Chapter 202

I glanced at Yoo Seol-ah, who had that suspiciously easy look on her face despite how straightforward it seemed. Her reaction came quick.

"...What? Why?"

"Nah, just looked like you were thinking something weird again."

"...Uh, no? Why do you always assume the worst about people?"

I didn't push further since she denied it, but having seen her every day, that expression screamed suspicious no matter how I sliced it. But now she was glaring at me like I was the one in the wrong.

"...You've been picking fights lately. Apologize now, and maybe I'll let it slide?"

Where does she get that confidence? Our matchup favored me, looks notwithstanding. I snorted in response.

"I could probably win without even using my right hand."

"...Ha."

If we were both serious, skipping my right hand wouldn't be an option—but her shoulders were trembling, so the taunt had landed perfectly.

Lee Seo-yeon, who'd been watching our banter with obvious amusement, suddenly clapped her hands as if struck by inspiration.

"Seol-ah, you need to make a couple dolls first."

"For what?"

"Just two."

Two meant linking them to fighters, probably. Yoo Seol-ah nodded anyway.

"Who for? I'll rough out the shapes first."

"Real characters if possible... Hold on, lemme grab that."

She vanished briefly and returned with a tablet, opening a file I'd seen a few times before. It was Do-yoon hyung's original database of real people for character refs. But with Yuna noona joining in—who knew even more folks—the list had ballooned. Nearly a hundred now, so no worries about new characters post-launch. Not all drop at the start anyway; mobile games love rolling them out with story beats.

"Average build would be good... Ah, this one for one."

Liana? I'd heard the name before. One of the royal guards, skilled with a sword. Sword mastery basically meant killer combat sense. If you had to pick the most balanced weapon, everyone'd go sword or spear. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Magic nerds might whine about needing weapons at all.

"Take your time. We've got plenty. Link the first one to Baek Sion once it's done."

"Got it. Wait—Baek Sion?"

Yoo Seol-ah's eyes widened at Lee Seo-yeon, and yeah, I was a bit thrown too. Liana was a woman. Actions would mimic fine, but the vibe felt off.

Still threading mana lines, Yoo Seol-ah took a deep breath and called me over.

"...C'mere for now, Baek Sion."

Playfight or not, work was work. I stepped up, and she touched my shoulder, murmuring an incantation.

"--------."

I tested by swinging my arm. There—a pint-sized SD doll in light armor spun its arm right along. What the... Felt like slipping ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠into a female virtual avatar against my will. Memories of that festival crossdressing gig soured my stomach a tad.

"Figured we'd test combat motions while we're at it. Talked about it with oppa earlier."

Must've come up during their gaming sesh. Those two were game fanatics.

"Any rules?"

"Yeah. First to land a red bullet on the opponent wins."

Red bullets—the official high-power specials, per the label. I nodded, pointing at the toy weapon pile in the living room center.

"What about these?"

Just guns to win? Made sense; she'd use magic anyway, so no melee for fairness.

"Weapons and magic free-for-all. Subdue 'em and shoot if you want."

Land that colored special bullet however. Neat she'd thought up rules already. I turned to Do-yoon hyung nearby.

"You make 'em?"

"...How'd you know? Not much to 'em, really..."

Figured. "Ultimate showdown" was loose play anyway, but Do-yoon hyung—game dev maniac—would formalize it. Explained nailing that roguelike with zero subculture vibes.

"Seol-ah, go mage tower lord sis."

"Ruinele? Gotcha. One sec."

She'd made one before, so syncing was quick.

"Seol-ah starts second floor, far left room. Baek Sion, over there. No one'll go in the master, so use the rest free. Doors unlocked."

Yuna noona had whipped up a mini-map of the whole house on the table. "Mini" still filled the huge table.

She picked up our dolls and set them at starts. Felt like actual game chars now. Everyone'd spectate via these puppets.

"Minute tops. Prep the forfeit."

I smirked at her nonstop jabs, grabbing a styrofoam longsword wordlessly.

"...Why not the dagger?"

"This'll do."

"...Ha."

Rubber dagger suited me best, but the doll held a longsword, and I wasn't picky.

Yoo Seol-ah snorted, heading to her spot. I shut the kitchen door and moved to the first-floor entry.

"Go~"

Lee Seo-yeon's voice echoed in my head. I leaned on the wall, plotting slow.

Win condition was special bullet hits. Sniping from afar? Dumb. Toys or not, bullet speed was visible. Yoo Seol-ah looked cutesy on Earth, but grand mage wasn't fluff. Her short-range teleports were elite from countless scraps. Long-range shots? Bullet waste.

Brain churning, I snapped my sword up.

"...Hoo."

No killing intent, or it'd have hit. Styrofoam blade met bullet with a tick, clattering down.

...A curving bullet? World first. She'd fired, then roped it like a rocket.

"Cheat much?"

"Anything not banned~"

This serious from kickoff? Ditching my chill plan, I adapted. Toy or not, midair ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠mana tweaks that precise? Grand mage territory. I had to close first.

She'd hidden her presence, so the stairs to her second-floor start were prime danger zone.

Breath held—inhale, step. Hit first-floor stairs instant, but no stopping till I pinned her.

Mid-stairs, bullet incoming. Timing off ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠for parry—ducked.

"...Damn, fast."

She lounged bold at hall's end, eyeing me. I raised my left, pulled trigger—but her shield dispersed it limp.

Shield duh. But why expose like bait? Her style was tricksy, not frontal. Hesitation glued my feet.