Chapter 83
Chapter 83
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 83
Chapter Title: Not a Self-Deprecating Broadcast
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“That bastard’s coming our way!”
“Take cover, quick!”
The fighter plane was flying straight toward us from over the sea.
It seemed we’d drawn attention because so many people were gathered together.
I grabbed Irina and Yelena and started running toward the tank.
Running wouldn’t shake off a fighter plane, but I couldn’t just stand there either.
We wouldn’t even have time to properly take cover before it attacked.
Judging it too late, I stopped abruptly and threw myself over Irina and Yelena.
“Everyone, protect Sukka and the NPCs first!!”
“Don’t move and hunker down! I’ll shield you with my body!”
Soon, Ttalgwi and Ghost, along with the nearby platoon members, surrounded us.
Unlike NPCs, players could redeploy even if they died, so they didn’t hesitate to put their bodies on the line.
Huddling together would spike our chances of getting hit, but protecting the Morozova sisters made this the best option.
As I gritted my teeth at the platoon members’ sacrifice, the fighter plane’s machine gun finally traced a chilling line through the air.
- Tudududududung—!!!
Fortunately, the fighter’s attack completely missed us.
Whether it was just meant as a warning or poor piloting, the bullets thudding into the sand came from quite a distance away.
I peeked up to assess the situation, spotting the fighter indifferently flying eastward.
Since it wasn’t turning back for another pass, this ambush looked like it would fizzle out pointlessly.
The inexplicable scouting and reckless solo operation didn’t seem like NPC behavior.
It must’ve been some crazy player flying in to cause trouble.
“Irina! You okay?”
“Y-Yes! I’m fine!”
“Yelena? Anywhere hurt?”
“G-Get off me first... I’m getting flattened....”
Convinced we were safe, I checked on the Morozova sisters first.
Yelena was buried in the sand, but thankfully, both sisters appeared unharmed.
The sudden ambush had clearly frightened them, though.
Yelena, not understanding the situation, was fine, but Irina’s shoulders trembled like aspen leaves.
I gave Irina a light hug and looked at the platoon members.
I wanted to hold her until she calmed down, but right now, confirming everyone’s safety came first.
“Everyone okay? Someone do a headcount.”
“All present and accounted for! No injuries except for someone who tripped while running!”
“Good. Don’t drop your guard yet. Another fighter might show up.”
“Got it!”
Fortunately, the platoon members were all unharmed too.
The quick headcount showed the squad leaders had naturally stepped up.
Only then did my pounding heart start to settle.
If it had been a bomber instead of a fighter, we could’ve been wiped out. It felt like a tightrope walk between sanity and panic.
Just then, a donation message popped up in the chat window, which had briefly left my view.
Still holding Irina and Yelena, I read it.
【Jäger1 has donated 1,000 coins.】
〔That scared you? I was just firing a greeting on my way by.〕
“.......”
【Jäger1 has donated 1,000 coins.】
〔I’ll be at the rendezvous first. Don’t be too late, or I’ll kill everyone if I get bored.〕
“Katzenjäger....”
【Jäger1 has donated 1,000 coins.】
〔Sorry, can’t type as a newbie pilot. Good luck, kitten.〕
“N-No way....”
Incredibly, the fighter pilot turned out to be Katzenjäger.
He must’ve done a solo flight to reach the rendezvous before the poison gas war started.
It was the same in Eastern Battlefield and Frontline Archive—this guy had an unhealthy obsession with me.
I couldn’t understand or even wanted to know the grudge he held, but it was kinda pitiful seeing him go through the trouble of a burner account.
Of course, it was more mocking pity than real sympathy.
After all, he was the archenemy who’d stalked (former) Victoria to her death.
So, if I met Katzenjäger again, I planned to make it crystal clear.
That his stalking had targeted the wrong person, and who had awakened when that poor girl departed.
“Th-Thank you for really protecting us... The Germans did attack... I’m so sorry for doubting you earlier....”
At least Katzenjäger’s ambush hadn’t brought only bad results.
Through this incident, Irina had opened her heart to me.
Maybe Katzenjäger had seen Irina as too stubborn.
I didn’t want to defend him, but that warning shot had lent credibility to my claims.
So, my job now was to capitalize on the situation.
I patted Irina’s shoulder and reassured her.
“It’s fine. I know how suspicious my actions must’ve seemed. No one would trust a soldier demanding to tag along out of nowhere. It’s natural you’d doubt me.”
“Th-Thank you for understanding... I won’t doubt you ever again. But what about the others, excluding me and Yelena? Will you take them too?”
“No. Honestly, protecting just you and Yelena is overwhelming enough. But Odesa is swarming with soldiers. The Red Army will buy civilians time to evacuate.”
“I see....”
In reality, huge numbers were flooding Odesa beyond my viewers.
Soviet players were biding time for the Battle of Stalingrad, and Odesa lay on the path to it from the Germans.
Plus, midway at Sevastopol, they could experience the infamous Gustav railgun firsthand.
I couldn’t fathom why they’d look forward to that, but it seemed like a major event for mil-sim fans.
