Matan’s Shooter

“Hyung, I really don’t understand what you’re saying. I’ve been to the East New Continent several times, but is that really possible?”

“What do you mean by spatial movement? You can move spatially in the New Continent’s east? Ha Leeha-ssi? I’ve tried it several times too! Even using Blink is―”

“No, no, it’s not spatial movement. It’s not teleportation or anything, um… how should I put it?”

The members of the Byolchobang had been in the central part of the New Continent longer than anyone else.

They had always tried to reduce travel time, but over a long period, they had realized that they had no choice but to walk. Hence, they couldn’t understand the situation Leeha explained.

Leeha had mentioned that it was ‘Black Bass’s skill’, but since he hadn’t explained the effect, the surprise was even bigger.

In any case, it wasn’t a situation that needed more explanation.

“What I’m more curious about are the words Pyrot-Cocri said before dying. Black Bass… as far as I know, that’s the name of Ha Leeha-ssi’s black gun. Is it related to why Pyrot-Cocri looked like she was in a state of confusion?”

“What’s so important about that? The important thing is that Ha Leeha didn’t worry about his time or life and ran here for his younger sibling―”

“Right.”

Adding to that was a comment from Ram Hwajung.

Rubini tried to ask something but missed the timing and stuttered.

Raphaela burst out laughing at the scene.

“Whatever—good things are good things! Although being far more terrifying as a sniper isn’t a pleasant development from Minis’ perspective. By the way, Pyrot-Cocri… really died, right? I thought Ha Leeha-ssi killed her, but our quest is marked as complete….”

“Yes, that’s right. That’s what I’ve been curious about and wanted to ask!”

Thanks to Raphaela, Leeha escaped the barrage of chaotic questions and felt thankful to her like she was a savior.

What puzzled Leeha most was exactly that.

He had severed her cervical spine, and her head and torso were separated.

Even in the decapitated state, Pyrot-Cocri hadn’t completely died.

“Actually, it was my hyung who killed her.”

Kijung mentioned what left him astonished.

“Even then, our quest was marked as completed. I was sure the quest completion condition was for ‘our party to land the final blow.'”

“That’s likely true.”

Hyein seriously agreed with Kijung’s words.

Leeha, with a greatly twisted expression, continued.

“That being the case, it’s certainly… strange. How was the achievement for slaying Pyrot-Cocri granted to me as well? It’s a good thing, but it feels rather unsettling.”

Leeha was not a member of Kijung’s party.

Which meant he should not count as someone who could receive recognition for the ‘final blow.’ Nevertheless, both Kijung and Leeha received the same achievement.

“They don’t just give out S-grade achievements carelessly. Moreover, the title of the achievement is the same. Then we should assume they are interconnected somehow….”

“Uh, the strangest thing is that Leeha hyung and I appeared in the Hall of Fame, but none of the others did.”

Raphaela and Kijung tilted their heads in confusion.

How could this happen when the quest wasn’t even shared?

It was Hyein who quietly spoke up.

“I suspect it’s related to Pyrot-Cocri’s abilities.”

“What do you mean, hyung?”

“Uhm―this is just a hypothesis. But Kay, you saw that Pyrot-Cocri could freely increase the number of her clones, right? If when she was about to die, the separation of ‘head and body’ was acknowledged as individual clones, what then? If so, it would be recognized as two Pyrot-Cocri, and the ‘vanquishing a clone’ quest condition would be fulfilled, no?”

“Ah, I see! That makes sense! Come to think of it, when Lark-ssi’s skill hit her! At that time, Pyrot―wait a moment. Lark-ssi?”

Hyein’s hypothesis was accurate.

Kijung clapped his hands together in awe, then suddenly had a realization.

“Huh… huh?”

Due to Lark’s Red―Sun skill, Pyrot-Cocri was divided into three entities, and one of those entities had turned to ash under the skill’s effect.

