Post-Apocalyptic Pistols Are Artifacts Here - 3
"No way."
The blonde mixed-blood girl, An Roje, glared at the teacher with her eyes wide open.
"I can't believe it either, but what can we do? Yuha passed the exam."
"She must've cheated somehow!"
"So what are you saying? That one of our Academy teachers took a bribe from her?"
"Well, no, but... considering her mother—"
Roje recalled the past, stained with humiliation and sorrow.
-Huh? Why aren't you coming to class? Why? That's something only you powerless losers who can't score in practicals do, right?
-You'll never become a proper hero like that? Eh~ I don't care~ I'm the one who kills monsters anyway~
Shin Yuha's past was the epitome of rudeness and arrogance.
The group led by Roje—'the diligent students who properly attended school'—had always envied and resented Yuha.
So when they heard she'd miserably failed the 'field hunter practical,' everyone rejoiced.
They thought they'd finally be free of her annoying voice.
But she passed the expulsion exam.
She stayed at the Academy.
"...If you just can't believe it, fine. I'll show you."
"Pardon?"
"I'll show you how Yuha passed the exam. It's not like this violates any personal information laws."
The teacher sighed deeply, shaking his head, thinking his workload was about to increase.
But he couldn't just ignore Roje's complaints.
There were probably plenty of other students who thought the same.
"Here, watch."
Roje stared wide-eyed at the video.
There was Yuha.
She hesitated at first, unable to shoot, but after a few tries, she took down the bat perfectly.
"See? Not perfect, but definitely not failing."
"That's... ch-cheating! That gun Yuha's holding—it's no way a standard-issue one! It's an artifact!"
"Artifacts are allowed in the expulsion exam to begin with."
"W-well, yeah, but!"
This was a loophole in the rules.
There were hunters who relied on artifacts for gun-based hunting.
But generally, they used artifacts to boost firepower.
That wasn't something ordinary training could achieve.
Almost no hunters used artifacts just to 'hit better.'
Holographic bats in the Academy's expulsion exam were something you were supposed to hit with your own skill.
"Still, it's cheating..."
"It's not in the rules. So what are we teachers supposed to do?"
The teacher started pushing back against Roje.
"It's not explicitly in the rules, but it feels like cheating, so let's expel Shin Yuha anyway? You know who her mother is."
Expelling her strictly by the rules wasn't impossible.
But using wordplay like 'practically cheating' to fail her was practically impossible.
"...I'm taking this up officially."
"What?"
"She used a private firearm. It has to be from that 'oppa' of hers! There must be some suspicion—"
But Roje wasn't giving up yet.
"Hmm. I think her mother might've given it to her... Figure it out yourself later."
"Got it."
Roje clenched her fists tight.
For the justice of the Academy.
"Thank you so much again today!"
"Sure. No issues?"
I was handling today's 'bottled water supply' face-to-face with Lisa Martinez.
"Yes. Thanks to your support, we were able to cooperate with the local settlers... and repel the raiders' attack."
"Good to hear."
Lisa seemed to be steadily expanding her forces.
Good, very good.
I could provide immediate support whenever they needed something useful.
And she got a stable supply of 'water,' essential for growing her faction.
If only I could get something actually worthwhile...
"Are you satisfied with the items sent this time?"
"Eh, I'm always grateful."
That was what I said, but honestly, not really.
The necklace option... what the hell is this?
I looked at the necklace Lisa had just sent.
'Evasion +2 when no other equipment is worn.'
Evasion +2 wasn't bad in itself.
If you planned to fight naked with just this necklace.
It would've been better if it were something like 'Health +2' or 'Intelligence +2' useful outside combat.
But evasion was utterly meaningless outside of battle.
No redeeming qualities whatsoever.
Something like that might be usable on a suit or robe...
Not this.
I shook my head.
"You're still not satisfied, I see."
"No, it's fine."
Lisa had also sent new Gremlin Pistols and ammo.
All useless junk, though.
"Don't worry about what to give me. Focus on your people's survival."
"Ah..."
"You'll need more stuff than I do."
I forced a kind smile.
Half sincere.
Even if they strain themselves gathering stuff for me, the odds of it being useful are slim to none.
Food, ore, guns—most of it.
And this trade is profitable just by maintaining it.
I gazed at the status window floating before my eyes.
You've accumulated enough trade achievements. Choose your reward.
