I Got A Legendary Sniper Rifle - Chapter 226

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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 226
Ep. 226
Flash—!
“Wow!”
The Hero’s bow in Deokhuun’s hand blazed with light.
But instead of handing it over with his usual “Well, that’s done,” Deokhuun called out to Ihyeon and Suyeon.
“Um, Ihyeon. I think you need to take a look at this?”
“What’s wrong?”
“Well, I couldn’t attach your modifier to it… but there’s something a bit unusual mixed in.”
Then Deokhuun began listing off the modifiers and effects he could see.
Excluding ordinary ones like taut, sharp, and far-flying.
First and foremost, as Ihyeon had anticipated, Suyeon’s name was attached to it.
「4. ‘Of Baekbalbaegjung’
An item acquired by a considerably strong Hunter.
Overall stats receive a minor additional boost.
On hit, the ‘Wound’ effect is added.」
“Wow, wow! You can attach an effect like this?!”
Suyeon’s eyes widened in surprise upon hearing the effect attached to her nickname.
Compared to the ‘Ilgyeok’ series, it was fairly ordinary.
‘Actually, this is the right reaction.’
By the standards of Hunters other than Ihyeon, this level of enhancement was nothing short of a complete transformation.
The fact that items could be strengthened through skill effects was remarkable in itself.
And unlike temporary enhancements from Alchemists or Mages, this was a permanent effect.
Since it was originally an A-rank item, it could now be considered A+ tier.
“The Wound effect was preventing natural healing, right?”
“Yeah, that’s right! With this, Trolls become really easy to hunt!”
While the effect didn’t particularly impress Ihyeon, Suyeon was so delighted that she bounced around with joy.
Ihyeon spoke to Deokhuun.
“You said there’s another modifier?”
“Yes, it’s…”
「5. ‘Blessed by the Watchman’s Protection’
An item blessed by the Watchman’s Protection.
Overall stats receive an additional boost.
Skill casting efficiency is improved.
Automatic arrow recovery function is added.
Exclusive skill, ‘Sharp Eye,’ can be used.」
“…”
Upon hearing Deokhuun’s explanation, both Ihyeon and Suyeon were left speechless.
‘This… this is it.’
I had no idea why the Watchman’s Protection suddenly appeared, but if it was good, that was all that mattered, wasn’t it?
At the same time, I understood why Deokhuun had hesitated.
Ihyeon, Deokhuun, and the Spirits all knew to some extent about the Watchman’s existence.
And that he was favorable toward them.
But Suyeon didn’t yet know the circumstances surrounding him.
Moreover, having seen the epithet “Ilgyeok’s” all this time, I wondered if I should perhaps attach the epithet “Baekbalbaegjung’s” to Suyeon as well.
Suyeon, as South Korea’s number one ranked Hunter, surely had her own pride—wouldn’t she be offended if an unknown Watchman’s epithet outshone her name value?
But.
“Wow, I don’t know who the Watchman is, but he seems like a good person.”
“…?”
“? Is there a problem with that?”
“Ah, no, there’s no problem.”
It seemed my worry was unfounded.
Suyeon looked between Ihyeon and Deokhuun in turn, as if wondering why they were even deliberating.
Her eyes were so pure and innocent that the two men felt embarrassed for their needless concern.
“You’re really okay with not having your name attached?”
“Huh? I don’t mind. I should choose whatever makes my bow better. Either way, it’s obvious the last option is the best, right?”
Ah, what refreshing candor!
To be honest, I had harbored suspicions that Suyeon might be approaching me with ulterior motives, or that despite being ranked first, she might actually have a poor personality.
…It was a misunderstanding that would deeply hurt Suyeon if she heard it, but for me, it was such an unfamiliar kindness.
Through this exchange, I found myself able to genuinely accept Suyeon as a true teammate.
“Tsk, an archery fox has appeared anew.”
“Elsie, you shouldn’t speak that way about Master’s friend.”
Elsie, who had been listening to their conversation beside them, turned her head to one side with a sly expression and spoke.
In any case, since Suyeon had confirmed her approval, the epithet was finalized as the last option.
