I Got A Legendary Sniper Rifle - Chapter 194

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 194
Ep. 194
At Ihyeon’s composed request, Deokhuun tilted his head in confusion.
“Why are you asking that?”
“No… Brother, you’re not thinking something like you’ve been cheating too much and feel sorry toward the other Hunters, are you?”
When Ihyeon asked as if nothing was wrong, Deokhuun answered honestly that there was indeed a problem.
Whatever compensation a Hunter received, what did it matter?
It was something the Tower and the system gave of their own accord.
But using the Branding Skill on top of that?
That was entirely Ihyeon’s choice.
Wasn’t that the perfect way to invite not just the criticism and resentment of Hunters, but curses and malice?
“Mm.”
Ihyeon nodded, acknowledging that Deokhuun’s words made sense.
However, that didn’t mean he wouldn’t use the Branding Skill.
“Since I’m getting it anyway, I might as well squeeze out every last drop.”
Shiver—!
Deokhuun involuntarily trembled at Ihyeon’s truly terrifying words.
What a formidable person he truly was!
On the surface pretending to care for the sentiments of other Hunters, but inwardly a hypocrite of the highest order intent on draining everything to the marrow….
‘Ah, did I go too far with that?’
Whenever Deokhuun was around Ihyeon, he felt his own conscience narrowing without realizing it, and he shook his head vigorously.
In fact, Ihyeon’s words were absolutely right.
Whatever compensation one received, wasn’t it better to use it 100% if you were getting it anyway?
And Deokhuun was clearly bound to the same team as Ihyeon.
The stronger Ihyeon became, the more Deokhuun benefited from it.
Deokhuun said nothing more and immediately applied the Branding Skill to the Golem’s core.
Honestly, at this point he was quite curious about what kind of item would emerge.
Whoosh—!
The Branding Skill was applied quickly.
At S-rank, it consumed an enormous amount of mana, but one application was possible.
A brief shimmering light enveloped the core, and then it was complete.
Deokhuun wiped away the sweat flowing from tension and handed the core back to Ihyeon.
“Phew… I can’t do this. Brother, please check it once.”
Ihyeon nodded.
Then he opened the window to read the item’s changed description, but—
“?!”
“W-what is it?!”
As Ihyeon’s expression changed noticeably, Deokhuun grew alarmed and urged him on.
“W-what’s going on, Master?!”
“It’s….”
The Spirits’ bodies burned with the same fervor.
They had already witnessed firsthand the combination of the Branding skill and the power of my name.
What would happen if the target were an S-rank Golem?!
As the three of them gazed with sparkling eyes, I carefully read through the explanation word by word.
「One-Strike’s Complete Golem Core (S)
A complete Golem core obtained by an exceptionally talented Hunter.
This is the core needed when creating a Golem.
You can craft a Golem through various manufacturing methods.」
“There’s not much different about it, is there?”
“?”
Yet no matter how carefully I read it, there was nothing notably different from before.
A single line had been added stating that I obtained it, but it didn’t seem to carry any distinct effect.
Considering that even Lava Lava’s claw, which was merely a byproduct, had gained numerous descriptions, this was certainly strange.
Deokhuun and the Spirits, who had been brimming with anticipation, each wore expressions of disappointment.
Elsie pondered for a moment before offering a guess.
“Could it be that since the master could destroy it in one blow anyway, there’s no real change?”
“But the previous ones also….”
“Ah, right.”
It wasn’t a particularly insightful guess.
In any case, when people who didn’t know the answer put their heads together like this, no clear solution emerged.
“So what will you do now, brother?”
“I’ll just have to craft it and see.”
When you don’t know, confronting it head-on is the answer.
I gathered all the items as originally planned and left Deokhuun’s warehouse.
“Safe travels, brother! Please be sure to show me once everything is finished!”
“Don’t worry. Oh, and you’re really enjoying that car.”
“Hehe, your happiness is my happiness, brother.”
