The Post-Apocalyptic Pistol: An Artifact in My World - 4

"Ugh..."

The moment I fired the gun, intense pain overwhelmed me. Not from the pistol, but from the teachers pinning me down.

"O-oppa! Oppa! Pull yourself together! Are you insane? How could you do something like that—"

"Up... there. Could you... get off me—"

Finally grasping the situation, the teachers pinning me started climbing off one by one. I righted the fallen chair, took a few deep breaths, and sat back down.

"Would you... like to check?"

I tilted my head slightly, exposing my temple.

"No wound... at all?"

"Yes. Of course, I'm an Awakener, even if I'm just a gatherer. A normal person hit in the temple with this would hurt a bit ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠more than that."

Then I lightly snapped my fingers.

"Specifically, about the level of a flick to the temple between normal people."

Your head would shake a little, but it'd leave you thinking, 'And... so what?'

"This is just a toy."

"Th-that's playing with words!"

The blonde girl shouted indignantly.

"Even if it is, it's stronger than a BB gun! A normal person could get hurt—"

"It's far weaker than a normal person gripping a stone and throwing it full force."

We were both playing word games. South Korea's BB gun regulations were bizarrely weak. Literally safe enough for a child to play with without issue.

The power of a normal person hurling a stone full force was surprisingly much stronger. Nothing like this crude Gremlin Pistol could compare.

"That's..."

"And that's not all. I didn't give any ammo to Shin Yuha."

"...!"

"There's no way for her to even obtain these bullets. And even if she did, compared to Shin Yuha's abilities, they'd be laughably weak."

I gazed leisurely at the teacher.

"Even so, is this item dangerous?"

"Do you even realize you entrusted something like this to a minor?"

"She's a minor, yes, but an Academy cadet. Has Shin Yuha threatened anyone with this? Or can no Academy cadet carry their own gun?"

Of course not. Hunters had the right to freely carry their personal firearms. Academy cadets had the same privilege. And this wasn't even a real gun—just a fake one. No issue carrying it around.

"In terms of danger, a post-mana surge Shin Yuha who can cast spells would be far riskier than this toy gun."

I'd said everything I needed to. I calmly regarded the teachers.

"What did you get in exchange for giving her this gun? We need to find that out too!"

The blonde girl threw a tantrum.

What's her deal? Not a teacher, seems like another student...

"Tell us. What did you get for handing over something like this?"

"...Just gave it?"

"Liar."

The blonde girl looked triumphant, like she'd caught me.

"It's an artifact, right? You don't just give those away. You must've gotten something. Spill it. What'd you get?"

"I was originally going to take it back and toss it, but she wanted to keep it as a souvenir, so I just gave it."

"Proof?"

I let out a deep sigh.

"Honestly, I'm getting tired. Wasn't I first called here to determine if this 'toy' ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠is dangerous or not?"

"...But!"

"You're straying from the point. Once I prove that, what next? Prove where I got it? Prove I haven't been handing out other items?"

She was just a kid. The kind who shrinks under adult pressure.

"Y-you're dodging because there's no proof, right? You're just changing the subject because if we dig into you, it'll be trouble—"

"Not that."

I stepped back slightly, shaking my head with a smile.

"I'd just like a promise from everyone here."

The teacher glared coldly at me.

"What promise?"

"I've already proven this toy isn't dangerous. And if proof emerges that I provided this pistol to Yuha for free... promise you'll let me go."

The blonde girl bit her lip in frustration, but the teachers nodded.

"Fine. We might've held an innocent person too long... If that's settled, we'll even apologize."

"Good."

Yuha looked at me curiously.

"But oppa... do you have proof? It's easy to prove you did it, but hard to prove you didn't..."

"I do."

I pulled out my phone and opened an audio file.

It was too realistic to be acting. I smiled ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠leisurely at the teachers.

"Oppa... you recorded everything when we met?"

Yuha stared at me with a lost expression.

"Of course. The world's a dangerous place."

I replied with a sly grin.

