Chapter 61
Chapter 61
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 61
Chapter Title: Not a Self-Deprecating Stream
-----------------------------------------------------------------
“Heh heh heh... Even your angry face is so damn cute...”
Ttalgwi was sprawled out on her bed, watching Sukka’s stream.
On the tablet screen was a girl in a Nazi uniform, all puffed up and pouting.
She was stomping her feet in a full-on sulk, but it was so adorable it didn’t feel threatening at all.
It just looked like a bunny doing a little tantrum stomp.
Of course, there was no worry about controversy just because Sukka was wearing a Nazi uniform.
If she’d done it during a camp battle, it would’ve been a shitstorm, but since it was just for game content, it was fine.
These days, society draws a hard line between games and reality, after all.
Anyone who tried to bitch about wearing a Nazi uniform in a game would get flak for being an over-immersed edgelord.
『Is that Tanya cosplay from Saga of Tanya the Evil?』
『lololololololololololol』
『Duck lips in full effect lmao』
『How much do you hate Nazis lololol』
『Stream’s legendary from the jump today lol』
『Whoa! Tanya! You know Saga of Tanya the Evil!』
Knowing that, the viewers were just enjoying it purely.
Unfortunately, Sukka herself didn’t look too happy, but it was such a rare sight that Ttalgwi saved a clip of it.
It was so cute she wanted to log into Frontline Archive right now and see the real thing.
But personal circumstances made it hard for Ttalgwi to log into the game.
Of course, the VR gear wasn’t actually broken, like she’d messaged Sukka.
Her confession about passing out while gaming yesterday was true, but it was just her underwear that got a little wet—the machine was fine.
The real reason she hadn’t logged into Frontline Archive was acrophobia.
She might have to ride in a Stuka. Or maybe a multi-crew bomber. That terror had her using incontinence as an excuse to bail.
She felt really bad for Sukka, but she couldn’t help it this time.
If she ended up in a bomber, the VR gear would be toast for real.
“Little one, we’re heading out first then.”
“......”
“Enjoy it like a roller coaster ride. You just have to sit in the back. Hey, Wild Boar. The kid’s got PTSD too, so take good care of her.”
“......”
Just then, Wardaddy led his crew into the tank.
Soon, the monster named Sutzka rumbled out of the hangar with a roar from its engine.
Now, the only ones left in the armory were Sukka and Wild Boar.
The big burly guy fidgeting while staring at the pouting girl was pretty hilarious.
Since Wild Boar seemed to know about Sukka’s PTSD too, there was no need to worry.
Feeling reassured, Ttalgwi flopped comfortably back onto the bed.
“Time to hear Sukka change clothes again.”
The perverted donor in the anonymous mask.
The AWOL Ttalgwi grinned lecherously while listening to Sukka’s changing ASMR.
* * *
“That one you see over there is the Stuka we’ll be flying.”
“Yes....”
After seeing Wardaddy off, I headed to the hangar with Wild Boar.
No one had comforted me, so my duck lips were still fully deployed.
At this rate, I’d be pouting until Ttalgwi showed up.
But backing down first would feel like losing, so I huffed and followed behind Wild Boar.
“The exact model is the Ju-87B. ‘Stuka’ is German for dive bomber.”
“Yeah, I know.”
“I-I see. The Stuka’s armament is 7.92mm machine guns and bombs. Two MGs up front, one in the rear, and bombs—one big one and four small ones.”
“I know that too from experience.”
“Ah, right... Want to take a look around?”
I started inspecting the Stuka while listening to Wild Boar’s explanation.
This was my first time seeing such a pristine aircraft up close.
The dynamic gull-shaped wings were enormous, and the fixed landing gear stuck out like a bird of prey’s talons.
Its unique, retro design had a personality so strong it almost made you grimace.
Fortunately, the Stuka viewed from the ground didn’t feel scary at all.
If anything, it just ramped up my stress instead of triggering trauma.
Staring at it any longer might make me snap without realizing.
I snorted and timidly kicked at the Stuka’s wheel.
“Sukka, you’ll ride in the rear seat. There’s a machine gun, but you don’t need to fight. Wardaddy told me to just point out the Stuka’s flaws.”
“Huh? Just the flaws?”
“Yeah. Probably to help you overcome your trauma. Not that there’s much to say since it’s got no real strengths.”
“Hmm... Got it. Can you explain the details during actual combat then?”
“Sure. Climb the ladder and take the rear seat. I’ll go apply for the game match.”
