[TS] Malicious Sniper

After two days of challenges, Curry, who successfully became a Grand Master, howled at the空.

“Will we get complaints about noise from above? That thought crossed my mind.”

Curry, having released all the pent-up emotions, took a deep breath.

“Congratulations on becoming a Grand Master, Curry.”

“Whoo… This is all thanks to Barcode.”

Seeing Curry genuinely happy lifted my spirits too.

“Is this where the Grand Master broadcast ends? I’m really sad.”

“Ah, right? So… sad! Really!”

[No matter how you look at it, they don’t seem sad at all.]

[They were a punching bag before, why would they be sad? Haha.]

[I’ve never seen Curry this happy before.]

[They sure are feeling smug.]

[If it were me, I would’ve dropped a bomb at the end and extended the collab a day, you know?]

Curry, observing the chat room reactions, raised their middle finger to the camera.

“Your opinions don’t matter! It’s time to end the stream!”

With the brakes fully released, Curry ended the broadcast.

Usually, they would have played a song before ending, but today was an exception.

‘Well then, it’s about time…’

As the time to part approached, I thought about the stalker who would be waiting outside my home.

How should I deal with them, I pondered, as I softly placed my phone on the corner of the desk and said,
“This collab was really fun, Curry.”

“Ah, I had fun too, thanks to Barcode.”

“Huh… really?”

“Haha…”

Curry awkwardly laughed and deliberately avoided my gaze.

I could’ve pressed further, but I didn’t feel like it.

I could call today perfect if I just went home and fell asleep.

However, there were still matters to resolve.

After gathering my things, I moved towards the entrance.

“I’ll see you off.”

“You don’t have to.”

“Then…”

Zing—

“… I should still see you off, right?”

Walking with Curry towards the stalker, we rode the elevator down and walked together to the front gate.

“Barcode, it’s cold. Be careful going in.”

“Are you worried for me? Hehe.”

“Ahem. I should head in now.”

Perhaps it was tiredness, but Curry yawned as they returned home.

After confirming Curry had boarded the elevator, I pulled out the supplies I had brought.

I placed the stun gun in a roomy inner pocket and secured the action cam in the upper pocket of my jacket.

Then, I pressed the record button, and after that, I hit the recording start button on the voice recorder hidden in the opposite pocket.

The action cam would pick up sound, but unexpected variables could arise.

This time, I wanted to make sure to deal with that stalker thoroughly, so I had to be meticulous.

Having completed all my preparations, I headed toward the front gate.

It was late at night, and while it wasn’t too dark inside the apartment complex,

There were certainly places where the streetlight didn’t reach.

As I walked cautiously, I soon arrived near the front gate.

Stomp stomp—

Footsteps echoed from the recycling area.

It was clear the presence of a person, and I turned my head toward the direction of the noise.

There stood a figure dressed in a black hoodie and mask, staring straight at me.

It was hard to see in the dark, but the sinister gaze was distinctly visible.

No matter how you looked at it, they didn’t seem like someone with good intentions.

Stomp stomp—

As they drew closer to me, I was sure this person was the stalker, but I didn’t run away.

From my perspective, I had no reason to flee, and the distance had already closed significantly; even if I tried, they would catch me quickly.

The stalker seemed puzzled by my refusal to run but didn’t stop walking.

I wanted to jab the stun gun into the stalker and take them out instantly, but it wasn’t the right time yet.

“Sis, why aren’t you running away?”

“…”

“Oh, I get it! You fell for me at first sight. If it wasn’t that, you’d have no reason to just stand there, right?”

“What the hell are you talking about, you psycho?”

As I spoke filled with contempt, the stalker’s expression twisted.

Even though their face was hidden by a mask, I could tell from the contorted eyes that they were agitated.

“Psycho? I like you so much. I’m a better match for you than that Curry jerk.”

“Puhuh!”

Listening to the stalker ramble on about how he was a better fit than Curry nearly made me laugh.

“Listen up. You’re just a coward hiding behind a mask and hoodie, so you’re way worse than Curry. Comparing you to Curry is an insult.”

“…What did you say?”

The stalker’s atmosphere changed after I spoke such blasphemous criticism.

“What did you say? What? What did you say?”

“I’m thinking only of you, so why can’t you say something so harsh to me?”

“Ha… No, it’s all my fault. If I show you the joys of being a woman, you’re sure to start liking me.”

“Wrong order of operations.”

Muttering incomprehensibly, the stalker reached out their hand to me.

I wanted nothing more than to pull out the stun gun from my inner pocket and take the scum down.

But to bury this trash permanently in society, I needed to wait just a little longer.

“Follow me.”

“…”

The stalker grabbed my wrist and subtly brushed against my side.

Seeing their vicious gaze turn crescent-shaped, it was clearly intentional.

Judging this to be enough, I pulled out the stun gun from my inner pocket.

At that moment, the stalker smacked my wrist away.

The jolt caused me to drop the stun gun.

As the stalker’s gaze fell to the stun gun on the ground, they quickly turned their eyes back to me.

“You shouldn’t play with such a dangerous toy. What kind of punishment should I give you for trying to do something bad…”

“Shut it.”

