Chapter 29
Chapter 29
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 29
Chapter Title: Not a Self-Deprecating Stream
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The place where I’d spawned was an outlying district packed with old-fashioned buildings.
They looked like they’d taken a bombing run or two, crumbling here and there, but that distinctly Eastern European vibe was still fully intact.
Leningrad. Stalingrad. Familiar scenery that naturally brought names like those to mind.
I couldn’t help but curse the developer who’d decided to hide an Easter egg in a place like this.
Why hadn’t I put it together when they mentioned Comrade Vasily, the Soviets, and the Eastern front?
Even if I had known about the operation zone, it probably wouldn’t have changed anything, but I still felt like an idiot for overlooking something so obvious.
“Then we’ll pull back for now! Praying for the operator’s safe return!”
“Ah! W-Wait a sec!”
As I was taking in my surroundings, the armored car’s driver called out his goodbye.
I startled and reached out a hand, but the vehicle just peeled out without a backward glance.
In the end, I was left alone with no weapons, and my mind started going blank.
I’d already steeled myself for this, but now that it was real, it all felt hopelessly overwhelming.
『Huh? Is she revving up again already?』
『Patient, look here!!!!!!!』
『Hold onto your sanity this time, please』
『What’s up with her? Why’s the chat vibe like this?』
Fortunately, the viewers’ chat was still coming through crystal clear.
If I panicked, my vision would narrow like last time, but as long as I avoided getting hit square in the trauma, I should be fine.
That said, the viewers who’d been teasing me just moments ago now felt a bit softer somehow.
They were probably worried I’d spiral into panic again like before.
Come to think of it, our viewers did have this warm, human side to them.
I gave them a faint smile and assured them I was okay.
“This time should be fine. Thanks for worrying about me, everyone.”
『You said the same thing two days ago and went nuts...』
『Better not let your guard down just in case』
『Why not just log out and wait for Ttalgwi to wake up?』
“Wait for Ttalgwi? Can I even log out right now?”
『Nah, system won’t let you these days』
『They patched it because too many abusers were bailing mid-game』
『Gotta hit an evac point or die, that’s it』
“Ah...”
I’d gotten my hopes up for a second, but escaping wasn’t an option, it seemed.
No system logout meant my choices were suicide or pushing forward.
But even in a game, suicide wasn’t something to take lightly.
I had zero intention of offing myself stone-cold sober, so forward it was.
『Hwarang: Viewers seem really worried. Is there some special circumstance?』
Just then, Hwarang, who’d been quietly observing, chimed in via manager chat.
He must’ve been a new viewer from the community, unaware of my PTSD.
This seemed like a good time to lay it all out for everyone again.
So I explained the PTSD thing for Hwarang and the newbies.
“Ah... I’ve got war PTSD, so FPS games terrify me. I started Frontline Archive as part of my therapy, but I keep flashing back to my trauma and panicking. That’s why you guys are worried—you saw the last stream. Sorry for explaining so late to the newcomers.”
My honest confession drew silence from the new viewers and words of comfort from the regulars.
Moments later, acting manager Hwarang fired off a frantic message riddled with typos.
『Hwarang: Is that really true??』
『Hwarang: Had no idea about your situation.』
『Hwarang: So sorry for recommending Frontline Archive without looking into it properly.』
“No, no, it’s fine. You just told me about Tactical Papasha. No lies there, so no need to apologize.”
『Hwarang: Never lied. The Easter egg and Tactical Papasha are real.』
『Hwarang: Still, I’m truly sorry for being careless and insensitive.』
『Hwarang: If you start panicking, I’ll do everything I can to help.』
“Ah... Yeah, thanks.”
He was apologizing even though he hadn’t done anything wrong—seemed like a good guy.
No clue how he’d actually help, but the sentiment alone was enough to earn my genuine thanks.
But what Hwarang needed to help with wasn’t panic—it was directions.
I figured we’d better wrap this up quick before anything went wrong, so I asked him.
“So, where to from here?”
『Hwarang: You okay right now?』
“Yeah. I’m good, so guide me.”
『Hwarang: Got it. Head to the city center. Follow the road straight ahead.』
“Got it.”
Nodding, I started moving for real.
Tall buildings lined both sides of the wide road, so I proceeded cautiously, unsure where bullets might come flying from.
Never step into open areas. Stick to cover. Keep scanning surroundings.
All ingrained habits, but they slowed me down—no helping it.
The more points of concern, the sharper my nerves got.
To avoid dying, I had to stay tense, but too tense and the PTSD would kick in—a brutal tightrope walk that dragged on.
