Chapter 17
Chapter 17
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 17
Chapter Title: It's Not a Self-Deprecating Stream
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“Haaah!”
Shin Ara, the psychologist using the nickname Kukudas.
She stretched elegantly while enjoying her coffee under the warm sunlight.
Then she picked up the academic journal on the table and began studying PTSD with a serious expression.
Rising at the same time every day regardless of the weekend and never skimping on studies for self-improvement. It was the epitome of a model modern lifestyle, no exaggeration.
“Hmm... She should be okay over the weekend, right?”
The reason she was studying so diligently was all for Victoria.
For the first client she had met in college, she was sacrificing her personal time to research treatment methods.
Victoria’s biggest current issue was PTSD symptoms from the war.
She was such a kind-hearted girl that she wouldn’t harm others, but precisely because of that personality, she was likely to hide her pain and suffer alone.
Deep down, Shin Ara wanted to give up her weekend to stay by her side and watch over her, but she couldn’t because she had noticed dependent tendencies in Victoria.
Shin Ara steeled her resolve, reminding herself not to cross the line just because it was personal counseling.
“Will she stream today too...”
Most psychological counseling focused on helping clients reintegrate into society.
Through counseling, they regained stability and recovered their daily lives and interpersonal relationships.
In that sense, recommending that Victoria do game streams had been the best choice.
It could improve PTSD symptoms by confronting trauma, and it allowed social reintegration through interaction with viewers.
Confirming she wasn’t wrong as she read the journal, she waited for Victoria’s contact.
And shortly after, the smartphone on the table rang with the awaited message.
[Victoria: Shin Ara-ssi. I’m streaming right now—could you come watch? Sorry to bother you on the weekend.]
It was a message that perfectly revealed her kind and fragile nature.
Moved, Shin Ara smiled warmly and immediately sat down at her computer.
Victoria had definitely said last night that she wanted to build Jeju Island in Maria.
Feeling like today’s stream would proceed without any major crises, Shin Ara pondered ordering some chicken as she entered the broadcast.
“Uh... You’ve all come in greater numbers than I expected. Nice to see everyone...”
『Suk-ka』
『You doing Frontline Archive? How’s your condition today?』
『Suk-ka』
『Why are these guys swearing instead of greeting lololol』
『If it was a secret stream again today, I would’ve crashed Ttalgwi’s stream for real』
『Suk-ka』
“Didn’t she say she was making Jeju Island?”
But Shin Ara couldn’t hide her bewilderment at the scene on the screen.
She could overlook the unmanaged chat, but the broadcast background wasn’t an island—it was an armory.
Anyone could see that wasn’t Maria; it was clearly Frontline Archive.
Confirming this, Shin Ara widened her eyes, searching for the reason behind Victoria’s sudden acceleration.
“You guys, don’t misunderstand! I’m collabing with Sukka-nim again today!”
Fortunately or unfortunately, she quickly guessed the cause.
Ttalgwi appeared behind Victoria, kicking up a fuss.
It seemed that fox had bitten their cat.
With her composure cracked, Kukudas immediately entered Ttalgwi’s stream as well and unleashed a barrage of chats.
『What did you do to our Sukka!! Why make a girl who just calmed down play a war game!! If anything happens, I won’t let you off!!』
┗ This chat has been blocked and deleted.
Of course, she was blocked right away.
* * *
“What’s an overimmersion freak...”
“Huh? Did something happen?”
“No! Some weirdo popped up in the chat! I blocked them right away, so it’s fine!”
“Ah...”
I glanced at our chat window at Ttalgwi’s words.
Most were just spamming “Suk-ka” and curses, but malicious chats popped up occasionally.
If someone I knew managed the chat, it might improve a bit.
With that thought, as viewers surpassed a hundred, I spotted Shin Ara and said,
“I’ll give manager privileges to Kukudas-nim. Would you mind handling chat moderation if that’s okay?”
“Eek?!”
“Uh... Why are you surprised, Ttalgwi-nim?”
“N-No... It’s nothing...”
After appointing Kukudas as manager, I looked back at the chat.
Shin Ara, thrilled with the manager title, immediately started slashing away at the toxic viewers.
As expected from her community experience, she perfectly distinguished between jokes and insults.
I nodded in satisfaction at the now much cleaner chat.
“A lot of viewers came in?”
While I was doing that, Ttalgwi sidled up next to me and asked.
She didn’t seem bothered at all by the sudden collab, even though she had reason to be annoyed.
But just because Ttalgwi didn’t mind didn’t mean I didn’t.
Worried about getting called a “viewer thief” again, I opened my mouth.
“More came than I expected. But is it really okay for me to do a public stream? Am I not inconveniencing your broadcast, Ttalgwi-nim?”
“Pfft! Don’t say such disappointing things! And anyway, our characters are different, right? The viewers who came over from my stream probably aren’t that many?”
“Characters?”
“Yeah! I’m boom-boom! You’re squish-squish! Our tastes are polar opposites like that. The people who’d be your loyal fans weren’t my viewers to begin with. So don’t worry.”
“......”
I looked down at my chest at Ttalgwi’s confident declaration.
