Project-1004 (3): Perfect Aim and Assembly
“Shall we head to the shooting range first?”
“Yes…!”
Shooting in the isolation room seemed utterly impossible, no matter how I looked at it.
So Agent Ajeossi suggested we move to the Shooting Range, and I gladly accepted.
Mrrrowww…
Then the Dangdang beside me gazed up at me with the sad eyes of an abandoned puppy.
A desperate plea not to leave it behind all alone.
Shooting was a dangerous activity by nature, so I felt bad, but I'd planned to leave Dangdang anyway.
Mrrrowww…
Seeing it earnestly licking my palm as if insisting it was fine made my heart a little heavier.
Come to think of it, ever since I'd started spending more time playing with Rat PT lately, the time I spent with Dangdang had relatively decreased.
The shooting range was bound to be spacious, so I could just tell it to keep a safe distance and play around.
I grabbed Agent Ajeossi's collar.
He flinched for a moment, then smiled softly.
“What's up, angel…?”
His rugged features didn't quite match the gentle smile, which threw me off a bit, but I boldly stated my request.
“Can I bring Dangdang too?”
“Dangdang?”
“Yep.”
“Hmm…”
Ajeossi rubbed his chin beard thoughtfully.
“I'll check with the higher-ups first.”
> Ask Superior
He must have been calling Han A-young, because he stepped away slightly to start the conversation.
Naturally, my attention drifted to the rifle sitting on the desk.
Tap tap…
“Ooh…!”
The rifle that was to become my weapon looked brand new, straight out of the factory—spotlessly clean.
In this condition, there was no way it could jam.
I stealthily picked up the rifle and glanced at Agent Ajeossi.
Fortunately, he didn't seem too bothered by me just holding it.
Well, the magazine loaded with holy water bullets was removed right now.
Essentially no different from a toy, so he wasn't paying much mind.
I pulled back the bolt, switched the selector to semi-auto.
Gazing in wonder at the dot sight mounted on the rail, I let out a gasp of admiration.
“Try holding the rifle, angel. I'll adjust your stance for you.”
Our Rat PT, bored again, had slyly started butting in.
From what I'd noticed before, Rat PT loved slipping in like this to offer advice.
Well, it always ended up helping me a ton, so I welcomed the tips.
“Hyah…”
I lifted the rifle, which looked heavy.
“Huh…?”
But despite all the attachments, it was surprisingly light—nothing like I'd expected.
It must have been maximally lightened for my small body to carry around.
“For now, just strike any pose. I'll correct it.”
“Okay…!”
I first spread my tiny legs shoulder-width apart, feet flat.
Tucked the buttstock firmly into my shoulder.
Leaned forward slightly and peered through the dot sight.
I'd never had one on the guns I used before, so it felt a bit awkward.
But my military experience was ingrained in my body—my stance formed instinctively.
“Hehe… how's this?”
“[…What is that, angel?]”
I looked up at Rat PT triumphantly, and it stuttered in confusion for a moment.
“[It's a bit different from modern manuals… but impressive.]”
“Hehe, right?”
“[Where on earth did you learn that? Do they teach shooting in heaven these days?]”
Hmm…
I pondered how to explain.
From subtly probing the agency's gaze before, all info on my original self had been neatly erased.
Even the ownership of my old home had changed to some unknown name.
My smartphone and internet accounts were under unfamiliar names too.
With the agency buying the heaven-forged identity story, no need to stir up trouble.
“I learned from games…!”
“[Games?]”
“Yeah, and there are tons of YouTube videos teaching gun stances these days…!”
“[…These modern times are scary.]”
Rat PT seemed to buy it as plausible enough. Lucky.
I grinned awkwardly and fiddled with the rifle.
Just then, the agent finished his call and approached—then froze.
“Gasp…”
He looked shocked by my stance too.
“Do they shoot guns in heaven too?”
“Haha…”
I struggled through another excuse.
