South Korea boasted an impressive gaming market given its poption size. In fact, most gamingpanies would have paid little attention to the Korean market given its size. However, onlinepetitive games sold particrly well in Korea. Not only did they pay attention to the Korean market because of this, but they often prioritized it.
Korea was a leader in esports and when onepetitive game became popr, it increased secondary and tertiary revenues. Given this situation, the Korean branch of <em>Civil Empire</em> was always ecstatic.
"Why on earth does this game not sell in our country no matter how much we promote it?"
For some reason, they kept distributing a game that did not sell well in Korea. The headquarters naturally saw this as a problem.
"Maybe it''s because our people are less interested in world history?"
"What about the Americans? They can''t even point out where their own country is!"
"Well, they do have people like that, but they also have a lot of history buffs. It''s a ce with all kinds of people."
Honestly, they couldn’t figure it out. Korea once considered RTS games a traditional sport. Theck of poprity in RTS games was perplexing now.
"It''s odd that civilization and history based games have traditionally been unpopr here. We produce the most historical dramas in the world."Quite a few games were unpopr in Korea for inexplicable reasons.
"It''s not just us. There are so many foreign IPs that don''t catch on here like <em>Warhammer</em>, which is so popr abroad."
It wasn''t just <em>Warhammer</em>. They didn’t have enough fingers to list them. <em>Civil Empire</em> was just one of those games.
"<em>Ugh.</em> Looks like we''re facing another year of budget cuts."
"Yeah... looks like we’ll be reducing staff too..."
Staff reductions and decreased budgets from the headquartersmonly happenedst year when the <em>Civil Empire</em> Korean team failed in the qualifiers and the Korean <em>LIL </em>team dramatically won the LIL Cup.
***
Time passed and a new year arrived.
An internationalpetition always took ce at the beginning of the year, but this year''s <em>Civil Empire </em>tournament felt especially different for the Korean branch.
"Did you hear? The budget came in again..."
"Looks like they''re really pushing us this time."
"If we can''t make it this time, it''ll be the end."
The push starteding from the headquarters. The trigger came from the revenue increase caused by a popr new streamer''s gamey toward the end ofst year. The streamer had significant synergy with Civil Empire, a game closely rted to national teams, because he was a former national archery team prospect. ?
However, it was more than just a popr streamer ying.
"There are so many people in themunity."
"He ys for such a long time too."
The streamer hadn’t made just a few ys. They had long content that featured a rank climb to S+ rank.
Interest in <em>Civil Empire</em> peaked then and another major event urred.
"This is the right time..."
"It’s like God is giving us onest chance!"
It was the worst year for Korea in the <em>LIL Cup</em> history.
No Korean team, LAK (LIL Avatars Korea), made it to the finals. All of their teams were eliminated by the quarterfinals.
<em>LIL</em> was one of the top three biggest games in the global market. <em>Civil Empire</em> was in the opposite situation. The disappointment from failing at the worldpetition was indescribable.
<em>[The absence of JeonJaPa has finally...]</em>
<em>[Honestly, if it were the heyday of CK Entus...]</em>
<em>[It wasn''t LAK that was strong. It was JeonJaPa...]</em>
<em>[LAK what? Everyone, let’s go to ROKA~~~]</em>
It had been three years since JeonJaPa stopped ying. Moreover, the members of the old CK Entus centered around him had all retired or been sold to other leagues.
The Korean league was experiencing a dramatic generational shift and crisis. On the other hand, the Chinese league had been showing its strongest form yet as rookies built up over the years emerged with veterans.
<em>[JeonJaPa, pleasee back…]</em>
<em>[This era''s traitor <<< the bastard who allowed JeonJaPa''s retirement]</em>
<em>[Why did JeonJaPa retire at the peak of his form??]</em>
<em>[Damn, not watching anymore, started getting thrashed from mid-season and it all went downhill]</em>
Not only the LIL Cup (World Championship) held at the end of the year, but the Mid-Season Cup held in the summer had also been ceded to China.