1. Expand trade warehouse size
2. Reduce trade mana consumption
3. Activate new dimension trade (0/5)
The results of our trades were showing steadily.
Warehouse expansion sounds good... but no rush.
Checking the details, the size increase wasn't that big.
New dimension trade... doesn't activate all at once.
Judging by (0/5), I had to pick it five times via trade rewards.
Number two for now.
I selected Reduce trade mana consumption.
"The next trade should be possible in 6 days, not a full week."
"R-really? Then the water—"
"Of course I'll fill it to the brim."
I flashed a sly grin.
Lisa bowed deeply, moved.
"Thank you so much!"
"Sure. Stay safe—"
My phone rang suddenly.
Yuha again.
This girl...
"Something came up. Gotta go. Take care."
"Yes, stay healthy!"
After Lisa's farewell, I ended the connection and picked up the call.
"Hello."
"Oppa! Big trouble!"
"If it's nothing, I'm blocking you for real this time."
She talked too much.
You might think, 'She's pretty and cute, so she can be a bit noisy...' but she crossed that line a tad.
"It's real! Super serious this time!"
"Make the subject clear. Serious for you, or for me?"
"Both!"
"Huh."
She sounded that urgent, so it probably wasn't total nonsense.
"What's up."
"A t-teacher... called ajusshi. Said they'd call the police if you don't come..."
"Why me."
"Where'd the gun come from—"
It'd come to this.
I gave a wry smile.
Still...
I hadn't expected to use those 'useless' items so soon.
I eyed the few Gremlin Pistols and ammo.
The ones Lisa had just sent.
"So this is the Academy..."
A prickling tension hung in the air.
The mana density inside was different.
The Academy.
Where countless hunter aspirants trained.
Among them, producing ones strong enough to catch guilds' eyes.
A place so vital that my past self couldn't even dream of stepping foot in.
I took one step inside.
"Are you Jeong Isu?"
"Yes, that's me."
"Follow me."
A plainly dressed teacher guided me.
But she was an awakener above a certain level.
Impressive place for sure.
Using awakeners as regular staff showed the Academy's prestige.
Non-hunter awakeners—gatherers or miners—already raked in huge money.
Let alone the hunters here.
Hunters respected by countless Academy students.
Normally, they'd just hunt for profit.
That paid better.
So these teachers followed values beyond money, with salaries high enough not to feel too deprived.
Not that it matters to me.
Guided inside, I entered what looked like an important room.
"O-oppa!"
"Hey."
Yuha was there.
Along with several stern-faced people waiting for me.
"Thanks for coming so cooperatively. We didn't want to involve the police in school matters."
"Wise choice. It wasn't that big a deal anyway."
I quipped lightly.
I didn't actually do anything wrong...
Still, sharing space with people who could kill me with one punch was uncomfortable.
"Have a seat. Let's hear your side."
I sat in the plush, comfy chair.
"First, a few questions. How'd you meet student Shin Yuha?"
"While gathering, I found her lost item. Then... she seemed in a bind, so I helped."
"Coincidence?"
"Pure coincidence."
A cold-faced teacher in a suit grilled me.
I kept a straight face through the interrogation.
"You knew she was a student."
"Found out the first day we met. She told me."
"And you gave her a private firearm?"
I chuckled and shook my head.
"Private firearm? How's that a gun? It's a toy."
"Playing word games now?"
The teacher glared murderously.
"Gave an artifact to a student and call it a toy? Ha. Doubt the police would see it that way."
"Police might not know, but you should. It's not a gun."
"Why not? The power—"
"Did you test that gun's power?"
"Of course!"
"Not the flame rounds Yuha used, but with regular ammo? Did you check that power?"
"That's—"
She hadn't.
Gremlin Pistols were small.
And gremlins used ammo made for them, not human bullets.
Obviously not available on Earth.
"You don't have any. Couldn't get bullets."
"Ah, want a power test? Fine. Don't know the ammo, but we'll find some and—"
"No need. I brought it."
I pulled a Gremlin Pistol and a few rounds from my bag.
"...Confession?"
"Proof of innocence. Like this. It's just a toy."
"Stop talking and—"
I loaded a round into the Gremlin Pistol.
It fit perfectly, proving it was meant for this gun.
"Hoo... yeah. Words are meaningless."
Before they could react, I pressed the pistol to my temple.
And pulled the trigger.