Arcane Sniper [Matan’s Shooter]

The main reason why Minis’ knights were not significantly hindered in their efforts to subdue paleo was due to the official stance of the Ezwen Theocracy and the Papacy, which chose not to get involved with paleo matters. The paleo were considered mere natives of the Erika continent.

From the perspective of the Lope continent, they were neither allies nor enemies, a neutral viewpoint. As the primary objective of coming to the Erika continent was to chase down and annihilate the demon lord’s army, the underlying principle was to ‘utilize everything’ if necessary. Implicitly, earning achievements through subjugation was also recognized as one of the methods—akin to waging a religious war.

Caring about coexistence with the natives while capturing the demon lord’s army? Middle Earth would never endorse such an approach. All these are merely forks in the road redefined by ‘the choices of the players.’

“No matter how often encounters between civilizations lead to war, isn’t this way too severe!”

[They attacked us first.]

“But! Does it make any sense to start with a battle without any discussion?”

[… Even if you are Ha Leeha, if you insult me-]

“Ha… Please, stop saying things unbecoming of an Ancient.”

Ha Leeha raised his voice even louder.

“When should insults be thrown if not now! Just think! If the majority of the human forces on the new continent and the paleos fight with all their might!”

Leeha chose not to speak any further.

‘Who stands to benefit! How and where will this information leak!’

He did not voice these thoughts. Revealing it was akin to directly informing the spy among humans.

While it was an open secret among the top players, there was no need to divulge such information to mid and low-level players yet, as it could potentially harm the unity among players.

Leeha, at some point, began to consider himself as leading the players of Middle Earth.

Fortunately, it turned out Bailephus was indeed an Ancient-class dragon.

“Do… you have evidence?”

“We will find it soon. So please wait a moment.”

Leeha then turned his attention away from Alexander and Bailephus.

Cobalt Blue Python and creatures wielding similar weapons like the bonobo paleo mystical creature, Koba, the Red Goat paleo mystical creature, Aibex, and the Hudid Crane paleo mystical creature, Hudid, gathered around.

Along with Blaugrunn, Leeha moved towards that location in the air.

Nara: Wait, just a minute! Leeha-ssi! If you go there-”

Leeha: It’s alright, Nara-ssi.

Nara: How can you say it’s alright! The mystical creatures might attack…”

Leeha: Maybe… It should be okay if it’s me.

Leeha had faith. The Middle Earth system, at the very least, does not lie, and those small notification windows that once appeared before his eyes would surely provide strength at this moment.

※

“Ha Leeha.”

“Dear mystical creatures, it’s been a while.”

Even as they crossed through the paleo ranks, they did not attack Leeha.

Leeha bowed his head as he looked at the mystical creatures.

“Is this Ha Leeha?”

“The human who shed blood for us? Such a small human?”

“That one riding the dragon seems stronger though, hmmm”

“Everyone quiet. Ha Leeha is different from other humans. If anyone insults him, our clan of Black Cranes will not tolerate it.”

“The Red Goats feel the same. Everyone should respect him.”

Known and unknown mystical creatures quarreled among one another. At least the mystical creatures he had directly helped, Hudid and Aibex, showed complete trust in Leeha. And leading those mystical creatures was, as expected, the bonobo paleo’s mystical creature, Harhei.

“You are the only human among those cursed who has earned our trust. However, even at your request, we cannot turn back from here.”

As expected, Leeha silently rejoiced.

Someday, when he aimed to earn the [Subjugation] achievement by targeting the knights, the notification window had appeared, [A trust relationship with all mystical creatures of the Erika new continent has been established], thanks to that.

“I understand, your anger… It would be too selfish to pretend none of this ever happened.”

“What then? What can you do? You’re no different from a regular human in human society, without special authority. I know that.”

Meaning, the trust relationship extends only to him, and even that is limited to not initiating preemptive strikes in inter-species conflicts. Leeha thought this was enough.

However, the problem was that persuading them with words would not be easy, given that Koba, who knew humans well, was around.

“No attacks on the paleos. We will officially strive to establish a relationship where we can coexist with the paleos as much as possible.”

“You came all this way to say you’ll try? Such vague words.”

“Indeed. You wouldn’t believe me if I didn’t show any effort. But what can I really promise? There’s hardly anything except for one thing.”

Leeha swallowed. Much of what he had thought on his way here had already been consumed by his present reality. There was [trust building]. If that exists, then surely the opposite must as well.

It’s inevitable. Perhaps if we pinpoint the root cause of the paleos’ anger towards humans and eliminate it.

“I’ll capture it for you. The root of evil, I will capture that bastard and hand it over to you.”

“Lark!”

“You mean you’ll bring that damned one here!”

“Where is he hiding in this battlefield? I don’t care what it takes as long as I can get rid of his flesh!”

The mystical creatures’ eyes bulged in surprise. Seeing them go wild after being calm up until now convinced Leeha.

“Will you leave if I do so?”

“… If you bring Lark within 2 hours, then we’ll pause to hear you out.”

Koba glanced over the mystical creatures behind him. To Leeha, it seemed like there would be no dissent. If Lark was captured, everything would be resolved.

