I Got A Legendary Sniper Rifle - GLSR Chapter 1 (Part 2)

Should the others have retreated too?

At the third Armored Orc’s appearance?

No.

It was already too late.

The 2nd Platoon, having confirmed civilians trapped inside, refused to withdraw.

And so, they were slaughtered by a horde of orcs led by Armored Orcs impervious to bullets.

By the time reinforcements arrived, half the bodies were missing or unrecoverable.

Lee Hyun identified the dead along with their families.

That’s when Junghwan first heard people could cry to the point of dehydration.

Since then, Lee Hyun’s situation—already bad—got worse.

Mocked by fellow snipers for being a “half-baked” Awakened, now he lost all standing.

Other snipers ignored him entirely.

Maybe it was their way of coping—because even with far more mana, they couldn’t do anything.

Later, the 2nd Platoon was rebuilt with transfers and new recruits.

Lee Hyun, removed from the unit, was reassigned to the made-up position of battalion sniper.

He was just waiting for a transfer, but no one wanted him.

No one wanted a sniper who could only shoot twice, no matter how accurate.

At best, he could kill two monsters—Orcs, at that.

Far more valuable was a sniper who could delay enemies, even if they couldn’t kill.

So a year passed.

Even with his near-supernatural aim, Lee Hyun was still stuck at two shots. No spotter. No deployments.

The officer shook his head.

“Definitely a waste, but at this rate…”

His skill was flawless—perfect, even.

If not for the monsters pouring out of the Towers, he might’ve risen high.

But “if” was a useless word.

Command had made its decision.

Maybe the military was never meant to handle outliers like him.

Junghwan picked up the range mic.

“Cease fire. Cease fire.”

It was time to end it.

The next day.

Lee Hyun, summoned by Junghwan, went to the battalion commander’s office.

Knock knock—

“Major, this is Sergeant Choi Lee Hyun.”

“Come in.”

A voice, more curt than usual.

“Sir! Sergeant Choi Lee Hyun reporting, sir!”

“You’re not even a recruit anymore, you know.”

Lee Hyun entered and saluted.

Junghwan casually gestured to a seat.

“Sit.”

“Yes, sir!”

A moment of silence.

Then Junghwan spoke with a weary tone.

“This is uncomfortable for both of us, so I’ll be blunt.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Discharge.”

“…”

Lee Hyun froze mid-smile.

He’d expected it.

He knew he wasn’t welcome in any unit.

To put it bluntly, he knew—he had no place anywhere.

Still, he couldn’t nod right away.

‘This isn’t just about staying or leaving.’

He bit his lower lip.

He could still see the faces of the platoon members who welcomed a sniper that could only fire two shots.

They didn’t know that sniper would eventually lead them to their deaths.

Like fools.

“I can… still do it!”

He drew up the last of his confidence.

“Yeah, you’re great, Sergeant Choi. No—just Lee Hyun.”

Junghwan nodded.

In terms of shooting, he might be first in the entire military.

But so what?

He had no way to use that skill.

“This is where it ends. Don’t suffer anymore. Just leave. It’s better for you.”

Junghwan clicked his tongue.

Honestly, he wanted Lee Hyun to leave too.

Since the incident, Lee Hyun had become a walking headache.

He didn’t fight the discharge order, nor did he stop the bullying.

That was why.

“…”

Lee Hyun stayed silent.

Junghwan turned his head.

“I’ll process your leave starting tomorrow. Go home. See your parents. Come back after you’ve made up your mind.”

“…”

“Why aren’t you answering?!”

Junghwan snapped at his silence.

Lee Hyun clenched his fist.

Outside the military, an Awakened with no leveling path had no prospects.

Maybe carrying supplies using his enhanced body.

He couldn’t even enter the Towers—just transport equipment near them.

He hated the idea of being so close to the Towers in that way.

“You hear me, Lee Hyun?! Answer already!”

But just as Junghwan said—was there any real path if he stayed?

Reawakening wasn’t impossible, but he didn’t believe such luck would come to him.

Finally, Lee Hyun replied in a choked voice.

“Yes, I’ll take the leave.”

“Good. That’s the right call.”

Junghwan exhaled deeply, relieved.

“One more thing—I’m not sure about discharge. If not the field, I’d like to stay as an instructor.”

“You little…!”

Junghwan’s face turned red.

“Command already decided! We’re training for mana rifles now. What use are you?! It’s either discharge or reassignment to a regular unit!”

He was right, of course.

Still, Lee Hyun wouldn’t back down easily.

He’d hold out as long as he could.

“Yes, sir. I’ll be back.”

“Geez… you know that mana rifle snipers get their weapon as a severance gift, right? Take it and go.”

But Lee Hyun answered firmly:

“I already bought mine with my own money.”

“…Oh, did you?”

That caught Junghwan off guard.

Mana rifles were insanely expensive.

And once registered, bound to the user.

He bought it on sale, using every cent he had.

At the time, he thought he’d stay in the special forces forever.

Since it was a purchase, he could legally keep it after discharge.

Large, hard to hide—but snipers who risked their lives deserved that respect.

Besides, the army didn’t want them back anyway.

“Then you’ll get the payout in cash. Fine. Now go.”

“I probably won’t take it. Sir!”

Lee Hyun gave a perfect salute and left.

He went to the admin office, asked for the weapon locker to be opened, and took out his mana rifle.

“Why the rifle, Sergeant? Are you deploying?”

The duty NCO asked, even though he knew Lee Hyun wasn’t going anywhere.

“…Maintenance.”

“I see.”

Not in the mood to joke, Lee Hyun took his rifle and headed to the bachelor barracks.

It was working hours, but no one needed him.

‘If they call me, I’ll be discharged anyway.’

Though he said he’d endure, he knew he couldn’t.

When the higher-ups say go, you go.

Even if that meant discharge.

The tiny room where only one body could lie down.

He’d scraped by here for over five years.

Plenty of memories.

All the good ones were from a year ago—that was the problem.

“Damn it, where is everyone…”

His lieutenant, who beamed getting his first bar.

His spotter, who swore he’d save everyone after Lee Hyun retired.

His fireteam leader, who said he’d awaken and become a Hunter.

A new corporal, clumsy but a natural with a rifle.

“I miss you… sir… guys…”

They were all gone now.

“If only I could fire one more shot…”

Lee Hyun’s voice trembled as he ran his hand over the rifle.

Just one more shot.

That was the issue.

That single shot had cost a dozen lives.

Even Lee Hyun, always smiling in the barracks, couldn’t stop tears from falling when he remembered their faces.

Part of why he tried so hard to stay in the army was for them.

To protect another 2nd Platoon, somehow.

Drip—

A fat tear landed on the mana rifle.

“Damn, now I gotta wipe it again.”

As Lee Hyun tore a cloth to clean the rifle—

Flaaaash———!!!

“Huh?”

A blinding light filled the tiny room.

Lee Hyun recognized it.

He’d seen this light before—right after becoming a sergeant, when he first awakened.

“W-Wait, is this… reawakening?!”

He shouted.

Could it really be that legendary reawakening?

Would he finally be able to grow?

Was this that tear-fueled miracle from movies?

If only this had happened a year earlier…

“…Huh?”

But then, Lee Hyun tilted his head.

If this were a reawakening, the light should be coming from his body.

Yet, somehow…

“Why… are you glowing?”

The source of the light—

Wasn’t Lee Hyun.

It was his mana rifle.