The chest hidden under the modern military uniform was as flat as if I were wearing body armor.
Even so, “squish-squish” felt like overly harsh treatment.
At least if she’d said “slender,” I could’ve accepted it.
『What’s with her? Why’s she suddenly hitting us?』
『What? Why does a true statement feel bad?』
『Sloooow lololol』
『But honestly can’t refute lololol』
『I think mine’s bigger than hers...』
『Don’t hit! It’s not illegal!』
The viewers got riled up by Ttalgwi’s words, and the chat ignited.
Even manager Shin Ara joined the attack, so Ttalgwi’s remark must have been pretty bold.
But from the viewers’ reactions, I felt an inexplicable warmth.
People who’d become my allies despite their odd tastes. Their presence seemed to give me strength.
“But really, are you okay?”
As I relaxed watching the chat, Ttalgwi lowered her gaze to match mine and asked.
When I gave her a what-do-you-mean look, she glanced around and continued.
“I mean playing an FPS game. You’ve been clutching my sleeve since earlier. You’re still scared but forcing yourself, right?”
“Ah... Sorry. I didn’t realize I was holding on...”
『Yes you damn Ttalgwi!!!!』
『I support this couple』
┗ This chat has been blocked and deleted.
『Please refrain from shipping.』
『lololol Manager doesn’t allow couples』
『Mom? lololololol』
I checked my chest while looking at the chat.
My heart was beating faster than usual, but not enough to make breathing ragged.
Probably thanks to Ttalgwi and the viewers being here.
When I woke from the nightmare, I’d really wanted to die, but now it was at least bearable.
“It is scary, but I’m not forcing myself. If it’s okay with you, Ttalgwi-nim, I want to fight together.”
“hehe. Of course it’s okay with me.”
Ttalgwi met my eyes and smiled brightly.
From her hair color to her smile, she really had an atmosphere similar to Irina.
The reason I’d followed Ttalgwi into Frontline Archive was because of that vibe.
I’d been drowning in self-loathing for failing to save Irina, and right then, someone resembling her had appeared.
In my scattered state, I’d probably overlapped her with Irina.
Since I couldn’t save Irina, I wanted to save at least Ttalgwi. It seemed like arrogant self-consolation.
Of course, it might just have been an excuse to vent my anger.
The crazy stalker who came to my house. The nightmare of losing a precious comrade. Until moments ago, I’d been furious and wronged by those things.
“Then shall we swap out the basic gear first? Follow me over here.”
“Yeah.”
Either way, now was the time to prepare for battle with Ttalgwi.
Whether I’d fight against the injustice or flee from guilt. My unknown inner thoughts would be revealed by my actions ahead.
I had no intention of trying to recollect the water I’d already spilled myself.
All that remained for me was to advance.
“That’s the supply depot for customizing gear. Parts aren’t unlocked yet, so no modding, but let’s pick a gun that suits you, Sukka-nim.”
I stuck close behind Ttalgwi as we headed to the supply depot.
Even with my resolve, it was still pretty scary, so I grabbed her sleeve to avoid getting lost.
The supply depot we arrived at was on another level from the Eastern Front’s.
Weapons and attachments lined the walls, along with neatly hung military uniforms and body armor in every style.
“Wow... If we’d had just these, everyone would’ve survived...”
“Huh? Who?”
“Ah, nothing...”
“Hmm... So shall we pick our weapons? Do you have a preferred gun, Sukka-nim?”
“I like the Mosin-N—”
“—Mosin-Nagant’s out. That’s an outdated piece of junk.”
“......”
My lips pouted automatically at Ttalgwi’s sharp criticism.
The Mosin-Nagant was old but still usable—why badmouth it?
Feeling like I’d just get more criticism if I mentioned another gun, I shut my mouth.
The viewers, thinking it was their time to chime in, started raising their voices.
『Sukks sulking after Mosin-Nagant diss lololololol』
『Just stick to basics with MPㄱㄱㄱㄱ』
『Must use AK series lololol betraying your bloodline Sukka lololol』
『Hands look small so just any SMG?』
『Honestly Sukka doesn’t need a gun lol just give her a combat knife and she’d help more than Ttalgwi lololol』
『DMRs are OP these days so safe bet SR-25』
I surveyed the gun display while considering the viewers’ recommendations.
From guns I knew to ones I’d never seen before. It was packed with all sorts of lethal weapons.
But nothing caught my eye, so I ventured deeper.
And when I finally reached the end of the display, I reunited with my fated partner.
“Papa!”
“Huh?”
『What?』
『Papa?』
『????』
『What?』
『Daddy?』
『Wtf?』
Ignoring Ttalgwi and the viewers’ reactions, I rushed to Papa.
I hugged its sleek, hefty body close, overcome with emotion.
“It’s Papa!”
“Ah...”
『Papaa lololol』
『Dissed Mosin-Nagant and brings out PPSh-41 lololol』
『lololol did she fight in WWII or what』
『Sukka and Papa lololol』
『That’s PPSh-41 lololololololol』
『Also junk they say lololololol』
My fated partner from the Eastern Front.
The Shpagin submachine gun, 1941 model. Commonly known as the Papasha SMG.