Chapter 152
Chapter 152
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 152
Chapter Title: New Friend Nella
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Peng!
Peng!
"Hup!"
Pereng!
The last standing participant topples backward as a water balloon drops right onto their face.
"Ga-eul, is your shoulder okay?"
"Yeah, no problem."
Baekseol-i points out the enemies' positions, Nella restocks the water balloons, and I throw them.
It's like we're a perfect trinity.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Player 666 acquires 4 points "Whew. How are you curving water balloons like that?"
Nella whistled in astonishment.
"Is this an intentional walk?"
💬 Comments — Anonymous LOL, isn't the boss's throw just a dead ball? — Anonymous Intentional dead ball, yeah that fits — Anonymous LOL when did a walk become intentionally bursting 4 heads? "You don't know baseball. Where'd you even hear that?"
— Anonymous LOL she's cute so it's fine After a few more throws, my body feels perfectly adapted, moving freely without restriction.
I roll my shoulder a few times—no pain or strain at all.
Then, a water balloon loaded with force flies straight toward where Nella stands.
Instinctively, I raise my hand, but realize too late that grabbing it directly would make it burst.
I pull my hand back to soften the impact, but the balloon wobbles dangerously against my palm.
In that split second, I reinforce it with energy and twist my body to alter its trajectory.
Whish!
Pereng—!
Twisting mid-air, I hurl the balloon right back at its owner.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Player 666 acquires 1 point "Whoa, did you train in martial arts or something, friend?"
"Something like that."
"Haha, what kind of answer is that?"
💬 Comments — Anonymous Whoa insane — Anonymous How is that even possible? — Anonymous If I knew that, I wouldn't be here — Anonymous Control like a pro pitcher "Baekseol-i, any more over there?"
"Nope!"
Must've been a lone participant without a team.
But that face I glimpsed just before they fell... it looked familiar from somewhere.
"Man, hanging out with you is full of surprises, friend."
Nella's gaze was fixed above my head, clearly on Baekseol-i.
💬 Comments — Anonymous LOL first time seeing a coconut-picking bunny? — Anonymous Baekseol-i really is some mysterious creature — Anonymous For real LOL ⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ <696> ⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [62 Points] ⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ <17> —Chik, chik.
"Phew—"
First number: remaining survival participants.
Second: my score in the water balloon game.
Last: participants still alive in the water balloon game.
Four hours in, we're nearing the end.
"Nella, 15 enemies left."
"This is dragging."
The weather has everyone hiding instead of moving.
"Probably clustered near the water source, right?"
"I'd bet on it."
I figured a free-for-all like this wouldn't drag on even with tons of players.
But everyone's hunkered down, making it tediously drawn out, just like Nella said.
"Gotta prep dinner, so let's wrap before sunset."
"Let's go."
Baekseol-i and I scoured this uninhabited island for ages, but only two water sources: a babbling stream and a big stagnant lake.
The lake's too polluted for drinking, so the enemies' likely spot is just the one stream.
"Phew—hope they're all bunched up."
"We've checked most spots, so yeah, probably."
Without Nella, this game would've been a slog.
True to her ex-military roots, she sniffs out hiding spots like a ghost.
She gauges the terrain for directions, Baekseol-i pins exact locations.
"Nella, what'll you do with the prize money back home?"
As we head to the stream, Nella—scanning habitually—meets my eyes, surprised by the question.
"First, move somewhere warm. Then open a doll shop."
A surprisingly cute, cozy dream.
"And a home gym."
"Nice."
💬 Comments — Anonymous LOL so Nella "Come to our country then. Super warm."
"Oh... that sounds good?"
💬 Comments — Anonymous Russians cold in winter, Africans hot in summer—our country — Anonymous Kya — Anonymous LOLLLLL — Anonymous Chaos — Anonymous Citizenship here is a nightmare LOL "That tough?"
— Anonymous Yeah only for nationals LOL ours is brutal — Anonymous Need recommendation letter too, only high earners can give 'em, nationality review takes years "Why's it so hard?"
Nella, walking beside me, seemed genuinely pondering my words, lost in thought.
Guess I'll have to pull the Herman grandpa card.
"I love my homeland, but I'm tired now. Seeing my mom suffer through the brutal winters every year is hard."
"Russia's huge. Where do you live?"
"Yakutia. Heard of Srednekolymsk?"
"First time."
"Tiny city, drops to -30°C even in early winter. Bottom of Siberia."
"-30°C in early winter?"
Never heard such temps before.
