I Got A Legendary Sniper Rifle - Chapter 297

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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 297
Ep. 297
“Huh!”
My uncle stroked his beard in admiration.
“But the tribal members have grown quite a bit during this time, haven’t they?”
As Ihyeon assessed the scale of the procession following behind and asked, his uncle laughed heartily.
“And who do you think is responsible for all this? They’ve all gathered after hearing your name. If we wait just a bit longer, we might even restore the prestige from your brother’s time. But why are you asking as if you’re seeing this for the first time when you’ve been here all along?”
“…Yes, of course that’s true, but seeing them gathered like this feels unfamiliar.”
“Hahaha! That’s possible! Yes, that’s certainly possible!”
It seemed my uncle genuinely cherished Kaez.
After all, the reason he had taken on the role of Tribal Chief in the first place was because Kaez, who could be called the legitimate heir, was still too young.
Even so, with the forces grown this much, it would have been understandable to harbor different ambitions, yet there was no trace of such intentions in my uncle’s eyes.
‘They’re beginning to take on the appearance of proper nomads now.’
In a society of this level, the number of people is directly equivalent to power.
While this certainly increased the workload, the skills and knowledge that had been lacking were being supplemented, allowing a more convincing society to take shape.
By observing the appearance and complexion of the people, one could sufficiently discern the tribe’s transformation.
It was then.
Ihyeon, who had been moving at a canter’s pace, called out to his uncle and brought his horse to a halt.
“What’s wrong?”
My uncle, who hadn’t sensed anything yet, turned his head with a puzzled expression, but Ihyeon made no reply and instead shouldered his gun, aiming it forward.
“Huh?”
My uncle’s confusion didn’t last long.
Keeeeee——!!!
A Duobuxini shrieking a horrible cry suddenly burst out from beside a massive boulder.
Ssssssk——
This Duobuxini resembled an arthropod rather than a mammal, more specifically a centipede in form.
Though asymmetrical on both sides, the thin legs packed densely together provoked considerable revulsion.
“It’s a Duobuxini!”
“Everyone, watch your surroundings!”
The warriors at the front, seeing the centipede Duobuxini charging fiercely toward the nomads, sent urgent warnings backward.
Warriors who typically hunted in groups of about five.
In truth, their role was closer to hunters than warriors, but the designation had changed since the Earthspider incident.
In any case, they were the only group capable of fighting back against those who attacked the tribe.
‘Even so, they’re outmatched against a Duobuxini.’
To subdue a single Duobuxini, four or five groups needed to unite.
Not four or five individuals, but four or five groups.
Which was why Kaez’s tribe, once highly prestigious, had been helpless against the Duobuxini’s assault.
While the warriors dispersed throughout the procession to watch for other Duobuxini approaching.
Ihyeon rode forward on Purung, moving ahead of the procession to prepare for mounted shooting.
Breath held, trigger pulled.
Once I grew somewhat accustomed to it, riding atop Purung felt remarkably smooth despite his massive frame—the vibrations were oddly minimal.
Aside from a slight tremor, the environment was virtually indistinguishable from standing on flat ground and firing.
Had it been Ihyeon, he wouldn’t have missed such a large target even from an ordinary horse.
Crack—!
With the crisp report of the bolt-action rifle, the centipede-like Duobuxini’s head and three segments were pierced clean through.
It was flawless marksmanship.
“Impressive!”
Ihyeon had been the finest marksman among the special forces, so to the nomads who possessed no basic understanding of firearms, it seemed like pure magic.
By common knowledge, a Duobuxini ordinarily required dozens of strong men to pin down its movements.
My uncle murmured in admiration.
“I’ve heard that among those who received staffs, some possessed such remarkable talent they could subdue a Duobuxini alone… but even they couldn’t match you, Kaez. You truly are extraordinary.”
Ihyeon immediately shook his head.
“You’re too kind. This much isn’t particularly difficult.”
‘…That doesn’t seem like flattery at all.’
My uncle wondered if his nephew was being excessively modest, but he couldn’t very well demand he boast about himself either.
