Light of Arad: The First to Walk - Chapter 117



Only Noblemtl

117

It was an appearance that was not all that surprising to Jinseong.

There was no need to even suspect contamination.

‘Berrick of the Sandstorm… … Right. You’ll have to fight against ‘Eye of Dawn’ Enzo Sipho.’

I had some doubts about whether he would appear at this point, but I knew that he was absolutely necessary for a showdown with the cartel.

“I got a confession. It seems that Langerus took the princess to the cartel headquarters. I found out the location of the headquarters and put it on the map-… Wait, Berekt!? How did you get here?”

The one who was most excited about Berekt’s appearance was Zeldin.

The captain of the garrison, who had been at odds with him since the beginning, could not possibly be quiet here.

Berict just snorted as he looked at Zeldin, who was glaring.

“I couldn’t just sit still when they said they were going to the cartel’s headquarters. I was thinking of smuggling, but somehow I found a man I could communicate with easily, so I came.”

Then he nodded.

He was referring to one of the people whom even Zeldin could not say anything about.

“Mr. Ban……”

“I thought it would be helpful since I knew the enemy’s weaknesses.”

The person who entered the barracks and appeared behind Berwick was Van Balstedt.

No one could say anything about his awkward smile.

Above all, there is no need to sympathize with Zeldin’s anxiety in a situation where it is not clear whether Berict will be of help or not.

Even Vivi is keeping her mouth shut and not coming forward.

‘It’s half… … In-game, it just passed like that. There must be some kind of ulterior motive behind this, too.’

The only person who could think from a different perspective was Jinseong.

After being possessed and living in Arad as reality, when Jinseong recalls the most unusual person among his memories related to the game Dungeon & Fighter, the person who must come to mind is Van Balshteit.

But right now there is no way to verify anything.

Also, the fact that Berict is here with us is the correct flow in Jinseong’s memories, so we can just ignore it.

Berwick said.

“Hmm, I don’t have time to make a fuss. I didn’t come here with a leisurely mind either. The cartel has come to this point, so I want to finish it off with my own hands. I have something to talk to Sipho about, too.”

“I don’t know the details, but I don’t think it would be a bad thing if the power increased, right?”

The peninsula shrugged its shoulders and said,

Zeldin sighed and said.

“…Okay. I’ll trust you once. However, I won’t allow you to act alone. Adventurer, would you please watch over Berekt? Please.”

“Yes. Leave it to me. I wanted to ask you a favor.”

Vivi answered immediately.

Jinseong was somewhat surprised by Vivi’s attitude of wanting to go with Berrick as if she had been waiting for him, rather than her usual bouncy words and actions.

Vivi seemed to understand the sincerity in those eyes and was taken aback for a moment.

“Why, why are you looking at me like that? I thought it was good that I had something to learn from you, Berwick. Did I do something wrong?”

“No, I couldn’t have done anything wrong. But what do you mean, learning something? It’s not like you’re the type to study mechanics, engineering, or anything like that, but you’re saying there’s something for you to learn, Vivi?”

Jinseong asked with genuine curiosity.

And I was able to realize.

“Yes, I want to improve my shooting skills.”

Passed through the imperial city of Ghent.

I took the sea train from Lufthansa.

Until we came here, to the lawless lands of the West.

Vivi also felt something.

It was her declaration that she wanted to build her skills, not just in areas she was interested in, but to literally train herself, that really made Jinseong’s eyes widen.

“That’s… so special…”

Should we call it an awakening or realization that is so profound that Jinseong cannot even bring himself to speak?

Only then did Vivi feel embarrassed, and she quickly adjusted her glasses and turned her head.

“Like last time, whenever I meet Ah-haeng or anyone else… I don’t want to be a bother to Jin-seong either.”

Then he muttered in a very small voice.

It’s not just your combat skills that have improved as you fight off various monsters.

It’s not just the skill proficiency that has increased.

This means that even though she had already met several possessed adventurers, she had finally started to move to break another shell inside her that she had not been able to break.

“Huh? What did you say?”

