Matan’s Shooter

TL: xLordFifth

ED: 

When facing the mermaids and the kraken, navigation didn’t come to a halt. Therefore, the summoner Elmi, even while dealing with the mermaids and kraken, continued the journey. Thus, at the request of Burke and Hook, Summoner Elmi, using her summoned creatures, had already scouted the vicinity of the “buoy” and transmitted that information to the respective ships.

“When you go there, the ship’s speed sharply decreases, and on top of that, there are reports of encountering a storm! Do we want to create a situation where the fishmen are rushing up? Turn the wheel! Starboard! Starboard!”

Hook shouted at Hyein and quickly turned the key.

The appearance of the fishmen presented another problem. The primary goal was to maneuver around the outer edge of the floating island, the “buoy.” Teleportation had a higher success rate when the distance was shorter.

Using mass teleportation, carrying all the laborers and materials needed for constructing the mana relay tower, was a precaution to make the adventure a bit safer. However…

Under normal circumstances, even if the speed decreased slightly, they would have approached with enough distance for safety. But now, in an emergency situation, there was no such luxury.

“Anyway, get ready! In 3 minutes! In 3 minutes, it will probably be the closest point to that island!”

“If you want all of us to die together, we can get even closer!”

Hook yelled abruptly.

Hyein was also full of dissatisfaction, but there was no choice. Hyein knew that Hook was doing his best in his own way.

Now they needed to find a landing point.

“It’s an artificially created island. There’s no sandy beach. It would be safe to teleport if there were development sites.”

It’s not connected to the underwater land but was literally a floating island on the water. Since it was not naturally formed, there was no coastline like a sandy beach.

“On that note, the shape of the island is like a typical volcanic island with a protruding center… There seem to be many trees, and the view is heavily obscured due to the nearby storms.”

The island is substantial enough to cover a considerable portion of the field of vision. Constructing a mana relay tower on the artificially elevated terrain at the center would be perfect.

However, how to get there is the problem for Hyein and Team B. There wasn’t a suitable place to teleport to.

“It’s not like Blink or mass teleportation is an adventure like this… But there’s no choice. We have to do it. In the worst case, I might die, but… if the laborer NPCs survive, the mana relay tower will be constructed.”

Of course, those NPCs also would not be able to return to the ships alive. Unless Hyein teleported them back, they would wither and die on the island.

But the first goal of the quest would be achieved.

Preparing for such situations, Hyein gave instructions to the laborer NPCs. Even if she isn’t visible, they should climb to the top of the island and construct the mana relay tower.

The giant NPCs nodded with determined attitudes.

“We’re here, we’re here! Get ready—!”

At Hook’s shout, Hyein began casting, hoping for everyone’s safety.

“Zig–!”

“Hyein-hyungnim, you can do it!”

“Mass Teleport!”

Then, casting the skill vigorously, he thrust her staff into the magic circle. The violet radiance disappeared into the air, shooting up from the New Serpent ship.

The B-Team’s 100-hour time-limited operation began just now, on the 20th day of entering the Dragon Palace’s waters.

“All right! They’re gone! I was worried because there was no whisper!”

Leeha understood the situation by observing his friend’s location on the friend list. The lack of a reply to the whisper meant that they were still in the midst of a battle.

Therefore, Leeha had considered the possibility that Hyein’s B-Team might not move properly.

“For the next 100 hours, Hyein will be fine.”

More than anything, the fact that his name was still on the friend list was evidence. It meant that the worst-case scenario of the caster dying during mass teleportation had been avoided.

By about a day and a half from now, the C-Team would arrive near the Dragon Palace and log out for a day. By then, Hyein’s mana relay tower construction would likely show a progress rate of over 50%.

“His personality is still a question mark, but in terms of ‘ability,’ there’s nothing to complain about Hyein-nim. Now, I just have to do well. Just me.”

Leeha’s emitted bubbles as a sign, tapping Sea Bream’s arm lightly. It was a sign to move a little faster.

As he estimated the users’ positions and situations through the friend list, Leeha naturally couldn’t know the details.

“Haah… Haah… Is everyone okay?! Check the personnel and materials!”

Mana consumption varies depending on the mass being teleported. Pouring almost all her mana into a single teleportation, Hyein felt as if her blood pressure dropped for a moment.

“The materials… cough, cough… the materials are okay.”

“What about the personnel?”

“That’s… um… there…”

“Ah…”

Hyein let out a muted groan. Like organisms growing parasitically on trees, the bodies of the eleven giants were intertwined with the trees, turning a reddish-brown color.

The only fortunate thing was that all the materials for constructing the mana relay tower were safely transported. Also, the fact that Hyein was the leader of Team B.

“Move faster! Everyone, carry the materials and head to the mountain! The goal is the mountain summit! The mana relay tower will be built on the mountaintop!”

Regaining his composure immediately, Hyein began giving orders to the laborers. When the entire team of 30 laborers was fully operational, the construction time for the mana relay tower would be 100 hours. However, they had lost 11 members.

Calculating the construction time by simply adding the loss of 11 members, the estimated completion time was approximately 131 hours later.

In essence, they had exceeded the time limit.

“I can’t give up like this. Compared to someone who jumped into the sea without any weapons, my situation is much better.”

Hyein gritted his teeth, thinking of someone in a more difficult situation than him in various aspects. In many ways, Leeha was influencing the New Continent Expeditionary Team.

Bleep, bleep, bleep!

