I Got A Legendary Sniper Rifle - Chapter 262

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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 262
Ep. 262
[ Hero Makes Sudden Return! Arrives Home Early Morning via Private Jet. ]
[ Hero’s Visit Timed Before A-Rank Gate Opening… Contact with Ilgyeok Suspected. ]
The Hero, Chris Erubein, who had delivered a massive shock to Korea, had returned to America.
Soon he would clear the 96th floor, and by his own account, he could somehow push up to the 98th floor.
The global integration of the main towers—something that would proceed once someone cleared the 100th floor.
And even the Hero’s pessimistic declaration that he could not reach that place.
Given the situation, Ihyeon and the Management Bureau had no choice but to drastically revise their existing strategy.
I needed to push myself up to the 90s, or rather, to the 100th floor as quickly as possible.
While doing so, I had to manage my own growth and use the timer as efficiently as possible.
30 days.
That was the timer I and the Management Bureau had newly set.
We decided to stay up to 30 days maximum on each floor, level up, then ascend the tower.
But the day after the Hero left, I didn’t immediately enter the main tower—I was staying home instead.
Squeeze—
Sweat had even accumulated in my fists, clenched with considerable tension.
Jia and Elsie were also focused on the TV screen from either side of me.
Thump-thump—
A heartbeat seemed to fill the entire living room.
…Though truthfully, spirits couldn’t possibly have hearts, so that was definitely mine.
“M-Master, are you nervous right now?”
“The expected result will surely come, so please do not worry.”
The spirits tried to reassure me.
Apart from their hearts not racing, they weren’t in particularly good shape either.
“Ha, haha. Nervous? Why would I be? I’m not the type to care about this sort of thing.”
I forced a smile and waved my hand dismissively.
Main Tower 87th Floor Clear.
What could have made us, who had comfortably reached Korea’s highest position, so tense?
– Now, we’re about to announce the new South Korean rankings. Exactly 10 seconds remain. 10.
“9!”
– 8.
“7!”
It was the quarterly South Korean ranking announcement season.
While there were many media outlets that published rankings, these days the rankings jointly announced by each broadcasting company were considered most credible.
That’s why today, nearly all major broadcasters had scheduled special ranking announcement programs.
Though I had said I didn’t care much, that I wouldn’t mind if I wasn’t included in the rankings, when the countdown actually started, the spirits and I all joined in, chanting the numbers along with the announcer.
– 6.
“5!”
– 4.
Thump, thump, thump——
“3…!”
– 2!
“1, 1….”
Whoooosh—!!
With a dramatic flourish, a long chart displaying rankings from 100th place swept rapidly across the screen.
Since detailed information was already being distributed as breaking news, the broadcast focused on the top 10 rankings that captured public interest.
– Yes, ranking 10th! Do Sunjeong Hunter from the First Guild! While their main tower floor is identical, their instant tower performance has been exceptional.
– Next, ranking 9th, Kim Sunhyeong Hunter from the First Guild. Their main tower floor is also the same, and they’ve handled five gates in Gyeongnam this quarter alone, right?
– Ranking 8th, from the Pureun Guild….
The names, guilds, main tower floors, total scores, and ranking changes of the top 10 rankers were displayed in an easy-to-read format.
As the 7th rank appeared, faces I recognized began to show up.
– Ranking 7th, Jo Hanyeol Hunter from the Aegis Guild! He was originally ranked 10th, but has climbed three positions!
– It’s because his main tower floor increased so dramatically this time~ Congratulations, Jo Hanyeol Hunter!
– If there had been no surprises in this ranking, a four-position climb might have been possible. You might feel a bit disappointed, perhaps?
Such a shift within the nearly fixed top 10 was unprecedented.
Ranks 6th, 5th, and 4th were occupied by Yuna, Duseok, and Juhyeon respectively.
At this point, something became nearly certain along with the announcer’s commentary.
‘I made it onto the rankings!’
