Arcane Sniper [Matan’s Shooter]

No matter how skilled Pyrot-Cocri was, it would have been impossible to reach Gaza City, the border city touching Minis.

Ha Leeha guessed that it would take a significant amount of time for Pyrot-Cocri just to search for him and the Three Musketeers in the New Continent.

“I wanted to blow Pyrot-Cocri away with the 〈White Reaper〉, but oh well.”

Ha Leeha felt somewhat regretful about that. It was why he had even turned down Kidd and Luger’s suggestion to cross over to the New Continent, hoping for that opportunity.

And here he was with such restricted skills as a result!

“Ugh, no point in lamenting. Let’s just get it done.”

Ha Leeha entered the Holy Grill Gaza City branch and sat down at a table.

‘It’s been a while since I was here, too.’

Ha Leeha spoke the code to meet Joo as soon as a waiter approached.

“Vodka martini. Shaken, not stirred.”

“It’s not ready yet. Would you like another drink in the meantime?”

“Can I choose it myself?”

“Of course. Follow me, please.”

Ha Leeha glanced around quickly, then got up to follow the waiter.

The stricter entrance policies of the Holy Grill signified that the situation in Middle Earth was no longer the same as before.

‘I hope Luger and Kidd are doing well.’

While Ha Leeha sought various pieces of information at the Holy Grill, a commotion was also happening at the headquarters of the 〈Sacred Alliance〉 in the western part of the New Continent.

* * *

“Pyrot-Cocri…”

“Wow… That’s intense.”

“Goodness.”

“Even with the Lord’s intervention, a Demon King’s Fragment appeared!”

Everyone inside, NPCs and users alike, including the Ancient Gold Dragon Bailephus, had expressions of disbelief.

Luger nodded, and Kidd added an explanation.

“To be precise, it wasn’t exactly a Demon King’s Fragment that appeared. When we left, Pyrot-Cocri was definitely sealed in the crystal ball, and Ha Leeha’s testimony along with our… interpretation suggests that it was her clones or one of her subordinates that surfaced.”

Kidd chose his words carefully, as he couldn’t mention the ‘achievement notification’ that the NPCs had received.

Nevertheless, both Ewin, who possessed high-level AI, and the Ancient Gold Dragon could understand.

“Ewin, what should we do?”

Fernand cautiously asked Ewin.

The Fox of the Prairie shrugged and drew a line.

“There’s nothing we need to do. We’ve come here with the 〈Sacred Alliance〉’s original mission. The good information brought by the new Three Musketeers of Fibiel should be conveyed to the Lopé Continent. They will handle it. The current Pope is exceptionally smart.”

The personnel here needed to focus on searching the eastern New Continent and the floating island, 〈Laputa〉.

Other members of the 〈Sacred Alliance〉 should prepare for the Demon King’s Fragment’s possible invasion of the western New Continent.

Ewin’s mention of the Pope was surprisingly clear-cut.

There wasn’t much reason to oppose his statement, and voicing objections would be tantamount to defying the Pope.

“I think the Commander is right. We must head to the eastern New Continent as soon as possible before Le realizes the possibility of Pyrot-Cocri awakening. Before Le discovers the location… we must save Elizabeth, Brown, and Kyle. Even if Pyrot-Cocri awakens, if they are there…”

They could be dealt with. Therefore, they must go.

His solemn voice supported Ewin’s decision.

For Browless, rescuing his comrades was more important than any mission from the 〈Sacred Alliance〉.

Of course, the essential condition for that was the extermination of ‘Kaztor’, which meant everyone here was needed.

Bailephus hesitated momentarily, but Alexander supported his decision by mentioning the most effective and efficient way to deliver justice, and the Ancient Gold Dragon eventually had to follow the majority’s opinion.

“Ha ha, this way is indeed better for us as well. Isn’t that right, Kidd?”

“… Are you saying that we should have some information that Ha Leeha doesn’t know about 〈Arcane Sniper〉?”

“Indeed. You are well aware of it.”

Ha Leeha had to obtain information before arriving.

To acquire information about Arcane Sniper, which only Ha Leeha knew, Luger and Kidd felt compelled to depart immediately.

“Fernand, I will inform His Holiness the Pope. Just do your best to guide this expedition.”

“Yes, Supreme Commander.”

Everyone’s opinions were converging.

As they had already prepared adequately, there was no reason to delay further.

Except for one person who crossed his arms and leaned against the wall as soon as Pyrot-Cocri’s name was mentioned.

“I already know the way to Laputa, so do I really need to go?”

“… What are you talking about, Lee Jiwon?”

“I acknowledge you’re quite strong for a human, but if there’s a monster influenced by Pyrot-Cocri, you’d be unable to handle it.”

“Pfft~ Seriously? But you’re wrong. I’m just curious about the newly opened northern Shazrashian.”

Lee Jiwon snickered as he saw Alexander and Bailephus looking at him.

“Don’t covet regional and monster accomplishments. There’s information that many Shazrashian users have already entered there. Do you think you can obtain anything now?”

“You’re also greedy but pretend not to be. Why do you always think that way about me?”

Alexander spoke with more emphasis, but Lee Jiwon laughed and countered his words.

Then he slowly drew his black sword.

It wasn’t an act of targeting Alexander or intending to attack someone.

“I have things to do too… I thought I needed to go to ‘Laputa’ and took your hand, but there was no change even after reaching nearby…”

He muttered quietly.

Three people were startled by his words.

Alexander, Kidd, and Luger.

They instinctively understood.

