The Academy’s Doomed Young Lord Dies Ten Thousand Times

Chapter 36 - A Stroll in Endinium (3)

After that, we started moving again. The outing had a purpose, after all. The purpose of processing the magic stone.

Though we were delayed a bit.

Fortunately, the processing place Regina introduced, the workshop, was located near the city center, so it didn't take long to find.

‘Kalos Workshop…… is it.’

When we arrived at our destination, I read the sign in front of me in my mind.

It was a workshop name I hadn't heard of in the game, but since it was a workshop Regina had introduced, its skills were sure to be reliable.

It was located on a prime piece of land even for the metropolis of Endinium, and its exterior was also quite luxuriously decorated.

“Excuse me.”

After saying that and entering the shop…… well, it was a free pass.

When I mentioned Regina’s name, the clerks’ complexions changed, and even the manager of this flashy shop came out personally to serve tea, so that said it all.

Well, that's what the name of a princess meant, I suppose.

“We apologize for the wait, Student Rain Enlight. We sincerely welcome you to our establishment. And the student next to you is……?”

“I am Arien Ortega.”

“Hmph…… Yes…… Student Arien Ortega……”

At Arien’s self-introduction, the manager showed a flustered look, his mustache even trembling. I had roughly expected such a reaction.

Magic engineering was also a branch of magic; seeing the daughter of the Magic Tower Master would be enough to make one’s mind go blank for a moment.

The fact that he managed to endure it without showing it as much as possible was no exaggeration to say that the service industry was his calling.

“I would like to request the processing of a B-grade Magic Stone.”

Anyway, I placed the well-packaged B-grade Magic Stone on the desk and changed the subject.

“Oh, a B-grade Magic Stone…… What type of weapon would you like?”

As I mentioned during the Gargoyle subjugation last time, against an enemy with high durability, no matter how excellent one’s skill or the perfection of their technique, if you didn’t have a decisive blow, the fight was bound to be dragged out.

As someone with low stamina stats, it was a development I wanted to avoid, and what was needed there was firepower.

A weapon that could produce the firepower to deliver a decisive blow after cornering the opponent.

If one thought conventionally, a sword that could explode its embedded mana, or a shotgun.

There were options like that, but…….

“A handgun, and a revolver with powerful firepower at that.”

I already had a weapon in mind. A weapon that was easy to carry and could respond to long-range threats, yet could project outstanding firepower.

That weapon was the 『Outlaw』, an epic revolver that could be crafted with a B-grade Magic Stone.

Even in , small firearms like handguns were structurally unsuited for producing strong firepower.

It was a matter of common sense, really, but this 『Outlaw』, despite being an epic item, possessed destructive power comparable to other unique-grade heavy armaments.

Thinking of it this way, one might think it was a crazy overpowered item, but in reality, this item wasn't that popular.

That was because this item’s durability was, in a word, absolute trash, and it was also impossible to repair.

A handgun that sacrificed durability for firepower. It had a certain romance, but it was a weapon that was a corpse without the romance.

In terms of single-shot firepower, it was the best among all epic items and was in the upper ranks even among unique-grade handguns, but…….

Its usage rate hit rock bottom because its durability would be shattered after about five battles.

If you crafted it right at the timing when you could first make epic items, you would have to fight empty-handed once its durability ran out.

You'd have to fight with the previous tier, Rare. It was a self-imposed hard mode in itself.

Conversely, even if you tried to use it as a secondary weapon at a stage where you could afford to craft epic items, by then, there were plenty of other overpowered unique-grade weapons, so there was no need to use this item.

In the first place, handgun-type weapons were not favored in in terms of performance, so that said it all.

But my case was different.

‘Unlike in the game, I don’t need to grind for levels, nor do I need to fight consecutive battles like in the game’s mandatory events. If I can use it in just the right places, the ammo will be sufficient.’

In addition to that, if I felt I had wasted too much ammo, I could just regress and reset the durability, so if this wasn’t the perfect item for me, what was?

“Hoh…… you have a peculiar taste. But we have a product that perfectly meets the student’s needs. Please take a look here.”

I looked at the catalog the manager handed me. Arien, sitting next to me, also focused on the catalog.

And in the catalog the manager handed me, there was a picture of a firearm along with a description.

The first thing that caught my eye was the picture of the firearm; it was a picture of a revolver with a barrel that looked almost twice as long as a normal gun, which was impressive.

[『Outlaw』: A firearm that can bring overwhelming superiority in close- and mid-range combat with top-class single-shot firepower at the cost of durability.]

And the description as well. It was exactly what I was looking for.

Below it, some complicated magic formula was written, but since I was a layman, there was no way for me to know, so I passed.

“It’s perfect. I don’t need to look at anything else, I’ll take this one.”

“I’m glad you like it. The princess said she would pay the fee, so with this……”

The transaction was rapidly heading towards its conclusion, and in that situation, Arien was just silently taking in the catalog with her eyes.

To be precise, the magic formula written in the catalog.

***

When I first thought about weapon crafting, I had expected it to take a month, or even longer, from commissioning the weapon to receiving it. It wasn't an era with express delivery, after all.

But in that regard, my expectations were off in a good way. Of course, it wasn't completed on the spot. But-.

“Normally, it would take three weeks to craft, but we have a ‘superior’ version of that weapon in stock at our store. You can take it right away if you’d like. It’s also fine to receive a brand-new one as originally planned. Please choose as you are comfortable.”

The manager said, emphasizing the word ‘superior.’ At those words, I turned on the status window for the first time in a while and checked the item's information.

