Matan’s Shooter

“Hey? Suddenly you seem more lively. Anyway, I don’t know right now. I’ll tell you as soon as I find out. Even Bobae is frustrated because she doesn’t know. So, for the time being, just do what you need to do, hyung. I’ll go out for a bit to do some campaigning―”

As Kijung was about to get up, Leeha grabbed him.

Seeing Leeha suddenly turn serious, Kijung swallowed hard.

“Kijung.”

“―Uh, yes? What is it, hyung?”

Leeha stared intensely at Kijung with sharp eyes and asked,

“You’re dating Bobae, right? How’s that going?”

“…… Huh? What are you talking about all of a sudden?”

―Hey. I kissed Ram Hwayeon. Actually, I should call her my girlfriend now, rather than Ram Hwayeon, right?

“Wha──────────t?! What?!”

Kijung’s shock was endless.

Everyone inside the tavern turned their gaze towards Kijung as he kept exclaiming and backing away.

“What, what! So, that―so! I knew it! I had a feeling that would―”

―Shh! Keep it down, man! It’s a secret! Shh!

Leeha hushed him with a whisper.

Kijung, who was pointing at Leeha in surprise, barely regained his composure and sat back down opposite Leeha.

He was so agitated that he even dropped his shield.

For a tanker, especially one with a shield made from “Toon’s Bones”, this was a shocking event for Kijung.

“What happened, hyung?! Really? A kiss―well, it could’ve been just an impulsive thing! Are you sure? Was there clear, mutual intent from both of you? You weren’t drunk or anything?”

It was natural for Kijung to wonder if it was an accidental mistake due to alcohol.

How long had Leeha and Ram Hwayeon known each other?

How many times had they actually met, and if you count the time they spent together in Middle Earth, how much time had passed?

It’s no wonder it felt surprising and unbelievable that their relationship had progressed to this point now.

Understanding Kijung’s shock, Leeha nodded, feeling a bit guilty for his own obliviousness.

“Yeah. It was definite, and we weren’t drunk. Hmm… She’s not the type to get drunk off just a glass or two of wine, right?”

“That’s… true. Yeah, yeah. Ram―ahem! She’s not like that at all.”

Kijung quickly corrected himself, nearly saying “Ram Hwayeon isn’t that kind of woman”.

He truly was Leeha’s perceptive cousin.

Kijung filled his cup with water and took a big gulp, before looking at Leeha again.

“So? So, what now, hyung?”

With the mischievous glint of a child wanting to play a prank, Kijung’s eyes sparkled. Leeha sighed as he looked at him.

“Well… that’s what I wanted to ask. What should I do now? What should I do next?”

“What? How should I know? You have to figure that out, hyung! Have you tried whispering to her? Or maybe meet up with her! Isn’t she online now?”

Leeha nodded.

He had already opened and closed the friend window multiple times.

Leeha had seen that Ram Hwayeon was logged in, and he believed Ram Hwayeon must have seen him logged in too.

Yet, neither of them had sent a whisper first.

Kijung shook his head as he looked at Leeha.

“Just do it. Whisper to her, like ‘Hwayeon~ Good morning!’ or something―”

“Hey―How could I do something like that!”

When Kijung mimicked Leeha’s voice playfully, Leeha jumped in his chair.

Kijung sneered and continued to chuckle.

“Ha ha ha, what’s the big deal? You’ve already done, you know, more than that.”

“Ahem! Anyway… well. Just know that, for now.”

“Got it, hyung. Good thing I hinted to Aunt last year, in advance.”

“What?”

“That there might be a Hong Kong daughter-in-law―”

“Shh, shh! What the―if someone hears―!”

“―Why? Now that you’re officially lovers, you can say stuff like that.”

When Kijung nonchalantly spoke with a serious expression, Leeha was left speechless.

The best he could do was, after all, counterattack.

“So then, what about you? Are you going to marry Bobae?”

“I met Bobae’s mother recently. I’m still a student, so it was just a greeting.”

The best tank in Middle Earth knew how to use ‘tanking angles’ even in conversations.

When Leeha stood there with his mouth agape, unable to say anything, Kijung began to gather his items and stood up.

Just then, Raphaela entered the tavern.

“Master Kay! Hurry up! Everyone’s gathered already, what are you doing here?”

“Got it! Hyung, I’m off then!”

“Hey— you— with that— Raphaela—”

Leeha’s words were tangled and came out in fragments, but Kijung shrugged and landed a parting shot at his cousin.

“Not all conversations with women are romantic. It’s just business, business. Thinking like that narrows your world. See you later, hyung!”

Kijung disappeared with the wind.

Leeha remained dazed, sitting alone in the tavern.

‘Wasn’t he a complete novice just a while ago…?’

Does love change a person? However, Leeha couldn’t think about it any longer. He had more pressing matters at hand.

Of all the things Kijung said, only one stuck in his mind.

What should he say to Ram Hwayeon? After agonizing over this for two hours at the tavern, Leeha finally got up.

‘Does it even matter what I say? Anyway, she’s a female friend!’

There were more tasks to be done in Middle Earth.

Leeha whispered to two people at the same time.

—Hwayeon-ah.

He abruptly called his girlfriend by her name, with the murmured voice of the world’s most bashful guy.

—Prea? Haven’t heard from you lately… What have you been up to?

The other person was a white-eyed Spiritualist.

Since his ‘short-term goal’ was already set, the person he needed to find was clear.

