Arcane Sniper

Chapter 967

“Kek, I saw it too. The title was ‘A Bug in Middle Earth Has Appeared’, right?”

“I was watching when you were aiming at Pyrot-Cocri, and I was as shocked as you can imagine! It’s strange if players aren’t surprised after witnessing something on a whole different level…”

Listening to Kijung, Leeha simply chuckled lightly.

The players who had only faced the “White Reaper” within the game were already perceiving it more as a bug than a skill.

Of course, that was right after the war ended. Once the “bug” was identified as a skill and stories of who used that skill started spreading in the community, it firmly established itself as the skill used by the “White Reaper, Ha Leeha.”

Many regular players were mobilized to infuse mana into the special mana supply device.

Expecting nothing to be said from them, after receiving their help, was a vain hope.

In short, the reason Leeha refused interviews was simple.

Even though internet videos were already circulating, and communities were practically exploding with it, he had no intention of further exposing his real-world identity.

In Middle Earth, there were many allies, but there were just as many enemies.

Considering the state of “Chiyou”, as GM mentioned at one point?

‘With Chiyou’s personality, she would enjoy competing within the game… However, the worst-case scenario must also be considered.’

That she still had a following at this point indicated that she possessed a certain degree of influence in reality as well.

While she might not rival someone like Ram Hwayeon, the fact that Chiyou could be involved with ‘real-world violence’ meant exposing his face and location would be disadvantageous.

A sharpshooter known to everyone is another way of saying ‘a soldier on the brink of death.’

“Kre, anyway! It’s a shame. Despite your achievements, hyung isn’t on TV, while others get the spotlight… I mean, shouldn’t they at least recommend me?”

“Hehe, do you think they’d call you, Kijung? There’s a video among the latest internet updates showing Ghibrid fighting with you and Luger, but it’s not nearly as popular.”

The number one view count on YouTube regarding the Tiamat battle was, unsurprisingly, Leeha’s “White Reaper”.

‘There were still people who didn’t believe it… But I accidentally became more famous than the ‘Dragon Slayer, Lark’.’

Some players mistakenly thought that skill had killed Tiamat.

However, whether this was fortunate or unfortunate, those who needed to know knew.

The second most-watched video depicted Lark plunging his sword into Tiamat, absorbing colorful auroras into his blade!

This video was just as popular as Leeha’s.

And what about the third place?

It was a fierce competition between the scenes of Alexander and Bailephus blocking Tiamat’s Breath in “Fusion” mode, and Kidd—Ram Hwajung’s ‘Igor—Pyro Chimera’ hunt.

Despite the intense battles of metal dragons and chromatic dragons, the ‘Giant Armored Vehicle’ of Karelin and the giants, and Pei Wu’s defense line with the Yellow Dragon Chimera, Kijung was out of the broadcast spotlight because there wasn’t any footage of him.

“I’m so mad! My footage is set at the ‘Dinosaurization’ angle, so it’s tricky to release… Didn’t Luger record it, too? Why isn’t he releasing it? He’s such a jerk.”

“Hey, do you think Luger would release it? They say he tore Ghibrid’s body apart with that incredible bullet. Given his personality, he wouldn’t release a video beneficial to someone else.”

“Aye… but I was the one who blocked the entire Chimera defense line at the start of the war.”

Kijung grumbled, lying down in frustration.

Meanwhile, Alexander was still having a conversation with the MC on TV. When the host couldn’t get the desired response about ‘Dragon Domination by Users,’ he shifted the topic.

『Then, what do you think about the Phases? Middle Earth always provided players with the joy of puzzles through cryptic phrases.』

“Oh! Right, Phase 4. What do you think, hyung? We never clearly interpreted even the Phase 3 phrases.”

Kijung sat up abruptly, fixing his gaze on the screen.

Leeha had already confirmed the phrases on the official homepage. On the screen appeared the existing Phase 3 phrase.

『The end is not the end. Beyond the limit of 3.』

『Many assumed it signified surpassing the existing highest level of users, that is, level 300, didn’t they? However, Alexander had already surpassed Level 300 a long time ago… Hence, most speculated that it must have another meaning. What does it mean to say the third phase of this phrase has passed?』

At the host’s question, Alexander placed his chin on his hand and thought for a moment.

Kijung, watching him, said, “Even pretending to think looks handsome on him,” but it went unnoticed by Leeha.

After organizing his thoughts briefly, Alexander finally spoke up.

『Three things.』

『Excuse me?』

『It can be narrowed down to three. Middle Earth always poses multi-layered questions. The limit of three doesn’t just derive from the number 300 but signifies surpassing three conditions to get past the ‘end.’ It refers to three conditions at the juncture where we thought of as the ‘end’.』

『A new hypothesis, indeed. Then what are those three? Three users above Level 300? Or three users with second class changes?』

The host, appearing as if he had found a clue, asked Alexander for an answer eagerly.

Hearing the host’s words, Alexander shook his head.

『That’s not possible. Both Level 300 and the second class change were revealed during Phase 2. Knowing they weren’t the ‘end’, they cannot be it.』

『Then…?』

『There were things we thought of as the end concerning weapons or achievements.』

『Weapons or achievements―Ah, right! Everyone thought ‘legend’ was the ultimate for items, and ‘S+’ was the ultimate for achievements. Then―.』

With the host’s eyes widening, Alexander nodded in agreement.

