Arcane Sniper [Matan’s Shooter]

By this point, there was a hint of amazement on Shimo’s face.

『Much more… impressive than the ritual I have been in.』

“Yes? Is that so? Ah? Um, maybe… you could be right.”

『You truly have the right to carry on the name of the ‘White Reaper.’ No, I firmly believe you will become a far superior White Reaper than I ever was.』

Shimo patted Ha Leeha’s shoulder with a satisfied expression.

The meaning of the ‘ritual’ eventually entailed meeting the spirits of snow and ice and learning the skill to invoke snowfall.

Having met the top-grade spirit Gerda, Ha Leeha had learned ‘Snow Storm’, a skill several ranks higher than what Shimo had requested, leaving Shimo utterly astonished.

While Shimo’s praise felt good, Ha Leeha’s expression did not easily brighten up.

『Is something bothering you?』

“No, well… yes. Suddenly, a tremendous concern has arisen.”

Naturally, that issue was Pyrot-Cockri.

Blaugrunn, standing next to Ha Leeha, had spread out a mana detection net with a radius of 600 meters to prepare for any eventualities.

He wanted to leave the place immediately, but…

“I still have one more quest left.”

Kidd and Luger had already departed.

“It would be wise to go together. Commander Browless is also looking for you, Ha Leeha, and the best way to escape from the undead monster empowered by the Pyrot-Cockri or the Demon King’s Fragment is with us.”

“I, I want to do that too! But I can’t go right now. I haven’t learned the skill yet!”

“Haha, it doesn’t matter if it’s a skill for the second class advancement; you can learn it step by step. If you be too greedy over that one thing, you’ll incur a bigger loss.”

Kidd’s earnest advice and Luger’s aggressive suggestion held the same meaning eventually.

They needed to leave here right now.

Of course, ‘here’ referred narrowly to northern Shazrashian and broadly to the entire old continent.

“You guys think it’s easy because your growth methods are different from mine, okay? Don’t think I’m staying here because I want to. Most importantly, without a definite attack skill, participating in the Eastern Expedition of the New Continent would be extremely difficult to achieve results—”

“So, you haven’t learned any attack skills?”

“No attack skills?”

Ha Leeha could tell from their reactions.

He still didn’t know Kidd’s exact profession name, but it was clear that Kidd had learned at least one attack skill.

“Well, my second class advancement is a bit unusual… No, it might be because it’s too powerful and therefore difficult.”

“Hahaha! You still talk big. Acting so arrogant when you’re on the edge of death.”

Luger chuckled, mocking Ha Leeha.

However, Ha Leeha did not particularly get angry or agitated.

“I won’t argue about being arrogant, but if you hear this, you might change your mind. My second class advancement is related to ‘Arcane Sniper’.”

He had a one-shot that could bring them to their knees instantly.

“What!?”

“What did you say!?”

Kidd and Luger’s eyes widened.

They couldn’t fully believe Ha Leeha’s words, yet they feared falling behind in information if they didn’t. This duality left them momentarily speechless.

“Anyway, that’s why I want to go to the Eastern New Continent right away, but I’m holding back. So, you two should go first. Keep in touch about which routes you take, though. I’ll follow shortly.”

Ha Leeha shrugged, fully understanding their feelings.

Kidd and Luger did not press Ha Leeha any further.

“Ahem, p-please take care of yourself.”

“If you… If you turn undead, that will be my chance to officially blow your head off… but don’t let it happen.”

Looking at them, their faces full of concern and embarrassment, Ha Leeha laughed.

“Haha, don’t worry and go ahead.”

Whether it was due to the information related to ‘Arcane Sniper’ or genuine concern, he appreciated their sentiments regardless.

After they had left, the blasting by the giants finished, and with no monster threats left, Ha Leeha could finally approach Shimo.

“Do you, by any chance, know about Pyrot-Cockri? Or the Demon King’s Fragment…?”

『”Pyrot-Cockri? No, I don’t know well about that.”』

“I see.”

It made sense since Shimo was an NPC who had been deeply engrossed in the battles between Panrind and Kraven, having no relation to the Second Human-Demon War.

—

**New Elements and Characters**:

– Shimo (시모) = Shimo (he/him)

– Pyrot-Cockri (피로트-코크리) = Pyrot-Cockri (it)

– Demon King’s Fragment (마왕의 조각) = Demon King’s Fragment (varies)

– Gerda (게르다) = Gerda (it)
Ha Leeha rubbed his cheeks vigorously with both hands.

Pyrot-Cockri was chasing him. And there was no way to escape.

So, what did he need to do?

“Alright! Then it’s time for ‘White Reaper’, right!? I want to learn it quickly!”

The best option right now was to learn the skill as fast as possible and join the Eastern Expedition of the New Continent. That was the best course of action for now.

Even though it was a feigned enthusiasm, it still helped quite a bit.

『Finally, it’s the last one.』

“That’s right.”

In contrast, Shimo’s expression turned a bit serious.

『This is the last time I can talk to you and stay here.』

“……What?”

The final quest related to the ‘White Reaper’. In other words, it meant that Shimo’s spirit would disappear.

『White Reaper: Master of Snow and Ice—4』

The quest has been completed.

You have leveled up.

Skill—White Reaper has been learned.

“W-What?”

Ha Leeha’s eyes widened as if they would pop out.

He had learned White Reaper?

‘Wasn’t this quest supposed to find pure snow and perform a ritual? So, I thought it would connect to the next quest. Why did I get this skill already—’

Ha Leeha’s doubts were not dispelled.

Again, Shimo slowly opened his mouth.

『The White Reaper shall return to the White Reaper…….』

Swoosh────!

At the same time, a holographic window appeared in front of Ha Leeha’s eyes.

