Arcane Sniper [Matan’s Shooter]

Relying on the faint light of a blurry fire within the chieftain’s quarters, the three individuals leaned in to listen.

“We have found everything you asked about. If there are any documents, it’s just a matter of finding and reading them, so it wasn’t too difficult.”

“Wow! I’ve heard Dark Elves are the keepers of records! Truly fascinating.”

… It might be better not to give such backhanded compliments.”

“I, I meant it when I said I was happy!”

Speaking with a grumble, the trio sat in front of the chieftain. Meanwhile, Luger knelt a bit further away, leaning against the wall.

“I… I didn’t get any achievements, and that could be evidence that my attack power is inferior to that of Leeha or Kidd, so I was not just disappointed.”

Naturally, there was no one to comfort (?) him. Leeha and Kidd only listened to the chieftain’s words.

“Then, let’s start with the [Power of God] you were curious about. It’s the ultimate power that even God didn’t use. At least through our tribe’s records and the daring clash with the Matan’s Shooter, we believe it has the ability to avoid the power of [The Final Bullet].”

Write?

The chieftain picked up a book and flipped through it, pointing to a passage with his hand. Although written in the language of Dark Elves and unreadable to them, the chieftain immediately interpreted it.

“A white rose will embrace the final black charcoal.”

“A white rose… Does it signify the manifestation form of [Power of God]?”

“It is presumed to be. As you mentioned, [Power of God] is not simply in the form of a sword. It will change its appearance depending on the user. Even with the simple use of that power, one can gain tremendous strength, but the true ability… it is what I just mentioned.”

A spark began to ignite in Luger’s despondent eyes.

“I heard that [The Final Bullet] is meant to annihilate the user. Does that mean it can be prevented?”

“Yes. If you use [Power of God], you can prevent the Matan’s Shooter from annihilating the user.”

… In essence, it means no penalty, right?”

“Well, if that’s true – no, that might be why Max Hescok came here.”

Leeha and Kidd locked eyes.

“That’s right. At that time, Matan’s Shooter, Max, had already used up five shots. Matan’s gun has a total of seven shots. The seventh shot, the final Matan, which would destroy the user, put Matan’s Shooter who came looking for our clan in significant danger.”

“Wow!”

“Indeed, seven shots in total.”

The Three Musketeers completely understood as they listened to the chief’s words. Hadn’t they seen through the same ‘memory’? The path Max was taking led towards the Dark Elf’s lair.

“The [Power of God] was desperately needed. At that time, as I had already used up five shots, if I were to use one more shot, the remaining final Matan would have annihilated Max Hescok himself, so there was an urgent need for it.”

“But we can’t say there are no restrictions at all. [Power of God] only prevents [The Last Matan], it doesn’t shield all the pain experienced by the one possessing Zamiel’s power. Zamiel’s power consumes everything about the guardian. Unless you use the Matan at the right time to expel it, your own body will disintegrate.”

Luger spoke up first, just as it had happened in Max’s memory playback.

“How many pieces does that team consist of?”

“Well, that… I can’t say. It seems like it varies slightly depending on how much of Zamiel’s power is accepted and how one interacts with Zamiel.”

“So, this Zamiel…”

“Zamiel is the very power of the Devil; in a way, it can be seen as another form of the Devil. If the Demon King’s Fragments came from the Devil, then Zamiel can be seen as a more pure form of the Devil’s power.”

“Are they like twins?”

“That analogy isn’t very fitting.”

“That idiot always uses words like that. Intuitive, but…”

Kidd and Luger teased Leeha, causing his face to flush with embarrassment. Nevertheless, the expression itself was somewhat fitting.

The original power of the Devil, manifested into [Matan]. Before devising a plan to annihilate oneself while challenging God, fragments were preemptively separated, resulting in creations from one’s fragments, [Demon King’s Fragments]. If the self born from [Matan] is Zamiel, then ultimately, Zamiel, Bluebeard, Ghibrid, and others are somewhat akin to ‘a different set of brothers,’ as Leeha put it.

“The penalty received when becoming the Matan’s Shooter ultimately depends on Zamiel, the source of Ma’s power.”

“Using Matan can be understood as a form of poison. It is very potent; just having it harms the user and eventually, it devours the user’s own self…”

“Haha… What’s the importance of that. As long as one possesses [Power of God], there’s practically no final penalty. Poison? Well said. Poison or fire, it all depends on how and who uses it to determine whether it’s 100% or -100%.”

A smirk tugged at the corner of Luger’s mouth.

With his self-assured attitude, as if he had already become a Matan’s Shooter, Leeha and Kidd had no choice but to look at each other once again.

“That last statement is the issue. If left to you, Luger…”

“Well, from now on, it may result in the deaths of six Rankers, and the firing of the seventh Matan shot is not out of the question.”

As the two nodded to each other and engaged in conversation, Luger tried to interject in annoyance, but the chieftain just smiled slyly and pulled out another booklet.

“The questions you were curious about seem to have been answered to this extent-“

“Oh, before that! [Power of God], earlier you mentioned the [White Rose], where can we obtain it?”

