Chapter 47
Chapter 47
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 47
Chapter Title: It's Not a Self-Deprecating Broadcast
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“Really, that was delicious. I ate so well.”
“Hehe, look at that tummy—nice and full. Makes cooking for you all worthwhile.”
We finished the meal and rose from the table.
I patted my belly, and sure enough, it was nicely rounded out.
Not leaving any food behind made my heart swell with pride, just like my tummy.
Finally wrapping up today's Ura Charge felt reassuring.
But to fully relax, I had to clean up every trace of the meal.
I gathered up a stack of plates and carefully headed to the sink.
“Rest for a bit. I'll do the dishes.”
“Huh? No, I'll handle it. You can't even reach properly.”
“I'm not *that* short...”
“Won't your T-shirt get wet again? You just changed. I'll knock it out quick.”
“......”
I narrowed my eyes and looked up at Shin Ara.
She didn't seem to notice my expression, so it probably wasn't meant to tease.
Which meant she was just stating facts, plain and simple.
Feeling even more pathetic, I trudged to the bed and flopped down face-first.
“Won't lying down right after eating make you gain weight?”
“Gotta gain some weight if I want to grow taller...”
“Pfft, Victoria, you're the cutest right now.”
“......”
Her innocent, brutal honesty drained all my strength.
I turned my head slightly and glanced sideways. My reflection stared back from the coffin lid.
A girl sprawled across a single bed like it was a twin.
No matter how far I stretched my legs, they were adorably stubby.
And the fact that I had no chance of growing made the gloom deepen.
Unlike Shin Ara's wistful regret, my growth had already peaked.
“I wanna be tall...”
Truth be told, until yesterday, I hadn't given up on growing.
Every morning, I'd stretch my arms and legs as far as they'd go. Even with insomnia, I'd try to sleep early at night.
But playing Frontline Archive today made me realize something.
The Mosin-Nagant and PPSh. Those two guns felt so familiar in length.
No awkwardness slinging them over my shoulder, no discomfort aiming and firing.
In short, my current height matched what it was on the Eastern Front.
“Haven't grown a single bit in four years...”
That realization made me resent past Victoria a little for slacking on growth.
She must've become the character model about four years ago, meaning I was stuck with a middle schooler's body.
Part of me wanted to summon past Victoria and make her do stretches.
Living the rest of my life in a middle schooler's body was just depressing.
“Victoria? What're you thinking about so hard?”
Shin Ara asked as she wiped water from her hands.
She wasn't exaggerating about finishing quick—the dishes were done in a flash.
I rolled toward the wall, and she lay down beside me with a smile.
Lying next to the epitome of tall and busty only amplified my misery.
“Just... I wanna be tall like you, Shin Ara.”
“......Shin Ara?”
“Uh, um... I mean, I envy you, sis...”
“Hehe, just envious of my height?”
“What else would I envy?”
“Boobs?”
“Pass.”
Boobs? Really not envious.
Ones that big would probably be a hassle.
“I was tall even back in high school. You could still grow more, Victoria.”
“But... it already feels too late...”
“Eat well and sleep early to grow nice and tall. So eat properly from now on.”
“......”
I stared at her, wondering if she was serious.
But she just smiled softly, giving no hint it was a joke.
Come to think of it, Shin Ara tended to treat me like a kid.
With a flicker of hope, I asked quietly.
“Ara sis... do you maybe not know my age?”
“Huh?”
“I may look like this, but I'm an adult...”
“Oh.”
She flinched and froze at my words.
She'd only just remembered I was an adult woman.
I couldn't believe she'd actually thought I was a minor.
Dumbfounded, I poked her side repeatedly.
“Did you think I was a minor?”
“S-Sorry... I knew, but I just... slipped...”
“So you were calling me cute *because* you thought I was a minor?”
“Gasp! No! Absolutely not!”
“Fine... I'm an adult, so I'm not cute at all...”
“Ahh... don't be like that... really, nooo...”
I turned away toward the wall, pretending to be super sulky.
Then I grabbed my smartphone from the nightstand and fiddled with it, signaling don't talk to me.
Just then, a message popped up.
It was Ttalgwi's reply—I'd messaged her during dinner.
[Ttalgwi: ? So this is Sukka's number!!]
[Ttalgwi: I'm taking a break to eat dinner right now?]
[Ttalgwi: Sukka, you eat yet? What'd you have? ?]
[Ttalgwi: ? I'm going for soy sauce egg fried rice!!]
The messages brimmed with energy.
I froze, unsure where to even start replying.
Then Shin Ara snuggled against my back, acting all cutesy.
The soft, squishy sensation against my back twisted my expression oddly.
