Matan’s Shooter

TL: xLordFifth

ED:

‘The world… is turning.  But it won’t be easy on the other side either.’

What was the reason why Leeha, Sea Bream, and Anderson were safe? It was because the fishmen were not on guard against them. Their entire mind was preoccupied with the ship moving ceaselessly across the surface of the sea, and you wouldn’t be able to pay attention to the four or so creatures wandering around the bottom of the sea.

“Grrrrrrg?”

[Kyu, kyu!]

Blaugrun nodded when asked if he was okay. Leeha opened the waterproof bag and took out some simple food.

Leeha: Take some of these. You have to move for a while so at least replenish some stamina.

“Thank you.”

[Kyu,kyu,kyun!]

Sea Bream was also hungry, so he ate the food that Leeha gave him. It’s like eating dried jerky in the ocean… Leeha once again realized the greatness of the dragon’s waterproof magic and the greatness of his own accomplishments.

‘This is why I hate realistic games.  Even if I have underwater breathing skill, if it weren’t for this achievement, it would be impossible to clear the quest!  No, is this skill available as an option?’

When crossing a fairly wide river or passing between islands, users said they used underwater breathing skill just in case. However, that was only when near the sea. How about deep in the waters? It was dangerous for humans to dive more than 30 meters bare-handed.

‘It’s the same with pressure and sight.  Once the sunlight no longer comes in, my eyes become completely useless.’ 

This was a challenge that Leeha had not even thought about. It was said that the Dragon Palace was located at the bottom of the sea. What if the bottom was 5,000m below the surface? What if it was somewhere like the Mariana Trench in the Pacific Ocean?

‘The average water depth of the Mariana Trench is 7 to 8,000m- so much so that even Mount Everest could fit into its valley.’

It was not a place where humans could survive. Therefore, the achievement obtained in Middle Earth was nothing short of a privilege.

‘[Humans who are capable of breathing underwater can react like marine life no matter how deep the water.]’

“Gurrrrgle, gurrrgle!”

[Kyuk?]

‘But why didn’t they let me talk?’ They can react like marine creatures, so they can breathe underwater, see a wide view of the sea, and withstand water pressure well – but they couldn’t speak because they don’t have vocal cords!’ 

Leeha tried to think about it, but there was no way Middle Earth management would respond.

Leeha: How far do we have to go to Dragon Palace?

“At this speed… We will arrive in 13 days, no, maybe even 12 days.”

Leeha: Great. You may be tired, but please try your best for the next three days. After that, get a 

good rest and then we will move for another 10 days.

“Let’s do that. Did you rest well, Anderson?”

“Haa, yes sir!”

Anderson straightened his posture, waving his tail fin.

Sea Bream looked at his figure with pride.

“If we successfully complete this mission, I will consider having you join the Sea God guard.”

“Waa?! R-really? Are you really?”

“You’re a bit small, but your stamina to withstand this much forced march and agility to shake off the fishmen is enough.”

When Sea Bream nodded, Anderson did two back tumbles in an instant. The face of the young mermaid, who had been wearing a stricken expression just moments ago, changed.

“Oh! Ohhh yeah!  Great! Then, I will be able to use the materialization of spirit powers like other Sea God guards-“

“It’s still a long way.  Let’s focus on the mission first.”

“- hehehe!  I understand, Captain Sea Bream!”

Leeha looked at the scene happily. There was nothing that gave strength in times of darkness as much as having hope.

‘And what he just said…’

And when the thought of maybe someday, passed through Leeha’s mind, Sea Bream hugged him again.

“Let’s leave.”

[Kyuu!  Kyukyu!]

Blaugrun flew to Anderson’s chest as if it were his designated seat and hugged him. In a now all-too-familiar formation, the four of them sped up again on the seafloor.

“C-captain.  In front-“

“Hmm.  We need to hide for a while.”

“Grrrrrg?”

Anyway, Leeha had a hard time holding his own in the water, so he had no choice but to follow guidance.

‘Are marine life like sea cucumbers or sea squirts? At least it will make our movements more flexible. There are a lot of fish, even if they aren’t at the level of dolphins or tuna!’

Without knowing Leeha’s grumbling thoughts, Anderson and Sea Bream hid among the coral reefs where they had just been resting.

Leeha: What is happening? What?

As soon as they hid, Leeha started assessing the situation. They had never looked so serious before. It was natural to avoid something dangerous, but was that what really thought?

“Shh. The sea creatures are moving as a group.”

“The distance is far, so they wouldn’t be able to hear this much noise, but if we swim carelessly, the waves would be transmitted.”

Leeha: Sea creatures?  Are there cases where sea creatures move in groups? Ah! Is it marine lizards?

“They are not such low-quality sea creatures.”

Sea Bream’s eyes wavered. Anderson also looked anxious and couldn’t speak properly.

Leeha: Then what is it?

“I-If they are what I think they are…  It is a group of kraken… The smallest of them is at least 30m long- there are about 13 to 14 of them?”

“There are also black serpents and white serpents.  Why are those guys pulling the sea god’s two-headed chariot here…?”

“I guess… It seems the fishmen are driving the sea creatures.”