"S-sorry! How could you suspect me like that!"

"Not suspicion... Anyway, it came in handy, right? That's what matters."

Good thing I hadn't taken her money. Failing to distinguish between acceptable gains and forbidden ones was a sure path to ruin.

"Anyway... I think I can go now."

"As Academy instructors, we're truly sorry. We were too hasty calling you in."

"Misunderstandings happen. I get it. Take care."

"You too."

The opponent was the Academy. Thinking I'd won and squeezing them for concessions would be the worst move. Better to take the safe, certain path to secure my interests, even if longer.

Still, stepping foot in the Academy once isn't bad.

At my level, I couldn't forge guild ties or hunter connections yet.

Not bad at all.

Now, I'd implanted in these Academy teachers the experience of 'suspecting Jeong Isu, trying to detain him, and failing.'

Next time suspicion arose, they'd hesitate instead of jumping to restrain me. That was enough. Pressuring them for immediate gains would be a bad hand.

"Since we're at the Academy anyway, can't I at least look around?"

"Of course not. Outsiders wandering around freely? No way."

"Wow, harsh! Keep that up, and I'll report this recording as illegal!"

"Recordings of conversations you're part of aren't illegal."

"Gah!"

After some light banter with Yuha, I finally stood to leave.

"Wait, can we talk for a sec?"

"Yes?"

The blonde girl called out to me.

What now...?

I looked at her uncomfortably, but she bowed her head apologetically.

"Actually, I was the one who first raised the issue..."

"And?"

"Now that I know you're truly innocent, I feel so sorry... I want to apologize properly later."

"It's fine."

"Please don't refuse. I really... feel terrible."

I furrowed my brow.

A sincere apology is nice, but...

People don't easily change what they believe. It's natural.

If she'd believed I was a criminal doing bad things, or that Yuha was a bad girl who'd done dirty deeds for the pistol, shifting that belief took time.

Like her, grasping at straws with 'there must be something shady!'

Her attitude flipped too drastically.

This warranted caution.

"Your apology just now is enough. Goodbye."

"W-wait! I, uh, so..."

"Take care."

I let out a sigh of relief as I exited the Academy.

Wasted time on nonsense. But... it worked out somehow.

I was getting tangled with the Academy a lot, but long-term, it wasn't bad. Better they saw me as 'shady merchant Jeong' than 'gatherer Jeong.'

But to leverage that...

I needed better goods, in greater quantity. That required time.

An Roje bit her lip hard.

How could this happen? It was a perfect ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠plan!

He'd proven his innocence. No way to oust Yuha from the Academy now.

And that wasn't all. Teachers wouldn't take her words seriously anymore.

The suspicion had basis, but the failure was fact.

In times like this, what—

An Roje thought of her mother. Shining like a star in the night sky—admired as daughter, woman, person, hunter.

What would Mom do...?

Her mind raced.

The world sometimes throws absurd, illogical events at you.

What then?

Accept it. Acknowledge it happened in reality. Then use it.

Use it?

Absurd events make money. Things no one imagines.

An Roje's eyes gleamed.

An illogical incident. What happened?

A toy pistol infused with artifact power, turning its wielder into a marksman. And the maker handed it casually to another girl.

No apparent deliberation, no company or guild consultation.

He made it alone. Disposes of it alone.

His conversation with Yuha was perfect 'judgment basis' for An Roje.

Absurd, but... yes. This is usable.

Forget Yuha cleanly. Personal grudges didn't matter anymore.

Yuha staying in the Academy harmed her none.

Wiser to focus on far more important matters.

Business! I can do it!

He needed An Roje. She needed him.

She could offer better value to the man who'd handed over that pistol just because 'some kid was whining.'

Got it!

Decision made, An Roje erased the venom from her face. Relaxed her expression, smiled.

"Wait, can we talk for a sec?"

Her chest filled with anticipation for the future.

Even if, moments later, he rejected even her 'personal apology.'

I won't give up...!

Flames burned in her heart.