Chapter 16
Chapter 16
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 16
Chapter Title: Island Reunion
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“Grrrrrraaah!!”
Ttalgwi, the full-time streamer operating under that nickname, Han Sera.
The moment she woke up, she stretched languidly and carelessly.
Then, fumbling beside her bed, she grabbed her smartphone and habitually started checking the community sites.
Only when the sun was high in the sky did she open her eyes, checking her phone to shake off sleep. It was the epitome of a modern person's dream—a leisurely wake-up.
Of course, it wasn't because it was the weekend that she got up later than usual.
Ttalgwi was a free spirit who didn't even care what day of the week it was.
“Aww... My bait's already gone cold...”
Muttering that while egosurfing, she dragged herself up and started getting ready.
Since she did both VR games and cam broadcasts, a proper face wash and light makeup were essential.
Satisfied with her well-applied makeup, she immediately lay down on her VR gear.
Barely an hour after waking up. It was time to dream again in virtual reality.
[Welcome to Universe, Another World.]
Soon, with the familiar sensation of her vision flipping, she entered the VR world.
She quickly checked her character for issues and began preparing her stream.
In the midst of that, one nickname in her friends list caught her eye.
The cute girl with black bobbed hair, Sukka, was online.
[Sukka · Online (My Little Island)]
Seeing Sukka like that brought a pleased smile to Ttalgwi's lips.
Though their connection started in an unwelcome situation, she now wanted to get close to Sukka.
A girl with unbelievably top-tier FPS skills, plus the character and talent as a streamer.
On top of that, hanging out with Sukka even made viewers spend more generously, so it was only natural for Ttalgwi to eye her hungrily.
Of course, it wasn't just for monetary reasons.
The feelings she had looking at Sukka were mostly protective instincts.
She wanted to bring her home, feed her all sorts of things, and tuck her in warmly.
Perhaps what she felt was maternal love.
‘Should be fine to say hi before streaming, right?’
Unable to hold back her urges, Ttalgwi decided to go meet Sukka.
Sukka was playing Maria right now, so she could just take a boat like last night.
She logged into Maria right away, hopped on her fishing boat, and started the engine.
Fortunately, the visitor settings hadn't been changed, so she could dock at Sukka's island without an invite.
“Hehe. There she is.”
Sukka was sitting in a vast field, gazing up at the sky.
Her back view resembled a black cat crouched down, basking in the sunlight.
Ttalgwi approached, waving energetically so as not to startle her.
Then, with a clumsy salute, she greeted playfully.
“Greetings! Instructor Sukka!”
“......”
At her lively greeting, Sukka's shoulders twitched.
She slowly turned her head and silently looked up at Ttalgwi.
Ttalgwi's gaze started from her feet and eventually stopped at the swaying blonde hair.
At the same time, Sukka's eyes widened as she spoke in a trembling voice.
“I, Irina?”
“Huh? Me?”
“Ah... Sorry... I mistook you...”
She must have confused Ttalgwi with someone else.
Ttalgwi was a bit curious who she resembled but didn't pry and plopped down on the grass.
At her carefree, energetic demeanor, a complex emotion flickered across Sukka's face.
Soon, from Sukka, who had been quietly enjoying the breeze, came a belated question.
“How... did you get here?”
“Hehe. The invite from yesterday was still active. Thought I'd say hi and came uninvited. Am I bothering you? Should I go?”
“Ah, no. It's fine...”
“Ah! Don't worry, I'm not streaming right now. But why the gloomy face? Did something happen again?”
Ttalgwi didn't hide her worried expression as she looked at Sukka.
Sukka's face looked almost like a dying person's.
Of course, even with the shadow on her face, her cuteness wasn't obscured.
If anything, it stirred protective urges, making Ttalgwi want to hug her right then.
She seemed to have completely forgotten getting beaten during last night's training.
As Ttalgwi struggled against her own desires, Sukka, who had been silent, finally started explaining.
“Last night, a stalker came to my house. He banged on the door making noise, then left a torn-up doll. It reminded me of old stuff, so I had nightmares. That's why I'm a bit down now.”
“S-stalker? Did you report it to the police? You should check the CCTV!”
“No. I didn't think that far. But reporting probably wouldn't help. Seems he's been reported multiple times already. Must be pretty cunning.”
“Damn... What kind of creep is that? So that's why you're here?”
“Yeah... I hid in the game... Reality felt too much...”
Ttalgwi got angry on her behalf at the word stalker.
Having dealt with stalkers herself, she could somewhat understand Sukka's gloom.
Unfortunately, as a senior stalking victim, she couldn't offer much advice.
