Arcane Sniper

Chapter 972

One unfortunate aspect was that Leeha had not fully realized as much as Bahamut had expected.

“So, what should I do? Is this about finding a way to undo that consumption?”

Leeha’s thoughts were constantly caught up in that direction. He felt a sense of apprehension about Alexander disclosing information about Kyle on the broadcast and preparing to assassinate him, which was in the same context.

Finding a way to save Kyle while also dealing with Zamiel.

In some sense, attempting to handle two completely opposing tasks simultaneously led to a continuous interruption in his stream of thought.

“Ah, my head hurts. I knew I didn’t have much time, but there’s no immediate solution. Sigh…”

Feeling somehow stifled, Leeha left his office. He hoped that taking a short walk outside the inner city, where the energy was bustling, might lift his spirits.

‘I’ve not heard from Blaugrunn either.’

Leeha wanted to inquire Blaugrunn about the situation of the metal dragons, but Blaugrunn was not in a stable condition either.

Ever since Bahamut went to his eternal rest, all the metal dragons, including Kurpke and Zelreja, had ceased their activities and secluded themselves in their lairs.

– I’m not feeling well. I’m sorry.

– Well, alright. Stay strong, and contact me when you’re feeling better.

– Yes, Ha Leeha…

Even when Leeha tried to visit, he only told him not to come because he wasn’t feeling well, completely cutting off any contact with the outside.

‘Still, Alexander seems to be meeting Bailephus. Is it somewhat different over there?’

Perhaps the awe of the ‘oldest dragon’ without Bahamut was making itself evident in such places.

Simply the fact that they could move without Bahamut being present… perhaps…

‘Is this heralding the birth of the next Platinum Dragon?’

Bailephus becoming Bahamut? Already ranked number one, and if he used the 〈Fusion〉 skill, he could withstand even Tiamat’s breath.

Did Bahamut not himself tank Tiamat’s breath? Did he not inflict serious injuries on Bluebeard?

What if all that power was concentrated in just one person?

“Crazy. Does that even make sense?”

“Oh, oh, oh! It’s a cheat! A cheat character!”

“Yeah, it’s literally a cheat character—huh?”

As Leeha walked out onto the street outside the fortress, he suddenly heard voices. What he had been thinking was that Alexander might become a cheat character, so why would others empathize with that thought?

Leeha, feeling a sudden chill, looked around.

The previously noisy atmosphere had vanished. What faced Leeha now were hundreds of eyes focused solely on him.

“Cheat character!”

“It’s Ha Leeha! It’s Ha Leeha, right?”

Alexander as a cheat character? At least, the users gathered here would not think that.

Who else is the real cheat character?

Who achieved the feat of being the number one in accumulated damage in the Tiamat battle?

Who owns the ‘glitch-like skill’ broadcast to the whole world?

“Wow! They said we could see him in Gaza City, and it’s true!”

“Please sign! Ha Leeha! Just one slot for a friend request! Friend point!”

“What was that skill you used then? Like a white beam! Was slicing the sky like a cake the skill of the 〈White Reaper〉?”

“You remember me, right? Back then! I was the twelfth mage behind Ram Hwajung! I gave you mana! You remember, right!?”

“Kyaa! It’s Ha Leeha! Ha Leeha! Please accept this! It’s a handkerchief with my heart!”

“I also have cookies I baked! It comes with an agility buff—take this, don’t shove, you idiot!”

“Wait, everyone! Please—ahhh!”

Leeha found himself in a situation where he could barely stand due to the surging crowd.

But it wasn’t just Leeha. The users were bustling about, pushing and shoving in their attempts to get even a step closer to him.

Even a celebrity walking through Myeong-dong without bodyguards wouldn’t face an ‘assault’ like this.

“How on earth did you become the top damage dealer?”

“Is there a way to hit Tiamat? Some enhancement buff?”

“There’s a rumor that Tiamat’s damage reward is about to be released. Did you hear anything about who might distribute the reward and what it could be?”

As he was pushed by the users, Leeha stepped back, retreating to the inner area. There were many questions he couldn’t answer even if he knew, and some he didn’t know at all.

The ranking of total damage against Tiamat.

There were numerous speculative posts online, yet even Alexander, who appeared on broadcasts, couldn’t easily answer this.

Had there been no mention at all, it might have been understandable, but hadn’t the system alarm clearly shown it? Therefore, a legitimate reward should undoubtedly exist.

However, the slaying of Tiamat had never been issued as a quest. No individual or faction had awarded it.

Who would be responsible for this?

The most logical assumption was that the “Sacred Alliance” was likely to oversee it. That speculation, which had spread like a rumor, was something Leeha had already heard.

With his feet getting trodden and recognized as PK(indicating Player Kill), Leeha had no energy left to respond.

“Everyone, please don’t push! I am now going to check that—I’m off to the New Continent!”

“Ooooh!”

As Leeha’s voice resonated, the users’ actions finally calmed down.

Had someone else said it, they might have sneered, asking what they were planning to do on the New Continent. However, at least the users gathered in Gaza City, who had become his fans, quickly speculated many things from just those words.