Deokhuun finished the branding and returned the bow to Suyeon.
“Here you are. It was truly an honor to work on Shin Gung’s bow!”
“What? Oh, no. Thank you so much for enhancing my bow.”
“How is it that Shin Gung has such a kind heart…!”
“Deokhuun, I’m Ilgyeok.”
“Yes, you’re Ilgyeok, hyung.”
….
I sensed that Deokhuun’s demeanor toward me had changed quite a bit from when we first met, but I soon let the thought go.
After all, early companions(?) were often neglected quickly!
Suyeon carefully received her bow, which looked identical on the surface but was now renewed.
She gripped the bow tightly and made a request of me.
“Could I try hunting a monster once?”
“Huh? Yeah, of course.”
It was actually something I wanted to ask.
I had seen Ihyeon shoot his Gun before, but I had never seen Suyeon shoot her bow.
Now that we were a team, it would be helpful to grasp each other’s abilities and styles in advance, even roughly.
“Which monster should I summon?”
“Hmm… I’d like a Volcanno Drake, please.”
The Volcanno Drake—one of the stronger creatures found on the 80th Floor.
At that level, it would make for an excellent opponent to test the reborn Hero’s bow.
Kuooooo——!!
Immediately, a single Volcanno Drake materialized before them.
The Drake roared with ferocity, indistinguishable from reality itself.
Its crimson eyes darted back and forth before settling on Suyeon, the closest target.
“Hah.”
Despite knowing it was merely a simulation, the uncanny realism made Suyeon tense. She steadied her breathing and raised her bow.
Thud—! Thud—! Thud—!
The Volcanno Drake began charging forward, its massive body thundering across the ground.
Though the distance between them was considerable, the creature’s enormous stride closed the gap in mere moments.
At that instant, Suyeon’s eyes blazed with golden light.
“She activated a new skill.”
The skill itself bore an unremarkable name—’Keen Eyes’.
I could hazard a guess at its effects.
“Ah.”
What did Suyeon’s eyes, now gleaming gold, perceive?
A soft gasp escaped her lips.
As a marksman, I understood well the mindset of one preparing to fire. I said nothing to her.
Swish— Kwaaak—
Suyeon silently drew her bow to its full extent, the bowstring taut and trembling.
Her familiar arrow was nocked against the string.
Thud—
Still, the Volcanno Drake charged forward.
Thud—!
And charged again.
Kuung—!
When less than twenty meters remained between them.
Paaang——!!
The moment Suyeon released the bowstring, the nocked arrow shot forth with explosive force.
‘That’s… Shin Gung’s marksmanship.’
I had seen Suyeon’s combat a few times in recorded footage from Gate operations, but witnessing it in person carried an entirely different weight.
Moreover, that footage was old, and the monsters she’d faced were far weaker than the Volcanno Drake, so she’d likely been holding back considerably.
Suyeon’s arrow spiraled through the air, leaving a vortex in its wake as it pierced the space between them and struck the Drake’s shoulder blade.
A clean hit.
Pwoong—!
With a sickening sound of tearing flesh, the Volcanno Drake’s arm was severed clean off.
Yet Ihyeon’s thoughts continued.
‘Was her aim a bit off?’
Suyeon’s power was certainly formidable.
However, when one typically aimed at a monster, they would target a vital point.
The head, the heart, or other critical organs of comparable importance.
Yet the shoulder blade was quite unexpected.
It was too clean a shot to be a mistake, yet too odd to be intentional.
In moments like this, one had to read the Squad Leader’s expression.
‘…She aimed for it.’
My doubts were resolved.
Suyeon’s expression was far too composed.
The face of someone so perfectly skilled that she couldn’t make a mistake even if she tried.
Above all, the Drake itself proved that Suyeon’s shot hadn’t gone awry.
Kraaaaaahhh——!!!
The Drake was always shrieking, but this time something felt different.
It had stopped in place, its body wracked with agony.
If it were human, panic and terror would be natural when an arm was severed, but monsters were another matter entirely.
They were beings filled with malice toward humans from the start.
