Arcane Sniper [Matan’s Shooter]

Having reached the state where they can use the breath of the Gold Dragon and the White Draagon, they also have three other dragons simply for physical impact or defense against bullets.

If we consider Death Knights as well, coupled with Leeha’s presence enhancing his physical abilities significantly?

“We don’t have many choices.”

In the grim atmosphere, Leeha spoke up again.

“The first option is to find and kill them in broad daylight. At least now that it’s confirmed that they are vampires, they wouldn’t be able to move recklessly during the day.”

“As Leeha mentioned earlier, they will turn to stone, right?”

“Yes. Even though they are users, they might not turn to stone, but they won’t be able to move around during the day or may suffer debuff penalties.”

“Well, if that doesn’t work, we’re all dead. Lucky us.”

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Lark sighed.

Killing them in broad daylight may be one way, but it would be challenging to do so on a vast continent without any information.

“What’s the second option?”

Cheka also understood that point. After glancing at the secret police for a moment, Leeha spoke again.

“The second option is to gather our strength and exterminate them. Even if we have to mobilize all available forces.”

“Who… do we call upon? The NPC Knights we took to face Igor have lost six people. After a while, they just withdrew and focused on protecting the remaining NPCs.”

“Yes, we shouldn’t call upon the NPC.”

“If not, then…”

Shin Nara couldn’t continue. Leeha gnashed his teeth. The outcome was not good, but at least they had gained a lot of information. Their speculations about the enemy were moving in the right direction.

“Their skills have changed, and their physical prowess has been enhanced. It might not just be a coincidence. We should also consider the possibility of a Second Advancement. Inheriting the power of a vampire.”

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“I’ve been thinking about that possibility as well. And… the only way to confront a Second Advancement is with another Second Advancement… I had also come to that conclusion.”

Lark also agreed with Leeha’s words, and the two of them shared the same thoughts about a ‘companion’.

“Alexander.”

“And the Holy Knight.”

Both Second Advancers and ranked number one. And those who had undergone a Second Advancement and possessed great power against demons.

Leeha gritted his teeth. It was not enough to simply call upon Alexander and Kijung.

“Cheka, please ask the boundary of Minis from Leeha-ssi. Please be especially careful near the location where the Adult Dragon Raid takes place.”

“Of course.”

“And what about Nara-ssi-”

“Yes. Don’t get too excited. The Sacred Knights have already been dispatched. Contact will be immediate.”

The exact intentions of Igor and Faust were still unclear.

However, their goal was as clear as day. Wasn’t it obvious that they intend to get the dragons in their grasp? If so, there was no other way but to deploy defensive forces to protect the dragons.

“Okay, regarding the defense… Then, what about Leeha? Are you just going to keep hesitating even after seeing this?”

“I don’t want to keep hesitating.”

Even during the meeting, Leeha was constantly reconsidering his thoughts.

“I’ll try taking action for now.”

“Action?”

When Lark looked at him, Leeha unintentionally made a grim expression.

“I’m not the type to risk my life for revenge, but… I’m feeling quite irritated this time, so I think I need to give them a taste of their own medicine.”

They understood their top priority. They also knew where to defend. So, it could be said that what they should do was also clear. To put a bullet between Faust and Igor’s eyebrows.

“Wait and see. I’ll definitely do it for you!”

Leeha gently stroked Black Bass.

※ ※

Two days passed without Igor and Faust showing up.

The dominant opinion was that once they were exposed, they would also carefully proceed with the plan.

“We know the level of reinforcement troops we can call, so we’ll be cautious. If Alexander, Leeha Jiwon, and Pyo go out, even if those two are remarkable, we won’t be able to rest easy, right…?”

The worries lingered. There’s a saying that ten hands can’t stop a thief, isn’t there?

Moreover, from the perspective of the top rankers, waiting endlessly for those two without any guarantee was a significant issue. Therefore, although they asked for immediate response when calling for a hunt… it was doubtful if the timing would be right.

In that context, it could be said that Igor and Faust’s strategy was excellent. However, they were also well aware that Leeha had numerous connections with the top rankers, hoping that this fact would be a restraint for them.

Leeha himself didn’t want to just wait for them endlessly. The task at hand was clear.

“Bottleneck-ssi!”

The time that Bottleneck had asked for from Leeha was rapidly approaching. The sound of hammers echoing in the blacksmith shop suddenly erupted.

“Hey, hey! He’s here! He’s here! Beard Brothers! Close the door, we’re done with business today!”

“Got it!”

“Hehe, synthesis, huh. Seeing chin hairs and all, this must be a first!”

“Yeah, look at that. It was a good idea to follow our boss, right?”

The dwarves swiftly moved, closing the doors of the blacksmith shop. Bottleneck, as if already prepared, led Leeha into the space where the white rifle of the White Reaper were displayed.

“Wow… They look pretty good, don’t they?”

Gone was the rusty appearance of the guns from before. Looking at the neatly arranged ‘White Reaper’, Leeha also felt all worries dissipate.

Stroking his beard, Bottleneck jovially explained, gesturing with his hands and feet, “It’s all good. The calculations are perfect. Extracted some features from Black Bass, injected them into these guns, then just need to pull the trigger to blend the two mana!”

“The trigger?”

“The mechanism, the mechanism! Just need to create the trigger! A trigger for synthesis, precisely with this hammer!”

The hammer passed down from Bottleneck’s ancestors through generations. Leeha once again remembered the power of that hammer.

‘Come to think of it, they said they succeeded in processing the Legendary Moonlight… something or other, right? Indeed. Did they need two Legendary items and a Legendary tool for it?’

