Matan’s Shooter

Chapter 44

Chapter 44

Leeha learned how great the Sacred Knights were, not because of their magic or power, but because of the notification window suddenly floating in front of him.

[Achievement: Sacred Knight’s Respect (C)]

Congratulations! 

You have gained the respect of the Sacred Knights; the Knight Order in charge of the defense of the capital of the Fibiel Kingdom.  You will surely have a good relationship with those who appreciate your skills.

Reward: Continental reputation +50

‘A good relationship?’

The first time they met was when Leeha had created a riot, but it was said that they were going to have a good relationship.

Leeha smirked and looked at the other message of the notification window.

‘Defense of the capital…’

It was impossible for Leeha, a former army sniper, to not know what it meant.

They must be of the highest level amongst the Knight Orders in order to be entrusted with the defense of the capital. Although the only reward was fame, it was by no means small.

‘My Continental reputation so far was only 30 points?.’

And users couldn’t get it so easily. Thanks to clearing all the hidden quests at Candle Castle, he gained 30 reputation for being commissioned as an honorary guard.

But gaining 50 points just by getting respected by a knight?

‘There is a “Knight’s Respect”. So, is there a “Knight Commander’s Respect”? Or the respect of other knights?’

Moreover, from the title, it was certainly not a one-off achievement. Leeha couldn’t even get beyond the walls, and could only follow Sir Digrom.

“This place should do. Okay, what is that Bear to you?”

They were in a place far from the gate. It was only when the crowd was no longer in the way did Sir Digrom stop.

Leeha did not answer immediately.

Sir Digrom in front of him and Sir Syndergaard standing behind him.

The two promised not to attack Leeha, but it was clear that they were in a position to guard against him.

“You don’t have to be too alert. I don’t think an Honorary Guard at Candle Castle will make a fuss in the capital of the kingdom.”

“Oh? Ah! Did you know?”

“Of course. We know that you have worked hard for Candle Castle, no, for our Fibiel Kingdom.”

He didn’t know how they knew, but after hearing Sir Syndergaard’s words, Leeha was relieved.

‘Is the national contribution showing its effect? Or is it fame?’

He didn’t know what it was, but Leeha could guess that it was one of the two. If he thought about it, it was the same in front of the gate.

At least, the courtesy they gave to Leeha and the wizards with presumed levels 150 or higher were the same.

“You have tamed the bear cub … No, I don’t think it’s right to say tamed, but I’ve confirmed that it doesn’t attack people.”

“I see. I don’t think you’re a tamer, excuse me, but is the coat you’re wearing made of Agonia Oso’s leather?”

“Yes.”

“Hoh. So maybe that’s why.”

Sir Syndergaard nodded and looked at Sir Digrom.

Leeha had answered yes, but he didn’t know the purpose of their question.

“It is rare to see a monster that does not attack humans, but it will not be allowed to enter Aelstock. As you can see, even if it is completely tamed, it can cause confusion.”

“Then what should I do?”

“Humans go to human villages, and bears go to bear villages.”

“Are you saying that I let it go?”

Sir Syndergaard nodded his head. Because they were in charge of the defence of the capital and not ordinary gatekeepers, Leeha was not able to do anything.

“Can I enter Aelstock?”

“Of course.”

Sir Syndergaard once again banged and struck his left chest.

Leeha’s worries did not last long, he loved the little guy, but Sir Syndergaard’s words are certainly valid.

Humans to human territory, bears to bear territory.

The NPC Knights checked again whether it was tamed.

If Leeha, who had national contribution, had tamed the bear cub then there would have been an indicator.

In other words, since there was no such indicator, wasn’t he trying to check whether it was a monster or not?

‘In the end, unless one is a tamer, one should think that taming is impossible, right?’

If one already has an answer, there is nothing more to think about.

“Okay. I’ll release it and come back.”

“Thank you for your cooperation.” 

With that Leeha turned around with the bear cub. They will have to go to the forest hunting ground where bears appear and release it there, so he would have to spend about a day in total.

“Honorary Guard of Candle Castle, what is your name?”

“Pardon?”

“I asked for your name.”

‘Why are they asking for my name? Will they put it on a blacklist or something similar because I caused a ruckus as soon as I arrived at the capital?’

‘However, the look on Sir Syndergaard’s eyes did not seem to imply that.’ 

“It’s Leeha.”

“Are you a musketeer?”

“Yes.”

“So that’s why.”

‘What? Huh?’ 

Leeha could not grasp the reason for Sir Syndergaard’s question. However, the Sacred Knights finally crossed the wall and entered the capital. Their plate armor flashed and they flew across the sky.

“It’s so cool, it’s so damn cool.”

How high was their level? It should be considerably higher than the level of the users.

“Come on, kid. To your home.”

“Kkung, kkung!”

How much did it understand Leeha’s words? The bear cub started running to the forest in the south of the capital as soon as Leeha got on. 

“Go.”

KKung?

“Don’t say anything like kuoong. Leave quickly.”

Leeha came to the place where the trees were growing luxuriantly before getting off the bear cub. Even if he stroked and stroked his palms, the cub was making a small shout, saying that Leeha was playing a joke.

They were together for less than a week.

It wasn’t long, but they developed quite a bit of intimacy with each other.