* * *

『White Reaper: The Bullet That Even Makes Death White』

Description: “What color comes to mind when you think of death? Dark, gloomy, red, or gray and ashes.

‘White Reaper’ is in stark contrast to that. It makes even death pure white, evaporating the body, mind, and the soul of the target. While only the ‘White Reaper’ can use this, it’s not something the ‘White Reaper’ can use alone. Your weapon, which is an extension of your soul, must also become a part of the ‘White Reaper’.”

The White Reaper, Shimo, intended to pass on his soul. Pass his test to receive it.

Requirement: Success in weapon integration

Reward: Skill—White Reaper’s restriction removal

Do you accept?

‘Yes, the rifle. When Shimo used it—’

The rifle he held had become one with the White Reaper’s right arm.

‘The term “bio-weapon” might be the most suitable term here. It was so bizarre that there was no other word that could describe it. It was a form of weapon never seen anywhere in Middle Earth.’

‘Oh! When Alexander was charging, his spear elongated, right? At that time, it seemed like his body became one with the spear.’

Ha Leeha recalled a skill that produced a similar result.

But upon further thought, it was clearly different.

Alexander’s charging was akin to a skill effect where the wavelength of light engulfed his body in such a manner.

‘This one……won’t be easy either, will it?’

Since there were no failure conditions or penalties, Ha Leeha presumed that the quest itself would be very challenging, implying the requirement for complete success.

『I have given you my sight, my breath, my family, and my comrades who gave me strength; now, only one thing remains.』

All the things Shimo mentioned had been completed in quests after Ha Leeha’s job change to the White Reaper and their accompanying rewards.

The reward in the third quest for the ritual was something Shimo had intended to pass on.

When building a close relationship with the Panrind people and aiding them, the reward was expressed with the word ‘family’, causing Ha Leeha to feel somewhat emotional.

『Do you know what that is?』

“The rifle…is it?”

『Correct. A low-grade rifle won’t withstand ‘White Reaper’ and may explode. In the worst case, the user might die too.』

“Indeed.”

It meant any rifle could not be used.

As Ha Leeha nodded with a tense expression, Shimo slightly smiled.

『But you can do it.』

“Why is that?”

The reason was, of course, only one.

『From your black rifle, I can sense the spirit of my beloved weapon, which I once used.』

“Ah… ah!? Ah! Aaaah!”

The astonishing incident, which Ha Leeha had momentarily forgotten about and had paid no attention to due to its lack of apparent efficacy, came to mind.

Caused by the absurd result of a synthesis failure…

The Black Bass had devoured Shimo’s rifle.

『Of course, it still won’t be easy. If your rifle surpasses the level of my beloved weapon… it means it would be even harder to master.』

“Before that, may I ask one question?”

『Hmm? What is it?』

“If I use the White Reaper, will you disappear, Shimo-nim?”

Shimo understood Ha Leeha’s question.

He shook his head as he answered.

『No. Even if you don’t use the White Reaper, I will disappear. The moment you make that promise with me.』

But that answer was not the direction Ha Leeha had hoped for.

It meant that Shimo would disappear the moment the quest was accepted, not upon its completion. That was even worse.

“Then what about me? I only received the name, but I am still infinitely lacking―”

『You are not lacking.』

Shimo grasped Ha Leeha’s shoulders anxiously and looked him in the eye.

『You have already surpassed me, and more importantly, you know someone incomparable to someone like me.』

“Excuse me?”

『You’ve already seen how I learned the White Reaper, haven’t you? So, I believe you’ll understand my intentions. Following that person’s path would be more beneficial than learning from me.』

Ha Leeha understood Shimo’s words. He was referring to the person who had taught the White Reaper to the Panrind people.

‘Arcane Sniper, Francis… In the end, this means―’

Follow in the footsteps of Arcane Sniper.

There, and at the end of that path, lies the learning.

Ha Leeha instinctively felt that this was not in the form of a quest. In other words, he would no longer get any hints from Shimo.

Yet, Ha Leeha’s sense of disappointment did not lie in some extension of a quest, but in Shimo himself.

An NPC with the same name as himself in the real world. The sense of kinship he felt from that alone was significant.

The complex emotions stemming from the tension, anxiety, impatience, and excitement during suffocating sniper fights—how intense were those feelings?

Now, he had to sort through those emotions.

“Hooo… I understand.”

Ha Leeha steadied his breathing.

“By the way, being unified with the rifle is possible through the technique called White Reaper, right?”

『Of course. Remember that for us, a rifle is not a mere object but akin to a soul. When you can handle it better than your own limbs, the White Reaper will be complete.』

This was the last hint Ha Leeha received from the former White Reaper.

Though it was an immensely short period compared to Browlist, he had to prepare to part ways with the NPC who had given him teachings as profound and deep as Sergeant Kim.

“Thank you for everything, Shimo-nim.”

『What are you saying. I am more grateful. Thank you truly for saving the crazed me and my unfortunate people.』

As Ha Leeha listened to Shimo’s words, he finally pressed the accept button.

『The White Reaper… to the White Reaper….』

Shimo smiled and gestured toward his spirit rifle.

Ha Leeha forced a smile and lifted Black Bass to respond to his greeting.

At that moment, a light burst forth, as if it would envelop all of the ruins where Shimo’s spirit had dwelled.

─────────────…….

『I’ll leave everything to you, White Reaper.』

Ha Leeha couldn’t see Shimo’s expression as he said those words. However, he could guess it through his voice.

“Leave it to me.”

By the time Ha Leeha replied, the light had subsided.

There was no one left there anymore.

Only Ha Leeha and Blaugrunn stood alone in the abandoned house amidst the ruins where Ha Leeha and Shimo had once mapped out their large operations.