KYB Ch 28

The moment the screen changed, a status window appeared at the top.

When the start notification popped up, excited chats filled the minimized spectator window.

As the game began, Ye Woo-won stared at Kisekki. Fortunately, Kisekki wasn’t AFK as he started to move.

‘I need to find them first.’

The opponents were an Assassin and an Archer, so they’d probably try to sneak up. The map was wide and the blinding white snow made fatigue set in; he figured he’d need a moment to adjust. Just as he readied to move, two bright red enemy figures suddenly appeared on the snowy peak.

‘ITrustCactus-nim and Nyamnyangi-nim? But why up there?’

He’d expected them to hide and approach, not stand out in the open. Ye Woo-won looked up in confusion; Kisekki, also puzzled, stood beside him and watched the pair.

‘Their outfits match…’

Both avatars wore white, as if it were prepared for the snowy map. However, something was off: they just stood at the summit with their backs turned, motionless.

‘What the hell?’

Thinking it might be a tactic, Ye Woo-won crouched and watched. Abruptly, ITrustCactus triggered an emote and spun around.

ITrustCactus said something inscrutable. Nyamnyangi, standing beside him, used the same emote, half-turned, and spoke.

…?

Their absurd posture left people slowly opening their mouths. Then, without warning, Nyamnyangi and ITrustCactus began spinning together.

…????

Ye Woo-won found himself staring up, speechless at the bizarre scene.

After spinning for a while, ITrustCactus let his cloak flare and crossed his arms. Nyamnyangi did the same, flaring his cloak and crossing his arms as they looked down at Kisekki and Yewoo Beomjeol.

A strange, unplaceable feeling washed over Ye Woo-won; he wondered if Territory War always felt like this.

The spectators erupted with laughter, but the laughter ended there. As Ye Woo-won blinked, about to type something, a strange sound rang out—

Kiingg—

ITrustCactus, the Storm Shooter, summoned a massive bow. A huge arrow filled the view and hurtled mercilessly toward Kisekki and Yewoo Beomjeol. Both ducked and dodged in sync.

At the same moment—

Ye Woo-won felt a chill and whipped his head around.

Nyamnyangi, who’d been up on the peak, was now suddenly right beside him.

Parrying the dagger that flew toward him as if aiming to slit his throat, Yewoo Beomjeol slid back and lifted his head. It was already too late. ITrustCactus’s figure was gone from the peak. However, Kisekki had disappeared as well.

Along with the harsh curse from ITrustCactus…

He’d died in an instant.

Just when everyone was startled that a kill happened so fast, Nyamnyangi’s assault intensified. If Kisekki, who’d killed ITrustCactus, joined, it would be 2v1, and Nyamnyangi would be disadvantaged. So Nyamnyangi seemed to want to finish quickly.

Ye Woo-won planned to stall while blocking Nyamnyangi’s attacks until Kisekki could safely join.

If only Kisekki hadn’t died.

‘…?’

Ye Woo-won stared at the screen in puzzlement. No killer was listed, meaning Kisekki had died alone.

Ye Woo-won was just as dumbfounded as the spectators. His attention shot in that direction for a moment, but Yewoo Beomjeol refocused on what was in front of him. After landing a stun skill on the Assassin darting around, he didn’t give him even a moment to counterattack— he killed him on the spot and claimed the flag.

A notification told Ye Woo-won he’d secured a flag.

Nyamnyangi complained in frustration as Ye Woo-won grabbed the flag and headed back to base.

But just as he’d returned, ITrustCactus had respawned and killed him.

‘Still, this is doable.’

So this was what Territory War felt like. For Ye Woo-won who was used to 1v1 PvP, 2v2 felt fun and fascinating. But that thought vanished in under three minutes.

Ye Woo-won stared at the screen, dazed.

Kisekki kept dying. Every time Kisekki fell and died, a flag would spawn at the death spot, and Nyamnyangi would keep picking it up. As a result, the score for Yewoo’s team became—

‘…Huh?’
Zero.

TL’s Note:
[1] Shim Cheong is the subject of a classic Korean folktale about a filial daughter who sacrifices herself to help her blind father regain his sight. The story describes how her father, a poor blind farmer, is told by a monk that he can regain his sight if he obtains 300 bags of rice. Shim Cheong eventually sacrifices herself to the sea to provide the rice, but she is eventually brought back to life and becomes the queen, where she is reunited with her father, whose sight is restored. The tale is also the subject of numerous adaptations, including films and novels.

On another note, I highly suspect that Kisekki was jealous of the previous couple cactus dance. That’s why he keeps killing ITrustCactus only. LOL. Our cute possessive tsun.