Arcane Sniper [Matan’s Shooter]

Ha Leeha, standing in the middle of the boulevard, wore a constant, cheerful smile that Blaugrunn found amusing.

“Are you that happy?”

“Happy, you say? Of course, I’m happy.”

Even though it was a teasing tone, Ha Leeha didn’t mind one bit.

‘Hehe, should I take another look?’

He looked again and again at the Black Bass’s item window as if he were admiring the face of a lover, seemingly never tiring of it.

〈Awakened Legend of Black Bass (First Enhancement―Lava)〉

(Non-tradable)

Its former name, 〈Black Bass Enhanced by the Power of Lava (First Enhancement)〉 (Non-tradable), had become much simpler.

Changing or moving the position of a modifier meant that the current item was emphasizing the ‘most important point.’

‘It means the enhancement by the power of lava is now negligible.’

The additional description and effect―no. 2, which had amplified Black Bass’s attack power and range, were no match for the 〈awakened〉 Black Bass.

The only regret was the lack of any additional attack power or range, but Ha Leeha was not one to be greedy about such things at this point.

‘What matters is this!’

Additional Description―2: The consciousness sealed within the legendary rifle has awakened. ―I can 〈see〉 what I need to consume. Now, no enemy will escape me. Imprint me, and I will devour every enemy you desire. So feed me. Awaken my eyes. Offer me the new blood of enemies I have not yet tasted, fresher blood.

―Upon awakening Black Bass’s consciousness, some of its original power can be used under certain conditions.

Additional Effect―3: Activation at 30% charge or more

Sleep at less than 10% charge

Current Charge: 4%

‘Wow! Look at this arrogant tone! Look at these deep―dark word choices!’

No enemy could escape.

It could see what it needed to consume.

Awaken its eyes.

Despite reading it numerous times, the chills still made their way down his spine.

The added effects of the item had introduced the concept of charge rate, along with the conditions for activation and sleep.

‘It’s somewhat like a smartphone battery―being from Middle Earth, it’s irritating that activation is at 30% and sleep is at 10%.’

It didn’t go to sleep at 0%.

To keep Black Bass continually awake, he had to maintain a charge of 10% or more once it was awakened, with the initial awakening requiring 30% charge.

In other words, if he didn’t want unnecessary hassle, he needed to keep the charge from dropping below 10% after the first awakening.

‘How to charge it is still unknown. Despite hearing from Bottleneck, all Black Bass expressed was 〈new enemies〉 and 〈fresh blood〉.’

From that, one condition could be determined.

A monster he had never taken down before.

The current 4% charge seemed to indicate that because he had killed a monster he’d encountered for the first time in his life, the Gigantic Mimic.

‘Hmm… but wouldn’t that be too much? There are thousands of different monster species in Middle Earth, and including derivatives, there are surely tens of thousands…’

What would happen if he hunted a monster he’d caught before?

If it wasn’t recognized, he would have to hunt completely new monsters, those he had never caught even once, while leveling up and completing quests.

‘That’s unfair. Too much. I didn’t level up like other musketeers doing repetitive tasks… I hunted a few different species in small numbers rather than mass-killing a single species.’

He had already faced countless monsters and enemies.

Above all, it was absurd that only 4% had been charged from capturing the Gigantic Mimic, a level 300+ field boss.

“How long will it take to reach thirty percent…”

“Pardon?”

“I think I’ll be busy for a while…”

―Ha Leeha-ssi?

―Oh, madam Ju!

―Could you come by our restaurant for a moment?

―You must have good news, right? I also have a few more things to ask.

The Black Bass was a rifle used by Elizabeth.

It was unclear how or to what extent the seal had been broken for its use, but if it involved the ‘Intelligence Guild’ of the Holy Grill, surely they could find additional information related to Black Bass.

―We are still investigating other matters… but we have found the target you asked for.

Ha Leeha’s steps halted.

Blaugrunn, who had been following closely beside Ha Leeha, also stopped abruptly.

“What’s wrong?”

“Huuuu… Alright. Blaugrunn-ssi, we need to prepare for a moment.”

“Prepare for what?”

“Combat preparation.”

“Pardon? Pardon? All of a sudden? Where? With whom are we fighting?”

Blaugrunn asked urgently, but Ha Leeha was too absorbed in organizing his thoughts to respond.

‘Even though I asked for this, I must be out of my mind.’

The intelligence prowess of the Holy Grill had indeed strengthened significantly.

They say, if you want to catch a tiger, go into its den.

Ha Leeha immediately turned and headed towards the Holy Grill.

* * *

Crunch… Crunch…

Ha Leeha moved cautiously, ensuring he did not make a sound with his footsteps. Blaugrunn was levitating beside him, moving silently.

The forest was thick with tall trees, casting an overall darkness, but Ha Leeha did not light any fire.

Blaugrunn, like Ha Leeha, did not need light to sense his surroundings, a fact they both shared.

“Ha Leeha-ssi.”

“Hmm.”

Blaugrunn spoke cautiously.

Ha Leeha nodded and halted his steps.

He steadied his breathing.

The moment Ha Leeha lifted his head to look at the surrounding trees, a violent rustling echoed.

There was no wind.

Only silhouettes jumping off the branches!

“〈Cloaked Ambush〉!”

“〈Shadow Step〉!”

“〈Neck Slashing〉!”

“〈Achilles Tendon Severance〉!”

“〈Surprise Dance〉!”

