Arcane Sniper [Matan’s Shooter]

The thought of what the 6th quest of Black Bass might entail seemed absurd, and Leeha frankly didn’t want to confirm it just yet.

“Let’s eat the fruit first, though.”

And so, Leeha opened the skill window.

The moment he checked the detailed information of Ghost in the Shell, written so stylishly.

“What the? Em? Ahhhhh!”

Leeha could finally understand the true meaning behind what Elizabeth had said once before.

“If used well… Yes. It would be perfect with that thing I acquired recently, wouldn’t it? I chose it as bait, just in case…”

In Leeha’s mind, battle simulations were already running.

What strategy should he use to confuse the enemy and maximize his own attack?

The sequence of using skills?

Which parts to attack?

“From which angle should I fire? The choice of battlefield is also crucial.”

Leeha nodded to himself.

The enemy this time is Toon. And it’s likely to be a 1:1 fight with Toon.

Even with Jellypong acting like an automatic barrier, even with the addition of the Force Barrier skill, it wouldn’t be highly effective.

“It could end in a single hit. It might even die. Under no circumstances should he get close. Best to snipe from a distance as much as possible!”

Of course, having already faced Toon, Leeha knew this.

With the enhanced Black Bass, instant death seemed difficult. The damn thing’s level was inscrutable…

Regardless of the damage not getting through, the last shot was to the eyeball. A bullet burrowed above the eye and it didn’t die.

Either it missed the brain – or it can survive like a dragon, even with its head blown off.

There might be a part similar to a dragon’s heart.

Remembering Kuzgunak’sh’sh’, who survived having its skull completely crushed, Leeha shivered.

A weak spot that could instantly kill it must be found.

If not, countless bullets must be fired into the creature to bring its level down to zero.

“If it can be instantly killed, that’s best. But if not, there’s no helping it.”

Toon’s weak spot wouldn’t just pop out if requested by the Holy Grill, after all.

“Well, if it doesn’t exist, it doesn’t. What a pity, a one-hit one kill achievement would have been nice. If it were to that extent, then [Ankylosaur] would have been named-grade. Furthermore, for a sub-boss, its performance is disappointing…”

Meaning, it was either a field boss or something equivalent.

However, the achievement of strength +15, agility +2, intelligence +1 in stat distribution disappointed Leeha.

Even considering the Hall of Fame, the practical help in agility and intelligence amounted to a mere 10 points for Leeha.

“Sigh. The bad luck continues. Or mentioning luck now just makes me anxious…”

Achievements could be forgotten.

Another monster would come along to gain from.

What was immediately important for Leeha was something else. Leeha tightly closed his eyes. He wasn’t in danger since he was being moved automatically by Jellypong. He closed his eyes for one reason only.

“Please!”

Pop! Leeha opened the quest window.

[Seal of Black Bass-6]

Description:

“This creature is alive, the more it tastes blood, the sooner it will awaken. The day its rightful owner appears, black Bass will awaken once more…”

The legendary dwarf placed seven seals on Black Bass. The legendary firearm waits for its user to awaken it.

Objectives: Kill a monster above level 300 with a single hit from a distance of at least 5000m) (0/1)

Rewards: ???

The sixth quest condition for Black Bass.

Leeha had to kill a monster at a staggering distance of 5km, with a power level of 300!

“No way… Quest number five was at 3,500m for level 250 monsters, and that was already a nightmare! Why does this condition have to be-“

The quests from one to four for Black Bass had increased by 5000m in distance and 20 levels per quest.

When it changed for the first time from quest four to five, increasing by 1,000m and 40 levels, he thought it would stay that way.

“Damn it! To be alive, is it really alive? Is it intentionally trying to screw me over!”

And now, increasing the distance by another 1,500m and the levels by 50!

“To find and defeat a monster of level 300, where the hell am I supposed to find one? Nothing in the New Continent would come close to that level.

Didn’t the recently achievement unlocked Ankylosaur only have monsters at a level of around 280?

“It would have to be at least field boss level. Dammit.”

Without any sources of information in the New Continent, finding a field boss would be as hard as picking stars from the sky.

Leeha sighed.

“At least I should be thankful that 5,000m is within range.”

His current effective range was around 4,000m. Using her snipe skill, he could easily reach up to 5,000m.

Considering her current scope’s performance, sniping was definitely possible.

Meaning, the difficulty of this quest wasn’t about the distance or the gun’s performance, but solely depended on her information gathering and willpower.

That was somewhat a relief.

Kijung: “Hey, Leeha hyung! Can you come over in a few days if I call you?”

Leeha: “Huh? Why, Kijung?”

As Leeha mulled over the quest’s requirements and how to obtain information on level 300 monsters, Kijung’s voice rang in his head, sounding rather serious.

Kijung: “The Virtue Knights have caused trouble again.”

Leeha: “Sigh… Those crazy bastards, what now? Don’t tell me it’s about ‘Subjugation’ again?”

Kijung: “Yeah. The Carp, Dog, boar paleos, and even the Cows were targeted. And now, the Red Goats and the Black Cranes are in chaos too because of the other knight orders.”

Leeha was furiously cursing internally.