With that, all preparations were complete.

Leeha took a deep breath and carefully handed Black Bass to Bottleneck.

“Alright, I’ll get ready then.”

Bottleneck removed the magazine, completely disassembled the inserted bullets, and meticulously began to fill the chamber. Watching his skilled hands, Leeha felt fortunate to have become closer to Bottleneck, acknowledging it as the best luck for himself.

He soon arranged the two guns horizontally, one above and the other below.

The muzzle of Black Bass on top to the left, and the muzzle of the Divine Messenger below to the right.

As if intertwined, as if staring at each other, he took out the hammer.

“Are you ready?”

Shwaaaah…!

In front of Leeha’s eyes appeared a holographic window.

『Item Synthesis』

Description: The hero blacksmith Bottleneck is attempting to synthesize two items in your possession.

Content: Item Synthesis

Synthesis Target 1: Legendary Black Bass, enhanced by the power of lava

Synthesis Target 2: White Reaper’ legendary inner mana-forged barrel

Reward: ?

Failure conditions: ?

In the event of failure: ?

– Will you accept?

The failure conditions, penalties for failure, and rewards were all hidden behind a simple confirmation window! At this point, Leeha had nothing to hide anymore.

“I believe in you, Bottleneck-ssi!”

Leeha exclaimed loudly, pressing the accept button.

“Please do it!”

“Got it! Ganda taaag!”

Bottleneck raised the hammer with force. His tense expression, unseen before now, was spreading throughout the workshop. The Beard Brothers and other dwarves were so focused that even Leeha was gaping at Bottleneck’s every move.

“Synthesis!”

Bottleneck shouted at the top of his lungs as he brought the hammer down towards the center of the Barlog where Black Bass and Moshinar River faced each other!

Taaaang!

“Alright, whether it’s the 2nd advancement or setting sail! With this, we can strike down Faust and Igor’s Achilles’ heel!”

The entire table shook with a deep rumble. Leeha stared wide-eyed at the spot in question. However, despite the table’s vibrations, there was no visible change in the rifle.

Expecting a flashy effect or a rearrangement of firearms, Leeha was left dumbfounded.

“Um… Bottleneck-ssi?”

Leeha cautiously raised his head to Bottleneck, but he remained silent.

“What’s going on—uh, Bo-Bottleneck-ssi!? Are you okay?”

It was only then that Leeha noticed the disappearance of the dark haze in Bottleneck’s pupils.

Seeing the dwarf now with white eyes like a Prea, Leeha and the Beard Brothers panicked.

“Boss! Boss!”

“Water! Fetch cold water!”

“The boss has lost it!”

“Bo-Bottleneck-ssi! Wait, what about my rifle? How is this rifle—argh!”

Paaahhhh—shhh!

Suddenly, a light emanated from the tip of the hammer, enveloping the interior of Bottleneck’s smithy.

“What’s this—out of nowhere—”

“This is it! This is synthesis!”

“Is this it?”

Leeha, with closed eyes, heard the Beard Brothers’ exclamation. Bright light bursting so intensely it could pierce through closed eyelids! What a positively charged aura!

A smile of realization could not help but spread on Leeha’s face.

“Whoa!”

“Whoa! The light, the light is fluctuating!”

“What, what!?”

“How did it- I can’t see! What happened, Bottleneck-ssi!?”

Despite the light piercing their eyes, the dwarves and Leeha exerted all their efforts to see the outcome.

Until the light disappeared, the results were not visible. Only Bottleneck, who swung the hammer, could feel the clear result.

“Haaah….”

By the time Bottleneck’s long sigh filled the room, the light had vanished. Leeha and the other dwarves could finally inspect the table. There was only one rifle on the table. And in the same state as before, exuding its graceful figure, was Black Bass.

“…But why does it look the same?”

Leeha blurted out in confusion, but Bottleneck did not respond. He simply stared blankly at his hammer. Leeha, without waiting for an explanation, immediately grabbed Black Bass. Surely, the item description would show the result of the synthesis!

“It’s up….?”

“What?”

Leeha, who was about to check the item description, suddenly looked at Bottleneck, who had opened his mouth. Once hailed as the greatest weapon blacksmith in Hell’s Anvil, Bottleneck was trembling.

It was the greatest expression of joy that a dwarf could show, unable to contain excitement and exhilaration.

“What do you mean it’s up?”

Bam-!

At that moment, a cacophony of notifications and various alert windows started popping up in Leeha’s mind.

『Synthesis has failed.』

『The item will disappear as a result of the synthesis failure.』

『The sacred weapon from the legend of the White Reaper has vanished.』

『The target of synthesis has gained the experience of synthesis failure.』

『The grade of the target of synthesis has increased.』

“What is happening? What is this? Bottleneck-ssi! What is-”

“My… my skill has increased.”

Leeha stared at Bottleneck with a bewildered expression.

Even the party in question seemed puzzled, leaving Leeha unsure of where to start questioning.

So, from the White Reaper’s purification potion to Leeha’s painstakingly sought-after rifle synthesis attempt, it all ended in failure?

Furthermore, gaining the experience of failure and an increase in grade for the target of synthesis?! There was no visible change in Leeha’s body. Not to mention Bottleneck’s strange manner of speaking!

It was clear to Leeha. Bottleneck’s grade had increased.

“What is… what is this-! Give me back my rifle- I waited for today without even logging out in order to seek revenge on Igor and Faust. I waited, believing that rifle synthesis was the only answer. No wonder Leeha’s screams echoed through the forge without end for a while.”