Deokhuun, as always, offered a charming farewell—or in other words, flattery—as he saw me off.
With all the materials gathered, the next step was Frontier.
「One-Strike: I’ve come to ask a favor. Would it be alright if I visited your hotel?
Cloud: Ah, no. We’ve relocated. The address is….」
Claude, who had stayed exclusively at the Road Hotel since arriving in Korea, had recently changed accommodations.
Staying at the hotel continuously proved burdensome for the hotel itself, given the enormous public attention directed at Claude.
The government also apparently deemed it inadvisable from a security standpoint, so they rented a private residence near Seoul for him.
In exchange, Frontier promised to participate as actively as possible in Gate and Instant Tower conquests whenever the government requested.
Since it was a proposal with no downside for either party, the conversation apparently proceeded smoothly.
I thought it wasn’t a bad arrangement either, so I drove to the address Claude provided.
A quiet private residence was far less burdensome for me than a hotel with constant foot traffic.
The residence I arrived at was a two-story house surrounded by a tall fence.
Spacious enough that Claude and the Frontier Agents could live comfortably without any inconvenience.
“Welcome, welcome!”
“How have you been?”
“Yeah, doing well?”
“Ah, so Elsie and Jia have arrived as well!”
As I pulled the car to a stop, Claude, who had been waiting inside, opened the door and greeted us warmly.
The interior garden was tastefully arranged, and with the sunlight streaming in so perfectly, I found myself unconsciously glancing around at my surroundings.
‘It would be nice if we could move into a place like this too.’
It was about time to start preparing for my second major life goal—moving to a new home.
“This is a wonderful house. We should be grateful to the Management Bureau for lending us such a place so readily.”
Claude, having roughly guessed what was on my mind, chuckled and spoke.
For the Management Bureau, this wasn’t a bad deal at all.
The instant Tower that Frontier and One-Strike had jointly conquered last time.
If they’d left it alone, Korea’s top-ranked Hunters and leading guilds would have had to step in directly, but the fact that it ended without any casualties was something worth celebrating.
Moreover, with the leader of Frontier—an organization wielding considerable influence worldwide—currently staying in Korea, this arrangement was also fitting for national prestige.
“Actually, we were planning to return soon due to activity fund issues and having met with you, but then the One-Strike Foundation offered their sponsorship.”
“…Ah, the One-Strike Foundation.”
I nodded, recalling the news about Frontier and the One-Strike Foundation that I’d seen before.
The One-Strike Foundation’s activities, operating without Ilgyeok, were becoming increasingly bold with each passing day.
They were firmly establishing themselves as the leading force in Korea’s volunteer sector.
It was only natural, since they operated without distinction between the Tower and reality.
Their expansion into global operations was now virtually certain.
As for me, I thought, ‘At that level, wouldn’t it be fine to operate without my name attached?’ but it was an awkward situation to intervene in.
Following Claude’s guidance, I entered deeper into the house.
The interior was furnished more like an office than a residential home.
A large desk sat in the middle of the living room, and a considerable amount of documents were scattered about like decorations.
Though Claude appeared to me as a carefree unemployed person who traveled every day, this scene perfectly demonstrated that he was actually the leader of Frontier.
…That was a thought Claude would be very sad to hear.
And naturally, my eyes fell on the people seated around the table.
“I-Ilgyeok?!”
“The Watchman’s followers have finally reached this place…!”
It was Minjeong and Roel.
Since both were members of Frontier, it wasn’t particularly strange, but their appearance buried under piles of documents was somewhat unexpected.
“You two are here as well?”
“Ah, yes. Minjeong and Roel are quite skilled with administrative work. Roel in particular is exceptionally talented.”
Claude smiled pleasantly as he praised the two of them.
Before becoming a Hunter, Minjeong had been preparing for the civil service exam, so she was essentially a prepared talent for this kind of work.
And Roel, though she tended to become smaller whenever she got caught up in these situations, was a Dark Mage Spirit.