“I wouldn't like you *because* you're young... Victoria's so kind and cute...”
“Ah, it's fine. Just kidding. But yeah, I'm not cute.”
“You mad? Forgive me since I messed up?”
“Not mad. It was really just a joke.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. Anyway, check this out—Ttalgwi messaged.”
I rolled back over, and we peered at the phone together.
It might be rude to Ttalgwi, but Shin Ara wasn't the impolite type, so it seemed okay.
Shin Ara rested her head on my shoulder after reading.
But her next words were more shocking than expected.
“People who use tons of emotes are supposed to have strong libidos...”
“Uh, what?”
“Knew it.”
“......”
Her sudden hostility left me speechless.
I stared at her with a what-the-hell expression.
She just grinned, urging me to reply quick.
Caught off guard, I started typing a response to Ttalgwi.
[Me: My manager made me......]
“Victoria? It's a private chat, so 'sis' is fine, right?”
[Me: I had soy sauce pork belly my manager sis made. It was so good.]
“Yes! Perfect!”
Her unexpected advice forced me to edit.
But seeing her so thrilled didn't feel bad.
Ttalgwi replied lightning-fast.
She must keep her phone glued to her side.
[Ttalgwi: Sis?????]
[Ttalgwi: Kukudas the manager is a real woman?]
[Ttalgwi: ?But why not call me sis tooㅜㅜ]
[Ttalgwi: I wanna be Sukka's sis too!!]
Earlier she wanted me to call her mom, now demands changed.
First time's the hardest, though—could call her sis easily enough.
But Shin Ara's expression next to me was worrying.
She looked ready to pout hard the moment I called Ttalgwi sis.
Hesitating on the reply, luckily Ttalgwi messaged first.
I sighed in relief and checked the phone.
[Ttalgwi: ?But is it true Kukudas was a Mental Illness Gallery mod?]
[Ttalgwi: Figures—she stirred up my stream like a pro?]
[Ttalgwi: ?Spamming endless question marks was kinda scaryㄷㄷ]
[Ttalgwi: Still, no one's as manager-savvy as a Mental Illness Gallery mod! Sukka, you're blessed with people? We're besties now?]
I glanced up at Shin Ara, feeling the weight on my shoulder.
She wore an awkward smile, teeth gritted.
Felt like I'd connected people who shouldn't meet.
Panicking at the inexplicable tension, I mediated hastily.
[Me: Thanks to manager sis, I got close to you, Ttalgwi. She suggested we game together. So please get along, you two.]
[Ttalgwi: ?Gasp! Really? Gotta thank her later!]
I fired off the reply quick to handle Ttalgwi first.
If delayed, she'd probably pivot topics anyway.
Then I looked up at Shin Ara, meeting her eyes.
Her pout softened into a smile.
Couldn't pinpoint why, but she clearly disliked Ttalgwi.
Feeling like a shrimp caught in a whale fight, I cautiously pleaded.
“You two can't fight...”
“H-Huh? Why would I fight her...”
“Not 'her'—Ttalgwi...”
“Oh...”
“Do you maybe not like Ttalgwi, Ara sis?”
“N-No, it's not that!”
“Comrades should get along... I'd love if you two did...”
“Ah, yeah... we'll get along... sorry for acting childish...”
“No, it's okay.”
Thankfully, Kukudas reverted to her sweet self.
Couldn't check Ttalgwi's side, but their overlap was minimal anyway.
Then Ttalgwi messaged again.
I read it with Shin Ara to soothe her mood.
[Ttalgwi: ?Oh yeah, Sukka, check Frontline Archive Gallery?]
[Ttalgwi: Everyone's busy praising you~]
[Ttalgwi: With ex-Mental Illness Gallery mod there, peek together?]
[Ttalgwi: Galleries are dangerous—never go alone!]
Her sudden community nudge piqued my curiosity.
But 'Mental Illness Gallery mod' title intrigued most.
Shin Ara flinched every time Ttalgwi said it.
I casually opened Frontline Archive Gallery and asked her.
“You were really a Mental Illness Gallery mod?”
“U-Uh?! No?!”
“No need to lie. It's not embarrassing.”
“It... kinda is...”
“You're too nice to lie well anyway, Ara sis.”
“Ugh! I-It was just temporary! They threatened to ban me if I didn't!”
Just get banned then?
The thought crossed my mind, but I wisely kept quiet.
Everyone has things they can't bear to lose.
Reminding myself, I turned to Frontline Archive Gallery.
A eye-catching featured post had just gone up.
Title with 'PPSh'—polite to click.
[Author: ㅇㅇ]
[Title: PPSh Leg Meta is legit good]
(Photo of Sukka shouldering tactical PPSh)
Honestly, thought Sukka's leg meta explanation was useless while listening?