And if this wasn’t difficult, what possibly could be?
While everyone who heard Ihyeon’s words stood bewildered.
Zzzzzt—
Only Ihyeon, who bore the weight of every gaze, sensed something unpleasant—a wave of energy washing over him like something sticky and foul.
A sticky, filthy resonance that seemed to crawl across his body.
Ihyeon’s frown deepened as he immediately recognized what that wave was.
“Keeeee…! Ilgyeok! Juu, juuuuuk!”
In that instant, the faces of the former apostles who had been writhing in agony twisted once more.
The whites of their eyes turned black, and dark veins crawled across their faces in thick lines.
The symptoms of the twilight plague that Ihyeon had improved had deteriorated back to their original severity.
“What, what are these bastards?!”
“Kaez, be careful!”
Before the other tribal members could react, the apostles spurred their horses and charged toward Ihyeon.
They had already drawn their weapons—each now in far better condition—from their robes.
For those half-conscious, their movements were remarkably swift and sudden, but that was all.
Ihyeon’s rifle glowed pure white.
‘Multi-target.’
The skill wasn’t limited to the rifle’s modes.
Even in healing mode, the multi-target skill faithfully locked onto three targets Ihyeon could aim for.
Thwack—!
With a single trigger pull, the charging former apostles tumbled from their horses.
“Ugh! They’ve fallen from their mounts!”
“Is, is it safe to approach?”
“Kaez did act, but…”
The nomads hesitated—whether to aid the fallen or remain wary of those who had suddenly reverted to their original state.
By then, I had already brought Purung along to their side.
“Ugh, ugh….”
“S-sorry….”
“We don’t even know what happened….”
All three Saedos remained unable to recover from the shock of being thrown from their mounts, apologizing while clutching their heads.
I shook my head.
“It’s fine. I think I can roughly figure out what happened.”
The unpleasant wavelength I had sensed.
It was clearly connected to the Duobuxini.
Even though I had treated it, the lingering resonance that remained was affected by that wavelength, so such a change wouldn’t have been strange.
But what mattered was that wavelength itself.
‘Who could produce such a wavelength?’
Naturally, not the Saedos standing before me.
Their magical abilities were actually quite unremarkable, except for their ability to control the Duobuxini.
I asked the Former Apostles.
“You said your Bishop is paying a lot of attention to that fortress.”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“It seems time is pressing.”
“Yes?”
The Former Apostles, unsteadily getting to their feet, exchanged glances.
Then they nodded and spoke.
“If we go a bit further, there’s a path we used to frequent. If what you say is true, you should be able to confirm it there.”
I called over three Nomads and had them carry the Saedos along, then advanced quickly.
The place the Former Apostles mentioned was atop a high cliff.
Upon arriving there and looking down, my expression hardened slightly.
“There are more than I expected.”
“Good heavens… What in the world is happening, Kaez.”
I didn’t need to see the expressions of the other Nomads besides me—they were predictable.
Even my Uncle, who had experienced everything under the sun, couldn’t hide his shock.
And for good reason, for beneath the cliff where we stood.
Screeeee—— Shrieeeeek—— Kyaaaaaahhh——!!!
Duobuxini letting out all manner of horrific shrieks filled the valley and surged in a single direction.
The Duobuxini I had killed earlier seemed to be one that had accidentally separated from this horde.
But there was something that shocked the Saedos even more.
“Th-that!”
The Saedos, who had been quietly observing the Duobuxini forces, suddenly pointed to one spot in unison, letting out screams or shrieks.
“What’s wrong?”
When I asked, they all cried out with one voice.
“The B-Bishop’s palanquin!”
Upon hearing those words and looking, I could indeed see a large black palanquin being carried by several Duobuxini.
Though clearly not made by a Duogsini, its asymmetrical form resembled theirs so closely that it made one dizzy.
Perhaps it would be more comfortable for a Duogsini to carry.
“A group that even includes a Bishop.”
I drew that conclusion.
The 93rd Floor—still early in the 90s—had produced a far more significant figure than I’d anticipated.