And the clarity in his voice addressing this concise target was remarkably different from the voice that had just called out to Ram Hwayeon.

—Oh my, Ha Leeha~? Long time no see? I heard you were busy lately.

—I’ve been busy finding out about the ‘new spirit.’

—A new… spirit? Oh, what a joke! What kind of spirit could it be for you to say that? Do you think there’s a spirit I don’t know of?

Ram Hwayeon didn’t reply. Only Prea’s banter came back.

Given that she had successfully conquered the Dark Spirit, it was possible she had obtained another dark-attribute spirit.

But Ha Leeha believed that, at least for this spirit, she wouldn’t know.

—Oh, really? If you know everything about spirits, you must know about the 《Spirit of Wrath》 too! I was thinking of going since I don’t know much either… but if you’re not interested—

—Where! Where is it!?

It took less than a second for Prea’s voice to change. Grinning broadly, Leeha took out a crystal ball.

To extract information?

He needed to make the opponent entirely submissive. Leeha knew exactly what would achieve this.

—Come to the far western city of Minis. Within 5 minutes.

—Far west? Either a castle or a city name at least—

—Five minutes.

It was a ‘wild goose chase.’

Leeha activated the crystal ball right away.

Without revealing his location, Prea would need to work her wits and intuition to reach this place.

‘Alright, let’s organize stats in the meantime. Character screen!’

Name: Ha Leeha / Race: Human

Occupation: White Reaper / Level: 264 (15.3%)

Title: Shadow Hitman / Achievements: 180

HP: 11,820 (8,274)

MP: 6,570

Stats:

Strength 912 (+827)

Agility 4,796 (+1,666)

Intelligence 690 (+474)

Stamina 464 (+338)

Spirit 530 (+206)

Remaining Stat Points: 197

* * *

“Hmm, come to think of it, after I achieved the R- rank accomplishment and completed the quests in Saur Land, I never allocated my points.”

Since the last intense battle with Chiyou, Leeha had not encountered any combat worthy of mention. Despite expending so many points at that time, he had since accumulated nearly 200 stat points.

‘While others fight tooth and nail for just 5 points, I somehow keep accumulating them… R- rank is indeed different.’

With this in mind, Leeha began to carefully examine his stats.

What was the most urgent need considering future battles?

‘To increase MP, spirit points are important, but unless I’m fully capable of firing White Reaper, having 100,000 MP won’t even make a difference. In the end, do I have to raise agility?’

To exert the same power as the previous White Reaper, Shimo, Leeha needed to use Snow Storm to create a snowfall, then shoot White Reaper into it, creating an endless laser inferno.

But what about Leeha’s White Reaper?

Every time a laser split upon hitting a single snowflake, Leeha’s mana consumption would increase by 1,000.

With only 6,000 MP, he could barely create four laser splits.

‘What an insanely powerful skill that I can only fire once each time!’

It was an unavoidable situation.

The restriction on White Reaper could only be lifted once the rifle fully acknowledged him, which meant achieving a 100% charge rate with the rifle, Black Bass.

How could he reach a 100% charge rate?

‘Should I kill off all the Ezwene users?’

If he wore a mask and killed with one shot, one kill, they wouldn’t even know who the attacker was.

Of course, in Middle Earth, just hiding one’s face wouldn’t resolve everything. Middle Earth had a system in place.

‘The chaotic value will skyrocket… well, if it can fill up to 25%, I’d be willing to do it. Killing 100 to 200 people—what’s there to be afraid of?’

Leeha knew better than anyone that Middle Earth wouldn’t make things so easy. Even if he killed priests and sisters over level 200, the charge rate of Black Bass would barely increase by two decimal points.

‘Wouldn’t it only fill about 0.01%? Plus, if this crazy thing doesn’t recognize repeat users—’

To fill the 25% charge rate, he would have to kill at least 2,500 users who were priests or had similar classes above level 200.

Ezwen’s kingdom would likely put a bounty on Leeha’s head or impose life imprisonment in the papal underground prison, making his situation truly dire.

‘And I’d lose all my rapport with the pope… what a mess.’

Leeha fiddled with Black Bass, half worried and half restless. As he clicked the bolt, Black Bass spoke to him.

― Heh heh… if it’s that Holy Knight you met earlier, I could generously count 3% for that. ―

“What?”

― A cardinal-level divine power, the reputation of a nameless paladin, and the prestige of a Holy Knight. He was a rare human. Usually, a cardinal wouldn’t even make up 0.1%, but he’s different. ―

Leeha, boiling with anger but also shuddering at the remark about a typical cardinal being worth 0.1%, turned his focus back to the rifle.

“Are you kidding me, black? That guy’s my cousin!”

― Heh heh… contractor, I merely propose. I show you the quickest and easiest path. ―

When Leeha raised his voice in anger, Black Bass let out a ‘chuunibyou’ style laugh.

Leeha was more dumbfounded than ever.

‘Seriously insane. Elizabeth had a reason for saying she couldn’t name this thing after herself.’

However, one thing was clear.

Black Bass wasn’t lying. At the very least, it served as a guide for Leeha.

‘It was the same in Saur Land.’

If he had killed Saur Land’s king, he could have filled 100%.

But was that ever a viable option? This proposal was no different. If he killed Kijung and slaughtered all the cardinals?

Turning Ezwen’s kingdom into a near-anarchy might fill 15%. Killing the pope could result in 25%.

‘It’s insane. Black’s proposal is the quickest and easiest, but…’

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