Chapter 49
Chapter 49
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 49
Chapter Title: It's Not a Self-Deprecating Broadcast
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“What the... why...”
If she had just said Irina, I wouldn’t have believed it so easily.
And that made sense, since there had been multiple broadcasts where I called Ttalgwi “Irina” while looking at her.
But then the full name ‘Irina Morozova’ came out.
This wasn’t some lie to drag me into Frontline Archive—it was solid proof that Irina was currently on the Eastern Battlefield.
Of course, if we were talking purely in game terms, it was entirely possible.
From the start, Irina was an NPC in the game, and both ‘Frontline Archive,’ where I’d possessed my character, and ‘Eastern Battlefield’ were made by the same company, ‘Universe.’
Game companies reusing character designs was common and natural.
Since there were no usage rights for ‘Victoria Chernakoshka,’ they couldn’t use her, but bringing back ‘Irina Morozova,’ who had no real-life model, wouldn’t cause any issues.
But understanding something and accepting it were completely different matters.
The thought of my precious comrade being thrown back into hell made my teeth grind.
“Blin...”
The first emotion that overflowed was anger.
It was resentment toward the heartless game company and the situation pushing me into a corner.
The next emotion that burst forth was anticipation.
The selfish hope that I could meet Irina and save her for sure this time.
I wanted to storm into Universe and protest, but no words came to mind that would make them understand my situation.
Right now, all I could think about was confirming with my own eyes whether this was really Irina.
If it was the Irina Morozova I knew, I’d save her no matter what it took.
With that resolve, I quietly asked to find out her location.
“Tell me where that NPC is right now.”
The donor was innocent, but my tone sharpened without me realizing it.
It didn’t help that the donor’s nickname was in German, which didn’t sit well with me.
Then Jäger and the viewers started pouring out all sorts of info.
I promised myself not to get worked up and looked at the chat window.
[Jäger donated 1,000 coins!]
〔You’ll have to enter total war to find her. NPCs move autonomously.〕
『Sukka’s so pissed lolㄷㄷㄷ』
『Ughhh what’re you gonna do if you meet an NPC that looks like Ttalgwi?』
『Sukka!!! You need five normal games for total war!!!』
“You have to do five normal games? So I just need one more?”
『Sukka’s already done four?』
『A Frontline Archive streamer who hasn’t finished five yet???』
『Paluiza, survival, Rotterdam—so two more?』
“There was that game where I first met Ttalgwi. Does mid-game joining not count?”
『Hmm... mid-joins do count...』
『That one didn’t because you got kicked for repeated suicides』
『Sukka’s only death everㄷㄷㄷ』
“Ah...”
To enter total war, I’d have to fight two more times.
Irina wasn’t the type to die easily, but still, my heart raced with urgency.
No time to be planting citrus trees, then.
I immediately opened my friends list and messaged everyone: ‘Please help.’
Of course, as a social recluse with mental issues, I only had three contacts.
Ttalgwi, Ghost, Wardaddy. Luckily, all my friends were online.
[Ttalgwi: Yes! I’ll help with anything if it’s for you, Sukka!]
[Ghost: No idea what’s up, but I’ll stand by.]
[Wardaddy: Sure.]
I hadn’t even explained, but they all responded positively.
Seeing my comrades’ affection calmed my sharpened nerves a bit.
Sadly, the Jeju Island project would have to be paused for now.
I logged out of Maria and straight into Frontline Archive.
“Operator, welcome. Shall I show you the newly updated armory?”
“Yes, hello. Thanks, but can we do the tour later?”
I brushed past the politely greeting NPC and entered the armory.
They’d revamped the lobby with this update too—the interior was back to its old, retro look.
Everywhere you looked, the stark interior evoked World War II.
A Nazi symbol hung in the corner of the wall, making me grimace involuntarily.
『Lol wtfㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ』
『Rip that swastika to shredsㅋㅋㅋ』
『Sukka comrade never disappoints』
I immediately started ripping down the damn symbols.
Even if they were just game props, I couldn’t leave them be.
Why the hell did they put them up so high?
As I strained to reach for the flag, someone grabbed my waist from behind and hoisted me up.
“Eek!”
“Oh, sorry. Did I startle you?”
“W-who are you?”
“You invited me, so I joined.”
I whipped around in shock, and a stranger greeted me.
A sturdy male user with a sharp jawline.
For a second, I thought a bear had grabbed me from behind.