Wild Boar gave an awkward smile and ran off to the NPC.
He’d shown up in a German uniform, so first impressions weren’t great, but he seemed polite and kind at heart.
Still, he looked uncomfortable around me, which made me feel a bit bad.
I’d been prickly from the start and even threw a tantrum—practically shitty to someone here to help.
Seeing a Nazi uniform still made my blood boil, but treating Wild Boar like an enemy wouldn’t be right.
With that in mind, I tucked away my duck lips and climbed the ladder to the rear seat.
“They say we can take off right away. Ready to start the game?”
“Oh, yeah. I’m good.”
“Put on that helmet there. It’s got a mask with a radio.”
“Thanks for letting me know.”
I replied with an awkward smile to Wild Boar’s kind explanation.
I wanted to give a big grin, but the German uniform in my sightline froze my face muscles.
Wild Boar flinched at my shoulders and cautiously climbed into the cockpit.
Since my seat faced rearward, we ended up back-to-back.
“D-Did I do something wrong again? Why that face...”
“No, I just failed at smiling. You didn’t do anything wrong, Wild Boar.”
“Ah, okay....”
“And since we’re allies now, talk casually. You said I seem like a little sister earlier.”
“You seem a bit younger than that....”
“Huh?”
“N-No, never mind. Casual it is from now on.”
Luckily, Wild Boar switched to casual speech right away.
Now that the formalities were sorted, I felt much more at ease.
Just then, the hangar’s massive doors began to creak open slowly.
Infantry got dragged to the battlefield in all sorts of ways, but aircraft apparently started with takeoff.
But the scene outside the hangar was way messier than expected.
Dozens of fighters and bombers were lined up on the smooth-paved airfield.
As if waiting for their turn to take off.
I turned around and asked Wild Boar.
“Wild Boar, all those aircraft are joining the conquest battle?”
“Huh? I applied for an air battle, not conquest.”
“Air battle?”
“Hard to show the Stuka’s true colors in conquest. Figured I’d have you experience dogfights in air battle.”
“Ah....”
I made a blank face, unable to picture what was coming.
I knew what dogfights were, but I’d never experienced one.
If anything, that made it sound okay.
A battlefield I’d never seen before shouldn’t trigger my trauma.
= “Takeoff cleared. Good luck, operator.”
After a short wait, instructions came through the headset on my helmet.
Being a WWII setting, the audio quality was pretty crappy.
Wild Boar replied in the affirmative and taxied the Stuka onto the runway.
Whether from fear or excitement, my quiet heart was pounding like it’d burst.
“Taking off now—safety belt on?”
“Yeah, I’m ready. Probably.”
“Can you check if the tail’s shaking okay?”
“Hmm... It’s shaking fine. But we have to check safety in a game?”
“Oh, habit. Feels wrong if I don’t.”
Once all checks were done, Wild Boar revved the Stuka’s engine.
The propeller roared dully, and the airframe began to shake roughly.
Soon, the Stuka racing down the runway lifted gently into the air.
I’d expected g-forces from the acceleration, but it was a smooth takeoff—probably for my sake.
“Wow....”
I stared blankly out the canopy at my first-ever experience.
An endless blue sky blanketed thick with pure white clouds.
We plunged straight into the clouds.
Dense fog filled every direction, water droplets tracing lines on the canopy.
Breaking out of the clouds revealed a totally different sight.
A battlefield in the sky I’d never experienced before.
“There’s a ton of bombers and fighters...”
Aircraft of all types swarmed around us.
From massive bombers to sleek fighters.
Hundreds forming formations sent chills down my spine.
So this was what those massive ground bombings looked like from the sky.
Then, a grating voice started a speech through the headset.
It was in Korean since it was a game, but the vibe screamed Hitler.
= “Last night, the British pigs dropped bombs on Berlin! If they drop bombs, we’ll drop ten times, a hundred times, a thousand times more! We’ll turn their cities to ash without leaving a single one standing!”
I ripped off the headset and scowled.
It was probably narration explaining the air battle’s objective, but rage and disgust welled up—I couldn’t listen.
Wild Boar nosed toward the bomber formation and spoke.
A single phrase carrying the name of this battle—and its goal.
“Looks like the Blitz on London.”
Yesterday’s allies were today’s enemies.
Thank God it wasn’t Soviet-themed, but now we had to bomb London.
“Get ready, Sukka.”
“Huh? Ready for what?”
“Spitfires incoming.”
“Ah.”
Dogfight.
A literal dogfight was about to begin.