I Got A Legendary Sniper Rifle - Chapter 46

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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 46
Episode 46
After Jia quickly finished even the complimentary ice cream she’d received, we were ready to move on.
“So, shall we get started for real now?”
I rose from my seat and spoke.
“Yes.”
One might wonder what exactly we were starting or where we were heading, but Jia simply nodded and stood up without question.
The shopping mall was overflowing with clothing stores.
I decided to enter only those places where the mannequins were displaying reasonably decent outfits.
Given Jia’s striking appearance, the store clerks’ reactions were quite remarkable.
“Oh my! We have some newly arrived clothes here, and they’d be absolutely perfect for you~”
“How do they suit you even better than the mannequins?”
Before I could even select clothes, Jia was being led here and there by the clerks’ hands like she was in a fashion show.
When I nodded approvingly, she showed no particular displeasure.
I’d worried she might cause some incident from not understanding the ways of the world, but it seemed there was no need for such concern.
In no time, shopping bags filled with newly purchased clothes were hanging from Jia’s hands.
“This should be enough for her to wear around without any problems, right?”
I nodded in satisfaction as well.
I hadn’t purchased anything particularly flashy.
Just ordinary clothes that female students who appeared to be Jia’s age would wear.
Yet when Jia wore them, they looked perfectly fitting and lovely.
Right now, she wore jeans that barely reached her ankles and a slightly loose sweatshirt.
The hat on her head was a complimentary gift from the clerk, who said the outfit suited it too well.
With just that much, she looked no different from any other college student.
Jia bowed deeply while holding the shopping bags.
“I am grateful for your kindness.”
“Kindness? It’s just new clothes.”
As I waved my hand dismissively, Jia paused briefly in thought, then waved her hand through the air as if remembering something she’d forgotten.
“It is far too little to repay the debt I owe you, but…”
“?”
What she presented was surprisingly a Maesek Stone.
Four D-grade Maesek Stones.
“What is this?”
I asked, bewildered at where these Maesek Stones had suddenly come from.
Jia answered.
“These are what I received upon completing the task on the 31st Floor.”
“Ah.”
The basic reward for the 31st Floor was two D-grade Maesek Stones.
With the S+ bonus, two additional stones were granted.
‘She can receive rewards too?’
My expression grew serious.
For me, Maesek stones were more than just a means of earning money—they were a way to increase the mana stats of my Maesek Gun.
Their value was immense.
So Jia would receive rewards alongside me?
‘I’d heard she was treated as a half-Hunter, but I didn’t expect this to apply as well….’
As I appeared to be contemplating, Jia added an explanation.
“During missions conducted while I am manifested in physical form, I am classified as one human being.”
“I see?”
The crucial part of Jia’s words was ‘while I am manifested in physical form.’
In other words, simply summoning Jia would activate the double rewards event.
My eyes gleamed.
‘Then there’s no reason not to keep her summoned?’
Jia’s abilities weren’t lacking enough to be a hindrance.
Actually, now that I thought about it, she possessed abilities remarkable enough to fill in my own shortcomings.
Then….
“Haha! Jia, let’s stay together from now on!”
Having finished my calculations, I laughed heartily and walked forward with excitement.
Jia faithfully followed behind me.
But on her face, which I failed to notice, lingered a faint smile.
‘Now I can always be with Master.’
Even though I would surely be useless for clearing dungeons, Master had decided to keep me.
That’s why Master personally bestowed upon me ice cream, that supreme delicacy of this world, and even provided me with clothes to wear in this realm.
Moreover, even though I had failed to present the Maesek stones that should have been offered long ago, Master not only refrained from reproaching me but forgave me most graciously.
It was a moment that deepened Jia’s loyalty to me even further.
Shopping Mall Parking Lot.
I turned to Jia with an “ah” and asked her.
“Jia, is there perhaps a way for you to grow stronger with Maesek stones too?”
Just as my Maesek Gun’s mana stats increased when it absorbed Maesek stones, I was asking if Jia had a similar function.
But Jia’s expression showed slight shock as she shook her head.
“I have no such ability.”
“Ah, is that so? I see.”
What did it matter?
Even without reinforcement through Maesek stones, my stats increased by a full 13 points per level.
I nodded and prepared to drive.
“…If such a function is necessary, I would offer my very existence….”
Meanwhile, Jia seemed to have interpreted my question differently.
It appeared she had taken it as a rebuke: ‘How dare you lack even such a basic function and presume to be an S+ rank item and my subordinate?’
Jia began to tear up, reproaching herself for her inadequacy.
“W-what are you saying? I was just asking, just asking!”
“No, sir. You gave me precious gifts, yet I possess only this meager ability….”
“What are you talking about? I’m not blaming you, so calm down.”
As I hurried to clarify, Jia finally looked at me directly.
Perhaps she understood that my words were sincere.
“Yes. I displayed an unsightly state.”
She quickly straightened her posture and returned to her usual taciturn demeanor.
‘Indeed, they say worrying too much brings its own troubles.’
It seemed that going forward, my most important task would be to assure Jia that I would never abandon her.
* * *
30th Floor Common Area.
I had come to conquer the 32nd Floor mission, and once again I walked through the village with Jia and Dummy.
However, Jia’s positioning had changed somewhat from before.
Previously, she had maintained a certain distance while walking alongside me, but now she clung to me as if providing close protection.
“…Could you stay a bit further away?”
It wasn’t particularly inconvenient, but the distance was still quite close, so I asked carefully.
However, Jia’s answer was resolute.