Originally, on any world other than Earth, Dark Mages—and indeed Mages themselves—were part of an ultra-elite class that primarily handled documents, so after receiving some practical training, she had become quite helpful.
Clatter— clatter—
Moreover, I now noticed that the Skeleton summoned by the two of them was moving about the house, transferring documents and organizing miscellaneous items, handling all the chores.
‘Well, I suppose one could say she’s making good use of her abilities.’
Ihyeon found himself at a loss for words as he gazed upon the surreal interior landscape of this safe house.
Yet interpreting something in Ihyeon’s gaze, Minjeong’s face flushed as she spoke.
“S-still, I’m not neglecting the Tower conquest either. I’ve already cleared the 62nd floor.”
“Ah, that’s truly impressive.”
“Coming from someone who cleared the 82nd floor, that’s hardly a compliment, but… well, it’s not without Ilgyeok’s help either. The One-Strike Service Corps essentially swept clean all the Villains in the 60s floors.”
That was hardly relevant to Ihyeon, but he nodded along appropriately regardless.
Come to think of it, being able to conquer the 60s floors without worrying about Villains was quite remarkable.
Perhaps it was due to the nature of the maze covered in mirrors.
The 60s floors were places where Villains operated as if they owned the world, regardless of which country in the world you looked at.
Yet thanks to the One-Strike Service Corps’ enthusiastic efforts—making clever use of their talents(?)—at least Korea’s 60s floors now boasted safety no different from other floors.
Korea had long carried nicknames like being a country where you could safely walk around at dawn, a country that wouldn’t steal anything except bicycles.
Now it had earned an additional nickname: a country where you could conquer the 60s floors without worrying about Villains.
Meanwhile, Roel, who had been staring silently at Jia, spoke in an ominous tone.
“…I detect a familiar scent.”
“That’s no longer any concern of yours.”
Jia replied in a tone not particularly different from her usual manner.
Perhaps due to the difference in their factions, they didn’t carelessly brandish weapons at each other, but neither was their relationship one where they could exchange warm greetings.
Ihyeon thought he understood why Roel had said something smelled “familiar.”
He had a feeling an opportunity to demonstrate it might arise today.
After exchanging their respective greetings in this manner, Claude asked Ihyeon a question.
“Setting that aside, what is this favor you wished to ask?”
“Ah, well…”
Ihyeon opened his inventory and retrieved an intact Golem Core.
As he placed it on the desk, Claude, Minjeong, and Roel’s gazes converged upon it.
Minjeong tilted her head, apparently unable to properly identify it, but the other two were different.
“Isn’t this a Golem Core?”
Claude spoke first.
Yet even he seemed unable to grasp the true value of the core.
“Different… An intact core… I never thought I’d see such a thing here…”
Roel examined the core with a tone of considerable surprise.
“An intact core?”
“A seed capable of creating Golems… An extraordinarily precious object. Valuable enough to drive foolish humans into war…”
“Eek?!”
Minjeong looked at the core again, startled by Roel’s words.
The core’s appearance resembled a stone carefully carved into a sphere, so looking at it again didn’t really change anything, but Hunters possessed the ability to identify items.
“That’s right. Huh? The item name is unusual though?”
“What is it, Minjeong?”
“The name has ‘Ilgyeok’s’ attached to the front.”
Minjeong tilted her head after confirming the branding skill.
Ihyeon simply explained that it was a skill belonging to someone on his team.
Claude astutely recognized that the person was Bong Jangseondal, who had caused quite a stir at the auction house not long ago.
“Normally, when you attach a modifier, it comes with corresponding effects, but this core didn’t work that way.”
“Hmm… I’ve never encountered an item like this before. And a skill like this too, for that matter.”
Just then, Elsie glared at Roel and asked.
“You don’t know anything about it?”
“Elsie, you should speak more politely.”
“You don’t know anything about it, sir?”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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