Arcane Sniper [Matan’s Shooter]

The fallen body of Pyrot Cocri scattered. This time, there were no signs of regeneration.

‘The flow of mana itself has been cut off. This time, it won’t regenerate elsewhere either.’

Unlike Kidd and Luger, who were on high alert, Leeha could confirm it visually as well. The movement of the bone powder, which had been regenerating continuously, had completely stopped.

After confirming for about ten more seconds that the incarnation of Pyrot Cocri had come to an end, the trio began to move.

“She does die, after all. But how did you get here?”

“Did you think we would just let you go wild in the ‘Abyssal Maw’ alone?”

“My location wouldn’t have shown up until just before I came in… Did you see that in such a short time?”

As Leeha looked flustered, Luger snorted.

Kidd walked ahead of them towards the bright red crystal and opened his mouth.

“Hmm… But it’s quite disappointing that you didn’t say anything.”

“Di-disappointing! What—since when have we been such close allies?”

“If we hadn’t come, you would have died, Ha Leeha.”

“Oh, please. I completed my second job change too, you know? In fact, I was probably the first.”

Indeed, Kidd’s actions had been helpful. However, Leeha could have handled it on his own as well, couldn’t he?

The synthetic creature, Jellypong, and Koma was breathing heavily. Even if not as easily, with their help, there would definitely have been a chance of victory.

“Haha, you’re such a blockhead. I completed my second job change first. I remember the exact time, minute, and second.”

“I must have completed it an hour before you.”

“Are you still fighting over that?”

“Don’t touch it! I found it, so I get to touch it first!”

While bickering with Luger, Leeha quickly went over to Kidd. Kidd reached towards the bright red crystal but flinched back.

However, Leeha couldn’t touch it either. Inside the crystal ball was the complete form of the just-defeated Pyrot Cocri, and he was afraid that touching it might awaken it.

“The exterior looks the same… To what extent was the level of that incarnation?”

“Like you, I didn’t even use a proper skill. That incarnation might not even have possessed 5% of the main body’s power”, Kidd replied to Leeha’s muttering.

Leeha almost asked Kidd if that was without using any skills, but Luger spoke first.

“Haha… You really know nothing, do you? 5%? It wasn’t even 1%. Maybe it was around 0.5% or 0.1%.”

Luger’s response was quite shocking not only to Leeha but also to Kidd.

“Do you have a basis for thinking that way?”

“When Ghibrid awoke, the Pope said it was around 10% power. With that much power, it could awaken by sheer force. But seeing it still asleep here, don’t you understand?”

“Then, could it have been around 5%?”

“You’re so clueless… Do you really think you could have handled half of Ghibrid’s power now?”

“Ugh…”

Among the trio, the only one who faced Ghibrid in direct combat was Luger. Luger was certain he couldn’t win even after exerting all his power against a recently awakened Ghibrid.

“There is some logic there. This time, only Luger’s skills among us in our second job change were properly used, plus the undead outside didn’t even budge—no, they didn’t move at all?”

As Kidd spoke, his expression changed. Leeha and Luger also realized.

What happened to the thousands of undead surrounding outside? Wasn’t there a Lich Dragon among them too?

The three approached the wall that Luger had smashed. From there, they should have been able to see the undead clearly.

Whiiiooo…

As they wondered why there was wind blowing underground, the trio had to rub their eyes in disbelief for a moment.

“Ooooobbaabababbabbababpabap!”

“Nananalanglanglanglang–”

“–Playplayplayplaywithme.”

The voices of the “Pyrot Cocri” echoed throughout the underground caverns. Luger gulped and hastily grabbed the crystal ball.

“13 seconds left until the cool-down of the bayonet charge.”

“So, why do you keep—Ah! Is that it?”

Finally, Leeha understood as he saw Kidd following Luger in pulling out a crystal ball.

Why did Luger keep mentioning the five-minute cooldown time for the bayonet charge? It referred to the remaining time until the spatial barrier would be lifted.

If they mentioned the exact time, the enemy could calculate it and successively set up more barriers, so they quantified the time in a way only they could understand.

“The term ‘0.1%’ suddenly struck me deeply. But how do we kill that thing?”

“That’s not what we need to worry about right now.”

Shuaa———!

The Pyrot Cocris flew straight towards the castle walls.

“Prepare yourself, damn it!”

“If you attack, the crystal ball teleport gets canceled! Stay put!”

Ha Leeha grabbed Luger’s arm as he was about to put the crystal ball away.

“Can’t you see? If we don’t fight now—”

“It’s fine. It won’t hit.”

Ha Leeha didn’t close his eyes even as the enemies approached right in front of him.

The time calculation was precise. He clearly saw the vibrations in the air caused by the enemies’ movements.

From the fingertips of the approaching Pyrot Cocri, a thin line stretched toward the three musketeers.

‘It won’t touch. 2 seconds, 1 second—’

Among the over 1,000 Pyrot Cocris flying through the air, Ha Leeha was the only one who remained calm.

──────…….

The third Demon King’s Fragment was indeed just playing around.

Despite having the ability to turn everything it created within its home into its clones.

“Oh dear, I miscalculated the time.”

As the three people vanished in a violet hue, the Pyrot Cocris expressed regret.

Chatting among themselves or whispering, they laughed.

“We need to get the toy we want, right?”

“Yeah, yeah, let’s get it, get it!”

The eyes of Pyrot Cocri in the blood-red crystal ball opened.

『Gather!』

At that moment, thousands of Pyrot Cocris reverted to their original undead forms and all crumbled to dust.

Throughout the underground cavern housing Peklo City, only one undead was left standing.

『Now, let’s see if they come back or… heheh.』

The Pyrot Cocri in the crystal ball closed its eyes again.

