Chapter 125
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 125
I followed Altair the tailor into a secret room.
In stark contrast to the modest storefront, the hidden chamber was a lavish, Gothic-style hall. A magnificent chandelier hung from the ceiling, casting a brilliant glow over glass display cases arranged along every wall. Inside, various items—hats, shoes, umbrellas, and glasses—were meticulously laid out.
These were no mere accessories; they were combat artifacts designed for emergencies.
As I scanned the ornate displays, a thought occurred to me.
‘I only recently advanced to [Intermediate Alchemy].’
Because of that, I was short on artifacts to fill my newly unlocked slots. I decided to pick up a few useful items here to serve as temporary stopgaps until I could craft my own dedicated gear.
Altair gestured toward the cases with his cane. “Is there anything in particular you’re looking for?”
“I’ll gladly take any recommendations you have.”
“Excellent. First, let’s change your shoes. Those heels look a bit too high for comfort.”
The heels were indeed quite high, likely a reflection of Roen’s personal taste. They made me nearly five centimeters taller than I actually was.
Altair pulled a pair of shoes from a shelf beneath a display case and set them on the floor. They were handsome Oxford shoes with an inky, polished luster. The quality of the leather and the craftsmanship alone signaled that they were exceptional.
“Try them on. They should be a perfect fit.”
I took the shoehorn he offered and swapped my footwear.
Tap, tap.
After sliding into the new shoes, I tapped the toes against the floor to settle my feet. They were a perfect fit—neither too loose nor too tight. To be precise, they were a little snug, but the leather would likely mold to my feet once broken in.
“They fit perfectly.”
“They suit you well. As you wear them, they’ll conform to your stride and become even more comfortable.”
I nodded, a sudden thought crossing my mind. “Do these shoes have any hidden functions? Like a blade that pops out if I click the heels together?”
“A blade? My boy, you’ve been watching too many plays.”
“…”
Seeing my disappointed expression, Altair chuckled.
“Just kidding. Let me show you the laces.”
Flick—.
With a deft movement, Altair unlaced one of the shoes and infused the string with mana.
Instantly—
Crackle!
A powerful electric current surged through the lace, flashing with brilliant blue sparks.
“These laces are crafted from the processed fur of a lightning squirrel, which has incredible mana reactivity. Infusing them with mana triggers an electric shock.”
“Oh? Do I have to untie them to use it?”
“Of course not. You only need to focus your mana toward your feet. The shoes themselves are insulated, so you don’t need to worry about getting shocked. Feel free to kick your enemies as much as you like.”
I nodded in approval. From now on, I could subdue annoying extras with a simple kick, without having to rely on something like a strength enhancement stone. It was a very practical feature.
“What’s next? A fedora wouldn’t suit your age, and a cane is a bit much for a student. Let’s see… how about an umbrella?”
After a moment of deliberation, Altair handed me a folding umbrella. It was compact enough to fit neatly inside a bag.
“This is a portable umbrella built with cutting-edge magic engineering. It opens at the touch of a button.”
A full-sized umbrella would have looked cooler, I grumbled internally, but I took the item and pressed the button.
Snap!
With a sharp sound that cut through the air, the umbrella deployed instantly. Thanks to the integrated magic engineering, its mechanical speed was on par with modern technology.
I looked at the black canopy and thought, ‘Usually, this kind of umbrella is bulletproof.’
However, since firearms weren't common in this world, I assumed it was designed to counter magic instead. I held the open umbrella in front of me like a shield.
“Is this coated with magic resistance?”
“Hoh, you’re quick on the uptake. It can deflect magic of the 3rd-tier or lower a few times. But don’t rely on it too much. It’s still just cloth; there’s a limit to what it can withstand.”
He was being surprisingly pragmatic.
Altair pointed to the tip of the umbrella. “And this part is equipped with a simple mana cannon. If you channel mana into it, it will fire from the tip.”
“Fascinating.”
I unscrewed the cap at the end. Sure enough, the interior was hollowed out like the barrel of a gun.
Should I try a test shot?
The moment the thought crossed my mind, Altair warned me.
“Ah, don’t fire it in here.”
“…Is it that powerful?”
“A mage of your caliber could easily blow a small shop like this to splinters. You wouldn’t want to destroy the business this old man has spent his entire life building, would you?”
“My apologies.”
“Also, the internal barrel breaks after a single use, so save it for the right moment. The material can’t withstand the amplified mana twice.”
So it’s a one-shot trump card.
I stared at the umbrella and nodded slowly. Still, it was a great secret weapon. An umbrella that doubles as a mana cannon—what wasn’t to like?
-
After that, he recommended several other items with hidden functions, including a Zippo-style lighter, a napkin, and a necktie.
Altair’s tailor shop was one of the [Hidden Shops]. The items he recommended were all high-quality and practical despite being mass-produced, making for a very satisfying shopping trip.
