Chapter 31
Chapter 31
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 31
Chapter Title: It's Not a Self-Deprecating Stream
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“Does even a counselor like you have people you can’t get through to? I’m newlywed, but I can’t communicate with my husband.”
“It’s not an uncommon case, so don’t worry. If there was any special trigger, could you tell me about it?”
While Victoria was in the middle of confronting the sniper, Shin Ara was conducting counseling at her workplace.
It was such a gentle job—chipping away at her own heart to share with others—that it drained her mental energy considerably.
Shin Ara had walked a smooth, unbroken path of success throughout her life so far.
Her career climb had been so steep that the center director, who had known her for a long time, evaluated it as a “life traded love for success.”
But even an elite like Shin Ara had no choice but to focus solely on her client during sessions.
No matter how much she worried about the adorable Victoria, she couldn’t neglect another client.
Fortunately, in the stream she’d watched before the session, Victoria had been playing a healing game.
She’d only had time to block one chat before looking away, but the image of Victoria beaming about making Jeju Island kept circling in her mind.
Once the session ended, she’d relax by watching cute Victoria’s stream.
With that thought bringing a smile, Shin Ara refocused on her client.
She had no idea that Victoria was currently being sniped.
Kukudas had fallen behind in this incident due to a small misunderstanding.
* * *
“You want us to find the malicious user sniping the streamer, right?”
“Yes! Please, I beg you!”
Meanwhile, Hwarang—Sukka’s temporary manager—was struggling elsewhere.
Having witnessed Sukka getting sniped by a malicious viewer, he had rushed to the relevant department to seek help.
Fortunately, Sukka didn’t seem to be panicking.
Though she received more sensory data than most, no brutal data like before was being detected.
Even so, Hwarang moved immediately to help her.
Of course, as a developer, he was intrigued by Sukka’s sensory data, but seeing the sniper’s messages made it impossible to hold back.
“From the combat logs, it looks like this guy. Please handle the forced logout yourself, Hwarang-ssi. I don’t want to get sued by a user.”
“Yes! Thank you so much!”
But unfortunately, Hwarang was a game developer, not a game master (GM).
He knew how to log Sukka out, but that meant he didn’t know how to track down the sniper.
In the end, Hwarang had to go up and down the elevator three times to find someone who could help.
With the GM’s assistance, he managed to uncover the sniper’s ID, but it was quite a while after Sukka had been sniped.
In his urgency, he’d even left his smartphone behind, forcing him onto the elevator again.
To make matters worse, it was on such a high floor that he ended up sprinting up the emergency stairs at full speed.
《Khuy nya...》
『Khuy nya = human trash』
『Whoa... They say when Sukka swears in Russian, she’s seriously pissed...』
『That psycho bastard is done for fr』
『But is Sukka really okay????』
『Sukka, I can’t see... kill quick and turn the screen back on...』
『The sniper can’t see either right now, so he’s probably shitting bricks lol』
『That fucker needs summary execution, not Gulag, for real』
『What the hell are we doing over one retard...』
Returning to his seat and checking the stream, he found total chaos.
The screen feed was blocked—nothing visible—but the chat was exploding.
At that dizzying sight, Hwarang couldn’t help feeling faint.
He was the one who had lured Sukka to Frontline Archive, so guilt hit him as the hidden culprit of this incident.
This is all my fault. And I was too late to fix it. Should’ve logged her out from the start. Regrets like that ravaged his mind.
He felt like the worst person for getting involved just to snag some data.
“I’m the one who deserves to die...”
In the end, Hwarang had no choice but to type in the manager chat to clean things up now.
His haggard face, reflected in the pitch-black stream screen, wore an adorably pitiful frown that didn’t match his looks.
* * *
『Hwarang: So sorry for stepping away without a word.』
『Hwarang: It took time explaining your situation to the person in charge.』
『Hwarang: Can’t see the screen—are you okay?』
Hwarang’s chat popped up en route to the sniper.
But I ignored it completely, silently continuing the pursuit.
And for good reason—Hwarang was far too suspicious.
He was the one who’d led me to this area, and the moment the sniper appeared, his chat cut out. Naturally suspicious.
Plus, he only crawled back after the screen feed stopped. Seemed like he’d lost track of me and was anxious, reappearing to pinpoint my location.
My suspicion that Hwarang was the sniper’s main account wouldn’t fade.
I decided to take down one side first and accelerated the chase.
『Hwarang: Prep’s done—I can help right away.』
『Hwarang: Signal me, and I’ll force-logout the sniper user immediately.』
『Hwarang: Not recommended due to strain on the body, but I can force-logout you too, Sukka-ssi. Up to you—let me know if you see chat.』
“No. No need to help.”
