Chapter 9: Setup Skirmish

『Lambs! Hold them off around the warehouse!』

The final match began just like the second one: as soon as it started, Kirishi-tan parachuted straight down toward the warehouse and infiltrated it immediately. Two other members of Kirishi-tan’s team also dropped nearby and started gathering weapons.

Top Chat: Early-game weapons are fine here since there's less chance of losing out on position.
Top Chat: One of the few advantages of using a bow.

『Tch… reset!』

Down in a dim underground room, Kirishi-tan was repeatedly performing some kind of precise movements. Judging by her voice, it wasn’t going well.

Top Chat: Ah, she’s setting up.
Top Chat: That’s the kind of movement you see in bug-abusing speedruns for action games.
Top Chat: Well yeah, there aren’t that many spots where you can pull off a clean double-skip around corners.
Top Chat: "Not that many" is an understatement; that's pixel-perfect territory.

"Let's move. Watch my back."

Top Chat: Elf went in, too.
Top Chat: Now it’s a race between Kirishi-tan finishing her setup and Elf charging in first.
Top Chat: Still can’t believe rushing works in Gunfield, what a broken strat lol.
Top Chat: Right?

There were three main routes toward the target warehouse: following the sandy, rocky coastline; going upstream along the forest-covered river; or cutting straight through the dense central woods. Out of these, I chose the forest route.

"Keep moving, keep moving!"

Top Chat: Oh, you actually thought this through, huh?
Top Chat: Is that really the optimal route?
Top Chat: Nah, that’s the nastiest choice possible.
Top Chat: Among the paths to the warehouse, this one has the most cover and overlooks the warehouse too, so Kirishi-tan’s team can’t easily interfere.
Top Chat: Makes sense — Elf’s sniping potential gets maximized here.
Top Chat: Big-brain Elf.

"That so?"

Top Chat: Oh, wait, she picked it randomly!
Top Chat: Our “tactical genius” Elf is the kind of girl who’d resolve a “use your head” problem with a literal headbutt.
Top Chat: Maybe, like, try discussing plans or at least pretending to think it through lol.
Top Chat: This Elf’s decision-making speed is insane.
Top Chat: She’d toss natto just one week past expiration without hesitation.
Top Chat: …Okay, that one you should throw out.

Meanwhile, the two members of Kirishi-tan’s team chose a strategy of constant long-range fire, steadily retreating toward the warehouse while whittling us down.

"This is annoying."

Top Chat: These veteran lambs are pretty damn skilled.
Top Chat: Elf’s an exceptional sniper with insane accuracy and prediction, but since her weapon’s a bow, staying out of range works fine.
Top Chat: That said, the sniper rifles Kirishi-tan’s team picked up are both kinda weak.
Top Chat: They didn’t really have time to pick carefully anyway.

"They’re weak?"

Top Chat: Weak as hell.
Top Chat: Short range, unstable aim, and low damage.
Top Chat: Basically a textbook low-rarity sniper rifle.
Top Chat: Sure, a headshot’s still fatal, but anything else takes a few hits to actually kill you.
Top Chat: I’ve never even bothered using one in real matches.

"Alright, we’re charging."

Top Chat: Wait.
Top Chat: Wait, wait, wait.
Top Chat: Why… why is this Elf like this…
Top Chat: They literally just said you can die in a few hits!!

"If their range sucks, wouldn’t they hate it more if we got in close?"

Top Chat: …Okay, fair point.
Top Chat: When you put it that way… yeah.
Top Chat: And considering Elf’s “if you’re in range, you’re already dead” skillset, yeah, that’d suck.
Top Chat: ELF’S ACTUALLY USING HER BRAIN!?

"I can't keep someone who used their hidden trump card waiting forever. Sorry, but the opening act needs to exit the stage quickly."

Top Chat: Victory line drop incoming!

We pushed forward, ignoring the damage, while the two remaining members of Kirishi-tan’s team desperately tried to slow us down. They didn’t just rely on sniping — they triggered traps, acted as decoys, and stubbornly resisted to the very end.

But without properly gathered weapons, there was no way they could set up a solid defense.

"Gotcha!"

Top Chat: OHHHHH!!
Top Chat: We did it!
Top Chat: Target eliminated! Target eliminated!

The two members of Kirishi-tan’s team were taken out. They could no longer influence the match in any way.

However—

『That’s enough. You’ve done well, my little lambs.』

Kirishi-tan was already waiting in the warehouse’s basement, arrow nocked, perfectly still as she aimed at the corner of the ceiling.

"Alright, let’s play, Kirishi-tan."