NOVEL WEB Chapter 125 - Second Trigger
Chapter 125 – Second Trigger
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Beep!
“Oww…!”
“No matter how fast your reaction is, it’s meaningless if your accuracy is low.”
Yoo Jin’s days had been getting longer.
Since she started streaming, her popularity had gradually risen like a rocket. From broadcast content and managing Yourspace to AP tournaments and SSM events, her responsibilities had started piling up on her shoulders due to her personal choices.
The sound of gunfire still echoed in her ears. She felt like she could draw the interior with her eyes closed. Yoo Jin was still at the shooting range – but the person in front of her was not Harmony. The blue eyes visible through the flowing long blonde hair signified that Yoo Jin was now dealing with her second guest.
Dice.
The private lesson she had given to Harmony a few hours earlier had been a simple act of goodwill from Yoo Jin – but now was a different story. The name ‘SSM Temporary Coach’ engraved on the business card was more than just ink. Though the ink was drying up, the workload had not decreased.
As the KSM and the Asian preliminaries approached, she had to help those she was teaching achieve at least decent results. Especially if that person was among the 100 participants advancing to the Korea Selection Match alongside her.
The blue eyes stared through the red dot of the dot sight, fixing on the target beyond. The consecutive shots crossed the air, but the number of head hits wasn’t as high as expected. It was a known fact that shooting during tactical movement was challenging.
However, the person with sharp eyes next to Dice didn’t seem to think so. Either that, or she acknowledged the fact but didn’t care. Either way, it wasn’t crucial. After all, she was following the curriculum Yoo Jin had designed.
Tactical shooting during movement.
The distance to the target varied randomly between 10 to 40 meters.
Hit spots that were considered effective were the knees, pelvis, heart, neck, and head – points that could cause severe injury or death if hit.
The optics on the Picatinny rail were randomized for each shot.
Up to five dud rounds per magazine – random positions.
───Tututung! Clank!
“Sigh…!”
Malfunction.
Reflexively, she pulled out her handgun – this time using iron sights.
The nature of the Apex Predator mode, with its random weapon drops and settings, meant players had to master a broad range of firearms – a rarity even among pro gamers.
The reason was simple. If you opened a box, a fully assembled firearm would pop out, so even if you got an unfamiliar weapon, you could open another box a few meters away or pick up dropped guns from the floor.
Therefore, the AP meta involved mastering a few primary weapons and looting until those weapons appeared.
Of course, the reason for explaining this was that the temporary coach at SSM didn’t seem to agree with the current meta.
[Notification: Shooting has ended.］
[Notification: Firearm // AR – SIG MCX // Shots fired – 31 // Dud rounds – 3 // … // ……… ］
[Notification: Score calculated – 73 // Target score – 85］
[Notification: To view firearm accessories, accuracy, hit points, and other information, click ‘More.’]］
“Ugh….”
I’m exhausted.
But the shooting range training program, created by that annoying coach, was incredibly effective. It pinpointed deficiencies and areas needing improvement in an instant, suggesting the quickest way to fill those gaps.
Next came repetition and practice.
Address physical deficiencies personally, then every three days, everyone gathered for lectures and practice on tactical and strategic adjustments. The fact that Yoo Jin analyzed dozens of individuals and distributed customized training programs was widely known, not just within SSM but everywhere.
Anyway, practice like hell, and the score would inch up bit by bit, but there were still 12 points to go to reach the target score.
She slumped into a chair.
“I’m exhausted.”
“People grow by pushing themselves to that extent. You’ve improved a bit since Monday. Take a 10-minute break, then we’ll move on to your main firearms.”
She nodded.
Although she said she didn’t quite agree with practicing only a few primary firearms, focusing on one thing and playing to strengths were different. In simple terms, she was just thoroughly preparing for an IF scenario.
As she brought the offered water bottle to her lips, the drink poured out. The simulated refreshment might have been fake, but its implementation was excellent. The tart, sweet flavor that hit her tongue woke her groggy mind.
What should I say first?
“The club is holding a celebration event this Friday, are you coming?”
“A celebration event?”
“Since you joined, the club’s average performance has increased quite a bit. Officially, it’s for boosting morale for KSM and KTM…well, the Korea Team Match. Think of it as the duo and squad version of KSM. Anyway, they’re combining all the participants for morale boosting, but that’s the main reason. I’m not going, though.”
“I probably won’t either.”
So, the conversation ended there.
I understood roughly – even a few weeks of brief interaction would make you aware of each other’s circumstances, and this was part of that. Just as I wouldn’t attend the celebration event due to the issue of revealing my gender, she must have her reasons too.
My guess that her reasons involved being in some special unit might be presumptuous, but anyway.
At that moment, the questions continued.
“The club’s average performance has increased quite a bit?”
“…Why are you the only one who doesn’t know?”
“Haha, I’m human too, I can miss things.”
What an unusual person.
Instead of expecting results from actions, she seemed satisfied with the justification for her actions. Therefore, while teaching all the pro gamers in SSM, as well as trainees, she didn’t seem to care much about what results they would achieve.
But well, that’s not a big deal. There are all kinds of people in the world, and if you don’t know something, you just need to be told.
“Although we didn’t make it to the KSM threshold, overall, the SSM participants are showing slightly better performances in the AP matches… You might not know how SSM operated last year, but if you’re curious, I can send you the comparative analysis data later.”
“I’ll check it out if you send it.”
“And you know the AP duo and squad preliminary ranks started this Monday, right? Surprisingly, we’re doing well there too. Are you skilled in squad-level or small unit combat? At this rate, I think the higher-ups might inquire about it.”
“…I’ve been busy coaching a trainee this week.”
Ah.
