Chapter 116: I’m a Mage. I Told You I’m a Mage!
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 116: I’m a Mage. I Told You I’m a Mage!
I’m a mage. I really am.
The gun Michelle made for me looked similar to the JP-12 produced by Poltsmith.
Its overall size had been reduced, but the thick body looked like a cross between a Desert Eagle and a revolver cylinder...
A cylinder? A revolver?
I’m pretty sure I told her that magazine capacity was the most important thing, so why a revolver?
I stared blankly at Michelle, looking at the pistol that had turned out quite differently from the initial conceptual sketches she’d sent.
However, she just smiled leisurely while sipping her tea.
"I haven't felt much charm in things at my age, but a revolver is a weapon that stirs a woman's heart."
Well, she’s not wrong about that...
No, but romance aside, what am I supposed to do with this?
To keep the girls' Acceleration active, I need to minimize reload times as much as possible.
The pistol, named Astra, only holds three rounds, just like the JP.
The caliber was increased to accommodate the bullets Poltsmith independently developed to hold large amounts of mana, but if I have to repeat the cycle of firing three shots and reloading, too much time is wasted.
The JP was originally developed as a secondary tool to fire a shot or two depending on the situation, so it didn't matter for that, but that's not the case for me!
As I was debating how to wrap my complaints in polite words, Michelle looked at my expression and smiled contentedly.
"Give it a test fire."
"I'm sorry, but with only three rounds..."
"You'll understand once you fire it."
I shut my mouth at Michelle's words.
Worrying that her artisan spirit might have triggered some stubbornness in the wrong place, I checked the bullets in the cylinder and stood before the firing range.
Because A-rank heroes like Michelle, Lee Ru-da, and Song Ha-el were at the training ground to test Astra, Sung Hee-na and the Tactical Support Team were just watching warily from the sidelines.
When I checked the cylinder, there were only two rounds inside.
Where did she fire the other one? I looked at the empty space where only a casing should have been, glanced at Michelle, and then aimed at the target.
Thoom—!
The gunshot was incredibly heavy. Astra spat fire with a sound like it was striking something massive.
The cylinder rotated, chambering the next round.
The structure didn't expose the cylinder to the outside, so I couldn't see it, but the weight didn't change at all.
I was counting the shots as I fired, but I could also easily feel the weight of the heavy, specially-made mana-infused bullets leaving the gun.
I looked back to see Michelle smiling smugly.
She really went and made another ridiculous weapon.
I let out a hollow laugh of disbelief and activated the firing program.
It was Level 12, the highest level currently available.
Thoom—! Thoom—! Thoo-thoom, thoom!
It only looked like a revolver; it was actually an automatic pistol, so there were no issues with the rate of fire. It seemed to have its own recoil control as well, because despite firing large-caliber rounds, the kick was as weak as a 9mm.
As the hologram monsters lunged forward only to vanish instantly under the barrage, I heard the people behind me gasp in admiration.
Since it was made from monster materials, the barrel didn't even overheat.
I felt a bit sorry for Poltsmith, but a pistol made by a world-renowned weapon creator was absurdly good.
Well, we did work on it together, and the materials themselves were powerful, so it wasn't that Poltsmith was lacking.
When the program ended and the screen displayed 100% accuracy, I opened the cylinder.
Just like at the start, the casing of the bullet I just fired remained, and the other two slots were filled with fresh rounds.
"This is a surprise."
To be honest, I hadn't expected this much. I looked back with a wry smile, and Michelle laughed, looking satisfied with my reaction.
"My stubborn customer, do you like it?"
"Hey now, stubborn? I always had full faith in you, Master Custom."
"Hahaha, you certainly know how to flip the script. You were scowling the moment you saw Astra."
Well, that’s because the exterior was misleading.
Who would have guessed she’d used space magic to keep the cylinder filled?
I didn't know space magic could be utilized this way.
As expected, locals always know how to use their tools best.
Her thinking was on a completely different level from mine, as I had been happy just being able to carry a few extra magazines.
