I Got A Legendary Sniper Rifle - Chapter 72

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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 72
Episode 72
「The Wave on the 42nd Floor of the Main Tower of South Korea has ended prematurely.
Contribution Ranking
1. Ilgyeok
….」
「The Wave on the 43rd Floor of the Main Tower of South Korea has ended prematurely.
Contribution Ranking
….」
「The Wave on the 44th Floor of the Main Tower of South Korea has ended prematurely.」
Having become the hero of the 43rd Floor, I ascended the Tower with unstoppable momentum.
Not only did I rank first in contribution and achieve an S+ clear, but I ended every single Wave prematurely!
[ (Breaking News) Ilgyeok ends 44th Floor Wave prematurely.
└ Reporter, tell us. You already wrote tomorrow’s article, didn’t you? ]
Because of this, the breaking news that came out every single day now had comments like this attached.
Unlike before, the real-time reactions from the Hunters on each floor were a source of entertainment for people.
The Wave Boss of the 42nd Floor, Skeleton Warrior.
The Wave Boss of the 43rd Floor, Ghoul King.
The Wave Boss of the 44th Floor, Requiem Specter.
[ Ilgyeok’s breakthrough to the 45th Floor—all items 45% off!
└ The day Ilgyeok reaches the 100th Floor will be the day South Korea falls;; ]
Domestic companies went so far as to hold such unprecedented promotions to fuel the excitement.
While people were enjoying the festive atmosphere day after day.
I asked Jia with a somewhat serious expression.
“So, what exactly is supposed to happen on the 45th Floor?”
“Yes, Master.”
Jia nodded as if she felt ashamed.
According to Jia’s words, those with S+ grade weapons—that is, weapons with consciousness—would perform their duties in a special location on the 45th Floor, unlike other Hunters.
“What kind of duty is it?”
“I cannot tell you that.”
Jia’s expression grew increasingly gloomy.
She was full of desire to tell me, but the system’s restrictions prevented her from disclosing it to others.
“Hmm….”
“However, you need not worry. No matter what threat awaits, it cannot harm you in your current state.”
Jia spoke with an unwavering expression, as if she truly believed this.
“If you say so, then I’m somewhat reassured.”
I responded as such and summoned my status window.
「Choi Ihyeon’s Sniper Gun
Lv.24」
My level remained at 24.
‘It’s a shame I didn’t gain a level while climbing the 4th Floor, but it’s not entirely unexpected.’
Considering I’d obtain a skill at level 25, the disappointment was even greater.
It seemed I could level up with just one or two more clears.
In the 40s, the number of monsters I hunted increased, but the experience requirement for Hunters rose proportionally, and the experience each individual monster provided had diminished.
Moreover, if I—who hunted nearly every mob and even defeated the Wave Boss Monster—was only at this point, what could other Hunters possibly achieve?
There were cases where gaining just a single level required grinding for two weeks, or in severe cases, an entire month.
Should I safely reach level 25 and enter the 45th Floor?
‘That would be nice, but… I want to escape the 40s as quickly as possible.’
Though Jia had brilliantly drawn aggro, allowing me to ascend without much burden.
The longer I remained here, the more stress Jia would accumulate, knowingly or not.
And there was no benefit to showing Jia to the people for an extended period.
‘If necessary, I can use more of my accumulated stat points.’
With a reliable reserve of distributable stats, I could use them if danger arose.
Having made my decision, I spoke to Jia.
“Okay. Shall we head to the 45th Floor?”
“I shall follow.”
Snap—
Jia saluted with her characteristic elegance as always.
What on earth was going to happen on the 45th Floor that made Jia give such a warning?
‘Though it was more of a notification than a warning, I’m still curious.’
But like everything else, worrying about it beforehand wouldn’t change anything.
Direct confrontation was the best approach.
Thus, Ihyeon and Jia re-entered the Ruined Fortress.
