1 tournament broadcasting rights are exclusive to Kiwich, and due to the need to prevent too many partners on one person’s broadcast overwhelming viewers, we have to sign a contract agreeing to limit it to one partner streamer.

In any case, I had no one else to partner with besides Kang Ho-yun, nor did I want anyone else.

I trusted Kang Ho-yun and quickly finished the documentation before handing the contract to her.

“You can combine your broadcasts now. Please be careful, or there will be penalties for violations!”

The collaboration was surprisingly mundane.

It was simply a matter of merging the viewers who were previously separated.

Even that didn’t show much due to my overwhelming viewer count…

Anyway, it was still collaboration, and I had to greet his viewers, but finding the timing was difficult.

Standing vaguely next to Kang Ho-yun, he noticed me and seamlessly began speaking.

“Hello. I’m One-Man Show, and I officially greet KING’s viewers.”

Just like a one-year streamer is indeed a one-year streamer.

I followed his lead and responded accordingly.

“Hello. I’m KING. I appreciate One-Man Show’s viewers.”

[Our Ho-yun succeeded! Collaborating with KING… wow…]

[A ‘newbie’ streamer One-Man Show in collaboration with a colossal streamer KING.]

[Hahaha, a 100K star looks like a ‘newbie’ in front of a million star for real, haha.]

[Oh no, teacher, please take good care of our Ho-yun.]

[What’s your relationship with my brother?]

[The one who should be saying ‘please’ is us, KING sensei.]

[KING!KING!KING!KING!]

Contrary to my worries, One-Man Show’s viewers greeted us unexpectedly warmly.

Sure, if my reputation is good, there’s no downside.

It means I can just continue as I have been.

《One-Man Show S2 has donated 10,000 won!》

-KING sensei! How did you get to know our Ho-yun? What’s your relationship?

It was no surprise that questions were pouring in.

The mysterious master KING, who had never shared a connection with anyone until now, surely made them curious about the relationship between Kang Ho-yun and me.

The fact that I’ve partnered with only one person despite the overwhelming viewer count difference means we share a special bond.

As for the details of our relationship, I don’t need to hide it anymore.

However, I’m still not ready to reveal my true identity.

That’s something that should be dropped in a highlight.

“I contacted One-Man Show first because I enjoyed his broadcasts and wanted to race together.”

“Yes, that was it. It’s quite common for rankers to know each other.”

“Now, our relationship has become quite special, and we think of each other as master and disciple.”

Kang Ho-yun, who skillfully played along with my not entirely false lie, looked wide-eyed.

He probably didn’t expect me to say something about being a master.

[??? KING is One-Man Show’s master???]

[Wow, suddenly stopped streaming last week for a reason, huh?]

[So that’s why your form rose; it was because of KING…]

[After Yoo Seon-jin, where does One-Man Show’s network end? Wow, crazy Kang Ho-yun!]

[Wait, teacher is teaching a little Hako streamer…??]

[Wow… so the master and disciple met in a tournament? This is a movie waiting to happen.]

Watching the lively chat of One-Man Show’s viewers, it was amusing, showing that nothing is more entertaining than peeking at someone else’s business.

One-Man Show: Hey, how much are you going to reveal? Let’s not sh**t off the hip and coordinate a bit.

KING: What’s it matter! We’re going to reveal everything anyway after the tournament.

One-Man Show: Really, everything?

KING: It’s like that. Just let it be.

“Does anyone have more questions? Let’s take some more before the next race starts!”

《One-Man Live Show donated 100,000 won!》

-Why are you collaborating? Did you get paid by One-Man Show?

-I saw you absolutely wreck your disciple in the last round; could you give a comment on that?

-Our kid (KING) needs some snacks, One-Man Show.

“I’m being exploited without pay. The thrill of defeating is exquisite. Next…”

Collaboration is something really fun.

Circuit: Silverstone, UK

Weather: Sunny, a little cloudy

My next opponent is illi… I don’t know. They call him Barcode Nick, who came up after defeating Yoo Seon-jin.

As someone who had been keeping an eye on Yoo Seon-jin, it was disappointing that he got eliminated.

However, hearing that the opponent defeated Yoo Seon-jin, who is ranked 15th, despite being ranked around 900 is quite promising.

It’s said that Barcode Nick hasn’t revealed all his skill, just like me, so it makes me wonder what his limits are.

Existing rankers like Yoo Seon-jin are already positioned at rankings that suit their skills, so their limits are evident in numbers.

However, both Barcode Nick and I are showing performances that surpass our rankings, which creates excitement for people who can’t gauge our limits.

As someone facing Barcode Nick, who has risen after defeating Yoo Seon-jin, feelings of anticipation similar to why people are excited about me arise automatically.

“Switch to hard tires.”

[Tire change to hard tires.]

Wing! Clunk!

The Grand Prix at Silverstone usually takes place in the summer, so tire punctures are common.

Checking the weather and temperature, there’s no way I’d even consider M tires, let alone SS or S tires.

After confirming various settings and checking the grid position, I said goodbye to the viewers.

“My opponent is said to be quite strong, but I will win as always.”

[Always as expected… so cool!]

[It’s just a game, but my heart swells. Is this KING?]

[Barcode Nick seems a bit off… but I believe KING will win!]

[A man who has never lost, KING.]

[For real, this is the true king.]

[For real, I’m dying!!! Please k*ll me, KING!]

“To the grid.”

[Race waiting room, going to the grid. KING’s grid position is the first on the right.]

With the support of the viewers, a white light enveloped me.

And gooooooo!!!

While the race was heating up, I stared intently at Barcode Nick’s race car, which was ahead of me at 10-second intervals.

Name / Time / Laps

① illililiili 1:13:340 12/52

② KING 1:14:708 +1.368 12/52

At first, I thought it was all skill.

Maintaining the racing line through corners and pressing full throttle.

The driving technique of quickly maneuvering through the notorious Maggotts → Becketts → Chapel consecutive corners at the shortest distance and highest speed is about as close to perfection as it gets.

I thought it was all skill, confident that I was at the top, but then I almost felt despair. What the heck is this ill whatever dude?

You can’t exit the corners at that speed.

He surpassed the limits of downforce.

The tire conditions and grip aren’t matching.

So in real terms, that would be cheating, and in gaming terms, that would refer to hacking.

Even though I don’t know much about gaming, I know F1 better than anyone, so I could tell that Barcode Nick was using cheats.

However, instead of feeling despondent, my determination ignited.

Can a hacker defeat me with my skills? That was competitive spirit.

This race is a transcendent trial set before me.

I started to close the chat and dive into the race.

“Let’s give it a go.”