I replied to shut him up, since he was acting like he was GM.
Forced logouts weren’t healthy for the brain anyway, so not even worth considering.
Besides, I could do a forced logout without GM help.
Just call Shin Ara begging to be saved, and she’d pry open my coffin lid.
Of course, no need for help dealing with the sniper either.
I didn’t trust Hwarang’s chat from the start, and right on cue, someone looking like the sniper entered my sight.
‘Heading exactly where I thought.’
The sniper was fleeing to the exact spot I’d predicted.
Decent body armor and helmet, yet running scared from me.
Hiding in the building for close quarters would’ve been his best play.
At this rate, the Mosin-Nagant wouldn’t even prove it was a good rifle before it ended.
‘Leg shot because of the vest.’
Taking cover in position, I aligned my sights right away.
Basic Mosin-Nagant with no scope, but we weren’t far, so no issue.
Of course, the fleeing guy might not be the sniper—just another player.
But no need to hesitate pulling the trigger.
Everyone in this area was my enemy anyway.
Shoot first, think later.
- Bang!!
“Kyaaak!!”
Familiar recoil, and the target screamed, collapsing.
Not that painful in-game, but the surprise hit caught him off guard.
I approached the crawling figure slowly.
Thigh penetrated clean—he couldn’t stand.
Blood trail stretched long into the shadowy alley.
Staying alert, I followed it.
- Bang!!
Once close enough, I smashed the sniper rifle first.
Likely had a sidearm, but no slacking on vigilance, so no counterattack worry.
Fortunately, no other shadows in sight on the way here.
Confirming safety once more, I approached while keeping aim.
If this wasn’t the sniper, things would get messy.
Had to ID him first.
“Hello?”
“......”
“The one who sniped me?”
“......”
No immediate answer to my questions.
Just prone and still, then belatedly twitching his head no.
Looked like someone hiding his face from me.
Wearing that weird poncho too, blocking any angle on his face.
But that awkward denial only confirmed it.
I pegged him as the sniper and called the temp manager Hwarang.
“Hwarang-ssi. Type in chat right now.”
『Hwarang: Huh?』
『Hwarang: Chat chat chatchatchat』
“Huh?”
Hwarang typed immediately at my request.
But the sniped guy with my gun on him didn’t twitch a finger.
Seemed sniper and Hwarang were different people.
Feeling bad for the misunderstanding, I apologized quickly.
“Ah... sorry. Must’ve been a mistake...”
『Hwarang: Huh? What misunderstanding?』
“I thought you were the sniper...”
『Hwarang: Th-that’s not me!!!!』
『Hwarang: I’m not a good guy, but this is unfair!!!』
『Hwarang: I was just explaining to the GM!!!』
“Ah, got it. I believe you...”
Guess Hwarang really was from Universe side.
Explains how he knew obscure Easter eggs solo.
Anyway, sniper subdued—incident over.
Ended anticlimactically than expected, but I didn’t mind, announcing to viewers.
“All done. Only got two shots off, but isn’t the Mosin-Nagant great?”
『Would’ve known if you showed us lol』
『Really done? Sniper dead? Sukka okay?』
『We only heard sounds—what’s great lololol』
『You’re not streaming screen rn...』
“Ah.”
『??: Let me tell you about the Mosin-Nagant (turns off screen feed)』
『Ddaengchimi too cute lololololol』
『Gotta turn off screen to avoid sniper lololol』
『No!!! Are YOU okay!!!』
“Sniper-ssi... I asked if the Mosin-Nagant’s good... why no answer...”
『Pretending to talk to sniper lololololol』
『Heuk lol so cute lolololololololol』
『Ffs lol can’t even meme cuz of what that sniper said lolol』
『Phew... seeing you dumb means you’re fine...』
“......”
I glared at the clueless sniper and restored the screen feed.
He was still face-down doge-style, hiding his face.
Anyone unaware would misunderstand the scene.
I was clearly the victim, yet somehow felt like the perpetrator.
“Why’d you do it?”
But mood aside, no forgiveness planned.
No plan to kill him quick either.
Make sure he never touches me again. Never snipes me again.
Like that Eastern Battlefield idiot who ambushed me—turn him into a warning for all.
“You know you messed up, right?”
No need for physical torment though.
This time I fought as Sukka, not Victoria.
Modern provocation demands modern response.
Luckily, I knew the perfect, fitting method.
“I’ll sue you.”
You’re sued.
Full-on... whatever lawsuit.
You bad person.