By now, Jia had transcended being merely a celebrity among the people of the 40s—she was a superstar herself.
“Ilgyeok! Thank you for saving me last time. Please accept this token of my gratitude.”
“You fool! What gratitude? Do you think Ilgyeok would accept such base sentiments?”
“Base? Did you finish what you were saying?!”
Quite a few people pressed various byproducts and even items upon Jia as gifts.
Initially, Jia had tried to politely refuse.
「Ilgyeok: They said it’s from the heart. Just accept it.」
「Jia: …Is that truly acceptable?」
Following my instruction, she decided to accept.
‘I should take everything I can while I’m a civilian. If I accept these as a soldier later, it’ll be far more complicated.’
Such gifts should always be accepted to the fullest extent while one’s civilian status carries fewer restrictions!
…Though no one was trying to drag me anywhere, I was acting as though my re-enlistment was already confirmed.
In any case, the Hunters brought gifts within reasonable bounds that wouldn’t cause burden, so there was no major issue.
To such an extent that the ‘One Strike Cafe’ had even posted organized lists of gift items that were appropriately valuable and suitable for giving to Ilgyeok.
Thus, receiving warm welcomes from the people, Ihyeon and Jia headed toward the 45th Floor.
“Make way, Ilgyeok is passing through!”
“Those with no business on the 45th Floor, please step aside!”
“Let’s conduct ourselves with proper decorum!”
A group of volunteers—not the Vigilantes—began separating the crowd from Jia.
“Who are you people?”
“We’re from the One-Shot Café~”
“Ah, Fan Cafe Members are always welcome~”
They were a self-organized order-maintenance group composed of volunteers from the One-Shot Café.
Operating under the motto of “sustainable fandom,” they engaged in these activities out of concern that Jia might feel burdened.
Besides, if things became too chaotic, it would only inconvenience other Hunters using the Ruined Fortress, so this measured control was welcomed by all.
So what was Ihyeon doing while Jia made her exit from the Ruined Fortress?
“Ah, I haven’t gotten a proper look at Ilgyeok yet—couldn’t I see a bit more?”
“Come now! Please cooperate in establishing sustainable fan culture!”
He was causing trouble among his own fans as always.
It was unimaginable what would happen if they discovered Ihyeon’s true identity, yet here were the Fan Cafe Members scolding him with stern expressions!
With a regretful expression, Ihyeon turned away, donned his concealing cloak, and once the crowd had quieted, he set off after Jia.
‘This is actually pretty fun when you get into it.’
Ihyeon had somehow become absorbed in this mischief.
Unlike the 41st through 44th Floors, which operated at the gates to the east, west, south, and north of the Ruined Fortress, the 45th Floor required venturing further outside.
It was called the “Collapsed Forward Base.”
One could reach it by exiting through a side gate and making one’s way along a narrow path.
But like all the previous Floors, the 45th Floor was also a Wave featuring a mid-boss.
How could such a thing be implemented within the structure of the 40th Floor range?
It was simple.
The Wave Bosses from all previous Floors would simply converge during the Wave period.
Troll Ghoul, Skeleton Warrior, Ghoul King, Requiem Specter.
These combined forces would advance toward the Forward Base.
Of course, even so, their numbers were far fewer than in a normal Wave, and while most were Skeleton Warriors, it was certain that this Floor could not be underestimated.
When the Hunters already at the Forward Base, engaged with monsters, heard that Ilgyeok was heading there, they erupted in cheers.
“Wow! We’ll actually get to see Ilgyeok?”
“This is my chance to push forward too!”
Unlike other Floors, on the 45th Floor it was common to retreat if it seemed impossible to endure until the Wave ended, making Ilgyeok’s arrival all the more welcome.
Not only would they see Ilgyeok in person, but at least half of them were now guaranteed to advance to the 46th Floor.
“Hold on just a bit longer!”
“Troll Ghoul incoming!”
