Arcane Sniper [Matan’s Shooter]

In the air, too, there were many players showing off themselves, either riding on various pets or using fly magic.

They were boasting to each other or pointing and being surprised at someone, but at a certain moment, the surroundings became completely quiet.

A user with the power to silence everyone without a word or action, Alexander, was flying in from the distant sky, shining in golden light.

“It’s Alexander-nim!”

When the users looked up at the sky and cheered, a fast-moving black mass was seen coming from the opposite side of Alexander.

Most of them were seeing it for the first time, but the quick-witted users immediately recognized who it was.

“Over there – that’s Lee Jiwon-nim!”

“Is that the [Thundercloud] he got this time?!”

“What’s that?! A skill? Or a pet? A spirit?”

Their surprise was understandable. A black cloud harboring lightning!

With a crackling sound, the large cloud naturally approached Bailephus.

[Lee Jiwon.]

“Admit it?”

Raising one eyebrow, Lee Jiwon gave a ‘thumbs up.’

Alexander looked annoyed, but Bailephus laughed heartily.

[Comrade. Will you say something? Humans usually do that kind of thing, don’t they?]

Bailephus stopped laughing and asked Alexander.

Alexander turned his head and looked at the users densely gathered on the ground.

They too were users of at least level 200, but their eyes sparkled when looking at Alexander, which was inevitable.

“Ugh, if he starts with his concept act again, it’s really grounds for a block.”

Alexander crossed his arms for a moment.

Was it because of what Lee Jiwon said beside him? Or did he feel that there was no need to inspire these users?

Alexander did not give a long speech.

Just one word. Barely audible, he raised his spear.

“……Let’s go.”

And that action was precisely what the users expected from Alexander.

The users’ cheering, resonating through the earth, reached even the stronghold of Ma (Demon) with a distinctly different soil composition.

About 1 km ahead of the slowly advancing users, the land resembling burnt charcoal, the final stronghold of Ma (Demon).

[The Blooming Barren Land] was waiting for the users.

Perhaps because Bailephus was flying slowly, the users also did not rush their march. They took firm and solid steps at a brisk pace.

Excitement and tension intoxicated their minds.

“This is awesome. I’m looking forward to it.”

“First, start recording – capturing Ha Leeha’s death and uploading it to YouTube will rake in some income, right?”

“Definitely! The video of RUSH being smashed got so many views, didn’t it?”

“Hehe, I’ll be the one to kill Ha Leeha. I’m a sniper, so just wait until he comes into close range, then – bam!?”

That was when the users, who fully believed in the rumors about Leeha, began to freeze around their mouths.

“Brother. No, that’s not true.”

“Ram Hwajung? Wha-, what?! What are you doing -… Sir!”

The look in Ram Hwajung’s eyes had the effect of making the users, who were about to speak rudely, reverent. His companions hurriedly removed the ice crystals that had formed around his mouth.

The expression of wanting to argue further, the faces wanting to confront someone who had recklessly attacked their guild member, quickly faded away.

Because behind Ram Hwajung stood Ram Hwayeon.

“You’d think a guild like [Venice] would have some level of information. Looks like I have to reconsider.”

“What do you mean, Ram Hwayeon-nim?”

“Believing unconfirmed information so readily and getting excited about it… That’s why I thought it wouldn’t end well. As a guild from the same Fibiel, I wanted to offer some help, so don’t take it too harshly.”

“It’s not Ha Leeha? You say that, Ram Hwayeon-nim, but you must have seen the video. I have ears too. I’ve heard he goes around almost sniping people? I know he’s exceeded the limits of a musketeer tier.”

The guild master of Venice spoke softly, but with such skills, he was no match for Ram Hwayeon.

“So?”

“Uh, yes?”

“Just because of that one reason, you’re treating Ha Leeha as part of the Matan Army? Because his attack style is the same?”

Ram Hwayeon said this, pointing at the hand of the Venice guild master, holding a ‘one-handed sword.’

If the same attack style was the criterion, there would be more than ten million users like that in Middle Earth.

It wasn’t hard to read the message in Ram Hwayeon’s eyes, ‘If there’s an accident with a sword, should we blame you too?’

“This is different! Ha Leeha is a musketeer! How many musketeers above level 200 do you think there are?”

“Then what about Luger? What about Kidd? They would be sufficient too. No, maybe it’s more reasonable to think it’s Luger.”

“…Ah, that’s right! They’re there too! Together- together? That means…

The Venice guild master tried to argue logically, but words were just spinning in his mouth.

It couldn’t be helped. The rumor they believed in wasn’t based on logic in the first place.

Ram Hwayeon smiled slightly and bent her knees a little.

“I trust you know better than anyone that it’s nonsense. I hope you become a splendid guild master who isn’t swayed by others.”

In front of the polite greeting of a lady, the Venice guild master couldn’t say anything more.

With the ice lumps floating in his hand, and Ram Hwajung’s eyes saying, ‘I’ll kill you if you talk more,’ he was silenced.

It wasn’t just them.

The members of Byulcho, along with Pei Wu, Hwangryong, Oracle Rubini, and the ‘Saint’ Raphaela, the summoner Elmi, and other expedition members from the New Continent, were all defending Leeha.

