Arcane Sniper [Matan’s Shooter]

“Surprisingly. Ram Hwajung-ssi likes simplicity-” Leeha closed her mouth before she could finish saying ‘likes simple things’. On second thought, there wasn’t a single time when Hwajung was simple; she just expressed her opinions less frequently.

‘Oh well. Maybe I just didn’t know.’

At this level of affluence, simplicity might be an unparalleled luxury.

“Do you have anything to recommend, Ram Hwayeon-ssi? I wonder what your mother likes. This is the hardest part.”

“If you’re looking for something safe, maybe a muffler or some clothes. Or maybe a bag? Shoes? Nevertheless, she’s been away from home for over a month. It might be nice to buy her something nice.”

“Well, that’s true. But I don’t know her taste very well.”

Even though Hwajung was careful with her spending, she must have different clothes depending on the season. Leeha was cursing at herself for not even remembering that much.

“Or how about tea? You’re preparing a restaurant, aren’t you?”

“Oh, it’s not exactly a restaurant, more like an eatery-“

“Tie Guan Yin is quite good.”

“That’s right, that’s right. Among oolong teas, Tie Guan Yin is the best. Preparing something like that might make her happy, right?”

At the suggestion of Ram Hwajung, Ram Hwayeon clapped her hands.

There was certainly a point to her suggestion. Leeha was also aware of her mother’s character. She would prefer a more practical gift rather than luxury clothing or accessories.

“That sounds good. Tie Guan Yin? Is that a good one? I thought all teas were the same.”

“Indeed! It’s good. There’s a shop here. If you want to buy a good one, it would have to be around 30 years old … or maybe even 50 years old for a restaurant opening ceremony.”

“…What? 50-year-old?”

“Tea leaves. Oolong tea can be aged for a long time. The complex yet firm flavor is unparalleled-“

“No need to explain, I can guess the price.”

Does tea also follow the same age-rating as wine? Knowing roughly how much wine costs, Leeha could immediately shake his head. Her mother may like practical gifts, but if you spent that much money on something to eat, she might get scolded instead.

“It’s not that expensive. For 1kg-“

“Your definition of ‘not expensive’ and mine are quite different … But I’m curious. How much is it?”

“For a 50-year-old… um… 250,000 HKD?”

“250,000 Hong Kong dollars in our money is-“

Leeha hastily finished calculating. And then asked again.

“Not that expensive?”

“It’s worth that much.”

“Is it…”

The tea leaves of the Tie Guan Yin, worth 35 million won in Korean money, and that’s for only 1kg. And you’re supposed to brew this tea and serve it at a restaurant?

She wasn’t sure how many cups that would last, but even if her mother sold thousands of dishes of pork and kimchi stew, she might barely make a profit.

‘Should I find it amazing, or frightening? When it comes to these things, it’s like dealing with an unknown entity.’

Leeha thought she might never fully understand the Lamb family.

What’s more, if the place they were going to was full of shops selling such items… could he even find the gift he wanted there?

“Oh, I shouldn’t have asked! After talking with Ram Hwayeon, my head has become even more confused.”

“It’s okay, oppa.”

“Huh? What’s okay, Ram Hwajung-ssi?”

“I’ve bought it. The gift.”

Watching Ram Hwajung bashfully laughing and holding a platinum card, Leeha was at a loss for words.

But he didn’t have the luxury of speaking anyway.

The real shopping had started, and it took an astounding 5 hours 45 minutes to cover major shopping spots in Hong Kong including Canton Road.

Still, he was too busy chasing after her, who coolly shouted “Next” and hopped onto the limousine.

Even Kijung, the specialist in tanking, and Bobae, the former 10th-ranked, current 11th-ranked archery Olympian, struggled with Ram Hwajung’s shopping tour, and Leeha got to fully experience it as well.”I think I understand why Ram Hwajung-ssi likes this car. Public transportation is not an option.”

“Right? I feel drained whenever I use it.”

Ram Hwayeon frowned, massaging her legs.

How many people could sleep in it? The question lingered as the limousine’s interior was filled with shopping bags.

The trunk was crammed full by the time they left the second shopping mall. Now, after passing the sixth mall, it was only natural that the shopping bags had taken over the vehicle’s interior. Shopping with Ram Hwajung was almost a mystery itself.

‘Even their expressions are getting brighter…!’

Leeha remembered.

He remembered the face of Toon, reviving by consuming the users’ blood during the final attack in the Matan’s Fortress.

‘The fear and cuteness, two opposites, become one when they reach the extreme… such nonsense naturally comes out.’

Leeha stealthily pushed the shopping bag while figuring out how to position himself.

According to Ram Hwayeon, there’s one more mall, the very last one. It was sad realizing he hadn’t bought anything amidst all this shopping.

“Jewels.”

“Oh, Ram Hwajung-ssi!”

“It’s like they lose their mind whenever something shiny comes out.”

As they entered the grand mall that embodied the five elements, Ram Hwajung started running.

Even Leeha, who had visited plenty of luxurious boutiques today, was welcomed by shop employees in front of a renowned jewelry shop he had heard about multiple times.

“Wow… So this is what people mean by a different world.”

Everywhere across Leeha’s view, jewels twinkled enticing potential buyers.

Save for the excited Ram Hwajung who rushed in, Leeha and Ram Hwayeon leisurely browsed through the jewels.

“Is that a diamond?”

“Obviously.”

“Wearing a ring like that, wouldn’t you be unable to do the dishes?”

In that moment, Ram Hwayeon distanced herself from Leeha.

“Is that all you think of when you see such a ring?”