However, I said those words so Jinseong couldn’t hear them.

Vivi quickly changed the subject, hiding her embarrassment.

“By the way, what should I say? Will Mr. Berrick tell me?”

“… … I can’t believe Vivi started caring about things like that… … That’s so amazing I could cry-.”

“Stop joking!”

“Kuuuuu, okay. I’ll tell the story.”

“Mr. Jinsang… …Can you say that to Mr. Berikt?”

“Don’t worry, I’ll take care of it. Alright, alright, let’s go! Mr. Berwick, just a moment! Let’s go together!”

Jinseong chased after Berekt, who had gone out of the barracks first.

Holding Vivi’s wrist.

Vivi was staring at Jinseong’s hand that was holding her wrist.

* * *

I didn’t think that the training would be easy given the circumstances, but Berwick’s teachings were more difficult than Jinseong had expected.

“It’s late. You don’t need an excuse about it being difficult without a revolver.”

“Yes, yes! Are you saying to pull it out faster?”

“Yes. And always think about where you’re going to hold it. We don’t just pull the trigger from our waists. No matter what position you’re in or how fast you draw the gun, it should end up in the same position. I’m not going to say waist gun position. But once you’ve determined the optimal position considering your gun’s center of gravity, always take that position.”

It’s definitely an example, but it’s not something you do while standing still. It’s something you do while walking or running.

His actions, which included suddenly speeding up or slowing down and reacting immediately, were practically like real combat.

Vivi was following Berwick’s unpredictable movements and doing unfamiliar shooting training.

Even in the midst of all this, she never forgot to assert her own theory.

“But if the accuracy is going to drop like this, wouldn’t it be better to aim properly and shoot slowly?”

“…If the firearm’s performance is good and the engagement distance is long, then that might be better. But while you’re aiming, are you going to be covered in steel plates? Can you fight like that in the cartel’s main base, which has so many rocks, silver, and cover?”

“Well… but to hit the target-.”

─────, ─────, ─────!

Interrupting Vivi’s words, Beric fired three bullets in quick succession.

The sight of it hitting three cacti at different distances was an eye-popping sight, even for Jinseong.

Before the gun smoke had even cleared, his revolver, which had been sitting on his waist, was already holstered.

“Blocking enemy movements with rapid hip-fire, inducing delayed firing, and then firing an accurate shot at a flustered enemy. If you keep doing hip-fire from the same position as I mentioned earlier, you will be able to see an invisible firing line. If you can get to that point, you will be able to secure accuracy.”

Vivi nodded with an impressed expression.

She clearly asserts her theories from her podium, but she also has an attitude of immediately accepting cases that contradict her theories and can be proven.

“That’s how it feels… It’s not just the concept of simply shooting a target and hitting it. It’s actual shooting.”

“That’s obvious.”

“Then it would be okay to attach something like a laser pointer. Oh, but then you have to pull out the gun and press the on/off button while taking a stance, so it might end up being less efficient. Hmm-. Okay! I understand for now!”

Of course, there is also a direction to further develop such opposing theories by adding one’s own ideas.

Jinseong couldn’t help but smile happily.

‘It’s not just things like mechanical engineering that are my specialty. That kind of attitude… … understanding, application, flexibility… … and secretly good intuition.’

Because while it confirmed Vivi’s special ability again, it also showed that her intuition was not ordinary.

Who would be the best teacher to learn shooting?

‘Vivi, you probably don’t know anything about what you’re saying, but… … there’s no one who can teach marksmanship better than Berwick.’

Berekt of the Sandstorm.

He is known to have been involved in the cartel since its inception, but is currently out of the picture.

However, not many people know about his shooting skills. I’m not just talking about his duel scenes that appear in cutscenes.

Jinseong knew.

‘Hehehe, at any rate, you chose a good teacher. I don’t know about users these days, but… ‘

Above all, he is the master of the NPC who used to be the master of the gunner profession, that is, he is like the master of the users’ masters in shooting.

What if you could learn all the know-how and tips for real-life shooting from such a Berwick?

