Chapter 70
Chapter 70
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Reunion
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I gaze at the [Cowboy Adventure] right in front of me.
It was an attraction with a sign depicting a man in cowboy garb collapsed with a bullet hole in his head, and the realistically pierced hole in his forehead made my stomach turn just looking at it.
The entrance featured an arch-shaped wooden gate straight out of a Western, big enough for three people, and with one door hanging open and swaying, it hinted at a pretty fierce fight that had gone down here.
At some point, when did I get good with a gun?
Was it the Cube? Around then, it felt like I had some kind of aiming assist. Or maybe my body just adapted to firearms.
Now I was confident I could plant bullets way more precisely than most folks, even if it wasn't quite circus-level trick shooting.
"Do you think these marks were left by your colleagues?"
"That's my take."
Ailin eyed me while scanning the grotesquely warped walls, the smashed-up floor, and finally the blood splattered across the ground.
"It's definitely off. Way more violent than any traces we've seen so far."
"Yeah."
"You think your colleagues are inside?"
"I hope so."
I answer her and peer ahead.
"At the very least, they'd have left some traces or hints."
I recall the Team Leader's handwriting from the map. Whether it had turned into me or not, they seemed to have a rough idea that someone might come rescue them or follow their trail.
Or maybe they'd just left info behind for other poor souls in advance.
"In that case, I won't object to us heading in."
"...Should we leave one behind?"
At my words, she glances at the other two.
"...Then I'll stay."
The man called Lee Cheolsu raised his hand.
"I'll hold here a bit, scout the way back, or jot down anything unusual."
"You good with that?"
"Yeah. Worst case, I survive solo and make it out."
He replied with plenty of wry humor, and Ailin nodded.
"Fine, you're on lookout duty. Head in if things go south."
"Got it."
"Appreciate it."
She grabbed the door as she spoke.
"Entering."
-Creak...
The door swung open with a wooden groan, and the metallic tang of blood hit our noses.
"Seems you're right."
She pinched her nose with her sleeve once, then let go and looked at me.
"Blood. Fresh, too."
"I can tell."
"The weird part... there's just blood everywhere. No... um. Byproducts or anything."
She clearly put some thought into picking that word.
She had it right. Blood coated the floor and walls, but unlike the doll-head spots, there were no other traces.
Not that it mattered, since the probable bleeder—Yoo Daon—had a high chance of snapping back even with holes punched through her whole body.
I scan the interior.
A Western-style saloon.
Wooden bar counter, iron chairs.
Right in the middle, the bartender was polishing a glass.
Of course, calling it a bartender was a stretch—it had a human body, but it sure wasn't human.
Dressed in a suit, but where its head should have been was just a ragged tear, and it mechanically wiped the glass.
I checked above its head, but nothing showed.
A corpse?
-Ding!
A mechanical chime rang out, followed by a chipper female voice.
[Welcome to Cowboy Adventure! Here, you can enjoy shooting games and test your skills!]
-Clunk!
The bartender polishing the glass drew three revolvers.
They gleamed silver—real bullets loaded, no doubt.
[Challenge two stages to test your courage, speed, and judgment!]
[Using weapons outside those provided by the attraction is cheating and results in immediate disqualification!]
The bartender extended a hand.
"...Gotta surrender 'em all."
"..."
In the end, I laid out my butane canister, marbles, pistol, and bulletproof vest before it pulled its hand back.
"...Ready?"
"Yes."
"Ready."
We both nodded at her prompt.
"Then grab your guns on my mark. Positions."
The three of us lined up at the revolvers. The instant Ailin snatched hers, we grabbed ours.
Check the cylinder right away.
-Click!
Six rounds.
Meaning everything had to wrap in six shots.
-Ding!
The mechanical chime and voice kicked in.
[First stage! Shoot first!]
-Rumble!
"Focus."
Ailin angled her barrel aside and spoke.
Suddenly, several people sat in the chairs.
Dressed like Western gunslingers, chatting away like we weren't even there.
Headcount: six total.
Shoot first wins, right?
I whipped out my gun and squeezed the trigger fast—
-Tick!
"Huh?"
[The game hasn't started yet!]
The trigger locked up like it was jammed, and the woman's voice rang out like she'd seen it coming.
[Count to three, then show off your marksmanship!]
"...Cover first. Then shoot. Guard the balloon tight."
"Got it."
[Three!]
Countdown begins.
[Two!]
The person called Park Hyunyoung gripped her gun, tense as hell.
[One!]
My eyes locked on targets.
[Name: Gunslinger]
[Age: Just spawned]
[Specialty: Rapid fire]
[Talent: Rapid fire]
[Background: Good shot.]
[Weakness: Shoot first.]
[Start!]
They lurched to their feet the second the count hit zero.
But I was already locked and loaded, dropping them quicker than they could draw.
Nearest one first.
-Bang!
"Five left."
One crumples—confirmed. I slide sideways on my knees.
Target: dinner table.
Friction scorched my legs like fire, but I ignored it. I slid behind the table just as Ailin vaulted forward, kicked it flying, and fired.
One drops at the same instant.
-Thud!
The table crashes over with a boom. She slides inside, zips past me, and bursts out the other side.
Bullets ping off the iron table in a racket. I cross paths with her, snapping my revolver up.
Bulletproof table, apparently. Idle thought as I bolt inward—
-Bang!
She fires; target crumples instantly.
"Three!"
The woman called Park Hyunyoung nails one from cover.
"Two!"
She yells quick. Ailin and I pop up together, each dropping a separate target.
Dual bangs echo; two down.
-Fanfare!
[Congratulations!]
-Click!
Cylinder spins on its own—fresh six rounds loaded.
Rough stage, but manageable.