Every time Leeha’s story came up, they suddenly appeared to take Leeha’s side, presenting rational reasons why it wasn’t him, but the majority reacted similarly to the Venice guild.

Once a prejudice and belief had taken root, it was not easy to shake it.

Especially when they couldn’t answer the question, “Then why isn’t Ha Leeha here?”

No matter what they said, it seemed like an excuse, so it was impossible to change their minds.

[What is this…?]

Bailephus, who was floating in the air without a single flap of his wings, stopped moving at that moment.

About 300 meters away from the Blooming Barren Land, the Ancient Gold Dragon leading the users’ total attack did not move any further.

Most users raised their heads to look at Alexander and Bailephus.

Why did they suddenly stop? Even amidst the murmuring noise, Bailephus showed no response.

“What’s the matter, comrade?”

[…Something…]

“Hm?”

[There’s something.]

“It’s the demon stronghold, isn’t it obvious?”

[That’s not what I mean, comrade.] Alexander spoke lightly, but Bailephus was full of tension.

Was it because it was the first time Alexander had seen Bailephus this tense since they became partners? Alexander’s expression turned serious in an instant.

“What do you mean by ‘something’?”

[…A huge demon aura, no, not just that, but something more alien is there.]

“A huge demon aura? Bluebeard? What do you mean by different?”

[It’s not a demon. It’s similar in size to a demon, but what else is there…]

Suddenly, Bailephus turned his head swiftly.

His long neck bent toward the ground, causing the users to exclaim in surprise, but there was one who was not startled.

Bailephus was looking for her.

[Rubini.]

“Yes, Dragon-nim.”

[Can you create a map?]

Oracle Rubini, a seer, was directly named by the Ancient Dragon. Users were startled to hear her name, their eyes covered with strange veils.

“Was it Doctor Doom this woman all along?!”

“My God- this is-”

The users quickly scattered from around her.

Doctor Doom, the seer. For those not from Minis, countless had died during the national war due to her predictions.

“How wide should the range be?”

[As wide as possible. Make it the widest radius you can manage.]

“Understood.”

Rubini immediately began casting her skill.

The other users were filled with bewilderment and confusion, but the original New Continent expedition members could not hide their shock.

A request and caution from an Ancient Dragon?

Even during their voyage to the New Continent, they had never taken such precautions!

“[Area Mapping: Mana Pool Charging]”

Whoosh-!

In front of Rubini, a hologram map with red lights was created.

It was definitely the same skill used during the voyage to the New Continent. However, as the name ‘Mana Pool Charging’ suggests, Rubini had poured all her mana into it.

In terms of ‘size’ and ‘precision,’ it was no exaggeration to say it was a different skill.

“Is this – are all these dots monsters?”

The map, enlarged like a cinema screen, was densely dotted with points.

The users gulped, realizing that each dot represented a monster, but Bailephus’s expression twisted in concern.

[How far does this extend?]

“Phew, this range is about 5km.”

“Crazy!”

“Five kilometers!”

“!%%$, That’s insane!”

Amidst the noisy reactions, Alexander’s voice rang out, unusually tense.

“Could it be… it’s not within this range.”

[That’s correct.]

“That’s crazy. Weren’t the demon strongholds just slightly larger than regular raid dungeons until now?”

Lee Jiwon, sitting on the Thundercloud, scratched his head.

He instantly understood that something making Bailephus tense was not within the 5km radius.

In other words, something outside this 5km range was making Bailephus tense.

“Do you think it’s dangerous even with our strength? With our strength as the guardians of virtue and executors of justice?”

Alexander gripped his spear tightly.

[…”]

Bailephus didn’t respond.

The users on the ground, looking at Rubini’s map, were lost in various thoughts. They didn’t even pay attention to the conversation between Alexander and Bailephus.

They were busy simulating where to enter, how to conquer, and how to efficiently clear this place.

“Hah, is the Golden Lizard admitting he’s a weakling? So, the story about killing a mystical creature was a lie, right?”

“Shut up, Lee Jiwon. It’s true that we fought with a mystical creature. We just didn’t kill it.”

“Keke! That’s exactly what I call being weak! No counterargument!”

Lee Jiwon was pleased to be on the same level as Alexander, able to say such things in his ear.

Alexander’s expression suddenly distorted, obviously bothered by Lee Jiwon’s incessant chatter.

Alexander’s overreaction was undoubtedly influenced by Bailephus’s silence.

“What does killing a mystical creature mean to someone like you!”

Provoked by his response, Lee Jiwon was laughing.

But it wasn’t just because he enjoyed seeing Alexander’s reaction. Lee Jiwon was happy to answer Alexander’s question.

It was also a moment for him to confirm that he had accomplished something Alexander had not yet done.

“I know.”

“Hm? What do you know-”

“What do you think I did to get this Thundercloud? What level do you think I am? Kyakya! Those in serious mode should just stay home!”

Lee Jiwon cut off Alexander’s words and raised his black sword high.

When the users, who had been examining the map, turned their eyes towards him, Lee Jiwon’s Thundercloud started to move.

“We’re going, Gazaazaaa!”

“Wait! Lee Jiwon!”

Although Alexander shouted, Lee Jiwon did not stop.

Bailephus, too, was solemnly gazing at the distant land, not paying attention to Lee Jiwon.