‘You’re a mechanic with the marksmanship of a ranger… Is that what it means? Hmm.’

If it were a character from the game Dungeon & Fighter, it would be different.

There is no need to do so, and since you have to use controls to quickly switch skills, there is no need to worry about shooting based on ‘normal attacks’.

But what about Vivian and Jinseong themselves?

‘If that’s the case, I might become the strongest possessed adventurer. In that sense, I think I could do something too. Swordsmanship… … Learning swordsmanship is good, but I think I could do something else entirely.’

It’s something I’ve never even tried before.

From the moment he set foot on Arad in the flesh of the Dark Knight, it is true that all Jinseong cared about was how to use skills, how to set up combos, and the five weapons that the Dark Knight could use.

That is, what if Jinseong himself uses a gun?

‘You can get as many rifles as you want. Hmm, I don’t know if that’s okay… … Well, of course, if I get caught by a user like Pure, it’s over. I shouldn’t show myself like that so carelessly. Users can check my status by viewing [Character Information].’

It is not just a limitation, it is an overwhelming risk.

What if Jinseong himself could control that risk?

An item that can be used as a user in the game Dungeon & Fighter.

And an item that Jinseong himself, who lives in reality in Arad, can utilize.

Jinseong somehow felt strength entering his fist.

Although it was Vivienne who asked Berict for teachings, it was Jinseong himself who realized something while listening to his words.

On the way to Arden, a city where a great battle took place in the past, Jinseong, Vivi, and Berikt were seen.

“That guy is definitely… the kid who followed Langerus around. Why is he here?”

A cartel member who looks like a bad guy to anyone.

When Jinseong was having a hard time remembering the name, which was almost extra-level, Vivi said.

“Wouldn’t it be quicker to just ask?”

“I guess it’s better to catch him and ask him. Try to do it by yourself.”

Berwick nodded with a satisfied smile.

“yes!”

Vivi ran straight out.

I immediately started to apply the practical shooting skills I learned from Berict, focusing on aiming shots.

Jinseong said while looking at Berwick.

“Thank you for your favor, but… I didn’t know you were the type of person who could teach someone in such detail.”

“…Because in order to leave, there has to be something left. The cartel will be gone now, after all.”

Berwick said in a gloomy voice.

Only then was Jinseong able to understand to some extent.

Was it because of the kindness of the veteran that he readily accepted Jinseong’s request to teach Vivi a trick, and everything he had built up for himself was disappearing?

Jinseong thought for a moment and then said.

“But it’s not like you have nothing left behind, right?”

“That guy? It may seem plausible to you, but it’s still a long way off. Anyway, I’ll finish after I tell you today. The last promise I have to get from him is that he shouldn’t go anywhere and tell anyone that he learned it from me.”

Beric looked at Vivi and let out a hollow laugh.

Jinseong also knew that although she was trying hard, she was still far from being able to be called Berict’s disciple, so he had not brought up the subject because of Vivi in ​​the first place.

It was also a way of expressing gratitude to Berwick.

“Oh, I’m not talking about Vivi.”

“Hmm? Then? What else do you know about me that I left behind-”

“Mr. Kiri is well. In Arad.”

Kiri the Lady, a celestial who sells reinforcement/amplifiers in Hendonmare.

A ‘master NPC’ for the gunner class in the past game Dungeon & Fighter.

She was the last disciple raised by Sandstorm Berekt.

Because Jinseong knew that Berict and Kiri had unknowingly separated and that they didn’t even know each other’s well-being or whether they were alive or dead.

“Wh, what? What did you say? You just now-”

“It may be a short time, but please teach me a lot, Vivi. Oh, and if you’re going to do it, please teach me some too.”

Jinseong stepped forward with a smirk.

Vivi, who had subdued Tretre, shouted while jumping in place with lively movements.

“Done! I just shot this guy’s weapon with a pointed shot and knocked him down, Berwick! Quickly! Come here quickly!”

A sandstorm passed behind Berwick as he looked at the two young men who had dug into his heart in an instant.