Chapter 18
Chapter 18
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 18
Chapter Title: Reuniting with Papasha
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The Papasha was a submachine gun developed by the Soviet Union in the early days of World War II.
It was cheap, sturdy, and simple to operate, earning the undying love of the Red Army.
Naturally, I had used the Papasha as my main weapon on the Eastern Front.
With its drum magazine that could hold up to 71 rounds and a blistering rate of fire exceeding 900 rounds per minute, the Papasha was nothing short of a savior in close-quarters combat.
Of course, the Papasha had its share of chronic issues, like feeding problems.
But it was a reliable gun that had saved my life hundreds of times, so I couldn't hate it no matter its flaws.
In short, this was one of my favorite guns.
I hugged the Papasha like a doll and stroked its wooden stock.
"Um, are you really going to use that gun?"
As I was lost in this touching reunion, Ttalgwi asked in a flustered tone.
Her expression seemed to say, "Why would you use something so weird?" So, while still holding the Papasha, I gestured as if to ask what the problem was.
I glanced at the broadcast chat, and the viewers' reactions weren't much different from Ttalgwi's.
Chats like "That's a shit gun" and "Papakatsu?" made my face sour.
"Why is everyone like this... My Papasha is great..."
"Um, Sukka... please call it Papasha with the 'sha'..."
"I like Papasha..."
"Yeah, sure... But how about we pick a different gun instead?"
"......Why?"
I tilted my head, asking why she was rejecting the Papasha.
Ttalgwi gave an awkward smile and slowly reached out toward the Papasha.
At that sight, I quickly hid the Papasha behind my back.
It looked like she was trying to take my weapon away, so my body reacted on reflex.
I had no idea why she disliked the Papasha so much.
As I showed my attachment to the Papasha, Ttalgwi explained calmly with a troubled look.
"Sukka, the Papasha has low win rates statistically. It's a gun used only for memes because of its poor performance. If you take it into a game, people call you a troll."
"Ah, no... Papasha is good..."
"Its rate of fire is so high that the recoil is insane. The bullet spread is terrible, so accuracy sucks too."
"I think... it's fine..."
"And you can't attach any mods, so convenience is the worst. Wouldn't it be better to pick a modern gun?"
"I don't need mods... It's perfect like this..."
"A-And the ammo and magazines aren't compatible with other guns..."
"I don't need other guns..."
I dropped my head weakly at Ttalgwi's persistent dissuasion.
Having the Papasha's performance outright denied like that left me utterly dejected.
Of course, I wasn't completely oblivious to what she meant.
No sane person would bring an outdated gun to modern warfare.
Knowing that, I couldn't come up with any words to defend the Papasha's honor.
Ttalgwi and the viewers felt unreasonably cruel, so I pouted like a duck.
"Can't I use the Papasha...?"
In the end, I clutched the Papasha and made one last stubborn plea.
Ttalgwi was my comrade who'd head to the battlefield with me, so if she didn't trust the Papasha, I'd have no choice but to use something else.
"Ugh..."
As I looked up at her with desperate eyes, Ttalgwi flinched and stepped back after meeting my gaze.
Then, clutching her chest like it hurt, she spoke with difficulty.
"When you look at me like that, it makes me feel like the bad guy..."
『Hey!!! Just buy it for her already!!!』
『I've seen this scene at a big mart lol』
『Is she the daughter begging for a toy lololol』
『Damn, she's so freaking cute lololololololol』
『Mom... I want to be reborn as a Papasha in my next life...』
『lololol maybe the Papasha is actually good?』
【Kukudas has donated 50,000 coins!】
〔How much is that gun? Can you buy it with this much?〕
『Whoa, 50k donation lololololololololo』
『It's a shit gun so it doesn't cost much lololol』
『lololol the manager knows how to play this house』
『But what's the donation reaction for this stream?』
『At this point she has to use Papasha lolololol』
『No but seriously why is she obsessed with Papasha lololol it's one of the trash trio guns lololol』
Fortunately, my desperation seemed to work, as the viewers' reactions were turning positive.
Brightening up, I looked at Ttalgwi, my Frontline Archive senior.
If only she'd approve, I wouldn't have to part with the Papasha.
It might even be the last chance to restore the Papasha's honor, so I clenched my fists and showed my confidence in it.
"You bastards! Am I the bad one again?! You're all innocent as always?!"
But Ttalgwi had turned her back to me and was yelling something.
She seemed to be arguing with her own viewers.
Taking the chance, I whispered thanks to Shin Ara for the donation.
As "Ouya" started popping up in our chat, Ttalgwi, who'd yelled "You guys called it a shit gun too!", turned back with an awkward smile.
"H-Haha... Sorry... The chat suddenly got flooded with Russian..."
"No, it's fine. Do you have Russian viewers too? Want me to translate what they're saying?"
"They were calling me 'Sukka'......"
"......I don't know that word either."
I turned away from Ttalgwi to dodge the answer.
It reminded me of last night when I'd called her "Blin Suka."
As I quietly shut my mouth, Ttalgwi leaned down toward me again.
She lightly patted the Papasha I was holding and gave a bright smile that reminded me of Irina.
"You really like that gun that much?"
"Yes... Papasha is a good gun."
"Hehe. Then Sukka's gun is decided as the Papasha. As a debut gift, I'll buy it for you specially. It doesn't even cost half of a normal gun."
I replied to Ttalgwi's permission with a faint smile.
The "half price" comment was a bit uncomfortable, but its low cost was one of the Papasha's strengths, so it wasn't bad.