Still, if four people waged war in here, there was reason. No slacking.
[Next stage!]
The moment her voice sounded—
The brightly lit saloon plunged into darkness.
Lights snuffed out. I yanked my gun, eyes darting.
"...One?"
Just a single figure.
Freakishly elongated limbs and torso.
Oddity: stitched seam around the neck, skin tone totally different above it.
Like someone had Frankenstein-ed a human head onto its body.
Before I could check overhead, it lashed out a hand. Gut-deep dread hit me for no reason.
"Dodge!"
I bellowed and rolled flat—the claws raked long—
"Gah..."
They speared the neck of Park Hyunyoung as she crawled from the iron table.
Pop—balloon bursts. She flops with her throat ripped open, gone for good.
Ailin opens fire on it then.
-Thud!
Clear hit, but it just freezes—no collapse.
"What the—"
Ailin mutters, stunned.
In that gap, I scan above its head.
Semi-transparent window pops up.
[Name: Gunslinger]
[Age: Just spawned]
[Specialty: Shooting]
[Talent: Shooting]
[Background: Once you're in here, you're all just gunslingers.]
[Weakness: Find the main body.]
"...Main body?"
"What?"
How to explain this?
Short deliberation, then I spit it out.
"That thing... doesn't seem like the main body. We need to find the real one."
"..."
Her eyes flick to its neck area.
"...Stitched on. You're right. Main body's the key."
"Time's—"
"It's a game, so it's in here somewhere. I'll search."
She bolts opposite me.
Claws slash my way. I dive-roll under the table.
-Clang!
Massive metal clash—claw punches through the table, grazing my shoulder.
I grit through the razor pain but keep thinking.
Where the hell's the main body?
Breaking noises and sporadic shots fill the air as I frantically scan.
Ailin darts through the dark saloon, dodging claws nonstop. Can't escape forever.
Clutching my shoulder, I sweep the area.
Nothing.
Think. What reveals it?
Scan again.
Just the claw-swinging monster... and the bartender, still polishing that glass.
Manual out in a flash.
[Office Manual]
[UJ - Impossible Containment Object]
1. Containment or management sometimes hits impossible objects.
2. But nothing born in this world is truly invincible.
3. Find the condition. It might be invincible only in a specific space—or lacking what it needs.
4. Absence can be the key.
5. Never forget: ditch common sense. Think like a challenger.
Absence can be the key.
Eye its neck.
Stitched seam.
Lacking what should be there—invincible.
Gaze shifts to the glass-polishing bartender.
Headless bartender. Stitched-neck corpse.
No friggin' way—
Gun snaps up, trained on the bartender. It vaults the counter, scampering.
"Ailin! The bartender!"
Her eyes lock on. She snaps her revolver up and fires—but it table-kicks for cover like us, hunkering.
I charge, gun steady on it.
"Cover!"
No words back. Just her light footfalls and a hail of shots dumping her mag.
One-handed table grab, vault inside. Spot the cowering bartender.
It bolts—
-Bang!
Deafening crack—heart shot. Bartender drops.
-Fanfare!
Monster evaporates like it never was. Just me and Ailin, drenched in sweat.
[Congratulations!]
A transparent window flares before my eyes.
[Critical: 0->1]
Flutter.
Bartender's spot: single golden ticket.
Check it: [Exit Ticket]
Flip: [Give ticket to the clown for exit guidance.]
Brutally straightforward.
Ailin's eyes flick to the woman, neck half-torn away.
"..."
Eyes squeeze shut, then open. She scans, grabs gear.
"...Let's move."
"...Right."
Outside the door, the waiting man straightens—freezes at just two of us emerging, but stays silent.
"...How'd it go?"
"Nothing."
"...Roger."
She kneads her eyelids wearily, passes him the ticket.
"Take this. Head out."
"But—"
"Report it. Fetch the Containment Team or ping upstairs. Tell the deputy team leader; he'll handle it."
"And Ailin...?"
"I'm off with Kim Jaeheon to find the missing."
"...Understood."
He studies the ticket, nods, tucks it away.
"...You sure?"
"Go."
"..."
He bows to her once, eyes me.
"Please..."
I nod back. He turns ticket-first down the path we came.
"...Hoo..."
She rubs her eyelids, lets out a low sigh.
"...You alright?"
"..."
Dead-fish eyes meet mine, then she smirks faintly.
"Nah, I'm wrecked."
Tone shift from how she handled her team.
More her age, maybe.
"...Gotta keep up appearances with the crew."
She scrubs her eyelids over and over, blinks hard.
"But we push on. Team leader can't crack in front of anyone."
"Guess I'm no one, then?"
"Total stranger's perfect for it."
She watches him vanish from view, mutters my way.
"One attraction cleared, one exit ticket. That's the deal."
"Then we know where the others headed."
"...Yeah..."
Her gaze drifts to the sign reading Gallop, Thousand-Mile Steed!
"Need backups to the main path. Clearing five attractions? No way."
"Agreed."
"...Short break?"
She slumps against the wall, drags in a deep breath.
How much weight on that little frame?
I lean on the wall too, catch my breath.
Feels like five minutes at least. Then a familiar voice rings in my ears.
"...not the door!"
"..."
"-lya!"
Familiar voice.
"That them?"
I turn at Ailin's words.
A purple-haired woman jabbed a finger at a white-haired one, shrill and pissed. The white-haired woman ignored her with icy indifference.
Jang Chaeyeon and Song Arin.
"Your team?"
"...Yep."
Why the hell are those two bickering all the way out here?
"...Hey!"
Song Arin, mid-rant, whips around—spots me.
"Yooo!!!!!!"
Eyes bug out. She's jumping up and down, waving like mad.
First time I've seen her this hyped to see me. Ever.