My Sniper System

Chapter 17 - Limitations

“This is Tokyo, Japan’s leading news station. And we are bringing you the hottest news. The Crimson Guild and the prime minister had a long discussion last night about the portals and the adventurers. Portals are the swirling ball of light that materialised in our streets and became gateways to different dimensions. Adventurers are people who are gifted with powers and fight for the country’s safety and interest. Crimson Guild is the number one Guild in the world that has offered help to Japan and the United Nations. Thousands of people had already been claimed by the portals when they arrived. And according to the prime minister and the Crimson Guild, they cannot ignore the threat of the increasing numbers of people getting killed by these portals. After the fruitful meeting, the Crimson Guild and the prime minister of Japan have announced that adventurers who are willing to help the citizens are now invited to join guilds and parties to conquer the portal. Adventurers who do not have their Guild’s identification card shall be subdued and questioned by the authorities from the new law passed by the supreme court. Treasures retrieved from the portals shall be opened to everyone and will be exchanged in the online market. But the adventurers who plan on conquering the portals will be required to have a Guild they support…”

The news continued forever. Hina and I broadened our eyes in surprise as we watched the television endlessly unveil its contents. And when the program ended, we returned to the hospital room and planned for our next move. That condition stated by the prime minister and the Crimson Guild really got us good.

“You’re planning to get an identification card from a guild, are you? Specifically, the Crimson Guild,” Hina expressed, while changing the clothes of her unconscious parents. “Are you sure you’re alright fighting inside the dungeons without my help?”

Hina knew she needed to stay inside the hospital and be the guardian of her parents. We didn’t want to repeat the mistakes of abandoning the room while conquering portals and defeating monsters for days or even weeks. At least one member should be able to address the hospital’s concerns. And that was Hina.

“Of course. We still need money. And that’s the quickest way we could earn money,” I answered, and darted my eyes at the portals forming outside the hospital’s site. “I have an overpowered sniper, right? We just fought against a high-levelled ghoul inside an A-Class portal. Maybe if I could find a lower-class portal than the one we entered, I would win my battles easier.”

Money was our number one problem. I could already wield my weapon and use it to defeat monsters inside the portal. However, the sensation wasn’t overnight. Every time something reminded me about the death of my parents and Midori, things would go into shambles. And I had no idea how to stop it. But that feeling was enough to make a few coins that could ease our lives.

“I’ll head out right now. I’ll leave the money to you, Hina. You’ll be in charge of the budget department. Try not to buy anything expensive, or we don’t need,” I uttered, and prepared the things I needed to bring to the Crimson Guild. I also placed the envelope containing the remaining ninety thousand Yen we had to spend for the rest of the week. It wasn’t much, but it was enough to live by

“Hey! I’m not that kind of girl, you know!” Hina retorted, and pouted at me.

As soon as we ended the conversation, I headed out and marched on my way toward the Crimson Guild building. It was the place I had visited yesterday. Fortunately, I already knew the direction where I was supposed to go.

But compared to the last time I visited, the place became different. The setting didn’t change. But the people did.

When I arrived, a crowd of people lined up at the building’s ingress. Instead of the usual silence and the familiar adventurers inside the structure, hundreds of people wearing odd armours and equipment greeted my eyes. When I appraised the people at my fore, most of them were low-level adventurers. But the others… didn’t have powers to begin with.

I, who could change my appearance into something else and wielded a magical sniper, chose to keep that equipment to myself. Flexing those things wouldn’t bring me to anything. It was better to keep a low profile and act like I was a lost teen trying to find a job at a nearby convenience store.

“I guess this crowd has the same idea as me… And why would these people even apply to be an adventurer without having gifts? Are they stupid?” I thought, and fell in line with the rest of them.

The exchange rate of treasures dropped from the portals lured everyone’s attention, including me. Who wouldn’t, when the government and the Crimson Guild would reward items from the portals into bags of cash? It was seven times faster than working five days a week in a white-collar job.

