Chapter 634

Arcane Sniper [Matan’s Shooter] Chapter 634

Before Lark could even retrieve his sword, Shin Nara’s thrust came forward.

With the distance so short, it would take only about 0.3 seconds to reach Lark’s torso.

Based on Shin Nara’s memory of his combat style and movements, she judged it an attack he absolutely could not avoid.

Shin Nara smiled.

She aimed for the right forearm.

Piercing once deeply enough to damage the muscles would make it difficult for him to grasp and swing his sword.

Though he could quickly recover by swallowing a potion, at least it would dampen Lark’s momentum.

That, she thought, was sufficient. However, Lark had fully grasped her intent as well.

“Well, dodging an initial ‘Telegraph Punch’ kind of attack is a given. I was a bit surprised you avoided it with a much more advanced technique than I expected, but nothing changes.”

Hence, Lark did not move. He only tensed his grip around his sword.

“[Blue Hurricane].”

“What?”

Whoosh——-!

A teal whirlwind erupted beneath his feet.

There was no time to be amazed that wind could possess color. The sudden gale lifted Shin Nara’s charging form entirely into the air.

“What the—!?”

“Well, I didn’t want to show you something like this. But guess it’s inevitable against Dame Shin, huh? Truth be told, it’s kind of sloppy. But it’s better to use it than to look foolish in front of the kids. Sigh, an unforeseen loss.”

Lark clicked his tongue, shaking his head. The strong winds still swirled around him.

Had the Vertul Knights anticipated this skill and thus kept their distance? Even though Shin Nara floated upward, she noted the surrounding changes. However, the Knights, despite having initially maintained a sufficient distance, struggled not to be swept away by the powerful gale.

“How can you use such a skill instantly without casting?”

It wasn’t magic.

It might be possible with mystical creatures, but she couldn’t feel the presence of any spirit or related entity here.

The only explanation Shin Nara could think of was that it all boiled down to an item.

‘His sword is of a much higher caliber than mine. Something about that rainbow-colored sword—’

“Now, come down.”

Lark pointed his sword towards Shin Nara and flicked the tip downward. The teal wind, still swirling with vigor, abruptly ceased, throwing Shin Nara’s body to the ground.

Thud!

The sound was significant but, thanks to rolling gently back to her feet, she wasn’t seriously hurt.

Lark had forcibly canceled his attack skill to prevent damage.

“Continue...?”

Lark asked, tilting his head slightly towards Shin Nara.

With his casual demeanor and arrogant expression, yet knowing the “source of his confidence,” Shin Nara had no choice but to respond differently.

“A skill, isn’t that a bit cheap?”

“Huh? My, I never expected to hear that from Dame Shin herself. Calling a skill cheap.”

“No, a common skill would be one learned from job quests or passed down by a master at level 140. However, your skill seems far removed from that.”

“...Ah. Want to go with just pure skills then?

Maybe something like wooden swords? Swordsmanship- oh, you said fencing. Using fencing swords to fight fair and square?”

To Shin Nara’s nod, Lark’s words implied understanding the secret behind his sword without a proper ambush to execute a skill before inflicting a wound on him would make beating Lark 1:1 difficult. Of course, she didn’t expect Lark to fall for such a method. As expected, Lark straightforwardly rejected Shin Nara’s suggestion.

It wasn’t just a plain rejection.

“Someone of your caliber should know... leveraging items is also a skill....”

He looked around cautiously.

“Something’s coming.”

“Whew... Looks like those guys were scared of us? If they had messed around a bit more, I would have just -”

“Giggle, maybe they noticed us approaching.”

Biyemi and Jin Gonggong appeared, cutting off Kijung’s words.

They had intended to assist with a sneak attack using their stretching skill and poison pouch but could not play any significant role as the Virtue Knights had vanished.

“Maybe... it’s not just for that reason.”

“What do you mean, Nara-ssi?”

“It’s the skills... They don’t want their skills to be known.”

Shin Nara hadn’t made eye contact with Lark before leaving.

It wasn’t the eyes of someone afraid or hesitant about battle.

Instead, it resembled the eyes of a playful child, filled with secrets and unwilling to reveal them.

“And as for skills... we still have plenty left.”

Shin Nara shared her theory with the assembled members of the Byulcho Guild. The possibility of facing the Virtue Knights again was rapidly increasing.

“Huh, so what do we do now? Once Nara catches on to something, she doesn’t easily let go. It doesn’t seem like she wants to kill them, though.”

Pung, having returned via the Divine Staff, frowned.

Revealing information unnecessarily and the loss of potions for quick healing was merely irritating.

“Do you have a plan?”

“I’m thinking.

‘Toon-nim’ must continue to approach us for it to work... but there are countless ways to draw Nara away.”

“What are you planning?”

“I mentioned it earlier. You thought it was a good idea too.”

Lark cradled his neck with his hand.

His demeanor showed he was still calm and composed.

“The idea I agreed with? What was that... Ah, ah... But wouldn’t that put us at a disadvantage? Everyone might start acting like young horses in spring, and if those monsters decide to come destroy this—”

“Exactly. It would indeed be problematic if Toon could actually do that... But, let’s call on a few trustworthy knight orders and guilds from Minis. No other countries.”

Lark stretched. For Pung, that was the end of their discussion.

Now that orders were given, they just needed to be followed.

“Hmmm. Okay. After all, ‘The Hundred Captain’ is the supreme authority here. Understood.”

Pung disappeared immediately.

That night at the main camp of the Virtue Knights, some unfamiliar faces could be seen.

The rumors about the “Subjugation” achievement among the Minis affiliated knight orders and guilds started spreading the next day.

“Indeed... adding a small wing-like formation.”

“Strictly speaking, it’s more of a ‘turbine’ than a wing. The gas expands right before it exits, and this turbine forcibly spins, allowing it to escape. Passing through the bulkhead, the subjects lose enough energy, and turning the turbine and escaping cools and decelerates them a bit.”

Leeha explained, spreading out a newly drawn detailed blueprint before Bottleneck.

The silencer’s form, covered by a rotating cap, was unfamiliar even to Leeha.

“Mm, I get the feeling. In that case, a heat-resistant turbine would be even better if it could provide a significant cooling effect. If only there was a special metal for that.”

“Oh! Exactly. You understand so quickly, Bottleneck-ssi.”

“M- Me, the lord? I’ve been swinging a hammer since before you were born, you dare say that to me?!”

“Giggle, anyway! Please take care of this.”

“Are we heading to the New Continent right away?”

“That’s the plan. Let me know once it’s made,” Leeha had promised in exchange for Kidd’s request for an [Enhancement].

Bottleneck would handle everything related to the silencer, including the procurement of materials.

Leeha was well aware of how much quicker things could proceed with 20 handling it.

‘If I had to find materials myself, they would’ve probably asked for orichalcum or something.’