17 Game World 1: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ : _ _ E _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ A _ _ _ _ _ (5)

{{ To View Inventory: recite 'INVENT' }}

{{ To View Item Information: Hold Item and recite 'INSPECT' }}

{{ To Acquire Item: Hold Item and recite 'ACQUIRE' }}

{{ To Discard Item: recite 'DISCARD' + Item Name }}

{{ To Put Item in Inventory: recite 'STORE' + Item Name}}

{{ To Bring Out Item from the Inventory: recite 'USE' + Item Name }}

{{ To View Mission Objectives: recite 'LIST' }}

{{ To View Commands: recite 'COMMS' }}

{{ To Exit Commands Window: recite 'QUIT' }}

"I guess I have the liberty to move aside from item procurement," Aectaeon said, humming as he contemplated.

Aectaeon didn't bother memorizing all of the commands. He just made sure to remember the word 'Comms' like the derelict person that he was.

"Quit,"

Once there were no more panels in front of him, except for the map, compass, and countdown panels, Aectaeon went on his way towards the gun.

Since the gun was a few meters away, Aectaeon's hands began to sweat. He couldn't even feel the coldness of the dirt on his feet. His limbs were quivering ever so slightly, urging him to swallow his saliva repeatedly.

Who knows when another shootout would arise?

Well, not Aectaeon, of course. He didn't even know how the world outside of the barn looked like.

To his relief, he managed to reach the gun without earning another hole in his body. He let out one long sigh as he clutched his chest.

"This is more nerve-wracking than seeing those debt collectors." He muttered, slowly regaining his calm in the process.

Aectaeon proceeded to stoop down and said, "Acquire"

As if his hands were controlled by an invincible force, Aectaeon got a hold of the gun.

{{ Acquired 'MAS-38' }}

He then scrutinized its entire length, allowing himself to be accustomed to its weight.

"Inspect"

A panel appeared right above the noose of the gun. Aectaeon read it, taking the information with a grain of salt. It wasn't like he needed to memorize such triviality.

{{ MAS Model 38 Submachine Gun }}

{{ A Submachine Gun designed in the 1930s. It was developed from the experimental MAS 35. }}

{{ Body Length: 623 mm; Barrel Length: 224 mm; Weight: 2.87 kg; RoF: 600-700 rounds per minute }}

"1930s? If I'm not mistaken, the current year in this world is 2040. This is quite an old gun. I don't think it can keep up with modern warfare."

Aectaeon debated on whether to keep the gun or not. Even though he didn't see a limit to his inventory, he already took into account that he could only keep a limited number of items. If a weapon would be useless in a battle, it would be better for him to throw it away.

"Still, for the time being, I have no choice but to use this. Beggars can't be choosers."

Afterwards, Aectaeon searched for another arrow. In no time, he saw one floating on the far right corner of the barn. Instead of making his way there, he pointed the gun towards that very corner.

{{ To Zoom-in on target: recite "LOCK ON" }}

"Lock on,"

His vision instantly became that of a scope. In particular, it was a combination of the view of a mil-dot and SVD-type scope.

It was equipped with a rectangular section on the upper left side that displayed a humidity sensor, updated ambient temperature, wind direction, and air velocity. It also included the altitude and elevation of the player. The scope pinpointed the target while actively changing the scale of the scope view.

Aectaeon was no less than amazed at what had become of his eyesight. He could clearly see where the target mark was positioned - On the head of a scarecrow created haphazardly out of straws. Withal, he forthwith realized the disadvantages of the function, making him heave another sigh.

"While this is activated, I can only focus on the target. I'll have to rely on my other senses to keep watch on the other enemies. That means that my back is completely open for them to aim at."

As he continued on pondering over the new function, Aectaeon placed his left foot behind him and his forefinger over the trigger. Once he put strength on his legs, Aectaeon fired. Since the recoil was stronger than he had expected, he contracted his muscles even more.

For a good minute, Aectaeon just let the gun do its thing. His ears were ringing, but he didn't mind. The satisfaction of firing a gun was beyond him. A smile -- No, more like a smirk slowly appeared on his face.

Once the firing round was over, Aectaeon lost strength in his arms. He lowered the gun in that instant as he observed the smoke rising out of the corner.

{{ Objective 'Pick up a MAS-38; hit the target a total of 10 times' Accomplished }}

It took a short while for the smoke to vanish. In that window, Aectaeon didn't move, not even a blink. He couldn't name the feeling that welled up from the bottommost pit of his being. Or rather, it was all too overwhelming.

But one thing was for sure.

Aectaeon felt fulfilled.

It was his first time holding a gun and he even got to fire it. He initially thought that he wasn't the violent type, yet his emotions had betrayed him.

"The question is… Do I have the courage to kill someone?"

Instead of finding an answer at that moment, Aectaeon wished to test his own guts on an actual battlefield. There were limitations to philosophizing a situation.

Until one could subject themself to the actual ordeal, they would have no idea of just how difficult it would be. At the least, that's what Aectaeon believed.

Just as he ended his contemplation, Aectaeon was able to land his eyes on what his target came to be.

There wasn't much to see. Instead of remarking a scarecrow riddled with holes, there was only a big hole on the wooden corner of the barn. It revealed a patch of land that was laden with bullet holes.

Aectaeon looked at the gun once more, his smirk growing wider.

"I'll keep you as my way of gratitude. Store," He said, satisfaction brimming in his voice.

The gun disappeared at that second, followed by the appearance of a game panel.

{{ INVENTORY }}

{{ MAS-38 x 1 }}

{{ To Exit Inventory Window: recite "QUIT" }}

"Quit," Aectaeon uttered as he turned around.

His eyes caught sight of another arrow.

"Well then, time to finish all my objectives."