That small green cat… I couldn’t not know the streamer. I knew she often hung out with Yoo Jin. I even checked out Yourspace out of curiosity and it became one of the channels I followed.
Her nickname was definitely Harmony. A streamer with a mint-colored cat-human avatar with playful eyes fitting her nickname. She was famous among pro gamers because she always accompanied Yoo Jin during main missions.
And she was pretty skilled.
“Seems like you’re quite close. Is she a student and a friend?”
“That’s right.”
She then added with a small smile.
“It’s quite enjoyable because she follows well.”
“Ah.”
Why?
Although I’ve never interacted with her, hearing this makes me think she’s not living an ordinary schedule.
I had a feeling we’d have plenty to talk about if we met later.
───Vroom!
“Heehee, let’s go! Everyone, fasten your seatbelts tightly!”
“Ahhh! Who said Harmony should drive─!”
Of course, the person in question was having a blast in Conquest mode.
“We’ll guide you in, Miss Harmony.”
“Please come inside. We’ve prepared a seat.”
“What would you like for drinks and snacks?”
“What the─!?”
lololololololololololol
Look at how their attitude changed 180 degrees after seeing Harmony’s skills lol
Harmony looks so shocked lol
Dying of laughter lololololololololol
They’re treating her with so much respect lol
Thursday, the second week of September, 3 PM. The second day of collaboration with the Bonk Hammer Brotherhood, including Harmony – it began with a roleplay of Kimstone, Limit, and Hotteok acting not acting the moment Harmony logged in.
After their half-shocked reaction ended, they moved on to the second content discussed yesterday – Conquest mode. In other words, a large-scale capture operation.
Instead of playing as elite operators, they engaged in a literal large-scale battle, where the US faced off against enemy nations in a full-scale war after regaining some sense.
Although there were skills, players were deployed as ordinary infantry in this mode – which meant the nano-machine barriers operators had were gone.
In short, reckless charging was not an option like before.
Unlike yesterday, there was no need to gather before the broadcast for a pre-explanation. Harmony had roughly investigated the content for the next two days, including tomorrow’s Conquest mode and PVE mode, after finishing training with Yoo Jin and ending the broadcast.
Therefore, today’s broadcast did not start from Central Park HQ. Harmony and the three other streamers had already initiated matchmaking, and the four-person squad was resting in a suitable spot visible to the viewers.
The broadcast began like that.
“Hello, hello, viewers. As you all know, today is the second day of the Bonk Hammer collab. I explained roughly about today’s content yesterday, right? It’s similar today. Viewer participation is welcome. Since it’s 128 players in total, the chances of participating are high.”
“But remember, intentional trolling results in an immediate ban, keep that in mind
. You know that, of course.”
The more participants, the harder it was to control them, the more susceptible they were to sniping – although they could exclude all viewer IDs and spin the matchmaking, it wasn’t feasible since the broadcast premise was viewer participation.
Meanwhile, Hotteok, who had been silent, slowly opened his mouth.
“I think it’s time to let Harmony be the squad leader….”
“Yeah, we should listen to the better player.”
“I agree with Limit.”
Wait, what’s this.
Opinions changing as if flipping a hand. Looking around, there was no disagreement – but at that moment, a brilliant idea flashed in my mind.
I had to steer the ship before the viewers joined the consensus.
“Then we should listen to the better player?”
“Oooh, is she going to show? The first command of squad leader Harmony?”
“Then Limit, you be the squad leader.”
“…What?”
It’s clearly a catch, but the ball was going everywhere.
Limit, suddenly facing the risk of being handed the squad leader role, widened his eyes, but by then, Kimstone, Harmony, and Hotteok had already united in their gaze – and there was enough basis for it.
“Why? You just said we should listen to the better player.”
“No, hey, hey! No! What are you saying all of a sudden!?”
“As expected of Harmony. People with experience in squad leadership are different.”
“Hey, you rascals─!”
Did you also learn the Wind Style Mouth Technique from Teacher Yoo Jin, lololololololol
That’s some smooth curveball drop lol
With this level of Tai Chi, you could start a martial arts sect lol
It’s as smooth as a snake sliding over a wall lol
A snake? Does it mean Yoo Jin? Hmm…
Whenever there’s a snake mention, Yoo Jin automatically comes up lol
Limit suddenly became the squad leader, and the viewers, who had just started to catch on, were now throwing around strange squad nicknames like Princess Squad with a princess and three bodyguards.
But before Limit could get upset, the heavy electronic sound signaled the end of the match – thus began Harmony’s first large-scale full-fledged war in history.
As if hinting that they were not part of ICARUS but the US Army, the voice that greeted them was not the familiar one but a deeper and heavier one.
[Overlord: You are being deployed to a city in Korea with a large central park. Crush the enemy resistance and capture the strategic objectives. Good luck.］
Swoosh.
Thirty seconds before the game started, they were already seated in a well-armed buggy with a clear view around – Harmony’s mind momentarily flashed to the armed buggies of Artemis. They didn’t look much different.
The class system was mostly the same, and Limit sat in the back to fulfill his role as squad leader. While Kimstone manned the grenade launcher, Hotteok tried to take the wheel, but Harmony was already in the driver’s seat.
The white tiger character had a baffled expression with perked-up ears.
“Huh? I was going to drive.”
“Support Limit from the side. I’ll drive.”
“Drive? Wow, aren’t we going to crash into the central pond? You’re not even licensed!”
“Haha, don’t worry. I recently drove with Teacher Yoo Jin.”
“Re-really?”
But, they didn’t notice the strange glow in Harmony’s eyes.
“No one’s getting off until we crash.”
“….”
Her second trigger was driving.
This, too, was because of Yoo Jin.
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