“Someone like Ha Leeha can have a showdown with Ewin!”

“When you find out—post an announcement!”

“When! When will you inform us?”

As they pressed him as if he were an administrator of Middle Earth, Leeha pondered for a moment.

As long as he was there, wouldn’t they always flock to Gaza City?

‘And lately… I heard the expenses were too high.’

Just buying and using the scrolls needed to come and go. Even buying just one dish in a tavern within Gaza City.

All of it contributed to the income of Gaza City.

If so?

“Ahem! I can’t say when you’ll find out, but I will post notifications as soon as I do. Those of you interested, please check back often.”

Couldn’t he just keep them tethered there?

“As expected, it’s Ha Leeha.”

“That’s right! Only someone who can handle Ewin can make this work. If we went, it wouldn’t hold any water.”

“Wow… but what might actually be the reward? They should definitely acknowledge the credit for killing the Chimera too, right?”

The users marveled at Leeha’s consideration.

While they murmured, unaware of his shrewd business mindset(?), Leeha tried to compose himself as stylishly as possible and pulled out a crystal ball.

“Then, register ‘Gaza City’ in your crystal balls!”

The ten seconds it took to teleport to the central part of the New Continent felt like the longest ten seconds in the world to Leeha.

He faced the hundreds of eyes fixed on him.

* * *

“Raise it higher! Fortify the defense! You didn’t think the Chimera couldn’t break through that much, did you!? Harhey! Stop procrastinating and strengthen the Paleos!”

“Kehihi, hihi, she’s a terrifying female!”

“Hey, members of Byulcho! Stop fooling around! Especially you, Hyein—how do you have time to rest? You should use Space Grab!”

“My mana… my mana’s depleted…”

“Just put on the M-Tic set I lent you! Quickly, quickly!”

“Oh… oh?! Ha Leeha!”

Hyein, looking like he was about to burst into tears, received the clothes from Ram Hwayeon and spotted Leeha.

Until now, Ram Hwayeon had been orchestrating everything, deploying all efforts including the Paleos, but her face relaxed instantly.

“Leeha!”

“Hwayeon-ah! Woah, what’s all this chaos?”

“It’s nothing much. I had to squeeze a bit out of the ‘Sacred Alliance’s’ budget. I thought we might need some defensive towers, even if they’re not a full barrier.”

Near the corrupted World Tree forest, several large stone towers were being erected. Leading the Paleos, Ram Hwayeon was displaying abilities superior to any male counterpart.

“The expression you had just a moment ago seems different, though?”

“What? What do you mean?”

“Hmm, I saw that video where Leeha was shooting at Tiamat. I clearly heard him call you ‘Hwayeon-ah’. At first, I thought it was a slip in haste, but… you just said it again.”

Hyein alternated his gaze between Leeha and Ram Hwayeon. Leeha, feeling unnecessarily embarrassed, avoided Hyein’s stare, and Ram Hwayeon’s face was flushed red.

Like two people caught doing something wrong, they appeared restless, and Hyein nodded knowingly.

“Both of you are competent, but bad at lying. Heehee! Ram Hwayeon! I’m going to take a break to recover some MP~”

“H-Hyein, you can’t rest—”

“Should I spill the beans then? About who and who are, you know, close~?”

Ram Hwayeon attempted to approach Hyein, who was humming a tune, but she couldn’t take any action.

“What do you mean! There’s nothing between—”

“Oh dear, why are you so defensive? Our relationship is like a sparkling cider~”

Despite his feigned indignation, he couldn’t overcome Hyein’s playful mischief.

Leeha found himself chuckling at Hyein’s remark all over again.

“Wow, compared to before, Hyein feels like a completely different person.”

“Hehe, what do you mean by that?”

“Oh, nothing.”

The former guild master of Byulcho, who had troubled Kijung in the past, was a Sage. Deceived by Sasuke under Chiyou’s command, he committed grave mistakes driven by greed.

What drove that intense struggle and desperation then?

‘That’s not what’s important—the present is.’

Like a scholar who blended a slight hint of mischief within his serious demeanor.

Hyein, perhaps sharing similar thoughts with Leeha, flashed a shy smile.

“Oh, human Leeha!”

“Leeha, Leeha!”

“Ha, it’s been a while. Everyone. You all worked very hard during the last battle.”

As Leeha, Hyein, and Ram Hwayeon created an animated atmosphere, the eyes of the surrounding Paleos focused on them.

The gorilla-like Paleos, always indispensable for any work, along with the boars, cows, and red goats, all turned their gaze towards Leeha.

Under their stare, Leeha felt somewhat awkward. He soon realized why they were unusually sparkling and smiling warmly.

“In the name of the guardian Aibex, we offer our gratitude to you.”

“We are the same. Hudid instructed us to surely show respect to Ha Leeha.”

“Why, why are you doing this, everyone?”

The red goat and black crane-like Paleos first bowed their heads toward Leeha.

Their unfamiliar tone, so different from their usual rough speech, left Leeha flustered. Then, an ugly monkey approached him, snickering.