When a shot is fired from the chambered cylinder slot, the casing remains as it rotates.
When I fire again, the casing is stored via space magic, and a new bullet enters the cylinder.
By repeating this, infinite firing becomes possible.
"I thought it would be uncomfortable for you to have a magazine in the grip since the bullets are so large. So, I changed the structure as a surprise gift. I'm glad you like it."
Aw, you should have told me sooner.
I'm a believer now. Total loyalty. I shall never doubt you again, Michelle Audrey.
She said she didn't put a massive amount of effort into the space magic, so the storage capacity is capped at 40 rounds.
But that’s plenty—it’s similar to the capacity of an assault rifle.
Once those are spent, I have to swap the cylinder, but I don't know what principle she used, because it’s incredibly convenient.
If I slap the side of the gun as if slamming a new cylinder in, the old one pops out and the new one seats itself.
I’ll have to be careful not to lose the cylinders during combat.
"They have location tracking, so don't worry."
Are you a mind reader? Every time a concern popped into my head, Michelle explained a feature to address it.
She seemed to enjoy seeing heroes surprised by her weapons.
Bullets that could amplify magic power, increased magazine capacity, reduced recoil, and even higher accuracy.
In every aspect, it was several times better than using a standard gun.
As I was admiring Astra, Michelle spoke with that same mischievous smile.
"Now, try firing it while infusing it with mana."
Following her words, I aimed at a lone target on the range and channeled mana into the bullet.
"... ..."
However, I didn't fire and lowered the gun instead.
What is this now?
The speed at which it sucked in mana was beyond imagination.
"Since you seem to enjoy rapid fire, I thought it would be better to use a 'suction curse' concept rather than simply increasing mana conductivity. You have a talent for magic and can create spell formulas incredibly fast, so if I improved the mana conduction speed, you'd be able to fire even faster than before."
How can you say something so nonchalant after creating such a monster of a gun?
The mana conduction was so fast I couldn't get used to it.
It felt like going from a $1,500 clunker on the verge of being scrapped to a racing car packed with every bit of technology a supercar manufacturer had to offer.
The slightest pressure on the accelerator made it lunge forward, making it much harder to control.
On the flip side, if I could just get used to it, I could imbue every single bullet with magic even while firing in bursts, just like using a submachine gun.
This is why people crave good weapons.
For someone like me who had only ever used standard military issue, this was nothing short of a new world.
In the previous world, weapon creators belonged to corporations, so most items were mass-produced.
What was even scarier was that this was custom-made for my current self, meaning I could upgrade it by swapping parts as I grew.
Upgrading a weapon after leveling up and earning money... it felt like a video game.
With Lee Ru-da's help, the initial Astra was made on her dime, but all future upgrades would have to come out of my own pocket.
The equipment of the world's top weapon creator wouldn't be cheap; I’d have to work my tail off to afford it.
But it was worth the investment.
"Come back to me once you've grown more. Child who creates the flow of the world."
Satisfied with my expression, Michelle Audrey left the clan after leaving those final words.
She was a busy woman, so I couldn't hold her back, and I needed to practice intensely to adapt to this monster gun anyway.
"Congratulations, Yeon-woo. I can tell just by looking that it's an amazing weapon."
Lee Yu-na clasped her hands together, congratulating me happily.
"But it's so hard to handle that I think I'll need to practice my mana adjustment more."
"Yeon-woo, where did you learn magic?"
"Uh... just... on the internet?"
"... ..."
The party members looked at me with strange eyes at my answer.
But it was better than saying I learned it in another world.
Since Yoon A-young was right there, I couldn't even lie and say I had a master in the past.
"Well... the Leader is a genius, after all."
"Yes... right, that must be it..."
"... ..."
Even Kwon Ye-jin, who believed everything I said, nodded with a hint of doubt, and Lee Yu-na agreed with an awkward smile.
Yoon A-young watched me suspiciously, and only Anna, who didn't understand Korean well, blinked her innocent eyes and tilted her head.
