Arcane Sniper [Matan’s Shooter]

Arcane Sniper [Matan’s Shooter] Chapter 668

Suddenly startled by a sound, Leeha’s head whipped around. Up until moments ago, he had thought they were alone, but now, Elizabeth stood with a gun resting in her hand like a cane. It was the excessively long firearm that Leeha had seen once before.

“But I can’t just send you off right now. You’re too weak, and you’d only be a burden if we have to protect Browless.”

“That’s… rather blunt. It kinda hurts, you know.”

“But it’s true. Your approach to fighting Toon was quite creative, but in the end, you couldn’t kill Toon with a single shot.”

“Well, that’s because – right. Toon is ranked third among Bluebeard faction. How could anyone take him down in one hit -“

“If it were me or our Hony, it could have been done.”

“What??”

Leeha looked incredulously at Elizabeth who then glanced at Brown. Brown nodded as if to affirm Elizabeth’s words were true.

“A single ‘Pierce’ shot could have opened Toon’s jaw.”

“And aiming for the gap while his mouth was open, my bullet would have ‘Hit’ his Adam’s apple. Well, I guess I have to correct myself; it was two shots since it was one from Hony and one from me. That’s enough to kill Toon.”

Leeha couldn’t respond as he watched the two beam confidently. The journey here wasn’t uneventful. Even amidst the sudden encounter with the ‘Hows-hows’, Leeha had managed to check the items that came from Toon.

“The piece of Toon’s Breastplate, possessing immense defensive capabilities… Are such defensive properties of no value to them?”

“What should I do then?”

“There is a way,” Elizabeth said with a smile. She had smiled at Leeha a few times before. But those were smiles of amusement, satisfied by Leeha’s actions.

“But that smile just now…”

However, it felt different this time, or at least that’s how Leeha perceived it. Maybe because he had seen such a smile on others, not Elizabeth, like from Sergeant Kim or Browless. Yet, it still felt distinctly different.

“Now that you’re here, there’s a technique that has become possible for you. Learning that should be enough to protect yourself and fight without much trouble.”

Elizabeth’s smile was that of a master looking at a worthy apprentice.

“Are you saying that you’ll teach me some sort of skill?”

“That’s right. Do you not want to learn? I’m quite busy myself.”

“Of course! I’d love to learn. But, it’s just – well, your kindness is a bit overwhelming.”

It was kindness Leeha had never expected, a kindness that extended to pointing out his deficiencies and encouraging skill acquisition. Throughout his time in Middle Earth, not once had he experienced such a thing.

Elizabeth understood his words. In that moment, Leeha grasped the difference between Elizabeth’s smile and those of Sergeant Kim and Browless.

“Until now, us old generation’s trio calling ourselves mentors have taught you nothing. Ideally, I should have been the one to teach you ‘Accuracy’, and you would’ve learned all these little details at the academy.”

It was not just a smile for a talented apprentice but one of obligation or perhaps guilt! Elizabeth, despite liking Leeha for his outstanding abilities, felt somewhat uneasy because she hadn’t been able to share her knowledge sooner.

“A chance to impart knowledge to a dongsaeng and apprentice sharing the same element, who hadn’t been properly nurtured until now!”

Leeha’s speculation turned into certainty, as the hologram window in front of him confirmed.

[You have completed the ‘Find Me’ quest]

[Your level has increased.]

[Attribute! The Accuracy Teacher]

Description:

“Truthfully, you’re a bit lacking in ability to learn this. But we don’t have much of a choice. My beloved and I won’t be here much longer. Well, the biggest problem is likely that it’s not easy for someone ordinary like you to understand something taught by a genius like me.”

Elizabeth and Brown don’t have the luxury of time. Constantly under pressure due to their precarious situation, they must impart as much knowledge and skill as they can in the limited time they have.

This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to learn as much as possible from them.

Content: Undergo a week of special training with Elizabeth and pass the final exam (0/1)

Reward: Skill – Curve Shot

Failure condition: Failure of the final exam

In case of failure: Opportunity to acquire skill will be lost – Accept?

※

The hologram window was quickly reviewed. It talked about a week of training followed by an exam related to this training.

While the details of the exam were not specified, it was clearly associated with the week’s training. It seemed that completing a single mission would amount to the quest’s success, as it was measured by occurrences rather than a completion rate.

‘The failure condition is simple. Perhaps this is the easiest quest so far!?’

It was natural for Leeha to think so. After all, as Elizabeth herself had said, it was an opportunity for a teacher to impart knowledge to a student.

This shouldn’t be the kind of situation where one is harshly treated, Leeha believed.

“It’s only possible now with your ‘abilities’,” she said.

“Well, not 100%, but you should be able to learn it to some extent.”

“Abilities… Ah!”

Leeha asked about the somewhat suspicious part, which Elizabeth promptly clarified.

Abilities can be identified by their level and skills.

Alternating between the words ‘level’ and ‘abilities’.

So, what did Elizabeth mean by ‘abilities’?

“Character window!”

Name: Leeha / Race: Human

Job: Musketeer / Level: 246 (1.7%)

Title: Shadow Hitman / Achievements: 140

HP: 8,170(5,719) / MP: 2,425

Stats:

Strength 675(+590), Agility 3,632(+1,319), intelligence 444(+299), stamina 291(+198), Mind 125(+115)

Remaining Stat Points: 295

“My stats— woah… Insane, two hundred ninety-five?”

