Chapter 39
Chapter 39
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 39
Chapter Title: This Isn't a Self-Deprecating Broadcast
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『We almost had a broadcast meltdown lolololol』
『Ttalgwi, nice cover lolololol』
『If you'd actually touched it, you'd be coughing up blood for real ㄷㄷ』
【User ㅇㅇ donated 1,000 coins!】
〔Ghost-ham, long time no see lolololol〕
『Lololol now it's Ghost sis?』
『Forced neutering surgery is too scary lololol』
『Sis lolololololololol』
My reunion with Ghost was truly the worst.
Not in a horrific way, but in the most embarrassing way possible.
To publicly wreck a perfectly healthy guy's manhood.
Of course, since it was just a game, it wasn't a serious issue, but the viewers were all hyped up.
= “I'll go down alone! Everyone else stay hidden!”
Right then, Ttalgwi burst out of the building they'd been using for cover.
She was rushing over solo, probably to avoid exposing our team's positions.
It was a perfectly flawless decision, but unfortunately, the situation didn't allow for praise.
I felt so sorry for Ghost, who was grimacing, that I couldn't help but glance awkwardly at him.
“Sukka! You okay?”
“I-I'm fine... but Ghost...”
“Ahh...”
“Could Ttalgwi maybe heal him...?”
“Ugh, even I can't do that...”
Of all the luck, both medics were streamers, making it impossible to handle.
No, even if we weren't streaming, treating it would've been way too awkward.
If it were a minor injury, a stim pack would've done the trick, but Ghost's crucial area was obviously a critical wound at a glance.
You couldn't exactly rip his pants open, spray hemostatic agent, and wrap it in bandages.
I'd never considered how ordinary games prioritize dignity over life.
Looks like in Frontline Archive, the 'Leg Meta' counted as poor manners.
“Did I maybe do something bad...?”
I fidgeted with my fingers, showing my unease.
Sure, I wasn't kind enough to care about the enemy's dignity, but since it was an acquaintance I'd shot, it felt like a mistake.
Ttalgwi gave an awkward smile, and Ghost squeezed his eyes shut.
They both seemed to find the situation awkward too.
“I-It wasn't really poor manners, so don't worry! Shooting there doesn't get you flamed or anything. Right, Ghost?”
“Yes. It's not poor manners. But it does hurt my feelings a bit.”
“If you hit there, medics refuse to heal. It's too embarrassing for them, so they just let you die. That's why everyone avoids it implicitly. Plus, shooting other spots is more efficient anyway. Right, Ghost?”
“Correct. No need to specifically target the lower body. But stop pointing at 'there' with your finger. I'll report you for in-game sexual harassment.”
“Argh! Don't make this more complicated!”
“Urk... K-Kicking a combat-incapacitated person is poor manners, though...”
Ttalgwi, who'd kicked Ghost, hurriedly covered my eyes.
She probably didn't want me seeing something embarrassing.
That left only the chat window in my view.
I tugged at my sleeve, taking in the viewers' messages.
『Honestly, been waiting for a scene like this lololol』
『No one warning her when she said she was aiming for the crotch was hilarious af lololol』
『Fact: With any other gun, shooting the legs is a disadvantage』
『No way she actually nailed that spot precisely lolol』
【User ㅇㅇ donated 1,000 coins!】
〔But shooting dick shots makes Papasha look usable?〕
『What? 'Usable'?』
『Huh? Was Papasha ever bad?』
『Ugh! My head suddenly hurts!』
『Papasha is OP! Papasha is OP! Papasha is OP! Papasha is OP! Papasha is OP!』
Looks like the viewers knew but played dumb.
Their annoying unity only in moments like this made my duck lips pout involuntarily.
Still, hearing it wasn't poor manners was welcome news.
A bit embarrassing, but it let me confirm Papasha's potential to some degree.
With that, I lowered Ttalgwi's hand to hear from the victim too.
Then, crouching beside Ghost, I asked apologetically.
“D-Does it hurt?”
“No. Just stiff, tingling, and hot. Game sensations replacing pain.”
“You seem kinda mad...”
“Not at all. Just a reflexive shock as a man.”
“Th-Then... if it's not rude, can I ask a few things?”
“Go ahead. Boil me, roast me, do as you please.”
Ghost, who still looked pissed no matter how I saw it, nodded.
Maybe it was lucky the survivor was Ghost.
Anyone else would've assumed I was mocking them and cursed me out.
Watching Ghost pale more by the second, I hurried with my questions.
“How'd you move after the leg shot? You were the only one returning fire.”
“I'd popped painkillers beforehand. Take them before engaging to prevent injury slowdowns. Useless if you're combat-ineffective like now, though.”
“Ah... Do a lot of people pre-pop painkillers?”
“Top players do when they can. Some hunt medics for them. But short duration, not worth fussing over.”
“If it wasn't a flank but a head-on fight, would it have been different?”
“I might've had a chance. But even head-on, I'd die. Instinctively flinch when hit there. And even if I survived, no medic would heal me.”
“Th-Thanks for answering... Clears up all my questions...”
