Chapter 42
The Nation of Archers (3)
5.
Seo Hye-rim, known as South Korea’s top archer, was staring at the shocking scene on her monitor, unable to speak.
“This… is supposed to be… archery?”
She had tuned into the broadcast on a whim, based on a recommendation from an acquaintance. It was a show by the very popular rookie streamer, Meteor.
Today, Meteor happened to be using a bow, so she had even set a mission for herself and thought she might give him some advice if needed. But Meteor completely shattered all her expectations.
“Using a bow to beat people up is also archery.”
“Insane. Totally insane. Absolutely insane.”
Meteor used the bow itself as a weapon, smashing zombies’ heads. He struck with the stock and sliced with the string. Hye-rim had never seen archery like this in her life.
“No… how can that be archery?!”
She was speechless with disbelief.
What is archery? It’s concentration, breathing, precision. Mind and body united to reach a high level—a martial art that’s almost an art form.
An arrow flying in a perfect curve inspires awe in anyone watching.
But the so-called archery Meteor was showing? That was not art.
“We are the nation of archers.”
“Do… not insult our ancestors!”
Hye-rim realized she had never been this absorbed in a stream before. She had always considered streaming a trivial pastime for people with too much time. But Meteor’s broadcast completely overturned that idea.
No doubt, his immersion was absolute. She wanted to go to him immediately to show him what true archery was. Shocked beyond reason, Hye-rim ended up sending a donation without thinking.
[<DoljanchiBaeHwalJapum> has donated 10,000 KRW!]
“This… is a bow? THIS is a bow????? THIS is archery? No, no, no…”
It was essentially an insult to the world’s million archers. A bow is not such a crude, ridiculous weapon. It is sacred, even an Olympic sport. As a former Olympic archery gold medalist, she could not possibly recognize this as archery…
‘Wait a minute.’
Krrrrrr-!
On the screen, the crazy man continued mercilessly smashing zombies.
The weakness of archers? Naturally, they are vulnerable in close combat.
They have to switch weapons for melee, right? Didn’t some assassin-type monsters approach her at close range on the 6th floor before?
‘…maybe it’s useful?’
Even if not at the level of melee players, if a bow could cover close combat, that might actually work.
As that thought began to form in her mind,
Beep-!
A hamster on the screen ran straight at a massive zombie.
Peanut. That was its name. A hamster reminiscent of her own childhood pet, Hansol.
“P-Peanut!”
Hye-rim, now fully engrossed in the broadcast, had to call out frantically. The enormous zombie would surely crush the little hamster.
But that worry lasted only a moment.
Kraaaaang-!
As Peanut swung its tiny paws, the giant zombie was shredded instantly.
Hye-rim gaped in astonishment again.
‘…What the hell?’
And the shocking scene didn’t end there.
A strange light glowed from the cemetery, and now a massive skeleton appeared. Clearly dangerous.
‘Skeletons are hard to hit with a bow.’
Skeletons have so much empty space between their bones. The only real strategy is a headshot, but high-level skeletons are fast. Hitting a moving target’s head is extremely difficult.
Would Meteor smash the skulls with his bow this time too? With that “archery” he had shown, it might be possible.
But on-screen, Meteor completely defied her expectations again.
“If I shoot a projectile with a bow, is that still archery?”
“Is it? IS IT? That’s artillery, not archery, right?”
No matter how Hye-rim shouted, the train kept running.
Vwoooom-!
From an otherwise empty bowstring, a massive projectile formed. One thing was clear: it wasn’t an arrow.
It was more like a missile than an arrow.
Hye-rim shouted, but the madman on the screen fired the “missile” without hesitation.
Paaaaaang-!
The missile hit the massive skeleton’s skull directly,
Kraaaang-!
and a giant column of fire shot up. The dark cemetery lit up brightly. Amid the spectacular flames, Meteor nodded proudly.
“It’s blazing beautifully. A blazing bow is still a bow. Therefore, it’s archery. Everyone agrees, right?”
Hearing that, Hye-rim immediately called someone.
Dru-ru-ru-!
After the dial tone, a man’s voice came through.
“-Hello?”
“Doyun oppa! I’m watching Meteor’s stream right now!”
“-Ah, you finally opened your eyes. Fun, right? That’s the person who saved my sister. You know streamer In-seop? He appeared on the content for promotion, then the dimensional event happened. I’ve been following it closely since then…”
“This guy is completely insane! I have to go see him and show him what real ‘archery’ is. Ugh! Do you know where he lives?”
“-…How would I know that?”
“Right, can I ask Mr. Park about it? I’m thinking of adding some sharp parts to my bow.”
“-What?”
“Nothing, it seems useful. Definitely not trying to copy Meteor.”
“-Okay.”
“Absolutely not.”
“-…Alright.”
At that moment, another major donor appeared in Meteor’s broadcast.
6.
