Arcane Sniper [Matan’s Shooter]

“The Ego Sword is not just a legend; it appeared only in the myths of dragons. Even dragons have hardly seen it themselves. Maybe the Lord might have seen it, but…”

“Ah…”

Ha Leeha forgot all the numerous words Blaugrunn had said.

Only one word remained in his mind.

‘Myth of… the dragon…’

The Black Bass was a sealed item.

How could a sealed item be on the level of a legend?

Ha Leeha felt an urge to hit his own head.

‘Because it was more than that?! It maintained a legendary rank even while sealed because it descended from a higher—myth level!’

Ha Leeha quickly opened the detailed window of the Black Bass. However, nothing had changed.

Was it because the Black Bass was dormant?

Though he felt it strange, he knew he could not resolve this question here.

“Blaugrunn, let’s gather the corpse.”

“Where are we going?”

“To meet the world’s best blacksmith. Maybe he knows something. Hurry!”

“Ah, understood! Transporting the monster’s corpse!”

Blaugrunn controlled his flight magic to move Ha Leeha’s body.

Ha Leeha couldn’t calm his racing heart during the flight towards the water’s surface, 5km away.

‘Oh right, what were the achievements again?’

Even during this, checking the achievements was essential!

“The one-shot achievement is obvious… and the rest—”

〈Achievement: Beyond Rotation (A)〉

Congratulations!

You have hit a target over a distance of 5,000m! Now you have entered the ultra-long-range sniping range where you must calculate the rotation flow of Middle Earth in addition to aiming. You are now recognized as one who has perfectly comprehended and calculated the rotation of Middle Earth! Where does your limit lie? Henceforth, there are no official records to challenge you; only unattainable unofficial records in legends remain. We wish you the best in your future endeavors, and here is a small gift for you.

Reward: Agility +17

Continental Common Reputation 100

You are the first registrant of the ‘Beyond Rotation’ achievement.

The first three registrants of this achievement will be recorded in the Hall of Fame, with an additional 200% of the existing effects.

Effect: Agility +34

Continental Common Reputation 200

‘Wow, right. If Middle Earth is a planet similar to Earth, I’d have to calculate the speed of rotation and axis. And gravity too.’

This time, since it was a light-based attack, it might have been somewhat easier.

However, if he had to correct the trajectory of the bullet due to gravity and wind effects, calculations on rotation were essential for distances beyond 5km.

〈Achievement: Do You Know Who I Am? (A)〉

Congratulations!

You have successfully solidified your fame even on the New Continent Erika. By achieving a common reputation of 1,000 on the New Continent Erika, your name now begins to spread not only to all Paleos but even to unexplored areas beyond the central regions where interactions are minimal. You may enjoy the fact that your rumor is spreading even into the unknown land where spatial transport doesn’t occur.

Reward: 17 Stat Points

Permanent Buff – Adventurer’s Dignity

You are the third registrant of the ‘Do You Know Who I Am?’ achievement.

The first three registrants of this achievement will be recorded in the Hall of Fame, with an additional 200% of the existing effects.

Effect: 34 Stat Points

‘Ah, because of the Beyond Rotation achievement, I hit exactly 1,000 fame in the new continent. Hehe, so this too…’

Ha Leeha naturally knew who the two prior achievers were. One was obviously Alexander.

‘And the other is likely Fernand. Compared to Lee Jiwon, Fernand invested more effort into building relations with the Paleos.’

Ha Leeha was well aware that intimacy achievements are helpful for Continental Common Reputation.

Compared to Lee Jiwon, who considers every paleo as a ‘hunting target’, Fernand, who pursued both the new region discovery achievements and intimacy achievements, was a more likely second candidate.

‘What kind of performance does the permanent buff have—’

“We have arrived!”

“Ah, already? Then let’s dive. 〈Mermaid Transformation〉!”

Blaugrunn and Ha Leeha dived into the sea towards the gigantic mo-sah’s corpse.

After cutting the parts from the giant corpse, looting it, and moving the entire corpse to Blaugrunn’s lair, the two finally headed back to Gaza City.

* * *

“Ha, if you look at me closely, I find myself funny too.”

“What do you mean?”

“No, heh-heh, I feel something’s off, you know?”

Listening to Ha Leeha’s nonsensical talk, Blaugrunn tilted his head quizzically. Ha Leeha himself couldn’t quite articulate his feelings.

‘Gigantic Mimic? A field boss-level monster of at least level 300. Took it down in one hit—an S-rank achievement is only fitting.’

Even for someone at the same level as Ha Leeha, the 〈One Shot, one Kill~〉 series achievements weren’t easy to come by.

After all, aiming for achievements in low-level hunting grounds or targeting monsters higher level than oneself was practically impossible.

‘Yet I ignored such a precious one-hit achievement and focused on other things…’

As he reviewed his 5,000m distance achievement and New Continent common reputation achievement, he laughed at himself for missing the ‘one-hit achievement.’

“By the way, what did you get from that guy?”

“What? Ah, the items? Two teeth, some chunks of meat, and oil came out… but that’s not what you’re curious about, is it? I’ll give you time to study the carcass later, so hold on a bit.”

“Heh, you already read my mind.”

Blaugrunn spoke shyly.

Studying the remains of a newly encountered monster was indeed the destiny of a curious dragon.

Even asking what items dropped from Gigantic mosaic was an act of ‘testing’!

Ha Leeha realized anew just how intelligent NPCs with high-level AI could be.

Clang— clang-clang—!

