I Got A Legendary Sniper Rifle - Chapter 33
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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 33
Episode 33
Perhaps because it was early morning, the Public Floor was considerably quieter compared to the afternoon and evening when crowds typically gathered.
Of course, even so, there were still quite a few people in the entrance area.
I scanned through the people in the entrance area roughly.
Having now spent several days active in the 20th Floor range myself, there were quite a few faces I recognized.
‘That person’s consistent too. Did they clear the 25th Floor well? Really, just looking at their face makes me feel a bit sorry.’
First, there was Minjeong, who had always been grateful—the one who took the blame for Ilgyeok instead of me.
‘…That person really does seem like it’s time we parted ways now.’
And Heeuwon, the Carrie Machine who lived far more solidly than the rumors suggested.
Truth be told, I hadn’t seen him fight properly, but considering he’d made it all the way to the 20th Floor range, he probably wasn’t that weak, right?
I passed the time here and there while thinking such things.
「Republic of Korea, Main Tower 26th Floor. Will you enter?」
“Yes.”
And so I entered the 26th Floor.
From the 26th Floor onward, instead of regular Kobolds, there were more robust War Kobolds that fought in formation like an army, and instead of Royal Kobolds, Commander Kobolds appeared, but the strategy remained similar.
This was also why I wasn’t particularly worried.
My greatest enemy wasn’t monsters—it was my fellow party members.
I had made perfect preparations, not forgetting to bring along the Dummy and my concealment cloak.
After my deal with Deokhuun, the Dummy underwent considerable changes.
Though it had no abilities, I had properly equipped it with Healer gear at a reasonable price.
‘Since I’m already halfway a Healer myself anyway, there’s no real reason to be cautious about it.’
But I kept my face as it was for now.
I was well aware of how scarce Healers were.
If I carelessly changed the Healer’s face while active, I might get caught.
Upon entering, I first confirmed my party members’ faces.
“Ah, the last member has arrived.”
“A Healer?”
As long as I was disguised as a Healer, there was no reason I wouldn’t be welcomed.
One Assassin and one Goblin Warrior wielding a large greatsword.
‘Hmm?’
But just as I was about to leave my position after putting the Dummy forward, I sensed something suspicious from the Goblin Warrior.
‘Something… their eyes seem a bit strange.’
It was definitely the look of someone who knew something.
Though they still seemed uncertain about it.
A clearly different attitude from the Assassin, who was just grinning happily at seeing a Healer.
However, I also couldn’t yet determine exactly why they were reacting that way.
Since they didn’t seem to have recognized my true identity, I decided to wait a bit longer until they took some clear action.
As for the other two….
“A Healer…? Are you… the person we met last time?!”
“Oh, we meet again!”
It was Minjeong and Heeuwon—people I’d grown accustomed to seeing by now.
‘How did that person manage to get through? Was their skill better than I expected?’
I tilted my head as I looked at Heeuwon.
Heeuwon’s abilities were already well-known across the board.
I’d heard that even knowing this fact myself, he didn’t challenge the mid-boss on the 25th Floor and was just repeatedly clearing the early stages.
‘…There must be some reason for it.’
Even setting Heeuwon aside, an Assassin, Dark Mage, and Goblin Warrior made for a reasonably well-balanced party composition.
The party’s atmosphere, which had felt slightly awkward until we first entered, had become much more relaxed.
As for Minjeong, on the other hand.
‘Something feels suspicious….’
She was glaring at the Dummy with a slightly suspicious gaze.
There was no definitive evidence anywhere.
But as Minjeong thought it over carefully at home, she suddenly felt something was off.
‘If Ilgyeok really was in those parties, wouldn’t people with suspiciously similar appearances have slipped in one by one?’
It didn’t make sense even to her.
When everything from appearance was clearly different, what basis was there to conclude they were the same Ilgyeok?
While I was having such thoughts.
「Difficulty setting for conquest complete.
S+」
The difficulty for conquering the 26th Floor had been determined.
Minjeong suddenly burst out without realizing it.
“Look at this! Look at this!”
“Yes? What is it?”
Heeuwon, the Carrie Machine standing beside Minjeong, asked in confusion.
‘If you’re Ilgyeok anyway, why all the fuss?’
I was beginning to think Ilgyeok’s acting skills were improving the further we went.
Though I suppose that’s how he made it to the 26th Floor without revealing his identity to anyone.
Minjeong spoke sharply to Heeuwon, who was just smiling without understanding anything.
“Don’t you get it yet? That person is Ilgyeok!”
Right, thinking about it, it wasn’t entirely impossible.
I myself am a Dark Mage, after all.
If Ilgyeok really was a Dark Mage as reported, he could easily deceive people’s eyes with illusion magic or something similar.
‘How could I not have thought of this until now!’
Minjeong hadn’t forgotten the humiliation she’d endured from being falsely accused of being Ilgyeok.
No, in fact, it’s still ongoing.
Now that I’d finally found the real Ilgyeok, I would make sure to claim my compensation.
While I was making such a resolution, Heeuwon spoke to me with a serious expression.
“Ilgyeok.”
“I’m not Ilgyeok!”
“I don’t know what circumstances led you to hide your identity so carefully, but that doesn’t justify pinning the blame on someone else.”
Minjeong was absolutely furious, practically bouncing with indignation, so exasperated she could barely breathe.
