I Have Returned, but I Cannot Lay down My Gun

Chapter 75 ­ Gunshooting

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“Hello.”

“Welcome! Are you here to shoot?”

“Wow, this is a real shooting range… The interior is prettier than I expected. It looks like a cafe.”

One more person was added.

For some reason, I thought that.

Just about four weeks ago, I was suddenly thrown back to where I used to live, wondering what to do, and ended up entering the shooting range as my steps led me. And now, I was at the shooting range with a famous streamer.

It made me realize that you never know what the future holds. With that thought, I walked into a building that wasn’t much different from the one I had visited last time.

Due to the nature of shooting ranges, which must have shooting ranges that are at least 15 meters and up to more than 25 meters long, the internal structures were similar. For space efficiency, the lobby seemed more like a flat rectangle than wide.

On one side, there was a kiosk. Here, too, instead of coffee or frappes, various types of guns were displayed in photos.

I used my identification card instead of my resident registration card, and Harmony took out her ID from her wallet for identification.

There was the familiar beeping sound, and then the words that followed.

“Oh, Ms. Yoo Jin, you are already registered as a member of our chain. If you do an identity verification once more at the kiosk, you will be eligible for a discount.”

“Can I do it too?”

“Yes, of course. I’ll bring you a tablet, so please have a seat!”

While the staff who had been sitting at the counter went inside the lounge, Harmony was fiddling with the kiosk, looking at the available guns.

Memories of the past came to mind automatically. Back then, I didn’t even know what the Dark Zone was, but now I was making money from it. Apart from the hundreds of thousands of dollars I hadn’t received yet, my bank account was rapidly growing.

Unlike the past, when I felt like a ghost wandering outside because I couldn’t believe I had returned, Harmony was the one who solidified my existence.

“Is there something on my face?”

“It’s not that….”

I quietly approached and stood next to Harmony, who was browsing the guns. Indeed, I saw many familiar guns. Compared to the previous place, this one had a more exotic selection.

The first thing I saw was the HK416. There weren’t many assault rifles. Maybe four or five. Here, submachine guns seemed to be more dominant.

But since I had plenty of money, I started choosing various guns without much issue.

“Do you want to try shooting the MP7?”

“Yes. And the other one… Wow, they have a Vector. Is this okay too?”

“Of course.”

And handguns too.

Harmony’s taste wasn’t broad, but rather, she seemed to be okay with guns frequently featured in media. She didn’t seem to prefer older guns like Walther or Colt.

However, she did show interest in a few S&W revolvers. So I picked the M500 for her. I thought that shooting this might make her tired of shooting for a while, but well.

People become stronger through such experiences.

Anyway, Harmony, who had completed her membership registration, had chosen the following lineup of guns: HK416, MCX, MPX, MP7A2, MP5, Vector, two Glocks, and the S&W M500.

Although it seemed like a lot, it wouldn’t be too exhausting since she would only be shooting five rounds from each, excluding the submachine guns.

Of course, I chose to shoot ten rounds from each of those guns, and I added the Kriss Vector and Desert Eagle.

So, the amount I spent today was not much different from what Harmony had spent on booking a buffet, but I wouldn’t be spending my own money on shooting here.

I only had to cover the costs for Harmony’s shooting.

“Your payment is complete, and I will bring the range officers. Please wait inside the lounge. You’re not ordering any snacks or drinks, right?”

“No.”

“Yeah.”

“Then please wait inside!”

Since we had already had several sweet snacks and drinks today, Harmony and I shook our heads.

As soon as we entered, Harmony lay down on a plush sofa, and I sat on a chair without a backrest. This large tail was always a problem.

There was a curious look on her face as she watched me.

“What does it feel like to actually shoot a gun?”

“It’s heavy, big, and loud. It’s probably harder to pull the trigger than you think. It’s not like in-game where trigger customization is possible.”

“Oh….”

Was I answering her questions one by one? Just then, the door opened with a click, and the staff at the counter called us.

The process wasn’t much different from before. We went back to the lobby, and before entering the shooting range, we put on protective gear, goggles, and headsets. If I had the chance to come here often… should I just bring my own gear from the safe house?

Anyway, as I was putting on the protective gear with familiar movements, the range officers came in.

We exchanged light greetings, and these people… seemed to know who I was.

“Oh, nice to meet you. Are you the one who set a record at the live-fire shooting range near Inwang Mountain?”

“I’m not sure if it was a record, but I did visit about four weeks ago.”

“Oh, I see. Nice to meet you. The reason I mention this is that since our shooting range is a chain, we keep shooting records for our registered members. Based on these records, we offer a kind of personalized service, so please don’t misunderstand.”

Then the following words.

“Anyway, the reason I bring this up is… when we shoot promotional videos for our branch in the future, we’d like to ask if we could use footage of your shooting. If you’re willing, please leave your contact information or email at the counter when you leave. The company will contact you with an official contract within a few days.”

“I’ll think about it and let you know.”

“Understood.”

With that, some unknown events passed quickly.

I was quite bewildered, but I wondered how Harmony, who was watching from behind, felt.

“…What on earth did you do?”

“I wonder….”

The world was truly strange.

“Wow, real guns are quite heavy.”

