Chapter 101
No intention of hiding it, huh? With Yoo Seol-ah and everyone else brimming with enthusiasm, I started calibrating my aim by firing off a few test shots from the water gun. But first, one thing to check.
"Hey, you wouldn't... nah, right?"
"......"
I approached Yoo Seol-ah and whispered quietly, but she didn't respond. Even if it's semi-automatic and sniper-style, it's still just a water gun at the end of the day, so you have to get up close. But Yoo Seol-ah could easily extend the range or even simulate a scope without one. Not to mention sensing everyone's hidden positions. I'd wondered if she'd actually snipe for real with it—and the way she averted her eyes confirmed she'd at least considered it.
Yoo Seol-ah's face flushed with a mix of embarrassment and guilt.
"Isn't that a bit too ruthless?"
"Yeah."
"Hey, don't answer so straightforwardly!"
I replied without a second's hesitation, and she swung the barrel toward me.
...Gotta think about the poor clueless students who'd get soaked without warning. Sure, even with magic, she wouldn't go full guided missile, but where's the fun in that? I backed away as I said,
"Threats won't change my mi—"
A cold water bullet rocketed straight for the back of my hand. It didn't hurt, but the feel was worlds apart from the old squirt guns—just one precise shot per trigger pull. No mana flow at all. Did she just shoot normally?
"...I don't really need that stuff anyway. Feels natural in my hands for some reason."
...She's so used to long-range stuff that a few meters is nothing. I could sense her competitive fire igniting for the hanwoo prize.
"Seol-ah, you look like you'd be a natural at this."
Jia noona eyed Yoo Seol-ah's stance with the gun, then spread her hand wide from way across the field. She waved it teasingly before calling out in a playful voice,
"Hit this, and I'll give you pocket money."
"...That'd just be payback from you, unnie."
Despite the eye-roll at her sister's role reversal, Yoo Seol-ah took a quick aim and fired. The distance was seriously far, but her expression didn't waver.
"Ah, it's cold!... What the...?"
Jia noona yelped and shook out her hand the second the water hit her palm. Unlike before, everyone was focused on Yoo Seol-ah now, so most of the police team reacted with stunned awe.
"...What the hell? Like a high school girl with military training?"
"She's been out of high school for ages..."
No military service, but overflowing real combat experience? Even Yujeong sunbae stepped up.
"You've got serious talent. That looked super far."
"Ah, just got lucky."
Yoo Seol-ah brushed it off as luck. Hard to explain otherwise without saying "I've shot a lot of other stuff besides guns."
"Alright, if everyone's about ready, shall we get this started?"
"Yeah~"
Since we'd be firing water guns everywhere, we limited the game to the whole pension grounds except indoors. We all gathered in the open field before heading out.
As we walked, Yujeong sunbae noticed me and Yoo Seol-ah sticking close and came over.
"...You two seem really tight."
"Yeah. We've known each other a while."
Yoo Seol-ah answered naturally. I'd overheard earlier, but Jia noona must've been the connection.
"I was surprised Jia didn't say anything... but that makes sense."
Sunbae knew all about Jia noona's siscon tendencies, so seeing no pushback probably clued her in on our relationship.
"Seol-ah, hold that gun up for a sec."
"...Suddenly? Why?"
Jia noona popped up from behind with her phone out. Yoo Seol-ah instinctively posed with the water gun, and the shutter clicked.
"......"
Not just once—she kept changing angles for multiple shots. I leaned toward Yujeong sunbae.
"Did she say anything weird when she pitched merging with the fashion department?"
"Oh... She said she wanted to see fun MT Seol-ah. It's been ages since they hung out."
"......"
Figured. It was a siscon field trip merger. But since Yoo Seol-ah and I were enjoying it—and so were the others—it was a win.
Once everyone assembled in the field, Yujeong sunbae grabbed the mic again.
"When I say go, you'll have three minutes to hide or run. If your vest gets hit by a water gun, you're caught. No more touch-outs—just dodge the shots! Be careful not to hurt anyone."
She held up a lightweight baton like from a sports day.
"This is the treasure. Get it to the thieves' hideout I mentioned earlier, and you win instantly. We'll hide it well."
Jia noona set a timer on her phone, then the mic blared urgently.
"Go! Hide quick or you're done for!"
At her signal, tons of people scattered in seconds. Double the crowd made it feel epic. I'd played survival games before, and they were a blast—this would be a great break.
Yoo Seol-ah's steps were light too. She hates aimless wandering but loves this sporty vibe. The water gun slung on her back looked straight out of a game, especially with that silver hair—like a character come to life. No wonder Jia noona wanted pics.
"Alright, let's split up and hunt? I'll guard near the treasure."
We paired into three teams to chase thieves, with the other two handling treasure watch and jail duty later. Yoo Seol-ah and I teamed up naturally.
The pension was huge, with tons of spots between buildings, but so were the thieves. We didn't amp our senses, but we spotted people quick. Two unfamiliar girls—fashion department, probably.
Yoo Seol-ah called softly,
"Hey, girls."
"Kyaa?!"
They'd picked a spot behind a nearby building—close enough to the light, ironically. Our sudden appearance spooked them bad. Too close to run now.
"Seol-ah, let us go..."
"Nope. I need that hanwoo."
They seemed friendly, so I lowered my gun and watched. Yoo Seol-ah hefted the massive water gun—half her size—and replied firmly. The girls exchanged glances, then bolted.
One-shot on the first. The second missed once but nailed on the follow-up. They flinched at the cold splash, freezing in place. Checking their vests, they trudged over defeated.
"...Seol-ah, how are you this good?"
"Guess I've got talent."
Like with Park Ha-rin before, it was fresh seeing Yoo Seol-ah banter with friends. We had to escort catches to jail ourselves, so off we went. I hung back a step, but their glances slid my way, then they leaned toward her.
"That hubby you mentioned?"
"What hubby?! Shut up for real."
"He can't hear. You said at the department mixer—hot guy husband. It's him, right? Handsome."
"He's tall... total rich heir vibe. How whipped are you to call him husband already? Not even boyfriend."
"Please, he can hear you...!"
Yoo Seol-ah was practically sobbing in embarrassment, and I felt my face heating up too. They thought whispers were safe, but nope. She knew I heard, hence the mortification.
...She calls me hubby even alone? They probably took it as a nickname since she didn't explain, but damn—no filter.
We finally dropped them at jail and turned back. Yoo Seol-ah avoided my eyes, pretending to scan for people.
"Hubby?"
"...I've never called you that! They're just assuming...!"
One word, and she whipped around.
"...And you told people we're married! Why can't I?"
"No, it's fine..."
Her walls with others make it sweet, and "husband" hits right. But...
"Wait, do you really go around saying hot guy husband?"
"Aaaah!"
No answer—just her bolting off at double speed.
...She does? Hubby's okay, but that I'd never say myself.
"Sorry!"
"Eek!"
"Sorryyy!"
"Kyaa?"
"Sorry, guys!"
"How do you even hit us...?"
Like venting frustration, she massacred every thief in sight. Polite apologies first, merciless shots after. Straight runs, zigzags—nothing worked against her. I barely fired, but the jail filled up fast.
"Police team wins!"
The last thief tried jailbreak but got nabbed. Victory and hanwoo secured, but Yoo Seol-ah was still red-faced and huffing. I stared silently, and she cut in quick.
"......"
"...From running around! Yeah!"
Rules banned running, so that wasn't it, but letting it slide seemed best.