“Well, it could get caught on the lips while brushing, so you would need to take it off to wash.”

“Clearly, you have no sense of mood.”

“Well, I’m just curious! I can see that it’s beautiful too.”

As Ram Hwayeon shook her head, Leeha tried to argue but the moment had already passed. The staff standing nearby approached the bickering pair with a polite suggestion.

“Why not consider this to soothe your girlfriend?”

“Eh? Us-“

“Who, who, who’s the girlfriend!?” The more shocked one was Ram Hwayeon.

The staff who started the conversation, taken aback, immediately apologized, making Leeha feel flustered as well.

“Is it that bad being mistaken for my girlfriend?”

“No, who, who’s unhappy?”

“Hmm?”

“It’s not like that- Ugh, nevermind!”

As the flustered Ram Hwayeon stomped off, the staff let out a surprised laugh.

“I must have mistaken you two for a newlywed couple. I apologize for my mistake, madam.”

Leeha could almost see a [Magma Eruption] skill cast in the direction of Ram Hwayeon.

“Stop! Stop! You can’t say things like that!”

Wondering what to say at her reddened face that was almost teary, Leeha contemplated. How much angrier would she get to hear us referred to a couple?

“Ram Hwayeon?”

However, Ram Hwayeon didn’t say anything.

She simply turned around and limped away.”Brother. Mother. Gift.”

“Huh? Ram…Ram Hwajung.”

The one who had approached the flustered Leeha and the clerk was Ram Hwajung.

Almost all kinds of jewelry could be found in this store, and she was holding an item that resembled a small crystal ball.

“So, they sell things like this as well?”

“Sparkly stuff. I like.”

“Hmm, it’d surely look very luxurious for interiors.”

“There are such things in Middle Earth too.”

“A crystal ball? Well, yes, even Rubini-“

“Yep. The glass tribe monster. It’s strong. It’s precious.”

Leeha’s nodding motion momentarily stops.

A glass tribe monster? It was a species that at least, Leeha hadn’t encountered in his journey so far.

“What’s a glass tribe monster?”

“Monsters that use a lot of sparkling things.”

“They use a lot of sparkling things? Like a golem with a glass exterior, or something like that?”

Ram Hwajung shook her head.

It was quite the task having a smooth conversation with Ram Hwajung, who often cut off sentences into single syllables. Lâm Hwayeon, thankfully, had returned to her original expression.

She also knew about it.

“The place where Hwajung currently resides in the new continent has an area made of ice. She also learned her new Ice Magician skills there as well.”

“Ah! The Ice Age?”

“Right. The paleos in that area use ice, just like glass. Unless it’s melted by a fire, it doesn’t melt under sunlight either. I think they called it ‘Ice Freeze Ostrich’? Anyway, it seems there are monster tribes that bother the paleos. Hwajung cleared them out and earned the skill in return.”

Several guild members of Ram Hwajung had been assisting with leveling up Ram Hwajung.

This was done for the use of the Mana Injector and the resulting report, but Ram Hwayeon didn’t miss the minuscule details within that report.

“Handles glass…… Ostrich……” Leeha thought deeply.

Maybe this held a high possibility of providing a clue.

Even though it’s not glass but ice, if it doesn’t melt unless fire is applied? Isn’t that enough to shape and use as glass?

‘That also means they possess technology.’ In other words, they might be able to create a lens with a magnifying effect.

Lâm Hwayeon had a mysterious smile on her face, watching Leeha’s deep concentration. Her face seemed to suggest that she had figured out what Leeha was thinking.

“If you’re interested, I’ll let you know the location.”

“As expected, Ram Hwayeon-ssi! You got it exactly right!”

“You don’t need to react like an old man.”

“Uh, okay? Right.”

Once Leeha’s secret plan was exposed in no time, he awkwardly scratched his head.

What might Ram Hwayeon have thought about Leeha, who still managed to think about Middle Earth even while shopping for a mother’s gift? At least, her expression didn’t look disapproving.

She already had a small necklace in her hand.

“How about this as a gift for Mom? It’s a safe choice.”

“Ah….”

A necklace with what looked like three interconnected rings.

While extremely simple in design, the fact that three rings were intertwined was enough to symbolize a family.

“Isn’t it good?”

“Uh, yes. Thank you.”

Leeha accepted the necklace from Ram Hwayeon. Despite looking around all day, there hadn’t been a more fitting gift.

“Go ahead and pay quickly. Hwajung seems to have finished shopping as well.”

Despite her grumbling, Lâm Hwayeon was busy taking care of things. Leeha didn’t know what to say to express his gratitude.

Fortunately, Leeha wasn’t completely oblivious.

This was an invaluable opportunity for him, as one of the two always had to stick around him.

“Excuse me.”

Leeha whispered with his card extended. Ram Hwayeon and Ram Hwajung were already outside heading towards the next store.

“Yes?”

“Hehe.”

The clerk was taken aback by Leeha’s laughter.

The shopping spree that started in the morning ended at dinnertime.

“Are you sure you’re okay eating out in such a place?”

“Yep. The food at the hotel that Ram Hwayeon-ssi arranged was amazing…… But still, I prefer street food.”

“Hmm…… Oppa. Your taste.”

Ram Hwajung followed behind Leeha with a displeased expression.

Perhaps for them, it was their first time eating in a restaurant where locals of Hong Kong ate. Leeha laughed with an inexplicable sense of joy.

Except for the few tumultuous days due to Ram Hwajung’s kidnapping incident, Leeha who hadn’t enjoyed a truly Hong Kong style day even once, found it to be an unforgettable experience.