Chapter 75
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 75
Chapter Title: Weapon Essence
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The guys who can't get into gambling dens and wander the streets with pocket change, hustling at roadside games—they're all the same.
The down-and-out drifters, vision clouded like fog over a cliff, don't even realize what's hitting them.
The less someone has, the more dangerous they are. Even with cheats that guarantee victory, you can't always crush them outright. You've got to placate them just enough to keep their tempers from exploding.
Even then, sometimes a blind punch lands, costing you an egg's worth on a swollen eye. Or they grab your collar, screaming "scam," and your shirt stretches out of shape—happens all the time.
Was this opponent the same breed as all those before...? No, even without any violence breaking out yet, the situation felt like the "worst of the worst."
Even when he gave answers my dynamic vision could catch, he'd pick the opposite—and if I adjusted, he'd head straight for another correct one.
Had he already seen through my trick? If so, the purpose behind this behavior was a mystery, leaving me breathless.
"Hand it over."
Clink—
A low, gravelly voice accompanied the emergence of a pouch overflowing with gleaming golden coins.
Money—no magic needed, no manpower required—freely commanding others.
The dwarf's hand froze at the sight of the bag brimming with tangible greed.
'No amount of beatings could make up for this much cash...'
His excitement had long cooled to thin ice. Dry saliva swallowed involuntarily, cold sweat soaking his beard against his will.
Survival instinct overrode greed, smacking his skull and flashing warning lights.
He'd abandoned a lifelong conviction he never doubted.
He'd fled his home, leaving family behind.
He'd tumbled into this place like falling into an endless pit. A spot where without money, you weren't even treated like an animal.
It had been over three years since he'd rolled into the brutal streets of Limno, surviving as a street gambling... scammer.
He felt deep disgust that the knowledge he'd nurtured in the Federation for grand magical engineering goals was now wasted on gambling props. But in the end, this was who he was.
'This man...'
He pulled his hand from the cup, tilting his head slightly to peer at the man whose hood was pulled low.
Even in shadow, crimson-black eyes that lost no light.
A man radiating the unmistakable aura of a predator, just like "those" from the Volasen Federation.
Dying as a strong one's pastime? It'd suit a fugitive like him perfectly.
"Are you... my death?"
"What bullshit. What the hell are you babbling about? Just spin it already."
He slid the coin pouch toward the man.
"This money's trouble."
"Why?"
"Because I don't have double to pay back."
Crack—!!
The air churned, a jagged crack splitting the table!
"I overlooked your pathetic sleight of hand, and this is the lame response I get."
Killing intent that made breath halt instinctively.
Like always, call his bluff and demand proof of the scam?
The moment he pulled the standard street hustler's gut-check, real guts would spill— that's the vibe of the killing intent.
"..."
But a shell-game hustler never admits the con outright.
When cornered, they forget yes or no—just silence.
"Whether you use a sleight-of-hand magical device or pure skill for the real showdown, this is the absolute last round. Lose, and it's over. Win, and it's over. No money needed—put up something fitting the stakes. I'll even take your life."
In Limno street gambling, use cons or devices all you want—as long as you don't get caught.
But if you do? Guards laugh and look away, leaving you to bear the full backlash alone.
"...Then will you accept this as the stake?"
On the way back to the inn after fruitless searches along unproductive routes.
Finding an unknown ally felt more abstract than memorable compared to the street gamble with the dwarf.
I hadn't gotten back the life or ten gold coins on the line.
Betting real skill instead of a device at the end.
Even if he was a scammer—the most common trade in Limno—his bushy-bearded finale suited him.
I rolled the round metal orb in my hand as I walked.
It resembled a bird's egg or a solid gem.
But the feel was soft and pliable, unlike its appearance—promising it could shift into any form.
Weapon Essence - 100% (Unavailable)
▷ Can only be used by women.
▷ Binds to the user.
▷ Can use various metals.
- Artifacts dubbed the "essence of magic engineering" are mere imitations of this item.
* Expensive metals aren't always the answer.
It was the same as [Weapon for Her], which had transformed into Rike's weapon Vanitas—the names were all that differed.
Completed in golden ratio by the dwarf's hands, no materials added by me.
'Having Rike use another one... could be risky.'
Even at Akarite, you couldn't dump two weapons on one heroine.