Honestly, at this point, it’s more like a missile than a bow.
But?
What matters is shamelessness.
Le Bon said it’s archery, so it is archery.
If the original author says it’s archery, then it is.
“Feels good.”
The air was filled with a smoky stench. Surely it smelled like a crematorium.
[Immortal Army White Captain <Kai Mak, Warrior of Reversal> eliminated!]
[Quest cleared!]
[<3rd Floor Rare Capsule> x2 obtained!]
[Transcendence Level increased!]
[Transcendence Level increased!]
“Yesss.”
Glad she climbed the 3rd floor quickly. The first transcendence level went up 1, now two more. One quest gave 3 levels in total—current transcendence level: 5. Very sweet rewards.
She might become stronger than when she was in Avalon.
[-How is this archery?]
[-Seriously, even a mortar is weaker.]
[-Isn’t that artillery?]
[-LOL]
[-Bow (shooting projectiles)]
[-Look at the firepower]
[-Isn’t it magic?]
[-Mission fail, right? How is this a bow? LOL]
[-Is this guy from North Korea? Stop firing missiles (auto-translated)]
The chat reactions were lively.
She shamelessly spoke:
“The nation of archers shoots even shells with bows. That’s why we’re the nation of archers. Are you watching, General Yi Sun-sin?”
A shout-out to General Yi Sun-sin. She also got two rare capsules. With the 3rd-floor rare capsules and a piece of equipment, it might be valuable.
Before heading to a raid, she planned to stop by the auction house. She also used money from selling magic stones for Tae-oh’s salary and pocket money for her brother and sister… lots of expenses.
[<DoljanchiBaeHwalJapum> has donated 100,000 KRW!]
“-That’s not archery… That’s not archery… I’ll show you properly later;; Wow;; Today feels really weird.”
“Thank you for the 100,000 KRW donation, sir. You seem like an archer; contact me later. I’ll teach you a trick.”
As she dropped a hint, her donor immediately opened their wallet again.
[<DoljanchiBaeHwalJapum> has donated 100,000 KRW!]
“-Set a date. No second warning.”
No PvP would occur; streamers fighting viewers is disliked. Doljanchi seemed flustered but soon disappeared in the chat flood.
[-Someone might think that’s Seo Hye-rim.]
[-When these kids meet a pro, they pee themselves.]
[-If the pro says the stick is a bow, then it’s a bow.]
[-Yep, if the pro hits with a stick and says ‘this is archery,’ it is.]
[-TeoHam is really likable.]
[-TeoHam? Is he like your neighborhood brother?]
[-Yep.]
The chat was lively, she nodded in satisfaction, and slowly approached the spot where the White Captain Skeleton had fallen, finding the bastard sword and a purple orb.
First, she picked up the bastard sword.
[Sword of Lingering Thoughts]
-
Grade: ???
-
Description: A sword corrupted by evil energy. Lost its name. Needs holy power to purify.
-
Effect: Unknown
“Hmm.”
Needs holy power?
Vwoooom-!
She tried pouring mana to remove the dark energy, but the sword simply absorbed it silently.
[-It’s a dark sword.]
-
Usually, holding this would drive one insane.
-
Meteor, though… already crazy, so immune?
Ah, the concept of a dark sword exists in Abyss too. In Avalon, there were also such weapons—corrupted ego weapons or infused with high-level demons’ will.
It must be handled carefully; it can corrupt the user’s mind and soul. For now, it goes into the inventory. Holy-type players can consult the Admin for help.
Next, the purple orb:
[Orb of Binding]
-
Grade: Unique, Quest item
-
Description: Key to the hidden dungeon <Necromancer’s Laboratory>. Only for those pursuing the truth.
-
Effect: Unlocks the <Door> in the underground cemetery.
“A key? It opens the Necromancer’s Lab.”
[-First time hearing of this.]
[-I’ve been watching Abyss for 7 years; this is new.]
[-Isn’t it dangerous?]
[-No info = really risky.]
[-Advance teams struggle because they head in blind.]
[-Meteor?]
[-Meteor himself isn’t dangerous. Only the monsters are.]
She hesitated. She didn’t strictly need to enter, but skipping a world-first dungeon for convenience? That’s not how a true streamer operates.
Of course, she had to go. Today’s stream started late; she owed it to the viewers.
“Let’s head straight to the dungeon. Changing the stream title: ‘World-First Hidden Dungeon Entry… Part 2!’ Remember to like, subscribe, and turn on notifications, everyone. Right?”
[-I subscribed twice.]
[-I did it four times.]
[-Meteor’s part 2 stream? Super rare.]
[-Her streams are usually so short.]
[-Why are you pushing so hard today?]
[-If Peanut shows his paws, I’ll subscribe five times.]
[-Big. Peanut.]
…Are they enjoying this? Anyway.
Meteor’s Abyss stream: first-ever part 2 broadcast. Starting now!