As the chieftain attempted to wrap up boldly, Leeha quickly asked, but couldn’t hear the answer she desired.

“We don’t know that either. We have information about the power of God, but there are no records of it being used. It’s rumored that the human once known as Max, the last guardian who left after staying for about a week, didn’t leave any trace of it being used. Perhaps there are similarities between you and him.”

“Similarities?”

“When a vast army of Wood Elves marched towards us, he stopped it with a single bullet and left. Maybe all humans who handle firearms are helpers of the Dark Elves.”

“Ahem.”

Leeha remembered a story he heard from the chieftain. The Tale of the guardian of the last Guardian, who was rumored to have saved the Dark Elves.

“But a vast army? With just one shot?”

Having considerable knowledge about the Guardians by now, Leeha could roughly guess that the one shot was surely related to [Matan].

The commander of the vast army or the king of the invisible Wood Elves must have been killed.

“But killing isn’t the issue. The important thing is that he sent back the enraged Wood Elves who were clearly about to retaliate.”

It was a much more challenging task than simply targeting and assassinating someone. Having witnessed recent conflicts between humans and Palaeos, Leeha knew better than anyone else.

“Max Hescok, also known as [Bullseye], wasn’t just throwing himself at Matan but-“

“Including negotiations and a natural heroic potential, huh. Well, from the perspective of the Wood Elves, he might have been the worst of terrorists.”

Did Max ultimately acquire the [Power of God]?

Leeha was curious about his fate, but there was no more information left.

“I was about to mention that a considerable amount of the information you brought was our legacy records. But this is…”

“This is?”

“A document made by Kaztor. It seems to be a research literature.”

“Wow!”

“K-Kaztor?”

“Does it mention anything about the High’s Citadel information?”

The ancient marks looked similar, but they were definitely different somewhere. The Three Musketeers sprang forward as if they were going to devour the chief, seeing a book neatly titled in front of them.

“Just a moment. I have various things to say, but the essential story is about ‘Vitality Jar’! !”

“Vitality Jar?”

And there, the Three Musketeers listened. Especially for Leeha and Kidd, it was a story that resonated deeply with their souls. A vessel that contained all their life essence. As long as the vessel remained intact, there would be losses but no annihilation of life.

“So, even in that state, you were able to escape?”

It was strange to Leeha as well. How could one function with over 70% of their physical body missing?

“Although it seemed like there were damages, it didn’t seem like a complete loss. So, that was the case.”

Damage may occur, but annihilation does not, as long as the vessel of life, ‘Vitality Jar,’ remains intact.

“It’s somewhat similar to becoming a lich, but the difference is that they’re not undead. That Kaztor guy managed to master the transformation into a human in the new continent as well as conducting this kind of research.”

“Is it written that he did that in the new continent?”

“Well, that seems to be the case.”

The eyes of the Three Musketeers met simultaneously. If he learned such technology in the new continent and applied it, where could he hide ‘Vitality Jar’? It must never be destroyed. It should never be touched by anyone. Kaztor must have known about that place for a long time.

“It’s towards the new continent.”

“It’s not even on the level of the paleo Stronghold of Harhei. Much… much further, somewhere.”

“It’s one of the three directions.”

Kidd also rose from his seat, his gaze fixed on the Crimson Geckos. If you were to advance further westward in the New Continent, where would you go? As Kidd put it, there were only three options left:

The north of the New Continent.

The east of the New Continent.

The south of the New Continent.

From one of these places, Kaztor may have learned great skills and hidden clues about the Vitality Jar.

“Remember. Although the three of you are benefactors to our tribe, only one of you can obtain what you desire.”

As the three rose from their seats to prepare to leave, the chieftain bid them farewell and offered some advice.

“… The Matan’s Shooter can only be one person in the end, can’t it?”

“That’s right. The one human who ‘obtains’ the firearm ‘first’ after the death of the Matan’s Shooter. Only the one who holds the weapon imbued with Zamiel will become the Matan’s Shooter.”

As the three listened to the chieftain’s words and prepared to depart, Leeha considered something again as if something had come to mind, and asked a question again.

“If one is not the Matan’s Shooter, then what happens to the firearm?”

“Max said it cannot be used. I’m sorry I cannot give you a clear answer to your question.”

“Okay. That’s enough for now.”

Elizabeth is not the Matan’s Shooter. According to Max, she is unable to use the firearm of the Matan’s Shooter.

“It’s something different. And that difference might be… likely due to Kaztor’s influence. And Kaztor will use the Vitality Jar to restore his own body.”

The goal of the three was simple.

“Let’s move now.”

“I hope we could have also obtained the White Rose along the way.”

“It’s mine anyway, so don’t be coveting it.”

When entering the chieftain’s dwelling, the three were a team. However, the moment they exited the chieftain’s dwelling and acquired almost all information about the Matan’s Shooter, they ceased to be a team.

They became rivals and foes vying for the position of Matan’s Shooter.

Leeha, Kidd, and Luger.

Sparks flew from the eyes of the three people.