Herman grandpa's connected to bigwigs worldwide—might be easier than thought.
But he's strict in odd ways, that's the worry.
"If you're coming, I'll ask grandpa."
"For real?"
"If no... um... maybe visit and put on a show? He'd help."
"Haha, gotta sell the reindeer quick then."
"You raise reindeer?"
Nella strides busily onward, calmly sharing hometown tales.
"Only fishing or reindeer herding. Isolated town of 2,000—no other jobs."
"Got it."
"Lately, media boom brings tourists sometimes. Mom carves and sells matryoshka dolls on the side."
"The ones with dolls inside dolls?"
"Yeah. Painted with women? 'Mater' means mother in Latin. Matryoshka's 'mat' from that."
Before I knew it, we reached the water source area amid her stories.
"Shh."
I nod at Nella's signal.
She'd been happily chatting about home, but instantly goes silent, scouting.
After cautiously circling, she twirls a finger in the air, drawing a circle.
Lots of enemies.
"Baekseol-i, how many?"
I whisper, and her ears perk up.
"Fifteen!"
Precise as radar.
She counts spot-on, hive-mind bunny.
Fifteen means all survivors clustered. Bigger group than expected.
"Nella, fall back."
She nods cautiously, shifting direction.
"Ga-eul, quite a few."
"All fifteen, probably."
"Huh? Oh... little friend told you. Wow, is it really a spirit beast?"
I pet Baekseol-i's head; she rubs her cheek against my finger.
"Good!"
"Friend, gotta recharge water balloons first."
Nella rummages her shoulder bag, pulling out the rest.
"Ten left."
"Enough. Sunset soon if we loop back. High cliff behind the source—head there."
Nella nods after a moment, leads the way.
Deeper in, dense jungle-like foliage—easy to get lost without killer navigation.
Nella's clothes soaked in sweat. Breathing ragged. She's hitting her physical limit.
Hours in this heat? Expected.
"After this, I'll cook something tasty."
"Hahat. Looking forward, friend."
How does she navigate? Amid packed greenery, she pauses to gauge distances, pushes straight ahead.
Sometimes glances skyward. Using sun as compass? Sounds simple, impossible to grasp.
Rustle.
"Phew. Ga-eul, here."
Nella parts the bushes carefully.
Peering down: last team huddled below.
About 15 meters drop. Higher than from front.
"What now?"
"Hmm... light this first."
I hand her a cigarette; she smiles.
—Chik, chik.
"Phew—"
"Haa—"
Fifteen organized foes. Dangerously coordinated in a competition.
Whether by nationality or great leader, better clean 'em out here to avoid trouble.
"Right?"
💬 Comments — Anonymous What? — Anonymous Boss duo gives me anxiety — Anonymous Pls no more incidents Post-game issues too.
No 2nd or 3rd—purely winner-takes-all.
We'll be prime targets.
"Friend."
Thud.
I mimic her habit; she drops her cig in shock.
She's gotten way too close inwardly.
"Let's go."
"Hahat. Yeah, friend."
Brighter smile than ever, she places a water balloon in my palm naturally.
"Phew."
Need a bit more force, more energy than before.
Squeeze.
This should do.
Target: everywhere but faces.
Whing!
Hard throw—plummets straight down.
Pereng!
"Aaaagh!"
Participant clutches thigh, collapses.
"Hic! S-save me!!"
"Eek!"
"Wh-who's there!"
Tears and snot everywhere—intense pain.
"...Friend, that your throw?"
"Yeah. Next."
💬 Comments — Anonymous What next boss?? — Anonymous LOLLLLL — Anonymous How does that even work?? Viewers sharing my feed bombard questions.
"Phew, take it easy, friend."
"Got it."
Pereng!
"Kaaaagh!!"
Instep shattered.
Pereng!
"Aagh—!!"
Pereng!
Pereng!
Pereng!
"S-save me!!"
"Kaaagh!!"
"M-my wrist!!"
💬 Comments — Anonymous OMG is this hell? — Anonymous Boss put rocks in the balloons? "As if."
"Friend, balloons done."
"Thanks."
Click.
I draw the issued rubber knife, eyeing the chaos below: five left.
Perfect hits, no misses.
"Baekseol-i, hold tight."
"Yeah!"
"Wh-what're you doing!"
I step to the cliff edge; Nella rushes over in panic.
Steeper than climbable.
"Nella, be right back."
"Where..."
Thud!
💥 CRAZY BITCH! 💥 AAAAAGH!!
"Fun!"
🐇