In short, Odesa was currently a hot spot buzzing among Soviet players.
Warm up in the Siege of Odesa, sightsee the railgun at Sevastopol, then dive into urban combat at Stalingrad—the starting point of the “Eastern Front Tour,” as I’d heard.
“But evacuating won’t make them safe... Winter’s coming soon, and food will be scarce....”
“Yeah, the sacrifices will be unimaginable. But I’ll take responsibility for you and Yelena.”
What I’d said to Irina basically meant I’d abandon everyone else but the Morozova sisters.
I knew a huge number of Soviet evacuees would starve or freeze to death.
Irina caught the implication, her face uneasy.
She must’ve felt guilty about being the only ones protected.
Then, Ttalgwi, who’d been quietly watching, smiled brightly and spoke up.
She seemed to have a great idea.
“Irina? No need to worry about Odesa’s residents.”
“Huh?”
“There are tons of soldiers who want to help us. I’ll ask them to share food with the evacuees. At least they won’t starve on the way.”
“Ah, yes... Thank you so much....”
“Huh? You don’t believe me? Want proof?”
Ttalgwi declared confidently, puffing out her chest.
Then she hugged me from behind with a meaningful smile.
She whispered so only I could hear.
But it was really meant for the viewers.
“My little Ttachis, I know you’re sneaking around nearby. When I give the signal, just fire one shot into the air each.”
Finished, Ttalgwi gestured for me to cover my ears.
She was worried I’d panic.
I signaled I was fine, and she picked up the rifle beside her, firing into the sky.
What followed was a massive fireworks display of gunfire echoing across all of Odesa.
──────!!!!
Irina, Yelena—even I—could only gape.
It was just gunshots, but the sheer scale was overwhelming.
I thought my influence was decent, but a popular streamer’s was on another level.
My stream had maybe thirty viewers, but Ttalgwi’s seemed to have hundreds lurking.
Come to think of it, I’d heard her viewer count was dozens of times mine.
Realizing that, Ttalgwi suddenly seemed like an incredibly capable woman.
“Hear that? All those shots were from our allies. Sukka has her ‘comrades,’ but I have my ‘Ttachis.’ Right, Sukka?”
“Y-Yeah. That’s impressive. You startled me....”
“Hehe, falling for me? I’ve got over 500k YouTube subs. You had no idea because you weren’t paying attention?”
“Honestly, I’m impressed. You’re a reliable big sis.”
I’d thought she was a bit airheaded, but to have this kind of popularity.
Maybe my stream’s growth was thanks to her too.
Thankfully, Ttalgwi’s commanding presence gave the Morozova sisters courage.
It must’ve been baffling for the NPCs, but it was so astonishing they couldn’t even doubt it.
“K-Kitten sis! Who’s that sis? She’s super cool?”
“Hi, Yelena. I’m Ttalgwi. A suuuper cool big sis.”
“Ooh!! Ttaltchi!!”
“It’s Ttalgwi, not Ttaltchi.”
“Ttaltchi!!”
“Typical Soviet, rolling those Rs....”
“Ttaltchi sis!!”
Even Yelena started wagging her tail at this power greater than a federal hero.
That adorable girl knew exactly what to do to survive.
As Ttaltchi played with Yelena, smiling Irina quietly asked me.
She seemed reassured by Ttalgwi’s overwhelming influence.
“Hero, how much time do we have?”
“Hmm... I’d like to wait three days before leaving. Plenty of comrades haven’t arrived yet. Depending on the situation, we might go sooner.”
I’d planned to leave immediately, but Ttalgwi’s flare-up changed my mind.
The more comrades, the better—I wanted to gather as many viewers as possible.
Viewers who’d been lurking would join comfortably after this stream.
That would boost not just the Morozova sisters’ but other residents’ survival odds too.
“Got it. Can I tell the residents why we’re evacuating then?”
“Yes, they’ll trust you more than some soldier.”
“Thank you so much. I’ll never forget this kindness. If you need anything, just say it. I’ll do whatever I can.”
“R-Really? Anything?”
“Yes. I feel awful for doubting you.”
Irina, now fully trusting, smiled awkwardly.
That hopeful, endearing sight brought back all the requests I’d held back.
But I couldn’t shatter her newfound trust with personal desires.
In the end, my request was small and timid.
“Th-Then... could we shake hands... just once....”
“Sure? A handshake? It’d be an honor.”
I gently clasped Irina’s hand.
The pale hand that had saved me countless times on the battlefield was covered in scars and calluses from factory work.
This time, no matter what, I wouldn’t let go of this hand.
Even if it killed me, I’d protect her.
With that resolve, I hugged our clasped hands like a precious treasure.
Her hand was chilled by the sea breeze, but it felt warmer than anything in my chest.
“H-Hero?”
“Just a moment... just stay like this a bit....”
But I had to let go of her hand right away.
A warning message had popped up prominently in my view.
[Warning: Inappropriate arousal detected. Sexual harassment of NPCs is subject to sanctions.]
“.......”
It was so unfair.