Twelve level-ups and three 5th-grade achievements, along with five bonus stat points received every ten levels.

Leeha had an impressive 295 stat points remaining.

“Is my ‘level’ somehow related to agility?”

“That’s right.”

Leeha did not dwell on it.

It meant Elizabeth had already finished her calculations.

“If it’s related to ‘agility’ but slightly insufficient, what could that mean?

My current agility is 3,632. Adding the remaining 295 stat points to it?

Agility 3,927.

Slightly less than the number 4,000. That must be the answer.

Even though Leeha was initially nonchalant, he couldn’t help but ponder again.

‘I must learn it, no matter what. But… will there be enough time?’

Elizabeth noticed Leeha’s furrowed brow.

“What now? Doubting?”

“No, not doubt, just…”

Leeha hesitated for a moment, then explained the situation in the western part of the new continent to Elizabeth and Brown.

The paleo tribes united against humans, with a large-scale battle possibly erupting within a day or two. If not prevented, Bluebeard might unravel the [Divine Staff].

In other words, he had to go.

To inform as many as possible and to seek the best method, however modest his power.

“Hmm… Can you cast messenger magic? Someone to inform about the battle with the paleos when it breaks out?”

“Messenger- ah, yes. I can.”

Hearing the mention of communication magic, Leeha nodded.

Not only Kijung and Byulcho but also Shin Nara. The battle with the paleos had officially begun, and they would immediately make contact.

“Can you come and go during the lesson?”

she asked.

“No, I can’t just look out for the situation only. You know what I mean?”

The moment one steps into the Western New Continent during a lesson, Elizabeth and Brown could have vanished the next day.

“It’s originally a skill that requires at least a month to learn. You certainly can’t learn it easily. Setting a deadline of a week is also because I’m expecting you to at least grasp the concept.”

Hearing the mention of the training period required to learn the skill, Leeha nodded. It took a whole month to fully acquire the skill. For Middle Earth, that was an extremely long time. Considering the correlation between the learning period and the difficulty level?

“Then.”

“Whether you succeed in learning or fail is not my problem. Especially if you have to leave with no promise of returning in a day or two… It’s difficult to teach, isn’t it? It’s better not to learn a skill half-heartedly.”

Elizabeth indirectly made it known. The minimum educational requirement she could offer was exactly one week’s time. In other words, if you don’t have at least a week’s time, she won’t teach you.

“Damn it.”

Leeha had to make a decision. If he accepts the quest now, he can’t go to the Western New Continent. Knowing about the conflict between the paleos and humans and the opportunistic gains by the Demon King’s Army, yet having to endure it. To give up on the quest?

“That’s out of the question.”

It was truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Unlike Browless, receiving 1:1 tutoring from Elizabeth of “Accuracy”

may never happen again.

“This is exactly the moment for this.”

The only thing Leeha could say in such a situation. If the other party doesn’t budge? Make them.

‘Bargaining’

He must somehow negotiate the terms he wants. Even if it significantly increases the difficulty of the quest.

“One day… no, I’ll grasp it in two days. Please teach me.”

Clank, clank, clank-…!

Elizabeth’s hand, which had been handling a firearm, froze. Her expression changed vividly.

“You can do it in two days? You? It even took me three days.”

This was Elizabeth who had just mentioned that it takes at least a month to learn, and a week to understand the concept. Yet, she claimed to have learned it in three days.

Even in the midst of it, seeing her appeal to her own ability, a fire was lit in Leeha’s heart.

“A disciple ought to surpass their teacher, shouldn’t they? I’ll do it in two days. I’ll proudly pass whatever test you want.”

Leeha’s eyes sparkled.

“Huh, huh… Honey! Did you hear? He says he can do it! Alright, get up! We don’t have time. Practice starts now! With the House-Houses, we can reach the World Tree Forest in Central New Continent in two hours. We’ll train until the battle begins!”

Whoosh…!

At that moment, the hologram window in front changed.

[Attribute! The Accuracy Teacher]

Details: Two days of special lessons with Elizabeth and passing the final test (0/1)

Reward: Skill-Curve Shot, Achievement-Extraordinary Success

Failure condition: Failure in the final test

If failed: Loss of opportunity to acquire the skill

Leeha looked at the hologram window again.

“An achievement-Extraordinary Success! Another reward!”

The skill ‘Bargaining’ follows a high risk, high return strategy. It was natural for Leeha, who was willing to take the risk, to get an additional reward.

“Understood!”

Leeha sprang up and took out a magazine. His will to press the accept button was firmer than ever before.

Bam-!

Achievement: Legendary Private Tutoring (S)

Congratulations! You have been selected to receive special tutoring from a legendary figure! This rare opportunity will elevate your abilities and shift the paradigm you’ve been operating under. Seize this chance to move a step closer to becoming a legend yourself and transform into a better version of who you are today!

Rewards: +21 Agility

Adjustment to the mastery level of the designated weapon skill (up to the highest tier of Master level)

You are the third registrant for the [Legendary Private Tutoring] achievement. The Hall of Fame records up to the third registrant, and you receive an additional 200% of the original effects.

Effect: +42 Agility