Arcane Sniper [Matan’s Shooter]

“yes? Oh, of course.”

“It would have been better if you had been with us when we exterminated the noble ghost monsters. Isn’t that right?”

“It may have been so – if it was a relationship between Hwahong and Byeolcho -”

“What does that have to do with the past now? Leeha is in the middle like this.”

“Well, that’s right. Leeha. Well, if Lee Ha bridges the gap, there will be no reason for us to be at odds.”

“That’s right! We are having a hard time maintaining public order as our city has become so crowded, so please stop by from time to time, including in Castledale.”

Lee Ha could clearly see the purpose of the joking request.

Ram Hwayeon’s expression gradually darkens.

Even though he doesn’t understand Chinese anyway, he is trying to prevent people from eavesdropping on the phone call between Ram Hwayeon and the chairman.

Of course, the resourcefulness of talking to Ki-jeong in order to expand his network even a little in the meantime is probably the strength of Ja-cheong.

“Wuuuuu…. Volunteer, here’s the phone.”

Meanwhile, Ram Hwayeon ended the phone call with her father.

As Ram Hwa-yeon sighed, the expression of Ram Hwa-jeong next to her also darkened.

“What’s going on?”

“Isn’t there always work to do? Haaa… Even if you solve one thing, there’s another one, and another one. Even similar things are bothering me from different directions every time. Chairman – No, every time I hear something like this from my dad, I feel so helpless.”

Ram Hwayeon poked the tteokbokki with a fork and complained.

‘Well, company work is work, but if the person giving the orders is the head of a global group and my father… it must be difficult.’

Lee Ha and Ki were also a little surprised to see something they had never seen before in the woman who had always boasted of steel-like strength.

“Leeha, do you know about these concerns?”

Just a simple question without any expectations. Lee Ha thought while listening to those words that seemed like just a complaint.

“huh. I think I understand.”

“what?”

Still, he has more life experience than Ram Hwayeon, so he can provide some help to the world’s Ram Hwayeon.

* * *

Not only Ram Hwayeon, but also other people’s eyes were focused on Lee Ha. Kijeong was surprised and Jacheong was intrigued.

“Uh, Eung, what are you talking about? How can small-town citizens like us know what these big guys are doing?”

“No, Ki-jeong. This is not a problem that arises simply depending on how much money you have or whether your standard of living is high or low.”

Ki-jeong tried to stop Lee Ha from speaking, but he couldn’t.

Iha’s voice has changed.

The calm, slightly slow voice began to echo through the snack bar.

“…So… Leeha, you know these concerns too?”

It’s not just the worries of youth.

Lee Kun-man, another name for the ‘pressure’ that an executive leading a leading conglomerate has.

Lee Ha looked at Ram Hwayeon and responded with a smile.

“Mr. Ram Hwayeon.”

“huh?”

“We’ve only met in Middle Earth, but I think you still know a little bit about me. Especially when it comes to my shooting. yes?”

“Uh, yeah, right.”

Suddenly shooting? However, whether Ram Hwayeon tilted her head or not, Lee Ha continued to speak.

“Do you think I hit 100% every time I shoot?”

“Almost… wasn’t it? It would not be an exaggeration to say that your performance, especially at critical moments, had a hit rate of over 100%.”

“Kick, no. In reality, as well as in Middle Earth, there were times when I couldn’t hit a rabbit just 40 meters in front of me.”

“what? you?”

“huh.”

Hearing her assertion, Lee Ha smiled slightly. Yes. Ram Hwayeon’s answer is probably another ‘pressure’ towards Lee Ha.

It’s like the pressure to perform that comes from other people’s expectations.

“Shooting, hitting… Even if you somehow manage to do it, hitting this time doesn’t guarantee the next one. As you just said, ‘Similar problems always bother me in different directions.’ When I think about that, I feel very helpless. Even if I do it, I don’t feel confident, and even if I do it, I feel anxious… Have I really grown, and what has changed between me before and now? If I guess now, won’t it be difficult again when it’s time to aim for the next target?…”

Lee Ha was talking while looking at Ram Hwayeon, but at the same time, he was saying it to himself.

As the catchy title of ‘full-shot shooter’ hangs over your head, the weight of each shot you pull the trigger becomes more than the bullet.

What Lee Ha has experienced in his life so far.

Although it was only practical training, it was rather an expression of the lonely pressure that only a sniper can have, having always been alone on the battlefield without anyone to call a ‘comrade in arms.’

“Then what do you do? every time.”

Ram Hwayeon asked.

From the moment Lee Ha began speaking, there was such silence in the quiet snack bar that even the attendants and security guards had to control their breathing.

Even in that situation, Lee Ha did not immediately open his mouth.

A little more, to add flavor to the answer, like steaming rice.

And finally, Ram Hwayeon’s question was answered.

“I’m thankful for that feeling of helplessness.”

It was something no one around me expected.

It was no different from the Korean language that even Kijeong, a Korean, could not understand accurately. It was natural for Ram Hwayeon to fiddle with the translator in her ear while Kijeong was tilting her head.

“…huh? Thank you?”

“huh. The translation must have been done correctly. At times like that, I am grateful for the helplessness that weighs me down.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I felt so helpless when the one shot I fired hit. Then you can be happy when you hit again. If you didn’t feel that sense of helplessness or burden, you wouldn’t be happy when you hit the target. What kind of pleasure can a person feel who just did what he could? is not it?”

“Are you talking about the feeling of accomplishment when you are recognized?”

Phew….

Lee Ha took a deep breath and shook his head.

