I Have Returned, but I Cannot Lay down My Gun
Chapter 30 Table of contents

"Hello, hello, everyone! It’s been a while… Well, actually it hasn’t been that long, but it feels like a while to me, so I’m saying it’s been a while."

 

 

Under soft lighting and beautifully decorated interior, a uniquely featured woman, impossible to exist in reality, lay on a chair staring into space.

Her hair wasn’t neatly arranged but looked slightly disheveled. Nevertheless, the soft, glowing blonde seemed more of a physical trait than a messy appearance.

The numbers next to the red dot, signifying “On Air,” gradually increased, soon surpassing one thousand and stabilizing at 1,702, then began a slow decline.

Next to the number appeared two words:

 

 

As gaming technology advanced, allowing people to create new realities within the virtual world, it eliminated most of the effort required for real-world streaming.

In other words, this meant bypassing the labor-intensive process of buying separate gaming and streaming computers, going through complex settings, and optionally installing chroma keys and soundproof booths, transferring it all into the virtual realm.

Virtual avatars offered a novel advantage by bridging the gap between streamers' privacy and viewer interaction.

 

Today, countless streamers were communicating with viewers through avatars as diverse and impossible in appearance as the streamers themselves on the Tricky platform, acquired by Icarus International.

Returning to the scene, streamer Stone—named without the slightest effort—was now communicating with 2,000 viewers who had settled into the stream.

Her trademark was her soft, sometimes nonsensical chatter that paired well with her slightly flushed cheeks, as if she had been day-drinking.

 

"Anyway... Thank you all for joining the stream today. The content for today is displayed in the top right corner, so check it out, and if we have time left after everything... well, I'll think of something then."

 

<광광우러욧님 sponsored 1,000 won worth of vitamins! Thank you very much!>

 

 

Oh. That happened.

She briefly recalled the past few days, remembering a game her longtime fellow streamer Harmony had recommended via Engram, one of the social networks.

The game cost 3,600 won, or 1,800 won on sale. With clunky controls and bizarre level design, anyone could tell it was a crappy game.

After pondering briefly, she decided to loosen her stance on mentioning other streamers freely.

 

"Ah, that one... Ha. No, guys. Even when we send messages through Engram, we don't ask deep questions, you know? Like, about other jobs besides streaming."

 

The avatar, who looked both like a NEET and a Russian princess who shed her nobility, waved her hand dismissively.

 

"But that person... From what I see, it’s like they have a hobby of discovering crappy games as a side gig when not streaming. They recommend these unheard-of bizarre games all over the place? Seriously, geez...."

 

 

Seeing comments flooding the chat that matched her thoughts perfectly, she smiled faintly.

Since it had come to this, Kim Stone decided to make her the first topic of today's IRL stream.

The sub-topic… Yes. She would link it to the Dark Zone, which she had started playing recently.

 

"…Actually, Harmony started playing Dark Zone recently, right? I recommended it to her. I thought experiencing a good game might neutralize her strange aura a bit."

"From what I remember... she started streaming Dark Zone about three days ago? I did watch for a bit on the first day, but I left to do my own stuff, so I’m not sure."

 

The reason she was mentioning this today began to unfold.

 

"But then. What is she doing in the game... she’s just shooting all day. Her eyes are getting stranger! I went to see her before starting today’s stream, and she just looked so haggard!"

 

 

"So I plan to contact her soon, but she’s the type to get fixated on one thing and won’t do anything else, so I’m not sure how it’ll go...."

 

She pondered whether she got entangled with someone like that by chance or if the stream awakened her bizarre game taste. Or maybe she stumbled upon those games during punishment and got interested.

In any case, lamenting her bizarre and unpredictable relationships with fellow streamers, Kim Stone had to abandon her motto of wanting to be relaxed today.

She wanted to live comfortably, but her surroundings wouldn’t allow it.

Today, the absolute premise of her stream room was being upheld.

 

 

"…But this game seems to have so much to do. It’s nice that you don’t have to go back to places once you clear them a couple of times…."

 

<츄르가득한더블백 sponsored 1,000 won!>

 

Establish a strategic department through the occupation of West Point and secure a dedicated gunsmith.

Procure helicopters/cars to support agent movement, clear monsters in fields, and capture control points to establish a stable fuel supply line.

Capture the armory for access to various ammunition types and production lines. Rescue detained virologists and capture hospital facilities for treating infected individuals. Find personnel and acquire facilities to rebuild Manhattan's power grid....

All these require about 100 hours of investment after completing the tutorial to shed the newbie label.

 

With a time acceleration factor of about 1:3 applied, this could easily be accomplished in about ten days, assuming playing a little over three hours a day in real-time.

