Chapter 61
Chapter 61
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 61
Chapter Title: No, It Was a Mistake
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"It's so spaaacious..."
The Wirye Awakened Training Center was the largest facility in Korea outside of guild-owned training grounds, so you could occasionally spot some famous faces around. Mostly A-rank Hunters who were guild masters of mid-sized or established guilds, not the mega-guilds.
"Whoa, Ophelia, do you know that person?"
"That's Han Soo-ryun, an A-rank Hunter."
"Right! She's got quite a fanbase."
The walls were divided by mana-reinforced glass partitions, all transparent, so you could watch others train to a certain extent. I was using the ranged ability Awakened training room in Building C.
Just press the buttons on the electronic panel next to me, and the target way over there would slide back and forth on its own.
"Hmm, well, I can manage about 250 meters?"
"Starting from 10 meters."
"Huh?"
Ophelia seemed to be misunderstanding something, but hey, I've got experience shooting guns. And I was pretty good at it. A tiny pistol like this? I could hit something 5km away one-handed.
"Hmph! I'll do 250 meters."
"Understood."
At Ophelia's button press, the target that had come up to 10 meters slid back out to 250 meters.
I stretched out the pistol in my right hand toward the distant target, and Ophelia sidled up beside me, speaking again.
"Princess, you need to use a two-handed grip."
"I've shot rifles before... Can't I handle a pistol one-handed?"
"Is that so? Understood."
I aimed the pistol's front sight at the target 250 meters away.
"Ugh... Why's my hand shaking so much?"
First, deep breaths. Again.
"Hoo...!"
I'd always struggled with winking just my left eye, so with my free hand, I covered it. My vision focused, the sight aligned perfectly with the target's center.
"Eek!"
The muzzle flipped up with a bang! My elbow buckled, hand shooting skyward. My wrist stung, and the gunshot—barely noticeable in the military—rang in my ears like tinnitus.
Ophelia pressed the button to bring the target right up. Dusting off the paper target, it fluttered mockingly in the breeze, clean enough to reuse.
"Argh... What the heck. I'm good with guns."
I'd played tons of FPS games. Can't handle the recoil from a puny pistol like this? It's my body—my software's ultimate John Wick level...
"Next, I'll teach you the two-handed grip at 10 meters."
"Oh, Ophelia, you give it a try first!"
"Hmm, understood."
I handed her the pistol and shoved the target out to 250 meters via the panel. She'd told me to use two hands, but she gripped it one-handed like a pro and fired the remaining 11 rounds in bursts of three.
'Damn, why's she so good?'
Were maids supposed to be crack shots? Come to think of it, Ophelia was a great fighter.
The target came forward. It looked pristine— one hole dead center, the other ten shots nowhere in sight.
"Hehe, Ophelia! Only one hit?"
"Shall I confirm?"
"Oof."
Ophelia played back the video on the panel: 11 bullets arcing perfectly toward the center in slow motion, like a train on rails.
"Wait, all 11 in the exact same spot...?"
"Yes."
This is unfair. If Ophelia aces everything, what about me? At least I eat chewy Dubai cookies better than her.
"Eheheh."
"It's fine. Everyone starts out unskilled."
But I'm not a beginner—that doesn't help! She's the newbie here?? My head suddenly throbbed like Suri's bird-strike to the crown.
"Th-then I'll do something I'm good at!"
"No golem creation."
"Whyy?"
"Licensed firearms are fine, but unlicensed mods are illegal."
"Ughh."
In the end, I admitted I was the rookie and took gun lessons from Ophelia. I'd nail it with a K2—first time with a semi-auto pistol.
"First, wrist rotations. Relaxes ligaments and arm muscles, reduces injury risk."
"Okay..."
Next was ankle rotations—skipping that to avoid controversy.
After stretches, I took the pistol, aimed two-handed at the 10-meter target. Ophelia stood behind, guiding my grip perfectly.
"Deep breaths. Stabilize your heartbeat, relax your mind."
"Hoo, got it!"
"Yes."
"B-but Ophelia, I can't wink. Can you cover my left eye?"
"Here."
"Ooh...!"
She handed me shooting glasses—one eye open/closed. Eye blinder, they call it.
"Hmm... Kinda cool, right?"
Suddenly felt like a pro. Way easier with the blinder. Scout vibes too.
"Ngh...!"
Two hands or not, recoil was real. Made for low-rank Awakened with superior physiques. Weirdly, mine hadn't improved much post-awakening??
No choice but to feel the kick hard.
"Excellent."
"6 points? 6 points!"
A hair off center. For a first shot, genius level. 250m was too ambitious—scratch that.
"Hehe, so can I fight now?"
"Regrettably, rubber bullets—no direct monster hunting."
"Hing."
Deflated. Rubber rounds? No need for 250m shots. Threaten close ones? Gun's poorly designed anyway.
Visibly, hard to hit past 100m even aiming well.
"Hmm..."
"What's wrong?"
Then it hit me—Ophelia nailed 11 at 250m. Energy drained instantly.
"Ophelia... It's Christmas. No gift for me...?"
Pistol was fun at first, but tough. Trigger's just click-click? Mentally draining. Needed compensation for this gloom. Guns suck.
"Then, Princess. Five shots at 10m. Over 30 points total, and I'll give you a gift."
"Hoek?!"
I'm a sharpshooting pro—30's easy. But Christmas gifts conditional...?
Wait, yeah. Santa skips crybabies. Am I crying now?
"O-okay! I'll do it!"
"Yes."
"L-look at thiiis!!!"
"Excellent."
That 6 was beginner's luck? Burned three 12-round mags to succeed. Half-vision made me dizzy. Shooting's harder than thought.
Result?
"37 points. 7 over target."
"Ahem!!!"
One even hit 10! Obsessing over the gift tanked me, but emptying my mind zen'd it out. I get it now.
"Am I kinda a genius?"
"Yes."
"Thanks, even if flattery..."
Too focused—missed surroundings. Now others practiced ranged here too.
Next bay: epic mechanical bow at 500m.
"So cool..."
Staring through glass, the archer sis smirked and waved.
"Hey, kiddo."
"H-hi..."
"Shooting guns? Impressive for your age."
"Ehehe..."
Her target later: arrow-on-arrow, prior one splintered. Gallery ranged Hunters seemed meh online—up close, pros.
In Building A melee: Minium sparring new uncles with sword. They thought she was new combat training bot.
"Minium!! Go wild like this!!"
My cheer hyped her—trading blows with two B-rank vanguard inspectors and a tank. Back boosters badass.
"Mhahaha! Good job, Minium!"
How's a machine so fluid? Magical joints?
"Ooooh..."
"What, shy?"
Squatting, staring at her knee joint—she seemed embarrassed. Cute even embarrassed.
Dangdangis in kid cafe for Awakened parents—playing ball pit with toddlers.
Suri used my ranged room: clay pigeon shotgun? Big crowd—more popular than me.
"Good job, Suri?"
I prefer home, but they love outings. As owner, gotta take 'em out periodically.
"Princess, your gift."
"G-gift...! A real gift?!"
"Yes."
Pistol nice, but practical? Home now, 37/50 score earned real present.
"W-woooah...!!!"
"Hope you like it."
"Hehe, love it!!"
See? Ophelia gifted me. I'm the best.
Got a Christmas gift lol
Who am I?? Switch owner
Not just bragging to Awakening Bros. Instagram time!
[_Princess_Eve]
suich!!!
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"Uwing."