Chapter 49: We communicate well.

The assigned map this time was.

“Oh, it’s the desert map! I’ve been wanting to try this one.”

…You’ve never played it before?

“Yeah, I’m a complete newbie.”

Oh.

It was the desert map.

In other words, it was completely different from the maps I was used to playing.

[+HurryAndLeave: This map is way smaller here.]

[+HurryAndLeave: Makes fights a lot better, lol.]

[Ah, this is already looking hella fun, lol.]

[Shurima is great for fights.]

[Lots of guns spawn here, lol.]

[Pepe: By the way, what’s the average rank here?]

“The rank is probably unranked. I haven’t played this game much to begin with.”

There was no way around it.

I did have the desire to raise my rank and play more competitive matches,

but realistically, I just didn’t have the time to grind ranks in this game too.

‘No matter how skilled you are, competitive games require you to grind matches.’

That was just how online games worked.

It wouldn’t be fair if I spent less time than others but still had a high rank.

Thinking that, I continued my conversation with Guo-in.

“So, where do you want to go? I’ve never played on this map before, so I’m not sure where to land.”

Hmm… I kinda want to play it safe for the first round.

“Then let’s go somewhere safe.”

Let’s head to Prolea, then. It’s pretty safe there.

[+HurryAndLeave: Oh yeah, that place is good.]

[+HurryAndLeave: It’s safe.]

[But won’t you guys get stream sniped? lol]

[Both of you are streaming, so there might be snipers.]

You have been temporarily removed from the match!

[Hey, how could you say that to an ordinary citizen like Guo-in?]

[Pepe: No matter what happens from now on, that person is just a regular player…]

Since we weren’t going to meet outside of the stream and build a personal connection, it seemed best to maintain a roleplay dynamic while interacting in the game.

Knowing what kind of content the other person streamed could make things awkward.

“I’ll mark Prolea on the minimap.”

Since this was a desert map, she would definitely know it better than I did.

And if I really needed help, I could always check the chat.

I found the location labeled “Prolea” on the minimap and set the marker.

A moment later.

Dududu.

We boarded the plane.

While shooting skills were important in a match, choosing the right spot to jump from the plane was just as crucial.

If you landed in a crowded area, the people who dropped even a second earlier could grab a weapon first and take out those still parachuting down.

“Alright, let’s go.”

Okay~

Whoooosh.

We leaped from the plane and headed straight for our agreed landing spot, Prolea.

But then.

“Hey, I see other people dropping here too.”

I spotted two players descending from the sky, aside from us.

Looked like our paths had overlapped.

Huh, how did they know to come here? Hmm…

“I’ll grab a gun first and take them out right away.”

Uh… What if they take you out instead?

“Then that’s just how it is.”

I meant it.

In this kind of game, you always had to be prepared to put your life on the line.

[+HurryAndLeave: LOL]

[If you die, just leave the game, lmao.]

[Just exit immediately, lol.]

[Pepe: Honestly, it’s way more efficient to grab a gun and fight instead of hesitating, lol.]

[Let’s go, let’s go.]

“So, are you coming with me?”

Of course. There’s nothing for me to do if I survive alone…

Fair point.

There really wouldn’t be much to do if you were the only one left.

“I’ll go and take them out, so don’t worry.”

Please do.

Dying right after starting the match would be too frustrating.

[+HurryAndLeave: Let’s go right away, lol.]

[Just grab a shotgun and rush in, lol.]

[How confident do you have to be in your aim to charge in like this? lol.]

[Pepe: Haven’t you seen Yotte’s aim before? Out of everyone I’ve watched, it’s the most insane.]

[Let’s go, let’s go.]

[Double one-shot with a shotgun, lol.]

Thud.

After landing and cutting my parachute, I quickly grabbed the nearest gun and headed straight toward where the others had landed.

“Cover me from behind. Don’t get in front for no reason.”

Hey, I can shoot too, you know.

“You tried to backstab me last time and still lost.”

That was…

If they had beaten me, that’d be one thing, but they had landed a sneak attack and still lost purely due to the skill gap.

They had nothing to say.

“Since I’m the better player, let’s just follow my lead, alright?”

…Fine, I spotted them.

“You’re not upset about this, are you?”

Their tone sounded oddly annoyed.

Surely, they weren’t getting salty just because I was better than them… right?

