Arcane Sniper

Chapter 984

There was no need to visit anywhere else.

The place Leeha headed straight to was the forge of Bottleneck.

Using the skill 〈Melding Breath〉, Leeha intended to approach stealthily and enter Bottleneck’s smithy, but he suddenly realized there was no crowd around the forge.

“Coming at ten when it’s supposed to be until eleven, always such an unlikable bastard.”

“This was expected to some extent. So… what are you planning to do?”

Leeha noticed two people seated on chairs they had brought beside Bottleneck.

“Luger? Kidd?”

Leeha looked at Bottleneck with a questioning face, but the legendary blacksmith did not even make eye contact and just kept pounding away with his hammer.

Regular users were scattered under control, and Luger and Kidd were sitting proudly, with Bottleneck avoiding Leeha’s gaze. Combining all these factors, Leeha immediately understood the situation.

“I’m just here to get my bullets, Bottleneck-ssi! Where are my magazines—.”

Thud.

Luger hit the ground with his 〈Cobalt Blue Python〉.

In the moment Kidd’s coat fluttered, 〈Crimson Geckos〉 were already attached to Kidd’s arms and legs.

“You better speak quickly. You know neither I nor this guy have much patience.”

“If you want to test Gecko’s new form… you are welcome anytime.”

Rather than calming down, Luger and Kidd appeared even more energized.

Not matters; after the ‘Battle with Tiamat,’ anything Leeha did signified the possibility of a new evolution, hence their fixation on him grew.

“Heh, or we could blow up this forge and kidnap this old man. Whatever you are planning, it clearly requires a blacksmith— and for craftsmanship aspects, it would be hard to find a better dwarf than this old chap.”

“You bastard! Treating someone like an object!”

Though Bottleneck yelled at Luger’s provocation, Luger ignored it completely.

Looking at their serious expressions, Leeha realized he had to make a choice.

“Damn it… always like bloodhounds.”

Although he was speaking as if he had no other choice, Leeha felt somewhat relieved.

In the current situation, losing even one person’s combat power would be regrettable. Besides, jumping to the next stage with items obtained through Kijung wouldn’t be much fun either.

‘It’s essential to have these guys around.’

Friends and rivals. Or rivals and friends.

The growth of Kidd and Luger was potentially directly linked to Leeha’s growth as well.

Faced with his inseparable comrades in Middle Earth, Leeha decided to reveal his intentions about what he planned to do.

Turning to the eager-looking Kidd and Luger, Leeha carefully showed them the Black Bass.

“It’s finally over.”

“Huh? What exactly is over?”

“Is your Middle Earth life over?”

“Geez, never lose an argument, do you? Just listen! You both awakened your weapons, right? The charging rate of the 〈Black Bass〉, already an Ego Gun — that final seal quest is…”

He then opened his bag and took out a small bottle, placing it beside the Black Bass.

In that instant, the bolt of the Black Bass glowed momentarily.

“Now it’s finally ended. The 『Complete Unsealing』 moment of the Black Bass, which even Miss Elizabeth could not clear.”

〈Legendary Black Bass Pulsating with Life Force (1st Enhancement—Lava)〉

(Non-tradable)

Additional Effect—3: Charge Rate: 75%

(The charge rate does not decrease.)

Additional Effect—4: Direct Strikes to the Essence of the Target

(Ignores all evasive measures like clones, astral bodies, and life transfers.)

Additional Description—3: The awakened ego has consumed enough blood. The blood of countless life forms forms the veins connecting its ego. The ego of the Black Bass, having tasted the blood of various beings, desires to devour those beyond. Only two challenges remain. Only the blood of those without life forms will rewrite its legend.

Additional Effect―5: Strike through the physical protective gear of the target

(Ignores physical defenses like shields, armor, helmets, etc.)

Leeha killed Onyx, who was absorbing Tiamat’s Heart.

The activation effect of the “White Reaper” fortunately coincided with Black Bass’s characteristics, and the Queen of the Chromatic Dragon, who was born in the Demon realm and sealed in the underworld, seemed to have given Leeha a parting gift.

At this moment, everything related to the Demon realm was complete, and the current charge rate was exactly 75%. The remaining 25% related to the divine needed to be fulfilled.

And now, here, Leeha had the item that could sufficiently satisfy the remaining 25% charge.

―Hehe… The scent of divine blood is strong.

“It has to be. This is it, after all. Oh, by the way, is that all you can sense, black? There’s nothing else around?”

Leeha spoke as he walked slowly towards Luger. Though Luger flinched for a moment, he did not evade.

Perhaps because he had an inkling of what Leeha was up to, Luger extended his Cobalt Blue Python slightly towards Leeha.

The cobalt blue-colored cannon stood upright, pressing against the ground with its stock.

Leeha briefly examined the structure of the Cobalt Blue Python and then brought Black Bass’s bolt to the Cobalt Blue Python’s bolt assembly.

Luger did not avoid Leeha’s actions. The faint glow of light from the Cobalt Blue Python’s bolt was visible to Kidd.

When the two Ego Guns finally recognized each other, different voices of the Ego Guns echoed in the minds of Leeha and Luger.

―This scent… I see. The Cobalt Blue Python, is it?―

―Sssaa… Black Ba-aaass…―

The voices were only audible to the gun’s holder, the owner of the rifle, so it was impossible to determine exactly how each gun referred to the other.

“Hah, pretending not to know.”

“It was a gun that wouldn’t acknowledge the existence of another Ego Gun, and yet…”

However, Kidd was able to grasp enough from Leeha’s words towards Black Bass and Luger’s words towards the Cobalt Blue Python.

