Chapter 152
Chapter 152
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 152
Chapter Title: The Marksman's Awakening
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In his previous life, when he'd half-lied his way into the Wind Forest Volcano Guild and was struggling, there was Choi Jin-seong, who had always looked out for him.
Considering how most people lash out at innocent bystanders when they're frustrated, Choi Jin-seong was a man of solid character.
That's why Shin Yu-hyun wanted to help him in this life—and now, having officially joined the Gold Bow Unit, he was truly one of his own.
And with the bestowal of the PGM Hecate 3, he would become even more so.
"Thank you."
Choi Jin-seong knelt and accepted the black case from Shin Yu-hyun.
"Open it up."
"Yes, sir."
Choi Jin-seong placed the black case on the table set aside in the shooting range's safety zone for maintaining bows.
Then he opened it.
"Whoa..."
"Is that a sniper rifle...?"
"The design is a work of art..."
The Gold Bow Unit members gasped in admiration as the PGM Hecate 3 revealed itself inside the black case.
A massive anti-materiel rifle with an overall length of 1.5 meters and a barrel alone measuring a full meter: the PGM Hecate 3.
Its sleek, refined design was painted matte black.
Moreover, it was crafted from agranium, a magical alloy renowned for its exceptional mana conductivity.
This made its performance far superior to any standard PGM Hecate.
Not only that, the case contained various accessories essential for using the PGM Hecate 3.
The high-end case with its black base and silver trim, along with the custom accessories, stirred the collector's itch in everyone.
The entire Gold Bow Unit stared at it with envious eyes.
"It's a success."
"Told you."
Nam Yeon-ah and Kim Sang-cheol watched the awestruck group with pleased smiles.
Nam Yeon-ah had designed and engineered the PGM Hecate 3.
Kim Sang-cheol had smelted the agranium alloy and assembled it by hand.
Thanks to their collaboration, the two had grown quite close.
"My deepest thanks to both of you."
Choi Jin-seong bowed deeply to Nam Yeon-ah and Kim Sang-cheol.
He knew they had crafted the PGM Hecate 3 just for him.
"Please take good care of our baby."
"Save the pleasantries. Take it out and give it a look."
Nam Yeon-ah smiled at his gratitude, while Kim Sang-cheol waved it off.
"Yes, sir."
Choi Jin-seong gazed at the PGM Hecate 3 in the case, his expression tense.
Though Shin Yu-hyun had said switching from bow to rifle would change everything, he couldn't help feeling nervous.
He had no guarantee it would solve his chronic issues.
"Don't worry. It'll work out fine."
At that moment, Shin Yu-hyun spoke in a gentle tone.
Just like that, Choi Jin-seong's mind calmed as if by magic.
And the instant he gripped the PGM Hecate 3 from the case—
"Ah..."
Then, an unbelievable system message appeared before Choi Jin-seong's eyes.
Unique Trait: Mana Bullet Marksman.
The innate ability to master any rifle.
And in that moment, Choi Jin-seong realized.
'I can do this.'
His chronic problems were solved.
Clap, clap, clap.
"Congratulations. Looks like you've awakened it."
Shin Yu-hyun clapped as he spoke.
The Gold Bow Unit members followed with cheers and applause.
"Th-thank you."
Choi Jin-seong's face flushed red.
Being applauded by over ten people while hearing congratulations from all sides was a bit embarrassing.
But it didn't feel bad.
Now, he could finally repay those who had helped him.
'Preparations are coming along nicely.'
Shin Yu-hyun smiled in satisfaction.
As expected, the moment Choi Jin-seong gripped the PGM Hecate 3, he awakened his unique trait.
And with the Mana Bullet Marksman ability, he showed a completely different performance from his bow days.
'I had a hunch, but this is a bit much.'
Shin Yu-hyun gave a wry smile.
Even with a bow, Choi Jin-seong had fired devastating arrows.
The problem was always his accuracy—friendly fire was a constant issue.
But now, with the PGM Hecate 3 and his trait awakened, he was unstoppable.
Far more powerful than with a bow.
In terms of firepower, he was a walking self-propelled gun.
'He'll need protection while sniping.'
No matter how long-range it was, he could still get ambushed.
And Choi Jin-seong was weak in close quarters.
A sneak attack from behind, and he'd be done before he could react.
So, countermeasures were needed.
'Skeleton Soldiers should do the trick.'
A few Sabers would suffice.