Why on earth would they provoke the mystical creatures? There’s nothing good in upsetting them!

‘It’s always those with good abilities who are psychopaths! The Carp spirit showdown was never easy, so how did they manage to suppress that? The Boar paleo’s charge attacks are no joke either!’

Those were the ones that could knock down large trees in a single charge. Even Lark might manage, but it was hard for Leeha to believe that the entire Virtue order could win.

Leeha: “Sigh… Sorry. I’m in a place where teleporting isn’t possible right now. Getting back is a bit tricky.”

Kijung: “No, it’s fine for now. But later on.”

Leeha: “Hmm, that ‘later’ though—if things go south here, I’m not sure. I’ll make it if I can.”

If he could find a teleportation point, he could return at any time, but if he couldn’t find one, he’d have to consider the possibility that he might not be able to return to the western region of the New Continent until he met Elizabeth.

If he wanted to go back, he would have to walk, or die, neither of which was desirable.

Kijung: “Really? Where are you? Never mind. It’s okay, I’ll handle it. If it looks like it will take over a week, I should move faster.”

Leeha: “Huh? What do you plan on doing? Even if you team up with Nara… That guy is dangerous. Try not to involve him as much as possible.”

It was the strongest piece of advice Leeha could offer.

The exact effects of the [Sacrifice] skill were unknown, but even Kijung would have a hard time overcoming Lark.

Hence, Leeha expected that Kijung would move with Nara’s Sacred Knight order.

Of course, that was because Leeha didn’t yet know about the 1:1 incident between Nara and Lark.

Kijung: “Direct confrontation is the only way without knowing the true nature of that sword. We’ll have to find another solution.”

Leeha: “Another way? Oh, right. Better to request a national level diplomatic dispatch. Ask for proper cooperation. That’ll work be–”

Kijung: “No, Lark wouldn’t listen to that, hyung.”

Leeha: “Huh? And then?”

However, Kijung was aware of the confrontation between Shin Nara and Lark.

Above all, the Virtue Knights are becoming increasingly powerful day by day, with their [Subjugation] achievements.

Comparing then and now, their total stats must have surpassed 100 points difference.

Therefore, facing the Sacred Knights head-on would predict significant losses, so Kijung did not choose that method.

Kijung: “We have to make them listen.”

Leeha: “How?”

Kijung: “In the name of the Holy Knight.”

Kijung had another path to choose for this reason.

Leeha: “Eh, Ehm? Kijung?”

Kijung: “With Paladins and elites, I’ll sweep away the monsters gathering for the 4th wave. If I become a Holy Knight within the next week – under the Pope’s name, I can make a ‘Strong Cooperation Request’ to all the knight orders assembled in the New Continent. Unless Lark acts alone, they’ll have no choice but to listen to me. At least the 480 of the Virtue Knights will have to obey me.”

Leeha: “Just, wait- Kijung! You, worrying–I know. Becoming a Holy Knight means you can’t play recklessly like now. But still.”

Sigh.

Once again, Leeha heard Kijung’s sigh.

Kijung: “But we can’t just leave it like this, right? Hehe, right? If the mystical creatures entirely lose trust in humans, it’s a bigger loss for us. But, having human knight orders fight each other would only please Bluebeard.”

What moved Kijung was not the pressure, but a stronger sense of responsibility.

Thinking of the greater good and knowing to sacrifice oneself, Leeha admired Kijung anew.

There were few responses that wouldn’t reveal that admiration.

Leeha: Um… That answer sounds really foolish. But it’s just like you.”

Kijung: Giggle, oh! That’s daring of you, talking to a future cardinal!”

Leeha: Pfft, you little. Okay. I’ll join you as soon as I’m done with my work.

Kijung: Okay! That’s reassuring. You do your work well too! See you next!”

As he ended the call, Leeha wore a proud smile.

He sincerely wished to provide even a little bit of strength to his cousin hyung striving to break through to the next level.

‘To do that, I need to catch Toon as soon as possible.’

The 1:1 confrontation with Toon, which seemed impossible.

Endless battles unfolded in Leeha’s mind, drawing confidence through Kijung.

Day turned to night, and night turned to day again.

A virtual combat record spun over 30 hours: 69 battles, 0 wins, 69 losses.

“Haah… the terrain… indeed, the terrain is important. Not just the terrain’s contours, but if the surrounding environment doesn’t support, you’re definitely caught. To perfectly”

[Thud!]

“Huh!?”

The Jellypong, moving at a constant speed, suddenly stopped.

Leeha felt a momentary pressure from the abrupt halt.

[Mumble mumble mumble.]

The small voice of Jellypong tickled Leeha’s ears. Having been immersed in an imaginary world, Leeha finally managed to break forward. Walking through the trees, each step resonated, spreading from the treetops.

Leeha finally discovered the entrance to Toon’s Forest and slipped out of the Pine Harbor with a sense of relief, remembering the past six hours.

“Be careful, Jellypong,” he said to Jellypong, lowering her voice as much as possible. Jellypong’s arms, which had wandered here and there from Leeha’s chest, retreated back again. The distance between Leeha and Toon was about 2000 meters.