Although the bear cub could not talk, it was the only companion Leeha could converse with on a lonely journey…

Additionally, although it grew incredibly fast, Leeha was the only person who had been with the bear cub since it was a baby. It would be weird if they didn’t get attached to each other.

“I am sorry for killing your mother and brother.”

Whoever died would have died. But the bear cub was more than a monster, more than a forest creature, and more than a creature created in Middle Earth.

And Leeha felt guilty and saddened for the bear cub. Aside from the Agonia Oso, it was the largest bear he’d ever seen.

“Kkung, Kkung.”

The bear cub licked Leeha’s cheek.

Its tongue was larger than Leeha’s face. The soft, wet tongue swept over Leeha’s cheeks and face.

“Ugh, don’t do that. Just leave already, you punk.”

He may have said it like that, but Leeha was thankful to the bear cub. If it wasn’t for the saliva lathered all over his face, tears would have been seen.

“Kkung kkung.”

The bear cub snorted and tried to hug Leeha. Compared to five days ago, when Leeha could carry the bear cub, its size had grown by nearly a 100 times.

Now, seeing a bear running towards him, Leeha’s throat suddenly choked.

“Hmm, don’t be like that! If you don’t leave,I will shoot you!”

He barely cleared up his cracking voice and lifted his musket up.

He pretended to load in order to scare away the bear cub but it only laughed, as if he saw Leeha’s action as a joke.

Come to think of it, this threat didn’t work even when he was a baby. How can a musket frighten the bear cub now that it’s all grown up?

It was also used by the person who held and fed the bear cub himself.

“Leave! Quickly!”

“Kuuoong…”

Leeha faced the bear and stepped back. Only then did the bear cub make a sad voice as if understanding their separation.

“Don’t fight with your own people. Just because I killed bears, doesn’t mean you should kill bears too. Understand?”

“Kuung.”

The bear walked two or three steps towards the forest, stopped and then turned its head. It had the same black eyes he had when he was a baby looking at Leeha.

“Kuang, Kupong.”

“U-uwah! Come on?”

The cub  suddenly rushed to him. Since it was large, it was inevitable that Leeha was also  surprised.

“A-ak. It hurts, you punk! Now you are getting it!”

The cub ran into him and bit Leeha’s hand. The bear quickly sipped the slowly leaking drop of blood. Even when Leeha was eating grilled meat, it had never been like this, so why was it acting like this so suddenly?

“Oh? Huh?”

Without understanding, he raised his arm.

The light emanating from the large bear cub blinded him.

[Achievement: Soul Mate (D+)]

Congratulations! You, who took risks and respected  Middle Earth’s creatures, have a companion linked to your soul. Even though you are apart, your companion will never forget you.

Reward: Intellect +4, Mind +5, Skill: Soul link acquisition.

You are the third registrant of the achievement [Soul Mate].

The first three registrants of the achievement will be recorded in the Hall of Fame, and an additional 200% of the existing effect is applied.

Effect: Intellect +8, Mind +10

“W-what is this? Soul mate?”

Not a pretty girl, but a bear? It occurred to him, but Leeha no longer wanted to play pranks.

“Kkuuung…….”

“Yes, I guess you’re saying you won’t forget me. Thank you, kid.”

Huh, huh.

Leeha pinched the bear’s cheeks and shook its face. It was really goodbye now.

“Be healthy.”

“Kuung.”

The bear cub turned around and walked into the woods.

“Goodbye, kid!”

“Kkuuuuuu—.”

The bear cub didn’t look back. Slowly entering the forest, the footsteps of the bear cub slowed down for a while and then it made one long cry.

“Tsk.”

Leeha looked at the forest for a long time, leaning against his musket. Until he no longer saw the bear cub, the kid.

The steps he took towards the capital were heavier than he thought.

‘I didn’t feel like this even when I separated from Biyemi or Jin Gonggong.’

Was it because they were users that he could talk to at any time?

Perhaps it was because they only received a penalty upon death, and he didn’t need to worry about them disappearing forever. But the kid was different.

That bear cub could be hunted at any time and could disappear at any moment.

After walking back to the capital, he remembered the rewards from his achievement.

‘The skill! Yes, there was that.’

He quickly reopened the notification window. The rise of intelligence and mind. Third registrant in the Hall of Fame.

Of the more than 100 million cumulative users, should he be surprised that there were two more people who did the same thing as Leeha, or should he be surprised that there were only two?

‘There were others like me? If it’s a baby monster,  wouldn’t they have shot and killed it as soon as they saw it?’

To gain more experience! He couldn’t help but think this. The other two who got the achievement would have been great people.

[Beginner’s Soul Link]

Description: You can summon the soul of your soul mate. The soul of the summoned soulmate can regain the body it possessed just before its death, and can be strengthened according to the user’s level. (Skill cannot be leveled up.)

Effect: Summon Soul Mate for 30 minutes, additional enhancement:1/2 of user’s level

Mana: 200 

Cooldown: 24 hours

“Hmm… … Can be summoned. Having the body just before death. Did they expect the monster to get caught someday?

‘Then what if it didn’t die? Will it always get updated to its latest state? All monsters leveled up, right? No. It may be because it was not just a monster, but a soulmate state.

If normal monsters continued to level up, hunting for normal users would have been impossible.

Anyway, according to the description of the skill, the moment it dies someday, the strength of the Soul Mate would remain the same from then on.

It meant that the summoned soul could only be strengthened by additional enhancements based on the user’s level.