Her own stalker had been so inept he got caught the moment she reported him.
She might hurt Sukka by clumsily empathizing.
Thinking that, Ttalgwi brought up another topic to relate.
“You had nightmares too, right? Feeling better now?”
“Ah, yeah. A bit better. It's all in the past anyway.”
“What kind of dream was it?”
“Hmm... A dream where I felt so powerless I cried. It was about someone precious to me leaving.”
“P-precious person?”
“Yeah. Someone who helped me a lot on the battlefield. Looking now, you kinda resemble them, Ttalgwi. They had blonde hair too.”
“Ah...”
This seemed even harder to empathize with than the stalker.
Regretting asking, Ttalgwi just twirled her hair idly.
In movies, they'd say, ‘I've lost someone precious too…’ to comfort.
At twenty-three with no breakups under her belt, she couldn't think of fitting words.
In the end, she chose to shut up to avoid saying something wrong.
And so, the two girls sat in the field, letting awkward time pass.
“Ttalgwi... Have you heard of Eastern Battlefield?”
After a brief uncomfortable silence, Sukka asked cautiously.
Ttalgwi nodded enthusiastically to show she knew.
She was no rookie in FPS games.
She vaguely remembered the game Sukka mentioned, Eastern Battlefield.
“Yeah, I know it! WWII Eastern Front setting, right? Got canceled during testing due to an accident.”
“Accident?”
“Four years ago? There was a fuss. Issue during VR testing. Game unnamed, but context points to Eastern Battlefield.”
“Do you know what accident?”
“Participants complained of severe headaches. Rumor of one death, but it got buried fast, so not sure.”
Ttalgwi shared everything she remembered.
Shallow info from communities, but Eastern Battlefield didn't have much anyway.
At Ttalgwi's answer, Sukka showed a strange reaction.
Sad? Angry? Her expression was unreadable.
“Why... did that incident get buried?”
“Hmm... Before it, gamers united big time. Badmouth games, get rocks thrown. Claims of game hurting people naturally dismissed.”
“Ah... Yeah...”
It'd be huge now, but Eastern Battlefield's incident vanished quick.
After gamers worldwide rose, fearing no VR, yelling they'd be ‘pickled brains for virtual reality!’
Gamers' unity, long oppressed, silenced regulators in politics, media, education, psychiatry.
Of course, victims probably got proper compensation.
Just no news they were satisfied.
“So, can you still play Eastern Battlefield now?”
“Huh... Why?”
“Want to rescue someone... no, an NPC. To ease the helplessness a bit.”
After hearing everything, Sukka looked up and asked.
‘Rescue NPC’ made no sense, but eye contact showed she felt better.
But Ttalgwi had to give a disappointing answer.
A game with accident in testing? No way.
“Probably impossible... Never officially released...”
“Ah... Figured...”
“W-why not just Frontline Archive? Same large-scale FPS, no accident worries. No need for risky...”
“Ah. No need to worry that much. Wasn't expecting much.”
Despite the negative, Sukka gave a faint smile.
Like she'd given up hope, or shed lingering attachment.
Seeing that, Ttalgwi sighed in relief.
Poignant smile was still a smile; mood softened.
Smiling like that, ridiculously cute.
Ttalgwi thought that and changed topics.
“Then when doing Frontline Archive, can you save me sometimes? I'm about to get demoted, feels like dying.”
Finishing, Ttalgwi scratched her cheek and giggled.
Remembering her losing streak despite Sukka's training.
Of course, asking for help was just a joke.
She knew Sukka had FPS trauma.
Sukka panicking in Frontline Archive was just two days ago.
Even insensitive Ttalgwi had that much sense.
“Feels like dying?”
But Sukka didn't take it as joke.
Reacting to odd word, she looked anxious.
“Hate people I know dying... Can't you just run instead of fighting?”
“Uh... If I don't play Frontline Archive, I starve... I'm a full-time streamer...”
“Starve... Running's the same then...”
“Ah, no. Not literally dying...”
Ttalgwi hurriedly corrected, but too late.
Sukka's poignant smile vanished, eyes turning hollow.
Soon, lost in thought, Sukka eyed Ttalgwi's blonde hair.
Then, like resolved, she spoke lowly.
“Then I'll fight with you.”
“Huh... For real?”
“Yeah. Hate feeling powerless now.”
Ttalgwi froze at the unexpected reply.
Chill down her spine; felt like big mistake.
“We'll both be fine.”
But Sukka looked utterly sincere.
Ttalgwi could only smile awkwardly.
“One of us might get buried in communities...”
“Huh?”
“Ah, nothing...”