Chapter 24
Chapter 24
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 24
Chapter Title: Hero's Medal
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[Sukka: 28K / 0A / 0D]
[Ttalgwi: 0K / 0A / 1D]
“You have been recognized for your military achievements and selected as a hero, Sukka. Would it be alright to proceed with the medal ceremony right away?”
“Huh? Oh, no... You don’t have to...”
“Understood. In that case, we’ll just hand over the medal. Thank you for your dedication, Operator.”
“Ah, yeah. Thanks...”
When the game ended and we returned to the armory, the NPCs came out to greet us.
I thought something was up when they suddenly surrounded us like a gang of thugs, but it turned out they had prepared a full hero title ceremony with the medal presentation.
Of course, I made it clear I wanted no part in such an embarrassing ordeal.
Even if the war hero title felt nice, I just couldn’t stomach a grand ceremony for it.
I’d already been through medal ceremonies a few times on the Eastern Front.
Standing on stage as everyone gawked wasn’t just embarrassing—it was a real burden.
“Gasp! Why turn it down? People go to such lengths just to see a ceremony!”
“Oh. Then would you like to take my place, Ttalgwi?”
“......You’re teasing me about my zero kills, right?”
“Th-that wasn’t what I meant. Sorry...”
I hung my head and fiddled with the medal in my hand.
Thankfully, it seemed like she was just joking too, as Ttalgwi giggled and sidled up next to me.
Still, I didn’t like the look of this medal one bit.
With its gold star and red ribbon, it looked way too much like a Soviet Gold Star Medal.
I remembered trading mine away for vodka to give to Irina.
The fond yet sorrowful memory brought a bitter smile to my lips.
“Ah! I’ll pin it on for you.”
As I stood there, Ttalgwi leaned in, looking at me.
I had no intention of wearing the medal around like a badge of honor, but her bright smile left me no choice but to nod.
Soon, Ttalgwi took the medal and stared intently at my chest.
Since I wasn’t in uniform, she seemed unsure where to attach it.
“Hehe. So cute.”
It didn’t look like she was pondering at all.
“What is...”
“Your chest— I mean your plate carrier! Y-your plate carrier is cute!”
“......”
My mental rating of Ttalgwi dropped a notch.
I couldn’t believe even her teasing reminded me of Irina.
“Ah! I-I mean! I was just stumped on where to put it! For real!”
“Because it’s small?”
“No, no! Pinning it on a windbreaker would look weird, right? But the plate carrier feels off too!”
“You don’t have to pin it at all. I don’t really need it.”
“No way! We can’t do that! Oh yeah, I promised to buy you another uniform too, didn’t I? Let’s get you a new one first. I messed up, so please let me treat you!”
“......”
I got dragged along by Ttalgwi’s grip, trudging behind her.
The chat filled with consolations and sexual harassment, leaving me feeling down for no reason.
With my duckbill pout sticking out, we ended up at a familiar military outfitter.
It was the exact same shop where Ttalgwi and the viewers had forced “tactical dolphin pants” on me.
Fortunately, the viewers weren’t pushing to strip me this time.
They must have felt bad after seeing me covered in blood from those short shorts.
[User donated 10,000 coins!]
[But sailor uniforms were originally military uniforms.]
Guess they weren’t that sorry after all.
“I’ll just wear a normal uniform.”
I decided to take the initiative here.
It was because that oblivious donor was starting to influence the other viewers.
Ttalgwi, who had been eyeing me up and down, nodded.
She seemed ready to side with me this time.
“That sounds good. Do you have any of those uniforms you saw earlier?”
“This one.”
I pointed at a uniform set from the product list without hesitation.
It was a uniform I really didn’t want to wear—one far too familiar to me.
“Uh... That doesn’t look like a normal uniform...”
“Isn’t this the most normal one?”
“That’s a Soviet uniform... Mosin-Nagant, Papasha... Sukka, did you come from the Eastern Front or something?”
“......”
Her sharp question hit too close to home, leaving me speechless.
She was obviously joking, but it still stung a little.
The viewers’ chat was no slouch either.
I glanced at the rapidly scrolling chat window.
『lololol Soviet army concept?』
『But didn’t they say Sukka was Russian?』
『Suddenly getting that red vibe... super suspicious...』
『Say ‘Stalin’s a bastard’』
“Stalin’s a bastard?”
『Phew... Not red vibe, just red flavor...』
『I believe you. You’re a concept nutjob alright.』
『No lololol she can like Soviet stuff lololol』
『Just wear it lololol why act all sneaky lololol』
Fortunately, the viewers’ suspicions died down quickly.
