Arcane Sniper [Matan’s Shooter]

“That’s right! No, the Three Musketeers were disbanded. It was a fact that the whole Fibiel Kingdom knows, and now, here you are trying to investigate. What are you going to do to find the dead? Did you come here to listen to rumors?”

“No, it’s not like that. Is there any evidence that they are dead?”

“What evidence? What could a missing person do, more than die? It was a large-scale battle, where even a piece of the Demon King came out! Are there only one or two who haven’t been able to recover their corpse?”

The owner of the armor store sniffled and shook his head.

In the end, all he knew were rumors.

“Okay. I will come back next time.”

“Yes, okay. Please come again! Thank you for bringing me some good armor!”

[Skill: Bargaining has risen to level 5.]

“Hmm… “

As he left the armor store, a pleasant notification appeared, but Leeha’s expression was dark.

Even though the equipment dropped by the Rising Sun guild was successfully sold and his bargaining skill level also increased…

“There were definitely expensive items and were sold well… “

Leeha opened his bag and put the money in it.

He only sold three high-grade armors, but his total fortune increased to 7 gold.

He originally had 4 gold, which meant that the three pieces of armor cost 1 gold each.

How expensive would it be to buy?

Considering the Rising Sun guild, it would be worth a little more, but Leeha felt a headache rather than exhilaration.

‘This is much more difficult than I thought.’

He had a hard time gathering information.

It was said that they were the most famous musketeers in the history of the Fibiel Kingdom, so Leeha thought it would be easy to find a clue.

‘But there were a lot of people who didn’t even know their names. By the way, the owner of the armor store said he was a veteran of the second Human-Demon war, so I thought he would have some information… ’

At least he knew their names. It must be said, at least all the rumors I heard are similar to the ones from the tailor shop and the accessory store.

‘Now there is only one shop left.’

Leeha opened the door to the shop opposite the armor shop.

“Welcome!”

With the sound of the bell chime, Leeha opened the door and entered.

The sound of people muttering entered his ears.

From NPCs and users who were talking like they were flirting, to the users who were watching in front of them. It was indeed a popular store.

“Hello, Mr. Shop owner!”

“Oh, oh. Ha Leeha-ssi. You’ve been gone for a long time.”

“Hehe, have you been well?”

“I’m good. How can I help you today? Do you want to change your gun?”

“If the owner gives me a discount, I will buy it right away! You should be able to give a 50% discount for something that does not sell anyway!”

“Haha, your words, really… “

When Leeha brazenly laughed, the owner shook his head as if he could not take it. If Leeha could change his weapons, he would.

Just like the other users who stared at the different swords displayed around them, Leeha also wanted to have a good musket.

‘But it’s too expensive.’

Leeha had 7 gold, which meant that he had money to use, but he did not want to.

If he wanted to buy a level 35 musket, he needed to fork out 7 gold.

Of course, Leeha was only level 32.

‘Still, in terms of agility, it is already at level 60. I might not be able to use a level 60 musket due to strength requirement or something, no? And I don’t want to use a level 30 musket.’

It was also true that his requirements were raised.

At level 32, he was only considered a beginner in Middle Earth.

Leeha laughed and spoke to the owner of the weapon shop.

“Haha, there’s nothing different today, in fact, I have something I want to ask you.”

“Oh yeah? what is it?”

“Mr. Owner… didn’t you say you were part of the Second Human-Demon War before?”

In fact, it was almost like public knowledge…

The weapon shop owner and the armor shop owner were prideful and were competing with each other, so if one paid a little attention to such kind of information, one could easily find it out.

Of course, like other users around, most people just watched the weapon shop owner without any interest, it was just a useless NPC setting, so they ignored it.

“Yes, that’s right. Then again, you know me. It was no joke.”

“Really? Then do you know about the Three Musketeers?”

“Three Musketeers! Mister Brown, Miss Elizabeth, and Mister Browless! Of course. Because they would always bow whenever they saw me.”

The weapon shop owner proudly replied, pounding his chest.

“That’s our Mr. Owner. You must have been amazing!”

“Then, the memory of them doing that whenever I came is still vivid-”

“Now, I will be sure to deliver those words to our director, Browless.”

“–But, I will be offended if you do that, Ha Leeha-ssi.”

The weapon shop owner hastily waved his hand and Leeha.

At least among the NPCs Leeha met in the capital, no one didn’t know about Browless’s personality.

If such a cheeky talk got into his ears, he would be prepared to punch three holes in their bodies.

“The shop owner from the armor shop across told me everything. He said that the two of you delivered supplies together… “

“That…  that bastard should know what to say and what not to say. That’s why I don’t like him. But since I was from the supply delivery, it was right for them to thank me whenever they saw me! Do not misunderstand!”

“Haha, I get it. So, there’s something I want to ask you. I was wondering if you know something about the whereabouts of the two among the Three Musketeers who disappeared.”

“Mister and Missus Brown?”

“Yes, those two.”

“Yeah, they were amazing. It was not an exaggeration to say that they were the couple of the century that bloomed through war.”

The weapon shop owner smiled warmly.

That look…  Does he know something?

“Where did the couple of the century go?”

“Do you think I know? I used to wander in the back, but I never went to the battlefield. I had been in my room anyway, so how would I know that? I’m going to tell you something new about those two people. Anyway, there were numerous rumors.”

“Is it the rumor…  that they are dead?”

Another dead end.

He opened his mouth and half-gave up, but the weapon shop owner’s reply was lengthy.

