I Got A Legendary Sniper Rifle - Chapter 32
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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 32
Episode 32
Though my father had succumbed to the conveniences of modern civilization, surely my mother wouldn’t lack some clear solution?
And moments later.
“Wh-wh-wh-what is this…?!?!!”
Minjeong, who had hurriedly closed her shop and returned after receiving Donghoo’s call, sensing something was terribly amiss, was left utterly astounded.
“This is our house, isn’t it?”
She was so bewildered she even stepped back outside to confirm the lake before entering again.
Donghoo pointed with a tilt of his chin at Ihyeon standing beside him.
“Ihyeon.”
“Yes, Mother.”
“Sit.”
“…Yes.”
Minjeong had clearly decided to have a proper conversation with him, unlike Donghoo.
Ihyeon too anticipated that Minjeong wouldn’t let him off as easily as Donghoo had.
So the time had come.
‘I need to tell my parents what I’ve been doing now.’
Since I’d already begun earning substantial money through my Hunter activities, I could hide it no longer.
It would inevitably come to light one way or another.
“Did you buy all of this with your own money?”
“Yes, so you don’t need to worry. Actually…”
“You should be careful with your severance pay. Your mother and father haven’t even quit our jobs yet.”
“?”
Ihyeon tilted his head in confusion for a moment.
‘Ah, did they think I’d spent my entire severance package?’
That would certainly be cause for concern.
But even if I’d exhausted my sergeant’s severance entirely, it wouldn’t have covered half of what I’d purchased today.
“No, it’s not that. I’ve earned money from a new job I recently started. I bought all this with that.”
At Ihyeon’s words, Minjeong and Donghoo exchanged glances.
They were both firmly convinced that Ihyeon was trying to earn money through gaming.
The only thing that came to mind was something like, ‘Did he obtain some valuable item in a game?’
‘I’ve heard that many people make money from gaming these days, but to this extent?’
‘Could it be an online scam…?!’
Seeing his parents’ transparent suspicion, Ihyeon decided to throw a fastball.
“Actually… I became a Hunter.”
“A Hunter?”
“You did?”
The two of them certainly reacted, their eyes widening in surprise.
In this day and age, when someone said ‘Hunter,’ people naturally thought of those with abilities who climbed towers.
Ihyeon nodded.
“Yes, so you don’t need to worry about money anymore. Take it easy with the supermarket work, and if it becomes too much, you can stop altogether.”
I meant every word.
A soldier’s meager salary could never support my parents properly.
That’s why I knew the supermarket work was destroying their bodies, yet I couldn’t bring myself to tell them to quit.
But things were different now.
‘I can’t tell them I’m an Ilgyeok just yet.’
In this era, if a son became even a decent Hunter, his family could live without financial worries.
At that, Donghoo and Minjeong nodded with misty eyes.
“So that’s what they call it these days—a Hunter….”
“In our time, we called them players or gamers. Well, good is good, I suppose.”
“Anyway, how much money does that even make? For now, your mother and I can still manage, so it’s fine. Just save it up.”
“….”
Mother, Father!
I had no idea what to say to Donghoo and Minjeong, who seemed unwilling to believe I was actually a Hunter.
“No, I really did become a Hunter! I have a level now, and I can use skills.”
When I protested again, Minjeong and Donghoo nodded with affectionate expressions.
“Sure, sure.”
“You can level up and use skills. We could all do that back in our day too.”
Should I say something harsh?
I considered it seriously.
But then I thought of a better way.
‘I don’t need to just talk about it, do I?’
What was the biggest difference between games and reality?
I could show them directly whenever I needed to.
“Sigh… Don’t be startled, just watch.”
I reached my hand out into empty air.
And in the hand that returned,
Glimmer—
A mana stone appeared—the symbol of a Hunter, the essential energy source of modern society.
An E-rank mana stone, no larger than two finger joints, gleamed with brilliant light as it revealed itself before Minjeong and Donghoo.
“Wh-what is this….”
“A mana stone…?”
Only then did I smile, thinking the conversation was finally getting through.
“Yes, now you believe me, right? I….”
“Where did you learn magic tricks?”
“I heard there are lots of talented people on the internet.”
“The fact that I learned magic tricks…. That’s not it!”
I finally raised my voice in exasperation.
But by this point, Minjeong and Donghoo were catching on.
They were even making jokes that didn’t fit, though they found it hard to believe.
“So you’ve really become a Hunter, Ihyeon….”
“Congratulations, Ihyeon!”
My son had truly obtained a level and become a Hunter ascending the Tower.
The three family members sat facing each other in brief silence.
Donghoo and Minjeong understood well enough.
They knew how much hardship Ihyeon had endured as an Awakened One all this time.
They were aware that with his absurdly insufficient mana reserves, he had faced countless difficulties in carrying out his assigned duties.
They couldn’t ask for details, only guessing from the tone of his voice over the phone, but that was enough for his parents.
Minjeong and Donghoo embraced Ihyeon tightly without hesitation.
“This is wonderful. It was your dream, after all.”
“Yes, somehow it worked out.”
Then Donghoo, who had been thinking of something, suddenly jumped to his feet.
“Wait, this isn’t the time for that. I need to contact people right now….”
“Wait a moment, Dad!”
Ihyeon urgently stopped Donghoo, who was about to reach for his phone.
I understood his joy, but what kind of disaster did he think would happen?
Crack——!
But before Ihyeon could even explain, Minjeong struck Donghoo’s back heartily.
“Are you out of your mind?!”
“Why, why?”
Donghoo yelped in pain and turned to Minjeong with an aggrieved expression.
Wasn’t it the greatest fortune that his son had become a Hunter?
Was it really worth getting hit on the back just for wanting to brag about it a little?