『Lol, cover play proㅋㅋㅋ』
『Not gonna run into players since she’s barely moved since spawn』
『Hardly any NPCs around here, super safe』
Luckily, survival mode’s vibe was cold and quiet, unlike conquest.
Extraction shooter nature meant other players were playing it safe too, it seemed.
No one’s invincible, even with top gear, and dying means losing everything you’re wearing.
With losses that clear-cut, caution was the rational play, game or not.
For unarmed me, it was a welcome breather.
I was prime bait right now—had to stay hidden till I scored a weapon.
『Box over there, not looting?』
『That oil drum you passed? Sells for bank...』
『ㅋㅋㅋ Advice squad assemble』
“Oil drums? Nah, don’t need ’em... Not here to make money...”
『Still, stock up on meds at least』
『Building to your right? Decent loot spot』
『Objective-blind scrap collectorsㅋㅋㅋ』
“Ah, hold up. Someone’s coming from ahead.”
Taking viewer tips as I went, my vigilant eyes caught movement.
We’d reached the city center somehow—gunfire echoed sporadically now.
Every NPC and player in the op zone was my enemy.
Remembering that, I ducked straight into a nearby vehicle.
“Gde yest’ kiska?”
“Brat’ plennykh.”
The approaching foes soon came into view through the window.
Good thing I’d reacted fast—no detection. But their conversation froze me solid.
Enemies speaking Russian? And such vulgar crap? No idea.
If they spotted me here, my dignity was toast—my heart plummeted.
I held my breath, curling tight under the back seat.
Bare-handed against two? Impossible. Best bet: pray they passed without noticing.
Finally, their crude banter faded along with their footsteps.
Only then did I exhale in relief and check chat.
『Sukka! They’re gone! Breathe!』
『Hey!!!! Snap out of it!!!!』
『Time for last-resort donations again?』
“Th-they’re gone? Safe now?”
『Phew... Still in one piece...』
『Yeah, probably safe now』
『Players, not NPCs, so no worries』
“Haa... So glad they didn’t spot me... Russian out of nowhere threw me off...”
『Eastern front, so NPCs speak Russian』
『Oh yeah, Sukka’s from that regionㅋㅋㅋㅋ』
『Translate what they said? Always wondered』
“Tr-translate? It’s bad stuff, probably shouldn’t...”
『Your nickname’s bad news already?』
『ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ』
『Must’ve been swearingㅋㅋㅋㅋ』
【ㅇㅇ donated 1,000 coins!】
〔Don’t translate now and I’ll do bad things too〕
“Ah...”
The follow-up donation pulled a sigh from me.
Couldn’t fathom paying to hear filth.
But the donor wasn’t backing down till I translated.
Sighing, I softened it as much as possible.
“They wanna catch a female POW and... do awful things to her...”
A fear I’d always dreaded—left a bitter taste.
Never happened to me, but countless comrades had died that way.
Eastern front women carried suicide grenades to protect their honor.
I’d kept one in my chest pocket too, so even NPC lines hit too real—no joking matter.
Viewers, though, took it as raunchy banter.
My hesitant translation sparked a wave of “cute” reactions in chat.
『Awful thingsㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ』
『‘Sukka’ too pure to say bad words, adorableㅋㅋㅋ』
『NPCs have zero filterㅋㅋㅋ』
“R-really bad stuff, don’t repeat it...”
『We wouldn’t know how to pronounce it anywayㅋㅋㅋㅋ』
『Only Russian swear we know is sukaㅋㅋㅋ』
『But is suka actually a swear?』
“......No clue, it’s not a word I know.”
Calming the viewers, I quietly stood up.
Couldn’t hide forever—time to move again.
Peeking out: all clear.
Confirming safety, I reached for the door.
- Thunk—
But that instant,
- Bang!!
The vehicle punched through with a crack, gunfire echoing from somewhere.
“Eek!”
Sniper ambush—I reflexively huddled down.
Missed, thank god, but my heart raced wild.
Sound lagged, so long-range shot for sure.
Too many buildings to pinpoint the sniper.
Chatting with viewers had lulled my guard—fatal mistake.
Should’ve bolted on first shot; now trapped inside.
【ㅇㅇ donated 1,000 coins!】
〔No sugarcoating, translate properly〕
Then, as chat scrolled away, a donation popped up.
Desperate not to panic, I latched onto the message.
But I’d grabbed a snake by the tail, not a lifeline.
Sticky obsession oozed from the barrage.
【ㅇㅇ donated 1,000 coins!】
〔Told you I’d do bad things〕
“......”
【ㅇㅇ donated 1,000 coins!】
〔Translate right if you wanna live〕
Shock and betrayal chilled my head.
The sniper with me in their sights... was watching the stream.