In front of the crystal, a ‘new’ Pyrot Cocri that had risen from the pile of disintegrated bone dust stood.

* * *

It was about five minutes later that Ha Leeha, Kidd, and Luger met again.

Since they had used crystal balls in different locations, they had to buy and use chain teleport scrolls to regroup.

Where they gathered was not right in front of the entrance.

Having met at the location where Ha Leeha used the crystal ball, they were looking at their surroundings in confusion.

“…What is that?”

“Oh, that’s a Shazra—Leeha Condor… haven’t you seen it before?”

“Why would you name a bald eagle after yourself? Sense of camaraderie?”

It was because four huge condors were flying in from the sky. Clearly, it was the first time seeing these monsters, which caused their confusion.

“Camaraderie? What nonsense are you spouting! I’m the first discoverer and killer! And you don’t know what an honor it is to have a creature named after you—”

In an instant when a horrifying scream and gunshot resounded, startling the giants nearby, all four condors were falling.

Blaugrunn nodded as he watched and then spoke.

“Do not mock Ha Leeha, humans.”

“No, I mean, this isn’t mocking, Blaugrunn! If you’re going to take my side, do it right!”

After a brief commotion, they finally discussed Pyrot Cocri.

The size and structure of Peklo City, what they saw inside, and the ability of Pyrot Cocri to turn all undead in Peklo City into its duplicates through the crystal ball.

Blaugrunn wore a serious expression.

“Peklo City is a space created by Pyrot Cocri, but it has a more famous nickname: Pyrot Cocri’s Belly.”

“Belly?”

“Yes. It means something akin to its internal body. I, too, had never visited Peklo City, so I thought it was just a metaphor, but from what Ha Leeha said, it seems like it can indeed treat it as an extension of its body.”

When in the crystal ball, it cannot use all of its abilities.

So how is it able to freely create clones?

Was this because the entire space was already under the control of Pyrot Cocri?

At least for Peklo City, this meant that Pyrot Cocri was awake and active.

“What a terribly horrifying story. Does this mean we need to seal off the entire space to perfect his seal?”

“That’s right.”

“Conversely, does that mean the numerous Pyrot Cocri cannot leave Peklo City?”

“I cannot be certain, human.”

Luger and Kidd each asked Blaugrunn their respective questions.

Ha Leeha chewed his lower lip and slung his Black Bass over his shoulder.

“The important thing is that we don’t have time. Blaugrunn, please go to the Lord and come back to me immediately. And you all—stay here and keep an eye on those giants.”

“What, what? Why should I—”

“You’re not going to be much help now anyway, are you? We’re not fighting Pyrot Cocri. From now on, I’m moving on my own.”

Ha Leeha took out his crystal ball.

The next location was, of course, where ‘Gerda’ was.

They initially teleported there without intending to take Luger and Kidd.

“…If you’re saying we’re of no help, we’ll head to the New Continent—”

“No, no. Thanks to me, you got to tour Peklo City. So, shouldn’t you do some work before going? Right?”

“Th-that’s a ridiculous thing to say—”

“Whatever! Anyway, those giants are almost done blowing up the tunnel. Just guard it until then. And you can hunt new mobs, gain experience points, and get items. It’s good, right? Then, I’m off!”

Ha Leeha, almost pushing them forcefully, left. Though Luger quickly took out his crystal ball, he couldn’t activate it at once.

“Damn it. I’ll definitely blow his head off someday.”

“You always say that but never do.”

“Should I blow your head off first, Kidd?”

“If you can aim that slow cannon at me for more than 0.1 seconds, feel free to try.”

“Ugh—! Dammit!”

He wanted to fight Pyrot Cocri. But he lacked the strength and ability beyond that.

Ignoring Ha Leeha’s words would mean losing any additional information from him, so he had no choice but to stay.

The complexity of their feelings came through in Luger’s shout and Kidd’s sigh.

* * *

“Gerda-nim!”

『Yes, I did recognize—huh!?』

Gerda, the top-grade spirit of ice and snow, revealed herself but was startled.

Ha Leeha could feel the immense energy surrounding him.

“Gerda, it’s been a long time.”

『B-Bahamut! How could the leader of the Metal Dragons be in a place like this…?』

Bahamut, with the face of a kind old man, greeted her. Gerda, while stepping back a bit, bowed to him.

“I have warnings for the Lord’s family and words to you, the spirit of ice and snow.”

Blaugrunn, standing tall beside Bahamut, flared his nostrils as he represented his Lord.

『If it’s the Lord’s family—』

“Ah, apologies for the late introduction. I’m Ha Leeha, known as the ‘White Reaper’, also a family of Bahamut.”

Ha Leeha beamed at Gerda.

Ha Leeha noticed that Gerda’s already pale face turned even paler.

‘Feeling guilty for daring to suggest she be a slave to Bahamut’s family, huh? Heh heh.’

Though it felt like their positions had reversed, now wasn’t the time to indulge in such trivial emotions.

In the presence of Lord Bahamut and the top-grade spirit of ice and snow, Ha Leeha shared everything he had seen, heard, and experienced.

The third Demon King’s Fragment, Pyrot Cocri, was there.

Though not yet awakened, city Fecklo was perfectly structured.

Touching the crystal ball would make the Demon King’s Fragments mutually recognizable and possibly warp immediately through the ‘Abyssal Maw’.

“Therefore, either eliminate her in one strike before she wakes…”

“Or seal off Peklo City itself.”

“Precisely, my Lord.”

Bahamut wore a serious expression. Gerda’s face was one of shock.

『P-Pyrot Cocri… The queen of all undead is there—that’s why the children…』

As Ha Leeha surmised, it was evidence that the habitat near the Cold Wind Mountain Range frequently had ice and snow spirits.