“Of course not. There were many rumors that they died, but no one had seen it with their own eyes, so what do they know? There were a lot of rumors. There were also disgusting things…

Anyway, at the time of the battle, it was only said that they died, but after the war ended, various stories began to spread. How much would the storytellers love it, if there were rumors that they were alive? Some crafted the stories like they eloped, to make it more like gossip, but that wasn’t the first rumor.”

“Yes? What then?”

Are there rumors that they were still alive?

“Surrender. No, it could be called betrayal.”

“Surrender? Betrayal? Another country?”

“There’s no such thing as another country! At that time, all humans are in an alliance. Until the Battle of the Marching Plains, there was no time to fight for the interests of each country. If we lost that battle, humanity would have been annihilated.”

“Then, where did those two go?”

“Right. There is only one place where you can go when you betray humankind.”

“Are you saying… the Demon King?”

“Shh, your voice is too loud!”

What is this? The weapon shop owner lowered his voice as if someone was listening.

It was a weird attitude while talking about a rumor.

However, even Leeha gulped and swallowed his saliva, and the weapon shop owner continued speaking quietly.

“It was the most dangerous and also the most memorable of all the words I heard. I don’t know if it was mere surrender or active participation, but it was a rumor anyway.”

“Ahh, but that’s absurd. Those two were musketeers. To fire a musket in a good spot, it was natural to take position deep into the enemy’s position…. Above all, why would they join the Demon King? They are the most famous musketeers in the history of Fibiel.”

It was a rumor that people would be suspicious of, no matter how many times they heard it, although Leeha thought about it seriously.

Even during the Second Human-Demon War, they were already famous musketeers.

A life that guaranteed them to be treated adequately, with the reputation to spare. Why would they abandon everything and join the Demon King’s side?

However, the weapon shop owner resolutely shook his head.

“They must have thought that humans would lose! In fact, the Battle of Marching Plains was also a close fight! If we lost there, the demons and monsters would now rule the continent. After that, you know well how strong the remnants are, right?”

He was sure Leeha also knew.

Not long ago, he killed one of those remnants, the deputy commander of the monsters, the Kobold Chieftain Hijuit-Ka.

Besides, those who survive are still everywhere.

Even if the numbers were reduced to a certain extent, if the monsters are not killed enough to prevent them from multiplying, humanity will surely be in danger.

“It was a close battle?”

“I’ve said it before, but even though I haven’t seen it personally, I have ears to hear. It was said that there were many cases in which reports of victories received at breakfast were outnumbered by reports of losses in dinner. In fact, the general opinion was that it was much more difficult for us. Winning was a miracle!”

“Hmmm-! No matter how much you say… “

“Hey, you don’t have to believe anything.”

The weapon shop owner licked his tongue and rolled his eyes.

‘It’s definitely interesting. But there is no evidence whatsoever. That’s why it’s no different from the story of eloping.’

Rumors that they died or eloped must have spread like this.

Rumors were usually like that.

‘And the ones who spread the rumor about eloping … I heard that Browless beat them to death…’

Now, it was obvious what would happen if he took these stories lightly.

After he finished organizing his thoughts, Leeha opened his mouth again.

“By the way, it was interesting.”

“Was it?”

“Yes. That…  the heroes’ betrayal.”

“Right. That’s right! So, there were rumors that they are resting in the Royal Palace.”

“Ah, not that one.”

Leeha smiled.

“Then what? What else, was there anything else?”

“No. This story was all made by the owner. You thought I didn’t know? Owner, you can be a writer, you know?”

“Ho! Ha Leeha-ssi! What does that mean now?”

“What? No, it’s true! Where did you hear that, owner? They all say that they are dead. To be honest, it’s so absurd I can’t believe it.”

“If you don’t want to believe, then don’t believe it! Who should I tell this to? This is really sad!”

As Leeha gently scratched his cheeks, the weapon shop owner turned around.

“Hey, Mr. Shop owner! I believe you. Of course, I believe you! But again, I can’t just say that. What if I get called a liar if I say this for no reason. What do people know these days? I have a lot of doubts…  I’m just worried that I might insult my boss for nothing. You know well that I’m on the boss’ side.”

Leeha felt like, the more he played Middle Earth, the more insincere he had become, but when he spoke skillfully, the expression of the owner quickly relaxed.

He even nodded in agreement with Leeha…

“That’s true. People don’t need to know. What’s a veteran like me talking about for no reason? Isn’t that right?”

“That’s right. So, where did you hear it from, owner?”

Leeha’s eyes twinkled.

Was there a reason?!

“Right. I like to talk, but I don’t makeup stories that are not true! Some people had seen the two, going to the Demon King army. I heard him talk too.”

“Really?”

Leeha felt his voice rise without realizing it.

‘There were witnesses?’

Its credibility suddenly rose sharply.

If there were witnesses, does that mean he could clear the quest in one go?

‘Browless doesn’t know. He said that the last news was after the operation started. That is if the witness is certain… ‘

It could mean that I could provide their ‘last appearance’ that Browless does not know. In any case, I must first meet the witness.’

“Who was it? Who was the witness?”

“Cough. Cough. I like you, but I don’t know if it’s okay to talk like this.”

“Hey, owner. It is only between us. Whenever I get a good weapon, I sell it here. Of course, that would still be the case in the future.”

As Leeha grumbled, the arms of the weapon shop owner backed away.

He had a casual expression. The game made his expression so detailed.

Leeha thought that perhaps, there was an invisible hand controlling things from behind.

“Hahaha, Leeha-ssi knows me well, right? It’s hard to see musketeers these days. Ehem,… whatchamacallit… “

“Are you worried about muskets getting stocked?”

“I’m not saying that’s necessarily the case… Thank you for thinking like that. Isn’t it time to change weapons?”

The weapon shop owner smirked and laughed…

(To be continued…)