Normally, Juhyeon would be 3rd, with Duseok, Yuna, and Hanryeol below him.
The fact that they each dropped one position meant someone new had appeared above them.
What else could the “surprise” the announcer mentioned mean?
– Ranking 3rd, Seol Hwiyeong Hunter from the Legend Guild!
– Now, I’m sure all our viewers are curious about this.
– The candidates for 1st and 2nd place! Let me tell you!
Everyone already knew who the 1st and 2nd place candidates were.
Suyeon’s photograph occupied half the TV screen.
A black silhouette marked with a question mark occupied the remaining half.
Below it was naturally the introduction “Ilgyeok.”
– This mysterious hunter Ilgyeok, who appeared like a comet, has entered the 1st place candidate position on their very first ranking announcement.
– At this point, it’s not really appearing like a comet—it’s more like an asteroid collision, wouldn’t you say?
– Well then, shall we announce 1st place….
– But first! 120 seconds of commercials, and we’ll be right back!
“Ugh! That…!”
“Hey, Elsie, you shouldn’t use bad language.”
Unable to contain herself at the commercial’s perfectly timed interruption, Elsie swung her fist at the empty air.
It was frustrating, but as an Earthling, I had no choice but to accept the situation.
This was probably the moment when commercial rates were at their absolute peak.
I heard it used to be 60 seconds, but it gradually increased, and now it’s double that—120 seconds!
Of course, nowadays commercials are made so entertainingly well that the program starts again before you know it.
– Well, everyone, thank you for watching the commercials.
– Now then, let’s announce the real number one….
Screeeeeech—!
– Before we do! Let me get the opinion of Professor Baek Ajun from the Hanchung University Hunter Academy, who we’ve invited as an advisor….
“Master? Give me the broadcasting station’s address.”
“What are you planning to do?”
“Are you seriously asking that?”
Elsie genuinely appeared to be furious.
“Come with us, Elsie.”
“J-Jia, you too?”
“We cannot allow Elsie to cause trouble, Master.”
While her words suggested she would stop Elsie from causing a scene, that faint smile of hers seemed ominously foreboding.
Fortunately, the professor serving as an advisor seemed to understand the current public sentiment well enough not to drag things out, merely expressing his thoughts that “we made efforts to produce results that everyone could acknowledge.”
Boom boom boom——
Now only the real announcement of first place remained.
Ihyeon and the spirits waited with bated breath, their palms sweating.
‘Second place would be enough. Yes, second place would be a successful debut in the rankings, Choi Ihyeon.’
Poof poof poof boom——!!
Along with the CG effects directing toward the throne, the one who ascended it was none other than.
– Yes, this quarter’s number one in the South Korean rankings! It’s Ilgyeok!
– Seo Suyeon Hunter, who had maintained the number one ranking for six consecutive quarters, has yielded her position and now stands at second place.
“Yesssssss!!!!”
“Congratulations, Master.”
Ilgyeok—Choi Ihyeon.
Simultaneously, messages of congratulations for achieving first place in the rankings arrived from Suyeon and Deokhuun.
It seemed both of them had watched the ranking announcement with as much tension as Ihyeon himself.
– Yes, it seems the selection of first and second place this time was more difficult than ever, Professor?
– That’s correct. Well… in terms of total score, Seo Suyeon Hunter would inevitably be ahead. Following the existing precedent, there were opinions that Seo Suyeon Hunter should have maintained first place.
– Yes, when the main tower levels are the same, rankings are determined by accumulated gate and instant tower achievements.
– However, in this case, the advisory committee unanimously elevated Ilgyeok to first place in the rankings. The opinion was that we should grant special consideration for maintaining the new S+ and EX grades all the way to the highest level. Of course, the momentum is remarkable as well.
‘So it was first place by special exception after all.’
Ihyeon nodded while listening to the professor’s explanation as an advisor.
It seemed people’s arguments would become quite heated.