“Understood. Let’s go to where Alexander is, Blaugrunn-ssi.”

Blaugrunn lifted Leeha into the air again. While Leeha was negotiating with the mystical creatures, the users were not fighting the paleos.

Partly due to the suddenly cooled atmosphere, but mainly because Alexander, the number 1 ranked, had not taken any action. Soon, near Alexander were Lee Jiwon, Pei Wu, Shin Nara, the Sacred Knights, and the members of Byulcho, except for Kijung.

“What happened?”

“They’re going back?”

“Yes, under the condition that we bring Lark within 2 hours. He’s the cause of their anger.”

Leeha spoke relatively lightly, but the expressions of those listening were anything but bright.

“Two hours? Lark is supposed to be in Juma City, how are we supposed to catch him within two hours?”

If he were in the village, any hostile action would immediately be recognized, and the police force would be dispatched.

The reason Juma City has maintained itself amidst constant small and large conflicts is thanks to the police force dispatched from four countries.

Moreover, if it’s not killing but capturing, the difficulty increases even more. It was natural for Shin Nara to worry.

“It’s okay.”

Yet, Leeha smiled.

“Really?”

“Yes, Lark is-”

“Hyung! Hyung!”

“-Ah, he’s coming right there. So, I ask you all. Please, stop the war for just two hours.”

Kijung’s voice interrupted from somewhere. Leeha immediately activated the crystal ball.

“… Ignoring Leeha-nim’s request is not an option, but keeping the excited users in check for two hours won’t be easy.”

“Geonseop! Was that true? What you said earlier, about what this war has caused- ahem, that- what was it?”

“I don’t know. Leeha will shed light on it now. But isn’t the possibility enough?”

“Hmm… If hyung suspects it, I can trust it.”

Pei Wu, Lee Jiwon, and Alexander pondered. Perhaps they felt guilty for underestimating the conflict with the paleos.

“Truth isn’t what’s needed to calm the masses. It’s command and power. Bailephus, to the air.”

[Understood.]

Flap- Flap-!

As Alexander ascended into the air and Jiwon craned her neck, Shin Nara and Bobae grumbled, “If only you had listened to us sooner, right?”

“It’s a relief you understand now, but… where did Kijung go? Disappeared without a word.”

Their curiosity was resolved by Hyein.

At this moment, the person most clearly understanding the situation suggested, “That place.”

“That place?”

“Divine Staff.”

At that moment, Leeha, Kijung, and Blaugrunn arrived at the Divine Staff. Lark and the Virtue Knights had already been there since ‘the moment the battle between paleo and the users began’, with a considerable number of corpses already piled up.

“What’s this?”

“Puff, puff, damn, you’re late.”

However, the atmosphere was far from what Leeha had imagined. Several hours had passed since the battle between the users and paleo began, but what exactly was going on? Why were a significant number of the Virtue Knights dead? And who were those that Lark was pointing his sword at?

Ding- Ding- Ding-

A periodic alarm rang in Leeha’s head.

It was a signal pattern he had never heard before while playing Middle Earth.

Kijung groaned.

“Really… Bluebeard… One of the Demon Lord’s fragments, Bluebeard, was there.

Leeha clenched his teeth.

As feared, it had happened.

Humans and paleo engaging in battle?

Excluding the minimal surveillance force at the Divine Staff, everyone else must be deployed near Juma City!

Which forces would move if they knew the Divine Staff was lightly guarded?

“Bluebeard!”

With Chiyou there, it was inevitable that the information would reach them, and indeed, Bluebeard had revealed himself at the Divine Staff.

“Ho ho, who do we have here? Isn’t this Ha Leeha! Chiyou! What’s happening!?”

It wasn’t a small force.

Including Chiyou, Igor, czar, Faust, and his undead, it was a considerable force.

Prea was not seen, but there were roughly a hundred users beside Bluebeard. Both Leeha and Kijung did not recognize them but could guess who they might be.

“Yamato…”

Chiyou’s hidden force, Yamato. They must be part of them.

“I’m very sorry, Count. I’ve just heard the news – tales from the battlefield have just come in.”

“No, no, no. That’s very good! If I can get rid of that dung fly and Ha Leeha all at once and destroy the Divine Staff, it’s killing three birds with one stone!”

“And… that one beside…”

Chiyou whispered something into Bluebeard’s ear.

Bluebeard’s already grim face twisted even more.

“Is that so? The one supposed to be bestowed the title of Holy Knight is that guy? Hahahaha! What a day! The dead have finally done something meaningful. Finally, that useless dinosaur has fulfilled his calling with his death!”

Bluebeard’s demeanor differed from usual. Gone was the old man who chuckled wickedly or mocked in a calm tone.

Drooling, his eyes bloodshot with rage, Bluebeard glared at Ha Leeha, embodying madness itself.

“Hey, Ha Leeha? How much hate are you gathering around, for this old man to suddenly go senile?”

“That’s my line. Lark, what are you doing here? I came after hearing you headed to the Divine Staff-“

“Me too, I’m lost. They say entering and exiting the bathroom is different, seems it’s the same for a Demon Lord’s Fragment. Maybe the collateral was too big. Hah!”

“What? What are you talking about?”