Arcane Sniper

The video of Shimo brought a wave of nostalgia, but the greater joy came from these words. What significance did it hold that Shimo had left such words?

“Heh, indeed. It’s something that would have been unimaginable without the mana supplier.”

Leeha, chuckling to himself, responded to Shimo’s words.

This implied that even Middle Earth’s system hadn’t anticipated being played in such a manner.

『Now that you can handle “White Reaper” freely and have been fully recognized by your rifle, you can truly operate as the White Reaper. I do not know when my record will be replayed, but I only hope it is not long after our parting.』

“Unfortunately, I’m not quite there yet. To be recognized by this guy—”

—Keh keh… You will have to achieve a 100% charge rate. Kill all humans who serve Ahlo. Then it will be possible.—

“—It says things like that. But there’s no need to kill the priests. No, there’s no need to kill them.”

Leeha let out a sigh, his expression changing rapidly as he acknowledged Black Bass’s words.

Why was he logging in right now? The management of Gaza City was important, but he must not forget the most crucial thing!

“Well, it’s been impossible so far. Black?”

—Have you finally decided to pull the trigger?—

“No, no. I’m just asking in case. What you want is definitely ‘blood,’ right?”

—You’re still asking such things… I want the blood of a god. To slurp, suck, and completely absorb its divine blood!—

“Alright, chuunibyo. You’ve confirmed it’s blood. If you go back on your words later, I’m really going to melt you down.”

Black Bass’s bolt made a clanking metallic noise, as if not understanding what Leeha was saying.

Leeha merely laughed. Talking about it now was of no use anyway.

‘Hurry up, Kijung!’

All Leeha could do was pray that Kijung would log in as soon as possible.

『As the true White Reaper… You probably want to take another step forward. And the answer… You probably already know where it is.』

“Yes, I do.”

If another step to aspire as the “White Reaper” existed, there was only one path.

Simultaneously with Shimo, Leeha uttered the same words.

『Arcane Sniper』.”

『At the peak of all snipers, you will surely reach that place. Though I cannot directly bolster your journey… I will pray here. For the name of the White Reaper to spread wide, and for you to eventually obtain what you desire.』

“Thank you.”

Leeha watched the hologram of Shimo. The hologram began to fade, as if it had conveyed all its messages.

The image of Shimo, Leeha’s third mentor who taught him another trick of sniping, disappeared just like that.

“Arcane Sniper…”

Leeha sank into his chair, contemplating the term.

《Arcane Sniper》. It was never a lightweight term whenever he heard it, but now it weighed even heavier on Leeha.

‘Bahamut…’

For one of the most trustworthy entities within Middle Earth had been killed.

And that entity had thought of him, delivering information until its dying moment.

Shimo wasn’t the only one to leave a final message. Bahamut, through Kurpke, managed to relay information related to Arcane Sniper to Leeha.

* * *

“Kurpke!”

Just as Kurpke was about to convey a message to Leeha, Zelreja shouted while closing the distance.

Her loud voice filled Bahamut’s lair, making even Leeha flinch, but Kurpke looked at her without flinching.

“What is it, Zelreja?”

“Did Lord really leave a message for a human like this? Despite Bailephus being there! With his partner being there! To Blaugrunn’s… partner? Such a weakling?”

Kurpke nodded as he watched the Steel Dragon breathe heavily with pent-up rage.

Zelreja looked back and forth between Blaugrunn and Leeha with a face full of incomprehension.

“Blaugrunn!”

“Yes, yes?”

“Do you really—truly believe in your partner, this human…? Does he possess such power? You of all know best!”

“Well, um…”

Even Blaugrunn, usually fearless, was immobilized by her voice. Kurpke did not intervene.

And Leeha understood why Kurpke allowed Zelreja to act as she did.

“This is information that the Lord exchanged his life for! I can’t entrust it to a human without potential.”

Zelreja wasn’t angry; she was saddened.

Though often irritable, she had been a dragon who followed Bahamut the best. Even if she disliked educating Blaugrunn, she had executed Bahamut’s orders without hesitation.

Leeha saw Blaugrunn’s once-conflicted expression gradually stabilize.

At a glance, it resembled a rigidly hardening face, but what Blaugrunn held in his eyes was not anger.

“Yes. Ha Leeha-nim indeed holds such power.”

The confidence infused calmness, synonymous with trust.

“What?”

Blaugrunn met Leeha’s gaze before looking back at Zelreja.

“I understand why you, who respects the Lord’s judgment above all, ask such questions. So, I hope you trust us. Ha Leeha-nim has… the skills Bahamut entrusted with confidence.”

“Hmm—”

“Zelreja, you already know this, don’t you? Although I’m also saddened… now that the Lord has passed, and since he left the information with Ha Leeha-nim, we can’t just keep grieving forever.”

Blaugrunn spoke calmly and a bit slowly. Leeha saw his past, or perhaps it was his future.