It was not surprising when Kidd, who had been waiting, stood up and approached the two who were now almost holding their guns against each other.

―Krrkk! The silk python! And Beth!―

―A tyrant! A tyrant! This thing is going to consume us all!―

―Shut up! Beth and us live in different places; how could that even happen?―

―Now we wouldn’t lose. Right now, it’s ‘within our range’.―

―We’d be better off waiting for them to take each other down! Yes, that’s better!―

“Ugh, ugh…”

The sudden flood of different voices in his head made Kidd shake his head for a moment.

Of course, it wasn’t just the “Crimson Geckos” that recognized Black Bass and the Cobalt Blue Python.

Leeha and Luger’s guns naturally identified Kidd’s smaller weapons attached to his limbs, and they too heard the voices of their own weapons evaluating Crimson Geckos.

The three of them silently observed each other for a moment.

There was no time for such things when they were battling Tiamat.

Each was too busy fighting their own battles, and having their guns awaken was a secret they were aware of yet pretended not to know.

Sharing and openly revealing each other’s secrets like this was something they all did without hesitation.

This fact itself demonstrated the strengthened bond of the Three Musketeers’ friendship since their Eastern expedition on the new continent.

“I’m not sure what you all might think… But at least one thing seems certain.”

Leeha was the first to speak.

Kidd, observing Leeha’s mysterious expression, sensed what Leeha was about to say.

“Indeed. If we have to listen to the babble of six guns―”

“It would burst our heads.”

The Three Musketeers burst into laughter simultaneously.

It had been so long since they had laughed so heartily together. The Three Musketeers had never laughed like this before, at least not while they were together, so the Beard Brothers had dumbfounded expressions.

However, Bottleneck reacted slightly differently.

“What’s wrong with these guys? Are these younger ones going senile ahead of me?”

The voice seemed intent on scolding the Three Musketeers, but it couldn’t entirely hide the laughter sneaking through his expression and tone.

Quite a while had passed, during which Bottleneck continued to let out a laugh, as if he couldn’t believe the absurdity, following the Three Musketeers’ laughter.

Somehow, he found himself getting choked up.

“Damn it, ahem, ever since Elizabeth and Brown left, ahem! I never thought I’d see a situation like this again. Beard Brothers! Bring me a handkerchief! A new one!”

“Oh dear, our Bottleneck ajussi is at it with the tears and snot again.”

“Wh-Who’s crying with tears and snot!? Don’t talk nonsense. People might misunderstand, damn it.”

Leeha, while grumbling, observed the dwarf wiping his face with his back turned.

Leeha, as well as Kidd and Luger, had already realized the affection Bottleneck had for the current Three Musketeers.

Connecting the past Three Musketeers with the present, as they were literally the ‘successors’ and next generation of sorts, often prompted Bottleneck to recall the past.

While Bottleneck was calming down, Luger looked up at Leeha with curiosity.

“So, that’s why we needed this old-timer. Perfectly clearing the quest with a 『Legendary』 blacksmith present— that must’ve been necessary.”

“Anyway, his intuition is impressive. But, in a way, it makes sense, doesn’t it?”

“Of course. The fact that our currently 『Legendary』 guns haven’t had a complete unsealing yet means—”

“It can only lead us to think that once this sealing is fully lifted, they’ll possibly reach the 〈next stage〉.”

Leeha playfully raised his eyebrows with a mischievous expression.

Kidd, observing Leeha, scoffed, but his face, as he lifted his hat, was bright.

『Myth-Class Firearms』

At least up to this point, they didn’t particularly envy Leeha.

This was partly because they acknowledged that it was a stage neither of them had reached yet, but also because Leeha’s success directly translated to their own success.

In other words, wasn’t this a ‘guaranteed adventure of the future’?

With the uncertainty surrounding the future of 〈Cobalt Blue Python〉 and 〈Crimson Geckos〉, since they had a guaranteed future of one day hitting Myth rank, it only motivated them to strive harder!

To give up such benefits for petty pride or paltry competitiveness?

The Luger and Kidd from their first encounter might have thought differently, but those who had come to fully recognize Leeha would never consider such a decision.

Identifying the potential for advancement to Myth rank was among their interests.

And if they truly reached Myth rank…

“And if that happens…”

Leeha glanced between Luger and Kidd.

He thought that both of them were probably sharing the same thought as he was.

“It would be worth facing up against 《Arcane Sniper》.”

Kidd and Luger did not betray Leeha’s expectation, as seen from the soft smiles that spread across their lips.

* * *

“Bottleneck-ssi, it’s not so much an enhancement, but… you can at least check the status later, right?”

“Uh, huh! Of course! But is it at a point where I need to check its status?”

“Just in case.”

At Leeha’s sincere tone, Bottleneck swallowed dryly.

The Beard Brothers looked at Leeha and Bottleneck, as well as Kidd and Luger, before locking the blacksmith’s door.

Kidd and Luger had now risen from their seats.

Leeha approached the table next to them, tidied it, and gently placed the Black Bass atop it.

“Hehe, it feels like preparing for surgery. Patient Black Bass, are you ready?”

—Hehe… Are you asking me, Bearer? I can consume anything. I can swallow any blood.

“Yes, yes, of course. That phase of yours must really go away eventually.”

—What…

Leeha withdrew his hand from Black Bass and controlled his breath.

He knew it was a simple task and there wasn’t much he could do himself, but he was inevitably tense.