“Don’t you know that if a professional soldier awakens, their service is automatically extended? You clearly didn’t mention your awakening and got discharged, but do you want to see your son dragged back into the Military?”
“Oh, oh, was that it?”
“Sigh, how can someone who’s already served in the Military not know this better than me? Get your head on straight!”
“Well, when I was in the Military, there wasn’t….”
She was scolding him so fiercely that even Ihyeon himself carefully interjected.
“Um, Mom, there’s no need to be so harsh….”
“No need? What do you mean no need? You already left the Military—there’s absolutely no way you’re going back! My heart’s been in my throat every time news breaks about a Gate opening! Ihyeon, don’t you dare tell anyone about this!”
Minjeong looked at Ihyeon sharply and warned him.
Ihyeon nodded.
“Yes… Of course I won’t tell anyone. I’ve only told you and Dad.”
“Good, well done. You could have kept it a secret forever, actually.”
‘Is she scolding me?’
Ihyeon studied Minjeong’s expression with an uncertain look.
He hadn’t expected her to be so firm about this.
Meanwhile, Donghoo, thoroughly cowed, ventured cautiously.
“Well, it’s still something to celebrate, so how about we have a small family party?”
It was clear that Ihyeon becoming a Hunter was truly a source of pride and joy for him.
I nodded, thinking that much should be fine.
“Yes, I’ll buy you something delicious—”
But then.
“Tsk! These people really!”
“I, this won’t work either…?”
It seemed like it wouldn’t work no matter what.
Minjeong shouted with her eyes wide open like an axe, threatening the two men.
“A party? What party! If our family suddenly goes out for a party, won’t people look at us strangely? ‘Oh, must be something to celebrate?’ What am I supposed to say to that?”
“Well… we could just say we’re having a family dinner out.”
“M, maybe.”
“Oh my, Seunghyeok’s Mother is so perceptive, and Song’s Mother too? They’d immediately think ‘Huh? That’s suspicious. Did their son become a Hunter?’ And then what would they think? ‘Gasp! That boy just finished his military service recently, so could it be?’ What would you do then?”
Even so, that didn’t seem right.
Ihyeon and Donghoo’s expressions became slightly awkward, but Minjeong paid no mind.
“Don’t underestimate the perceptiveness of the neighborhood women. You think you’re special forces so that’s the best, but they say neighborhood women are actually better at catching spies than anyone?”
“Y, yes….”
“Anyway, tonight we’re having kimchi stew! No, let’s just eat it even more plainly with fresh kimchi!”
“Ihyeon’s Mother, but eating just fresh kimchi….”
“That way they’ll think ‘Hmm, did something bad happen to that family?’ They’ll never suspect their son became a Hunter!”
“….”
Ihyeon and Donghoo closed their mouths at the same time.
It seemed the sharpshooter’s mother was even greater than the sharpshooter himself.
But as a son, I couldn’t go against my mother’s wishes.
I nodded.
“Then should I return everything we bought today?”
“Let me see, the kimchi….”
But for some reason, Minjeong didn’t answer and hummed a tune as she headed toward the kitchen.
Did she not hear me?
I asked again.
“Mom, should we return everything we bought today?”
“Since it’s still a good day, I should take out the new kimchi~”
Still no answer came back.
The third time.
“Mom—”
When I called out to Minjeong.
Poke—
Donghoo beside me jabbed my side.
“Why, Dad?”
Donghoo shook his head and spoke.
“That’s probably not necessary.”
“Ah….”
Ihyeon soon found himself understanding why Minjeong hadn’t answered.
* * *
Despite the joyous occasion of his son becoming a Hunter, the next day after settling dinner with only pickled vegetables.
For reference, breakfast had been spinach seasoning.
Ihyeon was about to enter the Tower as usual.
「Republic of Korea, Main Tower 20th Floor Public Area. Will you enter?」
‘Still, it’s nice that I can come and go from home now.’
Not in the open field near home as usual, but in my own room.
Even if I suddenly disappeared now, my parents wouldn’t have reason to suspect anything.
Just as I was about to enter with those thoughts.
“…Dad, what is it?”
“Hmm.”
Donghoo had been peeking inside through the slightly ajar door this whole time.
Ihyeon turned to look at him, wondering if he had something to say.
Donghoo quickly shook his head.
“Oh, no. You’re heading into the Tower now?”
“Yes. I should get to work.”
“I see. Go on then.”
“?”
Ihyeon felt slightly puzzled by Donghoo’s unusual behavior.
Wait, shouldn’t he be at the supermarket around this time?
Was he taking a day off today?
In that moment of thought.
Ssshhh—
A sharp killing intent was sensed from behind Donghoo.
A movement rivaling that of an assassination-type monster.
Minjeong’s face, pale as a wax figure, appeared over Donghoo’s shoulder.
And then.
Crack—!
“This man still hasn’t come to his senses!”
“Ah, what now!”
“What now? What now? Stop saying that. You still haven’t opened the Super Gate?”
“I, I was just trying to watch our son head to work….”
“I told you to act normally! Good grief. Ihyeon! Your mother will keep your father in line, so have a safe trip! Take care of yourself!”
“Yes, Mom.”
Ihyeon glanced at Donghoo with pitiful eyes once more.
‘Let, let me enter.’
I immediately stepped into the Public Area.
I was quite worried about what would happen to Donghoo afterward, but there was nothing I could do about it.
I was, after all, an Ilgyeok and a member of the Hunters bearing the future of the Republic of Korea.
Minjeong said she’d handle it well, so there shouldn’t be any problems.
…Or so I thought, but truthfully, Minjeong’s shocking appearance just now still hadn’t faded from my mind.
‘Indeed, the world is vast and masters are plentiful.’
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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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