『The emergence of three or more mythical-grade items and the emergence of three or more R- rank achievements. It’s possible that it’s either one or both of those.』

“Wow!? That’s right! Hyung has already received one R- rank, first of all! But… that was just recently. Could there already be two R- rank achievements?”

“They might have emerged.”

Leeha nodded while listening to Alexander’s hypothesis. It was a premise they had also considered.

Three users surpassing Level 300? More than three users with a second class change?

Surely, they’d heard from the GM that mere numbers like that couldn’t clear Phase 3. Thus, the conditions to clear Phase 3 must lie elsewhere.

“Hmm? Who?”

『R- rank achievement! It’s known that a user with an interesting job title ‘White Reaper’, Ha Leeha, was the first to achieve this! The video from the recent Tiamat war was truly astonishing. However, it’s not been long since Ha Leeha acquired the R- rank achievement. Could another user have surfaced already?』

Kijung and the host asked simultaneously.

Leeha and Alexander answered simultaneously.

“Lark.”

『The Rainbow Knight and Dragon Slayer.』

“Oh! Right! After killing Tiamat―.”

『―The sight of those subtle rainbow colors flowing across the sky like a river was indeed impressive, wasn’t it? It would be wonderful to hear directly from Lark, but let’s arrange that opportunity for another time.』

Though incomplete, everyone had already witnessed Tiamat’s formidable power.

Moreover, hadn’t Leeha listened to Lark about the power of Lark’s sword and the conditions for killing Tiamat?

Approach directly, insert the sword, Use the skill.

Instructions so straightforward that courage seemed hard to muster. An R- rank wouldn’t have been granted to the user who accomplished that without reason.

『Then who is the other person?』

『”I don’t know.”』

Alexander replied sharply.

One was Leeha, one was Lark, and the other?

Several names floated through Alexander’s mind, but he quickly shook his head. However, the American talk show host was a professional.

He, without a hint of fluster, praised Alexander’s sense of humor with a smile.

『Great! Then let’s move on to the mythic grade items. Is it possible that Alexander-ssi already possesses any of them?』

Alexander quietly stared at the host.

The host swallowed dryly and forced an awkward smile.

Even if one attempted to skillfully manage a broadcast, once it reached a point of impending disaster, it was beyond the host’s control.

『Such things― you can’t talk about on-air, right? Yes, I understand. Then, you mentioned either a mythic grade or R- rank achievement; is there another condition or achievement you have in mind?』

『Yes. The limit of three signifies three things. At least one or two conditions remain.』

『Then what are the remaining conditions?』

“…… Peklo City.”

“Huh? Leeha-hyung?”

“One of the three. The complete resurrection of all three Demon King’s Fragments.”

An event that could never have occurred in Phase 2.

Due to Leeha’s incredibly rapid progression, the additional fragment was acknowledged as an unending event.

Knowing about Pyrot-Cocri’s resurrection, Kijung was no longer surprised. He simply frowned, instinctively sensing that the upcoming battles would be grueling.

Alexander spoke calmly.

『One is the complete resurrection of the Demon King’s Fragments. Specifically, that the Undead Queen, Pyrot-Cocri, has awakened.』

The host alternated glances between Alexander and the camera in astonishment.

It was rare to see the experienced host’s eyes roll like marbles.

『Py, Pyrot-Cocri, you say……』

『The third Demon King’s Fragment. She has awakened.』

The fact that Pyrot-Cocri had awakened in Peklo City had not yet been officially announced.

Only a select few users familiar with Chiyou and Arcane Sniper’s affairs, as well as the ‘Pope’s’ closest associates who could sense the Demon King’s Fragments, were informed.

Yet Alexander had abruptly revealed this in the broadcast.

『Th, that’s such―that fact―all of a sudden… Is it true? Speaking so suddenly like this―Alexander-ssi?』

Alexander suddenly stood up.

His action was so abrupt that the host couldn’t even react.

He walked toward the camera, which captured his upper body perfectly.

『And if there is another likely condition, it is the emergence of a third force. Everyone has been thinking only of the ‘Sacred Alliance’ and ‘Demon King’s Army,’ believing that was the ‘end.’ But we must be mindful that a third entity has emerged. The ‘Third Zone’, where three forces can compete in a three-way battle, which is a common method in Middle Earth.』

The host’s voice mumbled something, but it was no longer broadcast nor captured by the camera.

Only Alexander remained on the screen, watched by viewers worldwide.

He took a deep breath. Leeha also clenched his fist tightly.

The crucial aspect now was not the resurrection of Pyrot-Cocri but informing about the third force, the most threatening part of the upcoming battles, and urging the users to be cautious and gather information.

“Speak, Alexander-ssi.”

“Hyung? What were you talking about with Alexander?”

“For the battles ahead… something absolutely necessary.”

TL’s Corner:
Chiyou, Lark, and, for one reason or another, Leeha can be considered the three smartest/craftiest characters in the novel. Though Leeha is in the lower end of things as far as I’m concerned.