Lightning of the Left Hand, Gold of the Right Hand

The hair styling was finished shortly after. Lakrina brought a mirror and showed it to Enoch.

"Well, how is it?"

"Hmm…"

"Pretty, right? Cool, right?"

Enoch ran a hand through his hair while looking in the mirror. Side-parted with the ends lifted in a deliberate setting. Not bad at all. Besides, it was his student who had gone out of her way to show off her skill for her teacher. Enoch found Lakrina’s thoughtfulness more pleasing than the finished hairstyle itself.

"Well done. I like it. The way you added points here and there to remove that flat feeling was impressive."

"Hehe… You noticed. This much is basic, you know."

Lakrina rested a hand on her chin and grinned. She looked like she wanted to be seen as a professional.

"Since the styling is done, let’s get going."

"Huh? Going where?"

"Outside the city walls. There are plenty of things I want to test today."

Today was going to be a busy day in more ways than one. He needed to test Lakrina’s abilities and check the skills he had just acquired. There was nothing else to prepare, so they set off right away.

"Let’s go."

"Yes, sir."

@

Magnusra was a massive city. Its population was roughly 1.6 million—comparable to Philadelphia back on Earth. The key point was that this world’s capacity to support large populations wasn’t bad. While many factors contributed, Enoch felt the walls surrounding the city played the biggest role.

‘In a world where monsters can appear anywhere, waves are simply monsters gathering in groups. The species themselves are already widespread.’

It was an era when long journeys were synonymous with death. That was why humans had built walls. Magical barriers. The greatest legacy left by present-day humanity. The colossal walls of steel and magic represented both human will and the boundary of civilization.

Once you crossed that boundary, all traces of civilization vanished. It was the untamed wilderness where humans had never set foot.

Enoch crossed the boundary and moved beyond civilization. After passing through the toll gate and traveling a long tunnel, they continued onward. Before long, the darkness receded. When he opened his eyes, a vast grassland stretched before them.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

"S-Sir…? Are you sure this is okay?"

Forest and grassland appeared. Lakrina trembled with fear, as though she had seen something she was never meant to witness. It was the most common reaction among the people of this world. Except for certain districts, they grew up steeped in ignorance and terror of the world beyond the walls. The places where monsters emerged were lands unfit for human habitation. That belief was etched deep into their bones.

‘No wonder all supplies are transported by airship or skyship. It’s no coincidence that engineers and mages are so highly valued. Without them, the lifeblood of every nation—including the Empire—would stop flowing.’

The people of this world had conquered the skies before the land or sea. The sky was relatively untouched by monster influence.

-Screech

The vehicle soon came to a stop. Enoch got out first, and Lakrina followed.

"…Sir? So why exactly are we here?"

"Why else? It’s all for you."

Enoch opened his case and placed a cigarette between his lips. Only three remained. He would need to roll more soon.

‘I’m getting tired of Entus leaves. I should buy something different next time.’

"…For me? What could possibly be out here?"

Lakrina asked while watching her teacher smoke. She sounded almost annoyed. Being dragged out here so suddenly had clearly rattled her.

Enoch didn’t bother making excuses. Instead, he reached into his coat and pulled out a pen and a ring.

-Click

-Clatter

He tossed the pen to Lakrina and threw the ring into the grass.

"…? What is—"

"Careful. You’ll cut yourself."

"Kyaa!"

The pen transformed in an instant. Its original form vanished, replaced by a broad longsword.

"A-A sword?"

"More precisely, a broadsword. Get into stance."

Meanwhile, the ring had changed shape and risen. The cheap ring, worth 320,000 kro each, had become a knight.

-Shing

"This should be enough for practice. Now, let’s begin."

"B-Begin what?"

"What else? We’re going to awaken the talent sleeping inside you."

The knight stepped forward, sword raised.

-Thud!

"Ah… seriously!"

Lakrina adjusted her grip on the sword. Girl and knight clashed at the same moment.

@

The fight continued for a while. The knight held the advantage.

-Clang! Clang! Clang!

The knight’s arming sword traced a circle. Lakrina parried the incoming strikes while calmly maintaining distance.

‘Lakrina had already shown her genius right after entering the Academy. She knocked out seven classmates during the first exam. She was already used to fighting before enrollment.’

Lakrina was an orphan from the slums. Life for orphans was rarely peaceful. They had to overcome countless threats before even entering an orphanage—hunger, cold. Lakrina had survived that hell and now stood before Enoch. There was no way she would lose to a mere summoned knight.

Enoch’s judgment proved correct. Seizing an opening, Lakrina thrust her blade straight into the knight’s head.

-Clang!

The ring knight staggered back, clutching its head. Even without a personality, its movements were eerily human.

"Haa… haa… Is that enough now?!"

Lakrina asked Enoch while catching her breath. He nodded.

"Good. Let’s move on to the next part."

"What?"

Enoch didn’t answer. Instead, he drew a pistol from his coat and tossed it to the ring knight.

"…Huh?"

"Now face both sword and gun. Learn it with your body. One day you’ll have to fight like that yourself."

"…What the hell are you saying?!"

Lakrina screamed. Regardless, the knight loaded the pistol and drew its sword again. Sword in one hand, gun in the other. Lakrina’s face twisted into a grimace.

-Click

"Damn it!"

-Bang!

A bullet grazed her cheek. Lakrina kicked off the ground, intending to close the distance before the knight could fire again. The knight aimed once more.

Enoch watched the scene with interest.

‘Now then… time for me to do my part.’

Enoch closed his eyes and activated a skill. The unidentified skill he had acquired earlier.

Homunculus of Gold and Chain

He intended to test it here, even if only a little.

‘First, Chain Harmony.’

-Click

Using the skill was simple. All Enoch had to do was will it.