“Serpents are not creatures that can be driven around.  Are they controlling the serpents…?  Is there a fishman capable of mind control?  No, that can’t be- damn it, I can’t judge from here.”

“No way.  It’s not controlling, right?  If it isn’t the sea god, they don’t listen to anything.” 

Anderon shook his head violently and looked at Sea Bream. However, it was not a statement with confidence. Rather, it was just a sincere wish that ‘I wish it weren’t like that.’

“You can’t jump to conclusion, Anderson.  A guard must always assume and prepare for every situation.”

Leeha was also able to find out that the movements of the fishmen also captured ‘ultrasonic waves’. He also knew that the kraken, a giant squid, and the serpent, were also the sea serpent that Drake used as his symbol. Its grandeur alone was enough to scare mermaids. 

‘They could not be controlled by anyone other than the sea god… it is said that they could not be controlled whether it’s mind control or trickery.  no, no way-‘

Why did those monsters suddenly move, and why did they move in groups?

Just looking at the mermaid’s reactions, it was clear that cases like this were rare or non-existent. If that’s the case? There was only one reason Leeha could think of.

Leeha: What direction? Are they going to where the ships are?  Where are they going now?  Where are the fishmen headed, creating a situation that even the mermaids are flustered by? Within the waters of the Dragon Palace, where would the fishmen lead such monsters?!

“I don’t know that.  Since the waves of the ship could not be detected here… But they may be going that way-“

“Gurrrrgle- Brrrrrk!”

He should have said that first! Leeha spat out a bunch of air bubbles and quickly whispered.

Leeha: Kidd! Luger! 

Leeha: Nara-ssi! Kijeong-ah! Spread out! The fishmen are dragging sea creatures toward the ship!  I don’t know how far we are from the ship, but they will arrive soon! The type of monsters are-

Leeha whispered to the users who seemed to be the most prepared among those currently online. And once again, he was impressed by the preparedness of the users belonging to the new continent expedition team.

It was because many of the users who received the whisper replied to Leeha before he could finish his whisper.

Kidd: The total number of kraken, sea serpents, and fishmen is at least a hundred. Is that right?

Luger: Are you communicating from inside the squid’s stomach? It’s too late.

Nara: That’s crazy, really… how do we stop that? Please ask the mermaid around you, 

Leeha-ssi.

Kijung: Eong-ah, would you like to switch missions with me?

‘Indeed… I guess I could say that.’

Leeha gently bit his lower lip. The monster was not visible to Leeha.

However, they would definitely be stronger than normal. At least, he could feel that it would be one level higher than the crisis they have experienced so far.

“Ha Leeha-nim! Can’t we go and see?”

“Gurrgle?”

“Yes!  If Ha Leeha-nim was not present, Anderson would not continue to speak.” Anderson was an NPC. Of course, he continued to stay at the ship without logging out after being rescued.

So he knew.

There was a huge difference beyond simply the presence and absence of Leeha, or the presence and absence of a sniper.

Leeha was shaken as he listened to Anderson’s words.

‘Kijung said it as if it was a joke, but it is clearly sincere.  His voice was shaking.’

Wasn’t tanks the ones who were used to dealing with monsters the most? Now that they had confirmed the actual number of the kraken and the serpents, it was inevitable that the users would fight fear more than anyone else.

“I want to go to the Dragon Palace as soon as possible but… if you want to go back, I will help you. There guys are not normal. Even if you, I, and Anderson help the other humans, victory or defeat is not guaranteed-“

“Grrrg…. hmm.”

Even Sea Bream advised to turn back, but Leeha shook his head.

Leeha: No. We will move forward.

“Are you sure?”

Leeha: Yes. I don’t know if we could come out of this voyage or if we could even get to the new continent. If we cannot overcome a crisis of this magnitude, it means that it is not time yet to challenge the new continent.

It may be because it is still too early, like when Fernand failed the first expedition.

What if Middle Earth sent these monsters to wreak havoc? Even if Leeha participated in the battle, the outcome would not change.

‘However… If it’s literally like an accident event. Our members will definitely overcome it.’

Leeha had faith.

“T-then, are we really not going to go back and just keep going to the Dragon Palace?”

Leeha: That’s right! To put it bluntly, if they are so weak that they could get wiped if I don’t go, then I guess the voyage would not be possible anymore. Don’t it? Let’s go quickly!

“Hmmm…”

“Okay.  Thank you once again for your determination, which is as strong as that of our clan. Anderson, are you ready?”

“Yes.  Captain-nim.”

After confirming that they were far away enough, Sea Bream and Anderson prepared to depart again.

Leeha trusted his colleagues. However, it would be good to think about it at least once.

Why did the NPCs recommend going back? It was because the difficulty of hunting krakens and sea serpents was beyond Leeha’s imagination.

By the time they started moving again, the sea surface was already in chaos.

The reason they knew before Leeha was simple. 

It was because although the fishmen were not caught in Rubini’s map, the sea monsters did.

There were no users who could remain calm while looking at the objects shown on Rubini’s map implemented with 3D scanner technology. 

“Lee Jiwon, can you use the lightning rod again?”

“It is impossible because Captain Coat Tail removed too many storms!”

During the voyage, Drake continuously removed storms, and both ships passed the points where the storm’s eradication area was the largest.

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