The issue was getting involved with someone possessing immense drive and matching skills to complete this in just a few days.

Harmony took a deep breath as she sat on a bench. Her exhaled breath met the cold outside air, condensing, and warmth seeped through her bulletproof vest.

Her third day in the Dark Zone began at the shooting range.

 

"While doing this, I realized I’ve never wanted to beat myself up so much. I didn’t know a body could be this uncooperative. Why does someone who forgets everything in three seconds even exist...?"

 

 

Unusually for Harmony’s viewers, who usually wanted her to suffer, several gave genuinely decent advice, though they didn’t seem helpful today.

Honestly, it was inevitable. From the start, this game was fundamentally different in design from the crappy games she used to play—games you could eventually beat by pouring countless hours into.

She detached the magazine and placed it in the ammo box's magazine slot, quickly completing the reloading process. Harmony stretched her arms into the air as if relaxing.

A person approached her subtly.

 

"How are you feeling?"

"Ah, teacher."

 

It was a term that had become second nature to her.

Though only three days in, streaming meant gaming was their job, so spending more than twelve hours a day playing games wasn’t unusual.

Sticking with one viewer continuously wasn't typical for a streamer, but Eugene was a completely different breed from the average participant whose personal feelings often seeped into their actions.

If she weren’t sharp like a knife in making decisions, Harmony would have rejected her long ago.

 

"I still can’t switch to the handgun when the gun jams while I'm going through the shooting range alone. I panic and get shot to pieces right away...."

"There's nothing I can do about that part. Solving it on your own is the only answer."

 

After a moment of silence, she continued.

 

"I've watched over the past few days, and even with 100% aim assist, it's hard to replicate every human action. It's better to lower the assist percentage and practice until your body remembers the actions."

"…Won’t it take a long time if I lower the assist?"

"It'll be solved in less than a week at most, so it’s fine. Think of it as piano practice, and it’ll be simple."

"Ah."

 

As she fiddled with the scenario, Eugene added.

 

"There are many scenarios in the shooting range, including ones for clearing jams and practicing weapon switching. After checking, focus on practicing what you need."

"What do you think I should do?"

"First, aim to become familiar with the guns and shooting itself, and practice hitting moving targets simultaneously. You'll be much better than you are now."

"Ah."

 

Strangely, regarding guns and shooting... this person seemed unstoppable.

She had no doubts or uncertainties about her words; she just thoroughly analyzed and provided an accurate solution. It was more like she was a doctor rather than a gamer.

Her explanations continued. Speed wasn't as crucial as accuracy, building a hierarchy of priorities in engagements, increasing single-shot firing speed, tactical maneuvers, reloading, and numerous other elements….

It seemed excessive for just playing a game, but fortunately or unfortunately, Eugene merely listed those things.

In any case, a donation suddenly came in.

 

<울프람알파고 sponsored 1,000 won!>

 

"Wolfram Alpha Go, thank you for the 1,000 won donation... But does this game have PVP?"

 

 

It didn’t take Harmony long to realize that her statement was incredibly foolish.

With a laugh of disbelief, she exhaled as if overcome by a strong sense of reality and immediately asked Eugene, who was inspecting his firearm.

 

"Do you prefer PVE or PVP?"

"...Is there PVP aside from the last aesthetic zone?"

 

Naturally, the chat exploded.

At least a minute passed, with numerous donations—roughly summarizing them as "such clueless charm"—pouring in, harshly criticizing their ignorance. Only then did the atmosphere gradually subside.

Numerous PVP challenge missions followed, which was to be expected, and seeing the enticing cash before her eyes, Harmony cautiously spoke.

 

"But... PVP is competitive content, right? Even if it’s not ranked, you need to have some skills to not drag your teammates down."

 

<New mission registered! [Time limit: 3 hours 00 minutes // Success: 50,000 won]>

 

"No way, I told you. In a mode where you compete with others, if I join, there'll be complaints. How can I play with anyone when my skills are like this?"

 

<Mission cost increased! [Time limit: 3 hours 00 minutes // Success: 100,000 won]>

 

"Ah, no. I really can't... Uh...."

 

<Mission cost increased! [Time limit: 4 hours 30 minutes // Success: 300,000 won]>

 

"...."

 

As time passed, her eyes grew larger, and finally, like a cat soaked in rain, Harmony looked pitifully at Eugene, as if facing all the world's adversities.

 

"Um, Eugene?"

"Yes."

"Could you play any PVP mode with me just once?"

 

Later, Eugene testified that the phrase "I'll split the mission fee in half...." was the most pitiful thing Harmony said.

Chapter written by
Fenrir Translations
Write comment...
Settings
Themes
Font Size
18
Line Height
1.3
Indent between paragraphs
19
Chapters
Loading...