I Got A Legendary Sniper Rifle - Chapter 306

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

Episode 306
Ep. 306
Ihyeon clicked his tongue once, watching Deokhuun jump in surprise at his agreement.
Elsie was the same way, and those around him had a tendency to paint him as cold-blooded.
He hadn’t said anything particularly harsh, yet they jumped to conclusions—it was enough to make him feel slightly hurt!
Of course, Deokhuun spoke with a laugh, as if it had been a joke.
“Well, people keep teasing us, calling us the Ilgeuk Guild without Ilgeuk.”
“Huh? I’ve seen that too. But it wasn’t that common, was it?”
Ihyeon had already witnessed such reactions while browsing comments and chats.
However, it wasn’t genuine criticism of the Ilgeuk Guild.
It was merely a common internet meme.
Since the Ilgeuk Foundation and its affiliated organizations had such high favorability, people jokingly called them that just to find some fault, nothing more.
Yet Deokhuun wore a deliberately wounded expression.
“They say people’s eyes are drawn more to one negative comment than a hundred positive ones.”
“Yeah, I’ve heard that too.”
Though he said so, Deokhuun hadn’t actually made this request to Ihyeon just because he disliked one negative comment.
Rather, it was to turn the internet meme to their advantage.
“Since people joke about us being the Ilgeuk Guild without Ilgeuk, wouldn’t it be perfect if you responded to them? You’d do a good deed and feel good about it, and people would feel good knowing you reacted to their joke.”
“Hmm….”
Since his intentions were good, Ihyeon gave a slight nod.
But what could he do in such a situation?
It wasn’t like a special feature or a secret interview with Ilgeuk.
“Come on! You’re a mysterious hunter, a faceless one, aren’t you? Doing something like that would ruin your image.”
“There’s no need to say it like that….”
Deokhuun bounced up and waved his hands dismissively, as if declining.
Or was he asking to borrow the Knights again like last time?
They were all busy moving around the 90s floors now, but since reinforcements had arrived recently, there should be plenty of spare capacity.
“No no no! We already owe the Knights so much from last time! If I ask again, it would be shameless!”
This time too, Deokhuun bounced up and denied it.
“When did those guys start calling you ‘hyung’?”
“It’s been a while. Since they’re neighbors, we should be friendly.”
“I see….”
Deokhuun was truly someone without prejudice and quite personable.
Normally, wouldn’t people be afraid if they heard creepy Undead lived next door in groups?
“It’s a much easier request than all that, so please don’t worry too much.”
“Stop dragging it out and just say it.”
When Ihyeon urged him on, Deokhuun revealed the main point as if it were as simple as going to a neighborhood store and buying something.
“Would you mind clearing just one Instant Tower?”
“…?”
For a moment, Ihyeon wondered if he’d heard something wrong.
‘Is that really something to speak of so casually?’
No matter how remarkable Ilgyeok was, the Instant Tower was inherently a dangerous place where guilds would conduct weeks of reconnaissance and analysis before making a determined assault.
This was absolutely not a trivial matter.
Deokhuun, apparently thinking the same way, wiped all playfulness from his face before speaking.
“Of course, I understand you’re busy conquering the 90s floors right now. But I thought it might not be good to focus solely on that.”
“Mm.”
Deokhuun’s words weren’t wrong.
Since the Seoul Gate incident, I hadn’t participated in a single Gate or Instant Tower.
Of course, these two didn’t occur frequently enough for me to participate indiscriminately, and the well-established system handled most of them, but still.
It seemed worthwhile to turn my attention elsewhere for once before returning to the 90s floors.
That way, I might see something new I hadn’t witnessed before.
‘Besides, I’ll need to give the Knights some time before they can properly begin their operations inside.’
If preparations to ascend to the 94th floor weren’t complete, repeatedly clearing the 93rd floor would become tedious.
“Where is it located?”
At my question, Deokhuun answered promptly, as if he’d anticipated it.
“It’s a tower that appeared on Imunmun Island, an uninhabited island.”
“I see.”
From that single statement, I grasped the general situation.
It was likely a fairly high-grade tower for local guilds to handle.
But the location was an uninhabited island.
The large guilds of Seoul and the metropolitan area would hesitate to venture that far and risk themselves conquering a high-grade tower.
Even if it opened, it wouldn’t significantly affect the mainland, so they’d probably just leave it alone.
‘After all, towers don’t only appear in places easily accessible to people.’
Currently, the sea was a considerable danger zone.
When unavoidable circumstances required navigating distant waters, it was customary to hire numerous high-grade Hunters.
For the same reason, there were many islands with restricted access and approach.
“Imunmun Island’s distance from the nearest mainland is precarious. So the local guild seems quite eager to conquer it.”
“That makes sense.”
I nodded.
I understood why Deokhuun was making such an earnest request of me.
The Ilgeuk Guild was founded with regional coexistence as its motto—abandoning such risks would become a weakness.
Topsanryeon, with its massive capital, was already watching for any opportunity, and if we did that, they wouldn’t hesitate to seize the chance and never let go.
“Fine, I’ll go take a look.”
“Really? Kyaa! You’re truly the best, hyung!”
Deokhuun sprang from his seat and gave me enthusiastic applause.
“However, unlike last time with the Frontier, there won’t be any joint operations. I’ll handle it myself.”
“Yes, of course. Besides, that guild mentioned they don’t have anyone to send in from their side either.”
“…Wait.”
“??”
I regarded Deokhuun with suspicion as he agreed far too readily.
This might be an opportunity to meet Ilgyeok, yet that guild just gave up cleanly?