“Ugh… I can’t shake off this fatigue at all.”

Turning off the alarm, Leeha struggled to get up. He had fallen asleep collapsing after logging out, and now his allotted rest time was over.

“Maybe jumping into KCTC one more time would be better. It might be tougher than waiting for battle readiness.”

At least the burden on his brain would be greater than that. The brain had been operating without a break for the equivalent of ten days.

However, there was no time for regrets. He had last confirmed the appearance of the Dragon Palace before logging out. Now, from the moment he logged in, he would have to start the operation.

“It’s been exactly 23 days since entering the Dragon Palace’s waters. If we consider Hyein-nim and my time limits leniently, I have been given around 28 hours. No, to be on the safer side, it might be within 12 hours.”

Hyein had discussed the time limit with Bailephus and they conversed about linking with mana, but Leeha only had the Chain Teleportation skill with the Three Musketeers, whose effectiveness he wasn’t sure of.

“Linking with the highest level sage and an ancient gold dragon… Whether the Three Musketeers’ Chain Teleportation skill can match that level of power… No, let’s not waste time and finish it quickly. I need to log in and advance the operation even by an hour.”

He still couldn’t get used to the feeling uncomfortable sensation of rushing even after several logins, and Leeha returned to the world of Middle Earth.

“Ah, you’re here.”

“Ha Leeha-nim!”

[■ Kyukyukyu!]

Sea Bream, Anderson, and Blaugrun greeted Leeha. They had already found a sufficient resting place in front of the Dragon Palace, knowing the boundary points of the mermaids.

Leeha: Anything unusual?

“None.”

Leeha: The three scouts haven’t returned, so there might have been something unusual… The system hasn’t been fully established yet. It’s a good sign for us.

Born, die, born, die. After the members of the New Continent Expeditionary Team entered the Dragon Palace’s waters, the life cycle of the fishmen had become excessively short and fast, making it impossible to perfectly control.

“That’s right. The boundary pattern is the same as what that guy caused.”

“So that’s the problem… We could come here without any trouble, but this time… sigh.”

Anderso sighed. While Leeha logged out and was sleeping, Sea Bream and Anderson repeated the cycle of sleeping and waking up, surveying the surroundings.

However, the boundary pattern was no different from what Leeha heard from the mermaids last time.

The entrance to the purification chamber was thoroughly blocked by the fishmen without any gaps.

Leeha: Hmm… If Black Bass could be used now… we could finish it with a sniper shot and infiltrate safely.

Leeha felt regret. The frustration of not being able to use his specialty at the time it was most needed overwhelmed him.

‘Fortunately, the purification chamber and the Dragon Palace are quite a distance away. Moreover, we were told to enter through a cave entrance and continue descending to the deep sea.’

Once he entered the entrance to the purification chamber, the fishmen would not be able to detect him. But that was not possible.

They would definitely be caught.

‘How can I pass? What should I do?’

“Ha Leeha-nim, I remembered the story that Ha Leeha told us.”

“Kkorok?”

Sea Bream brought up a seemingly unrelated topic to Leeha, who was looking around.

“Didn’t Young Master confirm it personally and receive the clothes as proof?”

“Kkorok?”

Hmm… why? Leeha asked, curious. Even during the long journey here, Leeha had shared his story or listened to the mermaids’ stories to build mutual trust and gather hints for other achievements, quests, or the path to the New Continent.

It wasn’t just out of boredom.

It was to further build trust between them and, at the same time, think about whether there might be any hints for other achievements, quests, or the path to the New Continent.

However, from the perspective of the mermaid NPC, some stories seemed to be quite moving. In essence, it meant that Drake acknowledged Leeha.

“It was the same on the ship. Moreover, Leeha-nim returning as a mermaid was also thanks to Ha Leeha’s dongsaeng on the ship the prince returned to being a mermaid,” said Sea Bream with a warm smile, as if telling an old story. In contrast, Anderson, who was next to him, had an uneasy expression. 

[Kyu-woo-woo….] 

Blaugrung also made a sigh-like whimpering sound.

In a moment, something passed through Leeha’s mind.

Leeha: Are you trying to become the bait yourself?

“Huh? Hahaha, as expected. You can’t earn prince’s recognition with just faith. It’s because of that skill. You saw it very well.” 

Sea Bream placed his bone-like weapon on his tail fin. From there to Iha’s waist, he cut off the blue strap connecting them.

“Please. Representing all mermaids, I ask you once again, Honorable Ha Leeaha.” Sea Bream, the large mermaid, bowed his head towards Leeha.

Why did the story of faith continue?

‘[Water Ring] has been released.’

Since the forced movement skill has ended.

Other than expressing belief, there was no way to persuade Leeha.

Leeha opened the skill window and cast Chain Teleport: Three Musketeers. Kidd was logged out, and Luger was in a connected state. It is also activated.

‘If I use the skill right away? It will still be 100% effective. If I use [Partner Summon], I can safely summon Blaugrun to the ship.’

[Purification Chamber Cleaning]

Failure: Achievement – [The one who annihilated the Mermaids], Intimacy with Howard Drake -100%

The penalty for failing the mermaid quest may be a bit painful, but wasn’t life more important?! Drake even became a mermaid.

According to the last words left to the members of the New Continent Expedition, there was even a possibility that he would not return to the Kraven Kingdom. Even if the intimacy is -100%, if there is no chance of collision, it’s enough.

In other words, using the skill to return to the ship is a rational, safe, and even efficient choice! 

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