Public opinion wasmonly described as rock bottom.
<em>[??? Die drenched in my venom]</em>
<em>[Couldn''t imagine there’d be nothing to watch from the quarterfinals]</em>
<em>[My chicken got cold before they all lost lol]</em>
But when one door closed, another one opened.
<em>[Isn''t there anything else to watch? It''s so boring]</em>
<em>[Let''s go watch the Civil Empire internationalpetition]</em>
<em>[I really want to take a big gulp of national pride...] </em>
With the LIL Cup ending disappointingly at the end of the year, people were looking for something else to watch. They wanted a scenario that would once again prove how good Koreans were in gaming.
Merely winning wasn''t enough. Viewers wanted a narrative where their team rose through tough conditions and dominated with skills.
"That’s us."
Just before the qualifiers, Cookie addressed everyone.
"Korea has always been disinterested in <em>Civil Empire</em>. Maybe because of that, we’ve always struggled."
Even an esports powerhouse like Korea consistently struggled in this game, but the world was now paying attention. It would be a tremendous upset if Korea even made it to the quarterfinals. That was the stage for this year’s <em>Civil Empire</em> internationalpetition.
"Thanks to our history of struggling, we''re getting attention for the first time. If we make good use of this opportunity, we''ll definitely be rewarded. Of course, I know not everyone is thinking about rewards."
The current situation was notable because of their history. Whether they loved it or hated it, one thing was certain.
"There''s no such thing as a bad sport with many spectators."
No yer hated having arge audience. They didn’t need to ponder whether it was good or bad. It was unconditionally good.
<em>[Enter!]</em>
<em>Swoosh!</em>
It was time. All the<em> Civil Empire </em>yers appeared on the battlefield.
The hot sun hung over the green meadow. It looked like some unnamed medieval rural domain. This was the battlefield in <em>Civil Empire</em>.
A moment of waiting followed.
<em>[All Dive System Operating]</em>
The All Dive System activated. It had been demonstrated in past tournaments and was now used in everypetition.
All the spectators simultaneously appeared and cheers erupted at once.
"Woww!"
An overwhelming number of people wore blue clothes. It was the French cheering squad, but they weren''t alone.
"Woww...!"
People dressed in red could also be seen in the stands. It was the Korean cheering squad.
<em>‘This is unbelievable...’</em>
<em>‘Wow.’</em>
Not just the other soldiers, but even themanders like Bread and Coffee felt astounded. Regardless of the numbers, the cheering squad’s mere presence felt a blessing to them.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om
<em>— Wow</em>
<em>— The LIL demons have alle here lol</em>
<em>— Wow, only about 20% have shown up</em>
<em>— This is a game from a superpower...</em>
"g! Raise it!"
Themanders at the forefront unfurled their country''s g and nted it in their base. The game wouldmence thirty seconds after both countries nted their gs.
<em>p!</em>
They nted the giant Taegukgi (South Korean g) above the head of the town hall in their base.
“...”
The Taegukgi was not just a symbol of the nation to Almond, who had dreamed of representing his country. It was the embodiment of his dreams soaring in the wind.
"Wow...!"
Although they were outnumbered, the shouts of those in red intensified.
Soon, the cheers from those in blue enveloped the entire stadium.
"Woww!!!"
It couldn’t be seen, but the French side was also presumably nting their tricolor g.
The countdown had begun.
<em>[30 seconds until the game starts]</em>
<em>[29]</em>
<em>[28]</em>
<em>“Gulp.”</em>
Everyone seemed to swallow nervously.
***
<em>SWOOSH!</em>
When they raised the Taegukgi, OrangeKing abruptly stood up and saluted the g.
<em>— lmao, he''s practiced his nationalistic fervor well lol</em>
<em>— Insane lol</em>
<em>— What a salute lol</em>
<em>— lmao</em>
<em>— pping with his mouth lol</em>
The caster beside him spurred on the enthusiasm.
"Wow! This feels totally different from a clubpetition like the LIL Cup, doesn''t it!? <em>Civil Empire</em> is a proper internationalpetition!"
