Arcane Sniper [Matan’s Shooter]

He wondered what it felt like to speak knowing his words could do no damage to them. Fernand noticed Browless’s face suddenly looked more haggard.

“[Brow! You’re not going around saying, ‘If only you had told me sooner, I would have put a hole in his head-‘ right? You know we’re not that thoughtless.]

[The moment we spoke up, everyone would have been in danger. Simply put, Kyle—ah! You must have heard by now, but our son’s name is Kyle. Pretty good, right?]

[I named him!]

Interrupting Brown’s words to flaunt her naming sense, Elizabeth got a noncommittal hum from Browless.

Leehas also able to catch Browless’s expression on the brink with his scope.

“‘He’ is strong. Back then, even if the three of us had attacked, we would have been in danger. That’s why… we couldn’t talk about it then, friend.”

In the video, Brown paused and looked around. As if this moment is connected in real-time, his body turned towards the audience.

“I’m not sure how many people are watching this. Surely, some officials from Fibiel are present. I don’t know how we’re recorded or if His Majesty, the King, would understand and forgive us. We just feel the need to convey the ‘truth’. I, Brown, give you my word.”

After catching his breath, Brown continued, “20 years ago, on that day… there was someone who cursed our son. A damned person who cast a curse on the child in Elizabeth’s womb, not even born yet. I believe that person may be present here.”

Shocked by Brown’s intention to reveal something significant, Fernand was astonished.

“Is he trying to say something? A traitor? No, if we could identify a spy from the Demon King’s Army who had ‘infiltrated’ humanity since the Second Human-Demon War! That’s it, to reveal it at this event!”

How many plans had Brown made for this moment? How much had he considered the characters of those present? He must have hoped, almost prayed, for an environment like the current one where traitors would be powerless to act!

At the moment of sudden confession, ‘the adventurer’ chose to observe.

When everyone’s gaze was fixed on Elizabeth and Brown, Fernand surveyed the representatives of different nations.

Ewin of the Plains, contrary to his nickname, looked excitedly at the screen. Officials from Ezwen showed slightly surprised expressions, as did the Pope.

Shazrashian and Kraven? They were the same. There seemed to be no difference in the reaction of Fibiel’s people.

However, there was one person, unmistakably distinct in expression according to Fernand. Both Brown and Elizabeth looked in the same direction in the video.

The one they were looking at was not wearing the same expression as any other.

“This won’t go as you think. I believe… our dongsaengs, and Brow will surely resolve it. We won’t let our son be taken hostage anymore.”

The previously cheerful Elizabeth almost teared up. It must have been a restless 20 years for them too. The person Elizabeth and Brown were directly facing.

And the person who Fernand noticed had a differing expression!

“Lotzak!”

Elizabeth finally spat out the name. Lotzak waved his hand with an incredulous face.

But that was it.

“No matter how we put it, ‘It’s a strategy of dissension by those who defected to the Demon King’s Army,’ if your true name isn’t revealed.”

At that moment, Lotzak’s face, filled with panic and anxiety, began to distort slowly.

“This, this is-“

“Mana? No, it’s different from mana—this is—”

The Archbishops of Ezwen were the first to notice the change. Fernand couldn’t feel it himself, but he knew through observation. The look on Lotzak’s face was filled with sheer rage.

“You must say your name correctly! You are not Lotzak, no, you’re not even human to begin with! We’ve finally discovered it! After 20 years, finally! Your name is-“

“You damned bastards—–ㅡ|!”

Lotzak shot up from his seat.

At the same time, Elizabeth yelled out, “Kaztor! The one we call Lotzak is a Dark Elf, transformed by magic, his real name is Kaztor!”

“Kaz… Tor…!”

Even Fernand recognized the name. A line of formula flashed through his mind instantly. Lotzak = Kaztor

“An, anagram! It’s even embarrassing to call it an anagram,” The name Lotzak was nothing but the letters of Kaztor simply reversed!

Everyone in the room momentarily froze.

“What’s a Kaztor?”

“What- what are you talking about now?”

Over half the people present couldn’t understand what was being said, and even those who knew the legends passed down orally about Lotzak and Kaztor, the Dark Elf, and the witch hunter, found it hard to accept it immediately.

“Lotzak…?”

“The, the Archmage?”

“Your Majesty of Fibiel, this matter requires an explanation to our home country.”

Lotzak is Kaztor?

The Archmage of Fibiel, who had been active since the Second Human-Demon War, was actually a Dark Elf?

Who would readily believe and act on it?

“Sa, brow! Kill Lotzak, no, Kaztor!”

Elizabeth’s voice echoed desperately.

In the midst of everyone’s confusion, there was only one person who could move. Their comrade and friend, akin to a hyung, Browless trusted their words and rolled up his coat.