“Basically, they weigh around 3.3kg. With a holographic sight, target pointer, and muzzle brake added, it’s a bit heavier than that. Have you ever played Dark Zone?”

“Yes. I’ve shot this there.”

“Then you might find it fun to load the magazine yourself. Always keep the muzzle pointed forward… Yes, that’s good. It’s loaded with five rounds.”

Lifting the gun so that the muzzle pointed toward the ceiling, I took the magazine.

The shape of the live rounds was fascinating… Bullets the size of an index finger alternated in the magazine. It felt different from what I experienced in the Dark Zone.

I carefully inserted it, tapped the bottom of the magazine, aimed forward, and pressed the bolt release. This chambered one round, leaving four rounds in the magazine.

According to Yoo Jin, it’s always good to count the remaining rounds, even if just approximately.

Fortunately, there was no hesitation.

“You seem quite familiar. But the contact point… is a bit off. Think of placing your cheek on the marked line on the stock, and hold it firmly. Keep your finger off the trigger… You’re doing well. Aim at the target.”

Click.

With my thumb, I moved the selector switch. Semi-auto. Just in case, I checked again before aiming through the holographic sight.

Heavy, with a slight metallic smell. It probably didn’t actually smell, but it felt like it. Unlike in games, it was somewhat difficult to maintain aim for even a few seconds. Carrying this around while running would be incredibly exhausting.

How could Yoo Jin handle this?

“…I’m ready to shoot.”

“Alright. Shoot when you’re ready.”

I gently touched the trigger with my extended index finger.

As I learned, I pulled it slowly. Very slowly. Yoo Jin’s words echoed in my mind. If you keep pulling like this, you’ll feel a ‘wall’ through your finger, where it won’t go any further.

At that point, pull the finger harder.

Then───

───Boom!

My bangs shook, and the recoil started from my shoulder, spreading through my body to the floor.

It felt like I was electrocuted in a different way. The recoil, which felt mild in the game, was quite different in reality. It was like someone pushed my shoulder.

“Ugh…!”

“You did well. 7 points. Keep aiming for the center and keep shooting.”

Bang, bang, bang.

Meanwhile, I saw Yoo Jin continuing to shoot from a few lanes away. The muzzle flash was visible beyond the partition, and the shots were being fired at a consistent interval without any shake.

That sight spurred me on, filling my arms with strength again. If I had to define the feeling, it wasn’t that I couldn’t lose – but more that I had to follow.

It might sound strange, but anyway, I felt like Yoo Jin’s direct disciple. Even if it was self-proclaimed with insufficient skills….

───Boom! Boom! Boom!

The reticle, which was dancing wildly, settled down as I quietly held my breath.

Beyond the red dot was a human-shaped target. The distance was 10 meters, and although all adjustments were almost maxed out, the experience itself didn’t disappear.

Familiarity was the greatest weapon.

Lead bullets flew. The target was punctured with holes. In the game, the zeroing was automatic, but here it wasn’t, so the bullets hit unexpected places. Still, the grouping was decent.

After shooting

three rounds, I checked the zeroing and adjusted my aim slightly.

But it wasn’t easy.

The target returned with a click.

Before I knew it, I had fired all five rounds.

“Ugh, this is hard.”

“You did well. You hit 10 points with one shot.”

“I think it was by luck….”

“There’s a saying that luck is also a skill.”

Then, sequentially, a safety check.

I checked the chamber and removed the magazine. The safety check was done by the range officer, and after placing the gun down, I moved on to the next one. The SIG MCX. The many holes all over it were fascinating.

I received a brief instruction. I had felt this since the Dark Zone, but in the end, guns had very similar structures. So it didn’t take long to adapt.

After the safety check, I locked the bolt, received the magazine, and advanced. Again, five rounds.

The second time was a bit easier.

Of course, just because the process was simple didn’t mean the results were excellent.

With my shoulder still numb, I received a target with similar results to the previous one.

“You shoot quite skillfully. Submachine guns will be easier. Do you want to start with the smallest, the MP7?”

“Yes.”

The more unfamiliar the shape of the gun, the more awkward my actions became.

The insertion point for the magazine parallel to the grip was quite novel, but receiving the magazine and loading it with the left hand while holding it with the right made it much easier.

Holding the vertical grip with the left hand, I used my left thumb to retract the bolt. When switching shoulders and aiming with the left shoulder, I pressed the bolt release with my left index finger.

It felt like playing with a science kit from my childhood, operating the gun within allowable limits.

───Bang!

The recoil was much lighter than before.

If the previous gun felt like a palm pushing my shoulder, the submachine gun felt like a gentle tap with a fist. But it was still not easy.

Since it was lighter, aiming was much simpler.

After emptying ten rounds and checking the paper, I found the scores were better than expected. The target, which had a deformed human torso with concentric circles, was quite tattered in the center.

In other words, I scored 8, 9, and even a few 10 points.

Smiling, I turned to Yoo Jin, who had just finished shooting beyond several layers of thick acrylic panels.

And then I saw it.

“Ms. Yoo Jin! Look at this! This… Wow….”

Three sheets of paper.

Seeing Yoo Jin’s target with the 10-point section completely torn up, I handed the gun to the range officer and mumbled quietly.

“I knew it….”

It’s hard even to follow that person.

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