[+HurryAndLeave: Lol.]

[They sound kinda pissed.]

[If they didn’t like it, they should’ve won, lol.]

[But objectively, Yotte is way better at the game.]

[Pepe: Yeah, Yotte is definitely better.]

[At least he doesn’t lose even after landing a backstab…]

No, I’m not annoyed at all.

“Hmm.”

Well, there was no point in dragging this conversation out.

It wouldn’t do me any good.

Right now, the priority was eliminating the duo inside that house.

Click.

I loaded the shotgun I had picked up and sprinted forward, not even bothering to muffle my footsteps.

The reason was simple.

‘Like anyone at this rank is going to react to footsteps properly.’

If they had the awareness to track enemy footsteps that well, they wouldn’t be stuck in this rank.

Unless they were a special case like me.

Thinking that, I kept running.

Tadadak.

Wait for me!

I haven’t even finished looting yet.

“This isn’t the time to loot. Just follow me.”

Now wasn’t the time to worry about looting.

That could wait until after we took out the enemies inside that building.

Killing them came first.

[+HurryAndLeave: lol]

[What’s the point of looting right now, lmao?]

[Just take them out first, then loot safely.]

[Pepe: No idea who his duo is, but they’re kinda dumb…]

[Lol]

[No, seriously, they’re actually dumb.]

[Ugh, who is it?]

With my shotgun in hand, I confidently stormed into the building where the enemies were.

I tracked their movements through their footsteps.

“Hmm, sounds like they’re looting upstairs.”

Shouldn’t we just wait, then? If we go up recklessly, we might die.

They had a point.

Instead of charging in and dying, it was much easier to just wait downstairs
and ambush them when they came down.

“But that way, we won’t get as many kills. Time is money, you know—money.”

Winning was a given.

It wasn’t like I was playing solo—I was in a duo match.

That’s why, for me, survival wasn’t the priority.

Getting kills was.

‘This seems way more fun anyway.’

With that thought, I sprinted up the stairs.

I was ready to shoot the moment I spotted an enemy.

Just then.

Tatata—!!

Bullets tore into my body.

But I didn’t panic.

Instead, I quickly turned and blasted them with my shotgun.

Bang! Bang!

Unlike regular shotguns, this one could fire twice in rapid succession.

Which meant it packed even more of a punch.

A moment later.

[You have eliminated an enemy!]

[You have eliminated an enemy!]

“Got them both.”

[+HurryAndLeave: Damn.]

[That’s what I’m talking about, lol.]

[That was sick.]

[This is peak man-crush energy.]

[Pepe: What the hell was Guo-in doing in the back?]

[Lol, the girl was just watching.]

[Well, technically, cooking is a man’s job, and tasting is a woman’s role, lol.]

You have been temporarily removed from the match!

Oh, nice.

Even I had to admit—my aim just now was beautiful.

Even after taking bullets, I stayed calm, turned around, and landed a clean headshot with my shotgun.

I was completely satisfied.

“How was that?”

You’re really good. Honestly, you could go pro.

“Heh, I wouldn’t go that far.”

– At least you know yourself well.

“Huh?”

– Just kidding, just kidding.

[+HurryAndLeave: I have no words, lol.]

[Why do these two have such good banter?]

[Did they meet in real life or something? That’s the only way this makes sense.]

[Pepe: This is hilarious, lol.]

[“Just kidding,” lmaooo.]

We kept chatting while I turned my attention back to looting.

Then.

“Hm?”

Guo-in, who had been on the first floor just moments ago, had vanished.

…What?

I could still hear their voice, but something felt off.

When I looked up at the second floor.

Oh, these guys had some great loot.

Guo-in was already looting.

And not just any loot—my kills.

Normally, I’d let things slide.

But this?

This, I couldn’t ignore.

They were looting the bodies of the enemies I had taken down.

Srrrng.

I silently picked up a frying pan that was lying nearby.

Slowly, I approached.

Step by step.

Carefully.

CLANG!!

I smacked them right in the head.

[What the actual fuck, lmaooo.]

[You guys are on the same team??]

[Why are you two so out of sync??]

[Is this even a team?!]

[+HurryAndLeave: If they start eating your loot first, a backstab is totally justified, lol.]

[Damn, that was a clean hit.]

[This is peak frying pan gameplay, lol.]