Though Ihyeon’s popularity was high, Suyeon had also built up considerable fandom over time.
As for rankings, hunters in the 80s floors generally didn’t pay much attention, but these things were typically something their fans cared about far more passionately.
With such thoughts, Ihyeon opened an internet portal on his phone.
As expected, the netizens’ reactions were extremely heated.
[ (Breaking News) Broadcasting Union Rankings, First Place: Ilgyeok. Surpasses Shin Gung.
As expected, lol.
Still, it’s a shame that Singung didn’t make it ㅠㅠ Can’t lose Suyeon!
└ Now, now, Suyeon Angel Cafe members, let’s share our disappointment at the cafe!
└ I have to admit that Ilgyeok is number one… *sighs*.
└ Now let’s go for the US Universe Rankings~~ ]
It wasn’t the kind of controversy I had anticipated—just wholehearted congratulations.
Suyeon’s fanbase seemed to have predicted to some degree that Ilgyeok would claim first place this time.
“That’s a relief.”
I let out a sigh of relief, having worried that if the fans of both of them clashed online, Suyeon might feel bothered.
All that remained was to graciously accept the congratulations from the few acquaintances I knew.
Then, my phone rang.
– Tarakdwaeji Minjoo Hunter
“Huh? Minjeong called?”
Elsie reacted upon seeing the screen.
We had exchanged contact information, but Minjeong had never reached out before—what was this about?
“Looks like she watched the ranking broadcast too.”
I answered the call with a playful smile, feeling mischievous.
Last time I saw her, Minjeong had quite a talent for teasing.
“Yes, this is Ilgyeok, Korea’s number one ranker.”
– Huh? What do you suddenly mean…?
“….”
I fell silent.
I had made a joke, but there was nothing more awkward than when the other person didn’t understand it at all.
Minjeong seemed completely oblivious to what I meant about rankings and such.
“Ahem. It’s nothing. What’s the matter that you called?”
– Ah! Can you come to us right now?
“Right now? Did a gate or instant tower perhaps appear?”
I stiffened slightly at how urgent Minjeong’s tone sounded.
But that didn’t quite seem right either.
Frontier was a group well-versed in monsters.
No matter what gate opened, they wouldn’t be desperate enough to send an SOS to me.
Minjeong delivered completely unexpected news.
– The Golem! The Golem! It looks like it’s about to be completed!
“Ah.”
Now that I thought about it, the deadline Roel had first mentioned had slightly passed.
Since there had been no word, I figured it would take a bit longer.
‘Well, with all the gates and whatnot lately, they must have been busy too.’
I stood up from my seat and asked.
“I’ll head out right away. But is there really such urgency?”
The completion of the Golem was certainly joyous news.
Judging from the Spirits’ reactions, the core of an S-rank Golem was truly the greatest treasure.
But what exactly was a Golem?
It’s not even a living creature—just a robot faithfully following its master’s commands.
Even if it takes a bit longer, once I deliver the finished product, that should be the end of it. Why the urgent phone call?
Minjeong cried out as if I didn’t know what I was talking about.
– Roel said that this Golem serves whoever it sees first after completion as its master! If we’re not careful, Ilgyeok might not even be recognized as the owner!
“Why are you telling me this now?!”
– I, I didn’t know either….
“Ah, my apologies… Anyway, I’m heading there right now.”
Ihyeon immediately hung up and boarded the perfectly maintained Evant alongside the Spirits.
Vwooooooom———!!!
“My lord, where are you going?!”
“To pick up a friend of yours!”
“…?”
A few of the Knights standing guard called out to Ihyeon as he rushed out, but he left them with only a cryptic answer.
The remaining squad members left behind chatted amongst themselves in bewilderment.
“Were there more Knights of the Evil God besides us?”
“Not that I know of.”
“Krkrkr, well, those bastards will get a taste of hellish PT exercises too.”
“Hahaha! Rookies need to be broken in!”

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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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