My progression through the 90s had accelerated tremendously thanks to two S+ rank clears, but I could only guess at the reason; I couldn’t be certain.
Instead, I questioned the Saedos.
“Is that direction toward the fortress?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“It appears a major assault is underway.”
“It’s far faster than we anticipated. In fact, I never thought even a Bishop would attempt to assault that fortress….”
The Former Apostles’ faces turned ashen as they realized the situation had grown far beyond their expectations.
Originally, I had led the group out simply to make contact with that fortress.
But if things proceeded like this, we might collide directly with the Duogsini legion commanded by the Bishop himself.
No matter how formidable Ilgyeok was, he was merely a young boy who had just come of age.
He could not possibly stand against monsters of that magnitude.
“Where has the Shaman Elder gone in a situation like this?”
“He always appears around this time.”
“Didn’t he say he was going to the toilet earlier?”
Anxiety rippled across the Nomads’ expressions.
How could one not be terrified when Duogsinis that would falter at the sight of even one were now filling the cliff below?
Only a single person maintained composure.
I asked the Sado.
“How much further until we reach the fortress?”
“Ah, you can see it from here. Do you see that cliff beyond the plain over there?”
“I see it.”
“Between here and there, there was originally a ravine, but that suspicious group built a wall at the ravine’s entrance and constructed the fortress. If you look carefully, you should see an artificially sunken area.”
“Oh, indeed. Truly remarkable.”
“…Ah.”
I examined what the Sado and my Uncle were referring to for quite some time, and only after briefly deploying a scope did I finally locate the trace.
‘Wait, isn’t that just a cliff they’ve built up rather than an actual fortress?’
The scale of it was absurdly impressive.
They had nearly blocked off a cliff that must have been at least fifty meters high.
More than that—how were these people able to identify a location that even I couldn’t see clearly without the aid of a sniper rifle?
Then my Uncle rubbed his eyes and spoke.
“My eyes must be getting dim in my old age. When I was Kaez’s age, I could have made out the face of a man standing up there.”
“…?”
I still can’t do that.
‘Is this what they call the vision of a… no, a plainsman?’
I couldn’t hide my bewilderment, but since it would be foolish to show it here, I simply nodded vaguely.
In any case, now that I’ve located the place, that’s what matters.
“Still, no matter how formidable those defending the fortress are, they’ll struggle against an army of this magnitude, Ilgyeok.”
“Indeed. It’s unfortunate, but perhaps it would be wise for you to abandon this venture and turn back.”
The Saedos, looking as though they’d grown weary merely witnessing the horde of monsters, tried to dissuade Ihyeon.
“I agree with their assessment, Kaez. It seems far too dangerous.”
My uncle, who led the nomads, shared the same sentiment.
But they didn’t know.
‘Even for someone like Ilgyeok, this shouldn’t be impossible—I’ve faced so many situations like this already.’
I had already steeled myself for the possibility that something might occur on the path to the fortress.
While the scale was larger than anticipated, it wasn’t critical.
After glancing back and forth between the fortress and the Duogsinis for a moment, I spoke.
“We must go.”
“Kaez!”
“Ilgyeok!”
The people around me widened their eyes in shock, crying out as if wondering whether this young man truly failed to grasp the gravity of the situation.
But I smiled faintly and replied.
“Don’t worry. I can manage it alone.”
“…Alone?”
“How on earth?”
I’d received such questions countless times before.
But what was certain was that I was someone who had repeatedly shattered those many doubts head-on and climbed this far.
This time was no different.
The only difference was that they would witness it with their own eyes.
I hadn’t forgotten that to achieve an S+ clear, I had to protect the nomads without exception.
‘And truthfully, I’m not even alone this time.’
There, at this midpoint between desert and prairie, I wore a smile so refreshing that it brought coolness to all who beheld it.
How could I turn back when there were those waiting for me so desperately in that place?
“Let’s go, Purung.”
Purrrung—!
I immediately began racing across the cliff with Purung.
Toward the fortress hidden within that chasm.

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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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