Chapter 20
Chapter 20
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 20
Chapter Title: It's Not a Self-Deprecating Broadcast
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“Eek...”
The transport helicopter departing the battlefield kicked up a fierce sandstorm.
Squinting against it, I waited for the dust to clear, revealing once more the ruins of a Middle Eastern city.
The war-torn landscape of Paluza looked like a scene straight out of an apocalyptic movie.
The streets were littered with the charred husks of cars, and not a single one of the densely packed buildings stood intact.
Collapsed structures would soon serve as cover, shattered windows as sniper nests.
It reminded me of the horrific urban combat in Stalingrad—my whole body trembled uncontrollably.
= “Starting point sucks, for real. Let's cap C point first?”
= “Yeah. Already en route. All the capture points are mine.”
As I took in the surroundings, the squad's voices crackled over the radio.
The game must have already kicked off while I was looking around.
I glanced up at Ttalgwi with an expression asking what we should do next.
She was checking her PDA, her face troubled as she spoke.
“The spawn point's bad, so we've only got one real option. Looks like we have to head to C point too. You okay with that?”
“Hmm... Yeah, I'm fine with it. But there's no option to just not fight, right?”
“W-well... If you don't rack up combat points, your rank drops... You gotta fight the enemy or capture points to gain score...”
“Ah... Guess we have no choice then. I was just curious. Let's go to C point together.”
“Yep! So should we hurry and catch up to the squad? If we're late, we won't get many points!”
With that, Ttalgwi let go of my hand and pulled out her rifle.
The 'Steyr AUG', a bullpup assault rifle commonly called the 'Aug'.
And so we started running to catch up with the squad members ahead.
Narrow alleys flanked by long rows of buildings, but we charged ahead without even scanning our surroundings.
Every gunshot or artillery blast made me flinch.
Noticing, Ttalgwi spoke over personal radio.
= “We won't get hit right now, so don't worry. Both teams spawn on opposite sides. The enemies are probably running just like us.”
“Ah, got it. But are there any civilians in this area?”
= “If you mean NPCs, no. Conquest is pure player vs. player. Oh, and if you hold down the radio button, it locks. Easier than pressing it every time in combat, so lock it now.”
“Got it.”
Reassured by Ttalgwi's words, I picked up my pace, running more boldly.
No civilians meant no risk of startling some poor bystander.
After sprinting for a while, we finally caught up to the squad ahead.
We should've had 16 including us, but there were fewer than 10 gathered.
No major firefights that I heard, yet some had fallen behind.
The thought that someone might already be dead made my heart sink.
“Tt-Ttalgwi... There must've been fighting... The squad's down people...”
I poked her side, my voice shaky.
But she just whined 'Eek!' like it tickled, unconcerned about the missing members.
Then, one of the squadmates who'd made eye contact approached stealthily.
A burly male player with a stylish skull mask that caught the eye.
“Thought you'd bailed since you were late. Should've waited if I knew you'd show.”
“Ah, hi... Sorry for being late...”
“Huh? Oh, no worries. Nice to meet you.”
For some reason, the flustered guy returned my greeting.
He didn't seem like a bad guy, thankfully, but feeling awkward, I ducked behind Ttalgwi.
He flashed his dog tag reading 'Ghost' and continued.
“Overheard you just now. But no firefights like you worried—some casuals just ditched. That's why numbers are low.”
“Casuals?”
“Yeah. Two snipers headed for a high-rise, four flanked rear for infiltration. Begged 'em to help cap C with us, but they ignored it.”
“Ah... So everyone's still alive. Relieved nothing happened.”
“Whether it's good remains to be seen. We're short-handed pushing the point now. Were debating ditching C entirely when you two joined. Small mercy.”
Still hiding behind Ttalgwi, I sighed in relief.
I got what Ghost meant, but no deaths eased my mind.
Meanwhile, Ttalgwi irritably turned from flipping off the air, chatting with viewers out of our earshot.
“So, what's the plan? FYI to avoid disappointment: I'm worth 0.5, and she's a total noob.”
“Hmm... Better ditch capture points and link with another squad. C's probably enemy-capped by now anyway.”
“How about tailing the ones who went ahead for rear infil? I've pulled off tunnel strat a few times. Though... got wiped by one guy recently...”
“If one guy stopped you, it'll be rough. Too late to catch them now anyway.”
“Ugh...”
Ttalgwi poked me repeatedly for some reason.
