I Got A Legendary Sniper Rifle - Chapter 128
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————
Episode 128
Ep. 128
Seeing this, I reluctantly stepped forward to comfort Deokhuun.
“No, no. There’s no need to cry like this….”
I didn’t know exactly why he was crying, but it seemed I should offer some comfort regardless.
Yet at my words, Deokhuun burst into tears without exaggeration—wailing loudly.
“I’m no longer of any use to you, sir——! Waahhh——!!!”
“That’s not what I meant….”
I felt like I’d seen this scene somewhere before.
Right, when I first obtained Jia and cleared a floor.
Jia had cried just like this, saying she was no longer useful.
Yet I had never cast Jia aside.
So Deokhuun too….
‘But isn’t it true that he’s not useful? No, that’s not what I mean.’
I dismissed the cruel thought that had crossed my mind and comforted Deokhuun with even greater effort.
“It’s probably because I used the Auction House for the first time that things got particularly heated. It won’t be like this next time… Besides, I have no intention of ending our dealings with you, so please be at ease.”
“Is that truly so?”
“Of course.”
“You’re earning fifty million won from a single goblin bone, yet you’re really giving byproducts to someone as insignificant as me?”
“Well, that’s somewhat true. But still—.”
“Look at this!!! Waahhh——!!!”
Deokhuun wept most pitifully indeed.
In any case, my words about maintaining our relationship with Deokhuun were true.
‘Once or twice would be fine, but if this keeps repeating, it could actually cause serious problems.’
The Auction House aggro should only be used once or twice when absolutely necessary.
I had now clearly felt the phenomenon that the name One Strike brought about.
If I sold all the byproducts obtained from the Tower in this manner, it was inevitable that envy and jealousy would follow, and it was obvious what kind of economic chaos would ensue.
Where did One Strike’s overwhelming favorability originate?
It was because the image of an overwhelmingly powerful being who helped people purely, without greed or desire for fame, had naturally formed in people’s minds.
But the Auction House was fundamentally a system opposed to that.
It meant I shouldn’t use it indiscriminately.
Rather.
“First, I have something to tell you, so please calm down and sit.”
“Waahhh——”
“I have something to tell you….”
“Uhhhhh——!!!”
“Sit.”
“Yes, sir.”
If he was going to sit anyway, he should have done it from the start.
I clicked my tongue as I watched Deokhuun take his seat, tears still streaming down his face.
For someone who claims to be the son of a man of considerable influence, he’s remarkably fragile.
Though Deokhuun appeared pathetic for the first time, meeting him had solidified my resolve.
“I’ve now decided on the direction I need to move forward.”
“The direction you need to move forward…?”
Deokhuun asked while wiping his tears with what appeared to be a rather expensive handkerchief.
From our first meeting and even in subsequent transactions, he’d dressed quite ordinarily, so it seemed he’d intended to reveal his family circumstances from the very beginning.
“I plan to gradually reveal the person known as Ilgyeok to the world.”
“Huh!”
Deokhuun was startled by my declaration.
And for good reason—Ilgyeok was practically synonymous with mystique.
Ilgyeok had cleared every floor up to the 70th with S+ ratings, and even achieved a new EX grade in between, yet revealed no information whatsoever.
Of course, there were instances where I appeared before people on the public floors, but that was always as Jia.
The government and major guilds, knowing that Jia had once introduced herself as Ilgyeok’s representative, recognized that Ilgyeok hadn’t revealed their true identity.
They simply kept it classified to avoid causing greater chaos.
Deokhuun, like most people, didn’t believe Jia was Ilgyeok.
And that became fact when I revealed it directly.
But did my declaration mean that Ilgyeok myself would step forward directly?
“I won’t take the front stage unless there’s a special reason to do so.”
“Ah… I see.”
Deokhuun nodded.
It seemed it wasn’t quite at that level.
I continued speaking.
“However, with this team formation as an opportunity, I plan to reveal my representative. You may not know this, but I already have a representative.”
“Yes, the black armored warrior who appeared on the public floor.”
I nodded in affirmation.
“That person will handle the representative role within the tower, and it seems I’ve found someone to handle external affairs as well.”
“Found someone?”
“Isn’t that you, Deokhuun?”
!!!!
Deokhuun’s eyes widened to the size of saucers at my words.
In other words, I—Ilgyeok—was saying I would make him my representative outside the tower.
‘His background is solid, and as the son of the Tower Industry Alliance chairman, he has strong backing, so he won’t be swept away even if external pressure comes. Plus, he doesn’t seem like the type to betray me.’
In my assessment, he was well-suited for the role in many ways.
Jia and Elsie aside, I myself recognized that I was still naive about how the world worked.
I was young, and my only social experience was in the military, so if seasoned people came at me with intent, I’d clearly fail to respond properly.
Deokhuun, on the other hand, despite being younger than me, had considerable experience in these matters and connections, so there would be no major problems.
Besides, even if he betrayed me, what could he possibly do?
If I were Deokhuun, I would never betray Ilgyeok, no matter what.
Why?
Because I’d have to spend my entire life gripped by the anxiety of not knowing when I’d die every time I stepped outside my home.
Considering Ihyeon’s abilities, even within the confines of a home, he would be more than capable….
In any case, Ihyeon’s prediction wasn’t far off the mark.
Deokhuun rose from his seat once more and bowed deeply to Ihyeon with a shout.
“Please leave it to me! I shall become your hands, feet, and voice with utmost sincerity!”
Watching him like this, it seemed he wouldn’t betray even if a blade were pressed to his throat.
Ihyeon, sensing his own judgment was correct, let out a soft chuckle and spoke.