Even if they lost a limb, it was normal for them to charge forward without hesitation if a human stood before them.
Being stunned like this meant the shock was severe enough to make it forget even that malice.
Kwaaaak—!
Suyeon drew her bowstring again.
Standing still, a creature of such massive size made for an excellent target.
Paaang—!
An arrow with even greater force than before flew toward the Drake once more.
Puerk—!
This time, it was the creature’s elongated neck.
A vital point laid bare as it shrieked loud enough to burst eardrums.
The arrow embedded in its neck pierced through, grinding away the surrounding flesh like a bullet spinning through rifled grooves.
Blood fountained from the Drake’s half-severed neck.
Kwoom—!
Not long after, the creature collapsed to the ground and soon dissolved into light and vanished.
She had killed the Volcanno Drake with just two arrows.
“Is this… Shin Gung…?”
Deokhuun let out a small exclamation, seemingly moved by witnessing Suyeon actually defeat a monster.
“I killed that thing in one shot.”
“…Brother, are you jealous?”
“That’s not it.”
Indeed, the first wife’s sorrow runs deep.
I chuckled at Deokhuun’s disappointed reaction, then straightened my expression and approached Suyeon.
“How’s the bow treating you?”
“Phew….”
Even as Ihyeon posed his question, Suyeon exhaled a long, finishing breath.
Then.
“That was incredible!”
She turned to him with a radiant smile.
Her pupils, which had shimmered with golden light moments before, had already returned to their normal state.
“To think I could take down a Volcanno Drake with just two arrows… my exclusive skill really made the difference.”
“Keen Eye?”
“Yes!”
Suyeon explained her newly acquired skill with unbridled enthusiasm.
In essence, it was an ability to locate weak points.
When the skill activated, the target’s vulnerabilities would be marked in golden light.
“So that’s why you aimed for the shoulder joint.”
“Exactly. The effect was definitely more potent. I didn’t expect it either.”
Likely, striking a weak point with precision would trigger a stun effect like before, followed by additional damage calculations.
Naturally, the bow’s destructive power itself had also advanced considerably.
The result was that moment just now—felling the Volcanno Drake in merely two shots.
Ihyeon summoned a second Volcanno Drake.
If Keen Eye was a skill that helped locate weak points, there was one more thing I needed to test.
‘Whether every Volcanno Drake has the shoulder joint as its weak point.’
If that were the case, the entire paradigm for conquering the Tower would shift dramatically.
Simply by having Suyeon descend to lower floors, identify monster weak points, and share that information, Hunters would gain tremendous advantage.
But.
“Ah… this time it’s the knee.”
Unfortunately, my expectations had been too high.
The second Volcanno Drake’s weak point was not the shoulder, but the knee.
Instead of having Suyeon fire arrows, Ihyeon called out to Elsie.
“Elsie, want to try taking this one down?”
“Huh? Me?”
“Yeah. You need to get more comfortable with your weapon. And I want to see if attacking a weak point yields the same effect regardless of who does it.”
“Hehe, got it!”
Elsie dashed forward with a grin, delighted to have more work piled onto her plate.
She summoned a torrent of Dokkaebi flames and poured them onto the weak point Suyeon had identified, finishing by cleanly severing the Drake’s leg with a sword strike.
Keeeeeeek——!!!
The Drake shrieked in even greater agony than before, thrashing about as it collapsed.
Ihyeon nodded as he observed the scene.
“The weak point applies the same way regardless of who attacks it, it seems. This one couldn’t charge forward either.”
That alone made the effectiveness of Keen Eye more than remarkable.
As one ascended to higher floors, the time required to defeat each monster would inevitably increase.
Dramatically reducing that time was crucial not merely for efficiency, but for safety as well.
Yet even after hearing Ihyeon’s words, Suyeon and Deokhuun’s reactions felt lukewarm.
“What’s wrong?”
“Well….”
“Brother.”
“Yeah.”
“At this rate, we’d die even without exploiting a weakness, wouldn’t we?”
“The Drake lost one of its legs, yet it still came charging at us….”
“….”
Was that so?
Now that I thought about it, there was a point to that….

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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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