“Who’s pinning blame on whom right now… Ugh, just close your mouth and be quiet!”
“Cough, I thought Ilgyeok was merciful….”
Heeuwon recoiled in shock at Minjeong’s harsh words—words she had never spoken to him before.
“Pardon? What do you mean by that? Uh, uh…? Now that I think about it, Ilgyeok is a Dark Mage and a woman… Gasp, could it be?!”
The clueless Assassin Hunter looked around in sudden alarm.
No matter how rare and special a Healer might be, it was the complete opposite of Ilgyeok’s image of clearing dungeons in an instant.
Moreover, Minjeong’s words aligned far too perfectly with the rumors circulating in society.
“Who on earth spread the rumor that Ilgyeok is a Dark Mage? Tsk….”
‘…I only ever said I was a Mage.’
Ihyeon, recalling his past, quietly rationalized the situation to himself.
Meanwhile, the moment the dungeon difficulty was confirmed as S+ rank, the Goblin Warrior nodded and strode toward the Dummy.
‘As expected, running the same dungeon with the same people repeatedly—I can’t keep deceiving them forever.’
Ihyeon calmly moved to find his sniping position while continuing to observe the party’s atmosphere.
He was fully prepared to respond to any unexpected situation that might arise.
Setting aside Minjeong for now, he had to deal with that suspicious Goblin Warrior first.
The Goblin Warrior, now standing before the Dummy, reached into his garment.
Whoosh—
Could he possibly have some hidden trump card to attack the Dummy?
Everyone tensed without realizing it.
What emerged from the Goblin Warrior’s garment was not some special weapon, but rather a Civil Servant’s badge and business cards.
“??”
“I am a Hunter dispatched from the Management Bureau. It’s an honor to meet you.”
Could there be any more certain confirmation than this?
Minjeong spoke to Heeuwon as if to say, “I told you so.”
“See? I told you that Healer was the culprit… I mean, Ilgyeok.”
“Hmm….”
Heeuwon wanted to be sure, so he continued to observe the situation.
But then.
Whoosh—
“?? Why me?”
The Hunter from the Management Bureau handed a card to the Assassin Hunter standing beside him.
Whoosh—
“Huh?”
And to Minjeong.
Whoosh—
“??????”
Finally, he handed one to Carrie Machine Heeuwon as well.
And he greeted each of them politely in turn.
“To protect Ilgyeok’s identity, I’ve unfortunately distributed my business card to everyone. However, I’ve sent a private message to Ilgyeok on behalf of the Management Bureau, so I would be grateful if you could confirm it at your convenience.”
It was a method that showed the Management Bureau had given considerable thought to not offending Ilgyeok during this contact.
‘Well, I appreciate it. …Wait.’
Through the Dummy’s eyes, I examined the business card and let out a bitter laugh.
It was certainly kind of them to protect my identity.
But this approach would clearly create victims again….
“As expected!”
“What do you mean ‘as expected’!”
Heeuwon became smug again and looked at Minjeong with a subtle expression.
Minjeong’s convulsive reaction was a bonus.
“Wow! I actually get to see Ilgyeok!”
The Assassin Hunter, who had been struggling to grasp the situation until now, became certain that Minjeong was Ilgyeok and examined her face intently.
As things unfolded this way, Minjeong nodded in resignation.
“Yes… I am Ilgyeok. I’ve truly committed an unforgivable sin.”
“Wow!”
The Hunter from the Management Bureau surely knew who Ilgyeok was, but it didn’t seem like she would look after Minjeong at this point.
‘When I can reveal my identity later, I really need to take proper care of her….’
I felt indebted to Minjeong once again and decided to at least check the message the Management Bureau had sent.
They hadn’t seemed to pinpoint my identity exactly yet, but the fact that they’d come this far meant there had been considerable progress.
‘I’m not particularly keen on it… but if necessary, I may need to negotiate with the Management Bureau.’
The conflict between the Management Bureau and the Military was fairly well known.
If my identity were exposed, it would actually be more beneficial for me to speak with the Management Bureau first.
I opened the private message for just a moment.
「Private Chat: 157,572
Please check your private chat room.」
“….”
So many messages accumulated over a month.
I ignored everything else and only checked the messages from the ID listed on the business card.
A message with lengthy content.
「Sender ID: Tower Defense
Content: Ilgyeok, we are aware that you are hiding your identity due to a criminal record. The Hunter Management Bureau will do everything in its power to protect your identity, and the Tower Safety Management Division is legally guaranteed the authority to recommend special pardons for such cases…. 」
“….”
I stopped in my tracks toward the sniper point and was dumbfounded.
‘What? A criminal?’
Do they think everything they say is the truth!
Since I had never done anything remotely wrong in my entire life, this misunderstanding was all the more infuriating.
But then a thought occurred to me.
‘…No wait, technically I’m evading military service right now, so I guess I am a criminal?’
Thinking about it that way, it seemed somewhat ambiguous….
I shook my head quickly.
‘What nonsense. If I’d known about circumstances like that, I would’ve brought up the Military, not crime.’
The Management Bureau seemed to have gotten their facts spectacularly wrong.
Treating an innocent person like a criminal.
Ihyeon quickened his pace, growing more agitated by the moment.
He resolved to postpone contacting the Management Bureau even further.
What on earth had made the Management Bureau think Ilgyeok was a criminal?
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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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