I headed to the practice range with Agent Ajeossi, Dangdang, and Rat PT in tow.
Screeech.
As Ajeossi opened the door, a blue grassy field and targets came into view.
While normal ranges went up to 250m, this training ground had targets at 1km.
Can I really hit that far?
Hitting a target 1km away with a regular rifle seemed unbelievable to my mind.
Probably for sniper training, I thought as I climbed up to the range.
Familiar range safety rules were posted, but…
What a hassle.
I tried breezing past pretending not to know, but…
“Stop.”
“…”
“You have to recite the safety rules before entering.”
I slunk back to the sign like a deflated balloon.
“One!”
“Keep the muzzle always pointed forward…”
“Two!”
“Obey the range officer's commands without question…”
I just wanted to shoot already…
Show off my amazing marksmanship…!
Reluctantly, I recited all the complicated rules and finally stepped onto the range.
I took position at lane 1 and scanned the targets ahead.
Even indoors, some artificial setup made wind blow.
[East wind 3 m/s]
Our Rat PT clocked that too.
No idea how it sensed it from inside my smartphone.
Tech magic…
Agent Ajeossi followed, carrying magazines in both hands, thudding over.
Those must be filled with holy water.
Hehe, time to show my skills…!
I was already thrilled imagining full hits and praise from Rat PT and Ajeossi.
Any moment now, he'd hand me a magazine as expected.
But instead, he said something else.
“Angel.”
“Yes?”
“Sit down first.”
“Huh…?”
What…?
Wasn't it straight to shooting?
I awkwardly plopped down.
Ajeossi grinned.
“Before shooting, we're gonna practice disassembly.”
“Ah…”
Disassembly…
Just hearing it triggered my PTSD.
Chasing speed cuts, assembling like mad till my fingers got pinched—not just once or twice…
Ajeossi started to demo but asked with a just-in-case look.
“Angel… do you know how to disassemble too?”
If I were a chuunibyou, I'd pretend not to know.
Listen once to his explanation, nail it perfectly, bask in the praise.
But…
I had no such hobby, so I declared confidently.
“Yes…! I do!”
“Hmm… YouTube again?”
“Yep.”
Ajeossi looked a bit disappointed, like his role had vanished.
“Try it once first? Videos and real life are different.”
I eyed my rifle.
Lots of attachments, but no issue for disassembly.
“Yes…!”
I replied energetically and dove right in.
Memories fuzzy, but my hands were precise.
The K2C1 came apart smoothly.
The ground was soon covered in neatly separated parts.
“Uh, uh…”
Ajeossi's eyes trembled in shock at my skill.
I looked up at him.
“Now reassembly?”
“Uh… yeah.”
I immediately started piecing it back together.
Sensation returning mid-process, even faster than before.
Click.
The pin connecting body and lower receiver—done.
“Our angel… you're amazing…”
[…]
Rat PT and Ajeossi's lavish praise poured in.
Rat PT just output …, but I knew silence was its highest compliment.
“Hehe…”
Basking in the praise, happiness swelling, Ajeossi handed over the magazine.
“Wanna… try shooting?”
“How many meters?”
“Lightly, 50m first?”
I had no clue how a holy water rifle worked, but 50m was a breeze…!
I slammed the magazine home.
Aimed at the 50m target.
It looked like a rabbit, but with viciously long fangs—an anomaly, no doubt.
No breath control—I just pulled the trigger.
Bang!
A suppressor-muffled pop, and compressed holy water splashed the target thoroughly.
“N-Now 100m.”
“Yep.”
Hit again…!
“Try 250m…?”
Whoosh…!
Hit again…!
After emptying all 20 rounds.
Ajeossi, face dazed like he might faint, murmured.
“Full hits…”
I finally relaxed my stance and high-fived the approaching Dangdang.
This was the dignity of a prodigy warrior fast-tracked to elite…!