The Hunters, now brimming with confidence, began engaging the monsters.
But.
“Another Troll Ghoul!”
For some reason.
“There’s a Ghoul King!”
“Where is Ilgyeok?”
Despite enough time having passed for him to travel from the Ruined Fortress to the Forward Base and beyond.
“Ugh, it’s Requiem!”
“A Mage!”
Ilgyeok never appeared at the forward base.
“…?”
“What’s going on?”
The Hunters who had been eagerly anticipating his arrival deflated like punctured balloons, glancing back toward the rear of the forward base, but no matter how much they looked, Ilgyeok wasn’t coming.
Not long after slipping through the side gate and walking along the forest path, I encountered Jia, who had gone ahead.
And beside her, a suspicious portal as well.
“Is this that special 45th Floor you mentioned?”
“Yes, Master.”
Jia answered with her eyes downcast.
I examined the portal once with my eyes.
An ominous black color.
In truth, if Jia hadn’t specifically told me about it, I would never have entered it of my own accord—the appearance was that forbidding.
‘I don’t know what special reward it might offer, but I lack nothing even now. Why bother?’
I preferred the safe path to needless adventure!
But according to Jia’s words, now that I owned her, I had to complete this task.
Whoosh—
Just to be sure, as I tried to simply pass by the portal, it smoothly moved along with me.
There was no way I could just ignore it now.
I cautiously brought my hand toward the portal.
Crackle— Crackle—
Ominous sparks erupted from the portal to my hand.
It wasn’t a particularly strange sensation.
As I brought my hand closer, a notification window appeared.
「You are entering the 45th Floor (???) of the Main Tower of South Korea.」
Except for the question marks in the parentheses, it was an entry notification no different from usual….
‘…Or rather!’
If it were truly an ordinary notification, it would ask for my consent to enter.
But this time it wasn’t “Will you enter?” but rather “You are entering.”
In other words, I had no choice in the matter.
Whoosh—!
At the same moment, the portal expanded as if to swallow me whole.
No, my instincts were telling me something.
Not “as if” it would swallow me, but that it really would.
“J-Jia, is this really how it normally goes?”
Having never heard such details before, I opened my eyes wide and asked.
But then.
“???”
“???”
Ihyeon hadn’t anticipated that even Jia would be startled, her eyes widening in surprise.
“Well, it’s not that—.”
“What do you—.”
You shouldn’t do that!
But before Ihyeon could even express his grievance.
Whoosh—!
Both Ihyeon and Jia were swallowed by the suspicious portal.
“Ugh….”
The next moment, when Ihyeon opened his eyes, he found himself in a place completely different from the forest path where he had been.
‘Wait, this doesn’t seem to be a 40s-range district at all?’
As he surveyed his surroundings, an ominous atmosphere permeated the air.
Unlike the other 40s-range floors that were merely dark nights.
This place was a deep violet.
And the sky, tinged with crimson undertones, blanketed the entire landscape.
Moreover, when he directed his gaze further into the distance.
“A fortress….”
He could see a fortress resembling the ruined castle in the common area of the 40s-range floors.
But even a child who wasn’t a Hunter could tell these weren’t the same fortress.
“It appears the Undead are being generated from there.”
“I share the same thought.”
Jia nodded in agreement.
Just as Ihyeon said, the fortress’s gates stood wide open, and all manner of Undead poured forth through those openings.
The way they trudged forward in a single direction made it clear where their destination lay.
Toward the ruined fortress of the 40s-range floors where the Hunters were stationed.
‘The Tower has such a structure?’
Until now, he had slain the monsters that appeared, but he’d never once considered where they originated from.
Then again, the entry condition required possessing an S+-rank item, so it wasn’t easy to ponder such things in the first place.
And there was a notification window floating shamelessly, despite the sudden abduction.
「You have entered the Main Tower 45th Floor (???).
Destroy the Immortal Iron Fortress.」

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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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