“… And you’re still able to maintain the second rank.”

“The latest rumors say even Pei Wu has succeeded in the second job change. But you, Lee Jiwon, still―”

Rank 1: Alexander, completed second job change.

Rank 3: Igor, combined with a vampire and completed a second job change or an equivalent job change.

Rank 4: Pei Wu, presumed to have completed a second job change.

Rank 5: Petyr, no news.

Rank 6: Ram Hwajung, completed second job change.

Rank 7: Chiyou, combined with a vampire and completed a second job change or an equivalent job change.

Rank 8: Shin Nara, no news.

Rank 9: Faust, combined with a vampire and completed a second job change or an equivalent job change.

Rank 10: Prea, no news.

This was the current status of the top ten rankers known to Kidd and other well-informed individuals.

Although they did not yet know, Shin Nara had also been given a quest for a second job change, suggesting that most of the top ten rankers had completed or were in the process of completing their second job changes.

And yet, what about Lee Jiwon, who was ranked second?

‘Is he saying we should believe he is still in his first job change state?’

‘… If Ha Leeha is just a monster, this guy is a crazy monster. Korean gamers are really nuts―’

Kidd and Luger couldn’t help but frown.

Alexander, knowing this fact, took a moment to steady his breath before confirming Lee Jiwon’s intentions.

“So… you want to go to the old continent?”

“Yup~ The chance has come~ Alexander, you’re really feeling the heat~”

Alexander held back his frustration at Lee Jiwon’s playful demeanor because he understood the professional demands of a magic swordsman.

Countless users had been fascinated by that grand title and taken up the challenge.

However, skills of the swordsman system must be learned in locations suited for swordsmen, while skills of the magician system must be learned in locations suited for mages, and the combination of these skills had to be carefully assembled.

Even on a day without a combat assistance system, executing both skillsets at a high level was necessary for a proper battle, which was no easy feat.

In other words, the effort required was more than double compared to other professions, not to mention the difficulty of leveling up skills and maintaining combat proficiency.

It was precisely because of these challenges that many magic swordsmen across Middle Earth found themselves stuck at the middle tier, unable to climb higher.

If Lee Jiwon, who was already at the top, completed his second job change, what would happen?

More than anything…

‘What’s his second job change name?’

‘Just knowing that would be extremely valuable information.’

‘Is it related to swords? Given the mention of Laputa, could it be connected to an unknown place?’

What would he turn into?

Lee Jiwon wasn’t the type to reveal things like that, no matter how much the three people who had already completed their second job change pondered.

“So… are you saying you’re leaving, Lee Jiwon?”

Ewin asked briefly.

“Anyway, you all recognize that if I join up with you in a stronger state, it will be helpful, right?”

Lee Jiwon answered in his characteristic style.

Granville would have never permitted it. However, unlike the stubborn old knight, the Fox of the Prairie was different.

In reality, Lee Jiwon had the ability to travel alone to the eastern part of the New Continent.

If the advance party needed help, they could send a quick message and contact him.

If Lee Jiwon could enhance himself with some mysterious power before they reached Laputa, it would certainly be a tremendous help to the 〈Sacred Alliance〉.

Even if it was a user from another job class, ewin, who knew for sure the abilities of the second-ranked person, could make a rational and efficient choice.

“Very well. Then as soon as you’re ready… no, right now. The eastern New Continent expedition group and Lee Jiwon are ordered to depart immediately.”

Finally, the expedition team, set to track Kaztor, rescue Arcane Sniper, and explore the floating island in the sky, set off.

Kidd opened a teleport window for Three Musketeers to relay this fact to Leeha.

“The Sea of Dawn—near the buoy in the sea? Is he already trying to catch up to us?”

At that moment, Leeha was in the middle of the Sea of Dawn.

* * *

―Haven’t they departed yet? Then why did they act so urgent? Ah, was it because they lost time coming and going to me? Okay, so it seems Lee Jiwon has gone to make his second job change?

Leeha nodded while whispering with Kidd.

Although the small boat, which was shakier than a small sailing boat, seemed like it could capsize with each wave, Leeha didn’t seem to mind.

―Hmm, okay. If it’s Lee Jiwon, he would at least flee. I’m busy with something important myself, so I’ll finish quickly and then catch up with you. Anyway, make sure to also tell Luger to remember the route!

Leeha, who had gone to the Holy Grill of City Gazza, had asked Ju for a lot of information.

The most immediate piece of information they could get was the emerging locations of monsters above level 300.

‘Even Madam Ju couldn’t easily answer, but it seems she managed eventually.’

It was thanks to the update of various information across the continent.

In the past, it was hard for Madam Ju to even inform about monsters above level 250.

No matter how much it was a system-established ‘information guild’, divulging unverified information about monsters in unopened areas was prohibited.

However, after the opening of the New Continent, the information about numerous monsters and regions was updated, and the authorization for the information guild to divulge such information was strengthened by the Middle Earth system.

After checking out several places due to such updates, Ju was able to deliver the information relatively easily.

“Not that it was easy. All I got was rumors about such monsters existing or what places they might prefer.”

『Myong?』

As Leeha spoke, Jellypong, who had its tentacles dipped in the sea from the front of the small boat, looked up at Leeha.

“No, no. Just continue what you were doing.”

A supermassive shark that emerges from the deepest parts of the sea during a full moon.

There were cases where people repairing mana relay towers or large Kraven ships engaged in deep-sea fishing were attacked and sunk by these monsters.

“Information about a monster that even Drake and Mermaids have never heard of…”