Forcing it caused rejection—soul wavelengths overlapping or whatever—wiping out half your HP.
Other bound items had no such conflicts, but heroine weapons alone carried this penalty.
'Got it since it was handy, but...'
A chicken rib, literally.
I had zero interest in other heroines besides Rike, so obtaining one hadn't crossed my mind.
No place to use it? The tactile squish while fiddling made for decent stress relief.
Step—
"Huh?"
A hooded figure stood at the inn entrance, arms crossed.
Even without seeing the face, the rigid posture and uncompromising aura gave her away.
"What're you doing out here?"
"...Took you quite a while."
No surprises—it was Eclair.
Even in the pitch dark, her red eyes reflected sharply.
"Thought I moved pretty quick... If we need to talk, let's head up first."
"W-Wait a sec!"
Eclair blocked me as I tried entering the inn.
Her gaze flicked to the closed inn door, then back to me.
"?"
"You've been wandering dangerous spots... A-Any injuries?"
"If you're gonna blow up back alleys, you head home first. Not a scratch on me."
"That's a relief..."
Seeing her awkward outside official duties made it obvious.
Something made entering rooms or buildings uncomfortable for her.
Considering her personality, a few scenarios fit.
'...Even racking my brain, nothing specific.'
Asking a Platinum adventurer that? Her clumsy handling nearly made me chuckle.
Teasing that gap for flustered Eclair reactions would be fun—but cleanup seemed messy, so I extended a hand first.
"Ah~ Roaming nonstop worked up an appetite."
Eclair's eyes lit up like she'd found the perfect answer.
"You covered my share too, expanding your range... Least I can do is buy snacks to fend off hunger. Bread and soup left me starving too..."
Creak!
Mid-conversation, the inn door swung open—Eclair's eyes whipped toward it.
I followed her gaze: a beastkin woman emerged, waving her swishing tail at someone inside.
-Thank you! Call me again~
"Whew—."
Eclair exhaled shortly in relief. That woman the cause, somehow?
I slapped her back to snap her out of it—her feet had frozen.
"You're buying dinner? Let's go."
"Ah... Right."
This time I aimed for a normal eatery, but at this awkward predawn hour, we ended up in a tavern again.
Ordered simple, digestible fare—no booze, just warm mulled wine each.
Watching Eclair savor the mulled wine sparked a curiosity.
'Bound weapons require a 'heroine'? No, just 'woman'... Can Eclair use it?'
In-game, only heroines could receive them—but no such issue in reality.
Holding it meant no handover to Rike anyway.
"Here."
Eclair snatched the item from my hand.
"What's this?"
Amazed by the feel unlike its look, she appraised it—then tilted her head at the incomprehensible result.
"Won it street gambling. Name it with sincerity, and good things happen, they say?"
"...Doesn't look like casual gambling fodder."
I hadn't detailed it like with Rike, so she wouldn't know its use.
But calling it the "essence of magic engineering" sounded impressive.
"A gift for the guy bringing moist fun to this dry, boring Limno."
Eclair gripped the squishy metal, eyes holding pure puzzlement.
"They call me a boring woman even at work."
Her dead-serious approach was endlessly amusing.
"Yeah? Could be folks with no eye for it. Or maybe your thrill codes are polar opposites."
"...Even granting all that. Shouldn't this go to her?"
She started with the excuse of Rike having a similar item, leading to light bickering.
'Gifting one item is this tough?'
After pressing a few times, I unleashed the finisher: "Toss it if you won't use it." Eclair pocketed it with a reluctant, unconvinced frown.
"I'll gratefully accept..."
"Give it to your sister too, if you want."
"..."
A subtly odd reaction.
On a hunch, I asked.
"Gave her the brooch, right?"
She flinched in surprise, avoiding my eyes.
"...Wrapped and stored in my study. Planning to give it after this job ends."
"Stamped approval to give it—and you still haven't?"
"Needed to sort my thoughts. Wondering if I should reveal I'm the one from outdoor class..."
Hearing that, I smirked—Eclair glared.
Looked a bit pouty.
"Why the laugh?"
"Thinking I made a good friend pick? Hard to find someone so consistently entertaining."
"..."
She stayed silent with a complex expression through dinner and back to the inn.
Back in the room, she scanned the walls, then pulled out documents, spreading them across the floor.
"...To wrap this up swiftly, I'll change the operation's direction."