Just use good guns and it's solved—why PPSh and shoot legs?
But leg meta in survival mode not conquest? Practicality OP af
Full gear melts if you hit legs, and skipping vests means clean loot
Gonna grab tactical PPSh rnㄱㄱ
━ Hmm... that good?
━ Why not MP9 for leg meta? Better RoF, penetration, stopping power than PPSh?
┗ Gulag you
┗ MP9 no 71-round mag, tough
┗ Oh... PPSh has hi-cap mag...
┗ Sukka's PPSh build nutsㄷㄷ
━ But don't leg meta unless you're Sukka—feels dirty getting done
┗ Not bm play tho?
┗ Feel good hairy uncle leg pubes?
┗ Castration metaㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
┗ Only Sukka does it for rewardㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
┗ Period metaㅋㅋㅋㅋ
━ Leg meta legit breathes life into SMGs no?
┗ ㄹㅇSMGs were trash til Sukka CPR'd em
┗ Got Sukka's CPR? Fml collapsing now
“Oh...”
Users acknowledging leg meta's strength, diving into research.
Community rough around edges, but content thrilled me.
Felt like I was leading Frontline Archive's meta—smile crept up.
Rare all-praise reactions boosted my confidence.
I clicked Shin Ara's recommended next post too.
Galleries had that addictive pull on eyes and time.
[Author: ㅇㅇ]
[Title: Sukka << Straight-up God of War]
(Clip of Sukka charging enemies)
Leader who planned/executed 'Sickle and Hammer' smacking Manstein in new map
Frontliner in Ura Charge from start, sole survivor dominating battlefield
Wins battle yet cries for allies—gentle charisma too
Sukka cute, pretty, kind, squishy, hot af?
Bs, play one with Sukka and you're fan 100%
━ You're one of those squadmates right?
┗ Obviously!!! Sukka jabbed my ass!!!
┗ Wtf jealous afㄷㄷ
┗ How'd Sukka nurse shot feel?
┗ How? Think earthly words describe it?
━ Lol but fights like possessedㄷㄷ
┗ ㄹㅇ Can't even cast itㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
┗ She's real God of War ㅇㅈㅋㅋㅋ
━ Augh concept post taken by squishy gang again ㅅㅂ Frontgal dead?
┗ Frontgal dead season 1914057
┗ Watch mouth to galju?
┗ Purge?
┗ Gulag for you
━ What's that map?
┗ Rotterdam, new add
┗ Patch notes already out?
Second post hit nice too.
Over-the-top praise, but after all that effort, I was honestly happy.
Washed away much of my Frontline Archive aversion and fear.
Was gonna stick to healing games planting citrus trees tomorrow, but one round a day didn't sound bad.
Then Ttalgwi's message popped on screen.
I read with a faint smile.
[Ttalgwi: Eww? Soy egg rice every day, sick of it!!]
[Ttalgwi: Saw Frontline Archive update notice? Tons of new maps!!]
[Ttalgwi: Sending link—check if ok?]
[Ttalgwi: //FrontlineArchive/notice/view/1738792177]
Mesmerized, I clicked into Frontline Archive site.
Shin Ara warned beside me not to click random links, but Ttalgwi wouldn't send sketchy stuff.
Update notice filled the screen.
Eyes alight with faint hope, I read slowly.
[Frontline Archive]
[Major Update ┃ World War II (WW2)]
Frontline Archive enters 1940s sector.
Operators, peruse fierce 'World War II' battlefields.
History's wars become yours.
Follow past gunfire to records, relive historic battles vividly.
This update adds WW2 hotspots: new fields, weapons, gear.
Follow history? Rewrite it? Past in your hands.
• Western Front
Peruse Rotterdam, Dunkirk, Normandy +20 fields.
Allies vs Axis—shift war's tide yourselves.
▼New Fields▼
▼New Gear▼
• Eastern Front
Leningrad, Stalingrad, Kursk +20 fields.
Soviets vs Germans—lead history's bloodiest fields to victory.
▼New Fields▼
▼New Gear▼
“Ah...”
Frontline Archive's setting shifted to WW2.
20+ fields sniping my trauma added.
Dropped phone mid-read.
Confidence from moments ago plunged to abyss.
One-round-a-day plan vanished.
Ttalgwi thought I loved Soviets sending link, but her sunny interest stabbed like a dagger.
As expected, all-knowing Shin Ara eyed me worriedly.
I collapsed on bed, burying face in pillow.
“Victoria... gonna play Frontline Archive?”
“N-No...”
Game straight-up tormenting me—how?
Just plant citrus trees in healing game.