Sigh… “This won’t do.”

The stalker dragged me toward a dark corner where the streetlight couldn’t reach.

Holding my hand, the stalker forced me against the wall, letting out a creepy laugh.

“It’s time for us to have a real conversation. Aren’t you excited?”

“…”

I pretended to give up and lowered my head.

The stalker’s hand brushed against my jacket and started to move downward.

As I felt the cold wind touch my skin,

I pulled out the other stun gun I had secretly tucked in my opposite pocket and jabbed it into the stalker’s neck.

“Uggggg!”

Electrified by the stun gun, the stalker quivered and collapsed.

Finally, I succeeded in taking down the stalker and was about to put my slightly disheveled jacket back on when I heard hurried footsteps from afar.

I stopped what I had intended to do.

Instead, I sank to the ground in front of the collapsed stalker, pretending to be a weary person gasping for breath.

“Barcode!”

“Ha… ha…”

Seeing me kneeling, Curry rushed over.

As Curry quickly checked my condition, their gaze shifted to the fallen stalker.

“What a trashy scum…”

Curry was holding the stun gun I had dropped earlier.

The fact that she was holding it meant she had witnessed me being dragged away by the stalker.

If that wasn’t the case, there would be no reason for Curry to explode with anger upon seeing the fallen stalker.

“Are you okay, Barcode?”

“Yeah… I’m fine.”

“Whoo… I should have walked you home.”

“It’s not your fault, Curry. More importantly, we should call the police…”

Upon my desperate request, Curry quickly took out her smartphone to call the police.

“Do you know this guy? Do you have a personal relationship with him?”

“I’m not acquainted with him, but he’s the guy who chased our housekeeper last time.”

“What? This scum was lurking near Barcode’s home? Police? No, since when?!”

“Since after the fan meeting… I reported it, but they let him go without charges.”

“Crazy. This stalker scum was let go without charges?!”

Seeing Curry genuinely enraged made me feel a strange mood.

Thinking she was this angry for me made me smile.

Of course, smiling in this situation would be weird, so I tried to mask my expression as much as possible.

Soon enough, the police arrived at the scene.

Curry and I went to the police station, while the unconscious stalker was taken to the hospital.

*

Curry, who had moved to the police station with Barcode, suppressed her boiling anger.

Thanks to Barcode’s preparation against the stalker, who could show up anytime, they had secured solid evidence.

The footage recorded by the action cam and the dialogues captured on the voice recorder were perfect evidence.

Since Barcode handled everything well, there was no need for Curry to step in, and she quietly listened to what the detective was saying.

“The footage and audio provided by Choi Nayun is sufficient…”

However, as the detective mentioned someone’s name, Curry felt as if her brain had momentarily stopped.

The detective was talking to Barcode, addressing him as ‘Choi Nayun’.

Barcode’s real name was Choi ‘Nayun’.

The notorious sniper’s nickname was ‘Nayun’ Queen.

Doubts had started to waver due to Nayun Queen’s sniping during the collab and had later completely cleared regarding Barcode.

But now that she learned Barcode’s real name was ‘Choi Nayun’, the doubts she had once laid to rest began to resurface.

Was it truly just a coincidence that Barcode’s name was ‘Nayun’?

Her head was spinning.

Having just concluded the Grand Master broadcast, facing such a hard truth in her already exhausted state was overwhelming.

Her head ached like it was about to split, and she could no longer bear to listen in on their conversation.

Barcode and the flower shop owner were the same person.

Barcode and Nayun Queen were different people.

But Barcode’s real name was Choi Nayun.

The name Nayun was common, but was it merely a coincidence that Barcode’s name was Nayun?

As Curry wrestled with her endless torment, she snapped back to her senses.

Before she knew it, Curry and Barcode were exiting the police station.

“Thank you, Curry.”

With a gentle smile, Barcode expressed gratitude to me.

Was that real or fake?

Everything about her felt doubtful.

“Curry?”

When I didn’t respond, she took a step closer to me.

Worried that I might be troubled, she looked at me with concern.

Considering what she just experienced with the stalker, her demeanor was far too composed.

Who should be worried now—how could she be concerning herself with me?

Yet if all of that was an act, a façade,

Having a stalking victim be that composed could make sense.

Worrying about me could also be explained.

“Barcode.”

“Yes?”

“You’re Nayun Queen, aren’t you?”

“…”

She remained silent.

This was a question I had thrown once I steeled myself.

Why was she responding this way?

I felt strangely like a fool.

If only she’d said she wasn’t Nayun Queen, even if it was a lie,

I would’ve believed that obvious lie.

But why, why not deny being Nayun Queen now?

She made a fuss about denying it during the collab.

So why, now?

I waited for her to speak.

Even if it was delayed, if just one denying word came from her,

It felt like it would alleviate the crippling headache tormenting my mind.

But all I got in return was heavy silence and a meaningful smile, and I couldn’t make heads or tails of her smiling face in this situation.

I was left with no strength to stand any longer.

Just as I was about to turn my back to head home, I heard Barcode’s voice from behind.

“When are we going to have our virtual marriage?”

“…”

I ignored Barcode’s question and moved my heavy feet forward.

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