If the separation into head and body was acknowledged individually for Leeha and Kijung’s party, the person who first attained the achievement for defeating Pyrot-Cocri was?

“Leeha hyung, what place did you say you were in the Hall of Fame?”

“Second. What about you?”

“I’m third. Then….”

The one who defeated the clone entity with the “Red-Sun” was Lark.

If Leeha was the second to be listed in the Hall of Fame and Kijung the third, who was the first?

“Kijung, did Lark know this all along and kept quiet about it?”

Kijung glared at Lark.

Lark, who was looking at Kijung, couldn’t even turn his head away. His eyeballs slid to the side.

“N-no, how could you say such things? I wasn’t keeping quiet on purpose! I thought, ‘maybe’, but saying it carelessly might cause unnecessary confusion, so I kept silent—”

“Just ignore him, Kijung. That guy surely knew everything. He’s always loud and noisy about everything, but keeps the good information to himself. Seeing him act like that makes you lose affection for him.”

“Oh, no, Ha Leeha! That’s too harsh!”

Lark jumped up and down, but his already reddened face betrayed everything.

〈Achievement: Children of Pyrot-Cocri (S)〉

Congratulations!

You have successfully defeated a clone of Pyrot-Cocri, imbued with more than 1% of her power! She, still unable to awaken, plans to tour Middle Earth by using her clones. Even if it is only 1% of her power, if she reveals her strength overtly, all necromancers and warlocks would come to worship her. You, who made efforts to pre-emptively remove such a threat! Your next opponent might hold 5%, 10%, or even over 50% of her power. In preparation, we give you a small gift with hopes you will grow even a little more before that time.

Reward: 25 stat points

Additional damage +10% to undead targets

You are the second registrant of the 〈Children of Pyrot-Cocri〉 achievement. Up to the third registrant will be recorded in the Hall of Fame, gaining an additional 200% effect on the existing benefits.

Effect: 50 stat points

Additional damage +20% to undead targets

“For defeating Pyrot-Cocri, the achievement’s impact doesn’t seem that strong…”

“From the nuance, it seems we dealt with less than 5% of her power. If Lark and Ha Leeha had killed the intact ‘combined’ clone, it might have been over 5%. Maybe 12-13%. Split into three parts, it might have been around 3-4% each?”

Hyein also checked the achievement, showing a slightly disappointed expression, and Raphaela agreed.

Hearing her words, the one who was flustered was not Leeha but Rubini.

“R-Raphaela! You are so greedy! Without Ha Leeha, we wouldn’t have even cleared the quest and would have died!”

“I know, unni! I was just joking. I said it just because it was a bit disappointing.”

Seeing Rubini eyeing Leeha, rafael giggled. In reality, Leeha couldn’t focus much on their conversation.

Like Hyein, he also felt the achievement was somewhat lacking compared to the power Pyrot-Cocri had shown and was simultaneously sensing her threat.

‘What percentage was it before splitting? There seem to be achievements for 5%, 10%, and over 50%—what kind of difficulty and rewards would come from those if 1% is already S-rank?’

As speculated by Lark and Hyein, it seemed certain Pyrot-Cocri could distribute and operate her power.

Just like different Fragments of the Demon King’s fragment, Pyrot-Cocri seemed to be a completely different type of foe compared to Bluebeard and Ghibrid.

‘Bluebeard had his closest lieutenants, Bathory and Toon. Ghibrid’s details are not yet revealed. Maybe Pyrot-Cocri doesn’t even need such subordinates.’

Because she could split herself.

A capable entity that could appear simultaneously everywhere and handle all affairs at once.

Leeha trembled, thinking of her, resting inside the crystal ball.

—The Demon King’s fragment is always good to consume, always. Is there more, contractor?—

“Shh.”

—I will suck you dry to your marrow. Pyrot-…Cocri.—

At the moment Pyrot-Cocri was mentioned, a direct resonance echoed inside Leeha’s head.