I didn't really need to explain, but when Lee Yu-na told her in English, Anna looked at me with belated surprise.
"Leader is amazing."
You believe that surprisingly easily?
I patted the innocent Anna on the head and began planning my training to adapt to Astra.
Just like when I first decided to use a gun, if even a single misfire occurred and trust was lost, the party would crumble.
They trust me now, but as mistakes pile up, there's no telling where problems might arise.
I had to increase my accuracy to the point of obsession before I could use Astra in actual combat.
In that case, I needed to find someone to help me with my mana practice.
Coincidentally, I knew just the right person.
Eom Soo-hyun arrived at the meeting place, turned on her smartphone camera, and adjusted her bangs.
She knew very well that this wasn't a date, but her heart raced at the thought of meeting Jeong Yeon-woo after their passionate encounter in The Hero.
When she turned on her phone after the broadcast ended, she had a mountain of messages from her master, and Jeong Yeon-woo had immediately flown back to Korea, so they had to part without even saying a proper goodbye.
Furthermore, she didn't have his number, so she had no way to contact him.
She couldn't exactly call Square Garden and say, "I'm Hero Eom Soo-hyun of the Blue Dragon Clan. Could I have Hero Jeong Yeon-woo's contact info...?" It was too embarrassing.
Though articles about him flooded the internet, Eom Soo-hyun, who couldn't actually meet him, spent her time clearing dungeons and receiving training from her master.
Then, she was startled by a call from an unknown number.
It had been a while since she’d heard his voice, but she recognized it as Jeong Yeon-woo's the moment she heard it.
Jeong Yeon-woo, who asked how she was doing in a casual voice as if he had no memory of that day, asked if he could train at the Magic Tower.
Dreaming of a heart-pounding campus romance, Eom Soo-hyun immediately nodded and said he could.
After hanging up, she buried her face in her bed and regretted it, wondering why she had said that.
Her master, Seol Ga-yeon, hated Jeong Yeon-woo; there was no way she would allow it.
Seol Ga-yeon was just one of many professors at the Magic Tower, but she held so much power that even the Korean branch manager couldn't ignore her.
The moment she brought up his proposal, she might be chewed to pieces by a man-eating monster summoned by her master.
But she had already made a promise to Jeong Yeon-woo.
Eom Soo-hyun went to Seol Ga-yeon and, trembling with fear, relayed what he had said.
Seol Ga-yeon, with a stiff face, looked up from her book and stared at her.
"I'm sorry, Master! Please spare me!"
Eom Soo-hyun immediately prostrated herself and begged for forgiveness, but Seol Ga-yeon's answer was different from what she expected.
"That's good. Tell the boy that the Magic Tower welcomes him anytime."
At the unexpected answer, Eom Soo-hyun peeked up to check her expression.
Her stiff face still seemed expressionless, but Eom Soo-hyun, who had been with her master for a long time, noticed that her eyes were burning.
She worried whether it was really okay to bring Jeong Yeon-woo here, but she had received permission nonetheless.
Knowing that her master was a kind person despite her strong pride and mischievous streak, Eom Soo-hyun arrived at the meeting place, praying that her master wouldn't bully Jeong Yeon-woo too much.
"You're early."
Unaware of her inner turmoil, Jeong Yeon-woo approached with a bright smile.
As autumn had begun, his clothing was thicker than when she’d seen him on the island.
Though he was fully covered, his thin turtleneck and autumn coat made him look sophisticated and sexy.
As she stared blankly, Jeong Yeon-woo smiled and took her hand.
"Shall we go?"
"Huh? Where? Why did you ask to meet so early?"
The appointment with the Magic Tower was at 2:00 PM, but he had asked to meet three hours early.
"It's been a while, so let's have a meal. And..."
Jeong Yeon-woo leaned in and whispered in her ear.
"Let's do something good, too."
She wasn't exactly sure what he meant by "something good," but her cheeks turned bright red.
Eom Soo-hyun's mind was in a whirl, wondering if what she was imagining was right, and if so, why this man was being so bold.