As I just stared with wide eyes, he shook me side to side and said,
“You’re really tiny, light, and slim, Sukka. Did you customize to reduce hitbox?”
“N-no?”
“Your waist seems thinner than my thigh.”
“Um... who are you and why are you grabbing my...”
“Oh, first time seeing my real face. I’m Ghost. You just messaged me.”
The man’s identity was, surprisingly, Ghost.
Without the skull mask, his voice was different too—I hadn’t recognized him at all.
I felt oddly sorry for not recognizing my friend.
I stopped resisting and dangled there, so Ghost lifted me higher with a laugh.
“Remodeling the interior? I’ll hold you up high—work comfortably.”
“T-that’s not it, but thanks... Your face is on my stream now, though?”
“Yeah, I don’t mind. If the viewers are okay with it.”
“Ah...”
I peeled off the wall’s swastika while checking the chat.
Ghost didn’t care, but I did.
Sure enough, the viewers were exploding over me being held by a guy.
Why were these viewers so damn jealous? I couldn’t understand it.
『Ghost sis crossed the lineㄷㄷㄷ』
『Don’t touch Sukka!! Don’t touch Sukka!! Don’t touch Sukka!! Don’t touch Sukka!!』
『Gul』
『That fucker to the Gulag!!!!!!!!』
『1. Pick up Sukka』
『Rak』
『Mom I feel like killing someone today』
『Gul』
『Lord, please let me become righteous broth today too』
『969. Put down Sukka』
『Rak』
Of course, reading the chat didn’t make it any clearer.
The blatant death threats and cryptic remarks were dizzying.
Then, like a savior, Ttalgwi burst into the armory.
She looked around, spotted me and Ghost, and jumped up yelling,
“One man’s word is worth a thousand gold!”
The shout was even harder to understand than the chat—my mind went blank.
Guess she wasn’t a savior after all, just regular Ttalgwi.
Fortunately, once I removed the flag from the wall, Ghost gently set me down.
I tossed the swastika on the floor as Ttalgwi came running.
“Ttalgwi, you’re here too.”
“Who the hell are you!! Who’s spinning our Sukka around!!”
“Ghost.”
“Huh? Ghost?”
“Yes. Did I break some promise? Why ‘one man’s word is worth a thousand gold’?”
“W-was it not that? Uh, that thing... men and women shouldn’t be together...”
“Are you talking about ‘men and women shouldn’t sit at the same table at seven’?”
“......”
I got embarrassed watching and quietly slipped away.
Even the jealous chat started flooding with ‘Ttalgwi idiot.’
In a way, she might’ve been the savior for that situation.
Thinking that, I quietly muttered, ‘Ttalgwi’s not an idiot,’ when the last and newest friend, Uncle Wardaddy, entered the armory.
“What’s up, kid.”
“Ah, Wardaddy. Thanks for coming.”
“What’s up, I said?”
“I, I want to do total war... but I’m worried alone...”
“Fine, let’s go.”
Wardaddy adjusted his black sunglasses and agreed readily.
Then he flipped off the NPC in the garage and continued.
“But no tanks right now. Thanks to those money-grubbing bastards.”
“Huh? You’re going infantry?”
“WWII tanks cost tens of thousands each. Pull one and my back’s snapped too.”
“Ah...”
Seems the update made old tanks obsolete.
I didn’t know much about vehicle player ecology, but Wardaddy had fallen victim to Frontline Archive’s monetization for sure.
But no tank for Wardaddy was good news for me.
I scurried up to him and pulled out a tasty carrot.
“Help me this time, and I’ll gift you a tank.”
“What?! For real?!”
“Yes. I’ve made bank from streaming. Not stingy to recruit a skilled tanker.”
“I don’t turn down offers like that. Promise I’ll help proper.”
“Great, pinky promise.”
I raised my pinky looking at the tanks lined up in the garage.
Wardaddy hooked his pinky while eyeing them too.
Wardaddy’s gaze was on the American ‘M4 Sherman,’ but mine was, of course, on the Soviet ‘T-34.’
I didn’t specify which, so a Soviet tank would be fine.
“Welcome to Sukka Squad.”
“Sure, I’ll do my best.”
Succeeded in painting a Yankee red.
Crushing arrogant America with capital felt grand.
Now I could ride a T-34 to find Irina.
My shaken confidence surged, motivation bubbling up.
[ㅇㅇ donated 1,000 coins!]
〔You’ve been kidnapped〕
“Shh... be quiet...”
My elite squad assembled.
Time to reenlist in World War II.