Blaugrunn was no longer a juvenile dragon but was akin to his adult dragon self, calm, gentle, and scholarly, wearing a bright smile on his long-haired youthful face.

‘If he were only a bit taller—Hm, he’s practically the same as back then, truly adult-class—’

“You!”

“Yes, yes?”

Zelreja shouted as she looked at Leeha, making him flinch and grip Black Bass tightly.

“Don’t answer so absentmindedly! Because I trust the Lord, and because the Lord chose this human, I’ll let it go for now. But… if you disappoint me—or do not meet the Lord’s expectations—you better be prepared. Even if you are Blaugrunn’s partner, I won’t forgive you.”

Zelreja exhaled sharply through her nose. Leeha watched her with a nod.

With Blaugrunn taking such a stance, Leeha felt no need to get angry.

Moreover, even as a human, the fact that the long and sharp dragon tail peeked from her behind was evidence enough.

Arguing with an overly excited being who couldn’t maintain their polymorph was pointless.

In this moment, Leeha exchanged a glance with Blaugrunn, both of them nodding.

“Of course. Even if I must risk my life… I will fulfill the mission the Lord entrusted to me.”

Zelreja finally began to steady her breathing. As she turned towards Bailephus, Leeha heard a voice in his mind.

—Even though she says that, she will be the first to come if you ask for help.

—Yeah, yeah. I know. Despite her personality, she’s very loyal.

—I thought she’d be angrier. That’s a relief, isn’t it?

—What, Blaugrunn? Underestimating me? Although I haven’t been in society for long, I’ve seen my fair share!

—Huh? A fair share?

Leeha and Blaugrunn laughed simultaneously. Of course, it was a silent laugh to avoid provoking Zelreja.

In Bahamut’s lair, where the atmosphere was steeped in gloom due to the gathering of Metal Dragons over Bahamut’s death, a ray of hope was beginning to grow.

“Then, the Lord’s message…”

“Yes.”

Kurpke lightly waved his hand. To avoid any misinterpretation, he used the same messaging magic that Bahamut had once used on him, directly on Leeha.

Finally, Bahamut’s voice began to resonate within Leeha’s mind.

“Ah…”

The message was brief. Yet, it was profound.

『Kurpke, Blaugrunn has a partner. It’s Ha Leeha.』

『I know as well, hyungnim.』

『Relay this to the child. Arcane Sniper is… currently being consumed. The poor child doesn’t seem to realize he is being consumed. When the consumption ends, he will go berserk… Zamiel is likely waiting for this opportunity.』

Bahamut’s voice was extremely rough. It was completely different from the playful old man’s voice that one usually heard. Leeha felt his heart pounding somehow.

『Should I convey it exactly as is? Though I don’t understand it at all… Will he understand it?』

『He will understand. Huh, huh… I’m sorry.』

『There’s nothing to apologize for, hyungnim. If anything, we are the ones who should feel sorry.』

How must Kurpke have felt, having to listen to Bahamut continue with labored breathing and a hoarse voice?

Even the voice of the Ancient Copper Dragon, who now forewent the title of ‘Lord’ and called Bahamut ‘hyungnim,’ was trembling with unease.

Bahamut’s breaths were becoming gradually more infrequent.

『Leaving my burden behind…』

『Rest in peace, and return to tranquility, hyungnim. I will… soon follow.』

『Kek, you still have 5,000 more years of work to do… uh!』

『Hyungnim, hyungnim! Hyungnim!』

With Kurpke’s cry, the opportunity for Leeha to hear Bahamut’s voice vanished.

Leeha envisioned Bahamut’s death, picturing the solitary platinum dragon, with its dragon heart destroyed by Arcane Bullet, lying desolate.

Upon rising from the Middle Earth connection device, Leeha could see the tear streaks on his own face.

* * *

Thinking back to that time made the tip of Leeha’s nose tingle, and he tapped his cheek lightly.

‘Being consumed must be Zamiel’s doing. Moreover, it means Kyle doesn’t know about it.’

Bahamut would have realized it immediately upon being struck by Arcane Bullet. What was Kyle’s current state?

Even the mention of the previously unfamiliar name ‘Zamiel’ indicated the gravity of the situation.

It was one of the concerns Leeha had since leaving Saur Land.

A being who became Arcane Sniper even in the fetal stage.

It must have been something none of the previous Arcane Sniper ever experienced.

Moreover, wasn’t Kyle’s original self, his individuality, practically in a state of suspended cognition because of Kaztor?

In the moment of breaking Kaztor’s curse, did Zamiel’s soul, which had influenced Kyle for a long time, fully merge into him?

‘Does that mean they are becoming one? Then, once the process is complete, will it no longer be Kyle, nor Zamiel, but something else entirely?’

And when Arcane Bullet struck his body, did Bahamut perhaps engage in some form of conversation with Zamiel or perceive some unique presence?

“Hmm… I might not know the precise mechanism, but it probably feels something like this.”