The moment he used it, a grinding sound of gears echoed. His left hand glowed blue.

-Fwoosh

-Zzzap!

‘…Flame? Lightning? No, it feels more like mana emission.’

Enoch brushed his glowing left hand against his coat. Blue lightning crackled and seeped into the fabric.

‘I see. All this talk of chains and harmony is just wordplay. The real effects are binding and analysis.’

Chain Harmony’s effect was straightforward: it linked specific targets to Enoch himself. It was like seeing game synergies with his own eyes. Once linked, those targets felt like extensions of his own body. The coat he wore now felt like part of his skin.

‘Let’s test it.’

Enoch touched his face with his left hand. Chain Harmony. The flickering blue lightning etched itself into his retinas. Moments later, blue flames danced in his revealed eyes.

‘I can see it. The blue flames are spreading through everything in my field of view.’

Invisible light seeped into them like flowing water. New information flooded into Enoch’s mind—bodies, abilities, talents. Even thoughts and actions.

‘The knight steps forward with its left foot. Then a downward strike.’

-Thud!

-Crack!

‘Lakrina rolls aside to dodge. Strength gathers in her right leg. She dashes forward, evades the bullet, and charges with her sword drawn.’

-Bang!

-Clang!

The battle unfolded exactly as predicted. Enoch found himself accurately reading the flow of combat without realizing it. He could read the knight’s action patterns because he had created it. From Lakrina, he could sense her physical changes. The ring knight was a tool without will, so Enoch could understand everything about it with ease. Lakrina, however, was a living being with will, so her thoughts remained hidden. Yet he could still predict where her body would move next—and through that, he could read her next action.

-Bang! Bang!

-Clang!

Lakrina swung her sword upward. Her left arm struck the knight, making it stagger. She spun the rising blade and reversed her ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠grip. The sword aligned perfectly above the helmet.

Enoch and Lakrina thought the same thing at once.

‘Now.’

"Now—!!"

-Crunch!

Lakrina brought her sword down. The broadsword pierced the helmet and drove into the ground.

-Giiing…

The knight struggled briefly before going still. Silence settled over the area. Only then did Lakrina straighten up and let out a relieved breath.

"Phew… It’s over."

‘Yes. It’s over.’

Enoch, standing nearby, thought the same—though the meaning was different for each of them.

Enoch dismissed the status window. Lakrina now possessed two talents in total: Ice and Weapons. Neither could be called anything less than S-rank.

‘All that remains is time and experience. The Academy will handle that, not me.’

Enoch closed the window and approached Lakrina. She stood catching her breath, staring up at him blankly.

"Sir… I can’t do this anymore, even if I die…"

"You did well. Rest for a bit. Move aside."

Enoch gestured for her to step away. Lakrina climbed off the knight.

‘Hmm. This one’s done for.’

The ring knight was already half-destroyed. It had only cost 320,000 kro anyway. He didn’t feel particularly attached to it.

"Sir…?"

"What is it?"

"Can we go home now…?"

Lakrina asked while hugging her knees. Her expression said she thought they had done enough. Unfortunately for her, Enoch shook his head.

"We’re not done yet. We’ve only just finished one thing."

"One thing…?"

"Yes. Lesson one was to test your abilities."

‘And incidentally awaken your hidden talent.’

Enoch kept the rest to himself and reached ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠into his coat. Two pocket watches now rested in his hand.

"Sir…? Why are you taking those out?"

"For the next training, of course."

Enoch immediately threw the watches. Two massive mechanical serpents rose at once.

-Woooooo!!

-Kroooaaar!!

"Uwaaaah……"

Lakrina looked up at the serpents and let out a chorus of dread. It was a bizarre sight. Ignoring her, Enoch activated his next skill. This time, he used the right hand of the Homunculus—Golden Fusion.

‘Chain Harmony revealed far more than I expected. My information, others’ information, objects’ information… and even their potential. I’m no exception.’

Enoch had already grasped the skill’s effect. While using Chain Harmony on his own eyes, he had quietly observed his inner self.

‘Golden Fusion.’

Enoch activated the skill. His right hand shone with golden light. An arm of gold reminiscent of the mythical Midas. He touched his eyes with the radiant right hand just as before. When he opened them again, everything in the world had been assigned a value.

‘The value of summons is determined by their base materials. The knight’s price dropped because it’s broken.’

Enoch moved his right hand while reviewing the information. Something intangible settled into his palm. He immediately recognized it—the existence of the mechanical serpents before him. Or rather, their very essence.

‘Magic in this world is bound by words. Ice mages control ice, and Voice mages wield sound. That is the principle. And Golden Fusion… touches the essence of its target.’

A wise man once said that an object’s value is determined by its essence. And indeed, it was so.

‘Two different essences are combined into one. Just as ancient alchemists once sought to create gold.’

Enoch clenched the two essences floating above his hand. The two beings intertwined and merged within his grasp.

-Woooooo!!!

-Kroooaaar!!!

"W-What’s happening?!"

Lakrina, who had been watching the serpents, cried out in shock. Then she gasped in horror. The massive mechanical serpents that had seemed so imposing were now twisting and merging like clay. It was as if their steel essence had been lost, collapsing into liquid.

Moments later, two heads rose from the writhing mass.

-Woooooo!!!

"H-Huh?! It has two heads—"

"Not bad."

Lakrina was stunned. Enoch stepped forward. He looked up at the newly formed serpent with satisfaction.

"Two heads on one body… and it’s grown larger too."

-Woooooo!!

"I have little interest in my own glory… but this is different."

Enoch smiled and extended his hand. The twin-headed mechanical serpent lowered both heads to touch his palm.

"From now on, I’ll call you Twin Dragon. …Lakrina?"

"…Y-Yes?!"

"Prepare yourself. The next lesson starts now."