'Time to make a move.'
Shin Yu-hyun tapped his desk in his private office, lost in thought.
Preparations to retake Gangneung were falling into place.
He'd asked his father, the Clan Leader, for high-performance gear—not standard supplies.
Fortunately, his father agreed readily.
The Liuhe Spear Clan was still cowed by the Heaven-Splitting Sword Clan after the blacksmith Kim Sang-cheol incident.
'Even pried some elixirs out of them.'
Not quite Heaven-Splitting Divine Pills, but ones that boosted mana.
'Thought the retainers would object.'
He expected pushback for demanding both gear and elixirs.
But surprisingly, none came.
It meant he was gaining real recognition in the clan.
'The interference came from Namdu Group instead.'
He'd already secured a preemptive investment from Chairman Nam Hyun-cheol.
But Namdu Group's heir and strategy director, Nam Min-hyuk, opposed it.
That put Nam Hyun-cheol in a tough spot.
Still, the chairman pushed it through with his authority, as Nam Yeon-ah had reported.
Even threatening personal investment if needed.
'Meddling in my business.'
Shin Yu-hyun sneered at the thought of Nam Min-hyuk.
He'd wanted things quiet, but trying to block the chairman's investment?
He'd repay that debt with interest later.
Without Nam Hyun-cheol's funding, his plans would stall.
'At least the investment's coming through.'
Thanks to that, Finance Director Kim Jae-hyun was beaming everywhere.
Chronic deficits had him suffocating—now he could breathe.
But Shin Yu-hyun just felt sorry for him.
Most of the advance would go to Black Tortoise Hall annexes or Nam Yeon-ah's artifact R&D.
In other words, it was there—and then gone.
'All that's left is retaking Gangneung?'
Black Tortoise Sword Division recruits were bolstered and drilled hard—they were finally usable.
Ranged AOE from Crimson Tower flame mages and Gold Bow Unit formations were set.
Lee Chae-hwa and Kim Sung-hoon would lead Black Tortoise Hall's ranged forces.
Choi Jin-seong got his PGM Hecate 3 and awakened his trait.
Pretty much everything before the assault was done.
'Getia Worshippers haven't moved yet.'
The only snag was the Getia Worshippers.
But no activity, and investigations were stalled.
Interrogating infiltrators in Wind Forest Volcano yielded nothing useful, as expected.
'Have to wait on Luber’s report for now.'
He'd briefed Luber on all known intel and ordered a probe.
Results would take time.
'Something happened around now, though.'
In his previous life, Wind Forest Volcano failed a raid dungeon, triggering a stampede.
After clearing the stampede beasts, something happened soon after—but he couldn't recall.
Choi Jin-seong died looking out for him, and countless perished in the stampede.
He'd been a mess back then.
'What was it?'
As Shin Yu-hyun pondered—
Bang!
The door to his private office flew open.
"Hall Leader!"
It was Vice Hall Leader Choi Jung-hoon.
He burst in with a frantic expression.
"An Invasion Gate has appeared!"
"What?"
Shin Yu-hyun's eyes widened in shock at Choi Jung-hoon's words.
A stampede was when beasts overflowed a dungeon.
Per Shuv's explanation, it was the worst-case: dungeon space couldn't contain them, invading Earth dimension.
But rarely, Invasion Gates occurred.
Dungeon gates took days for cracks to spill beasts.
Invasion Gates unleashed them instantly upon opening.
'So that's what it was.'
Shin Yu-hyun realized.
When Wind Forest Volcano's raid failed and stampede hit, an Invasion Gate had appeared too.
'Forgot about this.'
But understandably so.
The Invasion Gate went unnoticed, buried under the raid stampede chaos.
Hunter Association supers found it while cleaning up, already closing.
"Where?"
"Near Chilseong Mountain."
"Chilseong Mountain?"
Shin Yu-hyun frowned at the answer.
He hadn't known the location in his previous life.
The Association never disclosed it precisely—just that they'd found and sealed it.
Who'd have thought near Chilseong Mountain.
In Gyeonggi-do's Hwaseong, outskirts of Suwon, with apartments at the foothills.
Worst case, massive civilian casualties.
"Scale of the beasts?"
"Well..."
Choi Jung-hoon's face darkened at the question.
"Dozens for now, but analysis predicts hundreds of at least 5-star magic beasts."
"What?"
Shin Yu-hyun's face filled with horror.
Far more than expected.