“It’s different from a simple sense of accomplishment. We did something that lived up to your expectations! Rather than that, it’s closer to a more fundamental feeling. Can we say that it feels like we are truly alive? The feeling that I survived, regardless of other people’s expectations… Well, that’s what it is.”

“So…”

Ram Hwayeon exhaled as she listened to the following words, which were like a Zen question.

Isn’t it the type of feeling that you feel like you know, but don’t really understand until you experience it?

He knew that too, so he didn’t expect her to understand or understand what he was saying right now.

Rather, he only brightened the atmosphere with his lively voice.

“So, Mr. Ram Hwayeon! What you need now!”

“What do you need?”

“Pahaaaaa―――――― Take a deep breath and relax your back. Now, now, relax your back!”

“Huh?”

Looking at Lee Ha’s bright smile, Ram Hwayeon made an expression of bewilderment, but that soon disappeared.

That was a kind of secret that Lee Ha shared with Ram Hwayeon.

A negative emotion that anyone can feel, the pressure of life’s struggle for recognition.

How can you get rid of that feeling of being erased?

What must you do to remain yourself?

“Anyway…”

Hu, ha, hu, ha!

Ram Hwayeon burst into laughter as she watched Lee Ha taking exaggerated deep breaths and making gestures that made her seem as if she was melting.

Looking at Lee Ha and Ram Hwayeon, Jacheong nodded slightly.

‘Indeed…. There are more than a thousand people who can give the current young lady advice about work, but none of them will be of any use. We need words that can help us stay mentally, and people who can help us get to the point…. As expected, Leeha is a talent that is needed at the group level.’

Beep – Jachung carefully turned off the recorder in his suit pocket.

‘I must convey this conversation to the chairman.’

It was then that Ram Hwa-yeon, who had been worrying alone between the fussing Lee Ha and the embarrassed Ki-jeong, and Jacheong and Ram Hwa-jeong, who were looking at him warmly, suddenly stood up.

“Volunteer!”

“Yes, yes! Director!”

“How long is our schedule?”

“As usual, I would be leaving tomorrow afternoon, but-”

“Change the plane. I have to go back.”

“Are you talking now?”

“huh. Father – No, Chairman, you are leaving tomorrow, right? Before that—”

Boom—! Ram Hwayeon hit the table with her lightly clenched fist.

“-I need to make a deal.”

“…I don’t want to go.”

“What, Hwajeong?”

“no.”

Ram Hwa-jeong pursed his lips and carefully stood up next to her. Although Ki-jeong was confused, Lee Ha was able to understand Ram Hwayeon’s decision.

“Anyway, the momentum alone is amazing.”

“Hmph, of course. Speed is also competitive! Well then, Leeha, next time-”

Day after day! Good morning!

Aren’t you going to get out of the way? Attaque Simple, Coup droit!

啊―!

There was a commotion at the entrance of the snack bar, accompanied by a crashing noise.

“W-what’s going on? Who-”

“Ha, ha… Mr. Lee Ha!”

It was Xin Nara who rushed in, throwing aside two large bodyguards.

A slender figure holding a not-so-thick tree branch. Even if they had just that, there would be only a few people in the world who could beat her.

“I… Nara, I- Mr. Nara, how could he be here…”

“Huu… Huu…”

A fencer of that level was shooting his eyes at Iha.

Behind him, Bo-bae gaped at Ki-jeong, saying, ‘Do something, I’m going crazy!’

* * *

“Is this why you postponed your appointment?”

“Uh, no, uh, that’s uh, just listen to me for a moment.”

How did know? There is no need to think about it.

The important thing is that she already found out. While Lee Ha was about to wave his hand, Ram Hwayeon snorted and approached Shin Nara.

“A woman from the Sacred Knights?”

“Please don’t call me that, Mr. Ram Hwayeon. This is Shin Nara, the Korean national fencing representative.”

“Oh my, then please stop calling me Ram Hwayeon, right? This is Ram Hwayeon, head of the new business discovery task force at the Hong Kong Lamlong Group headquarters.”

The two women’s eyes created sparks in the air. However, if one were to say that it was fortunate among misfortunes, it would be the current timing.

“Thank you,Leeha. Now that I’ve achieved everything I needed to achieve, I’ll go. See you in Middle Earth!”

“Uh, uh-yeah.”

Ram Hwayeon lightly bumped shoulders with Shin Nara and walked out of the snack bar.

While Iha was confused while looking at them, another woman, Ram Hwa-jeong, walked towards Iha at a slow pace.

Xin hurriedly called Ram Hwa-jeong, but it was already too late.

“for a moment! Ram Hwa-jeong, what are you-”

“Hello, brother. next time.”

This was after a girl with blue-black hair entered Iha’s arms.

Inside the snack shop, everyone’s actions stopped due to that bold hug. Only the following arms were floating vaguely in the air.

“Hehe, hehe, miss. Please come back quickly. Even though it’s Korea, there are a lot of eyes looking at it.”

“huh.”

Jacheng, who came to his senses, quickly removed the Ramhwajeong, but Shinnara’s eyes were burning even more.

“Let’s go back!”

知道了!

At one word of voluntary action, the attendants and bodyguards rushed out.

Even until the bus-sized van they came in in the first place started and drove off, Shin Na-ra, Bo-bae, Lee Ha, and Ki-jeong inside the snack bar were just staring blankly into each other’s eyes.

“Well… there… Mr. Nara?”

“….”

“Ho, do you like tteokbokki?”

These were the first words Lee Ha managed to utter.