“Hey, did you hear? The money we could earn here is amazing!”

“I know, right? I mean, if we could manage to defeat an A-Class portal, we would be stinking rich!”

“And even if we share it with fifty people, we would still earn fifty thousand Yen for a single raid.”

“Man, everything feels like a game. I’m excited to use my fire powers against those Class-A monsters.”

Those were the words spouted by the bystanders, who were falling in line to receive the adventurer’s identification card. Everyone had an excited look on their faces. These imbeciles even brought their children to the Guild, thinking they could use their kids as a way to earn money. Well, the exchange rate for treasures to cash was the real deal, after all.

However, the handsome prizes came at a crushing price. The better items rewarded by the portals, the more difficult it would be to defeat them. Conquering portals required adventurers to be quick on their feet and powerful enough to defeat the creatures living inside. I experienced it firsthand. And as stated by the articles made for portals, military and handmade weapons wouldn’t do a thing against any creatures or the portals. Those arsenals could deal damage, but they weren’t as effective as the weapons granted by the portals.

And if a regular person planned on entering the player, that individual would only court death. Any human without abilities wouldn’t stand a chance against those creatures, especially the one I fought in the graveyard. I had an overpowered system, but I almost lost my life to a Grim Reaper with a scythe. It was ridiculous. However, that was the truth about the world we were living in.

Even after five hours, the line for getting an adventurer’s identification card didn’t move an inch. When I focused my hearing next to the entrance, those people had mumbled that another long line existed inside the guild. And it was why getting the identification card took forever.

After a few seconds, someone from the guild appeared outside the building and gathered the people. A man claimed to be a staff for the Crimson Guild. I would’ve guessed he was working for this organisation, thanks to the fantasy-like uniform and a sword clipped in his hands. When the mass of people, including me, followed his instructions, the Guild’s staff announced terrible news.

“Unfortunately, the quota for today has been reached. Please return tomorrow if you still wish to enter the Crimson Guild! That is all, thank you.”

When the staff finished his announcement, everyone present in the scene made an uproar. Nobody liked the news. When we had waited for a couple of hours for nothing, how could we? Besides that, time continued ticking. And either the portal or starvation would kill us for us.

“We’ve been here all day!”

“I even made a camp earlier, but I’m not allowed to apply in your guild?!”

“Screw this! I’ll just head over to another guild instead and apply there as an adventurer! You’re not the only guild available here in Japan!”

The mob of angry people screeched as they left the guild’s premises, while bringing their heavy hearts behind their backs. But little did they know that the other guilds also experienced the same problem. They were running out of slots. And if the unnamed guilds were inviting adventurers, those were just shady organisations without any health insurance for any adventurers.

“You.” Just as I was about to leave the place, the staff pointed his hand at me and continued his incomplete sentence. “Kei, the Appraiser, told me about you. Apologies, but we cannot recruit aspiring adventurers to our guild, despite your reputation. We are aware of your powers. However, the Crimson Guild prioritises fairness in recruiting people. If you have the spare time, please visit us whenever you feel like applying for a position. Until then, be safe, Mister Nakamura.”

As soon as the staff explained those words, he returned to the Crimson Guild and rejected everyone who wished to force themselves inside the building. I, who had been instructed to leave, heeded the Crimson Guild’s advice. They knew about my power, but the Crimson Guild refused to accept me under their tables. I understood their reasons, but it would be better if the guild could’ve done something about it.

“Where am I supposed to get money right now?” I asked myself, and scrolled through my phone.

If there was one thing I knew, the internet had all the answers. Unfortunately, now wasn’t the time for it. Even the social media I followed didn’t have guilds that I could apply for. And when I explained to them my achievements, nobody believed me. The netizens called me a hack or a fake. I took their negative comments and brushed it off my shoulders.

I was the one who fought against the Grim Reaper. There was nothing else to prove, since I was there when it happened. Hina, who was the sole witness, watched everything.