As the lively sound of hammering grew louder, Ha Leeha’s heart beat in sync with it.

He came to meet Bottleneck, but that wasn’t the only reason.

“Bottleneck Ajussi!”

“Lord? Didn’t we just meet a few days ago? What do you want to talk about now?”

“Oh, come on, are you ignoring me just because I whined last time?”

Having pestered Bottleneck to make him a legendary rifle, it was no wonder Bottleneck didn’t look kindly upon Ha Leeha.

“It’s not that—”

“Ahem, if you’re not busy… shall we go inside and talk?”

“Hmm… alright. What’s the matter?”

With a reluctant expression, Bottleneck set down his hammer and guided Ha Leeha inside.

Thud—!

Closing the door, locking it tightly, Ha Leeha quietly placed the Black Bass on the table.

“Hmm?”

“I’ve unlocked the sixth seal of Black Bass.”

“Really? Only one left now?”

Seeing Bottleneck’s serious expression, Ha Leeha couldn’t help but smile lightly.

“No, I don’t know.”

“What do you mean, you don’t know? There’s got to be a condition to unlock the seal.”

“There isn’t.”

“What do you mean? There shouldn’t be any—”

“Maybe we’ll find out when it wakes up.”

“—no— huh? What, lord?”

With a baffled expression, Bottleneck’s eyes sparkled with anticipation.

Unable to hold back, Ha Leeha burst into laughter and revealed the truth.

“Heh-heh… Black Bass woke up. It spoke!”

“Wha-what!? Has the seal placed by 〈Shining Hammer〉 been fully released!?”

The one who sealed Black Bass was the legendary blacksmith 〈Shining Hammer〉.

If someone of his caliber sealed Black Bass, wouldn’t Bottleneck, who was of the same rank, be able to?

“I don’t know! That’s why I came to ask you! Ajussi, hurry! Do something! You’re a legendary blacksmith like 〈Shining Hammer〉!”

He was confident that this secret could be unraveled.

Ha Leeha’s intuitions were rarely wrong, and Bottleneck, who was so excited that even his ears turned red, almost lost his composure.

“Alright, let’s see! Yes! Let’s have a look!”

Bottleneck hurriedly assembled various analytical tools, including a loupe, and meticulously examined Black Bass.

“Though it’s not immediately clear, it seems there’s a faint trace of mana around the breech block. Did you notice it, lord?”

“Yes. I saw it up to that point as well.”

It wasn’t because he heard noises nearby the breech.

〈Distorted Vision〉 captured the light emanating from the breech, leading him to believe that it was the core.

“Is this what we need to stimulate…?”

“For reference, I tried infusing mana several times, but it didn’t work.”

“Of course. It’s probably different from regular skills or magic.”

Ha Leeha also attempted it like using a curve shot, but Black Bass didn’t budge.

“Hmm, alright. Are you ready?”

“Can you do it?”

“Tsk! What do you think I am? I may not have reached 100% of the ancestors’ level, but awakening it is possible!”

“As expected!”

Ha Leeha stepped back a few paces from the table. Bottleneck, holding a tool that looked like a soldering iron, swallowed hard.

“Here I go!”

“Do not mess it up!”

“Stop with the ominous talk!”

Ha Leeha couldn’t forget the moment when 〈Mosin Nagant of the Legendary White Reaper〉 had vanished.

Confident yet aware that anything could happen at any moment—that was exactly how Middle Earth was.

‘Please, please, please—!’

Bottleneck approached Black Bass slowly, matching Ha Leeha’s prayers.

The moment the tool he held touched the barrel of the rifle!

ーーーーーーーーー!

“Ooooooook!”

A burst of light emanated from Black Bass.

Bottleneck let out a bizarre exclamation, while Ha Leeha struggled to keep Black Bass’s silhouette in sight amidst the light.

“What—What’s happening? Bottleneck-ssi!”

Bottleneck’s hand remained in contact with Black Bass.

“……”

“Talk to me, right?”

“……”

Bottleneck did not respond to Ha Leeha’s words.

Though only a few seconds had passed, seeing Bottleneck unmoving made Ha Leeha anxious.

Shaaaaa…

Finally, when the light vanished with a sound effect, there stood Bottleneck with a satisfied expression.

“How is it? Right? Talk to me, now?”

Ha Leeha quickly grabbed Black Bass.

“Black Bass! Bess? Black?”

He tried to start a conversation again, but Black Bass’s voice remained silent.

Even after several more attempts, it was the same. Blaugrunn looked back and forth between Ha Leeha and Bottleneck with a surprised expression.

“Lord.”

“What’s the matter—… Sir? Are you crying?”

Just as Ha Leeha was about to urge him, he noticed tears flowing from the eyes of the old dwarf.

“I heard it.”

“Right!? You heard it, didn’t you?”

“Now, the Lord can hear it too. Examine it thoroughly.”

Bottleneck, with a deeply moved expression, stepped back from the table.

Ha Leeha quickly understood what Bottleneck meant by thoroughly examining it.

There was something he had checked multiple times coming up to this point.

‘Until now, the item description window hasn’t changed… But by touching Bottleneck’s hand, finally—!’

He quickly grasped Black Bass and opened the item detail window.

〈Awakened Legendary Black Bass (1st Enhancement – Magma)〉

(Non-tradable)

Even before reading the description below, just the changed name made Ha Leeha feel chills all over his body.

TL’s Corner:

What does Lava even mean? Fire damage?

If the target got hit, will there be a hole in their chest?

If you get the reference, I salute you!