Turns out I was the guy who'd wiped her.
Sorry, I leaned my head on her back apologetically.
Luckily, she was joking—flashed me a grin.
= “Squad 6, recommend linking at B with others. Sucks losing cap score, but appreciate the cooperation.”
Ghost, checking his PDA, announced the plan over squad radio.
Polite tone, quick decisions, requests over orders—veteran vibes all around.
The remaining squad fell in without protest.
A ragtag bunch with zero teamwork, but under Ghost's lead, they formed a decent formation.
Made me wonder if my Eastern Front squad looked like that. Felt oddly familiar.
Yeah, best to follow Ghost's lead this fight.
= “Alpha Team, front watch. Bravo, rear. Enemies close—move quick─”
- Bang!
But that thought didn't last.
“......”
A single shot, and Ghost's head snapped sideways.
His skull mask hit the dirt, kicking up dust.
We'd dawdled too long—spotted by the enemy for sure.
The suddenness froze my brain solid.
“Zasada!!”
Body reacted on instinct anyway.
Battle senses etched deep kicked in reflexively.
I tackled Ttalgwi's waist, diving behind a building wall.
Bullets immediately rained on where we'd stood.
Ally screams drowned in enemy gunfire next.
Green squad got steamrolled by the ambush, leaderless.
“Six o'clock, contacts!!”
“Into the building, now!!”
In the slowed world, only my heartbeat rang clear.
Hugging cover with Ttalgwi, I froze—forgot to breathe.
Vision narrowed; viewer chat vanished.
PTSD, lurking, finally swallowed my mind.
“Door's open!! Get in!!”
“Ghost?! What about Ghost!!”
“Wrong house, this way!!”
Glancing around frantically, allies scattered to different buildings.
Diving into windowless ones, not even thinking defense.
Stick together, don't disperse—buildings mean encirclement. Wanted to yell it, but no words came.
Should take command for fallen leader, but my head looped useless Russian.
- Bang! Bang-bang!
Enemy shots grew closer.
Suppressing fire to pin us while closing in.
Can't stay. Fight or die. Grabbed Papasha, but body wouldn't obey.
Fresh from leaving the field once, it desperately refused combat.
Powerless, I bit my lip hard.
I knew war best—now feared it most.
“Sukka!!”
Saved by the blonde pinned under me.
She spat curses, hoisted me, and bolted blindly.
Escape routes limited, we distanced from allies.
Worse, C point—our squad's old infil target—lay dead ahead.
Enemies wouldn't let intruders waltz into a key cap.
Sure enough, spotting us, they wheeled and pursued hot.
“Just now, you saved me, Sukka!”
Ttalgwi readjusted my grip, yelling over the din.
Fearless of incoming rounds, beaming brightly.
Probably masking fear to keep me calm.
But I couldn't hide my dread.
Whistling shots past my ear, blonde hauling me to safety, her sunny smile amid war—eerie deja vu.
I'd lived this before. Snowy hell called Kursk.
'You saved me just now, Victoria.'
Soft hallucination hit; scenery warped.
Paluza alleys blanketed in Kursk snow, Ttalgwi's face overlaid with Irina's.
Nightmare? Reality? Game? All blurred.
Bit lip till it bled, but the sharp pain tricked me into thinking this real.
“Snap out... Please...”
Past: Irina died. Now: Ttalgwi might.
Stay frozen, history repeats.
No more surviving on comrades' sacrifices.
To break the deja vu nightmare, summon courage.
- Bang!
But then,
“Eek!!”
Ttalgwi carrying me took a hit, collapsing.
“Urk...”
“Ttalgwi!!”
Rolling, I yanked her vest, dragging behind a wall.
Bright white midriff gushed red.
Protected me while running—bullet skimmed vest.
Cruel despair flooded my mind with dark thoughts.
“Sukka... Run...”
'Victoria... Run...'
Fallen Ttalgwi mirrored past Irina perfectly.
That mistaken smile, worrying for me despite the wound—all exact memories.
Despair, regret, self-loathing boiled; unforgivable.
Furious at myself for dragging Ttalgwi in to ease guilt.
“I'm not running.”
Not even on superior's order this time.
Never eat another comrade's death to survive alone.
Too late maybe, but resolve set.
Nightmare, reality, game—didn't matter.
“Stay hidden here a sec.”
Not to forgive past self—for the comrade before me.
“Be right back after cleaning up.”
Papasha in hand once more.