“Yes, I look forward to working with you as well. Now, allow me to introduce my team members.”
“Ah, are they nearby?”
“Just in case. I apologize if that made you uncomfortable.”
“Not at all—it was only natural, or rather, you handled it perfectly. I’m honored, truly.”
Ihyeon sent a message through the chat, summoning Jia and Elsie into the room.
The two arrived shortly after.
“…How much ice cream did you two order?”
“We didn’t order much! Seriously!”
Jia was naturally composed, but Elsie had vanilla ice cream smeared generously around her mouth.
When Ihyeon asked with a skeptical gaze, Elsie licked around her mouth with her tongue and then shamelessly lied.
The receipt would expose everything later anyway.
Meanwhile, Deokhuun, seeing the two newcomers, asked with an intrigued expression.
“Are these your…?”
“Yes.”
“I presume this one must be the Black Armored Warrior.”
“I’m Jia.”
“And this little lady is….”
“The Legendary Sword Elsie!”
“Is she perhaps your daughter?”
“The Legendary Sword Elsie!”
Ihyeon, observing Deokhuun’s complete bewilderment and Elsie’s apparent lack of interest in clarifying, explained on their behalf.
Upon hearing about the existence of an S+ rank item, Deokhuun let out an exclamation.
“Wow! I had no idea such things existed! Now it makes sense. You truly are remarkable.”
“Have you perhaps heard of them before?”
The reason Ihyeon mentioned S+ items to Deokhuun was straightforward.
Given his connections with the Tower Industry Alliance, I wondered if he might know more about top-tier items not disclosed to the general public.
However, Deokhuun shook his head.
“No, despite my position, I’ve seen S rank items—even undisclosed ones—several times, but S+ is truly my first encounter. I’ve never even heard rumors of such a thing. There must be a reason you chose them as your proxies.”
“Yes, they are colleagues I consider almost as one body with myself.”
“Hehe, oh stop it~”
At Ihyeon’s words, Jia and Elsie wore embarrassed expressions.
Deokhuun seemed to understand why Ihyeon wanted him as a proxy.
“It would be rather difficult for them to operate as proxies in society. Their adaptation isn’t quite complete yet.”
“That’s correct.”
“If that’s the case, you’ve thought this through remarkably well. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to me whenever you need anything in the future.”
Deokhuun, speaking those words, truly inspired confidence.
Though I’d need to conduct several more transactions before I could make a final judgment.
Then Deokhuun showed me a photograph and business card of someone while speaking.
“This person serves as my secretary of sorts. I didn’t bring them today in case it might be inconvenient for you, but if you can’t reach me, please contact me through them.”
“I’ll remember that.”
Deokhuun then mentioned that since he was someone who knew quite a few influential people, it would be better if we didn’t meet too frequently for the time being.
Ihyeon agreed as well.
If meetings with Deokhuun, who turned out to be far more significant than I’d initially thought, became frequent, then whether I liked it or not, attention would inevitably turn toward me as well.
In any case, the conversation, which had gone on longer than expected, ended here.
Ihyeon and Deokhuun began wrapping up their discussion.
“I should head back and resume my studies.”
“Your studies?”
“Yes, if I’m to assist you going forward, I need to work much harder. It’s been a while since I felt this kind of passion burning!”
Deokhuun was brimming with enthusiasm.
But before leaving, he added one piece of advice.
“And when I think of your greatness, I wonder if I alone might not be sufficient… We should definitely discuss this further as time goes on.”
Ihyeon responded as if to say there was no need to worry.
“I’ve already given this some thought.”
“Thought about it? Ah! Could it be…?”
Ihyeon tilted his head, surprised at how naturally Deokhuun seemed to have figured it out.
‘Does he know what I was thinking?’
Even with considerable ability, that shouldn’t be easy.
Deokhuun smiled meaningfully and spoke.
“The One-Strike Service Corps! Did you really establish it with this plan in mind from the beginning?”
“…No.”
Ihyeon slightly regretted that he’d perhaps overestimated Deokhuun.
The One-Strike Service Corps, what was he talking about?
‘Wait, did I even create it?’
Perhaps Deokhuun’s intuition was truly sharp after all.
It wasn’t an organization I had personally conceived, but regardless, it was true that I was connected to the origins of the One-Strike Service Corps’ founding.
“Ah, that’s unfortunate. I was actually considering joining myself. In any case, please contact me whenever there’s progress!”
Deokhuun laughed heartily and said he’d cover the bill for what the spirits had eaten as well, then left the room.
Now only Ihyeon, Jia, and Elsie remained in the cozy room.
“What do you think of him?”
“He seems quite loyal to you, Master. He appears to have considerable ability as well.”
Jia’s assessment didn’t differ greatly from my own judgment.
A person who would prove to be of great help to me going forward.
And Elsie also chimed in.
“Me too! Me too!”
“That’s right, Elsie. You tell him.”
“Why does he call you ‘hyung’ when he’s older than you? Does the word mean something different here?”
“…He’s younger than me.”
“Huh???”
Elsie, with her innocent face framed by lustrous crimson hair, looked almost like pure mischief incarnate.
It was remarkable how casually she spoke of something that would have made Deokhuun quite melancholy if he’d heard it.
Elsie seemed quite surprised, but then nodded, deciding he seemed like a decent person after all.
And around that time, Deokhuun at the counter was processing the payment.
“Excuse me? How much?”
“Yes, that’s two coffees in the private room and ten ice creams in the hall, for a total of 400,000 won. Let me process that for you.”
“???”
He was astounded by the spirits’ considerable love for ice cream.
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————