Arcane Sniper [Matan’s Shooter]

The avatar of the Devil that transcended time and space wouldn’t rely on mere conditions like snow, rain, sea, mountains, or sky.

Leeha quietly closed his eyes. The ‘White Reaper’ required snow. But what was that snow?

‘It could only be used after performing a ceremonial snow reqiuem. I obtained it as a sign of respect for the purest snow—’

And it was related to the existence of the spirit governing it.

‘Could it be related to a spirit? Or is it just a psychological limitation? Extreme anger, severe depression, confusion, conditions like these?’

Since he couldn’t fully understand the algorithm of the NPC’s mentality, Leeha couldn’t grasp it right away.

However, there was something he could say more certainly than Luger or Kidd.

‘《Arcane Sniper》 isn’t unconditional. There are clearly conditions. For instance, the final bullet eliminates—not just that—it deletes the user itself. That’s one of the conditions.’

No significant changes had occurred.

Kyle was still in the enemy’s hands, and Elizabeth and Brown’s fate was uncertain.

But knowing that 《Arcane Sniper》 couldn’t be used unlimitedly or unconditionally was enough to ease his mind somewhat.

“Oh right, Ulrek-nim!”

“What’s the matter, human Ha Leeha?”

“Well, it got a little weird, but… we finished the job for the King of Saur Land.”

“You mean killing that covetous dark elf?”

“Yes, so… ahem, when could we expect the payment for the job…?”

Leeha asked with an awkward face.

Ulrek stared at Leeha for a moment and shook his head.

“It’s something I can’t answer. More importantly, haven’t the conditions changed?”

Leeha had somewhat expected what Ulrek would say.

Strictly speaking, the quest to assassinate Kaztor, 『Saur Land’s Request』, was meant to eliminate the danger posed by ‘Arcane Sniper’.

However, Leeha couldn’t say that the threat was entirely gone just because Kaztor was dead.

‘Darn Chiyou. I should level her up to 10 by infinite judgments so I can feel relieved.’

Because Arcane Sniper was still in the enemy’s hands.

But Leeha wasn’t one to back down.

“Conditions—well… yes, but it was also our agreement after all.”

“You’ll have to discuss that with His Majesty.”

“I understand.”

Simply gaining access to Saur Land and having a chance to meet the king once was already a considerable achievement.

“A persistent person, aren’t you.”

“Trying to get the quest acknowledged even in this situation?”

“Of course! After all this effort, would you just throw it away? I’m completely broke right now!”

Seeing Leeha getting indignant, Luger and Kidd shook their heads.

But they weren’t entirely empty-handed.

〈Achievement: Grudge Eater (S-)〉

Congratulations!

You have successfully defeated a creature that lived its entire life filled with yin energy. All the curses, fears, confusions, criticisms, and persecutions have been purified and absorbed by you. Absorbed energy, you ask? For those who awaited your absorption, it will be an excellent nourishment!

Reward: Intelligence +11, mind Power +10, dark Attribute Spirit Affinity +10%

You are the second registrant of the ‘Grudge Eater’ achievement.

The first three registrant of the achievement will be recorded in the Hall of Fame, and its effect will be doubled.

Effect: Intelligence +22, mind Power +20, dark Attribute Spirit Affinity +20%

Increased affinity with dark attribute spirits.

Leeha had already been acknowledged by two dark attribute spirits of darkness and fear.

The achievement ‘Spirit Enchanter’ confirmed this.

But it wasn’t an achievement that boosted affinity so blatantly. Leeha was curious to see how this would play out subsequently.

‘It’s funny that I’m the second registrant in the Hall of Fame. There must be another NPC—no, monster as gloomy as Kaztor in Middle Earth. If anyone would seek that out…’

Prea.

Leeha thought of the white spiritualist.

If she found out about this achievement, she would have run to it with eyes blazing.

“Perhaps she might even be the first registrant.”

Where could she be and what could she be doing now?

Leeha found it increasingly difficult to gather any more information about Chiyou. Hence, he thought that he needed to firmly establish his relationship with Prea soon.

The ‘bait’ for that was sufficient in its own way.

〈Achievement: Guardian of the Dark Elf Tribe (S)〉

Congratulations!

You have saved the Dark Elf Tribe from danger! Since the 〈Pope Ezwen’s Death Incident〉, all eyes have been on the Dark Elf race, and now they are being watched by every nation on the continent. If 〈Kaztor〉 had carried out another mass killing or assassination incident, the plan to annihilate the Dark Elves, led by the Wood Elves, would have been executed. However, by disposing of 〈Kaztor〉, the root of all evil, you have ensured the safety and peace of the Dark Elves once more. The entire Dark Elf tribe acknowledges you as their guardian. You are now able to meet the guardian spirit they revere.

Reward: Strength +6, agility +15, intelligence+4

Right to contact the Guardian Spirit of the Dark Elves

You are the first registrant of 〈Guardian of the Dark Elf Tribe〉 achievement.

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

Effect: Strength +12, agility +30, intelligence+8

Guardian Spirit.

Leeha had never seen the Dark Elves use spirits.

“They themselves said it too. They aren’t familiar with spirits. I’ve never seen them use the so-called Four Great Elemental Spirits.”

But were they completely divorced from spirits?

Just because the Wood Elves were adept in mana and spirits and the Dark Elves excelled in physical combat, did that mean they had lost the ability to use spirits?