Squeeeeeee─!

All the attackers, pouring their skills towards Ha Leeha like lightning, were of the Miyaw race.

But moving like lightning only applied in their perception or to other ordinary users.

“〈Magnetic Field〉: All with metal objects, cease movement.”

The one who tried to attack by teleporting behind Ha Leeha.

The one who attempted to stab Ha Leeha from above with a dagger.

The one who charged low aiming for Ha Leeha’s legs.

And those trying to immobilize Ha Leeha to prevent evasion of these attacks.

Their attacks were fierce and sharp.

Their misfortune was only that their opponent was Blaugrunn.

Connecting to user ‘Lonely Rope’s’ body.

A 200% level difference exists between the skill caster and the target.

The effect of Surprise Dance is reversed.

Gaining control of user ‘Lonely Rope’s’ body for 15 seconds.

“Kii, kihiik!? The skill―”

“Oh my, still making a fuss amidst all this.”

Ha Leeha danced joyfully as he looked up at the miyaw, who had been trying to cast a skill on him.

The miyaw, perched on the tree, mirrored Ha Leeha’s dance move for move.

“Kya, in the past, I couldn’t even budge because of this. The difference in stats is so enormous now that it doesn’t even affect me.”

Ha Leeha reminisced about the time he passed through the ‘Siyand Outpost’ when he was searching for the Dark Elf’s settlement.

Back then, he had been ambushed by the members of the Midnight Circus, and even after calling for reinforcements from the children, he had faced significant difficulties due to skills like ‘Surprise Dance’ and other skill-enhanced movements.

Aiming itself was challenging, and the sluggish movements of the children were easily ridiculed by them.

“…… Really? Ha Leeha struggled against these guys? He scared everyone so much back at Gaza City just now…….”

“Well, it was like that back then. I didn’t realize there would be such a vast difference now.”

However, at present, even a sudden attack by five Miyaw assassins was not a threat to him—such was the stark difference in power levels.

“〈Distorted Vision〉 is definitely a cheat skill!”

Besides the stats, the skill that significantly raised the quality of his combat was indeed the 〈Eye That Pierces Through〉.

No matter how diligently someone tried to hide or launch a surprise attack, if he saw it coming, dealing with it was easy.

From the start, it was evident that apart from the five who had been continuously following him, there was another, a user among the assailants.

“Hiding isn’t a bad idea, but if you plan to attack, I’ll really counterattack. So, if you want to come out, do it now. If not, it’d be better to go back. If you’re embarrassed to be caught, just stay hidden and don’t attack.”

Ha Leeha swiftly pulled the bolt and aimed at the tree on the right.

Simultaneously, the members of the Midnight Circus showed a flinch in their expressions.

“K-… Kihihi― what’s this? Amusing, really amusing!”

“Why pretend it’s not? I can see every one of you! If you’re coming down, come down quickly, Petyr!”

Tukwhaaaaaaaaaaa────……!

The moment Ha Leeha pulled the trigger, the flow of mana on the tree vanished.

However, it was not because of Ha Leeha’s attack that it disappeared.

‘Fast!’

Ha Leeha tried to cloak his actions from external perception from aiming to firing. Although Petyr had been prepared for an attack, the timing to dodge was impeccable.

“Puhihihi! This, this is fun! Totally a surprise! Ha Leeha walked right into it on his own!”

“Move and I’ll kill you, cat-human.”

Petyr’s voice came from behind Ha Leeha, just a little distance away. Blaugrunn was already aiming mana gathered at his fingertips at Petyr.

‘Behind? When did he―’

Ha Leeha turned around hastily.

Petyr was approaching with both hands raised in surrender. If Blaugrunn hadn’t been there, Ha Leeha would have been in trouble.

It proved that Petyr still held his position solidly.

His movement was distinctively different from Kidd’s ‘Quick Foot.’

It was close to sudden teleportation, like Bluebeard’s magic profession’s Blink spell.

‘Well, that’s fortunate. This level is just right.’

Ha Leeha shrugged his shoulders.

“Huhuhu…… As expected. The top ten aren’t just for show. Petyr-ssi, shall we have a little chat?”

The more unpredictable Petyr’s movements were, the higher the chances that he could fulfill Ha Leeha’s current wishes.

“What chat? If it’s about ‘Achievement Retrieval’, I’m always willing! Buhih!”

“Are you crazy? I’m not dying for you guys. That’s not what I mean.”

One of the pieces of information Ha Leeha inquired about from the Holy Grill was precisely this.

『Midnight Circus』 The current location of their mobile tent.

That was because the leader of the 『Midnight Circus』 was there.

Petyr’s expression shifted slightly.

“Puhihit… Not at all a surprising joke.”

“It’s not a joke.”

Ha Leeha’s voice turned more serious.

Petyr’s reaction was understandable. Ha Leeha was currently marked as a target by the 『Midnight Circus』.

It would be logical for them to think that a targeted individual coming to meet their marker aimed to assassinate the Ring Master.

“Do you not know that the Ring Master can’t be seen by just anyone? Buhit! Even if Nguyen came back, you couldn’t see him.”

For an assassination group like the Midnight Circus, it was reasonable to assume Ha Leeha intended to assassinate the Ring Master.

“Biyemi-ssi got ‘character deleted’, so it’s natural not to recognize a new character. Do you want to keep making weird word plays? Forcing my way in won’t be good, so I’m asking ‘nicely’ like this.”