"That''s right! My heart is racing like crazy!"
"There are even some fans who came to support us from the qualifiers despite it being an unpopr game!"
Although the number of French supporters was overwhelming, the mere presence of a Korean cheering squad was astonishing. Normally, there would be none at all during the qualifiers.
"Ah, is it because the LIL Cup was a disaster?"
"Ah..."
"We’re here too, right?"
<em>— Oh...</em>
<em>— Somber...</em>
<em>— Their main job tanked...</em>
<em>— lolol</em>
<em>— The LILmentary team making it funny</em>
"They''vee here for refuge just like us?"
"Well, you could say that.<em> Haha...</em>"
Amid this conversation, the game began.
"Now! While we''ve been chatting, the game has officially started!"
The observer switched between both camps.
"At six o''clock, it’s the South Korean team ying the Joseon civilization with a power ranking of 57th ce! And at twelve o''clock is the French team ying the Franks civilization with a power ranking of 31st ce!"
The caster tilted his head in confusion while reading the rankings of each civilization.
"Ah. I get Joseon, but the power ranking for the Franks seems lower than expected?"
"Yes, the power rankings are based on recent results. It seemsst year''s elimination in the qualifiers greatly affected their ranking."
"What!? Didn’t they win before?"
"That was... in the first internationalpetition several years ago..."
"Ah... they’re the first champions!? Maybe they''re the most manageable team in this group?"
"That''s right. Unless the matchup dictates otherwise."
"As I’m speaking, the soldiers from each camp have started scouting!"
On the map, a total of 400 dots began to move busily.
"OrangeKing, could you exin more about the matchups you mentioned earlier?"
"Yes. First, I''d like to talk about the strengths of the Frankish civilization."
"Ah, what are they?"
"Knights. The Frankish civilization can produce the royal knight ss from as early as the second era. Knights are different from ordinary cavalry. They possesspletely different equipment. That''s the strength of the Franks."
"Ah... as befits thend of chivalry, cavalry is their strength. What are our strengths in the second era?"
"It''s unfortunately a bad match-up. Our country is strong with archers in both the second and third eras."
"Is that a bad match-up?"
"Yes, cavalry are particrly effective against archers."
"Ah...!"
That was the case.
Joseon could typically hold its own against civilizations with strong infantry. However, they struggled against a civilization with powerful cavalry like the Franks.
"So how do we navigate this?"
"Well, we could ignore our faction and produce spearmen."
"Faction?"
"Traits encapsting each civilization''s strengths are referred to here as factions. In other words, instead of drawing on Joseon''s strength with archers, we could opt for spearmen."
"Yes. Good exnation. There are a lot of new viewers watching!"
<em>— lol</em>
<em>— They’re really focused right now lol</em>
<em>— New viewers everywhere lol</em>
"Cavalry are weak against spearmen?"
"Yes."
"So we just have to produce spearmen?"
Of course, the issue wasn''t that simple.
"It''s less efficient. The Franks can just produce archers."
They always had to consider that the opponent was not a fool, but rather a national force.
"Ah... any other strategies?"
"Yes. Completely disrupt them early on! Prevent their knights from evening out!"
It sounded usible in theory. Everyone had a n until they got punched in the mouth.
"Oh? That sounds good! Does it work?"
"No! The enemy knows this too! Usually, the European civilizations are a bit stronger early on!"
<em>— What the? lol</em>
<em>— What can they do? lol</em>
<em>— Fact: There''s no winning strategy</em>
<em>— No! lol Why so lively? lol</em>
<em>“Hahaha,” </em>OrangeKingughed it off and thought to himself.
<em>''I''ve heard something though...''</em>
Having had many opportunities to interact directly with the national team in preparation for this broadcast, he heard a lot. Joseon could beat the Franks, which he had fortuitously learned while observing a scrimmage.
However, he decided to be cautious with his words.
<em>''Better not say too much or I''ll get med if we lose.''</em>