‘Something smells fishy about this.’
Ihyeon glanced at Deokhuun and asked.
“What’s the rank of that Tower?”
“…Yes, well then I’ll take it that way, and I’m quite busy with construction work.”
Thud—!
“Alright then, I suppose I should clean my firearms for the first time in a while.”
“….”
Deokhuun tried to turn his back with an awkward laugh, but it was futile.
It wasn’t something else—few people wouldn’t feel their legs freeze upon hearing the chilling sound of Ilgyeok’s sniper rifle stock striking the ground.
Deokhuun turned his head around as if it would creak with each movement.
“What do you mean by the rank?”
Ihyeon looked at him with a smile several times more chilling than the sound of the stock hitting the ground.
Deokhuun broke into a cold sweat and confessed the truth.
“It’s… A-rank.”
“I….”
“I’m, I’m sorry! I’m truly sorry, hyung!”
To just hand off an A-rank Tower like that!
Deokhuun covered his face with both arms, half-expecting Ihyeon’s gun to burst into flames at any moment.
Of course, such a thing would never happen.
A truly skilled marksman must above all be certain about where to shoot and where not to shoot!
Ihyeon let out a small sigh, then pulled out a cloth and began wiping his sniper rifle.
“If it’s that kind of place, I have no choice but to go myself.”
“Hyung…!”
Deokhuun was truly impressed by Ihyeon’s magnanimous demeanor in accepting so readily despite knowing the tremendous rank of the Instant Tower.
Of course, Ihyeon already had a track record of blocking an A-rank Gate without any damage alongside a Hero.
But unlike Gates where one could retreat at any time and receive assistance from others, an Instant Tower carried far greater burden, did it not?
Ihyeon asked with a slight smile.
“Why, are you a bit surprised that I didn’t say anything harsh this time?”
“No, hyung.”
Indeed, while one might cause some misunderstandings, once you actually interact with someone, you come to know how genuine they truly are.
Just as Ihyeon was about to move on with a satisfied smile.
“If possible, I’d like to ask for an S+ clear….”
Click click— Click—!
“Huh? I didn’t catch that.”
“N-no, it was a joke, hahaha. A joke, a joke.”
Deokhuun, who had been about to ask for an S+ clear while handing off an A-rank Gate, quickly waved his hands in denial.
Well, with someone like that, he’d never take a loss anywhere.
Looking at it this way, Deokhuun was truly born with the nature of a merchant.
In Korea, there were supposedly three types of people you shouldn’t trust: those who say they won’t marry, elderly people who say they must die when old, and merchants who say they lose money on every sale….
“Tsk, in any case, figure out the date as quickly as possible and let me know.”
“Of course. I believe the faster we resolve this, the sooner the nearby residents can find peace of mind.”
“That’s true.”
Ihyeon nodded, resolved to clear this cleanly since he’d already volunteered to handle it.
But then.
“Hm?”
“What’s wrong, brother?”
“Well….”
A message suddenly appeared before Ihyeon’s eyes, and he chuckled as he spoke.
“Can I bring one more person with me?”
“???”
Deokhuun, still unaware of the details, tilted his head in confusion at the cryptic question.
* * *
Wimun Island, a remote island somewhere off the coast of Namhae.
Ihyeon stood atop the modest island, gazing down at the open sea.
As always, Jia waited by his side.
After resting in the inventory for several days, the fatigue had completely vanished and she had returned to normal.
According to her own words, the aftereffects of Twilight had entirely disappeared.
Had it been otherwise, Ihyeon would never have brought Jia along.
Though her expression was similar to usual, upon closer inspection there was a faint flush of excitement as Jia spoke.
“It’s a beautiful landscape, Master.”
“Yeah, this is my first time coming this far either.”
Though dangerous monsters might lurk within, the way sunlight scattered across the rippling waves was quite beautiful.
Even the sensation of the warm breeze gently brushing through his hair felt fresh.
Since moving, I’d been living in nature—truly vast nature—but there was certainly a difference between the emotions evoked by land and those stirred by the sea.
According to Jia, her own memories of seeing such a beautiful sea could be counted on one hand.
Inside the Tower, one always had to face monsters, so it was inevitable.
Meanwhile, another person standing on the opposite side of her.
“Ugh— I, Young Master Ilgyeok…! This one’s stomach still feels like it’s churning…!”
It was none other than Jo Hanryeol, ranked 7th in South Korea and a member of the Aegis Guild.
Ihyeon frowned as he watched Hanryeol sprawled on the ground, practically at death’s door.
‘How is a ranker this severely seasick?’
No matter how far beyond human capability the system’s aid granted him, it seemed seasickness was something that couldn’t be overcome.
Or rather, if he possessed a trait like the Dragon’s Assassin, wouldn’t violent movements far exceeding a swaying ship be his daily norm?
By any measure, it was a truly pathetic sight.
But why had Hanryeol tagged along to clear the Instant Tower with me?
Right after accepting Deokhuun’s request.
「BlackDragonKing : Young Master Ilgyeok! It’s been ages since this one entertained you. How about we deepen our friendship by tackling the 80s floors together?
BlackDragonKing : This one happens to have some free time. What say you?」
Hanryeol had suddenly sent him this message.
…In truth, I received such messages fairly often even in the past, but I simply ignored them appropriately back then.
I was far too busy just clearing the 90th Floor range to have time to entertain such a tiresome person.
‘Though I hadn’t harbored particularly ill intentions.’
In broad strokes, my assessment wasn’t wrong.
In any case, while I was deliberating whether to simply ignore and brush past this one as well, Ihyeon sent a reply.
「Ilgyeok: Then, would you be willing to clear an Instant Tower together with me?」

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