However, driven by rage, that action could yield no result. Browless, too, had all his weapons confiscated. It was impossible to bring even the smallest weapon into this conference room, where attacking Lotzak directly was out of the question.

Lotzak merely glanced at it, without any reaction. But from that moment, something “invisible” to everyone but the high-ranking officials of Ezwen began to appear to Fernand as well.

“Heh… Indeed, indeed. So you left silently to the east for that reason. To avoid my mana and kill me using your allies in the meantime? Pathetic.”

The Pope stood up abruptly and pointed at Lotzak.

“De, Demonic Energy! The Archmage of Fibiel! You truly-“

“Shut your mouth, flesh bag!”

Whoosh-! It all happened in an instant.

A black mass in front of Lotzak was shimmering as if it was about to explode any second.

“To manipulate mana- to be able to use mana here- This isn’t just any mana, but ‘Demonic Energy’…! A different kind of mana that only non-humans can handle…

‘No human’ should be able to manipulate mana here since I’ve sealed it… But this actually means the person in question isn’t human,” the Pope groaned.

His voice, breaking off intermittently, underscored the gravity of the situation.

“If that’s the case, are you saying he truly is a Dark Elf! Fernand, call the guards at once—”

One of the members of Seat 09 cried out, rising to his feet, but Lotzak paid him no mind.

“Do not move.”

There was no need for additional threats like death upon movement. Gazing at the twelve fragments of darkness split within Lotzak’s hand, everyone present lost the strength to move.

“The flow of divine power feels the same.”

Lotzak immediately addressed the members of Ezwen.

In this place, where no mana could stir, the only power that could be wielded was the divine strength of the Pope and the Cardinals.

Perhaps it was a priority to seal that first.

The Pope, though his face was marked with rage, found himself unable to easily offer up prayers.

“No matter how holy one might be, protecting everyone here requires time for prayer. Or we would need to unseal the mana flow, which also takes considerable time. The latter requires significantly more concentration and time…”

If that flow of divine power were to be controlled by Lotzak— or rather, Kaztor— then he would detonate the masses of darkness.

What would be the outcome of such overwhelming offensive power being deployed here? Fernand barely swallowed dryly.

The death of the Pope and various kings? An unprecedented crisis in the history of Middle Earth, if unfolded, could possibly turn not just the Middle Earth community but the entire Old Continent into ruins!

While the attendants from each country were forming a protective circle around their kings, it was uncertain how effective their ‘human shield’ defense would be.

It was natural that Lotzak would take the lead.

“But you’re still short-sighted, Brown. Elizabeth. Did you really think that after killing everyone here and turning Lope into ruins, I wouldn’t come after you in Erika? Tsk tsk… Ah! Is that how much you trust me? What do you think, failure, Browless?”

“… Lotzak. No, you… what have you really done to them.”

Browless clenched his fist. Fernand saw blood running from it.

Despite his nails digging completely into his flesh, Browless did not relax his grip.

“Do you still not understand after hearing ‘your most trusted friend’s story? Keke, it was not difficult to extract. Kyle…~ As long as that incomplete one is around, they wouldn’t dare say anything. I was too careless. Or rather, should I be glad for being careless? It gave me this opportunity.”

“Do you think you can return safely?”

“Why not? I have noticed it too. Your damned disciple, Leeha, must be lurking somewhere outside, targeting this place. If it weren’t for Minister Minis’s guards glancing outside, I almost missed it. It’s time to make a move.”

“Ahhh!”

Cheka was momentarily startled, his eyes widening, while Browless gritted his teeth as if they were about to crack. Lotzak had cunningly positioned himself so.

He placed the members of Ezwen and the King of Fibiel in front of him, ensuring that his form could not be seen through the windows. Lotzak then briefly turned his head towards Fernand.

“And I roughly guess where this conversation is being transmitted to. Isn’t that right, Pioneer King?”

Through the encrypted messages, Fernand, who was relaying everything here, gaped.

“Firstly, I need to kill the rats. The rest can wait. If the Pope, the chairman of 09, and all the kings die here and I disappear amidst the ensuing chaos, no one here will… survive.”

The shadows writhed more violently, signaling their impeding explosion.

“So, I infiltrated in this ridiculous attire for what?”

Eh?

At that moment, someone murmured. Lotzak turned his head towards the direction of the voice.

To Browless’s left, a spot quite a distance from Lotzak.

“I won’t let you have your way, Lotzak. Or shall I say, Kaztor.”

It was Ezwen’s envoy, standing near Kraven’s members, who had been escorting Browless!

“He placed his hand on his face.

Something fell with a ‘tok’.

Note: The writing was on the wall. The ㄹ can be read as L or R depending on its placement. Dang. I didn’t see that one coming!