Either way, I felt relieved that I could use the Papasha in Frontline Archive too.
I gently stroked the Papasha's body once more to say please take care of me.
"What about the magazine and ammo type?"
As I did, Ttalgwi opened a nearby shelf and asked.
The shelf had Papasha magazines and ammo on display. Frontline Archive seemed to have historical accuracy even for ammo types.
AKBS, FMJ43, Pst gzh—there were seven types.
But I'd never paid attention to ammo types, so I decided to entrust that and just request one important precaution.
"I don't know much about ammo types, so pick whatever, Ttalgwi. But for the magazine, use the 71-round drum and load only about 60 rounds."
"Only 60 in the magazine? Not filling it up?"
"Filling the magazine full can cause feeding issues. If it jams mid-fight, you're in big trouble."
I answered bitterly, recalling past experience.
I'd filled a 71-round mag for deployment and had it jam right in front of the enemy.
That was the first time I'd been hit by a bullet, and it hurt so much I nearly died.
Even now, it was a terrifying memory.
"Huh? Frontline Archive doesn't have that system."
"Huh?"
"There is a jam mechanic if something like a pebble gets in the bolt, but otherwise it doesn't happen. No jams from magazines, so you can fill all 71 rounds."
"......"
But apparently Frontline Archive had no such worries.
At that, an injustice welled up from deep in my chest, and I hung my head.
If the game I'd possessed had been Frontline Archive, I wouldn't have gotten shot in the shoulder.
Of course, best not to possess a war game at all, but my left shoulder suddenly ached, souring my face.
"Shall we go fit uniforms and body armor now? Pick a design there and order."
"Yes..."
After all that hassle, now holding the Papasha, I trudged to the military gear section.
Countless uniforms and vests were organized around, but a product guide meant no need to wander.
But looking at the list, I couldn't help souring my face again.
Men's uniforms all looked proper, but women's had revealing ones mixed in.
Even if uniforms were fashion, this took war too lightly.
I averted my eyes from the absurd "full-body tights uniform."
"Why? Nothing you like?"
"No... Some don't even look like uniforms..."
"Pfft! There are some blatantly sexy ones, right? But hardly anyone actually wears them."
"......So some do?"
"Yeah. Mostly guy characters. All uniforms are unisex actually. They say it steals enemy attention and creates openings. And it kinda works, which pisses me off."
"Ugh..."
I agreed with a dry heave and checked Ttalgwi's outfit.
Despite her words, her clothes were pretty revealing too.
A top baring her midriff, pants hugging her legs, and a vest covering just her chest.
If this were the Eastern Front, she'd freeze before fighting.
I'd planned to ask Ttalgwi for outfit advice, but shook my head at that.
No matter how hopeless my fashion sense, I didn't want to bare my belly.
『Belly button exposure incoming?』
『Tactical Dolphin Pants!! Tactical Dolphin Pants!! Tactical Dolphin Pants!! Tactical Dolphin Pants!! Tactical Dolphin Pants!! Tactical Dolphin Pants!!』
┗ Chat deleted due to block.
『Camouflage is a luxury in Frontline Archive lololol』
【ㅇㅇ has donated 1,000 coins!】
〔Frontline Archive: lighter gear means easier movement〕
『Every game's endgame is looksmaxxing lololol』
『Legit, lighter body means faster movement lol veterans don't strip for nothing lol』
『Wait don't strip yet, gotta take my pants off too』
┗ Chat deleted due to block.
Of course, the viewers' advice wasn't helpful either.
They were all fired up to strip me, even ready to get blocked.
I decided to handle it alone and checked the product list again.
All uniforms unisex, so I erased women's from my mind.
"Seriously?! 100,000?!"
Then, Ttalgwi next to me shouted in surprise at something.
Startled along with her, I shrank my shoulders and looked.
Soon, meeting my eyes, Ttalgwi smiled awkwardly.
Her eyes held an ominous greed.
"Um... Sukka... sorry, but can you do me one favor?"
"......What favor."
"Can you try this on just once...? They offered 100k if you wear it..."
"......"
I followed her finger to the product list.
There was the item a viewer had spammed about.
[Tactical Dolphin Pants]
It actually existed. Goosebumps.
My vision darkened as I gasped.
"J-Just this once?! I'll buy anything you want instead!!"
『lololololololololololololo』
『The spammer got blocked and flew straight there lololololol』
『No-rules slut stream gets scary lololololol』
【ㅇㅇ has donated 50,000 coins!】
〔Adding my humble contribution. Please wear the Tactical Dolphin Pants.〕
『Leg exposure << sexiest in Frontline Archive lolololol』
『Fr tops get covered by vest anyway lololol』
『Damn can't give up belly button... maybe switch sides...』
Guess I saw the viewers too nicely.
Forgot most came from the Frontline Archive Gallery.
Abyss demons uniting to strip me.
Seemed I'd freeze on the battlefield after all.
『Sukka! Don't if you don't want! I'll donate more than that!』
Even heard Shin Ara's wallet opening somewhere.
To stop the manager's overspending, I had no choice but to nod.
"Just for today, right...?"
"Huh! Really sorry and thank you!!"
『Kiyaaaaahooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!』
『We did it lolololololololol』
『Once you wear em they're super comfy you'll be shocked vote lolololol』
『Noooooㅜㅜㅜㅜㅜㅜㅜㅜㅜㅜㅜㅜㅜㅜㅜ』
『lolololololololololol』
『Manager sobbing lolololololol』
『Hey lololol manager squad watching? lololol』
『Kukudas smashed lolololol』