When I tried to pay, however, Altair refused. He shook his head, declining the check I offered.
“I heard you brought great profit to the underworld. I won’t accept payment for these goods.”
“Is that so? Then please use this to buy your grandson something delicious. He has excellent manners.”
I pulled out a check for an appropriate amount and held it out.
“If you don’t accept it, I’ll give it to the boy directly.”
“Hmph.”
Altair let out a small sigh, then accepted the check with a smile.
“…Such a stubborn young man. If you insist.”
*
When I stepped outside, Ciel, who had been playing with the boy, stood up.
“Did you find what you needed?”
“Yes, quite a bit.”
Ciel patted the boy’s head before falling in step beside me. She glanced at me silently, gauging my height, then looked down at my feet.
“Did you change your shoes?” she asked cautiously.
“Yes, the heels on the old ones were too high. They were worn out, anyway. I bought a new pair with some special features.”
“…What about the ones you were wearing before?”
“Threw them out. The owner said he’d dispose of them.”
I shrugged and took the shopping bags from Ciel’s hands. I was in a good mood after acquiring some solid gear, so I could at least carry her things on the way back.
“It’s getting late. Let’s go.”
“Yes.”
Ciel hesitated for a moment before following me.
“Goodbye!”
The boy’s cheerful farewell echoed from inside the shop, a pleasant end to the visit.
*
A few days later. May 1st.
The competitive season had finally begun.
Starting today, all classes were shortened. After school, the dueling arenas throughout Union were fully opened, and competitive matches using student IDs were officially permitted.
All ranked matches had to take place in official arenas. Participants were required to report to the management committee via magic tools installed in each arena before a match began. Furthermore, every duel was recorded by these tools; the footage served as legal evidence for ranking disputes or rule violations.
“Here is the detailed rulebook. Please familiarize yourself with it. The situation is a bit different this year.”
Ciel handed me the competitive season rulebook that had been distributed to all Union students. I skimmed through the pages and nodded.
There had been a competitive season last year, but the stakes had changed. To maintain my position as Student Council President, I had to secure a high rank. This was a complete departure from last year, when I had gone out of my way to avoid the competition.
Moreover, Roen’s fame had grown considerably. After defeating Chepesi, I had gained a reputation as a powerhouse hiding his true strength. I needed to understand the rules thoroughly and prepare meticulously.
I closed the booklet. “When is the first official match?”
“Today at 17:00. The opening match between Senior Gawain and Senior Leonhardt will be held in the Grand Auditorium.”
“So they’ve both finished their secluded training.”
“Yes. This will be their first official match since last year.”
Hearing the matchup, I murmured, “This… I have no choice but to go see it.”
First, there was the former student council president of Eredor, the Magic Swordsman, Gawain Ardion.
‘Gawain is one of the few characters in this game with multiple classes.’
Just as I had unlocked both the Alchemist and Martial Artist classes, he was an exceptional talent who had mastered both magic and swordsmanship. Of course, my situation was a perk of being a player, while Gawain’s was due to his trait, [Manryugwijong].
‘I heard he can currently wield 4th-tier specialized magic and sword ki simultaneously.’
And he didn’t just use them; he was known for a highly calculated combat style, seamlessly weaving the two opposing forces together. Due to the nature of [Manryugwijong], he was destined to grow stronger with every passing moment. He was already incredibly powerful, but he was a late-bloomer type who could reach even greater heights.
His opponent was the former student council president of Seintea, the Divine Sword, Leonhardt Michael. He was a rising star from the Holy Kingdom, possessing a Divine Power Aptitude comparable to Elena’s and masterful swordsmanship. However, contrary to his title of Divine Sword, he showed even greater talent in shield techniques. Thus, he was often called [God's Shield] instead.
Furthermore, his trait, [Fortitude], was an epic-grade ability that halved all incoming damage. What made [Fortitude] truly broken was that the reduction was applied first—halving the opponent’s raw damage before any other items, traits, or artifacts were factored in.
Both were consistently ranked among the top five strongest students in the academy. After a long period of secluded training since winter break, they were finally making their appearance for the competitive season.
The two had constantly vied for the top spot among the third-years. I knew their head-to-head record was currently sitting at 7 wins, 7 losses, and 7 draws. They were true rivals of the century.
Their fellow third-year, Jeremy, was perpetually pushed down to third place because of them. It wasn't that Jeremy lacked skill; he simply didn't seem to care much about the rankings.
In any case.
‘I can’t miss such a magnificent duel.’
Gawain and Leonhardt were pivotal figures in the Myrillin Saga. Watching them fight might even give me some inspiration.
And above all else…
‘What’s more fun than watching a good fight?’
It was the opening match, after all. Many of my potential future opponents would be in attendance, making it the perfect chance to scout them out.