I had no idea why I was under suspicion in the first place, but at least wearing a Soviet uniform wouldn’t cause issues.
Naturally, cursing Stalin didn’t bother me either.
After all, I’d sworn at the old man to his face before. In Korean, sure, because I was a bit scared.
“Y-you’re really going with that?”
“Yeah. It’s better than what I have on now.”
“Ugh... You’re making it impossible to argue... Fine... I’ll buy it, so try it on...”
“Thanks. I’ll go change.”
I grabbed the uniform set from the NPC and headed to the changing room.
It was a full kit: top and bottom, boots, and even a coat.
Doing this felt just like checking into basic training.
Not the fondest memory, so I shook my head to clear it.
『Show us too!!!!!』
『Changing room means no view anyway lololol』
『I’m ready, volume maxed』
『Sukka changing ASMR oof lololol』
“I’ll turn off the stream and mute for a bit again.”
『No!!!!!!!!!!!!!!』
『Goddamn clueless idiots, that’s what you say now?』
『My world’s crumbling......』
『Sukkaya where are you... I can’t see... I can’t hear anything...』
Like last time, I made sure everything was secure before starting to remove my gear.
Even if it was for immersion, having to change like this was just uncomfortable.
I unfastened my plate carrier, took off the windbreaker, and ditched the utterly non-tactical dolphin pants.
Now half-naked, I gave a wry smile at the cute bra that wouldn’t come off no matter what.
Game mechanics meant underwear stayed on through anything.
I could feel the developers’ dilemma between immersion and fanservice.
‘At least it’s warm.’
Thanks to it, I finally understood why past Victoria had bought a chest wrap.
Amazed at discovering the bra’s purpose after four years, I picked up the uniform.
Brand new, stiff Soviet uniform—even I hadn’t worn one fresh like this.
True to a design I’d donned and doffed hundreds of times, it went on in seconds.
“Huh?”
But something felt off about the fit once it was all on.
Unlike the ragged sackcloth I’d worn before, this felt comfortable.
Panicking a bit, I looked at the full-length mirror nearby.
There I was, looking awkward yet sharp.
“The size...”
It was obviously a different size at a glance.
Not the patched-up Eastern Front uniform I’d barely squeezed into—this was tailored perfectly for me.
I raised my arms experimentally: no cold draft. I jumped in place: pants stayed put. Even better, the fabric that used to get damp and freeze was soft and fluffy.
Not cold despite the uniform, no chafing no matter how I moved.
I started doubting if this was the uniform I knew.
“It was... this nice...?”
Tasting such comfort sparked a sense of betrayal.
I felt immense resentment toward whoever hadn’t bothered making me a proper size.
That old man who’d treated me like a hero with just one dress uniform.
The one who’d asked me not to fight in it.
“Stalin Suka...”
I shouldn’t have chickened out when I met him.
Should’ve just charged and taken us both out.
The Russian curses I’d held back that day finally spilled out—belatedly, of course.
Though with Ttalgwi outside the changing room, I didn’t shout them.
“Ah! Sukka! All dressed?”
“Yeeah...”
Fully geared up, I stepped out, and Ttalgwi rushed over.
I restored video and audio for the viewers banging on the door.
The moment they saw my uniform, praises and exclamations exploded.
“Wow! You’re seriously so cute!”
『Red Su-kka』
『Hm lololol not bad lololol』
『Try on a Papasha too lololol』
[User donated 1,000 coins!]
[Attention! You too!!!]
『She looks like she chugs vodka lololol』
『Ditch the helmet for an ushanka lololol』
『So freaking cute lololol』
[User donated 1,000 coins!]
[Sukka comrade?]
『Comraaaade lololololololololol』
『Say something, Sukka comrade』
『Why’s she pouting like that lolololololol』
Being treated like a doll made my duckbill pout stick out again.
Overwhelmed by gloom, injustice, and embarrassment, I had no choice but to call it quits.
“I think I’ll stop here for today...”
“H-huh... Why? Don’t like the uniform? Want a different one?”
“No... I like the uniform...”
“Huh? Then what’s wrong......”
My four years of discomfort had been due to the uniform size.
Realizing that left me feeling incredibly wronged, but wearing a perfect-fitting one wasn’t all bad.
Look at me now—anyone could see I looked sharp.
Not quite Lyudmila level, but enough charisma to overpower Irina.
So why was everyone calling me cute?
Doesn’t this look cool?
“You’re all teasing me...”
“Huh? N-no, we’re not! You’re really cute...”
“I’m not cute.”
I couldn’t accept it.