“I cannot.”
“Sigh.”
I nodded helplessly.
After visiting the shopping mall, I had asked why she was acting this way, and she said it was to protect me.
Normally, she would leave protection to the one in black and take the lead to clear the path herself, but she had revised her strategy.
‘Since I’m too strong to need a vanguard, what can I do about it?’
It was a reason I couldn’t help but accept.
From Jia’s perspective, I didn’t particularly need a vanguard.
If I gave separate instructions later, she would follow them, but honestly, I couldn’t think of a role for her in the current situation either.
In any case, I observed the peaceful atmosphere of the village, just as I had yesterday.
“Is something the matter?”
Jia asked.
“Ah, it’s not that. Rather, I’m relieved there isn’t.”
I recalled the contents of posts I had seen on Hunter Now.
[ Title: Essential Reading for Hunters Entering the 31st Floor
Content: Don’t get cocky just because you cleared the 30th Floor. You’re still the weakest ones on the next floor, got it? And you know villains roam around now, right? The 30th Floor range is still clean, but be careful—your entire inventory could be stripped. If only your inventory gets emptied, consider yourself lucky… ]
Warning posts with this kind of tone had been posted fairly regularly.
Of course, it was far better than the 60th Floor range, which was called the worst floor, but the 30th Floor range was also no place for carelessness.
In a tower filled with monsters desperate to kill hunters, it was far too easy to commit villainy.
As the post said, if only your inventory was stripped, you’d be lucky; in severe cases, deaths were disguised as accidents and buried forever.
‘Still, now that I have Jia, I’m a bit less worried about that.’
I glanced back at Jia and felt a reassuring sense of security welling up inside me.
Just seeing how she had destroyed the Kobold Castle, no villain would dare breach my shield.
Still, it might be good to give her a warning.
“Jia.”
“Yes.”
“From now on, even among Hunters, criminals can be mixed in, so you need to be careful. Understand?”
Crunch—
Upon hearing my words, Jia clenched her fists tightly.
“Whoa, what?”
A Hunter who happened to be walking nearby felt Jia’s aura and was startled.
“I don’t mean she’s here!”
“Yes.”
Then, as if by magic, her aura vanished.
I exhaled in relief and elaborated further.
“There are ones called Villains. They deliberately drive monsters toward others, or use force to threaten and steal from other Hunters. In severe cases….”
I trailed off.
But Jia seemed to understand perfectly well what should have followed.
Jia nodded with a resolute gaze.
“Do not worry, Master. No matter how strong such wicked ones are, they cannot harm you.”
Though I didn’t know it, Jia had already met Gwangju and Bonghyeon at the Shopping Mall.
Hearing my words, something clicked into place for her.
‘Those who came to harm Master are certainly them.’
Naturally, they wouldn’t have had business with a mere spirit like herself.
They must have intended to detain me, my subordinate, to cause him harm.
Recalling my earnest warnings that her identity as Ilgyeok must be hidden no matter what, this seemed all the more plausible.
‘There are truly terrifying people in this world.’
How on earth did they find out and approach her?
Jia shook her head slightly with such thoughts.
“Why are you like that?”
“It’s nothing.”
When I asked upon seeing her expression, Jia deflected for now.
After all, a true piece of armor should block attacks without the wearer even knowing.
To boast about such things one by one was absolutely not the way of a subordinate.
For an S+ grade like Jia, there was even less to say.
Then, something caught in Jia’s heightened senses.
It was something I might have overlooked without much concern.
But.
“…Huh? Gwangju, over there….”
“…What?!”
Since Jia had met them before, she couldn’t fail to recognize them.
How did they find out and follow her here?
Jia, who had given it no particular thought yesterday, now felt displeasure.
Should I handle them without Master knowing?
She pondered for a moment, but.
‘…For now, I’ll hold off on that.’
Jia decided to stay by my side.
It would be fine to eliminate any potential dangers beforehand.
But there was no need to go through the trouble for something that couldn’t possibly pose a threat in the first place.
* * *
After getting thoroughly scolded by Jia at the Shopping Mall, Gwangju and Bonghyeon headed toward a bar.
“Damn it, what rotten luck!”
“I really liked her too, but of all people, she had to be a Hunter….”
Without giving a single thought to their own wrongdoing, they simply grumbled—a typical display of hooligan behavior.
So why had they headed to the bar?
It wasn’t to drown their sorrows over a failed conquest.
The night of the entertainment district, shrouded in darkness.
A dark club that required descending to the 2nd Floor basement to reach.
The air was filled with deafening bass that pounded against the eardrums, and an unpleasant mixture of perfume and cosmetics assaulted the nose.
“Where’s the boss?”
“They said he’s in the usual room.”
Gwangju and Bonghyeon made their way familiarly to a private room deep within the club.
A waiter who recognized them promptly opened the door, revealing several women and men inside.
And among them, seated at the place of honor, was a large, burly man.
“Boss!”
“We’ve arrived!”
“…You’re a bit late, aren’t you?”
“S-sorry, Sunddeuk!”
ID: GoodPerson. Real name: Choi Sunddeuk.
Unlike the ordinary thugs that Gwangju and Bonghyeon were, he was a Hunter with considerable influence—one with connections to a villainous group, a ‘crew’.
Though naturally lazy and rarely venturing into the Tower, according to his own claims, he possessed the skill to easily climb to around the 50th Floor.
Bang—!
“Didn’t I tell you not to call me that?”
“I-I’m truly sorry, Nice Guy!”
He particularly despised being called by his real name.

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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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