“Huh? Leeha hyung?”

“What? Oh, nothing.”

Leeha had heard about the ‘abnormal behavior’ Pyrot-Cocri exhibited.

The tone indicating she panicked because she couldn’t recover from the wounds. He fully understood the cause of this.

Even if it was really a good thing, he would still be uncertain.

〈The Awakened Legend: Black Bass (1st enhancement—Magma)〉

(Non-tradable)

Additional Description—2: The consciousness sealed within the legendary weapon has awakened. —I can now see what I need to consume. No opponent will escape from me. Contractor, I will devour all your desired foes. So, feed me. Awaken my true eyes. Offer me the blood of new, fresh enemies I have never tasted before.

— Upon awakening Black Bass’s consciousness, you can use part of its original strength based on the conditions met.

Additional Effect—3: Awakens at a 30% charge rate

Charge rate less than 10% before sleeping

Additional effect―4: Direct strike on the essence of the target

(ignores all means of avoiding damage such as clones, spirits, life transfer, etc.)

“A direct strike on the essence…”

Seeing this additional effect that emerged when the charge rate exceeded 30%, Leeha couldn’t help but feel puzzled.

That puzzling thought—the second item in the additional explanation—finally revealed its meaning.

Now, as long as Black Bass was awake, no enemy could afford to be complacent in front of Leeha.

“But― the problem is that the enemy might not have an essence in the first place? Pyrot-Cocri is still sealed, isn’t she?”

Black Bass had devoured Pyrot-Cocri’s clone to the point where it couldn’t even restore itself.

Then, what about her true body inside the crystal ball?

If a direct strike was made on the essence, did it also mean a strike on the true body?

“She… hasn’t awakened, right?”

Gulp.

Leeha was actually relieved that only one achievement had surfaced.

Awakening the sealed Demon King’s Fragment meant striking the crystal ball.

“Then the strike on Pyrot-Cocri’s ‘true body’ inside the crystal ball must mean something slightly different… right?”

Leeha desperately tried to mentally reassure himself.

What snapped him out of it was Lark’s shamelessness.

“It’s a clone, but there are looted items… How should we divide them?”

Lark asked and answered himself.

“Hm, well. While everyone’s efforts are commendable, it seems reasonable for the Hall of Fame achievers to take the spoils—don’t you think?”

Leeha finally snapped out of it and shouted.

“Where do you think you’re going with that nonsense!”

“What’s nonsense about it, Ha Leeha?”

Though everyone else stayed silent, Leeha wasn’t going to let it slide.

“It’s nonsense. For starters, I have a lot of questions. Let’s set aside the other issues and address one. Lark, how did you even know about this quest?”

“Well, um… you see…”

Lark, sweating profusely, had nothing to gain.

Instead, Leeha and Kijung decided to distribute the shares to Rubini, who had silently assisted the party from behind. Pyrot-Cocri’s clones had all been defeated.

Achievements were obtained, and spoils were secured. People like Kijung and others would receive more rewards from the Papacy of Ezwene.

Leeha wasn’t without compensation either. Black Bass had awakened, and he had many conversations on his way to assist Kijung.

So far, everything had ended pleasantly. Through this event, only three individuals throughout Middle Earth weren’t pleased.

“Buhihihit! Directoooooor!”

Petyr, who had let the undead escape—Quidam. Despite engaging in a fierce battle with Quidam, he ultimately failed to kill him.

“To kill the undead, you need holy power, huh? Buhihit! That’s the real quest then.”

Although it would have been regretful to be so close to achieving his second job change, Petyr remained calm instead.

“Phuhuhuhu, director… director… I.”

The laughter suddenly disappeared from his face as he murmured alone. His divine power also vanished simultaneously.

And then there was Lee Jiwon, who died.

At least among the users, the events related to Pyrot-Cocri were considered both the worst and the best incidents.