Hearing Ghost out made the leg meta's pros and cons crystal clear.
Unfortunately, it had the con of being 'dishonorable,' but the pros were worth shamelessly grabbing.
Poor manners-adjacent play or not, what wouldn't I do for Papasha?
I'd decided to slap some thick skin on my face for Papasha's reputation rehab.
Now it was time to spread the word on Papasha and the leg meta.
After getting Ghost's okay, I spoke to everyone.
“S-Squadmates and viewers, you all get it now, right? Aim for the lower body with Papasha like this.”
『Hmm... Wasn't it just Sukka being a good shot?』
『You saying that looking at Ghost sis?!』
『Can you explain what's so good about it?』
“First, hitting legs restricts movement. Even with painkillers, they can't move normally. Slowed enemies are easier to hit, right? Higher lethality follows naturally.”
『Sure, that makes sense.』
『But in that time, another gun could've chest-shot...』
『Keep going lolololol』
“And leg shots ignore body armor. No matter how tanky their vest, it's useless. You're shooting the unarmored lower body anyway.”
『Ooh... That's valid.』
『So piercing guns to the chest...』
『Definitely an advantage against any armored foe.』
“Plus, hitting between the legs causes instinctive flinching. A gap mid-fight is deadly. And medics refusing treatment is huge. Even if you lose the fight, you've neutralized them.”
『No-heal debuff ㄷㄷㄷㄷ』
『Sukka... Isn't that too dirty...?』
『She doesn't know men's pain ㅜㅜ』
『Let's not shoot there humanely lololol』
『But if Sukka shoots your dick, isn't it a reward?』
┗ Chat blocked and deleted.
“W-War has no room for 'dirty'... Thinking like that is problematic...”
I laid out all the leg meta's advantages first.
It was a tactic I'd thought up for Papasha rehab, but anyone could see its clear edges.
Sure, it had plenty of downsides, but no need to volunteer those.
When selling something, you slyly hide the flaws, after all.
Sharp-eyed viewers poked holes in my claims.
But even if inefficient, its potential was real, so most accepted it lightheartedly.
“And the gun that fits this tactic best is Papasha. You all saw me shoot, so you can't deny it.”
『Sukka, does it have to be Papasha specifically?』
『Can you tell us why you're pushing it so hard?』
『These guys turned nice fearing the Gulag lolol』
“Papasha's fire rate is insanely fast. Lets you dump tons of bullets into legs quick. Kills come way faster than other guns.”
『Papasha's 1000rpm is nuts lol』
『Yeah, dropped three in no time.』
『What? Why's it sounding better?』
“Above all, Papasha has the 71-round drum mag. More ammo means more kills. I downed three with one mag. Hard with other guns.”
『For leg spam, Papasha's ideal.』
『Where does Tactical Papasha Snowball roll to next lolol』
『Nerf legacy Papasha pls』
┗ Chat blocked and deleted.
“No nerfs.”
Next, I gave evidence why Papasha suited the leg meta.
It shines with Papasha. Implant that idea to fix Papasha's image.
Maybe 'Papasha Leg Meta' would trend in Frontline Archive.
Hiding none of my excitement, I looked around expectantly.
“It definitely warrants research... As someone who's been hit, I admit its power...”
Ghost spoke in a dying voice.
Victim or not, his frank admission was so manly.
Felt like I owed him big today.
I nodded, thanking him.
“Thanks so much. Papasha's happy too.”
“Good to hear. Please spread Papasha's terror to others. Otherwise, I'll be too wronged to sleep.”
“Huh? Oh, sure... Sleep well, no worries...”
“But did you come up with this tactic, Sukka? Any official name?”
I shook my head at Ghost's question.
Leg meta was an old FPS tradition.
But it faded with VR games.
No need to stick to 'leg meta,' so I decided to crowdsource a new-gen name.
Who knows?
Maybe it'd be dubbed the cool 'Papasha Meta'?
“It's an old FPS trend. But I want a Frontline Archive fitting name. Personally, 'Papasha Meta,' what do you all think?”
I gazed around pleadingly for agreement.
Then Ghost, Ttalgwi, and viewers tossed out names.
“How about Dignity Murder Meta?”
“Ghost is pissed... Just plain Sukka Meta?”
『Castration Meta?』
『Dick Meta lololol』
『Period Meta go lololol』
I scowled, showing my discomfort.
Couldn't fathom why no one linked leg meta to Papasha.
Then, a high-donation popped in the quiet sponsor window.
The message was so shocking, I couldn't help but grimace.
【User ㅇㅇ donated 50,000 coins!】
〔Period Meta〕
“Ah... Why would you...”
『Insane dude lololololololol』
『Knew it'd come lololol』
『50k to call that out lolol』
“N-No. There was already a name: Leg Meta. Let's go with that...”
『Whoa... Ignoring 50k ㄷㄷ』
『Ttalgwi screamed for 50k...』
『How much to make it stick?』
“......”
This'd really cement it as Period Meta.
As a last resort, I brought up Mom.
“Keep it up and I'll tell the manager...”
Silence fell over chat.