Leeha didn’t think so.

The term ‘Guardian Spirit’ in the achievement, and the underlying source of their power, raised many questions for him.

Leeha fiddled with his necklace.

Back when he first killed Igor, the item that Igor dropped.

Wasn’t the skill attached to the necklace used by the Dark Elf hero called 〈Forbidden Fury〉?

“Blaugrunn, we’re about to enter Laputa now.”

“Finally, you’ve arrived! Do you have any idea how anxious I’ve been waiting? I wish I could go too, but Ha Leeha only—”

“Hehe, anyway, the authority lies with me, so I’ll work something out so you can come next time. By the way, what I mentioned earlier: did you look into it?”

As soon as he obtained the Guardian of the Dark Elf Tribe achievement, Leeha inspected its contents and, after going through a series of thoughts, immediately commissioned Blaugrunn to investigate.

– Yes, I confirmed with the Lord. It’s certain.

– As expected… I knew it since there were spirits of ‘fear’.

There was a spirit of darkness and a terror spirit. If so?

– There must be a 〈Spirit of Fury〉 as well.

– But its existence alone is confirmed. Meeting it won’t be easy.

– Oh, Blaugrunn, you still don’t know me. How would I have known that? Do you think I would know without meeting it first?

– W-Wait, Ha Leeha-ssi! Please explain properly!

– Hah, Blaugrunn, you just sit tight and enjoy the show. Just follow me.

The guardian spirit of the Dark Elves.

Leeha believed it to be the 〈Spirit of Fury〉.

Moreover, considering its ominous name, there would be no need to verify that it was a dark attribute spirit.

If he could meet it and increase his affinity?

Blaugrunn’s whispers were making Leeha’s head spin. He couldn’t listen to his voice any longer.

“Oh, oh! That’s it! That’s the one!”

“Indeed… Its majestic presence remains unchanged.”

“Yes, something the Lord would be pleased with.”

Fernand, Alexander, and Bailephus all had eyes filled with emotion.

So did the other humans present.

“My, my… What on earth is that…”

Even Browless wore an expression of disbelief, so how must Leeha and the other users have been feeling?

“What is that huge size! And not a single monster on such a vast land?”

“Wow… I thought it was just some floating rock… But this? It could accommodate an entire city.”

Breaking through the clouds, what appeared below was literally another continent. A lone flying island, so high that the ground seemed distant and detached. Kidd nodded quietly.

“That’s why it’s called the ‘Island in the Sky’. That’s 〈Laputa〉.”

The grand mass of land defied gravity as it moved.

“Wow, Prince! The Red Zeppelin is—”

“Hmm. We are entering.”

When GM, who was visiting Laputa for the first time, hesitated, Ulrek gently pulled on the tendrils of the Red Zeppelin.

『Guuuuu…』

The Red Zeppelin began to lower its altitude gradually. Alexander and Fernand swallowed dryly.

“If it were like last time, we would soon crash into it.”

“Their barrier contains tremendous repellent energy. If something goes wrong, we could all melt.”

“Stop scaring us, Fernand! Alexander!”

They had to turn back near this area sometime before. Laputa’s barrier didn’t just block like that of Saur Land.

“If Lee Jiwon hadn’t tested the skill first that time, we—ugh, I don’t even want to think about it.”

So capable was the barrier in preventing entry and punishing any unwarranted intrusion, that without Bailephus and Lee Jiwon, Alexander and Fernand might have been done for.

As Fernand caused a stir, Alexander’s expression changed slightly.

“Lee Jiwon…”

Where could the Rank 2 be now?

He was the one who wanted to enter Laputa more than anyone. What could he be doing now?

“I’ve won.”

Alexander had that thought and smiled.

“We’re entering!”

With Ulrek’s shout, the massive Red Zeppelin began to vanish.

To be precise, as they entered Laputa’s barrier, they became invisible from the outside.

“Wow—! Wait a minute! If possible—achievements—”

Even in that moment, Leeha was worried about achievements.

───────────────!

As they passed through the barrier, a burst of light caused everyone to shut their eyes.

When they reopened them, what lay before them was no longer just a floating island.

“I get why they said the dinosaurs of Saur Land were trained here.”

“This isn’t just ruins… Well, it does look like ruins but—”

It wasn’t as luxuriously adorned as the cities of Saur Land.

It wasn’t blindingly splendid, but instead, boasted a noble magnificence that hadn’t faded with time, filling the island.

“Isn’t a city made of gold quite tacky?”

What the users had thought was ‘land’, reflecting the light, was entirely gold.

And a great quantity of it, covering almost every visible part of the surface.

Considering the exchange value between Middle Earth’s gold coins and real-world currency, just scraping off a little of this land could allow someone to live comfortably.

“They say it embodies the power of gods, but what they meant was gold—”

“Don’t compare material value to the power of gods, human Ha Leeha.”

“Ah, yes? Of course. It’s not because of that.”

Leeha, trying to express his admiration, quickly closed his mouth at Ulrek’s reprimand. Widening his eyes, he swiftly scanned the surroundings.

“Anyone get achievements?”

The users looked at each other. No one responded.

Whether they had actually gained an achievement or not, no one would state the ‘truth’ at this point.

So, what was left?

Leeha quickly raised the Black Bass.