『Outlaw+』

Grade: Epic

Durability: 60/60 (Cannot be repaired)

Attack Power: 300

: A superior-grade firearm that can bring overwhelming superiority in close- and mid-range combat with top-class single-shot firepower at the cost of durability.

‘It’s really a superior item.’

In ’s crafting system, there existed a system of ‘superior’ and ‘masterpiece’ items.

When magic engineering items were crafted, they had a certain probability of being granted the status of ‘superior’ or ‘masterpiece,’ which could be distinguished by the ‘+’ and ‘++’ attached next to their names, respectively.

These items crafted as superior or masterpiece were characterized by having enhanced stats compared to normal items, but naturally, the probability of getting a superior item was low, and for a masterpiece, it was practically hell.

But this manager was now offering a superior item as a matter of course and without any cost. Well, I could guess the reason.

‘It must be because of Regina.’

Since it was a workshop introduced by Regina, the manager was likely a mage belonging to the princess's faction, and since I was a student sent by the princess, he was probably trying to treat me well……. something close to that. Probably.

“……I’ll take this. Thank you for your kindness.”

“Ahem, it is enough if a promising student like yourself puts it to good use. And…… I would be grateful if you could convey my best regards to the princess.”

Of course.

Anyway, after exchanging greetings with the manager, I received the 『Outlaw+』 packaged in a luxurious box.

Now, all that was left was to leave the workshop, so as I was taking my leave, I realized I had strangely forgotten something.

“……”

Arien was still sitting on that sofa from before, looking at the catalog.

“……If I connect the circuits used in the firing process and accelerate the Arcanic Loop within the weapon system……”

I could vaguely hear her muttering something, but I couldn't understand it.

“Miss Arien?”

“Ah, I was momentarily focused. I will get up now.”

Was there something that interesting in that catalog? The only thing related to magic was the magic formula written in the catalog, so I wondered if she was deciphering that.

Well, in any case, with the manager who had come to the entrance to see us off behind us, Arien and I left the shop.

Time had flown by, and it was around 6 o'clock, with dusk showing signs of settling in the sky.

“We can head back now.”

I said to Arien. Archenia Academy's weekend curfew for outings was lenient, but it was just right to not get a good look for returning too late.

But Arien’s answer to my words was somewhat out of the blue.

“Mr. Rain, may I examine the weapon you just received for a moment?”

……With that characteristically stiff-as-a-board tone.

“Ah, yes.”

I handed over the box without much thought. I didn’t know what she was planning to do, but since it was Arien, it would be fine.

“……”

Arien took the box, opened it, and briefly examined the large-barreled revolver inside before placing her hand on it.

“……?”

I had no idea what she was trying to do, but the expression on Arien’s face was so serious that I couldn't interrupt. It seemed like she was concentrating on something.

And a short while later.

“It is finished.”

Arien said with a concise single sentence and returned the box to me.

“Um…… yes.”

Was she really just trying to look at it? I thought, and as I was about to check the item and put it back in the box…….

『Outlaw++』

Grade: Epic

Durability: 72/72 (Cannot be repaired)

Attack Power: 450

: A masterpiece-grade firearm that can bring overwhelming superiority in close- and mid-range combat with top-class single-shot firepower at the cost of durability.

“……??”

I couldn't help but widen my eyes.

The superior-grade 『Outlaw』 had returned as a masterpiece after being in Arien’s hands.

“What…… did you do?”

Having lost my composure, I looked at Arien and asked with a bewildered look.

No, no. The circumstances suggested that Arien had done this, but was that even possible?

What happened to the game system?

“Ah, you’ve noticed. The inefficiency in the magic circuit from the catalog was bothering me, so I tried to improve it.”

“……Are you talking about the one from the weapon catalog earlier……?”

“Yes. Since a part of it was written, I tried to reverse-engineer and deduce the whole thing. It turned out well.”

Hah.

I couldn't help but let out a dry laugh. She saw a part of the magic formula published in a catalog, deduced the whole thing from it, found the inefficiency in it, and then modified it on the spot?

I stared blankly at the weapon, then raised my head toward Arien. And there…….

“Ta-da.”

With a triumphant onomatopoeia…… there was Arien, with her left hand on her hip and the other hand raised, striking a pose.

Just like the dancer’s finishing pose we saw earlier.

“……??”

“I tried to imitate the finishing pose of the dancer from the band we saw earlier. It seemed appropriate as a finale after a great performance.”

To me, whose head was filled with question marks, Arien explained so.

“Haha……”

Seeing that, I let out a light, dry laugh. No, honestly, how could anyone hold back their laughter after seeing this?

The imbalance between that serious expression and the cheerful pose was nothing short of art.

“A good reaction, I am glad.”

And seeing my reaction, Arien showed a somewhat satisfied expression. What a four-dimensional character.

“……Thank you. It seems I’ve been indebted to you one-sidedly today.”

I had a lot to say, but I bowed my head and expressed my gratitude. Beyond the astonishment, what was appreciated was appreciated.

But Arien shook her head at those words.

“It is a token of gratitude for answering my question, so it is fine.”

Then she slowly walked towards the tram station to return to the academy.

“A question, you say.”

I muttered so for a moment, then chuckled.

‘Was she still thinking about that?’

It seemed Arien still intended to continue her inquiry into that topic—the topic of the human heart.

There had been some unexpected events so far, but in the end, Arien was Arien. The Arien from whom I had loved, the one who was aloof yet never stopped approaching humanity, was here.

Confirming that fact, perhaps I was relieved.

A pleasant breeze was blowing in Endinium, draped in the sunset. It’s an embarrassing thing to say, but that was how I felt too.

Lately, things had been going as planned, no. They were going even better than planned.

However, I should have remembered then that after the sun sets, the night is bound to come.